Chapter 37: A Turn of Fortune

Following the faint white mist, Chen Ye passed under the bridge on Longhua Avenue and arrived at the pedestrian street.

At this moment, Chen Ye observed the halo of destiny above his head and discovered it was shrouded in a layer of grey fog. The iridescent, colorful brilliance that once radiated from it had gradually receded.

"Could it be that because I pushed my luck a bit too much yesterday, my destiny has been reset?"

Chen Ye constantly monitored the color of his destiny halo; it was not only a way to see his upcoming fortune but also an automated crisis detector. The morning in Linjiang City felt like being trapped in a foggy capital, with thick mist obscuring the road ahead. Today, the halo of destiny seemed to have followed the weather—it, too, appeared in a dull, greyish hue.

After walking for a few minutes, Chen Ye arrived at the West Street commercial center. Most of the shops on both sides were tightly shuttered. Daytime was not the time when ghosts were typically active. However, compared to yesterday, the pedestrian street appeared even more desolate today. Almost none of the shops were open, and the street was completely empty, as if it had transformed into a dead city.

Chen Ye was actually glad to see this, as it helped him avoid contact with any dangerous entities. For now, he had invested his points primarily in functionality and growth. Of course, with his improved arm strength and the "Wanderer's Boots" on his feet, he held an advantage in speed and power compared to the average person. But encountering a dangerous ghost would still pose a significant threat to his safety. In the early stages, survival meant playing it safe. Chen Ye stuck to a mediocre, low-profile path, even if it meant taking the long way around.

Just then, he noticed that the only path to the West River was shrouded in a hazy grey mist. It was impossible to see what lay within, and it was difficult to judge whether it boded good or ill.

"It feels as if the overall destiny halo of this city has subtly shifted today..." Chen Ye muttered to himself. Although he could gather luck through the "Lucky" trait, that did not mean an individual could escape the influence of the macro-environment. For instance, when the overall environment was unfavorable, even the best personal luck could only guarantee survival at most. As for great wealth or status? That was just a pipe dream. Realizing this, Chen Ye deliberately slowed his pace.

The path ahead was veiled in mist, with visibility limited to under a hundred meters. While this was enough to make out the silhouettes of nearby objects, in the treacherous "Era of Weirdness," an unknown entity could emerge at any moment. He needed to focus and remain vigilant.

Chen Ye continued for a distance. The West River was about a kilometer away. Suddenly, mobile vendors appeared on both sides of the street. They pushed handcarts and stood along the roadside. They varied in appearance—young men, elderly people, women—yet all wore tattered clothing, their eyes hollow and their expressions numb.

Most of the carts were equipped with grills, billowing thick, black smoke. Toads, frogs, rats, and other bizarre creatures of unidentified origin were crudely hacked into bloody, unrecognizable pieces and piled onto the grates. The vendors turned their grills mechanically, like puppets, flipping the meat from time to time. In some spots, the meat was already charred to a crisp, emitting a pungent, nauseating stench—a mixture of mold, rot, and burnt flesh. Even someone who had been starving for three days would likely lose all appetite upon catching a whiff.

Beside the carts, portable wooden signs displayed the prices:
"Three copper coins, one skewer of meat."
"Six copper coins, two skewers of meat."
"Ten copper coins, three skewers of meat."

*Is this an insult to my intelligence?* Chen Ye thought, unable to resist a silent retort. A normal person would just buy them three at a time for three coins each! Ten coins for three skewers? Shouldn't a bundle be cheaper? Why was it more expensive? After a moment of thought, he realized that in this absurd and twisted world, nothing should come as a surprise.

Chen Ye glanced at the meat on the grills and shook his head slightly. He finally understood why the players on the forums wailed so loudly. Indeed, most of the food in this world was simply indescribable. However, after the arrival of the Crimson Countdown, all players had received new bodies and were essentially no longer "normal" humans. As long as the food was "normal," "safe," and "healthy," there wouldn't be any issues. The problem was that even the "normal" food wasn't quite right. Determining what was safe remained a challenge.

"Comparing it to this, the elderly woman selling roasted chestnuts must be a master chef, right?"

Looking at the meat vendors nearby, Chen Ye, who had previously thought the sugar-roasted chestnuts were nothing special, finally understood the saying, "There is no harm without comparison." He began to feel fortunate that he possessed the "Lucky" trait and, thanks to his "Wanderer" class, had been able to meet the old woman and learn how to make them. Otherwise, if he had to eat this repulsive sludge, he would surely vomit.

Chen Ye tapped his brow to activate his Eye of Destiny. He saw that the meat emitted a faint, murky grey light. There were no ominous black or red hues, which meant it was at least edible. It was just… unappetizing.

Of course, at the current market price in the "Weird Black Market," one copper coin could buy a pound of food. Yet these vendors were asking for three coins for a single skewer of unappetizing meat—a blatant rip-off for any fool who decided to pay.

Chen Ye cautiously approached the vendors. Throughout the encounter, the halo of destiny above his head remained a steady grey. There were no signs of an impending crisis. He picked up his pace, abandoning his careful "wanderer's gait" and moving past the vendors as quickly as possible.

Not until the figures of the vendors were left behind in the mist a hundred meters back, and they were no longer visible, did he relax. Throughout the entire ordeal, no baleful or bloody light had emerged from his halo.

"Best to stick to being careful and steady."

Chen Ye felt no embarrassment for his excessive caution. When he had passed through here yesterday, these mobile vendors hadn't been there. Today, most of the shops on both sides of the pedestrian street were closed—even the cake shop he had passed yesterday was not open. Yet these mobile stalls were lined up in a row; heaven only knew if they were performing some sort of ritual.

Finally, upon reaching the West River, a colorful halo of destiny swirled ahead, and a naturally refreshing breeze brushed against his face, seemingly dispersing the grey fog. At that moment, Chen Ye looked up and saw that the dull, grey mist shrouding him had finally dissipated, revealing a patch of azure sky.

His luck had turned!