“Of course you can, pom!
This passenger, you…
what do you want to do?” Seeing Ye Cang approach, Pom-Pom quickly put down the mini broom and covered its furry cheeks with both hands, looking wary.
Himeko had roughly guessed Ye Cang’s idea.
She spoke thoughtfully: “You mean, use only this one communication terminal as bait to fish out that unknown meme contamination?”
Ye Cang nodded and said frankly: “I admit there’s a gambling element.
But you have to risk it to get the biscuit.
Roll the dice, and a bicycle becomes a motorcycle, a motorcycle becomes a Ferrari, a Ferrari becomes a Star Destroyer…”
“Still thinking about your Star Destroyer?” March was almost angry enough to laugh.
“Do you think I’m thinking about the Star Destroyer?
I’m thinking about my rich lady’s safety!” Ye Cang said with a solemn expression and righteous tone.
Himeko shook her head.
“Whether you’re thinking about the Star Destroyer or the rich lady, I don’t approve of you trying something so dangerous alone…
You’re not even a Pathstrider.
If you really run into danger, you won’t even have a chance to fight back.”
Ye Cang chuckled, but his expression was firm as he retorted: “No, you’re wrong, Navigator.
This is something that only I can do.”
“Why?” Himeko was puzzled.
She didn’t even understand why Ye Cang, a mere temporary passenger, was so focused on this particular matter, even willing to take on enormous risk.
Ye Cang, of course, couldn’t tell her and March about his “death loop.” He had to find another excuse and try his best to persuade them: “Precisely because I’m not a powerful Pathstrider, if I get caught, you still have a way to save me.
Conversely, if you got caught, I would have no way to save you.”
Himeko paused slightly, her brows furrowing.
She acknowledged Ye Cang’s reasoning, but felt something was vaguely off.
After a long moment, she barely collected her thoughts and nodded.
“Fine, we’ll do it your way.
But I have one condition.”
“What condition?”
“Your reply must be made in the presence of the entire train crew.” Himeko said without hesitation, “Just me and March alone might not be able to protect you.
But with Mr.
Yang and Dan Heng added, I’m confident that even if you’re hit by the meme contamination…”
Ye Cang: “You can still save me?”
Himeko: “We can still collect your corpse.”
Ye Cang: “…”
After a brief silence, he said with a mix of laughter and tears: “You’ve become mean, Himeko.”
“Learned it from you.” Himeko’s lips curled slightly.
Clearly, Ye Cang’s defeat pleased her, and even her originally worried mood from that eerie communication brightened considerably.
Ye Cang gave a thumbs-up and praised: “Worthy of a professional team.
Very rigorous.
Four people is just right to carry my coffin, and Pom-Pom in front blowing the trumpet…
Oh no, I already have the image in my head.”
Pom-Pom: “?”
Under the little one’s puzzled gaze, Ye Cang lazily lay down on the sofa, his body sliding downward, looking utterly half-dead and lethargic.
He chuckled: “You go get everyone.
Let me enjoy the sofa’s embrace for a while first, so I won’t only have a cold coffin board to lie on later.”
“Alright, you rest up first.
I’ll go search the data room and see if there are any protective measures against memes.” Himeko said, turning and walking toward the end of the car.
March stood between the two, wanting to speak but hesitating.
After a long internal struggle, she finally gritted her teeth and said goodbye to Ye Cang, speaking softly: “Then…
I’ll go get everyone.
You wait here obediently!
Don’t touch that communication terminal!”
“Of course.
I’m not the kind of person who goes looking for death.” Ye Cang smiled slightly and waved for March to hurry along.
The latter left with a face full of suspicion, clearly having nine, or even ten, parts distrust for Ye Cang.
After both had left one after another, the smile on Ye Cang’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a grim solemnity.
Let the train crew watch over him while he replied?
How could that be?
Even if he could loop through death, Ye Cang was unwilling to let these people take that risk.
With a thought, he took out the mask again and covered his face with it, letting it merge with his skin, indistinguishable from each other.
At the same time, a line of star-like text appeared before his eyes.
–+–
[Pathless Walker: Ye Cang]
Path: None (Pseudo-Abundance)
Stature: Emanator
Light Cone: None
Eidolon: None
Relics: None
Traces: Higher-Dimensional Observer, Curse of Eternal Undying, Turn-Based Game, Imagination: Right Hand of Memory, Imagination: Left Hand of Memory (Replica)
Inventory: Death Diary, Elation’s Final Mask
(T/N: Black and white mask is so ass.
I thought the author would name it, but he won’t.
So I did; it’s now called “Elation’s Final Mask”)
Info: The end of the Path is ominous.
The starry sky is polluted by the eldritch.
The world is filled with hideousness and madness.
All Aeons have become indescribable.
Eldritch, ominous, corruption, darkness, decay, chaos, madness, folly, crimson…
You cannot trust anyone.
The only one you can trust is yourself.
Then, advance in death—Pathless Walker.
–+–
Because everything had been too rushed before, Ye Cang had never had the chance to check his own Trace effects through [Aha]’s perspective.
For example, the one whose name alone sounded absurdly overpowered: [Higher-Dimensional Observer].
–+–
[Higher-Dimensional Observer]
Description: Break the fourth wall.
Examine the whole situation from an omniscient perspective.
While in the “Higher-Dimensional Observer” state, temporarily remove all negative status effects.
Note: This Trace can only be triggered while in a “dimensional ascension” state.
Owner: Ye Cang (Pathless Walker).
–+–
“?”
Ye Cang stared blankly at the fairly orderly text before him.
He recognized every single character, but why did stringing them together make no sense?
Break the fourth wall?
Omniscient perspective?
And what the hell is dimensional ascension?
What?
He couldn’t figure it out, and he didn’t dwell on it too long.
His gaze continued downward, landing on the other Traces.
Imagination: Right Hand of Memory and Imagination: Left Hand of Memory (Replica) needed no review.
He had already fully mastered them.
As for the others…
–+–
[Curse of Eternal Undying]
Description: Grant all sentient beings whatever they seek.
The Nurturer of All Beings, the God of the Promised Land, casts Their gaze upon you.
Because of this, you bear the curse of eternal undying.
You will not enter a death state due to any negative effect…
Note: However, physical, quantum, imaginary, fire, ice, wind, lightning…
and other direct damage can kill you.
Owner: Ye Cang (Pseudo-Abundance).
–+–
As for this Trace, Ye Cang’s evaluation was:
Abundant?
Abundant my ass!
“Will not enter a death state due to any negative effect” basically meant that every negative effect would still land on him.
Nothing would be skipped.
In short: useful, but not much.
A chicken rib, but at least you can suck some meat off it.
Helpless, he could only pin his hopes on the last Trace skill.