The results from a Level 1 Basic Professional Skills divination aren't necessarily accurate. When my level is higher and I can divine a few more times, I'll see...

Lu Yuan rose from his seat and walked towards the library's exit. He borrowed the mythology book he had been reading and then left through the main doors.

By the end of December, Burnt Rock had thoroughly entered winter. Yesterday's weather forecast had predicted light rain and snow for today. It was 9:35 in the morning, and sure enough, thin threads of rain began to drift from the sky. Mixed with the rain were snowflakes the size of soybeans, striking his face and feeling chillingly cold. Passersby hurried past, either bundled tightly in down jackets or holding umbrellas. Lu Yuan, book in hand, strolled down the long street. His face, pale from the excessive Spiritual Power he had consumed during the divination, was gradually regaining its rosy hue.

The grey, dusty road surface beneath his feet, washed by the rain and snowflakes, gradually brightened, revealing the red and green sidewalk bricks. The neatly trimmed bushes in the roadside flowerbeds were a deep, dark green, some with a thin layer of snow dusting their tops. Lu Yuan reached out and caught some, feeling the snowflakes and ice chips melt quickly between his fingers.

By the time he reached the entrance of a milk tea shop, Lu Yuan felt his Spiritual Power had almost fully recovered. He paused, ordered two cups of hot milk tea, then walked over to a nearby convenience store. He quietly waited, sipping his milk tea. He had arranged to meet Xia Zhijing today.

Lady of Nightmares... Lu Yuan gazed at the drizzling rain and falling snowflakes before him, a subtle light flickering in his eyes. He had obtained some information about the Lady of Nightmares from Yellow Bear. There were others who had experienced something similar to Xia Zhijing. However, in all other cases involving the "Lady of Nightmares," the victims slept for progressively longer periods until they eventually couldn't wake up at all. Xia Zhijing was the exact opposite; she was actually sleeping less and less.

Is it possible that Xia Zhijing is actually experiencing the same thing but is unaware of it? In other words... Lu Yuan made a SLURP SLURP sound as he drank his milk tea, and lightly chewed the chewy, soft pearls. He thought to himself, Has Xia Zhijing actually been living in a dream for the past decade or so? Such a statement could be seen as offensive, but it wasn't entirely implausible. When an Ancient Evil God was involved, anything, no matter how bizarre, could happen. I should wait until I see her in person to understand the situation.

Lu Yuan tossed the empty milk tea cup into a nearby trash can. He held the other cup, the one he'd bought for Xia Zhijing, in his hands, using his body heat to keep it from getting cold.

The rain grew heavier, and the sky darkened as if it were dusk. Lu Yuan checked the time: it was 9:45. He had arranged to meet Xia Zhijing at ten o'clock. There were still fifteen minutes until their meeting. So Lu Yuan continued to wait.

Watching the heavy rain lashing the street and the traffic lights blinking at the intersection, Lu Yuan couldn't help but recall his first meeting with Xia Zhijing. He remembered that back then, he had only just unlocked the Fighter panel and learned some basic fighting techniques. His sense of justice had been overwhelming. When he saw what looked like a kidnapping on the street, he'd acted impulsively and rushed in. Luckily, the ones he encountered were just some thugs, and he'd managed to rescue the person by sheer chance. It was precisely that rescue that later gave him the opportunity to participate in the Crane Sect's direct disciple trials... Looking back now, life truly was marvelous.

Lu Yuan casually let his thoughts wander. Unknowingly, time moved on. It was now 9:55.

Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly, and he turned to look to his right. A small, round red umbrella was slowly approaching from the end of the street. Beneath the umbrella was a girl. Because the umbrella was held low, Lu Yuan couldn't see her face. He could only see the hem of her white down jacket, her slender, long legs wrapped in black tights, and below them, a pair of deep brown women's Martin boots. Her Martin boots landed on the puddled sidewalk bricks, making a crisp SPLASH SPLASH sound as she stepped through the water.

Lu Yuan blinked and began to walk towards the little red umbrella. The rain and snow were heavy now, the weather harsh, and the girl under the small red umbrella walked with considerable difficulty. Her steps – one deep, one shallow – seemed uncertain, as if she could slip and fall at any moment. Lu Yuan wanted to go over and offer her a hand, but he felt it might not be appropriate given his position. So, he stood patiently under the eaves of the nearest shop, waiting.

The small, wobbling red umbrella finally reached Lu Yuan and came to a halt beside him. Lu Yuan let out a small sigh of relief and then smoothly handed her the milk tea he had been keeping warm in his hands.

"I got this for you. It should warm your hands."

The girl under the small red umbrella responded shyly with a quiet, "Mhm."

Then, a small, fair hand reached out from under the umbrella and took the milk tea from Lu Yuan. As he handed it over, Lu Yuan's fingers unintentionally brushed hers; they were ice-cold. He guessed she must have gotten thoroughly chilled on her way.

The Xia Family is one of the wealthiest in Burnt Rock. Why doesn't Xia Zhijing even have a driver to pick her up and drop her off? Why did she have to walk here herself...? Lu Yuan thought for a moment, then said to Xia Zhijing, "Let's find a warm place to sit."

"Mhm."

Lu Yuan didn't say anything more, intending to lead Xia Zhijing to the milk tea shop from before. He took a couple of steps forward.

Lu Yuan stopped and turned around. He asked, somewhat hesitantly, "You... aren't planning to put away your umbrella?"

Even now, Xia Zhijing still had her small red umbrella open.

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