How Am I Still Alive?
Chapter 52 - 52 40 Applause_2

52: Chapter 40: Applause_2 52: Chapter 40: Applause_2 Although just like the system, only he could see it, its style was completely different.

“…Is this the Secret Realm Store?

I hope it has what I want.”

This was a rule of the Secret Realm, not his own, which also meant that many other Secret Keepers had enjoyed it as well.

“Weapons, weapons, and medical items, tsk, only those within 200 coins, there’s not much to choose from…”

Before coming here, Lu Ping’an had already decided that the possibly open option D was his best choice.

Random Taboo items might not only turn up empty-handed, but would also be too unpredictable.

What Lu Ping’an needed now was a stable upgrade.

He even determined the type of exchange in advance, but now that he saw the specific list of the store, he was still quite hesitant.

“Decent weapons start at at least 500, Black Iron middle-rank ones that can fight are at least 2000…it seems I can only choose something from the Healer Path.”

Some choices were counterintuitive.

As the provider of the Gardener and Healer Paths, the Lady of the Forest’s Secret Realm rewards were mostly related to these two paths.

Lu Ping’an originally intended to get an item from the Gardener’s Path or a precious Magic Plant which he could use or sell, but Chris said he was being naive.

“…The number of Taboo items one can carry is limited.

But it’s generally believed that the top priority is always to make up for one’s weaknesses and cover up one’s flaws.

Don’t you know what your biggest weakness is…”

Lu Ping’an’s biggest weakness?

All abilities come at a price, and Lu Ping’an was no exception.

Talent Abilities can often form the basis and core of a professional’s capabilities, such as Lei Shuiyun’s “Cat” and Disaster Fist’s “Wishful Thinking.”

But at the same time, it is also their strongest point and their biggest weakness, often bringing a heavy price and a fatal weakness that lasts a lifetime.

“My weakness is that my life is already controlled by Abnormal Abilities.”

It was mentioned earlier that Lu Ping’an could not accept treatment from others; most supernatural treatments had no effect on him.

In the final analysis, his life had been completely “exchanged” into Life-points and was under the control of the Life Bank.

Other low-level life interferers naturally couldn’t have any effect on him.

As the Big Cat had said before:

[‘The Countdown of Life’ is the price you pay for obtaining an Abnormal Ability.

It’s a curse you’ve placed upon yourself that no one else can save you from, not even the great Mother of Life.]

That countdown was just a counter for the bank; what truly threatened his life was not those numbers, but the constantly decreasing Life-points, which meant that Lu Ping’an’s life no longer belonged to him.

“…Can’t accept healing from a Healer?

That’s a bit tragic.

If I’m afraid of getting hurt, it’ll be tough.

But even if I get an item from the Healer Path, it won’t solve my problem.”

Healer professionals can’t heal him, and Taboo items are the same.

But Chris, who was from the Healer background, had countless ways to bypass the restrictions.

“…If supernatural paths don’t work, then try the natural ones?

After all, self-healing is just accelerated metabolism.

Find a Taboo item that speeds up your metabolism and improves your self-healing ability.

Although the effects are slow and the side effects are strong, it’s at least effective.”

“That works?

But in doing so, won’t I be shortening my lifespan…never mind, consider me not having said anything.”

Two weaknesses combined, cancelling each other out on a certain level.

Although Chris could be quite doubtful in some aspects, when it came to the supernatural professional system, she had an amazing foundation and keenness.

Not to mention, after flipping through the store, Lu Ping’an was surprised to find that there were many more “self-healing” items than “direct-healing” ones, and their costs were varied.

“The good stuff sells fast….”

Under Chris’s explanation, Lu Ping’an became aware of the huge difference in practicality between the two.

There was a huge gap between “accelerating self-healing” and “quick-healing” in actual combat.

Quick-healing meant the Healer paid the price, while the frontline warrior remained in perfect condition.

Speeding up self-healing, on the other hand, could deplete a frontline warrior’s stamina, hydration, and nutrition, forcing them out of the battlefield.

It could basically only be used after battle.

“It seems I have to pay special attention to the usage technique.

I’ll take this one.

157 coins; use the remaining coins to get me some consumables like Magic Plant Seeds.”

Looking at the silver gloves that appeared in his hand, Lu Ping’an nodded in satisfaction.

[Crocodile Skin Gloves of the Over-Excited (Black Iron Lower Level Cursed Object)]

[Function: Excessive Vigorous Metabolism (Black Iron Lower Level), once a day, accelerates the user’s metabolism, greatly increasing self-healing speed within three minutes (be sure to replenish water and energy food while using).]

[Curse: Easily Thirsty Young Flesh (Black Iron Lower Level): Must drink an additional five liters of water every day.]

Although the item’s prefix name felt a bit peculiar, its low cost ultimately made Lu Ping’an firm in his decision.

With these two taboo items and two newly developed unnamed magic plants, Lu Ping’an had more confidence in the “examination”.

It was only when he finished his business and was ready to leave that he realized he was surrounded by people.

He realized that to outsiders, he had been the focus of attention all along, standing near the gateway to the Secret Realm.

Lu Ping’an smiled, as he had never cared about the gaze of others.

He also didn’t think that Green New’s people would attack him in public…..if they did come, all he had to do was step into the Secret Realm.

Having finished his important business, it was naturally time to head home.

He straightened his clothes and prepared to swagger out.

“Clap!”

The sudden sound made him pause.

Was someone really going to attack him in front of everyone?

That’s crazy!

“…Well done, Lu Ping’an.”

A strange voice sounded from behind him, someone clapping for Lu Ping’an, who he didn’t know.

“Clap clap clap.”

Another stranger across the street also applauded with a smile.

Clapping, perhaps, really was contagious.

One stranger after another smiled at the young man and brought applause.

Along the boy’s path, pedestrians stopped and either directly or after whispering to each other, smiled and clapped.

Lu Ping’an was dumbfounded.

He had experienced hostility, betrayal, and despair, but he had never seen a scene like this.

“I only did it for myself…”

His whispers were meaningless, and the smiles and good intentions of strangers were unbearable to him, who was used to isolating himself.

He quickened his pace, and for the first time since his rebirth, he felt an urge to escape from everything.

“…Well done.”

A familiar face passing by greeted him.

It was Disaster Fist, who silently raised his right fist.

It was probably him who told everyone and notified others that the “little hero” had returned.

The market was vast, not everyone was clapping, but at least, they all smiled at the boy.

Only in a corner of the street, the familiar employees of the newly set-up temporary “Green New Company Store” had increasingly subtle expressions.

Some glared at Lu Ping’an, some looked at him calmly, and some were full of hesitation and didn’t know what to do.

They were here, being pointed at by everyone, because most of them were ordinary employees and student soldiers.

Even though they knew there was some connection between the Dragon Snake Gang and the company, they couldn’t possibly know everything.

But clearly, their future and career had been affected by this incident, as they were both accomplices and victims in a sense.

Lu Ping’an didn’t even look at them, just walked calmly past them.

“Clap clap clap.”

The applause came from behind him.

Lu Ping’an turned back and saw Miss Zhao Ying silently clapping, while others around her looked at her in shock.

“Justice lies in the hearts of the people.

Before I became an employee of the Green New Company, I was first a person and a woman…”

The female postgraduate student calmly said, not even glancing at her colleagues with various expressions beside her, as she had made her decision.

Lu Ping’an took a deep breath and quickened his pace.

He was still his usual cheerful self, but his steps were just a little lighter.