Free Web NovelAfter briefly complaining about the Angel Rose Theater's act of imprisoning that Calamity, Lu Yibei's mood quickly turned serious.
She knew very well that if the Calamity beneath the Angel Rose Theater was Caishen (God of Wealth), her plan to escape Free City would likely fall through...
Night Watch had just experienced the Divine Kingdom Jade Gate incident, with many casualties among high-level Psychic, and was already short-staffed. Now, due to the deity kidnapping incident and the recent "Information Explosion" urban legend incident, it was overwhelmed and would find it difficult to send reliable agents to Free City to rescue Caishen (God of Wealth).
In such a situation, whether considering the proximity principle or the issue of strength, the task of rescuing Caishen (God of Wealth) would most likely fall to her. What's more, others might not be able to enter and exit the theater as easily as she could, having received the promise from the Angel Rose Theater's owner!
Thinking this way, even Lu Yibei herself felt that she was the perfect candidate to carry out the mission to rescue Caishen (God of Wealth), but...
"Uh, actually, it's not necessarily him, right? There are so many people with the same name in this world. Even if we narrow it down to the Calamity level, it's not impossible for them to have the same name," Lu Yibei said weakly.
She still held a glimmer of hope.
What if!
However, Zhang Huainan's analysis soon completely shattered that last bit of hope in her heart.
"He must be Caishen (God of Wealth)!" Zhang Huainan said with certainty, "You just mentioned that the vision you saw, influenced by his authority, included not only gold and silver treasures but also the spread of plague? Then there's no mistake!"
"Caishen's Spirit Mark originates from the Mythical Species: Xuan Tan Zhen Jun. This deity, before becoming the True God of Wealth, was already a legendary deity in the Sui Dynasty who governed matters in the tombs of scholars and reaped souls, also known as the Plague God. He was ranked among the Five Plague Emissaries, then called Autumn Plague."
"As far as this old man knows, across the entire world, there is probably only one such power related to wealth that is sufficient to support a Psychic in achieving Calamity-level strength and is also connected to plague."
"Then... you also said 'probably,'" Lu Yibei was still a bit unconvinced.
"Indeed, the world is vast, and there are countless kinds of powers. This old man cannot know them all. But if you add these two phrases: 'Wealth scattered, people gather; wealth gathered, people scatter; acquire it righteously, use it joyfully' and 'The Dao is determined by Heaven, but affairs are made by man,' then it is definitely Caishen (God of Wealth) without a doubt," Zhang Huainan said solemnly.
"These are their Tong family's ancestral teachings. Caishen often had them on his lips when he was young. This old man's ears almost callused from hearing them when I traveled with him. How could it be wrong?"
"..." Hearing Zhang Huainan's wistful tone, as if recalling the past, Lu Yibei didn't know how to respond for a moment. After a long pause, she spoke again, "Did you know him a long time ago?"
"Yes, a long time ago..." Zhang Huainan sighed lightly, "I met that fellow on my way back to Da Chunyang Palace after my last visit to Hua City to see Senior Brother Qingji."
At this point, Lu Yibei frowned slightly. She didn't know if it was an illusion, but she seemed to hear a hint of sorrow in Zhang Huainan's tone.
"Tsk, speaking of which, that fellow also came from an illustrious family. His mother was the second daughter of a scholarly family that once produced six Jinshi, and his father was the third young master of the Longyou Merchant Guild. It's just a pity that he encountered war before he came of age, and his family fell into decline..."
"He was only twelve or thirteen then, mixed among a group of refugees, wearing a dirty melon-skin hat, looking disheveled. He was shouting about how he would earn all the money from the landlords and evil gentry, revive his family, operate with integrity, and return profits to the people, which made the refugees laugh."
"Everyone thought he was a little madman, but this old man felt he had a special drive and might achieve something great in the future. So, during the few days I traveled with that group of refugees, I gave him a few pointers."
"Who would have thought that twenty years later, when I saw him again, he had already become a # Nоvеlight # wealthy magnate with abilities approaching Calamity-level? What's even more remarkable is that he never forgot his youthful aspirations. No one in his local area doesn't give him a thumbs-up when he's mentioned..."
"Oh?" Lu Yibei interjected, "Then why did he, an elder, join Night Watch?"
He was already a magnate and doing what he wanted to do in his youth, so there was no reason to join Night Watch, Lu Yibei muttered to herself.
"I invited him," Zhang Huainan said. "I told him that although he used to donate almost half of his income each year to build roads, bridges, and schools, support poor students, and invest in promising young people, it could at most benefit the surrounding areas. But if he joined Night Watch, he could help even more people..."
"At first, this old man didn't have much hope. I just thought I might be able to get some long-term donations from him to help Night Watch, which had just gotten on track. I didn't expect him to agree immediately and report to Si Ye Hui Headquarters the next day..."
"Looking at it now, I don't know if I harmed him. Alas!"
This old man is too good at bluffing... Lu Yibei pouted.
She understood now. Caishen (God of Wealth) could not only be considered Zhang Huainan's unofficial disciple, but he was also invited by Zhang Huainan to join Night Watch. Even setting aside his identity as a Night Watch Guardian, Zhang Huainan would definitely do his best to rescue Caishen (God of Wealth).
It was like if Zhang Huainan were imprisoned by someone and his life was in danger, Qingji would also rescue him at all costs.
The current problem was that Nameless Book was injured and unconscious, Caishen (God of Wealth) was missing, Lord Huaiyuan's combat power was unstable and his mind was not mature enough, and Black Emperor had to stay at Night Watch to hold the fort.
They couldn't just rely on Lord Bing alone to take on the big responsibility, could they?
That guy was a battle maniac. If something really happened, nine out of ten times, his decision would be to fight to the death. To make decisions that minimize casualties and maximize benefits, it still had to be an old fox like Zhang Huainan.
So, they could only find a powerful and trustworthy external personnel to rescue Caishen (God of Wealth).
So, who would be this lucky external personnel?
Of course, it's me! Lu Yibei thought resentfully.
"Old man, I can try... but let's be clear first! I'm just trying. Once I find it's impossible, I'll withdraw immediately. Don't blame me then," Lu Yibei said.
"As you know, this matter might involve that Trademark Monster. Now that guy has targeted me. I might be attacked by the Trademark Monster before I even reach Caishen (God of Wealth)."
Although Zhang Huainan didn't directly ask her for help, his telling of his past with Caishen (God of Wealth) was already a form of indirect request. Otherwise, he could have explained Caishen (God of Wealth)'s past in just two or three sentences.
This kind of thing is like an old father at home who wants something but is too embarrassed to ask his child directly, so he can only hint wildly with phrases like "Old Man Wang has 'XX'" and "Old Man Li has 'XX'."
"..."
Since the old man had spoken, could she still heartlessly refuse?
Did she have to wait for a hundred-year-old man to cry and say, "Please"? Although she really wanted to see it, it... wasn't necessary, right?
Therefore, one must be wary of old people playing the emotional card! Lu Yibei secretly sighed in her heart.
"This old man didn't say you had to go!" Zhang Huainan first feigned modesty, then, before Lu Yibei could seize his words and push the task away, he immediately changed his tone and said, "However, since you volunteered, there's no harm in trying."
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"Also, if needed, you can certainly find helpers! As far as this old man knows, Night Watch has at least four other agents in Free City, and one of them is even investigating the deity kidnapping and disappearance incident... Perhaps you can seek their help?" freeweɓnovel.cøm
"Furthermore, from the known intelligence, the killing of Zhongliu God, the imprisonment of Caishen, and Ariel are all intricately linked to the deity kidnapping and disappearance incident. Perhaps you can start from this angle, investigate the whole story, and then carry out the rescue to reduce risks. Is this old man's analysis correct?"
Zhang Huainan spoke eloquently, and Lu Yibei nodded involuntarily as she listened.
This old man probably hasn't personally investigated a urban legend incident in many years, but he's surprisingly reliable when he analyzes things... Lu Yibei thought.
But then she immediately thought of an important matter, "You have a point! However, spending so much time investigating, aren't you afraid that the imprisoned one won't hold on?"
"No," Zhang Huainan said. "Listening to what you said, the vision you saw, and the layout of the theater's underground, this old man has vaguely guessed what they are doing, but it still needs a little time to verify."
"If this old man's guess is correct, they will only keep Caishen imprisoned as he is now, so there's no need to worry about Caishen not holding on for the time being."
"That would be for the best," Lu Yibei nodded. "Then please, old man, tell me the contact information of the agent who is investigating the deity disappearance and kidnapping incident?"
"How would this old man know such a small matter?" Zhang Huainan said, "I'll grab someone later and ask, then have them give you the contact information."
Lu Yibei, "..."
I take back what I just said... This old man is completely unreliable!
——
Having cut off communication with Zhang Huainan and carefully put away the bao sang cang xiao badge, Lu Yibei leaned back and collapsed onto the dirty double bed in the motel, sighing silently.
Nanling Yaohua floated silently from the side, lay down beside her, and held up her little notebook.
【What now? Not leaving yet?】
"Not leaving," Lu Yibei shook her head. "As for what to do next, we'll decide once I have the contact information of that colleague in Free City."
"However, before that..." As she spoke, she pulled out her phone and, for the first time in a while, logged into social media. "I'm very interested to know what that guy Void is up to."
As she spoke, her fingers flew across the screen, typing text and clicking send.
【Blue Yi poked Void's butt】
Blue Yi: "Bro, what's up on your end? 【Curious emoji】"
Lu Yibei enthusiastically sent a message to Void, wanting to know about the "Information Explosion" incident. However, lying on the bed, she waited for a long time, until her body started to show abnormalities, but still received no response from Void.
Suddenly, as if hallucinating, countless fragmented whispers echoed in Lu Yibei's ears, as if time and space had instantly shifted from the secluded, old motel to a bustling marketplace.
Those fragmented whispers were different from the whispers she had experienced before, which were descriptions of authority appearing in her ears due to the influence of Psychic or urban legend. Instead, it really sounded like many people were talking in her ear.
They seemed to be speaking ill of her, but it was too blurry for her to make out the specific content. She only felt the malice contained in the words.
Like soft thorns embedded in flesh, there was no intense pain, but she could clearly feel them there, then they would inadvertently bring a slight pain or itch.
Accompanying this invasion of malice, Lu Yibei felt a momentary illusion of walking under a scorching sun burdened by a thousand catties, her blood hot and boiling, her physical strength being drained little by little.
Seeing Lu Yibei's expression turn painful, Nanling Yaohua quickly wrote words and held up her small notebook.
【It's starting again?】
"Mm," Lu Yibei, covered in sweat, nodded with difficulty.
In fact, this wasn't the first time her body had experienced this abnormal state. It had appeared once shortly after she left the Divine Kingdom Jade Gate on her way to Mountain City, and then again on the flight to Queen City, each time lasting for about ten seconds.
She had asked Ju Meng, Zhang Huainan, and Nameless Book about the reason for this anomaly, and the answer she received was—a special Calamity-level sensation, directed at Disaster, Goddess Ba, and drought, all the malice.
Lu Yibei had only recently gained Calamity-level power, so this sensation wasn't too strong yet. In the future, as she became more proficient with the Goddess Beiling Seal, this sensation would only become more frequent, until eventually, when someone mentioned her name, she would immediately have a sensation, only then being able to initially escape the pain.
That's right, just initially. The uncontrollable whispers in her ears might recede, but the malice directed at her authority would always exist and continuously accumulate!
He who desires the crown must bear its weight. This was the burden of possessing Calamity-level power, and there was no universal solution applicable to all Psychic or urban legend.
According to Zhang Huainan, it was like a sudden growth of a super-large organ in the body; it would be abnormal not to experience some pain!
Zhang Huainan's solution was to become powerful enough so that others wouldn't dare to easily mention his name. Nameless Book's solution was to get used to it, acting as if she couldn't hear anything. And for a great urban legend like Ju Meng, who was born a Calamity, there were no such concerns at all.
"I don't know, big sister. I've never experienced it, how would I know?" When Ju Meng said this to Lu Yibei, her expression was as annoying as a European emperor who gets gold on a single pull and maxes out a gacha game with 648 yuan. If Lu Yibei wasn't somewhat reluctant, she probably would have punched her hard in the face on the spot.
As for Lu Yibei herself, for now, she could only endure it...
Besides enduring it, was there no other way?
She couldn't hear what those whispers were saying, couldn't figure out which gossips were talking behind her back. She wanted to take a small notebook, write them all down, and then find them one by one when she had time to tear their mouths apart, but she couldn't do that!
Just endure it for now, and deal with it later? Lu Yibei originally thought this, if the Alchemy prosthesis, parasitized by the mysterious polyhedron, hadn't undergone a completely unexpected change.
As the special sensation violently struck, she clearly felt the Alchemy prosthesis once again becoming uncontrollable, greedily absorbing the malice contained in those whispers and her Spirit Energy.
It was like when donating blood, the doctor inserted the needle, then immediately pulled out a water pump. For a moment, Lu Yibei even felt that the Alchemy prosthesis wanted to suck her into a dried corpse.
Fortunately, this state did not last too long. Like the previous two times, the chaotic whispers in her ears only lasted for about ten seconds before gradually quieting down. Finally, the only sounds left in Lu Yibei's ears were the patter of light rain outside the window and the soft sound of cars rolling over the wet road.
A few seconds later, her phone rang. She pulled out her phone and glanced at it. The screen displayed an anonymously sent message...
