｛I thought to myself, I have probably given birth to a new prelude to splendor.｝
Yang Zicang paused slightly in his mind as he listened to the voice of the inner model.
“I’ll figure out a way for this matter. Hmm, you two gentlemen, as you can see. ” He pointed to his own face, addressing both Sass and Otto.
“Indeed, an injury like yours is almost irreversible for us. But you’re a Fogfolk, so this shouldn’t be too difficult for you, right? “
“Yes, indeed, ” Yang Zicang said, propping his hands behind his head as he leaned back against the sofa. “The gentleman next to me here is here to bring me the formula for making the medicine. “
“Oh… what? ” Otto jerked his head up, staring incredulously at Leonardo beside him. “Wait, you mean… for an injury of this degree, you’re not using that miraculous fruit? But instead… a potion that can be made from a formula? “
“Yeah. Oh, right, right! ” Leonardo snapped to attention in under a second, realizing what this “hero ” buddy had just done!
A brain truly befitting a hero!
Thank goodness it wasn’t fried; this was absolutely fantastic!
Leonardo instantly leaned half his body across the wide desk, his eyes shining brightly, “Does anyone here need this stuff? “
Otto’s mouth fell open as he turned his head to look at Saas.
He really wanted to ask if all Fogfolk were this enthusiastic.
In the end, Otto left a contact info, indicating that if the timing was right, he’d come back in about two weeks with two burn victims injured by the Mageblood Receiver’s ability for treatment.
Yang Zicang let out a sigh of relief internally—that essentially secured a share of Radiance for him. He just hoped they would move quickly, before the world got destroyed.
After they left, Yang Zicang, in good spirits, knocked on the girl’s door. When she opened it, even though the girl managed a faint smile, Yang Zicang could still feel the oppressive gloom in the room, almost too thick to dissipate.
“Actually… ” Yang Zicang’s heart softened a bit, wanting to comfort her by saying that he, too, had lost someone very important.
But Lena spoke before him, her voice light and airy: “It’s okay, big bro Hero. Ever since the days when Mama left, I’ve already had my shots—numb to the pain. “
“I… me too.” Yang Zicang nodded, then glanced at the untouched thin cotton quilt on the iron bed against the wall. A portrait of a well-known female singer from this country was taped to the headboard. “Let’s get some rest anyway. I’ll go check on how Mr. Thorne’s injuries are recovering. “
“Mm-hmm, that’s fine. “
Yang Zicang turned and left. Naina quickly walked to the door, her eyes fixed on his retreating back until he disappeared from sight. Only then did she lower her gaze, weakly closing the door and leaning against it.
Yang Zicang glanced sideways, then strode over to Leonardo, who was turning the cart around in the courtyard.
……
After using a single Healing Ability Sphere, in less than half a day, Thorne’s nearly severed arm had already stopped hurting, and the bones barely moved anymore.
Zhang sat on the chair beside the mortuary, his heart full of regret. Was it for the loss of the employer he’d had for only a day, who had actually become like a half family member to him through their constant companionship? Or was it for the regret that he could no longer rely on that person to reach the next era land?
Footsteps echoed down the walkway as Yang Zicang and the others approached.
Thorne stood up to greet them. “You haven’t gotten any rest? Ah, Mr. Yang, your body has recovered so much… “
He almost couldn’t recognize him.
Yang Zicang smiled casually. “It’s fine. It’ll get better. After all, last night’s treatment was just first aid. “
Just first aid, and yet it was already astonishing. Thorne offered a few words of praise, then let out a sigh and said:
“If Master Ebiser could have held on just a little longer, perhaps… “
Leonardo, who had been following closely, accompanied him inside to take a look at the corpse and offered his consolation:
“My condolences, Mr. Thorn. It’s a pity that the dead cannot be brought back to life. “
He already knew that this middle-aged gentleman, who had possibly been able to leave Mutao Continent with the help of the Secret Box and head to the Ring-dial Continent, had lost this fortunate and almost only opportunity. There was but a faint melancholy in Leonardo’s heart; seeing too many of these things had numbed him.
Yang Zicang stared blankly for a moment before sighing as he pulled the cloth over the body.
……
After returning and finishing breakfast, Yang Zicang pulled He Yishu aside into a corner.
“What is it? “
To say… they could go to the feilü Lodge. Yang Zicang hesitated as he conveyed this thought.
He Yishu thought deeply, then let out a sigh and replied: “Now the problem is, with so many people, can you save them all? I know it comes from a good heart, but… if everyone you meet does the same, you yourself will eventually be dragged down. “
For once, Yang Zicang found himself at a loss for words.
“Though the glory is important, if you try your hand at everything, what will you become in the end? Do you have that much energy? Not unless you truly want to spend your life with her. But then, is this love or charity? “
“I… “
“Perhaps their death is just a part of becoming the next era of land. “
Under these words, a certain feeling in Yang Zicang’s heart instantly extinguished, like a doused flame.
…..
While Yang Zicang was out getting his prescription filled in the afternoon, Bai Yuxian met an unexpected visitor, the distributor Odysseus.
“Which memory are you planning to sell me? ” the newcomer asked directly.
“Didn’t you say it was the life lived after accepting the cards? “
“Oh, I said something like that? ” Odysseus thought for a moment, then looked up with a smile. “Wait for me. “
With that, he snapped his fingers, and a surge of darkness enveloped the walls of the room.
Bai Yuxian watched as the room grew dim and hazy, as if expanding into a dark, misty void. The man who had been standing just a few steps ahead was no longer clearly visible, like a phantom.
He vaguely heard Odysseus ask, “Sir, you have a new story for me, don’t you? I’d like to read it now. “
{Of course you can. One silver coin, please. }
Bai Yuxian vaguely saw a faintly glimmering coin tossed toward the fog.
Soon, a few sheets of paper drifted out of the haze, flying into Odysseus’s hands.
After reading them, his eyes widened in surprise.
{You’re going to choose this reason to modify the course of events from here on? }
“No, ” Odysseus chuckled. “The price for that would be too high. But if it’s just ‘rediscovery’ through the normal path, it should be fine, shouldn’t it? “
{I hope you can craft a natural and harmonious experience. Otherwise, I won’t be able to distribute it. }
“Hmm… I’m just a distributor, ” Odyssey shrugged.
……
In the afternoon, Yang Zicang, led by Leonardo, went to soak in a medicinal bath.
His injuries covered his entire body. Applying ointment alone—overusing these refined powders—might also risk poisoning him with the venom of a Corrupted Spirit-level Nightmare.
Leaning against the edge of the tub filled with medicinal water, Yang Zicang had a steaming hot towel draped over his head.
“It’s a pity that the dead cannot be brought back to life. “
Yang Zicang’s mind was full of the countless skeletons transformed from the Postmark World, all of which had been revived.
In this transformed world, Wu Zheng even had the chance to go to the True Realm of the Moon. Of course… that was thanks to the spiritual protection provided by the consciousness field of the deceased sages for those living beings.
“Is this the very ‘alien world’ that could destroy the real one at any moment? And this new world of evolving fate—what is it supposed to be? “
He thought of Ebiser’s corpse. That man had fought desperately until the very end to protect the “knowledge ” his family had guarded for centuries.
“If it were you, you could probably reach ‘B’ rank, or even… ‘A’. But in this evolved real world, will there be anyone to rate it? “
Yang Zicang’s gaze was fixed on the ceiling.
“If it’s real, how can it be revived? But if it’s fake, then Moriah’s courage to sacrifice himself to change the future fate of others was no less than… probably a ‘B’ rank. Ah… just keep on living… “
Suddenly, his ears caught a faint sound. He lifted his head to look and was startled, shrinking back in surprise.
“Hey hey, you bastard, how the hell did you just barge in here like that? “
Tathagata stuck his head in through the doorway, and catching sight of Yang Zicang curled up in the tub with only his head and two knees sticking out, he let out a snickering laugh.
“Look at you, all pathetic. Like I’d give a damn about seeing your scrawny hide. Want me to show you mine instead? “
With that said, Tathagata pulled up his shirt to reveal his belly button, placing his hand on the skin.
“Ah, enough, enough, no need for a demonstration, ” Yang Zicang cut in. “I’ve seen it for ‘decades’ already. “
“Heh heh heh. ” Tathagata tugged his childish outfit back down, then walked over and plopped down cross-legged on the floor beside the tub, setting the things he was carrying onto the ground. “Ai ya, ” he said. “My dad gave you like, a shitload of moonlight. I’ve got a feeling I won’t be making any radiance off of you anytime soon these days. “
It was better left unsaid, but as soon as he heard that, Yang Zicang just rolled his eyes, a white-hot flash of annoyance.
Dammit to hell; he’d just had to sign a ‘long-term deal’ with this lousy Vault-level bastard. Then no sooner had the ink dried than Tathagata’s father gifted him roughly four or five ‘long-term contract’ worths of the first-level moonlight in one go. Effectively saddling himself with ‘radiance-point’ debt for dozens of years like this.
“So what the hell do you want, then? ” Yang Zicang asked feebly, twisting his head to look at him.
“Got no choice, just have to think of something else, yeah? ” Tathagata craned his neck around. “For instance, if you pony up two radiances for me this epoch, and three more on the Next Era Land, then I can getcha something pretty sweet. “
“And just what might that ‘something’ be now… ” Yang Zicang had already lost all interest.
“Hmm, a contact magic pattern from a publisher. “
Yang Zicang snapped his head around.
It was that mysterious existence mentioned by the sword within the Emblem Power Field, one that exploits and sells the legendary experiences of heroes!
“What are they? “
“Hehe, you know how I’ll answer. Think about what Odyssey said last night. “
Yang Zicang’s gaze narrowed slightly.
“Someone from the Moon Realm? “
“Are there people in the Moon Realm? “
Yang Zicang fell silent, only the tiny bubbles of the potion slowly surfaced.
A few seconds later, he turned his head again and asked, “What can I do with the magic pattern? “
“Hmph… You can read your past experiences at the publisher’s, of course. “
“Heh… “
“You don’t think I’m just joking with you, do you, hmm? ” Tatamingci tilted his head with a grin.
“I know, I know. You mean some things we might have forgotten… ” Yang Zicang suddenly sat up, the cotton cloth on his head tumbling into the water as he looked toward Tatamingci.
“Mm… Although the functions overlap a bit, I’ll still consider it. Thanks for the reminder. “
With that, Yang Zicang glanced at the clothes beside him, then turned his head to size up Tatamingci, whose expression had slightly shifted.
“Thanks for the reminder, friend. One way or another, I’ll sell you a piece of Radiance eventually. “
“Reminder?! And you really thought I was just kidding?! ” Tatamingci’s face changed dramatically as he shouted to Yang Zicang, who was reaching for his shirt and slipping his halved torso into it. “Wait up, hey! I came here wholeheartedly to sell you this magic pattern! “
Slipping on a piece of clothing, Yang Zicang leaped out of the bathtub within that brief interval, crouched down, snatched up and laid his shorts flat on the floor in one motion, slipping them on while fastening his belt and standing up.
“Alright, alright, you’re right about everything, I’ll think it over. Thanks anyway. “
With that, he crouched low onto the ground. By the time Tata Mingqi rushed over to look, there was nothing left but a few splashes of water.
“Sigh! This damned fool! ” Tata Mingqi angrily tossed a small box in his hand onto the floor, sending it crashing with a bang. Inside, a little pigeon fluttered in surprise with a cooing “Gurururu— “
“Alright, alright. Well, I guess it’s half-done… uh, or something. ” Muttering to himself, Tata Mingqi turned to glance at the elemental-rich water filling the bathtub, frowned slightly, then pursed his lips.
A few minutes later, a woman in a white physician’s robe followed Leonardo to the door and stopped. Leonardo smiled cheerfully and gave the nurse an “OK ” hand sign before stepping forward to knock twice.
“Mr. Buchan, the nurse has brought the next set of medicinals for you. “
With those words, Leonardo cracked the door open a sliver—then froze on the spot.
Inside the bathtub, a skeletal body dark as forged iron, seemingly concentrating its mind elsewhere while luxuriating in the hot bath, slowly lifted its head and stared back through its hollow eye sockets.
Leonardo’s mouth instantly turned into a stutter. Trembling, he turned his head toward the nurse beside him, his fingers sifting like chaff as he pointed through the crack in the door at the woman next to him:
“The, the potion melted the hero into his childhood skeleton form. “
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