Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 224: Arms

Upon returning to the human world, the individuals were immediately covered with blankets by the staff of Shian. Without the enhancements from the Other Side, everyone who returned was naked.

Once separated from the environment of the Other Side, their bodies suddenly felt heavy. It was as if waking up from a drunken stupor, surrounded by a subtle dullness and a sense of unreality. Lu Xiaohe almost fell to the ground, but she managed to support her mother and stand firmly on her feet.

The next step was a continuous process from the hospital to the conference room. Lu Xiaohe sadly realized that she had become very accustomed to this route.

The surviving missing people, the survivors from the Other Side, and many more awaiting rescue were all repeatedly questioned. After leaving the Other Side, Lu Xiaohe spent almost three days in the conference room.

However, this time, she was no longer as anxious and restless as before.

Her mother lay peacefully in the hospital, with all her vital signs improving. Lu Xiaohe had never felt so relaxed; even if the world was crumbling before her, it couldn’t destroy her good mood.

……

That being said, the world wasn’t much different from destruction.

“The mild sources of corruption from Sunken Society have rapidly spread to other cities, and a monster with the ‘Resonance’ abilities has appeared in Haigu. The monster, suspected to be guided by Xiang Jiang, is active through the underground system and has yet to be captured by Shian.”

In the underground conference room, Li Nian calmly explained the current situation.

In front of him, the screen displayed various reports and discussions. The cunning corpse centipede never engaged in direct confrontation with Shian personnel. It would only occasionally show up in the middle of the night and quickly escape, letting everyone know that there were still “gods and ghosts” in this world.

With frequent gruesome murders and people’s unstable mental state, combined with the reshuffling of the worldview involving “monsters” and “angel’s arms”, the Shian personnel weren’t necessarily faring any better than those on the Other Side.

Lu Xiaohe couldn’t help but glance at Li Nian a few more times. When they were rescuing the survivors, Li Nian maintained a serious expression until the end. After confirming that he hadn’t missed anyone, he silently left.

When Xiao Zheng returned, he naturally mentioned Meng Huai and Zhong Chengfeng’s situation. Upon hearing that Meng Huai wanted to stay behind, Li Nian only paused his pen for a moment, not lifting his head. No one knew what he was thinking.

In comparison, Fu Xingchuan was much more straightforward. Upon realizing that Fu Tianyi hadn’t come out, he had a worried smile on his face.

“Now the whole country knows about the ‘angel’s arms’. The good news is that besides ‘knowing that it represents protection’, the situation hasn’t further deteriorated. Those who tried to establish a cult were all arrested. The bad news is that this information is still spreading, and we still don’t know what Love’s purpose is.”

Fu Xingchuan’s dark circles returned, even heavier than before.

“It doesn’t seem too serious?” Back in the human world, Ge Tingting could only rely on her phone to voice her thoughts.

The monsters didn’t destroy cities like in disaster movies, and the corruption sources remained at their initial levels, but there was now a mischievous corpse centipede causing trouble.

Li Nian glanced at Ge Tingting. “It’s precisely because it doesn’t appear serious that it is serious. Why do you think Shian is blocking the information and keeping the metaphysical practitioners hidden underground?”

Ge Tingting shook her head honestly.

“A major disaster can be resolved quickly. But with this continuous series of events, it becomes more difficult to clean up. The unstable environment inevitably affects people’s beliefs. Spreading information about gods and ghosts at this critical juncture will lead to a significant shift in people’s perceptions.”

“Society has its own order, and the law is also evolving, all based on the premise that ‘the majority of people do not believe’. The existing order and laws cannot withstand such abrupt changes… If things continue like this, societal chaos will only spiral out of control.”

Huang Jin silently pondered the possibility of evacuation. Since Ding Lizi’s eyes had also recovered, maybe he could take her to a deserted island for a year or so after he received his prize money.

Fu Xingchuan: “Our top priority now is to rescue those who are still trapped on the Other Side. Regarding this matter, I have a few proposals…”

While Fu Xingchuan spoke, Lu Xiaohe, unusually, became absent-minded.

Assisting Yin Ren with the help of Shian might be too ambitious. This was a battle at the level of a Primordial Elemental. In the past, she would probably have blindly followed the leader—helpless situations were just helpless situations.

But she once believed that her mother’s terminal illness was beyond human power.

Shian had its own arrangements, but she was still the rear commander of Unit 9. Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo were still her front-line team. The current her sat at the table, on equal footing with Shian’s two top human fighters.

Could she be even more “outrageous”?

“Our top priority should be addressing the root of the problem.” Lu Xiaohe deliberated before speaking up.

Fu Xingchuan was in the middle of speaking, but he looked at this usually obedient employee with a hint of surprise. Nevertheless, he interrupted his speech and nodded at Lu Xiaohe.

Lu Xiaohe interlocked her fingers and furrowed her brows slightly. “Addressing the corruption, tracking the monster, and rescuing the missing people—Shian has always been in a passive response. Sunken Society is using this method to buy time because it knows that compared to everything on the Other Side, Shian will prioritize the ‘human world’. If we don’t come up with an alternative, we will continue to be passive.”

“Wait.” Huang Jin hurriedly spoke up. “You don’t mean to have Shian support the Other Side, do you? Yes, Meng Huai and the others have developed some spells, but it still requires a significant number of personnel to perfect them! If we withdraw the cultivators from outside now…”

Lu Xiaohe shook her head. “I am a science post, and I can only speak from the perspective of a science post. It appears that Shian does have a clear potential ally—one that won’t cause manpower pressure or attract attention.”

“At present, the science post is relatively relaxed, so I suggest that the available senior science posts and the laboratory support Zhong Chengshuo. He already has considerable knowledge of the Other Side, and being a former Primordial Elemental, his thinking is certainly broader than that of humans.”

Lu Xiaohe’s tone was very solemn.

“This is my judgment as the rear commander.”

Fu Xingchuan raised an eyebrow and stroked his stubbled chin. Li Nian lowered his eyes, adding another layer of shadow to his already troubled expression.

Only Comrade Huang Jin persistently challenged. “If Zhong Chengshuo is on the Other Side, will Qi Xin readily assist us in opening and closing the door?”

“We don’t need to have direct contact with him.” Lu Xiaohe turned her head. “We just need data exchange, and there will always be a way.”

“Are you sure he will assist the human world?”

Hearing this, Li Nian finally spoke quietly.

“Yin Ren is currently being trained by Qi Xin. The likelihood of Zhong Chengshuo, as a fellow Primordial Elemental, providing support is higher.”

Lu Xiaohe: “Uh…”

“Zhong Chengshuo isn’t a human. At this critical moment, asking him to turn around and study the human world may not be what he desires. Your proposal is good, but unfortunately, the reasoning is insufficient.”

“I…” Lu Xiaohe’s voice trailed off sadly.

Yes, Zhong Chengshuo wasn’t human. When they were together, she always seemed to forget that. To explain to Shian, she needed to find a way to present it as feasible…

Fu Xingchuan cleared his throat, preparing to continue explaining the rescue plan. Just then, his phone started vibrating like crazy.

Minister Fu answered with a troubled expression, but after a few sentences, his face gradually froze, and his eyes turned to Lu Xiaohe.

“Miss Gao, you dreamt of Zhong Chengshuo and a black cat? He was clinging to the window and said he wanted to talk to Shian?”

“Hold on, don’t go back to sleep… Wait!”

……

Zhong Chengshuo firmly clung to the window.

He held onto the windowsill with both hands, looking sincere, while Dr. Cat sat steadily on the windowsill—both of them looking towards Gao Mengyu inside the house.

Gao Mengyue had long grown accustomed to this dream. Since she discovered that it was the real Qiqi outside her door, she no longer feared the recurring dream. Over time, she even learned to pet the cat’s soft limbs in her dream while reviewing knowledge points for the postgraduate entrance examination.

But today, her dream had two unexpected visitors.

“I just called the people from Shian, and they will send someone soon.” After getting Qiqi’s affirmation, Gao Mengyu opened the window. Dr. Cat leaped into the room, surveying the small apartment.

“I see. It seems feasible to enter dreams in a physical sense.” It lay down on Gao Mengyu’s desk with its tail swaying from side to side. “Those ‘Lonely’ cats are quite useful.”

In recent days, the Lonely cats had been crawling all over the human stronghold—their fleshy limbs flailing in fear of the large number of corpses in the cold storage. Despite this, most of the Lonely cats didn’t dare go out due to the constant surveillance of the forces of Love.

Only Gao Mengyu’s cat took advantage of its physical strength and dived into “Satisfaction” every day, tirelessly warning Gao Mengyu.

At first, Dr. Meiqiu just hitched a ride and collected data on its own. Who would have thought that today, even this Old Fear had infiltrated its fleshy limbs and smuggled himself into “Satisfaction”.

Although she knew it was a dream, Gao Mengyu still poured a glass of water for Zhong Chengshuo and opened a can of meat for Meiqiu. Gao Mengyu’s cat, Qiqi, entered through the door and comfortably sprawled in the middle of the room.

“Where’s Yin Ren?” she politely asked.

Zhong Chengshuo: “He’s recuperating.” More accurately, he was scavenging for food and then running away.

Gao Mengyu had no knowledge of the situation on the Other Side. “Are you saying that you want to talk to Shian and everyone is fine?”

“Everyone is fine. I just have something I want to discuss with them,” Zhong Chengshuo said, pushing his glasses up. “You mentioned bringing someone. Who would that be?”

“It’s me.” Fu Xingchuan appeared in the center of the room.

This should have been a handsome entrance, but it was a pity Minster Fu stepped on a sprawled-out Lonely cat. Gao Mengyu’s cat let out a loud “meow” as several fleshy limbs fiercely struck Fu Xingchuan’s back.

Startled, Fu Xingchuan and the cat instantly engaged in a one-on-one battle inside the apartment.

Zhong Chengshuo patiently held his cup of water, waiting for the two to calm down. Dr. Cat, on the other hand, calmly began licking its paws, ignoring the man and Lonely cat that was wrestling.

“…So, what do you want with Shian?”

After about half a minute of struggling, Fu Xingchuan sat down on the ground, panting heavily.

“I want data,”

Zhong Chengshuo sincerely looked down at Fu Xingchuan and started to count on his fingers.

“All the research materials of the Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi; the ghost fetus data recorded by Shian in the Archive regarding the Guo Laifu case; and the blood sample analysis data of Shian on me and Yin Ren, especially the latter—the more detailed, the better.”

Fu Xingchuan: “……” While he didn’t fully understand this science post, he could sense a hint of meaning.

Whether it was Shian, the Primordial Elementals, or Zhong Chengshuo himself, they all believed that Yin Ren was the cub of “Fear”. Why did Zhong Chengshuo suddenly request this data again at this critical juncture?

Back then, “Fear” split off its power to Yin Ren, giving birth to a brand new “Fear”. Later, Zhong Chengshuo, as the old Fear, merged with a human, and Yin Ren developed as the cub of Fear. Most of the process had also been observed in the memory world.

The subtle rejection between the two also corresponded to the characteristics of the Primordial Elementals that Meng Huai discovered on the Other Side.

Even if there were deviations, they could be attributed to individual differences. Fu Xingchuan pondered but couldn’t come up with any worthwhile insights.

“Why do you suddenly need all this?” Fu Xingchuan asked decisively. “If you want to study yourself and regain your powers, I can understand that.”

“When I see a bird that walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I call it a duck*.” Zhong Chengshuo tightened his grip on the cup in his hand. “This method may be effective, but it doesn’t apply to biology.”

*Quote from James Whitcomb Riley.

Zhong Chengshuo once had spoken one-on-one with Qi Xin about the peculiarities of Yin Ren. At that time, she had made it clear that she didn’t care who Yin Ren was and only wanted to solve the problems on the Other Side. However, in their previous encounters, although Qi Xin didn’t say much, she clearly showed fear and concern towards Yin Ren.

“Now Yin Ren is focused on gaining power, so there’s no time to worry about trivial details, but I cannot afford to overlook them.”

Zhong Chengshuo looked at his own hands.

What if Yin Ren was meant to be a bird that flew in the sky but now clumsily tried to imitate swimming? What if Yin Ren’s fatal weakness was different from “Fear”? What if Qi Xin had discovered something before him and betrayed them at the crucial moment, leading to a disastrous outcome?

“I used to think that as long as I provided strong support, I could help him. Now it seems that it’s far from enough…”

Even though he had retrieved the authority of “Fear” through the Karma Lantern, that hollow feeling of powerlessness hadn’t disappeared; it had become even more apparent.

Fu Xingchuan observed this ancient Primordial Elemental.

The sleeves of his white-lined robe were slightly long, with a few folds piled up near the cup. Zhong Chengshuo furrowed his brow, showing genuine distress.

The first time Fu Xingchuan saw Zhong Chengshuo, this person exuded an air of “ease and confidence” from head to toe. But now, he seemed somewhat helpless, resembling a young person in their thirties.

“Alright, I understand.” Fu Xingchuan snorted. “Shian will provide you with all the data you need, and we will arrange for people to come here to exchange information with you. If necessary, you can access the highest-level laboratories and researchers.”

“But I heard that Meiqiu has been researching the ‘angel’s arm’ recently. If needed, please assist him,” Fu Xingchuan added meaningfully.

“No problem.” This time, Zhong Chengshuo responded quickly.

“Lu Xiaohe just mentioned it recently, that we should support your possible research.” Fu Xingchuan smiled. “Your team seems to have good coordination.”

“Please thank her for me,” Zhong Chengshuo said, bowing his head sincerely.

With a helpful assistant acquired, Meiqiu’s tail curled up straight, and it contentedly started purring.

Fu Xingchuan nodded to the two of them and disappeared on the spot. Not far away, Gao Mengyu took off her earphones and closed the graduate entrance exam materials in her hand. “Have you finished discussing?”

“Almost. I just have one more question.”

The black cat jumped onto Zhong Chengshuo’s knee and looked at him with its round eyes.

“Even if you’re incredibly bored, you wouldn’t negotiate with Shian without any clues. Hey, do you have some kind of lead?”

Zhong Chengshuo lowered his gaze, and the reflection of the black cat appeared in his eyes.

“It’s just an insignificant conjecture,” he said.

Indeed, it was an insignificant conjecture. Taking advantage of Yin Ren being away for treatment, Zhong Chengshuo locked himself in a solitary space of imagination, thoroughly chewing on every memory related to Yin Ren, hoping to find even the tiniest clue.

And he did find something.

It was just a subtle feeling.

A long time ago, in the Archive, he encountered the most beautiful monster in the world. Zhong Chengshuo remembered the mottled red veil, the sea-like black wings… and the hundreds of pale arms protruding beneath the veil.

It was their first day of interaction, and he had gently pressed his hand against that enormous palm.

And not long ago, while curled up amidst a sea of wings, a pale arm suddenly attacked, narrowly brushing past him.

Their auras were undeniably similar.

The author has something to say:

The final unveiling begins.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 223: Recess

The broken figure of Hu Tao disappeared in place, and the white arm that was dwelling on her back suddenly shattered.

Like a crumbled marble sculpture, it scattered into palm-sized pale flesh chunks, rolling all over the ground. A tremendous force erupted, severely disrupting the surroundings. Zhong Chengshuo could no longer concentrate his imagination due to the severe disturbance, and the camouflage around him collapsed in an instant.

“Run!” Yin Ren grabbed Zhong Chengshuo’s wrist.

The two took out their photos and, following the directions in the comments, sprinted towards the exit.

Yin Ren didn’t use any magic anymore; he relied solely on his physical abilities to dash through the clusters of white. Despite his astonishing athletic ability, Zhong Chengshuo couldn’t keep up with the evil that had been bounding through the mountains and forests for three hundred years. Eventually, Yin Ren practically had to drag him along.

“Why…” The atmosphere was off. Zhong Chengshuo managed to squeeze out the question amidst the jostling.

Yin Ren didn’t answer. He had sprinted ahead of Zhong Chengshuo, so Zhong Chengshuo couldn’t see his lover’s face.

Hu Tao was a fierce ghost. Although she had been a “neighbor” for some time, Zhong Chengshuo hadn’t really seen her much. He had only recently experienced emotions, so he didn’t have much deep attachment to Hu Tao.

She had left, and he would remember, but it was just a faint regret once the dust settled.

But Yin Ren was different from him. The small Yin Village from thousands of years ago could still make the Great Celestial Master wipe out tens of thousands of troops. Yin Ren had always been open about his emotions, and now that he had lost the familiar Hu Tao like this, he was definitely deeply concerned.

Moreover, since they started acting together, Yin Ren had never left him behind like this.

Zhong Chengshuo couldn’t ignore this abnormality.

“Why?” he persistently asked.

“She was exposed to too much Evil Force.” Yin Ren’s tone was eerily calm. “Even if Love immediately gave up on her, I couldn’t bring her back to her previous state. Allowing her to rest in peace early is the only way.”

The snowy landscape quickly retreated around the two, and in the blur, silence persisted for a few seconds.

Zhong Chengshuo let out an “oh”. “I know. That’s not what I’m asking.”

Yin Ren fell silent for a while. When he spoke again, his voice was somewhat hoarse. “As ‘King Yama’, you must have similar judgments. But when it comes to the decision to ‘save her’, I don’t want your opinion mixed in. I sent her away myself, and I will remember that.”

“Because you want to firmly blame yourself?” Zhong Chengshuo pondered with difficulty.

“I’ve never liked casually releasing fierce ghosts.” Yin Ren paused for a moment and answered rhetorically. “As long as they continue to exist, they will always find something.”

Zhong Chengshuo made a somewhat incomprehensible “mm” sound and didn’t ask any more questions. Yin Ren then accelerated his pace, swallowing the sourness in his throat.

Whether it was letting go of attachments and finding liberation or gradually fading away and being forgotten over a long period of time, fierce ghosts would eventually find one or two useless yet comfortable moments during their lengthy journey entangled by attachments.

Yin Ren liked these moments the most. They might be insignificant and meaningless, but they could turn “existence” into “life”.

Just like a thousand years ago, the candy specially heated at the doorstep of Yin Village and arranged into comical shapes by children.

In room 601, Building 4 of Ping’an Manor would no longer have anyone competing with him for the tablet to watch dramas, nor would anyone point out things and share random life experiences about his online shopping cart.

“…Zhong Ge.”

“Yeah?”

“The struggle with Love is now my ‘personal grudge’,” Yin Ren said. “Since it wants to find out our abilities, I’ll let it see clearly—under no circumstances should you bring out your Karma Lantern.”

“But—”

“Love is powerful, but its true form isn’t present. Otherwise, there would be no need to use Hu Tao to buy time,” Yin Ren said. “Since its true form isn’t here, I know what I need to do.”

In an instant, darkness covered the snowy world.

……

“You’re back? Where’s Yin Ren?” Lu Xiaohe looked surprised at Ge Tingting and Huang Jin.

“Huang Jin” smiled faintly. “I think they’ll be here soon. Love’s power just collapsed, so it must have suffered a setback.”

Hearing the tone, Lu Xiaohe immediately caught on. “Qi Xin.”

“Listen carefully.” With Huang Jin’s face, Qi Xin slightly raised her chin with a hint of arrogance. “You came to me for help, and I did what I needed to do. I won’t interfere in other matters. I’m just a projection here, with limited abilities. Even if you turn to Yin Ren… Huh?!”

Before she could finish speaking, everything in front of her turned into pure darkness. This time, it wasn’t the legion of cats submerging everyone, but a soft and warm mass of wings.

Yin Ren.

As they reached the exit zone at the center of the cocoon, the mass of wings suddenly appeared and swiftly expanded. It enveloped all living beings at the fastest speed, desperately trying to drill towards the exit. For some reason, Yin Ren didn’t use his transformed appearance; he still had that old appearance resembling the “cub of Fear”.

On the other side of the exit, Fu Tianyi was busy using his sword to break through the cocoon. The weak spot became the breakthrough point. The dark mass of wings burst out from within, directly stunning Fu Tianyi with a physical blow.

When Meng Huai and her companions saw a beam of darkness breaking through the cocoon, their expressions changed drastically. Unfortunately, there were wolves in front and tigers in the back. They were surrounded by countless Elementals. The darkness, accompanied by mist, instantly sealed them off completely.

Yin Ren used himself as armor to protect hundreds of humans within. Countless masses of wings rushed towards the surrounding army of Elementals, tearing open a path of escape.

As if sensing the intense turmoil, a snowy white mist gradually permeated the surface of the hemisphere. Countless arms extended from its surface, fiercely grabbing at the mass of wings.

In an instant, the outermost layer of the mass of wings tore and became damaged. The surrounding Elementals swarmed like bloodthirsty flies, voraciously devouring the damaged wings.

With an army of Elementals attacking from the front and countless arms tearing at them from behind, that pitch-black mass of wings showed no intention to fight back. It struggled and dashed as if it didn’t know the meaning of pain, like a shark caught in a fishing net, desperate for survival.

Zhong Chengshuo, once again disguised as Yin Ren through his imagination, was hidden deep within the mass of wings. He widened his eyes, desperately trying to activate his true sight and survey the surrounding situation.

Zhong Chengshuo could understand Yin Ren’s thoughts.

With the sudden loss of Hu Tao as its vessel, Love had no time to react. If they delayed any longer, Huang Jin and Ge Tingting might become its new targets.

To preserve their trump card, they had to escape as quickly as possible.

The surrounding army of Elementals was numerous, but they couldn’t withstand the massive size of the wings. In an instant, the eyeball barrier shattered, and countless limbs were twisted off.

Various attacks came rushing at them, but the mass of wings consumed all the physical attacks, rendering emotional resonance and cognitive distortion useless. The encirclement of the Elementals was on the verge of collapse.

Seeing the unfavorable situation, the giant hemisphere within the white net finally reacted.

Bang!

A horrifying dull sound came from the depths of the giant hemisphere.

The arms on the surface of the hemisphere wildly extended, almost piercing through that black mass like countless arrows. One of the arms almost grazed Zhong Chengshuo as it passed through.

Zhong Chengshuo placed one hand on the Karma Lantern and tightly clenched his fist with the other hand.

Bang!

An indescribable sense of oppression rose from the interior of the hemisphere. It was so close that it made one’s hair stand on end, yet it felt distant, as if it was in another space.

Countless arms seemed to be injected with chicken blood*. That black mass was torn apart by one-third. However, Yin Ren didn’t let go of the person he was holding tightly, nor did he slow down their escape. With a kind of almost fanatical determination, he bit down on one direction, voraciously devouring the nearby Elementals.

*Metaphor referring to become excited or insane.

Zhong Chengshuo held onto the lantern tightly.

Seeing the mass of wings he normally cautiously embraced being torn apart, Zhong Chengshuo felt so devastated that even breathing became difficult. But he had to observe everything, not missing any details.

Bang!

Countless arms entangled and transformed into several giant hands, fiercely squeezing the black mass.

At the same time, a breach finally appeared in the encirclement of the Elementals. Like a breached flood, the sea of wings broke free from the encirclement and swiftly flowed down from the web crawling with Elementals, rushing towards the distance.

Then it disappeared without a trace.

……

As soon as they had transferred to a relatively safe area, Yin Ren returned to his human form. His skin and flesh turned over, creating a terrifying appearance.

Once everyone’s consciousness in Shian was restored, Yin Ren’s gaze directly locked onto “Huang Jin”. “Quickly escort everyone out.”

Love’s plan to trap them had failed, and it would undoubtedly send its Elementals to search in all directions. From Lu Xiaohe’s mother to over a hundred missing individuals, Yin Ren brought them out of the cocoon, and they couldn’t be left unattended.

Qi Xin decisively released the body she was possessing, revealing her figure in the mist and using her foot to nudge Huang Jin, who was lying limp on the ground.

She cast an annoyed glance at the numerous missing individuals scattered on the ground, then looked over at Yin Ren, covered in wounds. “It was unnecessary. You wouldn’t have ended up in such a sorry state.”

“The sorrier, the better,” Yin Ren said.

“For humans, perhaps,” Qi Xin replied.

Qi Xin stepped over the bodies of the missing individuals and stopped in front of Yin Ren. Her face was as cold as snow, and her voice shifted to a mental transmission.

[I trained you not to win over Love with flowery words. You should suppress it comprehensively, destroy it head-on—that’s the “Fear” I expect from you.]

A smile appeared on Yin Ren’s heavily scarred face. [Yes, I should have given it my all just now to show you clearly—see what Love wants to do, and what exactly I am, so that you can choose the next course of action.]

Qi Xin narrowed her eyes.

“Please send these people away, Qi Xin,” Yin Ren said with a smile on his face, but there was no humor in his voice. “I’m sorry, but at least for now, I can’t give you any reason to not lean towards Love.”

“Indeed, Fear without a brain is more reasonable,” she sighed softly. “I have only one request…”

“I will stay,” Yin Ren interrupted. “Not just to heal my injuries, but also to remain on the Other Side.”

Upon hearing this, Zhong Chengshuo took a few steps, supporting the heavily injured Yin Ren and silently showing his support.

Qi Xin didn’t waste any more words. With a sigh, the group was teleported to the courtyard of the Lonely cats.

“Keep watch around us,” Qi Xin threw a command to Gao Mengyu’s cat.

Amidst the curious crowd, Qi Xin once again contorted her body. Accompanied by successive explosions, her flesh twisted into a horrifying ring. Within the distorted scene, gradually transforming into a vortex, it connected to the “Other Side passage” beneath Shian.

The first to be sent out were the missing individuals.

One by one, the weak people were sent away from the Other Side, awaiting Shian’s rescue. When it came time to send Lu Xiaohe’s mother, Yin Ren stopped Lu Xiaohe, who was helping with the evacuation.

He placed his hand on Lu Xiaohe’s mother’s chest, and red silk surged, permeating into her body like clouds and mist.

“She’ll be fine.” Yin Ren’s voice softened. “After she’s out, have Shian’s people take a look. Xiaohe Jie, your wish has been fulfilled.”

Lu Xiaohe opened her mouth, seeming to have countless words she wanted to say, but nothing came out.

In the end, she just nodded heavily, holding her mother, and left the Other Side.

Ge Tingting pulled the unconscious Huang Jin. “Yin Ge, you…”

“I’ll be fine. You all should go back and rest,” Yin Ren said with another smile. “After learning so much on the Other Side, it’s time for you to inform Shian as well.”

Zhong Chengshuo looked at Yin Ren with a complicated gaze.

Currently, they needed Qi Xin’s assistance to enter and exit the Other Side. Considering Qi Xin’s lack of empathy towards humans, if she were to break ties with Yin Ren, the people left behind wouldn’t know how long it would take for them to leave.

“Well, bring Xiao Zheng and Chengfeng with you too. They’ve remembered what had accumulated over the years.” Meng Huai crossed her arms and spoke casually. “I’ll stay behind to guard. Shian needs someone on the frontlines.”

“I’m not leaving. You need a partner.” Zhong Chengfeng shook her head. “I know what you’re worried about—you’re afraid that if you go back, you won’t want to come back again.”

Meng Huai clicked her tongue. “It’s been so many years. A little delay in going back won’t make a difference. You talk too much.”

“Whether I’m willing or not, it’s the same for you,” she muttered under her breath.

The missing individuals sank into their dreams, one by one disappearing into the passage. Strangely, no one showed a joyful expression—time on the Other Side was almost stagnant, while time in the outside world passed leisurely. At this moment, it might not be considered a definitive and satisfactory conclusion.

Zhong Chengshuo surveyed his surroundings. The courtyard that was filled with people moments ago now appeared empty. Apart from Yin Ren, himself, and Qi Xin, the three remaining Elementals, there were only Meng Huai and Zhong Chengfeng, Fu Tianyi, and Dr. Cat.

“At least the task of finding people is over.”

Fu Tianyi took a deep breath. He stood up straight, showing a bit of the dignity of the Fu family.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t of much help this time. Next time…”

A sharp screech from the “Lonelies” came from the outside world. Qi Xin’s twisted ring trembled, and the vortex in the center fluctuated violently. Then the flesh ring deformed and expanded, accompanied by the squeezing sound of space closing, and the exit vanished without a trace.

At the same time, the courtyard gradually became shrouded in shadows as a large number of Elementals rushed toward it.

The Lonely cats ran around the ground, picking up tablecloths and kittens, trying to hide themselves behind larger cats.

The largest “Lonely”—Gao Mengyu’s cat—quickly moved, using Yin Ren to block its massive self.

Fu Tianyi: “?”

What about his way back home?

“They’re pretty quick.” Yin Ren sneered. “Meng Jie, it’s too dangerous for you to stay with us. It’s best to leave early.”

Meng Huai lifted her eyelids. “Oh.”

She took out a large amount of Elemental flesh and smeared it on the ground, expanding and contracting it.

In the next moment, the earth trembled, and the surrounding space cracked like fish scales. Zhong Chengshuo instinctively held onto Yin Ren, and the two of them were then pressed down by a large pile of sticky flesh and limbs. After struggling for a while, they finally managed to poke their heads out from under the group of cats.

Before them, astonishingly, was Meng Huai’s stronghold.

Fu Tianyi held Dr. Cat in his arms with an expression mixed with conflict and bitterness. The entire courtyard of Lonely cats was crammed into the room, making the once spacious room feel somewhat crowded. The Lonely cats stood dazed for a moment before curiously crawling around.

In an instant, the original small courtyard was empty, leaving only one person.

Qi Xin looked up, meeting the incoming army of Elementals head-on.

“Heh, humans,” Qi Xin remarked.

She rolled her eyes and disappeared into the depths of the mist.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 222: Snowflakes

Huang Jin and Ge Tingting collided with a round cocoon and slid down in a sorry state.

Huang Jin’s brain buzzed—just now Zhong Chengshuo suddenly knocked over his smog spirit weapon, then that person gave him three instructions, and he even lied in front of Hu Tao. His heart was pounding, and he felt dizzy and heard ringing in his ears.

Now things were different. The crisis was far away, and hope seemed distant too. Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo weren’t by his side, and Ge Tingting seemed pitiful and helpless with him.

“What should we do?” He lay on the ground with a sense of despair.

“I can hear some noise. Maybe it will come in handy.” Ge Tingting patted her ears forcefully.

Huang Jin frowned and rummaged through his bag, searching through his talismans and Elemental flesh. “We need to find them at some point. Hey, do you have any convenient tools? I only have Tranquility Talismans and smoke bombs for escape. Nothing else.”

Before this, Meng Huai asked them to make handy weapons. Huang Jin painstakingly made a carving knife, Tranquility Talismans, and smoke bombs—a set of life-saving tools. For a spirit smith like him, he had endured too many demands for attacks that weren’t supposed to be his responsibility.

However, Ge Tingting, being a corpse servant, must have been in a tight spot as well. Huang Jin couldn’t help but be curious about what kind of Elemental flesh and blood weapons she could produce.

Indeed, when the topic was mentioned, Ge Tingting’s expression became somewhat subtle. Huang Jin didn’t know if he was overthinking, but he felt that this girl was avoiding his gaze.

“…Ge Tingting, what exactly have you done?” Huang Jin swallowed his saliva.

“Something that’s suitable for the present situation,” Ge Tingting answered cautiously. “It’s likely to save our lives; not very harmful, but… um…”

A sense of foreboding suddenly rose in Huang Jin’s heart. “Go on.”

Ge Tingting took out a dark gray candle from her backpack. The candle was as thick as a soda can, rough in appearance, with traces of minced flesh mixed in the grease. It was intricately carved with modified runes, which was very simple and crude.

Pure emotional resonance expansion.

Sweat slowly dripped down Huang Jin’s forehead. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

“This is a candle made from sadness, sorrow, and despair. It has a simple resonating magic circle inscribed on it, and the wick is made to ‘steal joy’,” Ge Tingting whispered. “I’m not a spirit smith, so it may not look good. Please don’t mind.”

Is this a matter of it looking good or not? Huang Jin gritted his teeth.

If this thing were to be lit, it could accumulate a large amount of “sorrow” related emotions in a small area. What kind of candle was this? It was damn well a Qi Xin trap!

Ge Tingting explained sincerely, “Qi Xin has always been watching from the sidelines, but she doesn’t seem to want to break ties with Yin Ren. If we specifically ask her for help, she won’t ignore us.”

Huang Jin: “You mean…”

Ge Tingting: “Both of us have damaged brains…”

Huang Jin: “…”

Alright, he understood. People with damaged brains were the most suitable to be controlled by great Primordial Elementals. While he was still thinking about what weapon to use for self-defense, this girl was considering using him as a weapon.

Huang Jin rubbed his face vigorously, his gaze drifting. “You’ll definitely make a name for yourself in the future. Fine, since you still have your hearing, I’ll go along with it.”

“Alright. Don’t worry. Even if she controls you, you’ll be safe.”

“I know.”

Ge Tingting lit the candle on the spot, and a blood-red glow emanated from it. The flame ignited for only a few seconds before a piercing gaze descended upon them. Then, the surrounding mist suddenly thickened, and from within the rolling fog, connected skeletal corpses emerged from various directions.

“How troublesome.”

Ge Tingting heard a sigh from afar.

Meanwhile, Huang Jin’s head gradually sank, looking as if he had fallen asleep. However, when he raised his head again, his face became extremely indifferent.

“Speak, little girl. What do you want me to do?”

Huang Jin’s voice was still the same, but it carried a touch of cold arrogance.

“Find someone.” Ge Tingting extinguished the candle, speaking in a confident tone. “Hu Tao is highly likely to be under the control of Love. Yin Ge and Zhong Ge want to preserve their strength and haven’t engaged in a battle with her yet. Now, Hu Tao is looking for the murderer who killed her back then. Please help us find him.”

“So be it.”

Huang Jin, possessed by Qi Xin, stood up and revealed a faint smile.

“I made a promise to someone that I wouldn’t participate in their battles… But helping you won’t be considered a breach of contract. Is finding someone all you need?”

Ge Tingting took a deep breath. “If the target is close to us, I hope you can find a way to lure Yin Ren and the others over. If the target is closer to Yin Ren’s side, you don’t need to take action. Just stay nearby with me.”

“You have quite a few requests,” “Huang Jin” said calmly.

“It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. As long as Love doesn’t discover you, you can also investigate the latest developments up close,” Ge Tingting responded flawlessly.

Huang Jin, possessed by Qi Xin: “Alright.”

He first placed his hand on Ge Tingting’s head, retrieving memories. Then he closed his eyes, seemingly experiencing something, and his eyebrows gradually furrowed.

“The person you’re looking for isn’t here,” he said. “There are no relevant clues, I’m quite certain.”

Ge Tingting stood frozen in place, a chill running down her spine.

……

Hu Tao floated in front of the two of them.

The white arms tightly embraced her, and the four arms that dragged them to this place were still extended. Six arms in total emerged from behind her, resembling the long legs of a spider and the eyes of a snail. They would occasionally reach out towards Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo, filled with vigilance and hostility, sometimes getting dangerously close.

Yin Ren was experiencing this kind of situation for the first time, pretending to be Zhong Chengshuo. Fortunately, their heights were similar, and he was familiar with Zhong Chengshuo’s habits, so he didn’t expose himself in front of Hu Tao. He walked cautiously, maintaining a polite and safe distance.

At the moment, he was more concerned about Hu Tao herself.

Hu Tao’s face was covered in bloodstains, but amidst the stains, there were strange cracks revealing a white color. The aura emanating from her became increasingly heavy and dense, far exceeding what a fierce ghost should bear. She was like a bomb being heated over an open flame, ready to explode at any moment.

The same power was faintly surging from beneath their feet. Just a moment ago, they didn’t feel this subtle oppressive sensation.

The milky strands surrounding them, and the nest-like structures resembled the forests of a thousand years ago in Yin Ren’s eyes. As the Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi, he was most skilled at dealing with abnormal beings.

Yin Ren swiftly walked towards the nearest nest, contemplating quickly in his mind.

The surrounding aura changed, and the cocoon jolted for a while. The cocoon they were in must have changed its position. Sending Hu Tao, this familiar person, to delay them was probably an attempt by Love to place this cocoon in a troublesome location, but she couldn’t accomplish it all at once.

If they were truly trapped securely, things would become troublesome.

Without the Evil Fruit, Zhong Chengshuo, pretending to be Lu Xiaohe, made a makeshift flesh knife as a weapon. Now, Zhong Chengshuo, pretending to be “Lu Xiaohe”, was pressing on his side as he used the blade to cut the silk threads on the cocoon’s face—it was a thin and emaciated middle-aged man, but it wasn’t A’Shen.

He then placed the silk threads back in their original positions, performing his actions meticulously.

Hu Tao snorted coldly. “You’re so slow.”

“Evil beings can’t use magic here, so Yin Ren can’t be of much help.” Yin Ren spoke calmly. “Judging from your current condition, you should know this.”

Hu Tao: “Just find him and stop babbling.”

Yin Ren looked at his former partner.

Hu Tao’s eye sockets were filled with bloody chunks of flesh, making it almost impossible to find her eyes, let alone discern her emotions. But he just knew that she was staring at him at this moment.

[What are you——?!] [I warn you, don’t mess around. I’m registered with Shian!] The first time he saw Hu Tao, she had this bloody appearance, but her tone was much more panicked.

It felt like a lifetime ago.

“Hu Tao, has the person helping you ever told you that you can’t withstand this kind of power?” Yin Ren left the nest, steadily walking towards the next one, his tone sounding nonchalant. “If you come into contact with excessive Evil Force, you will collapse.”

It would be a decent ending, triggering a massive explosion for them. If things went slightly wrong, there was a possibility of transforming into an Evil Spirit without rationality, unable to meet a good end.

Even for a doomed ghost destined to dissipate, this was still the worst outcome. Yin Ren clenched his fists, trying his best to ignore the arms that were reaching out and exploring in front of him.

“I’ve been searching for him for a long time.”

Hu Tao didn’t respond to Yin Ren’s words. As she spoke, the arms behind her gently retracted, embracing her with an affectionate gesture.

“During that period twenty-nine years ago, there were too many cases happening in Haigu that didn’t make it to the news. I wandered around near my house, listening to the neighbors discussing… They said A’Shen had fled out of fear. So, I waited, waiting for him to be captured.”

Yin Ren softened his voice, no longer mentioning the word “collapse”. “And then?”

Hu Tao fell silent for a moment, as if she had forgotten how to speak. After a while, she continued slowly.

“His ID card, bank cards, and phone were all at home. For a person like him, how long could he hide? I waited and waited, but the police never managed to catch him.”

“Then you encountered us.”

“Yes, with the spirit contract, I could go to many places. I heard that he disappeared along with many others, and I heard that many people who were corrupted acted crazily back then.” Hu Tao’s voice became ethereal. “We were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love for so long. My parents always liked him. Maybe…”

She never finished her sentence. Her fingers tightly dug into her arms, piercing them and drawing more blood.

Yin Ren’s steps slowed down.

Perhaps her husband’s madness, her parents’ deaths, and all the bloodshed were due to supernatural reasons. Perhaps she was just a small victim before the occurrence of abnormal incidents…

Hu Tao intentionally sought contact with the ‘Innocent Thoughts’ and similar items, probably out of similar intentions.

“I understand,” Yin Ren comforted her. “You want to find peace of mind.”

“Yes, I need to know the reason. Otherwise, I can’t hate peacefully… can’t hate peacefully…” Her voice grew weaker, turning into indiscernible murmurs, hidden behind her bloodstained hair.

Yin Ren halted his steps.

Hu Tao, as if someone had stepped on her tail, became spirited again. “Why aren’t you moving ? Why aren’t you moving?”

“Because I realized that finding him is meaningless,” Yin Ren said gently. “Most of the people trapped here are filled with strong affection. You’re thinking that if you find A’Shen here, it will prove that he loved you and had no choice but to do what he did.”

The arms behind Hu Tao stirred restlessly, as if they wanted to attack but were drawn to this poisonous yet intriguing topic.

“You’re right,” she said hoarsely. “I must be certain…”

“But you can’t be certain.”

Yin Ren, embodying the appearance of Zhong Chengshuo, stood in place.

“Even if you find him here, it doesn’t prove anything. You’ve seen how Yin Ren looked when he consumed the ‘Innocent Thoughts’. The affection is real, but does that negate the harm caused?”

“No! He truly loves me; how could he do such a thing?!” Hu Tao screamed. “A’Shen would make breakfast for me with his own hands, never argue with me, and never force me to do anything I didn’t like! When I was sick, he was so worried that he carried me to the hospital, wearing out his feet! I’ve known him for fifteen years—fifteen years! You’re speaking so lightly—”

Yin Ren took a step forward. His expression was still eerily calm, but not quite like Zhong Chengshuo’s.

“So you must know for sure that within your social circle, you won’t come across the Ghost Market’s ‘Innocent Thoughts’. But let me tell you, during a Divine Descent, it does drive people insane, but they didn’t go mad to the extent of wanting to deceive others. When it comes to killing, indeed one can sense being watched, but that requires the act of killing to occur first.”

“Shut up!!!” Hu Tao covered her ears and instantly swung an arm towards Yin Ren. Yin Ren didn’t defend himself or even evade.

A deep bloodied gash appeared on his left cheek.

Zhong Chengshuo instinctively wanted to rush forward but then remembered he was wearing Lu Xiaohe’s shell. He stood helplessly in place, unsure of what to do.

Why hasn’t Yin Ren ended the conversation yet? Could it be that his previous words weren’t just meant to make the enemy relax?

…Why hasn’t Yin Ren taken the opportunity to communicate countermeasures with him and only kept talking to Hu Tao?

But he couldn’t intervene.

With pursed lips, Zhong Chengshuo looked at Yin Ren a few steps away.

“A’Shen is a murderer, and it doesn’t conflict with him loving you. ‘Love’ is not an almighty excuse, and it doesn’t prove anything. Let me say it again, regardless of whether you can find him here or not, he is undoubtedly a murderer.”

Ignoring the bleeding wound, Yin Ren continued calmly.

“Here.”

Yin Ren pointed at his heart.

“…And here.” He then tapped his temple. “They are fundamentally different things.”

Hu Tao rushed abruptly in front of Yin Ren; her shattered face almost touching his nose. She spewed a ghastly aura, and behind her, several arms emerged as if breaking through a cocoon, making her resemble a strange multi-limbed creature.

These new arms faintly impeded her momentum—apparently, the time Love wanted to delay wasn’t enough.

Yin Ren silently watched her with a trace of sorrow gradually appearing on his face.

Pure obsession was the essence of a vengeful ghost, and Hu Tao remained in this world through her hatred. Her hatred must have a focal point—a solid enough one.

So why, when she argued, “Maybe there’s no need to hate A’Shen”, was her state still so stable?

“What exactly do you want to say?” Hu Tao vigorously scratched her bloody and disfigured face. “Are you trying to tell me I don’t need to search, and all I have to do is hate him wholeheartedly?”

“No, that’s not it,” Yin Ren said softly. “What I want to say is that you are not at fault.”

“Your obsession is the ‘flaw’ that might have caused the tragedy back then. Now I’m telling you, you’re not wrong.”

Hu Tao suddenly retreated, instantly shrinking to three or four meters away from Yin Ren, as if poison surrounded him. The previously resentful and eerie presence transformed into a startled little creature.

She opened her mouth, resembling a bloody hole, as if she wanted to refute, but no sound came out.

Yin Ren sighed inwardly.

“If he is just a pitiful person influenced by something, then he must have been influenced before the killings. As his closest lover, your failure to notice anything amiss in time makes every person’s death your mistake.”

“If he is merely a cold-blooded psychopathic killer, and you’ve known him for fifteen years without suspecting anything, then the deaths of your parents are also your indirect fault.”

“…Hu Tao, deep down, you actually thought this way before, didn’t you?”

Obsession, obsession—how could it be so easily shaken?

The hatred toward the killer was merely superficial. Perhaps Hu Tao herself didn’t realize or didn’t want to admit it—ultimately, what she resented was herself.

Hu Tao floated in place, blood dripping from her body onto the ground. The space inside the cocoon was too snowy white, and when the blood fell to the ground, it looked like ink.

Ignoring the arms waving around Hu Tao, Yin Ren took a few steps forward, standing in front of her.

Peeling away the surface, revealing the festering wound, only one step remained.

“A’Shen is indeed a murderer. As for the motive, whether it’s deep affection or a vile nature, it is always the one who acts that causes the tragedy, regardless of their reasons.”

“You are not at fault.”

Yin Ren’s voice was clear and calm, carrying a faint authority.

“No matter what others say, this is my judgment. If A’Shen is still alive, I will help you kill him.”

“You are not at fault.”

Yin Ren stared directly into Hu Tao’s eyes, repeating it for the third time.

Hu Tao floated stiffly, and the arms behind her ceased their movement.

Time passed, and the overwhelming hostility in her subsided slightly, transforming into uncertain doubt. Those arms curled in confusion, and the blood no longer dripped. The fragmented features on Hu Tao’s face slowly came together, reconstructing her broken face.

But there were too many white cracks on her face, and no matter how she tried, the flesh couldn’t be completely restored. That familiar face now resembled a shattered porcelain doll.

“…Why do I feel like you’re not Zhong Chengshuo? That guy doesn’t have this much thought. Could it be that spending time with Yin Ren has enlightened you?”

Curiously, she scrutinized Yin Ren, just like their first encounter in the living room. Her tone became somewhat cheerful, reminiscent of her previous self.

“You make some sense. I didn’t really think about it before. Let’s go, we can search while we talk.”

Yin Ren didn’t move.

The girl in front of him was dressed in pajamas, with white cracks covering her body. In a trance, she showed a hint of distress, and her blood-colored features slightly furrowed.

The arms behind her seemed to sense something. They dangerously swayed, emanating increasingly powerful force, making the white cracks on Hu Tao’s body more pronounced.

Meanwhile, Hu Tao herself maintained that half-awake state, revealing a gentle expression. “Zhong Chengshuo?”

“I’ve encountered many vengeful spirits,” Yin Ren whispered. “You were a good person in your life, so much so that even as a vengeful spirit, you don’t repel people.”

“…Zhong Chengshuo?” This time, there was a touch of uncertainty in Hu Tao’s call.

In an instant, her long hair fluttered, and her red clothing seemed fiery.

Yin Ren removed his disguise, placing a hand on Hu Tao’s forehead. He lowered his gaze with an unusual lack of amusement on his face.

And his hand was stained with fresh red blood.

The Great Celestial Master, Zhong Yi, excelled at exorcism.

The essence of a vengeful ghost was pure obsession. When the obsession shattered, the vengeful ghost would dissipate like melting snow. And the wavering of obsession was the first crack.

There was a brief moment of surprise on Hu Tao’s face, followed by an expression that seemed to say, “As expected”, as she smiled absentmindedly.

Countless arms embraced her, jostling her. The power of Love surged madly, yet she merely pressed her forehead against that hand.

“I’m letting go. You said you would help me kill him, so I won’t search anymore.”

She said.

“Mom and Dad won’t blame me, right?”

The scenery inside the cocoon resembled the purest ice and snow, and this particular piece silently melted away.

Those arms no longer embraced anything.

The immense power approached its eruption but lacked the crucial support, ultimately dissipating into nothingness.

Kinky Thoughts:

I’m so sad for Hu Tao. All she wanted was just to watch 3^rd rate dramas and like to eat snacks!

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 221: Landmark

A few hours ago.

Meng Huai held a blood and flesh spirit weapon made of a hand chain and a ring, while Zhong Chengfeng alertly held her gun. The two agilely jumped up and down on the edge of the cocoon. Even Xiao Zheng, the rear science post, skillfully hooked the white silk threads around him, resembling a reincarnated spider spirit.

Whenever any Elementals attempted to approach, the two would create a minor harmless disturbance in a farther location and silently slide back. There were only a few Elementals around the cocoon, and the exit agreed upon by Unit 9 was in a blind spot, ensuring a safe retreat route.

Only Fu Tianyi remained, faithfully guarding the cocoon.

The surroundings were filled with shimmering tunnel walls, making one dizzy. Various black and white Elementals crawled around, creating a scene akin to the snowflakes on an old television screen. He couldn’t afford to provoke them or hide. Fu Tianyi firmly clung to the white silk net, while Dr. Cat clung tightly to Fu Tianyi; their movements were perfectly synchronized.

It was just keeping watch, Fu Tianyi reassured himself countless times in his mind.

They were here to steal, not to openly rob a house, so they wouldn’t be targeted by a massive army of Elementals on the spot. Besides, if the sky were to fall, there would be people like Meng Huai to bear the brunt of it. Fu Tianyi, being a seasoned individual, had nothing to fear.

He didn’t remember the excitement he felt before encountering Unit 9 in the first place. Looking back at the evil beings he had dealt with before, it felt more like playing pretend. When it came to “others being stronger than oneself”, this young rising star of the Fu family could even smile like a Buddha.

His sharpness had been completely blunted, even more serene than Dr. Cat, who had just had its nails trimmed.

“Aren’t you here to investigate?” Fu Tianyi couldn’t help but ask the cat perched on his shoulder out of boredom.

“I am investigating.”

Dr. Cat looked intently at the end of the white net.

In the center of the white net lay a half immensely large white hemisphere, motionless. It was embedded in ethereal mist, resembling an eye without a pupil. With the haphazardly stretched white threads around it, it looked like a white spider lurking in the center of a spiderweb. Compared to the obese belly of that hemisphere, the small cocoons containing the missing individuals were more like tiny droplets on a spiderweb.

Insignificant and fragile, incomparable to the massive hemisphere at the center of the web.

The black cat’s fur stood on end, and its round eyes blinked without pause. Fu Tianyi looked for a while but didn’t notice any changes in the central hemisphere.

Fu Tianyi: “So, do you know what that thing is?”

“I don’t know.” Meiqiu swished its tail. “But its interference pattern on the surrounding consciousness is similar to the ‘angel’s arm’. Since we arrived here, its interference with the surrounding thoughts has been growing stronger. Look, the tunnel walls around us have visibly distorted.”

Fu Tianyi blinked hard, but he still couldn’t see any difference.

“The curvature of the hemisphere has changed, and its volume is increasing.” Dr. Cat meowed as it explained. “This pattern looks somewhat familiar…”

Although it spoke in human language, Fu Tianyi couldn’t understand a single word.

So he decisively gave up on the idea of chatting with the science post and focused his mind, attempting to meditate for a while to regain his strength.

But before half a minute had passed with his eyes closed, the cocoon suddenly shook violently. Fu Tianyi failed to hold on and almost fell off.

“What…”

Fu Tianyi didn’t even finish his sentence when his heart nearly stopped—

In his field of vision, both the image and sound came to a sudden halt.

The Elementals surrounded them, crowded and constantly crawling, all froze in their movements. After three or four seconds, they simultaneously stood up, twisted their bodies, and turned a certain part of their bodies towards the group of Shian members.

Their movements were stiff and unified, carrying a silent hostility. The gaze felt like a grinding stone, grinding away at Fu Tianyi’s spirit, threatening to shatter it into pieces.

They had been exposed.

In the next moment, bone spikes, mucus, fleshy limbs… various indescribable things shot towards the four humans and the cat. Meng Huai leaped using the white silk threads, twirling her ring and bracelet two rounds before she put them on her hand, then she clapped her hands together on her chest.

Fu Tianyi felt a gust of wind blow past him. Countless Elementals turned into balls of flesh and blood, rushing towards the incoming objects, causing numerous explosions. Several Elementals that came dangerously close were shot down by Zhong Chengfeng’s gun.

“What are you staring at, brat!” Meng Huai shouted loudly.

Only then did Fu Tianyi snap out of it. He quickly produced talismans made from the skin of Elementals, throwing them like knives. The sword wind swept out, slicing another wave of Elementals into dust.

However, it was all futile.

The surrounding Elementals had no intention of fair competition. They climbed along the silk threads around the cocoon, seemingly confident that they could crush them to death just by squeezing their bodies.

Just as Fu Tianyi was about to scream, the cocoon began to move. It slid along the silk threads like dew, heading towards the gathering place of the white net—

That peculiar hemisphere.

Fu Tianyi almost got thrown off by the cocoon, hastily clutching onto its exterior.

Meng Huai didn’t miss this opportunity. She gracefully leaped back onto the cocoon. The bracelet in her hand extended rapidly, and the ring at the end of the bracelet also grew quickly, resembling a meteor hammer. Taking advantage of the cocoon’s movement, she swung the ring. With each swing, a burst of explosions cleared out a large number of Elementals.

The cocoon slid faster and faster, then abruptly stopped, crashing heavily into the massive hemisphere at the center of the net. Immediately, something resembling an umbilical cord wriggled over from the hemisphere and connected with the cocoon.

Fu Tianyi was shaken loose by the impact. He held onto Dr. Cat tightly, managing to land softly on the hemisphere.

At the same time, countless white silk threads extended from the surface of the hemisphere, tightly wrapping around the small cocoon. They twined and exerted pressure, causing the cocoon to merge into the hemisphere.

“Shit!” Meng Huai swung her weapon, trying to blast away the encroaching white silk. But they were like falling snow, destroying one layer only to be replaced by another, seemingly endless.

Fu Tianyi’s hand trembled as he held the talisman sword.

He didn’t know the origin of the huge hemisphere; he only knew that standing on top of it felt like standing on a small planet. In comparison, the cocoon appeared significantly smaller, resembling a toy lunar module.

Wave after wave of thin white threads enveloped them, with all the “tracks” connecting to this place crawling with Elementals. The area below the net was also filled with densely packed Elementals, surrounding them completely.

The cocoon containing their companions was continuously wrapped by the unrelenting white threads, and the army of Elementals seemed boundless. Their opponents didn’t slack off just because they were outnumbered; their tactics were flawless.

And on their side, there were only four people, utterly powerless.

In a daze, Fu Tianyi felt like he was underwater. They were treading on the back of a slumbering giant beneath the sea, surrounded by a variety of magnificent aquatic creatures. The dark seawater was colored in bizarre and spectacular hues, exuding a strange and magnificent beauty.

Sharks darted by, schools of fish surrounded them, and giant jellyfish floated gracefully.

And they were nothing more than four small clams.

“Should we… run away?” Facing the overwhelming enemies in front of them and the helpless companions behind him, Fu Tianyi felt that the talisman sword in his hand was as ridiculous as a matchstick.

There were extremely fine white threads everywhere, fragmenting the space of consciousness. Perhaps they couldn’t rely on imagination to shift their surroundings. But if they could blast a path, there might still be hope of survival.

“No.”

Meng Huai’s voice was firm and resolute.

“Even if we manage to escape, we’ll be heavily injured. The missing individuals inside the cocoon are still here. If we stay, at least we’ll have a few more hands to work with.”

Fu Tianyi’s body stiffened—given the current situation, she still wanted to save the missing people?

Meng Huai didn’t care about what he was thinking. She flicked away the strand of hair that stuck to her cheek, and with a half-smile, she leaned closer to Fu Tianyi. “It’s rare to see someone from the Fu family so spineless. Well, how about that Zhong Chengshuo—is he stronger than I imagined?”

Her intuition was even more terrifying than Fu Xingchuan’s, leaving Fu Tianyi speechless.

Meng Huai smiled at him, gripping the enlarged ring tightly in her hand. Then she swung it forcefully. The previous “meteor hammer” transformed into a “metal whip”, lashing out and causing the white threads to scatter in all directions.

Accompanied by crisp cracking sounds, the white threads tangled into a cluster, controlled by her magic, floating in mid-air. Whenever a black Elemental approached, the whip would vigorously extend, dragging the Elemental towards the cluster of threads.

Flesh collided, and the magic was activated. A searing explosion tore through their field of vision, and on the other side, a small sun seemed to explode.

Before Fu Tianyi could focus his pupils, the metal whip swung twice again, and a new cluster of threads replenished the ones destroyed. They dispersed like clouds, neither too close nor too far, forming the most terrifying defense line.

Fu Tianyi couldn’t laugh or cry—these white threads seemed to be the product of Elemental flesh and blood. Meng Huai was attacking on-site and seemed unconcerned about running out of raw materials.

The army of Elementals didn’t retreat. They clung and hung, tightly enveloping the four individuals, but they no longer dared to advance. Countless eerie eyeballs looked in their direction, with large and small eyes hidden behind the cloud-like clusters of threads, as if trying to squeeze out a patch of darkness with their pupils.

Seeing such a formation for the first time, Fu Tianyi felt his whole body go numb.

What on earth were these things? Even if he were to drop dead on the spot, he had experienced more trials and tribulations than 99% of cultivators.

“The next stage might involve cognitive pollution and emotional attacks.” Zhong Chengfeng adjusted her grip on her gun and summarized it plainly.

“Face inward and don’t look at those things.” Meng Huai turned her face towards the cocoon, speaking nonchalantly. “Xiao Zheng, help keep an eye on the emotional attacks.”

“Understood.”

“Chengfeng, you and Xiao Fu continue to destroy the outer wall of the cocoon. These things want to enclose it, but we’ll fight against it,” Meng Huai ordered. “I’ll continue to guard the outside.”

Fu Tianyi hesitated and looked at Meng Huai, who noticed his gaze and grinned at him. She avoided Zhong Chengfeng and deliberately lowered her voice.

“Alright, if you’re not comfortable saying it, then don’t say it,” she whispered. “No matter what Zhong Chengshuo might be hiding, at this point, what can I really investigate? We’ll hide as much of his strength as we can.”

Fu Tianyi: “…Um.” What’s going on? How much has this senior seen through?

“Because of the enemy’s method of attack.”

Dr. Cat interjected, giving Fu Tianyi a sidelong glance and speaking solemnly.

“When the cocoon is completely enveloped, those inside must do everything they can to escape. If they manage to escape, their strength will be exposed. If they can’t escape, they’ll be wiped out.” The black cat licked its paws. “If the hidden trump cards are revealed in advance, it won’t be advantageous for us.”

The cocoon wall wasn’t thick yet, but once it was completely encompassed by the giant hemisphere, who knew where it would be transported. Even if the giant hemisphere was made of ordinary concrete, the people inside would be trapped for at least ten days to half a month.

“So we need to quickly create an escape route.” Meng Huai flicked her wrist, and the bracelet whip created a deep opening on the cocoon. The opening was right in front of Fu Tianyi. “Hurry up. There are probably many people inside who need to be saved.”

“But what about those things around us…” Fu Tianyi tried hard not to look at the suffocating eyeball covers surrounding them.

This time, it was Zhong Chengfeng who answered him. “Let’s regroup and take it one step at a time. As long as we’re all together, we’ll find a way.”

Despite not being blood-related, her expression of sternness really resembled Zhong Chengshuo. After a few shots, the opening in front of Fu Tianyi grew larger.

Fu Tianyi let out a long breath. “Okay!”

Since the situation was already so dire, how much worse could it get?

He swung his sword at the deep fissure, and the frenzied white threads surrounding it collided with the Tranquility Talisman, instantly turning into a burst of smoke. Fu Tianyi continued striking with his sword, striving to destroy faster than the threads could envelop.

Dr. Cat jumped off him and lightly tapped the giant hemisphere with its paw. While the humans around were busy, it raised its tail and paced around.

Its gaze remained fixed on the surface of the hemisphere, covered in white threads.

“It’s grown again.” The black cat murmured to itself. “The pattern of changes in size and aura—which report have I seen it in…”

……

Inside the cocoon.

“Now you know what he looks like,” Hu Tao said. “Quickly help me find him.”

Zhong Chengshuo frowned slightly. Hu Tao’s aura was incredibly powerful, almost reminiscent of Love, surpassing even Mr. Le. If they were to rely on brute force, both Yin Ren and himself would have to intervene.

But it wasn’t the right time yet.

“I understand. I need to have a meeting with my companions.” Zhong Chengshuo nodded.

Memories at this level weren’t enough to shake off fear. The remaining people weren’t faring well—Ge Tingting immediately retched, while Lu Xiaohe and Huang Jin had pale faces and vacant eyes, clearly still not fully recovered.

Hu Tao let out an indifferent hum. “I’ll give you two minutes. Whether you finish speaking or not, I’ll scatter you all.”

“Even if you scatter us, how can we contact you once we find the person?” Zhong Chengshuo asked honestly.

“Just stab him.” Hu Tao turned her bloody and blurred face. “I’ll always remember the smell of A’Shen’s blood.”

Zhong Chengshuo lowered his gaze. “…”

Hu Tao clapped her hands. “I’m starting the countdown—”

Before the others could say more, a flash of light swept by, accompanied by buzzing noises and a misty atmosphere. Hu Tao instantly narrowed her eyes, and the white arms around her started to stir, ready to grab anyone with ill intentions.

However, the mist was just mist, and the noise was just noise. No one moved, let alone any fluctuations of magic. Hu Tao tensed her arms, unsure whether she should make a move or not.

Fortunately, after a minute, the mist and noise dispersed. In the thin mist, Hu Tao flipped her hair, stained with blood. “…What are you all doing?”

Her voice was incredibly cold.

“I accidentally slipped.” Huang Jin tremblingly raised his hand. His bag fell to the ground, scattering Tranquility Talismans everywhere.

Hu Tao let out a murky ghostly breath, tilting her head. The killing intent around her grew stronger.

“We’ve roughly set our direction.” Lu Xiaohe suddenly interjected. “Can I stay here to take care of my mother?”

She sat among the pile of Tranquility Talismans. Her face was pale, looking extremely miserable.

Hu Tao slightly lowered her head, as if staring at Lu Xiaohe holding her mother’s hand. Unfortunately, evil beings were still just evil beings. She quickly turned her head. “No, you also have to come along and search.”

Lu Xiaohe bit her lip.

“Then Lu Xiaohe and I will be a team. Huang Jin and Ge Tingting will be a team,” Zhong Chengshuo said. “Clearing the threads and finding the person requires physical strength. The efficiency of a two-person team is…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Huang Jin and Ge Tingting disappeared on the spot.

Immediately, the surroundings distorted, and this time Zhong Chengshuo saw it clearly—four arms stretched out behind Hu Tao, grabbing Huang Jin and Ge Tingting directly and swiftly pulling them away.

Everything spun and became blurred. The white and dismal scene inside the cocoon turned into afterimages, quickly passing through their field of vision. The area was filled with densely intertwined webs like rainforest vines, and they all retracted, avoiding them like living creatures.

In less than two seconds, the two crashed into the soft cocoon wall and slowly slid to the ground. Zhong Chengshuo turned his head. From this position, the interior of the cocoon looked like a pale forest that stretched endlessly.

They were at the edge of the cocoon.

If he guessed correctly, Ge Tingting and Huang Jin should be on the other side of the cocoon. In any case, they were far away from the weak point of the cocoon—the exit that Unit 9 had planned.

“Alright, search with peace of mind,” Hu Tao said with a smile.

With a rapid change of location in a short period of time and obstacles all around, finding the exit was difficult. Even if they found the exit, they couldn’t contact the other group. If they randomly dug a hole and escaped… even if they succeeded, it was hard to say what the outside would be, and there was no way to effectively support the others.

Regardless of why Love wanted to buy time, this move was truly clever.

Zhong Chengshuo’s lips curled up. Truly the most human-like Primordial Elemental. If it were him, he would have done the same.

With that in mind, Zhong Chengshuo looked at his companion beside him and tidied up his slightly messy ponytail.

His companion—another “Zhong Chengshuo”—pushed his glasses and looked solemnly at Hu Tao. The backpack of that “Zhong Chengshuo” was still bulging, but there was nothing inside anymore.

As expected of Yin Ren—he played the role very well. Zhong Chengshuo himself also had to work hard. Hu Tao found them through Yin Ren’s contract, which was just perfect.

Zhong Chengshuo took a deep breath and continued maintaining the image beside him. His brain spun rapidly, and that layer of imagination turned into a thin camouflage shell, enveloping the real him in the center.

To make the imagined image move smoothly and naturally, strong computational abilities were required. Fortunately, “King Yama” excelled at calculations.

Zhong Chengshuo hobbled, pressing against Lu Xiaohe’s face, limping along behind.

Next, they needed to escape in the shortest possible time and in the least conspicuous way.

At the same time, near the weak point of the cocoon.

Under the scattered Tranquility Talismans on the ground, Lu Xiaohe struggled to pull apart the white silk and propped herself up. She coughed a few times, crawled to her unconscious and weak mother’s side, and held her in her arms.

Within her embrace lay a photo of herself and her mother.

The comments on the back of the photo were blurry, with elusive and shifting characters pointing in two directions. Lu Xiaohe knew that the words she had left on other people’s photos would steadfastly point to herself as well.

A white silk thread snake slithered over and began to wrap around Lu Xiaohe’s feet. However, Lu Xiaohe took out a can of energy drink made from transformed Elemental flesh and blood from her backpack and carefully sprinkled the liquid around her body. As soon as the liquid touched the ground, it emitted a faint red light.

Under the red light, the white threads wriggled dissatisfied and had to go around.

“I’ll stay here.”

Lu Xiaohe whispered softly, holding her mother tightly in her arms. Her mother breathed unconsciously, and the photo was warmed by their body temperatures.

“You all… Make sure to come back early.”

The development of the situation was no different from what Zhong Chengshuo had predicted—Hu Tao would scatter the group, keeping everyone away from the exit and making it difficult to regroup. However, considering that Shian was unprepared for this sudden attack and unaware of Hu Tao’s abnormality, it wasn’t wise to expose everything on the spot.

Everyone was caught in a dilemma.

Faced with such a terrible situation, amidst the swirling smoke, Zhong Chengshuo only uttered three sentences.

“Yin Ren is here; he will pretend to be me.”

“I will disguise myself as Lu Xiaohe, while the real Lu Xiaohe stays in place.”

“Everyone, remember to look at the photo.”

She would become their best landmark.

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