Guo Ruofan looked at Chi Yun Su, who appeared completely unfazed, and felt a rare sense of curiosity. He asked her, “How did you end up in Black Port?”
Chi Yun Su didn’t seem very old, but her slightly fierce eyebrows and eyes carried a mature air, making it difficult for Guo Ruofan to guess her age. However, from the way she had called Hong Guang “brother” earlier, it was clear that she was indeed around the age of adulthood, just as her appearance suggested.
If she was that young, he found it hard to imagine how someone with such a mindset could be in Black Port.
Chi Yun Su shrugged. “Who knows? I’ve been in Black Port for as long as I can remember.”
“Impossible,” Guo Ruofan said firmly. “How could a card maker be native to Black Port?” Even if this card maker only knew how to make a bunch of useless White Cards, it was still unthinkable.
Chi Yun Su didn’t mind Guo Ruofan’s certainty and shrugged again. “But I am. From childhood to now, if you ask around, you can clearly trace my life at F171 Port.”
After all… no one knew that Chi Yun Su was a transmigrator.
What Guo Ruofan said could be considered a universal truth in this world.
A long, long time ago, when Chi Yun Su picked up the book Card Making Fundamentals from a garbage heap and skimmed through it, she had already realized this.
Because card crafting wasn’t just about talent; a crucial aspect was the understanding and application of knowledge. In a way, card crafting was the science of this world.
After digesting the knowledge in Card Making Fundamentals, Chi Yun Su could roughly conclude that many card makers might spend their entire lives researching only one type of Card.
It was similar to how doctors and academicians in her past world specialized in specific fields.
And Black Port had no education system, which was why Guo Ruofan said it was absolutely impossible.
As for Chi Yun Su’s words, Guo Ruofan didn’t say whether he believed her or not. In his view, Chi Yun Su didn’t seem to have any close connections, so if someone with ill intentions wanted to, replacing her identity would be a simple matter.
But in reality, Guo Ruofan didn’t care much about Black Port affairs. He had only asked out of curiosity and didn’t mind whether Chi Yun Su was telling the truth or lying.
Coming to Black Port was merely a hidden route he had chosen out of necessity.
Chi Yun Su didn’t dwell on whether Guo Ruofan believed her either. After finishing her previous statement, she immediately continued, “What’s the effective range of your invisibility Card? We need to prepare to leave.”
From their earlier confrontation, at least the blood that left Guo Ruofan’s body wasn’t protected by the invisibility effect. As for other details, Chi Yun Su couldn’t quite determine them.
Guo Ruofan glanced at this native Black Port card maker. “It only works on the user, a living being, and objects covered by the user’s psychic energy.” This was common knowledge for all combat-type Card usage—everything operated based on psychic energy manipulation, so there was nothing particularly secretive about what Chi Yun Su had asked.
Chi Yun Su, whose card crafting knowledge came solely from Card Making Fundamentals and the rest from her own exploration, nodded.
She knew about psychic energy.
Because card crafting required using psychic energy to imprint Circuits onto Cards.According to Card Making Fundamentals, not everyone possesses psychic energy, but Chi Yun Su was fortunate. After half a month of experimenting based on the drawing descriptions in the book, she managed to find hers.
Now, from Guo Ruofan’s brief statement, Chi Yun Su vaguely sensed the flavor of another card crafting method.
It seemed somewhat similar to the Absorption Card she had accidentally created.
However, Chi Yun Su knew that Guo Ruofan would definitely not explain these details to her—in fact, Guo Ruofan might not even understand them himself.
After all, when Guo Ruofan mentioned the term “card maker” earlier, his tone carried a certain gravity. If he were one himself, he probably wouldn’t have spoken that way.
So, Chi Yun Su didn’t press further on the matter. In any case, she already had a Card crafted using that method hanging around her neck.
Chi Yun Su gently touched her Neck Ring, pondering the inspiration this new card crafting method had sparked in her, before heading back down to the basement. She packed up everything of value.
Mostly, these were card crafting materials, along with her nearly worn-out copy of Card Making Fundamentals and some notes. Altogether, they took up about the size of a backpack.
Even though Chi Yun Su had managed to get by fairly well in Black Port using her wits, research and development were always money-burning endeavors. To still possess a backpack’s worth of assets, Chi Yun Su was quite satisfied.
“When I go out later, you take these things and follow me invisibly,” Chi Yun Su, having completely taken charge, instructed Guo Ruofan directly.
Guo Ruofan couldn’t be bothered to argue with Chi Yun Su and simply took the bag from her.
He had encountered plenty of people like Chi Yun Su—scheming and full of tricks. Even if he refused, she would undoubtedly come up with countless reasons to persuade him to agree.
Guo Ruofan didn’t want to waste time. As long as his ultimate goal was achieved, that was enough.
Chi Yun Su, who had expected some back-and-forth, was slightly surprised but immediately took advantage of the situation without hesitation.
She went back up to her room on the second floor, retrieved a stack of cash hidden behind the wall near her bed, and stuffed every remaining space in the backpack Guo Ruofan was holding. She even utilized the outside of the backpack, hanging the few bottles of water she had just brought back on it.
The silent Guo Ruofan: “…”
Only after everything was packed did Chi Yun Su dig out a few weapons from inside the wall on the first floor, concealing them on her person. Then, with an air of calm composure, she opened the front door and stepped out, walking as casually as she always did.
The residential areas of Black Port didn’t have clearly defined main roads—just one narrow alley after another. Chi Yun Su skillfully weaved through these winding lanes, which served as excellent cover for anyone moving about.
She didn’t have Guo Ruofan’s Invisibility Card, but she had Camouflage and Dazzling Light, crafted using the knowledge in her mind.
As her movements gradually sped up, a visual disturbance occurred, and Chi Yun Su swiftly vanished from the sight of many watchful eyes.
Ten minutes later, a person dressed as shabby and disheveled as any ordinary Black Port resident—indistinguishable in gender at a glance—pushed open the door of a dilapidated house and walked in, casually attempting to close the door behind them but failing to do so.Looking at the completely empty doorway, Chi Yun Su felt a slight regret.
She had deliberately prepared a large, cumbersome backpack for ‘Guo Ruofan’—one that wouldn’t be easy to maneuver through narrow alleys—yet she still hadn’t managed to shake him off.
Chi Yun Su didn’t believe that ‘Guo Ruofan,’ who had just arrived in Black Port, could have become so familiar with these alleyways. Clearly, the deadly Neck Ring around her neck must also have a tracking function.
Since it was a matter of succeeding if possible but not a big deal if she failed, Chi Yun Su didn’t dwell on the disappointment. She pinched her throat, using the rough voice that matched her current identity, and asked, “Why aren’t you coming in?”
‘Guo Ruofan’ didn’t respond.
It wasn’t that he had doubts about Chi Yun Su’s current appearance—he could indeed sense the Neck Ring infused with his psychic energy.
He was simply hesitant about entering Chi Yun Su’s house.
Whether it was the intricate traps and mechanisms during their first encounter, or the way she had used the walls as storage space when packing up to leave later, ‘Guo Ruofan’ couldn’t help but feel wary of anything related to Chi Yun Su’s living quarters.
Chi Yun Su’s combat skills might be lacking, but the things she created were truly venomous.
Although the house looked dilapidated, ‘Guo Ruofan’ thought it over and quietly prepared his Defensive Cards before stepping inside under Chi Yun Su’s slightly puzzled gaze.
This safe house was one place where Chi Yun Su genuinely hadn’t set up any strange contraptions. After all, in Black Port, the less conspicuous and more rundown a place looked, the better.
After waiting several seconds, Chi Yun Su finally felt she could close the door.
Once the door was securely shut, ‘Guo Ruofan’ revealed himself again.
The backpack was still neatly strapped to his back, so Chi Yun Su glanced down and noticed that ‘Guo Ruofan’s’ shoes were still clean.
It seemed he had taken the route over the rooftops. Moreover, as the one being followed, Chi Yun Su hadn’t sensed any movement above her.
This guy’s agility was even more terrifying than she had imagined. Chi Yun Su made a mental note, just as a deafening blast from a weapon erupted not too far away. The resulting gust of wind rattled the door of the dilapidated room.
The two Cards she had handed over earlier had taken effect.
Chi Yun Su’s expression remained unchanged, as if nothing had happened. She reached out to take the backpack from ‘Guo Ruofan,’ pulled out a notebook from inside, and tossed it to him.
“The key points for the Sorter exam. Memorize them as quickly as possible. You have at most three days.”