When an average-looking middle-aged man suddenly goes “meow” at you, what would you do? 1. Pretend not to see. 2. Stare back angrily. Jason’s hand involuntarily tightened around the broad-blade, short-handled chopping knife, and it was only with immense willpower that he barely restrained himself from swinging the blade in his hand. But his chest felt oppressively stuffy. A bit dizzy in the head. It gazed at the familiar inn in the distance, desire evident in its eyes, but what was more prominent was… timidity. “Am I fit to go back?” Her voice involuntarily trembled. Jason looked at Dennise, but he did not speak. He wasn’t accustomed to giving others advice. He didn’t believe he was qualified to give it, either. After all, every person’s choices required them to bear the consequences. Under Jason’s gaze, Dennise hung her head and then tried with all her might to force a smile. The smile was terrible. “The dead should have the resolve of the dead, I…” With that hideous smile, Dennise tried to express her stance, but just then, the door of the inn opened, and a middle-aged woman wearing a cloth skirt came out. With the help of the light, Jason could see that her face bore a three-parts resemblance to Dennise. Her eyes were red, her expression mournful. When she came in front of the carriage, she bore the same ugly smile as Dennise. “There are some issues at home.” “We’re not open for business at the moment.” With those words, she bowed apologetically. Seeing her mother before her, Dennise could no longer contain her emotions and abruptly pushed the carriage door open. It called out, ready to rush toward her. But at that moment, it suddenly remembered its identity as the deceased. What would her mother’s reaction be to seeing such a version of herself? Trepidation surfaced once again. But the carriage door was already agape. Her mother could simply lift her head and see her. It made a desperate attempt to hide. It realized its body had become intangible. An intangibility imperceptible to the common eye. But Jason noticed, his perception more than double that of an average person, was enough for him to perceive Dennise’s oddity. “It’s like an ability that’s similar to invisibility but also like hiding.” As Jason observed the now static and faintly visible form of Dennise, he was forced to divert his attention quickly. Because Dennise’s mother had looked up and was staring right at him. “I’m a friend of Dennise’s.” “I saw the newspaper.” “I’ve come to pay my respects.” Jason interrupted Dennise’s mother, speaking earnestly. “A friend of Dennise’s?!” Dennise’s mother looked in astonishment at Jason, who had already stepped down from the carriage. Tall, strong, with a resolute and mature visage, dressed appropriately, she found it hard to believe her foolish daughter could have such a friend. That’s what Dennise’s mother said. Then she led the way straight ahead. Inside the inn, a funeral parlor had been arranged, with an older man sitting upright opposite Dennise’s mother, flanked by two teenagers. The resemblance in their brows indicated they were Dennise’s father and brothers. Seeing Jason enter, the family was surprised, especially after hearing that he was a friend of Dennise’s, there to offer condolences. The father even said bluntly, “My daughter, who is lazy, lacks ambition, stays up all night, can’t get up early, reverses her meals, and is clumsy, actually has a friend as steady, upright, and reliable as you. It’s truly her honor.” Confronted with such direct words, Jason thought they were… So, he accepted them gracefully. Just as Jason was preparing to complete the condolence process—
