｛I, the Great Quadrilateral, have chosen May Valkyrie as my transaction partner.｝
The few who had failed to catch the bird by the door sulkily closed the door and blocked the entrance.
“This room can’t be opened, ” Wager said, holding his forehead.
“And it can’t be cleaned. ” Just as Yang Zicang finished speaking, the yarn mice by his feet, clutching their tools, gleefully dropped their tiny brooms and started hopping around.
The others pretended not to hear the other name the Little Bird had called out, watching the person before them take the pendant into their hands.
A faint glimmer vanished from the necklace as ｛the ownership of the codified item “Glory Radiance: Repelling the Strong Enemy Who Invaded the Inn ” was transferred to me.｝
｛I received 20,000 units of Five-Colored Moon Essence.｝
Whew~ Finally, this Bloodline Resonance Statue has enough collected moonlight to fuel a second application.
With a silent threat now present in the inn, no one dared to casually leave and risk boarding the ship. Even heading down to the tavern on the first basement level was done with extreme caution.
After waiting two days, just as Yang Zicang and Wager cautiously returned to the island by using an invitation to the guest rooms to visit a small boat, Bai Yuxian’s figure had vanished from the ship. He had only left behind a note:I am not your enemy.
“Where are you planning to host the invitations next month? ” Wager asked casually.
“Maybe out west? ” Yang Zicang replied. It certainly wouldn’t be that rented-out courtyard.
Wager just responded with two dry chuckles.
“I’ve also added the bidding section for the entrants to the cooperation agreement, so there’s nothing left for me to worry about. Let’s part ways here. “
After saying this, Wager waited for Karl to disembark from the ship, then with Yang Zicang’s help sent him into the sub-aether field space.
……
Joshua flipped through the handwritten notes in his hand, which contained several records of rewriting incidents regarding Yang Zicang this time.
Behind him walked a slightly shorter man, his face weather-beaten with marks of constant wind and sun exposure.
“He changes them every single time. ” Joshua turned to Yoya, whose expression remained impassive. “And I haven’t really seen any signs of him relying on information from others. “
“I’ve read these of yours already. ” Yoya picked up two sheets of paper to examine. “File these away in the archives. This person is worth keeping a careful eye on; he might be one of the members’ key investments. “
“If it’s investment from the Holy Ring Council, there are signs. I don’t believe someone of his caliber would secure the council’s backing. Speaking of which, he’s really been in this world for less than a year. “
“Hmph… yeah, you’ve got a point. The council won’t easily waste resources on people like him. “
Yoya folded his arms and thought for a moment. “Come to think of it, this whole affair is indeed a bit suspicious. Why did his experience obviously have flashes of you know what—’Glorious Radiance’ rewriting traces? “
The man, dressed in a simple white robe and standing barefoot on the wooden planks, picked up the papers again, reading about the events contained within.
The incident that was meant to explode upon Concie Village had simply vanished into thin air.
The rewriting of New Sail Town failed, and the opponent even obtained the Bloodline Statue. The rewriting of Hydrapower City also failed, but the opponent lost their protector…
Suddenly, Yoya’s eyes froze.
“The Secret Box.“
“What?” Joshua picked up the remaining papers.
“It’s the Secret Box! Not good,” Yoya put down the books he was holding and picked up his staff beside him, “This means preparations for the Secret Box’s matter might have already begun in this Era Land. I need to investigate this—someone is trying to rewrite the ending of this Era Land!“
Joshua solemnly placed the papers on the table.
Why did he know about this matter, and why was he so deeply involved? He suddenly felt that some mysterious power might have already fused his own Track of Fate into this incident.
But… perhaps it was just a coincidence.
……
Otto came once again to the small rented courtyard where Yang Zicang was temporarily residing.
“How is it, Mr. Buchen?“
Yang Zicang, who was reading a magazine with Lianna—who seemed to have a thinner face—looked up and saw through the glass window this gentleman and his assistant approaching from the courtyard.
“Everything is taken care of.” The two stood up and shook hands; Lianna, seeing that it was this person again, turned and left.
“How did it go? Did you manage to get some of those ‘Stones’?“
For that batch of “Ember Ore Crystals, ” seeking him out was indeed a wise choice, for measuring with scientific instruments could never match a light touch of his finger. Yet this also stirred a faint, wistful melancholy in Yang Zicang’s heart.
“I didn’t get a single stone. “
“Huh? ” The woman standing beside him, with a rather upright figure, looked at the man with a hint of strange curiosity.
Yang Zicang smiled at her, then turned to Otto, who seemed a bit puzzled, and said, “But I’ve organized everything you need out of them. “
With that, he picked up a prepared document from the table, unrolled it, gave it a confirming glance, and handed it over.
“What does this mean? ” Otto cautiously took it, flipped it open, and scanned the details. “This is… my god, you’ve recorded everything down. This is absolutely incredible. “
Yang Zicang sat back down and gestured for the visitor to take a seat as well. “This matter is settled, but I have a question. “
Otto’s lips quickly transitioned from a slight curving to a straight line. “Mm… let’s stop right there, sir. Here’s your payment for now. If you don’t mind, I could recommend a job to you, how about that? You’d only need to stay inside for seven days. I know the ropes on these things. “
If it had been right after I first arrived, seven days wouldn’t have mattered. But now it’s already May, and if I linger here any longer, I’m afraid I really won’t make it in time to catch the ship. I’ve inquired about the rental land; anyone who has obtained the Glorious Light can board, but the treatment upon arrival varies. Those who possess the Flash or have made significant contributions will receive better resource supplies on the other shore.
Thinking this over, Yang Zicang rejected the offer.
“If you can tell me what these patterns are, I can promise not to meddle in your subsequent affairs. Otherwise, I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist seeking out Mr. Ge again. He seemed quite interested in my abilities. “
Otto deliberated for a moment. “Sorry, this matter is only of some help to our work. For the Mistfolk, aside from wasting time, there’s no real pleasure to be gleaned from it. How about this: I can let you in on a piece of information, Mr. Yang. “
“What information? “
“Perhaps someone is planning to extend the lifespan of this Era of Lu… well, or its future. “
A flicker of change passed through Yang Zicang’s eyes; he pondered with some skepticism. The woman beside Otto brought up a small handcase and opened it, revealing some Silver Coins and a small amount of gold.
“Our boss came across this news by chance—it may not be accurate—but if it’s true, I believe Mr. Yang wouldn’t want to miss out on it. ” The woman smiled as she slid the box across the table.
Yang Zicang glanced at it, then snapped the lid shut.
-｛Distributor February. Di’an wishes to acquire the Glory Light I have successfully conceived.｝
-｛Distributor Di’an raised the price for this ‘Radiant Flash’ to 105%.｝
“How did you come by this information? “
“That, Mr. Yang, you will have to verify for yourself. However, I would advise you to wait until your Bloodline Statue reaches the Three-Circle stage and you have some Stellar Yuan before participating. It will be much safer that way. “
Otto reminded him carefully, “Once the statue has acquired the Three-Circle bloodline, you can begin channeling it into that so-called ‘Model’ of yours and start resonating with Stellar Yuan. Until then, Mr. Yang, you still have the chance to choose which bloodline you wish to resonate with. “
Yang Zicang nodded.
He knew the woman was merely using this potentially true rumor to divert his attention from the trail-scan blueprint before him. Yet, if such a thing truly existed, it would inevitably herald the birth of a ‘Heroic Flash.’
“By the way, Mr. Yang, did you manage to learn anything about the ‘Black Sheep’ that night? ” Otto, who had risen to leave, turned around and asked before departing.
“No, not a word. Just dealing with that one matter was already draining enough. They kept their guard up against me. Originally, I planned to trail the target and use other means to obtain the ore, ” Yang Zicang replied casually.
Otto nodded in understanding. So this ‘Hero’ on the sofa was capable of quick thinking, after all. The notion of securing two critical pieces of information in a single night really was nothing short of delusion.
After the others had left, Yang Zicang spotted Lianna in the room, packing things into a leather suitcase.
Leaning against the doorframe, Yang Zicang watched her actions, feeling a strange stir of emotions in his heart for reasons unknown.
“You… “
“I’m going home. ” Liana stood up, smiling. “Uncle Sorn will take care of me, and I’m a grown-up now. I’m really grateful this time, Hero… If it’s possible… “
Tears suddenly fell from her smiling face. “I… I want to hug you… “
With that, she rushed over and hugged Yang Zicang, weeping bitterly.
“I… ” Yang Zicang wanted to say that if she could become a Ferryman, perhaps he could take her into the feilü Inn. But could he bring every indigenous person he met into the inn?
He suddenly recalled what Mr. Otto had said earlier.
Patting the girl’s back with a wrinkled hand, Yang Zicang said nothing for a moment. A pause. Only when Liana stopped crying did he speak:
“Don’t lose heart. This world… there might still be hope. In the future, everyone will continue to live. That’s why we’re here. “
Looking at his face—no longer the handsome visage of before, but now a countenance of profound reliability—Liana nodded softly.
Leonardo, nearly fully recovered after treatment in the rented zone, entered the courtyard with Sorn. He was to escort these two back to White Violet City.
“Miss Liana, these are forms that need to be filled out. The road management is getting stricter now; you’ll need to write this down. Additionally, we two are heading into town later to procure some supplies… “
After the two had departed, Yang Zicang also bid Liana farewell. “I hope we’ll see each other again. This is for you. “
Yang Zicang handed the girl a coin that looked a little odd.
“Celestial treasures and worldly wonders. Zicang, first year of the era. “
The Maiden traced the inscription on the coin in her hand, gazing at the figure before her. She suddenly saw the figure walking further and further away, leaving the courtyard, yet at the same time, she also seemed to see herself riding a carriage, together with Uncle Thorn, carrying a cart full of food and supplies, heading in the opposite direction towards their eastern hometown.
But… a vague image also began to emerge. However, as she snapped back to reality, all those visions vanished. The man’s back also disappeared at the doorway.
Nana stood still, in a daze.
Suddenly, a figure nearly as tall as herself walked towards the door.
“Greetings. ” Tata Mingqi smiled, looking at the somewhat dazed Maiden inside the room. A glimmer of vitality gradually returned to her eyes.
“Allow me to re-introduce myself. ” The distributor said from the doorway, “My name is Loki. Tata Mingqi. I am a distributor from the Lunar Realm. What we call ‘distribution’ is the act of recording the stories that happen to the heroes of this world and sharing them with the people of our homeland. “
Nana was a little stunned.
“You are a friend of Mr. Hero? “
“In a sense, I am his boss. ” Tata Mingqi said, puffing out his chest, as if on the verge of adjusting a tie that wasn’t even there.
Nana suddenly understood what ‘Lunar Realm’ and ‘World’ meant from the man before her.
She took a step back in shock, and stammered: “Are you saying… there are other worlds besides this one? “
“Uh-huh. “
Upon receiving the affirmative confirmation, Lianna suddenly felt as if she were seeing double images—behind this young boy, it seemed another silhouette was standing.
She took a step back, accidentally stumbling over the edge of a box, let out a startled cry as she fell backward, her head almost hitting the hot water bottle beside the bed.
Thump!The maiden grimaced in pain as she got up, casting a frightened glance at the hot water bottle beside her.
“This is no coincidence, ” said Tatamingi from the doorway.
“What do you mean? “
“This is the world’s rejection of you. You are no longer who you used to be. Everyone who ends up like you, as long as they remain on the continent, will be met with all kinds of circumstances meant to bring their life to an end. This is a form of correction. “
Lianna stared ahead with a look of terror.
“Then what should I do? “
Tatamingi knew that she had already fully transformed her identity. By now, she should have seen where she needed to go.
“In this world, there is only one place that can shelter people like you. That is the origin of the heroes—’the Mist Sea.’ Come with me. This time, I came specifically for you. “
Tatamingi pulled an exquisite pendant from his bosom, identical to the one Yang Zicang carried, and placed it into Lianna’s cupped hands.
｛You have obtained the “Distribution Beacon: Hero’s Double-Sided Golden Pendant. “｝
｛The Hero’s Double-Sided Golden Pendant declares: I now possess a lifetime of experiences worth cataloging.｝
And at that very moment, even though she fell, the coin she clung tightly to began to emit a faint, shimmering glow.
｛You can use the “Lifespan Bank: 3000 N. “｝
The maiden instantly understood the preciousness of this coin.
She stared at it all in disbelief.
“Is this the truth of this world? Those humans… they’ve always been… “
“Shh~ ” Tatamingi raised a finger to her lips. “Follow me, Ms. Luna of Crossing People. There’s a long road ahead. You might yet see the hero you wish to meet, as long as you have enough Radiance. “
Yang Zicang went to the stuffy old office, wrapped in oak and large cobblestones in the fog-people rental district, and made some roundabout inquiries. But hardly anyone knew about the thing Otto had mentioned.
“Sir Hero, you still want to extend the time of this continent, even at this hour? “
The regional affairs liaison was a notably tall man. Hearing Yang Buchen’s questions on the subject, he came up, scratching his head, saying, “About that… well, normally, only a kindling-one… “
Yang Zicang pulled out a diary page.
“The content here has already been rewritten down to below 30%. “
“Ah, is this for real? ” The man took the saint’s memoir sheet in shock, glanced at the content—28.3%.
“It’s a true holy-sword memoir—goodness knows how you got it, sir… but… “
Life is afraid of “buts. ” Yang Zicang quickly interjected:
“Though we mostly have the officers rebuilding coastal defenses. But at the very least, this diary, added to the movement I sparked—should that be enough to meet the reading standard? “
The regional affairs liaison pondered for a moment.
“At a time like this… well, given your status, we could probably allow an open inquiry. But what difference would it make? Don’t even mention me opening those archives; even if I laid the key points right here in front of everyone, it would be nearly impossible to rewrite what’s been done. “
-｛Loki Tata Mingqi, the distributor, signals “Leave. “｝
Yang Zicang heard this sudden and inexplicable voice.
He almost turned to leave right there, but then thought better of it. This wasn’t the kind of suggestion a distributor would typically offer for no reason.
“I understand. First, take me to the archives and let me have a look. “
“I need to review your Radiant Catalog. It’s just procedure—each Radiance allows you to read one record of the ‘True History’ for this current region. If you have any Flashes, you can also read about how the Flamebearers in the last Track of Fate dealt with these very issues. “
The Fog Citizen ID was scanned in the man’s hand, revealing a long and glaring list of Radiance entries on its surface.
“These! ” The regional affairs liaison stared at the catalog in shock, his gaze sweeping across the face of the man standing before him twice.
Apart from the still-unborn “Heroic Flash, ” there was already one Flash and one Radiance recorded.
“Unbelievable. It’s only been a little over two months. ” The regional affairs liaison wiped the cold sweat from his brow. “Then, please follow me, Mr. Yang. But please remember—an explanation for the cause of this continent’s destruction cannot be found in the archives. “
“Why not? “
“Because even within the True History, no one truly knows why the world was destroyed ahead of time. “
“Ahead of schedule… ” Yang Zicang, following the man, began to ponder over this word.
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