**Chapter 36: Flood of b*llet Comments in the Brain**
Beres opened his eyes, looking at the dimly lit cave ceiling reflected by candlelight, with remnants of images seen through the consciousness of the Inheritance Beast still in his mind.
He sat up, resting one hand on his forehead, a sarcastic smile gradually appearing on his face. “Hmph, chasing after the real world, huh? What a bunch of pitiful creatures, foolish enough to regard the Inheritance Beast as a deity.”
In Norse mythology, there are nine divine realms on the branches of the World Tree, but that one only exists in urban legends—no one has ever seen it with their own eyes.
The special space constructed by Qin Nanzhu relies on the projection of Huacheng, but in some ways, it has already begun to exhibit certain characteristics of the legendary God Realm.
After accessing the memory of the Inheritance Beast through the Soul-Sucking Worm, Beres was once amazed by the finesse of the special space created by Qin Nanzhu, finding no way to invade it in a short time.
But now… he had found a way!
Although it was difficult to invade that special space in a short time without external assistance due to the characteristic of the Inheritance Beast’s power replication of urban legends, the situation would be different if he collapsed it from the inside.
He may not yet have the level of control over the Inheritance Beast like the Bloodline Mark, but managing it was as easy as herding cattle and sheep.
Soon enough, Qin Nanzhu’s legacy and the secrets behind constructing that nearly perfect space would be exposed unreservedly to his view.
“The elephant is about to be bitten to d*ath by ants. Heh, I should thank this bunch of pitiful creatures properly this time,” Beres muttered.
“Boom——!”
A loud sound suddenly erupted, echoing in the giant cave, and fine dust began to fall.
Startled by the noise, Beres paused for a moment, withdrawing his thoughts from the excitement of about to inherit Qin Nanzhu’s legacy. He rolled off the bed, pulled back the curtains, and looked outside with uncertainty.
Towards the cave entrance, the collision of spirit energy fluctuations sparked dazzling lights, and sounds of fighting and booming continued to come.
“Bang bang bang——!”
Urgent knocking echoed, and a member of the red-robed Solar Eclipse Society rushed in, panicked.
“Lord Beres, it’s the Siye Society, led by Secretary Jin Jiao!”
“d*mn, they got here so quickly?” Beres’s expression grew serious.
He had anticipated that the Siye Society might track and locate him through his corpse, but he never expected them to arrive so fast, leaving him somewhat unprepared.
They must have paid a certain price, too, right? Beres thought, glancing at his subordinate, and said in a low voice, “Notify everyone, activate Plan No. 1!”
“Uh, what?” Upon hearing Beres wanted to activate Plan No. 1, the red-robed Solar Eclipse member was clearly taken aback.
Plan No. 1 referred to the self-destruction plan for this stronghold. Aside from backing up important documents and data, all equipment would self-destruct within five minutes.
At that time, all the equipment inside the cave would turn into the most powerful alchemical bombs.
Although the Siye Society operatives led by Jin Jiao were virtually elite among the operatives from the Southwest region, unless those Disaster-Class Spiritual Energy Manipulators personally came, it would be impossible to break through within five minutes, given that the solidified defensive spell outside the stronghold was running at full overload.
If they insisted on breaking through…
Then they would blow up together with this stronghold.
Whether it was the Inheritance Beast or the evidence of crimes, they shouldn’t even think of getting either… Beres thought coldly, “Is what I said not clear enough?”
“Yes!”
The Solar Eclipse member replied and immediately cast a speed enhancement spell, hurrying away.
Watching his subordinate’s departing figure, Beres’s expression deepened.
Jin Jiao, huh?
Let’s play a cat-and-mouse game then.
This time, I won’t be caught by you!
As for why not confront them directly…
That’s the regular army of the Siye Society; getting away safely would count as success.
————
Four minutes and fifty seconds later.
At the mouth of the giant cave, dozens of Siye Society operatives streamed out.
“Retreat, everyone retreat!”
Jin Jiao, covering the rear, shouted loudly, waving his arms.
“Whoosh——!”
High-speed figures rushed out of the dark cave, creating a gust of wind.
As the last operative exited the cave, Jin Jiao was just about to let out a sigh of relief when suddenly, the spirit energy fluctuations within the cave became fiercely intense.
“Boom——!”
A thunderous roar erupted from the depths of the cave, gradually intensifying, as if some primordial giant beast was awakening from slumber, swiftly approaching.
A terrifying explosion was brewing.
Suddenly, the ground shook, and the rumbling continued.
Heat waves surged, and as Jin Jiao turned back in shock, he saw a brilliant and fierce red fissure spreading across the mountains behind him, flames igniting from the ground, enveloping the entire mountain in an astonishingly high temperature like a furnace.
“Boom——!”
With a loud explosion, the mountaintop violently erupted, earth and debris surging in all directions, countless tons of rocks and soil instantly flung into the sky.
In an instant, fire rained down from above!
Jin Jiao looked up and saw a rain of fire like meteors falling, a crimson storm exploding one after another in bright red cloud clusters.
It was quite magnificent, but…
Why was it getting closer? It seemed to be heading straight for me.
He furrowed his brows, thinking and analyzing calmly, and then suddenly realized.
Oh no! The backlash has begun already?!
————
That night, in a secret small warehouse at the west city lime factory in Huacheng.
Gu Weibing leaned over the operating table, holding a magnifying glass, carefully examining the crystals gifted by the deities.
These crystals were about the size of pigeon eggs, displaying a crystalline dark red polyhedron that emitted a faint glow, resembling encapsulated starlight, looking like high-quality rubies, but unlike rubies, they contained life!
When his fingers brushed over their surface, he could clearly feel warmth and a faint pulsing like a heartbeat; prolonged contact revealed many peculiar, indescribably beautiful sounds.
So beautiful, these definitely aren’t human creations! Gu Weibing thought.
“Creak——!”
The old iron door of the small warehouse was pushed open, letting out a whine.
Accompanied by footsteps, Gu Xiniang walked down the stairs and stopped beside Gu Weibing.
“Second Uncle, I went to the library this afternoon; it wasn’t that kid from before, but a girl…”
Gu Weibing drew back his focus, looking at Gu Xiniang, revealing a knowing smile. “Oh? How does she look?”
“Not bad…” Gu Xiniang, knowing his second uncle’s nature, which usually leaned towards deep conversations with female members, intentionally avoided overly describing Wang Buliu’s appearance.
In fact, to him, Wang Buliu was one of the prettiest girls he had seen, aside from his sister.
Too bad she could talk.
“Not bad? Then bring her over next time; I’d like to meet her,” Gu Weibing said seriously. “You know me; I care about newcomers and guide them to enlightenment.”
“Let’s talk about it later?” Gu Xiniang said dismissively.
You wouldn’t want to meet her; I worry your heart can’t handle it at your age…
“By the way, Second Uncle, did you keep calling me this afternoon? Was there something urgent?”
“Indeed, I wanted you to…” Gu Weibing began, but as he glanced at the dark red crystals on the operating table, he seemed to remember something and paused, a smile spreading across his face.
“Haha, Qiqi! I wanted you to run a favor for me and deliver these divine gifts I obtained to our uncles and brothers.”
“Divine gifts?” Gu Xiniang looked puzzled.
“Exactly these…” Gu Weibing stepped forward, gathering the crystals glowing faintly like dark red stars. “Wearing them can help you see the real world more clearly.”
Gu Xiniang looked at the crystals on the table and then at the tactical jacket secured atop the table, frowning. “Second Uncle, wearing these things… is it really reliable?”
These aren’t the previous crystals, metals, or health supplements; they’re mysterious things. Gu Xiniang thought.
“Delivering divine gifts to devoted followers is a divine revelation,” Gu Weibing said, a bit irritated. “Are you doubting the deities?”
“Do you have any idea how long everyone has waited for this day to arrive?”
“…”
Gu Xiniang fell silent for a moment, bowed slightly. “I dare not doubt; I’ll go deliver them now.”
A smile appeared on Gu Weibing’s face, and he patted Gu Xiniang’s shoulder. “That’s more like it!”
As he spoke, he bent down and retrieved a small iron box from beneath the operating table, carefully packing the dark red crystals inside one by one. Then hesitating briefly, he took out one and placed it in his pocket.
“Go ahead!” Gu Weibing handed the iron box to Gu Xiniang. “Once you finish, I’ll give you a few days off.”
“Weren’t you always worried about that Gu Qiqi girl? You can spend time with her in these few days.”
Looking at the iron box in her hand, Gu Xiniang opened her mouth to say something, but thinking about Gu Qiqi still wandering the streets, she fell silent, then bowed to her second uncle and turned to leave the small warehouse.
Watching Gu Xiniang leave, as the sound of the iron door closing echoed, Gu Weibing eagerly took out the crystal he had kept in his pocket and examined it closely under the light, his expression gradually becoming entranced and fervent, a flush appearing on his cheeks as if he were slightly intoxicated.
————
One hour later.
On the road two kilometers away from the west city lime factory in Huacheng, a taxi drove in from afar and pulled over at the roadside. As the engine turned off, darkness engulfed the interior of the car.
In the darkness, an elderly man and a young girl sat in silence, creating an eerie atmosphere.
“Is it really not okay?” someone asked.
The voice trembled, carrying a hint of a sob.
“How can it be like this? Paying for the ride is only natural!”
“Do you really have to insist like this?”
“…”
Luxianbei fell silent for two seconds, patting Zhang Shan’s shoulder, confused. “Uncle, I’ve come all this way, and you’re insisting on taking me back without charging? What’s this about?”
“Girl, as an adult, I have the responsibility to protect minors’ safety. This ghostly place looks very unsafe; how can I watch you go in without doing anything?”
Uncle Zhang said earnestly, his hands trembling as he tried to light a cigarette. “Crack, crack,” he attempted several times before finally lighting it.
Luxianbei glanced sideways at Zhang Shan.
Seeing him pale, with blue lips, and his gaze wavering, he clearly wore a thick jacket but was sweating profusely, looking terribly frightened.
She turned to look back at the path they came from, the road devoid of streetlights, nothing but darkness stretching into the distance.
And then…
A glimmer of understanding arose in her heart.
“I got it! Uncle, you’re afraid to go back alone, right?”
“…”
Yes, exactly… Your stories are way too terrifying, they sound just like the real thing.
With my years of experience driving a taxi in Huacheng, can’t I hear that all those urban legends you told were set here?
But as a grown man, how can I show cowardice in front of a young girl?
Zhang Shan thought, taking a deep breath of smoke and saying seriously, “Who said that? I’m not afraid! I’m just mainly worried about your safety!”
“Well…” Luxianbei’s eyes wandered around, “Why don’t you just wait here for me? I’m worried it’d be inconvenient to come back later!”
“This…” Zhang Shan hesitated.
“Let’s make it a deal then!” Luxianbei said, paying the fare and skillfully retrieving a business card from the small box beside the front passenger seat, slipping it into her pocket.
“Your WeChat is your phone number, right? I’ll add you later; in case something happens to either of us, we can still keep in touch.”
Before Zhang Shan could refuse, she nimbly exited the car.
With a “bang!” the car door closed, and silence descended within.
Only then did Zhang Shan realize, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Wait a minute! How did she know I had a business card?
And what on earth does she mean by, “In case something happens to either of us, we can keep in touch”?
If something happens to you, you deal with it yourself; don’t drag me in! If you’re not going back, I’ll go back!
“Ding-dong——!”
The sound of a friend request notification brought Zhang Shan back to reality. He paused, looking out the window, and realized that in just a few seconds, Luxianbei had vanished without a trace, leaving only darkness behind.
In this relatively remote area, there were no streetlights flanking the road, and the entire path was shrouded in darkness; the headlights could only illuminate a limited distance ahead.
There wasn’t a single passerby or vehicle on the road.
In the midst of silence, a feeling of being abandoned by the known world quietly arose in Zhang Shan’s heart, making him feel inexplicably anxious.
“Gulp——!”
He swallowed hard, discreetly turned off the car key, reclined the seat, lay back, and closed his eyes.
It’s not that I’m afraid to go back alone; I’m mainly worried about that girl’s safety!
As a mature man, that little girl trusts me so much; could I betray her trust? Zhang Shan thought.
————
After getting out of the car, Luxianbei followed the address she found online for the west city lime factory, walking down a secluded road.
According to the address marked online, it was about two kilometers from where she exited to the west city lime factory.
However, she was surprised to find that this stretch of road was exceptionally good, even better than the rural roads she had passed on her way here, as if someone had repaved it.
Could it have been renovated by the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society? Does this mean I found the right place? Luxianbei thought, unconsciously quickening her pace.
Ten minutes later.
Luxianbei arrived at the west city lime factory, located at the foot of a desolate hill.
The factory’s yard wall was very high; looking over it, she could only see the dilapidated rooftops of the buildings within.
Looking at those structures from a distance, Luxianbei furrowed her brows slightly.
When she compared the list at home, she had seen photos of the west city lime factory, and she was sure that there used to be a very high and large chimney there.
But now…
“How strange, where’s the chimney? Was it demolished? Or has it decayed and collapsed over time?”
Talking to herself, she approached the corner of the factory walls, only to find that the factory’s fences had been repaired, with some areas of the wall having a darker color and severe weathering, while other parts looked entirely new.
It was as if after the wall had aged and deteriorated, someone had come back and refurbished it.
It seemed that people frequently came and went here, and they definitely weren’t just homeless vagabonds!
Homeless people come to places like this just to find shelter from wind and rain, alongside collecting scrap to sell; they would have neither the money nor the time to fix the roads and the walls.
As Luxianbei pondered this, she spent about ten minutes walking around the west city lime factory, finally stopping in front of a large tree growing against the wall.
Looking up at the yard wall, which was nearly twice her height, she furrowed her brows. “I’ll just climb in from here…”
While wandering around the west city lime factory, aside from prying open all the manhole covers at the corner, she had also carefully observed the doors at each entry point of the factory.
None of those doors were open, and the locks seemed to have been recently changed; entering through the main door would require smashing it down.
But if that’s the case, the nature of the situation changes!
She came here to investigate; it was no different from being a thief—if there were others inside the factory, making too much noise would surely get her caught on the spot.
Have you ever seen a thief smashing down a door? That’s called a residential robbery!
As for why she pried open all the manhole covers, that involves a rather complicated story that’s best left untold.
Arriving at the tree, Luxianbei climbed like a monkey, using both hands and feet to quickly scale the trunk and reach the top of the yard wall.
Sitting on the wall and looking down for a moment, she was about to jump down when her body suddenly stiffened slightly.
As if in a hallucination, something drilled into her mind, like a vague thought that was undeniably not her own.
っﾟДﾟ)っ
Luxianbei, “？？？”
What the hell? This isn’t even a hallucination anymore, is it? How can a hallucination look like an emoticon?
As she reprimanded herself, a sudden throbbing pain struck her forehead, and in the next moment, a flood of thoughts surged into her mind.
(╥╯^╰╥)
ヾ(O´∀｀O)ﾉ
……
Luxianbei, “……”
d*mn, what’s going on? Are you刷弹幕 in my head? Can you please stop?
