"Choose Spacetime Traveling Merchant as the hidden profession and begin the quest." Chu Lian had deliberated for quite some time. Among the many clearly offensive-oriented professions she browsed through repeatedly, she ultimately felt that only this one truly matched her current self—and the associated quest was the one she was most likely to complete. So she didn't hesitate any longer and decisively chose this as her first hidden profession.
Abandoning professions that could greatly boost her combat power in the short term to instead pick one with limitless potential but nearly zero initial effectiveness—this choice proved that Chu Lian possessed far more resolve than one might expect.
Indeed, while this profession best suited her and the quest was relatively easier compared to others—thus allowing an earlier job change—this class granted no offensive abilities whatsoever. And for someone like Chu Lian, who would soon face multiple unbeatable foes alone, it offered little help in battle.
But she had already resolved to take on this challenge by herself: if she won, she would gain long-lasting growth; if she lost, she'd fall into decline.
Yes, she saw the three formidable enemies soon to arrive as a trial—a challenge where she would use her current state, without actively increasing her offensive power, to complete the mission. Since the system never issues unwinnable quests, that meant she had the ability to succeed from the moment she accepted it.
How she accomplished that, however, was up to her. No one could help her, and she couldn't ask anyone to. As long as no others got involved, those enemies wouldn't attack them. But once she enlisted allies strong enough to fight back, unexpected changes would inevitably occur—changes that could prove extremely dangerous.
It was a risky move—but also a brilliant one.
If she won, she would never again hesitate in the face of what she had to do. Her spirit would be tempered, laying a solid foundation for future growth. If she lost, she'd fall into a dreadful situation—perhaps lose her freedom, or even her life.
But life was never something that followed your every wish. If you cowered in the face of danger now, would you do so every time in the future? She wasn't sure what she was thinking exactly, but she could feel a voice inside her saying: "Don't be afraid. If it's something you can succeed at, keep going with conviction—you will succeed. But if you run away, you might never again be able to face your enemies with pride."
It was a foolish choice—she knew it, the system knew it, and Ayase understood it best. Yet none of them had considered taking another route.
Chu Lian used her decision to prove her resolve. The system showed its stance through the quest prompts. Ayase silently approved with her inaction.
In today's words: No fear, go hard. Win or lose, just go for it.
Perhaps deep down, the three of them were the same type—possessing unyielding tenacity. Once they decided on something, they wouldn't stop until they achieved it or hit a wall.
Her thoughts scattered. The scene before her eyes shifted from last night's decision back to the drizzle falling gently outside. Looking at the city shrouded in rain, she murmured softly, "Such a familiar yet foreign feeling..."
Meow~ Unexpectedly, Tina—who hadn't been taken away by the teacher and was still by Chu Lian's side—let out a soft cat-like cry. Then she yawned, opened her little mouth, and closed her eyes again to sleep on Chu Lian's lap.
Stroking the silky fur on Tina's back, Chu Lian pretended not to notice the occasional subtle glance from Cai Ya beside her. She looked toward the history teacher on the podium, who was talking about a vaguely authentic tale, and let her mind drift elsewhere again.
"Ayase, why did you insist I choose those eight countries and twelve locations? Can you tell me the reason?" Chu Lian appeared before Ayase, walked over, sat at the far end of the sofa beside her bare feet, and gazed at the virtual screen suspended mid-air, glowing with a pale blue light.
"If I said it was just because I wanted to visit those places, you wouldn't believe me—or you might go crazy..." Ayase, clearly expecting the question, swirled the wine in her glass, took a sip, and replied with a smile.
"I would believe you, but I wouldn't go crazy. Because I know you never do anything without a reason. Even things you claim to like are always useful in some way—not just meaningless indulgences." Chu Lian didn't like alcohol, but seeing the way Ayase savored her wine made her want something to drink as well. She searched her system space, found nothing suitable, and immediately felt deflated.
"Ahaha, you look just like a sulky little wife right now. Here, I have some milk—want it?" Ayase, like performing a magic trick, pulled a bottle of milk from the depths of space and waved it in front of her.
"I want it..." Chu Lian reached out, grabbed the milk, unwrapped the straw, inserted it, and began sipping leisurely. Her urge to interrogate Ayase vanished. Now, it seemed like she had only entered this space to drink the milk.
"That's more like it. Don't let your thoughts and plans show too early—in your expressions, your actions, or your words. It won't help you achieve your goals. Conversation is an art. Asking questions without revealing your intent is a skill too. I'm not scolding you—just don't want you to keep making the same mistakes. You know you've been taken advantage of before because you couldn't hide your emotions." Ayase placed her wineglass on a tall glass table beside the sofa and spoke calmly.
"I know. I just... never really wanted to change." Chu Lian smiled. She understood, but didn't want to do it—it was too tiring.
"Suit yourself..." How many times had they had this exchange? It wasn't the first, nor would it be the last. Each time Ayase said something, Chu Lian responded the same way. Though it was a bit clumsy, it was oddly endearing.
Actually, one big reason she was so lovable... was simply that she was incredibly, incredibly beautiful.
"Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan, the Terracotta Army in Chang'an, Mount Tai in Tai'an, Akihabara in Tokyo, Las Vegas, Miami Beach, Hollywood in Los Angeles, the Sao Miguel das Missoes ruins in Brazil, King's Cross Station in London, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Pyramids in Egypt, and the Taj Mahal in India—these twelve locations represent both the ends of the earth and symbolic cycles of the world."
"Jiuzhaigou stands for nature and purity..."
"The Terracotta Army stands for history and nations..."
"Mount Tai stands for humanity and divinity..."
"Akihabara stands for dimensions and the real world..."
"Las Vegas stands for the dark sides of human nature..."
"Miami Beach stands for freedom and passion..."
"Hollywood stands for fame and film..."
"Sao Miguel das Missoes stands for lost human faith..."
"King's Cross Station stands for choice and journey..."
"The Eiffel Tower stands for height and pinnacle..."
"The Pyramids stand for mystery and power..."
"The Taj Mahal stands for stories and legends..."
Ayase listed them one by one. Chu Lian couldn't help but stare with her mouth slightly agape. When Ayase finished, she stammered, "Even so, that doesn't mean these twelve places are the only options, right? There are plenty of other locations that might be more suitable. Why these twelve specifically? Do they really need to have symbolic meanings?"
"Because this route will help you complete several objectives for your Spacetime Traveling Merchant quest (Travelled 24,753 / 50,000 kilometers, Earned 578 / 10 million Huaxia yuan, Visited 88 / 100 cities, Visited 1 / 8 countries). Don't forget—the sooner you complete your quest, the better it is for you. That's all I have to say..."
Chu Lian had more questions, but Ayase's final sentence made everything clear. It wasn't that Ayase didn't want to tell her—it just wasn't time yet. Some things simply couldn't be said.
So she only moved her lips slightly and didn't ask any further.
Outside the window, the sudden drizzle continued to fall. She quietly watched the view, her serene profile forming the perfect picture.
Some people walked in the rain, some came with umbrellas; some crossed bridges and vanished, some brushed past each other; some fell asleep to the sound of rain, some wrote down their feelings with it; some silently watched her, some quietly admired her.
This rainy day was destined to be peaceful yet extraordinary...