106 Puppet Jade
The next morning, Cong Xia woke up feeling refreshed and radiant. Everything seemed to put him in a good mood. Even when Deng Xiao sneaked two boiled eggs, he pretended not to notice.
Tianbi and Tang Yanqiu had already woken up early for their morning exercise. Deng Xiao, enticed by the aroma of breakfast, stumbled downstairs in a daze. Lian Fengyu, as usual, was still in bed, while Zhuang Yao, contrary to his usual behavior, hadn't come out even when it was time to eat.
"Xiao Deng, where's Zhuang Yao?"
Deng Xiao sighed, "I don't know. He stayed up all night watching that video repeatedly. It's already past midnight. If it weren't for my courage, I'd have been scared out of my wits."
"Is he still in his room?"
"Yes."
"Xiao Tang, go wake up Lian Ge, and Xiao Deng, bring Zhuang Yao out for breakfast. Don't strain your eyes anymore." Cong Xia was also curious about what information might be hidden in the video.
"Oh." Deng Xiao obediently went to call Zhuang Yao from his room, while Tang Yanqiu went to his own room.
Coincidentally, Tianbi returned from his morning exercise. As he passed by Cong Xia, even though Cong Xia didn't turn around, he could still feel his presence. Cong Xia turned his head and met Tianbi's eyes.
A hint of panic flashed through Tianbi's eyes, and his expression became somewhat stiff.
Cong Xia smiled, "Good morning."
Tianbi nodded slightly and quickly sat down at the dining table.
Quite shy...
Seeing no one else around, Cong Xia walked over and placed a bowl of Tremella fungus next to him, saying with a smile, "Drink it while it's hot. In a few days, I'll get some ingredients and make you a mousse cake."
Tianbi whispered, "I didn't say I like sweet things."
Cong Xia rubbed his ear and softly said, "But I can tell."
Tianbi felt his ears burning and watched as Cong Xia's slender waist swayed in front of him, feeling an urge to hold him tightly.
Just as Cong Xia had finished setting the table, they heard Zhuang Yao angrily shouting, "Put me down!"
He turned around and saw Deng Xiao holding Zhuang Yao tightly under his arm like a little chick, with another hand holding a computer.
Deng Xiao placed Zhuang Yao on a chair and pointed at Cong Xia, saying, "Cong-ge asked me to call you out."
Zhuang Yao glanced at him disdainfully, angrily adjusted his clothes, and said to Cong Xia, "I'm studying the videos. I don't want to eat."
"You watched it so many times last night. According to Tianbi, the videos with content only add up to about ten minutes."
"I'll find new discoveries if I watch it a few more times."
"So, what have you discovered now? Everyone is waiting to know," Cong Xia placed a bowl of Tremella soup in front of him, "Start with this to whet your appetite."
Everyone sat down and started eating breakfast.
After a few bites, Zhuang Yao put down his bowl and said, "Among those dozen videos, only three have images, but they contain a lot of information. Overall, we suspect that the person in distress has indeed undergone a hybridization with an unknown species, and the footage shows that he is being deprived of self-consciousness by the insects. As we know, when humans hybridize with other species, especially with animals that have their own thoughts, there is a struggle for control over the body's main consciousness.
After all, two separate consciousnesses merge into one body, and there must be a dominant force to lead the behaviors of the new body. Like Liu Fengyu, he initially had a period where he wanted to digest various animals, which was caused by the main consciousness of the king flower. However, the self-consciousness of plants is relatively weak, and Liu Fengyu quickly overcame this consciousness. For carnivorous animal hybrids like those, it may be more difficult to overcome the animal's self-consciousness, but the animal brain is no match for the human brain, so ultimately humans will prevail.
At least, all the animal and plant hybrids we have encountered so far have retained their human consciousness. However, whether the personalities of these individuals have been influenced by plants and animals, I haven't conducted a comparative experiment, so it's hard to say. The self-consciousness of these insects should have been weak initially, as they are simple structured soft-bodied animals. However, with their enormous numbers, the self-consciousness of thousands, even hundreds of millions of insects, becomes extremely vast. It is so vast that the person couldn't resist it."
Cong Xia interrupted, "This involves a concept that I want to discuss first. Can hybrids only occur between single species, or can a single species be hybridized with multiple species? According to what you said, that person should have been hybridized simultaneously by countless insects, otherwise, facing the self-consciousness of a single insect would have been enough."
"I have also considered this question. Based on all the hybrids we have encountered so far, they have all been single hybrids. However, there is one exception, the bat hybrid Yi Dong. When his body fully transforms into a bat, it's not just one bat, but a large number of bats. Combining this example with the man, we can determine that hybridization doesn't necessarily have to be a one-to-one process."
"That's right, I also thought of the bat hybrid Yi Dong. So, I have this speculation. Our understanding of the mutations of animals, plants, and humans is still very limited. Basically, we have only relied on satellite information intercepted in Beijing before leaving Guiyang and the information shared by others along the way. I think our understanding of hybrid species is still in the early stages."
"Yes, we still have much to learn. It's possible that the evolution of species is not limited to these few ways. We just don't know yet. Therefore, it's not surprising that a group of insects can undergo collective hybridization. So, I speculate that hybridization may not be limited to just two species."
Cong Xia was taken aback. "Are you suggesting that a single species may be hybridized with two or more species?"
"Yes, because that's what the things revealed in the video are telling us."
"What else is in the video?"
Zhuang Yao paused, took a sip of water to moisten his throat.
Cheng Tianbi took over the conversation. "The man with the yellow pupils that we both saw is not the only person appearing in the video. Those insects, I'm afraid... have absorbed everyone who entered the tower."
Upon hearing the word "absorbed," the faces of everyone changed.
"Absorbed?!"
Tang Yanqiu said, "That's right. We use the word 'absorbed' because that was the most intuitive feeling we had when watching those videos. Although the footage was blurry, we could vaguely see some people with insects crawling under their skin. Some parts of their limbs or skin had already cracked, and the blood flowing out was a pale yellow color, just like the insects. We can't tell for sure if those people are still alive because they were moving, but their movements were strange and unlike those of humans. Even if they are alive, they can hardly be considered human." Tang Yanqiu's face didn't look good while mentioning these hellish scenes because they were not something an ordinary person could bear.
The listeners gasped and their expressions stiffened.
Liu Fengyu said, "But it's also possible that they are parasitized by those insects or simply being eaten by them. How can you be sure they are being hybridized?"
"Because of a seven to eight-second footage."
"What footage?"
Zhuang Yao opened his computer, played the video, and dragged the progress bar, pushing the computer toward them.
Liu Fengyu complained, "Damn it, can't you show it to us at a different time? We're eating."
"If you're scared, then don't watch."
"I'm not scared, I'm just disgusted."
Zhuang Yao ignored him and clicked the play button.
Cong Xia stared at the center of the screen. It started with complete darkness, but the background music was extremely eerie, as if something was rolling and moving. Combined with the pitch-black footage, it resembled dragging a corpse. Then the screen changed, and several white figures appeared on the dark screen. Upon careful observation, Cong Xia recognized that they were two people standing, wearing the protective suits worn by the third group of people who entered, but they were torn and dirty, barely recognizable.
There were also several dark figures on the ground, writhing frantically. Cong Xia looked closely and indeed, they were a few people. Their entire bodies were covered with insects, but occasionally, limbs and skin could be seen, just as Tang Yanqiu described. Their skin cracked, and the ground was filled with yellow liquid, but they were still moving, and their movements were intense, like the struggles of those on the verge of death. Cong Xia endured the nausea and continued watching.
But the video ended abruptly.
Cong Xia let out a long breath. "Oh my god..."
Liu Fengyu's face looked quite grim. "Is that it? It's over? What can we gather from that?"
Zhuang Yao rewound the progress bar and played it again, pointing to the two people on the screen. "Look at them."
The group had to endure the torment of fear once again, staring at the two standing figures. The footage was too dark to make out their expressions, but upon closer observation, their chests were slowly rising and falling, indicating that they were alive. There wasn't a single insect on their bodies. They kept their heads lowered, just like that, watching their struggling companion on the ground without any reaction.
The video stopped, and silence fell over the dining table.
After a while, Zhuang Yao said, "Do you understand? Those two people are still alive, but they're probably no longer human."
"Who filmed this video?"
"I don't know. The person who filmed it is either dead or has turned into one of those things."
Cong Xia forced a bitter smile. "I'm glad we didn't go in."
Liu Fengyu slapped the computer shut. "Thank goodness I didn't go in. This is disgustingly messed up. I would never go in."
Even Zhuang Yao had lingering fears. "This Big Wild Goose Pagoda is really dangerous. It's more dangerous than all the dangers we've experienced combined. Luckily, we only made it to the entrance and escaped. Otherwise, we would end up like those people."
"But when we entered, why didn't these... things attack us?" Cong Xia didn't know how to describe what he had seen.
"I'm not sure. What's even more curious is why they don't leave the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Last time, when we brought the puppet jade inside, those insects chased us for over 300 meters, but then they stopped. If they wanted to, they could have completely covered the entire city of Xi'an with insects. Given their rate of reproduction, occupying a city would be a piece of cake. However, they seem unable to venture too far from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The only possibility I can think of is that they're not incapable of leaving the pagoda but rather unable to leave the puppet jade. Maybe they don't even need to feed and can survive by absorbing energy."
Cong Xia nodded. "I've also considered this possibility. They're extremely obsessed with the puppet jade. But the puppet jade is a lightweight object that can be easily carried away. Unless there's something in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda that is restraining the puppet jade."
"Is there something that can restrain the puppet jade..." Zhuang Yao pondered.
"Regardless, it's a good thing if there's something that can keep them confined to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Otherwise, Xi'an would be doomed if those insects and those 'people' were to come out."
Zhuang Yao said in a solemn tone, "This kind of confinement is probably only temporary. As those insects continue to expand, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda will eventually become unable to contain them. Moreover, now they have these 'people'..."
Liu Fengyu said, "Don't bother worrying about it. We can't go back anyway. Whatever happens to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda doesn't affect us. It's better to think about our current troubles."
Deng Xiao nodded. "Yes, we're already far away from there. The insects won't chase us all the way to Beijing. There's no need to scare ourselves."
Cong Xia sighed. "You're right. Let's put aside the matter of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda for now. When we get to Beijing, we can hand it over to my uncle. I believe they won't let the puppet jade in the pagoda slip by. It could also serve as a reference for the government."
Zhuang Yao added, "For now, it's true that it's no longer our concern. But these things... they really make people uncomfortable. If they break free from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and take on human form, they can go anywhere they want, right? So, we may temporarily refrain from studying these insects, but we must remain vigilant and not treat them as if they don't exist."
The heavy atmosphere from watching those videos weighed on everyone's mood, and they didn't eat much breakfast. Cong Xia felt sorry looking at the leftovers and had Deng Xiao clean up everything.
After finishing their meal, the group gathered together to discuss strategies and preparations.
Zhuang Yao slammed the table. "First and foremost, I want to remind everyone of the most important thing: don't trust anyone from Luoyang. Although Yan Huiyang wants to cooperate with us, I can tell he still has reservations. That's normal, and we need to proceed cautiously, adjusting our strategy according to the circumstances."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Zhuang Yao continued, "Now, let's analyze our situation. According to Yan Huiyang, a mutant organization in Beijing has already made contact with Zhao Fen and Yao Huang. They plan to completely eliminate Wei Zi. In order to resist this attack, Wei Zi needs to absorb a large number of mutants. There isn't enough time for genetic modifications, so Wei Zi is currently absorbing various small factions in Luoyang. In the end, they will most likely target Lu Yun.
However, considering the other two factions' watchful eyes, they won't do anything to Lu Yun for now. But once Wei Zi wins the decisive battle against the mutant organization in Beijing, Lu Yun will undoubtedly become their next target for destruction. Even if Wei Zi is eliminated, Zhao Fen and Yao Huang, who have gained power, won't spare Lu Yun either. So, now is the best opportunity for Lu Yun to cooperate with us. Our ultimate goal is the puppet jade, and we are simultaneously enemies with these two factions. Only by weakening the strength of both sides can Lu Yun have a chance to survive after this battle."
Liu Fengyu lazily remarked, "A mutually beneficial relationship."
"That's right. Wei Zi and those small factions form one force, Lu Yun and us form another force, and the mutant organization in Beijing, Zhao Fen, and Yao Huang form another force. When the three forces are in a delicate balance, the relationships are the most stable, but when they collapse, it's also the most thorough. The reason Luoyang is still relatively calm is because no one dares to act recklessly. Everyone is waiting for the other two factions to start their fight, hoping to take advantage of the situation."
Cong Xia said, "But now we have an additional factor of instability, which is the bounty placed on us. This bounty has turned us from hunters into prey."
Zhuang Yao said, "That's right. It has brought us out of the shadows and into the spotlight. However, it's not all bad. At least we can use this to our advantage and provoke a conflict between Wei Zi and Zhao Fen, Yao Huang."
"What do you have in mind?"
Zhuang Yao smiled mysteriously.
106 Puppet Jade
The next morning, Cong Xia woke up feeling refreshed and radiant. Everything seemed to put him in a good mood. Even when Deng Xiao sneaked two boiled eggs, he pretended not to notice.
Tianbi and Tang Yanqiu had already woken up early for their morning exercise. Deng Xiao, enticed by the aroma of breakfast, stumbled downstairs in a daze. Lian Fengyu, as usual, was still in bed, while Zhuang Yao, contrary to his usual behavior, hadn't come out even when it was time to eat.
"Xiao Deng, where's Zhuang Yao?"
Deng Xiao sighed, "I don't know. He stayed up all night watching that video repeatedly. It's already past midnight. If it weren't for my courage, I'd have been scared out of my wits."
"Is he still in his room?"
"Yes."
"Xiao Tang, go wake up Lian Ge, and Xiao Deng, bring Zhuang Yao out for breakfast. Don't strain your eyes anymore." Cong Xia was also curious about what information might be hidden in the video.
"Oh." Deng Xiao obediently went to call Zhuang Yao from his room, while Tang Yanqiu went to his own room.
Coincidentally, Tianbi returned from his morning exercise. As he passed by Cong Xia, even though Cong Xia didn't turn around, he could still feel his presence. Cong Xia turned his head and met Tianbi's eyes.
A hint of panic flashed through Tianbi's eyes, and his expression became somewhat stiff.
Cong Xia smiled, "Good morning."
Tianbi nodded slightly and quickly sat down at the dining table.
Quite shy...
Seeing no one else around, Cong Xia walked over and placed a bowl of Tremella fungus next to him, saying with a smile, "Drink it while it's hot. In a few days, I'll get some ingredients and make you a mousse cake."
Tianbi whispered, "I didn't say I like sweet things."
Cong Xia rubbed his ear and softly said, "But I can tell."
Tianbi felt his ears burning and watched as Cong Xia's slender waist swayed in front of him, feeling an urge to hold him tightly.
Just as Cong Xia had finished setting the table, they heard Zhuang Yao angrily shouting, "Put me down!"
He turned around and saw Deng Xiao holding Zhuang Yao tightly under his arm like a little chick, with another hand holding a computer.
Deng Xiao placed Zhuang Yao on a chair and pointed at Cong Xia, saying, "Cong-ge asked me to call you out."
Zhuang Yao glanced at him disdainfully, angrily adjusted his clothes, and said to Cong Xia, "I'm studying the videos. I don't want to eat."
"You watched it so many times last night. According to Tianbi, the videos with content only add up to about ten minutes."
"I'll find new discoveries if I watch it a few more times."
"So, what have you discovered now? Everyone is waiting to know," Cong Xia placed a bowl of Tremella soup in front of him, "Start with this to whet your appetite."
Everyone sat down and started eating breakfast.
After a few bites, Zhuang Yao put down his bowl and said, "Among those dozen videos, only three have images, but they contain a lot of information. Overall, we suspect that the person in distress has indeed undergone a hybridization with an unknown species, and the footage shows that he is being deprived of self-consciousness by the insects. As we know, when humans hybridize with other species, especially with animals that have their own thoughts, there is a struggle for control over the body's main consciousness.
After all, two separate consciousnesses merge into one body, and there must be a dominant force to lead the behaviors of the new body. Like Liu Fengyu, he initially had a period where he wanted to digest various animals, which was caused by the main consciousness of the king flower. However, the self-consciousness of plants is relatively weak, and Liu Fengyu quickly overcame this consciousness. For carnivorous animal hybrids like those, it may be more difficult to overcome the animal's self-consciousness, but the animal brain is no match for the human brain, so ultimately humans will prevail.
At least, all the animal and plant hybrids we have encountered so far have retained their human consciousness. However, whether the personalities of these individuals have been influenced by plants and animals, I haven't conducted a comparative experiment, so it's hard to say. The self-consciousness of these insects should have been weak initially, as they are simple structured soft-bodied animals. However, with their enormous numbers, the self-consciousness of thousands, even hundreds of millions of insects, becomes extremely vast. It is so vast that the person couldn't resist it."
Cong Xia interrupted, "This involves a concept that I want to discuss first. Can hybrids only occur between single species, or can a single species be hybridized with multiple species? According to what you said, that person should have been hybridized simultaneously by countless insects, otherwise, facing the self-consciousness of a single insect would have been enough."
"I have also considered this question. Based on all the hybrids we have encountered so far, they have all been single hybrids. However, there is one exception, the bat hybrid Yi Dong. When his body fully transforms into a bat, it's not just one bat, but a large number of bats. Combining this example with the man, we can determine that hybridization doesn't necessarily have to be a one-to-one process."
"That's right, I also thought of the bat hybrid Yi Dong. So, I have this speculation. Our understanding of the mutations of animals, plants, and humans is still very limited. Basically, we have only relied on satellite information intercepted in Beijing before leaving Guiyang and the information shared by others along the way. I think our understanding of hybrid species is still in the early stages."
"Yes, we still have much to learn. It's possible that the evolution of species is not limited to these few ways. We just don't know yet. Therefore, it's not surprising that a group of insects can undergo collective hybridization. So, I speculate that hybridization may not be limited to just two species."
Cong Xia was taken aback. "Are you suggesting that a single species may be hybridized with two or more species?"
"Yes, because that's what the things revealed in the video are telling us."
"What else is in the video?"
Zhuang Yao paused, took a sip of water to moisten his throat.
Cheng Tianbi took over the conversation. "The man with the yellow pupils that we both saw is not the only person appearing in the video. Those insects, I'm afraid... have absorbed everyone who entered the tower."
Upon hearing the word "absorbed," the faces of everyone changed.
"Absorbed?!"
Tang Yanqiu said, "That's right. We use the word 'absorbed' because that was the most intuitive feeling we had when watching those videos. Although the footage was blurry, we could vaguely see some people with insects crawling under their skin. Some parts of their limbs or skin had already cracked, and the blood flowing out was a pale yellow color, just like the insects. We can't tell for sure if those people are still alive because they were moving, but their movements were strange and unlike those of humans. Even if they are alive, they can hardly be considered human." Tang Yanqiu's face didn't look good while mentioning these hellish scenes because they were not something an ordinary person could bear.
The listeners gasped and their expressions stiffened.
Liu Fengyu said, "But it's also possible that they are parasitized by those insects or simply being eaten by them. How can you be sure they are being hybridized?"
"Because of a seven to eight-second footage."
"What footage?"
Zhuang Yao opened his computer, played the video, and dragged the progress bar, pushing the computer toward them.
Liu Fengyu complained, "Damn it, can't you show it to us at a different time? We're eating."
"If you're scared, then don't watch."
"I'm not scared, I'm just disgusted."
Zhuang Yao ignored him and clicked the play button.
Cong Xia stared at the center of the screen. It started with complete darkness, but the background music was extremely eerie, as if something was rolling and moving. Combined with the pitch-black footage, it resembled dragging a corpse. Then the screen changed, and several white figures appeared on the dark screen. Upon careful observation, Cong Xia recognized that they were two people standing, wearing the protective suits worn by the third group of people who entered, but they were torn and dirty, barely recognizable.
There were also several dark figures on the ground, writhing frantically. Cong Xia looked closely and indeed, they were a few people. Their entire bodies were covered with insects, but occasionally, limbs and skin could be seen, just as Tang Yanqiu described. Their skin cracked, and the ground was filled with yellow liquid, but they were still moving, and their movements were intense, like the struggles of those on the verge of death. Cong Xia endured the nausea and continued watching.
But the video ended abruptly.
Cong Xia let out a long breath. "Oh my god..."
Liu Fengyu's face looked quite grim. "Is that it? It's over? What can we gather from that?"
Zhuang Yao rewound the progress bar and played it again, pointing to the two people on the screen. "Look at them."
The group had to endure the torment of fear once again, staring at the two standing figures. The footage was too dark to make out their expressions, but upon closer observation, their chests were slowly rising and falling, indicating that they were alive. There wasn't a single insect on their bodies. They kept their heads lowered, just like that, watching their struggling companion on the ground without any reaction.
The video stopped, and silence fell over the dining table.
After a while, Zhuang Yao said, "Do you understand? Those two people are still alive, but they're probably no longer human."
"Who filmed this video?"
"I don't know. The person who filmed it is either dead or has turned into one of those things."
Cong Xia forced a bitter smile. "I'm glad we didn't go in."
Liu Fengyu slapped the computer shut. "Thank goodness I didn't go in. This is disgustingly messed up. I would never go in."
Even Zhuang Yao had lingering fears. "This Big Wild Goose Pagoda is really dangerous. It's more dangerous than all the dangers we've experienced combined. Luckily, we only made it to the entrance and escaped. Otherwise, we would end up like those people."
"But when we entered, why didn't these... things attack us?" Cong Xia didn't know how to describe what he had seen.
"I'm not sure. What's even more curious is why they don't leave the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Last time, when we brought the puppet jade inside, those insects chased us for over 300 meters, but then they stopped. If they wanted to, they could have completely covered the entire city of Xi'an with insects. Given their rate of reproduction, occupying a city would be a piece of cake. However, they seem unable to venture too far from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The only possibility I can think of is that they're not incapable of leaving the pagoda but rather unable to leave the puppet jade. Maybe they don't even need to feed and can survive by absorbing energy."
Cong Xia nodded. "I've also considered this possibility. They're extremely obsessed with the puppet jade. But the puppet jade is a lightweight object that can be easily carried away. Unless there's something in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda that is restraining the puppet jade."
"Is there something that can restrain the puppet jade..." Zhuang Yao pondered.
"Regardless, it's a good thing if there's something that can keep them confined to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Otherwise, Xi'an would be doomed if those insects and those 'people' were to come out."
Zhuang Yao said in a solemn tone, "This kind of confinement is probably only temporary. As those insects continue to expand, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda will eventually become unable to contain them. Moreover, now they have these 'people'..."
Liu Fengyu said, "Don't bother worrying about it. We can't go back anyway. Whatever happens to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda doesn't affect us. It's better to think about our current troubles."
Deng Xiao nodded. "Yes, we're already far away from there. The insects won't chase us all the way to Beijing. There's no need to scare ourselves."
Cong Xia sighed. "You're right. Let's put aside the matter of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda for now. When we get to Beijing, we can hand it over to my uncle. I believe they won't let the puppet jade in the pagoda slip by. It could also serve as a reference for the government."
Zhuang Yao added, "For now, it's true that it's no longer our concern. But these things... they really make people uncomfortable. If they break free from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and take on human form, they can go anywhere they want, right? So, we may temporarily refrain from studying these insects, but we must remain vigilant and not treat them as if they don't exist."
The heavy atmosphere from watching those videos weighed on everyone's mood, and they didn't eat much breakfast. Cong Xia felt sorry looking at the leftovers and had Deng Xiao clean up everything.
After finishing their meal, the group gathered together to discuss strategies and preparations.
Zhuang Yao slammed the table. "First and foremost, I want to remind everyone of the most important thing: don't trust anyone from Luoyang. Although Yan Huiyang wants to cooperate with us, I can tell he still has reservations. That's normal, and we need to proceed cautiously, adjusting our strategy according to the circumstances."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Zhuang Yao continued, "Now, let's analyze our situation. According to Yan Huiyang, a mutant organization in Beijing has already made contact with Zhao Fen and Yao Huang. They plan to completely eliminate Wei Zi. In order to resist this attack, Wei Zi needs to absorb a large number of mutants. There isn't enough time for genetic modifications, so Wei Zi is currently absorbing various small factions in Luoyang. In the end, they will most likely target Lu Yun.
However, considering the other two factions' watchful eyes, they won't do anything to Lu Yun for now. But once Wei Zi wins the decisive battle against the mutant organization in Beijing, Lu Yun will undoubtedly become their next target for destruction. Even if Wei Zi is eliminated, Zhao Fen and Yao Huang, who have gained power, won't spare Lu Yun either. So, now is the best opportunity for Lu Yun to cooperate with us. Our ultimate goal is the puppet jade, and we are simultaneously enemies with these two factions. Only by weakening the strength of both sides can Lu Yun have a chance to survive after this battle."
Liu Fengyu lazily remarked, "A mutually beneficial relationship."
"That's right. Wei Zi and those small factions form one force, Lu Yun and us form another force, and the mutant organization in Beijing, Zhao Fen, and Yao Huang form another force. When the three forces are in a delicate balance, the relationships are the most stable, but when they collapse, it's also the most thorough. The reason Luoyang is still relatively calm is because no one dares to act recklessly. Everyone is waiting for the other two factions to start their fight, hoping to take advantage of the situation."
Cong Xia said, "But now we have an additional factor of instability, which is the bounty placed on us. This bounty has turned us from hunters into prey."
Zhuang Yao said, "That's right. It has brought us out of the shadows and into the spotlight. However, it's not all bad. At least we can use this to our advantage and provoke a conflict between Wei Zi and Zhao Fen, Yao Huang."
"What do you have in mind?"
Zhuang Yao smiled mysteriously.
