With the Skeletal Light constructed from Cheng Yunze’s model’s fold lines, the house was quickly knocked down with a roar.
Piles of earth were dug out from left and right, and the underground cellar, shaped like a square stone vat, was quickly excavated and dismantled into several intact rock slabs by the combined efforts of the group, then loaded onto the train.
At this moment, the people from the World Ark’s Krupp branch also packed up some design blueprints they had rushed to produce today by consulting various experts.
“We’ll be counting on you tonight as well. ” Some people inside the gondola said, looking towards Cheng Yunze.
“It’s nothing. Being able to help out here is my honor. ” Cheng Yunze smiled. “To have the chance to meet so many outstanding seniors—this is a blessing that couldn’t be earned even in eight lifetimes. “
A polite wave of laughter echoed through the cabin. “Captain Cheng Yunze, you flatter us. “
The massive airship bladder hung suspended in the pitch-black night sky. The deep, semi-transparent bulk of the Demon Train’s cars hovered outside the gondola, its locomotive leveraging against the gondola for support. Wispy nocturnal mists swirled and undulated around them.
At this very moment, on the distant sea surface:
A black, half-sunken ancient ship, wrapped in thick fog, cleaved through waves and surged at high speed toward the middle of the Scroll Painting Sea.
……
Ambassador Kai stood at the ‘stern’, cutting through the roiling murky waves. Behind him, two men from Luca’s team arrived carrying prepared food. The aroma wafted into the broad-shouldered man’s nostrils.
He turned his head. “While at sea, you’ve been eating only this all along? “
“Yes, milord. “
“You’ve been away for quite a while. So, how many of you have Bloodline Statues? “
“This… ” The two exchanged glances. Under the full moon, they spoke in low, respectful tones:
“We’ve been here for five and a half years. Now we have four Bloodline Statues:**** two were found at sea, one was traded with relics discovered from the ruins, and the other was brought from the continent by Lord Luca. However, none of them have been fitted into a suitable Bloodline Circuit. “
“A force this large, yet only four statues. It seems acquiring these was no easy feat for you.“
“Yes, that’s right, my lord.” These people were somewhat puzzled.
Lord Kain gave a slight smile. “I was just asking; it’s nothing.“
The two finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“But since you’ve brought it up, then hand them over.“
“Huh?” The two instantly froze in place. Catching the faintly curled smile on the man’s lips, they could do nothing but reluctantly return to the cabin to inform Lucas and the others, who were still cleaning the cabin like servants.
Hearing this news, he thought it over, then, suppressing his pain, fetched several Bloodline Statues and placed them in a small case.
“This lord’s strength is extraordinary. Since he wants these Bloodline Statues, just take them to him.“
With that, Lucas led them along, accompanied by other crew members, and all of them walked respectfully toward the man leaning on his staff and gazing at the distant horizon by the ship’s bulwark.
“My lord, these are our Bloodline Statues. Two of them have already been purified to at least the third bloodline stage, known as the ‘Abundant Harvest’ and ‘Cang’s Nurturer,’ respectively.“
Lord Kain’s sweeping gaze came to rest on the case, falling upon four elongated, dark, and sinister-shaped sculptures that reflected the moonlight. They emanated an antiquated, mottled charm, as if they were ancient relics left behind from a thousand years past.
Ambassador Kai, clad in a vertically striped blue robe, picked up the only Bloodline Statue that had stabilized a fourth-ring bloodline—the ‘Cangyu’ lineage statue. Noticing the focused expression on Ambassador Kai’s face, Luca and the others around him bowed their heads slightly with anticipation.
“The Cangyu bloodline? That’s something you often see out on the Misty Sea. “
No sooner had he spoken than a splash was heard, and he threw the fourth-ring statue into the sea.
Luca and the others’ eyes shot wide open in shock.
With another light thud from the box,
they watched as this mysterious visitor picked up another third-ring Bloodline Statue.
“Fengji, the Fengji from the third layer of the Lunar Realm. ” He rubbed his fingers over it, then casually tossed it into the sea.
“Ah… sir! ” A few of them cried out in pain, unable to contain themselves.
Splash!
Before they could even start yelling, Ambassador Kai chuckled dismissively, then scooped up the remaining two and cast them into the surging waves. Luca felt his legs go weak, and he had to stabilize himself by grabbing the railing as the wooden case in his hand clattered and sank into the seawater.
He couldn’t fathom why something so precious was being discarded so carelessly by this mysterious person.
Ambassador Kai swept his gaze across the group, notably pausing on the two who had served him food. Gripping his staff, he easily perceived that another dose of the compound known as “Persistent Regret ” could be extracted ｛from his surroundings｝.
“Heh-hmph. “
……
Aboard the other vessel, the one in a white dress, Ning Jiajia was present.
Beside the researchers of the Moffatt team, who had already been replaced twice, sat two members from Zhao Anlong’s team. Wearing headphones and claiming to be learning, they were actually more familiar than the Moffatt team in broadcasting signal programs.
Inside the noisy cabin bustling with the urgent production of relay programs and tape-trimming personnel, everyone practically resembled a full-fledged broadcasting team.
Touching on these details, someone with a slightly chubby face, they’re talking about Mover and his concerns. Ready, there she is about to fetch the children’s chairs? Let’s shift.
A man in his thirties, leaning lightly against the cabin wall with eyes closed, gently brushed the sheath poking from his waist.
Walk in early—there’s business inside. Focus on handling inventory for half an hour.
……
Naturally, the professor struck from their interest code. Everyone could call her an executor. Unwilling but logical.
Start from the inventory phrase—make rooms spin heads long planned such all handpicks be fully lit ahead.
The red cover too worn sliding mid step under pattern help slight slumber stir motion inside light.
“Dar Chairil, back home aren’t you madden still letting shake now?“. Without alert, poor moves across entire ready weight shape.
Old beaten bar cold used clean up early all she fend but too near wait far pocket flip staying set.
“It’s only half past ten, what’s there to sleep for? “
“Listen to that room over there. ” The man gestured with his chin, and the Older Man looked over. Faint snoring could be heard coming from a large, long-box-like structure patched together from various discarded planks, bricks, and tiles.
To build these vast refugee shelter zones, the workers of Havenzyk used every conceivable material they could think of.
The Older Man inhaled the slightly stale air. “Keep your voice down. “
The person beside him turned his head to glance into the room. Several people were lying inside, and half of the Older Man’s bed was already taken by another man.
“What are you looking at there, oh Great Scribe? “
“Alas, it’s all nothing but fabrications and falsehoods. ” The Older Man closed the book.
“Clearly, there were once many people who truly sacrificed for this world. Yet they insist on claiming it was all a packaged economic organization, made up just to evade banking fees and emigrate. “
“What are you talking about? ” The man in the short-sleeved shirt, around forty years old, yawned.
“The Hellfire Sect. ” The old man said. “Our Hellfire Sect… ah, forget it. Too lazy to explain. “
The man in the short-sleeved shirt scratched his head. “Never heard of any sect. Is that still popular these days? Come to think of it, back in my hometown, there’s a small hut with a light that’s never turned off. Guess it’s some sect’s hall or something. “
The old man shook his head and stood up. “I’m going to sleep. “
Enduring the various smells of foot odor and body odor in the room, he sat down on his half of the bed, took off his shoes, and prepared to lie down.
Suddenly, a group of people in crisp uniforms ran noisily into the yard. The short-sleeved man, who had just risen from his bench, spotted them wearing steel helmets and armbands with insignias. They unfolded a piece of paper, glanced at it, and then stared straight at him.
“Do you know Da Jayir? “
The man nodded and replied, “Ah, yes, ” then pointed toward the next room. “He just went to sleep. “
The man in the courtyard, holding a case file, hurried over. The Older Man inside the room, hearing the commotion, sat back up. On three bunk beds leaned against the wall nearby, some who were still awake propped themselves up on their elbows and peered toward the open door.
“Is Da Jayir here? “
“That’s me, ” the Older Man replied, looking bewildered at these military men whose intentions were unclear.
“Please come with us. We are from the Special Command for National Defense and Technological Heritage. “
“What? People from the Special Command! ” The room immediately buzzed with noise. Even those who had been asleep were stirred awake.
“He couldn’t have done something wrong, could he? ” the crowd murmured.
The older Jayir felt a bit at a loss as he fumbled to put on his shoes.
The soldier stepped inside and gave a slight smile. “Are these your things? ” he asked, pointing to a stack of books next to a small pillow, and a crumpled cloth bundle carelessly stowed under the bed.
“Yes, ” the Older Man said, bending over to gather his belongings. To his surprise, the soldier helped by picking them up. “Don’t worry about your safety. This is just a routine personnel reassignment. “
These words put Da Jayir somewhat at ease.
Inside the house, people whispered among themselves. A man in short sleeves, whose unwashed armpits gave away many days without a bath, looked on as the slightly stooped Older Man was led out of the yard by two soldiers who were a full head taller than him. Two middle-aged men who shared a room curiously stepped out to watch the Older Man leave.
They noticed a jet-black, gleaming sedan parked outside the wicker fence that bordered the yard.
Their eyes widened as they saw a soldier open the car door for the equally surprised Older Man. Standing ramrod straight by the open door, the soldier waited for the old man to get inside before closing the car door with crisp precision and jogging towards a military truck in the rear.
“What’s Jia erz’er got himself into? “
The others asked, their faces a mix of shock and bewilderment.
“No idea. “
“Did Headquarters dispatch a car for him? “
Several trucks flanked two black sedans, escorting them into the courtyard of the Head Marshal’s Office.
Upstairs, a young adjutant beside the Marshal said, “Sir, doesn’t this seem a bit… flashy? “
“What’s flashy about it? This is Our Wynark. “
He turned and grabbed a jacket from the stand nearby, “Let’s go downstairs. Bring in the clerk. I have a feeling these materials will be national treasures one day. “
“Eh? Why do you say that? “
The Marshal’s mind conjured an image of the man. He wasn’t sure why he was so certain—perhaps it was because that man had saved his life from the very beginning, and had continued to exceed his expectations time and time again.
Rosen General had always known from the beginning; that president had consistently avoided causing him any trouble. Even with matters concerning the World Ark, he had handled them exceptionally well without troubling Rosen. Today, he even performed live for him, demonstrating what it means to have keen insight into anomaly information within the discourse of the mist people.
He could accomplish all of this with natural ease, as effortlessly as threading a needle through silk, yet it was only in this one matter that he came running to seek his assistance.
So General Ross felt a sense of anticipation.
Having been aware of the doomsday prophecy for many years, he knew that at a time like this, there had to be something worthy of such serious consideration from the young man named Yang Buchen.
……
Bai Yuan waited for a long time but saw no sign of Yang Zicang returning. Finally, he made up his mind.
“Since the very beginning, I said we’d take our cut from that job and then disappear into the next epoch. Damn that Hong Haocheng—who keeps stirring up a never-ending slew of problems for me. “
Bai Yuan felt as if he had been maneuvered by that guy right to Yang Zicang’s side, and it was driving him insane.
From making a hero’s entrance in the beginning to now living in constant dread, Bai Yuan realized that if he continued to stay, the tasks he would have to carry out would become progressively more terrifying. They would become more and more like walking a tightrope beside a sleeping killer.
That fellow, Yang Zicang… in the past few months, he didn’t know what strange drug he had taken; he had pretty much stopped going on his mad rampages.
If not, then considering the state he was in when he first emerged from the Demon Hero Hall, I would have had no chance of walking out alive from the meeting room today.
He touched the Fei Lǔ Inn’s Key in his hand.
“The Divine Hotel. “
The ordinary key of bronze reflected a faint, ethereal glow under the moonlight.
“I’ve earned the Brilliance and the Rainbow too. ” He gritted his teeth, thinking of that distant sea. That’s the one. Heading to the sea would be better than staying here.
Even if I’m frog-kicking in the ocean, my timeline should be enough to hold out until I find an island. As for what to do next, it depends on how much further I can push myself.
He stood up and looked at the clothes and jacket on him.
“Hope we never meet again. “
Bai Yuan’s heart thumping, he used the key. The ripples of spreading air wrapped around him. He gradually vanished at the corner turn of this office hallway.
His steps moved swiftly.
Click, he gently pulled open the door to check. The hallway outside was empty—no people and no rats.
“One minute is enough. “
Bai Yuan closed the door, carrying a leather suitcase, trying hard to muffle his footsteps as he ran towards the third floor.
Thump, thump, thump. This floor was also empty. Without hesitation, he leaped, ensuring he wouldn’t be seen from the third-floor passage viewpoint, vaulted up the stairs, and rushed to the fourth floor.
This floor was also empty! An intense sense of tension surged in Bai Yuan’s heart. He stared at room 405, its door quietly embedded in the threshold; his own breathing sounded distinctly in his ears.
“Goodbye, you two bastards… “
The moment he took a step and rushed towards Room 405, with a click, the door to Room 407 swung open. Bai Yuan turned his head and saw Yang Zicang walking out while talking with Zorro and He Yishu.
“Bai Yuan. ” Yang Zicang looked at Bai Yuan, who turned his body with a stiff smile directed at himself, and raised an eyebrow.
Suddenly, his eyes shot open, and his feet stomped the ground as he charged at high speed. Bai Yuan twisted the doorknob of Room 405, pushed the door open forcefully, and stumbled inside as he stepped in.
Bang!
Yang Zicang pressed against the doorframe, pinning the shoulder of Bai Yuan, who had barely gotten half his body through, against it.
Bai Yuan winced in pain as he looked over, seeing that his shoulder was still attached, but Yang Zicang radiated a terrifying aura of blazing fury.
His head slowly moved closer to Bai Yuan.
“Tell me, who put you up to this. “
“I… ” Bai Yuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed forcefully.
“During those three months I was in hibernation, which Full Moon Angel with the Five-Ring Bloodline were you really with? What’s his name? “
“He… “
A deep, oppressive aura enveloped him. Bai Yuan felt as if a monster from an abyssal cave was sizing up his soul, yet the terrifying figure of that mental power never truly emerged from behind him, struggling to manifest.
“I… I, ” The force on his shoulder intensified slightly. Bai Yuan’s eyes, trembling a little, glanced down the hallway at the two people who were running over, clearly clueless about what had just happened.
“I am still useful. “
“Useful for what? “
Just two steps before they approached, Bai Yuan quickly said, “I can continuously provide his intelligence. “
Yang Zicang was silent for two breaths. As Zorro and He Yishu beside him stopped, their eyes revealing confusion about what was happening, he gently released the hand pressing on Bai Yuan’s shoulder.
It was only then that he noticed a faint energy figure, like a little bee, flying out of his pocket and hovering around Bai Yuan, as if searching for some energy to harvest. Wasn’t it considered telekinesis? Without meaning to, Yang Zicang thought this, raised his head, and fixed his gaze on Bai Yuan, who appeared utterly drained.
“Are you there? ” Yang Zicang suddenly spoke, as if to the air. This startled all three.
“What mischief are you up to again, Cuckoo. “
A vicious yet faint smile played at the corner of Yang Zicang’s mouth. “Send him one of your business cards, ” he said.
After a silent two seconds, “Two cups of ‘Forgetful Spring Water,’ Cuckoo, ” came the reply.
The voice faded, and Bai Yuan saw a drifting business card—a stark, abrupt shape materializing from the unknown above. It gently descended before, with abrupt startling intimacy, itslappedagainst the skin of his shoulder and neck.
Then, with his hands in his pockets, Yang Zicang walked toward the staircase leading to the third floor, followed by Zorro who watched with cold, assessing curiosity, and He Yishu who seemed about to speak but faltered at the thought’s precipice. As for Bai Yuan, carrying his bag and staring at the business card in his hand, his face flickering through several colors, he let out another sigh, but at least some solid footing now supported his course. Quietly vindicated by fate, he made a grinding thoughtful decisive move; recognizing what rested curled against each other like a sleeping signature gift wrapping redemption, Bai Yuan turned away, and when Yang Zicang hadbarelyplaced one foot on the descending path; turning holding the oblique-grid patterned leather case; going on shaking off dust like stepping stones into new, low gravity.
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