AZI Volume 2 Chapter 1

Third ward of GC012, contained here is the city's one and only airport.

The design of this airport can only be described as futuristic, and from a bird's eye view, its shape is reminiscent of a snowflake.

A metal chassis that is akin to a colossal spider web occupies the roof of this two-floored airport, and embedded into the empty spaces of this chassis are panels of reinforced glass, which allows natural sunlight to seep through.

Aside from the ticket counters that are all located near one of the six entrances on the first floor, the rest of the airport is essentially a mall with numerous brand-named stores, and well-known restaurant franchises lining its halls.

Located in the center of the airport is a swimming pool with a waterslide—that starts from the second floor and ends at the first.

"I don't like the amount of people staring in our direction."

Sipping a cup of hot coffee, Long Hua sweeps a look around the area with tired eyes.

Breakfast menu items from a fast-food chain are placed onto the table; and sitting down with him are two others.

"Deal with it. Shouldn't be long until she arrives."

The first is Jing Yao, who is dressed in her usual attire that consists of a lab coat over a white dress shirt and a comfortable pair of loose black pants.

"…"

The second is Tian Cheng, who is dressed in a maid uniform with detachable sleeves that are cuffed around her arms.

"It's easy for you to say that since most of the gazes aimed at you don't contain anything negative."

With how odd the two's choice of attire is, it goes without saying that they tend to draw attention to themselves, and because they are a group, Long Hua is inevitably a target of these gazes as well.

Setting the hot drink down, Long Hua picks up a breadstick, and begins to munch on it.

Currently, they are located on the second floor—seated at a table that gives them a clear view of the airport's northern entrance.

As it is a planned Sunday, the only person that they could be waiting for to arrive on an aircraft could only be the CEO of NPI, Nian Yao Yao.

"She looks no different from a real human."

Directing her elegant pair of green eyes at Tian Cheng, Jing Yao remarks on how human the doll's outward appearance is.

"Would be more human—if she can put a bit more warmth into her voice."

"Personality and behavioral modules may be downloaded if master wishes for it."

"It'd be one thing if its natural, but if it's something that's artificial… I just don't like it. Also… Ah never mind it."

Dismissing the topic, Long Hua looks up at the glass roof.

Much like personality and behavioral modules that can be downloaded at a whim, this gear filled sky is just as artificial in nature.

(That guy called this world Leng Bing Realm…)

Recalling this to be the name of this world, Long Hua's eyes give off a sharp gleam.

(Ai, once my cultivation base is high enough, I should be able to smash this fake sky apart, and then… I can finally return home.)

Thinking of home, a sense of excitement wells up in Long Hua's heart, as the figure of his shizun's back flashes in his mind.

"Natural and artificial…"

Muttering this, Tian Cheng goes quiet, and observing her behavior—

(She seems to be contemplating the matter. What's fake and what's real… Depends on perspective, I guess?)

Sipping her cup of coffee, Jing Yao turns her attention away from Tian Cheng, and back to Long Hua.

"Did something happen during your time out in the wastelands?"

"Hm? Odd of you to ask."

"You seem… Outwardly you seem younger but… It's as if you're an old man that just so happens to have… Aged like fine wine?"

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Towards Jing Yao's words, Long Hua frowns on the inside.

(Those who've reached the peak of Qi Condensation tend to possess a lifespan that is well over 250 years—if I recall correctly. Occasionally, a breakthrough can cause the individual to regain a bit of their lost youth. Maybe it's because of that—that I seem younger to her?)

Recalling this bit of trivia, Long Hua can't help but think of the possibilities that as his cultivation base and longevity continues to increase, he might begin to give off an air that is reminiscent of a practitioner even with his cultivation sealed.

"Well, outwardly looking younger is never a bad thing, right?"

"True, so would you like to share this secret?"

"I didn't take you to be someone that cares for appearance…"

Thinking for a bit, Long Hua answers—

"I guess, I just found there to be more to life than just living through it. Maybe the thought being on my mind just makes me give off a younger air?"

"So, it's a placebo effect? Does this mean that prior to recent events—you've always thought it was meaningless to live?"

"…Uh?"

Towards this question, Long Hua is at first surprised, but momentarily, his expression changes to one of solemn contemplation, as he finishes the breadstick and dusts off his hands.

"As depressing as it is… Yes, that might be correct."

Towards Long Hua's answer, Jing Yao pauses the movement of her right hand that is bringing her cup near her lips.

(Now that I think about it, it shouldn't be strange for him to think this way. Especially so when…)

Recalling the circumstance in which they had met, Jing Yao sets her cup down, and clears her throat.

"Apologies, didn't mean to make it seem so… In any case, I've misspoken."

"Don't worry about it. I'm not exactly someone to care about this sort of stuff most of the time. Ai, still… Hmm even if I've got a place to stay, I'm still just a nosy wanderer, who just so happens to have stuck their fingers into someone else's family affairs."

Despite how depressing that might have sounded, Long Hua still smiles at the thought. There is something about being a wanderer that makes him feel nostalgic.

(Maybe this sort of lifestyle is just what I'm used to? But if that were the case, it means… I was also a wanderer when I was with shizun?)

Thinking of this, Long Hua can't help but want to recover more of his old memories.

"I guess I'll have a better answer for Yao Yao next time."

"Hm?"

"She asked me, if life has been fun the last time we talked."

"And I assume you didn't exactly give much of an answer?"

Nodding his head, Long Hua continues—

"Recently, I remembered something that was told to me in the past. There're two different paths to take while living out your life. Either you live out your life in tranquility, or you die in tranquility ahead of time."

"...…Meaning to never get involved with danger, or to simply die before you can be dragged into danger?"

"Something along those lines, I guess."

With a frown on her face, Jing Yao says—

"Hmm still doesn't really answer the original question much."

"I'm pretty sure it does. You said, it was a placebo effect, so to summarize it all—I've got a grand goal in mind, and I'm striving towards it with confidence, and this makes me give off a brighter vibe."

Being able to say this in one sitting without throwing up—for some reason, Long Hua finds himself impressive.

Finding herself unable to accept this answer that was said with a cheesy smile, Jing Yao thought—

(He's definitely hiding something that he's not willing to say…)

Out of curiosity, Jing Yao asks—

"And what goal is that?"

"Hmm plainly put, the goal of returning home?"

"How is that a grand goal?"

Unable to think of how to best answer this question, Long Hua shrugs his shoulders.

(It is a rather grand goal when it might involve tearing down the current skies.)

*Ding.* momentarily, a notification sound comes from Jing Yao's phone, and upon reading the message—

"Let's go then."

"Finally."

Leaving three paper bills on the table, the three left the dining area of the fast-food chain, and made their way down to the first floor using the escalator.