Chapter 8

Chapter 8

A splash of icy water hit Yaoguang's face, instantly rousing him from his stupor.

Xing Wu's study was vast, akin to a king's salon. Lying on the sofa, as Yaoguang gazed at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling, he promptly sat upright.

His limbs were unbound; there were no guards keeping watch. The study held only him and Xing Wu within its confines.

Seated behind the desk, Xing Wu appeared to be attending to documents. With a mere gesture of his hand, the towel levitated towards Yaoguang as if possessed by a ghost.

Yaoguang panted softly, catching the towel. He turned his head to look at Xing Wu.

"Tell me now," Xing Wu said in a deep voice. "First of all, who are you?"

Yaoguang remained silent, his gaze watchful on Xing Wu.

Putting aside his task, Xing Wu rose to his feet and approached Yaoguang. His build resembled Long Jianlu's, but his face bore the marks of age, giving him the appearance of a man in his forties. A noticeable scar ran from his left eyebrow to the corner of his mouth, faint yet distinct.

His hair was short, and his eyebrows seemed untamed and disheveled. He wore a peculiar one-piece body-hugging suit that accentuated his well-defined male musculature, exuding raw power. Visually, he was nothing like the "mage" he had initially presented himself to be.

"I'm curious," Xing Wu said in a solemn voice. "Long Jianlu has lived in Havenwood for years without ever discovering the Priest's whereabouts. What method did you use to track down the Priest this time? You're no ordinary person. What's your number? How much do you know that could clear my doubts?"

Xing Wu crossed his arms and leaned against the desk, gazing at Yaoguang.

Yaoguang still didn't speak, but his intuition told him that Xing Wu wasn't as dangerous as he seemed on the surface. At least, there was no evident hostility towards him at the moment, likely because Xing Wu believed he had significant utility value.

"I don't know," Yaoguang replied after a long while, his only answer.

Xing Wu's brows furrowed slightly.

"You weren't wearing this outfit yesterday," Yaoguang noted, focusing on Xing Wu's full-body tight suit.

Xing Wu explained, "Long Jianlu always appears out of nowhere, so this attire is too revealing. But it offers some protection."

Yaoguang responded, "Do you think he'll come back? He won't return because he's already found the Priest."

Xing Wu snapped his fingers and ventured a guess. "So let me speculate: you're also one of the Guardians, and your ability is 'Sensing,' right?"

Yaoguang said, "I don't know, I genuinely don't."

He looked at Xing Wu and said, "I can foretell certain events, but it's limited, like how the Priest's presence suddenly appears... Long Jianlu took me to see Qing..."

At this point, Xing Wu's expression turned grave, but he didn't interrupt Yaoguang.

"I can tell you now that he won't be coming back," Yaoguang said. "He has taken the Priest with him to fulfill his mission."

Xing Wu asked, "So you were in slumber until Long Jianlu awakened you?"

"Yes," Yaoguang replied.

Xing Wu continued, "You foretold the changes in the Sand Dune Sanctuary, including Liao Jia's decision."

"That's correct," Yaoguang said.

Xing Wu: "You, like the Priest, cannot protect yourself beyond your 'foretelling' ability and must rely on others."

"Yes," Yaoguang acknowledged.

"Did you lose your memories from before the transformation that put you into slumber?"

"Yes, I'm trying to regain my memories."

Yaoguang gazed at Xing Wu, astonished that he had guessed correctly.

"In which research facility did you awaken?"

"Number 42."

"Alright, then I'll refer to you as '42' for now."

"I have a name. It's the only thing I remember. My name is Yaoguang." Yaoguang knew that Xing Wu wouldn't act against him at this moment, as his primary concern was how to exploit his value. Perhaps he even believed that Yaoguang's abilities surpassed those of the "Priest."

"Is this yours?"

"Give it back!" Yaoguang immediately stood up. Xing Wu held his pendant, which hovered in mid-air between them.

"I need to have it analyzed," Xing Wu said, "But trust me, I won't damage it. Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Yaoguang fell silent. He too was curious about his past and thus tacitly agreed to Xing Wu's action.

Xing Wu pressed the bell on his desk, summoning someone who then entered and took the pendant from his hand.

"Second question," Xing Wu continued. "Seer, what did Long Jianlu tell you? About the knights' past? That so-called 'mission'? Did he spin many tales to get you to follow him, work for him?"

"What?" Yaoguang sensed something amiss and replied sharply. "No... What are you trying to imply?"

Xing Wu looked at Yaoguang with a meaningful expression.

"He only said that he was the last and sole member of the Knight Order," Yaoguang answered. "His duty was to shut down the 'Tree' and return the world to humanity. That's all."

Xing Wu: "Did he mention who the leader of the Knight Order was?"

"Number One," Yaoguang replied. "And you were Number Two, while he was Number Three. That's it."

Xing Wu: "Seems like you know nothing. In this world, not blindly trusting others is an essential skill for survival."

Yaoguang looked at Xing Wu with a quizzical expression.

Turning around, Xing Wu walked to the bookshelf and said, "I suppose he didn't tell you that Number One was his father, Long Xie? He carried on Shan Rong's legacy, gathering the protectors..."

Yaoguang was stunned.

"Was the leader his father?" Yaoguang asked.

"Not entirely," Xing Wu replied. "To be precise, it was a consciousness backup left behind by Long Xie. You can consider it 20% of 'him.' Before the Tree's assassination attempt, he backed up his consciousness into a newly created body. However, the backup wasn't complete due to the haste, so only a portion of his consciousness remained."

Xing Wu looked at Yaoguang and continued, "Genetic modification can unlock the potential of the human brain but can also erase memories, turning an individual into a simple 'vessel' for others to use. But this erasure and rewriting only affect personal experiences; the fundamental understanding of the world remains intact."

Yaoguang suddenly grasped something, connecting his forgotten past with his retained basic knowledge. The answer was clear!

"So I am…" Yaoguang's voice trembled.

"Yes," Xing Wu confirmed. "It's likely that you're someone's backup. A disk lured into the scheme, your memories erased, waiting to be used as a 'vessel.'"

"No…" Yaoguang took a step back. "No, it can't be… It isn't."

Confusion swirled in Yaoguang's mind. If this were true, why would Scholar Qing claim his consciousness originated from a higher dimension? And how could he possess the ability to foresee events?

Xing Wu added, "The truth is indeed hard to swallow, but I believe you can accept it. After all this, do you still think Mission One was just?"

Xing Wu regarded Yaoguang with a courteous yet empathetic gaze, a tinge of sorrow and pity reflecting in his eyes. He continued, "There's one more thing I need to tell you. The reason behind the failure of the final battle is something Long Jianlu would never disclose. In truth, Number 1 Long Xie never had a sense of self. A virus was secretly implanted into his subconscious by 'The Tree' during the backup process. Everything that followed can only be said to have unfolded according to 'The Tree's' design."

As he spoke, he walked back to the window in the study, gazing at the distant horizon.

Yaoguang's mind swirled with thoughts, piecing together information about the past: Long Jianlu's father's avatar, leading numerous Guardians, ventured to 'The Tree' with the intent to cut off its power source. In reality, this mission was orchestrated by 'The Tree' itself. It gathered the Guardians and lured them into a trap at the edge of the world.

Then, it absorbed the consciousness of many Guardians, incorporating them into its eternal embrace. In that battle, the retreating Guardians returned to their base, eventually renouncing their mission.

With a profound look in his eyes, Xing Wu turned back to Yaoguang. At that moment, the door opened, and the researcher re-entered the office, holding Yaoguang's pendant.

Xing Wu signaled for an explanation with a glance, and the researcher reported, "We've reached no conclusions. This doesn't belong to our world."

Xing Wu immediately frowned. The researcher held a tray, carrying a report and the pendant.

"We have no idea where it came from," the researcher said. "It's made of a material unlike anything currently known on Earth. Its inner core can't be identified through spectral analysis, and we dared not cut it open for examination. Even if we did, we might find nothing."

The pendant hovered in mid-air once more. Yaoguang spoke, "Give it back to me. It's the only thing I have." Simultaneously, he sensed that the pendant held great significance to him. Seizing the opportunity while Xing Wu hesitated, he stretched out his hand and grasped the pendant.

Xing Wu didn't insist, as the person was already under his control. Taking the pendant held little meaning for him now.

"Did you wear it when you woke up in Institute 42?" Xing Wu asked again.

"Yes," Yaoguang replied. "You've already asked me that."

Xing Wu paused in thought, deciding not to dwell on the pendant's origin. It was pointless to waste time on questions without answers.

"Right now, I need you to undergo a thorough examination," Xing Wu told Yaoguang. "It'll be beneficial for you too."

Yaoguang remained silent, accepting Xing Wu's arrangement as he followed the researcher out of the study.

They traversed the castle's upper corridors. A breeze blew from the mountain pass, carrying the damp scent of the lake below. Suddenly, Yaoguang halted.

"The mechanical army is approaching," Yaoguang said. "Isn't that an issue?"

The researcher stopped, a young man around Yaoguang's age with glasses, looking at him quizzically, unsure how to assess his statement.

Thick clouds rolled in, and something seemed to lurk within them. He could even catch a glimpse of a flash hidden within the gloom.

"The guards will handle it," the researcher answered. "The defenses of the Lake Region are strong. Let's keep going."

In the examination room, a doctor brought over a web-like EEG device, placing it on Yaoguang's head. They then turned on the projection screen on the opposite wall, displaying images for him to identify.

Suddenly, the ground shook violently! Immediately after, shouts echoed from outside, followed by the blaring of alarms.

"Take cover!" A guard rushed in and shouted, "Enemy attack! It's a Slaughterer!"

The doctor tried to lead Yaoguang into the inner room, but he removed the equipment and quickly dashed out of the examination room. Looking up, he saw all the electromagnetic cannons within the Haven Lake Shelter pivot, aiming at the sky.

A colossal figure lurking within the clouds fired a beam cannon, striking the electromagnetic shield outside the shelter!

The entire world trembled. In the residential area beyond the castle, inhabitants rushed for cover as beam cannons relentlessly bombarded the shelters.

In the next moment, Xing Wu soared diagonally into the sky, reaching the edge of the barrier. With his palms facing the heavens and fingers touching, a gale erupted, parting the clouds to gradually reveal the colossal entity!

It was a mechanical dragon!

The dragon's body was long and sinuous, its head glowing with a crimson radiance. Each joint of its body bore a powerful beam cannon, from head to tail. Energy pulsed continuously, charging up scores of massive cannons, each capable of firing within a span of mere seconds.

Upon the mechanical dragon's head stood someone... Yaoguang gazed in that direction. He couldn't make out the details on the dragon's head, but his intuition told him that there was indeed a person standing there.

Countless mechanical birds circled the colossal dragon, awaiting an opportunity to breach the barrier.

"S-shaped Slayer..." someone cried out in the corridor, "This place isn't safe! Head for the basement!"

Cannons blazed with earth-shattering force. Xing Wu turned, mountains rising behind him, his figure appearing diminutive before the giant dragon. Yet, the ground shifted, mountains crumbled, and all transformed into rubble and whirlwinds that spiraled upward, countering the cannon blasts!

The electromagnetic barrier collapsed, and the defense system scrambled to repair it, flashing brightly. In that instant, a beam pierced through the barrier, striking the castle's foundation and the very spot beneath the corridor. Yaoguang, gripping the railing, was violently flung into the air.

The railing snapped, and Yaoguang yelled as he plummeted from a height of several dozen meters.

In a blink, a slender figure swooped in, catching him mid-air and rolling with him. Kicking against a collapsing boulder, they shifted sideways, and time seemed to slow once more...

Yaoguang's eyes widened as the man holding him revealed a mischievous grin.

"How was it? Did you miss me?"

"Haven't you already left?"

It was Long Jianlu!

Long Jianlu embraced Yaoguang tightly, plummeting amidst the rain of falling rocks. They slowed down by using the bricks and stones, eventually landing safely on the ground.

"How could I leave you behind?" Long Jianlu said seriously. "Don't you have any faith in your big brother?"

"Where's the priest?" Yaoguang asked in disbelief. "When did you come back?"

Long Jianlu replied, "I never left. I was waiting at the waterfall outside the city. But since Xing Wu had activated the security system, entering again would definitely trigger an alarm... Do you really have to hear my explanation here?"

Another massive boulder came crashing down, but Long Jianlu simply wrapped his arms around Yaoguang's waist and skillfully dodged it with a swift turn.

"Hurry up!" Yaoguang urged. "While we still can!"

Both looked up simultaneously. Long Jianlu muttered, "When did he get here... That's too coincidental, isn't it?"

But this was their best chance to escape. Long Jianlu took Yaoguang's hand and they ran down the street, leaping over collapsed houses.

"We need a vehicle!" Long Jianlu said. "My combat motorcycle is toast."

"That's your girlfriend," Yaoguang reminded him.

Long Jianlu: "..."

"You have a new wife now, though."

Long Jianlu: "What nonsense are you spouting?! Find us a car, quickly!"

Yaoguang: "How am I supposed to do that?"

Long Jianlu: "Through prophecy! Use your abilities! Predict something!"

Yaoguang: "No prophecies! Are we just going to stand here? We'll be too noticeable!"

Resigned, Long Jianlu took Yaoguang's hand and they crossed the city park. It was pandemonium, with the defense systems pushed to their limits. Another deafening blast echoed, and the barrier's blue glow began to wane.

Yaoguang said, "In the garage. They have a garage... right..."

Long Jianlu snapped his fingers, recalling as well, and dashed with Yaoguang towards the underground area. Amidst the trembling earth and collapsing structures, Long Jianlu shouted, "Get ready!"

A massive boulder was about to seal off the entrance to the underground space. Both Long Jianlu and Yaoguang somersaulted in mid-air. Activating his ability, Long Jianlu embraced Yaoguang tightly, their bodies pressed close together like sleek fish. They darted through the narrow gap before the boulder fully descended!

In the darkness, Long Jianlu made Yaoguang stand straight. Yaoguang was still panting as they started running again.

"This is a nice vehicle, but it's too big."

Inside the garage, Long Jianlu stood before an enormous supply truck. After some thought, he realized that driving such a colossal vehicle would be too conspicuous.

"Let's take this one," Yaoguang suggested, climbing into a black off-road vehicle. Long Jianlu replied, "This can only operate on land and water, not in the air, but it'll have to do."

"Where's the Priest?" Yaoguang asked.

"We're going to pick him up now."

"You left him behind?"

"What else could I do?" Long Jianlu started the SUV, posing a question in return, "Do you think he'd still be able to help fight monsters? What did Xing Wu do to you? How did you get that injury on your forehead?"

Long Jianlu opened the garage door, and the SUV rushed out. The underwater tunnel was rapidly flooding, and just as the water reached the car doors, the vehicle managed to burst through the lake exit.

With its high chassis and large tires, it was suitable for navigating various mountain roads, though the ride was bumpy. Yaoguang was jolted several times, bumping into Long Jianlu. With one hand on the steering wheel, Long Jianlu held onto Yaoguang, stabilizing him.

The off-road vehicle climbed a hill, and Long Jianlu parked. Both men stepped out, gazing up at the sky.

"I have to go back and help," Long Jianlu said. "Despite my personal vendetta against Xing Wu, I can't abandon all those people in the refuge."

"No," Yaoguang replied. "Don't go back."

In a serious tone, Long Jianlu said, "I must. Otherwise, Zezi will be doomed."

"What I mean is," Yaoguang responded, "you don't need to go back, because it'll be gone soon."

Long Jianlu furrowed his brow. "Huh?"

He looked up, observing the colossal dragon high above, just as Yaoguang had described. It was retracting its array of beam cannons and ascending higher, vanishing once more behind the clouds.

"Was it after you?" Long Jianlu asked.

"No, I think it was the Priest," Yaoguang answered. "The Tree is searching for the Priest too. Your battle with Xing Wu must've been detected by the Tree, and it's the only explanation for the dragon's appearance. You'd better pray the Priest is still alive."

Long Jianlu's expression shifted. He immediately got back into the vehicle, and they drove down towards the lowlands.

Fortunately, they weren't too late; the youth still sat before the waterfall, waiting idly.

"Get in," Long Jianlu said.

"Where are you taking me?" the priest asked.

"Get in first and we'll talk about it," Long Jianlu replied. "It's not safe here."

Yaoguang offered to give up the front passenger seat, but Long Jianlu insisted, "Let him sit in the back."

With that, the off-road vehicle drove out of the mountain path, departing from the Marshland Haven.