Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the iron bars of the dormitory window, landing on Yaoguang's face.

Awakening with aches all over, he found Long Jianlu had already packed and was ready to go.

"Do you remember what you said last night?"

"Uh?" Yaoguang felt a headache coming on. After sitting on the bed for a while, Long Jianlu urged, "Get up. We need to leave, provided you're still sure you want to come with me."

"Thanks a lot," Yaoguang mumbled, still half-asleep, "for not abandoning me here while I was sleeping."

"You still think I'm not a good person," Long Jianlu slung his backpack over his shoulder and put on his gloves. "A Great Knight who promises to help will keep their word."

"What's that?"

"It's a letter for Liao Jia," Long Jianlu replied.

They left the dormitory. At this hour, most people were still asleep. The shelter was veiled in the misty dawn. Long Jianlu gracefully slid down the railing to the foot of the hill, and Yaoguang hurried after him.

"Why the rush?" Yaoguang asked.

Long Jianlu remained silent.

They followed the path through the canyon, heading for the garage. Yaoguang paused, his senses picking up the aroma drifting from the nearby cafeteria.

"I'm hungry," Yaoguang said, rubbing his belly.

"Master, you barely ate anything last night. Of course, you're hungry now," Long Jianlu said with a sigh. "But we can't stop for a meal. We need to leave as soon as possible."

"Alright," Yaoguang agreed. "You seem a bit anxious?"

Long Jianlu didn't respond. He pulled on his cap, mounted his motorcycle, and gestured for Yaoguang to climb on. Yaoguang took his backpack and slung it over his shoulder before wrapping his arms around Long Jianlu's waist. With the engine revving, they left the Dune Sanctuary.

The sun had yet to rise, and the Gobi still held a cool, almost chilly, breeze.

"Where are we going now?" Yaoguang inquired again.

"North," Long Jianlu replied. "To find a friend of mine. Maybe she can help unravel the mystery of your identity. See? I've been thinking about you all along."

Yaoguang: "What does your friend know?"

Long Jianlu replied, "I believe I said 'maybe' earlier."

Yaoguang turned back to look at the Dune Sanctuary. "Are you really sure you don't care about them?"

Long Jianlu slowed down and glanced sideways at Yaoguang. "Did it come back to you? Last night, you were talking in your sleep."

Yaoguang wore an innocent expression as he answered, "It wasn't a dream. Those were genuine memories."

"How can something that hasn't happened yet be considered a 'memory'?" Long Jianlu asked.

"Perception?" Yaoguang responded. "The residents of the Sand Dune Shelter will be handed over to Liao Jia in batches. The Mechanized Legion is arriving today."

Long Jianlu retorted, "Do you think there's any credibility to this claim?!"

Yaoguang shrugged. "Believe it or not, it's up to you."

As the motorcycle slowed down, Long Jianlu pressed on, "Has Liao Jia gone mad? Why would he drag everyone down with him? What benefit does he gain from this?"

Yaoguang: "In return, 'The Tree' would create a separate domain tailored to his desires, allowing him to enter a paradise designed entirely by himself. Within that module, he could be a creator, truly doing as he wished without being bound by the rules of the server."

Long Jianlu: "..."

Yaoguang: "It's up to you."

Long Jianlu: "That's just your fantasy. What if it isn't real? I have my mission to fulfill, I need to find the priests, I can't stay with them."

Yaoguang replied, "Suit yourself."

Long Jianlu: "The Mechanized Legion is launching a massive assault. My abilities won't be enough to protect everyone."

Yaoguang: "I said, suit yourself," he said, growing impatient. "Can't you understand?"

But eventually, the motorcycle came to a halt and turned into the wilderness.

"So, you've still decided to go back," Yaoguang yawned, sounding disinterested.

"Thanks to you," Long Jianlu replied. "If your prophecy doesn't come true tonight, you better watch out."

"What do you intend to do?" Yaoguang's heart was suddenly filled with vigilance.

With Long Jianlu in tow, Yaoguang ascended along the other side of the stone mountain, not retracing their steps back to the refuge, but instead heading for its elevated areas.

"You're a knight," Yaoguang said, "So, what do you ride?"

"Fire Dragon," Long Jianlu replied.

Yaoguang: "Where did this Fire Dragon come from?"

Long Jianlu flicked his hip, revealing a gadget attached to his side, with the label "Flame Dragon 3000-A" on it.

Yaoguang exclaimed, "A motorcycle! Cool!"

Long Jianlu replied sternly, "Show some respect. This is my beloved wife!"

Yaoguang chuckled, "Oh, nice to meet you, Sister-in-law. Did you ask her if it's okay for me to ride her?"

"No worries," Long Jianlu whistled. "If I'm on board, Sister-in-law usually doesn't object."

Yaoguang: "..."

The motorcycle climbed up the hill and halted in the shade. The straight-line distance to the sanctuary was less than six hundred meters. As the sun rose, the residents within the sanctuary began their usual daily routines.

"Yesterday, you mentioned that there would be an attack today," Long Jianlu said, pulling out a pair of binoculars from his backpack thoughtfully. "Let's see if your prediction comes true."

Sitting in the shade, Yaoguang asked, "What does it mean if our verification is successful?"

Looking at Yaoguang with a complex expression, Long Jianlu raised an eyebrow. "You don't know the significance?"

Yaoguang replied, "All I know is that I'm starving right now."

Long Jianlu was utterly helpless when it came to Yaoguang.

"I'll go find you something to eat," Long Jianlu instructed. "Don't leave this spot."

Then, he turned sideways and slid down the rock wall.

Curious, Yaoguang picked up the binoculars that had been set aside and looked in the direction Long Jianlu had gone. He saw him descending the steep slope along the cliff and sneaking into the sanctuary from the other side.

How will he get up here? Yaoguang wondered.

What exactly happened last night? Why do these bizarre terms keep popping into my head? MRI, Liao Jia's plan, Long Jianlu's biography... Yaoguang was now more bewildered than ever. He hadn't even had the chance to sort out the events since waking up, as if being led on by an invisible thread, held tightly by the other end in Long Jianlu's grasp.

Through his telescope, he saw Long Jianlu arrive at the shelter, entering from behind the cafeteria.

Suddenly, a sharp alarm echoed through the air.

Did Long Jianlu trigger the alarm? But it didn't seem so.

On the other side, Yaoguang noticed the mountain wall elevator moving, revealing Liao Jia outside his office. Today, he was alone, while the entire shelter's inhabitants were spontaneously converging towards the central open area.

It was the assembly alarm for the residents.

After thousands had gathered in the clearing, Liao Jia stood tall and silent, observing everyone.

"I've noticed some dissatisfaction lately regarding supplies and living conditions," Liao Jia said slowly. "I have planned to address these long-standing issues once and for all today."

The crowd buzzed with whispers, unsure of Liao Jia's intentions.

In the next instant, the main entrance of the sanctuary slowly opened, revealing six enormous, two-meter-tall mechanical spiders!

Anticipating the impending danger, panic erupted among the crowd, who scrambled to retreat, screaming and crying in terror, their voices echoing with the impending doom.

"Lethargy towards death is unnecessary," Liao Jia declared. "This world is cruel enough. Why reject the paradise that beckons?"

The mechanical spiders suddenly accelerated, charging inside! Many rushed back to their shelters to retrieve electromagnetic guns, ready to resist. The guards, now ignoring Liao Jia, retreated while brandishing their weapons.

"Fall back!" Long Jianlu's voice boomed. "To the mountains, everyone!"

Liao Jia turned abruptly, muttering, "Back again?"

Long Jianlu drew his electromagnetic gun, becoming a fleeting shadow as he darted into the heart of the battle.

Yaoguang watched, scalp tingling, but knowing he had no combat abilities, dared not intervene. Blue flames spewed from the undersides of the mechanical spiders, lifting them off the ground and hurtling toward their targets. Eight chain-like tentacles seized the nearest heads, a flash of blue light signaling the discharge of electricity that snatched away consciousness before electrocuting the victims, casting their lifeless bodies aside.

The spiders moved with blinding speed, their bodies flickering with electronic signals as they killed and uploaded consciousnesses simultaneously.

Long Jianlu somersaulted through the air, drawing a short blade. Roaring, he severed the leg of the leading spider, while Liao Jia charged forward, raising a hand. Long Jianlu promptly stepped back.

"Why?!" Long Jianlu panted, his eyes blazing with fury as he locked gazes with Liao Jia.

"Limits have been reached," Liao Jia said. "When life is reduced to mere survival, one has no choice but to yield to reality, Long Jianlu. I'm not the only one who's changed."

Long Jianlu roared, "So you plan to break your Guardian's Oath and leave for that afterlife?"

Liao Jia replied, "Once someone decides to depart from reality, there's nothing you can do to stop them."

The mechanical spiders swarmed toward Liao Jia, extending their limbs with blue-glowing tips. Under the terrified gaze of the inhabitants, Long Jianlu stood unwavering, a short blade in hand.

"Well then, I shall fulfill my duty on behalf of the Knights." Long Jianlu spoke in a solemn tone. "A guardian who abandons their mission will meet death and find no redemption!"

With a swing of Long Jianlu's saber, Liao Jia suddenly made his move.

Liao Jia was clearly well aware of Long Jianlu's capabilities. To evade him, one had to be quicker than his movements!

He unleashed a burst of sparks that radiated out from him swiftly before converging into an electric arc, aiming it precisely at Long Jianlu!

Long Jianlu, however, was already prepared. He transformed into a fleeting shadow, his blade reflecting the sunlight. Liao Jia unleashed a microwave beam, igniting electric sparks from the metallic parts of Long Jianlu's body. Sparks danced like mischievous spirits along the edge of the blade, leaping in an eerie yet mesmerizing manner.

Long Jianlu traced a brilliant streak across the sky, his figure turning into a blur as he reached Liao Jia in an instant. Twisting his blade, Liao Jia swiftly reached out to grab the edge of the sword, simultaneously extending his other hand to tap towards Long Jianlu.

But Long Jianlu didn't give him the chance. He sidestepped in an instant, evading the strike that contained all of Liao Jia's power!

His target, however, wasn't Liao Jia. His trajectory formed a curve, leading the electric bolt to slash past the mechanical spider before he hastily retreated.

Three, two, one... Time returned to its normal flow. The spider-shaped consciousness-absorbing machine erupted with earth-shattering force. Before Liao Jia could recover, Long Jianlu roared, "Close the shelter doors! Activate the defense weapons!"

Outside the shelter, mechanical birds and killers swarmed in from the desert.

Residents and guards scattered to their defensive shelters. Smaller wolf-like killers leaped over the walls, charging into the refuge, creating chaos. Long Jianlu soared upward once more, repelling the mechanical killers.

His short blade was incredibly sharp; even the alloy-built killing machines couldn't withstand it and exploded against the walls.

The defense system finally activated, its electromagnetic barrier flickering as it repelled the mechanical army from the wilderness. The electromagnetic cannons turned towards the gleaming metallic army under the sun, commencing their bombardment.

Long Jianlu sheathed his saber and spear simultaneously, standing tall on the wall.

All this happened within just a few minutes. The residents climbed up the walls, peering outside.

Like an ebbing tide, the mechanical army retreated slowly, dispersing into the distance as if responding to a command.

Long Jianlu straightened his posture. The people around him exchanged glances, leaving behind only a blood-stained ground and the severely injured Liao Jia, who, still in shock, watched Long Jianlu warily.

But Long Jianlu seemed to disregard Liao Jia entirely. Instead, he looked upward and whistled.

Yaoguang, having received the signal, cautiously descended from the walkway. However, at that moment, a flying mechanical bird high above spread its wings, revealing several hidden gun barrels aimed directly at Yaoguang.

" Danger! Jump!" Long Jianlu shouted.

In an instant, Long Jianlu sprang into action.

Bullets streaked from above, spinning with force, igniting flames as they hurtled towards Yaoguang. In a fraction of a second, Long Jianlu dashed up the cliffside, leaped, flipped, and planted his foot on the railing. Then, he lunged towards Yaoguang.

Yaoguang was propelled forward by the impact, tumbling just as he was about to plummet off the cliff. At that decisive moment, Long Jianlu swooped past, clasping him in one arm. With a swift twist, they dodged the bullet together. Still retaining his momentum, Long Jianlu drew a short blade with his other hand and struck out.

In Yaoguang's frozen, stunned face, the blade slashed across the bullet.

Time returned to its normal flow. The bullet detonated mid-air, sending shrapnel flying. The short blade whistled back, soaring diagonally upwards, piercing the sky, and causing the mechanical bird to explode.

Moments later, the whistling wind announced the weapon's descent. Long Jianlu reached up and caught it, sheathing it with practiced ease.

He straightened his posture but staggered, as if he had expended too much energy and was momentarily drained.

Yaoguang, concerned, asked, "Are you alright?"

Long Jianlu waved him off, indicating that he was fine.

Outside the shelter, the mechanical army had retreated entirely.

Yaoguang inquired, "What do we do now?"

Long Jianlu replied, "I don't know."

He separated from Yaoguang, asking him to wait on the open ground while he approached the still-breathing Liao Jia.

Liao Jia was half-propped at the entrance, gasping for air and coughing blood. As Long Jianlu reached the center of the dusty clearing, a fierce gust of wind kicked up sand, obscuring the sky.

"Liu will return soon," Liao Jia's words were laced with blood, "No matter how powerful you are, you can't protect everyone here. The land will fall... humanity will fade. All that you hold dear is but a fleeting ripple in the river of history..."

Long Jianlu declared, "But your reverie has been shattered prematurely. You can no longer seek your ideal paradise, Liao Jia. What awaits you is our inevitable end. You're like every coward who fears the void that comes after death."

Liao Jia's face contorted in terror, and he began to plead, "No... No... There's no need for this. Just throw me out, let me go outside... They'll accept me... 'It' will incorporate my consciousness into..."

"You've broken the Oath of the Guardian," Long Jianlu draw his gun, aiming it at Liao Jia.

A twisted smile spread across Liao Jia's face, cold and malevolent.

"You... Then I wish you a life from now on, forever living in such... a living hell... Cough! Cough!"

The sound of a gunshot echoed. Long Jianlu stood before Liao Jia, silently observing him.

"Farewell, Number 20," Long Jianlu bowed, gently closing Liao Jia's eyelids. And with that, the Lord of the Sand Dune Shelter met his end.

"Which number are you?" Yaoguang suddenly asked.

"Why do you always ask irrelevant questions at times like these?" Long Jianlu turned around, saying, "I really want to see how your mind works."

"I'm just curious," Yaoguang replied. "What else could I say? 'Accept your loss and move on'?"

Long Jianlu: "Well, tell me, what should we do with these seven thousand people here?"

Everyone in the valley had emerged – from the high-rise dormitories, the balcony railings, the rooftops of buildings at the bottom of the canyon, and even the rocky hills – all densely packed, staring at the scene below.

Yaoguang surveyed his surroundings and realized a grave issue: Long Jianlu had just killed the leader of the Sand Dune Shelter in one blow. Now, what was to become of these seven thousand people?

Long Jianlu looked up at the residents.

"Seer, what's going to happen next?"

"Uh..." Yaoguang hadn't quite figured it out yet.

Suddenly, a chorus of cheers erupted from all directions.

"Long live the Grand Knight!"

"Long live the Grand Knight – !"

Amidst the sand, Long Jianlu helplessly raised a hand to his forehead. Amidst the cries of "Long live the Grand Knight," he had no choice but to take off his hat, hold it to his chest, and bow solemnly to the seven thousand people, his face reflecting his displeasure.