“Wager, you’ve hustled in this world for a few years. Do you know how to treat these kinds of injuries? “
Wager, who was about to spit out his mouthwash and head to bed, frowned as he looked at the half-dead body lying beside the sofa.
“Though I’d love to help you lot… hmm, with this favor, unfortunately, I’ve never seen such a strange state before. “
Yang Zicang frowned. Xue Qi and the others crouched down, grabbing towels and such to treat the wounds on his body.
“Then, President Wager, do you know what caused these wounds? Are people with ‘Stellar Yuan’ that formidable? ” Karl asked.
“Hmm… these aren’t a Stellar Yuan issue. He’s been hit by a ‘Zombie Worm’ attack. “
At the name, Hua Mi flinched back with her hands pulled in.
“Zombies are real! “
“Yes. ” Yang Zicang nodded. “The day I first entered this world, I got a place where you can train combat experience in dreams. Inside, there were jumping zombies. “
{Wow. }
Wager’s eyes narrowed. By Karl’s side—the very person he was also keeping an eye on—he crouched nearby, watching them treat the wounds, and said:
“Ah~ um, hehe, Hero sir, then how do you know those training grounds really existed? “
“Simple. ” Yang Zicang turned his head. “Because I worked on a related scene somewhere before. So I know those places were real scenes. Even the deranged illusions of this new Track of Fate were set down by the relevant people from the Council. “
Wager’s voice stiffened for a moment. So that’s how it is… This man in front of him… “Well, looks like you don’t actually know a damn thing. “
Yang Zicang turned to stare at him.
-｛Distributor Loki Tata Mingqi expresses “Alert“.｝
“Hah, knew about no more than a zombie back then. Hmph, looks like you’ve already gotten some intel about this world before coming here as a new Track of Fate. Sigh… I thought you might’ve known something else… “
His eyes flicked slightly sideways, and he noticed that while Yang Buchen was engaged in the conversation about his own topic, he hadn’t responded to that particular cue.
“Then, Mr. Wagner, what exactly is that bioweapon you mentioned? ” Hua Mi wiped the fine sweat from her brow and asked.
“Just some weapon the natives cooked up to deal with us ‘Fogfolk.’ If you want to know the principle behind it, you’re gonna have to pay a certain price. “
“What price? “
“Something like this? We could just go and nose around a bit outside, right? ” Xue Qi said, but in her heart, she already held no hope of returning to her own lovely little manor back in Heven’s Wortage, let alone relying on the major’s resources to investigate these matters.
“The price is actually pretty simple. “
Wagner said, “Ah, I’ve been mulling things over for so many days. Can’t possibly live in all these rooms all by myself. So how about this—let’s sign the Shuanghui Concordat, form a new cooperative association, and hammer out some ground rules for the inn? “
Karl crouched down, a little baffled. Was his leader, in this long, drawn-out life of hiding, finally and utterly letting go of his fantasies about the inn?
“What kind of binding agreement are you aiming for? ” he intended to hear the specifics.
“Let’s just keep everything as it is now. I get the third floor. You don’t mess with my territory, and I won’t mess with your two floors. As for those keys from the fourth floor that’ve already been handed out — hmph, that’s your own problem to deal with. “
Yang Zicang said with a smirk, “Then how do we decide the outcome? By whoever gets the Radiance first and enters the Presidential Suite? “
“Ah, well, that would be far too unfair. “
Wager turned back to look at the manager Mus, who had been watching the ongoing scene.
“Mr. Manager, I’d like to use the theme of Room 302’s ‘Long Match’ as the judging standard for the final bid of our agreement. “
Yang Zicang instantly knew what this guy was plotting.
Wager said with a smile, “Do you accept my proactive bid invitation? “
-｛**Distributor Loki. Tata Mingqi expressed ‘excitement’ with rich experience._”
It seemed Wager intended to ignite a Radiance.
Manager Mus slowly nodded, “Of course, the guest’s wish is my service standard. “
The others around silently watched the man before them.
He was about to give birth to a Radiance; everyone knew that much, and the final birthing point rested in the hands of the ‘President’ before him.
-｛Distributor May Valkyrie watched my present experience.｝
-｛Distributor April·Odyssee casually watched my present experience.｝
“Fine. I know what you’re planning. With the next ‘Heroic Flash’ as the winning condition, that’s your plan, right? “
Wager slowly nodded.
“It’s no wonder you were the one I chose to be here, heh… this hotel, sigh. “
He stood up, “I’ll go draft the agreement… “
{Wait. } The voice of Mr. Guo came from the side once more. {That human. Haven’t you explained what zombie maggots are? Can those maggots turned into zombies be cooked? }
The man who had taken a step forward froze instantly, grinding his teeth as he replied:
“They’re not zombies; they are creatures that live on the seafloor. Even in the world we once inhabited— “
His mouth fell open, but he swallowed the word. He went on,
“—on Pangolin Land, they existed too. They are the only known species on the current earth that digest nothing but bones and derive nutrients from them, sustaining themselves solely this way. Once they absorb the time sequence from Eikour or Modular Entities, they gain the ability to draw from all sorts of bones the temporal properties of ‘Phantom Zero’. “
Bones…
Catching the thoughtful furrow on everyone’s brows, Wager smiled. “Because yes, all bones have their own temporal existence too. “
— ｛Favorable review. Only now has May Valkyrie, the Fifth-Layer distributor, granted me one.｝
— ｛July Loran from our side indicated that a new horn of glory is sounding inside me.｝
A bone-deep filth and revulsion sank into YangZicang’s bones. This was how these people set out to subjugate those labeled the likes of him. He didn’t know whether to marvel at or despise the fact that they dug through all things natural to locate such unspeaking horrors.
The draft agreement was prepared rapid enough.
The Accord between the United Management Society of Mighty Prestige Tourism-Hotel and the Lighthouse Tourist-Regiment-Hotel Unified Inhabitation Governance Consortium
-｛Radiance: scroll｝ Hereby, as the current owner of Room 302 at Feilü Inn… under the witness of Manager Mus, no attacks are permitted against each other during the period of leaving the inn; otherwise, the qualification for bidding on other parties’ rooms will be forfeited…
-｛Radiance: scroll｝ Year 428, April 30th, at Feilü Inn… Signatories: ……..
Looking over the contents of the agreement as it was handed around, the terms of the borrowed room from last time were also rewritten onto it. When necessary, both parties could still use the other’s monthly invited room as a passage in and out of the inn.
The few of them nodded firmly in agreement.
“Good, then sign it like that, President. ” said She Liqing, who had been pulled over from next door to witness this moment.
The two of them took pens and signed their names at the bottom.
Now that everything was settled, Wager finally breathed a sigh of relief. He too could now extricate himself from this inn.
……
Wager had already been taken away by Karl. Yang Zicang toyed with the thought of whether Karl, once a member of the Weiting Travel Merchant Association, would accept his former boss onto his ship, the Karl. But if that person did happen to coincidentally end up on the “Neversink, ” seeking there the opportunity to give birth to “Radiance, ” then the range of possibilities could at least be locked down.
Returning to Room 407, Yang Zicang sat down at the table, studied the mask in his hands for a while, and then put it on his face.
As the elemental field energy resonated, the mask quickly recorded his current appearance.
So this is my face now, he thought, placing it down alone and gazing upon it, recalling the visage from before.
｛This face of mine deserves a name.｝
｛I, Great Quadrilateral… am pondering.｝
“Let’s call you ‘Musing Face,’ then. “
Yang Zicang tapped lightly on the mask, then stood up, took off his coat, and threw himself onto the bed.
“But… I can’t sleep yet. ” Shaking his head, he sat up again. “I hope Karl can find more intel on the Sub- Aether Field Space aboard the ship. If it were Kim Tae-cheol, he’d never give up a chance to snatch that glow of salvation. “
After a quick wash-up, Yang Zicang returned to the island where the boat was moored. Beside Bai Yuxian now stood that familiar-looking man. As expected, Bai Yuxian could never truly abandon someone so crucial to him into the Sub- Aether Field Space.
“Hello, we meet again. Now I can finally shed all the disguises and truly get to know you anew. My name is Ming Tao—I’m practically the adopted son of this old boss who carries the bloodline of Half Mist. “
The two shook hands. Yang Zicang subtly spread his Musing Night sense and, finding nothing amiss with either of them, said:
“Only one can enter the inn at a time. After you register your names with me, you can’t linger there. “
“We understand. So even the key can stay with you, ” Soldier No. 2 said with a chuckle.
He’d completely lost trust in Bai Yuxian standing beside him.
This task falls solely to me. And I only have one shot.
“Which one of you goes first? “
Bai Yuxian was about to speak when Soldier No. 2 raised a hand with a faint smile. “I’ll go first.” He turned his head, “I’ll come out and, hmm, tell you what’s inside.“
Bai Yuxian nodded gently. “Good.“
The two of them entered the small cabin of the boat together.
The surrounding energy surged, unfolding the appearance of a guest room. Their feet simultaneously landed on an antique cashmere carpet.
Yang Zicang, standing ahead, suddenly sensed something off. He tilted his gaze.
In that very instant, Soldier No. 2’s smile—consistently disarming throughout the journey—didn’t change at all. But his move had no warning, no killing intent, not even a break in the comfortable atmosphere around them. Yet a slender sword, hidden in his sleeve, was now silently and unerringly heading straight for Yang Zicang’s throat.
This action was as smooth as friendly gesture—not an attack.
Yang Zicang’s pupils constricted violently.
｛Trajectory Dispatch!｝
That damn charisma… even caused his body to hesitate for a split second at the very start!
“You——” Yang Zicang could only force out a short, clipped syllable.
Instinct outpaced thought. His accelerated body instantly dodged aside, but the sword followed like an unshakable curse—bone‑deep and relentless.
A flickering folded line of energy diffused outward. The trajectory of the sword blade, driven by force, was instantaneously broken and replaced by another vibration—rippling and resonating.
The thrust’s course bifurcated with the subtlest deviation.
Soldier No. 2’s eyes gleamed faintly as he glanced at the blade, and said warmly, “So this is the President’s ability. ” Yet his movements, like willow branches in a gale, pressed relentlessly forward toward the person before him without pause.
The Void Flame, marked by countless stream-like trajectories, clung to the sword’s tip.
Boom!
A formidable aura expanded from wherever the blade passed, spreading out trails of conjured magical patterns formed like streams of light. Countless sword shadows converged like rushing currents, crashing violently toward Yang Zicang’s feet.
— “The guest in Room 303 seems to be undergoing a rather unique experience. “
Manager Shirley’s voice came from outside the room.
The two fighters sensed a subtle shift in the room itself—an odd, almost imperceptible force field had materialized between the walls and the door.
— “Your experience will be recorded on this room’s bid agreement. “
Room 303’s bidding content? It seemed to be related to a professional match.
Dodging one sword stroke while grabbing a stool and smashing it back with both flame and Chrono-Void Flame, Yang Zicang was about to pull out his own room key when a new voice rang out from the loudspeakers overhead.
— “This dispute between travelers—whether it be a long-laid scheme or a sudden betrayal—shall be verbalized in the victor’s own words. ” Click, click, click—the alphabet tiles on the bedside table started spinning; toggling between the letter Y and the letter X, the latter enclosed in quotation marks.
“The winner between the two of you will have the first right to bid for ownership of this room with that story. You two continue—I’ll go notify the room owner. “
Wagner, who had just followed Karl back into the wondrous aether field, grunted twice and asked,
“Karl, how did you guys get those business cards to enter this place? “
“I can’t answer that yet, boss. “
Wagner chuckled twice. “That’s too formal. Well, fine. After you send me to the shore, where are you headed? “
Karl frowned thoughtfully. “What exactly are you trying to say? “
“Well, it’s like this… ” Wagner said. “I have some intel about this continent, and I want to make a deal with you. In the future, you can use this intel to secure your position in the new team. You know, more and more people from your tour group will come to the hotel, right? ” He patted Karl’s shoulder solemnly and kindly. “No other meaning, I’m thinking about you here. Selling intel is the same no matter who buys it; they just arrive a little later. I’m afraid he won’t know. “
-｛The Fee Travel Hotel manager is notifying me.｝
Wagner, who had been smiling and waiting for the confused Karl to reply, bowed his head. Someone was bidding?
-｛Fee Travel Hotel Manager WhitPeara: Mr. Wagner, I need to inform you of something.｝
They violated the agreement?! Wagner’s neck instantly flushed crimson.
-｛Someone is fighting in your room.｝
“Who?! ” Flustered, Wagner frantically fumbled for his keypiece. “Is it Yang Zicang? “
｛Panic｝, ｛Betrayal｝, ｛Failed Cooperation｝, ｛Untrustworthy｝…
-｛Yes. It is him and his passengers.｝
｛I paid a 10N tip for the keymaster of COSTELLA HOTEL.｝
A sharp gust of wind stung Yang Zicang’s skin.
The White Shadow Mind Dragon tore and bit into this man’s body, while countless illusory streams of water swelled and appeared outside his physical form, offsetting the psychic assault.
“Do you understand now, President Yang? For you Fogfolk, even your unparalleled psychic attacks can be neutralized—as long as the power of the Stellar Yuan is invoked. “
Yang Zicang was forced backward by a sword thrust, his spine slamming heavily into a solid wooden table, causing the ceramic wine jug on top to buzz and hum.
Leaving this room meant defeat.
However, his time sequence had already been exhausted during the fight against the Demon-Nightmare. For now, he only had the tens of thousands in investment he had obtained from He Yishu and Xue Qi.
Fighting like this was simply not going to work.
“I was originally planning to gather more intelligence on you, to see what else you Fogfolk might be hiding. But now it seems that’s no longer necessary, ” Soldier No. 2 said with a smile. “Your ability to influence trajectories is merely a variation of the ‘Turbulent Flow Bloodline.’ “
He raised his sword higher, and the sharp sword aura suddenly surged. At that moment, Yang Zicang felt as though every inch of his body had been locked by an invisible force.
Cliche~ peck, peck, peck…
The sound of paper being pecked came through the dense wind noise.
Huh? That sound… Both of them turned to look at the card paper on the bedside table, slightly taken aback. A metallic bird was pecking at the large “X ” on the name card with its beak. Suddenly, the surrounding cards rustled and flipped about.
— B. Tapping lightly, a piece of paper halted before the eyes of the little bird, who cocked its head to look on.
Seeing this bird, Yang Zicang’s mind went blank with a jolt.
“It’s you. ” Soldier No. 2 instantly sensed something amiss. His wrist flicked in a flash as he slashed his sword toward Yang Zicang.
As if splitting heaven and earth, a fierce gale erupted through the entire room, seemingly intent on tearing everything apart.
B am! The door was slammed open, and Wager’s red-faced visage presented itself amid the faint force field. Seeing Yang Zicang engulfed by waves of energy in the current that seemed capable of shredding all things, he was swept away and vanished from his spot.
“Who are you?! “) roared Wager in astonishment from outside the room.
“My name is ‘Cuckoo’~ ” The small bird on the bedside table turned its head, tilting it as it replied. Then, it glanced at the remaining figure in the room, whose expression had frozen slightly. It pecked its feathers, pulled out a name card, and angled it toward the other.
“I am the most famous and courageous tactical Cuckoo in the entire horological world! Hands up, you are under arrest by Soldier No. 4’s chief intelligence officer, ‘Iron Stripe Hen’ Cuckoo Biyakde! “
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