Embers Ad Infinitum

Sikhara Temple.

After dinner, the Old Task Force members sat or laid down, waiting for the moment telegrams were exchanged with the company.

Shang Jianyao leaned against the bedhead and raised his hand to pinch his temples before slowly closing his eyes.

…

In the Sea of Origins, on the island with the golden elevator.

Shang Jianyao looked at the other him wearing a gray camouflage uniform. He split into nine, surrounding him.

One of the Shang Jianyaos raised his head and looked at the crack in the sky that was swirling with sunlight. He said excitedly, “Should we greet the person on the other side and invite him to invade? I’ve thought about it. The thing we have most in common is that we value this body and want to dominate it. Since we have too many differences that can’t be reconciled, we can create a scene where our lives are threatened and can be lost at any moment. This way, everyone can give up their prejudices and form a strategic alliance to complete an initial level of accommodation.”

“Have you gone mad?” The person who refuted Shang Jianyao wasn’t the Shang Jianyao that sat cross-legged in front of the golden elevator and blocked the exit but one of the nine Shang Jianyaos who had split off.

He clearly didn’t agree with this radical and risky strategy.

“The person opposite us is an Awakened at the Mind Corridor level. He might even be one who has explored its depths. Once he descends, we will have a slim chance of survival. No, probably none at all. This isn’t a risk—this is suicide!”

Another Shang Jianyao nodded in agreement. “Besides, not everyone will choose to cooperate in dangerous situations. Some people are petty and will seize all opportunities to eliminate dissidents. They often have wishful thinking, believing that the problems that ensue can be handled, but the result is often the opposite.”

As he spoke, he looked at the hostile Shang Jianyao.

The nine Shang Jianyaos argued incessantly and couldn’t come to an agreement. They could only temporarily give up on that radical method.

Therefore, they returned to staring at the hostile Shang Jianyao.

…

After Shang Jianyao returned from the Sea of Origins, he waited for a while before Pangu Biology sent a telegram to the Old Task Force. There wasn’t much content in the telegram, only two sentences.

The first sentence was: “Consider the Holm Fertility Center in Wasteland Ruin 13 for ‘Holm.'”

Jiang Baimian sighed with emotion and said with a strange tone, “It seems like the company has information on the Five Great Holy Lands. At the very least, they know about the Holm Fertility Center.”

Although this wasn’t sufficient information to deduce that Pangu Biology was aware of the abnormalities in the steelworks factory ruins, it still complicated the Old Task Force members’ emotions.

“Maybe the company doesn’t have information on the Five Great Holy Lands.” Bai Chen deliberated and voiced her thoughts. “There might be other abnormalities at the Holm Fertility Center, so they might be known in other areas.”

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly and said, “We can’t rule out that possibility. Before the Old World was destroyed, the Holm Fertility Center might’ve been conducting genetic screening, enhancement, and treatment research. They might have contributed to the rapid advancement of the company’s relevant technology.”

Therefore, Pangu Biology knew of this place.

Jiang Baimian then read the second sentence of the telegram: “If there’s a chance, you can consider making a reconnaissance trip to the Holm Fertility Center. Pay attention to the working electrical appliances along the way.”

“Ah…” Long Yuehong was a little shocked.

That wasn’t what the company had previously said. Despite knowing about the secret laboratory in Wasteland Ruin 13, Pangu Biology didn’t order the Old Task Force to explore it.

“As expected, the company is still more interested in fertility medicine.” Shang Jianyao’s thoughts went astray.

Jiang Baimian smiled. “Perhaps the company believes that the level of danger in the two places is completely different. In the face of that secret laboratory, ten Old Task Force units will definitely be wiped out with nothing to speak of. As for the Holm Fertility Center, we can still complete our investigations if we are careful.”

At the very least, it was a routine matter for the Crystal Consciousness Church’s monks to hold a ritual at the Holm Fertility Center. This meant that there wouldn’t be much danger as long as something wasn’t triggered.

Furthermore, the paths taken by the Crystal Consciousness Church’s monks were definitely relatively safe. There weren’t many working electrical appliances.

“Maybe.” Long Yuehong undoubtedly agreed with his team leader’s guess. He probed, “Shall we go?”

“It depends.” Jiang Baimian pointed at the door. “We’re still locked up, so is it up to us to decide where we go?”

“Yes, that’s true. After all, the Holm Fertility Center is there. It won’t run away on its own, so it doesn’t matter when we go.” Long Yuehong really wanted to say that they could go after Shang Jianyao entered the Mind Corridor.

Upon hearing Long Yuehong’s words, Shang Jianyao revealed a horrified expression. “Oh no! The clues will be running away.”

Isn’t that a good thing? Clues often spell danger! Long Yuehong muttered inwardly.

At this moment, a broadcast sounded across many streets simultaneously. “Emergency notice, emergency notice: Citizens, please come to Hope Square at 9 a.m. tomorrow for an important gathering.”

Hope Square was located in the Red Wolf Zone. When First City was established, it was modified from an Old World square and was named Hope.

There were stone statues of the founders—Oray, Drace, and Cass—erected there. They were symbols of First City’s citizenship system, often equal to the nearby Senate.

This broadcast was repeated six times.

Long Yuehong and the others looked at each other.

“Something must have happened.” Being partially knowledgeable of First City, Bai Chen came to the window and said with a slightly solemn expression, “Under normal circumstances, they won’t convene the citizens so urgently to hold a gathering.”

Jiang Baimian thoughtfully said, “The balance in First City has been tipped, and a certain tilt has appeared?”

This was both something the Old Task Force anticipated and a situation they were afraid of. Although they would indeed have the opportunity to take advantage of the chaos if First City were to experience chaos, even a Mind Corridor-level Awakened might not be able to guarantee that they would be fine in such an environment.

Under the chaos of war, everyone was in danger.

Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong walked to Bai Chen’s side and cast their gazes at the street outside.

Under the night sky, the lights were distributed unevenly—there were no obvious signs of chaos.

After nearly 15 minutes, everything was still normal.

Jiang Baimian stood behind her team members and calmly analyzed, “The gathering will be held tomorrow morning. That means it’s not that urgent.”

At this moment, Bai Chen suddenly said, “Master Zennaga.”

“Huh?” Jiang Baimian leaned over. Then, she saw Zennaga—a monk so thin that he was almost out of shape—leaning over a dark motorcycle and riding it southwest.

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly. “Master Zennaga seems to be heading to some important place in the Golden Apple Zone or Red Wolf Zone at this time. This means that there are indeed turbulent undercurrents…”

Shang Jianyao immediately asked, “Our chance to escape is here?”

He looked excited.

Since Zennaga had temporarily left Sikhara Temple, the Old Task Force—which he had captured—could apparently consider an escape!

Jiang Baimian looked at the slightly expectant Bai Chen and Long Yuehong—who were filled with anticipation and fear—and nodded. “This might not be a good opportunity. The situation in First City is currently turbulent, and the Crystal Consciousness Church has clearly received the notice. They will definitely increase their vigilance and guard. This is their headquarters, and we don’t even know how many Mind Corridor-level Awakened are here. Under such circumstances, the chances of us escaping are very low. We might even anger one of them.”

In fact, Jiang Baimian didn’t have much confidence in escaping after learning that Sikhara Temple was the Crystal Consciousness Church’s headquarters. She believed that staying here for ten days was the best and safest choice.

Over the past few days, she had been indulging and even cooperating with Shang Jianyao and the others to search for an opportunity to escape. On the one hand, it was to leave an out to prevent any accidents. On the other hand, it was to train the team members’ senses and judgment in such an environment.

As for why she didn’t tell Zennaga and the other Enlightened about their strange encounters over the past few days, it was because the Old Task Force knew too much. It was easy for there to be no secrets when facing Mind Reading. When the time came, Zennaga might only request that they stay for a longer period, but the others might silence them.

Bai Chen thought carefully and agreed with her team leader. “Yes, the real opportunity should be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.”

When the time came, First City might devolve into chaos. Zennaga would also lose the justification for imprisoning the Old Task Force.

Shang Jianyao retracted his gaze regretfully, walked to the bed, and sat down.

After about 15 minutes, they heard footsteps approaching.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The knocking echoed in the room.

It was the young monk, Danro—who had previously been in charge of delivering and retrieving the food and cutlery.

Danro pressed his palms together and chanted a Buddhist proclamation. “Patrons, please follow me to the square at the back to wait. This is a joint decision made by the Enlightened. Don’t worry; most of the monks in the temple will also be waiting in the square.”

“What happened?” Long Yuehong blurted out. The unrest is about to begin?

Danro shook his head. “I’m not too sure either, but this happens a few times a year.”

At this point, he lowered his voice. “Rumor has it that the devil sealed on the seventh floor has its powers restored to its peak periodically, and it will affect all the monks in the building. The Enlightened have to cooperate with the Buddha’s Nirmanakaya to suppress it, so they can’t divert their attention to take care of us. They can only make all of us hide in the square temporarily.”

“I see…” Jiang Baimian nodded.

This statement made her afraid of insisting on staying in Sikhara Temple.

She glanced at Shang Jianyao, Bai Chen, and Long Yuehong respectively, indicating that they should pay attention to their surroundings and not be led to the seventh floor.

Then, Long Yuehong loosened the ropes around Garibaldi and helped him up. After that, they followed the young monk—Danro—all the way down to the square where the cremation furnace stood.

The night was dark—the street lamps in the square couldn’t illuminate everything.

Jiang Baimian and the others walked to the center of the square, turned around, and looked at Sikhara Temple.

In this seven-story building, many of the rooms were still lit with yellow lights.

Suddenly, the lights shook.