Chapter Eighty-Three: Is That Man?!
Humans are always filled with fear of an uncertain future. After a series of operations, Lu Yibei successfully made some members of the Solar Eclipse Society feel the uncertainty of their future, planting the seeds of fear in their hearts.
However, for the seeds of fear to take root and sprout, and to affect the vast majority of Solar Eclipse members, it would require some time to brew.
After enough time has passed for brewing, despair will take birth from the hearts of those Solar Eclipse members. As long as Lu Yibei appears again at that time to give them a chance at rebirth, the vast majority among them will undoubtedly choose to follow him with gratitude.
This kind of thing is just like being born into a relatively traditional family. If you tell your parents that you don’t want to have children, they will definitely not allow it. But if you say you’re not even willing to have relationships with humans, they will mediate, putting aside the issue of having children to let you try dating first.
When faced with the options of being tortured to d*ath or following a seemingly good leader, that group of rabble would most likely choose the latter. Even if there are a few people wanting to go against the tide, they would be silenced by the majority who would cover their mouths and restrain their hands and feet.
This is the terrifying aspect of “the majority”…
After dealing with the carefully selected members of the Solar Eclipse Society who are prone to emotional instability, Lu Yibei estimated that the thunderstorm created by the Zixiao Terrace had ended, and hurriedly left the God Realm Prototype, rushing to the underground station at Changlekou.
She had promised to help the Haze God collect the body, so she must personally bury it!
If she arrives too late, it would bring trouble to her colleagues at the Shancheng Siye Society, and that would be quite bad!
————
Accompanied by dazzling golden light, as she passed through the passage of the God Realm Prototype, before she could clearly see the scene before her, a strong charred smell pierced Lu Yibei’s nose. Steadying herself, she looked up to see the Haze God’s offspring, a completely carbonized body like a graphite sculpture, reflected in her sight.
Just as she had thought before hiding in the God Realm Prototype, the Haze God’s offspring was dead beyond any chance of revival.
Without the protection of that distorted and bizarre huge shadow, and being enveloped in the thunder created by the Zixiao Terrace, along with Zhang Hainan and Jumeng, two powerful figures encompassing Cataclysm Grade, under the influence of those three DEBUFFs, even the Saint Son of the Miracle Cult would find it difficult to survive.
Without her being there to hinder them, letting Zhang Hainan and Jumeng unleash their full power to crush the Haze God’s offspring would indeed be an easy task.
This was the conclusion she guessed when she saw that huge shadow disappear and Zhang Hainan’s appearance.
After probing with her spiritual awareness for any hidden spirit energy fluctuations in the surroundings and waiting for a moment, noticing no premonitions flashing through her mind, Lu Yibei nodded in satisfaction and stepped forward.
Taking out Xuan Ying Luo Fu, she infused it with spirit energy, allowing the light blades to condense, and carefully began to cut into the Haze God’s offspring’s corpse—one cut, two cuts, three cuts…
When Lu Yibei, resembling a psychologically twisted dismemberment fanatic, had cut the Haze God’s offspring into more than thirty pieces, a familiar voice came from behind her.
“Dog thing, what are you looking for? Do you want me to help you find it, sister?”
Lu Yibei paused for a moment and looked in the direction of the voice to see Jumeng, with a face full of grievances, holding a round ball the size of a soccer ball made up of various diseased tissues.
The core of the Haze God’s urban legend?! Lu Yibei’s eyes lit up, and she hurriedly said, “Oh, isn’t this my good sister? It’s been a while, you look a bit haggard. Did someone anger you? Just say it, I’ll help you take revenge!”
As she flattered her, she stepped forward to grab the core of the urban legend from Jumeng’s hands.
However, just as her fingertips were about to touch the core of the urban legend, Jumeng slightly applied force with her fingertip, tossing it into the air, and with a gentle breeze, she switched the core from her right hand to her left.
“Dog thing, you didn’t even ask if I got hurt when we first met, and you’re only thinking about the urban legend core. Do you have any conscience left?”
She noticed that from the moment she appeared, Lu Yibei’s gaze had not left the Haze God’s urban legend core for even a second.
This made her very displeased!
Her mood was like spending a fortune to prepare a gift for someone she liked, only for that person to ignore her entirely after receiving the gift, only caring about the gift itself.
“What my good sister said is right…” Lu Yibei echoed, “So, did you get hurt?”
Jumeng pouted slightly, “No.”
“Awesome! Then can you give that thing to me now?”
Seeing Lu Yibei reaching out again, Jumeng quickly hugged the core in her arms, “No! This thing I have to take back to the Peach Source.”
A newly born Cataclysm Grade urban legend core, whether used to refine Primordial Spirit or sold to spiritual ability users as the main ingredient for drawing spirit patterns, could fetch a large fortune, and would slightly offset some losses for the people of the Peach Source.
If she didn’t get the person, at least keep some wealth; otherwise, wouldn’t she end up with nothing?
Upon hearing this, Lu Yibei became anxious, “No, this is a reward given to me by Little Haze! Why can you take it back to the Peach Source? We can’t bully people like this!”
“Pfft, is there anyone here? I only see a dog!” Jumeng rolled her eyes.
Though she could directly tell Lu Yibei that she had spent a lot of money from the Peach Source to counter that giant shadow, she didn’t want to at this moment, just like how most young girls transform into riddle-masters when arguing with their boyfriends.
If you can’t even notice this small thing, how can you say you like me?!
Lu Yibei, “…”
Something’s not right! Why is Stinky Sister suddenly acting like she’s been blown up? Did I offend her somewhere?
It can’t be that she’s angry because I didn’t show her how I was tortured, right?
————
In the end, Lu Yibei still didn’t get the core of the Haze God’s urban legend.
Although it was a tutoring fee promised by the Haze God, Jumeng wouldn’t give it to her, and she didn’t want to forcefully take it.
It wasn’t about whether she could win or not; rather, she didn’t want Stinky Sister to be unhappy.
Moreover, wasn’t Jumeng’s the same as hers?
“Did you really give it to me?” Seeing that even though Lu Yibei still didn’t understand why she was unhappy, Jumeng looked surprised, “Don’t you want to ask what I need it for?”
“Is it necessary to ask?” Lu Yibei shrugged, “If you really need it, for whatever reason, I will give it to you.”
“Actually, I…” Looking at Lu Yibei’s sincere and passionate gaze, Jumeng’s cheeks slightly flushed, and she shyly turned her head away.
After dodging Lu Yibei’s gaze, she sighed with relief and then returned to her usual carefree demeanor, looking back at Lu Yibei, licking her lips with her pink tongue and revealing a mischievous smile, “If I want you, will you also give yourself to me?”
If she could have both people and wealth, that would be the best!
Lu Yibei, “???”
This Stinky Sister should really rein it in a bit!
With her saying this, I can’t even get out the lines I’m supposed to say next. Lu Yibei thought.
She had originally planned to say to Jumeng, “If you don’t really need it, just give the urban legend core back to her because she really needs it.” She wanted to use this opportunity to retrieve the urban legend core.
But now…
“Well then…” Dodging Jumeng’s gaze, which seemed like she wanted to devour her whole, Lu Yibei scratched her cheek and said, “I suddenly remembered, that Zhang Yu guy still hasn’t been dealt with!”
“Didn’t you say before that even if you helped him extend his life, he wouldn’t live much longer?”
“Then I need to hurry and read his memories, otherwise, if he suddenly dies…”
When she saved Zhang Yu, her plan was to rely on his memories to find clues about the Lime Men. If Zhang Yu died, it would all be for nothing.
As Lu Yibei said this, she opened the passage of the God Realm Prototype, diving in as if fleeing for her life.
Watching Lu Yibei’s figure gradually engulfed by golden light, Jumeng rolled her eyes and quickly followed her into the God Realm Prototype.
“Dog thing, don’t run! Have you forgotten what you promised me earlier?”
“Huh? If I’m not mistaken, I didn’t promise to let you sleep with me, right?”
“I’m talking about the five 648s, plus one day’s amusement park trip!”
Lu Yibei, “…” Why did she have to take that so seriously?
————
A moment later, inside the God Realm Prototype, in a room that resembled a patient room.
The smell of disinfectant lingered, accompanied by the monotonous ticking of instruments. Under the stark white ceiling, Zhang Yu lay quietly on the hospital bed, his breath gradually weakening.
Beside the bed, Lu Yibei observed Zhang Yu for a while, stepped forward, urged her spirit energy, and “borrowed” Meng Meng’s ability through the kinship mark. Then, stretching her hand, she pointed her fingertip at Zhang Yu’s forehead.
In an instant, the spirit energy fluctuations spread, the air disturbed by the spirit energy rippled out like waves in water.
Inaudible pale tendrils slowly rose from behind Lu Yibei, extending forward, merging into Zhang Yu’s brow along her delicate fingertip.
Thus, the dream began to construct, gradually replaying yesterday’s events.
————
Before her, the light and shadow swirled, as if she had fallen into the crevice between reality and darkness.
Faded images began flashing before Lu Yibei’s eyes.
She saw a subway train, wrapped in spirit energy, rushing toward the statue on the evil altar for a violent collision.
Saw a figure on a motorcycle unleashing powerful ammunition against the relentlessly pursuing twisted bl**d shadow.
Saw a figure passing through the air raid shelter tunnel, holding a distorted painting, looking ghostly.
Unexpectedly, there was even the power to summon vehicles, how cool! Lu Yibei thought.
Soon, Zhang Yu’s entire experience from the subway station to this location was read, and her vision was plunged into brief darkness.
When her sight gradually regained clarity, she saw a middle-aged man, looking about forty, resembling Zhang Yu seven or eight parts.
That man was sitting behind a desk, staring at her with a fixed gaze, seemingly filled with anger as he said in a deep voice, “How many times have I told you, when we go out to do things, some rules cannot be ignored…”
Faced with the man’s gaze, Lu Yibei initially felt a hint of shock, but then she heard another voice from an invisible place, and she came to her senses.
“Third Uncle and Uncle aren’t they doing just that? If we stick to the rules…”
Hearing this voice, Lu Yibei understood that this was the scene of Zhang Yu being reprimanded by his father.
“b*stard! They are they, and we are we. Maybe you think that if we’re seen as bad people, we should do things recklessly. But today I want to tell you, even bad people have their limits; if there are no limits left, one would become a monster!”
“I don’t want to see you right now. Go back and think about it.”
“But…”
“Get out!”
The young and impassioned Zhang Yu, like the majority of rebellious teenagers, argued with his father.
He, young, couldn’t understand why, when it was indeed possible to make huge profits by doing small things like trading Primordial Spirit, his father would refuse to do so.
His third uncle and uncle had long accumulated vast wealth through those dealings, forming significant influence, while his father’s meager income from completing tasks for the Solar Eclipse Society was barely enough to support his underlings.
Lu Yibei, “…”
She didn’t expect this guy’s father to have such a style!
It’s a bit like the traditional gangs portrayed in movies, which could be called the heroes of the green forest.
However, such people are often two-faced, ultimately meeting a bad end, right?
While Lu Yibei was pondering this, a heavy door slamming sound suddenly echoed in her ears.
With the middle-aged man’s figure fully obscured by the quickly closed door, the scene before her changed accordingly.
Black-and-white photographs, white banners with black text, altars draped in black cloth… The entire world seemed to be reduced to black and white, with the only vivid color being the yellow chrysanthemums placed around the memorial photo.
She vaguely heard someone sobbing, and then faintly, there were voices arguing.
Then… the arguing voices gradually became clearer, and Lu Yibei heard the content of the argument.
“Zhang Shuisheng, you old scoundrel, do you still have the face to come here?”
“Yuer… Is there some misunderstanding between us?”
“There’s no misunderstanding! It was you who killed my dad just because he stopped your and third uncle’s plan, contacted the Siye Society, in order to prevent more things from leaking out, that you killed him to silence him!”
In front of the funeral hall, the young Zhang Yu yelled at his uncle like a beast, his eyes practically bursting with rage.
“It seems we really have some misunderstanding between us.” Zhang Shuisheng said with an indifferent expression, “Sheng’er, your brother is a bit emotional right now; take good care of him. I have something to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first…”
Saying this, he forcefully pushed away Zhang Yu’s hand that was holding his collar, then, as if he had touched some filth, took out a handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped his hands.
“Zhang Shuisheng, you wait!” Zhang Yu, blocked by two men in black connected to Zhang Sheng, looked at Zhang Shuisheng’s departing figure and said fiercely, “From now on, don’t think you can complete any of those dirty deals! I will stop you, I will stop you!”
At the moment Zhang Yu proclaimed these words, Lu Yibei clearly felt the fury in his heart, even the scenes in his dream became tinged with bl**d red.
Upon hearing his cries, Zhang Shuisheng’s footsteps faltered slightly; he turned his head to glance at Zhang Yu and a smile appeared on his lips.
He did not care about Zhang Yu’s threats at all.
Because he knew that Zhang Yu had little possibility of gaining enough power to compete with him.
Zhang Yu understood the disdainful gaze from Zhang Shuisheng, and what he was trying to express stunned him, as if he had been petrified.
At that moment, countless ordinary yet greatly meaningful items flashed before his eyes.
That was the clear waves and gentle breeze by the Langshui River, the unique old building alleys of Shancheng, the breakfast shop shrouded in vapor at the school gate every morning, and the summer days spent with a few friends, holding chilled drinks, sitting in front of the television, waiting for the anime to premiere…
Yet Zhang Shuisheng’s eyes silently communicated to Zhang Yu that everything he cherished and treasured could be easily taken away if necessary, just as he had taken Zhang Yu’s father.
Seeing Zhang Yu’s memories and feeling the strong emotions of wanting to protect something and the guilt towards his father conveyed through those memories, Lu Yibei, who had become cold from devouring the warmth of humanity, experienced a faint wavering in her emotions, her eyes quivering.
She suddenly began to understand Zhang Yu’s feelings. When Mu Se brought the avatar of Pestilence Taijie to stir up trouble in Huacheng, she had also held a similar sentiment when raising her broken sword to initiate the Hundred Demons Walk and became the king of urban legends.
And Zhang Yu’s choice was to devote himself to the Solar Eclipse Society, using his considerable talent to become a pawn of Phoenix Adelaide.
Although neither of them acted entirely voluntarily, their choices were not wrong…
Then, a tall man appeared before her, taking Zhang Yu away as if rescuing an abandoned puppy. Lu Yibei didn’t even have time to memorize his appearance before she, startled like seeing a ghost, hastily interrupted the reading of memories.
Beside Phoenix, she saw a pale-faced, spiritless office worker, slightly hunched, seemingly quite unremarkable.
Holy cr*p! Is that man?!
Why is he here? Does he have a strange habit of spying on his subordinates recruiting little brothers?
What am I going to do now?
Just as she was contemplating, that office worker seemed to notice her and cast his gaze her way, waving and revealing a grin that sent chills down her spine.
During the process of reading others’ memories through the dream, that man’s figure was able to move independently, not under her control as the creator of the dream, and even greeted her…
What the hell, this is ridiculous!
Is there no one to manage him?
What if that guy, after this meeting in the dream, sets his sights on me again, what am I supposed to do?
While Lu Yibei was thinking this, the man suddenly stepped forward, slowly walking toward her.
In an instant, she felt as if she had fallen into an icehouse, chills running down her spine on this hot summer day.
