Free Web NovelChapter 388: Chapter 5: Three-Party Game
Bai Wu actually knew quite well that if a person hadn’t become the "ceiling," the closer they got to the ceiling, the greater the troubles they would encounter.
He was indeed getting closer to the truth of the world’s mutation, but this process was certain to be increasingly difficult.
Although the past scenes would seem very simple if he revisited them now, correspondingly, this also meant that the puzzles to come would involve more and more cause and effect relationships. The scenarios were becoming more complicated.
"It seems, I’ve underestimated this ’God Descent’ journey," he said.
Six of Clubs.
In an instant, Bai Wu returned to his Memory Palace. Although historically, it was only half a year ago that Jing Liu had sent him to the farm, in reality, Bai Wu had experienced over a decade.
Finding that initial memory was going to be somewhat troublesome.
So he fell into contemplation, while his physical action was holding Xu Ling’s small hand, never letting go.
Tang Jing felt a bit embarrassed. It was as if his master was flirting with someone using his body.
"Master, there’s no need to go this far, right? What am I going to do after you’re gone?"
Xu Ling also felt somewhat shy. Why was this person still holding onto her hand...
This time, it really wasn’t Bai Wu operating anything, but rather Bai Wu was deep in thought.
After about thirty seconds, Bai Wu remembered. During his first entry into the farm, he had heard this sentence:
"Today is the graduation day for Spades Five C from Farm Seven. Let’s send him our blessings. He is about to go to the world outside the wall, like many brothers and sisters before him, and bring back more supplies for the shelter."
Before, Bai Wu did not know what graduation meant.
In Bai Wu’s memory, graduation should be linked with death or being devoured by some sort of monster.
Or some other form of death. This way, the King of Clubs and the King of Spades chose to escape.
Becuase their talents were astonishingly high, they had already guessed that so-called graduation actually meant some kind of end.
But now, Bai Wu suddenly felt... his speculation was overturned.
How could the Six of Clubs be here? Could it be a coincidence? Could this tattoo simply be by chance?
No...
Bai Wu had always found it strange from the beginning. If Hong Yin had not absorbed so many people’s grudges, he would not have been able to defeat Elijah just seven hundred years ago, shortly after the Doomsday descended.
And he had to admit, Xu Ling had a remarkable talent. She also had good fortune.
To let the piano possess her spirit, and be able to create illusions with music notes, even directly creating monsters comparable to second-level mutants. This was practically a low-grade version of Grudge Manifestation.
According to Tang Jing’s words, the world’s mutation had only been a few days, and in just these few days, a monster like her was born?
Too coincidental.
While there could indeed be a chance that it was merely a coincidence, to subjectively push everything to coincidence, in Bai Wu’s view, was simplifying the problem and a very foolish approach.
Xu Ling fully possessed the potential of a monster from the dark zone. In terms of the speed of being affected by distortion, Xu Ling was already several steps ahead of other people.
"I apologize... you’re very good-looking, I was rude," he said.
Simply brooding over it by himself would not suffice, "Tang Jing" quickly moved on to the next step.
And the real consciousness of Tang Jing was now speechless.
Did his master really have a taste for this?
Xu Ling was a bit shy, looking down and saying nothing.
Bai Wu thought it was alright. This move could only be effective if used by someone attractive; at least it proved Tang Jing’s features were up to par.
"The pattern on your hand looks very unique, Six of Clubs. Does it represent some meaning?"
There was no need to hide, "Tang Jing" asked very frankly and openly.
Xu Ling shook her head:
"I... I don’t remember, ever since I have had a memory... it’s been on my hand. I guess, it might be a mark left by my mom and dad."
The parents at the farm are just two ghost cards, right? Bai Wu felt something was off.
Firstly, Xu Ling didn’t seem to be pretending.
Because he could sense malice in its fluctuations, lies weren’t very meaningful in his presence now.
This girl was not lying.
"Since you have memories? Does that mean you’ve never seen your mom and dad?"
After saying this, "Tang Jing" quickly added:
"I’m sorry, I’m not trying to pry into your past, just... we have a lot in common, and I want to understand you better."
He held the girl’s small hand, gently saying I want to understand you better. Even if Tang Jing was a straight man, even if he had never dated in his teen years, constantly troubled by the world of Hei Wu in his dreams, he could tell, this is flirting, right? This is flirting, isn’t it?
Master, I don’t need this service...
Bai Wu ignored Tang Jing; the clues about the farm were too scarce, who knew how much Bai Yuan would reveal? You never know if mentioning the farm would make Bai Yuan choose to have tea first.
Furthermore, Bai Yuan had left the farm a long time ago, many things, Bai Yuan also didn’t know.
Since there were clues at hand now, naturally he couldn’t let them slip away.
Xu Ling indeed blushed a bit at this sentence, thankfully the dim classroom hid it well.
Tang Jing was like herself, mutated, and Tang Jing seemed to be very familiar with all of this, she indeed needed guidance, because she didn’t want to turn into a monster.
"I don’t remember, but I feel like my dad is like a doctor, and my mom like a nurse... but I can’t recall anything more."
Something was not right.
Xu Ling hadn’t lied, and the images of mom and dad perfectly matched the image of the parents at the farm.
But precisely because of this, Bai Wu found it strange.
If Xu Ling had malicious intentions, or was even very evil, on the surface a human who became Evil Fallen due to an excess of negative emotions, but actually a super Evil Fallen, then everything would fit with his own thoughts.
However... Xu Ling was very pure.
This huge sense of disharmony made Bai Wu vaguely feel that the puzzle might be more difficult than he had imagined, and the situation beyond Hei Wu was more complex than expected.
"Could she have escaped from the farm? No... after two Ks and a ten escaped, I don’t believe the farm owner would not strengthen defenses, especially since she’s only a six... If anyone could do it, then the farm owner is too weak."
"So there’s only one truth, Xu Ling was... released by the farm owner. He arranged for Xu Ling to come to this world, but for what purpose? Xu Ling wasn’t an Evil Fallen before. It was only in these past few days that changes occurred."
"Does that mean, the farm owner anticipated the spread of Hei Wu a long time ago, and started his plans in advance?"
"So-called bringing back supplies from beyond the wall, it’s all fake, to deceive the other farm kids. This much is certain."
"Xu Ling’s situation may indicate that there are two ways out of the farm, one is the approach that Bai Yuan and Lin Rui feared, a way close to death."
"The other way to leave the farm, must be like Xu Ling, with erased memories, placed in certain places. But why erase memories then?"
"Right, they are afraid that kids like Xu Ling, will perceive the nature of the farm! The Masked Strange Person once dared not reveal his own name, telling Jiang Yimi, once I say my name, I will be marked by causality."
"So Xu Ling was also marked, and maybe there are many people in this world like Xu Ling who have been marked. They all come from the farm, and when the distortion spreads, compared to others, their development speed is like cheating, nowhere near common people."
"So, what is the farm owner aiming for by doing this?"
Bai Wu was thinking step by step, this time he wasn’t distracted by his surprise at seeing Club Six.
So, while he was thinking, as Tang Jing, he was making intermittent conversation with Xu Ling.
"Right, is your name something you’ve known since you had memories?"
Xu Ling nodded.
"It’s like this, we are after all quite special now, and I’m worried that in some situations, calling each other by name might cause some trouble. Think about it, if we reveal our abilities and people learn our names, it might attract the scrutiny of those with intentions."
"Then... what should we do?" Xu Ling thought Tang Jing made a lot of sense.
"Tang Jing" said:
"From now on, you can call me Tang, and I’ll call you Ling."
In fact, Bai Wu wasn’t really flirting, everything was for safety, for stability, and to get information.
But the two nicknames Bai Wu used were really tantalizing.
Xu Ling had never been addressed so affectionately before. Tang Jing was stunned.
He actually felt like he had been transported back a thousand years to the feudal era and had an arranged marriage set up by his family.
"Okay. I understand, I, I thought you should be very introverted, the first time I saw you."
When Tang Jing was serious and unsmiling, he seemed to be a very closed-off person, emanating an aura that said ’strangers keep out.’
But after interacting with him, Xu Ling felt Tang Jing was just cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
Tang Jing then loudly protested in his mind, "That’s me! That’s me! The one flirting with you is my master! Not me!"
It was meaningless; his inner thoughts couldn’t form speech bubbles like some mischievous eyes could.
"No, it’s not usually like this, I really am a very introverted person, it’s just that I saw you today and I acted a bit out of the ordinary. You might find that I have changed in a few days, but don’t think that I’m distancing myself from you, I’m just like this..."
"Tang Jing" still had to lay some groundwork for his disciple’s clumsy future performance.
Xu Ling nodded somewhat understandingly.
"Tang Jing" said:
"We should go back."
"Okay."
"Wait here for me, I need to contact a friend and instruct him on some matters."
"Okay."
Tang Jing, looking at Xu Ling’s docile demeanor, found it hard to imagine that she wanted to kill him just a few minutes earlier. He suddenly understood what his master meant—
Many of the Evil Fallens are pitiful people, and pitiful people need love; this is the correct password to communicate with Evil Fallens.
"Tang Jing" left the classroom, pretending to use his phone, but actually speaking to the real owner of the body.
"Listen, I’ve demonstrated and explained everything I needed to. You have to treat Xu Ling well. I said before, most Evil Fallens are formed by experiencing negative emotions; things that make people feel sad, afraid, angry. If you dissolve these feelings, you will gain their trust."
"We have very different personalities, but you have to pay close attention to Xu Ling, take as good care of her as possible. You have to find a way to be aware of her every move."
Tang Jing was puzzled:
"Every move... Master, isn’t your desire for control a bit strong?"
"??? What are you thinking? There are some things I can’t explain too much to you. I can only tell you, this girl has a complex background. Why there’s this layer, I’ll give you thirty seconds to figure it out; if you can’t, our master-disciple relationship ends here."
Tang Jing was taken aback, then recalled that his master was not at all surprised when he first saw Xu Ling. What truly caused the master to act out of character was when he saw the tattoo on Xu Ling’s arm.
He suddenly realized... Could it be a tattoo from some organization?
Xu Ling had lost her memory; perhaps his master knew something about the memories she had lost?
The master came from Inside the Mist; could it mean that Xu Ling also had connections with Hei Wu?
Tang Jing had an epiphany; he had thought his master was just an old lecher, but in fact, the master was on the fifth level!
Considering what his master said about being calm and always thinking of the optimal solution, Tang Jing thought that gaining Xu Ling’s trust to uncover the truth indeed was the best solution. Even if he was misunderstood, it would all be clear after the truth was revealed.
Because Tang Jing himself was quick-witted, and the God Descent Sequence made him keep imitating the summoned, he quickly grasped the true reason behind his master’s unusual behavior. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
He was a bit embarrassed:
"Sorry, I thought about it too superficially. But don’t worry, Master, I’ll take good care of Xu Ling."
"Tang Jing" nodded and said:
"I should go back. I have some other things to do. Remember everything I have said to you today. Also, don’t use the Sequence lightly. But don’t be afraid to disturb me; if you really encounter trouble you can’t resolve, summon me decisively."
So thoughtful! Bai Wu’s image in Tang Jing’s heart was now radiant and majestic.
Bai Wu thought for a moment and found there was nothing else to remind him of. This was Tang Jing’s first contact with the people inside Hei Wu and also his first time in the World Beyond the Mist.
He had actually wanted to enjoy some delicacies using Tang Jing’s body, but then thought that maybe to himself it would just be like a dream, and it wasn’t worth letting the disciple enjoy the good stuff only to become greedier when the master awoke.
As the Sequence was used more and more, more memories about using the Sequence flooded into Tang Jing’s mind.
Tang Jing also knew how to remove the Sequence.
He quickly reappeared with Bai Wu in the space filled with white mist.
"Master, thank you, you saved me today."
Tang Jing intended to perform the disciple’s salute, and Bai Wu did not stop him. Although the Sequence itself actually had no self-awareness, Bai Wu still treated those eyes that matched his own personality traits as a friend.
It seems that Prayle’s Eye is the best in the world, even a God Descent must become a disciple.
After the disciple’s salute was finished, Bai Wu said,
"A greater challenge has already descended, you and I are alike, the world within the Hei Wu is far more dangerous than the world outside, but the world beyond the mist is vast and full of possibilities, and stronger enemies have already begun to layout their plans in this world."
"You must work hard to find everyone with a tattoo on their arms, Spade, Club, Diamond, Heart, report back to me every time you find one of these marked individuals."
Tang Jing nodded, silently making a note, he also knew that the owners of these tattoos certainly came from an organization powerful enough to influence the world.
At this moment, Bai Wu also thought of the farmer’s purpose for doing this.
To arrange various "seeds" in this world in advance, and when distortion arrives, these seeds would take root and sprout, growing into a towering tree known as Evil Fallen.
They have better qualities than other humans and adapt better to the distortion, so they are destined to become the strongest monsters in each region.
And according to one of the few iron laws within the distortion— that the strongest monster will become the regional Guardian— the farmer’s ultimate goal is to have his people become Guardians to acquire something more powerful than rules—
Doomsday Puzzle fragments.
Bai Wu also recognized one thing, the essence of this game is to collect Doomsday Puzzle fragments to end the apocalypse.
The creator of the High Tower, and the monsters confined within the High Tower, might be the two opposing existences, one bestowing great privileges upon humanity and the other giving Evil Fallen a high starting point.
Using this advantage, the Evil Fallen consistently suppressed humanity, making humans believe for a time that they truly lived in an apocalyptic world, at the bottom of the food chain.
But once humanity rises... they might go further than the Evil Fallen could.
Bai Wu still firmly believed in his original view— that the creator of the High Tower encourages people to leave the tower.
...
...
High Tower, the next morning.
After waking up, Bai Wu freshened up quickly, changed into the Investigation Corps uniform and began to head towards the fourth floor of the High Tower.
Last night’s experience led Bai Wu to realize that Jing Liu and the farmer might be the two sides in a game of strategy.
The Masked Strange Person dared not mention his own name, and the farmer, with such certainty, told his little sister that cause and effect do not apply to him. Does this mean—
Could the farmer actually be an existence that can restrain Jing Liu?
Thinking about it carefully, Bai Wu, with the help of Prayle’s Eye, grasped a lot of truths about the world in less than a year and could be said to have driven the exploration process of the High Tower people.
And Jing Liu, theoretically stronger than the Eye, why has he accomplished so little in seven hundred years?
Indeed, Jing Liu gave Bai Wu a profound and unfathomable impression, but at the same time, the tangible things accomplished by Jing Liu have indeed been scarce.
So, who is hindering Jing Liu? Or is Jing Liu’s slow action out of fear of someone?
If the spread of the Hei Wu and the beginning of the distortion in the World Beyond the Mist were the doing of Jing Liu, then could it be... that the farmer had calculated that Jing Liu would do this and had already begun to layout his plans in advance?
Bai Wu did not know the answer, but he was pleased to see this situation unfold.
Because although humanity is on the decline, what humans are best at is surviving in the gaps and then seizing the opportunity to turn the tide and ultimately achieving a great reversal.
As is well known, a triangle is the most stable shape. If multiple powers were to engage in a battle in this world, it would actually be more advantageous for humans than having just one pure enemy.
The chess game set on the battlefield of the distorted world has just started, and who will have the last laugh is still unknown.
While heading to the fourth floor of the High Tower in the elevator, Bai Wu gradually sorted out his thoughts.
However, at the moment, he couldn’t concern himself with such a grand battlefield because on the fourth floor of the High Tower, he had to deal with a matter at hand.
About the vice commander of the Investigation Corps, Gu Qingyu, who had been missing for ten days and deserted his post, the Qin Family had decided... to arrange for Liu Hu to take over as the vice commander.
