Chapter 17: Sliding Over Like Frozen MeatUnder Lin Ting's affirmative gaze, Shan Xiaoxi stared wide-eyed at the three suspension cables, completely stunned.After being pushed from behind, Lin Ting pulled Shan Xiaoxi back. Even as her body moved away, Shan Xiaoxi's head remained turned toward the scene.The massive window resembled a gaping mouth, but what did those three suspension cables resemble? Shan Xiaoxi couldn't find the words to describe them. She was more concerned about where they led—to the hopeful Third Ring or the despairing Abyss?Inside the transfer station, Shan Xiaoxi remained silent. Only after leaving the station and returning to the street did she whisper to Lin Ting for confirmation.Lin Ting seemed to sigh. "Just as you imagined—sliding over like frozen meat."As they neared the CJK warehouse, Shan Xiaoxi drank another bottle of Bone Wine. Although less than two hours had passed, the therapeutic effects weren't perfectly precise, so it was safer to replenish early.Shan Xiaoxi and Lin Ting moved much slower on their way back. In the same amount of time, most smugglers had already completed two round trips.When the two returned to the security room in the distribution area, the old security guard was nowhere to be seen.The locker storing their clothes was locked.Lin Ting and Shan Xiaoxi exchanged a glance.Lin Ting said, "No point waiting. Can you handle it?"Shan Xiaoxi approached the locker, examined the lock, then pulled a small box from her bag. She selected a long needle, fiddled with the lock for a few moments, and—Click—the lock opened.They retrieved their clothes and changed quickly. Without waiting for the guard's return, they left the two sets of work uniforms on the table, along with the numbered tags they had collected in the smuggling passage.The tags functioned like pickup vouchers.The security guard could use them to claim "overtime pay" from the factory accountant. The factory would then send the collected tags to the Third Ring, where personnel would use them to retrieve goods from the smuggling passage.Not encountering the old guard lifted Shan Xiaoxi's spirits slightly. But the thought of the three suspension cables in the smuggling passage immediately weighed her down again.In her previous life, there were cableway systems, but long-distance ones always had relay towers along the route.Here, the suspension cables stretched over the Abyss. No matter how powerful the shadowy figures behind them were, building relay towers in the Abyss was impossible. This meant each cable had to span several kilometers continuously.Had technology in this world truly reached such a level?It seemed this world and her previous one had branched off on entirely different paths of technological development.Having achieved their goal for the day, the two had nothing else to do. After leaving CJK, they headed home.They walked slowly, their pace affected by their mood. On the way back, they spoke in hushed tones."Now you understand how difficult smuggling is. Do you still insist on going to the Third Ring?"Once again, the image of the three endless suspension cables, stretching kilometers into the distance, surfaced in Shan Xiaoxi's mind. The answer that had once come so easily now stuck in her throat.It was easy to make verbal commitments, but deciding whether to act on them was another matter entirely.Even with her unwavering determination to find her Brother, whether to use smuggling as a means to reach the Third Ring required further consideration."I'll think it over carefully."These words were like a promise, signifying that Shan Xiaoxi would take responsibility for her decision—and, by extension, for her own life.Tonight's experiences were all firsts in Shan Xiaoxi's life, requiring careful recollection and contemplation.It was now past midnight. The time when the Crimson Moon shone brightest.The earth, houses, and streets were draped in a layer of crimson gauze. Shan Xiaoxi and Lin Ting walked in the shadows along the walls, still doing their best to avoid direct exposure to the Crimson Moon's light.Late autumn nights should have been cold, but from constant movement, a thin layer of sweat had formed on Shan Xiaoxi's back.The sports clothes sticking to her back were uncomfortable, so Shan Xiaoxi lifted the hem of her shirt and fanned it, letting her body breathe.Suddenly, a gust of wind brushed past her face, stirring a few stray strands of hair at her temples.Shan Xiaoxi blinked in confusion. It seemed a dark shadow had just brushed past her."Ting-jie, did something just pass by?""Not that I saw.""But I thought I saw a shadow, and there was wind…""Don't scare me. There can't be any Deformities lurking around. The Night Watchers just cleared out a batch a few days ago.""A batch?""That closed-down livestock farm. They say several Deformities appeared there. The Night Watchers killed them all. That's why the farm was shut down. Otherwise, it probably would've been swept under the rug.""Several of them… are you sure they were all killed? Could any have escaped?""Don't jinx it. Walk faster, let's get home first. We can talk about everything else after daybreak.""Alright. I'll come find you at the eatery after it's light.""No rush. Think it over at home for a few days, then come see me when you've made up your mind. Girl, you need to think clearly. If you insist on going to the Third Ring, the road ahead you'll have to walk alone. I can't accompany you every time."The two quickened their pace, almost breaking into a jog, and soon crossed the alloy bridge in the East District, arriving first at the side door of Patra's Eatery."Ting-jie, we're at the eatery. You go on in.""Do you need me to walk you home?""No need. It's not far from here. I can manage on my own."As she spoke, Shan Xiaoxi pulled out a rod about fifteen centimeters long from her bag.One end of the rod had a solid ball, while the other end was telescopic, consisting of five sections in total. This telescopic baton was Shan Xiaoxi's most commonly used self-defense weapon. She particularly liked its adjustable length design, finding it very handy to use.Shan Xiaoxi brandished the baton in her hand: "I'm the queen of Grass Street. I've never been afraid since I was little."Without stopping, Shan Xiaoxi continued jogging. Lin Ting watched her retreating figure from the doorway for a moment before returning inside the eatery.Shan Xiaoxi walked faster and faster, transitioning from a jog to a run.The earlier suspicion about the shadow lingered in her mind. There was one thing she hadn't told Lin Ting. In that gust of wind, she had caught a scent.A fresh yet complex fragrance, like flowers mixed with the scent of grass—the kind of aroma one might smell in a spring breeze, not something that should appear on an autumn night.This was certainly not a scent a Deformity would have. Deformities were the products of failed mutations; they were only ever ugly, accompanied by foul stenches, and nauseating.If it wasn't a Deformity, then what else could be lurking on the streets in the early hours? Either it was someone like Shan Xiaoxi, trying to avoid prying eyes while doing something, or it could only be the Night Watchers.The former wasn't particularly frightening; Shan Xiaoxi could handle them with her telescopic baton. If it was the latter, then the only option was to run, run, run as fast as possible.Shan Xiaoxi was unaware that the shadow was following her not far behind. And indeed, that shadow was the latter—a Night Watcher.Not only that, but the person was also an acquaintance she had met twice before.Mu Zimian had been trailing behind Shan Xiaoxi until he could see the gate of Green Grass Orphanage, at which point he stopped. He stood in the distance, watching Shan Xiaoxi enter the orphanage before leaving.

The Fashion Rookie and The Mysterious Gentleman