Free Web NovelChapter 500: Chapter 117: Troop Movement on the Railway
"How are you going to do it?" Zero was very curious about what means Bai Wu had at his disposal.
Bai Wu recalled that when he plotted against Jing Si, he had used an unexpected tactic.
Now, to scheme against Jing Yi, the tactic would have to be even more cunning.
He thought of the High Tower’s sixth level.
Exploring the sixth level again might provide a place to break through the predicament.
But quickly, Bai Wu dismissed the idea.
There were spiral corridors in the sixth level of the High Tower, where the time dimension could undergo changes.
And besides... the sixth level was still too conservative.
In extraordinary times, one must take extraordinary measures. Although the High Tower had emerged, the monster within it, Alpha, had no response to the outside world.
This idea was undoubtedly bold, and Bai Wu answered Zero:
"Going to the sixth level allowed me to acquire the Envy Greatsword, which has proven to be extremely powerful and helped me through numerous dangerous situations."
"Of course, I paid a significant price for this sword. But the return is proportional to the risk, and I plan... to gamble once more."
Zero was startled:
"You’re going to the sixth level?"
"No, I’m going to the seventh level."
There was a long silence from the throne of Mechanical City. Even though Zero had mostly exhibited a dominating presence over the past seven hundred years,
he was well aware that there were a few entities in this world unreachable by distortion and mutation.
For instance, Jing Yi, Jing Si, like the monster inside the High Tower.
What Bai Wu was planning to do was exceedingly dangerous.
"What kind of assurance do you have?"
"None."
"Aren’t you afraid of repeating past mistakes? By the time you return, it may already be too late."
"That’s indeed a problem, and of course, I’m afraid. The sixth level of the High Tower is already filled with various twisted rules, and who knows what the concept of the seventh level is. However, this time, I will be constantly vigilant of the changes in time."
Bai Wu’s expression was serious as he continued:
"It’s definitely dangerous. On my own, I can’t do it, but I’m not alone."
Zero knew that within Bai Wu’s body resided an entity with extremely strong spiritual power.
"It seems your mind is made up," Zero said with some concern.
"Yes, you also said it, this time tactics must be unconventional. In our assumption, the Farm’s power is stronger than that of humanity, the Ark, Mechanical City, and the refuge put together."
At this point, Bai Wu paused:
"Now in many areas, I can get through with brute force, but when brute force is not enough—
I, Bai someone, have always relied on sleight of hand, leveraging the difference in information."
"And the monster in the High Tower is actually unaware of the situation outside, meaning there’s an information gap between it and me."
Zero could only say that Bai Wu was someone who dared to venture where others would not.
But he also had his doubts:
"When do you plan to go?"
"After finding the High Tower. I will first arrive near the High Tower, set up defensive measures, and use the Traction Disc to record the location.
Due to the opening of the Well, the boundaries of regional divisions have disappeared, but the concentration of distortions in the world beyond the mist keeps increasing; I suspect regions have formed."
Zero agreed with Bai Wu’s method as it was relatively prudent.
At least on Bai Wu’s side, they could decide whether to go to the seventh level or not based on the offensive and defensive situation around the High Tower.
"Then I wish you good luck. According to the intelligence I’ve received, although a large number of Evil Fallen are heading towards the High Tower and some have already reached its vicinity,
they won’t pose a significant threat. They’re just some Evil Fallen from beyond the mist; the forces of the Farm have not yet arrived."
This was indeed good news.
"So there’s no time to lose, I’ve already started arranging the vehicle."
In a sense, the High Tower and the refuge’s elite had also formed a sort of suicide squad.
Going out into the mist this time, everyone was clear that if the High Tower was destroyed, they would most likely die out there.
No one wasn’t afraid of death, but neither did anyone resist defending the High Tower.
As a leader, Bai Wu was deeply aware of everyone’s courage, which, apart from the inherent passion and rebellious spirit, partly stemmed from... trust in him.
He had to perform beyond his level in the upcoming confrontation with the farm.
...
...
After ending the call with Zero, Bai Wu prepared to gather everyone and embark on the journey beyond the mist.
But as he was leaving the room, he saw someone who had not appeared for a while.
When Bai Yuan, dressed in a white lab coat, reappeared, the room seemed to brighten up a bit.
"Once the Doomsday Puzzle fragment changes owners, it needs time to adapt. After your death, its owner became Jing San, or rather, Zhou Zeshui."
"However, as an Evil Fallen, the only Doomsday Fragment he could control was one, and it wasn’t the Full Moon, so I was out of luck, too. You died, and I died along with you."
Bai Yuan stood at the doorway, looking at Bai Wu with an enchanting smile.
Bai Wu thought to himself, this guy could have appeared earlier or later, but he chose just this moment to do so, presumably having heard about his intent to head for the seventh layer.
Just as well, he wanted to know the suggestion:
"Do you think I should go to the seventh layer?"
"You survived, which, in a sense, means our alliance has ended. After all, the mission is complete."
Bai Wu understood what this meant.
The inevitable failure was already weathered, and the father-son team-up was thus disbanded.
However, Bai Wu was somewhat familiar with Bai Yuan’s tactics, and he cut to the chase: freewebnøvel.coɱ
"Skip these steps. You want to help me, otherwise you wouldn’t have shown up."
Bai Yuan raised his eyebrows, smiled, but said nothing.
"In fact, although one destined failure occured, there are many that are not, and I think our alliance can be extended appropriately," Bai Wu said.
Bai Yuan went along with Bai Wu’s words:
"Alright, who would’ve thought I am such a caring father to my son?"
"A good father?" Bai Wu let his disgust show openly, then continued:
"Don’t profane that word, someone like you must be very interested in everything that’s about to happen."
"Whether it’s the true annihilation of humanity, the monsters in the High Tower emerging, or humanity grasping a chance at survival and the monsters of the High Tower being permanently subdued, Jing Yi’s plan failing..."
Bai Wu looked at Bai Yuan with a playful expression:
"Whatever happens, you, as a spectator, will find it very interesting, right? And the most interesting part for you would probably be seeing Jing Yi’s plan come to nothing."
"So for you, as long as it’s interesting, we can cooperate. I haven’t got that wrong, have I?"
Bai Yuan purposely made a deflated expression:
"A father knows his son better than anyone; you’ve guessed it all."
He paused, then looked at Bai Wu and said:
"You can go to the seventh layer, but you’ll need my help. Just like the time we fooled Jing Liu, without my help, even if you reach the seventh layer, you won’t be able to deceive that monster."
"Of course, I will help you, because it is an interesting matter. But just this one intrigue is far from enough."
Bai Wu’s face lost its teasing playfulness, becoming serious.
Bai Yuan spoke:
"In the battle with Jing Si, most of your items were destroyed, only your pot without Spirit Possession and the Doomsday Puzzle fragment remained."
"You should know, you’ve lost a key item."
Bai Wu realized:
"The guiding compass?"
"Yes, the compass leading to the farm was also destroyed. The first thing to consider for military deception is a surprise attack."
"But the compass is gone."
"The person who knows the location of the farm, however, is still alive."
Bai Wu looked at Bai Yuan, their eyes met, and in that moment, scum and scum understood each other—
"Are you suggesting Dong Nianyu? But that way is impossible."
Bai Yuan didn’t deny it: ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
"I don’t have a concrete strategy, how exactly to go about it is up to you. But one thing for sure is—"
"The farm now must be hiding a lot of secrets, and its guardian—Jing Yi—will probably be busy dealing with Jing Si recently,"
"So, there will be a time when the farm’s defense is weak, but how to reach the farm and in what manner to infiltrate it, that is for you to consider,"
"A multi-pronged strategy, making every line of action count, is the only way you might obtain a future... less desperate in the upcoming war."
These words from Bai Yuan gave Bai Wu some ideas in his head.
Before leaving, he asked a question:
"What exactly is in the farm?"
"With seven hundred years of changes, I don’t know what’s inside; you’ll have to find out for yourself,"
Bai Yuan, touching his nose, speculated:
"But it’s certain that all the characters you’ve met from the farm so far, whether they’re the several Ks or Qs, even Dong Nianyu, they’re definitely not the farm’s real trump cards."
...
...
Outside the tower, in the unknown land.
Today’s light drizzle blurred the view. Zhao Xiaoxue, in a nurse’s uniform, stroked a child’s hair, listening to the faint rain, her eyes filled with the slightest hint of fear.
This is Farm Number One.
In the seven hundred years, Farm Number One has always served as a model for all the other farms.
Even though Farm Number Seven had a few monster-like K-ranked beings.
But looking at the performance over seven hundred years, Farm Number One might rarely have epoch-making geniuses, yet it consistently churned out top-quality talent.
"Mom, I’m hungry,"
The child, who had been sleeping with his head on Zhao Xiaoxue’s thigh, suddenly woke up.
He raised his head to look at Zhao Xiaoxue, and the fear in her eyes deepened:
"I’m... I’m so sorry, I’ll go get something to eat now."
"Mom, if you keep being this clumsy, when dad comes back, I will suggest we replace you, you know."
The child’s smile was pure, but Zhao Xiaoxue saw it as if she had seen a ghost.
"Or maybe I could just replace you now, and explain the reasons to him slowly when he returns."
"I’m... I’m sorry, Sir... I’ll go make it right away!"
Sir.
In a place like the farm, where all children are divided into different rankings based on their talents,
the education there doesn’t deliberately promote the notion that a higher rank also means a higher status.
Of course, it is undeniable that those of higher rank will unquestionably be stronger in ability.
Yet in the farm, in everyone’s eyes, there should only be three kinds of people:
Fathers, mothers, children.
Sir is an exception, a concealed exception at Farm Number One.
He is different from other children; he was already this big when he was born.
By the look of his eyes and brows, he bears quite a resemblance to Dong Nianyu.
So, when Jing Yi asked his name, he smiled and said:
"I want to be like my sister. Might as well call me Jing Yu."
"That name reveals too much,"
"But I like it,"
Jing Yi didn’t insist and followed Jing Yu’s preference.
No one knew the exact relationship between Sir, Jing Yi, and Dong Nianyu.
Even within Farm Number One, only two Ks realized the existence of "Sir."
Spades K, Diamonds K.
Unlike other numeral cards, there’s no number or letter following a K to distinguish it.
Suffixes like those found in cards like Hearts 5c won’t appear after a K.
Because K-rankings are extremely rare, aside from a few Ks operating outside the mist, there have only been seven in the farm over the course of seven hundred years.
The earliest ones were Bai Yuan, The First Generation, Spades K, and Dong Nianyu’s group.
Every k has their own name.
But most of the time, they prefer not to use their own names, and rather use the symbol k to demonstrate their loyalty to the farm.
Yet the most ironic part is right here—at the farm, it’s these k’s who are the least loyal.
The more intelligent a person is, the less likely they are to be governed.
Two ks quickly found out that Jing Yu, disguised as the Nine of Hearts, actually held a status even more special than Mom’s.
In front of Jing Yu, Mom appeared to be extremely humble.
Even when facing beings of k status, Mom always maintained the composure of "after all, they were raised by my own hands."
But in front of this Sir, Mom would be very afraid.
Even when facing Dad, Mom was merely respectful, without showing any fear.
The two ks kept silent, quietly observing.
They didn’t dare to provoke this Sir, because the aura emanating from him was very close to that of the farm owner.
Sometimes, even when this Nine of Hearts stood behind them, they could feel—
Dad was right behind them.
Yet each time they turned around, all they saw was Sir’s gentle smiling face.
"Brother, take me with you to play, won’t you?"
Sir would always say this, and then the two ks, not really liking him, would still agree to play along.
They were acting.
Jing Yu knew they were acting, but he enjoyed it immensely.
The bell sounded.
It signified that it was time for roll call.
When Sir left the church, everything at Farm Number One was as it had always been.
He looked at these neatly lined up children and revealed a satisfied smile.
Several days ago, the farm owner, Jing Yi, left the farm.
Disappearing alongside him were also the children from Farm Number Five.
The nine farms were distributed in a sudoku grid formation, with the high walls on the periphery marking the boundaries, and from above— it looked like a well character.
Although the scenery beyond the high walls wasn’t visible, the complete silence from Farm Number Five in the center position—
This led some clever ks and Qs to speculate about certain things.
In Farm Number One, as the bell tolled, more and more children gathered on the lawn outside the church.
They were puzzled why the Nine of Hearts was standing where Dad would stand.
Only the Spades k and the Diamonds k
Jing Yu looked at them warmly, saying:
"My brothers and sisters, little brothers and little sisters, all along, I guess you’ve all been curious about what lies beyond the high walls."
"And also very curious about those brothers and sisters who once left through the high walls, how they are doing on the outside."
Spades k and Diamonds k suddenly had a bad premonition,
Jing Yu still wore a smile:
"This puzzle has troubled you and the children from the other farms for seven hundred years. Today, the answer will be revealed."
"What are you going to do?" Finally, Spades k couldn’t hold back, and the sense of fear compelled him to ask this question.
Jing Yu narrowed his eyes:
"Our opponent is on his way to the High Tower. He will certainly use every trick in the book, so of course, I must do the same."
Spades k didn’t understand the meaning of these words, but the aura from Jing Yu made his fear grow stronger.
Jing Yu didn’t respond to Spades k anymore.
Just like a child engrossed in a game, Jing Yu continued by himself:
"When everyone thought Jing Yi would bring monsters to fight against Laosi, he didn’t do so."
"War is an art of deception, Bai Yuan, did you calculate this one?"
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