Embers Ad Infinitum

On the 647th floor, Room 14.

Long Yuehong held a lunch box and slurped down the tomato omelet noodles that were drenched with braised beef sauce.

“When it’s eaten like this… canned food isn’t that disgusting anymore…” He expressed his thoughts. With that said, he picked a piece of cabbage that had been soaked in stock.

He found it refreshing and sweet, effectively removing the cloyed taste brought about by the canned meat.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao had already finished his last mouthful of soup and looked at Long Yuehong’s lunch box with bright eyes. “You can give me whatever you can’t finish.”

Long Yuehong immediately fell silent and focused on the noodles.

Jiang Baimian smiled and asked Shang Jianyao, “Still hungry? Shall I get some more food?”

Shang Jianyao shook his head. “There’s only enough room for food snatched from others.”

“Whoa!” Jiang Baimian ignored him and lowered her head to take a small bite of the fried egg that had been infused with the stock’s alluring fragrance.

Bai Chen’s appetite couldn’t compare to the three of them. Like Shang Jianyao, she had already finished eating and was peeling the remaining tomatoes as an after-meal fruit.

Since it was a feast, it had to look like a feast.

Before long, Jiang Baimian and Long Yuehong finished their dinner. They leaned back in their chairs and slumped, unwilling to move further.

“The company is the best after all…” Long Yuehong sighed with emotion.

This was the feeling of home.

“That’s right.” Jiang Baimian smiled. “I hope you won’t be bored after staying at home for too long.”

“No, I don’t think so…” Long Yuehong’s answer became less firm when he recalled his experiences on the surface in the past few months. It wasn’t because he felt that the company’s entertainment programs were monotonous. Compared to most settlements in the Ashlands, the leisure activities of Pangu Biology’s employees were considered varied. However, all of them were very sterile.

Long Yuehong only felt that although he liked to stay at home and only interact with people he was familiar with, he might feel a little stifled and uncomfortable if he couldn’t see the blue sky and experience open surroundings. He felt like a bird locked in a cage.

Shang Jianyao added, “As long as he has enough Old World entertainment, he won’t be bored. He won’t even want to find a girlfriend.”

“No way…” Long Yuehong protested weakly. He didn’t continue because he was afraid that his team leader and Bai Chen would think that he only wanted to find a girlfriend and that his mind was filled with marriage and children.

Jiang Baimian laughed. “If you can’t get more of the Old World’s entertainment, it will get boring sooner or later. Sigh, didn’t I say? I’m the kind of person who wants to come back after being out for long but will want to go out when I’m back for long. I hope you won’t become like me…”

As they jested, the four of them split up to wash the dishes and clean the office. This made Long Yuehong feel calm in both body and mind. Amidst the calmness, an indescribable joy slowly grew and echoed.

I wish I could be like this forever… He silently prayed.

…

After the meal, Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong returned to the 495th floor together.

Just as they stepped out of the elevator, they saw their good friend—Yang Zhenyuan—walking over under the sun lamps.

“Ah, are you here to welcome us?” Shang Jianyao was ‘shocked.’

Yang Zhenyuan was also surprised. “You guys are finally back!”

There were very few outfield missions inside Pangu Biology that required months. Of course, it might take two years or even longer if they were deployed to certain places to do certain jobs. However, all of these had their excuses.

The Old Task Force was unlike any other; nobody in the neighborhood knew what they did outside.

As Long Yuehong denigrated Shang Jianyao’s exaggerated act, he smiled at the tall, muscular, and fair Yang Zhenyuan. “That’s right; we’re dead beat. We should be able to have a long vacation.”

He then asked, “Back to visit your old folks? Where’s your wife?”

He still had a deep impression of Zhou Qi, a woman who was ten years older than Yang Zhenyuan. She had come knocking on the door to visit her future husband.

He remembered that they were always together after their marriage. Apart from work situations, it was rare to see only one or the other being absent.

Yang Zhenyuan smiled. “S-she’s pregnant. I came back precisely to consult my mother for some experience.”

“Congratulations!” Long Yuehong was sincerely happy for his friend.

Shang Jianyao was the same. He even recommended himself. “You can consult me.”

“Huh?” Yang Zhenyuan was confused. These are words from a fellow without a spouse?

Shang Jianyao explained seriously, “I have solid theoretical knowledge.” This was the confidence stemming from a Life Ritual parishioner.

Upon seeing that Yang Zhenyuan was still a little confused, Long Yuehong laughed and helped Shang Jianyao smooth things over. “He has read Old World books on childbirth.”

“Is that so? Do you still have the books?” Yang Zhenyuan came to a realization.

“No, we didn’t bring them back.” Long Yuehong could already bullshit under his team leader’s influence.

Yang Zhenyuan sighed regretfully and smiled at Shang Jianyao. “Then, I’ll consult you in the future.”

“No problem!” Shang Jianyao smiled brightly and stretched out his hands.

Yang Zhenyuan looked at him in confusion and also stretched out his hands uncertainly.

Shang Jianyao clasped both his hands and shook them heavily.

Only then did Yang Zhenyuan realize that Shang Jianyao had changed quite a bit compared to before. It was a little strange.

Maybe it’s because he has encountered too much on the surface… Ever since Yang Zhenyuan graduated and got married, the chances of him interacting with Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong could be counted on one hand. Thus, he didn’t think there was any major problem.

The three of them stood in the corridor and chatted for a while.

As he bade farewell, Yang Zhenyuan sized up Long Yuehong. “You’re much more mature than before.”

“Really?” Long Yuehong was a little delighted.

Yang Zhenyuan nodded seriously. “Much more confident, really.”

“Haha, it might be my tan.” Long Yuehong couldn’t help saying this humbly, but the smile on his face betrayed him.

Beside him, Shang Jianyao didn’t use words to undermine the situation. He only placed his hands by his mouth and forced the corners of his mouth up. This created an exaggerated and comical smile that made Long Yuehong feel a little guilty.

After watching Yang Zhenyuan get into the elevator, the two of them—who no longer needed to wave to express their friendship—turned around and returned home.

…

Zone B, No. 196.

Before the lights were switched off, Shang Jianyao cleaned the cramped room and lay on the wooden bed. He placed the pillow filled with grains vertically against the wall and leaned against it. He then raised his hand and massaged his temples.

In the Sea of Origins, on the island with mountains, rivers, and sunlight.

A pond had already appeared here, and it was surrounded by several acres of farmland with rice and wheat.

At this moment, the wheat was golden yellow, and the rice ears were heavy. It was a scene of harvest.

Above the island floated a green night pearl the size of a fish eye; it emitted specks of light.

Previously, when he passed the security check at the entrance, Shang Jianyao had directly transferred DiMarco’s aura—which had solidified in the glass sphere—into his mind world.

In any case, DiMarco was already dead. He didn’t have to worry about anyone using this opportunity to ‘invade.’

Shang Jianyao first created nine recliners before splitting into eight more of himself.

After they took their seats, the original Shang Jianyao raised his right hand and summoned the green night pearl.

After the pearl flew into his palm and emitted a brighter light than before, the Sea of Origins around the island immediately produced splashing sounds, stirring up a huge wave that was more than ten meters tall.

Within those waves, countless glimmers swelled and expanded, reflecting the different scenes Shang Jianyao had previously experienced.

Destiny Connection—seeing the past of all living beings! This was the ability that DiMarco’s residual aura could currently exert.

It could allow Shang Jianyao to recall his various memories in the mind world. After it was fixed to reality, it could allow Shang Jianyao’s consciousness to temporarily leave his body and take on the legendary ‘ghost’ form. It was the state DiMarco had been in back then.

However, there was a time limit and distance restriction.

Without his body’s protection, Shang Jianyao’s consciousness would be exposed to the natural environment. He would be affected by all kinds of nasty elements. He couldn’t last more than three seconds, or he would collapse uncontrollably.

Once the collapse happened, Jiang Baimian guessed that Shang Jianyao would become very weak after his consciousness returned to his body. If it were any worse, he might even become a vegetable.

After his consciousness left his body, Shang Jianyao could directly invade another person’s mind world like DiMarco and see their past. This required the target to be within 30 meters of him because his consciousness couldn’t exceed this distance from his body.

It was obvious that this was much weaker than DiMarco’s usage. This was the case, be it the duration as a consciousness lifeform or the ability’s effective range. In addition, Shang Jianyao couldn’t use the night pearl to assimilate the target’s consciousness and occupy their body.

After the scenes in the gigantic wave appeared, the nine Shang Jianyaos began their work. They were each in charge of an area as they quickly browsed through the corresponding memories.

Soon, they found the target scene after repeatedly narrowing the range.

In the scene, Shang Jianyao dazedly stood in front of his door. A man wearing a dark cap, old leather shoes, a blue top, and black pants was bending down to pick up a metal pipe and a small dart from the ground.

This was the scene where Shang Jianyao was attacked by the Life Ritual parish’s Awakened.

Shang Jianyao rewound the memory and realized that a portion was indeed missing.

The corresponding memories had really been deleted. Even Destiny Connection couldn’t replicate it.

Shang Jianyao wasn’t discouraged. He began to examine the suspect’s side profile and back seriously, attempting to find characteristics.

After a while, in order not to waste the green night pearl’s power, they took the initiative to end this attempt and fuse back into one.

Shang Jianyao looked back at the harvest scene—an island that was completely different from the past. He smiled brightly and jumped into the Sea of Origins, attempting to swim into the distance again.