Collapse, survive

Although Fang Jie didn't hear clearly, Xing He's accurate statement was definitely correct.

"It must have been sleep talking. It was just mumbling in its sleep... Poor thing, it must have been a really terrible nightmare."

Natasha settled Yae Sakura in and replied.

"It's strange. Sambo's little thing shouldn't have such a strong medicine, but she hasn't woken up and looks like she's asleep."

Natasha originally thought so, but then Yae Sakura appeared.

The fact that aliens are asleep might also be a kind of illness; it's not that simple.

Suddenly, Fang Jie stepped forward and, without any hesitation, picked up the pen she used to scribble medical prescriptions—

What are you going to do?

Fang Jie stared intently at the star core essence.

She's so beautiful, especially when she doesn't open her mouth—quiet, composed, and gorgeous.

What a magnificent face! I want to leave my mark on it!

"We are but mayflies in the vastness of heaven and earth, a mere grain of millet in the boundless ocean. I lament the brevity of my life, and envy the endless flow of the Yangtze River. I wish I could ride the immortals and roam the heavens, embracing the bright moon for eternity. Knowing this cannot be achieved in an instant, I entrust my lingering thoughts to the mournful wind."

The brushstrokes are like dragons and snakes, a calamity like a python.

Natasha froze, and by the time she tried to stop them, it was too late.

“Guest, I can’t turn a blind eye to how a patient is treated in my clinic.”

Natasha couldn't just watch, she reminded him.

"I'm sorry, but please understand that this is a folk remedy to awaken the patient."

Fang Jie continued writing poetry without stopping, finishing with the line: "...a mournful wind."

Natasha laughed. What kind of folk remedy is this?

Just as she was about to scold him, the Star Core Spirit actually opened his eyes!

Fang Jie remained calm and spoke gently, whispering in her ear, "It's time to get up."

The Star Core Spirit's eyes widened instantly, and it took it a while for it to react after being controlled by the strange dreams and whispers.

"What...what did you draw on my face?"

"Jie Jie Jie Jie..."

Before things got worse, Natasha started to explain herself, emphasizing that as a doctor, she had unlimited power in the clinic, and she pushed him away with considerable force.

"shut up."

"Let him not speak," Natasha said, looking at the patient.

"Little sleepyhead, how are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"

Seeing the familiar motherly aura, Xinghe Jing didn't suddenly erupt into a fierce battle with Fang Jie.

She still felt a little dizzy, which was just her morning grumpiness. She wasn't tied up, but rather placed on a bed board somewhere—which at least meant that her life wasn't in immediate danger, and that she had at most been humiliated by Fang Jie.

As for the specifics, you'll have to ask the stranger in front of you.

I had a strange dream.

"That's good. I was starting to worry because you were still asleep and talking strange things in your sleep."

Natasha reassured her, saying, "Now that you're awake, move around a bit. I'm Natasha, the doctor from the underground. You've been lying in my clinic all day."

Doctor, oh right, it was my good buddy Sambo. I accidentally stumbled upon a treasure chest monster while stealing his gold coins, and then I got dizzy and passed out.

Sambo, where are you?

Even Fang Jie has come!

What about Danheng? What about March 7th?

Thinking this, she politely said, "Hello, I'm Xing, you can just call me A-Xing."

"Hello... Hehe, you're quite polite."

Natasha chuckled, hinting at someone.

Strangely enough, Natasha felt that the way he looked at her was not like that of a stranger, but rather... a look that was both familiar and strange, filled with amazement and affection, with kindness mixed with a hint of malice.

Where have we met before?

She pondered for a moment, then explained the situation to the Star Core Spirit: "Sambo went to clean up the mess he made, so I'll take care of you for him. But judging from your appearance, your head and body seem to be fine, you're in good health. If you're alright, I'll go take care of the other patients."

"Something's wrong! Someone's chasing us. Is the lower level safe?"

"Don't worry, the Silvermane Iron Guards won't come down to the underground. The surface and the underground have been isolated for many years. Even when the underground was at its most chaotic, the Iron Guards never came down."

Natasha spoke gently.

"Of course, I don't know the reason why the city builders issued the lockdown order. Not long ago, they suddenly released strange signals. Maybe the lockdown has been lifted suddenly? If so, you will have helped the Earth Fire do what they wanted to do most."

"Earth fire?"

"Think of underground civilian organizations as the Silvermane Iron Guards of the underworld—only they are more humane."

The Star Core Spirit didn't understand the gravity in Natasha's words; she was just a beautiful young Star Core Spirit.

"Thank you, I'm going to meet up with my companions."

"No need to thank me. Healing the sick and wounded is a doctor's duty. As for your companion..."

Like the Star Core Spirit, Natasha deliberately ignored Fang Jie and began to talk about their whereabouts.

Thus, the Star Core Essence quickly confirmed at least two things:

First, Danheng was abducted by Sangbo.

Secondly, on March 7th, he abandoned her and went out for a stroll.

As for Jepard... she doesn't really care about the blond guy's situation for the time being.

Including Fang Jie, get out of here!

Regardless, Hoshi decided to find her two companions first and then have an in-depth conversation with them about why they abandoned her.

Do you know what I went through while you were gone? (Sobbing)

Watching her strut away from the clinic, brandishing her baseball bat and gesturing defiantly at Fang Jie, Natasha couldn't help but chuckle. When Fang Jie looked over, she covered her mouth.

"What a lively and innocent young girl. But you're really mean-spirited for not reminding her at all."

What reminder? You didn't say anything.

Fang Jie looked at the older woman with a subtle expression: "Let me introduce myself, Fang Jie. This is Yae Sakura, and this is Rin. She's a little special, and if possible, I hope Ms. Natasha can ignore her."

Ling remained indifferent, offering no comment.

"I understand. Then please, Mr. Fang Jie, could you answer me—where have we met before?"

Natasha was certain she hadn't misjudged him; she did have that much discernment.

"There are countless worlds in the universe that are similar yet different, and in these worlds there are countless people who are similar yet different. The fates of these people often follow familiar paths and overlap."

Fang Jie was mentally prepared for this 'exposure' and made no attempt to hide it:

“You are not the person I haven’t met yet, and your hometown is not as lucky as hers.”

"That's it."

Natasha believed it. As for the reason, why wouldn't she believe it?

When the world is already bad enough, no matter what happens, belief or disbelief no longer matters; one can only accept it... even if it's just a dream-like rambling. Having dreams is always a good thing.

She asked curiously, "Then what kind of person am I in other worlds?"

"Yes, a mercenary with dreams who killed without hesitation. Later, she earned enough money to realize her dreams and left the organization. However, her dreams were shattered by a disaster. She went back to the organization to continue working and adopted many children who were affected by the disaster. Before an even greater disaster ended, she was kicked out of the organization. She chose to set an example for the children by her own actions. After peace was restored, she had the potential to become the world's number one idol. In particular, her famous scenes always bring a smile to people's faces."

Fang Jie's simple summary of the story of the island's "Exploding Crows" sounds rather vague and unpleasant, filled with persecution.

"That's a really nice story."

Natasha lowered her eyes, thanks to her keen judgment of character and the reminders of certain individuals:

“Mr. Fang Jie, can you tell me why you came to the lower district? Someone told me to be careful of you. You can trust them, but you can’t trust them.”

Unbeknownst to Fang Jie, Sang Bo had talked about him quite a bit.

"Beware of me? Believe me or not?"

Fang Jie thought it was March 7th, the day for shooting targets in the void on March 7th. After all, Dan Heng wasn't that kind of person, and neither was the Star Core Essence. She was thick-skinned and didn't care about being caught.

He answered the question: "Probably because I still have something on March 7th that I can laugh at for the rest of my life. As for why I came to the lower district, I wanted to come and see for myself. After all, I've always wanted to come here."

Natasha didn't want to hear that. She hesitated for a moment, then chose to get straight to the point: "Do you know that I am the leader of the Earth Fire?"

Yes, I know. You are in the stories I know.

Fang Jie treated people with sincerity, looking directly into her eyes with open honesty:

"In the soon-to-be-extinct story of Beloberg, there are three kinds of preservation: the first is the embodiment of the concept of preservation, Cocolia in Cripple Castle, who walks towards despair in the process of preservation; the second is rational preservation, the omnic Swaro of the mechanical settlement, who preserves civilization with a firm and unwavering goal; and the third is you, Ms. Natasha, the leader of the subterranean fire, who maintains the last order in this darkness. I believe you also represent a part of the true meaning of preservation, the one who walks towards preservation in despair."

"Sorry, I don't quite understand."

Natasha smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the outsider's assessment that Belloberg was about to perish. The lower district had long been hopeless; she was merely providing 'end-of-life care' from a doctor's perspective, trying her best to prolong life. What kind of care was that?

Natasha continued to listen to Fang Jie's explanation for coming here. Was he also a passerby in the Star Core? Was he forced to drift here because of the rejection from the upper districts?

Fang Jie doesn't really understand philosophy, such as preservation; he's on the path of destruction.

But he thought, if one's judgment of a situation is that we must give up one part to preserve another, and no matter what choice we make, we are destined to give up something...

People who choose altruism are worth helping.

"It's okay if you don't understand. I've always liked this saying: 'Those who uphold lofty ideals deserve better results.'"

Fang Jie stared at Natasha and extended his right hand:

"Ms. Natasha, how can I help you?"

"You came to the lower level to...help me? Because you know another version of me?"

Natasha looked at the hand and couldn't quite accept the answer either; it was too... a matter of personal preference.

Fang Jie was indeed acting out of personal preference, and there was no stronger reason than this: "It's not just you, at least not just now, it's about the dignity of adults."

"But I don't know what I can ask you for help with..."

Natasha genuinely had no idea; after all, she had only just learned that outsiders had arrived in the lower districts, and she hadn't even considered compensation for her decision to treat these people.

"Why don't you take a look around the lower area first? I'll take good care of your companions."

P.S.: Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, friends! Wishing you all a wonderful day, because I have one too (?o?o) ??

Chapter Twenty-Nine: I met you, just as you met me.

Dear viewers, the following is the latest observation report from the nameless passenger on the Starry Sky Train, presented by Sangbo:

Let's see how the nameless guests behave after arriving at the lower level!

What is Mr. Danheng doing?

Oh, Mr. Danheng, burdened by his dark past, has integrated into the lower district, transformed into the cold-faced Little Green Dragon, and gone to a fight club to box.

Let us wish him a resounding victory.

So what is our Lady Star doing?

Oh my goodness, what a cruel game of hide-and-seek! Chasing after someone with a face full of knowledge, the children all laughed.

Let's wish her a good time.

And then there's Ms. March 7th, Ms. March 7th, who connects the past and the future, the cruel game of hide-and-seek that began with her and ended with her. Now, she's going to the Fight Club with Ms. Star, who is full of knowledge.

Let's wish her happiness, well, too.

Wait, there's another expert!

It was the Rift, and he went to the Rift. It was Mr. Fang Jie. After 'entrusting his wife and children', he agreed to Ms. Natasha's words, "But I don't know what to ask of you. Why don't you go about your business as you see fit?" and then freely walked towards the Rift.

What is he trying to do? A murderous intent and fighting spirit surged within him. Oh, he'd stumbled upon Miss Seele, who was waiting for him, and asked her to guide him to Rivet Town…

He's not exploring new frontiers, he's going to start killing!