Embers Ad Infinitum

Shang Jianyao was looking at Abbess Zhou Yue with a curious and eager expression. He also seemed to want to carry a bottle of talisman water, an Eight Trigrams Mirror, and a peach wood sword to fight the Superior Heartless in an intense tussle.

This was a term that the Old Task Force had conveniently grasped when gathering information regarding the Eternal Time Sect.

However, Shang Jianyao quickly retracted his gaze and walked to the surveillance camera that had made a sound. He spoke as if he had finally seen a fellow villager from his hometown. “You finally spoke! I thought you were dead; I was wondering if I should hold a funeral for you and prepare for the seventh day of your demise…”

The surveillance camera remained silent and didn’t respond.

Shang Jianyao went straight to the point. “Quick, tell Genava that the target has gone down the mountain.”

The surveillance camera emitted an electronic voice again. “Please wait. I’ll help you transfer to Officer Genava.”

Shang Jianyao was first stunned before he excitedly asked, “You are actually a telephone that’s disguised as a surveillance camera?”

As the surveillance camera connected the signal, it replied in an emotionless voice, “I’m a multifunctional surveillance robot.”

Just as it said that, Genava’s mellow male voice sounded. “Hello, who is it?”

“Your brother,” Shang Jianyao replied without stuttering.

“…” On the other end of the surveillance camera, Genava saw the person clearly. He skipped the previous question and asked, “What’s the matter?”

Shang Jianyao replied seriously, “The Superior Heartless broke into town and knocked out a bar full of people. Quickly, come over and take a look.”

Upon seeing that he had finally explained everything, Jiang Baimian spoke to Long Yuehong and Bai Chen, who were at the door of Wild Pigeon. “Open the door and windows and treat the injured.”

Her hidden meaning was: ventilate and don’t let any anesthetic gas remain inside to prevent others from analyzing the composition, which might affect any subsequent usage.

After Long Yuehong and Bai Chen began busying themselves, Jiang Baimian walked toward Abbess Zhou Yue—who was carrying a sack and holding the Eight Trigrams Mirror—and casually sighed with emotion. “Abbess Zhou, these artifacts are actually effective!”

She had seen it very clearly just now. It was precisely because Zhou Yue had used the water-filled bottle and the Eight Trigrams Mirror she had obtained from somewhere to launch an ‘attack’ that the Superior Heartless had fled in panic without pulling the pistol’s trigger.

Zhou Yue laughed. “These are all Dharma artifacts recorded in our Church’s canon. I just realized that they are really useful.”

Jiang Baimian turned her head to look at Wild Pigeon and thoughtfully said, “I previously wondered if the Superior Heartless didn’t enter the bar because he was afraid of the light and relied on the chaos created by the illusion to complete the hunt. However, I realized that my guess was wrong when I saw him appear under the street lamps. Furthermore, he had also caused a massacre in the southwest mountains during the day.

“Abbess Zhou, I saw you throw away the flashlight in your hand the moment you discovered the Superior Heartless standing under the street lamp. Do you have a similar guess as mine?”

Zhou Yue was stunned for a moment before she laughed dryly. “Everything is but a dream. Why so serious? ”

Without giving Jiang Baimian a chance to respond, she frowned in confusion. “Oh right, do we know each other?”

“You probably haven’t seen many women as tall as me,” Jiang Baimian replied.

Zhou Yue revealed a look of enlightenment. “Yes, yes, yes. Although I can’t remember your face, I won’t forget your characteristics. You are a member of that four-person team…”

As the two of them spoke, metallic clangs sounded. Robot guards in dark-green uniforms rushed over to Wild Pigeon Bar at high speed.

Leading them was none other than Tarnan’s mayor, Genava.

With so many smart robots appearing at the same time, Jiang Baimian felt a little dizzy, much less Zhou Yue. She almost couldn’t tell who was who.

But after careful observation, Zhou Yue realized that these smart robots had certain differences in height, arm span, facial contours, and body thickness. There were no two identical robots.

Among them, Genava’s face was relatively square, and his height was above average. He looked sturdy and muscular. Most importantly, it also wore a dark-green military beret with 0 and 1 symbols. It was clearly different from other smart bots.

I wonder if they had all kinds of modifications when they left the factory to ensure the individual’s uniqueness. Or did they accumulate contribution points, buy components, and modify themselves? Jiang Baimian thought with interest.

“Your team shall enter to confirm the townsfolk’s condition. Those who need to be sent to the hospital should be sent as soon as possible,” Genava said to his three subordinates.

A team of robot guards consisted of four smart bots and several non-intelligent combat robots that assisted them. Therefore, communication wasn’t only lost with ten smart bots in the southwestern mountains.

“Your team will search the surroundings and maintain contact at all times…” Genava issued orders before walking toward Jiang Baimian and the others. Although it had already gained a general understanding from Shang Jianyao, it still asked cautiously, “Has the target fled?”

Its main modeling chip made a judgment after analyzing Shang Jianyao’s words and actions: This person has mental problems and is suspected to be an Awakened.

However, Shang Jianyao’s attitude of treating him as a brother made Genava feel that the price the other party had to pay wasn’t that serious.

Jiang Baimian nodded. “It’s all thanks to Abbess Zhou.”

This was both the truth and also a cover-up for her team’s performance.

Genava twisted his metal neck and looked at Zhou Yue. “Thank you.”

For it—who was in charge of Tarnan’s public security and defense—it was very likely that it would be dismissed and transferred back to Mechanical Paradise’s headquarters if the town suffered a large number of casualties.

“It’s all thanks to the Kalendaria’s blessing.” Zhou Yue half-raised her body, slightly raised her hands, and bowed at the Shattered Mirror in the void.

Genava then asked Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao, “Was anyone else attacked?”

“The Mountain Fox bandits,” Jiang Baimian replied truthfully.

After the Superior Heartless was scared away, she wondered how the remaining 13 people from the Mountain Fox bandits were doing. Of course, this was only a thought. It was already good enough that she didn’t fire a few more shots at these bandits.

It was simply a fool’s dream if she was expected to organize a team and take the risk to try and save them.

Genava immediately contacted the smart bot team in charge of the search through its additional communication module and briefly explained the situation.

Before long, the team reported the results. “Found them. Five dead, and the rest are sleeping in a pool of blood. They didn’t even wake up from the cold despite the trembling.”

“They’re pretty lucky,” Shang Jianyao commented.

Jiang Baimian knew that this was relative to Ninth Zhang.

At this moment, the smart bot team in charge of Wild Pigeon Bar gradually sent the injured townsfolk, Ruin Hunters, and caravan members to Tarnan General Hospital. This included those who had no external injuries but were still in a coma.

Upon seeing this, Genava instructed his adjutant, “Charlie, get the people in charge of the various religions to come over and discuss how to resolve the subsequent problems.”

Only then did Zhou Yue let out a cry. “So it’s Officer Genava.”

Did it take you until now to recognize it… Jiang Baimian criticized inwardly and said to Genava, “I guess we won’t be needed then?”

Just now, smart bots had already asked them about the incident and all kinds of details.

In this regard, the Old Task Force had sufficient professional qualities despite not colluding in advance. It was to make their performance vague and not fabricate any details. They only talked about the basics.

As for how these basic points were connected, it was naturally handled by Team Leader Jiang Baimian. When others were asked about such topics, the blame was directly pushed to the illusions.

“You may leave.” Genava paused and said, “But we might have to rely on you in the future.”

Its shimmering blue eyes swept across Shang Jianyao, Jiang Baimian, and the others before it said in a slightly deep voice, “You guys are very impressive.”

“You can tell?” Shang Jianyao asked.

“We roughly understand Zhang Jin’s situation. The fact that no tragedy happened at Wild Pigeon Bar is enough to indicate your abilities,” Genava explained simply.

It then added, “Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me. There’s no need for thanks between brothers.” Shang Jianyao put on a righteous expression.

Genava’s program didn’t seem to have a response to such words, so it could only remain silent.

After bidding Genava farewell, the Old Task Force vigilantly returned to Serene Dream; nobody spoke on the way.

At the hotel’s front desk, the lady boss—Aynor—was huddled there, looking at the computer and trembling.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Baimian asked in concern.

Aynor picked up her handkerchief, wiped her eyes, and replied nervously, “I-I’m watching a horror movie.”

She was so scared that tears came out? Jiang Baimian realized that this lady—who looked to be in her thirties and spoke in a tone that made her appear over fifty—seemed to have a maiden’s heart.

Although Shang Jianyao, Long Yuehong, and the others had never seen a horror film, ghost stories would occasionally be told on Pangu Biology’s radio programs. It wasn’t difficult for them to understand what this term meant. Therefore, they curiously stuck their heads out and looked at the screen in front of Aynor.

On the screen, a pale face suddenly enlarged, revealing a bloody, gaping mouth.

Long Yuehong jumped in fright; he even heard his pounding heartbeat.

He instinctively wanted to shrink back, but he was unwilling to show his cowardice in front of Bai Chen, Shang Jianyao, and Jiang Baimian. He forced himself not to move.

“How ugly,” Shang Jianyao deliberately commented.

Jiang Baimian didn’t give the pair of good friends a chance to find an excuse to watch a horror film for free. She directly said, “Let’s return to our room first. There’s something else.”

Shang Jianyao reluctantly retracted his gaze. Although Long Yuehong was afraid, he couldn’t help but steal a few glances at Aynor’s computer, wanting to know what would happen next.

After returning to Room 221, Jiang Baimian closed the wooden door and looked around. “Don’t forget the after-action review. I’ll raise the first question: What do you think scared the Superior Heartless away?”

Bai Chen had long thought about it and calmly replied, “That Eight Trigrams Mirror.”