Chapter 232
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Wei Huaqian walked down the street. He took a deep breath—the icy air cut into his lungs, causing pain.
Compared to last year, the streets of Haigu were much quieter. There were many cloudy days in winter, and the recent sky was always gloomy. Walking from indoors to outdoors felt like hitting a higher ceiling with his head.
The shops along the street were withering, and about one-third of the stores had “For Rent” signs hanging. The surrounding atmosphere was like the remaining autumn leaves, almost disappearing in the cold wind.
But Wei Huaqian’s business was doing well.
The companies on the surface were diligently managed by the people under his control. As for the transactions in the field of metaphysics… Recently, countless people turned to believing in these things, spending a fortune for peace of mind, which made Wei Huaqian’s assets soar.
But all of this was meaningless.
Wei Huaqian examined his body—once he was tall and sturdy, as elegant and handsome as Shen Mo. Now his skin was sagging, his organs aging, and illness was relentlessly eroding his body. No matter how much money he spent, he couldn’t stop the march of time.
But he would soon be relieved.
With a flick of his hand, one of his arms disappeared completely into thin air.
Corruption was intensifying, and the space in Haigu had become increasingly fragile. Just a little more wait, and he would truly become a real Charon. Then his diseases and the limitations of lifespan would no longer be a problem.
Money, power, immortality. Throughout history, these were the desires of the privileged. People always wanted to rise higher. Even Shen Mo, the lunatic, couldn’t resist these temptations.
Wei Huaqian retracted his arm and slowly entered his favorite restaurant. His reserved seat was already prepared, secluded and comfortable.
Speaking of which, he hadn’t seen Shen Mo much lately. Wei Huaqian took a sip of hot tea.
Since acquiring the useful tool Xiang Jiang, Shen Mo rarely showed up in front of Wei Huaqian. That guy was sensitive to power and didn’t like the presence of other Charons in the world… Wei Huaqian remembered that Charon with the surname Jiao, who was disabled by Shen Mo.
The memory of that day was vivid for Wei Huaqian.
It was the first and only time he collaborated with Shen Mo.
At that time, Shen Mo had just joined Sunken Society not long ago, and Wei Huaqian wasn’t yet the leader of Sunken Society of Haigu. He was still relatively young and was assigned to assist Shen Mo due to his slight involvement with Charons.
Back then, Shen Mo was still officially a member of Shian. In order to gain a high position in Sunken Society, he proposed a crazy plan—to steal research data on “the Other Side” and the “Divine Descent” phenomena from Shian, as well as a large number of precious spirit weapons, using them as a letter of introduction to join Sunken Society.
“Jiao Lian and I are the only ‘Charon’ in Shian. Their procedures don’t matter much to ordinary cultivators, but for Charons, they are full of loopholes.”
“I will communicate with the higher-ups and arrange for a relocation. I’ll say that the Charons will cause spatial instability and chaotic evil qi, necessitating a reorganization of storage and laboratories.”
Shen Mo casually tossed a stack of printed papers to Wei Huaqian.
“Your Charon abilities are somewhat useful, but you’re decent enough to handle things from the safe. I’ll teach you a few key points…”
Wei Huaqian patiently listened as Shen Mo spoke confidently, but he raised one question.
“What about the other Charon?” he said. “Once she realizes something is amiss, she won’t let you off easily. I heard that her Charon abilities surpass yours.”
Shen Mo’s smile carried a hint of disdain. “Abilities are just abilities. I work in the investigation department, and she works in the appraisal department. Our combat levels are not on the same level… But yes, I truly dislike that woman overshadowing me. It’s better if she disappears.”
Wei Huaqian remained silent, but a trace of contempt showed on his face. Shen Mo had worked at the Shian for many years, and he didn’t believe this guy could deal with his former colleague without obstacles.
It might be a trap set by Shian.
“I know you don’t believe me, but I’ll just say one thing.” Shen Mo glanced at Wei Huaqian. “What do you think is the biggest flaw of Shian?”
“Adhering to regulations and following the rules,” Wei Huaqian said.
“No, no, there are always a few mavericks, like the talisman user I brought with me, Fu Xingchuan—he’s not someone who follows the rules.”
Wei Huaqian remained silent.
“Their biggest flaw is ‘goodness’.” Shen Mo stopped smiling. “The actions of ‘good people’ are very easy to predict.”
“Let’s make a bet. If I disable Jiao Lian, all the research on the Other Side will be under my control. If I lose, I will hand over everything I stole this time, without any conditions.”
……
As it turned out, Shen Mo was right.
It was a day in late November when the Shian’s relocation convoy was ambushed.
When Wei Huaqian arrived at the scene, he witnessed a confrontation between two “Charons”—Jiao Lian and Shen Mo. They were exhausted from countless traversals. Several Shian personnel lay wounded around them, but there were still three or four people standing, and the situation seemed unfavorable for Shen Mo.
“Shen Mo, that’s enough.” Jiao Lian held a sword spirit weapon made of coins with her brows furrowed. “Now you only have enough energy for one more traversal. You can’t escape.”
“And you have a little more than one left.” Shen Mo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “I know, you always have a tiny bit more ability than me. Oh well…”
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly raised his hand.
Instead of using the final transversal to escape, Shen Mo commanded it to throw a wooden crate, directly smashing Jiao Lian’s partner—a girl who was holding a laptop and checking the data from a distance without any defenses.
“Xiao Zhou—?!”
Everything happened very quickly. When Jiao Lian realized what had happened, the girl had already been crushed by the heavy crate, her shoulder shattered. Xiao Zhou slid down the wall in confusion, still clutching the laptop tightly in her arms.
Blood gushed out in an instant.
“She is a science post, and no one here is capable of treating her. In two minutes, she will die from blood loss.” Shen Mo raised his hands. “Well, explanation complete. Now, continue to guard against me.”
Jiao Lian hesitated for less than ten seconds.
She rushed to her partner’s side, tightly embracing the girl, and both of them disappeared on the spot. Only the blood-stained laptop fell to the ground, its screen flickering incessantly.
Wei Huaqian knew that when a Charon forcefully traversed while lacking energy, they were easily drawn into a chaotic space. Jiao Lian’s remaining power was barely enough for her own traversal, and now she had an injured person by her side.
…All for a glimmer of hope.
Truly foolish.
The subsequent events unfolded just as Shen Mo had anticipated. Without Jiao Lian’s interference, Shen Mo teleported directly to another relocation vehicle. The spirit weapons and documents in that vehicle ultimately became the possessions of Sunken Society.
“Jiao Lian will die over there.” Shen Mo evaluated afterwards. “Once entering the chaotic space, a Charon cannot determine the destination of the traversal. She couldn’t afford to gamble with two people… Staying in such a place for a long time would drive anyone insane.”
However, Shen Mo’s judgment had its first mistake regarding this matter.
Indeed, Jiao Lian didn’t abandon her partner, but she also didn’t give up on survival. The deranged woman utilized the power of the Charon to sever parts of her own body, only returning a portion to the mortal realm.
The blood-soaked and damaged laptop was dismantled and sent to the junkyard after being handled by Shian.
There was a short video clip that circulated briefly at that time. It was on a late December night, when the screens on the garbage mountain suddenly lit up, and organs and chunks of flesh slowly grew around them. Amidst the snowy landscape, those pieces of flesh emitted steaming heat, trembling uncontrollably.
“Shian. Shian.”
From a nearby damaged radio, a voice emerged. It sounded like a synthesis of countless voices, causing a tingling sensation throughout the body.
“Foreign Object, Identification, Group, Jiao Lian. Shian. Shian…”
……
The recollection ended, and Wei Huaqian put down his chopsticks.
In the end, Shen Mo obtained the position he desired. Jiao Lian didn’t die, but her body underwent separation and transformation, becoming indistinguishable from waste. She and her partner were alive, but it was merely an existence.
Stupid woman.
If she had abandoned that dying science post, maybe she could have come back to seek revenge against Shen Mo. But now, she had nothing left.
The Other Side.
“So that’s how it is. She’s only half—no wonder the fusion turned out like this.”
Ms. Zhou, the science post, was treated by Yin Ren and was still unconscious. Qi Xin examined the fused parts of their bodies, making clicking sounds with her mouth.
“I can peel it off, but the other half of this woman is in the mortal realm. Humans will have to treat her themselves.”
[I’m fine. Shian has treated cases of fusion with objects before.] Jiao Lian’s thoughts were coherent, filled with delight. [Please send Xiao Zhou back first.]
“Oh. That depends on how hard your people work.” Qi Xin remained unmoved. “Yin Ren, Old… Zhong Chengshuo—there’s a ready-made teacher here. Figure it out yourselves.”
After speaking, Ms. Qi pet Gao Mengyu’s cat. “I’ll go back first, so that guy doesn’t realize something’s wrong.”
“Wait—” Yin Ren’s paw just reached out, but Qi Xin disappeared like Dr. Meiqiu.
Beside him, Zhong Chengshuo was already seated with his knees crossed, his notebook and pen in position. “Ms. Jiao, please proceed.”
The “Safety First” helmet on Zhong Chengshuo’s head hadn’t even disappeared yet.
“Zhong Chengshuo, let me rest for a while.” Yin Ren moaned in a plaintive tone. His heart and stamina fluctuated greatly, and he hadn’t even eaten during the period. “And we need to clarify the situation first. Where did you just go? …How did you dig the person out?”
Zhong Chengshuo: “Oh.”
He imagined another “Safety First” red helmet and placed it on Yin Ren’s head. “Ms. Jiao, please start from the space just now.”
Jiao Lian: […Alright.]
……
At the same time, in the underground water system of Haigu.
It hadn’t rained for a long time, so the water level underground was low. The four of them cautiously moved along the dirty side passage, with Bao Linlin in the lead and Ge Tingting at the rear. Huang Jin and Wang Zhou were in auxiliary positions, protected in the middle.
Wang Zhou clearly had complete trust in Bao Linlin. While his partner walked ahead, Wang Zhou didn’t even look at the path; his eyes were fixed on the changing numbers on the screen. Huang Jin didn’t have the detection mode of a science post, so he had to reach into a small pocket in his backpack and hold the ping pong ball-sized Yellow Millet.
This thing could sense abnormal evil qi, and it had a soft and slippery texture, suitable for keeping warm on cold days.
“Puff, puff.” Yellow Millet didn’t like being rubbed by Huang Jin’s cold paw, and it complained softly in Huang Jin’s hand.
“What’s that sound?” Wang Zhou turned his head.
“I stepped on some water. That’s the sound it makes when I walk.” Huang Jin shamelessly replied. “Right, Xiao Ge?”
Ge Tingting: “Hehe.”
As noon approached, they still had gained nothing. The sewer was peaceful, and the most vigilant enemies they encountered were just crawling cockroaches.
“Well, since we have nothing better to do, why don’t we think about where Xiang Jiang might go?” Bao Linlin was getting restless. “I’ll guess first! At a time like this, he betrayed Shian. Perhaps he might turn around and stab Shian, attack its compound…”
“Hmm… He doesn’t have any grudges against Shian, and Shian has treated him well. I have reservations.” Wang Zhou’s eyes remained fixed on the instrument screen. “Xiang Jiang is currently cooperating with Sunken Society, so he’ll probably act according to their intentions.”
“I don’t know him, so I have no idea.” Huang Jin showed little interest.
“He might also want to seek revenge on society,” Ge Tingting guessed seriously. “Cause a scene in a sensitive public place…”
“Pass, there are too many possibilities,” a voice interrupted in their earphones. It was the rear commander of Unit 7—Xiao Zhao couldn’t help but interject.
Huang Jin: “You see, what did I say? If we could guess these things, Shian wouldn’t have to deploy personnel with such great effort.”
Ge Tingting angrily kicked the back of Huang Jin’s heel. Then she noticed that one person had remained silent all this time.
“Xiaohe Jie?” Ge Tingting tapped her earpiece.
“…I’m just saying, can you understand his feelings? Do you believe it?” On the other side of the earpiece, Lu Xiaohe’s voice sounded a bit heavy.
The two members of Unit 7 exchanged glances. Huang Jin put away his sulking face. “What are you trying to say?”
Lu Xiaohe: “After Huang Jin and Tingting joined Shian, both of you obtained resonance spirit weapons, right?”
“Yeah, mine is a ballpoint pen that can suck blood and turn it into ink, and Huang Jin’s is a stress ball that screams. Weren’t they only used for identity verification?” Ge Tingting recalled.
“They can represent certain aspects of a person to some extent. Xiang Jiang’s spirit weapon is an eternal, unbreakable dagger.” Lu Xiaohe’s voice carried a bitter tone. “Xiang Jiang is stubborn in his actions. Someone like him won’t waver in their stance for a little benefit.”
“Unit 9, what are you trying to say?” Bao Linlin slowed her pace.
“Not long ago, my mother went missing. At that time, I also harbored hatred towards Shian and even towards my comrades,” Lu Xiaohe said.
“After being with Shian for so long and witnessing so much, knowing how many strong individuals exist in this world… My mother went missing, and they were well aware of it, with the ability to search and rescue, but they chose to prioritize other matters.”
Even though Lu Xiaohe knew this conversation would be recorded in the Shian public channel, she still spoke bluntly.
“Rationally, I understand that some things may indeed be more important. Others are not obligated to do everything for me. But my mother was suffering, and the power to save her was right beside me. It was difficult for me not to feel hatred.”
“There are so many powerful and kind people in this world, so why can’t they save her?”
For a moment, the sewer fell silent.
Lu Xiaohe sighed and continued.
“If I were Xiang Jiang… because of Xiang Hai’s kidnapping case, my family was torn apart, my education was ruined, and my youth was destroyed.”
“Afterward, I found my brother, but all I found was a corpse. He and his friend were mocked by the public, turning my brother into a vengeful spirit.”
“At that time, I came into contact with Shian and discovered that there were so many powerful individuals in this world… Just based on all of you here, breaking a kidnapping case would be easy. Shian has indeed treated him well, but if it were me, I would also find it difficult to feel a sense of belonging.”
After all, her mother was rescued from the hands of the Great Celestial Master, while Xiang Hai had turned into a vengeful spirit, constantly clinging to Xiang Jiang. They stood together, witnessing the power that could save them from hell.
Only if time could be reversed.
“You can’t say that. We also have our own work…” Bao Linlin couldn’t help but interject, but she was interrupted by Wang Zhou.
Finally, Wang Zhou moved his gaze away from the screen. He gently shook his head at Bao Linlin. “We all understand the general principles, but rationality and emotions are two different things. Miss Lu, please continue.”
“…Xiang Jiang’s betrayal is inevitable. However, even if he’s upset, he wouldn’t specifically target Shian. He has only one goal.”
Lu Xiaohe continued.
“He needs a target for revenge—someone to take responsibility for the suffering of his blood relatives. For example, the village where the kidnapping occurred and the people who spread gossip online.”
“But the village doesn’t exist anymore, right?” Wang Zhou pondered. “And we can’t be certain about the identity of the online gossipers, can we?”
After saying that, his expression changed. “Could it be…”
“If we can’t be certain about their identity, indiscriminate attacks are fine. They deserve a bit of torment, whether they are bystanders or evildoers… If it were me, that’s how I would think.”
Lu Xiaohe’s voice carried a hint of coldness.
“I would attack all of Haigu.”
The author has something to say:
Huang Jin wanted to hold Yellow Millet in his palm, but Yellow Millet didn’t want Huang Jin to hold it in his palm. Huang Jin insisted on holding Yellow Millet in his palm (…
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Wei Huaqian walked down the street. He took a deep breath—the icy air cut into his lungs, causing pain.
Compared to last year, the streets of Haigu were much quieter. There were many cloudy days in winter, and the recent sky was always gloomy. Walking from indoors to outdoors felt like hitting a higher ceiling with his head.
The shops along the street were withering, and about one-third of the stores had “For Rent” signs hanging. The surrounding atmosphere was like the remaining autumn leaves, almost disappearing in the cold wind.
But Wei Huaqian’s business was doing well.
The companies on the surface were diligently managed by the people under his control. As for the transactions in the field of metaphysics… Recently, countless people turned to believing in these things, spending a fortune for peace of mind, which made Wei Huaqian’s assets soar.
But all of this was meaningless.
Wei Huaqian examined his body—once he was tall and sturdy, as elegant and handsome as Shen Mo. Now his skin was sagging, his organs aging, and illness was relentlessly eroding his body. No matter how much money he spent, he couldn’t stop the march of time.
But he would soon be relieved.
With a flick of his hand, one of his arms disappeared completely into thin air.
Corruption was intensifying, and the space in Haigu had become increasingly fragile. Just a little more wait, and he would truly become a real Charon. Then his diseases and the limitations of lifespan would no longer be a problem.
Money, power, immortality. Throughout history, these were the desires of the privileged. People always wanted to rise higher. Even Shen Mo, the lunatic, couldn’t resist these temptations.
Wei Huaqian retracted his arm and slowly entered his favorite restaurant. His reserved seat was already prepared, secluded and comfortable.
Speaking of which, he hadn’t seen Shen Mo much lately. Wei Huaqian took a sip of hot tea.
Since acquiring the useful tool Xiang Jiang, Shen Mo rarely showed up in front of Wei Huaqian. That guy was sensitive to power and didn’t like the presence of other Charons in the world… Wei Huaqian remembered that Charon with the surname Jiao, who was disabled by Shen Mo.
The memory of that day was vivid for Wei Huaqian.
It was the first and only time he collaborated with Shen Mo.
At that time, Shen Mo had just joined Sunken Society not long ago, and Wei Huaqian wasn’t yet the leader of Sunken Society of Haigu. He was still relatively young and was assigned to assist Shen Mo due to his slight involvement with Charons.
Back then, Shen Mo was still officially a member of Shian. In order to gain a high position in Sunken Society, he proposed a crazy plan—to steal research data on “the Other Side” and the “Divine Descent” phenomena from Shian, as well as a large number of precious spirit weapons, using them as a letter of introduction to join Sunken Society.
“Jiao Lian and I are the only ‘Charon’ in Shian. Their procedures don’t matter much to ordinary cultivators, but for Charons, they are full of loopholes.”
“I will communicate with the higher-ups and arrange for a relocation. I’ll say that the Charons will cause spatial instability and chaotic evil qi, necessitating a reorganization of storage and laboratories.”
Shen Mo casually tossed a stack of printed papers to Wei Huaqian.
“Your Charon abilities are somewhat useful, but you’re decent enough to handle things from the safe. I’ll teach you a few key points…”
Wei Huaqian patiently listened as Shen Mo spoke confidently, but he raised one question.
“What about the other Charon?” he said. “Once she realizes something is amiss, she won’t let you off easily. I heard that her Charon abilities surpass yours.”
Shen Mo’s smile carried a hint of disdain. “Abilities are just abilities. I work in the investigation department, and she works in the appraisal department. Our combat levels are not on the same level… But yes, I truly dislike that woman overshadowing me. It’s better if she disappears.”
Wei Huaqian remained silent, but a trace of contempt showed on his face. Shen Mo had worked at the Shian for many years, and he didn’t believe this guy could deal with his former colleague without obstacles.
It might be a trap set by Shian.
“I know you don’t believe me, but I’ll just say one thing.” Shen Mo glanced at Wei Huaqian. “What do you think is the biggest flaw of Shian?”
“Adhering to regulations and following the rules,” Wei Huaqian said.
“No, no, there are always a few mavericks, like the talisman user I brought with me, Fu Xingchuan—he’s not someone who follows the rules.”
Wei Huaqian remained silent.
“Their biggest flaw is ‘goodness’.” Shen Mo stopped smiling. “The actions of ‘good people’ are very easy to predict.”
“Let’s make a bet. If I disable Jiao Lian, all the research on the Other Side will be under my control. If I lose, I will hand over everything I stole this time, without any conditions.”
……
As it turned out, Shen Mo was right.
It was a day in late November when the Shian’s relocation convoy was ambushed.
When Wei Huaqian arrived at the scene, he witnessed a confrontation between two “Charons”—Jiao Lian and Shen Mo. They were exhausted from countless traversals. Several Shian personnel lay wounded around them, but there were still three or four people standing, and the situation seemed unfavorable for Shen Mo.
“Shen Mo, that’s enough.” Jiao Lian held a sword spirit weapon made of coins with her brows furrowed. “Now you only have enough energy for one more traversal. You can’t escape.”
“And you have a little more than one left.” Shen Mo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “I know, you always have a tiny bit more ability than me. Oh well…”
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly raised his hand.
Instead of using the final transversal to escape, Shen Mo commanded it to throw a wooden crate, directly smashing Jiao Lian’s partner—a girl who was holding a laptop and checking the data from a distance without any defenses.
“Xiao Zhou—?!”
Everything happened very quickly. When Jiao Lian realized what had happened, the girl had already been crushed by the heavy crate, her shoulder shattered. Xiao Zhou slid down the wall in confusion, still clutching the laptop tightly in her arms.
Blood gushed out in an instant.
“She is a science post, and no one here is capable of treating her. In two minutes, she will die from blood loss.” Shen Mo raised his hands. “Well, explanation complete. Now, continue to guard against me.”
Jiao Lian hesitated for less than ten seconds.
She rushed to her partner’s side, tightly embracing the girl, and both of them disappeared on the spot. Only the blood-stained laptop fell to the ground, its screen flickering incessantly.
Wei Huaqian knew that when a Charon forcefully traversed while lacking energy, they were easily drawn into a chaotic space. Jiao Lian’s remaining power was barely enough for her own traversal, and now she had an injured person by her side.
…All for a glimmer of hope.
Truly foolish.
The subsequent events unfolded just as Shen Mo had anticipated. Without Jiao Lian’s interference, Shen Mo teleported directly to another relocation vehicle. The spirit weapons and documents in that vehicle ultimately became the possessions of Sunken Society.
“Jiao Lian will die over there.” Shen Mo evaluated afterwards. “Once entering the chaotic space, a Charon cannot determine the destination of the traversal. She couldn’t afford to gamble with two people… Staying in such a place for a long time would drive anyone insane.”
However, Shen Mo’s judgment had its first mistake regarding this matter.
Indeed, Jiao Lian didn’t abandon her partner, but she also didn’t give up on survival. The deranged woman utilized the power of the Charon to sever parts of her own body, only returning a portion to the mortal realm.
The blood-soaked and damaged laptop was dismantled and sent to the junkyard after being handled by Shian.
There was a short video clip that circulated briefly at that time. It was on a late December night, when the screens on the garbage mountain suddenly lit up, and organs and chunks of flesh slowly grew around them. Amidst the snowy landscape, those pieces of flesh emitted steaming heat, trembling uncontrollably.
“Shian. Shian.”
From a nearby damaged radio, a voice emerged. It sounded like a synthesis of countless voices, causing a tingling sensation throughout the body.
“Foreign Object, Identification, Group, Jiao Lian. Shian. Shian…”
……
The recollection ended, and Wei Huaqian put down his chopsticks.
In the end, Shen Mo obtained the position he desired. Jiao Lian didn’t die, but her body underwent separation and transformation, becoming indistinguishable from waste. She and her partner were alive, but it was merely an existence.
Stupid woman.
If she had abandoned that dying science post, maybe she could have come back to seek revenge against Shen Mo. But now, she had nothing left.
The Other Side.
“So that’s how it is. She’s only half—no wonder the fusion turned out like this.”
Ms. Zhou, the science post, was treated by Yin Ren and was still unconscious. Qi Xin examined the fused parts of their bodies, making clicking sounds with her mouth.
“I can peel it off, but the other half of this woman is in the mortal realm. Humans will have to treat her themselves.”
[I’m fine. Shian has treated cases of fusion with objects before.] Jiao Lian’s thoughts were coherent, filled with delight. [Please send Xiao Zhou back first.]
“Oh. That depends on how hard your people work.” Qi Xin remained unmoved. “Yin Ren, Old… Zhong Chengshuo—there’s a ready-made teacher here. Figure it out yourselves.”
After speaking, Ms. Qi pet Gao Mengyu’s cat. “I’ll go back first, so that guy doesn’t realize something’s wrong.”
“Wait—” Yin Ren’s paw just reached out, but Qi Xin disappeared like Dr. Meiqiu.
Beside him, Zhong Chengshuo was already seated with his knees crossed, his notebook and pen in position. “Ms. Jiao, please proceed.”
The “Safety First” helmet on Zhong Chengshuo’s head hadn’t even disappeared yet.
“Zhong Chengshuo, let me rest for a while.” Yin Ren moaned in a plaintive tone. His heart and stamina fluctuated greatly, and he hadn’t even eaten during the period. “And we need to clarify the situation first. Where did you just go? …How did you dig the person out?”
Zhong Chengshuo: “Oh.”
He imagined another “Safety First” red helmet and placed it on Yin Ren’s head. “Ms. Jiao, please start from the space just now.”
Jiao Lian: […Alright.]
……
At the same time, in the underground water system of Haigu.
It hadn’t rained for a long time, so the water level underground was low. The four of them cautiously moved along the dirty side passage, with Bao Linlin in the lead and Ge Tingting at the rear. Huang Jin and Wang Zhou were in auxiliary positions, protected in the middle.
Wang Zhou clearly had complete trust in Bao Linlin. While his partner walked ahead, Wang Zhou didn’t even look at the path; his eyes were fixed on the changing numbers on the screen. Huang Jin didn’t have the detection mode of a science post, so he had to reach into a small pocket in his backpack and hold the ping pong ball-sized Yellow Millet.
This thing could sense abnormal evil qi, and it had a soft and slippery texture, suitable for keeping warm on cold days.
“Puff, puff.” Yellow Millet didn’t like being rubbed by Huang Jin’s cold paw, and it complained softly in Huang Jin’s hand.
“What’s that sound?” Wang Zhou turned his head.
“I stepped on some water. That’s the sound it makes when I walk.” Huang Jin shamelessly replied. “Right, Xiao Ge?”
Ge Tingting: “Hehe.”
As noon approached, they still had gained nothing. The sewer was peaceful, and the most vigilant enemies they encountered were just crawling cockroaches.
“Well, since we have nothing better to do, why don’t we think about where Xiang Jiang might go?” Bao Linlin was getting restless. “I’ll guess first! At a time like this, he betrayed Shian. Perhaps he might turn around and stab Shian, attack its compound…”
“Hmm… He doesn’t have any grudges against Shian, and Shian has treated him well. I have reservations.” Wang Zhou’s eyes remained fixed on the instrument screen. “Xiang Jiang is currently cooperating with Sunken Society, so he’ll probably act according to their intentions.”
“I don’t know him, so I have no idea.” Huang Jin showed little interest.
“He might also want to seek revenge on society,” Ge Tingting guessed seriously. “Cause a scene in a sensitive public place…”
“Pass, there are too many possibilities,” a voice interrupted in their earphones. It was the rear commander of Unit 7—Xiao Zhao couldn’t help but interject.
Huang Jin: “You see, what did I say? If we could guess these things, Shian wouldn’t have to deploy personnel with such great effort.”
Ge Tingting angrily kicked the back of Huang Jin’s heel. Then she noticed that one person had remained silent all this time.
“Xiaohe Jie?” Ge Tingting tapped her earpiece.
“…I’m just saying, can you understand his feelings? Do you believe it?” On the other side of the earpiece, Lu Xiaohe’s voice sounded a bit heavy.
The two members of Unit 7 exchanged glances. Huang Jin put away his sulking face. “What are you trying to say?”
Lu Xiaohe: “After Huang Jin and Tingting joined Shian, both of you obtained resonance spirit weapons, right?”
“Yeah, mine is a ballpoint pen that can suck blood and turn it into ink, and Huang Jin’s is a stress ball that screams. Weren’t they only used for identity verification?” Ge Tingting recalled.
“They can represent certain aspects of a person to some extent. Xiang Jiang’s spirit weapon is an eternal, unbreakable dagger.” Lu Xiaohe’s voice carried a bitter tone. “Xiang Jiang is stubborn in his actions. Someone like him won’t waver in their stance for a little benefit.”
“Unit 9, what are you trying to say?” Bao Linlin slowed her pace.
“Not long ago, my mother went missing. At that time, I also harbored hatred towards Shian and even towards my comrades,” Lu Xiaohe said.
“After being with Shian for so long and witnessing so much, knowing how many strong individuals exist in this world… My mother went missing, and they were well aware of it, with the ability to search and rescue, but they chose to prioritize other matters.”
Even though Lu Xiaohe knew this conversation would be recorded in the Shian public channel, she still spoke bluntly.
“Rationally, I understand that some things may indeed be more important. Others are not obligated to do everything for me. But my mother was suffering, and the power to save her was right beside me. It was difficult for me not to feel hatred.”
“There are so many powerful and kind people in this world, so why can’t they save her?”
For a moment, the sewer fell silent.
Lu Xiaohe sighed and continued.
“If I were Xiang Jiang… because of Xiang Hai’s kidnapping case, my family was torn apart, my education was ruined, and my youth was destroyed.”
“Afterward, I found my brother, but all I found was a corpse. He and his friend were mocked by the public, turning my brother into a vengeful spirit.”
“At that time, I came into contact with Shian and discovered that there were so many powerful individuals in this world… Just based on all of you here, breaking a kidnapping case would be easy. Shian has indeed treated him well, but if it were me, I would also find it difficult to feel a sense of belonging.”
After all, her mother was rescued from the hands of the Great Celestial Master, while Xiang Hai had turned into a vengeful spirit, constantly clinging to Xiang Jiang. They stood together, witnessing the power that could save them from hell.
Only if time could be reversed.
“You can’t say that. We also have our own work…” Bao Linlin couldn’t help but interject, but she was interrupted by Wang Zhou.
Finally, Wang Zhou moved his gaze away from the screen. He gently shook his head at Bao Linlin. “We all understand the general principles, but rationality and emotions are two different things. Miss Lu, please continue.”
“…Xiang Jiang’s betrayal is inevitable. However, even if he’s upset, he wouldn’t specifically target Shian. He has only one goal.”
Lu Xiaohe continued.
“He needs a target for revenge—someone to take responsibility for the suffering of his blood relatives. For example, the village where the kidnapping occurred and the people who spread gossip online.”
“But the village doesn’t exist anymore, right?” Wang Zhou pondered. “And we can’t be certain about the identity of the online gossipers, can we?”
After saying that, his expression changed. “Could it be…”
“If we can’t be certain about their identity, indiscriminate attacks are fine. They deserve a bit of torment, whether they are bystanders or evildoers… If it were me, that’s how I would think.”
Lu Xiaohe’s voice carried a hint of coldness.
“I would attack all of Haigu.”
The author has something to say:
Huang Jin wanted to hold Yellow Millet in his palm, but Yellow Millet didn’t want Huang Jin to hold it in his palm. Huang Jin insisted on holding Yellow Millet in his palm (…
Wei Huaqian walked down the street. He took a deep breaththe icy air cut into his lungs, causing pain.Compared to last year, the streets of Haigu were much quieter. There were many cloudy days in winter, and the recent sky was always gloomy. Walking from indoors to outdoors felt like hitting a higher ceiling with his head.The shops along the street were withering, and about one-third of the stores had For Rent signs hanging. The surrounding atmosphere was like the remaining autumn leaves, almost disappearing in the cold wind.But Wei Huaqian's business was doing well.The companies on the surface were diligently managed by the people under his control. As for the transactions in the field of metaphysics Recently, countless people turned to believing in these things, spending a fortune for peace of mind, which made Wei Huaqian's assets soar.But all of this was meaningless.Wei Huaqian examined his bodyonce he was tall and sturdy, as elegant and handsome as Shen Mo. Now his skin was sagging, his organs aging, and illness was relentlessly eroding his body. No matter how much money he spent, he couldn't stop the march of time.But he would soon be relieved.With a flick of his hand, one of his arms disappeared completely into thin air.Corruption was intensifying, and the space in Haigu had become increasingly fragile. Just a little more wait, and he would truly become a real Charon. Then his diseases and the limitations of lifespan would no longer be a problem.Money, power, immortality. Throughout history, these were the desires of the privileged. People always wanted to rise higher. Even Shen Mo, the lunatic, couldn't resist these temptations.Wei Huaqian retracted his arm and slowly entered his favorite restaurant. His reserved seat was already prepared, secluded and comfortable.Speaking of which, he hadn't seen Shen Mo much lately. Wei Huaqian took a sip of hot tea.Since acquiring the useful tool Xiang Jiang, Shen Mo rarely showed up in front of Wei Huaqian. That guy was sensitive to power and didn't like the presence of other Charons in the world Wei Huaqian remembered that Charon with the surname Jiao, who was disabled by Shen Mo.The memory of that day was vivid for Wei Huaqian.It was the first and only time he collaborated with Shen Mo.At that time, Shen Mo had just joined Sunken Society not long ago, and Wei Huaqian wasn't yet the leader of Sunken Society of Haigu. He was still relatively young and was assigned to assist Shen Mo due to his slight involvement with Charons.Back then, Shen Mo was still officially a member of Shian. In order to gain a high position in Sunken Society, he proposed a crazy planto steal research data on the Other Side and the Divine Descent phenomena from Shian, as well as a large number of precious spirit weapons, using them as a letter of introduction to join Sunken Society.Jiao Lian and I are the only Charon' in Shian. Their procedures don't matter much to ordinary cultivators, but for Charons, they are full of loopholes.I will communicate with the higher-ups and arrange for a relocation. I'll say that the Charons will cause spatial instability and chaotic evil qi, necessitating a reorganization of storage and laboratories.Shen Mo casually tossed a stack of printed papers to Wei Huaqian.Your Charon abilities are somewhat useful, but you're decent enough to handle things from the safe. I'll teach you a few key pointsWei Huaqian patiently listened as Shen Mo spoke confidently, but he raised one question.What about the other Charon? he said. Once she realizes something is amiss, she won't let you off easily. I heard that her Charon abilities surpass yours.Shen Mo's smile carried a hint of disdain. Abilities are just abilities. I work in the investigation department, and she works in the appraisal department. Our combat levels are not on the same level But yes, I truly dislike that woman overshadowing me. It's better if she disappears.Wei Huaqian remained silent, but a trace of contempt showed on his face. Shen Mo had worked at the Shian for many years, and he didn't believe this guy could deal with his former colleague without obstacles.It might be a trap set by Shian.I know you don't believe me, but I'll just say one thing. Shen Mo glanced at Wei Huaqian. What do you think is the biggest flaw of Shian?Adhering to regulations and following the rules, Wei Huaqian said.No, no, there are always a few mavericks, like the talisman user I brought with me, Fu Xingchuanhe's not someone who follows the rules.Wei Huaqian remained silent.Their biggest flaw is goodness'. Shen Mo stopped smiling. The actions of good people' are very easy to predict.Let's make a bet. If I disable Jiao Lian, all the research on the Other Side will be under my control. If I lose, I will hand over everything I stole this time, without any conditions.As it turned out, Shen Mo was right.It was a day in late November when the Shian's relocation convoy was ambushed.When Wei Huaqian arrived at the scene, he witnessed a confrontation between two CharonsJiao Lian and Shen Mo. They were exhausted from countless traversals. Several Shian personnel lay wounded around them, but there were still three or four people standing, and the situation seemed unfavorable for Shen Mo.Shen Mo, that's enough. Jiao Lian held a sword spirit weapon made of coins with her brows furrowed. Now you only have enough energy for one more traversal. You can't escape.And you have a little more than one left. Shen Mo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. I know, you always have a tiny bit more ability than me. Oh wellBefore he could finish speaking, he suddenly raised his hand.Instead of using the final transversal to escape, Shen Mo commanded it to throw a wooden crate, directly smashing Jiao Lian's partnera girl who was holding a laptop and checking the data from a distance without any defenses.Xiao Zhou?!Everything happened very quickly. When Jiao Lian realized what had happened, the girl had already been crushed by the heavy crate, her shoulder shattered. Xiao Zhou slid down the wall in confusion, still clutching the laptop tightly in her arms.Blood gushed out in an instant.She is a science post, and no one here is capable of treating her. In two minutes, she will die from blood loss. Shen Mo raised his hands. Well, explanation complete. Now, continue to guard against me.Jiao Lian hesitated for less than ten seconds.She rushed to her partner's side, tightly embracing the girl, and both of them disappeared on the spot. Only the blood-stained laptop fell to the ground, its screen flickering incessantly.Wei Huaqian knew that when a Charon forcefully traversed while lacking energy, they were easily drawn into a chaotic space. Jiao Lian's remaining power was barely enough for her own traversal, and now she had an injured person by her side.All for a glimmer of hope.Truly foolish.The subsequent events unfolded just as Shen Mo had anticipated. Without Jiao Lian's interference, Shen Mo teleported directly to another relocation vehicle. The spirit weapons and documents in that vehicle ultimately became the possessions of Sunken Society.Jiao Lian will die over there. Shen Mo evaluated afterwards. Once entering the chaotic space, a Charon cannot determine the destination of the traversal. She couldn't afford to gamble with two people Staying in such a place for a long time would drive anyone insane.However, Shen Mo's judgment had its first mistake regarding this matter.Indeed, Jiao Lian didn't abandon her partner, but she also didn't give up on survival. The deranged woman utilized the power of the Charon to sever parts of her own body, only returning a portion to the mortal realm.The blood-soaked and damaged laptop was dismantled and sent to the junkyard after being handled by Shian.There was a short video clip that circulated briefly at that time. It was on a late December night, when the screens on the garbage mountain suddenly lit up, and organs and chunks of flesh slowly grew around them. Amidst the snowy landscape, those pieces of flesh emitted steaming heat, trembling uncontrollably.Shian. Shian.From a nearby damaged radio, a voice emerged. It sounded like a synthesis of countless voices, causing a tingling sensation throughout the body.Foreign Object, Identification, Group, Jiao Lian. Shian. ShianThe recollection ended, and Wei Huaqian put down his chopsticks.In the end, Shen Mo obtained the position he desired. Jiao Lian didn't die, but her body underwent separation and transformation, becoming indistinguishable from waste. She and her partner were alive, but it was merely an existence.Stupid woman.If she had abandoned that dying science post, maybe she could have come back to seek revenge against Shen Mo. But now, she had nothing left.The Other Side.So that's how it is. She's only halfno wonder the fusion turned out like this.Ms. Zhou, the science post, was treated by Yin Ren and was still unconscious. Qi Xin examined the fused parts of their bodies, making clicking sounds with her mouth.I can peel it off, but the other half of this woman is in the mortal realm. Humans will have to treat her themselves.I'm fine. Shian has treated cases of fusion with objects before. Jiao Lian's thoughts were coherent, filled with delight. Please send Xiao Zhou back first.Oh. That depends on how hard your people work. Qi Xin remained unmoved. Yin Ren, Old Zhong Chengshuothere's a ready-made teacher here. Figure it out yourselves.After speaking, Ms. Qi pet Gao Mengyu's cat. I'll go back first, so that guy doesn't realize something's wrong.Wait Yin Ren's paw just reached out, but Qi Xin disappeared like Dr. Meiqiu.Beside him, Zhong Chengshuo was already seated with his knees crossed, his notebook and pen in position. Ms. Jiao, please proceed.The Safety First helmet on Zhong Chengshuo's head hadn't even disappeared yet.Zhong Chengshuo, let me rest for a while. Yin Ren moaned in a plaintive tone. His heart and stamina fluctuated greatly, and he hadn't even eaten during the period. And we need to clarify the situation first. Where did you just go? How did you dig the person out?Zhong Chengshuo: Oh.He imagined another Safety First red helmet and placed it on Yin Ren's head. Ms. Jiao, please start from the space just now.Jiao Lian: Alright.At the same time, in the underground water system of Haigu.It hadn't rained for a long time, so the water level underground was low. The four of them cautiously moved along the dirty side passage, with Bao Linlin in the lead and Ge Tingting at the rear. Huang Jin and Wang Zhou were in auxiliary positions, protected in the middle.Wang Zhou clearly had complete trust in Bao Linlin. While his partner walked ahead, Wang Zhou didn't even look at the path; his eyes were fixed on the changing numbers on the screen. Huang Jin didn't have the detection mode of a science post, so he had to reach into a small pocket in his backpack and hold the ping pong ball-sized Yellow Millet.This thing could sense abnormal evil qi, and it had a soft and slippery texture, suitable for keeping warm on cold days.Puff, puff. Yellow Millet didn't like being rubbed by Huang Jin's cold paw, and it complained softly in Huang Jin's hand.What's that sound? Wang Zhou turned his head.I stepped on some water. That's the sound it makes when I walk. Huang Jin shamelessly replied. Right, Xiao Ge?Ge Tingting: Hehe.As noon approached, they still had gained nothing. The sewer was peaceful, and the most vigilant enemies they encountered were just crawling cockroaches.Well, since we have nothing better to do, why don't we think about where Xiang Jiang might go? Bao Linlin was getting restless. I'll guess first! At a time like this, he betrayed Shian. Perhaps he might turn around and stab Shian, attack its compoundHmm He doesn't have any grudges against Shian, and Shian has treated him well. I have reservations. Wang Zhou's eyes remained fixed on the instrument screen. Xiang Jiang is currently cooperating with Sunken Society, so he'll probably act according to their intentions.I don't know him, so I have no idea. Huang Jin showed little interest.He might also want to seek revenge on society, Ge Tingting guessed seriously. Cause a scene in a sensitive public placePass, there are too many possibilities, a voice interrupted in their earphones. It was the rear commander of Unit 7Xiao Zhao couldn't help but interject.Huang Jin: You see, what did I say? If we could guess these things, Shian wouldn't have to deploy personnel with such great effort.Ge Tingting angrily kicked the back of Huang Jin's heel. Then she noticed that one person had remained silent all this time.Xiaohe Jie? Ge Tingting tapped her earpiece.I'm just saying, can you understand his feelings? Do you believe it? On the other side of the earpiece, Lu Xiaohe's voice sounded a bit heavy.The two members of Unit 7 exchanged glances. Huang Jin put away his sulking face. What are you trying to say?Lu Xiaohe: After Huang Jin and Tingting joined Shian, both of you obtained resonance spirit weapons, right?Yeah, mine is a ballpoint pen that can suck blood and turn it into ink, and Huang Jin's is a stress ball that screams. Weren't they only used for identity verification? Ge Tingting recalled.They can represent certain aspects of a person to some extent. Xiang Jiang's spirit weapon is an eternal, unbreakable dagger. Lu Xiaohe's voice carried a bitter tone. Xiang Jiang is stubborn in his actions. Someone like him won't waver in their stance for a little benefit.Unit 9, what are you trying to say? Bao Linlin slowed her pace.Not long ago, my mother went missing. At that time, I also harbored hatred towards Shian and even towards my comrades, Lu Xiaohe said.After being with Shian for so long and witnessing so much, knowing how many strong individuals exist in this world My mother went missing, and they were well aware of it, with the ability to search and rescue, but they chose to prioritize other matters.Even though Lu Xiaohe knew this conversation would be recorded in the Shian public channel, she still spoke bluntly.Rationally, I understand that some things may indeed be more important. Others are not obligated to do everything for me. But my mother was suffering, and the power to save her was right beside me. It was difficult for me not to feel hatred.There are so many powerful and kind people in this world, so why can't they save her?For a moment, the sewer fell silent.Lu Xiaohe sighed and continued.If I were Xiang Jiang because of Xiang Hai's kidnapping case, my family was torn apart, my education was ruined, and my youth was destroyed.Afterward, I found my brother, but all I found was a corpse. He and his friend were mocked by the public, turning my brother into a vengeful spirit.At that time, I came into contact with Shian and discovered that there were so many powerful individuals in this world Just based on all of you here, breaking a kidnapping case would be easy. Shian has indeed treated him well, but if it were me, I would also find it difficult to feel a sense of belonging.After all, her mother was rescued from the hands of the Great Celestial Master, while Xiang Hai had turned into a vengeful spirit, constantly clinging to Xiang Jiang. They stood together, witnessing the power that could save them from hell.Only if time could be reversed.You can't say that. We also have our own work Bao Linlin couldn't help but interject, but she was interrupted by Wang Zhou.Finally, Wang Zhou moved his gaze away from the screen. He gently shook his head at Bao Linlin. We all understand the general principles, but rationality and emotions are two different things. Miss Lu, please continue.Xiang Jiang's betrayal is inevitable. However, even if he's upset, he wouldn't specifically target Shian. He has only one goal.Lu Xiaohe continued.He needs a target for revengesomeone to take responsibility for the suffering of his blood relatives. For example, the village where the kidnapping occurred and the people who spread gossip online.But the village doesn't exist anymore, right? Wang Zhou pondered. And we can't be certain about the identity of the online gossipers, can we?After saying that, his expression changed. Could it beIf we can't be certain about their identity, indiscriminate attacks are fine. They deserve a bit of torment, whether they are bystanders or evildoers If it were me, that's how I would think.Lu Xiaohe's voice carried a hint of coldness.I would attack all of Haigu.The author has something to say:Huang Jin wanted to hold Yellow Millet in his palm, but Yellow Millet didn't want Huang Jin to hold it in his palm. Huang Jin insisted on holding Yellow Millet in his palm
