"How was it, Old Jin!"

After a quick break of a dozen minutes, Yun You left the arena, and bounced back to Old Jin's side.

"I didn't embarrass you, right?"

The girl stood with her hands on her hips, ignoring Li Cang who was dejected nearby, lifted her small head proudly, and said, "Even though the process was somewhat arduous, I won in the end~"

"Hmm."

Old Jin nodded lightly.

But he didn't directly praise Yun You, instead he surveyed the girl's arms, legs, and shoulders, and then fell silent for a moment before asking softly, "Does it hurt?"

"Uh..."

Yun You scratched her head.

"It's alright, didn't I just get healed after we finished fighting?"

The girl's voice was a little small, not quite confident either.

In truth, she was still in some pain.

Her shoulders, wrists, and calves were sliced up by blades, with blood splattered everywhere—claiming it didn't hurt was totally nonsense.

At the time, Yun You was in so much pain she nearly fainted, if she hadn't bit her tongue to stimulate her brain, she might've collapsed on the ground.

The Ethernet's pain simulation was so real, even though the host later healed her injuries, the phantom pain of missing limbs still lingered on her, hard to dispel quickly.

Now when she wobbled her hand, she could still feel that excruciating pain.

The reason for pretending it didn't hurt was simply to appear strong in front of Old Jin and Li Cang, not wanting to show a weak side.

Old Jin, with his vast experience, obviously understood the young girl's situation.

After a moment of silence, he crouched down and reached out to rub Yun You's head.

For some reason, the moment his palm touched the girl's hair, Yun You suddenly felt the phantom pain in her body vanish.

Replaced by gentle warmth flowing through.

"Tell me, girl."

Old Jin waved his other hand, creating a private space, isolating outside disturbances.

"I think, the way you won just now was very mysterious, right?"

He pointed to the Sur particles on Yun You's skin and calmly said, "Confused about your own ability, you won this duel amidst bizarre hallucinations."

"Discuss the details, I'll help determine what type your ability belongs to."

Yun You nodded and then roughly recounted what happened, and the "future scene" she saw.

"In short, it was like this... that way... then again like this..."

The girl's descriptive ability wasn't strong, after a long talk she finally managed to convey the general story.

Yet, as she finished the last sentence, a sudden inexplicable thirst arose, making Yun You's expression stiffen.

"Wait... hang on a second..."

The girl waved her hand and quickly pulled out a bottle of mineral water from her inventory, gulping it down.

The Ethernet could almost perfectly simulate reality, so hunger and thirst settings naturally existed too.

Yun You had been in the virtual network for nearly five or six hours without drinking anything, feeling thirsty was only normal.

However, unexpectedly, after downing that bottle of water, the thirst in her throat not only didn't disappear, it grew stronger...

To the point where her throat started itching and drying up, breathing even carried a blood taste.

"Not right..."

She bit her lip, wanting to speak, but her throat was too dry, all words turned into hoarse whimpers.

"It's the 'cost', girl, it's the cost of your talent ability!"

Old Jin evidently spotted the issue, promptly reminding her, "Try other drinks!"

This advice reminded Yun You.

She quickly opened the Ethernet's system store and blindly bought drinks from the beverage section.

Juice, soda, cold tea... all poured into her mouth.

Yet, even after drinking to the point of bursting, filling her belly with water, that dryness didn't ease in the slightest.

It continued lingering in the girl's mind, growing without limit.

Gradually, Yun You's consciousness began to blur, leaving only one thought in her mind.

"Thirsty! So thirsty...!"

As she was about to lose consciousness, Old Jin suddenly opened a can of "drink", gently pouring it over her lips.

The drink was slightly cold... pricking the mouth, somewhat bitter, in terms of quenching thirst, it clearly couldn't match tea.

Yet its presence was like rain on a parched land, instantly easing that thirst.

With the drink down her throat, slowly Yun You also regained clarity, though her mind was still muddled, at least she wasn't thirsty.

Only then did she see the true appearance of the drink.

[Blue Island Draft Beer - Selected from Pure Natural Grains (Alcohol Content 4%)]

[Blue Island Group reminds you, under 16 years of age, please do not drink~]

This was a bottle of popular brand beer.

Blue Island Group had a wide business range, covering cheap beer to high-end liquor, residents in Nest City basically all recognize it.

"It's actually alcohol..."

Looking at the familiar printed design on the drink can, Yun You rubbed the water stains on the corner of her mouth, suddenly feeling a bit disheartened inside.

Previously, Examiner Judy had told her that a person's talent ability's weak point is often something they really don't want to face, a kind of "psychic nightmare".

Yun You considered many possibilities but never imagined her cost would involve drinking alcohol.

This for her, was indeed somewhat unpleasant.

"I noticed you tried many drinks but never attempted alcohol."

Old Jin put down the beer can and spoke softly, "So I bought a low-alcohol beer just to try."

"Turns out it seems we hit the right answer."

"But I... don't quite understand..."

Old Jin paused.

"Because generally speaking, the negative cost of talent abilities are very serious, the vast majority require 'actively hurting oneself' or performing 'strange activities' to fulfill."

"For example, that Nocturne you just battled, his cost requires rolling in mud and smearing it all over his body."

"Yet girl, your cost only needs a sip of alcohol to be satisfied..."

"This implies, for you, drinking, even just seeing alcohol is more severe than pain and any other costs."

As he said this, Old Jin collected the beer can, quietly watched the somewhat downcast Yun You, remained silent for a while, then softly asked, "So I'd like to know why."

"Of course, asking isn't meant to provoke you."

Old Jin waved his hand explaining, "Though the cost can't be entirely overcome, you can gradually accept it through training and adaptation."

"I know you currently don't want to drink, even dislike seeing anything related to alcohol, but girl, if you wish to become strong, you must confront your weak cost, accept it, then drink it as much as possible."

"This way, it will merely be a [cost], not a fatal [weakness], do you understand?"

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