NOVEL NEXT Chapter 514: Getting Anxious
Twenty minutes ago, in the square outside the Sacrifice Cathedral, amidst the surging crowd, two figures stood quietly, watching everything before them.
In the atmosphere of fervent excitement, they seemed like unrelated people.
Standing silently, for a long, long time…
It's like waiting for a friend who confidently left half an hour ago, slowly growing anxious, slowly getting annoyed.
Yet in the silence, it felt like riding an elevator in a super high building.
After pressing the button, slowly ascending endlessly, the silence becoming gradually awkward.
So, they start making small talk…
"The sky is so blue."
"Mm."
"The wind is nice too."
"Indeed."
"…"
"…"
The brief conversation did not disperse the awkwardness; instead, it made the silence feel deafening.
Seeing Wen Wen getting restless again, Ji Jue couldn't help but sigh. Taking advantage of his height, he patted her shoulder to comfort her, and before she could react, quickly found a topic: "Wen, what do you want to say?"
Wen Wen crossed her arms, stomped her foot, not having time to be annoyed by Ji Jue's shoulder pat, fell into thought, not noticing the hint of a smile on his lips.
Couldn't suppress the corner of his mouth.
Someone as single-minded and straightforward as Wen from Ruins is really easy to appease.
"...If I have to say something, it just feels a bit strange."
Wen Wen pondered for a while before sighing, "We've known each other for so long, although we've collaborated a lot, it's the first time we've properly gone out to fight together, right?"
"Huh, true."
Ji Jue nodded, thought about it, and sighed too, "There just haven't been many opportunities."
"…"
Soon, Wen Wen's gaze became more complex, as if watching someone take her subordinate and run off to work for someone else!
"That guy Tong Zhiwu, every time he talks about you, his eyes light up, saying how reliable and impressive you are, and how well you work together… I can only nod along 'uh huh', couldn't get a word in. Every time, he even asks me, with such a reliable friend, it must be easy on missions, I'm so jealous."
Wen Wen was about to grind her teeth to dust, "But I haven't benefited from it at all!"
"No, normally, whatever opponent you encounter, you basically smash them with one punch, right? If one punch doesn't do it, you follow up with another."
Ji Jue regretfully reminded, "I hardly get a chance to act, besides, isn't a craftsman supposed to stay at the base and work diligently? It's real bad luck to have to fight an ambush."
But thinking about it, for so long, fighting outside the workshop, I've almost gotten used to it… Is it still just bad luck?!
"Craftsmen, huh…"
Wen Wen paused for a moment, "Though I still don't know if your decision to become a craftsman is a good one, you seem to be doing quite well.
In just a little over a year, you even managed to deal with the Heavenly Artisan, maybe in the future, I'll have to go out and mention your name for protection."
She sighed, casually punching Ji Jue's shoulder, forgetting their height difference, hitting his chest instead, then realized, suddenly looking up, examining him:
"Right, why did you pat my shoulder earlier?"
"Eh? Did I?"
Ji Jue looked over blankly, an innocently prepared gaze making Wen Wen even more convinced, her fist clenched menacingly, "You punk, taking advantage while I'm short, aren't you!"
"No, no, it was just on impulse, really not on purpose."
Ji Jue hurriedly explained, trying to stifle a laugh, "But I think, Wen, your current height is quite cute though—pfft, hey, you don't have to hit me, right?
Alright, alright, I'll shut up."
Ji Jue raised his hands in surrender, or Wen Wen might jump and give him a big smack on the head. His current petrified state still hadn't improved; a slap might send his head flying, making it troublesome to reattach.
Seeing him surrender, Wen Wen snorted and looked away.
Didn't want to speak.
Ji Jue looked down; after installing mechanical limbs, his height had increased by over thirty centimeters. Now, with both sides' shifts, Wen Wen only reached his chest.
How to put it, it feels like, after the height shrinkage and age reduction, the mind also became much younger.
No, this world built on the Huangliang Remains is ultimately an Illusion Dream, everything is but an illusion, even people's appearances are reflections of their inner self-awareness, which means…
Though appearing so mature and steady, inside, it's completely different!
"Pfft—"
As Ji Jue thought about it, a sudden stab of pain hit his stomach, making him bend over.
He was elbowed!
"Hey, Wen, what are you doing?"
"Huh? I don't know, just suddenly had the urge to punch you twice." Wen Wen solemnly asked, "Usually at this time, the one getting beat is thinking something weird, are you not!?"
"Absolutely not, okay!"
"Then why do I increasingly want to punch you?"
"It's just your simple desire to hit people!"
"You punk, don't let me catch you, huh!"
…
Just some idle chatter during boredom, but somehow, sometime, the awkwardness and distance disappeared without notice.
Naturally standing together, teasing and roughhousing.
Amidst countless fervent prayers and shouts around them, like two distinct drops of water blending into the ocean, drifting forward with the tide.