Embers Ad Infinitum

Translator: CKtalon

In the sofa area of Su Yu’s office on the fifth floor of the underground building.

Shang Jianyao met the board member again.

“Why do you suddenly have something to tell me?” Su Yu picked up the porcelain cup and gulped down two large mouthfuls.

Shang Jianyao—who was Zen Master Redemption—didn’t answer immediately and asked in concern, “Director Su, the report I submitted was alright, right?”

Su Yu took out a tissue and wiped the water from the corners of his mouth and the sweat on his forehead. “It was excellent, especially that cruise trauma. None of us have experienced something similar before. It’s too special; it actually manages to ‘save’ the exploration progress. Furthermore, time jumps upon each entry.

“The fact that you can find the key and clear such a trauma is enough to indicate that your observation, inference, and judgment are outstanding.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao clapped—the honest him wasn’t modest at all. “I think so too.”

Su Yu was already accustomed to his behavior and smiled. “Such special psychological trauma involves the New World, and it has a certain value as a reference for the company’s powerhouses. We will reward you well. Is there anything you want?”

Shang Jianyao replied without hesitation, “Install a phone in my room!”

“…” Su Yu was stunned for a moment. “That’s it?”

“Yes.” Shang Jianyao nodded solemnly.

The Su Yu, who followed strict military doctrine, thought for a few seconds and said, “That’s not fair. Why don’t we get you a three-bedroom room that has a telephone installed?”

“There’s no need. We can’t decide on changing rooms ourselves,” Shang Jianyao explained in all seriousness. “I need to take my wife’s needs into consideration when I get married in the future. We have to consult her opinion.”

Su Yu asked in confusion, “You have a partner?”

“No,” Shang Jianyao replied smoothly.

Su Yu pressed, “When do you plan on having one?”

“After saving all of humanity!” Shang Jianyao’s tone was abnormally firm.

With a square face and a gray combat uniform, Su Yu could only understand this as a tactful rejection. He thought for a moment and said, “Make some other requests.”

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment. “Install a phone at Long Yuehong’s house, one for Bai Chen, and one for the room assigned to Long Yuehong and Bai Chen after they register their marriage.”

Su Yu laughed when he heard that. “You have something against phones, right? Alright, I’ll satisfy your request.”

He fell silent for a moment before asking, “Is the feedback you obtained from the special psychological trauma strong?”

The report Shang Jianyao submitted didn’t mention such content. Therefore, even if he hadn’t requested to meet Su Yu, the latter would have summoned him to inquire.

“You still want to talk about that?” Shang Jianyao had a look of surprise. “Isn’t it only about the exploration of those rooms? This is something that happened after the exploration ended.”

Su Yu maintained his smile. “You can choose not to answer.”

Shang Jianyao shook his head. “I can’t bring myself to do that.”

He paused and said before Su Yu could speak, “The feedback is about two to three times more than normal. There’s also the aura that threw the people on the cruise ship into chaos.”

He didn’t mention his additional gains or the Buddhist aura that had fused with the Six Senses Beads because it was unlikely that anyone would subsequently obtain it after clearing the corresponding psychological trauma.

Su Yu nodded slightly and said, “It’s about what I expected.”

Shang Jianyao drank a mouthful of cold water on the coffee table without standing on ceremony. “Director Su, do you have any research or relevant experience regarding these special psychological traumas?”

Su Yu leaned forward slightly and wiped the sweat from his forehead again. “What we can now determine is that special psychological traumas involve New World powerhouses and even a certain Kalendaria. The principle is that there’s probably an aura hidden in the target’s Sea of Origins or a projection of a New World node.”

After discussing this matter, Su Yu returned to the initial topic. “Why did you request to meet me?”

Shang Jianyao’s expression turned serious. “Director Su, do you still remember the Life Ritual parish?”

“Yes.” Su Yu nodded. “Why? Did you discover more clues regarding this parish again?”

Shang Jianyao replied seriously, “Yes. I suspect it’s them, but there’s no evidence.”

“Tell me about it.” Su Yu wasn’t careless.

Shang Jianyao—who had already prepared ten drafts—randomly chose one. “Here’s the thing. Through Long Yuehong, I found an employee who knows how to draw talismans and went to her to request a Babymaker talisman.”

Su Yu couldn’t help but ask, “I thought you don’t have a partner and don’t plan on finding a partner any time soon?”

Furthermore, it was clear that ‘any time soon’ would be indefinite. It was impossible to save all of humanity without centuries worth of work.

It was even more delusional to rely on three to four people.

Shang Jianyao nodded and replied, “I wanted to see if I could still have children after wearing the Babymaker talisman, even if I don’t have a partner.”

Upon recalling the other party’s mental state, Su Yu accepted this explanation.

“Then?” he asked.

“It doesn’t work.” Shang Jianyao had a look of regret.

Su Yu picked up the porcelain cup and drank a mouthful of water. “I’m asking how did you discover clues regarding the Life Ritual parish?”

Shang Jianyao came to a realization. “The employee who drew the talisman mentioned that her father—an old employee named Mu Renjie—suddenly suffered a myocardial infarction in the middle of the night five years ago while on the way to the public bathroom. He couldn’t be resuscitated. This old employee could draw real Babymaker talismans.”

“What do you mean ‘real Babymaker talismans?'” Su Yu always felt that Shang Jianyao was diverting his focus.

Shang Jianyao explained, “That employee didn’t know how to cherish what she had when she had it. She only realized how precious it was when she lost it. She no longer knows how to draw Babymaker talismans, so she can only make them up.”

“Is that so?” Su Yu thought for a moment and said, “There aren’t just one or two people who suddenly suffer from myocardial infarction. We’ve previously carried out a review. In theory, there shouldn’t be any problems with Mu Renjie’s death. But since there’s the Babymaker talisman, it can barely be considered a coincidence. I’ll get someone to investigate the employees on the corresponding route.”

He could easily do the math to know that the corresponding surveillance footage had definitely expired.

Shang Jianyao looked around and suppressed his voice. “Director Su, you have to be careful of moles. Didn’t the information leak out during the investigation of the Life Ritual parish, causing the key clues to be lost?”

He then pointed at the corridor outside. “The Doctor of the Church has always been watching us.”

Su Yu laughed involuntarily. “I won’t overlook this.”

Shang Jianyao clapped. He then inquired, “Director Su, does the company have a New World-level Arbiter of Fate domain powerhouse?”

This was the conclusion obtained from being able to sense the New World node through the Life Angel necklace after its change of aura—its usage hadn’t changed, but its effects were stronger.

Su Yu didn’t hide anything. “Yes.”

Shang Jianyao curiously asked, “Then, what does he think of the Life Ritual parish?”

“We never discussed such trivial problems with him.” Su Yu recalled and said, “But once, when he mentioned the various religions in the Ashlands, he vaguely said that different Kalendarium have different attitudes toward their believers. Some don’t care, some find it annoying, and some like it very much.”

Su Yu didn’t emphasize that the Kalendarium really existed because the Old Task Force had experienced Master Zhuang’s dream. They also suggested that the Old World’s destruction might be a result of the Eighth Research Institute’s forbidden experiments and that the source of the Heartless disease was most likely in the New World.

Shang Jianyao gave a terse acknowledgment. “Then, don’t disturb him with this matter.”

“Is there anything else?” Su Yu exhaled.

“No.” Shang Jianyao stood up and politely stretched out his right hand.

Su Yu stood up and lightly shook his hand.

“You still have a slight fever?” Shang Jianyao felt that the other party’s hand was relatively warm.

Su Yu didn’t answer and only nodded.

…

After returning to Room 14 on the 647th floor, Shang Jianyao roughly recounted his conversation with Director Su.

“Leave the rest to the company. We don’t have to worry.” Long Yuehong heaved a long sigh of relief.

Jiang Baimian smiled. “That’s right. What you need to worry about is the parent-meeting session and your marriage registration.”

It was still a day before Sunday.

“Yeah, yeah.” Long Yuehong suddenly felt a little nervous.

Upon seeing this, Bai Chen held his hand. “Will you give up if your parents aren’t satisfied with me?”

“No,” Long Yuehong replied firmly.

Bai Chen immediately smiled. “In that case, why are you nervous?”

Jiang Baimian felt a headache coming on as she watched. She quickly said to Shang Jianyao, “When you explore the psychological trauma in Room 506 tonight, focus on gathering information on the room owner and all kinds of other information. Only then can we guess what the room owner did and what mistakes he made back then to find a way to clear the psychological trauma.”

“Alright!” Shang Jianyao had always been interested in gossip.

…

In the Mind Corridor, in the psychological trauma in Room 506.

Shang Jianyao entered the Fourth Research Institute’s residential area again. He then casually found a lady who he found amiable and greeted her with a smile. “Good morning.”

When the lady in her thirties or forties revealed a confused expression, Shang Jianyao spoke first. “We’ve known each other for so long, and we’re all from the research institute. What do you think of me?”

He was using Thought Guidance, making the other party instinctively believe that he was a resident of the Fourth Research Institute’s residential area.

At this moment, everyone was present except for one person—Room 506’s owner.

At this rate, the lady in front of Shang Jianyao would most likely treat him as the other party.

The lady gradually smiled; then, she tip-toed and stroked Shang Jianyao’s hair. “Lass, why are you asking this question for no reason?”

The room owner is female… Shang Jianyao muttered to himself silently. He then smiled and replied, “It’s because I’m vexed.”

“Vexed over accepting which one? You’re too indecisive, but most young ladies are like that.” The lady smiled and consoled him. “When you Awaken later, you can use this as a price.”

Shang Jianyao smiled. “You also know about my Awakening?”

“Have you forgotten that I’m also an Awakened?” the lady asked in amusement.

Shang Jianyao’s heart palpitated. “Then, do you know much about Awakened?”

“What do you want to know?” the lady with a good bearing asked dotingly.

Shang Jianyao smiled and replied, “I want to know about the Arbiter of Fate’s domain.”

The lady in her thirties or forties thought for a moment before answering, “The Arbiter of Fate’s domain mainly affects the respiratory system and the heart. The known prices are limb paralysis, eyeball abnormalities, and…”

She paused and said, “There’s also chronic gastric problems and having a higher body temperature than normal people.”