Sinless City was huge, and Ji Xun didn't expect to run into one of the few acquaintances he had in the Windmill Tavern.
Hearing someone greet him, he couldn't pretend not to recognize her, so he replied, "Miss Nan Jing?"
Nan Jing, realizing she hadn't mistaken him, couldn't hide her delight. "Ah... It really is you, Mr. Ji Xun. I wasn't sure at first."
Nothing bonds people more deeply than surviving a life-or-death situation together, and the psychic lady deeply remembered her savior.
Ji Xun, curious, asked, "Miss Nan Jing, what brings you here?"
He glanced at her two companions, noticing that her old friend Chu Jiu wasn't among them.
Although he guessed that the three of them were likely heading to the [Greedy Mine] dimension, he was curious about their reasons.
Nan Jing responded without hesitation, "Ah, we saw a recruitment notice at the Hunter's Guild, and we're going to..."
Before she could finish, the Black Knight man accompanying her interrupted sharply, "Xiao Nan!"
It was a clear reminder not to divulge too much to strangers.
"..."
Ji Xun caught the wary tone in his voice and raised an eyebrow.
While he had a foundation of trust with Nan Jing, her two companions were clearly very guarded.
Ji Xun didn't mind.
He knew the origins of Chu Jiu and Nan Jing were sensitive, so naturally, their companions would be too.
The female rogue cleverly turned her suspicion into a probing question, "Xiao Nan, who is this?"
Excitedly, Nan Jing wanted to introduce him, "Ah Yao, this is Mr. Ji Xun. He is..."
But she hesitated, realizing she didn't know how to explain.
They had met in the Great Cemetery Maze, which involved the death of Governor Cao Sihai and the assassination attempt on Chu Jiu, something she couldn't casually mention.
Yet, leaving it unexplained seemed wrong too.
Her awkward demeanor only made her companions more suspicious.
They were her comrades, while Ji Xun was the outsider.
What secrets needed hiding?
They both knew Nan Jing was pure-hearted and easily deceived.
Seeing her flustered state, they became even more wary of the stranger before them.
Ji Xun, seeing Nan Jing's troubled expression, knew she was struggling to explain their relationship, so he stepped in, "Miss Nan Jing and I have met once."
Nan Jing, feeling relieved, quickly agreed, "Yes. Mr. Ji Xun is my friend."
In that moment, she finally understood why Chu Jiu had been so evasive when asked how she knew Ji Xun.
Even if there was nothing to hide, some things just couldn't be said.
She shifted the conversation, introducing her companions, "These are my partners, Ah Yao and Mo Feng."
Clearly, her companions were not pleased with their names being revealed to a stranger, not even responding with basic courtesy.
...
Ji Xun didn't mind at all.
It seemed that people from Chu Jiu's mysterious background were always wary of strangers.
When he first met Nan Jing in the Great Cemetery Maze, she had the same suspicious attitude toward everyone.
Ji Xun nodded politely and said, "Miss Nan Jing, I'll head to my room."
Even with explanations, her companions would remain distrustful.
He wasn't interested in prying into others' privacy or understanding their situation.
He had no interest in such ineffective socializing and didn't want to waste time.
With that, he turned and left.
"Thump, thump, thump..."
The sound of boots on the wooden stairs echoed through the empty inn lobby.
To others, this seemed somewhat "arrogant."
Nan Jing's two companions frowned.
The psychic lady also sensed the awkward atmosphere and quickly explained, "Ah Yao, Mo Feng, don't mind him. Mr. Ji Xun is actually very nice."
Saying this only made their expressions stranger.
Nice?
In Sinless City?
They both looked at her with serious expressions.
Ah Yao asked again, "Xiao Nan, what's his background? How do you know him?"
Given their sensitive identities, they had to be cautious.
Huh?
What background?
Nan Jing's mind raced, "I... he..."
But she realized she didn't know Ji Xun's background at all.
And how they met was something she couldn't say.
She couldn't answer either question.
Nan Jing's evasive gaze and awkward smile, "Ah... well... Mr. Ji Xun is a lone hunter."
Some people are obvious liars, especially those like Nan Jing, who would blush when lying to her companions.
Her response only deepened her companions' suspicions.
Mo Feng's expression darkened instantly, "Xiao Nan, you should avoid people with unknown backgrounds."
Ah Yao also advised, "Yes, don't trust strangers too easily. He might have ulterior motives."
Nan Jing, seeing her companions' strange looks, knew they misunderstood but couldn't explain, so she changed the subject, "Oh, come on, don't ask so much. Mr. Ji Xun is really a good person."
This wasn't just because Ji Xun had saved her and Chu Jiu.
Unable to explain, she brought up the main point, "He's very capable. If he's going to [Greedy Mine] too, it increases our chances of success, even for higher difficulty levels."
Seeing their companion unwilling to reveal certain details, Ah Yao and Mo Feng didn't press further.
However, hearing that Ji Xun was highly skilled, Ah Yao's expression softened a bit, "Is he a card master? What's his profession?"
If he was an expert, having him in the [Greedy Mine] dimension would indeed be beneficial.
Nan Jing recalled, "No, he's... a card master apprentice."
Her companions were speechless.
Mo Feng, already unimpressed by Ji Xun's arrogant attitude, now felt even more disdainful.
A card master apprentice didn't count as impressive.
Ah Yao's expression soured as well, "What's his profession?"
Nan Jing, embarrassed, replied, "I... I don't know."
She then realized that apart from knowing that Mr. Ji Xun was excellent at solving puzzles, she had no idea what his professional sequence was.
It seemed that she had never seen him fight from start to finish.
Mo Feng finally couldn't help but remind her, "Xiao Nan, some people just boast, but when real danger comes, you'll find out they're useless."
"..."
Nan Jing wanted to retort but held back. Her mind was already in a whirl, and she couldn't explain it anymore.
Ah Yao shook her head and said, "Forget it. Let's get some rest. We have to get up early tomorrow."
Knowing nothing about him, they were convinced their companion had been deceived.
The three of them didn't say anything else and headed upstairs with their tactical backpacks.
...
Ji Xun listened to the footsteps, realizing that Nan Jing and her companions were probably in the two rooms next to his. He didn't pay much attention, continuing his breathing exercises while also browsing through various card master texts.
He had no idea about the conversation downstairs and wasn't interested in finding out.
Ji Xun only felt that he didn't have enough time. There were too many things he needed to learn.
He was hoping the [Greedy Mine] would yield some skill cards, which would save a lot of time on martial arts training.
Without realizing it, several hours passed.
Ji Xun was completely absorbed in his practice and studies.
At some point, a knock on the door broke his concentration.
A gentle voice outside asked, "Mr. Ji Xun, are you still awake?"
Recognizing Nan Jing's voice, Ji Xun got off the bed and opened the door.
Outside, the psychic lady stood holding a teapot, slightly bowing with a hint of apology, "Sorry to bother you. I just made some fruit tea and thought you might like some."
Ji Xun smiled and gestured, "Miss Nan Jing, you're too kind. Please, come in."
Nan Jing looked up, slightly surprised, "Oh... this is the first time I've seen you without your gas mask, Mr. Ji Xun."
Saying this, Miss Bunhead blinked her large, watery eyes and stole another glance.
"Heh..."
Ji Xun chuckled, not noticing that he wasn't wearing his mask. He remembered wearing it throughout the Great Cemetery Maze.
But it didn't matter.
She wasn't exactly a stranger.
Inviting Nan Jing in, Ji Xun closed the door behind her.
The psychic lady wasn't wearing her gas mask either. With her cute bun hairstyle and dimples that appeared when she smiled, she was quite charming.
Ji Xun had seen her real face before, so he wasn't particularly surprised.
Since neither was wearing their hunter gear or cloaks, the initial sense of estrangement quickly dissipated.
Nan Jing was dressed in common hunter attire for women, a brown tight-fitting top, and flexible combat pants.
Others might find hunter clothes a bit loose, but the psychic lady's figure filled them out well, showcasing her youthful vitality and slender curves.
Ji Xun couldn't help but glance briefly before refocusing.
Nan Jing placed the teacup on the table and poured some tea, saying, "Sorry, Mr. Ji Xun. My companions meant no harm earlier..."
Ji Xun smiled and shook his head, showing he didn't mind.
Ji Xun asked directly, "Miss Nan Jing, what brings you here? Are you also heading to the [Greedy Mine]?"
"Mm."
Without others around, Nan Jing responded directly.
She spoke seriously, "We're looking for a formula to cure a rare plague. We found a reference in ancient texts, but it has been lost. So we've been searching the Hunter's Guild for clues in ancient ruins. Recently, we heard that the [Greedy Mine] dimension might have some ancient witch potion formulas, so we wanted to try our luck."
"Oh."
So they were after potion formulas.
Ji Xun listened without probing further, guessing that her group had contracted some kind of plague.
Seeing her serious expression, the plague must be quite severe.
Despite being in a supernatural world, diseases and plagues still posed a deadly threat to humans.
Nan Jing also asked, "What about you, Mr. Ji Xun?"
Ji Xun replied casually, "I'm looking for some materials and hoping to find some skill cards in that dimension."
"Wow... What a coincidence."
Nan Jing also found it quite coincidental.
Sinless City was vast, with countless tasks at the Hunter's Guild, yet they met at a small inn.
She handed him a cup of tea, "Mr. Ji Xun, please have some tea."
Ji Xun took the teacup, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the formality, "You can call me by my name. No need to be so formal."
Nan Jing nodded, blinking, "You can call me by my name too, or Xiao Nan. Everyone calls me that."
Ji Xun nodded, "Alright."
He noticed that Miss Bunhead, though wary at first, was quite cheerful once trust was established.
They weren't strangers, but not particularly close either.
After a few words, the conversation seemed to stall.
The room felt a bit awkward.
Nan Jing noticed the books on his bed and exclaimed, "Mr. Ji Xun, are you still reading this late?"
In Sinless City, few hunters wasted time reading.
Hunters risked their lives in dungeons, and surviving each time felt like a gift from fate. Most spent their leisure time in pleasure houses, not reading books.
Then she remembered something, patting her head, "Oh, I almost forgot. You know ancient Taren language. With such profound knowledge, you must read a lot."
Ji Xun smiled without explaining further.
Nan Jing, as if wanting to ask something, looked thoughtful before finally asking, "Mr. Ji Xun, what's your professional sequence?"
Feeling the question might seem abrupt, she quickly added, "I mean, since we're both going to the [Greedy Mine], we should watch out for each other. My partners are a first-rank Black Knight and a ninth-rank Card Rogue. They're not as skilled as Sister Chu Jiu, but they're quite good."
She felt awkward because earlier, not knowing this answer had made her companions look at her strangely.
Claiming to be friends yet not knowing his profession seemed odd.
Thinking back, Nan Jing still felt... embarrassed about that.
Ji Xun was amused by her nervous demeanor. It was a clumsy attempt at probing.
But he responded, "Roughly speaking, I'm a melee type. Hmm... you could say I'm a gunner for now. And you know, I'm good at puzzles."
Nan Jing replied, "Oh."
A gunner wasn't a specific profession, as many people used guns. Realizing that asking about his privacy was rude, she wisely didn't press further.
Ji Xun knew his words could be misleading but didn't elaborate. He wasn't trying to hide anything; he simply didn't know how to explain. He couldn't very well say, "I'm a jack-of-all-trades card master," capable of being a melee tank, a ranged attacker, an assassin, and even a healer.
His abilities allowed him to fit into any role.
...
While a solo approach had its merits, a team had its advantages. Since they were heading to the same other-dimensional space, Ji Xun thought having Nan Jing, a psychic and a healer, as a teammate would be beneficial, offering complementary skills.
As for her companions, the Black Knight and the Card Rogue, they were optional.
Ji Xun suggested, "If we explore the other-dimensional space together, it'll definitely be easier to look out for each other. I might need your help, Miss Nan Jing."
"Mm!"
Hearing Ji Xun's invitation to team up, Nan Jing's earlier worry vanished, and she asked, "What difficulty level are you planning to attempt?"
Without hiding her intentions, she continued, "To be honest, although we're not sure if the witch potion in that space is what we need, the formula for curing such a plague would certainly be high-grade. We might have to challenge B-level or higher difficulties to find it. From what I know, the death rate for B-level in the [Greedy Mine] is over 50%..."
This death rate deterred most hunters, who preferred to repeatedly enter C-level or D-level spaces for steady gains rather than risking it all for potential wealth.
Saying this, she anxiously glanced at Ji Xun's expression, which remained unchanged, making her nervous.
"Mm."
Ji Xun showed no reaction, as he expected to attempt at least B-level difficulties for the materials he needed.
He cautiously suggested, "We can start with an easier level to get a feel for it. I also plan to challenge B-level difficulty later."
Nan Jing couldn't hide her excitement, "That's great!"
Despite only meeting once before, she felt Ji Xun would be a tremendous help, likely because Sister Chu Jiu had praised his skills.
Oh, by the way!
Nan Jing's face suddenly showed concern, and she asked, "Mr. Ji Xun, there's one more thing."
Ji Xun took a sip of tea, glancing at her, "Mm?"
With visible worry, Nan Jing asked, "Have you seen Sister Chu Jiu recently?"
Ji Xun was puzzled, "Chu Jiu isn't with you?"
Wasn't she part of your group? Why are you asking me?
He quickly guessed that his old friend might be in some trouble.
Nan Jing shook her head.
Looking downcast, she said, "After we left the Great Cemetery, I found Sister Chu Jiu. She hadn't encountered any assassins but was in a bad state. She's been missing since then, and we're worried. I thought she might come to you."
"..."
Ji Xun felt a slight change in expression upon hearing Chu Jiu hadn't been attacked. It was good news she wasn't dead.
But why would you think she'd come to me?
He thought they weren't that close, having only met twice.
Oh, right. After being betrayed by her family, she might have nowhere else to go.
...
Having discussed what they needed, and with it being late, Nan Jing didn't intend to stay much longer.
Ji Xun suddenly thought of something and asked, "By the way, Miss Nan Jing, do you have any medical books?"
He needed extensive medical knowledge to study [Cell Activity Boiling]. Although he found some books in "Plague Doctor" Hei Sen's storage ring, they were mostly about poisons or advanced medical texts that were challenging to understand.
Meeting this psychic lady, who was a good doctor, Ji Xun decided to ask.
Nan Jing was surprised but eagerly replied, "Ah... yes."
Without questioning his request, she took out several books from her storage ring and curiously asked, "Are you planning to follow the healing path, Mr. Ji Xun?"
Ji Xun smiled without confirming, "I'm researching some spells that require medical knowledge."
Looking at the books, he asked, "Can I borrow these for a few days?"
Nan Jing, pleased to help, said, "Of course."
She offered more, "These are just some I carry with me. I have many more at home. If you need them, I can bring more next time."
Feeling she could finally repay the care she received at the Great Cemetery, she was happy to help.
Ji Xun said, "Thank you. I'll read these first."
Even if he couldn't fully understand them now, he could use his photographic memory to retain the information for later.
Reflecting on her words, Ji Xun found it curious.
She has many medical books at home?
In Sinless City, few families collected medical texts, and these books seemed like antique hand-drawn volumes, likely centuries old, older than the "Card Master Encyclopedia" set he bought.
Ji Xun chuckled, realizing how this bun-headed lady was revealing a lot, even with a few books.
Nan Jing didn't understand his amusement but knew it was late and decided to leave.
She packed the teapot and said, "Mr. Ji Xun, I'll head back to rest. See you tomorrow."
Ji Xun nodded, "Mm."
As soon as the door closed, his mind returned to his books.
He resumed his routine of practice and study for the night.