67: Chapter 67 The Promise Arrives, the Dust Settles
The train slowed down, the "clack-clack" sounds grew slower, and with a long hiss of pressure release, the train came to a steady stop.
The final stop had arrived.
Lin Wan stood on the platform, took a breath, and let it out.
The setting sun was sinking into the horizon, dyeing both the sky and the sea a golden red.
Old Chen followed behind her, carrying the luggage, his movements somewhat stiff.
Jiang Feng was the last to get off, the lollipop stick in his mouth already frayed from being chewed on.
The three of them stood in the crowd, and no one spoke.
Lin Wan had finished reading the letter.
The content of the letter was very simpleβa young soldier's most humble yearning for the future.
He said that when he returned, he would take her to this southernmost city, rent a small boat, and watch the sunrise at sea together.
He also said that he had saved three hundred and twenty-seven yuan, enough for the down payment on a small house here with a view of the sea.
After reading the letter, Lin Wan did not cry.
She refolded the letter paper and, together with the half of the military dog tag, placed it into her inner pocket.
"I've resigned," she turned around, looking at Old Chen and Jiang Feng. "Just now on the train, I already reported it to the conductor."
Old Chen opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back.
"I want to stay here," Lin Wan gazed at the distant sea, her expression serene.
"Open a small shop, sell some soda and snacks. Find a storefront that can see the sea."
She smiled.
"For him, I'll watch this sea for a lifetime."
Jiang Feng looked at her.
In his perception, the cyan-green aura on Lin Wan had become pure and bright; that obsession which had lingered for thirty years had dispersed.
Jiang Feng chewed up the lollipop stick in his mouth and spat it into the trash can nearby.
He took out his phone and dialed a number.
"Hello, Manager Wang? This is Jiang Feng, yes, the one from Longhu Mountain Villa."
"Do me a favor, find a street-facing storefront, one that can see the sea, rent it immediately, and pay the rent annually."
"Yes, I need it right now."
"I'll send you the address."
He hung up the phone and shrugged at the astonished Lin Wan and Old Chen.
"Just consider it a housewarming gift for Sister-in-law's new place."
He paused for a moment and then added another sentence.
"It can also be considered paying the down payment for that buddy named Zhou Hai."
Lin Wan's eyes reddened instantly.
This time, she didn't hold it back.
Half an hour later.
On Seaside Road, at the entrance of a small shop that had just hung up a "Prime Shop for Rent" sign.
Real estate agent Wang Qian was fumbling with the keys to open the door, looking at the three people in front of her, still muttering to herself in confusion.
A single phone call had made her, the top salesperson, drop all her clients and rush over here.
The door opened.
The shop wasn't large, but as soon as one walked in, one could see the boundless sea and beach outside through the huge glass window.
The sunset light shone in, and the dust in the room could be seen very clearly.
"This is it," Lin Wan only said one sentence.
Then, she raised her head, looked at the man in front of her who was much older than herself, and bowed deeply to him.
"Thank you, Brother Chen."
"From now on, you are also my own brother."
Old Chen's body shuddered.
He looked at Lin Wan, his lips trembling, unable to say a single word.
He simply raised his hand and gave Lin Wan a standard military salute.
Jiang Feng stepped out, leaving the space for them.
He stood by the seaside railing, the sea breeze messing up his sparse hair.
He looked into the shop, where Old Chen and Lin Wan were talking about something.
He could feel that the dark gray aura on Old Chen, representing guilt and regret, was rapidly dissipating.
Replacing it was a long-lost sense of relief.
A long while later.
Old Chen walked out of the shop.
He walked to Jiang Feng's side, and imitating Jiang Feng's posture, leaned against the railing.
His eyes were also red, but his back was straight as a ramrod.
He watched Lin Wan, who was busy cleaning the shop in the distance, and a simple, honest smile appeared on his face.
Then, he turned to face Jiang Feng.
"Boss."
His voice was steady and resonant.
"We should go back now."
At this very moment.
That familiar mechanical voice sounded in his mind.
γ Ding! Valid fortune-telling count: 3/3 γ
γ Ding! Three-fortune task completed! Final settlement in progress... γ
γ Host's actions detected, successfully solved a cold case... γ
γ Host's actions detected, successfully made up for a thirty-year-long regret, and produced an irreversible positive impact on the mission target... γ
γ Mission rating elevating... γ
γ Congratulations to the host! This mission's final rating is: Epic! γ
γ Settlement of rewards in progress... γ
γ Congratulations to the host, brain cancer cell activity reduced by 25%, remaining lifespan increased by 150 days! γ
Jiang Feng's heart gave a twitch.
One hundred and fifty days!
Added to what remained before, his current lifespan now exceeded one year!
This was a number he had never dared to hope for since his diagnosis.
γ Congratulations to the host, you have received a cash reward of 5 million! γ
γ Congratulations to the host, you have obtained the extremely rare active ability: Fated Prophecy. γ
Jiang Feng's attention was entirely drawn by the last message.
Active ability?
γ Ability Name γ: Fated Prophecy
γ Ability Type γ: Active Skill
γ Ability Description γ: The host can consume their own lifespan to perform a "Fated" level prophecy regarding the future of a specific event or person. This prophecy will become an established fact, forcibly correcting reality and causality.
γ Consumption γ: The higher the level of the prophesied event and the broader the scope of influence, the more lifespan is consumed. Minimum consumption is 1 day, maximum has no limit.
γ Cooldown γ: 72 hours.
γ Note: Warning! Every use of γ Fated Prophecy γ is equivalent to forcibly driving an "anchor" into the surging river of fate. This will trigger a chain reaction in the world and may even invite unpredictable causal backlash. Please use with caution, host. γ
Jiang Feng looked at that note, and a layer of cold sweat seeped out on his back.
Using the system to earn lifespan, only to lose it by using an ability?
This was no longer fortune-telling.
This was... playing God.
He felt the vitality within his body and the new ability in his mind that was powerful enough to be frightening.
He knew that his life had completely deviated from the track of a mortal.
Every one of his choices was profoundly, and even crudely, influencing the destinies of others.
Just as he was thinking this, the phone in his pocket vibrated.
He took it out and looked.
It was a strange number with no location tag.
Jiang Feng frowned and pressed the answer button.
"Hello."
On the other end of the line, there was a burst of static.
A few seconds later, a hoarse voice came through the receiver.
"Is this Master Jiang?"
Jiang Feng did not answer.
The other party didn't need his answer either and continued speaking on their own.
"I have something here that was also lost."
The voice paused for a moment and let out a low laugh.
"It's called..."
"Fate."
"I wonder, can you find it?"
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