The gentle sunset exhaled its last afterglow and vanished behind the mountain.
"We're in a safe place now."
Yang Yang's voice brought Arlan back to his senses. He levelled his gaze; not far off, Taoyuan Vale was already lit up for the night.
"Bai Zhi, over here!"
Chi Xia shouted, waving as she jogged toward the entrance of Taoqi Village.
A cool-eyed black-haired woman was waiting there—Bai Zhi.
Arlan and Yang Yang quickened their pace. When they reached Bai Zhi, Chi Xia eagerly introduced them:
"This is Bai Zhi, a Huaxu researcher. This is Arlan; we met him on the way back."
Bai Zhi nodded. With a slender finger she traced an arc in the air toward Arlan, and a white echo appeared, circling him slowly.
"No contamination from lament energy; all vitals normal..."
As a professional power-leveler for wuthering waves, Arlan knew the aloof woman was using Youtan to give him a check-up.
In the game's story, Bai Zhi had done the same the first time she met Rover.
Though she looked unapproachable, she was cold only in appearance; otherwise she wouldn't have waited quietly at the village gate for Yang Yang and Chi Xia.
Seeing Bai Zhi's earnestness, Yang Yang shook her head gently. "Don't worry, Bai Zhi. He's just a normal traveller. Let him rest in Taoyuan Vale. Chi Xia and I have something urgent to discuss."
"Mm. We'll talk while we walk; everyone is waiting. Jinzhou..."
Bai Zhi hesitated, then produced an ID card from her coat and offered it to Arlan, a hint of apology in her cool eyes.
"Mr. Arlan, welcome to Jinzhou. Due to certain circumstances, we can't host you right now."
"This is my researcher badge. Go straight ahead for about two hundred metres. You'll find a Young Taoist Priest practicing martial arts; you can ask her to arrange lodging for you."
"No problem, I completely understand. Thank you very much."
Taking the badge, Arlan bade the three women farewell and set off in the direction Bai Zhi had indicated.
Glancing back, he saw them hurrying toward another large, brightly lit building.
Judging by Bai Zhi's abruptly cut sentence, something new must have happened in Jinzhou.
"Grr~"
His growling stomach interrupted his thoughts. After trekking all the way from Gorges of spirits to Taoqi Village, he was starving.
Yang Yang and Chi Xia hadn't eaten either, but clearly, to them, Jinzhou's affairs took precedence over food.
At that, Arlan's expression turned complicated. He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts.
He was only an ordinary person. Facing the collapsing storyline, the noticeably stronger Scar of the fractsidus, and the unknown situation in Jinzhou, he could do nothing.
"In the world of wuthering waves, ordinary folk have to struggle just to stay alive. To live better, you must get stronger!"
Clutching Bai Zhi's badge, Arlan shook his head again.
Characters in wuthering waves weren't born mighty; they gained power only after awakening a Resonance Ability.
Perhaps he could ask someone who had awakened such power and learn how to trigger his own.
Counting his steps, he walked on until he saw a slim, well-proportioned woman practising martial arts with eyes closed.
She had delicate features and wore a robe mainly black with white trim. Her moves were light and focused.
Falling leaves were drawn by her gentle breath, tracing a perfect circle in the air before drifting to the ground.
At a glance, Arlan recognised her: the permanent five-star Aero Resonance Ability of wuthering waves—Jian Xin!
Though the main story rarely showcased her, he knew she was genuinely powerful, able to spar with Rover.
As successor of Fengyiquan, Jian Xin repeated the form three thousand times daily, attaining pure martial mastery and awakening Aero Resonance, her punches reaching 340 metres per second.
After she finished a set, the surrounding wind stilled with her.
"Wonderful! Young Taoist Priest, your boxing is a joy to watch!"
Exhaling a long breath of white vapour, Jian Xin opened her eyes to see a casually dressed young man. Hearing the praise, she smiled gently.
"You flatter me. This humble daoist is Jian Xin. May I ask who you are?"
"I'm Arlan. I need the Young Taoist Priest's help."
He briefly explained his identity and purpose, handing over Bai Zhi's badge. Jian Xin took it, understanding dawning on her face.
"I see. Mr. You hasn't eaten yet—come with me."
"Ah, no rush, no rush."
Arlan waved hurriedly, eyes bright, cutting straight to the point.
"I can see you're a master, Jian Xin. Could you teach me a move or two for self-defence?"
Even without a Resonance Ability, learning Fengyiquan would make him stronger than an ordinary person.
His request was presumptuous, and he braced for refusal—after all, who would casually teach their secret art...? "Of course."
Jian Xin pondered briefly, then relaxed.
Rarely did an outsider show interest in Fengyiquan.
Since he asked sincerely, passing on a bit was no harm.
Soon, beneath an old tree, she sat cross-legged and guided Arlan to do the same.
"To cultivate Fengyiquan, first find stillness of mind."
She spoke slowly, voice like a gentle breeze.
"Banish desire and the heart calms itself; clarify the heart and the spirit clears."
Sitting beside her, Arlan listened but couldn't grasp it.
"I don't get it—need a plain-language version."
Jian Xin pressed her lips. "Close your eyes, think of nothing, feel the world's rhythm."
"Oh, okay."
That he understood, though it sounded mystical.
He calmed his mind, clearing all stray thoughts, trying to sense everything.
A breeze brushed him; though his eyes were shut, he felt something unprecedented—
The world, so clear!
[Exploration Module: Perception — Activated.]
A line of text appeared abruptly in his mind.
(The cheat has arrived!)