TDU Chapter 124: Yun Yao's Reverberation

Chapter 124 Yun Yao's Reverberation

A makeshift team of four was assembled, setting out toward the heart of the city. It was an unusual sight—Yun Yao and Tian Tian, whose lives seemed to be worlds apart, now part of the same group.

"Xiao jie jie, what did you do before coming here?" Yun Yao asked nonchalantly.

"I—I’m a…" Tian Tian was rendered mute by Yun Yao’s radiant and stylish exterior. The insecurity that surfaced on her face made it impossible for her to form a coherent response.

“She’s unemployed and staying put at home,” Qiao Jiajin suddenly interjected. “Don’t you see how little she’s wearing? That’s her sleepwear.”

"Oh? So that's how it is," Yun Yao nodded. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Yun Yao, the lead singer of an idol group. You’re quite beautiful yourself, xiao jie jie. If you’re out of work, why not consider becoming an idol?”

"I..dol?" Tian Tian clearly hadn't heard the term before.

"You don't follow celebrities?" Yun Yao patiently explained. "{Idol} is just the phonetic transliteration, meaning a performer or an entertainer in the industry.”

“I’ve already passed that age…” Tian Tian forced a smile. “Besides, I’m not worthy of being an idol.”

"Not worthy? Xiao jie jie, you look burdened by sorrow.” Yun Yao’s demeanor turned solemn as she looked at Tian Tian. “Have you been mistreated in the past?”

"I..." 

At that moment, Qiao Jiajin patted Yun Yao on the shoulder and said, "Leng-mui, you seem to really enjoy talking. Why not talk with me instead and cut her a break?"

"Oh?" Yun Yao's attention was drawn to Qiao Jiajin. "So what do you do?"

"Damn..." Qiao Jiajin gave an awkward laugh. "Now that you mention it, I don't really have a proper job either."

"Seriously?" Yun Yao looked at the two of them in confusion. "Was your probation room some kind of {unemployment fair}?" Her eyes then shifted to Qi Xia as if struck by a sudden thought. "And you, Qi Xia? Someone as smart as you must have a pretty impressive job, no?"

The trio was left completely dumbfounded by the three questions.

"How about changing the subject?" Qi Xia said. He finally understood why Specs and Kim Wonhun couldn't handle this woman. With this kind of conversation style, it seemed only Qiao Jiajin could trade a few words with her.

"Change the subject...?" Yun Yao reflected briefly, then asked, "What are your strengths and talents?"

"I don’t really have any particular talents," Qi Xia responded, "I’ve simply read more than others."

"I can tell." Yun Yao nodded with admiration. "I’ve always been fond of intellectual men."

"I don't have any special talents either," Qiao Jiajin shrugged. "But I can fight."

"Fight?" Yun Yao blinked in surprise,  "I’ve never heard of that as a {talent} before."

"Uh..." Qiao Jiajin scratched his head, unsure of what to say, and let out an awkward laugh, "What about you? What are you good at?"

"As for me..." Yun Yao came to an abrupt stop, glanced at the trio, and said, "I’m just incredibly lucky."

Incredibly lucky?

Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin exchanged glances.

"Your talent sounds even less reliable than fighting," Qi Xia remarked. "Are you planning to use your luck to lead us to victory in the game?"

"What's wrong with that?" Yun Yao chuckled, "I've had great luck since I was little, so that's my strength."

"Confidence without substance is not the same as true talent," Qi Xia commented. "{Luck}, after all, is not something one can simply control. Unless you—" Qi Xia stopped mid-sentence, his gaze shifting toward Yun Yao, his eyes reflecting a glint of disbelief.

"That's right, just as you imagined," Yun Yao grinned and nodded. "You're very perceptive, it's called {Potent Luck}."

Qi Xia wished he hadn’t guessed correctly. 

Yun Yao’s {Reverberation} turned out to be {Potent Luck}? In that case… does that mean there’s nothing that can stand in her way?

"Damn... What are you two talking about?" Qiao Jiajin looked thoroughly baffled. "What’s {Potent Luck}? Who's name is {Potent Luck}?"

Qi Xia remained silent, his mind increasingly filled with dread. Compared to these individuals, his actions seemed impulsive and reckless. These {Reverberatees}, armed with extraordinary powers, formed strategic teams, while he had been staking his life against the {Earthly Branches} with nothing but his human limitations.

"So, does that mean you can emerge victorious in every battle?" Qi Xia asked.

"Emerge victorious in every battle?" Yun Yao gave Qi Xia a puzzled look. "Ah, I almost forgot, you are still unfamiliar with {Reverberation}, so perhaps you don't realize... achieving a perfect record of victories is utterly impossible."

‘Impossible?’ Qi Xia clearly didn't understand. He asked softly, "If your superpower is {Potent Luck}, how could you possibly lose? Even if you're up against an Asiatic black bear, the bear could suddenly fall ill and die, no?"

Yun Yao thought for a moment, then replied with a grave expression, "Qi Xia, who told you that {Reverberation} is a {superpower}?"

"Is that not the case?" Qi Xia replied. "What {Reverberatees} can do, the strength they manifest, are abilities beyond those of regular people. Doesn’t that count as a superpower?"

Yun Yao nodded slightly, then responded, "It's no wonder you think that way... but the truth is somewhat different. Qi Xia, {Reverberation} is not a {superpower}, it is a latent {belief}."

‘Belief?’ This term was far more abstract than {superpower}. Qi Xia suddenly remembered Jiang Ruoxue's explanation. She had also said that {Reverberation is rather an abstract concept}.

"It's hard to put this feeling into words," Yun Yao said as she extended her hand and gazed at it. "In any case, my {Reverberation} doesn’t ensure complete success, and... in truth, the chance of failure is still rather high."

"Wait..." Qi Xia blinked, processing the information. "So you're saying that while you could activate {Potent Luck}, it’s also possible for it to fail?"

"Yes, that's exactly it." Yun Yao nodded with satisfaction upon seeing that Qi Xia had grasped the concept.

Qi Xia couldn’t muster a smile at the sight of Yun Yao’s happy expression. He thought she had completely lost her mind.

What is this bullshit {Reverberation}? Sometimes triggering {Potent Luck}, sometimes not; by that logic, wasn’t he also experiencing intermittent {Good Fortune}? But Yun Yao had clearly preserved her memories—she was definitely a {Reverberatee}. It was difficult to fathom how she had managed to live so confidently with such a negligible ability.

Qi Xia stopped dwelling on this strange {Reverberation} and changed the subject, asking Yun Yao, "So, what game are we going to participate in?"

"Anything works." Yun Yao smiled. "I feel like our team is strong; we can take on anyone."

"Agreed." Qiao Jiajin nodded. "Swindler Lad, I was tied up last time and couldn’t show my true abilities, but this time, I'll show what I can do."

Tian Tian spoke up at that moment as well, saying, "If there are any particularly dangerous challenges, I'd like to be the first to try."

Qi Xia slowly covered his forehead, feeling an overwhelming sense that this team was full of problems.