Chapter 116: A Familiar Stranger

Following the signs, Chu Ning and the others sprinted along the road without pause. Nothing unexpected occurred during the journey, yet he found it somewhat difficult to adapt. After all, he had chosen the path of truth—a quest for knowledge that was inevitably fraught with hardships. This was undeniably a challenging road.

Sometimes, the truth proves harder to attain than wealth. Chu Ning maintained a cautious demeanor, carefully exploring his surroundings. Ever since encountering X-07, he realized the world he once understood was far more complex than he had imagined.

“The outside world really is dangerous. Staying cooped up at home was definitely the right choice!” Chu Ning felt a surge of relief at his wise decision, his eyes fixed intently on any potential trouble ahead.

“Do you feel how eerie it is around here? Especially as we get closer up ahead,” Tanya said, tightening her clothes against the chill. She knew her actions were somewhat futile—the cold that permeated the air was more than a mere drop in temperature.

Since becoming a ghost, she had gradually noticed her sensitivity to temperature had dulled. She often found herself unconsciously seeking out cooler spots, disliking warmer weather.

In the past, though, out of a girl’s natural desire to stay beautiful, she would avoid the scorching sun to prevent her skin from darkening—a fate most girls found unacceptable.

“Really? I don’t feel anything,” Chu Ning said, extending his hand to better sense the environment. Yet to him, the temperature seemed to remain constant.

It wasn’t until his black hair swayed in the wind that he realized Tanya was right—the temperature was steadily falling, though he struggled to perceive the change.

He had never previously paid close attention to how his body reacted to shifts in temperature.

Humans rarely notice signs unless something is amiss. When the body is affected by abnormal conditions, it sends warning signals urging one to stop and reassess.

“Sorry, I jumped to conclusions,” Chu Ning apologized dejectedly to Tanya, negative emotions flooding him. His eyes grew vacant as he stared at a spinning fan ahead, muttering incoherent words under his breath.

“Hey, are you okay? If something’s wrong, just say so. Don’t bear it all alone,” Tanya comforted him, following his gaze. All she saw were vague shadows in the distance.

Tilting her head, she asked curiously, “Is there something strange ahead? Or did you see something unusual?”

“I…” Chu Ning’s mouth opened, then closed again. He was beginning to realize just how different he truly was. Could he be a chosen one?

He knew himself best—he had always been ordinary, leading a simple life filled with average school days, typical romances, a mundane job, and an unremarkable marriage arranged by others, spending his years quietly.

But ever since discovering another version of himself, his life had changed dramatically. Like Pandora opening her mysterious box, his world was turned upside down.

Even as a promising figure in a novel—the traveler—he never imagined his life would shine anew, let alone become a beacon of light.

“There’s a set of fans up ahead constantly blowing air. Maybe that’s why the temperature’s dropping,” Chu Ning said, dazedly watching the blades spin, his eyes filled with confusion.

“Perhaps I’m beginning to understand the truth behind everything,” he added, clenching his fists with resolve. It seemed he was uncovering the hidden facts behind these events.

No matter how much he tried to rationalize, he could not escape the reality of his unusual nature.

Tanya hesitated, unsure of what to say. She was beginning to notice something was off about Chu Ning—this might not be the real him.

The person she had been with could very well be playing a role, while the true Chu Ning might still be asleep, trapped in slumber.

Thankfully, they hadn’t encountered any particularly dangerous ghosts or spirits—situations Tanya was ill-equipped to handle. She often worried over Chu Ning, carefully tending to his feelings to prevent him from sinking into despair.

If it weren’t for the threat to her own life, she wouldn’t care much about his condition—whether he broke down or swallowed his pain silently, it was none of her concern.

“What exactly is out there in the distance?” Tanya asked cautiously, unable to find peace without the truth.

After a moment’s silence, Chu Ning gave a mundane reply: “Nothing. Just some spinning fans. Don’t overthink it.” And then, in his heart, he whispered of a familiar stranger.