My left and right hemispheres fight each other.

"Hunting mission countdown: 10s."

"Entering final preparation mode."

"9..."

"8..."

"7..."

Chen Xinping lay on her large white blanket, covered her stomach, placed her hands on her navel, and silently opened her eyes wide, staring at the ceiling with curiosity and tension.

Chen Jing took control of half of his face, supposedly so that they could both experience the feeling of it being their first time.

"3..."

"2..."

"1..."

Chen Xin felt his vision gradually darkening, and dark outlines looming over him. He tried to open his eyes, but inevitably had to close them again.

A sudden sense of impending doom, like drowning, triggered Chen Xin's survival instincts. He almost screamed as he struggled to sit up, his eyes wide with rage.

But when he sat up, the airflow that was constantly pumping and flowing through his nasal cavity had changed from a faint smell of medicine and alcohol to a rapid smell of sweat, a strong musty smell, mixed with a small amount of strange food smell and a salty seawater smell.

His view was no longer of a simple hospital room, but of a dimly lit large room filled with deafening, thunderous snoring.

It was a true up-and-down motion, because the entire room seemed to be swaying and shaking. If it went any faster, it would be comparable to the jolting of a horse.

Chen Xin didn't react for a moment. His lungs, craving oxygen, gasped for breath, but his disgusted brain reflexively made him vomit—the smell here was simply terrifying, pungent and acrid.

"0." Chen Ying's unwavering voice resonated throughout both worlds, echoing deep within Chen Xin's mind and making him understand his current predicament.

"Chen Jing? I didn't see anything." Chen Xin called out to his inner voice.

"I know, because you can't control your instinctive fear. It's not from the bottom of your heart, but from your very foundation, the fundamental tremor of every cell," Chen Jing said calmly.

In that instant, Chen Xin thought of many things. He paused, then asked, "What...did you see?"

"A lot." Chen Jing was clearly unwilling to say more.

"Where is this?" Chen Xin understood this and chose to change the subject.

"The wonderful, carefree, and free seafaring life on medieval ships," Chen Jing quipped, not forgetting to add for Chen Xin:

"The large forward cabin where the sailors lived, I estimate there were more than two hundred people living in this large open space."

Chen Xin immediately lay back down because he noticed that in the dim light, there seemed to be several other guys who, like him, had suddenly woken up and sat up.

He used the corner of his clothes and cuffs to block his mouth and nose as a makeshift filter. Although it couldn't completely block out the unbearable smell, it at least made him feel a little better.

"No need to be so wary, just play the role of a clumsy newbie," Chen Jing reminded him.

Chen Xin stared wide-eyed, enduring the glaring discomfort, and quietly observed the place.

The sailors varied greatly in quality; some were burly like gorillas, while others were skinny like monkeys. They had only one thing in common—they were extremely filthy and disorderly.

"Look, they're so easy to tell apart. We're still wearing our old clothes, and you're still in this hospital gown, haha!" Chen Jing couldn't help but laugh.

"How are we supposed to disguise ourselves as sailors? Won't we be spotted right away in these strange clothes? We're not going to be mistaken for some kind of cult members and tied to the mast in the blazing sun to dry like jerky, are we?" Chen Xin then realized that his clothes hadn't been changed.

"What are you thinking about, you rascal?" Chen Jing rubbed his messy head, observing him as he spoke.

"That's easy. In the eyes of those sailors, we don't have any strange clothes at all."

"I've said it before: joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are all illusions that the brain thinks you should feel at a certain moment. Visual perception is much the same."

"Simply put, when light enters the eye from the outside world, the collected light signals are translated into electrical signals by the photoreceptor cells in your retina. These signals are then transmitted to the visual cortex of the brain via the optic nerve and thalamus. The brain then modifies, processes, and interprets these signals to form the images you see."

"It's just a subjective illusion of self-deception, not the truth at all. Chen Ying can bypass the translation between photoelectric signals and directly project nerve impulses into our visual relays. What's so difficult about fooling this group of fools?"

"Stop, stop, stop talking," Chen Xin quickly interrupted him.

"hehe."

"Wait, what are they going to do?" Chen Xin stared warily at the scene of several groups of people walking out.

At first, he thought someone was getting up in the middle of the night, but the timing made him wonder. When he saw more and more people walking out, he immediately became nervous.

"Let's go out and take a look; they're all dressed in strange clothes," Chen Jing said.

Chen Xin spoke up warily: "Chen Jing, you promised me that you wouldn't choose to kill the entire ship unless absolutely necessary."

Chen Jing rolled his eyes: "You really think highly of me. And you've just listed a ship full of wicked pirates as good people? Or have you already written down the crimes and punishments of an innocent emperor you've never even met?"

Chen Xin was speechless for a moment, then silently got up and walked in the direction the others had left.

As he walked, he realized that the cabin was filled with hammocks, some single and some double, almost packed to the brim. Chen Xin had to carefully discern the situation to find a place where he could barely stand and continue his journey.

"It stinks!" Chen Xin's eyes were almost watering from the stench. The sour and foul smell was everywhere, penetrating every nook and cranny. She finally managed to get out of the front cabin, and almost collapsed onto the bed.

"Are you alright, newbie?" Just as Chen Xin was struggling with the heated debate between the House of Lords and the House of Commons, an arm slipped into an oak-colored sleeve and steadied his swaying body.

"Thank you... um?" Chen Xin's body suddenly stiffened and tensed, but he quickly relaxed and casually looked up at the person in front of him.

The man had neat, short hair, wore a brown hooded sweatshirt with a multi-functional belt, and paired it with jogger pants and non-slip boots.

He felt the unusually tense yet feigned relaxation in Chen Xin's arm and smiled, "Just call me Ge Yan. What about you?"

"Chen Xin," Chen Xin said briefly.

"Don't be nervous." Ge Yan patted Chen Xin on the shoulder and said with a smile, "I didn't mean to test you, it's just that the signs of a newcomer are too obvious."

Chen Xin was stunned for a moment, and kept examining herself, but couldn't find any marks on her.

"He's probably only a 5 in combat power, a standard piece of trash," Chen Jing said dismissively.

"Ah, I didn't tell from you, although... your outfit is indeed... a bit strange." Ge Yan touched his nose with a hint of unease, then glanced at Chen Xin again, explaining:

"When newcomers first enter a mission world, they can't help but shout, and some even break down crying and screaming. In the darkness, I spotted you at a glance."

He spread his hands and laughed jokingly, "Besides, those with an overall combat index below 7 are usually just newbies."

Chen Xin was stunned. Faced with the other party's bluntness, he didn't know what to do.

Ge Yan also expressed his understanding: "This is something a good older brother told me when I was a newcomer."

"Let's go see the other tourists."

After saying that, Ge Yan walked out of the forward cabin and along the narrow passageway until he saw the steep and straight staircase leading to the upper deck.

Chen Xin nodded and immediately followed, still wondering to herself, "How was it? Did I act convincingly?"

"So you were faking it all. I thought you were just being yourself," Chen Jing said, feigning realization.

"..." Chen Xin cried out indignantly, "Even if I'm terrible, I shouldn't be like this in your eyes."

"Hard to say."

The pirate ship had limited space and was designed for compactness and practicality, so even though they only exchanged a few thoughts, they arrived at the end of their journey.

A burly man, wearing a sleeveless vest, a cut-resistant fiber inner layer, and rather tight stretch pants, with wrist guards, knee pads, and even a throat guard, sat imposingly on an almost straight wooden ladder.

A tall, thin man wearing a retro-style short jacket and durable work pants, with extra-thick shoulder pads, stood next to the big man.

A striking woman with a high ponytail, wearing a long, dark coat, fitted riding breeches, and a gold-trimmed scarf, stood ramrod straight beside the passageway, impossible to ignore.

Another blonde woman, wearing a fitted short leather jacket, low-cut non-slip boots, and a soft hat, was leaning against the wooden wall, standing quite close to the particularly tall and charismatic woman.

"What kind of outfit is this?" The burly man faced Ge Yan and nodded slightly in greeting. But when he saw Chen Xin behind Ge Yan, he immediately burst out laughing.

"Cosplay?" The blonde beauty covered her mouth and smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"Ha...haha." Chen Xin chuckled twice and waved to the four of them.

"A newcomer, huh? He shouldn't be the kind of ruthless character who's good at playing tricks." After Ge Yan's introduction, the big man seemed much more relaxed, and he nodded.

The smartly dressed woman in the coat frowned: "So, you're a patient in your own world?"

"What's wrong with the patient? Even though you're sick, young man, your skill level surpasses that of many people," Ge Yan said, offering a word of assistance. The woman then said no more.

"With new recruits this time, things seem much easier," the tall, thin man sighed, clearly relieved.

"Having mingled in two different worlds, you're still able to get together with newcomers. Aren't you ashamed? You're actually feeling lucky," the blonde beauty retorted sarcastically.

"Looking for trouble? I'm afraid of missions and hunters, but that doesn't mean I'm afraid of you. You're just a guy who's only been through one world; you're no different from a newbie." The tall, thin man sneered.

"Don't start a fight! Did you come out here to argue?" The burly man glared at the two men.

"Why are you shouting so loudly? You've gone through three worlds and you can still meet the newcomer? Did you say he forgot to mention you?" The blonde beauty retorted sharply.

"You son of a bitch..." The big man suddenly stood up, his anger rising instantly.

"Shut up." The woman with the high ponytail swayed her long hair, and the big man was pressed back by an invisible force.

He thrashed about like a fish dying of thirst on the shore, but was still pinned down on the steep wooden ladder. His futile struggles made him blush and feel suffocated.

"I told you, a piece of trash is a piece of trash. You've survived three missions, and you're still a piece of trash." The blonde woman chuckled and placed her palm on the arm of the woman with the high ponytail.

The woman with the high ponytail glanced sideways, showing no resistance to the intimate gesture, but Chen Jing saw a cold glint deep in her eyes.

"Interesting." Chen Jing smiled to himself, then turned to look at Ge Yan with a meaningful look in his eyes.

Ge Yan scratched his head sheepishly and said somewhat awkwardly, "I didn't mean to hide it from you."

"In fact, as long as you spend a certain amount of 'Revelation Points', you can obtain the permission level to view a 'Minor' who also has a brain connection."

"Those two women only went through one mission, yet they grew so much; it's surprising."

"Actually, what I wanted to ask is, is this how people like us get along? Aren't we afraid that the other person might be a hunter or something?" Chen Jing looked at Ge Yan with a deliberately strange gaze.

"Uh...cough cough." Ge Yan covered his mouth with his fist and cleared his throat: "Let me be blunt, the reason that tall guy suddenly relaxed is because he knows you exist."

"After all, in a world with newcomers, there won't be any hunters. In other worlds, everyone has to be wary of each other."

"We will conduct some self-verification regarding the performance differences between the assassin's sleeve and the traveler's baggage, so that in situations where unity is necessary, we can try to prevent everyone from feeling insecure."

"So that's how it is." Chen Jing suddenly realized, nodding his head blankly, concealing the fleeting killing intent that flickered in his eyes.

"Aren't there any new hunters?" After a moment's thought, Chen Jing asked with a calm expression.

"Why did you remind him to do what?" Chen Xin asked, puzzled.

"Haha? You must be joking. A newbie as a hunter? Who can he hunt? He'll be lucky to even survive! I've never heard of a hunter appearing in the world of newbies, let alone a newbie as a hunter." Ge Yan assumed that the ignorant newbie was talking nonsense without thinking because he was nervous in an unfamiliar world.

"Only six people?" The farce over there finally ended, and the woman with the high ponytail asked in confusion.

"It is indeed strange. It's understandable if there are only six people, since it's the world of newcomers, so the difficulty isn't that great. But it's very strange that there's only one newcomer." The big man had just lost face, but he didn't seem resentful and continued to participate in the discussion as usual.

"Actually, that's not the case. In my opinion, it's more surprising that a seasoned veteran who's been through three marches meets a newcomer in the same march," the blonde beauty continued to mock.

"Are you never going to stop?!" the burly man roared, but his voice was clearly weak as he continued to steal glances at the woman with the high ponytail.

But the woman with the high ponytail ignored her, muttering to herself, "Perhaps..."

"What?" The blonde beauty tugged at her sleeve.

The woman with the high ponytail glanced down at her and changed her tune, saying, "She wasn't mocking you, but rather giving you a warning. After all, three marches are on the verge of a qualitative change, and it's indeed rare to be able to appear in the same march as a newcomer."

The big man still felt that the two of them were ganging up on him. He snorted coldly, turned his head to the side, and did not refute them loudly again.

"What did that woman say?" Chen Xin asked, knowing that Chen Jing's senses far surpassed his.

Chen Jing didn't answer immediately, but instead asked Ge Yan, "Brother, what are these 'Revelation Points' you mentioned earlier?"

"Well, you'll understand after this parade," Ge Yan said after a moment's thought, a hint of fear in his voice.

"Before we return to our own world each time, we first come to a space called 'Tao Qi,' which is a transit point for us travelers. There, 'Revelation Points' are the only currency and the most effective standard of exchange besides barter."

"There, 'Revelation Points' can be exchanged for everything; their value is unparalleled."

"For ease of explanation, we will refer to it as... 'Starting Point'."

Chen Jing nodded and fell silent.

"What are you thinking about?" Ge Yan asked.

Chen Jing smiled and said, "Qidian, what a profound and wonderful name."

"I'm just thinking about how to plunder all the wealth of these people in front of me." Chen Jing suppressed the madness in his heart.

"Oh, right, you asked me what that woman said again. She said, 'Perhaps there are many others who are not on the same ship as us, or perhaps the danger here is extraordinary.'"

"Let's get to know each other, isn't that what we're here for? My name is Cao Hui," the tall, thin man said, extending a hand.

"Chang Song," the burly man spoke second.

"Ge Yan." Ge Yan nodded with a smile.

"Losweisse," the blonde beauty said, twirling a strand of her hair with her delicate white fingers.

"Chen Muqing," the woman with the high ponytail said after a moment's hesitation.

Chen Jing raised an eyebrow, glanced back at the crowd that had turned their gazes towards him, and spoke in a nonchalant tone:

"Chen Xin".

"Chen Xin? Here's the thing: we can help you with this march as much as possible, but you also have to listen to our reasonable demands. What do you think?" Chen Muqing asked immediately after a moment of surprise.

Chen Jing looked troubled, and Ge Yan noticed this. He advised, "Don't worry, we won't force you. You need a safe period to gain experience, and we need another partner we can rely on. It's a win-win situation."

Chen Jing turned his head to look at Ge Yan beside him.

Ge Yan then gave a gentle smile: "Do you trust us? Or, do you trust me?"

"I have nothing for you to take advantage of, and I have no reason to refuse." After thinking for a moment, Chen Jing agreed.

"So, now, tell us, did you receive any cues for your premonition of the parade?" Changsong asked urgently.

"Don't you have any premonition of a protest?" Chen Xin asked Ge Yan with a puzzled look.

"Of course there are, but only newcomers' premonitions are activated for free and automatically. As for us... to be honest, premonitions are quite valuable, and we usually only activate them when we feel that a task is difficult," Ge Yan said somewhat awkwardly.

"I see." Chen Jing looked like he had learned something.

"After you tell me, you can stay by my side more often, and I will do my best to help you," Chen Muqing said, looking directly into Chen Jing's eyes.

Chen Jing sensed the other party's sincerity, and he saw no need to hide anything from her. But just as he was about to speak, Losweather suddenly said, "Sister! Didn't you already promise me that?"

All eyes suddenly turned to the two women. Roseweather trembled, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and grabbed Chen Muqing's sleeve.

Chen Muqing showed no expression. After scanning the crowd, she turned her gaze back to Chen Xin and said calmly, "Losweiser said she activated her premonition of the parade, and the clue she received was..."

"The sky is dark and the sea is silent, the candles are extinguished and prayers are offered, the question of death looms, and the path to survival remains a mystery."

"Close your eyes and ears, be careful with your words and actions; when your soul departs, linger; when ghosts come, be respectfully invited. Remember this well, remember this well."

"Chen Xin, what about yours?"

Chen Muqing stared intently at Chen Jing, as if interrogating him.

"What does she mean? The premonitions we had for the parade mission and the hunting mission are different. Is she doubting us and testing us?" Chen Jing asked nervously.

Chen Jing and Chen Muqing stared at each other for a long time before Chen Jing suddenly smiled and said, "Miss who shares my surname, since you've already shared your information, I naturally won't be stingy with it."

Amidst the somewhat awkward atmosphere and the surrounding gazes, Chen Jingshi said, "My prompt isn't that long or detailed; it's so short that it's hard to understand. I'll just tell you all so you can help me think of something."

"Like water flowing into water, that's all there is to it, nothing more."

Chen Muqing's expression changed slightly.

"What's wrong, Miss Chen? Is something the problem?" Ge Yan asked, his face full of suspicion.

"These clues are still so much like riddles, sigh! They're really brain-teasing." Chang Song touched his thinning hair and scratched it a couple of times.

"It's nothing." Chen Muqing shook his head, his brows furrowed, his expression serious. "It's just that I received some intelligence."

"In most mission worlds, although the premonitions and hints that everyone receives are different, they all lead to the same conclusion."

"Even when there are significant differences, there must be some deeper connection that we cannot imagine."

"If everyone's premonitions don't align at all, it means the mission is exceptionally dangerous and complex."

"Is the intelligence reliable?" Cao Hui finally spoke, his expression unusual.

"My suggestion is that everyone should immediately conduct a premonition of a march, just in case," Chen Muqing said solemnly.

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed.

Only Chen Jing, while pretending to panic and cover his mouth, subtly tilted the corner of his mouth.