Embers Ad Infinitum

495th floor, Zone C, Room 11.

In the living room of Long Yuehong’s residence—which also served as a master bedroom—the family of five sat in different spots. They listened to the radio and chatted with Long Yuehong about his experiences on the surface.

Of course, Long Yuehong also knew that the review wasn’t over. It was still uncertain what could be said and couldn’t be said. He could only choose the daily tidbits that he couldn’t be faulted at all.

“Brother, have you learned how to cook hotpot?” Long Yuehong’s sister, Long Aihong, asked hopefully.

She was only 16 years old, and she was about 1.7 meters tall. Her long hair, together with her bangs, made her appear childlike. Compared to Long Yuehong, her facial features were clearly better; she was an out-and-out beauty.

Long Yuehong smiled. “We lack the necessary spices. The Supplies Allocation Market lacks most of them.”

Upon seeing his sister’s disappointed expression, Long Yuehong smiled and added, “But we can make a simple version. I’ll go to the market tomorrow to exchange for two large bones to make the soup…”

“Alright!” His younger brother, Long Zhigu, exclaimed excitedly.

Hotpot was something that couldn’t be eaten at the employee cafeteria, and the Long family didn’t know the concept of hotpot.

Long Zhigu was 18 this year and was at the critical stage of taking his university entrance exam. However, he was already three centimeters taller than his elder brother. Thanks to the effects of genetic enhancement, his looks were considered above average in Pangu Biology.

“Not bad, you’ve learned how to cook after a trip.” Gu Hong—who was knitting a sweater—smiled and sighed with emotion as she listened to the radio. “When you get to know other girls in the future, you can have a proper conversation.”

Long Dayong laughed in response. “That’s exactly what I was lacking back then. Your mother shunned me back then because of this. It was only later that I slowly learned how to cook.”

Most of the young, unmarried people in Pangu Biology didn’t know how to cook because they could eat at the employee cafeteria. It was convenient, and it wasn’t too expensive.

Long Yuehong chuckled and said, “The most important thing about hotpot is the stock and seasoning. Everything else is simple…”

He spoke tirelessly and described the few kinds of hotpot he had previously eaten.

Long Zhigu and Long Aihong couldn’t help but gulp when they heard that. From time to time, they would take a bite from their malt candy, fluffy pastries, and other snacks.

Recently, they didn’t go out after dinner, and it was definitely not because their brother had returned home with a pile of snacks and beverages. It was mainly because they wanted to hear their hero talk about his exciting life on the surface.

At the end of the conversation, Long Yuehong said, “We obtained quite a number of portable computers this time. I’ve already made a request with the company, hoping to keep one or two for myself. I just don’t know if it will be approved.”

Although Long Dayong, Gu Hong, and the others had never touched computers, they had seen them in their offices and at school. Hence, they could easily understand what a portable computer was.

“What can we use it for?” Gu Hong asked in confusion. From her point of view, computers were relegated to the office to facilitate work. There was no need for them at home.

Long Zhigu and Long Aihong weren’t too excited either. To them, computers were an alien object. They didn’t know what they could do with them.

Long Yuehong seemed to see his unworldly past self and smiled. “Zhigu can familiarize himself with computers in advance. It will be easier for him to choose the relevant majors when he enters university. Besides, it can also record radio programs so that you can listen to them repeatedly.”

Long Yuehong didn’t mention the Old World entertainment because he was worried that it would negatively affect his brother and sister’s studies.

He decided to hide the Old World’s entertainment information in a relatively obscure location on the computer. He would only let his siblings know about it when they started working in the future.

Upon hearing that they could record radio programs, Long Dayong muttered, “Does it consume a lot of electricity? Our quota isn’t that much…”

Even now, they only had one small lamp switched on, mainly using the street lamps’ light that shone through the windows.

Long Aihong was excited. “Brother, when can you get it?”

“That depends on the company.” Long Yuehong sighed when this matter was mentioned. “Wasn’t someone discovered to have secretly brought back a personal item to the company? The reviews will definitely be very strict for the next few months, so it won’t be that fast.”

“You also know about that matter?” Gu Hong looked up and unconsciously lowered her voice. “I heard from my office that it was an employee from the Security Department named Yan Qing who returned to the company with a recording pen containing cult information. Later, he had a gathering with some people and was caught red-handed during some ritual. Gosh, everyone in the room was naked back then…”

Th-this Naturalism Church believes in the Desire domain’s Kalendaria, Mandara? Long Yuehong subconsciously looked around and realized that his sister had turned beet red while his brother was filled with curiosity.

As for Long Dayong, he had long known about it. His expression didn’t change.

“Mom, are they really that wild?” Long Zhigu couldn’t help but ask.

Gu Hong shot him a glance. “What are you thinking about? They didn’t do anything but strip naked and chat in the room. They even prayed.”

Why doesn’t this sound convincing… Long Yuehong imagined the scene and felt that he didn’t believe that those people were solely chatting while naked.

Even if the room was filled with only men or only women, he didn’t think that things would be that simple.

Upon seeing her eldest son’s disbelief, Gu Hong quickly explained, “In the beginning, I also felt that this was a bluff. However, they later told me that the cult required everyone to find their primitive nature and not be plagued by postnatal things. They believed that only by stripping themselves and returning to nature could they hear the gods’ teachings and obtain redemption.”

Gu Hong tried her best to recall what she had heard back then and didn’t embellish it with her own opinions.

“A strange religion,” Long Yuehong commented. This made him unable to determine which Kalendaria the Naturalism Church believed in.

“That’s right; they’re like lunatics. Aren’t they ashamed to strip themselves naked?” Long Dayong quickly expressed his opinion.

Gu Hong glared at him. “Aren’t you often half-naked?”

“How can it be the same?” Long Dayong shouted his grievance.

Long Yuehong smiled at his parents and didn’t interrupt.

The family had a great time over food and drinks until the lights went out.

As there was a line to his small bathroom, Long Yuehong got a flashlight and walked out the door to head toward the nearest public bathroom.

This was located at the intersection of Zone C and Zone B.

At this moment, most of the employees had washed up and returned to their homes to sleep. Long Yuehong only encountered two to three people on the way.

In the dark corridor, the flashlight’s yellowish beam flickered, illuminating the public bathroom’s outline.

Long Yuehong was just about to turn right when a figure suddenly appeared in front of him.

The figure hung at the door of the men’s bathroom and swayed gently.

If it were in the past, Long Yuehong definitely would’ve retreated in fear. He might even trip over something and fall to the ground, unable to shout even if he wanted to.

But after all he had experienced, he only felt his hair stand on end. He raised a hand to block in front of him.

Just as he was about to shout, the figure hanging by the men’s bathroom door gently swayed and landed in front of him.

Long Yuehong’s flashlight shone upward, illuminating a handsome face with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, deep facial contours, and masculine facial features.

“…” Long Yuehong was first stunned before he suppressed his anger and roared, “Why are you hanging on the door?”

The figure in front of him was none other than Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao had an earnest expression. “I saw you coming and wanted to greet you.”

“Is that called a greeting?” Long Yuehong asked in exasperation.

Shang Jianyao explained seriously, “I just find it boring to use the same method to greet others all the time. We have to develop something new. Besides, this can also train your courage and reaction speed.”

“Thank you very much! If we were outside, I would’ve already drawn my gun, alright?” Long Yuehong calmed his nerves a little.

Shang Jianyao smiled. “You won’t be able to fire.”

Long Yuehong couldn’t retort.

After a few seconds, he exhaled and pointed ahead. “Don’t block the door.”

Shang Jianyao immediately made way.

Long Yuehong originally wanted to walk straight into the bathroom, but he suddenly recalled the Naturalism Church matter that his mother had just shared with him. Therefore, he added, “I have something to tell you later.”

“Alright.” Shang Jianyao seemed to enter a serious state.

After peeing and washing his hands, Long Yuehong recounted the Naturalism Church’s general philosophy and the strange ritual at a spot not far from the public bathroom. He then asked, “Which Kalendaria do you think they believe in?”

Shang Jianyao tersely acknowledged it. “I’m not in the Jiang Baimian mode right now, so I can’t answer you.”

I’m really stupid. Seriously… I shouldn’t have talked to this fellow. I should’ve just gone to the office for a group discussion tomorrow… Long Yuehong slowly exhaled and waved his hand. “I’m going back to sleep.”

As he spoke, his flashlight shone at the corridor leading to Zone C.

Suddenly, a figure flashed past a distant intersection.

Under the weak light from the flashlight, Long Yuehong saw that the other party was stark naked.

It was a man.

“Uh…” Long Yuehong turned to look at Shang Jianyao. “Did you see that?”

Shang Jianyao had his eyes closed as he shook his head. “No, I’m afraid of getting a sty.”