Chapter 973: Karma and Sin

Chen Junnan felt something was off as he walked down the street.

This night was far too unusual.

It was almost pitch-black, yet the streets were eerily quiet—not a single “ant” in sight.

Even though they had already experienced two “Heavenly Moments,” many buildings nearby still had figures moving inside. Groups of people huddled together, lighting faint flames.

For a moment, Chen Junnan felt like he had been transported back ten years, when many “participants” were still alive. At night, they would gather just like this—not exactly chatting freely, but at least exchanging a few words.

The scattered flames in the buildings made the road less dark, but Chen Junnan still found it strange.

After all, there was a long-haired girl who had been following him at a steady distance for the entire journey.

He clearly remembered that shortly after he left “Paradise Gate,” she had stepped out too. At first, he thought it was a coincidence, but she had been tailing him the whole way, impossible to shake off.

After turning three corners, Chen Junnan finally stopped and turned to face her.

“Hey… lady.”

“Oh? What’s up, little brother?” the girl replied without hesitation.

“Wow, you really take an inch and run a mile, huh…”

Chen Junnan sized up the long-haired girl in front of him. Dressed in black and tall, she showed no trace of the nervousness one might expect from someone tailing another.

“You call me ‘lady,’ and I can’t call you ‘little brother’?” she countered.

“Fine, you’re absolutely right,” Chen Junnan conceded with a nod.

The girl shrugged. “So? Why’d you stop? Keep going.”

“I—” Chen Junnan frowned. “Listen, lady, this doesn’t make sense. You’ve been stuck to my tail the whole way—got business with me or not? If you do, just say it now so I can relax. If not, let’s go our separate ways so I can stop worrying. Otherwise, I’m starting to think you’ve got a thing for my good looks, and that’s making this walk real awkward.”

“Ha.” The girl laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Little Brother Sir, you’ve got the logic backwards. The reason you feel like I’m following you is because you’re walking ahead of me. What does that have to do with me?”

“What the hell kind of title is ‘Little Brother Sir’? Sounds like you’re mixing generations,” Chen Junnan grumbled. “Lady, if you think I’m blocking your way, why don’t you go ahead instead?”

“Nope, can’t do that,” she said.

“Why not?”

“If I walk ahead alone, what if you stop following me?”

The bluntness of her question caught Chen Junnan off guard. Scratching his head, he asked, “I don’t get it. What’s the big deal if I don’t follow you? I didn’t come out here to tail you in the first place…”

“Here’s the logic,” she explained. “I’m a girl walking alone late at night—not exactly safe, right?”

“Right.”

“If I run into trouble, I’d be at a disadvantage.”

“Right.”

“So, by walking behind you, we’re at least traveling together. That makes me a little safer.”

“Right.”

“But if I go ahead and you just leave, then I’m back to walking alone in the dark. Dangerous again, right?”

“Right—wait, no! That’s bullshit!”

Chen Junnan still couldn’t wrap his head around her reasoning. “I seriously don’t get it… Aren’t I just a stranger to you too? Oh, strangers are dangerous, but I’m safe? And why is your safety suddenly my responsibility?”

“Stranger…?” The girl shook her head. “I don’t think so, Little Brother Sir. If I’m not mistaken, you’re Chen Junnan, right?”

“Nope. I’m Calabash Boy.”

“Ha…” She covered her mouth with a laugh. “Someone told me that once you meet Chen Junnan, you’ll never forget him. Seems accurate.”

Chen Junnan narrowed his eyes. “And you are…? I remember seeing you with that girl in white—Yan Zhichun—back at ‘Paradise Gate,’ right?”

“Exactly. I’m Jiang Ruoxue. Zhichun mentioned you kept trying to set her up with someone… Do you usually take on matchmaking gigs?”

“Like hell I do.” Chen Junnan shook his head. “Lady Jiang, where exactly are you trying to go? Can’t whatever it is wait till morning? Even you know it’s dangerous out here at night.”

Jiang Ruoxue smiled faintly. “Why ask me? We’re probably in the same boat—both got some kind of order tonight, so we’re both moving now.”

“Well, well… So tonight really isn’t peaceful, huh?” Chen Junnan chuckled. “Lady Jiang, are you ‘Extremists’?”

“Yep. The real deal, no refunds, loyal to the end,” she confirmed. “And you? What’s your affiliation?”

“I’m Calabash Boy.”

“Sure, sure…” Jiang Ruoxue sighed in exasperation. “Little Brother Sir Calabash Boy, it’s getting darker by the minute. Stop wasting time and keep walking.”

“Fine, you too.” Chen Junnan shrugged. “I may have been socially awkward my whole life, but I get restless if no one’s around to shoot the breeze. Since the road’s so quiet, how about you chat with me?”

“Fine by me.” Jiang Ruoxue nodded, stepping up beside him as they walked side by side.

“Wait, are we actually heading to the same place?” Chen Junnan asked after a few steps.

“Hard to say,” she replied. “We’re not exactly on the same side—I’m ‘Extremists,’ you’re ‘Calabash Boy.’ Can’t share too much.”

“Right, right, lady…” Chen Junnan sighed. “But in this direction… where else could we be going? Just admit it—we’re both heading to ‘Cat,’ aren’t we?”

“Pretty much,” Jiang Ruoxue admitted.

Chen Junnan’s mind sharpened. Tonight, Qi Xia was clearly making a big move, yet coincidentally, Jiang Ruoxue—an ‘Extremist’—was also on the move, choosing to walk with him toward ‘Cat’s’ base. But were the ‘Extremists’ friend or foe?

After a moment of thought, he turned to her. “Lady Jiang, why are you going to ‘Cat’?”

“I’m going to find ‘Extremists’ there. And you?”

Chen Junnan blinked. “‘Cat’ has ‘Extremists’ too…? Some minor player?”

“Probably not minor,” Jiang Ruoxue said with a laugh. “So? Why are you going?”

“Well, if you’re going to ‘Cat’ to find ‘Extremists’… then I guess I’m going to ‘Cat’ to rescue my grandpa.”