Chapter 10: Going Out

"Just bring your eyes and ears, don't speak casually. If you have questions, wait until we get back to ask. Don't jump suddenly, and definitely don't dash off somewhere… Just quietly stay by my side for one full round, got it?"

Xu Qing leaned against Jiang He's doorway, giving her a string of warnings, worried she might pull some martial stunt outside.

In the digital age, it's critical to be cautious.

Once Jiang He finished changing shoes and stamped her feet to get a feel, he gave her another thorough look.

If he ignored the heroic spirit in her eyes and her calm, expressionless face, she could pass for a regular modern student.

"Smile."

"…"

Jiang He looked at him silently.

"Forget it, forget it… you look kinda creepy without any expression."

Xu Qing rubbed his nose, turned around to head out, and reminded her again, "Absolutely, don't move around. Just stroll outside like normal, it's safe—put the sword down."

Seeing Jiang He pick up her sword, he suddenly questioned whether bringing her outside was even a good idea.

This girl really was inseparable from her sword… But thinking about it, it made sense; being thrust into a completely unfamiliar world, it’s only natural she'd feel insecure.

"Don't you have a dart? If you feel unsafe, just bring the dart. The streets are full of people like me… uh…" Xu Qing fumbled for a good word, gesturing at his own physique. "… uh, weaklings. They may look tall, but you could knock them down with a single punch… you get me?"

Not to brag, but if Jiang He actually threw a punch, he'd be on his knees begging her to spare him.

"Understood."

Jiang He patted the dart holster at her waist, finally choosing to leave her sword behind.

"If you were a novel character, you'd be the type of cautious protagonist, strong beyond words…"

Xu Qing rambled on, feeling a thrill of novelty as he pulled out his phone and sneakily snapped a photo of Jiang He. She frowned, and he just grinned back at her, saying, "Let's go. First, we’ll take a lap outside; stick close to me."

Without a walk outside, his whole spiel about things being from "a thousand two hundred years ago" wouldn't have much weight with her.

Dusk was approaching.

The sun hadn’t fully set, but a sliver of a new moon had already risen. After yesterday’s heavy rain, the temperature had dropped, and a cool evening breeze was blowing. Xu Qing stood outside the building, looking around while catching a breath of fresh air, a strange feeling welling up inside him as he glanced at Jiang He standing beside him. 𐍂ÂƝꝋᛒĚṡ

Taking an ancient person out for a walk—who else would even think of this?

"Stay calm, cool," he murmured to Jiang He, hands stuffed in his pockets as he took a couple of steps, then pulled his hands out to casually get closer to her. Jiang He followed half a step behind, slightly tilting her head to observe her surroundings, her lips pressed together in silence.

From a distance, it looked like he was the nervous one.

"This is called a residential complex, with individual units for each household."

"Over there’s the main gate, and outside is the street. Shops line both sides, selling everything for daily life—clothes, food, whatever you need…”

As they walked, Xu Qing quietly explained. Fortunately, it was nearing dinner time, so there weren’t many people around, making it easier for the two to wander freely.

They strolled over to the entrance, and before he could greet the security guard, Uncle Zhao, he noticed someone else nearby.

A woman with big, permed black curls, a scarf around her neck, and a blue-red floral shirt—though the basket on her arm clashed with her stylish look.

"Haha, I have to say…" Auntie Cheng, with her basket, was chatting with Uncle Zhao, laughing, until she suddenly stopped and looked over at Xu Qing and Jiang He.

"What's up, Auntie?" Xu Qing asked, noticing her staring at Jiang He with her head tilted.

"This girl looks familiar."

"Your girlfriend, Xu Qing?" Uncle Zhao asked with a grin, reclining in his chair with a cigarette, turning to look at Jiang He too.

Xu Qing suddenly grasped the downsides of being too chummy with neighbors, but he still took a half step forward, subtly positioning himself in front of Jiang He. "A friend, just a friend."

"Oh~ Got it!" Uncle Zhao chuckled knowingly, nodding with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Wait, isn’t this the girl with the sword I saw on the stairs yesterday…" Auntie Cheng’s gaze lingered on Jiang He as she recalled.

Xu Qing’s heart skipped a beat; Jiang He’s attire yesterday had indeed been too eye-catching.

"A sword?" Uncle Zhao looked confused.

"It was this long, all black…" Auntie Cheng gestured, emphasizing her description.

"Cosplay!" Xu Qing interjected, laughing, and shot Jiang He a reassuring look.

Jiang He didn’t seem to get it, merely watching the three of them curiously.

"It’s something young people enjoy, you wouldn’t get it—it’s like dressing up as zombies or fairies, you know… It’s a subculture."

Xu Qing explained as he gently grabbed Jiang He’s arm, feeling her lightly resist before relenting, and led her away with a casual, “Alright, we’re off. Better head back to cook, Auntie.”

Now he understood what “guilty conscience” meant.

"What do you mean, I don’t get it? Isn’t that called 'cosplay'? My grandson once dressed as a zombie for that…”

"They even dress up as that sort of thing?"

"Exactly! Kids today are way more creative than we ever were back then…”

Their voices faded as Xu Qing and Jiang He walked further away. Finally feeling relieved, Xu Qing turned back, noticing Jiang He had pulled her arm free and was eyeing him.

"Did she see you yesterday?" he asked.

Jiang He simply nodded without a word.

"So, before I got home, you met her on the stairs, but she ignored you, or maybe she spoke, and you didn’t respond, then she just walked away?”

Jiang He blinked, thought about it, and nodded before shaking her head.

"What does that mean?”

Xu Qing froze for a moment before realizing, amused. This girl was really obedient; he’d told her not to talk, so she just didn’t talk.

A bit unexpected.

"Let me guess… you met her, she didn’t say anything, looked at you, and went upstairs.” Xu Qing said.

This time he was right. Jiang He nodded, then turned her gaze toward the road, studying the passing vehicles with curiosity.

At least she only glanced… If it had been someone more nosy or another guard, things could’ve gotten complicated.

Xu Qing felt relieved, glancing around as he continued walking and explaining, “That’s called a car—it’s basically four wheels and a metal shell, like a horse-drawn carriage, but without the horses. You could think of it as the horses being hidden inside, running to make it move…”

They walked side-by-side down the sidewalk, Xu Qing speaking while Jiang He listened, both falling silent when others came close, and eventually arriving at a crosswalk.

"That there is the Thousand-Mile Eye."

At the crosswalk, Xu Qing pointed at the surveillance camera atop the traffic light pole, eager for her to understand just how dangerous this world was for outsiders. “Everything we watched earlier was captured by this. They’re everywhere. Right now, as we’re standing here, there’s someone a thousand miles away watching us—but don’t worry, they don’t usually pay attention. No one’s that idle. But if you start doing something unusual, like scaling walls or anything suspicious, officers will be alerted and come here instantly.”

Jiang He’s expression shifted as she stared at the camera.

"What are you thinking?" Xu Qing asked, noticing her reaction and glancing at the camera warily. "You’re not… thinking of taking it down, are you?”

Jiang He glanced at the iron dart in her hand, then looked back at Xu Qing.

"Put that thing away!"

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