Chapter Twenty-Nine: Gathering of the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society
Huacheng, Fragrant Road, Art Center.
In the quiet dressing room, Nanling Yaohua wore a snow-white lace short skirt, her hair elegantly pinned up, her tall figure resembling a swan with a long neck as she looked down at her mobile phone.
The mobile phone screen displayed a message from Luxianbei.
Luxianbei: “Sorry! Although we had a prior appointment, something came up at home, I may not be able to make it today. How about tomorrow? Is tomorrow okay?”
Nanling Yaohua: “Something came up at home? What happened? Are you okay?”
Luxianbei: “You might find it a bit magical, but… [image][image][image] my water heater exploded.”
Nanling Yaohua: “Alright, see you tomorrow then! [smile]”
“Is it really… the water heater exploded?” Nanling Yaohua murmured to herself, frowning as her eyes flickered, as if pondering something.
“Xiao Hua, it’s time for class!” A girl’s gentle call came from outside the dressing room.
“Coming!” Nanling Yaohua replied, bending down to put on her pink dance shoes, tying the straps, and then standing up, quickly walking towards the dance room.
Soon, music sounded in the dance room.
The bright morning sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the girls in short skirts as they jumped gracefully, their dance steps light and fluttering, like a group of swans gently creating ripples on the surface of a lake.
In the crowd, Nanling Yaohua frowned slightly, her dark and bright eyes appearing clouded, a hint of sadness between her brows, as if she was bidding farewell to someone.
Suddenly, the music came to an abrupt halt.
The teacher walked up to Nanling Yaohua, lightly patting her shoulder. “Xiao Hua, why do you seem so distracted today? You’ve missed several beats… Are you feeling unwell?”
Nanling Yaohua regained her focus and shook her head at the teacher, smiling, “Sorry, teacher, I’m fine. Shall we start over?”
At the moment the dance teacher turned away, she closed her eyes and sighed wearily.
————
On the other side, the faculty and staff compound of Huacheng Institute of Technology.
Luxianbei stared at the reply on his mobile phone but felt no sense of relief.
From what he understood of Nanling Yaohua, if it were a usual occurrence, hearing that her water heater had exploded would likely have her abruptly leave her dance class to come help, or at the very least, she would have inquired in detail to confirm her safety.
But today, Nanling Yaohua not only refrained from asking too much but also readily agreed to postpone their meeting by a day.
Combined with the fact that she might have seen the wires binding Gu Qiqi but pretended not to notice…
Luxianbei faintly sensed something strange.
“Well, there’s no way to see Xiao Hua and ask her directly; I can temporarily set this matter aside!”
After all, according to the memories of the dream, bathing in the morning sunlight tomorrow would restore things to normal, and by then, he could adapt as needed when he saw Xiao Hua.
With this extra time today, he just happened to have some matters he wanted to clarify.
Luxianbei thought to himself as he put away his phone, patted his cheek, and got up to head toward the study.
Sitting down at his desk, he casually picked up paper and pen, mentally sorting through various pieces of information before he began to write down one by one:
“1. Clarify what that description of power points to regarding which urban legend.”
“2. Attempt to verify the authenticity of this body’s various abilities.”
“3. Investigate the abandoned factory that appeared in the dream, as well as what that group did to the little girl suspected to be Gu Qiqi within the factory.”
As he wrote the third point, Luxianbei frowned, temporarily setting down the pen.
Although his current physical state proved that the dream from a few days ago, which brought back a massive amount of memories, had a certain degree of authenticity, it did not mean that all his dreams were real.
In other words, the abandoned factory that appeared in his dreams might not exist at all; perhaps it was just some kind of symbol or maybe it had already been demolished long ago.
In any case, searching for it would not be so simple.
“But at least there aren’t completely no clues…” Luxianbei murmured to himself and picked up the pen to continue writing on the paper.
“4. A large chimney (focus on investigating factories with this large chimney where abnormal events occurred and that are related to the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society).”
“5. Find a few workers to come to the house to fix the bathroom, and try to get it done before my mom comes back.”
After finishing these five tasks for today, Luxianbei set down the pen, tapped his fingers on the edge of the desk to confirm he had nothing to add, and carefully folded the paper.
Five tasks may seem few, but each would take a lot of time.
However, before starting on the real business…
Luxianbei glanced down at the robe he was wearing and muttered, “I need to find something proper to wear.”
Suddenly, he missed the coat from his dream memory, the one that could transform into anything; changing outfits with a word was so convenient.
He just didn’t know if that coat really existed. Luxianbei thought.
————
At this moment, dozens of kilometers away from the faculty compound, in an abandoned factory in the suburbs of Huacheng County.
This factory was a joint venture between Huacheng Cement Plant and Huacheng Steel Works built in the 1980s, intended to produce the active lime needed for steelmaking, while also producing some miscellaneous items.
Huacheng Steel Works once thrived, having built many similarly industrial factories, but with the increasing specialization of technology, these factories gradually faded from the historical stage.
Though located within the county of Huacheng, the factory was not in today’s urban area but outside the city, so although it had been closed for a long time, it had not been dismantled.
It was as if it had been abandoned, left to “rot” on a desolate mountain.
Inside the abandoned factory, in an old office.
“Alright… I understand, mm-hmm, see you later.” A middle-aged man replied a few times into his phone before hanging up, looking at the young man standing on the other side of the desk.
The middle-aged man was around fifty years old, with a slightly aging face, neatly combed grizzled hair, with sharp brows and bright eyes, his stature upright.
The young man on the other side of the desk bore some resemblance to the middle-aged man, with a slightly round face and short chestnut hair.
Seeing the middle-aged man hang up the phone, the young man stepped forward.
“Second Uncle, someone went to our old house yesterday, and Uncle Cao attacked him.”
The middle-aged man’s expression immediately became grave, and he asked, “Oh? Who was it? Were they those doctors?”
After asking, he felt something was off; since their failed attempt over a decade ago, everyone had hidden well.
Although there were often rumors circulating about related information regarding the mutual aid society, they had rarely acted aside from meeting regularly.
Those “doctors” had also not appeared for many years.
The young man shook his head. “I’m not sure; he seemed to be investigating us.”
“…” The middle-aged man pondered for a few seconds, unfazed, “What’s so strange about that?”
During the years of the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society’s silence, many skeptics about the authenticity of this world had taken an interest in them and investigated, a large portion of which eventually became new members of the mutual aid society.
If the young man hadn’t mentioned that Cao Wei attacked that person, the middle-aged man wouldn’t have connected him to those white figures that were like nightmares, lingering in their minds.
“But…” The young man hesitated several times, finally sighing, “When I went to invite Uncle Cao to the meeting today, I found out he’s already dead.”
“What?!” The middle-aged man suddenly stood up from his chair, “What about the person who went to the old house?”
The young man shook his head. “He’s missing, but I think he will continue to investigate us. You see…”
The middle-aged man fell silent for a moment, lightly patting the table, “Alright, when you go back, spread a bit of news secretly in the city. If that person continues to investigate, he’ll surely follow the clues back to us. Then, whether he is an enemy or a friend, we will know.”
“Understood!” The young man nodded, then shifted the topic, “Also, there’s something else I want to discuss with you.”
The middle-aged man squinted his eyes, sizing the young man up, “What else? If you have something to say, hurry up; everyone will be here soon.”
The young man looked worriedly at the middle-aged man, hesitating for a few seconds, and said solemnly, “Second Uncle, Gu Qiqi is still looking for us. Should we not…”
“What are you thinking? You’re just like your father!” The middle-aged man interrupted sternly, “How many times have I told you? She’s not your sister, your real sister has been dead ever since that ritual failed over a decade ago.”
“Have you forgotten how your father died? How dare you still get involved with her?”
“Our family raised her for so many years; you took the risk of exposure to save her life this time; that’s already more than enough kindness. What more do you want?”
“I just feel sorry for her…” the young man said softly.
In these past few days, whenever he had free time, he’d quietly observed Gu Qiqi’s actions, and every time he saw her lingering in the streets, alone and helpless, he felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.
“Bang—!”
The middle-aged man threw the teacup in his hand, shattering it before him, hot water with tea leaves splashing all over him.
“Shut up! What are you thinking in your head?”
The middle-aged man glared at him, “Gu Xinian, are you hoping that I d*e of anger because you are afraid my life is too long?”
“She’s pitiful? What about us? We are imprisoned like prisoners in this false world. If you continue to act recklessly, how will you face your deceased parents and everyone in the mutual aid society?”
“In any case, everyone has endured for so many years, and now there’s finally a new opportunity. If you create chaos at this time, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
Gu Xinian clenched his fists, staring fixedly at his second uncle Gu Weibing, remaining silent for a long time, as if lost in thought.
Seeing this, Gu Weibing forced out a smile, switching to a carrot-and-stick approach, “Don’t you want to know what your father said to me before he died?”
“Work hard, and after it’s done, I’ll tell you.”
“…” Gu Xinian remained silent for a long time, slowly relaxing his hands and inclining his body, “I understand, Second Uncle.”
“Alright, everyone will be here soon. Go prepare, I’ll be there shortly.” Gu Weibing said.
Gu Xinian nodded, turned, and left the decrepit office, closing the door behind him.
Watching Gu Xinian leave, Gu Weibing walked to the desk, bent down to pick up the broken pieces of the teacup, rolling them between his fingers, his expression gradually darkening.
“Just familial ties… is it really that important? If it weren’t for your usefulness… hmph!”
————
After leaving the worn office, Gu Xinian did not head directly to the venue being arranged for the meeting, but instead walked to the end of the corridor, pulled out a cigarette box from his pocket, took one out and lit it.
He of course knew that Gu Qiqi was not his real sister.
However, when their family went to the real world, found Gu Qiqi, and treated her like family, spending so many years together, such feelings are not something one can simply let go of.
He wasn’t like his second uncle, with a heart of stone.
“Uncle Cao, this time, you probably trusted the wrong person.” Gu Xinian sighed as he gazed towards the direction of the Banshan Apartment.
In his impression, Cao Wei was a very kind person; even if he discovered that the boy named Luxianbei was investigating the Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society, he wouldn’t harm him, and would even help him.
He stayed at Banshan Apartment simply because he couldn’t bear to leave the place where he once lived, choosing to watch over it.
Like a lonely guardian, keeping vigil over his hometown.
The reason Uncle Cao attacked Luxianbei was most likely due to the things his second uncle had given him a few days ago…
Earlier yesterday, during their call, he seemed a bit off.
But, Gu Xinian couldn’t stop his second uncle’s madness.
Or rather, he wanted to know why his father and mother suddenly left the real world, why they died mysteriously, and what they ultimately said to his second uncle; therefore, he could not go against his second uncle.
Gu Xinian contemplated, suddenly feeling a heat in his fingers.
The cigarette was almost burnt out; he regained his focus, extinguished the cigarette b*tt, glanced back at Gu Weibing’s office, and turned towards the factory workshop.
————
Moments later, in the open space in front of the long-abandoned factory, various vehicles were parked.
From small electric scooters to ordinary family cars, to jaw-droppingly expensive limited-edition luxury cars, there was everything.
It was clear that their owners came from various walks of life, each with different identities.
Within the dilapidated and silent factory workshop, numerous attendees sat silently in their designated areas, looking ahead.
They were of various ages, heights, and appearances; some plain, others exuding an extraordinary presence.
Among them were students with lingering youth, wearing school uniforms.
There were construction workers wearing hard hats, dirty clothes stained with mud.
Office professionals in suits jostled beside newly rich individuals adorned with large gold chains, both sides looking disdainfully at each other.
There were even some local celebrities and somewhat familiar minor stars mingling among them.
Their only similarity was that they all wore various masks, gathered together like at a masquerade ball.
At the far end of the spacious workshop, there stood a temporary podium with a half-cylinder object draped in black cloth, concealing whatever lay beneath it.
“What do you think that is?”
“I think it might be the new way to reach the real world that the president mentioned, but I’m not sure what it is.”
“Is it really possible? I mean to go to the real world. I thought we all gathered just to find a bit of solace in this false world…”
While the crowd whispered among themselves, footsteps sounded from the podium, where a man wearing a brown hooded robe and a white mask stepped to the center, standing next to the covered cylindrical object.
“Bang bang——!”
The man tapped the podium with his cane to maintain order, his masked eyes scanning the crowd as he spoke with a hoarse voice, “Ladies and gentlemen, how can we escape the illusion and reach the real world? I believe this is a question that has troubled everyone for a long time.”
“The Seek Truth Mutual Aid Society, after discovering that magical gem over a decade ago, conducted a series of attempts, but unfortunately, we failed.”
“However, there is always a way out. Just a few days ago, I found a new method!”
With these words, there was an uproar among the audience.
“Really? Can we go to the real world?”
“The president wouldn’t lie, right?”
“…”
“Bang bang bang——!”
The man on the podium struck the podium several times with his cane, and once the workshop fell silent, he slowly began to speak.
“You must be curious about how I found this new hope; here I wish to tell you that it all stems from a dream?”
“I believe all of you have once glimpsed the real world in dreams, fleeting and ephemeral, right?”
As he finished speaking, a chorus of responses arose from within the workshop.
“Yes, I’ve seen it.”
“Isn’t that world beautiful?”
“Am I not sitting here because I believe in that dream?”
“…”
Seeing this, the man on the podium nodded with satisfaction.
“Not long ago, I had such a dream. In my dream, I awoke not knowing where I was, or even who I was. My senses floated in the void; I heard the sound of the wind and smelled an intoxicating fragrance, a feeling that frightened me, making me want to flee.”
“But as I struggled between waking and sleeping, I suddenly felt an incredibly warm touch enveloping me, embraced tightly. In that moment, I felt unprecedented tranquility, peace, and happiness akin to heaven’s grace.”
“In that moment, I knew our hope had arrived. That was salvation sent by the divine!”
“Then, what does the divine look like, President? Did you see it?” An elderly man in a suit, with an extraordinary demeanor, asked from the front row near the podium.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Li, I did not!” The man on the podium shook his head, explaining, “My dream was vague and beautiful, like a veil of rose-colored silk, preventing me from seeing the appearance of the divine.”
“However, some fragmented concepts were directly injected into my mind; its body could be larger than the world or smaller than a germ, its breath as sweet as honey, and it could change unpredictably, transforming into any creation within or beyond common understanding.”
“Now, it is hovering beyond this false world, listening to our calls, waiting for the right moment to lead us to the real world! And now, I will let you see the magnificent gift it has bestowed upon me!”
The man’s passionate speech earned a round of applause and cheers, but as he unveiled the black cloth from the cylindrical object, a sudden silence fell over the crowd.
There, on the podium, inside a cylindrical glass cover, lay a red and white windbreaker. Yet what truly captured attention was the dark red flesh adhered to the windbreaker, half-real, half-illusory.
That flesh writhed continuously, momentarily transforming into various shapes and forms, sometimes expanding to fill the entire glass cover, sometimes shrinking into a small mass, barely distinguishable to the n*ked eye.
It was so bizarrely twisted, hideously odd, yet exuded a captivating aura, causing everyone to be entranced…
