Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 726: Real and Fake

Translator: CKtalon

“You mean that there’s something strange about this city ruin?” Long Yuehong could decipher what the calm and rational Shang Jianyao was trying to express in a relatively easy manner.

Shang Jianyao smiled. “I’m just giving a simple analysis of the city ruin’s current situation and its geographical location.”

“Yes.” Jiang Baimian nodded slightly. “It’s been almost 70 years since the Old World was destroyed. Such unexplored ruins definitely have their own uniqueness. Swamp Ruin 1 is located in the Great Swamp, so it’s very difficult to find it. Wasteland Ruin 13 is being watched by First City’s troops, preventing anyone from entering.

“Relative to them is Ruin 9 of the Blood Wilderness. Although it’s filled with danger and many places are forbidden to humans to this day, a large number of Ruin Hunters still swarm over because it’s easier to find and because it’s not surrounded by any large faction. This resulted in a portion of the city district being ‘developed.'”

What she meant was that Tai City was located in an area that was open to every direction in Icefield. The Old Task Force had arrived at their destination without deviating from the roads left behind by the Old World along the way. The Salvation Army had also not sent an army here to watch over the area. The current situation was indeed worth pondering over; there had to be something strange.

It was still understandable if Tai City was located in an area with semi-permafrost deep in Icefield. Ruin Hunters couldn’t pass through the layers of obstacles and arrive there using the short summer, causing the city ruin to be well-preserved. However, the current situation violated common sense in any way.

Bai Chen deliberated and said, “Maybe it’s because Icefield is relatively short in season for human operations. After so many years, Ruin Hunters haven’t excavated much of the city ruins further south. They lack the motivation to continue north.”

“That’s one reason.” Genava analyzed the situation and said, “However, the probability is very low. This is because the further north we go, the fewer Heartless there are left in the city ruins. That lowers the danger level, allowing more time for people to spend exploring the north. The benefits are higher, and the risks are within better control.”

Winter was unbearable for humans and Heartless hordes alike. The further north one went in Icefield, the worse the situation became.

Jiang Baimian nodded and looked at Shang Jianyao. “What do you have in mind?”

She had always believed that there was a huge gap between her and Shang Jianyao when it came to imaginative ideas.

She was still considered a normal human.

Shang Jianyao smiled. “With such a large city ruin here and with the surrounding environment not considered nasty, why would so many Ruin Hunters who hunt and explore north pay it no heed?”

Pay it no heed… Jiang Baimian’s heart palpitated as she suddenly made a connection.

Shang Jianyao revealed a gratified expression. “You do remember.

“Namo Annutara-Samyak-Subhuti. Patron, do you still remember the anomaly in Building 4, Room 302 in the steelworks factory ruins’ Residential Zone 2?”

Not only Jiang Baimian, but even Long Yuehong and Bai Chen reacted instantly.

As Genava had never experienced it himself, he spent some time pulling up the relevant information.

Back then, Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian saw an ordinary ruin in Room 302.; they didn’t discover anything valuable. However, Long Yuehong—who was peeping in from the outside—saw two corpses lying on the bed. They were covered by a red blanket with the dragon and phoenix embroidering.

Finally, Shang Jianyao touched the small jade Buddha at the intersection of reality and illusion under Long Yuehong’s instructions and lifted it. This shattered the fake scene he and Jiang Baimian had previously seen and revealed the real situation inside Room 302.

When this matter was connected to Tai City’s contradictory phenomena, it naturally gave people a corresponding guess.

Long Yuehong—who was more enthusiastic than before—deliberated and said, “We entered the real Tai City, and Ruin Hunters saw the fake Tai City. There are no valuable items there, or it’s in a difficult-to-develop state, one that makes exploration pointless?”

Bai Chen made a guess as well. “We were able to enter the true Tai City because we brought special items that originated from a Buddhist Holy Land?”

As Jiang Baimian nodded slightly, Shang Jianyao smiled and took off his tactical backpack. “I think so too.”

Whoosh!

He found the Six Senses Beads and casually threw them by the roadside. He then picked up the small, lake-green jade Buddha and threw it to the ground.

Jiang Baimian also threw Chaotic Right Hand.

The scene around them didn’t change.

“That’s a little awkward…” The honest Shang Jianyao mocked himself.

Jiang Baimian looked around and thoughtfully said, “Maybe it’s because we’ve already entered the true Tai City. Even if we throw away the corresponding items, we won’t be under the effect of the illusion.”

She wasn’t so sure about the word ‘illusion’ because she still couldn’t figure out the situation.

“Then, what should we do?” Long Yuehong frowned slightly.

The rash Shang Jianyao immediately replied, “Continue forward and go to No. 1 Senior High School!”

That was the Buddhist Holy Land’s main body.

Jiang Baimian shot him a glance. “Retreat and re-enter. Let’s confirm the situation first; it’s better to be safe than sorry!”

“That’s right, that’s right.” Shang Jianyao didn’t realize that Jiang Baimian was refuting him at all.

Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and Genava had no objections to this.

After picking up the items on the ground, the Old Task Force members got back into the car and returned the way they came until they reached the broken belt.

Here, they could no longer see Tai City.

“Old Ge, stay behind with the Six Senses Beads and the small jade Buddha and wait for news.” Jiang Baimian’s choice didn’t allow for any doubts.

Genava was the only person present who wasn’t affected by items like the Six Senses Beads.

Not only did Shang Jianyao leave the Six Senses Beads and the small jade Buddha behind, but he also gave the Life Angel necklace and the Blessings from all Kalendarium to Genava for safety reasons.

“You have to take good care of them!” he exhorted sincerely.

The corners of Jiang Baimian’s mouth twitched slightly. As she handed Chaotic Right Hand to Genava, she set up the auxiliary chip in the biological prosthetic limb and got it to monitor her condition.

The four of them got into the car again and drove toward Tai City.

On the way, Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian maintained a high level of focus and used their respective methods to sense the changes in their surroundings.

More than ten minutes later, the distant scene made them fall silent.

Tai City—which had previously been ‘here’—seemed to have suffered a natural disaster akin to an earthquake. It had already been buried by boulders, soil, and rifts. Only some collapsed buildings were revealed.

Surrounding the ruins that were extremely difficult to excavate were swamps formed by flowing water, bottomless canals, and a dammed lake that could collapse at any moment…

Anyone who saw this scene would give up on advancing without hesitation and stop attempting to explore Tai City.

There were many city ruins in Icefield that were easier to obtain supplies from; there was no need to smash their heads against the wall here. The risks and benefits were completely disproportionate!

After a moment of silence, Long Yuehong said in a nearly raving tone, “There really is a fake Tai City…”

He was shocked to his core.

Room 302 of the steelworks factory ruins was only a building dozens of square meters tall. It was hidden and covered in illusion, so it didn’t feel that exaggerated.

Now, in front of the Old Task Force was a city that once had more than a million people living in the Old World. It had actually been separated into reality and illusion!

Shang Jianyao’s expression gradually turned excited. “What will happen if we don’t stop the car and continue driving toward the gorge ahead?”

“Don’t court death.” Jiang Baimian stopped him concisely. She took a deep breath and said, “Let’s try a few more times and confirm what items can allow us to enter the true Tai City. It might be useful later.”

“Alright.” Bai Chen retracted her gaze with some difficulty. Ever since she joined the Old Task Force, much of her past knowledge had been overturned.

After a few rounds of experiments, the Old Task Force confirmed the effects of the Six Senses Beads and the small jade Buddha. As long as they brought either item with them, the Old Task Force could enter the true Tai City. The premise was that they were less than 50 meters away from these two items.

“How magical…” Long Yuehong ended the attempt today with this sentence.

At this moment, the five Old Task Force members were sitting in the jeep and slowly walking along the carless street of the true Tai City.

Genava’s blinking red eyes looked at Jiang Baimian. “Where are we going next?”

Jiang Baimian had a plan in mind. “Let’s find a city map nearby first. Then, we’ll go to Harbour Homeland, No. 1 Senior High School, and Renhui Hospital one after another.”

She had ranked them according to the danger level. Harbour Homeland was where Fan Wensi and Li Jinlong used to live, so it definitely had the fewest secrets. No. 1 Senior High School was clearly a Buddhist Holy Land, and Renhui Hospital involved the vegetable volunteers.. It was the most dangerous place.