Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 493: Poisonous Sore

Old friend… Seventh floor… Long Yuehong immediately noticed two keywords.

The former was said by Du Heng himself, and the latter was conveyed by his gaze and actions.

Apart from the Enlightened on duty on the seventh floor, there were only the monks and Buddha’s Nirmanakaya who were in abnormal states.

Upon recalling that Du Heng had claimed to figure out a way to enter the New World with both mind and body—as well as the fact that his actual age was far greater than he looked—Jiang Baimian suspected that his so-called old friend was the Buddha’s Nirmanakaya of the Crystal Consciousness Church.

Perhaps it’s because his old friend entered the New World that resulted in him clearly not being in the right state that Du Heng decided to seek out a new path… Jiang Baimian nodded gently and smiled. “Are you preparing to leave?”

She didn’t ask about his old friend. After all, Zennaga was beside her.

Although the Old Task Force had used Ashlandic language when conversing with Du Heng, it couldn’t stop Zennaga’s Mind Reading.

“That’s right.” Du Heng smiled. “What’s the matter?”

“I have some questions to ask you.” Shang Jianyao was very frank. “You can also not answer them, just like the monks here.”

Du Heng looked around. “Let’s find some place to sit then.”

This time, he switched to the Red River language.

Zennaga immediately understood what he meant and led the mysterious antiquarian and the four Old Task Force members into an empty meditation room on the sixth floor. He then went elsewhere.

After finding a bed, a bench, and a chair to sit down on, Shang Jianyao directly asked, “Teacher Du Heng, since I can’t defeat myself and everyone is evenly matched, I can’t reconcile with him due to fundamental differences. What should I do?”

Du Heng stroked his beard and laughed. “I knew you’d ask that question. If it’s that simple to accommodate oneself, there will definitely be more Mind Corridor-level Awakened in the Ashlands than this.”

He said smugly, “I can’t make a choice for you, nor can I directly give you a plan. Everyone’s inner self is different. Failure is the only outcome from doing what others have done. Based on my personal experience, I’ll find what you and that you of yours have in common. Figure out what both of you wish to do and deliver an incisive strike there.”

Du Heng didn’t elaborate. The mind world was too private after all, and people were different.

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and slowly nodded. “Thank you.”

After a brief silence, Jiang Baimian deliberated and asked, “Teacher Du Heng, have you been to Wasteland Ruin 13?”

Du Heng took some time for a serious recall. “Probably.”

What do you mean by probably… Long Yuehong wanted to curse inwardly, but he immediately recalled that Du Heng’s memories seemed to be missing something.

“Then, do you know Wu Meng?” Jiang Baimian asked further.

“I’ve heard of him.” Du Heng continued using an uncertain tone. He then smiled and said, “Why? Did you meet him?”

Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao spoke one after another about how they had listened to the Dao and Electrical Appliance Repairs radio station at Lehman’s, how they had entered Wasteland Ruin 13 while tracking the white wolf, and how they had been affected and almost committed suicide.

They didn’t mention recording the Dao and Electrical Appliance Repairs radio program because it would implicate Xiaochong.

Du Heng quietly listened and stroked his beard. “The name of this ability seems to be Thought Implantation or Subconscious Thought. That or Wu Meng has both…”

He wasn’t so sure either.

He then said, “This, combined with a certain level of control over electromagnetism, creates the Dao and Electrical Appliance Repairs program’s effects.”

“Which domain is this?” Shang Jianyao asked curiously.

“Master Zhuang.” Du Heng nodded slightly.

Master Zhuang… After an Awakened in the Master Zhuang domain enters the Mind Corridor, they obtain electromagnetic interference… Jiang Baimian turned her head and glanced at Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao clenched his right fist and punched his left palm. Although he didn’t say anything, his expectant expression was obvious.

Uh… Telecom fraud might really happen in the future… Jiang Baimian retracted her gaze.

Du Heng also seemed a little interested in Wasteland Ruin 13. He then asked about the Old Task Force’s observations gained from their few entries.

After a while, he looked at the sky and stood up with a smile. “I have other matters to attend to. Talk to you later.”

Jiang Baimian and the others stood up and sent the mysterious antiquarian to the staircase.

Before parting, Jiang Baimian joked, “Teacher Du Heng, you actually didn’t warn us that Wasteland Ruin 13 is very dangerous—a place we cannot explore now.”

Du Heng fell silent for two seconds before glancing at the Old Task Force members and laughing self-deprecatingly. “I originally planned on saying that, but I gave up. An existence like Wu Meng is this world’s poisonous sore and rotten flesh. If we continue to ignore it, the festering will worsen, and the situation will worsen. If we interfere, we will definitely suffer great risks. We might even have to be prepared to perish together or sacrifice ourselves for nothing.”

“To save all humanity!” Shang Jianyao replied very seriously.

Du Heng was stunned for a moment before smiling at Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen. “Are you guys asking in your hearts why I don’t care?”

“No.” Jiang Baimian and Bai Chen shook their heads.

To Jiang Baimian, words like ‘people like Wu Meng are this world’s poisonous sore and rotten flesh’ had more value.

Long Yuehong denied it as well, feeling a little guilty.

“What I’m doing now actually has such inclinations. Probably.” Du Heng waved his hand and walked down the stairs.

Is he referring to Xiaochong? Jiang Baimian waved her hand in response.

…

North Shore Wastelands, in the city ruins at dawn.

Piles of flesh and blood were scattered on the weeds, and there were burn marks everywhere.

The tall silver-black robot, Genava, aimed the grenade launcher in his left arm forward and observed for a while. “The mutated creatures have all retreated from this area.”

Han Wanghuo—who was holding a rifle—and Zeng Duo, who was holding two guns, heaved a sigh of relief.

They had encountered a large number of mutated creatures last night, and a few of them had strange abilities. If it weren’t for Genava being a smart bot—making him immune to such things—Han Wanghuo felt that he and Zeng Duo definitely wouldn’t be spared no matter how much firepower they had.

This made the two of them deeply understand what a restricted area for living beings was. Of course, this mainly referred to human life.

“Let’s go.” Genava opened the car door and sat. He urged them not only because this place was filled with danger but also because Han Wanghuo and Zeng Duo had been exposed to the polluted environment for too long.

As the heavy SUV drove away from the city ruins, Han Wanghuo—who was in the passenger seat—glanced at Zeng Duo, who was driving. “If your illness can be treated, I have other ways to resolve my heart problem. What do you plan on doing?”

“Plans?” Zeng Duo replied in confusion. “Find more helpers, rescue everyone in town, and relocate them to a new settlement. Then, think of a way to contact an organization that produces genetic drugs. I hope that the children in the future will become more and more normal…”

At this point, Zeng Duo suddenly gasped.

“What’s wrong?” Han Wanghuo asked.

Zeng Duo looked vexed. “The mutated creatures’ remains are very valuable. I actually forgot to pick them up!”

“It’s too dangerous to return now,” Genava—who was in the backseat—reminded.

“I know…” Zeng Duo sounded bitter. After calming down, she glanced at Han Wanghuo in confusion. “Why did you ask such a strange question?”

“I suddenly thought of it,” Han Wanghuo replied concisely.

Zeng Duo was only asking casually. She didn’t ask further and focused on observing the road.

…

In the afternoon, Red Wolf Zone, 19 Rosta Street.

Wall was summoned to the Hand of Order’s headquarters by his superior.

“Did something happen?” he asked Trevis, the Red Wolf Zone’s Orderly.

Trevis leaned back in his chair and held a red fountain pen in both hands as he casually said, “Remember the culprit behind the Citizen Meet explosion we captured? We followed the clues we found on him over the past few days and captured a few more people. We’ve obtained further gains, and this matter is suspected to be done by Elder Varro in collusion with the Salvation Army.”

Elder Varro… Elder Varro—who was previously caught working with the Anti-intellectualism Church and the Salvation Army—still hasn’t been convicted… He’s the Consul’s deputy… As these thoughts raced through Wall’s mind, he suddenly understood why Trevis had summoned him.

Trevis wanted to use him to pass this information to his father-in-law—the commander of the Eastern Army and the leader of the Senate’s Reformists, Gaius.

At this moment, Wall felt that First City was shrouded in dark clouds and that a storm was brewing. He gradually understood why his father-in-law had stayed in First City and hadn’t returned to the Eastern Army.