Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 59: A Mood “Regulator”

Just as Jiang Baimian was reflecting on how the trouble had finally passed and how they could embark on their original journey, a slightly deep and masculine voice sounded.

“Jiang Baimian thought that things were over when she said those words, but little does she know that things are far from over. The waves of fate are pushing her to a completely different crossroad...”

Jiang Baimian turned her head in surprise and looked at Shang Jianyao. “... Why did you suddenly say that?”

Shang Jianyao had a serious expression. “I happened to think of this sentence. Perhaps I sensed the heavens’ will.”

While Jiang Baimian was confused, Long Yuehong hesitantly said, “I think I’ve heard that before... Yes, in the radio programs from before!”

Shang Jianyao had only changed the names!

The radio station under Pangu Biology’s Entertainment Department did not only do Newspoint. There were also programs like Bedtime Music and Random Stories. It was one of the few spiritual pleasures that employees enjoyed.

Shang Jianyao’s serious expression instantly vanished as he revealed a sunny smile. “Don’t you think that this line perfectly matched the scene from before?”

Jiang Baimian laughed involuntarily. “You are now doing voice-overs? Hmm... Not bad. It looks like everyone’s in a good mood.”

As she swept her gaze across, she saw Bai Chen’s expression turn a little confused.

The petite lady stood there, not knowing how to join the conversation.

“Are you a little lonely? Do you feel like an outsider?” Jiang Baimian asked directly with a smile.

Bai Chen’s expression changed a few times, and she instinctively pursed her lips. “I’m an outsider to begin with.”

As Bai Chen was not an official employee yet, and certain news on the radio could not be leaked, there were no corresponding circuits linked to the residential area where she lived.

This made her a little confused about the topic at hand.

If not for the fact that she had seen radio loudspeakers used for issuing orders in certain settlements and had heard the time announcement on the Security Department’s floor, she might not have understood the meaning of the word ‘radio.’

Just like how many Ruin Hunters knew that a collapsed building in the steelworks factory ruins was once a radio station, they did not know what a radio station was.

“You can’t say that. Many of the company’s high-ranking employees—and even some from management—were wilderness nomads. When you become an official employee, you can participate in the marriage assignment. When the time comes, we will all be family.” Jiang Baimian consoled Bai Chen as if she was prepared.

“Besides, which do you think is deeper? Our friendship, or the friendship between the board members—which I’ve never interacted with—and me? After experiencing life and death together, we are sisters with different parents. How can we be considered outsiders?”

“What about us?” Shang Jianyao quipped.

“The two of you?” Jiang Baimian seriously pondered for two seconds. “We can’t say that you are siblings with different parents for the time being. What if one of you is matched to Bai Chen in the future?”

Having a wilderness nomad senior who had joined Pangu Biology tell her about the central assignment, Bai Chen couldn’t help but size up Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong. Her expression didn’t seem too happy.

“I understand. You feel a little inferior.” Shang Jianyao seemed to understand Bai Chen’s apprehensions.

Despite Bai Chen’s experience, knowledge, and self-restraint, the muscles on her face slightly warped at this moment. She didn’t know if she should snap back in anger or laugh in exasperation.

Jiang Baimian mocked Shang Jianyao impolitely. “Forget it. What kind of person will like you? Uh, if you were a mute with disabled limbs, there might be more people who like you.”

She wasn’t that careful when facing Shang Jianyao. After spending the past few days together, she had already come to the preliminary conclusion that Shang Jianyao was rather strong mentally and wouldn’t be truly affected by such words.

On the contrary, she couldn’t say that to Long Yuehong.

As a team leader, Jiang Baimian had always understood that people were different. Different people needed different handling methods.

This was also one of the reasons why she was popular in the Security Department.

Long Yuehong—who had felt a little inferior due to Bai Chen’s inspection and subsequent change in expression—was amused by Shang Jianyao. The haze that had just surfaced in his heart vanished instantly.

Bai Chen turned her head and said to Long Yuehong, “Sorry. I was just imagining the scene of you two being my husband. I found it a little strange and unfamiliar. I didn’t mean anything else.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Long Yuehong quickly replied.

Jiang Baimian smiled and asked, “What if it doesn’t feel strange?”

“Then, I’ll find an opportunity to sleep with him,” said Bai Chen casually.

“Huh?” Long Yuehong was shocked.

Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian raised their eyebrows in unison.

Bai Chen suddenly felt like laughing for some reason. “This is very common in the Ashlands. Try your best to sleep with someone you like as soon as possible. If you wait until the next day, he or you might die from all kinds of problems. Team Leader, I always thought you were an experienced person, but...”

“Haha.” Jiang Baimian laughed dryly. “My focus isn’t in that direction.”

Jiang Baimian then revealed a pondering expression. “This is something that should be recorded. This is a human culture that arose in the Ashlands due to the harsh environments after the Old World was destroyed.”

After such a ‘discussion,’ Bai Chen inexplicably felt like the distance between her, Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Shang Jianyao had decreased significantly. She really felt like a comrade-in-arms who could live and die together.

When she was a wilderness nomad, she had experienced life-and-death situations with many people. But most of them were a result of the environment and situation. There was no friendship between the two parties. When they escaped danger, they would even shoot each other in the back.

Therefore, although she had faced danger many times with Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and Long Yuehong, she only admired Jiang Baimian’s qualities, feared Shang Jianyao’s abilities, and pitied Long Yuehong’s forced growth. She still maintained a considerable distance from them psychologically.

While Bai Chen was sighing with emotion, Jiang Baimian suddenly cast her gaze at her and smiled. “How is it? Does it feel like you’re really a member of a team now?”

Upon seeing Jiang Baimian’s bright smile, Bai Chen couldn’t help but close her eyes. “Team Leader...”

She didn’t expect Jiang Baimian to be able to grasp her mental state so accurately.

Jiang Baimian laughed. “As a team leader, apart from improving each of your abilities, I also have to pay attention to your psychological problems. Don’t underestimate me just because I’m mainly teaching those two rookies—no, a jerk and a rookie. In fact, I’ve always been paying attention to your feelings and performance. For a long time to come, we will face countless dangers together. We need to give our backs to each other for protection. Our relationship must be deeper than that of biological sisters.

“I previously said that I would do my best to ensure my team members’ survival with every decision I make. I wasn’t only saying this to Long Yuehong and Shang Jianyao, but also to you.”

Bai Chen remained silent. She pursed her lips and looked at Jiang Baimian, not saying a word for a long time.

“Unfortunately, Team Leader, you’re a woman. Otherwise, I would have slept with you tonight.” It was not Bai Chen who said this, but Shang Jianyao—who had deliberately heightened his pitch.

Bai Chen turned around in surprise to look at this fellow that never acted according to convention.

“Helped you with the voice acting.” Shang Jianyao nodded sincerely.

“I didn’t have such thoughts!” Bai Chen blurted out a retort, her face clearly a little flushed.

“Just take it that way.” Shang Jianyao tried his best to persuade her.

“Shut up!” Jiang Baimian finally couldn’t help but roar in exasperation and amusement. “Can’t you be a little more serious?”

Shang Jianyao’s eyebrows twitched. “I’m very serious most of the time. A small portion of the time, I’m helping to liven up the mood. There are rare instances when I really can’t control myself. I have a doctor to prove it!”

He sounded full of confidence.

“Thank you!” Jiang Baimian slightly gritted her teeth as she replied.

After the incident with the mechanical monk—Jingfa—Bai Chen and Long Yuehong could now guess why Shang Jianyao’s occasional train of thought would deviate. They didn’t answer the question and let it pass.

After ‘thanking’ him, Jiang Baimian grumbled at Shang Jianyao. “Seriously, you’ve washed away Bai Chen’s feelings.”

“...” Bai Chen was at a loss whether to laugh or cry as she glanced at her team leader, not wanting to continue the topic. Don’t talk about feelings! How embarrassing!

Jiang Baimian smiled to herself when she saw that the mood had returned to normal. She waved her hand and said, “Let’s go; time to set off!”

As they had already arrived at the hilly area where Blackrat Town was, they did not return to the steelwork factory ruins. Instead, they directly headed southeast—in the direction of Qifeng Town.

It was rainy in autumn. When the jeep drove until almost noon, the clouds became thicker, and the sky turned darker. Rain pattered down in the wilderness.

The rain wasn’t heavy, but it produced a hazy, blurry feeling out of nothing. This caused Bai Chen’s field of vision to shrink suddenly.

Before long, the jeep arrived at a rather wide and seemingly deep river.

It was called ‘Green River’ because some green algae-like organisms perennially grew at the bottom of the river. It was the mother river for many creatures in the Blackmarsh Wilderness.

At this moment, the bridge over the green river—which had been in disrepair for many years—had already been broken. Most of its sections had fallen into the water.

“It looks like it was blown up...” Jiang Baimian examined it carefully and made a preliminary judgment. “Let’s head downstream and take another bridge.”

Just as she said that, she saw a person walking out from behind a certain bridge.

In the dense, misty rain, this person wore a black trench coat and a pair of identical gloves. He was about 1.8 meters tall, and his hair was neatly combed back. He carried a long, slightly strange silver rifle on his back. He held a black umbrella in one hand and walked toward the slowly approaching jeep with his other hand hanging down naturally.

Although they hadn’t seen the other party’s face clearly, Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and the others suddenly couldn’t take their eyes off him.

Bai Chen—who had wanted to turn the steering wheel—subconsciously stopped moving and stepped on the brakes.

The person came close before long, revealing a handsome face with black hair, golden eyes, sharp eyebrows, starry eyes, and distinct edges and corners.

He knocked on the driver’s seat window and smiled. “I’ve finally shaken off that enthusiastic monster. Can you guys give me a ride?”