The flying carpet carrying Yang Zicang headed towards the Jisuo Mountains in the central part of the continent. At night, silhouettes of jagged, tooth-like peaks continuously swept across the horizon. But the highest peak was still far away.
“I clearly received the letter, but I forgot it completely. ” The young man sitting on the flying carpet, watching the night clouds recede behind him, thought for a moment but still felt he couldn’t go directly over there.
His fingers pinched out a pale, white flame resonating with the source of the Holy Spirit.
“Hat Trick. “
His wrist turned over. With a flash of the magic pattern in his mind, a tall black top hat appeared upside down in the hands of the young man wearing a black trench coat.
“Beard, earrings, eyeshadow, hmm… “
He rummaged around, thought of something, reached deep inside, and from the small bag beside the “Mask of Recitation, ” pinched a soft object.
It was the human skin mask that had been given to him when he helped the Shadow Documents Frontier Research Institute retrieve the documents.
……
In the room, Zhao Xuemei, having changed into her underwear, walked out of the bathroom while combing her hair.
“Huh, sweetie, where are you going? Back to the hotel? “
Zhao Anlong, who had already washed up, was now putting his clothes back on.
“Uh… the more I think about it, the more worried I am about that fool Yang Zicang. Taking so many ticking time bombs out with him. “
Zhao Xuemei paused her hair-brushing hand. “What’s wrong with him? “
“Yang Zicang has always been the focus of the era of Mutai, and now taking so many from Mutai Fu with him, I’m really worried about the safety of his airship. I couldn’t reach him just now, so I want to go check on him. “
The woman thought for a moment, then smiled and came over to sit on the bed, saying:
“Worried about him, huh? Then aren’t you worried about me being here alone? I still haven’t been protected by an investment yet, you know. “
Zhao Anlong, who had fastened his belt, came over with a sly grin:
“The fact that you haven’t been rejected by fate until now already proves that by birthing a new world fate line, you’ve integrated into this place. “
He put his arm around the woman’s shoulder. “Honey, your secret skills are even better than mine. If it weren’t for my higher bloodline circuit count, I wouldn’t be able to beat you. Be good, I’ll pull an all-nighter tonight, and tomorrow I promise to hold you and sleep. “
Zhao Xuemei wrapped her arms around his waist and gave a light snort. “Alright, seeing as this ‘Substitute Training Secret Skill’ was also a gift from Yang Zicang, I’ll let you out to go wild tonight. “
……
The flying carpet shot sharply diagonally downward, as a thin, silky rain began to drift across the sky, falling from within the clouds that covered hundreds of kilometers.
In the dead of night, a young man wearing the face of “Medwiser ” arrived in the town from the city, a town that had been destroyed by a massive flood and the resulting mudslide.
Fragmented Timber Town was built along the mountain by the road, stretching its wreckage for a very long distance. The ferocious mudslide and floodwaters had not managed to submerge every single building in the entire town.
“Is this the place? “
After searching for a while in the city using the Silent Night, Yang Zicang found no one. He guessed they were waiting for a few days before continuing westward.
So the ruined town on the road up ahead very well could be where he and The Biologist were staying.
If Kim Calista and his crew really died here…
The Sage-level mental rune in his mind tugged at Yang Zicang’s erratic emotions. He had just planned to use the Silent Night to blanket the surrounding terrain, when suddenly, a spider silk-like line of refracted light appeared right out of mid-air.
{Who are you?! }
Yang Zicang looked across at Zhao Anlong from within a vehicle cabin, seeing the surprise in his eyes. A bead of sweat formed and started to fall.
“I’m Medwiser, uh, Unit 2. “
Zhao Anlong smacked his forehead. He tilted his chin, pointing towards the airship hovering in the distant skyline.
{And here I was thinking someone as famous as you wouldn’t bother with such a cheap trick. Alright, alright, so where are you? Why is there only a pilot on this airship? }
“I never imagined you’d be checking up on me. Well, that blows the whole disguise. “
Facing the induction painting, the windows of the airship were tightly covered. But for a master like Zhao Anlong, the obstruction of the curtains meant nothing.
{I’m just worried about you. }
Zhao Anlong chuckled softly and said in a low voice:
{Actually, I can go for two or three days without sleeping now. Spending every night tossing and turning in bed, waiting for dawn, you have no idea how painful that is. It’d be better to just go and have some fun with you. }
“……“
{Don’t worry, don’t really think I’m a big mouth. Tell me where you are quickly. I’m coming right over. }
“I’m already on the east side of the Jisuo Mountains. I’m afraid you won’t be able to get here immediately. “
Zhao Anlong was so shocked he nearly shouted:
{How did you get so far away in one go? That’s almost two thousand kilometers away. }
“Well… “
Since Zhao Anlong had already found out, Yang Zicang could no longer hide the truth and said helplessly, “Do you remember that letter I received before? “
{Which one? }
“The one… that day when I was invited by the Prime Minister to attend the meeting on confirming the nuclear radiation coverage. It was in the office. “
Zhao Anlong, who was manning the pilot’s seat, pulled the airship back from its course, turned it around, and said thoughtfully:
“I don’t really remember it. Do you need me to go back and ask for you? “
“No… it’s fine. I don’t want too many people to know about this. “
It was basically confirmed—his forgetfulness was not actual forgetting.
Instead, it was probably that “sort of thing of repairing the golden path to the past” that had happened again!
Yang Zicang coldly withdrew his gaze from the sensed scene, looking instead at the mudslide that had devoured many villagers. Whether it was man-made or a coincidence, he was still not quite bold enough to confirm directly.
“Why modify this place? “
But sometimes, a coincidence could also be a cursed future anchored to a certain person.
The only fortunate thing was that the casualties here did not trigger a calamity of the Doomsday Vine.
A pitch-black figure followed the path deeper into the town. Before long, by the roadside in the drizzling rain, he saw a giant bonfire blazing. A group of people were chatting and laughing under the eaves of a wooden cabin.
Yang Zicang’s breath caught for a moment.
It was Kim Christ! He was not dead.
……
Beneath the eaves, a crowd gathered around the roaring bonfire, its flames casting a warm glow on a row of thoughtful faces.
Kim Christ, dressed in a slightly thin red robe of the Hellfire Sect suitable for summer, stood quietly to one side. He was flipping through an old, yellowed notebook, murmuring the requiem prayers of the Hellfire Sect.
His voice was deep and rhythmic, as if reciting ancient poems—melodies composed by their ancestors centuries ago.
“Thank you, Mr. Edgar. ” The homeowner’s gaze wavered between sorrow and joy, his voice carrying a trace of gratitude. “We had no demon attacks here; surely it’s thanks to you lighting the holy flame every day recently, guiding the souls to their rest. “
Jin Clist snapped his notebook shut, looked up with a silly grin spreading across his face, yet within that daft smile lay a trace of humility and calm:
“Not bad at all. Mostly thanks to the Hellfire Sect itself. I’m just a small-time merchant peddling bones, relying on its reputation to travel conveniently to other countries. “
The Fogfolk beside him, who had once saved many lives, wore a simple brown coat. Frowning slightly, he sighed, “What a pity. I once tried to get myself an travel identity card of the Hellfire Sect back in the day, but gave up since I couldn’t even find the door to the Hallfire Sect. “
“Hahaha! ” The few people around burst into laughter, a tinge of helplessness in their mirth. Indeed, the Hallfire Sect had become increasingly elusive these days.
“I heard that centuries ago, the flame-bringers of the Hellfire Sect were greatly respected by all nations, able to roam freely across the land wherever they pleased. Is that true? “
Rarely encountering a follower of this storied but fallen sect, everyone curiously pressed the notebook-holding young man for answers.
“Mm-hmm, not too shabby at all. People like us who can wander across different countries without many obstacles always tend to tell a thing or two, stirring up folks’ curiosity and envy, I suppose? “
“Mr. Edgar, you’re too modest. “
A faint glimmer of dawn peeked over the horizon; only then did they slowly rise, gathering several people to go inside and prepare breakfast.
Kim Crest stepped into the restroom. Just as he pushed the door open, a hand suddenly reached out from the shower curtain beside him and clamped firmly over his mouth. His entire body stiffened, a chill sweeping over him.
Yang Zicang, fully draped in the Musing Night’s radiance, leaned out from behind the shower curtain. After making a shushing gesture, he extended the Musing Night’s field toward the man.
“Don’t make a sound. It’s me. “
“Wh-what, Bucheng?! It’s actually you! ” Kim Crest’s eyes went wide as he stared at Yang Zicang’s fair, refined face—now even more sharp-featured and spirited than it had been on the coastline—surging with both shock and confusion.
“Why were you sneaking around like that? ” Kim Crest lowered his voice, his eyeballs darting around in a full circle as he stole a glance toward the door.
Yang Zicang gave a light cough, his gaze somber. “How’s the Biologist? “
“He’s in pretty bad shape, honestly, ” Kim Crest whispered. “He nearly got crushed in the rock collapse during the earthquake. Ma Shuo shielded him and got them out, but the two were immediately swept away together by the ensuing flood. “
A glimmer of suspicion flickered across Yang Zicang’s face.
“Luckily, Mr. Lu Wen was here tending to the survivors, otherwise Jean Ussy might not have made it. ” Kim Crest added, “He’s still resting over here. “
“Lu Wen? ” Yang Zicang repeated the name, as if mulling over something.
“Well, he’s an exceptionally capable and kind-hearted Fogfolk. ” Jin Kleist’s eyes flickered with admiration. “Compared to Ma Shuo, who’s been running a rival show against us along the coast, he’s far more agile and skilled by an order of magnitude. “
Just as Jin Kleist was about to say more, Yang Zicang suddenly yanked him inside the shower curtain. Barely had they hidden themselves when the bathroom door was knocked twice, and then pushed open.
Ma Shuo strolled in, wearing a red summer robe. He stopped in front of the toilet, whistled as he relieved himself, gave a quick glance around, and casually remarked, “Ah, what a pain—nothing’s convenient around here. Gotta wash my hands by the kitchen.Tch, hey there, Lu Wen. Taking a leak too? “
“No, ” came a low reply from outside the door.
The door clicked shut.
……
Only after Ma Shuo had left did Yang Zicang release his grip. Jin Kleist let out a long sigh, looked at Yang Zicang with utter bewilderment, and whispered in the lowest of tones, “What in the world are we skulking around for? “
A soft chuckle escaped Yang Zicang. A mischievous glimmer appeared in his eyes. “You know damn well I’m easily recognized right now. “
Jin Kleist ducked his head, pursed his lips, and mumbled under his breath, “Is something going on here? Did you sense danger and come to save us? “
Within the shower curtain, the two hunched figures muttered in low voices, weirding up the atmosphere.
Until now, Kim Crest hadn’t mentioned anything about mailing for help. Instead, he acted like an old friend not seen for a long time, showing surprise and delight at an unexpected reunion—with a hint of fright.
“Did your biologist companion do anything specific before getting injured? ” Yang Zicang’s voice was low and grave.
After thinking for a moment, Kim Crest said in sudden realization:
“Wow, come to think of it, after we met a botanist who was fleeing as a refugee, those two guys were like caffeine stirred into a bowl of rice—dawdling all the way, constantly studying the plants and the little animals running everywhere. “
“Also, ” he continued, “I remember that before the injury, after Jean Ussy saw in the newspaper that you had founded the Aegis-Free Rescue Organization aiding peoples of the world in Havenzyke, he seemed particularly interested in news about you. “
“Nothing else? ” Yang Zicang pressed.
“Really, nothing else. ” Kim Crest nodded, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
Footsteps sounded from outside the door. Kim Crest nervously glanced out. Yang Zicang nodded at him, whispered a few words, then said in a low voice, “I’ll leave first. “
The young man watched Yang Zicang leap nimbly out of the small bathroom window, pondering over the task he had assigned him.
Ask Mr. Biologist if he has any special findings?
Pursing his lips, he stood in front of the toilet, thinking, “And he told me not to alert anyone else? “
Realizing something was happening, Edgar Jin Christie seemed to have an idea. He quickly adjusted his pants, quietly pulled open the bathroom door, and glanced outside. Seeing no trace of Lu Wen, who had passed by earlier, but only a couple of villagers talking inside a room, he stepped out of the restroom.
……
With the existence of the Thought Platform, the nightmare train heading to the sea had already docked on the shoreline of Arendelle Town, in front of the rocks battered by the waves.
Anxi and Wang Zhi had already spread out the suggested blueprints, which Cheng Yunze had distributed, drawn by the civilian researchers from the Mertaugh team, onto the large rock held down by stones.
Hundreds of snow-white papers kept gently flipping at the edges in the morning breeze.
Meanwhile, Cheng Yunze and the other two stood beside them, clutching swords in their hands, their eyes filled with solemn anticipation.
“So many design drawings. I can’t believe the Mertaugh team’s people could actually sketch these out. “
“Civilian researchers, of course, have dismantled and tinkered with everything. If they had no concept of these things, how could they possibly evade the demons of the era and bring something like a brand-new television into this world? “
“Alas, that’s true~ ” Wang Zhi yawned. “But, boss Cheng, how much longer do we have to wait? Should we grab some locals to speed up the nightmare transformation? “
As soon as Wang Zhi finished speaking, Cheng Yunze’s expression suddenly shifted. They all looked over and saw that on the large rock, some of the papers had begun to display faint changes.
The amplitude and frequency at which they were stirred by the wind began to slow down a bit.
If earlier it was like stirring sheets of paper, now it was like slightly softened, thin flaps of flesh.
“The ‘Nightmare Morphosis’ has begun. So fast. “
Among the ordinary people of Krugun, very few remained. Anxi, self-aware that nothing worthy of the ‘Radiance’ could emerge from them, volunteered to join Cheng Yunze’s team. He intended to run errands, such as delivering food to Ning Jiajia on the “Painted Scroll Sea, ” and helping to relieve the workers resting on that train.
Under his gaze at that moment, the white sheets of paper on the large rock gradually emitted a faint, ashen-black aura. Thin, intricate lines, like a spider’s web, began to appear on their surfaces. Some of the characters on them came to life, wriggling like insects.
“So many, all these computational concepts… they’re all… turning into Nightmares! “
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