It wasn't until late afternoon that Chen Gu returned to the neighborhood near his newly rented apartment.
Suddenly, a dazzlingly luxurious maglev car dived, grazing Chen Gu's body as it sped toward the entrance of the residential complex, narrowly missing him.
The car window rolled down, and the automatic parking system conducted identity recognition before directing the maglev car to a parking spot. The portly car owner's dissatisfied voice wafted from the window, "This neighborhood is really going downhill, letting just anyone move in."
Chen Gu, who was just entering the complex, paused in astonishment. So it was all deliberately aimed at me, huh? He chuckled.
Having recently come out of prison, Chen Gu was still wearing clothes from forty years ago, which were certainly not very presentable. He'd gone to the Twilight Restaurant, where the waiters didn't judge by appearances, but his new neighbors clearly did.
As Chen Gu went upstairs and had just entered the corridor, he heard arguing: "…This is the fourth time, the fourth time! Don't you people teach your child any manners?"
Another arrogant voice retorted, "So what if he drew on your door? What's the big deal? Just wipe it clean. I'm warning you, don't you dare scare my son! He has immense artistic talent. If you frighten him and he stops drawing, our family will lose a great artist, and I'll hold you responsible!"
Chen Gu walked over and saw that a neighbor's door was covered in a chaotic mess of colorful pen drawings. Most notably, a large, crudely drawn turtle was scrawled right in the center!
The neighbor was red-faced with fury, while the culprit, far from looking "scared," was hiding behind his heavyset mother, continually making faces at the victim.
The child's father—bald, with a thick neck and a beer belly—glared at the neighbor, his expression clearly stating, "I'm not a reasonable man."
Chen Gu glanced over and, sure enough, his own door, not far away, also had a cluster of turtles drawn on it.
"Now, now, we're all neighbors here." Chen Gu quickly slipped into character and began to mediate. "It's not a big deal. Why spoil the harmony over something like this?"
"Exactly!" The heavyset mother chimed in, energized. "You're the one being petty!"
Chen Gu pulled the little rascal over, pointed to the drawings on the wall and door, and asked gently, "Are these all your creations?"
"Mm-hmm!" The little brat nodded proudly. Chen Gu, appearing deeply moved, approached the parents and grasped their hands firmly. "This child is a genius! You're doing absolutely the right thing; you must never suppress his artistic nature!"
"Really?" The mother was suddenly suspicious. How could she not know what her own son was like?
Chen Gu adopted a very serious expression, his tone filled with sincerity. "My family deals in art. I've come across the childhood drawings of many great painters, such as…" He then reeled off a long list of imposing names the child's parents had never heard.
"Please, trust my eye. This child is in no way inferior to them!"
"Oh my goodness!" The mother was truly convinced now. She slapped her husband's shoulder excitedly. "Did you hear that? Did you hear? My son really is a genius!"
Chen Gu then approached the little rascal again and said in a low voice, "Kid, you might not realize just how outstanding you are. This art of yours… actually has a professional name: street graffiti. But if you only draw inside the building, no one will see it, and no one will discover your talent."
"Then what should I do?" the boy asked.
"You need to go outside and find some large, prominent targets. Of course, you're still small, so you might not be able to reach those places. You could change your approach—for example, find things that can move but are very eye-catching to create on!"
"Street graffiti is an art form that's incredibly popular among young people. Once your talent is discovered, believe me, you'll become the king of all the kids in this city!"
The little rascal's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously, apparently already envisioning the carrier for his next "masterpiece."
Chen Gu returned to the parents and quickly accessed the interstellar network, ordering a set of colored pens to be delivered to the brat's home.
"This is just a small token from me; please don't refuse. I intend to take over my family's business, and this child is sure to become world-famous one day. Consider this an early investment. In the future, please give me priority consideration to represent his works."
When the father saw the price of over two hundred credits, he felt embarrassed, but the mother pinched him hard. "Oh, how could we possibly accept…" she said, yet made no move to refuse.
Chen Gu repeatedly said, "Don't mention it," and closed the webpage. Ordinary colored pens cost only about a dozen or so credits, but this set was so expensive because it featured "nanoparticle pigments, ultra-high penetration, and colorfast for a hundred years."
He turned back, and upon reaching his own door, he admired the "artwork" on it earnestly, exclaiming, "A masterpiece!" After entering his apartment, he turned back to give the brat's family a thumbs-up.
Closing the door, Chen Gu reflected on his performance. That wasn't right. I overdid it, too theatrical.
But it doesn't matter. They're not acting coaches; it should be enough to fool them.
Will that little rascal manage to find the "right" targets? Chen Gu couldn't help but smile in anticipation.
He had to report to school the next day, so Chen Gu took a shower and went to bed early.
The storage card contained his enrollment documents. Chen Jixian had arranged everything; all Chen Gu had to do was take them with him. But lying in bed, Chen Gu wasn't thinking about school. He closed his eyes and let himself sink into a deep, profound space…
All around was a void. Floating before him was an ancient, massive book. Its cover bore the title in mysterious script, characters Chen Gu had never learned, yet somehow, he recognized the book's name:
The Past of Four Hundred People.
During his period of unconsciousness in prison, Chen Gu had not only integrated the original owner's memories but had also discovered this book within his mental space.
My inexplicable transmigration is very likely related to this thing, he thought.
Back in prison, Chen Gu hadn't known if any high-tech devices were monitoring him. Then Ossosa had shown up. It was only now that he finally had a chance to study it in detail.
With a thought from Chen Gu, the book flipped open to its first page.
The thick, rough paper felt distinctly textured to Chen Gu. On the flyleaf, a line of text was written vertically:
The end of science.
Chen Gu didn't understand its meaning. With another thought, he turned past the flyleaf. In the center of the next page was a portrait.
It depicted a woman, tall and voluptuous, dressed in a black nun's habit and a white veil. Yet, on her feet was a pair of twelve-centimeter black high heels!
The soles were dark red, as if stained with blood.
Her eyes were incredibly clear and pure. Her hands, white and slender, were held piously before her, a bright, dazzling golden light emanating from between them.
Her entire being radiated a contradictory aura—simultaneously sensual and pure, volatile and serene, frenzied yet devout—filled with an irresistible magnetism that inexorably drew one in.
Text filled the blank spaces on either side of the portrait.
On the left:
Name: Milna Katerina
Occupation: Nuclear Explosion Nun
Origin: Atomic Holy Church
Abilities: Biological Nuclear Explosion
Mind Belief
Radiation Scouring
Atomic Life
…
On the right:
She was one of the most devout followers of the Atomic Holy Church. After enduring unimaginable ascetic practices and various trials, she finally became a devastating Nuclear Explosion Nun.
This class of practitioner was the ultimate weapon of the Atomic Holy Church, their most effective means of propagating their doctrines and attracting new believers. Their very existence served as a constant reminder to all life forms that atomic power must be used peacefully, for no civilization could withstand its backlash.
Milna Katerina's faith never wavered throughout her life. She dedicated her all to the Holy Church, including her chastity and her life. She advanced to the Fourth Energy Level in her profession, making her an exceptionally powerful figure among practitioners…
She was supremely confident in her beauty—a confidence you would understand was not baseless the moment you gazed upon her. Were it not for her steadfast faith in the Holy Church, she might well have become a Multistate Special Agent, etching a legendary chapter in the history of human espionage.
Chen Gu was rather bewildered. He could understand concepts like professions and sects. In his previous life, Chen Gu had read plenty of web novels; they were always a good way to pass the time when he had no acting roles.
But he had never encountered a profession like "Nuclear Explosion Nun" in any book or game.
And the abilities listed… What in the world is 'Biological Nuclear Explosion'? How could 'biological' and 'nuclear explosion' possibly be connected? Any nuclear explosion would annihilate all biological life!
As Chen Gu pondered this, he subconsciously reached out and gently touched the page.
Instantly, countless memories flooded into him. Simultaneously, the portrait of Milna Katerina on the page vanished.
Chen Gu opened his eyes and instinctively cupped his chest—finding nothing there, of course. He then shifted his "delicate" form on the bed and couldn't help but chuckle.
Spreading his hands, Chen Gu felt as if he could see through his own palms to the immense explosive power contained within.
This is insane… Chen Gu couldn't help but mutter. Is there a chance I might accidentally blow myself up?
Good heavens, the taste in this apartment is just atrociously bad!
These lifeless blocks are supposed to be furniture?
A dressing room! A dressing room is the Soul of a house! How can there not be a dressing room? The doctrines of the Holy Church would never permit such an oversight!
Ugh—those hideous trousers truly deserve to be subjected to Nuclear Purification a hundred times over!
Chen Gu's mind suddenly flooded with all sorts of bizarre thoughts. What's happening to me... I've been possessed by Milna Katerina's memories!
Which means... I am now Chen Gu, and also 'Milna Katerina'!
With a mental command, all of "Milna Katerina's" memories retreated, reconverging into the portrait on the page.
All the previous outlandish thoughts vanished. Looking around his apartment again, Chen Gu found it simple and quite agreeable.