Upon hearing these words, the people sitting or standing in the conference room were stunned, but their first glance wasn’t at Xing Conglian but at the old man with a limp leg and a urine bag.
There was no doubt that Morgan Stanley was the largest global financial services company, involved in all industries related to money. And the fact that the old man was the former CEO of Morgan Stanley indicated that he had held a prominent position in the world of finance.
The old man grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth without any modesty. “What are you looking at? That’s how I roll!”
“So, what about Captain Xing…?” someone tentatively asked as their gaze shifted to Xing Conglian with a similar intensity as if they were looking at a bank vault.
“Come on, do you really think I’m his chauffeur?” The old man was also exasperated. “With my status, how could I be his driver? After the retirement of the President of Metti, he can only be a gardener for our master. Even the Governor of Yueqiu has to wait in line to visit our home…”
The previous look of satisfaction on the face of Chairman Zhou gradually faded as he listened, finding these words increasingly bizarre and suspicious. At first glance, they seemed like nonsensical ramblings, but considering the old man’s identity, he had to play along with the act to cover for Xing Conglian. Therefore, Xing Conglian’s identity was not merely described by the simple phrase “a kid from a rich family”.
Furthermore, all these theatrics conveyed one message: Zhourui Pharmaceutical, you think you’re valuable, but we don’t really care. Therefore, the accusation of bribery is akin to a beggar accusing a wealthy person of extortion—nothing more than a joke.
Chairman Zhou clenched his teeth. The old man didn’t directly insult him, but every word felt like the ultimate humiliation.
His emotions fluctuated wildly, and his face turned from red to blue to pale. He began to ponder the causes and consequences of the entire story and where he had ultimately lost. But in the end, as he lifted his head and looked at the employees in the entire conference room, he realized that from the very beginning, he had no chance of winning.
Why did it turn out like this?
His gaze fell outside the window. The current floor they were on was relatively low, with only a narrow strip of sky visible between buildings.
Suddenly, in that moment, he seemed to have thought of something very interesting, and a trace of understanding appeared on his face.
The expression was extremely relieved, even carrying a sense of satisfaction from avenging a great enmity.
In reality, there were no winners, only a prearranged storyline.
He finally stood up slowly, with a hint of a smile appearing on his face. It was as if he had just realized that there was no one around him anymore.
In that instant, Xing Conglian keenly captured this reaction. Since entering the conference room, it was the first time he had stood up from his seat.
“Inspector Huang,” Xing Conglian called out.
Huang Ze stood against the wall and looked over.
“Please proceed with recording.” Xing Conglian paused, then addressed everyone. “I want to have a private conversation with Chairman Zhou.”
As soon as these words were spoken, within two minutes, everyone in the conference room had cleared out completely.
Xing Conglian stood by the window, with the influential figure from the pharmaceutical company approaching him slowly, dragging his heavy steps.
From the third-floor window, he could clearly see the bustling scene downstairs.
Office workers hurriedly rushed out of the subway exit, and young people ran quickly on the square, fearing they would be late for clocking in. Everything was a typical scene of a normal workday, thriving and bustling.
In just a dozen steps, the chairman seemed to have aged by over ten years.
The middle-aged man finally stood beside him, hunching his body. This figure of authority finally shed all the cunning, maliciousness, and worldliness, speaking candidly and sincerely. “I have investigated your background. You are just an ordinary detective. To target you was the best choice for me at the time.”
Xing Conglian listened to this explanation, and although he knew that people could be very bad and foolish, he still felt angry when such things kept happening.
Zhou Shi continued, “Because of the information asymmetry, I underestimated you. Captain Xing, you effortlessly dismantled our company, using various means. I, Zhou, willingly admit my defeat.”
Xing Conglian looked at the office workers rushing around downstairs, and for a brief moment, he remembered the scene from yesterday when he overlooked everything from a tall building.
At that time, Lin Chen sat beside Shen Lian, and they both made the most difficult decision of their lives.
Thinking of Lin Chen, Xing Conglian calmed down, suppressing the anger in his heart, and said to the businessman beside him, “Chairman Zhou, everyone makes mistakes.”
“Please go on.” Chairman Zhou bowed respectfully, showing his humility.
“I once witnessed a scene.” Xing Conglian turned his head, his gaze falling on the crow’s feet at the corner of the middle-aged man’s eyes. “On the road, one dog bit another dog, and the bitten dog turned around and attacked a passerby.”
A trace of chill flashed across Chairman Zhou’s face as his thoughts were struck, but he still lowered his head and said obediently, “Dogs are extremely foolish.”
“So, do you still think that I am the one who brought down your Zhourui Pharmaceutical until now?” Xing Conglian didn’t like playing games, especially not with someone like Zhou Shi. He continued, “Out of millions of compounds, the TERN miraculous substance appeared, possessing strong healing properties, while the isomer is an unheard-of poison. As the boss, please estimate how many experts and teams you would need to develop such a compound?”
“It’s hard to say. All scientific research actually involves luck.”
Xing Conglian said, “Is that so? Then, at the beginning of TERN’s development, before Shen Lian joined your company, who introduced this compound into Nao Kangning?” Xing Conglian said coldly, “How could Shen Lian alone accomplish such a massive plan? From the initial compound screening to the final production and release of the drug, it took over a decade. Over a decade ago, someone secretly planted a seed, and countless people watered it tirelessly over the years. It only fully erupted yesterday, causing your pharmaceutical empire, built through countless days and nights of hard work, to collapse overnight. But you are shortsighted, only seeing me standing here, and you fail to see the person who planted the seed over a decade ago.”
The middle-aged man suddenly looked up at him, but Xing Conglian raised his hand to stop Zhou Shi from explaining and firmly said, “Just half a minute ago, you wanted me to give up pursuing the bribery through preemptive explanations and meaningless flattery. So now, please answer me two questions. First, since you never suspected Shen Lian of wrongdoing in Nao Kangning for a long time, why did you suddenly discover yesterday that she was the mastermind? Second, within the entire administrative department, you had countless options to choose as scapegoats, so why did you solely target me? Is it a coincidence or a deliberate arrangement?”
The commercial district buzzed with voices as office workers carried their breakfast and streamed out of convenience stores. It was an ordinary morning.
Zhou Shi’s body finally completely slumped, and the intense struggle in his heart seemed about to overwhelm him.
Finally, he raised his head and looked at Xing Conglian. “I guess I am truly very foolish.”
……
Huang Ze had been standing outside the meeting room.
Although Xing Conglian instructed him to take people for interrogation, as an Inspector, it felt strange to be ordered by a subordinate like Xing Conglian.
Apart from him, the old man who had just wreaked havoc in the meeting room was also there.
To be honest, he couldn’t connect this bald, emaciated old man with the former high-flying executive of a major corporation, especially when the old man was carrying a urine bag, constantly hopping and complaining that his urine was about to leak out.
However, apart from them, the first scientist who stood up against Zhourui Pharmaceutical was also present, along with the young members of the team led by the scientist.
Li Zheng was persistently pestering the old man, constantly inquiring about the follow-up matters of the company’s acquisition.
The old man became impatient with the questioning and directly threw the urine bag at the other party’s hand. “How would I know if the acquirer is reliable? Look, I can’t even hold my urine. How could I have the capability to buy your company?”
Li Zheng became even more anxious. “What will happen during the period of turmoil? Will the production and sales of our company’s regular drugs be affected? Will many research projects be immediately interrupted?”
“It’s hard to say. The duration of the acquisition can range from weeks to a year. Moreover, the upper management of your company is deeply involved in a criminal case, so trading will be halted tomorrow. The best choice, of course, is to wait until the stock price plummets after trading resumes and then make the acquisition.” The old man twirled his mustache and glared. “Do you know how much it costs to consult someone like me for a similar question?”
“But I really don’t have that much money.” Li Zheng held the old man’s urine bag with great sincerity. “But I must ask you this question, and I implore you to answer it. It not only involves my research project but, more importantly, I cannot become a criminal. As you mentioned just now, in addition to vaccines, our company also produces some rare medicines with extremely low profits. Only we have the capability to produce them. If our company really falls into turmoil, there may be serious problems with the supply of certain drugs and even vaccines. It could lead to situations where patients suddenly fall ill and are unable to receive medication, which is a societal issue that affects everyone.”
Li Zheng earnestly pleaded.
“What exactly do you want?” The old man snatched his urine bag back and turned to leave.
Li Zheng said firmly, “Can you use your resources to buy our company in the shortest possible time?”
The old man was surprised to hear this, and Huang Ze frowned while looking at Li Zheng.
Just then, the doors of the meeting room were pushed open, and sunlight poured in like water.
Xing Conglian stood in the doorway; it was unclear how long he had been standing behind the door.
The old man seemed to have not noticed that the chairman of the pharmaceutical company was standing behind Xing Conglian. He pointed at Li Zheng and spoke to Xing Conglian as if no one else was present. “Are all the researchers sick? They have no understanding of economics. He actually asked me to buy Zhourui at the fastest speed?”
“Can you do it?”
To Huang Ze’s surprise, he heard Xing Conglian ask such a question.
“Of course I can…” The old man began, but suddenly he stared at Xing Conglian. “Are you crazy?”
Just then, Xing Conglian’s phone rang. He answered the call and hung up. His tense expression suddenly relaxed, and a relieved look, as if everything was destined, appeared on his face.
Huang Ze knew that Lin Chen had probably woken up.
“Take action.”
Xing Conglian raised his head and uttered those words with a determined gaze.
Wang Chao, who had been sitting on the ground playing with his laptop, suddenly stood up, causing the laptop to fall to the ground. “Fuck me Boss!”
The young people looked at Xing Conglian in confusion, not understanding why things had suddenly taken this turn.
And at that moment, Huang Ze seemed to see the figure of Lin Chen overlapping with Xing Conglian.
It was only then that Huang Ze realized how much Xing Conglian resembled Lin Chen.
Xing Conglian looked at the old man with a determined gaze, making it imperative for him to answer.
“How many senior executives change jobs every year and get accused by their previous employers under various pretexts? Look into the name ‘Liu Chunning*’.” The old man, holding the urinary bag, smiled ambiguously at the guilt-ridden executives from Zhourui. “The most likely scenario is that these naive kids have been squeezed. They probably have some shares of Zhourui themselves. If the company goes bankrupt and they end up in jail, they might as well come forward now to protect the company. Who knows, the chairman might have promised to take care of their wives and children and give them more money every year. That’s how it goes when it comes to taking the blame.”
*Alibaba’s vice president who was arrested for bribery and corruption.
No one had expected Xing Conglian to publicly expose this hidden truth, let alone the fact that this “bum-like old man” he brought along would be able to point it out and dare to do so.
“How should it be resolved then?” Xing Conglian asked.
“It’s simple.” The old man’s gaze suddenly became shrewd and sharp. “You can tell them that even if they take the blame, the company may not necessarily be saved. When disaster strikes, it’s every man for himself.”
“I’m afraid that reasoning won’t convince them,” Xing Conglian said. “Behind pharmaceutical companies are complex financial conglomerates, and the days of rebels are probably not going to be easy.”
The old man took two steps forward and stood facing Xing Conglian, and he replied, “That makes it even simpler…”
He dragged out his tone, and in an instant, all the high-ranking executives who were prepared to take the blame turned to look at the old man, instinctively awaiting his answer.
“The highest bidder wins,” the old man casually said, as if he were casually buying a pastry.
Everyone in the conference room was dumbfounded, as if they had heard the most nonsensical plot twist.
The first one to burst into laughter was the chairman of Zhourui Pharmaceutical.
He took off his glasses, lowered his head, and smiled helplessly. “With such a mess, if you want to buy it, we can discuss the price.”
“Who wants to buy your pathetic company?” The old man hunched over, limping his way to the chairman, and seemed to be pointing out the way forward. “But just because I don’t want to buy it doesn’t mean no one is interested in it.”
Before the chairman could speak again, the old man affectionately patted his head, which was shiny with hair gel, and said, “You’re promising them a possibility for the future, but not the greatest possibility. In a sense, you’re deceiving them.”
The old man snapped his fingers and said directly, “Comrade Xiao Wang, show these uncles the case of the hostile acquisition* of Anlijie Pharmaceutical by Canadian pharmaceutical company Wali.”
*Also known as a hostile takeover, it is when a company (the acquirer) takes control of another company (the target) without the approval or consent of the target company’s board of directors. This is usually done when the acquirer goes directly to the shareholders or fights to get management replaced to get their acquisition approve.
Since the old man entered the room, Wang Chao seemed to have figured something out. He had been making gestures at his boss for a while, but Xing Conglian remained inscrutable, giving him no hints. When he heard the old man’s request, he looked at Xing Conglian with surprise, and then, as if he had been prepared all along, he clicked on the document on the desktop, and a well-detailed acquisition process appeared on the large screen.
Except for the research and development personnel, everyone in the room had some understanding of business acquisitions, so they had no trouble following along. The executives’ gazes became evasive and no longer as resolute as before.
“In fact, it’s very difficult for your company to survive.” The old man stood with his hands behind his back and said, “When I was taking a dump, I read some news about your company. In early September of this year, you initiated the acquisition of Li Nanquan Pharmaceutical. On September 7th and 8th, you acquired 19.5% of Li Nanquan’s shares through secondary market transactions.”
The old man paused, and as soon as he mentioned the acquisition, everyone became tense. The old man comforted them. “Don’t be too nervous, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a normal hostile takeover. With an additional 0.6%, your company will become the largest shareholder of Li Nanquan Pharmaceutical. But the problem is, isn’t your company already in big trouble? Li Nanquan could easily adopt the common poison pill defense plan* in the industry to counter the acquisition. Then your company, not only invested a significant amount of money in a doomed acquisition but also faced the dilemma of a major criminal case, along with issues such as bank loans coming due. With multiple pressures, things will be miserable. Oh, wouldn’t you end up bankrupt and undergo restructuring? In that case, the big shots in the capital market will definitely step in to acquire Zhourui. If you were the boss, what would you do?” The old man walked and talked, and finally casually patted the shoulder of a high-ranking Zhourui executive who was ready to take the blame, whispering to him, “You’ll be the one to go to jail for him, and he’ll sell the company and run away. If he’s kind-hearted, he might fulfill the promises he made to you. But if it were me… You’ve already admitted guilt, so what does it have to do with me?”
*A defense tactic also known as the shareholder rights plan. It allows existing shareholders to buy newly issued stocks at a discount if one shareholder has bought more than a stipulated percentage of stock, resulting in dilution of the ownership interest of the acquiring company (hostile company trying to take over). Usually, the buyer who triggered the defense is excused from the discount. This basically aims to make the company a less attractive target (thus why it’s called a poison pill). You can learn more about hostile takeovers here.
The impeccably dressed industry elite trembled.
Although the old man intentionally lowered his voice, in the completely silent conference room, his voice, filled with sarcasm and amusement, was enough to deeply shake people’s hearts.
He implied that the high-ranking executives of Zhourui would definitely refuse to take responsibility and face protests.
“With such a big mess caused by our company, who would be willing to take it over? Won’t bankruptcy be the only way out?” someone asked, feigning concern.
“Zhourui is indeed in a mess, and in a sense, you’ve made a mess of it. But is that really the case?” The old man spoke as if listing cherished treasures. “Zhourui is not only the largest pharmaceutical company in the country, but also one of the world’s largest producers of vaccines and blood products. The R&D institutions under Zhourui have more than 30 patents for the production processes of various major disease vaccines. The sales revenue from vaccines and blood products accounts for 39% and 29% of the total pharmaceutical sales business, respectively. This means that even if your pharmaceutical department is completely ruined, the profits from the vaccine and blood product departments alone would be enticing enough.” The old man sighed. “Such a good company. If I had some money, I’d really like to dismantle it and swallow the most valuable parts.”
The old man dragged out his sigh for a long time and made chewing sounds with his mouth wide open.
The comical sound echoed in the silent conference room, and everyone continued to contemplate the seemingly random words of the old man.
Before long, it was evident from their gazes that the Zhourui employees who were prepared to take the blame were now seriously wavering in their thoughts. They just needed some assurance, and they would change their minds.
At this moment, a female researcher sitting with crossed legs in the sunlight shook her long wavy hair and asked the question that concerned everyone the most. “Even if they choose to cooperate with the police and avoid punishment, and we end up being acquired, they will still be treated as expendable. But if they take the blame for the chairman now, they can immediately receive a large sum of money. How can we say that the former choice is necessarily better than the latter?”
“You must be a research scientist to have such a lack of understanding of finance, little sister.” The old man laughed out loud and didn’t answer Feng Zhenzhen’s question.
Feng Zhenzhen widened her eyes and almost wanted to argue with this old man who was teasing them.
Seeing this, Xing Conglian intervened and spoke up.
“Thank you,” Xing Conglian said.
The old man was delighted to hear the word “thank you”. He pretended to bow to Xing Conglian and even made a gesture of removing hair.
The production supervisor withdrew his gaze from the screen, swallowed hard, and made a determined decision as he walked up to the old man, bowing and asking, “Are you suggesting that our company will ultimately be acquired by a more powerful party, and they will choose to directly acquire our shares or terminate our positions, and at that time, we will receive a severance package. So the best choice is to cooperate with the police?”
“Why are you asking me? How should I know?” The old man widened his eyes and looked at the young production supervisor as if he were looking at a lunatic. “In life, who can guarantee anything for you? It all depends on whether you have the courage to take risks.”
The production supervisor nodded at the old man and then turned to bow to Chairman Zhou, saying solemnly, “Chairman, thank you for your years of cultivation.”
After saying that, he walked toward the empty seat in the sunlight.
His posture was so upright, as if he had never been so dignified in all these years.
Just like the most classic domino effect, as the production supervisor took the 11th seat, there was suddenly a clattering sound in the meeting room—the sound of chair legs rubbing against the floor.
The employees who had been observing from their seats realized the gravity of the situation as the old man exposed the truth. They immediately rushed out of their seats like hungry wolves, trying to occupy the remaining nine vacant seats. Even the previously unmoving top executives of Zhourui Pharmaceuticals shifted in their seats, as if having different thoughts.
However, the seats were instantly taken.
The employees who missed the last opportunity looked as if they had lost their souls, standing in the vacant space in front of Xing Conglian, not knowing what to do.
“Captain Xing, can you give us another chance?”
“We are willing to testify.”
Similar pleas kept ringing out, and in that instant, the once unshakable alliance of Zhourui Pharmaceutical turned into scattered dust under the sunlight.
However, Xing Conglian remained unmoved. He looked through the gaps in the crowd and locked eyes with Chairman Zhou.
Chairman Zhou stared back at him expressionlessly, but then he suddenly let out a cold laugh and raised his hands, applauding sarcastically.
“Captain Xing, you came prepared,” he exclaimed loudly. “I now understand that what Captain Xing is interested in is not the case itself but our Zhourui Pharmaceutical!”
Upon hearing this, Wang Chao was stunned. He had encountered ruthless businessmen before, but he had never seen someone so malicious and unrepentant.
Comrade Xiao Wang’s anger surged, possibly influenced by Zhourui Pharmaceuticals’ habit of banging the table. He also stood up and cursed, “Damn, what did you just say? Watch your language!”
“Getting all worked up because you’ve been exposed; there’s no need for such embarrassment,” the Chairman sneered.
“There’s something I must say, even though it’s vulgar. First, you accused our boss of bribery, and now you’re accusing our boss of investigating your company to sabotage it for an acquisition. Even a clay figure has three points of anger. If you continue to be so shameless, we… I’ll!” Wang Chao paused abruptly as he realized that he couldn’t say, “I’ll just arrest you and beat you up.” It was inappropriate due to his public position. Comrade Xiao Wang pursed his lips, searching for the right words but finding none that sounded quite right. In the end, he could only mutter, “Damn it, if A’Chen Gege were here…”
“Indeed, it seems that law enforcement agencies don’t allow people to speak the truth anymore.” Seizing this opportunity, Chairman Zhou continued his counterattack. “Captain Xing, you casually travel in luxury cars, and your driver used to be the former CEO of Morgan Stanley*. If that’s not coming prepared, then what is?”
*An American multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered at 1585 Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. With offices in 41 countries and more than 75,000 employees, the firm’s clients include corporations, governments, institutions, and individuals. Morgan Stanley ranked No. 61 in the 2021 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.
Nol concentrated and carefully selected “No” with utmost care. He had a premonition that if he let Teest know, the guy would definitely laugh out loud.
He no longer appreciated the deliciousness of breakfast and ate distractedly.
After the meal, Nol asked Mrs. Petty for a leather cord. He wore the wedding ring given to him by the system on his chest, hidden deep in the fabric. Neither he nor Teest had put it on their ring fingers. Teest’s ring had always been in that little pouch, never seeing the light of day.
Ever since returning to the novice village, apart from occasionally jokingly calling him “honey”, Teest never mentioned the farcical marriage. At this moment, Teest was in the backyard, milking Mrs. Petty’s ewes.
This sheep’s milk would be sold to the village bakery, where it would be turned into delicious cheeses, pastries, and candies.
Nol leaned against the window, looking at the scenes within the novice village, his eyes as soft as a wanderer returning home.
The village was lush and green, with chirping birds. The roads were soft and muddy, lined with wildflowers, with no muddy feel. Farmers carried hoes, merchants drove carts, adults busied themselves with daily life, while children played carefree.
Some villagers passed by the window, always slowing down to nod kindly to Nol, even though they had never seen him.
Everyone had a satisfied smile, giving an almost unreal sense of perfection.
He created the village, and now he was a part of it.
Nol knew the location of every tall tree in the village, just as he knew there was a bakery 200 steps from Mrs. Petty’s house. At the end of the road in front of her house was the village’s only tavern. The tavern’s proprietress liked to wear bright orange-yellow, and her husband always wore a silk tie, trying to imitate the gentlemen of the big city.
Unfortunately, there was no bread for breakfast, Nol thought. The honey bread in the novice village was delicious. They had designed it meticulously so.
……
Not long after breakfast, Bly came with two bottles of wine, seemingly afraid that Teest would run away. Teest wasn’t surprised by Bly’s attitude and made one request—
“I want to bring him.” He pointed to Nol.
“That’s fine. Barto probably won’t mind the NPC,” Bly responded readily.
Nol was a bit puzzled by the abrupt statement. Not until they walked into the tavern at the end of the road and saw Barto by the table.
She was a very beautiful girl. The interior of the tavern wasn’t large, and she shone brightly, drawing the eyes of nearly half of the patrons.
She had curled golden hair, a proud figure, and delicate features, especially those clear, green eyes, which stirred a desire to protect.
It was just Barto was dressed sloppily and clearly in a bad mood—with her head slightly lowered, a gloomy expression, and her beer glass already empty.
“Brother, I brought someone.” Bly greeted her.
Barto rolled her eyes. “Why did you bring two?”
Bly was indifferent to her attitude and sat down next to Barto. “The other is an NPC. Teest took on a quest.”
“Oh.” Barto glanced at Nol with little interest and quickly looked away.
“I heard from Bly that you guys are planning to leave today,” Teest said with a smile.
Barto let out a dry laugh, fidgeting with the gold earring on her left ear. “Yeah, it’s not good to always stay in the novice village. Anyway, I’m getting used to this body now.”
Nol’s face remained calm, but he took a deep breath inside—apparently, his recent suspicions about Teest were justified. It seemed that Barto was a male player using a female avatar.
He took the opportunity to survey the tavern but didn’t see the orange-yellow proprietress and her bow-tied husband. So he just looked away, pretending to be invisible.
Once the conversation started, the three players chatted casually. Nol noticed that when more people were present, Teest spoke less. This didn’t make him seem introverted; he still appeared cheerful, just spending more time listening.
Like right now.
“…Damn it, there’s no hope for rescue now.”
Barto drank her second glass of wine, sounding quite annoyed.
“Remember those guys who quit the game? I went to the forest yesterday, and they all came out of the giant view. This doesn’t seem like a successful exit. If they really did leave, it’s been so long, there should have been official news by now.”
She sighed deeply, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol.
Bly patted her shoulder. “Let’s think positively. At least we’re immortal here. Death just means a decrease in levels… Just hang in there and don’t actively quit.”
“It’s easy for you to say. It’s not that it won’t hurt just because we won’t die. Yesterday, you were scalded by the pot and screamed for a good five minutes.”
“I suggest you find a safe place to stay. It might be safer,” Teest said after taking a sip of his iced fruit vinegar.
Barto, slightly drunk, slammed the table and shouted, “Safe? What the hell do you know about safety? I, hic, can only join a big guild, the kind others can’t mess with. I have to…”
She didn’t finish her sentence and passed out, her head hitting the table.
Bly looked conflicted.
“I’ll give him a detoxifying herb later,” he said with a forced smile, looking at the unconscious Barto. “We’re leaving anyway, so let me explain. Boss, Barto really didn’t mean anything against you.”
Teest just sipped his iced fruit vinegar without replying.
Bly took a deep breath and continued, “You’ve been soloing*, so you might not know. Despite his appearance now, Barto was the strongest and most troublesome among the three of us when we first started playing. He would mess around quite a bit when we first entered the game.”
*See author’s note.
“He would flirt with other guys, saying something like ‘let the brothers have some fun’. He also used this avatar to prank—or rather, harass—actual female players. Then, in a few days, strange incidents like ‘death after quitting’ happened, and the ‘intimate contact protection’ and ‘pain protection’ mechanisms failed.”
Nol slowed his cheese cutting, taking this new information seriously.
“Pain protection” was self-explanatory, and “intimate contact protection” was one of the most critical mechanisms in “Tahe”.
It strictly prohibited any intimate contact beyond friendship for underage players or underage characters. Adult players also had the clear right to refuse—if one party was unwilling to continue, they could stop the interaction and physically push the other party away.
The malfunction of “intimate contact protection” was a significant safety incident that the game operators couldn’t ignore.
Every time he guessed that “this isn’t a game”, the game system would intervene. But when he believed that “this is just a game”, unexplained incidents increased.
At the wooden table, Bly continued to talk—
“After knowing we couldn’t leave, some, well, started treating him like a woman. One night, a jerk sneaked into our house, and he…”
Bly’s round face scrunched up.
“Anyway, that guy didn’t succeed. Barto killed him on the spot, and he lost a level. As a result, that guy made a fuss everywhere, saying ‘it doesn’t matter since we’re all guys’, demanding public justice. Afterwards, Barto started showing signs of, um, PTSD.”
“Guilds that only recruit female players don’t want him either. To be honest, I can totally understand those girls. Latus thought he was making a big deal out of it and causing problems, so they had a big fight, and then Latus left first… Even though Barto is a bit uncouth, we’ve known each other for so many years, so I can’t just leave him alone.”
“So that’s what happened.” Teest took a bite of the roasted flatbread, making his voice muffled.
“That’s the story. I apologize on his behalf. Don’t take it to heart.” Bly raised his cup, looking a bit brighter.
“Let’s get to the point—actually, I’m still in contact with Latus. He recently joined the Temple of Life. Over there, in the big cities, they provide food and accommodation, and there are elite Players to help level up. Even if Players don’t want to join, the Temple will offer help for free. Brother, if you run into trouble in the future, you can try reaching out to them.”
“I’ll consider it.” Teest nodded politely.
“We’re heading to the capital of Gemino. It’ll probably take half a month.” Bly reverted to a casual tone. “What about you? Any plans?”
Teest didn’t answer, turning his gaze to Nol.
“We’re heading south. I want to go back to my hometown,” Nol answered quickly.
In fact, before being cursed, he had several “hometowns” in mind, ready to fabricate as needed. But to solve the problem of the marriage contract along the way, he only has one option left—
The southern alliance country of Shidina.
…If it was still called the Shidina Alliance.
“So, I need to go to the south,” Teest continued.
“Alright, I hope we meet again. It would be even better if we could meet in person outside the game,” Bly said with a hint of melancholy.
“Hope to see you again.”
Teest took out six gold wheels from his waist pouch and pushed them in front of Bly.
Bly was taken aback, quickly waving his hands. “Come on, brother, you don’t have to!”
“Consider it a farewell gift.” Teest smiled. “Wishing you a smooth journey.”
……
After eating the detoxifying herb, Barto sobered up almost immediately. Bly and Barto sat on a merchant’s open carriage and drove into the boundless grassland. The carriage was like a small boat in a green sea, gradually disappearing from view as it moved over the rolling hills.
“Let’s go back. I need to cook meat soup for Mrs. Petty.” Teest stretched lazily, still smelling of lamb chops and fruit drinks.
Nol softly hummed in agreement.
With the intelligence from the Players, not only were his doubts not dispelled, but more questions accumulated in his heart.
With this inexplicable Temple of Life focusing on Players, Nol decided not to reveal his identity for the time being—after all, the Players had no way of leaving here. Fortunately, as long as they didn’t log out of the game, they wouldn’t truly “die”. Their need for information wasn’t urgent.
However, his monster neighbors weren’t like the Players. They didn’t have immortal bodies.
‘I should prioritize rescuing the neighbors,’ Nol thought.
“I want to stay here for a few more days,” Teest said, his silvery hair shimmering in the sunlight. “The air is so fresh, and the sheep’s milk is delicious.”
Nol was succinct. “I hope we can leave as soon as possible.”
“Alright, tomorrow? The day after? Anyway, not today. I need to let Mrs. Petty know in advance.”
In fact, Nol liked it here very much. The “novice village” instinctively made him feel safe. If it wasn’t crucial to find his compatriots, he wouldn’t mind staying here with Teest for a month or two.
And indeed, the sheep’s milk was delicious, he thought. Even if the attached skill was a bit odd, he wanted to taste it again.
Sadly, this little wish didn’t come true.
That night at midnight.
Teest curled up, leaning against the wall, sleeping quietly on the straw. As an undead, Nol didn’t need sleep. He played with the Dragon Corpse Notebook, trying to find a loophole in the curse.
[All players have left the novice village.]
The system’s sweet voice suddenly echoed.
[The novice village is about to close. Warning, the novice village is about to close.]
The author has something to say:
Hehe（?
On second thought, these two might be the most unfortunate protagonists I’ve started with _(:з」∠)_
————————————
Note: Solo Players refers to those who prefer to play alone in multiplayer games. I feel such people are either socially anxious or experts, or socially anxious experts (…).
Kinky Thoughts:
Note: In cases like Barto, where the avatar is female while the real player is male, I’ll use the corresponding gender based on what is being referenced. In this case, Barto will be female, but when speaking about him, she’ll be male.
Teest moved to the edge of the steps, fishing out a long sword from the stagnant water.
Its hilt was roughly wrapped in a gray cloth strip stained with old blood. Apart from that, there were no decorations or inscriptions on the sword. The blade was grayish, covered in scratches, and small notches were visible on its edge, looking very much like a cheap weapon no one wanted in the marketplace.
But Nol could recognize it.
[Betrayer: It’s automatically bound upon pickup. The owner will change their profession to the special profession: “Fallen Knight”. The weapon can switch between two custom forms, and its attributes grow with the owner’s level.
※ First clear special reward. Only usable by knights; not tradable.]
“Attributes growth” sounded impressive, but it was merely to ensure that players didn’t abandon this signature weapon as they level up. Assuming the top-tier weapon for each level range was scored at 100 points, the “Betrayer” was probably rated around 90. It was certainly exceptional, but there was a gap compared to the truly top-tier items.
Its real advantage was the ability to “switch between two forms”. The element of surprise when changing weapons during a battle could be easily imagined.
From its appearance to its characteristics, it was full of deception and disguise. This was the origin of the name “Betrayer”.
“I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I just wanted to clean it up first,” Teest explained, seeing Nol’s prolonged silence.
He didn’t need to explain. Nol nodded, showing he didn’t mind. As long as the “special team” effect was active, they couldn’t harm each other.
“It can switch between two forms.” Teest swung the sword and added, “I like how it looks. The more harmless a weapon appears, the better.”
“What do you want as the second form besides a long sword?” Nol asked.
A long sword was a balanced choice; the second form would ideally be a “greatsword” or a “spear.” The former was all about overpowering with weight, while the latter could confuse the enemy’s perception of “combat distance”.
“I’ve chosen,” Teest said as the long sword vanished like a phantom. He raised his hand to show his partner the other form of the “Betrayer”—
A plain-looking small hunting knife; the blade was only as long as a palm.
Nol’s lips twitched.
Such a small knife could hardly be considered a weapon. It was too short and only suitable for skinning, cutting meat, chopping twigs, or slicing vines. Using it for the “Betrayer’s” attributes seemed like a cruel waste.
He didn’t quite get Teest’s gaming style. The guy was always scheming in battles but seemed even more relaxed than casual gamers at other times.
“My hunting knife always goes dull after skinning a few times.” Teest caressed the “Betrayer” fondly, even trying it on his waist.
“Look, it suits me so well,” he said with a smile.
Nol didn’t have the time to respond. He was busy sorting through the loot. After regaining his physical form, his senses were much sharper. It was damp and cold here, and he was extremely fatigued, only having a moldy curtain covering him. The lower part of the curtain was soaked and felt heavy.
Fortunately, the rest of the loot wasn’t hard to find. They were on the storage shelves near the throne.
He discovered a pot full of gold coins in a delicate ceramic jar, enough for them to spend lavishly for several years. Beside the jar was a box containing a few ancient pieces of jewelry. The blood-red gems shimmered against the gold, untouched by the passage of time.
Teest grabbed the “Betrayer” and quickly turned a darker-colored curtain into a bag—this pitiable person abandoned by “God” apparently couldn’t deposit the money into the system. Weighing the heavy gold, Teest’s expression was somewhere between happy and troubled.
Nol didn’t stop his search. As a high-level hidden dungeon, the rewards couldn’t be just money.
Sure enough, opening the armor closest to the throne, he found a notebook.
The notebook, roughly the size of a B5, was about five centimeters thick. Its pages were thick and yellowed with age, with a cover decorated with hard black scales. The corners of the notebook were wrapped in a dull silver metal, while the spine was embedded with a milky-white gem.
The environment was damp, causing the pages to warp slightly, exuding the unique bitter scent of old books.
[Lich Valdorlock’s Research Notes: An ancient dragon-skin notebook, a precious legacy of the Dark Age. Lich Valdorlock claimed it and used a secret script to record his lifelong knowledge. This item is only to be turned in to the Temple of Life, where the contributor’s intelligence attribute will permanently increase by 10%.
※First clear special reward. Only for holy professions.]
“Why is a lich’s thing restricted to a holy profession?” Teest was a bit dissatisfied. They, being a Lich and a Fallen Knight, seemed to be the antithesis of holiness.
Maybe they should sell it.
As Teest pondered, he saw Nol place the notebook on the throne and conjure a fireball.
“…Why?!”
“Shh,” Nol said. “Just watch.”
In the flames, the notebook remained unscathed, with only faint black smoke coming out. Once the flames died down, Nol flipped through it—the pages were clean, with not a single word left.
“The writings have been burned off.” Nol closed the notebook with satisfaction.
The notebook, made of dragon scale, dragon tooth, and dragon-skin paper, had edges inlaid with incredibly expensive ancient silver. The real value was the notebook itself. To him, the Lich’s lifelong knowledge was as worthless as the wrapper of a chocolate bar.
He decided to keep it, not wanting to give it to that so-called Temple of Life.
Teest silently looked at the notebook—
[Dragon Corpse Notebook: A blank dragon-skin notebook, a precious relic of the Dark Age, made by an unknown craftsman. It has many uses. Please try them out at your leisure. Remember, do not let dragons see it.]
“I need this notebook. All the money is yours.” Nol held the notebook close. “Actually, that’s not enough. I’ll think of a way to compensate you further.”
“I don’t mind. What do you plan to do with it?” Teest asked out of curiosity.
“I haven’t decided.”
“……”
The two chatted sporadically as they headed for the exit—a bright white halo appeared in the center of the main hall, swaying gently like the shadow of the moon in a pool.
Before leaving, Teest paused, looking in the direction where the Lich had disappeared.
“What’s wrong?”
“It worshiped its master crazily,” Teest mused. “Yet it didn’t even know its master’s name. It’s a bit sad, isn’t it?”
“…Perhaps.”
‘It’s not the Lich’s fault,’ Nol thought. For the sake of simplification, these underground palaces were all owned by “nameless kings in the era of turmoil”.
From the beginning, he never gave the Lich’s master a name. How could the Lich remember something that didn’t exist?
……
The mountain road was as challenging as ever. By the time they reached Three Forks Road Village, it was already two days later.
The small mountain village lay quietly in the mountains, surrounded by a clear blue sky and lush green meadows. The weather was perfect, and the wind carried the scent of grass and sunshine, relaxing anyone nearby.
“Big brother*! You’re finally back!” As soon as Teest stepped into the village, a bullet-like shadow rushed at him.
*[Da Ge] (大哥) Term used to address an older male or someone with higher status or seniority. Depending on context, it could also refer to a gang leader or the boss of a group.
It was a chubby cute teenager with round brown eyes and a mop-like head of hair.
He also wore a gold earring in his left ear, another Player.
“Good afternoon, Bly.” Teest dodged the flying teenager, who almost landed face-first.
Bly stood firm, cursing under his breath. He quickly noticed Nol and his gaze immediately focused on his left ear.
“Why did you bring an NPC back? There are NPCs out in the wilderness?” he exclaimed in astonishment. “Damn, this guy is handsome. His quest must be rare.”
“He’s right here. Don’t be so blunt,” Teest said.
“They don’t care,” Bly responded with a cheeky smile. “They only care about their own quests.”
Teest shrugged, deftly changing the subject. “Where’s Barto?”
“He’s on a quest at the blacksmith’s. We have to find some way to make a living,” Bly said. “Actually, we both thought about leaving… Seriously, you won’t come with us?”
“You guys are close. It’d be awkward with a stranger around. Besides, I have other places to go,” Teest replied, avoiding mentioning the curse on him.
“But you’re an expert!” Bly whined. “If Barto didn’t want to join the guild, I’d definitely choose to cling to you. Boss, at least add me as a friend.”
Teest just laughed. “My friend list is full. I’ll add you first when there’s a chance… Let’s not talk about this for now. I need to find some clothes for our friend here.”
“We’re leaving tomorrow. At least let’s have a meal together,” Bly said with a dejected look.
“Sure.”
This Bly seemed like a “normal Player” in Nol’s impression, making him somewhat touched. Another Player would arrive tomorrow, perhaps offering a chance for help.
“By the way, the Temple of Life has been searching for Players like us. They offer quite a good deal,” Bly shouted from behind. “Let’s discuss it in detail at tomorrow’s meal!”
Nol immediately shelved the idea of seeking help.
The Temple of Life is searching for Players? What does that mean?
It wasn’t until Teest handed him a set of clothes that Nol snapped back to reality. He found himself in a small log cabin. The walls were made of logs, with a few wooden stools stacked against them. The floor was covered with gray pebbles, and two wooden buckets full of clean water sat nearby, with a cloth next to them for convenience.
“Before changing, we should probably wipe ourselves down.” Teest pointed at the buckets. “There’s no hot water here, but I guess a ‘Lich’ won’t catch a cold.”
Teest also held a stack of clean clothes. He put them down and began to strip, wringing out the wet cloth.
His movements were natural and relaxed, showing no awkwardness. Now, Nol was certain, this guy must also be male in real life.
Teest’s body was well-proportioned, befitting the “Knight” class. But he had no scars, unlike real warriors. However, his clothes usually hid his physique, making him look less like a combatant.
Nol averted his gaze, and the two sat on separate stools, back-to-back, cleaning themselves.
“That guy just now is Bly. He came here with Barto and Latus. They were roommates before, very close,”
Teest chatted as they washed themselves.
“Latus is the strongest and left with a large team some time ago. Bly and Barto stayed here, perhaps because they’re too young and not mentally prepared yet,”
Nol: “……”
Sorry, Bly. This “NPC” not only understands you but knows the jokes you’re making—Lettuce, butter, and bread, right? Just missing a slice of ham*.
*Clarity: The joke here is their names. Bly (布莱) (bread/rye), Barto (巴托) (butter), Latus (拉图斯) (lettuce). See author’s notes.
But he didn’t miss the point. “Mentally prepared?”
Teest wrung out the water from his long hair. “Yeah, everyone faced an unexpected situation—no one can contact the outside world or go home.”
Hopefully, it wasn’t the rumored “disappearing logout button”. Nol held back his questions and silently dressed.
“Anyway, they all left this place, hoping to try their luck elsewhere,” Teest commented. “You know, that outfit suits you.”
Nol had discarded the curtain robe he had worn before. Now, he wore a dark gray linen tunic and trousers similar to Teest’s, and though the boots on his feet were worn, they were clean and odorless.
The realism of this mundane life was so strong that Nol almost forgot he was a “monster”.
Teest quickly changed into his clothes. His outfit was similar to before, except that the small hunting knife around his waist had quietly been replaced with the “Betrayer”.
“Given the troubles, it would be better to be with others, right?” Nol adjusted the creases of his clothes. “Yet, you stayed till the end.”
“There are downsides to having too many people around.” Teest smiled without continuing the topic.
That night, the two stayed at the farmhouse.
The owner of the farmhouse was Mrs. Petty, a tall and sturdy shepherdess. She had bright red hair and a striking hawkish nose, with freckles all over her face, which was always taut. It was rumored her husband was away doing business, leaving her and their young son—who was still in swaddling clothes and couldn’t speak yet.
Her house was quite spacious, with many chores to do. Teest helped Mrs. Petty chop wood, cook, milk, and slaughter sheep. In exchange, she provided him with a permanent place to stay.
Teest’s room was an empty space covered with straw, which was dry and soft to lie on. Seeing Teest bring someone else, Mrs. Petty just nodded without saying much.
“She might look fierce, but she’s actually nice,” Teest said before sleeping. “In the morning, there’s sheep’s milk, eggs, and smoked meat. As long as I cook well, she never minds how much I use.”
He was right. The next morning, their plates were piled with fried eggs and smoked meat, and a big pot of hot sheep’s milk with sugar was placed on the table. Mrs. Petty took her portion and went back to her room, usually eating beside her baby.
The fried eggs were soft and white, with the yolk perfectly solidified. The smoked meat, sprinkled with spices, had slightly charred edges, giving off an aromatic scent. Nol poured himself a glass of sheep’s milk, feeling overwhelmed.
For the past few days, he had been busy controlling his glowing eyes, and Teest’s beef jerky was awfully hard, leaving no appetite. Anyway, a Lich wouldn’t die if they didn’t eat, so Nol didn’t eat at all. After his previous life as a will-o’-wisp, he had almost forgotten the joy of eating.
Having a physical body was wonderful. He hadn’t tasted such delicious food in a long time.
Unfortunately, this good mood didn’t last long—
As Nol forked a piece of fried egg, chewed it slowly, and took a sip of the rich and sweet sheep’s milk, a system notification popped up in front of him.
[Heretical Devour [Beginner] has been activated. Successfully acquired the following skills—]
[Crowing: Passive skill. The user can sense sunrise and scream in the early morning.]
[Milk Production: After using, the user will quickly produce 200 mL of milk.]
[Do you want to save the above skills? [Saved skills: 0/3]]
Nol stared at the notification blankly as his fork clattered onto the table.
The author has something to say:
Certain skills are better left unlearned. If these are learned, this novel can’t be posted on JJ…
Nol: This can be added to the top 3 terrifying events since my transmigration.
————
Note: This is a roommate’s game joke, from the internet; the keyword is “bread knight”.
And the “disappearing logout button” is a nod to SAO (Sword Art Online).
The seminar had finally reached a crucial point. Xing Conglian found it hard to sit up straight and looked at Xiao Zhan.
Wang Chao also nudged Mr. Xiao Zhan and asked, “What is an isomer?”
Xiao Zhan initially flipped through the previous test data in a panic, but when he was suddenly called upon, he began reciting somewhat hesitantly, “Isomerism refers to the phenomenon where compounds have the same molecular formula but different structures. Isomers with the same molecular formula but different structures are called structural isomers. For example, the molecular structure of optical isomers* is very similar to the compound itself, to the extent that their melting and boiling points are often the same. They can usually be observed using physical methods.”
*Two or more forms of a compound which have the same structure but are mirror images of each other and typically differ in optical activity.
“After mixing isomers, can the effect of a drug change?” Xing Conglian asked.
“It’s possible. For example, chiral isomers are widely present in nucleic acids and proteins within the human body, and most drugs also exhibit chirality*,” someone explained to Xing Conglian. “There is a drug called levodopa used for Parkinson’s disease, and its D-isomer can cause optic neuritis and lead to blindness.”
*When two isomers that are mirror image of each other. They have the same chemical properties except when reacting with other chiral compounds.
Furthermore, the young man who had walked out earlier added, “Several decades ago, an isomer incident involving thalidomide* caused severe teratogenic reactions in pregnant women.”
*Drug use to treat a number of cancers and many skin disorders (mainly leprosy). When it was first released in 1957 in West Germany, it wasn’t tested on pregnant women and resulted in major birth defects and the deaths of many babies, leading to its removal from the market in 1961. This led to greater drug regulation and monitoring in many countries.
“But during our TERN experiments, no adverse isomers were produced. It shouldn’t be our fault.” Feng Zhenzhen pushed Li Zheng and grew anxious. “Professor Li…”
Li Zheng remained silent for a long time, and his silence caused all the researchers around him to quiet down.
In contrast, the other Zhourui employees opposite of them looked at the researchers who had taken the initiative with a gaze that seemed to say, “We knew this would happen.”
“Speaking of which, I still find it unbelievable that such a thing occurred.” Li Zheng pushed his golden-rimmed glasses, and his face became filled with disappointment and weariness.
Wang Chao anxiously looked at the scientist who was the first to speak out, unsure of what to say. “Well, this… it’s not your fault either.”
“In fact, the absence of a TERN isomer suggests there may have been some oversight in our development process, but I’m not trying to shift the blame because I’m certain that, according to the pharmaceutical formulation we provided, it would be impossible for adverse isomers to appear.” Li Zheng finally looked up, his gaze becoming calm and cold. “Considering the series of process improvement proposals put forward by Shen Lian, it’s likely that our company ‘optimized’ the pharmaceutical process to save costs, resulting in the production of a small amount of optical isomers in TERN through the optimized process. However, due to negligence in quality control or deliberate concealment by the factory, these isomers were not discovered.”
“Li Zheng, speak with evidence. Are you trying to shift the blame onto our production team?” The supervisor in charge of pharmaceutical production at Zhourui Pharmaceutical angrily rebuked.
The chubby researcher next to Professor Li stood up abruptly and slammed the process optimization report on the table. He was visibly angry and pointed at the other person. “Then tell me, with your chest held high, that you thoroughly checked the purity of each batch of drugs after process optimization. Dare you say that there are absolutely no optical isomers in Nao Kangning?!”
“Just because you’re being aggressive doesn’t mean you’re right!” The deputy general in charge of production also stood up and slammed the table.
“Tsk.” Feng Zhenzhen, sitting with her legs crossed, sneered, “Then please clearly tell us, does it exist or not?” Before the other person could respond, Feng Zhenzhen didn’t give him a chance. “Let me come up with an excuse for you. Either you didn’t conduct isomer testing at all, or when the drug problems arose, you detected the isomers, but their quantity was minimal. Separation and purification would require substantial costs. So, you simply conducted simple drug tests during production, found no major issues, and covered up the matter. However, as adverse reaction cases increased and TERN was shared through patents, you were afraid of being held accountable, so you came up with the method of replacing the old drug with a new one.” The female researcher continued, putting down her leg and sitting up straight. “Although we now know that TERN has a problem and can quickly deduce the presence of isomers, the pharmaceutical process is very complex. Even if you investigated it accurately while being deliberately concealed, you had a whole eight years. If anyone among you had the courage to come forward and say we should cut off the limb rather than choose concealment, how could the situation have evolved to what it is now?”
Wang Chao was stunned by everything he had heard so far and interjected, “But I remember that we were able to discover the issues with the old and new drugs because Zhourui was replacing the manufacturer. Doesn’t that imply they also didn’t know how the isomers were produced? Otherwise, Shen Lian wouldn’t have been able to hide until now?”
“There’s one explanation.”
A deep voice resounded. Xing Conglian, who had been quiet all along, suddenly spoke.
Wang Chao turned to look at his boss, and his boss’s cold gaze fell upon the chubby figure of the chairman of Zhourui Pharmaceutical. In that instant, it was as if the most cunning hunter had finally caught sight of his prey’s vulnerability.
Xing Conglian spoke slowly, composedly, and unrushed. “Now, let’s hear Chairman Zhou’s answer. Is it true that the person responsible for secretly conducting investigations into the issues with the Nao Kangning drug is Shen Lian?”
Wang Chao was momentarily stunned but quickly understood the question at hand.
Zhourui Pharmaceutical knew there was a problem with Nao Kangning, but they had never discovered that Shen Lian was the one behind it. If it wasn’t due to the incompetence of the investigator, then the most likely explanation was that the person in charge of the investigation was Shen Lian herself.
Her boss had posed an extremely tricky question, implying: If you admit that the person conducting the investigation is Shen Lian, then it means your company had discovered the adverse reactions of Nao Kangning long ago but failed to report it, allowing a toxic drug to circulate in the market.
“I am not aware of any investigation regarding the Nao Kangning drug mentioned by Captain Xing.”
Chairman Zhou could no longer control his facial expression, and Wang Chao couldn’t fathom how this cunning old man could still attempt to argue.
It seemed as though Xing Conglian had been waiting for this moment.
His sharp gaze fell upon the faces of the high-level Zhourui executives who had dared to stand out and berate others. He casually said, “Since the chairman is unaware, then let those below speak up.”
He pointed at the production supervisor. “Let’s start with the production department. Did you ever discover the issue with isomers? Did you choose to conceal it for the sake of your own job security without reporting it to the company’s higher-ups?”
The production supervisor and deputy general never expected Xing Conglian to so easily bypass the chairman and target them directly. They dared not look at anyone, and beads of cold sweat seemed to drip from their foreheads.
“It’s not that complicated. There are two choices: to shoulder the responsibility or not.” Xing Conglian maintained his calm tone, but his meaning was thought-provoking.
Upon hearing this, the anxious man instinctively looked up, glancing at the remaining ten empty seats. He subconsciously placed his hand on the table, as if about to stand up.
His action was noticed by another executive sitting beside him, who immediately stopped him.
The person shook his head gently.
“They won’t say anything, will they? They’re all in cahoots! Everything is documented in the meeting records. With cross-examination, we’ll be able to find out the truth!” This reaction somehow ignited Li Zheng’s anger. The scientist picked up a pen and pointed at someone who had spoken during the previous discussion. “You’re right. The key question is why the project for improving the drug was suddenly initiated. If it was a normal project for drug improvement, and Tan Kang changed the TERN configuration for the purpose of improving its ingredients, without the company’s knowledge, then it was solely Shen Lian’s doing. Our company would also be a victim and bear the responsibility for regulatory oversight. On the contrary, if our company collected clinical feedback, became aware of the drug’s issues, and concealed the truth for certain reasons, allowing a harmful drug to spread…” Li Zheng looked at the chairman, even expressing some pain. “From 2008 to 2016, a whole eight years, all of you were accomplices in covering up the crime for personal gain. You are murderers!”
Li Zheng’s words were like the final straw that broke the camel’s back, causing the production supervisor mentioned by Xing Conglian to tremble like a sieve.
Witnessing this reaction, Wang Chao believed a confession was within reach, and Zhourui was about to collapse.
However, Wang Chao watched helplessly as the man wiped the sweat from his forehead, his smile filled with extreme bitterness. In the most desperate tone, he said, “What can I do? It’s just that I failed to report it upward. I… I had a secret romantic relationship with Shen Lian… I was her accomplice…”
The meeting room exploded, and everyone looked in shock at the production supervisor, who had voluntarily confessed.
“Fucking hell!” Feng Zhenzhen was the first to curse.
In the chaotic environment, no one noticed the abnormality on a few seats scattered among the hundred-member team of Zhourui Pharmaceutical. Some people appeared crestfallen but clenched their hands into fists as if determined.
“Are you an idiot?” Wang Chao frustratedly cursed.
At that moment, another executive stood up as well. “I am also guilty. I failed to fulfill my supervisory duties, resulting in such serious consequences, yet I chose to conceal the truth. I cannot absolve myself of blame.”
Wang Chao looked at the madman-like gaze shifting to the person who had just confessed.
However, the admission of guilt by the senior executives at Zhourui didn’t stop there. Along with the production supervisor’s confession, several other responsible individuals stood up, confessing their own crimes. Some even walked up to the police officers after speaking, extending their hands to be handcuffed.
Meanwhile, some higher-ranking individuals remained silent, observing their subordinates confessing with cold eyes.
The police officers exchanged looks, somewhat bewildered, and could only turn to Xing Conglian, awaiting guidance from the one in control.
“You… Why are you all so stupid!” Wang Chao nearly overturned his computer in frustration.
At this point, a triumphant smile finally appeared on the chairman’s face. He curved his chubby lips slightly and looked at Xing Conglian. The previously feigned anxiety and nervousness were gone. He seemed to have a complete grasp of the situation, as if he had already prepared for every possible outcome. Everything was developing in the direction he had anticipated.
Ever since entering the office, Xing Conglian had been relatively silent. Now, faced with the chairman’s true provocation, he didn’t argue or persuade. He simply picked up his phone and sent a text message.
Before long, the back door of the conference room was kicked open with a bang.
An old man, holding a urinary bag, stood at the doorway, shouting at the top of his lungs, “Young nephew, what do you want from me? Is everything settled? My urinary bag is almost full. I’ll have to go to the hospital later.”
Everyone in the conference room looked toward the door as if they had seen a ghost, laying eyes on a thin, elderly man with a prosthetic leg.
The old man also noticed that there were so many people in the conference room, and his tone immediately changed when he spoke to Xing Conglian. He became extremely obsequious and said, “Boss, what can I do for you?”
Only then did everyone recall that this old man was seemingly the driver of the sports car from before. If he was indeed Captain Xing’s driver, then this police captain had an incredibly formidable background.
Faced with those questioning and puzzled gazes, Xing Conglian didn’t explain much. He politely asked the old man, “I have a question to ask you.”
“I will speak all that I know without reservation!” the old man said. “If you let me play outside for a couple more hours, I’ll even tell you my bank card password.”
“The current situation is like this: I offered lenient punishment to some middle-level employees who made mistakes. But why do they prefer to take the blame for the highest level of the company rather than accepting my goodwill?” Xing Conglian asked.
Upon hearing this question, the old man looked at Xing Conglian as if he had seen a ghost, wearing an expression that seemed to say, “You clearly know the answer, so why are you asking me?”
“You stay out of this,” Li Zheng impatiently reprimanded. The chief engineer of Zhourui’s most renowned laboratory seemed completely immersed in the investigation of the drug issue and didn’t even notice his boss’s dark expression.
Chairman Zhou didn’t speak further; he simply looked deeply at his once most trusted research staff.
The atmosphere in the room became even more somber, and some of the pharmaceutical researchers followed Li Zheng’s lead and began to think quickly.
The more silence there was, the more the management team sensed the unfavorable atmosphere in the room. Some perceptive employees rushed to defend their boss. “Professor Li, I’ll say something blunt. Chairman Zhou didn’t mention it, wanting to save face for you, but in this three-stage analysis and the problem with TERN, aren’t you the most suspicious one?”
This was a very serious accusation, but Li Zheng didn’t care at all. He didn’t even have the interest to argue.
The person wanted to say more but was interrupted by a female researcher from the Nao Kangning team. “Manager Wang, Nao Kangning is a project from more than a decade ago. To thoroughly investigate the development issues, there are hundreds of thousands of compounds involved in the initial screening alone. The specific experimental process is incredibly complex, and it involves hundreds or thousands of researchers. Do we have so much time now?”
“Thorough investigation?” The person known as Manager Wang, sneered. “Feng Zhenzhen, you really have a simple mind. Didn’t you understand what the chairman said earlier? If everyone starts attacking each other, the company will surely collapse. We can only overcome this difficult situation by uniting.”
“Manager Wang’s words are quite interesting. So if we investigate the problem thoroughly, the company will collapse. No wonder you want everyone to stay silent—to hide what can be hidden, and when it can’t be hidden, find a scapegoat.” The female researcher sneered, standing up. She patted the shoulders of her two colleagues next to her and said, “Make way, I’m going out.”
“Feng Zhenzhen…”
Chairman Zhou, sitting in the center, looked at Li Zheng across from him and softly called the female researcher’s name, with a serious tone that increased the pressure.
“Chairman.” The female researcher imitated Li Zheng’s manner from earlier and said to her boss, “I’m just going to sit for a while. I don’t have any leverage against you, so you don’t have to worry.”
She was wearing a pair of mismatched sports shoes and sat next to Li Zheng with a light and brisk pace. Now, there were 18 empty seats out of the original 20.
The calm captain of the criminal investigation division, who seldom spoke, maintained his composed attitude. “And who are you?” he asked.
“Feng Zhenzhen. I was previously involved in the initial screening of compounds and later worked in the Nordren team,” Feng Zhenzhen said decisively, pointing at the manager who had just berated her. “Before you all arrived, Manager Wang warned us, the lower-level employees, not to speak recklessly in front of the police.”
“Feng Zhenzhen, please refrain from attacking others indiscriminately.”
“Oh, of course, you wouldn’t say it like that, but that’s how it sounded to me,” Feng Zhenzhen said contemptuously.
The female researcher’s gaze wandered over her colleagues sitting across from her. Each person had a different expression, and amidst the crowded seats, some looked at her coldly, some showed disdain, and others stared at the timeline on the wall as if reminiscing about something.
A woman with curly hair couldn’t bear it any longer and coldly said to Feng Zhenzhen, “How is it possible that they won’t find any problems if they continue investigating? The police just want to arrest a group of people and quell the public’s anger. Manager Wang and Chairman Zhou have already made their intentions clear! By stepping forward now and sacrificing the interests of other colleagues to satisfy your own sense of justice, you think you’re so great? So remarkable? Have you ever considered other people?”
These words also stirred up the indignation of others. The crowd became fervent, and Feng Zhenzhen became the target of criticism.
Huang Ze instinctively looked at Xing Conglian, but apart from initially arranging the 20 empty seats and announcing the rules of the game, Xing Conglian had not controlled the situation. He had been observing the development of events with a cold eye. Huang Ze felt anxious because he realized he couldn’t grasp the other’s thoughts, just as he had never been able to understand Lin Chen’s thoughts.
Feng Zhenzhen’s voice rang out, overpowering everyone else. “I’m the troublemaker who disregards collective interests. Compared to whether you all go to jail or the company goes bankrupt, what matters more is my own conscience.”
“Hypocrites always act so righteous!”
“So what? We are pharmaceutical researchers. I have to take responsibility for the products I develop and for the health of the patients who use these drugs. I don’t have time to consider you right now!”
At this point, Professor Li Zheng, who had been immersed in his thoughts, finally interrupted the female researcher next to him. “Enough. Arguing with them is meaningless. You should also think about what exactly went wrong with TERN.”
“I’ve thought about it, but I can’t figure it out. I believe that Dr. Tan Kang must have discovered something, which is why he changed the TERN configuration and mentioned in his notes that Shen Lian was poisoning people. So there must be more detailed information in his notes. What exactly did Shen Lian do, and how did she do it?” Feng Zhenzhen’s gaze fell on Comrade Xiao Wang, who was operating the computer.
Wang Chao looked frustrated as he said, “The smart electronic pen contains fragmented text. I’ve been sorting through it for a while, and it subtly mentions the drug issue and Shen Lian’s poisoning… And who the hell knows if it’s true or not…”
“What if we change our approach?” Perhaps Feng Zhenzhen’s words had an effect, as someone else spoke up in the crowded seats of Zhourui’s side. “If we investigate what Shen Lian did in the Nao Kangning and Nordren related project teams, maybe we can understand how she poisoned and what methods she used to turn our clinical trial drugs into ones with toxic side effects?”
Upon hearing this, many hostile gazes were directed at the young man who interrupted.
Researchers were either silent or very distinctive. Upon seeing this, the young man said, “Do we have to go over there to speak? Then I’ll go.”
As he spoke, he turned to a few people beside him and asked, “Do you want to come with me?”
Several young people around him stood up in unison, led by a chubby young man. He pushed past the Zhourui executives sitting on the outside and led the group to the empty seats opposite.
After they sat down, the chubby young man proactively said to Xing Conglian, “We’re not part of the Nordren team, but it’s interesting to seize the opportunity to reduce their sentences.”
Wang Chao looked at these energetic young people with his mouth agape, and muttered to himself, “The young delusion of saving the world—the ancients don’t deceive me*.”
*This a sarcastic comment that basically says how young people’s actions are somewhat delusional and overly idealistic (which is ironic since it’s coming from him).
But the other people in the meeting room completely ignored him.
Feng Zhenzhen said, “I also think so. In the three stages Professor Li just mentioned, I believe the problem lies in the second stage—specifically, the stage from obtaining approval for Nao Kangning to when the company decided to improve the drug. The work done during this stage involves collecting and tracking clinical data, which Shen Lian could have tampered with it.”
Small beads of sweat formed on Xiao Zhan’s forehead. In the presence of the beautiful female researcher, he became somewhat hesitant and stammered. “I… I also think so, but… Shen Lian submitted a lot of things, and she might have submitted proposals in the name of the team, so… I can only compile a rough timeline. I’m not really an expert in pharmaceuticals, so I can’t understand it very well…”
“You’re already amazing,” Feng Zhenzhen said to Xiao Zhan.
Mr. Xiao blushed and quickly displayed the timeline on the large screen.
2008.1 Nao Kangning receives approval
2008.1 Shen Lian joins Zhourui Pharmaceutical Factory and is responsible for the production of Nao Kangning
2008.3 Shen Lian and her team propose a series of process improvement documents, involving hundreds of reports and suggestions
↓
2011.1 Nao Kangning improvement project initiated
Li Zheng asked, “Can we take a look at the production process improvement proposals submitted by Shen Lian and her team?”
Feng Zhenzhen interjected, “Do you want them printed? I can go and make a few copies.”
At this moment, Wang Chao inexplicably glanced at Xing Conglian. He pulled out his heavy backpack from under the table, unzipped it, and revealed rows and rows of materials inside. “We’ve prepared this a long time ago.”
The young man struggled to lift the bag onto the table, and Xiao Zhan began distributing the materials. Those who received the materials quickly started reading.
The conference room was filled with the sound of flipping papers. The heated argument session unexpectedly turned into an internal discussion meeting within Zhourui.
Chairman Zhou crossed his arms and looked at Xing Conglian, as if saying, “Captain Xing, you have great tactics.”
“Exactly. This compound is indeed TERN,” Feng Zhenzhen said again. “Should I go back to the laboratory and check again?”
Li Zheng first stopped Feng Zhenzhen and asked Xiao Zhan, “What kind of tests did you perform?”
“Gas chromatography* and liquid chromatography. The fragmented pieces produced matched exactly,” Xiao Zhan replied.
*A laboratory technique for separation of a mixture into its components. The mixture is dissolved in a fluid solvent (gas or liquid) called the mobile phase, which carries it through a system (a column, a capillary tube, a plate, or a sheet) on which a material called the stationary phase is fixed. Because the different constituents of the mixture tend to have different affinities for the stationary phase and are retained for different lengths of time depending on their interactions with its surface sites, the constituents travel at different apparent velocities in the mobile fluid, causing them to separate.
“What do you mean by ‘matched exactly’? Did you simply isolate TERN from Nao Kangning, or did you reconstruct it?” asked the chubby researcher.
Suddenly caught in the crossfire, Xiao Zhan became even slower in his speech. He said, “I… I… didn’t have enough time. I… only compared it based on the structure you provided.”
“You were too hasty. A more reliable approach would be to conduct batch tests on the drug’s issues. After all, there are still many possibilities, such as interactions between various components, resulting in the formation of new toxic compounds,” Feng Zhenzhen added.
Upon hearing this, the expressions on the faces of the representatives from Zhourui improved significantly. If the police rushed their investigation, they would soon have a chance to turn the tables.
However, at that moment, Li Zheng stopped everyone from arguing and said, “Our approach to discussing the problem should not be like this. What if we accept two premises? First, the substance with severe side effects is indeed TERN, and second, there were no such severe side effects when Nao Kangning obtained approval in 2008. Assuming these two premises, we can draw a conclusion that Shen Lian did something after 2008 to cause the compound with the same structure to have toxic side effects. Let’s reason out what Shen Lian might have done.”
Under the sunlight, a young person seemed to have realized something and asked, “Professor Li, are you suggesting…”
The chubby researcher’s voice was somewhat eerie as he said, “Could it be an isomer*?”
*Are molecules or polyatomic ions with identical molecular formula–that is, same number of atoms of each element – but distinct arrangements of atoms in space. Isomers do not necessarily share similar chemical or physical properties. Two main forms of isomerism are structural or constitutional isomerism, in which bonds between the atoms differ; and stereoisomerism or spatial isomerism, in which the bonds are the same but the relative positions of the atoms differ.
“The mass spectrometry fragments are the same. If TERN is really the issue, then the possibility of an isomer is the highest!” Feng Zhenzhen said with a shudder.
Kinky Thoughts:
Usually I provide some supplement knowledge when needed, but I was pretty bad at chemistry to the point of failing, so this might not be the most accurate explanation.
An isomer is a molecule that has the same number of atoms of each element, but its chemical structure is different. For example, hydrocarbon C3H4 has three structural isomers:
I Propadiene
II Propyne
III Cyclopropene
While they have the same number of atoms (carbon and hydrogen), their structures are different, making them different compounds. This can result in different physical and chemical properties.
Relating to this case, TERN has its own chemical structural compound, but Shen Lian changed the structural compound while still keeping the same amount of atoms in TERN. This change in structure completely changes the element.
As for how to detect whether an isomer is present, I’m not sure if chromatography can do it. That’s too much science for my brain to handle.
Anyway, I’m not a chemist, so if anyone’s more knowledgeable in this area, do chime in.
The way that group of Primordial Elementals—let’s call them “cats” for now—moved was truly eye-opening for Yin Ren.
He was still baffled by what the other party had said. [There are other humans here.] Then he saw the group of cats waving their soft limbs, and the surrounding Other Side corridor began to spin rapidly. The cat legion followed one after another, entangling with the group of people and leapt into the vortex. The next moment, a brand-new tunnel appeared before everyone.
After one vortex came another, and physical distance became completely irrelevant. The people felt as if they were immersed in a kaleidoscope, with everything around them dazzling and bewildering. Although there was no ground beneath their feet, the cats leaped with determination. Though the paths were mostly similar, their strides were resolute.
The cats navigated with ease and took off in a certain direction.
Their destination was very close to the tunnel wall. As the cats approached the colorful edge of the tunnel, countless fragments writhed and merged, forming the outline of a hospice institution.
The wall tiles here were pristine and smooth, while over there the wall covering was corroded and peeling. Snow piled up on the windowsills, and rain tapped on the glass windows. At the same time, the courtyard’s floor tiles and weeds were stained red by the setting sun, reflecting a blood-red twilight. By the flower bed, a rocking chair gently swayed, and the “people” on it resembled dolls made of stitched cloth, with each inch of their skin belonging to a different person.
This small courtyard seemed to be pieced together from the impressions of countless people. Every detail was chaotic and fragmented, with only silence prevailing.
The atmosphere of this institution was gloomy, and combined with the chaotic scenery, it should have been frightening. However, the courtyard, benches, bushes… In every corner, there were tablecloths with cat patterns. They were so identical in style that it seemed like they were copy-pasted, and the colors were fresh and adorable.
Everyone in Shian looked at each other, unsure of how to react. Only Dr. Cat’s fur stood on end, revealing a subtly intriguing expression on its fluffy face.
Yin Ren somewhat understood it—when he was at the Fu residence, he saw those various paintings of Zhong Yi, and it was difficult to shake off that awkward feeling.
“The stains on them are identical to Gao Mengyu’s tablecloth.”
Zhong Chengshuo took two steps closer to Yin Ren.
“Lifeless objects cannot be brought in. These are probably their own imaginations.”
Since his hair couldn’t move now, Yin Ren simply grabbed Zhong Chengshuo’s hand and looked around.
Many cats didn’t follow the legion’s expedition. They coiled their soft limbs and collapsed lazily on the tablecloth, treating it as a comfortable nest. They spread out fourteen pairs of eyes on the ground, basking in the nonexistent sunlight.
Contrasting the physiques of these cats, Gao Mengyu’s cat was undoubtedly the fattest. Compared to the smallest cat in the courtyard, it was twice as big. At the moment, it was squeaking and chirping at the remaining companions, exhibiting the demeanor of a leader.
“Just a group of ‘Lonely’.”
Qi Xin crossed her arms, clearly unhappy to be challenged by such small creatures.
“They only grew stronger in recent centuries, but they do have some courage.”
As soon as she spoke, all the chattering “Lonely” cats in the courtyard simultaneously fell silent.
Led by Gao Mengyu’s cat, they lined up in front of Qi Xin according to their size, extending their soft limbs as if offering themselves to be cut or slaughtered.
Yin Ren almost burst out laughing.
“Lonely” Elementals? No wonder it got along so well with Gao Mengyu. There was indeed no hostility around. Whether it was due to lack of food or their nature, most of the “Lonely” cats were lazy and had nothing to do with animosity.
[I’m sorry!]
Gao Mengyu’s cat took the lead in apologizing, practically flattening itself like a pancake.
[We are just desperate. We truly mean no harm.]
Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo understood, but the rest of the humans couldn’t communicate with them through thoughts. To them, the cats probably just emitted an unpleasant noise.
“In Gao Mengyu’s disappearance case, this creature accidentally slipped through a gap and ended up in the human world.” As a bridge between humans and Elementals, Yin Ren quickly intervened. “Zhong Chengshuo and I have had contact with it before, and it is quite friendly towards humans.”
Seemingly to confirm his statement, Gao Mengyu’s cat clutched the tablecloth and covered its hole-ridden body with it. Unfortunately, its limbs, resembling the convolutions of a brain, still extended outward. Against the backdrop of the cute cat pattern, its appearance became even more peculiar.
Huang Jin and Ge Tingting were utterly confused, but the expression of the senior member, Lu Xiaohe, loosened slightly.
She remembered Gao Mengyu’s case.
Lu Xiaohe took a few deep breaths, finally pulling her thoughts out of extreme mode. She made an effort not to dwell on the horrors of the creatures and instead took two steps forward, extending her hand towards the cats’ soft limbs.
The cat was overjoyed and lightly touched Lu Xiaohe’s hand with its soft limb before retracting it. Two sweet “meows” were squeezed out of the holes on its body.
Yin Ren helped with simultaneous translation. “It just said, ‘I rely on consuming the “loneliness” from fresh brain marrow to survive, and humans have been kind to me’.”
“Well, I remember the case files. They eat pig brains, right?” Lu Xiaohe smirked. “Pigs are social animals, so it’s not surprising they have these emotions.”
Qi Xin still had a stern expression. “No wonder. The Other Side is so barren, while you’ve grown so fat. It turns out there were humans specifically feeding you.”
[So, I don’t want to fight humans. After we discovered those humans, we’ve been avoiding them.] The cat said.
[They might have sensed that, thinking we’re easy to deal with, so they’ve been chasing after us. I want to communicate, but they don’t understand.]
Upon hearing Yin Ren’s translation, Lu Xiaohe lost her composure first. She took a big step forward and firmly grasped the cat’s soft limb. “There are other humans here? Who? Where?”
The cat was startled by her, tilting its whole body backward.
“That’s the question I wanted to ask.” Yin Ren looked at the fourteen bright red eyes. “You said there are humans here. What’s going on?”
[I don’t know. I don’t know much about humans.]
The cat admitted honestly.
[But they will definitely come and attack soon. You can go meet them.]
……
When the cat said “soon,” it truly meant soon. Less than three minutes after the cat spoke, before Lu Xiaohe could calm down her emotions, a powerful beam of light suddenly struck the courtyard.
Flashing, dazzling radiance burst forth, causing vibrations and shaking in the small courtyard, faintly showing signs of collapsing. The cats in the entire courtyard squealed and scattered, running in all directions.
Accompanied by a massive explosion, a tremendous Evil Force washed over them.
Qi Xin stood in place, observing coldly. Yin Ren instantly wanted to erect a barrier and protect everyone. However, magic couldn’t be used, there were too many people, and their true forms couldn’t be easily revealed. Lord Ghost King was tragically stuck in place, only managing to use his body to shield Zhong Chengshuo.
As the aftermath of the explosion lingered, their enemies officially made their entrance.
Among countless flickering fragments, three young figures appeared.
The woman at the forefront had long disheveled hair, and her red shirt was torn at the edges. She stood in the front, tall and strong, laughing wantonly, constantly twirling something shiny on her fingertip—Yin Ren’s pupils contracted, barely getting a glimpse.
It was a ring attached to a bracelet.
Following closely behind her was a female police officer. The police officer’s uniform was clean, and her short hair was neatly groomed. She had a serious expression, gripping a gun tightly with the muzzle aimed at the crowd.
Behind the two women was a young man. He had a gentle and kind appearance, exuding a scholarly aura. On his chest, there hung a relatively new Shian employee ID card.
“How fascinating.”
The woman with long hair laughed.
“I mean, if you want to create cognitive pollution, at least bring out people we actually know. What’s all this?”
Her voice was loud, clear, and real.
Three humans—three humans who moved effortlessly on the Other Side, even possessing means of attack. And the faces of two of them were in the files of this mission.
Unbelievable emotions kept accumulating, causing a brief burst of chaos—
“Zhong Chengfeng!” Yin Ren pointed at the female police officer and shouted, reaching out to grab Zhong Chengshuo. “Isn’t she your sister? Her face is exactly the same as in the photo!”
Huang Jin had a more practical target. He stared at the woman with long hair in shock. “Isn’t that Meng Huai, the one who went missing?”
Lu Xiaohe’s focus was a bit off track. She looked at the man wearing the employee ID card. “That’s that person! The one who went missing two years ago in the Shian office area… I remember he was in the rear command… It can’t be wrong…”
As she spoke, her eyes gradually brightened, revealing a mix of joy and hope. She instinctively wanted to move forward but was blocked and tripped up by Dr. Cat using its body.
“Are you all idiots?! It’s been almost thirty years. How is it possible that those people have nothing to do with this?!” It yelled sharply. “This could be cognitive pollution!”
“Well, the cognitive pollution is done quite well. The acting is quite convincing.” The woman who resembled Meng Huai remarked.
“It’s just unrealistic that cats can speak human language. How about it? Did they extract too much animation information? …Shall we all transform and see?”
A group of “Lonely” cats innocently curled up—they really hadn’t done anything.
While Meng Huai joked, she didn’t slow down her actions. After adjusting her posture for a moment, she said, “Chengfeng, assist!”
“Got it!”
The woman resembling Zhong Chengfeng, the female police officer, responded and fired her gun. This time, Yin Ren remembered. He grabbed Zhong Chengshuo and Lu Xiaohe, retreating several steps in succession.
Where the bullets hit, a series of dangerous explosions erupted once again, unleashing another wave of Evil Force. Qi Xin floated calmly in the air, having made up her mind to watch coldly.
…Strange.
Yin Ren twitched his nose, distinguishing the differences in the Evil Force between the two attacks.
Each time there was an explosion, there were always two Evil Force appearing in pairs. In just two waves of attacks, there were already four different types of Evil Force.
He couldn’t figure out the principle behind it for a moment. But one thing was certain—the enemies in front of them were using Evil Force as weapons.
“Be careful.” Dr. Cat at some point had snuck up next to him and nudged his feet. “The enemies on the other side could be illusions, and these cats could be illusions too. Or even earlier—after entering the Other Side, everything is an illusion. Theoretically, it’s all possible.”
It moved its whiskers solemnly.
“If you can avoid fighting, then don’t fight. Who knows who will get hurt in the end…”
“It’s not an illusion.”
Zhong Chengshuo lifted the back of the cat’s neck and politely threw it onto Fu Tianyi’s face. He opened his pitch-black eyes wide and looked at Zhong Chengfeng not far away.
“This so-called sister of his now looks a few years younger than his physical body.”
“Leave it to me.”
With that, Zhong Chengshuo lightly patted Yin Ren’s shoulder and walked forward on his own. Then he opened his empty hands and raised them above his head, assuming a standard surrender position.
Seeing this person who appeared to be her sibling approaching, Zhong Chengfeng hesitated. She fired a few more shots, but they all landed near Zhong Chengshuo’s feet.
Zhong Chengshuo chose the most open spot in the courtyard and calmly stopped in his tracks.
The next moment, the scenery behind him changed.
Imagined memories reappeared, with half of the Zhong family’s home appearing behind him.
The repaired walls, scratched floor, old dining table, slightly greasy kitchen, outdated cabinets, and a tacky TV wall… Various scenes slowly took shape behind Zhong Chengshuo.
The elderly Zhong Youde, with white hair, was wearing an apron and carrying a bowl of stewed beef and potatoes to the table. Cheng Xuehua was holding chopsticks, her figure thin and small, with deep wrinkles on her face, like a shriveled fruit.
Zhong Chengfeng’s gunfire ceased.
The female police officer stared blankly at the scene in front of her. Her lips slightly parted, and her serious expression cracked, revealing a touch of warmth and sadness.
“Dad, Mom…”
“Chengfeng!” Meng Huai warned.
“It’s not cognitive pollution.” Zhong Chengfeng slightly lowered her gun barrel, her eyes turning red. “Home… has changed a lot, and a lot has happened… even Mom and Dad…”
Zhong Chengfeng licked her lips, took a deep breath, and paid no attention to the tears streaming down her face. She turned the gun barrel and pointed it directly at Zhong Chengshuo.
“Who are you?”
Her voice carried a sense of urgency.
Zhong Chengshuo observed her up and down for a moment without immediately answering.
He turned to Meng Huai and raised his left arm in another direction.
This time, a memory appeared of the underground elevator and corridor of Shian.
“I don’t think you’re someone who easily gets passionate. Today, I brought you here to let you see the ‘basics’ of Shian—Phenomenon A-A3, Evil Spirit.” Li Nian’s figure appeared near the elevator.
It was the familiar Professor Li that everyone knew. He still had that serious expression, dressed in a stern manner like a head teacher, and the pale reflection of a wedding ring on his slender finger.
Since it was from Zhong Chengshuo’s memory, Li Nian’s eyes were looking into the void, directly facing Meng Huai on the other side. This gaze was like Medusa’s stare, and Meng Huai froze for a full two seconds.
“Shian B-level Special Investigation Team, Unit 9, Science Post, Zhong Chengshuo.”
Zhong Chengshuo took a step closer to the two frozen individuals and raised his hands again.
“We came to the Other Side to search for clues regarding the disappearance of Meng Huai, Zhong Chengfeng, and He Huan.”
Upon hearing Zhong Chengshuo’s name, Zhong Chengfeng anxiously tried to approach, but she was stopped by Meng Huai. Unlike Zhong Chengfeng, Meng Huai’s face turned dark like the bottom of a pot.
“This is too fake. Li Nian clearly despises Shian the most,” she said. “These pieces of information can be deduced from our memories. On my end, my love life is fulfilling, and on Chengfeng’s end, her parents are healthy, as if wishes have come true… And your eyes lack a human touch. Sunken Society, right?”
[I told you it would be difficult to communicate with them.]
Gao Mengyu’s cat draped the tablecloth tightly as it whimpered and complained. Yin Ren touched its soft limbs, not knowing what to say for a moment.
He didn’t remember all the details like Zhong Chengshuo did. Moreover, there were many people present, and if he revealed his true form, it would be no different from launching indiscriminate attacks. The joy of being able to freely walk on the Other Side didn’t last long before that feeling of powerlessness resurfaced.
“If you need more evidence, I can accompany you… Lu Xiaohe?” On the other side, just as Zhong Chengshuo was about to continue negotiating, a figure stumbled forward.
Lu Xiaohe shook off the hands of Huang Jin and Ge Tingting and limped towards the other side. Her expression was somewhat twisted, filled with an overwhelming mix of emotions that ultimately flowed into her reddened eyes.
“Lu Xiaohe!” Seeing Meng Huai’s tightly gripped hand and Zhong Chengfeng’s restless gun barrel, Yin Ren couldn’t help but shout.
Just as he was about to catch up, he heard a trembling cry.
“Don’t come over!”
Lu Xiaohe continued to move forward without looking back.
“And you, Zhong Chengshuo, don’t come over either!”
Zhong Chengshuo maintained his imagination, frowning as he looked at Lu Xiaohe’s back. Yin Ren clenched his fist, completely focused on the other party, and noticed a slight movement in a strand of hair.
The two sides were not far apart, and although Lu Xiaohe walked slowly, it felt like she had been walking for a century.
“Shian B-Level Special Investigation Team, Unit 9, Science Post, Rear Command Lu Xiaohe.”
Lu Xiaohe stopped, only four or five steps away from the three on the other side. Her voice was so hoarse that it was chilling.
“I’ll get straight to the point. I reluctantly believe that you are Meng Huai, Zhong Chengfeng, and that someone who disappeared from the Shian office area. Your current actions are the basic units of the Black Seal Non-Science Post, paired with the Red Seal Science Post, along with the Rear Commander.”
“Meng Huai used to be a member of the Emergency Management Department, so she should have a way to verify the authenticity of our human identities. No matter how harmful it may be, please test it on me—of course, if you are fake, I believe my teammates will also be able to tell.”
Meng Huai narrowed her eyes. “You’ve got quite the audacity. Do you know—”
“I’m running out of time.”
Lu Xiaohe interrupted her.
She stared fixedly at Meng Huai, and the members of Unit 9 almost simultaneously took a step back. Lu Xiaohe usually spoke gently and had an incredibly good temper. They had never seen her wear such an expression.
Desire, anticipation, eagerness… along with a deep and overwhelming fear of losing and being lost.
“We have come to investigate the disappearance of Meng Huai and Zhong Chengfeng twenty-nine years ago, as well as the recent disappearance of He Huan.”
She emphasized each word.
“He Huan is my mother.”
After saying this, countless emotions found an outlet—the suppressed fuse finally burned to its end, and the imagination behind her instantly exploded.
Her mother’s embrace during her childhood, the arguments and quarrels during her student days, the leaning on each other during their university years. Lu Xiaohe gradually grew up, her baby clothes turned into school uniforms, and the school uniforms turned into plain attire. Eventually, she tightly held the medical bill and accepted Shian’s offer.
At the same time, her mother transformed from a young woman to a plump figure, only to be consumed by illness, leaving behind a withered and emaciated appearance.
The two of them underwent changes, like waves and sand.
A variety of images constructed a wall in her imagination, almost filling the sky and the earth.
And in the center, the most vivid image was the day her mother disappeared.
Lush greenery and perfect sunlight.
She vanished just like that, while those who disappeared almost thirty years earlier stood here, and those who disappeared two years earlier were also present.
But what about her mother?
“You can calculate and find countless loopholes and engage in theoretical debates for three days and nights. But I can’t wait.”
Lu Xiaohe clenched her teeth. Behind her was her entire life. They flickered incessantly, layer upon layer, weighing her down to the point of suffocation.
Gao Mengyu’s appearance remained the same, with her hair casually tied in a ponytail. However, she looked slightly plumper than before and had a gleam in her eyes. Lin Bei, as composed as ever, stood up and shook hands with Li Nian and Fu Xingchuan when they entered the reception room.
“We initially wanted to contact Yin Ren, but there has been no response from him,” she explained proactively.
“You mentioned before that anything related to ‘Qiqi’ should be kept confidential. Even within the ranks of Shian, communication should be handled by designated individuals.” Lin Bei sat back down elegantly, crossed her legs gracefully, and continued, “We’re not familiar with the internal hierarchy of Shian, so we had no choice but to bother the two of you.”
“Qiqi” referred to the peculiar cat creature that Gao Mengyu used to raise. It was classified as Phenomenon C-C19 at the time, known as the “Gap Cat”.
It possessed a strong cognitive pollution ability and could induce incomplete interstitial phenomena. Now it seemed highly likely that it was some kind of Elemental. The so-called induction of incomplete interstices was similar to a cat scratching desperately at a door—it wanted to return to the Other Side but couldn’t find a way.
That Elemental should have returned a long time ago, and Gao Mengyu’s cognitive pollution had already been cured for several months.
‘Interesting,’ Fu Xingchuan thought to himself.
“There’s no need to worry about bothering us.”
Minster Fu smiled.
“It’s perfect timing that you’ve come to us. Has Ms. Gao encountered any difficulties?”
Gao Mengyu felt a bit shy compared to Lin Bei, who worked in the field of self-media. After adjusting her emotions for a while, she tightly gripped the mineral water bottle in her hands.
“Well, recently, I’ve been having the same dream. In the dream, Qiqi—well, not the cat I currently have, but the bigger creature from before—keeps banging on the door and meowing outside, trying to squeeze its tentacles through the door crack. In the dream, I want to open the door and let it in, but it firmly clings to the door lock and won’t let me open it.”
She still refused to call it a “monster”.
“It meows outside the door but doesn’t allow you to open it?” Fu Xingchuan furrowed his brows.
“Yes,” Gao Mengyu nervously replied.
“At first, I thought I just missed it. But for the past few days, I’ve been having this dream every night. After that, I told Beibei about it, and she insisted that I contact Shian.”
Lin Bei nodded in agreement. “There might not be much to it from Gao Mengyu’s perspective, but as an observer, I find it quite unsettling.”
“A wise decision. It’s highly likely that ‘Qiqi’ is trying to communicate with Ms. Gao,” Fu Xingchuan said, rubbing his face.
“It seems like it’s advising Gao Mengyu against going out.” Li Nian pondered. “In the past, when faced with danger, its reaction was to hide Gao Mengyu in the gap. But now, it can only warn her like this.”
Gao Mengyu let out a soft “Ah” and revealed a faint smile. “Thank you both. So, should I go out less often in the future?”
“Well, the current situation is unstable, so it’s wise to be cautious.” Fu Xingchuan lightly tapped the table with his fingertips. “Apart from the recurring dream, have you noticed any other abnormalities in your life?”
Gao Mengyu hesitated for a moment, and a fleeting expression of wanting to speak but the expression as if she was holding back appeared on her face. She looked at Lin Bei, who nodded gently in response. Fu Xingchuan could sense her hesitation, but he remained silent, waiting for Gao Mengyu to speak up on her own.
As expected, after half a minute of wavering, Gao Mengyu let out a soft sigh.
“I’m sorry, but I lied to Shian back then.”
She lowered her head.
“When everyone helped me with my cognitive pollution, I… I didn’t wait until it was completely cured. I lied and said it was cured. At that time, I just wanted to keep a memento so that I wouldn’t forget about Qiqi.”
“And then?” Li Nian replied nonchalantly.
Gao Mengyu averted her gaze nervously. “After that incident, all the cats I saw had fourteen eyes. Other than that, there are no abnormalities. But ever since I dreamed about Qiqi a few days ago, I started seeing… seeing…”
She seemed to be carefully choosing her words and took a while to continue.
“I see something disgusting attached to some people’s bodies.”
After speaking, she took out her phone and showed the two ministers her drawings.
It looked like an… umbilical cord-like object. It was composed of countless twisted, vein-like tubes, hanging down from the void above and softly resting on a person’s shoulder.
“I can’t capture that feeling in my drawings.” Gao Mengyu hesitated. “Is this what Qiqi is trying to show me? It’s present on people of all ages and genders, and I can’t see anything special about them.”
“Let me continue.”
Lin Bei took over the conversation.
“Mengyu has drawn more than just this one. It looks like an umbilical cord, right? But when she first started sketching, just based on the outline, it looked more like an arm.”
Fu Xingchuan suddenly looked up.
Lin Bei tucked away a disobedient strand of hair and had a serious expression on her face. “Recently, there have been reports about ‘angel’s arms’ that have been widely talked about. Our studio recently signed related contracts, and we interviewed someone yesterday who could see these arms. Mengyu also saw this thing on him.”
“…Now I can confirm that it was your cat that made you see these things,” Fu Xingchuan muttered.
Shian’s instruments and techniques couldn’t detect them, so it was likely something from the Other Side.
“Ms. Gao, if you don’t mind, would you be willing to stay at Shian for a while?” Professor Li straightforwardly extended an invitation. “We need your abilities, and in this way, your ‘Qiqi’ will also feel more at ease. Shian will cover all your living expenses and housing during this period.”
“Uh, okay.”
Lin Bei breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good, so I don’t have to worry about this guy anymore. If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave now. I have a meeting this afternoon.”
“Wait.”
Li Nian called her back.
“Ms. Lin, earlier you mentioned that your self-media studio signed contracts related to the ‘angel’s arms’ and interviewed someone who can see the arms. Can you provide more specific information?”
Lin Bei was momentarily stunned. “Well… I can share the information, but everyone has been working on this topic recently, so I’m not sure how much help it will be.”
“Just tell us.”
“It’s about promoting the theme of ‘angel’s arms’ and linking it with ‘luck’ and ‘blessings’ to create a positive impression. However, this approach is quite common, and it wouldn’t be beneficial for self-media like us to spread negative associations.”
Lin Bei crossed her legs and clasped her hands on her thighs. When it came to her work, her tone instantly became composed.
“Basically, the goal is to make this topic popular and trending. With the current instability in society, everyone likes to see something reassuring. Several people I know are working on it as well.”
Li Nian neither confirmed nor denied anything. “I see… Do you happen to know which company is the most active investor in this field?”
“Don’t worry, this isn’t an official inquiry. Just my personal curiosity,” Professor Li added casually, noticing Lin Bei’s dilemma.
“Coral Reef Group,” Lin Bei replied. “They are also the ones who signed a contract with me this time.”
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
Li Nian nodded.
“You both have been very helpful.”
Watching the two women hurriedly leave, Fu Xingchuan chugged down a bottle of mineral water. “Coral Reef Group? Why does that name sound familiar?”
“Do you remember Gao Mengyu’s ex-boyfriend ghost called ‘Mr. Rose’? When he first appeared, he scared some employees of the Coral Reef Group.”
Li Nian tapped his temple with his slender index finger.
“And then there’s Bai Yongji, the quasi-Charon responsible for new media at the Coral Reef Group. If he hadn’t caused any trouble, he would be the one in charge of dealing with Lin Bei. Now they’re pushing the ‘angel’s arms’ matter. How interesting.”
Indeed, based on these events alone, the “Coral Reef Group” didn’t seem suspicious.
Mr. Rose’s mischief made their employees the victims. Bai Yongji’s kidnapping and modification of others had nothing to do with his job. As for the recent arm incidents, many new media players were paying attention to them, and there was no evidence of malicious intent from the Coral Reef Group.
It was a well-established local private enterprise in Haigu, known for dabbling in various products and trends. From household items to children’s animation and even mobile games for middle-aged and elderly people, Coral Reef was involved in all sorts of ventures.
Nevertheless, the repeated incidents associated with them raised some concerns…
“It’s subtle.”
With a click, Fu Xingchuan crushed the mineral water bottle.
“We can’t do anything about the Other Side,” he muttered a bit meaningfully. “But if someone interferes, we can’t let it go.”
“You want to investigate?”
“Let’s start by keeping an eye on things,” Fu Xingchuan said. “With so many trivial matters lately, we can’t afford another troublesome case.”
……
The Other Side.
Time didn’t pass here, and everyone’s biological clocks were in disarray. After enduring twenty-four hours, Qi Xin finally announced, with a touch of pity, that they could continue their journey.
The white room disappeared, and the group entered the endless tunnel that Yin Ren had seen before. Of course, except for Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo, the rest of the people were only able to stay there with Qi Xin’s personal assistance.
Faced with this dizzying and spectacular sight, almost everyone held their breath, except for Lu Xiaohe, whose face showed a tinge of bitterness.
Her mother was here, but this place was too vast.
She had thought that coming to the Other Side would bring her some relief, but seeing the appearance of the Other Side only intensified the despair in her heart.
Countless fragments and colors stretched out like an endless sea.
Although they could imagine everyday objects here, even if Lu Xiaohe imagined computers and devices, they were just empty shells incapable of booting up or accessing data. Not to mention Ge Tingting, Huang Jin, and Fu Tianyi; their special abilities and spells were all nullified here. They were no different from ordinary people on the street and couldn’t conduct investigations on their own.
The Other Side, the Other Side. They truly seemed like they were dead, carrying only their ethereal souls.
She didn’t know what to do. They had come here to find someone, but so far, they hadn’t found any relevant clues.
Lu Xiaohe looked at Yin Ren with a hint of melancholy. Apart from waiting for Yin Ren to start searching, it seemed like there was nothing she could do.
As this thought arose, Lu Xiaohe’s face grew even more bitter.
“Everyone, take out your photos.” Qi Xin didn’t care about the psychological state of ordinary people. “Right now, I need you to adapt to walking on the Other Side. This photo is a crucial prop.”
Lu Xiaohe took out a photo of her and her mother and lowered her gaze.
In the photo, her mother had a healthy, round face. She held a young Lu Xiaohe in her arms, smiling brightly.
Lu Xiaohe knew that behind each photo should be personalized comments from five other individuals. These comments were individually written, and no one except the commentator and the owner of the photo knew the contents—this was explicitly explained when they were asked for the photos by Shian.
As a science post, Lu Xiaohe wavered for a moment. Would it count as some kind of protection if she received the blessings of her companions and the Great Celestial Master with this photo?
At this moment, Qi Xin grabbed the photo from Yin Ren’s hand and casually flipped through it. Lu Xiaohe followed her actions and turned to the back.
Only then did she notice that the edges of the photo were connected by thin black threads, which penetrated into the hard board behind the photo. Upon closer inspection, she realized that these hard boards were intricately woven with these black threads, emitting a faint black glow.
She wasn’t the only one who noticed this. Fu Tianyi tried to tear apart the photo and its base to see how long these black threads could stretch.
“Don’t tear it apart randomly!” Just then, Qi Xin reprimanded Fu Tianyi. “The photo is made with my hair connected to my original body. Otherwise, how do you think an inanimate object like a photo can enter?”
Fu Tianyi’s hand trembled, almost throwing the photo away.
This was a physical part of a Primordial Elemental, and if Qi Xin severed the connection, it would become the most powerful source of corruption within minutes.
Lu Xiaohe couldn’t care less about the commotion. She carefully read the handwriting on the back of the photo, trying to adjust her emotional state.
[Your mother will definitely be fine. Fu Tianyi] Fu Tianyi’s handwriting was pretty, indicating some practice.
[Xiaohe Jie, jiayou*! Ge Tingting] Ge Tingting’s writing was graceful and a bit youthful.
*It’s a ubiquitous Chinese expression of encouragement and support that doesn’t have a direct translation. The closest would be “refuel” (in this context), but I don’t think it quite fits.
[Wishing you success. Huang Jin] The font was neither good nor bad, just a common style.
[Lu Xiaohe, Lu Xiaohe’s mother, He Huan. Zhong Chengshuo] …It was still the human printer style she was familiar with.
[Leave it to me! Yin Ren] It was evident that Yin Ren’s handwriting lacked skill, but it had its own beauty.
On the other side, Qi Xin glared at Fu Tianyi again and continued explaining.
“There are comments behind each photo. Both the handwriting and the content are ‘you know, I know’ intelligence… Hmm, in human terms, you have established an encrypted connection between yourselves.”
She reluctantly provided the explanation.
“On the Other Side, if there is a disturbance at one end of the connection, it will naturally affect the intelligence, such as—”
Qi Xin mercilessly struck, a mist entwined around a certain limb, and she knocked Fu Tianyi unconscious with a “thump”. Dr. Cat was almost knocked off as well, and its tail puffed up.
At the same time, Fu Tianyi’s comment disappeared from Lu Xiaohe’s photo. She looked at the empty space in shock and then at Fu Tianyi, who remained motionless. Immediately after, Qi Xin lifted Fu Tianyi and woke him up amidst his sobbing.
As Fu Tianyi regained consciousness, the crooked comment reappeared, once again appearing on the back of Lu Xiaohe’s photo.
“Loss of consciousness will cause the connection to be severed, but there is another situation.”
Qi Xin tossed the weeping Fu Tianyi aside, and her misty form acted again, grabbing Zhong Chengshuo’s collar.
Zhong Chengshuo: “?”
This time, Qi Xin’s action was swift. Before Zhong Chengshuo could express his confusion, he disappeared from the spot. Yin Ren’s fur puffed up even more than Dr. Cat’s, but he couldn’t use his abilities. Lord Ghost King stepped forward a few steps, reaching out to grab Qi Xin by the collar.
Lu Xiaohe looked back at the photo.
On the back of the photo, Zhong Chengshuo’s comment became blurry and difficult to read. Moreover, the line of text was slightly tilted, leaning in a certain direction.
Like a pointer.
“The farther the distance, the weaker the connection signal. But in times like this, it can probably indicate the location of your companions… Alright, that’s the end of my explanation. You’re all clever people. You should know how to use this thing.”
Qi Xin clapped her hands with a face showing the relief of finishing an annoying task. In the next instant, Zhong Chengshuo appeared beside her with a swoosh, looking disapproving.
Yin Ren was still gripping Qi Xin’s collar with a gaze as sharp as a knife, seemingly contemplating how to slice this person into pieces.
“What’s with your expressions? If I throw away the cub, the cub will truly be lost.” Qi Xin remained calm while being held by Yin Ren, glancing at Zhong Chengshuo from the corner of her eye. “Or perhaps, Mr. Fear, do you have a different opinion?”
Zhong Chengshuo hugged his shoulder bag tightly, remaining silent.
“Is that all?” Lu Xiaohe anxiously asked. “Do we have a similar method for the missing people…”
“As long as Yin Ren becomes a mature Primordial Elemental, he will be capable of doing all the things you’re thinking of.”
Qi Xin didn’t give a direct answer, not even sparing a glance at Lu Xiaohe.
“Next is free activity time. Do whatever you want. I’m only responsible for bringing humans here, and I don’t care about anything else. If you encounter something you can’t handle, go back to the white room and wait.”
Lu Xiaohe clenched the photo tightly.
Indeed, there was no reason for Qi Xin to help humans with her abilities. Giving them an opportunity and a little guidance was already going above and beyond. In plain terms, this so-called journey to the Other Side was just an accessory for Yin Ren and the others—like a soothing toy that babies don’t want to let go of, a tiny lifeless object.
Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo were okay, but when it came to other Elementals, humans needed to remain highly vigilant and avoid contact if possible.
As Lu Xiaohe contemplated, a shrill howl echoed from the end of the tunnel. A pitch-black torrent piled up like a mountain, rushing towards them.
Yin Ren recognized this scene. It was a group of Elementals forming a cluster, surging forward in search of prey.
“By the way, let me introduce.”
Tour guide Miss Qi raised her hand, pointing towards the rushing black legion.
“This is a common phenomenon in the Other Side lately—group hunting. Due to food shortages, the weak unite to tear apart any solitary Elemental. Your photos all bear my aura, so they shouldn’t easily… huh?”
The massive legion surged forward, engulfing everyone from Shian. Countless tentacles wildly thrashed about, enveloping everyone and gathering high above their heads, dashing in a certain direction.
For a moment, screams from the people of Shian mixed together. Dr. Cat’s claws tightly gripped Fu Tianyi, who let out a yelp of pain.
What an audacious kidnapping! Even Qi Xin was stunned for a full three seconds.
Were these creatures driven mad by hunger, daring to provoke “Sorrow”?
She narrowed her eyes, and her main body was itching to make a move. But just as she was about to attack, Yin Ren’s voice could be heard amidst the cries—
“Qi Xin, stop!” he urgently shouted. “It’s an acquaintance!”
As soon as he was bound, Yin Ren felt a strange sense of familiarity.
He had definitely seen these soft, slippery, decaying-colored tentacles before. The points where the tentacles intersected formed grape-like shapes, with black and gray chunks of flesh riddled with holes. And around those chunks of flesh were embedded fourteen crimson spheres.
Hmm, he had indeed seen these things before, on a night when the moon was just right. Yin Ren quickly shifted his gaze, and sure enough—
Among them, an Elemental was holding up a tablecloth with a cat pattern using its tentacles. The tablecloth swayed as if it were a flag. With sharp and shrill sounds, its round “meow” cry was particularly grating, causing even Meiqiu to look around.
…Miss Gao Mengyu, your cat is here.
[What’s going on?!]
Before Qi Xin could speak, Yin Ren’s thoughts shot out.
The fourteen-eyed cat waved its tentacles and shook the tablecloth. “Meow!”
At the same time, its thoughts also infiltrated Yin Ren’s mind.
[They want to wage war against humans, but we don’t want to fight.]
It curled its tentacles in a pitiful manner.
Yin Ren was taken aback. [War? Do you have a way to fight in the human world?]
He glanced at the soft and squishy fourteen-eyed beings beneath him. These things had their own set of cognitive pollution and could indeed be formidable opponents.
But currently, everything was calm, without any major rifts. How would these things be able to reach the mortal realm?
Even if they could pass through the gap, without possessing a physical body, they could only hide within the gap and barely survive by traversing the interstitial space. When the time came, not to mention movement, food would be a problem.
That night, it turned out that Shi Jingzhi’s words were correct. Yan Budu had just returned to the cave when he started vomiting blood non-stop, as if he wanted to empty his entire body of blood. In his unstable condition, not to mention the opposing force of Kongshi, Yan Budu probably couldn’t even defeat Lord Bai at the moment.
Kongshi helplessly fetched bowl after bowl of hot water and used warm water to wipe away the blood.
The linen cloth emitted faint white steam as it gradually wiped away the dark red blood stains, revealing the image of a person within the bloodstains. The blood seeped into the crevices of the fabric, then dispersed into the water, turning the clear water in the bowl a pale crimson.
The monk clenched his fingers. The warm water slid over his slender and powerful hands, falling back into the bowl with a crisp sound.
Yan Budu had a lifeless expression and spoke arrogantly. “…Venerable, there’s no need for you to bother about me. I’ll just die here on my own. You can drag the corpse back and report your completion.”
Kongshi continued to wring the blood-stained cloth as if he hadn’t heard.
While Kongshi was busy wiping away the blood again, Yan Budu propped himself up and used his strength to imprison Kongshi beneath him.
Yan Budu’s clothes had been stained with too much fresh blood earlier, so he had to take them off, revealing porcelain-white skin. His breath was scorching, turning into white vapor as it left his mouth, carrying a faint trace of blood. His long hair was stuck to his body with sweat, as if it bore some kind of curse with dark patterns.
He lightly tapped the iron bowl with his toes and covered himself with the fox fur, then draped the monk’s robe over it. The cave fell into silence, and the flickering firelight cast an orange halo that flowed and undulated along their figures.
Yan Budu separated his damp hair and deliberately propped himself up with his injured arm. The pain combined with his illness caused his whole body to tremble slightly, and blood began to seep from the wound on his severed arm. Perhaps due to his extreme weakness, Kongshi didn’t use as much force to incapacitate him as before.
“Venerable, you truly have a kind heart. An eminent monk is indeed an eminent monk.”
Yan Budu’s voice grew softer and sounded like honey mixed with blood. He traced his fingertips over Kongshi’s face, leaving several streaks of blood between his brows and eyes.
“It is fate and illness that have come to kill me. Venerable, you haven’t violated the precepts by helping me…”
Finally, he no longer made an effort to support his body but allowed himself to fall onto Kongshi’s chest. With fiery red eyes and black hair like a prison, the two of them, one on top of the other, were extremely close.
Close enough for their breaths to intertwine endlessly, with no other objects in their field of vision.
Seeing that the other’s gaze remained unchanged, Yan Budu sneered softly. He deliberately moved slightly and licked and bit the edge of Kongshi’s ear.
“So, why did Venerable help me?”
The words “help me” slipped out of his lips, each word lingering and filled with tenderness.
Days of deliberate restraint came to an end at this moment.
Yan Budu’s true nature was fully exposed. Even if it was only his state of mind, his eerie and sticky aura made people extremely uncomfortable. Tainted with the color of disease and harboring wicked thoughts as deep as the abyss, this person’s smile was both beautiful and resembled a demon living in the human world.
Kongshi moved the damp cloth skillfully, ignoring the current situation. “Please raise your arm. There’s still some blood to wipe over there.”
Yan Budu: “…”
The profound power of the Venerable shattered the lascivious atmosphere with this one sentence.
One person desired warmth under the red canopy in a romantic setting, while the other remained motionless as if wiping a lifeless object. The monk truly seemed like a stone. Not to mention any physical response, Kongshi’s face didn’t even blush.
Yan Budu immediately lost interest. He rolled to the side, laying in a lifeless “大*” character, allowing the monk to manipulate him. Kongshi cleaned up Yan Budu, applying a cold cloth to his forehead. Then, he prepared some easily digestible soft vegetable soup and fed it to Yan Budu little by little.
*Big/large/heavy.
The strong wind roared, and snowflakes danced. The chessboard lay quietly a few steps away, with the remnants of the previous game’s final moves still visible.
Yan Budu had never had any issues with himself. He slowly swallowed the soup while his gaze wandered over Kongshi’s body, and then he revealed a smile that seemed to guarantee his victory. “Kongshi, oh, Kongshi, you really are…”
He didn’t finish his sentence but continued to gaze meaningfully at the monk.
Kongshi remained calm. His profound features were immersed in light and shadow, devoid of any sharpness. He always seemed to have that gentle and carefree expression, unhurried and composed.
No joy, no sorrow.
The two remained silent for a while.
Shi Jingzhi frowned. “At this rate, Venerable Kongshi’s condition isn’t good.”
“Kongshi’s martial arts are inherently effective against Yan Budu. With Yan Budu’s injured arm and weakened spirit, he doesn’t have full confidence, so he won’t easily make a move.”
“It’s not a matter of confidence, but a matter of winning or losing.”
Shi Jingzhi paused, glanced at Yin Ci, and cautiously continued, “If Yan Budu were to attack and kill Kongshi without any tricks, he wouldn’t be considered to have won against the Venerable.”
Yin Ci showed some interest. “Go on.”
Shi Jingzhi became more energized. “He learned the Nightmare Breaking Technique just to regain control of the situation. For people like Yan Budu, losing the initiative is more unbearable than death. And to win against someone like Kongshi, killing him is useless; destruction is the true victory.”
Yin Ci smiled, somewhat cryptically. “Are you speaking from experience?”
“Does your Master seem like… cough, a dark-minded person.”
When this person felt guilty, he really enjoyed referring to himself as “Master”.
“I’m not Kongshi, and I have no Buddha in my heart. I have seen people who are even crazier than you. There’s no need to be so cautious… Didn’t I already say it? I prefer someone like you.”
As soon as these words came out, Shi Jingzhi seemed to have been caught off guard. He quickly averted his gaze, focusing intensely on Yan Budu’s smoking pipe pendant.
Yin Ci shook his head, smiling.
It turned out that Shi Jingzhi and Yan Budu truly shared a deep connection.
Under Kongshi’s care, Yan Budu weathered this ordeal. He didn’t rush to kill Kongshi but instead acted as if nothing had happened, engaging in casual conversations and playing chess together.
Yin Ci could tell that Yan Budu had changed his strategy.
For several days, they maintained a harmonious atmosphere. Yan Budu knew deep down that as long as they avoided discussions of morality and righteousness, they could always find common ground. From mathematics and music theory to astronomy and history, they never ran out of topics to discuss day after day.
Yan Budu was like an experienced hunter, patiently biding his time with his prey.
He no longer mentioned the despicable things he had done, and he balanced his actions, presenting himself as a debauched gentleman. When he was in the mood, he occasionally made flirtatious moves or teasing remarks toward Kongshi. However, all of these gestures stopped just at the point where Kongshi wouldn’t shy away.
A brush of fingertips, a sweep of hair. His words were charming but not vulgar, his touches were ambiguous but not explicit; everything was just right.
Strangely enough, unlike before, Yan Budu wasn’t deliberately putting on a show. He no longer avoided the cruel and violent aspects of his character, shedding layers of masks and freely expressing his true nature, enjoying his time with Kongshi as he pleased.
True to Yan Budu’s expectations, Kongshi remained unruffled, unperturbed by the rain and wind.
And so, over a dozen days passed, nearing a month since their confinement.
The coldest moments had already passed, and the snow outside the cave had lessened considerably. Yan Budu’s injured arm was finally approaching full recovery.
Their daily routines became regular.
In the morning, Kongshi went out to dispel the illusion and open a path, while Yan Budu took on the task of foraging and would bring back vegetables, meat, and eggs. One vegetarian and one meat-eater, yet their ways never clashed.
After finishing lunch, they played chess. A game would take several hours, and the two would engage in lively conversations, discussing a wide range of topics. The two masters were knowledgeable and talented, and the cold atmosphere of the previous days of silence was no longer present.
At sunset, the chess game would always end in a draw. Kongshi would begin reciting sutras, while Yan Budu silently practiced his internal cultivation to heal his injuries. Occasionally, when he couldn’t hold it anymore, he would vomit some blood, and Kongshi would help him wash his clothes, clean his body, and adjust his inner force.
During these moments, Yan Budu would always take advantage of the situation* until the monk furrowed his brows.
*Wipe oil/eat tofu/mopping water. Term used to describe taking advantage of others in public.
Compared to the initial confrontation filled with hostility and madness, it now seemed like a fantasy. Simply looking at these days, they resembled friends who had accumulated years of understanding, rather than mortal enemies.
Compared to the beginning, Yan Budu seemed much more relaxed, whether it was acting or genuine. Kongshi’s expression remained unchanged, as gentle as ever.
But the observing master and disciple understood that this was merely a brief period of peace after the two of them stumbled upon the ancient formation.
Once the remnants of the formation outside the mountain were resolved, severe cold and snowstorms would no longer be able to confine masters like Yan Budu and Kongshi. They would leave this narrow cave and enter an endless state of life and death—either Kongshi would die here, or Yan Budu would be captured by Kongshi and taken to the Jianchen Temple, never to see daylight again.
They couldn’t stay here forever.
…How exactly did Yan Budu plan to “destroy Kongshi”?
To deceive Kongshi through days of familiarity, to stir emotions in the monk? Or was he going to pretend to repent and then strike from behind?
Yan Budu had lived an extremely cruel and violent life, with no satisfying opponent or trusted friend. If he were to spend his final years like this, it might even be considered the best way to die. Did he truly still want to “destroy Kongshi”?
Yan Budu was a person who had always been unrestrained, without any taboos, and acted recklessly. He couldn’t be judged by ordinary standards. At this point, the master and disciple were no longer certain.
Until a change occurred.
On that day, as usual, they were playing chess when they suddenly discussed “death”.
“I’m unwilling to die like this. Kongshi, have you ever heard of the ‘Shirou’? By consuming it, one can achieve immortality and eternal youth.”
“Amitabha. Such practices are not encouraged in Buddhism.”
“I guessed as much. A sect that amuses itself with the heavy sand hoop couldn’t possibly seek immortality.”
“Has Patron found the Shirou?”
“If I had, would I still be here?”
Kongshi slowly placed a chess piece down. “Then what about after Patron achieves immortality?”
“…Why are you suddenly asking about this?”
“Patron is now superior to ordinary people, having experienced all the wealth and luxury of the human world and seeing all beings as no more than pigs and dogs. So, once Patron ascends to immortality, what kind of thoughts and way of life does Patron plan to have?”
Yan Budu’s breath hitched.
“Wealth beyond measure, infamy renowned. The masses are dull, and there’s no one by your side. If Patron becomes an immortal, it will only prolong this situation. Forgive this humble monk for failing to see the difference.”
“Immortals are different from ordinary mortals. How can there be no difference?”
“Then, will Patron abandon worldly desires and sever the seven emotions and six desires?” Kongshi unusually laughed. “Is Patron willing to do so?”
Yan Budu’s face also darkened unusually. “Who was the one who said he would save me? Kongshi, what do you mean by this?”
“Amitabha. This humble monk is curious.”
“You’re curious too? That’s rare.”
“The remnants of the formation outside the mountain have been resolved by about eighty to ninety percent, and the mountain path has appeared. Perhaps by tomorrow, we won’t have the chance to converse anymore. This humble monk just wants to seek clarity while we still have this opportunity, that’s all.”
The final game?
So this was their final game.
A month of ease and tranquility ultimately turned out to be a fleeting illusion. Just like the ever-changing chessboard every day, the outcome never changed.
Yan Budu’s expression slightly changed, shifting from melancholy to a faint arrogance, which then transformed into pity tinged with a sense of charity.
In the span of a stick of incense, he slowly tightened his grip on the chess piece and spoke casually, “Once I become an immortal, the first thing I’ll do is take my time. I’ll do whatever I want, no longer worrying about all those nonsense matters and dealing with two-faced people who speak with forked tongues.”
“After all, mortals in this world are just a few masks and a few types of reactions. I’ve grown tired of killing people, so why not catch an interesting immortal to pass the time with me? The heavenly realm is so vast; there must be someone I can’t see through, right? Then I’ll truly be carefree…”
…Just like this very moment.
Yan Budu slightly widened his eyes.
Kongshi saw him stop midway through his words, unable to continue, and simply reminded him in a gentle voice. “Patron, it’s your turn to make a move.”
Click.
The stone chess piece slipped from Yan Budu’s trembling fingers and fell to the ground.
In the next moment, Yan Budu spewed out a mouthful of black blood. He collapsed to the ground, curling up into a ball.
That chess piece soaked in the dark pool of blood was three shades darker than the rest.
Yan Budu’s alluring face contorted completely. Through his disheveled hair, he stared at Kongshi with eyes filled with disbelief and bitter resentment. He convulsed in pain, and filthy blood kept flowing from the corners of his mouth.
Kongshi stood up. “Patron, let me help you to another place—”
“Get lost!” Yan Budu wailed, his nails digging tightly into the ground, mangling his flesh. “Damn you, do you know…”
Before he could squeeze out a few more words, more black blood sprayed out.
Yan Budu trembled violently, almost unable to speak properly. Judging from this condition, it was even more severe than all the previous episodes combined.
The days of their mutual understanding and peace shattered into pieces. Yan Budu showed a panicked expression for the first time. His negative emotions seemed out of control—fear, sorrow, and hatred all mingled together, splattering in every direction along with the black blood.
“How could I… How could I have this intention only now…”
Unlike the previous episodes, countless small, bluish-black blood vessels appeared all over Yan Budu’s body. They intertwined with each other, delicate and intricate, against his fair skin, resembling the fine cracks of porcelain.
Beautiful yet terrifying.
Yan Budu was still playing chess normally a moment ago, but now he was burning with a high fever, and his whole head emitted heat in the freezing cold. His condition was bizarre, as if possessed by a demon, yet there were no signs of his inner force being in chaos. Just as Kongshi was helping him up, Yan Budu let out a miserable scream. His inner force exploded recklessly, forcing Kongshi to retreat.
Kongshi finally showed a different expression. “Patron, what is…?”
“Congratulations, monk, congratulations.” Yan Budu’s tone turned eerie and sarcastic. “No matter what happens this time, you’ll have to carry a dead person out of this mountain. How convenient, cough, it is.”
“Last day, isn’t it…? Tomorrow, you and I will be opponents again, so you won’t have to… you won’t have to lay a finger on me.”
Yan Budu’s eyes were bloodshot, and his red pupils resembled flames from the depths of hell, revealing a hint of desperate madness.
“I should have… should have killed you long ago… but it’s a pity that someone like you won’t accompany me… accompany me to hell…”
After uttering those fierce words, he seemed to have emptied himself. Then, Yan Budu despairingly clawed at the ground with his nails. His voice was so low that it couldn’t be heard. Kongshi approached and barely made out a few muffled “why” and “on what grounds”.
Kongshi let out a soft sigh.
The monk pried open Yan Budu’s hands and carefully bandaged his wounds. He wiped away the blood from his mouth and nose with gentle movements as always.
But in the end, disregarding Yan Budu’s struggles, Kongshi forcibly took his pulse.
“A few days ago, this humble monk saw some good medicine. If it can be collected in time, it should be able to keep you alive.”
“Pointless…”
“Today is today, tomorrow is tomorrow. A patient is a patient, and an opponent is an opponent.” Kongshi lowered his gaze. His voice was clear and unobstructed. “It would be best if you didn’t move recklessly and wait for my return.”
In the midst of intense pain, Yan Budu suddenly revealed a smile stained with blood.
“Venerable is so attentive—could it be that you’ve taken a liking to me… If you don’t mind these threads of blood, I can play with you, Venerable… Even in death, it’s still a romantic affair*…”
*To die under the peony. It’s a saying historically used by men to express their admiration for women (like it’s romantic to die under such a beauty (the peony)).
“If a few words from Patron were enough for this humble monk to be drawn to the mortal world, then this humble monk would have been troubled long ago.”
After speaking, the tattered monk’s robe fluttered through the air. Kongshi carried the stone sword on his back, standing tall and resolute, stepping into the wind and snow without hesitation.
Yan Budu leaned against the stone wall, watching Kongshi’s figure with a gaze too complex to put into words.
Before long, his strength finally gave out, and he fell into a deep slumber.
Yan Budu, having been acupointed, couldn’t move anymore, so he simply closed his eyes and dozed off. Kongshi continued chanting scriptures for an hour before falling asleep while still seated.
The storm outside had calmed down slightly, and the cave fell into silence with only the crackling sound of the flames.
Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci, immersed in their own state of mind, didn’t truly feel sleepy. The two main characters in the memories fell into silence, once again having nothing to do.
After a while of silence, Shi Jingzhi stood up on his own, ran over to Yan Budu, and tried to snatch Yan Budu’s red jade smoking pipe like pulling a radish. However, the smoking pipe seemed to be stuck in the air, and he couldn’t even move the tassel.
“In this state of mind, everything can be touched, but the state cannot be changed.” Yin Ci looked at Shi Jingzhi’s frustrated expression and added considerately.
“Ah, I saw that the smoking pipe had a soft fish demon eye attached to it and wanted to take a closer look.”
“No wonder the scenery here is so complete.” Yin Ci smiled.
A soft fish demon eye… This fox’s eyes were still as sharp as ever.
Soft fish demons were rare, and their fish skin could be made into “character cloths” to transmit information. The pair of fish eyes were interconnected, allowing storage and transmission of scenes. However, the process was extremely complicated and tedious, and only someone like Yan Budu, with extravagant desires, would use it as a pendant on a smoking pipe.
It seemed that Yan Budu used the demon eyes to record the surrounding scenes at all times. Whether for analyzing enemies or reminiscing about amorous encounters, he could retrieve the images afterwards, making it very convenient.
If Kongshi had given in to Yan Budu just now, with Yan Budu’s arrogant attitude, once they left this place, he would have immediately sent the footage to the entire Jianchen Temple for appreciation.
Shi Jingzhi seemed to have thought of the same thing, and his face wrinkled slowly.
He tried to pulse Yan Budu, but images were just images, and he couldn’t make out anything. Yin Ci watched as his master paced restlessly for a while before obediently returning back to his side.
“This is just a state of mind. How can even temperature sensations be restored.” Shi Jingzhi sat down cross-legged beside Yin Ci. “A’Ci, do you want to take a nap? Even if your body isn’t tired, it can help pass the time.”
Yin Ci shook his head. “If you want to sleep, then sleep.”
Shi Jingzhi didn’t move, he just gazed at Yin Ci by the flickering firelight.
As if he wanted to engrave him in his heart with his eyes.
“From the first encounter with the Chigou Sect assassin, to the Ghost Tomb, Yuanxian Village, and now… A’Ci, you seem to fear nothing and know everything.”
Yin Ci regarded it as another attempt to probe him. “What about it?”
“It’s really good to have you by my side. I feel very at ease. If I had fallen into this place alone, I would definitely be completely lost and scared to death.” Shi Jingzhi didn’t ask any further and just expressed his feelings.
He no longer referred to himself as “Master*”, and his tone was calm and sincere.
*Clarity: Previously, Shi Jingzhi would refer to himself as Weishi or Shifu (depending on context) but is no longer using those titles.
Yin Ci silently looked back at him.
Shi Jingzhi rubbed his hands together and smiled. “At first, I thought you were just an ordinary villager, and then I thought you were a skilled person with a hidden identity…”
“Now what?”
“A’Ci has a decent appearance and a temperament that suits him perfectly… Are you an immortal who has come to accompany me on my final journey?”
Shi Jingzhi didn’t look at Yin Ci, but instead gazed at the snowstorm outside the cave. The flames cast an orange glow on the rocky walls. They were immersed in a long-gone era, completely detached from the mortal world, with only the two of them in boundless solitude.
In a place like this, neither gods nor Buddhas could be seen. It felt like they could say anything, and all desires could be understood.
Yin Ci: “Shizun, you are just physically weak, and your mind has become confused.”
“But I have never felt so at peace.”
“Aren’t you afraid that I have ulterior motives?”
Shi Jingzhi laughed heartily, which was an uncommon sight. “The Buddha Heart Formation has awakened me. Besides my own life, I have nothing else to offer. What can you possibly gain from me?”
Yin Ci fell silent.
Looking at the smiling face of this person, he had a fleeting thought of wanting to escape. There was more than one person in the world who could use yang fire, and there were others who sought the Shirou, not just Shi Jingzhi.
He wasn’t bound to him.
It was the opposite of Shi Jingzhi. As time passed, Yin Ci felt as if he had drawn the worst lot. There was a moment when he suddenly understood the helplessness of Yan Budu when faced with Kongshi.
If Shi Jingzhi were an ordinary person, he could have observed coldly, using him mercilessly until the end. But Shi Jingzhi wasn’t an ordinary person.
How many years of waiting was his remaining year of life worth? How long could his sanity hold on for that fleeting glimpse of radiance under the setting sun?
Would he give up using this person for the sake of that tiny warmth of vitality?
…It truly gave him a headache.
Yin Ci reached out his hand and gently placed it on Shi Jingzhi’s head. The latter trembled, almost blurting out “no sense of propriety”, but managed to hold it in at the last moment.
In his state of mind, this person was also warm and tender. Yin Ci couldn’t help but lower his gaze—Shi Jingzhi hadn’t realized until now, when they were so close, who was borrowing whose body heat.
‘Very well,’ Yin Ci thought. ‘Let’s take it one step at a time. There’s still a long road ahead.’
However, before he made a final decision, if this person wanted to sincerely exchange hearts, he would give a few points in return. It wasn’t impossible.
“Nothing at all? Shizun, that’s not true.” Yin Ci breathed a sigh of relief, and his tone became relaxed but not frivolous. “This disciple can still gain something from you.”
Shi Jingzhi choked for a moment and playfully tapped the back of Yin Ci’s head. “Have you been possessed by Yan Budu? Nonsense is pouring out of your mouth.”
In the next moment, both of them burst into laughter. Shi Jingzhi lay down again, resting his head on Yin Ci’s leg, and his long hair flowed like running water, spreading across the ground. This time, he didn’t fall asleep. His amber eyes remained clear and transparent. “Since we can’t sleep, let’s chat. Last time, I told you so many stories. This time, it’s your turn, A’Ci… As a knowledgeable disciple, you must have many tales.”
As he said the latter half, he adopted a playful tone, unable to contain the laughter in his voice.
Yin Ci narrowed his eyes at him. “Shizun, I am particularly good at ghost stories. The atmosphere is perfect right now. Do you want me to tell you a few to pass the time?”
Shi Jingzhi: “…”
Shi Jingzhi: “Dear disciple, spare me, please.”
As a result, Yin Ci still couldn’t manage to tell ghost stories to Shi Jingzhi. They chatted, sometimes with purpose and sometimes aimlessly, and they comfortably passed the night without any guard.
Morning arrived, and the blizzard continued. The second day began with Yan Budu’s cordial greeting—
“Venerable, I really love this face of yours. I really want to find an excuse to peel it off and put it in my immortal tomb.”
Kongshi was carefully slicing mushrooms. “Your praise is excessive, Patron.”
After cooking mushroom and vegetable porridge, Kongshi removed Yan Budu’s acupoint restraint and pushed the first bowl of porridge toward him.
Yan Budu picked up the bowl of porridge, smiling like a poisonous flower. “Speaking of bald-headed monks, I’ve killed nearly a hundred of them. Some ‘eminent monks’ would weep bitterly on their deathbeds and even be willing to lick the soles of my boots, just to beg for their lives. Kongshi, those monks who died so tragically would be so disappointed if they saw how you behave.”
Kongshi smiled kindly, without a trace of anger in his eyes. “Patron, is one bowl not enough?”
Yan Budu: “…” He silently pushed the empty bowl back, starting to suspect that this monk had a problem with his ears.w
However, he never gave up easily. After finishing the meal, Yan Budu once again provoked Kongshi. He roasted his damp boots and pressed his bare feet against the monk’s chest. “Bald donkey, stop chanting scriptures and play chess with me.”
Kongshi raised his eyes.
Yan Budu twirled his red jade smoking pipe, dispersing his true qi. He carved a chessboard on the hard rock, then enveloped his true qi around scattered gravel, rolling them around randomly. When they stopped, they had formed perfectly round game pieces.
With a flick of his sleeve, Yan Budu brought the stone chessboard to the center of them, and the stone pieces were divided into two piles. Yan Budu made a cut on his injured arm, and fresh blood flowed out, staining his nearby pieces a dark red.
Dark red against ash gray—a clear contrast between white and black.
Yan Budu licked his wound and lightly kicked Kongshi. “Everything is ready. Let’s play chess.”
Kongshi grasped Yan Budu’s ankle and pushed his leg away. “Very well.”
Yan Budu’s smile became even brighter. “Since we’re discussing victory and defeat, why not make a little wager? How about this, after each game, the loser cuts off a finger. Plain porridge makes one’s mouth taste bland, but adding some meat wouldn’t be bad.”
With this proposal, there was no room for negotiation. Kongshi sighed and ignored him.
Seeing the excitement, Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci joined them and took their seats in front of the chessboard. Little did they know that within half an hour, this game of chess would turn into a game where one person tormented three others.
It was because Kongshi made his moves extremely slowly. It was so slow that, in comparison, even his chanting of scriptures seemed passionate and thrilling.
Yan Budu himself initiated the game, so even if he had to grit his teeth, he had to finish it. In order to undermine Kongshi’s authority, even if he felt drowsy, Yan Budu still forced himself to stay alert and kept talking.
“Venerable, your moves are grand and powerful, with the strength of a thousand catties. But why is the chessboard sticky and full of greed for life and fear of death, reminding me of the time I dueled with Su Zhi?”
Yin Ci: “…”
A hundred years ago, although they were evenly matched, he really didn’t want to let go and fight Yan Budu. It wasn’t that he feared for his own life—it was because if Yan Budu discovered his immortality, it would bring about endless troubles.
However, with Shi Jingzhi listening on the side, even if he was completely clueless, Yin Ci felt a subtle sense of embarrassment.
Fortunately, Kongshi saw through the situation. “Perhaps Patriarch Su simply doesn’t want to deal with you and is showing you the way out.”
Yan Budu: “How do you know?”
Kongshi smiled gently. “Empathy, treating others as oneself.”
“Indeed, in that case, I will say a little more.” Yan Budu sneered, but before he could continue, he coughed up another mouthful of blood.
Kongshi, holding the chess piece, paused in mid-air. “Would the Patron like me to diagnose your condition?”
“No need. I have seen all the famous doctors in the world. Since childhood, I have had strange illnesses that no one can cure… Except for the horrifying blood vomiting, nothing else matters.”
Yan Budu’s face turned pale, his lips stained with blood, and his appearance was extremely enchanting, causing people to involuntarily avert their gaze.
However, Kongshi fixedly stared at him, as if looking at a wounded deer or an elderly person coughing up blood.
“Amitabha.” After a while, Kongshi shifted his gaze away and made another move.
Yan Budu wiped away the fresh blood and laughed. “Compared to my own illness, you should be more concerned about something else—your intention to bring me back to the Jianchen Temple and keep me imprisoned for a lifetime. Unfortunately, in case I fail to achieve immortality, my life is already coming to an end. It’s a pity that you are trapped in the wind and snow, mired in the mud, all for nothing.”
“Even if Patron can only live for one more day in the dungeon, the victims can witness Patron’s fate with their own eyes, and the rest of your life won’t be tormented by inner demons.” Kongshi joined his palms together.
“Victims? Monk, do you know why I spent ten years building the Ghost Tomb, yet the righteous path only recently started to besiege my sect?”
Yan Budu’s smile grew increasingly intense.
“It all started with ten taels of silver. I discovered that with just ten taels of silver, I could buy a person’s life—some were willing to sell their family members to me, some were willing to sell themselves for the sake of their families, and there were even those who wailed and fought for the dead, but once they received the silver, they fell silent. Later, the prices varied for different people, but the willingness to fight and endure remained the same.”
“The closure of the Ghost Tomb involved too many people, with a lot of troublemakers. You all barely managed to come up with the label of ‘tyrannical and ruthless’ to settle old scores.”
Kongshi remained silent.
“People are born with inherent differences in quality; it’s fate. Most people in the world are as foolish as pigs and as simple-minded as dogs. The lives of animals are cheap, so if I want to kill them, I kill them. It’s just following the will of heaven.”
Kongshi raised his eyes. “Inherent differences in quality? Children are naive, the elderly are confused, yet they live longer than you, Patron. Why do you only mention one aspect and not the other?”
The monk’s tone was gentle, as always.
“Furthermore, sheep eat grass, and tigers eat sheep. When a fierce tiger meets its end, its corpse is devoured by the grass. The cycle of karma is the way of heaven. Patron, you are also among sentient beings. There is no need to belittle them so lightly.”
Yan Budu raised an eyebrow. “It’s only natural for tigers to eat sheep, so what crime have I committed by killing children and women?”
The monk’s eyelids remained motionless. “If Patron deems yourself innocent, then you are innocent.”
“I thought I was going crazy, but you, baldy, are even crazier than me.”
“The burden of guilt is in the mind of Buddha; one can only reflect on oneself. However, regardless of Patron’s thoughts, being able to play against me here has its causes and consequences, and the retribution isn’t pleasant.”
Kongshi pointed to his giant sword and smiled even more calmly.
“Patron sees sentient beings as pigs and dogs. From what I see, Patron is no different from pigs and dogs, and can hardly be considered worse than them.”
Yan Budu: “……”
Suddenly, Shi Jingzhi flinched, and Yin Ci turned his head. “What’s wrong?”
“A’Ci, Venerable Kongshi isn’t just making empty remarks. He truly believes in what he said.”
Yin Ci furrowed his brow—if Shi Jingzhi could see it, then Yan Budu would definitely see it as well. In a sense, the compassion of sentient beings was also a form of ruthlessness.
Yan Budu’s plan to disrupt the monk’s chess game with his menacing aura seemed to be falling flat.
As expected, Kongshi calmly placed a chess piece on the board. “The cycle of three calamities. Will Patron give up the struggle of the calamities*?”
*Clarity: There’s a double meaning here. Note while it’s translated as chess, they are actually playing Go. In the case of a three calamities, it is referring to a triple ko where it’s basically a draw. Theoretically, when a situation like this happens, the game can continue forever, endlessly in a cycle. Applying this to Buddhism, it refers to the three calamities sentient beings undergo through their existence (basically the cycle of life). You can read more about it in my Kinky Thoughts. || In this context, Kongshi has set the board to be a draw, creating a triple ko, and asking Yan Budu, are you giving up (both in the game and spiritually as applied to Buddhist theory).
Yan Budu remained silent, neither uttering a word nor showing any signs of anger, as if he were calculating something.
Seeing that the opponent didn’t respond, Kongshi stopped playing. “Then let’s call it a draw. We’ll play again another day.”
Finally, Yan Budu slowly lifted his head, and his pair of crimson eyes seemed to ignite. He stared fixedly at Kongshi, and a twisted smile gradually appeared on his face.
“Interesting. I must defeat you once. Monk, I have decided to claim your head.”
Kongshi replied politely, “This humble monk needs to keep his head for chanting scriptures. I apologize for not being able to offer it to you.”
After that, Yan Budu refrained from making any comments about the past. For some reason, the Demonic Lord intentionally restrained himself, and from the way he treated Kongshi, he even seemed somewhat normal.
In the following days, whenever they had free time, the two of them would play chess while discussing the situation of the martial arts world and analyzing various techniques. Surprisingly, their conversations flowed smoothly and harmoniously.
However, in every game during those few days, the monk’s chess speed was as slow as a snail, yet he managed to create various extraordinary situations. They played strange and peculiar tactics, and neither of them held back.
But Yan Budu didn’t show any signs of frustration; instead, he appeared to be quite enjoying himself.
As time passed, Yan Budu’s injured arm gradually recovered. One night, he proposed an idea that invigorated the spirits of the Kushan Sect master and disciple. “Kongshi, I’ll accompany you outside tonight. I need to get some meat. I’ve been eating porridge for so long, and my wounds are healing too slowly.”
“Your injuries haven’t fully healed, Patron.”
“No choice then. Since you won’t cut off your arm to feed me,” Yan Budu joked.
“Patron, offering oneself to feed a tiger is only done for a female tiger with cubs*. We, as Buddhist monks, don’t feed tigers at will.”
*It comes from a story in the Sutra of the Wise and the Fool which you can read in my Kinky Thoughts. In this context, he’s saying one doesn’t offer to sacrifice oneself (feed a tiger) unless there’s a proper justification (female tiger with cubs). The TLDR of the story is: A prince saw a tigress who was starving to the point of death and had cubs. He decided to sacrifice himself in order to feed her and her cubs.
“So I can only hunt for food myself. It’s truly lamentable.”
When they were about to leave, Shi Jingzhi’s whole being was radiant. However, after he pulled Yin Ci along and followed, his enthusiasm couldn’t withstand the cold for more than the time it took to burn three incense sticks. Outside the cave was even colder than inside. Although the snow had stopped, everything was still covered in a vast expanse of white, lacking magnificent scenery. The wind carried snowflakes that slapped against their faces, and Shi Jingzhi was immediately chilled to the bone.
“Yan Budu is really… Last time, I made a mistake while cultivating my kung fu and suffered inner force obstruction. When the cold wind blew, I coughed up blood and couldn’t sleep.”
Shi Jingzhi shrank his neck, feeling a sense of sorrow.
“He wants to eat meat, I understand, but is he really in such a hurry?” Yin Ci tightly grasped Shi Jingzhi’s wrist, but his gaze never left Yan Budu.
Shi Jingzhi suddenly realized and immediately took in a breath of cold air.
Yan Budu wasn’t just playing chess in the cave; his real-life chess game had also begun. Wrapped in a fox fur coat, he stared intently at Kongshi, who was using the Nightmare Breaking Technique to break through the illusions. Even though the cold wind was cutting, he didn’t even blink his eyes.
Yan Budu was secretly learning the Nightmare Breaking Technique.
It was too similar. Yin Ci looked at Shi Jingzhi beside him, who was completely focused and absorbed in the Nightmare Breaking Technique. Their expressions were so alike, reminiscent of the time when Shi Jingzhi secretly learned the Green Maiden Sword Technique beneath the Ghost Tomb.
…It was truly uncanny.
Whether it was the symptoms, aptitude, or the resentment towards all living beings, they were strikingly similar, almost too coincidental. Yin Ci had walked the world for hundreds of years without experiencing reincarnation. So there’s only one possibility.
In this world, there was something he had yet to discover.
Yan Budu and Shi Jingzhi undoubtedly belong to some kind of similar existence.
Kongshi formed an invisible formation, using true qi instead of a copper hammer and iron bowl to activate the formation. Even though the blizzard was obscuring their surroundings, the monk swiftly turned. Even though the inner force movements were extremely complex, his coordinated hand movements were incredibly exquisite. After a dazzling display of the Nightmare Breaking Technique that left people dazzled, Yan Budu’s mouth slowly curled into a smile.
He had learned it.
And the sole reason Yan Budu kept Kongshi around was for the Nightmare Breaking Technique.
To him, Kongshi was no longer useful.
The author has something to say:
Surprise! The leader of the Ling Sect actually carries a camera with him.
…But without a camera, we would have to switch to a first-person perspective. In fact, when I imagined Shi Jingzhi’s annoyed face, I had images of a subway, a fox, and a smartphone in my mind.jpg
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Demonic Lord Yin: The fox has softened, and my heart has softened too. Well, let’s avoid it for a while (?
Fox Shi: The plan is a go (×
Kinky Thoughts:
In Buddhist philosophy, the three cycles of calamities refer to the belief that sentient beings are bound to undergo three major calamities or sufferings throughout their existence. These three calamities are birth, aging, and death.
The first calamity is birth, which represents the suffering and struggles associated with entering into the cycle of existence and being subject to various worldly afflictions.
The second calamity is aging, symbolizing the physical and mental deterioration that occurs as beings grow older. It encompasses the gradual decay of the body, the decline of faculties, and the experience of suffering and limitations that come with aging.
The third calamity is death, representing the finality and inevitability of mortality. It signifies the end of an individual’s current existence and the subsequent transition to another state, be it rebirth or liberation.
The concept of the “cycle of three calamities” reflects the Buddhist understanding of life’s inherent sufferings and the impermanence of existence. It highlights the fundamental truths of impermanence, suffering, and the need to seek liberation from the cycle of birth and death through spiritual practice and enlightenment.
What Kongshi did (quite brilliantly) was set up the game as a triple ko to show Yan Budu this figuratively and literally (in the game).
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The story of feeding a tiger from The Sutra of the Wise and the Fool.
In the Buddhist scriptures, it is said that there were three princes in the king’s chariot of the Kingdom of Bo Deng in India. One day, they went hunting together in the mountains and saw a mother tiger with several hungry tiger cubs. The mother tiger was so famished that she wanted to eat the tiger cubs. The third prince, Sariputra, saw this and sent away his two elder brothers. He went to the mountain and laid down in front of the mother tiger, but the hungry tiger had no strength to eat him.
Sariputra then climbed up a hill, injured his body with a sharp stick, and jumped off a cliff, allowing the mother tiger to drink his blood. After drinking the blood, the mother tiger regained her strength and, along with her cubs, ate up all the flesh from Sariputra’s body.
The two elder brothers couldn’t find their younger brother and searched along the way until they finally found Sariputra’s remains. They quickly returned to the palace to inform the king. The king and the queen rushed to the mountains, embraced Sariputra’s remains, and wept bitterly.
They then gathered the remains and built a stupa for worship. Sariputra, who willingly sacrificed his own physical body to save the life of the tiger, is the previous incarnation of the Buddha Shakyamuni.
Depictions of such acts of enduring humiliation, self-sacrifice, and various virtuous deeds from the previous lives of Shakyamuni Buddha are known as Jataka tales.
Kinky Translations 