Since time in the real world wouldn't stop, Kael had Ningguang send someone to Wanmin Restaurant to explain his sudden absence, then hurried straight to Wangshu Inn.
He still didn't know what he had to do to wake Amber.
After thinking for a moment, he headed up to the rooftop of the inn and called for Xiao.
"I've got something I need to take care of for the next few days. I might not make it back in time to help you clear your Karmic Debt. I'll make it up to you later, alright?"
Xiao noticed the heaviness between Kael's brows. "Has something happened? Do you need my help?"
Kael shook his head.
This was something no one else could help with.
Following the System's guidance, he headed toward Dihua Marsh beside Wangshu Inn.
A quiet river ran alongside it, the sound of flowing water drifting through the night.
It was already dark, and he relied on the faint moonlight to check his surroundings.
"System, I'm at the spot you marked. What now?"
The space in front of him suddenly tore open. At first it was just a thin crack, but it widened until it formed a full doorway.
[Host, Amber's mental energy is located inside this space. You can enter now. Remember, I can only keep your body in there for one day. When time's up, whether you've found the energy or not, you must return to the real world.]
"Got it."
Without hesitation, Kael stepped through the door.
On the other side was the same marshland, except here it was early morning.
Sunlight spread across the grass, and a wave of fresh air rolled over him—the scent of damp soil and flowers, bright and clean.
The place looked almost identical to reality, except for a small wooden cabin sitting where nothing existed in the real world.
The map showed Amber's mental energy inside that cabin.
Kael rushed toward it.
The yard outside was covered with a thick layer of dirt. A few flowerpots lay withered in the corner, long dead.
The only sign that someone lived here was a pot resting on a tidy pile of firewood outside the door, scrubbed clean.
Standing in the middle of the yard, Kael suddenly heard a child crying from inside the cabin.
A gentle voice followed. "Don't cry, sweetie… are you hungry? Mama will make something for you right now."
Kael froze.
That voice was unmistakable.
It was Amber.
No—this was the Amber from the Life Simulation.
Footsteps approached. The door opened.
Amber and Kael met each other's gaze.
He hadn't expected to run into her this quickly. His body locked up in shock.
Amber, however, didn't look surprised at all. She simply smiled, soft and sweet.
"You're here."
"I… yeah…" Kael answered stupidly.
Her reaction was far too calm—nothing like what he expected.
He thought she might be excited to see him… or angry… or anything but this.
Amber walked over to the stove, scooped some rice into a pot, added water, then used her Vision to light the fire.
As she worked, she talked casually.
"Cecilia's just like you. Super healthy, but for a one-year-old, her appetite is way too big."
"I'm scared she'll grow into a chubby little dumpling one day."
"But even if she does, she's still so cute. I'm sure she'll find someone who loves her for who she is, don't you think?"
"You know, I'm always making mistakes, always messing things up… and even then, I still managed to find you."
"And oh, lately Wanmin Restaurant started buying meat from me too, not just Wangshu Inn. Their demand doubled overnight. I'll probably have to hunt farther out today…"
Amber sat beside the stove, smiling as she rambled on about her life.
Kael couldn't take it anymore.
"Amber… do you know who I am?"
Amber finally paused, confused. She tilted her head and whispered to herself, "Weird… Anders is talking today? Usually he just stands there and never reacts, no matter what I say…"
So that was it.
Kael's eyes stung at once.
He understood why she'd acted like this.
She thought he was just another hallucination.
And judging from her words… this wasn't the first time she'd seen him appear like this.
No wonder the System said her energy was unstable.
After everything she'd endured, this Amber had been relying on hallucinations just to keep going.
"Amber… I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry…"
Kael's control snapped. He rushed forward and pulled her into his arms, holding her as tightly as he could.
Tears spilled down his face, sliding down her neck and sinking into her shirt, leaving a thin, trembling trail.
"This is all my fault…"
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Next Target 250PS :)