The nurse was startled and rushed to the door for a look. Seeing a real skeleton, her eyes rolled back in an instant, and she nearly fainted. Fortunately, Leonardo caught her just in time with quick eyes and steady hands.
Tatamingqui was reeling with panic at that moment.
“Who-a, who are you?! ” The man at the door burst into an ethereal orange flame, his face full of shock as he shouted.
The skeleton in the bathtub was silent for a few seconds.
It slowly lifted its head and said:
{Hello, I’m Yang Buchen’s secret technique summon beast. }
“Huh?! What?! “
Leonardo’s face instantly shifted from fear to astonishment.
“My goodness, Lord Hero has such a summon… No, no, no, no, no, no! “
Leonardo looked as if he had discovered some special secret.
He walked in, brimming with excitement, and declared, “You’re the Moon Angel, aren’t you! You are his Moon Angel! That’s right, isn’t it! “
Tatamingqui looked away.
“Look, look at that! Hey, by the way, where’s your master? “
{I… }
Tata Mingqi struggled in silence for a long while before finally saying: {My master had urgent matters and left first. He told me to wait for you here and relay this matter to you. }
“Ah, I see! ” Leonardo stroked his chin, appearing as if that was exactly the right answer.
And Loki. Tata Mingqi, with an unreadable expression, turned his head and let out a long, invisible sigh.
……
The moment Yang Zicang slipped on his coat, grabbed the key, and returned from the side of the bathtub to the inn, his mind seemed unlocked by a key, shattering the sealed memories.
As if prompted by some nonexistent person, he instantly remembered what he had completely forgotten!
Just like last time, when he recalled the vanished Li Qian, Yang Zicang now remembered that night in the small town!
“Ashis! “
The face of this stranger—whose name he had only heard from the five people taking shelter from the rain—crystalized vividly before his eyes!
The barrier, the statue handed to him, the figure in a white robe leaning on a long staff, the sunset path emerging through the curtain of rain, and the image of Ashis being killed by that man, even though he was far away, as if witnessing it firsthand.
One of Yang Zicang’s hands suddenly clenched tight.
Then… he thought of WhitPeara and Karden, a flash of shock in his eyes.
“So… so that’s it. WhitPeara, and Karden, they didn’t leave for distant lands to spend their… last moments in this world. “
Instead… they were expecting me to save WhitPeara?
Why would it be this way?
At this thought, Yang Zicang suddenly had an idea.
That man named Joshua, who wielded power akin to a god, must have altered some past event in this world… No, wait!
It suddenly dawned on Yang Zicang: Isn’t this exactly… modifying some of the original fates of the world?
So then, the change in WhitPeara and Caden’s behavior—directly accepting his proposal this time, or heading to the army camp to “report for duty ” without it in the newest memory—meant that Joshua had, from somewhere further back, rewritten the memory about him?!
A profound, vacuous dread surged from the core of Yang Zicang’s being, suffusing his heart.
In the quiet room, Yang Zicang stood motionless for a full two minutes, water still dripping from his feet, looking perplexed. Then, from outside, he suddenly heard faint, bell-like laughter and conversation.
His head turned. That was Xue Qi’s voice. Was she back at the hotel today?
“I’ve finished packing. Lord Yang will definitely be startled when he suddenly sees me appear, hehe. “
“Startled or not, remember to bring me back a few books this time, okay? Don’t just bring clothes. “
“I’ve written it all down. And you, a girl alone here, stay safe. “
Overhearing that Xue Qi was planning to return and find him, Yang Zicang strode directly through the unlocked bedroom door and walked barefoot to the entrance, pulling it open.
With a creak, the two girls in the corridor, sharp of hearing, turned their heads at the unexpected sound.
“Ahh! “
“Eek! A ghost! “
“It’s me! ” Yang Zicang, barefoot, extended a hand dripping with sticky, murky fluid, glanced at his own wrinkled palm, sighed, and rubbed his bald head with his hand. “It’s me, ” he said with a sigh. “You all only recognize appearances. “
Hearing Chairman Yang’s voice, the two girls who had been preparing to attack were momentarily stunned.
Hua Mi said, “Chairman, is that you in there? “
Yang Zicang covered his head.
Xue Qi suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes red and welling with surprise as she trotted over. “Buchen, you… “
“Wait! ” Hua Mi suddenly shouted from behind. “Xiao Qi, don’t move where you’re standing. “
Xue Qi, on the verge of tears with reddened eyes, turned her head to look at Hua Mi, who was a few steps away. Yang Zicang also looked sidelong at her.
Hua Mi said gravely, “Whose flesh! “
Xue Qi looked at her in bewilderment.
After a slight pause, Yang Zicang exhaled with an almost visible sigh. “Whose lifespan. “
Hua Mi burst into excitement, “Whose world! “
“Hey, what are you guys talking about? “
“Whose journey. ” Yang Zicang responded weakly.
“Ah, it really is Chairman. Xiao Qi, you can continue now. “
Xue Qi turned her head away and crossed her arms. “You two are just playing house, aren’t you? And here I was freaking out over some lousy mindset. “
As soon as she finished speaking, Xue Qi saw tears welling up in Hua Mi’s eyes like tiny pearls, and she sobbed, stepping forward with a look of grievance, “President… how did you… end up like this… wuwu… was it so dangerous out there? “
“Ah? Huh? Ha? ” Xue Qi lowered her arms in shock, watching Hua Mi walk past her and stop in front of Yang Zicang, gently pressing her slender, fair hand against his burned face with a mix of trembling tenderness.
“Wait, what about me? ” Xue Qi stood to the side, suddenly feeling completely out of sync with the scene.
“Ahem, well… I’ll explain later. ” Yang Zicang took half a step back, glancing at Xue Qi, then back at Hua Mi, whose eyes were still filled with tears, trying to include both of them in his gaze as he said, “So… have you two eaten? “
“……“
“Let me take you somewhere delicious, ” Hua Mi said in her soft, tender voice.
Xue Qi took a long breath, gritted her teeth, and let it out with a heavy sigh.
……
Back at the inn, with He Yishu gone, She Liqing had returned. When she saw Yang Zicang come back, Karl mentioned he was a bit worried about the other side and hoped to go back and check.
But even with the Gaze-dispelling Sword, walking through the Sub-Ether Space wasn’t exactly smooth; he could barely make out any sense of direction.
Not to mention trying to find his true bearings amid the boundless, twisted illusions that were even more bizarre than the ocean itself.
“When do you plan to go back? “
“The next couple of days would be best, ” Karl said from across the table in the hall. “If you can stay here for a day or two, I’d have more time to find a route. Then we shouldn’t have any problems. “
Yang Zicang felt a bit troubled.
At this moment, he owed a mountain of “Radiance, ” and he couldn’t afford to miss the evening data handover. However, too few people could be left here watching Wager either; if there were too few, they might be attacked by that man.
Seeing Yang Zicang in a dilemma, Xue Qi asked, “Do you have anything else to do? You’ve turned yourself into this ghost, can’t you take some rest? “
“That’s right, chapter president big brother, if you keep this up, how are you going to find a girl to marry? “
“Maybe you’ll find someone blind who falls for his inner beauty? ” Xue Qi said with a roll of her eyes.
“Ahem, now’s not the time to talk about this. “
Yang Zicang looked at Carl. Not allowing him to return to the ship was indeed hard to justify.
Having not been able to contact Kim Tae-cheol and the others for so many days, even Yang Zicang himself was a bit worried.
-｛Distributor May Valkyrie indicates I am giving birth to a prelude of an entirely new brilliance and glory.｝
Yang Zicang’s gaze suddenly retracted.
This could mean possessing a share of Radiance, after all?
Seeing the solemn expression on Yang Zicang’s face, Carl also sensed that the other party seemed to have something going on.
“Chapter president, do you need to take care of something important outside? Well… if it really can’t be helped… “
“Wait, ” Yang Zicang raised his blistered and wrinkled bald head to say, “I’ll level with you. I’m currently involved in an event outside that’s bound to produce some Radiance. “
“Huh? “
“Gosh? Really? ” Hua Mi immediately widened her eyes that were sparkling and looked at him.
“Hah? ” Xue Qi set down her arms that had been propping up her head. “Reduced to this state, and you’re still participating in these tasks? “
{No wonder he’s the man who brought me into the Divine Hotel! }
Suddenly, a voice popped up. Yang Zicang turned his head to look for it and ended up spotting a earthenware pot sitting on a shelf nearby.
He had almost forgotten about this guy. “Thanks for the compliment,” Yang Zicang said, looking away.
{You’re welcome. You look your best right now. I’ve never seen such a handsome man—no, such a handsome human. }
“……“
The crowd in the hall fell into a brief silence at the compliment.
“If that’s the case, then go ahead and take care of things, President. I’ll keep an eye on things here,” Karl said, as if he understood.
Hua Mi, however, rubbed her hands together. “What do we need to do? Is it dangerous?“
Xue Qi shot her a glance, crossed her legs the other way, and continued propping her head up with her elbow on the sofa armrest, pouting.
“Not really.“
-｛Distributor February·Di’an is somewhat curious, following my current life experiences closely.｝
-｛The KiKi dual-sided golden skull gem pendant indicates that Distributor Di’an seems to have something to say but hesitates.｝
Yang Zicang’s eyes moved slightly.
At the President’s reply, the people on the two sofas instantly had their minds racing, but after giving it some thought, they reluctantly suppressed the idea with regret.
“Then we’ll just have to keep guarding it.” Xue Qi stretched one arm out, revealing her slender waist with a languid yawn.
“I suppose that’s all we can do. After all, the inn is the most important thing. I think if danger arises, at least… Mr. Jin and Wen Xiong will be able to return. I just hope they’re not in trouble for now.“
“True enough. Sigh, we’re still too short on radiance ourselves.” Hua Mi brought her legs together and placed her hands neatly on her knees, like a model student.
{I have an idea. }
Suddenly, that pan spoke in a phantom voice.
“Huh?” Everyone looked up at it in unison. With solemn reverence, they reflected: a pot actually dared to claim it had an idea. Why hadn’t they themselves considered solving this from another angle? But then…
“What’s your idea?” Xue Qi sat up and asked.
{Why not just take him along when we leave? And bring me too. Even if it’s just drafting a recipe, I ought to be able to recount a scorching experience afterward. }
“……“
“Ah!” Xue Qi exclaimed, turning her head toward the lobby manager standing behind the bar. “Mr. Mus, is what that thing says reliable?“
“For now, there’s no problem at all. After all, it does have the authority to check into the inn by itself.“
Those words left the others dumbfounded.
“But…” A slight smile crossed Mus’s smooth face. “If we get too many strange creatures, this place will turn into a monster inn. By then, you humans’ story might become quite ordinary.“
Yang Zicang’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“I personally recommend no more than two, at most three, of the strange guests per floor. The number of non-normal humans on your group’s current check-in list is already pushing the boundaries of concern. “
“Yes, thank you for the reminder, Mr. Mus. “
Although the suggestion from that pot only increased the risk factor without raising the chance of turning the Radiance into a Flash of light, it at least let Yang Zicang and the others learn a new condition regarding the guests.
Xue Qi folded her arms and slumped back into her chair.
“Then we’ll just keep watch. “
Yang Zicang’s mind raced rapidly, until suddenly, a thought struck him, and he lifted his head.
“I might have a way to try something. “
Hearing this, everyone raised their heads, somewhat surprised.
“What kind of way? “
“I’ll go talk it over with him. Also, Karl. ” Yang Zicang turned to the burly man, who was completely baffled by this sudden shout.
“What is it? “
“If I’m not mistaken, you were after one of those Talent-type badges, right? The one you mentioned. “
The ‘Immortal’ Talent, attainable only through a dance at the edge of death!
In an instant, Karl felt a wave of danger surging over him; he gripped his Holy Sword and couldn’t help but swallow hard.
“President, you… you’re planning to make me do what? “
Both ladies turned their heads to stare at him.
“I want you to follow Mr. Wager and learn the martial arts he wields. “
“Huh? What! ” Everyone stared at Yang Zicang in shock.
“After all, it’s not just us who are lacking in radiance, right?“
Yang Zicang’s words made the three reflect a little, frowning as they looked up.
“Is that even possible?“
“Hehe, that’s a good question.“
……
In the basement, Wager sat in a corner, alone, staring at a newspaper that was long past its expiration date—one he had read countless times already. He lifted his head and let out a sneering laugh as he looked at the two people across from him.
“You really think something like this is possible?“
Karl, who had just sat down, flashed a sharp glint in his eyes.
“You believe this is impossible, don’t you, Chairman?“
“Ahem… ahem!” Wager suddenly coughed as if something had caught in his throat, setting his legs down. He looked anew at this man who had once been his subordinate. “You…“
“This came to us willingly—a story worth telling, filled with sincerity and experience.“
Wager’s gaze faltered. It was as if he was seeing the man before him for the first time. After a long look, he said:
“Carl, is it? Do you have any idea what kind of power the person you’re dealing with—me—possesses?“
“Of course I do,” Karl replied confidently, looking directly at him without a hint of fear.
“Aren’t you afraid?“
Karl responded with his eyes.
And in his heart, he thought: What is there to be afraid of? That gem—the one that can unlock the ‘Aetheric Force Field’—is right here against my chest.
Wager suddenly felt a little touched.
“You really mean to… Well, fine. Whatever the case, I never imagined that at a time when I’m utterly alone, it would be you… Alright. If that’s how it is, then over these next few days, I’ll teach you those two secret techniques I know.“
-｛Distributor February. Di’an, speaking from vast experience, remarks that I am nurturing the prelude to a whole new brilliance.｝
-｛Distributor Dih-Ann felt a shock in her heart.｝
Yang Zicang, who had been watching everything from behind, let out a long sigh of relief.
Then it occurred to him—Tata Mingqi seemed a little too quiet.
“Then that’s settled. ” Yang Zicang spoke gently from behind. “This is our pact. “
“What! ” Wager jumped up. “You sneaky bastard, you’re Yang Buchen?! ” He looked closer, confirming it was indeed Yang Buchen’s build, and only then said, “What’s the deal, you got beaten back by some… soldier? “
“Heh, I… well, let’s not get into that for now. Once you’ve taught my friend, and let this matter give birth to Radiance. I promise I’ll give you an opportunity… to offer Radiance in the real world afterward. “
Only then did Wager’s heart truly settle.
“Huh… seems like you’re cooking up something again. Fine, then it’s a deal. Ah, right. You’re heading out, aren’t you? “
“Hm? ” Yang Zicang looked over.
Wager flicked the old newspaper in his hand. “Next time you’re back, grab me some novels. And newspapers. “
A novel… Yang Zicang mused for a moment. Come to think of it, it seemed there was a bit of a novel with a disappointing ending he’d remembered lodged in the back of his mind.
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