Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 190: Standards

After everyone finished making a fuss, in the end, no one backed out.

The true strength of Unit 9 shouldn’t be revealed publicly, so the “secret test” was indeed the best method. To Yin Ren’s surprise, Professor Li remained unmoved. As one of the highest leaders in the Shian Haigu branch, he should have prioritized his own safety.

However, he simply stood firmly in his place, with half of his face illuminated and darkened by the screen on Jiao Lian’s body.

“Can we start? I have a meeting afterward,” Li Nian said.

Yin Ren remained silent for a moment, then raised his hand and drew several paths of light in the air—

Fear, satisfaction.

Hate, sorrow, joy, love.

…

He crookedly wrote down various emotions and marked a red cross on a few of them.

“Whether it’s the Divine Descent twenty-eight years ago or the present, only a few individuals have disappeared after exposure to corruption. If the premise of ‘mental resilience’ is correct, we need to determine which ’emotion’ triggers the disappearances.”

Yin Ren brought over a chair and sat in front of Jiao Lian.

Zhong Chengshuo naturally stepped forward, placing his hands on the back of a wooden chair.

Yin Ren slowed down his voice. “Last night, I conducted some tests. We only need to test a few emotions… We don’t need to test ‘satisfaction’. Next, we will experiment with fear. Minister Jiao will monitor the other side, while I will observe the situation here.”

“That sounds feasible.”

Fu Xingchuan glanced at Zhong Chengshuo a few times as he spoke, and the latter made an effort to look innocent, resembling a large hanging decoration behind Yin Ren’s chair. Fu Xingchuan looked on fruitlessly, then withdrew his gaze after a while.

“When it comes to manipulating emotions, I have a quick method. Time is limited, so let’s go with this.”

Fu Xingchuan took out a box of sticky note-like objects from his pocket and swiftly tore off several pieces. “These are illusion talismans, ready-made good stuff. I will evoke your corresponding memories.”

Once the memories were in place, it wasn’t difficult to trigger emotions. When the situation called for it, Shian personnel used similar methods to soothe those involved. Fu Xingchuan held the expensive talismans between his fingers and skillfully distributed them among the group.

When it came to Li Nian, Fu Xingchuan hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn’t give him a talisman.

“You won’t be affected much by it so just imagine it yourself,” Fu Xingchuan said softly.

Yin Ren looked around. After Fu Xingchuan completed his round, everyone in the dim room, including Zhong Chengshuo and Li Nian, as well as Yin Ren himself, had a square piece of talisman-like sticky note.

Lord Ghost King didn’t hold back and stuck the talisman on his face like a strip of adhesive. Fu Xingchuan simply stuck it on the back of his hand, performing the action with equal ease.

Lu Xiaohe and Ge Tingting held it solemnly in their hands, while Huang Jin wore a troubled expression, reluctantly pinching it with his fingertips.

First was fear.

Fu Xingchuan began by testing Yin Ren. When the other party’s fingers approached, Yin Ren decisively withdrew his defenses and allowed the other to perform the spell.

The illusion wasn’t powerful, but it was intricate. In an instant, the scene in front of Yin Ren receded, and familiar images entered his eyes.

The setting sun, steps, the exit of the Fu residence’s basement.

Sudden gunshots, splattering blood, Zhong Chengshuo’s bewildered gaze.

…And right after, the head suddenly exploded in front of Yin Ren.

Although he knew that the person was right beside him, the blood in the illusion felt sticky, warm, and the strong scent of blood assaulted his nose. The touch, the temperature—everything felt unbelievably real.

The blood of Zhong Chengshuo.

Even though he knew it was all an illusion, Yin Ren’s heart raced madly, and his nerves stretched to the point of pain. The panic and helplessness of that moment felt like a torn wound, oozing putrid pus.

Yin Ren felt a bit dazed. The subsequent search, battle, and reunion, including the present moment, were all just grand illusions. Was it because he couldn’t accept Zhong Chengshuo’s death that his mind conjured up these subsequent bizarre fantasies?

As this thought arose, boundless fear descended upon him.

In the next moment, Yin Ren’s vision darkened. The old steps under the evening sun vanished, and he found himself back in the secret room of the Shian building. If he hadn’t forcibly steadied himself, Yin Ren would have almost fallen to the ground.

“Haa… Haa…” Regardless of dignity, he struggled to regulate his breathing, feeling a tumultuous churning in his stomach.

He thought that once Zhong Chengshuo returned, the impact of this scene would dissipate. However, when it reappeared before him, Yin Ren realized that he could hardly think straight. His head buzzed, and the blood in his entire body turned icy cold, as if submerged in ice water.

Yin Ren subconsciously wanted to grasp the hand Zhong Chengshuo had placed on the chair back, but he ultimately held back. He quietly extended a small, wing-like appendage the size of a finger joint and slid it down the chair leg, disappearing into the shadow and crawling up Zhong Chengshuo’s pants until it reached the person’s chest.

Sensing the rise and fall of Zhong Chengshuo’s chest, feeling the warmth of his body, Yin Ren finally calmed down.

“The Evil Force in the wooden talisman doesn’t have any special reaction,” he said, clearing his throat.

“There’s, no special reaction, either,” Jiao Lian dutifully reported.

“Then, let’s move on to the next one.” Yin Ren handed out the wooden rabbit talisman he held.

He had intended to hand it to Fu Xingchuan, but Professor Li intercepted him midway. The professor tightly clenched the rabbit wooden talisman in his palm, closed his eyes, and pursed his lips tightly.

That already serious face appeared even more devoid of emotion.

As a top science post, Li Nian couldn’t rely on talismans. No one knew what kind of terrifying memories this impassive individual had unearthed.

In less than five seconds, Li Nian’s face began to pale, and a thin layer of sweat formed on his forehead. His hand trembled as he held the wooden rabbit talisman left no doubt that he was enduring profound fear.

“No special reaction,” Yin Ren said.

“Same,” Jiao Lian concisely added.

Fu Xingchuan, Ge Tingting… and finally, it was Huang Jin’s turn. They didn’t know what Huang Jin saw, but he seemed to want to pack himself into a box. Unfortunately, as the wooden rabbit talisman made its way around the group, it remained unresponsive, devoid of any special fluctuations, like an ordinary object.

Disgust, no special reaction.

Sorrow, still no special reaction on either side. Yin Ren looked around cautiously, fearing that Ms. Qi might suddenly appear for a meal in some corner.

“The next one is…” Yin Ren’s memory was a bit hazy. He took out his phone, attempting to look up Shian’s emotional classifications.

“There’s no need to continue.”

Tortured by three negative emotions three times, even someone as strong as Fu Xingchuan’s complexion turned slightly bluish.

“Didn’t you say that the more primitive the emotion, the stronger the Primordial Elemental? If you’re shamelessly snatching people, surely you won’t snatch someone away to feed minor characters on the Other Side.”

“That’s true, but I did test satisfaction before.” Yin Ren frowned. “Satisfaction, joy, and love…”

“How did you test it?”

Fu Xingchuan hesitated several times before speaking, but before he could say anything, Li Nian preempted him.

For some reason, even without the aid of talismans, Professor Li’s reaction was greater than anyone else’s. After three rounds, his hair was completely drenched in sweat, and he seemed on the verge of fainting at any moment.

But his voice remained steady.

“Could it be an experiment using a living person?” His sharp gaze was fixed directly on Yin Ren.

“Not to that extent. I have my methods.”

Thinking about the massive fortunes destroyed by Miss Qi Xin, even if they weren’t his own belongings, Yin Ren couldn’t help but feel a surge of overwhelming sadness.

“So, can you confirm that the experimental materials are not flawed?” Faced with this senior who had traveled through time, Li Nian remained composed, showing no mercy. “I suggest verifying it again. Satisfaction is a positive emotion that everyone should find easier to accept.”

“Well, technically, it’s possible…”

But theoretically, Zhong Chengshuo’s ability to simulate emotions with data should yield better results than the effects of illusions. After all, these people were at least considered his friends, and illusions ultimately affected people, tormenting their hearts and minds.

They didn’t have much time now, and it was not suitable to waste their energy on detours.

Just as Yin Ren was about to explain the situation, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

[You can save them. But a small suggestion, don’t use the pile of brains from just now… They have defects that will conveniently lead you astray from the correct answer.]

Wait a minute.

“Lead you astray from the correct answer…” Yin Ren tightly clenched the talisman paper in his hand, murmuring under his breath.

There were a relatively large number of brains there. What unified flaw could they possibly have? Even serial killers were still humans. Whether it was fear or satisfaction, they would always have corresponding perceptions, unless… unless…

Amidst the haze, Yin Ren seemed to have grasped something.

Satisfaction.

Joy and love.

“They mostly lack the capacity for ‘love’.” Zhong Chengshuo lowered his body, his gentle breath brushing against the skin by Yin Ren’s ear. “Although you haven’t researched this, you must have seen plenty of related films and TV shows.”

Indeed. Mr. Qiu corresponded to “disgust” and Ms. Qi Xin corresponded to “sorrow”. Mr. Qiu was already dead, and Ms. Qi Xin was someone who actively sought her own sustenance. The only advanced elements remaining were “joy” and “love”. Combined with what Zhong Chengshuo just said…

“We can retest if you want. Let’s try ‘love’ first.” Yin Ren made a decisive decision.

After speaking, he once again placed the sticky note on his face.

The illusion started for the fourth time.

Yin Ren saw Zhong Chengshuo, wearing a rabbit mask, shooting a string of bubbles in the abandoned amusement park. He also saw his lover, deeply asleep and breathing softly, leaning on the table.

Light and shadows flowed, and the illusion turned into caresses and warmth. The touch on his skin felt incredibly real, almost scorching his brain.

The wooden rabbit talisman in his palm moved.

“There’s a reaction,” Jiao Lian said. “The space on the other side is vibrating.”

Yin Ren ended the illusion with a slightly dazed expression and turned to look at Zhong Chengshuo. There was a reaction, but he himself didn’t disappear like Lu Xiaohe’s mother.

For some reason, this discovery left him somewhat disheartened. Yin Ren’s mind was filled with mixed emotions, and he couldn’t quite pinpoint the source of his disappointment.

“I’ll go next!” Fu Xingchuan, oblivious to the subtle thoughts of his elder, sounded a bit joyful in his voice.

Unfortunately, Fu Xingchuan, who had been single for over forty years, couldn’t perform any miracles. Compared to Yin Ren’s turn, both the wooden talisman and the response from the Other Side were weaker.

Fu Xingchuan: “…”

“You work too much overtime,” Minister Jiao Lian pointed out seriously. “Life is barren. What did you see just now?”

Fu Xingchuan struggled, considering that it wasn’t easy to converse with Minister Jiao. Nonetheless, he bravely gave his answer. “…When I was a child, I went to the beach with my whole family to sunbathe. My mom bought me three scoops of ice cream.”

Jiao Lian: “Hehe!”

The screens all over her body gleefully flickered. Yin Ren’s emotions eased slightly. Despite Minister Jiao’s unfavorable circumstances, her personality was quite… different from what he had imagined.

With this little interlude, the previously tense atmosphere finally loosened slightly.

Ignoring the sympathetic gazes from everyone, Fu Xingchuan handed the wooden talisman to Li Nian. However, Li Nian, who rarely showed any emotion, didn’t take it. “I’ll go last.”

He didn’t explain why.

Since the higher-ups indicated postponement, Ge Tingting was the next to grab the wooden talisman. Unfortunately, the level of abnormality she caused was almost identical to Fu Xingchuan’s, leaving it unclear who was more deserving of sympathy.

Next was Lu Xiaohe.

The moment the illusion started, tears welled up in Lu Xiaohe’s eyes and streamed down her cheeks. She held back from making any sound, but the tears continued to flow. The wooden talisman emitted a chilling aura, and Lu Xiaohe’s feet turned into phantoms. She appeared as if she were a living ghost.

“Stop!” Yin Ren formed a gesture, and the wooden talisman flew out in response. Lu Xiaohe’s feet instantly solidified, and she collapsed to the ground.

Her sports shoes vanished without a trace, leaving behind a pair of clean, bare feet.

“The reaction from the Other Side is stronger.” Jiao Lian’s speech speed quickened. “I need more data.”

“Same here,” Yin Ren agreed. He took a long breath and felt the strange sense of disappointment weighing heavily on his heart.

“Bring it here.” Huang Jin, wearing a pained expression, walked up to Yin Ren and obediently took the wooden talisman. “Don’t hold too much hope. I… Ahhhh!”

Before the illusion even started, as if sinking into invisible seawater, Huang Jin’s lower body instantly disappeared.

Terrified, he flailed his arms and grabbed hold of Yin Ren’s hair. His rough pulling nearly yanked Yin Ren to tears.

There was no brilliance of spells, no strange sounds—only the Evil Force on the wooden talisman was rapidly surging. Seeing this person’s body quickly vanishing up to his chest, Yin Ren made a decisive move. In front of everyone, he extended a strand of hair and dug out the wooden talisman from Huang Jin’s hand. In the next moment, it was completely sealed within the dark mass of his black hair.

Fu Xingchuan swiftly rushed forward, activating dozens of spells in an instant. Lu Xiaohe and Ge Tingting hastily reached out, grabbing hold of Huang Jin’s clothes, pulling him out together as if pulling out a radish.

“Fuck, fuck, take it easy! It hurts, ahhhhh!!!”

Huang Jin had an expressionless face as he frantically clawed at the things around him, resembling a person about to be swept away by a torrential flood. After more than ten seconds, everyone finally managed to pull Huang Jin, who had nearly disappeared, back. The suction force from the other side was extremely stubborn, and the whole process was more difficult than rescuing someone from a swamp.

Even Zhong Chengshuo had a stern face and grabbed a bed sheet to cover the lower half of Huang Jin’s body—while Lu Xiaohe only lost her shoes, Huang Jin’s clothes, from his chest down, completely vanished without a trace.

After being pulled out, Huang Jin trembled and shrank into the corner, wrapping himself tightly in the bedsheets.

“This is unscientific!” Huang Jin leaned against the corner of the bed; his voice nearly cracking. “How is it possible that my situation is worse than Lu Xiaohe’s?!”

“Maybe you really like Ding Lizi Jie,” Ge Tingting objectively speculated. “And besides, this is not within the realm of science.”

Huang Jin’s face turned pale and then green. He looked around at his superiors and colleagues, ultimately pulling the bed sheet up to cover his head as well. He then turned his entire body towards the corner of the room, indicating that he didn’t intend to speak again.

“The reaction from the Other Side is very strong,” Jiao Lian commented.

“We have enough data, but it can still be supplemented,” Yin Ren added.

Upon hearing this, everyone’s gaze turned to Li Nian. It was said that it could be supplemented, and he was the only one left to be tested.

“I won’t need it,” Professor Li said indifferently, without touching the ice-cold wooden talisman.

Fu Xingchuan looked at him for a while and said, “…Okay.”

“Why?” Huang Jin, inside the bed sheets, muttered with a voice that wasn’t too loud. “You just said you wanted to be the last one.”

“Because I’m different from you.”

Li Nian maintained his calm and plain tone.

“If it were me, there would be a more than 90% chance that I would disappear instantly. I still have work at Shian, and it’s not the right time yet.”

Huang Jin finally emerged his head from the bed sheet and looked at Li Nian with a hint of surprise.

“Then let’s end it here for today.” Upon hearing these words, Yin Ren stood up with an expression that wasn’t too great. “Everyone needs rest, and Minister Jiao and I have gathered enough data. Minister Jiao, when you have results on your end, remember to have Fu Xingchuan and the others inform me.”

With that, he, unusually, didn’t wait for his companions and was the first to leave the room.

Zhong Chengshuo quickly followed suit and walked out second.

“There are still three hours until the end of work. We can go home first, and you can request to work from home.” Zhong Chengshuo habitually discussed the day’s plan. “We made great progress at Shian today, which is suitable for us to study together.”

“Sure, okay…” Yin Ren replied with little enthusiasm.

“I can make your favorite food at home.”

Seeing that his lover was in a bad mood, Zhong Chengshuo blinked his eyes and took out his top-ranked response plan from his mind.

“Do you have any thoughts about what just happened?” Yin Ren smoothly stepped into the elevator and pressed the “1” button.

Zhong Chengshuo looked around, and they were the only two people in the elevator, but the atmosphere wasn’t as gentle as usual.

“The reason for those people’s disappearance may be related to the emotion of ‘love’. However, the specific conditions and whether they are consistent with the incident from twenty-eight years ago will need to be determined after examining the specific data.”

So that’s it. Yin Ren was probably focused on considering the case. After pondering for a moment, Zhong Chengshuo confidently gave his opinion.

“Is that all?” Yin Ren turned his face, and his visible disappointment was unmasked.

Zhong Chengshuo’s thoughts raced frantically, unable to think of any overlooked aspects. He shook his head sincerely. Yin Ren let out a sigh, and the mini wings that were attached to Zhong Chengshuo’s chest slipped out and reverted to ordinary strands of hair.

“Are you angry?”

Zhong Chengshuo, following the fine tradition of a science post, asked when he didn’t understand.

“No.” Yin Ren stopped by the roadside, staring at the busy traffic in the afternoon.

“But you’re in a bad mood. Is it because of me?”

“You could say that…”

“I understand. It’s because I covered Huang Jin with a bed sheet and saw him without clothes.” Zhong Chengshuo began analyzing the accumulated themes of romantic works. “So you’re unhappy.”

Yin Ren looked at him in shock. He touched his own forehead, then touched Zhong Chengshuo’s forehead, his face filled with even more perplexity.

Fortunately, at that moment, the taxi they had called in advance arrived, preventing Lord Ghost King’s medical examination behavior from escalating further.

“…I just thought that maybe you should be angry.”

Once they got in the car, Yin Ren immediately opened the window. The autumn air carried a strong scent of osmanthus flowers, filling the car in an instant. Zhong Chengshuo tilted his head slightly and appeared a bit confused.

“Why should I be angry?”

Yin Ren glanced at the driver in front and began typing on his phone.

[The reason for the disappearances is related to “love”, but these rules have a very mild effect on me, slightly stronger than Fu Xingchuan and the others.]

[Ge Tingting is young and has little experience. Fu Xingchuan thought of a family trip to the seaside. As for my feelings for you, they don’t seem to be as strong as you think. Upon reflection, the things I’ve done for you sound remarkable, but they are all based on the premise that “I know I am strong”. It’s not that extraordinary.]

Zhong Chengshuo lowered his gaze, quietly reading the text. After spending some time in the modern world, Yin Ren’s typing speed had noticeably increased.

[You have always been quick-witted. How could you not have thought of this? But you don’t seem to care about it either. I have a strange feeling, as if it’s not right for me to be mad at myself, nor at you.]

[I’m worried.]

After typing those words, Yin Ren’s fingers paused for a moment. His strands of hair swayed gently, and the warm afternoon light flowed slowly through his black hair. Lord Ghost King sighed for a few seconds before resuming the movement of his fingers.

[I’m worried that our approach to love is off, and I don’t know how to do it. I’m supposed to be the one guiding you, as I understand social conventions better than you.]

Zhong Chengshuo blinked his eyes, reached out his hand, and slowly pulled the little device from Yin Ren’s hand.

[I can’t answer that.]

In the refreshing and sweet scent of osmanthus, he earnestly typed his response.

[I can only tell you that this experiment hasn’t been thoroughly analyzed yet. In theory, Lu Xiaohe’s “love” for her mother should not be weaker than Huang Jin’s “love” for Ding Lizi. I believe emotions are complex, and there are many variables in the experiment.]

[The “intensity of love” may be just one of the conditions. Until we have more certain conditions, you don’t need to feel discouraged.]

Zhong Chengshuo typed that sentence very slowly. Yin Ren couldn’t help but shift his gaze and look at Zhong Chengshuo, who was typing seriously.

Zhong Chengshuo was sitting on the side facing the sun. As the sunlight poured in through the car window, it cast a golden-brown hue on his black eyelashes.

“Are you trying to comfort me?” Yin Ren forced a smile, dissipating some of the confusion. However, it still lingered like a layer of dark clouds in his heart.

Zhong Chengshuo turned his dark eyes and shook his head firmly.

[This is science.] He emphasized seriously.

“Well, I hope I’m just overthinking.”

Zhong Chengshuo was still the same Zhong Chengshuo, explaining the situation with such rationality that it was exasperating. With important matters at hand, Yin Ren decided to set aside this mysterious emotional issue and focus on finding a solution on his own.

“Anyway, let’s focus our energy on the experiment… Huh?”

Zhong Chengshuo didn’t stop there; he seemed to have noticed something and started typing seriously again.

[Personally, I think it doesn’t matter if we choose the wrong way of love or if our emotional intensity isn’t as strong as others. In this aspect, I don’t need your guidance.]

[You are judging guidance based on human emotions as a benchmark, but we are not humans, and those benchmarks may not be applicable.]

After typing this sentence, a subtle sense of satisfaction appeared on Zhong Chengshuo’s tense face.

[Objectively speaking, we are each other’s only kind.]

“That’s true.”

Yin Ren was taken aback, then chuckled. Looking at the vivid satisfaction on Zhong Chengshuo’s face, for some reason, most of his distress dissipated in an instant.

“I didn’t expect it, Zhong Ge. You’re quite eloquent… Wait a minute.”

Yin Ren’s expression suddenly froze.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 189: Each Takes What They Need

Zhong Chengshuo silently tightened his grip on Qi Xin. Ever since this person appeared, he hadn’t exchanged any eye contact with Yin Ren.

Yin Ren tried to calm his emotions. With Qi Xin’s allegiance still uncertain, he couldn’t casually reveal that “Zhong Chengshuo is a powerful Primordial Elemental”. After all, when they met in Gengsheng Town, she only focused on him and called him a “cub”, seemingly unaware of Zhong Chengshuo’s special nature.

“Alright, it’s not a flesh puppet.” Yin Ren adopted the demeanor of the Great Celestial Master of a thousand years ago, speaking calmly and casually. “But you should also know that Zhong Chengshuo was killed by Mr. Qiu, and I don’t have the ability to resurrect the dead.”

Since Qi Xin knew that Yin Ren killed Mr. Qiu, she must have some understanding of Mr. Qiu’s attack on the Fu residence. As expected, her expression remained unchanged upon hearing that Zhong Chengshuo was killed.

“As for what this is, it has nothing to do with you.”

Yin Ren continued reluctantly. He casually pulled over an interrogation chair and sat down with an indifferent posture.

“You come and go mysteriously without speaking human language, and now I have to explain everything to you in detail?”

Qi Xin’s gaze shifted between Zhong Chengshuo and Yin Ren. Suddenly, her neck twitched like a snake, and she leaned forward to sniff the back of Zhong Chengshuo’s neck. Zhong Chengshuo remained motionless, as if he had turned into a wax figure on the spot.

After sniffing, Qi Xin moved her restrained wrist, and her expression became even more puzzled.

“We have already determined that Primordial Elementals exist in a food chain system. The higher up the food chain, the more primal and purer the emotions, and the fewer the number of individuals within the species.”

Zhong Chengshuo suddenly spoke with a flat tone.

“Mr. Qiu represents the emotion of ‘disgust’, while the emotion you possess is ‘sorrow’. Both of you are top-tier Elementals in the food chain, and it is highly likely that only one of each exists. After the original dies, a cub will appear.”

Qi Xin stopped struggling. She stood calmly in place, examining Yin Ren once again with an almost scrutinizing gaze.

Yin Ren chuckled softly. “This is the result of my investigation. Surprised?”

God knew how many facial twitches he suppressed behind this relaxed smile.

He himself was surprised! Zhong Chengshuo didn’t mention anything about “the death of the original individual and the birth of a new offspring”! This guy must have secretly studied something and hadn’t had a chance to tell him yet.

Feigning ignorance while keeping his eyes open, this was probably the essence of being an accomplice.

Fortunately, the intelligence Zhong Chengshuo provided was indeed useful.

“Interesting. You can have your puppet release me now. I can listen to what you have to say.” Qi Xin raised her chin. “Of course, I won’t guarantee cooperation.”

“Release her,” Yin Ren ordered.

Zhong Chengshuo finally released his grip on Qi Xin’s arm. Qi Xin disregarded the shattered glass on the table and sat cross-legged on it. Zhong Chengshuo remained standing in his original position. It must be said that he was truly suited to play the role of a puppet, reaching the pinnacle of acting skills.

Yin Ren pressed his temples and quickly assessed the current situation.

[’You’ are still alive. No… No, it should be said, ‘You’ are back… I knew it would be like this…]

[You have to grow up quickly. Come back soon and kill us well.]

That was what Qi Xin said when they met in Gengsheng Town. At that time, she was devouring the Semi-Evil Spirit old mayor with overwhelming strength that was truly shocking.

At this critical moment, Zhong Chengshuo wouldn’t waste words. If he wanted to intimidate Qi Xin, he would surely mention information that they both knew so as not to disrupt Yin Ren’s “performance”. But he deliberately chose information that Yin Ren was unaware of, so there must be some deeper meaning to “targeting Qi Xin” within it.

Yin Ren’s mind had never worked so hard before. In a flash of lightning, countless thoughts raced through his mind.

The death of the original individual and the birth of a new offspring… The “You” that Qi Xin mentioned, who could kill many Primordial Elementals, was likely a representation of the top-tier species in the food chain. After all, “top-tier Primordial Elementals are highly likely to exist as the only one”.

Literally speaking, there was once an Elemental on the Other Side that had killed countless others and was extremely formidable. If Qi Xin wasn’t mistaken, this “You” likely referred to Zhong Chengshuo.

However, Yin Ren couldn’t see how this science post, who even haggled at the market, could match the image of a “killer of many”. Even in the role of King Yama, Zhong Chengshuo demanded payment for his services.

And aside from that, why would Qi Xin yearn for “death”?

Mr. Qiu was annihilated, indicating that Primordial Elementals could be completely destroyed. If Miss Qi truly desired death so much, she could simply ask her companions to tear her apart.

However, this Primordial Elemental representing “sorrow” had appeared just minutes ago, seeking something to eat, showing clear concern for the quality of life.

It was too contradictory. Could the phrase “kill us” be some mysterious symbol? Yin Ren wished he could pry open her mouth and make her speak more intelligibly.

But all he could do was think in his mind.

In less than ten seconds, Yin Ren resumed the conversation.

“Now I have some understanding of the Primordial Elementals and have the means to suppress them. Of course, all of this is based on my exploration using human technology. As for your so-called Primordial Elemental skills in combat, I simply cannot comprehend them out of thin air.”

For the former Great Celestial Master, adopting the tone of a superior came naturally.

“Since our encounter in Gengsheng Town, your attitude toward me has been rather strange… Since you have a favor to ask, your attitude should at least be a bit better.”

Qi Xin’s neck had returned to its original state. She remained silent, only eagerly observing Yin Ren.

“Of course, I also have a favor to ask of you. How about we each take what we need and make a deal?”

“…Hmm, what should I do?”

Qi Xin’s fingers rubbed her lower lip, her tone full of playfulness. She toyed with the shards of glass on the table with her fingertips, but her delicate fingers showed no signs of any wounds.

“If I were to reveal secrets that should not be revealed, in human terms, I would be a ‘sinner to my race’. I still need to operate on the Other Side, and it wouldn’t be cost-effective to offend all of my kind for an immature cub.”

Zhong Chengshuo opened his mouth as if he wanted to speak, but Yin Ren gently shook his head at him.

“I only have two questions I want to ask.”

Yin Ren said.

“I guarantee you that these questions are very ordinary, and no one would suspect that it was you who asked them.”

Qi Xin stopped playing with the shards and said, “Go ahead, ask.”

“The first question: I know that recently, people who have gone missing have been sent to the Other Side. I want to know if, with the resources we currently have, we can rescue them?”

Yin Ren tapped his fingers on the armrest of the interrogation chair, his palms slightly sweaty. His tone was slow, attempting to make every word clear to Qi Xin.

“The second question… The corruption source of slight Evil Force shouldn’t have such a significant impact on the mortal realm. Behind the recent chaos, there must have been the intervention of your ‘friend’. What I want to ask is, if I can disrupt Sunken Society’s plans and kill your friend, would you be willing to cooperate with me?”

“You have few questions, but many doubts to clarify.” Qi Xin chuckled, but her smile was extremely stiff, like a mask carved by an amateur. “Indeed, these questions won’t cause me any trouble.”

Her neck extended once again, and her plain and lackluster face leaned toward Yin Ren.

“For the first question, you can save them. But a small suggestion, don’t use the pile of brains from just now… They have defects that will conveniently lead you astray from the correct answer.”

“For the second question, if you can kill Mr. Le, I am more than willing to cooperate with you. I will keep a close eye on you, little cub.”

With that, Qi Xin stood up, preparing to leave.

But just as she was about halfway through disappearing, her wrist was suddenly grabbed by someone with a loud snap.

“What is the meaning of this?” Ms. Qi Xin’s smile carried a hint of hidden anger as she looked at Zhong Chengshuo’s hand.

“These models are precious, valuable relics left behind by Zhong Chengshuo.” Zhong Chengshuo stated seriously. “You destroyed all of them, and you need to compensate.”

Qi Xin was straightforward. “How much?”

“It’s priceless and can only be exchanged for intelligence.” Zhong Chengshuo tightened his grip causing Qi Xin’s joints to crack. “Provide more information about saving people.”

Qi Xin raised her brows, and her expression gradually turned meaningful.

“It seems your understanding of the Other Side is still limited.” Qi Xin smiled uncomfortably. “Don’t you have a readily-made helper, Shian?”

After speaking, she broke each of Zhong Chengshuo’s fingers one by one and vanished into thin air.

The basement was once again a mess. The soy milk mixed with glass shards had turned cold. It was already 6:30 in the morning, they had no experiments to do, no time for a complete rest, and could only face the blown-up experimental equipment in sadness.

“Can those models be restored?” After a while, Yin Ren cautiously spoke.

“The basic data is backed up,” Zhong Chengshuo said gloomily, walking heavily towards Yin Ren. “But those instruments were specially made and very expensive.”

“You can use my bank card.”

Zhong Chengshuo glanced at Yin Ren, not saying a word. The emotions in his gaze were subtle, and even Yin Ren became disheartened.

“Alright, I understand. No need to say anything.”

So, it turned out that what was blown up just now was not only the precious models but also the fortune accumulated by King Yama over the years, far surpassing Shian’s compensation. Yin Ren’s tone was filled with infinite regret, almost tempting Qi Xin to come over again.

The two melancholic figures sat together on the chair, silently listening to the ticking of the second hand.

“We still have over two hours before work,” Yin Ren said.

“Yeah.”

“Is there still time to conduct any research or verification?”

“No materials.” Zhong Chengshuo rubbed the back of his head, and he spoke with a hint of bitterness in his tone.

It was rare to see him so listless. Yin Ren pondered for a moment, glanced at the clock, and suddenly had a brilliant idea. Wings rustled and covered the floor as Yin Ren leaned close to Zhong Chengshuo’s ear. There was a hint of amusement in his serious tone.

“It just suddenly occurred to me that we can still conduct a research study. Time might be a bit tight, but we should have enough time.”

Zhong Chengshuo turned his head with confusion. Yin Ren happened to lean in front of him, so their noses almost touched. Several warm wings gently brushed past him.

“Do you want to study whether the same species of Elementals can reproduce?”

……

As the memories faded, Yin Ren rubbed his slightly darkened eyes and looked at Unit 9 in front of him.

Lu Xiaohe wore an anxious expression. In just one day, she looked much more haggard. Yin Ren sighed inwardly and decided to make the hint more explicit—to ensure that they wouldn’t draw attention to Zhong Chengshuo, they needed to appear “normal.”

“Speaking of which, I still think this case is similar to the Bai Yongji case.” Yin Ren sat on the sofa in the office. “Although in that case, it was because I was accidentally… well, not entirely accidentally—kidnapped, that it was solved. Now, thinking back, this disappearance case clearly involves the Other Side. It’s unlikely that there has been no reaction from the higher-ups at Shian.”

Since Qi Xin asked them to seek help from Shian, there must be a reason behind it. For someone as clever as Lu Xiaohe, giving her a clue should be enough to prompt her.

Sure enough, Lu Xiaohe raised her face, stiff as a board, and a hint of light appeared in her lifeless eyes.

She seemed to recall something, and her lips trembled slightly.

“Encrypted report! The Bai Yongji case had an encrypted report from the Emergency Management Department… The number, let me think… SA8729948719.”

She murmured to herself and rushed to the console.

Today was different from the past. Now, Lu Xiaohe had the authority equivalent to that of the Emergency Management Department. She typed on the keyboard with great force, almost smashing it. In the silent gaze of everyone, she swiftly accessed that high-level report. Lu Xiaohe even forgot to enlarge the text, lowering her head and quickly scanning through the dense words.

One name that appeared multiple times quickly caught Lu Xiaohe’s attention.

Current Minister of Foreign Object Identification Department, Minister Jiao, Jiao Lian.

Twenty-eight years ago, during the Divine Descent incident, she was a “Charon” in the Emergency Management Department, dedicated to researching the Other Side. The report indicated that if they wanted to determine the victim’s location as soon as possible, they could seek help from Jiao Lian.

Lu Xiaohe swallowed her saliva.

Without discussing with any of her colleagues, she immediately called Fu Xingchuan.

“Minister Fu.”

Her voice was hoarse as she spoke.

“I think… No, this case requires the support of Minister Jiao.”

Fu Xingchuan, on the other end of the phone, remained silent for a long time. “Jiao Lian?”

“In the Bai Yongji case, she assisted Shian in locating the victims.” Lu Xiaohe tightly closed the office door and activated the speakerphone. “She can access the Other Side, right? As long as she can find the person, we will definitely…”

“Definitely what?” Fu Xingchuan’s tone was somewhat complicated.

“Definitely… definitely…” Lu Xiaohe choked up.

In the end, she pursed her lips and fell silent.

“In the Bai Yongji case, all the victims had only half of their bodies sent to the Other Side. In other words, they were all stuck in place. These people have completely entered the Other Side, so they naturally would move around before dying, making it difficult to track them.”

Fu Xingchuan sighed.

“I’ll be frank with you. When Minister Jiao searches for someone, she needs the precise thoughts of the missing person. And as long as the person is found, we can ‘pull them back’ through the remaining half of their body in the human world… Your cases have completely disappeared from the human realm, with no thoughts as clues. Even if we can find them, except for a true Charon, no one can bring people in and out of the other side.”

“But… But the previous Archive… the memory world…” Lu Xiaohe instinctively retorted.

“Those places are similar to interstitial spaces, but they’re not the real Other Side,” Fu Xingchuan patiently explained. “In Minister Jiao’s case… she can no longer send people to the Other Side. Personally, I think it’s better for you to search for the conditions that triggered the disappearances.”

Having experienced ups and downs, Lu Xiaohe slumped back in her chair, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. She still held the phone in her hand, her mouth moving silently.

It seemed like she was saying, “Mom.”

On the other end of the phone, Fu Xingchuan didn’t hang up, patiently waiting for her to catch her breath.

“…I understand.” After about half a minute, Lu Xiaohe forced out a smile. “If Minister Jiao could easily find people, Minister Meng Huai wouldn’t have been out of touch for so long. I’m sorry, my mind was clouded, and I didn’t think it through.”

After speaking, she stared blankly at the screen of her phone. Fu Xingchuan didn’t say anything; the only change was the duration of the call with each passing second.

“The rear command shouldn’t act so recklessly. Perhaps I shouldn’t be in charge of this case. I should…”

Before she could utter a trembling “recluse”, Yin Ren snatched the phone from her hand.

“I also want to meet Minister Jiao,” Yin Ren said.

“Why?”

“Because I have a hypothesis that was halfway verified yesterday before the equipment was damaged. If we want to verify it more accurately, we can only ask for Minister Jiao’s help,” Yin Ren replied.

“…” Fu Xingchuan fell into silence for a long time. “If you just want to try to find someone again, I can tell you clearly, it’s useless. Every method you can think of to find someone has been tried before.”

“No, it’s not about finding someone. You’ll know when the time comes.”

……

In the dim room, the “blood and flesh wires” of the neural network crawled up the walls, and a malformed monster leaned against the headboard with frantically flickering screens embedded in its body. They were tangled together, and indecipherable patterns quickly flickered and changed on the screens. In front of the soft bedsheet, a phone was in the middle of a call.

Li Nian stood on the left, and Fu Xingchuan stood on the right, both beside the bed. Their expressions were unusually serious, with their gazes fixed on Yin Ren.

The air in the room was dry and pleasant, at a temperature that was most comfortable, yet Lu Xiaohe shivered. The “monster” in front of her emitted an oppressive feeling that was hard to bear, causing goosebumps to cover her entire body. Huang Jin and Ge Tingting, who were following behind her, were even more nervous. Ge Tingting plugged her ears, while Huang Jin didn’t know what he had seen and simply closed his eyes.

“Why did they ask us to come too?” he even muttered softly.

In front of Lu Xiaohe, Yin Ren stood with Zhong Chengshuo. He looked up at the glittering “pile of monitors” and fell silent.

“Alright, everyone.”

They stood in place as a synthesized voice sounded from the phone.

“I am, Jiao Lian. What do, you guys need?”

Yin Ren took a deep breath and took a step forward. “Hello, I am Zhong Yi. I believe you have heard of my name.”

The flickering on the screen stopped at that very moment. Even Fu Xingchuan turned his head, looking over with a hint of surprise.

“During the Divine Descent twenty-eight years ago, many people went missing. Now, due to the corruption caused by Evil Force, disappearances have occurred in Haigu once again. After studying these disappearance cases, we have a hypothesis.”

The flickering on the screen stopped at that very moment, and even Fu Xingchuan turned his head, looking over with a slightly surprised expression.

“Twenty-eight years ago during the Divine Descent, many people went missing. Now, in Haigu, there are once again disappearances caused by the corruption of Evil Force. After conducting research, we have a hypothesis regarding these disappearance cases.”

“……”

Jiao Lian remained silent, but her screen began to flicker again. It was clear that she was listening. This time, it was Professor Li Nian, who was usually as steady as Mount Tai, who turned his body and fixed his gaze on Yin Ren.

“All the missing individuals are mentally resilient. Most of them have good personalities; it’s simply an expression of their mental health and strength… This characteristic allows these people to survive longer on the Other Side.”

“Yes, they should go, ‘mad’ later. Going ‘mad’ later, means dying later.”

Jiao Lian finally responded, but her synthesized voice didn’t reveal any emotions.

“Just like me.”

Yin Ren hummed with a complicated mood. “These people were sent into the other side by Primordial Elementals. These beings enjoy consuming emotions. Perhaps there is some commonality in emotions among them… Unfortunately, my materials were damaged yesterday, and I couldn’t find that common point.”

He opened his palm, revealing a wooden talisman in his hand.

“I have another hypothesis that needs to be verified. Can you help me?”

“How can, I help?”

“Next, I will use this wooden talisman to influence the people around me.”

Yin Ren took a step back, his gaze sweeping around.

“The people here are relatively mentally resilient. I will conduct further experiments with them. I kindly request that you observe any activity on the Other Side… I believe that if we find the ‘trigger’ for the disappearances, there will definitely be a reaction on the Other Side. Please help me keep an eye out.”

Even Ms. Qi had to tear open a space to find food and accessing the Archive and Memory World required using magic and energy as mediums. People couldn’t pass through the cracks between the human realm and the Other Side without leaving traces.

In the face of these mind-boggling statements, everyone else remained silent, except for two individuals who spoke almost simultaneously.

Huang Jin: “Who are you going to experiment on?!”

Ge Tingting: “I’m willing to help Xiaohe Jie!”

The rest remained silent. With Ge Tingting’s response, Huang Jin couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. Even so, he still firmly displayed his cowardice.

“It’s not me, but this person… This person must have had a problem while crossing the Other Side, which caused them to end up like this, right?” Huang Jin pointed at Jiao Lian on the bed with a pale face. “Her thoughts are fragmented and disjointed, but she’s still trying to hold on. There are many thoughts mixed in her that don’t belong to her, it looks incredibly… incredibly…”

Just like Frankenstein’s monster, stitched together from the corpses of various minds.

“I also want to save Lu Xiaohe’s mother, but I have people to take care of too. What if—what if that wooden talisman really…?”

“Then you can go last.” Ge Tingting reassured him with confidence. “With your bad personality, it probably won’t succeed.”

Huang Jin: “…”

“It’s okay. Once anything unusual happens, I will inform Zhong Yi and stop.” Jiao Lian’s voice came from the phone. Perhaps it was an illusion, but her voice had a faint hint of amusement. “Don’t be afraid, young man. I’m not trying to hold on, either.”

A low and mournful sound escaped from Huang Jin’s throat.

“Xiao Huang, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to participate.”

Lu Xiaohe stepped forward solemnly.

“It’s not your obligation, so you can completely refuse. It won’t change how I see you.”

Huang Jin: “I…”

His handsome face, now clouded, contorted slightly.

“Forget it. I have a bad personality. It’s fine.” He turned his head, keeping a distance. “It’s settled. I’ll go last.”

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Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 188: Experimental Accident

Yin Ren had become accustomed to Zhong Chengshuo’s horror-inducing behavior by now.

Zhong Chengshuo, sleep-deprived and groggy, climbed out of bed and squinted as he changed his clothes. Yin Ren pulled out a linen shirt from the wardrobe, put it on, and made two cups of chilled fruit juice from the apples in the refrigerator, considering it a refreshing drink.

In just a quarter of an hour, the windows of the living room were wide open. Yin Ren held Zhong Chengshuo tightly, and the two flew towards the secret base in the old city district.

Zhong Chengshuo’s secret basement remained the same as before. Compared to the summer, the indoor air felt cooler and drier.

As Yin Ren touched the steel frame along the wall, he couldn’t help but feel a bit sentimental. There were memories of intimacy and sweetness mixed with sorrow and despair about this place. His gaze swept over the interrogation chair, where they first experienced an intimate melding of body and soul, and then turned to the storage room hidden behind the clamp, where the sweetness and bitterness in his heart merged into a rich chocolate-like flavor.

His gaze finally landed on Zhong Chengshuo, who had entered the room ahead of him.

The room’s layout was as cold and rigid as before. It truly needed Zhong Chengshuo to walk around in it to avoid feeling lifeless.

Zhong Chengshuo immediately headed for the refrigerator, attempting to find some chocolate or juice for Yin Ren. Unfortunately, they had indulged here for an absurd amount of time, exhausting their energy, and all the food and drinks had been emptied at once.

So Comrade Xiao Zhong could only hang his head, with a stern face, and walk towards the shelves.

He took down a stainless steel canister and carefully moved it to the table. He called Yin Ren closer, and then verified his fingerprint at the top of the canister. With a slight hissing sound, the canister emitted a strange-smelling gas. The contents inside rose on their own, revealing their true nature.

It was a human brain.

Yin Ren’s pupils contracted, and then he looked at Zhong Chengshuo in shock.

Embedded in the stainless steel canister was a glass container, and floating inside it was a human brain. The brain had a full and rounded shape, with a fresh grayish-pink hue on its surface, as if it were still alive. With Zhong Chengshuo’s movements, it gently swayed inside the glass container.

“Zhong Ge… What is this…”

Even though Lord Ghost King’s biological knowledge was close to zero, he still knew that a person couldn’t survive without a brain.

Zhong Chengshuo blinked and tapped on the glass canister. Suddenly, the brain inside the canister became semi-transparent, shimmering with countless subtle streams of light.

“This is the refined modeling method I’ve found. In terms of microscopic structure and level of detail, it is no different from a living brain.” Zhong Chengshuo solemnly introduced. “Unfortunately, this technology is not suitable for exposure at the moment. To obtain accurate information from the brain’s interior, a significant amount of stimulation is required, and the methods are somewhat inhumane.”

He pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose. His tone was devoid of guilt, as if it were more like making some kind of judgment.

Yin Ren silently looked at the colorful brain model. “I have indeed been curious. What did you do to Guo Laifu back then?”

He had seen Guo Laifu’s memories. That beast who sacrificed his own son had been driven mad by Zhong Chengshuo. Unfortunately, the memories lacked the process, leaving Guo Laifu’s mind shrouded in darkness.

Zhong Chengshuo pondered for a moment, took a deep breath, and lifted his eyes. “Yin Ren, look at me.”

Yin Ren subconsciously looked at those familiar eyes, and the next moment, those crimson irises slightly widened.

Just like the pitch-black ocean beneath the cliff back then, Zhong Chengshuo’s eyes were not truly “black”.

Upon closer inspection, it was unclear whether this person’s pupils were too dilated or his irises were too dark, but Yin Ren couldn’t find the boundary between Zhong Chengshuo’s irises and pupils. However, he could see clearly that something was squirming, squeezing, and rotating within those eyes, revealing vague contours.

That refined and elegant face seemed to transform into some kind of exquisite container in that moment. This body called “Zhong Chengshuo” only resembled a human in appearance but lacked a crucial “living human” aura.

Just through their gaze, every hair on Yin Ren’s back stood up, overwhelmed by an unprecedented sense of repulsion.

Just like a fierce tiger sensing another.

As time passed, a bone-deep fear, directly penetrating his soul, seeped into Yin Ren. It bypassed the steps of “perception” and “thought” and went straight to the depths of his heart, like instinct. Fortunately, the intensity of this fear was relatively mild, equivalent to “discovering that the usual late-night snack shop was closed”.

Zhong Chengshuo was about to avert his gaze when he felt a not-too-light, not-too-heavy pulling sensation on his cheek.

The audacious Lord Ghost King approached, tugging at his face.

The situation was similar to his speculation. Zhong Chengshuo hadn’t completely merged his body into a human form; he retained some of his original structure within his eyeballs. Just like the venomous fangs of a venomous snake—as long as they were used appropriately, they could transform into a terrifying weapon at any moment.

It was fortunate that Zhong Yude and Cheng Xuehua had adopted this guy. Zhong Chengshuo had no sense of belonging to the “human” race. If he had been raised by Sunken Society, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

It was great that before him, there was still the pure and naive “god” from back then.

“You held back with me, right? It’s true that seeing your true form would be enough to scare an ordinary person to death,” Yin Ren sincerely remarked.

“Yes.” Zhong Chengshuo’s voice was strained as his face was still being tugged. “Mmm… I will test their limits of fear.”

Yin Ren took the opportunity to give him a kiss, then released his hand. Seeing that Yin Ren had no other reaction, Zhong Chengshuo adjusted his askew glasses, and his brows and eyes softened quite a bit.

He started moving around the secret base again. Before long, the entire table was filled with highly detailed models of human brains. Countless brains flickered with subtle lights, neatly arranged on the table. Zhong Chengshuo sat down in front of the computer and started typing on the keyboard.

Yin Ren, on the other hand, lay idle on the table, gazing at the mesmerizing flow of lights from the brains before him.

It was truly fascinating how these models, obtained from heinous serial killers, could be so beautiful. They emitted a faint glow within their glass containers, resembling some kind of bizarre-shaped deep-sea jellyfish.

Yin Ren clenched the wooden rabbit talisman in his hand, but these brains showed no peculiar reactions.

All he could hear was the tapping of Zhong Chengshuo’s keyboard, mixed with the crisp clicking sound of the mouse. Yin Ren tightened his grip on the wooden rabbit talisman, and his eyelids grew heavier.

In the next moment, Yin Ren was abruptly awakened by an overwhelming killing intent.

The source of the killing intent was numerous, coming from all directions. And at this moment, he was no longer in the familiar underground basement but floating amidst chaos. At the end of the killing intent, countless shimmering and translucent “brain jellyfish” floated around him, radiating intense malice and killing intent.

Yin Ren instinctively suppressed his aura.

He could sense that the killing intent didn’t stem from hatred or anger but purely from “pleasure”. Those flickering brains were like sharks catching the scent of blood, lingering around him.

And in the distance, Yin Ren couldn’t see clearly. His senses were exceptionally chaotic, as if submerged in murky seawater. The brain jellyfish gradually faded away, sinking deeper into the sea, while more indistinct entities appeared around him.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The chaos was filled with rhythmic vibrations, and its sensation was difficult to describe. Unrelated to hearing, unrelated to touch, but Yin Ren just knew that the collision sound never ceased.

What kind of place is this?

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The rhythmic vibrations were irregular, with subtle variations in rhythm. If forced to describe, it was as if someone was manually striking something.

Yin Ren couldn’t help but move his body, quietly approaching the source of the strikes. However, this place was bizarre. He wandered in place for a long time, unable to make any progress or successfully move even a bit.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The “sound” became clearer, causing discomfort throughout Yin Ren’s body. Just as he was about to further investigate, something suddenly grabbed hold of him. It possessed a formidable aura, pulling him in the opposite direction of the pounding sound.

Yin Ren wanted to confirm the identity of the assailant, but the perception remained chaotic, and he couldn’t glean any further information about the “attacker.”

Who could it be?

Before Yin Ren could fully comprehend the situation, a warmth pressed against his shoulder. He instantly opened his eyes and found himself back in the basement, bathed in the cold light.

“…Yin Ren.”

At some point, Zhong Chengshuo had stopped his search. He gently shook Yin Ren’s shoulder and called out in a low voice.

“Yin Ren, wake up. I’ve almost finished the search.”

Yin Ren pressed his slightly throbbing temple, abruptly transitioning from a dream to reality. The sensation of weightlessness threatened to swallow him whole.

“What?”

“Twenty-eight years ago, the missing people from the Divine Descent.” Zhong Chengshuo displayed his computer screen, and beside the computer, a stack of thick paper documents appeared out of nowhere. “I’ve observed some families and recorded more detailed information than the Shian officials. It’s a fact that most of the missing individuals had good personalities.”

Yin Ren momentarily set aside the inexplicable dream and perked up his ears. “You said ‘most of them had good personalities’?”

“Yes, unfortunately, there were a few individuals with not-so-good reputations.” As he spoke, Zhong Chengshuo brought up some data.

Yin Ren glanced at them briefly. Several were local troublemakers, while others were notoriously stingy vendors. Their information was very ordinary, lacking any earth-shattering positive deeds.

No matter how he looked at it, these individuals had no connection to the so-called “good personality”.

Zhong Chengshuo asked Yin Ren to sit in the chair while he wrapped his arms around the back of the chair and manipulated the mouse.

“You know, as long as there are exceptions, Fu Xingchuan’s speculation doesn’t hold. But he raised an interesting perspective: most of the missing individuals had good personalities, and that can’t be a mere coincidence.”

Yin Ren stared at the dense explanatory text on the computer screen.

Zhong Chengshuo’s investigation was incredibly detailed. Over the years, in order to determine the cause of Zhong Chengfeng’s disappearance, apart from basic elements like gender, age, and occupation, he even looked into the family composition and reputation of other missing individuals, compiling their “character profiles”.

Regardless of gender, regardless of age, regardless of occupation…

Unlike Zhong Chengshuo, Yin Ren’s memory of the modern era was limited. He looked at the seemingly unrelated data, and suddenly something flashed in his mind.

“…Zhong Ge, do you remember the series of disappearances involving Bai Yongji? The case where the victims were fused into furniture?”

“I remember.”

“His criteria were ‘enduring suffering while maintaining optimism’.” Yin Ren looked at the data in front of him, trying to organize his thoughts. “But it doesn’t have much to do with psychological reasons. It’s just because he wanted to send half of the victims’ bodies to the Other Side. Judging from his intentions, individuals with that personality trait would last a bit longer on the Other Side.”

Zhong Chengshuo hummed in response on his shoulder.

“Of course, these people disappeared entirely during the Divine Descent, and the circumstances aren’t entirely consistent. But I wonder… I’m just speculating—could this practice have something to do with ‘preservation on the Other Side’? All the Elementals we have encountered so far feed on emotions, and emotions arise when people are alive.”

Zhong Chengshuo released the chair.

He pondered for a moment and connected the numerous brains on the table to the computer.

“If your speculation is correct, these people disappeared because their ‘shelf life’ is longer and their ‘nutritional value’ is higher. It works perfectly.”

“These brain models belonged to serial killers, and their mental intensity is more than enough. Now, I will use them to simulate some common emotions. If your speculation is correct, there should be some useful data to be obtained if there is a corruption source from Evil Force nearby.”

……

The next day, Ge Tingting and Huang Jin saw dark circles under the eyes of the other three, indicating lack of sleep.

Lu Xiaohe’s insomnia was understandable, and Yin Ren’s sleeplessness could be attributed to coincidence. As for why the “flesh puppet” also had dark circles, that was a matter not worth pondering. For some reason, Ge Tingting felt a subtle sense of unease from Yin Ren today.

“Do you have any progress on your side?” Despite knowing that Yin Ren’s expression wasn’t good, Lu Xiaohe couldn’t help but ask. “Anything, really anything.”

“I have some speculations, but it’s not going smoothly.” Yin Ren evaded the question.

It wasn’t just going smoothly; it was causing big trouble.

That night, Zhong Chengshuo retrieved the emotional measurement scale from within Shian’s Archive. It was said to be the emotion data observed and analyzed by the Shian Observation and Analysis Archive, a meticulously revised and reasonably categorized scale—

Under the two basic categories of “fear” and “satisfaction”, there were subdivisions of “sorrow” and “hatred”, “joy” and “love”, as well as countless smaller, more subtle emotions extending further down the scale. It felt like it would take a hundred years to try them all.

So they started from the top with “satisfaction” and slowly proceeded along the positive emotions. The rabbit talisman was surrounded by brains on the table, and there was no change on either side.

The night ended, and the sun rose. The two Primordial Elementals went from being enthusiastic to bitter. Zhong Chengshuo started to yawn, and Yin Ren slipped out to buy breakfast. The faint smell of medicine in the room was overpowered by the aroma of deep-fried dough sticks and soy milk. Zhong Chengshuo finally decided to abandon the “quiet pleasure” according to the emotional data from Shian and switch to the “fear” category for another experiment.

This time, Zhong Chengshuo even wrote an emotion simulation script for this experiment.

A large amount of simulated fear emotions succeeded, but there was no response.

Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo each had a dough stick, dipping it in soy milk and eating bite by bite.

A large amount of disgust emotions were successfully simulated, but there was no response.

Yin Ren started to savor a tea egg slowly, and Zhong Chengshuo bit into a row of corn, occasionally glancing at his watch.

“It’s morning.” Zhong Chengshuo announced the time on the hour.

“Yes, it’s dawn.” Yin Ren wiped his mouth, his face filled with melancholy.

Zhong Chengshuo finished the corn, wiped the corners of his mouth earnestly, and leaned in to kiss Yin Ren’s forehead. “Good morning.”

At that moment, the program automatically simulated “sorrow”.

The rabbit talisman suddenly emitted a dazzling light, and sparks of electricity and magical brilliance erupted simultaneously. After a series of explosions, the surrounding brain models were destroyed one by one.

Amidst the smoke and broken glass, the space slowly cracked, and a familiar figure appeared before the two of them.

When Qi Xin appeared in this basement, Zhong Chengshuo hadn’t had the chance to finish kissing Yin Ren’s forehead. More than a dozen shards of glass fell into the steaming soy milk.

Qi Xin: “…” She stood on the table with her flat shoes, stepping on the wet glass and emitting squeaking and creaking sounds. All the brain models were completely damaged, and King Yama’s years of hunting records turned into nothingness in an instant.

Zhong Chengshuo and Yin Ren: “…”

The air was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

“I thought there was food.” Qi Xin glanced at Yin Ren, casually adjusting her hair. “Sorry for the interruption. Maybe we’ll meet again.”

“Wait!” Yin Ren spoke up. “I have something to discuss!”

“You did well in thwarting Mr. Qiu.”

Qi Xin looked down at Yin Ren from a high vantage point, and under the pale light, the faint red at the corner of her eyes appeared particularly striking.

“You have grown quickly, and I am pleased… In terms of power, you may have matured. But right now, you have no fighting skills. With your current level, there is nothing for us to discuss.”

She kept her gaze on Yin Ren as if Zhong Chengshuo on the side was just a decoration in the room.

“Maybe we’ll meet again, cub. Remember not to approach if you hear knocking sounds next time.”

Thinking of the inexplicable dream just now and the force that pulled him away, Yin Ren was taken aback. “Was it you just now…”

Qi Xin smiled lightly, and her figure began to fade away.

But this time, before Yin Ren could make a move, Zhong Chengshuo rushed forward like a cannonball and grabbed Qi Xin’s wrist. There was no expression on his face, but strangely, Yin Ren knew that his lover was displeased.

Qi Xin paid no attention to it. However, after a few seconds, all the profound and unfathomable expressions on her face turned into question marks.

Her body disappeared up to her wrist, and then, as if a skill had been interrupted, she solidified once again. Qi Xin and Zhong Chengshuo remained silent, staring at each other, and she slowly shook her wrist.

Zhong Chengshuo didn’t let go.

Qi Xin exerted more force to shake him off.

Zhong Chengshuo remained unmoved, and his expression turned even colder.

“What is this?” Qi Xin narrowed her eyes, and the aura of killing intent gradually intensified around her.

Yin Ren gasped for breath, his hand forming a seal, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his back.

Qi Xin was a mysterious figure, one of the strongest Primordial Elementals they had encountered. With Lu Xiaohe’s mother’s life hanging in the balance, this was indeed a rare opportunity. If they could keep her here, they could join forces to suppress Qi Xin.

However… there was an obvious difference between Qi Xin and Zhong Chengshuo. Although she was a Primordial Elemental, she possessed emotional intelligence close to that of an ordinary person.

He needed to choose a more suitable means of communication.

“That is… cough, I made a flesh puppet, from my own flesh and blood.” Yin Ren coughed loudly.

Qi Xin: “You call this a flesh puppet? Do you think I’m stupid?”

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