Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 753: “Casual Chat”

Translator: CKtalon

Shang Jianyao jumped up and shouted into the receiver from afar, “Why— Are— You— Looking— For— Me?”

He enunciated each word clearly. When he reached the last word, he had already run to Jiang Baimian’s side and taken the receiver.

The entire process was smooth and natural. It perfectly showcased his coordination, balance, running speed, and timing.

Jiang Baimian was first stunned before she understood and mouthed to Shang Jianyao, “Do you need me to add some special effects?”

This fellow was mimicking a scene from an Old World drama serial.

As Shang Jianyao smiled at her, he spoke to the person on the other end of the line.

After a few sentences, he put down the receiver and said in high spirits, “Director Su is looking for me.”

Director Su Yu was in charge of the Security Department.

“Why is Director Su looking for you?” Long Yuehong asked in confusion.

Shang Jianyao shook his head. “I don’t know either.”

Jiang Baimian deliberated for a few seconds and guessed, “You’ve already come clean that you are an Awakened. The price you paid is mental problems, so the C-14 project team’s tests and the psychiatrist’s evaluations will become unnecessary. The observation will probably be directly handed over to Director Su—who is also an Awakened and a board member.”

Professional matters were left to the professionals.

Shang Jianyao was stunned for a moment before he shouted, “No!”

“Why?” Bai Chen didn’t understand this fellow’s reaction.

Shang Jianyao had a disappointed expression. “It’s quite comfortable chatting with Dr. Lin. The canteen exclusive to the C-14 project team also has very delicious food.”

Jiang Baimian held in her laughter and said, “I can only say that I’m sorry for your loss.”

Shang Jianyao fell silent for a while before letting out a long sigh. “One has to know how to look forward. I wonder how the food at the board’s exclusive canteen is…”

At this point, his eyes lit up again, and he looked eager.

…

Underground building, fifth floor, Management Zone.

Shang Jianyao met Director Su Yu in Room 506.

Su Yu stood around the sofas and pointed opposite him. He smiled and said, “Come over and have a seat.”

At this moment, the guards in bionic artificial intelligence armor had yet to leave the room.

Shang Jianyao looked at the office area with a large wooden table and a black high-back chair and asked Su Yu in confusion, “Director Su, why don’t we talk over there? You can sit where you are, and I’ll just sit opposite the table. That seems more formal.”

Before Su Yu—who was wearing a gray combat uniform—could answer, the honest Shang Jianyao continued, “This is to show politeness.”

Su Yu—who was in his forties—blushed and coughed. “We’re just having a casual chat, not business. Have a seat. Have a seat.”

His thick eyebrows, large eyes, and square face—which was covered in pockmarks due to the elements—instantly returned to normal.

After the guards left the room, Shang Jianyao sat on the long sofa opposite him.

Su Yu smiled and said, “I’ve already read the report submitted by Old Jiang’s daughter. I want to hear you say it again—from your perspective.”

Shang Jianyao assumed a posture. “That’s a long story.”

Su Yu habitually wanted to say, “It’s fine; feel free to tell me.” However, he remembered this fellow’s usual behavior and suppressed that thought. He only smiled and didn’t say a word.

Shang Jianyao waited for a while before sighing regretfully. He then seriously recounted the Old Task Force’s experience from the steelworks factory ruins to Tai City.

Without a doubt, he depicted the version that Jiang Baimian had reviewed. The only difference was him emphasizing the small jade Buddha’s role.

This was rarely reflected in the telegram’s content in the past, but the report Jiang Baimian submitted also mentioned that the Old Task Force had only truly confirmed that the item obtained from the steelworks factory ruins was sufficiently special after the incident in Tai City.

As Su Yu listened, he nodded from time to time and said, “With that jade Buddha and the Six Senses Beads, you can discover the New World node even without the Life Angel necklace.”

At this point, he praised, “You guys found a way to deal with a New World node the first time you encountered one—by flushing it with high-intensity electric currents. Both your abilities and brains are indeed outstanding.”

Shang Jianyao became modest on Jiang Baimian’s behalf. “It’s just luck.”

Su Yu thought for a moment before asking, “Apart from that, what changes have you undergone?”

Shang Jianyao instantly revealed an ‘I won’t be sleepy if we talk about this’ expression. “When I encountered Master Zhuang’s dream in Tai City’s No. 1 Senior High School, I tried to sleep at the school entrance to observe the changes that would happen around my Mind Room.”

“What did you discover?” Su Yu’s expression unconsciously turned solemn.

Shang Jianyao smiled. “A room appeared out of thin air—102!”

“102…” Su Yu’s pupils slightly dilated as he muttered to himself. After a few seconds, he let out a long sigh. “So Room 102 corresponds to the Kalendaria, Master Zhuang. Apart from Yama Tiger, an Awakened from the company also entered this room and went completely crazy.”

As he spoke, he picked up the porcelain cup and took a large gulp.

Shang Jianyao curiously asked, “How can you be sure that the person also entered 102?”

“Every Mind Corridor-level Awakened in the company will report the door number they plan on exploring to the Board of Directors before the exploration of a new room. This way, there’s still a chance of being rescued,” Su Yu replied calmly.

Smack!

Shang Jianyao slapped his thigh. “I didn’t report mine!”

Su Yu was stunned for a moment before asking, “You entered a new room, a room that wasn’t given in the information? Before exploring the Mind Corridor’s depths, just follow the instructions given in the information and clear the psychological traumas step by step!”

As for seeking their own door that led to the New World later, that was a relatively private matter. However, nobody would easily attempt an unfamiliar destination unless they couldn’t find anything in the rooms mentioned in the information.

This was also the reason why he didn’t warn Shang Jianyao previously. Who would abandon the easy for the difficult?

Su Yu couldn’t help but wonder if he had underestimated Shang Jianyao’s mental illness.

Perhaps he isn’t just suffering from a split personality. There are other problems, or perhaps the split personalities like to go to extremes? Su Yu quickly speculated the reason.

Shang Jianyao nodded without hesitation. “That’s right.”

He raised his finger and counted them one by one. “522, 912…”

Su Yu listened in silence and asked with a frown, “You didn’t explore 102, right?”

“I’m not stupid!” Shang Jianyao replied truthfully.

This made Su Yu feel that he appeared relatively stupid for asking this question.

He organized his words and said, “Write up the general situation of those rooms later and submit it to me. Consider this a contribution. There’s a corresponding reward. Don’t worry; it’s definitely generous.”

Shang Jianyao didn’t hide his excitement. “Sure, sure!”

Su Yu took a deep breath and said, “You should’ve opened 102’s door and looked inside. What exactly did you see?”

Shang Jianyao didn’t hide anything and simply described it. “The dream in Tai City’s No. 1 Senior High School and a scene suspected to be the entrance of Linhe Village in Dajiang City…”

Su Yu listened very attentively. After discussing this matter, he asked in concern, “Are you alright?”

Shang Jianyao nodded. “We’re all fine.”

Su Yu wasn’t surprised and tersely acknowledged it. “Actually, the severity of your price will slowly deepen before you enter the New World; it won’t be too exaggerated. It’s the same even when you explore the Mind Corridor’s depths.”

Upon mentioning the power node deep in the Mind Corridor, Su Yu took the opportunity to ask, “How many rooms are you missing?”

Shang Jianyao assumed a posture of recalling and calculating. “In theory, one more.”

He was definitely honest.

“Not bad.” Su Yu nodded slightly. “It seems like you gained a lot from exploring new rooms.”

“It was alright,” Shang Jianyao replied humbly.

Su Yu reminded him, “Once you reach deep in the Mind Corridor, there are two major changes: The first is that you can separate your aura and create items yourself.

“The second is that if you grasp a certain person’s mind coordinates, you can open the corresponding passage and descend directly. This will also allow the chaos in your Sea of Origins to be restrained to a certain extent.

“There’s no qualitative improvement in strength.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao clapped for Director Su.

Su Yu’s eyebrows twitched slightly as he said, “Any questions?”

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and asked seriously, “Director Su, why don’t you organize Mind Corridor-level Awakened to hold regular gatherings to exchange thoughts, sing, and dance? This can effectively enhance team cohesion!”

Su Yu frowned. “The negative price of every Mind Corridor-level Awakened is relatively serious. If we forcefully gather them together, not only might they not be able to become friends, but it’s also easy to become enemies.”

Shang Jianyao nodded and laughed. “I thought of another reason. If we allow Mind Corridor-level Awakened to know each other and succeed in forming a team, it will be difficult for the Board of Directors to manage them!”

Su Yu’s expression immediately froze.

“Watch it. You will be silenced if you tell the truth!” The honest Shang Jianyao grumbled at his rash peer.

Su Yu undoubtedly heard this.

He rubbed his cheeks and smiled. “That’s about it for today. I might request you to go through two to three physical examinations in the future.”

“No problem!” Shang Jianyao replied firmly.

After he walked out of Room 506, Su Yu leaned back and placed his left hand on the armchair’s armrest. He looked at the air ahead and fell into deep thought.

At this moment, the door opened again with a clang.

As Shang Jianyao resisted the guards’ interception, he jumped up and shouted, “Director Su, I have another question! Can I have lunch in the canteen on this floor?”

Su Yu rubbed his temples and forced a smile. “Sure.”

Finally, Shang Jianyao quietly left.

Su Yu took nearly a minute to regain his composure. He gently patted the sofa’s armrest, looked at the air in front of him, and muttered to himself thoughtfully, 102…