Frost Moon Gathering

Chen Miemie found it hard to understand why, in this mysterious world, people still liked to dive into obviously ultra-high-risk professions like collectors, archaeologists, and translators of ancient texts.

"Qinghua, are Mysterious Items with dual side effects very rare?"

"Not really."

"Then how could an experienced collector like Elder Jiang fall for it so easily? He didn't even notice anything off about this vase."

"Miemie, there are quite a few of us anomalies with dual passive abilities, but the reason passives are called passives is that they are uncontrollable. If they were controllable, they would be active abilities.

Mysterious Items are the same. Regardless of whether their side effects are strong or weak, they should be out in the open.

Unlike these past two times, where there was clearly a second side effect, but it was hidden away.

The users of the items thought they could afford the apparent price and would use them frequently, only to end up unable to bear the hidden second side effect."

"So you're saying that the Archaeologist might have mastered a method to conceal the second side effect."

"Correct."

Chen Miemie walked out of the secret room.

He told Elder Jiang about the two-eared vase and their related speculations.

Elder Jiang remained silent for a long time after hearing this.

"My young friend Chen, if your deduction is true, this matter is of great importance and runs very deep. Given that Sixiang City is currently in an eventful period, with your level of Mystery, it is best you do not get involved for now. Just pretend this never happened today, and don't worry about what comes next."

Chen Miemie nodded, very willing to listen to advice.

Elder Jiang really liked Chen Miemie. Just like his daughter-in-law, he actually started to stir things up:

"My young friend Chen."

"Elder Jiang, you can just call me Miemie from now on."

"Alright, Miemie. My Jiang Gui is also taking her graduation exam next year, and our whole family is on edge about it. Seeing as you seem very confident, could you perhaps give her some private guidance?"

Chen Miemie was speechless. How was this private guidance? Her family of big shots couldn't guide her enough, so they sought out a fresh graduate like him? This was clearly just an excuse to create an opportunity for him.

"Rest assured, Elder Jiang. Jiang Gui is smart and exceptionally talented. If there's a chance in the future, we can definitely exchange pointers."

Unexpectedly, Jiang Gui also joined in on the fun: "Senior Miemie, there is no time like the present. I've recently hit a bottleneck in exploring my abilities. Could you give me some pointers?"

Chen Miemie knew exactly how little he actually knew. He even lacked basic common sense, so how could he guide anyone else?

"Ah, today? It concerns your Mystery, so it probably wouldn't be good for me to know about it, right?"

"It's just the embryonic form of my Mystery. Plenty of people in the school know about it. It's no big deal."

"Uh... alright. What is your ability?"

"The embryonic form of my ability is Inertia Erasure. Currently, I can only slightly control the inertia of small, slow-moving objects. It's very weak."

Chen Miemie took this wave of humblebragging straight to the face and almost choked on his breath.

Even if he lacked common sense and creativity, just the straightforward words Inertia Erasure represented an undisguised, terrifying power.

It was no exaggeration to say that no matter what world this ability was placed in, with a little bit of brainstorming, one could pull off all sorts of incredible tricks with it—the kind with no visible upper limit.

If she considered herself weak, then what did his ability to emit a little bit of light in the sixth grade count as?

Chen Miemie was completely sour on the inside, but verbally he still had to display the magnanimity of a senior:

"This ability has a lot of potential. Develop it well. How about this: let me take some time to think about it slowly, and next time we can properly discuss its development direction."

"Okay!"

Lunchtime arrived, and Chen Miemie conveniently stayed for a free meal.

At the dining table.

"Miemie, do you have a society in mind to join? Do you want to join the one I'm in? I've been there for many years and have a bit of face; I could take care of you a little."

"Huh? Elder Jiang, the graduates this year chose in advance that afternoon. I already have a society."

"Oh? Which one did you join?"

"The Court of the Silver Moon."

"What? That bunch of luna... oh, I mean, that group of people."

Chen Miemie watched as Jiang Gui silently moved a body width away from him.

No way, junior schoolmate. Just a moment ago you were affectionately calling me Senior Miemie, and now you're visibly backing away for real?

"I just picked one at random. What's wrong with the Court of the Silver Moon?"

Elder Jiang thought for a long time before finally squeezing out a sentence: "It's quite nice. A very bold society."

After eating, Chen Miemie left, and at the same time, all the porcelain in the Jiang family's house disappeared.

That paradoxical two-eared vase, Full Yet Empty, was put away by Elder Jiang. It would become some kind of experimental subject, or perhaps a piece of evidence that would come in handy someday.

Chen Miemie went home to take a nap. As a result, no one woke him up, and when he woke up again, an entire afternoon had actually passed.

Looking up at the sky, the white Frost Moon had just come out.

"Frost Moon Night? Isn't this the day of the society gathering?"

Sure enough, he received a message.

Time: 18:01

Sender: Leng Ruxue

Content: Tonight is the Frost Moon. Come to the society to gather before 20:00. I'll have the driver, Old Li, pick you up in a bit.

Chen Miemie replied, "Got it, I'll be there on time. I have my own 'car', no need to pick me up."

At 19:40, at the entrance of the Court of the Silver Moon.

There were quite a few peripheral members of the organization at the entrance tonight. The inner members attending the gathering would park their cars at the main gate, and they would move the cars to the society's dedicated parking lot.

Chen Miemie's palanquin also arrived at the main gate.

He smoothed his hair back again before stepping out of the palanquin.

The group of peripheral members looked at each other in dismay.

Moving a car was simple, but moving a palanquin was making things a bit difficult for them.

Besides, anyone could tell at a glance that this palanquin was no ordinary object—the two palanquin bearers had no facial features.

Chen Miemie was very considerate and shouted at the palanquin, "Follow the car in front, and follow them back to the entrance to pick me up later."

The bearers once again lifted the empty palanquin.

Chen Miemie walked into the Court of the Silver Moon.

Unexpectedly, the people in this society had a surprisingly strong sense of time. Chen Miemie arrived 15 minutes early, yet he was actually the last one to show up.

In front of the massive artificial Frost Moon, blue and white grass swayed gently.

Over a dozen small crescent moon shapes were arranged in two rows.

More than ten people in bizarre outfits were already sitting on them.

Their sitting postures were very strange.

They straddled the crescent moons like children riding small wooden stools, resembling a group of kids riding horses, off to fight in an imaginary war.

The only one not sitting was the president, the Cube Tyrant Fina.

She stood quietly directly beneath the large moon.

"Everyone is here. Let this Frost Moon gathering begin.

This is the fresh blood of our society, Chen Miemie. Everyone, welcome him."

The entire venue was dead silent; no one made a sound.

"Clap, clap, clap." Vice President Leng Ruxue took the lead in applauding.

Unfortunately, no one followed his rhythm.

No one paid attention to Leng Ruxue, and no one paid attention to Chen Miemie.

This society really was a bit aloof.

Fina's Rubik's cube head slowly turned as she continued the introduction:

"This new member is somewhat overestimating his abilities. He wants to kick me out and become the president of the society himself."

As soon as these words fell, after a brief one-second silence, a tidal wave of thunderous applause erupted in the venue.

"Clap clap clap~ Clap clap clap~"

"Clap clap clap~ Clap clap clap~ Clap clap clap~"

The people in the audience, who had been acting so aloof just moments ago, suddenly flushed red. Their eyes shone as they stared at Chen Miemie, clapping so fiercely they practically wanted to bruise their own hands.