Mingchao: The Survival Journey of a Comedian

Chapter 97 I Became My Own Stand-in?

"Hey—Mo Wunian—"

"Are you alright?! Is there anything else wrong? Do you want to rest a little longer...?"

"We were very worried about your condition after hearing from the wanderers and General Ji Yan... How are you now?"

Walking along the familiar path, after six years, he knew Jinzhou intimately.

They hadn't walked far with the wanderers when they saw Chixia, Yangyang, and Baizhi possibly heading their way.

"There's nothing wrong anymore, it's just that it's reverted to its original form."

"I'm a ghost, you all know that."

"No, that's not true! Mo Wunian is already a very important person to us!"

"If there are still any problems, you should get some rest."

Looking at the fiery glow before him, Mo Wunian was about to say something when Yangyang and Baizhi caught up from behind.

Yangyang shook her head slightly, indicating her disagreement, and Baizhi nodded in agreement, then looked at Mo Wunian.

"I was originally supposed to handle it... but because the situation was so unusual, I wasn't very confident..."

"In the end, it was left to the chief... I'm sorry I couldn't be of help."

Seeing Bai Zhi's somewhat apologetic expression, Mo Wunian could only quickly wave his hand to indicate that it was nothing: after all, he knew his own situation and it really wasn't her fault.

"It's okay, it's okay... I'm perfectly fine now, there's nothing wrong with me."

"Oh, by the way, I heard from Bai Zhi that that little guy named Abu can absorb frequencies..."

"Mo Wunian is composed of frequencies..."

"I wonder if that guy wants to eat you?!"

"Hey! I don't eat everything!"

Chixia's words instantly jolted Abu out of his wanderer's reverie. Arms crossed, face downcast, he glared at Chixia, clearly displeased with her rambling.

"And if I eat that thing... the Wanderers will definitely fight me to the death..."

"What's their relationship... Ugh, ugh, ugh..."

Looking at Abu, who was floating in the air with a rather strange expression, the person could only express their confusion.

"Indeed, Mo Wunian and the Wanderer have such a good relationship, you definitely wouldn't dare."

"So, what are the plans of the Wanderer and Mo Wunian next?"

"Now that Mingshiki has been driven away, he can finally get some rest!"

He rolled his eyes at Abu before starting to seriously consider Chixia's words: He hadn't really thought about this issue, after all, he was too busy with Ji Yan to have any time to think about things here.

Furthermore, he considered an even more crucial issue—he had already completed the entire initial storyline, and he had no idea what would happen next.

A sense of uncertainty about the unknown instantly overwhelmed me. I blinked, feeling somewhat lost.

After all, based on everything he knew, what happened next was definitely not as simple as he had imagined when he first arrived in this world. He could sense that everyone, whether they were intentionally or unintentionally hiding something from him.

That truth was untouchable for them...

Or is it for him?

Moreover, the world consciousness hasn't bothered him for a while; who knows what it's been brewing up.

"I don't have any plans at the moment, but I've arranged to meet with Sanhua in a few days."

"Mo Wunian... he will only follow me."

"..."

Glancing at her wrist, she could faintly see a thread emerging again, held in the wanderer's palm. She looked up slightly and met a pair of eyes filled with unyielding conviction.

Fine! You're the boss, so you make the decisions.

Chixia was completely oblivious to the increasingly strange atmosphere between the two. She was just squinting her eyes in thought when a sudden inspiration struck her.

"By the way! The dragon boat races are going to be held again soon."

"It was suspended for a long time a few years ago due to the war, so you've come at just the right time."

"Except for a few special projects that require a certain level of resonance to participate in, everyone else is open to you!"

Hearing this familiar event, his thoughts immediately drifted back to that day 10 years ago:

I can't believe so much time has passed.

"A dragon boat race..."

"That's right! It's perfect that a few of us can go together!"

"...Chixia, I have a mission, so I'm afraid I can't go with you... I'm sorry."

When this was mentioned, Yangyang looked somewhat embarrassed and shook her head shyly, indicating that she still had a task to complete.

"I also have new research to work on recently, so I've been quite busy lately."

"Oh? Yangyang and Baizhi are both busy? Looks like I'll have to take you..."

Seeing that the others were all busy, Chixia could only sigh helplessly. Just as she was about to confidently declare that she would lead the team herself, her terminal rang.

"Wait a minute... I need to take this call..."

"Uh... okay... I'll go..."

"Sorry! I just got an extra patrol assignment... I'm afraid I won't have time..."

Regarding this matter, one person simply expressed understanding: "Unexpected things always happen; it's an old rule."

"It's alright, the wanderer and I can go too."

"You're right, aren't you? So cool!"

While being pulled along, he was still thinking about Chao, looking up at the other person pitifully and blinking innocently.

tide:……

Chao had to admit that she couldn't resist this move—this kind of coquettishness was just too unfair!

More importantly, this person was unaware of just how alluring their actions were. They coughed lightly a few times to cover up their inner thoughts and nodded.

"...Hmm, this is a good opportunity to relax."

"Approximately how long will it take?"

"Tomorrow! I've already sent you the location! Have fun!"

Upon hearing this, Mo Wunian quickly moved closer to Chao, gently leaning on his shoulder, and peered at the location information received on the terminal: it was indeed the same location as ten years ago, without any change.

It's a companion star mission for the Fiery One!

"……Eh?"

Someone ruffled his hair, and he looked at Chao with some confusion, not quite understanding the other person's actions.

Unbeknownst to him, as he tiptoed and cautiously approached, gradually closing the distance between them, he appeared to the other person like a curious, peeking fox.

No wonder the tide is so strong.

"It's nothing, I'll take you tomorrow."

"The two of us"

--------

The wanderer's fantasy is beautiful, but the truth is that wherever there's a pufferfish, there's someone else.

"Ji Yan! We're here!"

"And... the Southern Hammer?!"

The next day, as soon as the appointed time arrived, Mo Wunian dragged the wanderer to the location. Someone, focused solely on the nearby figure in blue, naturally didn't notice Chao's increasingly dark expression beside him.

"Mo Wunian... and the Wanderers, you've arrived."

"I received news of your impending arrival yesterday and have been making preparations since."

"These are the two great heroes who defeated Mingshiki. They are indeed handsome and talented..."

"Especially that guy named Mo Wunian... just hearing his name reminds me of someone I used to know..."

"Looking at it today, I realize I was just overthinking things..."

"...I (swearing)! Brother Wu Nian, you're alive?!"

Nan Chui was discussing the year's arrangements with the clerk when they heard that the two distinguished guests had arrived, and everyone turned their attention to them.

Nan Chui was about to introduce himself, but when he saw the familiar figure next to Ji Yan, he froze on the spot, speechless for a long time.

"...That's impossible...I just visited the grave two weeks ago..."

"It didn't come back to life either..."

"Hahaha... Don't mind what Nan Chui said, you two."

"Uncle Wen and I are among the organizers of this year's dragon boat race."

"The dragon boat race hasn't been held for many years... This child is a bit too excited about the revival today... Maybe he mistook someone else for someone else..."

"However, this young man does indeed look too much like that old friend..."

Seeing the complicated expressions on the faces of the others, one of them could only helplessly pat his forehead:

How could it not look like him? Because that's him! It would be a miracle if it didn't.

"There are so many people in the world... it's normal for them to look alike."

"Let me introduce myself, my name is Mo Wunian."

"The ink of ink, the nothingness of lawlessness, the longing of longing"

"...Sure enough, upon closer inspection, there are differences...even the names are different."

"I was too abrupt."

Seeing Nan Chui's somewhat disappointed expression, he could only lower his gaze and sigh softly.

It wasn't that he didn't want to acknowledge them, but his situation was far too bizarre for ordinary people. The risks of acknowledging them far outweighed the benefits, and there were too many things he couldn't tell them. If they acknowledged each other, there would be too many things to explain, and he might even have to cover it up with lies...

Moreover, "Mo Wunian" is indeed dead.

"...Avoid flames?"

"If this is your decision, I won't interfere."

"Getting to know them again through a new identity might not be a bad approach."

Looking up at Ji Yan's respectful and gentle gaze, he felt a warmth in his heart: This was indeed the good student he had truly raised!

He said it wasn't his problem.

Chao, who had been ignored for who knows how long: ...

With his arms crossed and a slight frown, he watched the interaction between the two people over there, growing increasingly displeased with it.

He remembered that this was the time he spent with the other person. How come there's another person here?

A thin, thread-like strand silently appeared in his right hand. Just as he was about to pull the oblivious Mo Wunian closer, he suddenly heard a sentence, and was instantly struck dumb, his vision going black.

"...Ji Yan, look at Mo Wunian, his eyes are a bit off... Why does he look at Brother Wunian the same way he did back then..."

"Hiss...you didn't use him as a stand-in, did you?!"

"This is not something you can play around with!"

Of course, Nan Chui, who was already paying attention to the two, naturally noticed that Ji Yan's attitude towards the other was a bit off. After a series of thoughts, Xiao Nao came to a great conclusion—

"what?"

"...?"

"Um?!"

Mo Wunian: Oh no, I've become my own substitute.

"Ji Yan... I know you haven't been able to let go for so long... and it really is time to find something new to rely on..."

"But you found someone who looks almost exactly like Brother Wunian, it's hard not to think about that..."

"Your behavior makes it hard for me to judge!"

While the other three were still stunned, Nan Chui continued to speak, as if afraid he wouldn't shock everyone to death.

"Nan Chui... I'm not..."

"Sigh~ I understand, the power of a 'white moonlight' is immense..."

"But this is the great hero who saved Imaju... We really shouldn't have done this..."

"I……"

Somewhat confused by the current situation, Mo Wunian glanced at Uncle Wen, who was speechless with shock for a long time, then at Ji Yan, who looked utterly hopeless and powerless to stop Nan Chui from rambling on, before shifting his gaze to the seemingly normal wanderers on the other side and quickly making a decision.