Ji Jue is sick.

To say Ji Jue probably isn't sick seems unlikely, but to say he's not sick also seems improbable...

"It's quite obvious, sir."

Isis sharply commented on this: "Such things are simply evident."

"..."

Ji Jue sat on the deck of the Prosperity, pinching his chin, looking grave.

Something's off, very much off.

Though it's just nightmares and it's not like he's never had them, once or twice could be excused; but in the past two months, it's been five or six times, and it's all the same nightmare.

Each time the falling is deeper, closer to that flicker of flame...

Like a damn horror movie.

He glanced at his phone, his teacher hadn't replied, and when he asked Ye Chun, the slacker said he hadn't seen him for several days, pretty common occurrence.

Probably some research has reached a critical juncture, too busy to deal with matters outside the workshop.

Ji Jue didn't have the nerve to go kick down the door, after all, apart from the occasional dream, there were no other signs, but to be safe, he decided to first consult some acquaintances.

He directly pushed open the door and jumped to Cliff City, then drove the Little Ox.

Ji Jue headed straight to the Northern Mountain District.

...and just happened to arrive at mealtime, pulled in to sit at the table.

.

.

"Nightmare? Who?"

After taking a sip of beer, Wen Wen knocked on some boiled peanuts, eyed him side-eye, full of shock: "You? Hahahahaha... seriously?"

"Is there anything fake about this kind of thing?" Ji Jue couldn't help but sigh.

"Let me see, doesn't seem like anything's wrong?"

Wen Wen wrapped her arm around Ji Jue's neck, directly prying his mouth open, lowering her eyes to inspect, like checking a beast's teeth. Her slim fingers curled and knocked on his teeth, producing a clear echo.

But the fine sounds and resonance instantly spread throughout his body, as if struck by a large bell, reverberating endlessly. Under Minerva's vibration, material resonance sang joyously, without the need for material interference, Ji Jue felt his bones harden out of thin air.

In the course of probing, she also casually threw a BUFF at Ji Jue.

Ji Jue was almost rolling his eyes.

Frantically patting her arm, he was nearly strangled: "Sister Wen, Sister Wen, I can hardly breathe..."

"Doesn't seem like there's anything wrong."

Wen Wen finally released him, thought for a moment, and advised earnestly: "Those who do injustice shall be doomed, Ji Jue. Could it be that heaven is warning you?"

Ji Jue was still catching his breath, and burst out laughing at what he heard: "Heaven would be so kind?"

"Then... conscience?"

"Sorry, I don't have such a thing!"

Ji Jue shook his head decisively: "Even if I did, it's not that effective."

"..."

Wen Wen was speechless, sighing as she lifted her beer and drank deeply.

You say a good lad, how did he become so inhuman after learning alchemy?

To be honest, the route of craftsman is a bit unorthodox.

The Security Bureau has received numerous anonymous reports; there's a dog outside the city who loves to entrap people, taking them to sweatshops as illegal labor...

Embers is harming others!

"It's over, fatal disease!"

After searching for a while, Little An finally lifted his head from his phone, his face turning pale, "Brother Ji Jue, what to do? This illness seems quite serious... I-I'll take you home!"

Ji Jue was even more drained.

Don't just randomly search everything on search engines!

If you keep searching, I might just end up in a funeral tomorrow.

"Appreciate it, appreciate it."

He quickly waved his hands, comforting the panicked Little An.

These days, just mentioning the An Family makes him shiver, always feeling like a prey being eyed by a wolf; after all, the White Deer is freaking free... what if I just get captured and star-stamped right after entering the door?

For the time being, better not deliver myself there.

"Hmm, there's some excessive moisture."

The only Vortex System caregiver in the Northern Mountain District, Old Zhang, having watched the drama long enough, finally took Ji Jue's pulse and concluded.

Ji Jue was almost laughing: "I'm nearly a dried corpse, where's the moisture?"

"Doesn't matter, it's the kind of fiery restlessness, yin deficiency, where moisture assaults the muscles... in simple terms, a bit of endocrine disorder, hormone imbalance, young folks, don't indulge too crazily just because you're young."

Indeed, the Vortex System veteran, his insight as sharp as ever, easily detected what shenanigans Ji Jue had recently pulled: "Whilst forcing the water down an unwilling ox's throat is a solution, do be cautious not to go overboard."

"Are there any hidden dangers?" Ji Jue grew nervous.

"Countless hidden dangers, but they're all within your tolerable range. Numerous problems, but if ignored, they'll naturally heal over time.

After all, your foundation is sufficient, just with a little intense stimulation, it'll unleash... well, presently you're in quite a vigorous growth phase, it seems your Fifth Rank is almost done."

Old Zhang twirled an iron ball, speaking lazily: "Isn't it about to reach the Sixth?"

Ji Jue nodded.

Unconsciously, he crooked his mouth, revealing a slightly reserved smile.

For a moment, the table became silent.

Is he reaching Sixth Rank soon?

During the conversation, Tong Hua, who had been sneaking bites, froze, wide-eyed and speechless: from a blank slate to Sixth Rank, how long did it take? A year?

No, was it even a year?! Not even eight months!

In such a short time, from the trickiest Embers to the point of completing the Transformation, all but resurrected!

Where did this monster come from!

In an instant, everyone subconsciously looked at Wen Wen.

In the silence, Wen Wen, puzzled, flicked the ash from her cigarette.

Baffled.

"What's up?"

She looked around in confusion, finally patting Ji Jue on the shoulder, comforting him: "Don't be upset, it's a bit slow, but it's quite normal, right?"

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