Chapter 8

After leaving the Liyue Harbor, Nathan headed straight for the Millelith garrison.

Having applied once before, he was already familiar with the way.

The Millelith, as the force maintaining Liyue's stability and safety, was constantly recruiting new members.

On his second visit to the camp, Nathan easily found the recruitment office.

The squad leader in charge of recruitment happened to be the same person who had received him last time.

"Brother Nathan, why are you here again?"

The man wearing Millelith armor across from him was robust with an honest face.

His muscular build alone made him look a full size larger than Nathan.

"Captain Wang Hu, I'd like to try again!"

Nathan spoke calmly to the captain, who was indeed quite approachable.

When he had failed the recruitment test before, the captain had even consoled him.

"But Brother Nathan, your test scores last time were far below the qualifying standard!"

Captain Wang Hu wore a troubled expression.

If someone's physical qualities didn't meet the requirements, letting them pass would only endanger their life.

"Captain Wang Hu, I'm completely different from who I was a week ago. If you don't believe me, we can test again!"

Regarding the captain's concerns, Nathan just smiled faintly.

With the system's many rewards now empowering him, he was no longer the ordinary person he'd been a week ago.

"Well... alright then!"

Captain Wang Hu had always had a good impression of Nathan's enthusiasm for joining the Millelith.

Since Nathan insisted, he didn't mind giving him another chance.

If the captain knew Nathan's true thoughts—that joining the Millelith was just for a better nine-to-five life and easier slacking off—one wonders what he would think.

......

After bringing Nathan to the training ground and conducting the tests,

Captain Wang Hu received his physical test report and his eyes widened in shock.

Hundred-meter dash in less than five seconds, jumping distance over five meters, push-ups and knee bends as easy as drinking water.

"Captain Wang Hu, did I pass?"

Nathan walked over, having completed all these tests without breaking a sweat.

"Y-yes, you passed!"

Even as an experienced Millelith captain who had seen much, he was dumbfounded.

These weren't numbers a human could achieve—this was superhuman!

However.... something felt off.

They say three days away makes one see people anew, but only a week had passed, and Nathan had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.

From ordinary to superhuman—such a terrifying change.

In the captain's knowledge, only one thing could achieve such an effect.

"Nathan... did you awaken a Vision?"

"A Vision? Haha, how could I have a Vision!"

Nathan responded helplessly, covering his forehead.

In the entire Genshin world, Visions were indeed crucial items.

They could serve as organs of magical power, allowing ordinary people to channel elemental forces.

In Teyvat, Visions were the dividing line between ordinary and extraordinary.

But compared to Nathan's Life Simulator, that was something even more mysterious than a Vision.

"But... if it's not a Vision, this is too..."

Captain Wang Hu left his sentence unfinished, not pursuing the matter further.

Everyone had their secrets, and in his view, this might just be the secret behind Nathan's strength.

Delving too deeply into others' secrets was never good—knowing this change was positive for Nathan was enough.

"Let's proceed with the combat test!"

He patted Nathan's shoulder and was about to lead him to the training ground.

But as they turned, both their faces showed surprise.

Because opposite them appeared a familiar purple figure.

Yet their familiarity with this person was quite different.

Captain Wang Hu's familiarity was that of a subordinate to a superior.

While Nathan's familiarity was from having just bid farewell to this person... not long ago.

Indeed, the purple figure before them was none other than the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, Keqing.

Compared to when she was fourteen, Keqing had shed her youthful inexperience, becoming more beautiful and mature.

To be honest, this was Nathan's first encounter with her in the real world.

During the week since his arrival, due to the Qixing's noble status,

Nathan, a mere working commoner, couldn't even catch a glimpse of her.

After their brief eye contact, Nathan hurriedly lowered his head.

That was close—seeing her beautiful face, he had almost called out "Ah Qing" instinctively.

"This is reality... not the life episode anymore!"

Nathan kept reminding himself, trying to correct his confused perception.

Their childhood friendship was just a setting in the life simulation episode.

In reality, they were complete strangers who had never met.

Yes... this was how Nathan convinced himself.

Strangers—just the most familiar kind of strangers.

After all, in the episode, the girl had been crying against his chest.

That fragrance, that softness, wasn't something easily forgotten.

The faint stirring in his heart gradually normalized after seeing Keqing's calm expression.

Such a composed expression indeed suited meeting a stranger.

Though perhaps his eyes were playing tricks on him, but wasn't there a faint glimmer in the corner of Keqing's eyes?

....

"Nate!!!"

Meanwhile, on the other side, Keqing's inner turmoil was no less than theirs.

Her childhood friend who had sacrificed himself for her at age fourteen,

Now appeared before her, real and tangible.

Years had passed, age had increased, his appearance had matured.

But Keqing couldn't be mistaken—this person looked exactly like the Nathan in her memory, as if cast from the same mold.

She almost called out Nathan's name loudly.

Fortunately, she contained her excitement at the last moment, along with the tears in her eyes.

Her childhood friend had perished together with that horrifying monster—how could he appear here now?

Perhaps in this world, there really could be two people who looked identical.

Keqing tried to convince herself of this, but thoughts in her mind kept opposing this idea.

However, at this moment, Keqing maintained the composure expected of the Yuheng.

Whatever the case, she needed to approach and confirm.

As she walked forward, Keqing's expression remained calm.

But in her heart, emotions were surging like stormy seas.