Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 634: Another Visit

Translator: CKtalon

Long Yuehong felt his thoughts freeze that very moment, and he seemed to be in a different world from his companions. He watched their mouths open and close from a distance, but he couldn’t hear anything.

The next second, he realized that Shang Jianyao had taken out the Six Senses Beads at some point in time and was holding it in his left hand.

Long Yuehong heard his team leader’s voice almost at the same time. This seemed to come from the sky, breaking the frozen silence.

“What did you do to Little Red?” Jiang Baimian asked Shang Jianyao in exasperation and amusement.

Shang Jianyao sincerely replied, “In order for the environment to match his words and create the most suitable atmosphere, I temporarily deprived him of his hearing.”

“…” The five fingers on Long Yuehong’s right knuckle emitted cracking sounds.

“Pay attention to the situation!” Jiang Baimian reprimanded and then helplessly said to Long Yuehong, “Continue.”

Long Yuehong calmed down and glanced at Bai Chen. “In short, if the target is an Awakened in the Subhuti domain with Destiny Connection or a Last Man-domain Awakened who can read other people’s memories, it’s completely possible that he will keep tracking us until our safe house in the Red Wolf Zone, all the way to this room. The probability is not low.”

Jiang Baimian nodded. “This is indeed a situation that requires vigilance, but there’s no need to be too nervous. It’s obvious that the nightmare is rather afraid of Teacher Du Heng or Xiaochong. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have sent its subordinate to search for us after a full day.

“The safe house we rented in the Red Wolf Zone is very close to where Xiaochong used to live, and Teacher Du Heng has also appeared in that block. If the nightmare is really as powerful and terrifying as we analyzed, it should be able to sense something. In that case, its minion definitely won’t dare to be rash after reaching the area. He will definitely probe and repeatedly observe to confirm that there’s really no problem before continuing.”

Back when she chose the safe house in that block, Jiang Baimian had considered using Xiaochong and Du Heng—who had been active nearby—to intimidate any possible transgressors to a certain extent.

Genava agreed with Jiang Baimian. “The target began searching for us yesterday morning. If he has Destiny Connection or can read other people’s memories, he should’ve been able to lock onto us before dusk yesterday if no accidents happened along the way. He could’ve launched an attack during the night, but that didn’t happen. Therefore, either he doesn’t have one of the two abilities, or the nightmare behind him is indeed worried that Xiaochong or Du Heng are still hiding in that area.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!?

Shang Jianyao applauded Genava.

“Why didn’t you strip him of his hearing, uh—no, interfere with the electromagnetic signals he receives?” Long Yuehong said indignantly.

Shang Jianyao replied righteously, “It’s not like Old Ge will be nervous or afraid.”

As expected, you just wanted to scare Little Red…?

“I can simulate such emotions,” Genava emphasized.

Without giving the Shang Jianyaos a chance to discuss smart bot emotions, Jiang Baimian cast her gaze at Long Yuehong.

Long Yuehong organized his words and continued his analysis. “When covering his tracks, the target should’ve been able to vaguely sense that we would lock onto his residence since he possesses Destiny Connection and Clairvoyance. Therefore, he took the opportunity to set up a trap and deliberately expose their tracks.

“If the target can make some modifications while flipping through other people’s memories, the people Shang Jianyao interrogated will sincerely believe that they are the target’s accomplices and find an opportunity to report the situation after the matter is over. Otherwise, their corresponding memories have already been unconsciously modified. The situation they describe to Shang Jianyao doesn’t match the actual situation. Via repeated guidance, we will head to the other party’s designated spot, where there’s a high chance that it’s a trap.

“From our current observations, we can basically rule out the possibility of them reporting the situation subsequently. Yes… If the target doesn’t have the abilities I mentioned, we can only surmise that he has never considered the problem of exposure. Hence, he didn’t hide himself.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!?

Jiang Baimian clapped this time. She smiled and praised, “Not bad. It’s a clear train of thought unfolded layer by layer without missing anything.”

With that said, Jiang Baimian concluded seriously, “These are two situations that require careful precautions. Alright, the next domain to analyze is February’s Dawn.”

Bai Chen took the initiative to speak. “The dream influence of the Dawn domain can allow one to recall the scenes they previously saw in a dream. Oudick did so. This is similar to Destiny Connection and Memory Reading, but it’s also limited by the environment and situation. It can be treated as a weakened version…”

“From Boss Ugo’s abilities, they can also enhance their sense of smell. This is also a tool for tracking.” Jiang Baimian helped add a little. “However, we made it a point to change our disguises.”

This was done through the help of expired perfume, mosquito repellent, and some strong-smelling plants, insects, and animals.

The Old Task Force carried out analyses of January’s Subhuti to July’s Double Sun.

Shang Jianyao stroked his chin. “From the abnormality in the target’s eyes, there’s a high chance that he’s in the Double Sun domain or the Arbiter of Fate domain. Dawn’s one is also considered one.”

The Double Sun domain included ‘eyes’ and ‘vision,’ and the Dawn domain had visual abnormalities.

Shang Jianyao had previously encountered an Awakened in the Arbiter of Fate domain, who paid the price of not being able to move his eyes.

Long Yuehong frowned and said, “Doesn’t seem like it. If the price is simply different-sized eyes, it’s impossible for them to only be at this level when one reaches the Mind Corridor level.”

From his point of view, it should reach a point of not being able to open one eye while the other couldn’t be closed. Only then could it match the Mind Corridor level.

“No.” Shang Jianyao shook his head and smiled. “I’m referring to the abnormality of always wearing sunglasses.”

“Isn’t it supposed to hide different-sized eyes?” Bai Chen asked in Long Yuehong’s stead.

Long Yuehong’s mood instantly improved.

“Wouldn’t wearing tinted glasses be a better choice if he just wants to hide his different-sized eyes? At least it wouldn’t be so eye-catching at night.” Shang Jianyao raised the Six Senses Beads in front of him and pretended that they were half-glasses.

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly and said, “This does explain why the target is still wearing sunglasses at night. The price he paid might be his fear of sunlight. When he enters the Mind Corridor, this changes to the point of him being afraid of ordinary lights.”

Therefore, he had to keep wearing sunglasses unless he entered an area without street lamps.

Jiang Baimian then said, “But the problem is that Awakened in the Double Sun domain don’t seem to have any tracking abilities. Yes, this might be because we’ve encountered too few of them. Maybe some of them can see things that can’t be seen under normal circumstances and follow the clues to find us.”

“This is another situation that requires key precautions,” Genava—who was once Tarnan’s mayor—concluded.

Long Yuehong stated, “It’s unlikely for him to be in the Arbiter of Fate domain. The abilities they show seem to be only related to life support instincts like respiration, heartbeats, and so on.”

Nobody objected to this.

After discussing November’s Shattered Mirror, the Old Task Force finally completed the marathon-like brainstorm. They highlighted the few situations that most suited the present situation or could threaten them and made certain plans.

Jiang Baimian exhaled and looked out the window. “There’s something else we can’t ignore: Oudick saw two people. One on the left and one on the right. There might be more than one nightmare minion we need to deal with.”

This was under the assumption that the ‘photo frame’ in the middle was the ‘nightmare.’

“But we have no clues about that person at all.” Genava was helpless even with his analytical abilities.

You can’t make bricks without straw!

Jiang Baimian nodded. “Therefore, I plan on visiting Oudick again.”

“Oudick only repeats those two sentences…” Long Yuehong didn’t believe they could dig up anything else.

Jiang Baimian smiled. “Inquiries won’t provide us anything, but you can’t say the same regarding observations. Apart from the thoughts that Hey implanted in him, I want to see if he does anything different from before. People who go crazy in nightmares might unconsciously imitate what they sensed back then or be infected by the corresponding madness and leave behind traces.”

“That’s a direction…” Long Yuehong was convinced.

Jiang Baimian immediately made an arrangement. “Hey and I will go. Little Red, Little White, find an empty room to hide around here and secretly monitor for any commotion. Be careful and avoid everyone along the way. Old Ge, stay here and control those cameras. Be prepared to be attacked.”

The Old Task Force members quickly replied, “Yes, Team Leader!”

…

Red Wolf Zone, Oudick’s house.

Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao met Laurice again.

“Where’s Oudick?” Shang Jianyao asked in concern. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ (F)ire

Jiang Baimian smiled and added, “We came here to do a follow-up visit and see if the treatment’s effects have weakened or if we need to strengthen or improve anything.”

“I understand.” Laurice was very grateful. “Oudick went to the Hunter’s Guild to see if there are any relatively safe missions he can take on. He should be back soon.”

“Then, why didn’t you go out?” Shang Jianyao was very curious.

Although Oudick was an Advanced Hunter, a large portion of his income was used to help parishioners in hardship. It was unlikely that he could afford Laurice to be a full-time housewife like a noble lady.

Laurice glanced at Shang Jianyao. “It’s Sunday. I’m a teacher at a public school.”

“Oh…” Shang Jianyao came to a realization.

Jiang Baimian tried her best to get the conversation back on track. “Mrs. Laurice, we want to know if Oudick has shown any abnormalities in the past few days. Uh, it might not be abnormal. It might also be some behavior or habit.”

“Apart from occasionally repeating those words and becoming irritable and excited…” Laurice muttered to herself as she recalled. After a few seconds, she pointed at the coffee table, cabinets, and various items in the living room. “He also likes to tidy up more than before.. He has to arrange everything neatly and symmetrically.”