Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 731: Planning

Translator: CKtalon

In midair, Shang Jianyao stretched his arms as if he were a giant bird in flight. He didn’t mind that he would really fall to his death from being ‘pushed’ off the rooftop for no reason. He was abnormally certain with a heart of steel.

Genava—who was originally worried that Shang Jianyao’s scream would attract attention—had already stretched out his left hand and planned on covering his mouth. He also sighed with emotion in the main chip.

Even if he was ‘acting,’ it couldn’t hide the fact that Hey was a mental patient!

With Shang Jianyao’s cooperation and Genava’s meticulous selection of lesson time and a relatively hidden corner, the two of them didn’t attract anyone’s attention as they ‘proceeded’ down.

In such a surreal scene, Genava didn’t want to attract the attention of others because of Shang Jianyao’s ‘jump’ and ‘flight.’ This might very well bring about an unknown and dangerous accident.

After firmly landing, Genava continued carrying Shang Jianyao by his back. He sneaked along the outer walls of the teaching building and the office building toward the door.

He sometimes straightened his body and pressed his back against the wall to avoid the gazes of the people passing by in front of him. Sometimes, he squatted behind the flower bed to hide his figure.

Although the teachers, students, and school employees in this high school couldn’t see him, they could discover Shang Jianyao’s abnormality!

At this moment, Shang Jianyao acted as if he had obtained superpowers. He completely ignored the situation of him being lifted by an invisible object and staying suspended in midair. He spread his arms, flailed his feet, and started doing freestyle swimming.

After he ‘swam’ to the automatic extendable gate, Genava exerted strength with his arm and threw him outside.

Shang Jianyao—who had suddenly flown up—calmly adjusted his condition and did the action of a triple Axel jump. His posture left an impression, and the scene was beautiful.

Bang!

He failed to complete the last half of the spin and fell to the ground, eating dirt.

The high-schooler Shang Jianyao—whose focus was to study—wasn’t Pangu Biology employee Shang Jianyao, who had plenty of combat experience. Therefore, it was difficult for him to complete relatively difficult tasks with his body and lacking skills.

The next second, Genava—who had jumped over the gate before the guard could look over—picked up Shang Jianyao again and ran to the side.

He soon ran 400 to 500 meters away and distanced himself from Tai City’s No. 1 Senior High School.

When he turned around, Genava saw that the school had become dilapidated again. It was overgrown with weeds and dead silent.

“Wow!” Shang Jianyao turned his head with difficulty and looked behind. “Robot!”

“Hey! I’m Old Ge!” Genava put down his companion.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao’s clothes had returned to normal. He was no longer wearing an ancient school uniform with blue and white colors.

His tactical backpack was still on his back.

“Old Ge…” Shang Jianyao had a confused expression, but he seemed to recall something.

Although Genava had never personally cracked abilities like Inference Clowning and Thought Implantation, he had watched their combat training many times and felt that it was somewhat similar to the current situation. Therefore, he mimicked the situation and tried to shake him out of it. “You’re Shang Jianyao, a member of Pangu Biology’s Investigation Unit for the Cause of the Old World’s Destruction! I’m your companion, Genava!”

Shang Jianyao muttered to himself in confusion, “I’m Shang Jianyao…”

Before he could finish his sentence, his eyes lit up as he came to a realization. “The me today isn’t the one you know!”

Genava instantly felt deflated.

Shang Jianyao smiled brightly. “Old Ge, I’ve already recovered. I was just joking.”

His expression gradually turned serious as his right hand unconsciously stroked his chin. “It was as if a complete, logical, and self-consistent train of thought had been implanted in me just now. It made me sincerely believe that I was a student from Tai City’s No. 1 Senior High School. I had excellent grades and was great at sports, but I liked to mix around with the bad students. I had a mischievous personality, was audacious, and dared to prank anyone. Uh, I added the latter half of the sentence myself. That set of logic doesn’t include that. Due to my personality and experience, I subconsciously gained the self-awareness that I’m ‘audacious and dared to prank anyone.'”

Genava quickly extracted the key points. “It’s very similar to Thought Implantation—a higher, more terrifying, and complete Thought Implantation?”

“I think so. It might also be a Personality Implantation.” The calm and rational Shang Jianyao was very restrained and clear-headed. He didn’t believe that his guess was definitely right.

Genava helped him finish his sentence. “Thought Implantation and its similar abilities belong to Master Zhuang. The influence on one’s personality lies in the Last Man domain. Buddhism’s Lokeśvara-Tathāgata is another name for the Kalendaria, Master Zhuang. Tai City’s No. 1 Senior High School is one of Buddhism’s Holy Lands…”

When he listed the situations he was aware of, the answer seemed vaguely obvious.

The rash Shang Jianyao blurted out, “Is Tai City’s No. 1 Senior High School related to the Kalendaria, Master Zhuang? All humans who enter will have a complete set of thoughts implanted in them and act as a certain person?”

Genava moved his metal neck up and down. “The premise is that what you encountered was indeed an ability related to Thought Implantation.”

The honest Shang Jianyao scoffed. “Since it’s a Buddhist Holy Land, we can definitely only choose between Master Zhuang and Subhuti. The encounter just now doesn’t have the characteristics of the Subhuti domain.”

“Not necessarily,” the honest Genava replied. “What if it’s a divine power related to Destiny Reincarnation? How do you know that you don’t have a previous or previous-previous life? And how do you know that you didn’t study at Tai City’s No. 1 Senior High School in your previous and previous-previous life?”

The honest Shang Jianyao didn’t admit defeat. He pointed at Tai City’s No. 1 Senior High School and said, “It’s impossible that the four of us studied here in our previous lives, right? How can there be such a coincidence!?”

“Maybe it’s because you guys studied here in your previous lives that you met in this life, became teammates, and were chosen by certain Kalendarium.” Genava combined reality and preached the Buddhist Dharma.

Shang Jianyao was immediately overwhelmed by shock. “Old Ge, when did you join the Monks Conclave? You’re more like a monk than our Zen Master Redemption!”

“I’m being pragmatic. This possibility can’t be ruled out,” Genava replied seriously.

The Shang Jianyaos pushed out the one who valued relationships.

He looked at Tai City’s No. 1 Senior High School and said, “We have to save Big White, Little White, and Little Red as soon as possible. I’m afraid that they will completely assimilate with their characters if they stay inside for too long and won’t be able to escape. As for the essence of our previous encounter, we’ll discuss it later.”

“Alright.” Genava agreed. He then said to Shang Jianyao, “Before figuring out the truth and grasping the corresponding principles, you might play a new role once you enter. It’s better for me to do it alone.”

The cautious and cold Shang Jianyao had no objections.

Genava then voiced his dilemma. “Bringing you out should violate the illusion’s rules, so the entire operation can’t be seen by other characters in the school. From my analysis, this might very well trigger an accident.”

“Here’s the problem.” Shang Jianyao—who sought novelty—smiled and helped Genava finish his sentence. “Big White, Little White, and Little Red aren’t like me, who will stay on the rooftop alone so that you have a chance to drag them away. How can you silently get them out?”

“Yes.” Genava sincerely said, “Especially Big White. Although she has entered a role and has the characteristics of a 17 or 18-year-old girl who likes to fantasize, I don’t think her essence will change much. Just like you—you will subconsciously follow your original personality in places that those thoughts can’t handle.

“Such a Big White occasionally feels like she has a fortuitous encounter, allowing her to generate these fantasies. There’s no problem with that. In any case, it doesn’t affect her physical health and lifestyle. But if we want to induce her to go somewhere or do something because of this, she will definitely be suspicious and vigilant. It’s impossible for her to do as we say.”

As a result, it was very difficult for Genava to avoid the teachers, school workers, and other students and bring Jiang Baimian out of Tai City’s No. 1 Senior High School.

The honest Shang Jianyao scoffed again. “That’s what normal people do except those like me.”

He was rather proud. He meant that normal people would be vigilant when facing the strange slap from behind. Only he accepted it without any vigilance.

He then changed the topic as his brain spasmed. “It’s easy for Little Red. Figure out the name of Little White’s role and use her to lure Little Red to the gate.”

“That’s my plan.” Genava also believed that this was the best way to ‘deal with’ Long Yuehong.

Shang Jianyao tersely acknowledged it, and his expression gradually turned cold. “Big White and Little White are indeed difficult to deceive, but we can create an opportunity to trick them or create an environment that’s conducive for you to use.”

The corners of his mouth curled up bit by bit. “A simple example is: Set that building on fire and fish in troubled waters to achieve victory amidst the chaos! Since you can make contact with people in school, you have the ability to start a fire!”