Chang He walked into the ward carrying a backpack. "I heard your Spiritual Power recovered to E-rank. Congratulations."
He wore a black hoodie, had a buzz cut, with clear features and obvious signs of training on his arms.
"Thanks," Chu Ran leaned forward. "Why did you bring so many things?"
Chang He opened his backpack and took out items one by one. "These are all the Creations I've collected. I'm leaving, so I'll give them to you as a keepsake."
A black sword the size of a palm, a black longbow, a coiled black whip, a black wooden plaque... Miscellaneous items filled the table.
"E-rank isn't high, but you can use all these Basic Creations." Chang He placed the last black shield on the table and turned to look at her. "What's that expression?"
Chu Ran stared at the various Creations on the table. "You like black?"
Among twenty or thirty Creations, not a single one had any other color, almost rivaling her own wardrobe when she was fifteen or sixteen.
Chang He was slightly surprised, scratching his cheek with his finger. "You really don't remember what happened before? Is the Divine Fruit that amazing?"
It had actually given her a new brain.
Chu Ran: ...
To cover up her abnormality, she blamed her lack of common knowledge on neuron repair.
Perhaps because her case was unprecedented, and because the Blackstone Prison experimental subjects indeed showed partial memory loss and slower reflexes after recovery, Dr. Sun quickly accepted this explanation.
Chu Ran coughed to cover her embarrassment. "That's how it is."
Replacing the core was the same as replacing the brain, right? No problem.
"That's good too," Chang He nodded, looking down at the black Creations and explaining, "These were all brought back by my parents when I was a kid."
He touched a black sword, his expression nostalgic. "This was my fifth birthday gift. Since I have no Spiritual Power, I can only possess Basic Creations."
"Basic Creations are all made from Black Divine Stone. They have low divine power but are numerous, found in every Divine Tomb."
Chu Ran rubbed her nose. It seemed his parents had always hoped he would have Spiritual Power. But, "I owe you a Divine Fruit."
Without Chang He, she would have died in the Garbage Dump. Saving her life was just a side effect of protecting himself.
Chang He shook his head and smiled. "No need. Even if I had used the Divine Fruit, my Spiritual Power would at most reach F-rank."
Having Spiritual Power might be a bit better, but still useless.
Chu Ran was stunned.
"I was diagnosed with Genetic Collapse Syndrome when I was three," Chang He said calmly. "Even though the collapse is now suppressed, I still can't gain high-level Spiritual Power through the Divine Fruit."
"So don't feel guilty," Chang He looked at Chu Ran seriously. "Without the Divine Fruit, I could resolutely walk down another path."
"So are you leaving to join an Explorer squad?" Chu Ran asked after a moment of silence.
"Ah, I'm not qualified yet," Chang He said sheepishly. "I have to pass the final trial at the boot camp first before I can join an Explorer squad."
Chu Ran nodded. "Good luck with your assessment."
"Thanks for your good wishes," Chang He smiled, looking at her earnestly. "Chu Ran, don't give up because of your Spiritual Power."
He had attended a banquet at the Chu Family.
Amid the clinking glasses, a silent figure stood behind the curtains.
After the Chu Family gained a Spiritual Power genius, the former little princess became even more insignificant.
He wanted to encourage her, but back then he didn't know where his own path lay. It wasn't until later, by chance, that he learned that silent girl had been a senior member of the physical training club.
Even withered weeds want to grow toward the sun.
Chang He looked at Chu Ran. Fortunately, you didn't give up, and I now have the courage to pursue my dreams.
Chu Ran lowered her gaze.
"I need to head to the spaceport," Chang He stood up and patted his pants. "Chu Ran, may we both get what we wish for."
Outside the window, the clouds suddenly parted, and the sky brightened.
Twenty-one-year-old Chang He smiled with relief, as if he had received an acceptance letter from his dream school and was about to start a new life.
Chu Ran quietly watched him close the door and leave.
A pity.
Downstairs at the hospital, Chang Han leaned against the front door of a black hovercar, head bowed, smoking. The swirling smoke obscured his complicated expression.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up. "You're quick."
Chang He, quick-eyed and swift-handed, snatched the cigarette from Chang Han and said earnestly, "Uncle, if you keep smoking like this, you'll have to drink cleansing potion again. Every medicine has side effects."
"I've already had emergency pills several times because of you. I can handle this," Chang Han snorted, turned around, and got into the car.
On the road to the spaceport, traffic flowed endlessly, and tall buildings on both sides receded rapidly.
Chang Han looked ahead and said, "Once you enter the Explorer Boot Camp, you'll only have yourself to rely on."
The Explorer Association had a mediocre relationship with the Federation government and the military, and some Explorer squads even held hostile attitudes toward the Federation government.
The Explorer Boot Camp was strictly off-limits to all external forces.
"Mm," Chang He looked at the vehicles speeding ahead and said firmly, "I've made up my mind."