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Chapter 214. Happy Birthday, Jiang Jianxin
Jiang Jianxin and Yin Ju stood together, staring at Black Pupil Pharmaceutical for an entire afternoon. The latter became noticeably sleepy towards the end.

He was holding his thermos and nodding his head like a chick pecking at rice. Jiang Jianxin, still holding his sword, remained cold and aloof. When he saw him start nodding, he elbowed him without any politeness.

"Don't fall asleep! The people from Black Pupil Pharmaceuticals are right ahead. How can you sleep?"

Yin Ju rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his head, and said:

"...I only slept for three hours last night."

Jiang Jianxin was about to say that it's normal for working people to suffer a little and be tired, when he suddenly remembered that the boy in front of him was only seventeen years old this year.

At the most vibrant and energetic age, they wear administrative jackets, carry thermos cups, and pretend to be mature adults, handling affairs with a stern face every day at their posts, while also being wary of the schemes of criminal gangs.

Jiang Jianxin blinked, and finally said calmly:
"Go back and rest. I'll keep watch here for you."

Yin Ju yawned, took a big gulp of goji berry tea, and said:

"No need, I just notified Xiao Zhang to come over and keep an eye on things."

"Her boyfriend is also on patrol tonight, so this is a good opportunity to arrange a date for her."

Jiang Jianxin smelled the goji berry tea in his cup and suggested:
"Next time you can put coffee in your thermos; I think it will help you stay awake."

Yin Ju frowned and pursed his lips, saying:
"I can't drink that stuff, it's too bitter. I always soak red dates in my goji berry tea."

Jiang Jianxin hissed:
"...Then you're very sweet."

The two waited for a while, and soon Xiao Zhang arrived.

She was still wearing that gray executive jacket, but this time her hairstyle was much neater, and she had thoroughly washed her face.

Yin Ju solemnly instructed:
"Keep a close eye on the people at Black Pupil Pharmaceuticals. Contact me anytime if you need anything. Don't go on dates during work hours, but feel free to do whatever you want after get off work."

Xiao Zhang nodded, a rare relaxed smile on his face.

With someone to relieve him, Yin Ju happily dragged Jiang Jianxin to dinner.

Neither of them spoke at the dinner table. Yin Ju was tired and busy eating, thinking he would go back to his tent for a short rest later, as he still had to get up to handle official business that night.

Jiang Jianxin logged into WeChat and saw a new friend request.

The person's profile picture was a small yellow bird perched on a schoolbag, and the source line read: "Recommended contact by friend 'Sang Xiaoxiao'".

— Xie Yan got Sang Xiaoxiao's WeChat contact information from her.

Previously, two fake accounts on the forum couldn't communicate even when they were face-to-face, but now they've finally connected via WeChat and can finally talk.

After accepting Xie Yan's friend request, the other party quickly sent a message:

[Xie Yan]: Sister Jiang, shall we go for a walk tonight?
[Xie Yan]: [Spinning Yellow Bird Emoji]

[Xie Yan]: [Peeking out and looking like a little yellow bird emoji]

Both of these little yellow bird emojis were adorable. Jiang Jianxin couldn't suppress the corners of his lips from turning up, and happily typed:

[Jiang Jianxin]: Okay! [Happy little yellow face]

The other party replied quickly:

[Xie Yan]: Then let's meet at the Cangjiang Dam in twenty minutes?
When Jiang Jianxin saw the message, she was about to ask if the Cangjiang Dam had been sealed off by the flood control office when she suddenly remembered the person who had arranged to meet her... it was Xie Yan.

Who is Xie Yan?

—The Fools' Triumph, renowned individuals with the ability to navigate to school.

When Jiang Jianxin first met Xie Yan in Zhenbei City, Xie Yan was very friendly, so she didn't feel the pressure from the Fool Giant. However, she later learned from the forums how authoritative the name "Xie Yan" was in the Chaos faction.

She is a rare "altar" talent in the Chaos faction, possessing all four altar pathways: "Daylight," "Sage," "Miracle," and "Rules."

The "Sage" pathway is jokingly referred to by the Light faction as a "brain-boosting artifact for fools." This means that awakening this pathway significantly enhances intelligence; it can bring the IQ of an idiot back to average, and it can also instantly grant wisdom to those with talents from other factions, as if they had been enlightened. Xie Yan, as the Fool of the Altar, is exceptionally intelligent and perceptive thanks to the bonus from the "Sage" pathway.

Although she is young, she plays the role of a wise woman in the Fools' Society, wielding the highest administrative decision-making power in the Fools' Society, and is known for her wisdom and resourcefulness throughout the Chaos faction.

Besides her intelligence, Xie Yan's ability, "The Road to School," is also terrifyingly powerful.

It relies on Xie Yan's own idealistic perception—that there is no unreachable destination in the world.

This means that as long as she believes there is a path ahead, even a bottomless abyss will be paved with a smooth road beneath her feet.

Besides its unstoppable, extensive network of pathways, it is also terrifying because of its absolute control over the concept of "roads".

When Xie Yan unlocks her talent and takes a step, reality will be forcibly distorted, and the surrounding space will be reconstructed into the path in her mind.

Anything that dares to stand in its way—whether flesh and blood or steel and concrete—will be eliminated.

If she is determined to kill, the "path" will become a labyrinth of death.

Those trapped within will experience an endless cycle of being trapped in a maze until their lives are completely consumed by this realm.

That was no longer a physical siege, but a cognitive obliteration—on the "path" Xie Yan had chosen, no obstacle was ever allowed to survive.

Jiang Jianxin broke out in a cold sweat when he learned the details of Xie Yan's specific abilities from the forum.

—Because she had been on Xie Yan's "road" when she was in Zhenbei City.

Now that I think about it, it's no wonder that when Xie Yan saw her carrying a sword during the Zhenbei City incident, she showed no fear and remained cheerful.

It wasn't because she was carefree, but because Xie Yan had come singing and driving her way to school, and Jiang Jianxin had entered her domain by taking her to school.

Xie Yan appeared relaxed and friendly at the time, exuding a sense of ease befitting a strong person.

Jiang Jianxin looked at Xie Yan's message and thought that she was no longer going to act. However, the Haidu Dam was open to people inside the flood control office. Thanks to Yin Ju, she could go up there at will, so it would be nice to arrange a walk on the dam.

[Jiang Jianxin]: Okay, see you at the dam later! [Happy little yellow face]

Xie Yan didn't reply to her again, but Jiang Jianxin ate a few bites of food and saw a notification from the WeChat account:
A new friend has visited your homepage.

[Xie Yan liked your post on WeChat Moments]

[Xie Yan left a comment on your WeChat Moments]

"..."

Jiang Jianxin felt a little embarrassed. She opened her WeChat Moments and looked at the post that Xie Yan had liked.

—Oh no, she's become a Sword Master, her resume is gilded, but her social circle is missing.

The most recent one was from her 23rd birthday celebration, where she was sitting alone at the dining table, wearing a wrinkled nightgown, with a crooked paper crown on her head casting a comical shadow under the warm yellow light.

The end of the university graduation season came too quickly. Those classmates who used to walk arm in arm with each other are now scattered all over the country, and even a birthday wish seems like a luxury.

Her brother was delayed by his boss's urgent matter that time, but the three-tiered deluxe cake delivered by the courier still arrived at the door on time.

The butter carvings seemed overly elaborate in the quiet room, and as the candlelight flickered, she saw her lonely reflection in the French windows.

It was a short, silent video; the atmosphere wasn't like a birthday celebration, but more like attending a cake funeral.

Jiang Jianxin saw Xie Yan's comment under this old and mundane post on WeChat Moments, and paused slightly.

It clearly stated on it:

"Blessings may be late, but they arrive nonetheless—"

Happy birthday, Jiang Jianxin!

　Thank you to readers 130405182959942, Yi Feiqu, 20170829200133473, Qiu Zi, Xingxing Ziya, Jiang Wanyinshile, Yiwu, Bingxin Ruoyu, and 20190405115518805 for your monthly tickets! Thank you all for your support!
　　(End of this chapter)