Chapter 69

Chapter 69

"Tabor," Tang Lan muttered the name in repetition. "He..."

He seemed to be at a loss for words, silent for over a dozen seconds before he spoke again, his voice slightly hoarse. "Is he... doing well?"

An Zhe recalled the images associated with Tabor.

When the insect horde ravaged the outer city and the Sixth District was destroyed, Tabor was on a mission outside the city walls. It was an astute move that not only saved him from the catastrophe but also kept him from being arrested by Lu Feng for "illegally obtaining information of a Judge." Later, he returned safely with his team, receiving a warm welcome in the main city. Eventually, this legendary mercenary captain crossed paths with Lu Feng again. Together, they rode PL1109 to the underground city base for a rescue mission. While in the mines, Tabor occasionally conversed with Lu Feng. Both of them completed the rescue operation and returned unscathed.

An Zhe said, "He's doing well."

Tang Lan's eyes drooped slightly, and it appeared as though he smiled. He didn't ask anything else, not even a single question. He simply said, "That's good to hear."

An Zhe looked at Tang Lan.

The first time he heard about this person was at Boss Xiao's shop. He had seen a beautifully crafted doll that almost resembled a real person. According to Boss Xiao, Tabor had spent most of his wealth to commission it. Tabor, the most legendary mercenary captain in the entire outer city, had made this doll in memory of his close friend and second-in-command who never returned from an expedition, leaving not even a fragment of their body behind.

Beside the doll was a label detailing its specifications. The first line read his name: Tang Lan.

Now, the very much alive Tang Lan stood before An Zhe, unscathed from head to toe, showing no signs of any injuries – he had not only survived the perilous abyss but was thriving in it.

"You made it," An Zhe said. "Aren't you going back?"

A hint of wry amusement flickered in Tang Lan's eyes.

"I can't go back," he said.

As he spoke, he buried the marked stone in the soil.

"I have a map. I can find my way back," An Zhe offered. "…Do you need it?"

"No, thanks," Tang Lan replied. "You're not human anymore, are you?"

An Zhe: "…"

Tang Lan then pulled out a glinting dagger and began carving an arrow on the nearby tree trunk. As he worked, he asked, "Do you know what I'm doing?"

An Zhe: "No."

"After being infected, most people, unfortunately, turn into complete monsters. But there's a rare one in ten thousand who's fortunate enough to retain some human traits," Tang Lan shared. "I guide those lucky ones – just as I was guided once upon a time."

An Zhe remained silent, realizing he possessed a unique ability to discern those with a story to tell.

However, Tang Lan's narrative was brief.

"That day, Hubbard and I had a disagreement. He wanted to push deeper, while I thought it was time to return. It was an unpleasant exchange. That night, we didn't meet again. I took my turn keeping watch on another vehicle, as per our rules."

"In the Abyss, anything can happen. At midnight, a monster we couldn't afford to provoke found us. I've never seen something so perilous," Tang Lan said, sheathing his dagger with the same clarity and sharpness as his voice. "I warned them and lured the creature away in another direction. After that, I died – or so I believe, quite gruesomely."

"But for some reason, I seemed to awaken again, transformed into something formidable." He toyed with the dagger as he spoke to An Zhe. "What about you?"

An Zhe pondered his words carefully.

Suddenly, Tang Lan whipped his head around, his gaze piercing through the dense forest – rustling sounds were emanating from that direction.

He whispered urgently to An Zhe, "Go!"

The instant his words faded, a massive black silhouette burst out from the woods!

An Zhe's arm was seized, and Tang Lan lifted him onto his back with irresistible force. In the next instant, a tremendous rushing sound echoed as a pair of enormous black membrane wings sprouted from his back!

An Zhe was suddenly lifted off the ground. Behind them, the mountain-like monster's claws reached down, but Tang Lan's ghostly flight speed surpassed it, leaving the dense forest in a blink of an eye.

Looking down, An Zhe saw everything on the ground becoming smaller and more distant as they ascended, while the towering mountains to the south drew closer.

Amidst the headwind, he asked Tang Lan, "Where are we going?"

The wind at high altitude grew stronger, dispersing their voices. Tang Lan shouted a question at him.

"Have you heard of the Fusionists?"

As his words faded, he carried An Zhe higher and higher, approaching the peak of the highest mountain. As they neared the sky, the plateau turned crimson gold under the setting sun, and the white structures atop the peak began to emerge at the intersection of the sky and the mountaintop.

First to catch An Zhe's eye were two smooth, cylindrical white towers standing at opposite ends, connected by a cable. Between them lay the main structure, a three-story oval building with annexes on either side and scattered other structures. Before the main building, various peculiar devices were scattered across an open space. Behind it was a flat land dotted with a dozen towering wind turbines, their snow-white three-blade rotors spinning rapidly against the howling wind.

A colossal dark green vine split into a dozen strands, encircling the entire complex. Its branches rested on the fence and the white towers. As Tang Lan set An Zhe down, a tendril slithered over, sniffing at them before retreating.

Tang Lan's massive black wings slowly retracted into his body—his body trembled slightly, his fists clenched, and a pained expression crossed his face. An Zhe watched him intently, not blinking, until Tang Lan opened his eyes again.

Upon their first gaze, Tang Lan's eyes were pitch black, bearing an inhuman glow. However, it only lasted for three seconds before he returned to normal.

"The transformation was rather chaotic and uncomfortable," Tang Lan said, "But I consider myself fortunate."

He then looked at the vine. "This one can't turn back into a human anymore."

An Zhe also looked at the vine. "Does it possess human consciousness?"

"There's some," Tang Lan stepped forward, and An Zhe followed. The fierce wind atop the mountain billowed their clothes as they approached the slightly dilapidated white building in the center.

It was six o'clock in the evening, the climax of the sunset.

In the southwestern sky, clouds swirled as a massive red sun sank, its golden hues illuminating the open gates. A figure stood right in the middle.

An Zhe couldn't distinguish human ages accurately, only knowing that this person was at least as old as Boss Xiao, around sixty or seventy years old. Yet, there was no sign of aging or hunching. As they drew closer, An Zhe noticed the man dressed in a strict and upright black suit with a silver-gray shirt and meticulously tied necktie underneath. His snow-white hair was neatly combed back, and his calm and benevolent face, which had matured over the years, held a pair of gentle gray-blue eyes.

Those eyes made An Zhe feel as if he had seen through all the vicissitudes and changes in the world.

"Sir," Tang Lan stood before him with great respect, "I've brought back a new member."

The man gazed at An Zhe with a gentle smile, his gray-blue eyes evoking an irresistible sense of familiarity. An Zhe looked up at him, and in response, the man extended his right hand towards An Zhe.

Pausing for a moment, An Zhe extended his hand in a slightly awkward gesture. The other person's palm was warm and dry, their grip gentle yet firm.

"Welcome to the Highland Institute, where we modestly dub ourselves the Fifth Foundation of humanity," the person said. "I am Boli Joan."