Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 231: Unexpected Discovery

“There is also a saying among humans about ‘getting stuck in a bug’. Some spaces may appear no different from their surroundings, but they are actually paper-thin and very easy to accidentally get stuck in.”

Qi Xin wandered around the area pointed out by Qiqi, observing and explaining as she went.

“What I do is similar to finding a crack and forcibly prying it open to squeeze myself out. What I can teach you is simply the ‘prying’ action—”

She paused at a certain spot and gestured with her hands. “—just like this.”

The originally empty space gradually distorted into a black-gray vortex. Initially the size of a bowl’s opening, it turned slowly and laboriously. Then, with cracking sounds of crumbling, the vortex spun faster and grew larger, eventually reaching a size barely enough for a person to pass through.

Dr. Meiqiu, in a predatory motion, seemed eager to try. However, at that moment, Qi Xin raised her hand, quickly calming the vortex.

“The path you previously took was a pre-established route, like walking in a prepared tunnel. Crossing between two realms is not that simple.”

Qi Xin glanced at the disgruntled Meiqiu.

“To break through the space on your own is like digging and advancing in quicksand; a slight distraction can lead to losing your way. I can only teach you the technique, but you must gauge your own abilities.”

Next was a strict hands-on teaching session by Qi Xin. Similar to Yin Ren’s expectations, this method wasn’t magic. In short, to break open space, one needed a powerful and meticulous imagination as well as a high level of mental focus.

Meiqiu was the first “God” to create a rudimentary passage.

When it discovered the appearance of the passage, it proudly moved its whiskers, but in the next moment, the passage burst like a soap bubble.

Dr. Cat’s ears drooped, and it tried again. The next vortex appeared just as quickly, but each time it transformed into the size of a walnut, the small vortex met its demise.

“Infinite Ability user, huh? No wonder your calculations and imagination are so astounding,” Qi Xin said, unfazed. “But your focus is too scattered.”

Meiqiu confidently retorted, “It’s not my fault.” It was a natural trait of its species.

After creating several passages, it showed signs of deflation throughout its entire body. “Forget it. It doesn’t matter if I never go back there anyway. I’m tired. I want to go back and sleep.”

Yin Ren beside it was speechless and choked up. At the moment, this cat seemed to be their best hope. Unfortunately, Dr. Cat’s temper was too foul, and they couldn’t force it to do anything.

“Think about your thesis,” the Great Celestial Master advised earnestly. “If you can’t go back…”

“I pursue knowledge to satisfy my curiosity, not to contribute to humans.” Meiqiu flicked its tail, sounding extremely disdainful. “Even if all humans were wiped out, I would still continue my research. Goodbye.”

With a flick of its paw, it disappeared effortlessly into thin air, presumably returning to its base.

Gao Mengyu’s cat looked on with wide eyes, and its two fleshy limbs once again kneaded the cat’s tablecloth. It seemed to hold great reverence for this “true cat”.

Yin Ren looked at Zhong Chengshuo and wanted to say something. Zhong Chengshuo, with his eyes tightly shut, seemed lost in thought, and it appeared it wasn’t suitable to interrupt him.

So Yin Ren obediently sat back in his original position, holding his breath and meditating.

He had imagination. His computational ability might not rival that of the “Infinite” cheater, but after studying magical arts for so many years, he could still be considered a genius. Yin Ren suspected that he had a similar problem to Dr. Cat—he was accustomed to being absent-minded, and over time, random thoughts were prone to naturally grow in his mind.

For example, at this moment, upon hearing Qi Xin’s “Hmm?” sound, Yin Ren couldn’t help but open one eye and sneak a glance.

The space in front of Zhong Chengshuo had changed.

Unlike Dr. Cat or Qi Xin, his vortex didn’t gradually expand. There was a sudden explosion, and a perfectly round, pitch-black hole appeared before him, resembling an alarmed eye.

“Old Fear… Are you calculating everything from the beginning?” Qi Xin clicked her tongue. “That’s also a method. Remember this feeling and maintain it.”

Zhong Chengshuo seemed as if he hadn’t heard her. He opened his eyes with his dull gaze fixed on the black hole about the height of a person in front of him. After hesitating for a moment, he stepped one foot into it.

Yin Ren couldn’t sit still any longer. “Hey!”

“Shh.” Qi Xin stopped him. “Let him go. If necessary, I’ll bring him back.”

Yin Ren said, “That’s not the issue—”

A thousand years ago, even when it was in a stage of confused thinking, the Black Rabbit would still hop around seeking liberation. Love stretched open a gap and spilled a large amount of flesh and blood in the Divine Descent twenty-nine years ago.

It was difficult to forcibly distort the laws of nature and come out unscathed.

Qi Xin glanced at Yin Ren, who had a worried expression on his face. “That’s enough. His current form is safer than yours. The power of ‘Fear’ won’t simply disappear. Since he has abandoned the offensive direction, his defense shouldn’t be lacking.”

“Have you ever seen someone riding a unicycle? As soon as Old Fear finds balance, if you jump onto his ride, both of you will be done for,” she added a final sarcastic remark.

Yin Ren made an effort to keep his feet steady, nervously staring at Zhong Chengshuo’s back. Like being swallowed by an upright dark pool, Zhong Chengshuo’s body was instantly engulfed by darkness.

“At most, five minutes,” Qi Xin said. “Don’t worry, a beginner can’t hold on for long.”

“Why?” Yin Ren asked.

“You’ll find out when you tear a hole yourself.” Qi Xin chuckled.

Zhong Chengshuo acted as if he didn’t hear Qi Xin’s comment, but just by looking at the scene before him, he knew that it wasn’t suitable to stay in this place for long.

Perhaps due to it being his first time, the interstitial space was incomplete.

It was like a scene with modeling errors. The abstract-colored Other Side was half-heartedly materialized, and while the tunnel remained, everything on the tunnel walls had completely changed—

Daily necessities, buildings, withered plants, animal carcasses, electronic machinery… Countless things compressed together. They wriggled in chaos, causing a headache to anyone who looked.

Zhong Chengshuo remembered that he had walked normally into the upright black hole. But upon arriving here, the black hole lay beside his feet, and the direction was a complete mess. Unidentifiable objects squeezed past his feet from time to time, desperately pressing against each other but without making a sound.

There was no light here, and the distant path led to unknown darkness. The surroundings were so silent that it felt as if hearing had been lost. Let alone creating a path to the human world, just maintaining a normal state of mind here was a difficult task.

However, someone’s mental state was exceptionally stable.

Zhong Chengshuo calmly watched the suspicious objects flowing by in front of him with only one thought in his mind—

Since the experiment had progressed, he needed to complete this attempt seriously.

He took a step towards a certain direction.

With reinforced imagination, the black hole at Zhong Chengshuo’s feet followed his every move, sliding over the uneven surfaces of objects. One step at a time, he gradually became more stable.

But his footsteps still made no sound.

Find the path to the human world… Find the path to the human world…

Zhong Chengshuo repeated this in his mind incessantly as the cluttered objects beneath his feet twisted crazily. Silence and chaos entangled each other, creating a strange sense of unreality in the entire world.

Taking step by step in this disordered place, both the concepts of time and space became chaotic. Just as Zhong Chengshuo was about to slow down and gather his thoughts again—

“Haa… Haa… Haa… Haa…”

A voice echoed from the depths of the clutter, sometimes distant and sometimes near.

The sound of human breathing.

Zhong Chengshuo suddenly stopped in his tracks. There was no sound in this place, so why was there this one sound?

Frowning, Zhong Chengshuo imagined poking the ground with a shovel.

Sure enough, there was still no sound.

“Haa… Haa… Haa… Haa…”

The breathing continued. In this chaotic and incomplete interstitial space, this breathing sound might be the only normal thing and also the most abnormal thing.

After half a second of contemplation while leaning on the shovel, Zhong Chengshuo calmly lifted the iron shovel.

……

The breathing sound moved slowly with the clutter. Over an hour passed, and Zhong Chengshuo finally dug out its source—

It was two young women.

One of them had a petite figure. She had short hair, and her eyes were tightly shut. She held a damaged laptop in her arms. After a quick observation, Zhong Chengshuo saw that half of her shoulder had been smashed into a pulp, and her blood had stained most of her clothes red.

A genuine serious injury. Her internal organs were relatively intact, but the wound would cause her to lose a significant amount of blood and die within a short time.

At this moment, her chest rose and fell laboriously, emitting slow breaths of “Haa… Haa… Haa… Haa…” as if in deep sleep.

The other woman held her horizontally. Her back was slightly bent, assuming a protective posture. She remained motionless, and it was unclear whether she was a corpse or a living being. The two individuals had been here for who knew how long, with the laptop and their flesh conjoined together; even their bodies showed a tendency to merge.

Zhong Chengshuo pried the mass of flesh with his shovel. The two individuals were merely stuck together and separate from the surrounding environment, which was a relief.

He changed his angle and made another shovel strike. Instantly, a thought entered his mind.

[Who?]

Zhong Chengshuo remained silent.

It turned out to be a living person.

Zhong Chengshuo pondered in place for a few minutes, imagining a large construction wheelbarrow. He carefully shoveled the person entangled in the various debris and forcefully stuffed them into the cart.

[Who?!] The shock in that thought grew stronger.

Unfortunately, Zhong Chengshuo’s heart was already fragmented, and he didn’t have the energy to engage in conversation. He made sure he had fully shoveled the person, not leaving any arms or legs behind, before carefully pushing the cart and moving away.

……

“How long has it been?” Yin Ren paced outside the black hole, feeling anxious. “Didn’t you say five minutes?”

“His passage was steady, without…” Qi Xin’s words were abruptly cut off.

Something emerged from the black hole.

A mass of bloody flesh wriggled out, and Yin Ren’s cry of pain built up in his throat. Before the shout could burst out, the true appearance of the flesh was revealed—

The mass of flesh belonged to two individuals stuck together.

This strange amalgamation was placed in the bucket of a construction wheelbarrow, pushed by Zhong Chengshuo. The person wore a serious expression and a “safety first” helmet on their head. It was unclear whether this was a deliberate imagination or an incidental detail.

“I didn’t find a path to the human world, but I dug up this.” Zhong Chengshuo introduced with solemnity. “Look, they’re alive.”

Qi Xin: “…”

Yin Ren: “…Cough, cough, cough!” His cry of pain turned into fitting coughs.

“That’s where the interstitial space is formed.” Qi Xin pinched her forehead in a frenzy. “How could there be living people inside?!”

Zhong Chengshuo paid no attention to her. “Yin Ren, come and take a look.”

“Wait.” Yin Ren hesitated for a moment, then imagined the infirmary at Shian.

Afterward, he approached Zhong Chengshuo and shifted his gaze to the mass of amalgamation.

In the bright and clean atmosphere of the hospital, that mass of flesh appeared especially terrifying. A membranous tissue with fine blood vessels enveloped the two individuals, and their bodies, along with the laptop, were intertwined. Blood vessels wandered on the surface of their bodies like roots.

“Haa… Haa… Haa… Haa…”

Yin Ren sensed a faint breath.

…Indeed, they were alive. The Great Celestial Master took a sharp breath and immediately began examining their hands.

One of the individuals, despite their deformity, seemed to be relatively unharmed. The other had severe injuries, with crushed flesh mixed with broken bones, revealing a dark red color. Fortunately, although their injuries were serious, on the Other Side, the situation wasn’t too dire. Unlike Meiqiu, this person could be saved solely through magic.

Yin Ren half-knelt beside the injured person, carefully casting healing spells.

Strangely, the injured person wasn’t responsive to the healing spells. A spell with full strength only had a ten percent effect on them. Fortunately, the Great Celestial Master’s power was measured in pounds, so Yin Ren ignored the minimal effect and continued to focus on the treatment.

Meanwhile, Zhong Chengshuo squatted on the other side of the wheelbarrow, vigorously searching for any clues within the mass of human amalgamation. Unfortunately, their clothes were torn, their pockets empty, and the laptop screen remained dark, providing no evidence of their identities.

Zhong Chengshuo exerted some force, supporting one person’s shoulder and reluctantly separating them slightly.

This time, he made a new discovery. There was something familiar clutched between the chests of the two individuals. Zhong Chengshuo imagined a pair of tweezers and diligently tried to pick out that object.

Two Shian ID cards fell with a clatter. The faces on the cards were distorted, the handwriting was incomplete, and everything was in disarray.

Zhong Chengshuo squinted and struggled to discern the information.

Fore■ Identification Department (A-level) – Science ■, Zhou■■; this card was hanging from the injured person, with most of the red mark on the card obscured by blood.

■ Identification ■■■ (A-level) – Non-Sci■ Post, Jiao Lian; the black mark on the ID card remained distinct.

“…Jiao Lian? Minister Jiao?” Zhong Chengshuo looked at the two masses in the small cart, tilting his head slightly. Jiao Lian, the head of the Foreign Object Identification Department. He had seen her before, but the Jiao Lian he knew didn’t have a human-like “face”, making it difficult to match her with the blurred female figure in front of him.

The masses didn’t react.

Zhong Chengshuo made a thoughtful exchange this time.

[Greetings, Minister Jiao.]

Zhong Chengshuo greeted slowly, taking a glance at Yin Ren, who was still working hard to treat the injured person, and trying to infuse a friendly smile into his thoughts.

[Zhong Chengshuo, science post of the Special Investigation Team Unit 9 of Shian. It’s a pleasure to see you again.]

The computer screen in the depths of the Shian Building’s special room suddenly flickered faster.

[Hello, Zhong Chengshuo.]

He received an affirmative response.

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The author has something to say:

Xiao Zhong: Professional at picking up people on the road √

Xiao Yin… After all, Xiao Yin was ultimately burdened by his overactive mind.

A giant cat god who’s slightly better than the cat god (×

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 230: Prelude to Chaos

“In the past few days, the sewer system has been explored by a C-level special investigation team. Starting from today, the B-level special investigation team will join the sewer system exploration operation, while the A-level special investigation team will be responsible for securing factory premises, government offices, and other important locations within the city. I will lead the Emergency Management Department for mobile support.”

“As for hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and other special facilities, they will be specially protected by the two leaders stationed in Yandu and Linnan.”

Fu Xingchuan stood in the Shian operations meeting room and spoke with a booming voice.

Underneath the stage, members of the Emergency Management Department and all the core members of the special investigation teams stood crowded together.

On the screen, the complete information of the corpse centipede was playing, along with the approximate model simulated by the Identification Department. The hideous model was slowly rotating in the middle of the screen while its estimated ability values flickered beside it.

Fu Xingchuan: “The corpse centipede has lost its intimidation effect. In order to reduce the burden, Xiang Jiang will definitely deal with it as soon as possible.”

Upon hearing the familiar name, there was a commotion among the people below the stage.

Fu Xingchuan: “I am familiar with his spellcasting style. Considering that Xiang Jiang has already sided with the Other Side but is still active in this world, we have reasonable suspicion that he is highly likely cooperating with the scum from Sunken Society.”

At this point, he paused meaningfully.

As for the unfortunate handling of those cursed arms, Fu Xingchuan still had no clue. He knew well that Love’s intention was to fully invade the human world, but he couldn’t reveal it at this moment—only questions without solutions would cause panic.

As a vulnerable human, all he could do was try his best to set up the layout in advance and give Sunken Society another big blow.

“Everyone is well aware of Xiang Jiang’s abilities. Currently, his level will only be stronger, not weaker. We must not take it lightly.” Fu Xingchuan’s tone was so serious that it was frightening. “The situation across the country isn’t optimistic, and once Xiang Jiang takes action, Sunken Society will not let go of this opportunity to stir up trouble. What follows is likely to be a tough battle…”

“Those people from Yandu and Linnan are still here. It’s been months already that even eighteen legs could be healed.” Wang Zhou, the science post of Special Investigation Team Unit 7, muttered quietly below the stage.

Since the incident in Shian’s competition and the uncontrollable situation in the abandoned building of the hospital, Special Investigation Team Unit 7 had been stationed at the Municipal Hospital in Haigu, responsible for patrols and guard duty.

Special Investigation Team Unit 7 spent their days eating hospital meals, staying in the special ward of Shian, receiving regular salaries, and living a boring and monotonous life. As time went on, Wang Zhou had the illusion that all members of Unit 7 were seriously ill and nearing retirement.

Li Xiaozhen and Li Xiaoli from Unit 6, who were severely injured, had been discharged from the hospital, while Unit 7 was still stuck there. The rookies from Unit 9 were promoted to a B-level investigation team, but Unit 7 was still lingering in the hospital. If it weren’t for the recall for the meeting, Wang Zhou suspected they would have stayed in the hospital indefinitely.

But now things were different. The hospital was under the responsibility of the ministers from the Shian branch, and they could finally get rid of the smell of disinfectant.

Even if their next destination was the sewer, it was still better!

Wang Zhou rolled his eyes. Sure enough, his partner, Bao Linlin, was also eager, her eyes shining. “We will definitely be the first ones to find that unlucky centipede.”

“Yeah,” Xiao Zhao, the rear commander, agreed softly. “I have confidence in both of you.”

“I heard that the previous <Approaching Science> plan was proposed by Unit 9. Speaking of which, it seems that Unit 9 isn’t involved in the investigation this time?” Bao Linlin scrolled through the list on her tablet. “The core partners, Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo, are on a long-term business trip out of town. They only have two metaphysical posts left, plus a rear command.”

“They’ll probably be temporarily assigned to another team.” Wang Zhou also leaned out to take a look. “Without a science post, they definitely can’t go on missions independently.”

Half an hour later…

“Without a science post, we can’t go on missions independently.” Huang Jin put on a polite fake smile and reached out his hand to Wang Zhou. “According to the arrangement, me and Ge Tingting will temporarily be attached to Unit 7. Pardon our intrusion.”

Wang Zhou: “…”

Wang Zhou wiped the sweat from his forehead. “In terms of power distribution, it’s not ideal for B-level officers to be attached to B-level teams…”

“This was specially arranged by Fu Xingchuan.” Huang Jin’s forced smile twitched a bit. “He said he had a hunch that our two teams were destined to be together and that we would definitely be the first ones to find the corpse centipede.”

Unit 7: “…”

They couldn’t tell whether they were being praised or insulted.

After the meeting ended in the early morning, before the sun had risen, the members of the B-level investigation team packed their belongings and headed to their respective assigned locations.

Xiao Zhao brought his equipment to Unit 9’s office and sat next to Lu Xiaohe. Ge Tingting, Huang Jin, Wang Zhou, and Bao Linlin formed a small team and headed straight to the old city district.

“I heard that your whole team went on a business trip, and you two came back early.” On the way, Wang Zhou tried to find a topic. “It’s quite rare in this situation. I hope you both are fine.”

Principally, members of the special investigation team had to act together. Wang Zhou could only think of unexpected injuries that required some members to return early.

“Nothing serious,” Ge Tingting replied fluently with the help of the AI. “Our mission is technically complete. Zhong Ge and Yin Ge still need to stay behind for some investigation work.”

For example, investigating the huge white web structure on the Other Side, or investigating their own biological species. They had heard about phenomena A-A0 “God”, which Huang Jin and Ge Tingting naturally had some knowledge of. Considering that Dr. Cat also belonged to this category, Ge Tingting remained calm.

Even if a Primordial Elemental fell from the sky and triggered a Divine Descent, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

“True, Xiao Zhong should also publish a paper.” The science post, Mr. Wang, who understood their focus, shifted to other matters.

Beside Ge Tingting, Bao Linlin happily chimed in, “I have a feeling that our mission this time will be very smooth.”

“Science post.” She pointed at Wang Zhou.

“Corpse servant, spirit smith, ghost master.” She pointed at Ge Tingting, Huang Jin, and herself, respectively. “Our team has the most diverse personnel, and we have two rear commanders!”

Huang Jin forced a smile in response.

At this point, there was nothing that could give him confidence in the mortal world. Poor Unit 7 still had no idea what was hidden behind Xiang Jiang and Sunken Society.

The car quickly arrived at their destination—Kaining Road in the Donghe District.

The faint morning light illuminated the area as the four of them carried their exploration equipment and disembarked one by one.

This used to be the office area of the old city district. Now, the aging buildings had relocated their businesses, and the remaining structures had either been converted into cheap apartments or left abandoned.

The sunlight was fragmented by the rows of buildings, casting beams of light onto the ground. Breakfast stalls were just starting to set up, and steam rose from the side of old, run-down shops.

Ge Tingting glanced around and bought a bunch of hot steamed dumplings. She divided them into bags for everyone, even giving one to the driver.

“I don’t know how long we’ll be down there. The sewer has a strong smell, so it’s better to eat more in advance.” She made a sincere suggestion.

No one objected, and Wang Zhou went to buy a bag of tea eggs and fried dough sticks. The four of them found a spot near the apartment complex’s grand entrance, which had a beautiful front garden.

Ge Tingting took a bite of the steamed dumpling, releasing a puff of steam. She looked up and caught a glint in her eyes.

The apartment building displayed the gilded characters: “Fanghua Apartments”. The gold coating seemed to have been recently restored—its shiny color contrasting with the nearby old residential buildings.

It seemed familiar, like she had seen it in the files. Ge Tingting swallowed the dumpling but couldn’t remember.

The temperature was low, so the breakfast got cold quickly. The group finished their meal with haste and arrived at the entrance to the sewer behind the building.

“Fortunately, it’s winter. If it were summer during heavy rain, who knows what it would be like.” Wang Zhou put on his mining headlamp, double-checked his gas mask and oxygen generator.

On the other side, Bao Linlin proficiently burned four talismans, sending her fierce ghosts ahead.

Ge Tingting was empty-handed—what the sewer lacked the least was the remains of small animals. However, just in case, she summoned a few dead stray cats and dogs to wait quietly by her feet.

Huang Jin expressionlessly slung his backpack over his chest, filled with tranquility talismans and explosive talismans. What Unit 7 didn’t know was that in a small pocket of his backpack, there was a small round ball.

“Puff…” The ball murmured melancholically.

“You can go down now,” Lu Xiaohe said. “The water level nearby is fine, and no toxic gases have been detected.”

“Roger.”

The four of them cautiously climbed down the ladder, gradually leaving the morning light behind as they descended into the depths of darkness.

Approximately three kilometers underground from this location.

The corpse centipede scurried through the pipes, and Xiang Jiang sat steadily in the gaps between several bodies, with Xiang Hai holding his neck from behind, muttering like a maniac.

Xiang Jiang didn’t wear any equipment; he just sat quietly, listening attentively, resembling a corpse among the bodies.

A faint smile graced his face.

……

Although Qi Xin agreed to cooperate, Meng Huai still refused to let Ms. Qi Xin enter the human stronghold. Yin Ren expressed understanding. For the sake of secrecy, he specifically imagined his favorite hot pot restaurant.

Thus, Qi Xin, holding a Lonely, sat in the empty lobby of the hot pot restaurant. The decoration here was all in vibrant red, which complemented the red hues at the corners of her eyes.

“A sneak attack on Love?” Qi Xin played with the limbs of the Lonely with her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“This is about smothering danger in its cradle,” Yin Ren, sitting across from her, said. “Physically speaking.”

Beside Yin Ren, Zhong Chengshuo pushed his glasses up. “Qi Xin, I agree with your speculation. The body created by Love won’t be weak, and coupled with Yin Ren’s recent maturity, the gap in their abilities is still unknown. Currently, its body hasn’t fully developed, which is our best opportunity.”

His hands crossed on the table, attempting to create a serious atmosphere, but it was weakened by the festive music playing in the hot pot restaurant.

Zhong Chengshuo continued helplessly, “Yin Ren and I have verified that the central hemisphere of the white web absorbs the power of ‘Satisfaction’. That is Love’s ‘cradle’. If my speculation is correct, the other hemisphere should be in an interstitial space, near Love’s true body.”

Love was most likely in the interstitial space, most likely personally guarding its yet-to-be-developed body, awaiting the moment of becoming a “God”.

“I see.”

Qi Xin rubbed her chin.

“You, me, and Yin Ren—the three of us will deal with Love and her ‘cradle’. That would indeed give us the greatest chance of success.”

Zhong Chengshuo: “Yes, the three members of Shian will be rescuing the missing people from the outside. At that time, we can lend a hand and cut off Love’s emergency supplies directly.”

Qi Xin snorted, almost writing “I don’t care” on her face.

“We need to hurry.” Yin Ren ignored Qi Xin’s disdain and changed the topic. “Qi Xin, Love won’t trust you. Once she senses any sign of you betraying her, she will expedite the birth of her body.”

“You don’t have to tell me.” Qi Xin placed the small Lonely on the ground. “Then what are you waiting for? Go greet those humans quickly. Let’s go as soon as possible.”

Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo exchanged glances.

Yin Ren wiped the smile off his face. “Ms. Qi, the situation is urgent. Chengshuo and I don’t have time to slowly explore our own abilities. However, there is one ability that we must learn first, no matter what.”

Qi Xin raised an eyebrow.

“We need to learn how to travel between the human world and the Other Side,” Yin Ren said. “Better safe than sorry.”

As an “elite miner”, Love had been wreaking havoc for so many years; its understanding of space was incomparable. When Love finally descended, it would seal off all gaps, trapping them on the Other Side.

“Do I look like Charon to you? I can only travel if there are gaps or passages,” Qi Xin sneered.

“Teach us that, and we’ll figure out the rest ourselves,” Yin Ren lowered his head. “We’re counting on you.”

“Fine.”

Qi Xin sighed.

“First, you need to find a naturally weak spot in space…”

……

As far as Yin Ren knew, there were four weak points in space in Haigu.

First, the passage to the Other Side in Shian was absolutely not viable. That was their escape route and couldn’t be messed up.

There used to be a gap in the back mountain of Haigu Secondary School, created jointly by Mr. Le and Love. It was considered enemy territory. There was also a gap in the abandoned building of the Municipal Hospital, but it had leaked too much Evil Force and had long been sealed off by Shian.

The only remaining location for a gap was near Fanghua Apartments—where Gao Mengyu’s cat had unfortunately stepped into a pitfall. It was completely natural and hadn’t undergone intense processing.

There was no better practice ground than that.

Half a day later, the three “gods”, Yin Ren, Zhong Chengshuo, and Meiqiu, stood in a row in a corner of the Other Side.

Meiqiu: “Why am I here too?”

“The nature of our bodies and abilities is quite different between us,” Zhong Chengshuo earnestly explained. “In theory, we all possess the potential of a Charon. But who will realize it first is still unknown.”

Meiqiu blinked its fourteen eyes and didn’t curse or grumble again. Converted into a new species with an extremely long lifespan, its recent mood was very good.

“Surely, I’ll succeed first.” Its tail stood straighter than ever.

In front of the three “gods” stood Qi Xin and Gao Mengyu’s cat.

Qiqi waved its fleshy limbs, swiftly gesturing around its body.

[I got stuck nearby.]

It shuddered, still feeling frightened, and pointed to a specific area.

[At that time, I was chasing after an “Annoyance” and suddenly bumped into an unfamiliar place. I struggled and squeezed through any openings I could find and ended up in the human world.]

[When my whole body entered the human world, I felt extremely uncomfortable. After Gao Mengyu moved me back, I found a gap in her living room and settled in there to recover… That place was indeed “soft”, so I could destroy it easily.]

Gao Mengyu’s cat explained with great effort.

[Good luck, everyone.]

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The author has something to say:

Returning to Fanghua Apartments (×

Poor kitty, stepping into thin air.

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 229: Mature Body

After reporting their speculation to Shian, Zhong Chengshuo slept deeply.

He lay in a corner of the Other Side base with his head resting on Yin Ren’s leg and his ten fingers tangled in Yin Ren’s long hair. Yin Ren’s wounds had roughly healed, and he had temporarily stopped trading with the Lonelies, just staring out the window in a daze.

Outside the base window, snowflakes were falling, creating a flurry of snow. The distant scenery was blurred, with only the occasional snowflake hitting the window. The screens inside the base played scenes of winter in the human world, with a young Li Nian wearing a scarf appearing from time to time.

Most likely, it was Meng Huai’s memories, Yin Ren thought.

The temperature in the room had dropped, but it wasn’t as vivid as the real world.

Zhong Chengshuo’s breathing, on the other hand, was very distinct. He took off his glasses, his body rising and falling slightly, and his body temperature blended with Yin Ren’s. This person was sleeping so soundly that Fu Tianyi didn’t even dare to make too much movement while chopping up Elemental flesh.

As for the intimate behavior between the two, Zhong Chengfeng wasn’t surprised—she had determined that Yin Ren was “not human”, so Yin Ren’s gender seemed irrelevant. Moreover, this person’s face was truly captivating and very much in line with human aesthetics.

Considering that Zhong Chengfeng was his nominal older sister, Zhong Chengshuo had once wanted to explain seriously about their relationship, but this policewoman just waved her hand.

“What era is it? As long as you didn’t fall for Gao Mengyu’s cat, that’s enough,” Zhong Chengfeng said cheerfully.

Zhong Chengshuo: “…”

He silently returned to Yin Ren’s side, gently kissed his forehead, and then entered a day-long sleep.

……

Finally, his mind eased, and Zhong Chengshuo opened his eyes.

Yin Ren was still sitting in the same spot. However, he had imagined a pillow and blanket, and the two of them were snuggled together under the warm covers, giving off a slight indoor camping vibe.

Yin Ren was still looking out the window, where everything was covered in a hazy white snow. Those white hues imprinted on Yin Ren’s red eyes, transforming into reflections with window grids.

“What are you thinking?”

Zhong Chengshuo didn’t immediately get up.

Yin Ren withdrew his gaze and lowered his eyes. A faint smile appeared on his face. “I’m thinking, why did you insist on becoming a ‘god’ like Love… What did you discover in it?”

“Its arm feels very similar to your arm,” Zhong Chengshuo replied frankly. “Do you remember what happened in the Archive?”

Yin Ren made a sound of agreement, his gaze softening.

“Lately, it’s been calm on the outside so there are more Lonelies that dare to go out.” Yin Ren continued, “But ‘Satisfaction’ was injured, and it’s still active as usual, just recovering very slowly.”

Zhong Chengshuo blinked. “Satisfaction? Are you saying…”

“A while ago, we were only focused on saving Meiqiu. Do you remember the reaction of ‘Satisfaction’ when it passed through the White Net? It seemed to be in pain.”

Yin Ren played with Zhong Chengshuo’s earlobe, pinching and rubbing the soft flesh.

“Now that Love is attempting to transform into an A-A0 ‘God’, it, like me, needs energy. Currently, there is no entity on the Other Side with a higher nutritional value than Satisfaction.”

Zhong Chengshuo didn’t say anything, his brows gradually furrowing.

“It’s really strange,” Yin Ren continued absentmindedly. “Satisfaction is clearly injured. Why hasn’t Qi Xin, that Other Side environmentalist, come forward to confront me? I thought she would quickly come to warn me—after all, the ‘Lonelies’ are crawling all over the place, and they can deliver messages.”

Zhong Chengshuo instantly realized. “She knows who did it… ‘Love’ has communicated with her.”

Saying that, Zhong Chengshuo casually pinched the tip of Yin Ren’s hair, quickly calculating in his mind. Yin Ren was currently the strongest “God” in terms of combat power, but this species had no precedent, and he might not be fully matured yet, so he wouldn’t act recklessly. “Love” was slightly behind, still in the process of transformation.

Now, Qi Xin was one of the only four remaining emotions. “Zhong Chengshuo is the smoke bomb, while Yin Ren is the cub.” She was well aware of this fact. Currently, Qi Xin was the biggest variable in this conflict.

Zhong Chengshuo looked at Yin Ren again, but at this moment, Yin Ren leaned down and covered Zhong Chengshuo’s eyes with his palm.

“We must deal with Qi Xin first,” Yin Ren said.

“I agree.” Zhong Chengshuo held the back of Yin Ren’s neck, adjusting their position slightly and moving Yin Ren’s hand back to his ear.

……

Qi Xin tightly shrunk her original form, wishing she could bury hundreds of layers of data within herself.

She didn’t immediately give an answer to Love, but even if she were to join forces with that smiling fox, Love might not believe her.

But Qi Xin knew in her heart that Love wasn’t lying.

The aura emanating from Love was very similar to when Yin Ren broke through the white net. Love probably realized something was wrong at that time… They were the same kind of thing, which meant Yin Ren might also prey on “Satisfaction”.

Neither Yin Ren nor Love were normal Primordial Elementals. Even if Yin Ren lost to Love, she wouldn’t necessarily be able to take control of Yin Ren’s power. And relying on Yin Ren’s victory, as Love said, that guy was born in the human world… Could he be trusted?

Qi Xin had thought that she could switch tracks, allowing fate’s train to crush Love with Yin Ren or even with herself. But now the situation was completely out of her control, and Qi Xin sadly realized that she had become a passerby like the butt of all human jokes.

She couldn’t arrange anything, and now it seemed that Love would be the one arranging her. That conversation that day was akin to a veiled warning.

But was it really good to let Love have complete control over the Other Side?

That guy probably wouldn’t kill Satisfaction but instead weaken it and artificially control its “birth rate”. Then, she would drive humans mad and make up for the parts suffering from famine. As for the human world, that was a separate matter, but for the Other Side, was this really a happy solution?

In the end, “Love” would replace “Fear” and “Satisfaction” and become the true God of the Other Side. It would carry a strong sense of love similar to that of humans and take over the next era of the Other Side.

Qi Xin always felt that something was off, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

Well, there was no need to rush this matter. It could be pondered later.

Still, it was safe at home. Qi Xin sighed as she looked around her surroundings. This was her last stronghold, and only “Satisfaction” could find her. As long as she protected her core and severed connections in time, no matter how many times her avatars were destroyed, she would still survive.

As long as the green hills were preserved, there would be no shortage of firewood. Love and Yin Ren wouldn’t stop fighting just because they couldn’t find her. The more she thought about it, the more negative she became, and the core of Lady Sorrow was almost shrinking into a skeletal ball.

Maybe she should just hide until the end—

Old Fear, Zhong Chengshuo, was immortal, focusing all his abilities on defense. Yin Ren grew in the darkness, and Love was still hatching itself. Both sides were evenly matched.

Maybe she should opt for nonviolent non-cooperation. It would be best if Love and Yin Ren annihilated each other, and then she could come out to clean up the mess.

Qi Xin decided to start praying from now on.

However, deep within the depths of “historical consciousness”, peace seemed elusive.

Qi Xin squirmed in place, suddenly feeling something poking her. It felt like being gently scratched by a cat’s claw, with such a light force that it could be easily ignored.

It must be an illusion.

Qi Xin continued to huddle in the most remote corner of the Other Side, curling up tightly.

That poking sensation appeared again. Qi Xin became increasingly annoyed. She split off an avatar and patrolled around her main body. Not long after, she discovered the culprit—

Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo stood hand in hand beside her core, looking like a pair of harbingers of death.

How can this be?! That was her second reaction.

Immediately, the idea of “main body exposure” hit her like a bucket of cold water, drenching her from head to toe. No, she couldn’t die. She couldn’t accept any mishaps.

Yin Ren was the monster she had personally brought to the Other Side, and Love was something she couldn’t comprehend. Her will to survive wasn’t that strong, but as the last Ancient Primordial Elemental, if she was eliminated, the Other Side would become a battlefield for the two monsters.

Since she couldn’t determine whom to bet her chips on, whoever posed a threat to her would be the enemy.

Qi Xin didn’t waste any words. The tightly curled skeletal ball instantly opened up, returning to its original form—

Countless dead bones intertwined with each other, forming a massive rib cage. It crawled on the ground like a mutated snake’s skeleton. Black and gray mist billowed around it, instantly shrouding the colorful Other Side in chaos.

In stark contrast to the white space of Love and Mr. Le, Qi Xin’s space was dim and gray.

Everything turned into a dark cave, and within the black mist, skeletal remains were revealed, petrified into cave walls. Things similar to stalactites supported the surroundings. When Yin Ren looked closely, he realized that they weren’t stalactites, but a tower formed by countless biological eyeballs.

Tears continuously fell from the tips, and from the depths of the cave, faint cries and sobbing could be heard.

The space of “Sorrow”.

Qi Xin’s avatar jumped up and stood at the top of the rib cage. In this eerie cave, the long snake-like skeletal cage slid silently, wriggling through different caves as if walking on level ground.

Yin Ren: “……”

He gently released Zhong Chengshuo’s hand, and the latter nodded at him.

In the next moment, the pitch-black wing clusters instantly unfolded. On the surface of the wing clusters, the red veil fluttered gracefully without any wind. Zhong Chengshuo tightly embraced the largest wing cluster under the red veil and carefully secured himself.

Qi Xin didn’t wait for Zhong Chengshuo to fasten his seatbelt. She dashed straight towards Yin Ren, with a resolute and sinister determination exposed from her old home.

This time, she didn’t hold back and used lethal moves.

Tears dripped from the stalactite-like eyeballs, and those tears were like poison. When Yin Ren came into contact with them, they instantly drained his strength. The giant rib cage formed by solidified bones grew from the cave wall and pierced Yin Ren’s body like a specimen, injecting a massive amount of sorrow.

Yin Ren awkwardly accepted the emotions.

The flames of Yin Village’s destruction, the desolation of old acquaintances buried by time, the ghost girl floating in the living room watching dramas, the intimate lover whose chest had burst.

The wing clusters were like sponges soaked with water, shedding many tears with each movement.

But Yin Ren’s actions didn’t slow down in the slightest. He quickly broke and fixed his own ribs, swallowing the broken pieces directly into his abdomen. The wing clusters on his hands quickly regenerated, with a bone-like luster on the surface.

Qi Xin nervously observed her opponent.

After recovering, the sea of wing clusters seemed to be pondering a difficult problem, continuously gathering and dispersing on its own. They were busy crawling, raising and lowering the red veil, as if trying to construct something. The most terrifying part was that the aura of that pile of wings was always well suppressed, clearly showing that there was still more power left.

Qi Xin felt a chill in her heart.

As expected, Yin Ren was still growing. For some unknown reason, he was toying with her like a cat playing with a mouse—up until now, Yin Ren hadn’t launched an attack on his own initiative.

If he truly was the cub of “Fear”, she would at least know his limits. Now facing this monster-like entity draped in a red veil, Qi Xin could only feel a deep, genuine fear.

Regardless of why the other party hadn’t made a move, she couldn’t let go of this opportunity.

Qi Xin focused her energy, causing the entire cave to writhe. The stalactite-like eyes became jagged fangs, instantly biting the black mass into several large chunks. The wing clusters trembled in pain, but they didn’t give up their efforts to crawl and stack, persistently converging in one direction.

She couldn’t let them come together!

Qi Xin clenched her teeth tightly, and then the rib cage fence repeatedly crossed the scattered wing clusters. Qi Xin attempted to consume a part of Yin Ren, but this substance was different from the flesh manipulated by Old Fear. They were too lively, and their intense energy almost burned through her body.

Even so, Qi Xin endured the pain and tore and bit, trying to separate the wing clusters further and further.

However, those wing clusters remained interconnected. They pulled strands of viscous threads, flowing like oil down the skeletal rock walls, relentlessly gathering together. The more they gathered, the larger they became, with a beautiful red veil spreading on the surface.

That red color emitted a faint glow, piercing the dim environment.

As the wing clusters gathered, the speed of the rib cage’s movement became faster and faster. Fragmentation, contamination, impact on consciousness—Qi Xin brought out all her special abilities, just to make that hint of red disappear from her territory.

But it was born again and again in the darkness, like an extinguishable ember.

[So that’s how it is.]

While Qi Xin quickly pondered her strategy, a vague consciousness intruded into her mind.

[Thank you, I’ve come to understand something again.]

Qi Xin: “…?”

Before she could react, countless wing clusters seemed to be injected with vitality, rapidly converging at an unprecedented speed. They gathered together, and the surface of the clusters fluttered with the red veil, giving them a somewhat tomb-like appearance.

Then, the shape of the tomb changed.

A blurry silhouette emerged from under the red veil, resembling a human skeleton. The red veil fluttered, and the skeletal figure knelt within the wing clusters.

Qi Xin wanted to rush over, but she was overwhelmed by the imposing presence that felt tangible, unable to approach.

Something emerged from under the red veil.

First, hands covered in black and gray scars and black fingernails. Then, four fair and beautiful arms followed. They extended from under the red veil, leading to the abyss of darkness hidden beneath it.

Under the red veil, the soft wing clusters stuck to each other were revealed. They fluttered and flapped energetically.

Zhong Chengshuo clung tightly to one of the wing clusters, silently observing everything.

‘It really resembles it,’ he thought.

Back in the Archive, Yin Ren nearly lost control and turned into a monstrous being. The current monster still retained its beauty, but there was an additional sense of strange order in its form. Only four of the previously chaotic arms remained, gracefully crossed in front of its body. The wing clusters were pitch black and lacked any luster, much larger than their translucent counterparts.

The red veil still covered the upper body of the human-like figure, concealing Yin Ren’s face.

The transformation was still ongoing.

The red veil gently undulated, forming milky-white bubbles with a faint golden hue on the surface. They were about the size of a fist, exuding a graceful translucent texture. These bubbles pierced patterns on the surface of the red veil, like pearls adorning it.

A crimson glow emanated from the darkness, and at the edge of the red veil, fourteen points of light appeared.

With the emergence of the light, various incomprehensible decorations appeared on the red veil. Some resembled spider legs or xanthium, while others looked like jellyfish adorned with insect limbs… They were small in size, entangled with each other, transforming into exquisite decorations on the red veil.

Swish, swish…

…Jingle.

Finally, what appeared on the red veil was a white substance with patterns resembling brain matter. They gathered at the “top” of the red veil, forming a huge bell with a silver luster, hanging above the humanoid figure’s chest.

Jingle, jingle.

With the movement of the humanoid figure, it emitted a wonderfully beautiful sound.

‘…That’s a truly beautiful monster,’ Zhong Chengshuo thought. It was even more beautiful than when he last saw it.

A monster that belonged to him.

“What the hell is this?!” Qi Xin kept trying to get closer, but the ongoing transformation made her feel uneasy.

Zhong Chengshuo glanced at her and couldn’t help but curl his lips.

He knew the answer.

And she would know it too.

Finally, just before Qi Xin could turn herself into Love #2, the transformation was complete.

A giant humanoid figure knelt silently before her. It was adorned with intricately decorated and mysterious red veils, with its four arms crossed, and below the waist, it transformed into scattered yet orderly clusters of pitch-black wings. It had a human-like shape, but whenever the red veil fluttered, only darkness was revealed beneath.

The imposing presence emanating from this entity was something Qi Xin had never experienced before.

She had encountered “Fear” in the past, but “Fear” never instilled such a strong sense of danger in her. Facing this entity, her perception was akin to a mouse encountering a cat; it was like humans encountering aliens.

Terrifying, dangerous, and incomprehensible.

…There was no other choice. She must escape.

Qi Xin quickly gathered herself. She had to lure this entity over to Love’s white web. Yes, that’s what she would do.

She stared intently at the quiet monster as the illusions around the cave quickly dissipated. However, just as she was about to make her move to flee, the monster slowly extended its hand—

Its two arms formed a gesture of “stop,” while the other two formed a heart shape.

Qi Xin: “…”

Did it mean to make her heart stop? But she didn’t actually have a heart.

Seeing the illusions becoming more chaotic and confused, the monster immediately adjusted its actions, changing the gesture from a heart shape to an “OK” sign.

[Wait, I have something to say!] A stronger mental message came from Yin Ren’s side, momentarily stunning Qi Xin.

She calmly assessed the situation. She wouldn’t fall for such a trick. The space in front of her twisted frantically, on the verge of turning into a vortex—

“Zhong Ge, don’t just stand there! She’s getting away—”

A human voice came from under the red veil, and Yin Ren freed one of his hands, patting the ground in urgency.

Zhong Chengshuo calmly took out the Karma Lantern.

He glanced at the wick, and in an instant, it ignited. The gentle crimson light exploded, casting a red glow on Zhong Chengshuo’s white sweater, adding a touch of warmth to his skin, flickering on his eyelashes.

Only those pitch-black eyes remained the same, as black as void. However, at this moment, those eyes were looking at Yin Ren, exuding a lively and vibrant smile.

The radiant glow, like an evening sunset, scattered all around, instantly engulfing the surrounding black and gray mist. The once colorful Other Side turned into a fervent shade of red in an instant.

Qi Xin was naturally enveloped in this overwhelming red light.

She hadn’t experienced this feeling in many years.

Every time the daylight belonging to “Satisfaction” ended, the black night of “Fear” would engulf everything. If “Satisfaction” was like a gentle warm breeze brushing against her body, the approaching “Fear” felt more like ice, freezing everything in their tracks.

That was the exclusive power of “Fear”, the most primal and dominant.

Compared to the feeling in her memories, the power Zhong Chengshuo now possessed hadn’t weakened but rather strengthened.

Indeed, Yin Ren was a bona fide monster, and “Fear” had never stepped down from its position; it had only been driven to the mortal realm…

Qi Xin felt disheartened.

Zhong Chengshuo clearly focused all his abilities on defense, yet somehow he regained this deadly power. It didn’t matter if he lacked offensive capabilities; with Yin Ren standing beside him, these two beasts could unleash havoc on the Other Side at any time.

Knowing these secrets, her chances of survival were slim.

Perhaps the annihilation of the Other Side was inevitable. Qi Xin sat despondently on top of her true self, quietly waiting for the end to come.

But right before her eyes, Yin Ren rapidly shrunk and transformed back into his human form. He looked quite exhausted and collapsed onto Zhong Chengshuo, who held him securely, with the lantern in his other hand.

“Sure enough, I guessed right.” Yin Ren had a happy expression.

“Yeah, you were amazing,” Zhong Chengshuo seemed like he wanted to applaud, but his hands were occupied. He could only lean his head sideways and rub against Yin Ren as a way of caressing him.

“Unfortunately, we were a little short.” Yin Ren’s face drooped. “This could be considered successful growth, possessing power but lacking skill… Later, I’ll go near the white web to explore. Let’s formulate a battle plan.”

Qi Xin: “…” You want to hang out before killing me?

“Don’t be too hasty. That attack just now must have depleted you,” Zhong Chengshuo whispered.

He wanted to feed on her to replenish himself, right? Qi Xin sighed inwardly.

“Oh, I’ll go hunting and exchange food with the Lonelies.” Yin Ren waved his hand. “They like hoarding food, so they’ll accept whatever is given.”

Qi Xin: “?” These two still didn’t possess a murderous aura. Amidst her desolation, a faint trace of anger emerged.

They whispered to each other for a while, and Yin Ren regained some strength. He left Zhong Chengshuo’s embrace and staggered towards Qi Xin.

“I’m sorry.” He lowered his head. “I didn’t mean to scare you—if I didn’t do that, you wouldn’t have put forth your full strength to deal with me.”

Ms. Qi, who always left herself ten thousand ways out: “…”

What kind of act is he going to put on now?

“‘Love’ has approached you, and we are aware of it. If I’m not mistaken, you’re probably still undecided, waiting for us to fight until we both suffer. Unfortunately, I don’t want to take such a risk.”

Yin Ren smiled faintly.

“Now, you should know whose side to lean towards.”

Could she still survive this?

Qi Xin forced herself to continue thinking. “Given the current situation, I’ll be direct. ‘Love’ may not necessarily be weaker than you.”

“You belong to the same category, and it happens to be in its prime in the mortal realm. The Great Celestial Master needs the cooperation of countless ghosts to seal the Evil Spirits. The body she created will surely not be inferior to an Evil Spirit… You only have the advantage of being ‘born’ earlier.”

Yin Ren remained silent.

“I’m not insinuating that your camp ‘can’t do without me’. I’m speaking the truth, and you should know,” Qi Xin added as coldly as possible.

“Do you know why we were able to find you so quickly?”

Amidst the fiery red light, Yin Ren looked up at Qi Xin on the pile of bones. He maintained his smile and evaded the question.

Qi Xin choked for a moment; she was also incredibly curious. She had finally found this secluded place after hiding for thousands of years, but she was suddenly discovered.

“It’s because I understand humans,” Yin Ren said. “Among a thousand thoughts, everyone has some impression, but they will always discard them and remember only certain things.”

For example, memories filled with pain, mundane moments, forgotten knowledge… or the history of humanity.

But the former was too fragmented and scattered to accommodate Qi Xin, the great Buddha. As for the latter, after numerous embellishments, it existed ambiguously in everyone’s mind.

That might be the most rugged and secretive part of all the “data” created by humans.

“But this place is very large.” Qi Xin pursed her lips, finding it hard to accept this explanation.

Yin Ren silently took out his phone, and as soon as it saw Qi Xin, the battery, which was originally full, quickly drained, and the phone automatically shut down.

“As long as you find the right place and detect the ‘unease’ on the scale of major Elementals, it’s not that difficult.”

Qi Xin: “…”

If only she had eaten this Dog Thing back in Gengsheng Town.

…But she had indeed been seen through by this person. All in all, she couldn’t argue that she hadn’t lost.

Qi Xin: “Stop beating around the bush and speak directly. What do you really want to express?”

Yin Ren focused his attention, and the red veil danced as the monstrous creature reappeared from within the red light. The creature extended a hand and gently took the lantern from Zhong Chengshuo, who was holding it. Then, its head turned towards Qi Xin. Although covered by the red veil, Qi Xin could still feel its intense gaze.

“I understand humans,” Yin Ren said softly.

During the incident in the Archive, in his dying moments, his body only displayed three distinct emotional states.

“Fear” was the basis of his power, “Disgust” was stirred by the illusion of Yin Village, and “Love” was for Zhong Chengshuo. In the eve of his bodily collapse, they blended with the impression of the Great Celestial Master himself, accumulating in a chaotic tumor-like mass.

So, what would happen if he consciously understood and controlled these emotions? But mere imagination wasn’t enough; the force was still too weak. He needed stronger stimulation, a more dangerous situation, to force his instincts to emerge.

Qi Xin was the most suitable choice.

Yin Ren had an intuitive confidence in the existence of this ability. Unlike the Elementals that lived off emotions, lacking understanding of the why, he had a deeper understanding of “emotions”.

After all, he was fundamentally human.

“I understand love, hate, joy, and sorrow. Satisfaction, fear, passion, sadness… even loneliness and unease, I have experienced them all, and I know what they feel like.”

“But you all are just… you.”

Qi Xin had nothing to say.

She naturally understood. The understanding of Elementals towards humans was mostly limited to the type of emotion they had experienced themselves. As for other emotions, they had simply thrown them to the Other Side to other Elementals.

But those were not human emotions. Even Zhong Chengshuo, who was the apex of the Elementals, appeared confused and clumsy in the face of human emotions.

“‘Love’ can’t become like me. But I have personally experienced what happens if ‘Love’ loses control.”

Seeing that Qi Xin remained silent, the monster beneath the red veil spoke again, with a hint of laughter in its tone.

“Miss Qi Xin… no, Sorrow, among the four major Primordial Elementals, you are the one who understands the decline of the current situation the most. You should also know that the Other Side of today can never return to the way it was before. Whether ‘Love’ is sincere or fake, the phantom she chases is destined to be unattainable.”

The colossal monster extended a hand.

“And pursuing a past that no longer exists will only lead to madness. Well, at least for humans.”

“While that may be true, you don’t care about the Other Side.” Qi Xin’s brows furrowed, a hint of hesitation in her expression, “If—”

“Yes, yes, yes, I don’t care. But finally, we’ve reached this point.”

Yin Ren tinkered with the bell hanging on his chest, and with a jingling sound, ripples spread through the red light.

“Before, you supplied goods for Sunken Society’s research, and now you can supply goods for Shian. The path is already paved.”

Qi Xin frowned. “Why do we have to—”

Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly choked and looked at Yin Ren in shock.

“I have zero interest in your Other Side, but I want to live in the human world. To live well, I need money,” Yin Ren expressed sincerely. “Shian will provide you with funding and rewards. You can hire the two of us to work on the Other Side.”

Qi Xin: “…………”

She understood that only interests were eternal, but she never expected that Yin Ren’s “interest” would be so literal and devoid of any dilution.

Qi Xin felt a headache coming on. “Is that it?”

Yin Ren’s voice became even more sincere. “Yes, that’s it.”

Qi Xin: “I’ll think about it.”

“No, I want an answer now.”

“…I’ll side with you.” Qi Xin squeezed out her response through clenched teeth.

Well, the plan hadn’t changed after all. She thought numbly.

Let’s see how far things would develop.

……

“In recent days, workers discovered a potent hallucinogenic mold in the sewers of Haigu…”

“The ‘corpse centipede’ monster witnessed by hundreds of people doesn’t actually exist. The sewers in the old city district appear to have a malfunction, with garbage entangled in clusters…”

“Our city will conduct a comprehensive inspection and maintenance of the sewer system in the near future. We ask for everyone’s cooperation…”

The voice of the host continuously drilled into his mind. Xiang Jiang raised his hand and turned off the TV directly.

Indeed, Shian had counterattacked, and in such a clumsy way. Xiang Jiang didn’t have any thoughts about it. He knew that this day would come sooner or later—Fu Xingchuan wouldn’t just sit and wait for death. No matter how ugly the tactics were, that man would shamelessly employ them.

Now, the mountain village that had ruined their family’s life had already received punishment.

But the person who caused his brother’s unjust death and transformed into a vengeful ghost was still living peacefully in the city.

That wouldn’t do.

“Hey, it’s me… Yeah, I know. I saw the news just now.”

Xiang Jiang dialed Shen Mo’s phone.

“Since the centipede is no longer useful, I’ll take care of it properly.” He lifted his clouded eyes and looked at the turned-off TV. “Don’t worry, I won’t let it rest in peace.”

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