Chapter 72: Looking at Others

Black Curtain Lady, bored out of her mind, looked down through the system interface at the snow‑covered square in Beloberg's LowerDistrict.

A Xing, San Yue Qi, Dan Heng and the others seemed to have reached some sort of understanding with Earth Fire and Shiwalo, and were preparing for the upcoming operation.

It was nothing more than the trivial steps of gathering manpower and planning routes, which to her looked like watching a swarm of worker ants—utterly boring.

She withdrew her gaze and looked at the quietly standing Xi Lian beside her.

The pink‑haired girl was mimicking Heimu, curiously observing below through the interface, her azure eyes reflecting a miniature of the frozen world.

"They still need time to prepare."

Heimu's cold voice broke the silence, "During this time, where would you like to go and see?"

Hearing that, Xi Lian withdrew her gaze, lowered her head slightly, and thought for a moment.

Though she could now move within fifty meters of Heimu, what she could see was still limited.

A thought rose in her mind, tinged with a bit of timidity yet crystal clear.

"I… I want to go see… other people."

She whispered, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, "Like Na Ke Xia… and also, the others you mentioned before, who are also imprisoned here like me… companions."

A flicker of understanding flashed in Heimu's violet‑black eyes.

Xi Lian began to actively care about other Golden Descendants, an unmistakable positive sign of her mindset shift.

"You may."

Heimu nodded, turned gracefully, "Come with me."

Xi Lian hurriedly followed, carefully keeping a two‑step distance.

【Data Confinement Vault·Na Ke Xia Space】

The first stop was Na Ke Xia's "cell".

Pure white walls and floor, blinding white light poured straight down from above, the only color being the thick iron fence in the center of the room.

Behind the fence, Na Ke Xia still wore the blue‑white striped patient gown, turned his back to them, crouched in a corner, his fingers dragging something across the floor, his green hair looking somewhat dull.

"Na Ke Xia…?"

Xi Lian called tentatively, her voice sounding unusually clear in the cavernous cell.

Na Ke Xia's moving fingers halted.

He turned his head with an extremely rigid posture, his vacant eyes "looking" toward Xi Lian beyond the fence.

Xi Lian felt a surge of joy!

(He reacted!)

Yet her delight lasted less than three seconds.

Na Ke Xia suddenly sprang to his feet!

He said nothing, made no attack stance, and instead… began to dance!

He waved his arms, tapped his feet, contorted his body at impossible angles, his face still expressionless, as if this bizarre dance were an uncontrollable instinct.

Xi Lian: "…"

She tried again, asking, "Teacher Na Ke Xia? Can you hear me? Do you remember me? I am Xi Lian…"

But Na Ke Xia was completely immersed in his "dance world," ignoring her calls, only moving more vigorously, his motions growing increasingly wild.

Heimu crossed his arms, standing leisurely behind Xi Lian, clearly unfazed by the scene, a hint of spectator's amusement in his violet‑black eyes.

"Let's go."

She said lightly, "He now… only hears his own 'melody.'"

Xi Lian watched the green figure wildly swaying in the cell, sighed helplessly, and could only turn and leave with Heimu.

As she exited the cell, she could still hear the "beat" of feet slapping the floor from inside.

【Data Confinement Vault·Sai Fei Er Space】

Passing through a light gate, the scene before her opened up brightly.

Sunlight was bright, the stream babbled, fragrant grass grew lush, a stark heaven‑and‑hell contrast to Na Ke Xia's gloomy, icy cell.

By the stream, the lively girl Sai Fei Er still sat on her pony, holding a fishing rod without a line, staring intently at the sparkling water, even humming a light tune.

Xi Lian watched this peaceful scene, and her taut heartstrings relaxed a bit.

She looked at Heimu, asking with her eyes.

Heimu slightly lifted his chin, indicating she could step forward.

Xi Lian inhaled deeply, summoned courage, walked to the stream's edge, stopping a few steps from Sai Fei Er, and softly greeted, "You… hello?"

Sai Fei Er turned at the sound, flashing a radiant sunny smile, and naturally replied, "Ah, hello! Are you here to fish too?"

Her gaze was clear, her tone enthusiastic, looking perfectly ordinary.

Xi Lian, infected by her smile, also relaxed, shook her head, "No, I'm not here to fish. I'm Xi Lian, I'm… new here."

She didn't know how to introduce herself.

"Xi Lian? Nice name!"

Sai Fei Er said cheerfully, her attention quickly returning to her rod, "I'm fishing for my grandma!"

Xi Lian looked at her bare rod, then at the empty line, hesitated, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "But… your rod seems to have no line? Can you still catch fish like that?"

Sai Fei Er, hearing that, gave Xi Lian a look that said "why would you ask such a stupid question," and confidently replied, "Of course you can! As long as you believe, the fish will bite! You can't see the line because it's too fine—it's a 'heart line'! Got it?"

Xi Lian: "…"

She stared at Sai Fei Er's overly serious demeanor, at a loss for a rebuttal.

(Heart line?)

This explanation was even harder to grasp than Na Ke Xia's abstract dance.

"So… how long have you been fishing?" Xi Lian changed the question.

"Hm! It's been a while!" Sai Fei Er nodded vigorously, then pouted a bit in annoyance, "But the fish today don't seem very hungry; none have taken the bait. Sigh, grandma is still waiting for fish soup…"

Seeing her heartfelt worry and disappointment, Xi Lian felt a trace of sympathy, even though she knew that worry was built on such absurd grounds.

She even thought that if she had something to eat, perhaps she could "lend" her a "fish."

At that moment, Heimu's cool voice sounded nearby, cutting off the mismatched conversation: "It's time to go."

Xi Lian looked at Heimu and saw her slightly furrowed brow, as if she had received some information.

"A Xing is awake."

Heimu said concisely, her gaze seeming to pierce the Data Space, seeing the scene inside a wardrobe at the Beloberg Goethe Inn.

Xi Lian was startled, instantly understanding that this meant A Xing's "stand‑in" was about to encounter trouble.

She hurriedly said farewell to the still‑focused Sai Fei Er: "Um… I have something to attend to, I'll be leaving first. Wish you… catch a big fish soon."

"Goodbye, Xi Lian! Let's go fishing together next time!"

Sai Fei Er waved without turning her head, still immersed in her "great fishing endeavor."