ARIG Chapter 12 CHAPTER 50-53.2

Chapter 50.1 – Kala Snow Mountain (3)

Chen Jing suddenly realized that something was amiss.

Why is this person unaffected?

He asked: "Didn't you hear the sound?"

"Hmm?" Jiang Yujin took off his earphones and said, "I didn't hear clearly, could you repeat that?"

Noticing the other's gaze on his earphones, he briefly explained, "It was too noisy outside when I was trying to sleep, so I played some music to help me sleep." The earphones had excellent soundproofing.

It was only then that Chen Jing noticed this person had somehow put on earphones without him noticing. They were small, tucked into the ears, hidden beneath the hair, making them difficult to spot at first glance.

Some people always seemed to have extraordinary luck in peculiar places.

Yet those with extraordinary luck tended to seek excitement. Ultimately, the high schooler was defeated by the adult.

Accompanying the adult in defeating him were the shabby huts swaying in the wind and the hail pelting down on the rooftops. It was evidently not safe to stay here for too long. Outside was a hailstorm, and the only apparent path was the one the others had taken.

Stepping onto a path that seemed to shimmer faintly, the jingling sound of bells suddenly intensified. Chen Jing covered his ears with one hand while Jiang Yujin increased the volume on his phone with the other.

After crossing the hill, they realized how long the path truly was. The serene and tranquil road extended all the way to the foot of the snowy mountain. Beyond that point, it was obstructed by the rising mountain mass, making it impossible to see further.

The people who had walked ahead of them moved inexplicably fast and had reached halfway. A white sheep with antlers was leading the way ahead of them. Overhead, vultures, which shouldn't have been in such a place, began circling. Shielded from the wind, snow, and hail, they continued following the group below, seemingly unaffected.

As they reached a certain spot, the entire group suddenly disappeared on the spot.

Jiang Yujin said, "Oh."

Chen Jing frowned.

The path back had turned into a vast expanse of snowy wilderness, gradually vanishing. They had no choice but to keep moving forward.

As they neared the spot where the others had disappeared, their pace slowed. The adult was of no help; as long as he didn't wander aimlessly, it was considered helpful. Chen Jing cautiously scanned the surroundings. Suddenly, he caught sight of the previously vanished pure white sheep in a place that had been completely empty.

Their vision became a blurry white.

When they reopened their eyes, the scenery had completely transformed.

No wind, no snow, and no hail. They found themselves in a snowy valley with a river flowing nearby, a sparse forest of gray-green fir trees not far away, and a bright sun shining overhead.

It felt like another world—beautiful yet eerie.

The sunlight was mild, not intense, but it provided a comforting warmth. Despite this warmth, the snow didn't melt. There seemed to be multiple light sources here. They stood in the sunlight, yet no shadows were cast on the ground.

Both of them stood still for a few moments, with Chen Jing instructing the adult not to move. He climbed onto a protruding rock to look into the distance.

This seemed to be the base inside the snowy mountains. A river ran through it, with sparse firs on the mountainside, followed by thick snow further up.

The people who had vanished moments ago were not here. Perhaps they had gone elsewhere.

Ever since encountering the sheep with antlers, things had started to become bizarre. Now, it was certain that this place had strange species. The world they were in might have been provided by these strange species, perhaps a fortunate fragment preserved when the Game collapsed. There were numerous snowy mountain dungeons in the game; it was hard to confirm which one this was. But it was evident that an strange species capable of sustaining such a world was undoubtedly powerful.

Chen Jing glanced at the person beside him, momentarily unsure whether winning a three-day trip was incredibly lucky or terribly unlucky.

The situation was currently complicated and hard to decipher, but Citizen Jiang seemed to be in good spirits, attempting to take photos with his phone, planning to show them to the uncles and aunties later. The elderly folks couldn't handle the high altitude, so they could only view the pictures on his phone.

Feeling the sun's heat, Chen Jing hopped down from the rock, putting his hat on the head of Citizen Jiang to avoid sunburn, saying, "Let's walk forward for a bit."

Some areas ahead were obscured by the fir forest, possibly hiding some clues.

Moving forward meant following the river. After rounding a large bend, the scenery suddenly opened up before them.

At the end of the river flowed snowmelt descending along the mountainside, a massive structure resembling a colossal wall blocking everything in front of the mountain. The extensive mountain range appeared abrupt, despite being snow-capped, emanating an air distinct from its surroundings.

Chen Jing remarked, "Let's go over there."

Jiang Yujin regretted the absence of an electric scooter here. After hiking for so long, it easily matched half a month's worth of exercise.

After an indeterminate amount of time, just before Citizen Jiang was about to call it quits, the two finally succeeded in reaching the foot of the mountain. Looking down from there, it was evident that there was a black dividing line at the boundary where this mountain range met the surrounding land. Outside the line was one place, and inside was another.

Jiang Yujin squatted down for a moment of self-rest at the foot of the mountain, while Chen Jing remained standing, gazing up at the snowy mountain. A tremor ran through Chen Jing as a sense of familiarity washed over him.

He had been here before, a long time ago. Among the numerous dungeons in the Game, he had been to a snowy mountain dungeon, where he had first aimed his blade at another person.

It had been many years ago, but every detail rushed back into his mind at the mere thought of it.

Exhaling deeply, Chen Jing turned and said, "Let's head up first."

He remembered the terrain here and knew the way up the mountain. If the Game's completion rules hadn't changed, he should find a way out. The storm and hail wouldn't last long on this side. By the time they exited, the weather should have returned to normal.

The snowy mountain dungeon was called the "Ice and Snow Crown," a large dungeon for two hundred players. No one knew who participated in the instance, only that the condition for completion was to obtain the crown, the ultimate boss's crown, or to defeat the boss.

Bosses in major dungeons were never easy to defeat, and the Ice and Snow Crown had never been conquered; instead, many had perished at its hands.

No one chose to defeat the boss; instead, they tacitly opted to claim the crown. The crown, though called a crown, was actually a woven grass ring made of leaf fragments. Someone had learned a more convenient way from others, saying that there were animals in the mountains with leaves on their heads, identical to the leaves on the crown. If someone completed the task, everyone could successfully leave the dungeon.

Back then, there wasn't any movement from the dungeon boss, but everyone who was still alive managed to leave successfully. Someone must have woven the crown in a place they weren't aware of. The other party acted too swiftly; they hadn't even grasped much about the dungeon before the game transported them out.

If there were no surprises, the animals with leaves on their heads probably referred to the white sheep they saw today, with the leaves being the leaf-like fragments on the sheep's antlers.

After walking and climbing the mountain, Jiang Yujin somehow found a tree branch to use as a makeshift trekking pole, walking uphill with hands clasped behind his back, looking like an elderly person.

Chen Jing glanced and reached out to assist, but he waved it off, saying, "I'm still young, not at the age where I need help."

Acting more like an old man…

…This person never fails to put on a show in such situations.

Chapter 50.2 – Kala Snow Mountain (3)

Ascending from the foot to the middle of the mountain actually didn't take much time. It was a gentle slope without protruding rocks, simply a continuous upward climb.

Continuing their ascent, they finally reached a place with thick snow. On the mountain's backside, a familiar jingling sound resurfaced.

Chen Jing immediately instructed the person beside him to put on the earphones again. Jiang Yujin complied without mentioning that his own earphones had run out of battery. Hands in his pockets, he appeared completely normal.

Struggling not to focus on the jingling sound, Chen Jing covered one ear and motioned for Jiang Yujin to stay put as he circled around to the mountain's backside.

The white sheep stood calmly on the mountain's backside, observing him without flinching.

Surprisingly, it was quite easy to pluck the leaves from the sheep's head. However, halfway through, the sheep showed no interest in staying longer, turning and departing.

It walked, and Chen Jing followed until he finished plucking all the leaf fragments, finally stopping in his tracks.

After walking a distance, the sheep turned back, realizing the person hadn't followed further. It waited for a while but then saw the person turning back.

The sheep's pure black eyes bore faint traces of dark red as it stared at the spot where the person vanished for a long time before continuing ahead, disappearing into the vast white snow.

On their way back, Chen Jing tucked the leaf fragments into the large inner pocket of his clothes, a place less likely to be compressed, a good spot to stash things.

They continued forward, and the scenery ahead gradually became smoother.

Yuxi—

On the colossal snow mountain, there lay a vast expanse of snow, extending endlessly into the distance.

Right in the center of this snow expanse was a black dot, starkly out of place. Exchanging glances, the two approached it.

Only upon getting closer did they realize the black dot was a monument, evidently crafted from stones found on the mountain, selecting a smoother-looking section of rock.

Carved onto the monument were crude inscriptions, likely done with a knife, bearing a name and a date. Judging by the name, it seemed to be a woman's monument.

Finding a monument in such a place was surprising, and after a brief observation, they found nothing else and moved on.

From the edge to the center of the snowy mountain, they encountered numerous instances of the antlered white sheep. The frequency of these encounters increased, and each sheep they met was predictably stripped of its leaves.

Jiang Yujin selectively ignored the high schooler's penchant for plucking leaves from the sheep, saying, "So many sheep here, huh."

Attempting to ponder, he remarked, "What do these sheep eat here, their own head leaves?"

He lightly tapped his right fist against his left hand, stating, "No, they can't reach their own head leaves, so they must eat the leaves from other sheep."

It seemed like he was thinking but not deeply. However, his words sounded reasonable and logical.

For every leaf plucked from a sheep, Chen Jing kept count, and by now, he had plucked leaves from five sheep. According to what he had heard in the game previously, only one sheep was left.

The frequency of sheep encounters increased steadily, indicating that the final sheep would arrive soon.

Indeed, the last sheep appeared—a slow progression down the snowy slope, each step leaving a distinct print, its bells resonating throughout the mountains. Once the leaf was plucked from this sheep's head, everyone, including those who had previously interacted with the sheep, would be able to leave the area directly.

The white sheep descended into the valley, momentarily disappearing from view. However, before it reappeared, the bell chimes, previously serene, suddenly turned urgent and chaotic, echoing as if urging for action.

Chen Jing instantly sensed something was wrong and rushed forward. As it was a snowy slope, there was quite a distance from the top to the bottom. He slid down directly, snow spraying high and obscuring his vision.

Jiang Yujin acted quickly too but instead ran to the edge of the slope, finding the best vantage point to observe.

Before the high schooler arrived, there was already someone at the base of the slope. It was the man who had run towards the snowy mountains alone earlier. He had actually ventured into the snowy mountain and found this spot. He held a intricately carved knife, stained with continuously trickling dark red blood.

The blood came from a lifeless sheep lying on the ground, its white fur soaked and the blood seeping into the snow underneath.

Accompanying the dead sheep were the leaves from its head. Apparently, the antlers relied on the sheep's body for sustenance, forming a complete unity. Before the sheep died, it seemed to be trying to draw energy from the antlers. The antlers quickly withered, turned gray, and the leaves on them instantly dried up, becoming brown, withered tree leaves that fluttered in the wind at the slope's base. Eventually, they were swept away and buried in the snow.

Just as Chen Jing arrived at the bottom, he happened to meet the silent man's red and bloodshot eyes.

Chen Jing felt his eyebrows twitching rapidly and sensed he might also develop those red streaks in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yujin observed from above for a while, surveyed the surroundings, then descended the gentle slope to approach the man at the bottom.

The man seemed not to have recovered from whatever he had done to the sheep. He was panting, and when he lifted his gaze toward them, there was a strong sense of resentment and bloodlust in his red-streaked eyes. After a significant pause, he finally spoke, asking, "What are you doing here?"

Surprisingly, he still remembered they were part of a tour group.

Jiang Yujin replied, "We followed the sheep here."

Then, the man slaughtered the sheep.

Somewhat surprised they had followed the sheep here and yet remained conscious, the man didn't inquire further. He simply stated, "We are all going to die here."

He seemed resigned to his imminent death, speaking calmly, displaying the acceptance of a person facing their end.

Jiang Yujin asked, "What do you mean?"

The man didn't hide his identity as a Player, mentioning the leaf crown, and concluded, "The only way out is through this sheep. If the sheep dies, we won't get out."

He thought he was the only one here and had never intended to leave alive from the start.

"Don't worry, leaves can grow back," Jiang Yujin maintained a positive attitude, saying, "By the way, do you know how many sheep you've killed?"

The man responded, "If I'm not mistaken, that should be the last one."

Jiang Yujin: "?"

Chen Jing: "…"

For a moment, it was hard to find words, but it was alright; Jiang Yujin could still keep the conversation going, "Why did you come here?"

The man's wrinkled eyes twitched at the corners as he replied, "My wife is here."

He had exited the Game, but his wife had been forever trapped within it.

The sheep acted as guides and deceivers, messengers for the king here. Every person they led became a puppet without a soul, compelled by the king to kill any outsiders.

Outsiders referred to those unaffected by the sheep's deception.

When he entered the dungeon, he got separated from his wife. Their last gaze at each other was as she followed behind the sheep, vanishing into the snowy mountains.

He chased after them, only to find her lying on the ground, still tightly gripping the knife in her hand.

She had turned into someone without self-awareness and attacked others, then was killed by others.

After exiting the game, holding onto the possibility that the dungeon might still exist, he had been to too many places, traversed too many snowy mountains, and finally, he had killed the sheep and erected the monument for her.

Chen Jing stood silently on the side without uttering a word.

Jiang Yujin glanced at the man, lifting his eyelids slightly.

The man, obviously not much of a talker, couldn't say anything more, bending down finally to say, "I'm sorry."

With a sincere apology, the man turned and slowly walked away.

Jiang Yujin and Chen Jing watched as his figure faded into the white snow.

Chen Jing withdrew his gaze, looking down at his own hands.

The man left, and the two remained standing in their places when a few figures appeared from behind the black mountain.

Jiang Yujin glanced up and saw the individuals who had previously disappeared now reappearing.

He recognized them, and the approaching individuals also recognized them, running over enthusiastically.

Jiang Yujin waved back warmly, while Chen Jing intercepted the overly outgoing person, pulling him back.

The people who came over enthusiastically locked eyes with them, and before they could act, Chen Jing swiftly struck their necks with a chop of his hand, causing them to fall one by one, only to rise again.

They wouldn't faint, only get back up to continue, and the only way to stop them was to let them perish.

As they charged, Jiang Yujin had already stepped back a few paces, watching Chen Jing deal with them repeatedly. He lowered his gaze and spotted a piece of rope peeking out from beneath the thick snow. He crouched, picked it up, and asked, "Do we need this?"

Chen Jing turned around.

Mahjong friends, along with a young couple, were tied up, still struggling on the ground.

Chen Jing casually clapped his hands, shifting his gaze away from the people on the ground toward the distance.

The Ice and Snow Crown was an S+ dungeon. S+ meant starting at S-rank, no upper limit. Someone had used a different, less risky method to pass the dungeon by taking the leaves from the sheep's heads. Relatively easier, but in reality, the difficulty of this dungeon wasn't low.

The possibility of crafting the crown might have disappeared, leaving only the option to obtain it from the king.

Looking at the person crouched down trying to communicate with those lying on the ground, he said, "Stay here and don't move; I'll be away for a while, perhaps a long time."

Jiang Yujin raised his eyes, slightly widening them.

Did this person consider himself as his father?

Chen Jing reiterated, "Be sure not to wander around."

Jiang Yujin nodded quickly, "Okay, okay, okay."

He agreed swiftly, Chen Jing remained skeptical, but eventually had to reluctantly trust him and walked away.

After a distance, he suddenly turned back, the people still crouching waved to him, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

The high schooler had completely disappeared from sight.

The person who was initially crouched on the ground lifted the brim of their hat slightly and began to search for a leisurely direction.

Chapter 51.1 – Kala Snow Mountain (4)

At the peak of the snowy mountain, atop jagged black cliffs, there was once a pure blue ice palace, with tall spires that soared and glimmered in peculiar hues under the light.

Looking up from the highlands of the snow, one could catch a glimpse of distant spires, yet between the snowfields and the palace lay a considerable distance, separated by near-vertical cliffs.

Jiang Yujin: "…"

Well, amending the earlier talk, today's activity might rival a month's worth of exercise.

Jiang Yujin lifted his foot and proceeded slowly toward the direction closer to the sheer cliffs.

The snowfields appeared to be the gentlest area on the mountain, devoid of steep rock faces and with moderate undulations. Yet, it was likely one of the places with the most fatalities; every few steps might reveal bones buried beneath the snow. It seemed serene but wasn't safe; beneath the seemingly thick snow could lie deep ice pits where a misstep could mean becoming frozen in ice, unable to escape.

Between the original position and below the sheer cliffs, lay numerous snow slopes, some leading directly into ice pits with sharp, elongated icicles. Those unfortunate enough to fall inside remained intact due to the extremely low temperatures below.

Upon reaching the towering base of the cliff, Jiang Yujin first glanced up at the staggering height, then decided to circle around this side first to explore alternative routes.

There might be a direct ascent, but it wasn't necessary and would only waste energy. Surely, there had to be a more comfortable way up.

The mountain where the palace stood resembled an inverted cone. It appeared expansive from above, but in reality, its lower circumference wasn't that wide; one could likely circle it within a short while.

This area was predominantly covered in grey-black stones, devoid of any passages or paths.

Jiang Yujin lowered his gaze, eventually stopping at a particular spot and crouching down.

At the meeting point of the white snow and the grey-black cliffs, there was a not-so-wide fissure in the hard rock, forming an arch that extended all the way to the snow-buried area. Pushing aside the snow revealed the fissure continuing downward. Glancing around, finding no handy tools, Jiang Yujin sighed; he had to manually shovel away the snow.

If only Yuan Sanshui were here; a little fire would melt the snow, or even stone manipulation would suffice. He was the expert in adapting to mountains and bridging gaps.

Soon, a large pit emerged on the ground, revealing a stone door hidden beneath the snow. Covered year-round, except for a small arched section at the top, the rest had turned a deep black, damp, and piercingly cold due to constant snow cover.

Pushing open the stone door released the musty smell of accumulated dust, somewhat choking.

Jiang Yujin stepped inside. The stone door led to a narrow passage spiraling upwards with stone steps ascending in a continuous loop. It was devoid of light, the only illumination came from various unidentified beams filtering in from outside.

Being a city dweller with the habit of always closing doors behind, Citizen Jiang casually shut the door and ascended the steps slowly. The steps themselves were unremarkable, but the wall on one side bore engravings resembling stone carvings. Over time, the images had blurred and gathered a layer of dust. Brushing away the dust revealed clearer details.

At the entrance, there were carvings of six slender-bodied sheep with long limbs and horns on their heads, unmistakably resembling the previously encountered sheep. However, due to the limitations of stone carving, the depiction of the horns lacked detail, and there were no leaves atop them.

Continuing up the stairs, human figures appeared on the walls—groups of people and individuals, seemingly depicting both collective and solitary actions. The sheep led them into a place devoid of cold. The newcomers held various weapons, advancing towards the flock.

Despite the unique appearance of the sheep, they were ultimately sheep and easily slaughtered by humans. The bodies of the six sheep lay on the ground, heads severed, with triangular symbols beside them—presumably, dropped bells. Before killing the sheep, the humans cut off their horned heads, realizing their uselessness and subsequently discarding them.

After the humans departed, a long-haired figure approached the flock. He removed leaves from his crown and placed them on the sheep's bodies.

The white sheep revived, convulsing on the ground, struggling to stand again. Their horns regrew atop their heads, sprouting tiny leaves.

The resurrected sheep departed once more, guiding the humans holding weapons. Some humans obeyed them, while others chose to defy, covering their ears against the creatures' will. Those who obeyed became faithful servants, pursuing and driving away those who resisted.

The subsequent murals depicted an endless cycle of humans killing each other.

This likely narrated the events within the dungeon, captured and documented in this manner.

Jiang Yujin continued upward, and suddenly, the entire staircase trembled. Years of accumulated dust fell, swirling in the air, coating everyone and everything. His clothes turned from black to white instantly, and then distant sounds echoed from far above.

Chen Jing directly climbed the snow mountain's highest peak from the sheer cliff.

It was physically demanding and risky, but it was the fastest route. There was still someone waiting for him on the snowfield. Judging by that person's character, he wouldn't wait for long. If he could return, he needed to do so as early as possible, the sooner, the better.

If he couldn't go back, he needed to at least find the crown of the king here and complete this level's mission. Despite the seemingly peaceful exterior of this dungeon, aside from the steep terrain and the extremely dangerous boss, all the sheep had been killed. There didn't seem to be much danger here, but something about the lighting felt off, warning that prolonged exposure might harm the human body.

Arriving at the highest level of this snowy mountain, looking down, everything below was obscured by clouds, making it impossible to see.

The ice palace appeared much grander up close than from afar. Viewing the palace from the ground was as awe-inspiring as looking at the snowy mountain from its base. The architecture was jagged and sharp everywhere, emanating a piercing chill that went straight to the heart.

Without much hesitation, Chen Jing proceeded directly towards the palace.

There was a courtyard in front of the palace, but it lacked any vegetation. Only ice-made streetlights hung, emitting a faint blue glow inside. On the central main gate were intricate carvings of slender sheep—two doors in total, one on each side. The left one had open eyes, while the right one's eyes were closed.

Footprints already marked the snow leading from the courtyard towards the gate, some deep, some shallow, all the way up to the entrance.

At the spot where the footprints stopped, a person lay on the ground. The man wore a dirty coat, one foot twisted in a strange angle, his face buried in the snow, blood staining a large patch of white.

It was the man who had departed earlier. He had wanted revenge upon reaching the king but didn't make it past the gate, dying just before entering the palace.

Chen Jing surveyed the area and realized the only passage into the palace was through the nearby gate. So, he approached directly.

As he got closer, he could distinctly feel the left sheep's eyes following his movements, and the right sheep's eyes slowly opened.

When he reached the spot where the man lay, the right sheep's eyes fully opened. The patterns on the gate started changing, seemingly slow but actually at a rapid pace. The faces of the two sheep gradually became three-dimensional, followed by their bodies, and their front hooves stepped out of the gate.

Though they were still sheep, they differed slightly from the ones seen before. They had no horns; their eyes were a misty, blood-red color devoid of any gleam. Consistently, they wore bells around their necks, but these were hollow bells—silent when moved.

After emerging from the gate, the bodies of the two sheep began to grow rapidly. They rushed toward him without hesitation, emitting a faint blue fire under their feet, which floated in the air. Wherever they passed, ice condensed, including the man's body, freezing everything in their wake.

Chapter 51.2 – Kala Snow Mountain (4)

Chen Jing pulled out a small knife he carried and stabbed one of the sheep. When he cut into its flesh, blue ice appeared inside the wound. Despite piercing the ice, as soon as the blade left, the wound healed back to its original state.

He dodged the charge of the other sheep, then moved in again. This time, he didn't use the knife. After retracting it, he ran towards the courtyard, delivering a swift kick. He broke a streetlight in half and grabbed the upper portion. The ice against his palm caused a stabbing pain, but he held on, forcefully molding one side of the ice into a sharp shape. Gradually, the ice in his hand solidified into a metallic piece, emitting a cold, sharp glint.

The white sheep rushed from the gate to the courtyard, leaving no gap between them. Just before they arrived, Chen Jing leaped from the ground, using the courtyard's fence as a propellant. He soared directly toward the two sheep, narrowly skimming over their heads.

The razor-sharp blade met the sheep's neck, slicing effortlessly. The sheep's body and head split in two, collapsing to the ground. Water began to emerge where the blade had cut, but before the ice and water could mix, Chen Jing dodged the other sheep, kicking the sheep's head further away.

One sheep temporarily couldn't rise, while the other, seemingly aware of the situation, its eyes darkened further into a deep red, charging more aggressively.

As Chen Jing dodged, the other sheep quickly changed direction, intensifying the blue flames underfoot as it lunged. He couldn't evade completely; and the side of his shoulder caught some sparks, which then instantly condensed into ice.

With one hand incapacitated, Chen Jing wielded the improvised weapon on his other hand, crouching as the sheep charged again, sliding under its body.

The sheep ran directly through the blade, splitting in two halves. The silent bell also cracked into two clean pieces upon impact.

As the bell shattered and fell, the sheep's body vanished.

Realizing what had happened, after dealing with the first sheep, Chen Jing turned and approached the other sheep, struggling to reunite its head and body. With a slight force, he pressed the metallic base against the bell, shattering it instantly.

Both sheep disappeared into thin air, and the ice that had spread around also vanished. Only the footprints of the man and himself remained on the ground. Even the previously frozen shoulder had returned to its original state, as if nothing had occurred.

Stepping around the man lying in front of the gate, Chen Jing pushed it open.

The interior of the palace matched the exterior in height, adorned with sharp and cold decorations. In the center of the hall sat an ice-blue throne, unadorned and naturally rustic, exuding a primal, oppressive aura.

Seated atop the throne was a person. Their light golden hair and robe draped down to the ground, a stern countenance, crowned with a woven crown. Slouched on the throne, eyes closed, resembling someone asleep.

Chen Jing surveyed the surroundings before cautiously approaching.

As he reached the center of the hall, the person on the throne opened their eyes, instantly disappearing from their original position.

The ice-blue eyes instantly closed in, and Chen Jing could even see himself reflected in them. The opponent moved swiftly, but his reflexes were equally quick. He quickly backed away before the opponent could grab his neck, causing his shoe soles to screech against the icy surface.

In the blink of an eye, the person in the center of the hall focused on him. The ice-blue pupils remained impassive, and a hand slightly emerged from under the royal robe.

In a silent moment, gigantic ice spikes erupted from the walls of the palace, converging from all directions toward one point.

The improvised weapon made from the streetlight in Chen Jing's hand swung around, deflecting most of the ice spikes. However, unable to cover every direction, one spike pierced his shoulder diagonally, drawing red blood that dripped slowly to the ground.

Quickly hacking off the ice spike and pulling out the embedded tip, he gritted his teeth, bearing the pain without a sound. Gripping the knife in his hand, he briskly approached the person still standing in the center of the hall.

The person with the crown lowered their hand again. The temperature around plummeted drastically; what was relatively mild became as cold as an ice cellar. It was bone-chilling, even moving joints became difficult, attempting to do so would only cause harm to the body.

While the other could effortlessly restrict most people's actions, there were always those unafraid of death—people who cared little for life, let alone their physical well-being. Chen Jing, feeling the difficulty in moving, threw the knife with force, momentarily loosening his hand joints, then stepped forward, running even faster than before.

The moment he faced the opponent, he realized the disparity between them—a chasm he couldn't bridge at the moment. Unable to defeat the opponent, he resigned himself to the idea of death, focusing only on reaching the crown before it happened.

Touching the crown was the ticket for the people on the snowfield to successfully leave this place. The tour vehicle should still be parked on the road by now. If all went well, someone would discover the missing individuals and the vehicle. Staying put would ensure the search party entering the mountains would find them.

It was probably unexpected that this person, looking frail and injured, actually harbored such strength within. The person standing in the center momentarily didn't react until the blade was nearly upon them, then swiftly dodged, shifting away from the blade's edge.

A strand of light golden hair floated in the air before falling to the ground.

After slicing off the strand of hair, Chen Jing turned around. A sharp ice spike came at him head-on, but he made no attempt to evade. The shoulder that had already been pierced once was injured again. His expression remained unchanged as he pulled out the ice spike.

Human potential truly seemed boundless. In these crucial seconds, there was no gradual change. The spike in his hand instantly transformed into a metallic appearance. With a slight twist, it aimed directly at the person who hadn't yet lowered their hand.

The spike was returned to the person with ice-blue eyes. A wave of coldness swept across their face, leaving a long gash beneath the blue eyes, instantly drawing blood.

Before the opponent could act, Chen Jing reached for the crown.

The moment his fingers touched the leaves, a chilling sensation ran down his spine. A massive force mixed with an icy breath surged from behind. Too late to turn back or react, a blunt pain struck the back of his head, causing him to lose consciousness. His fingers barely grazed past the leaves on the crown.

At the same moment of losing consciousness, someone caught his falling body securely.

Jiang Yujin, who had just arrived at the scene, stood to the side, wiping off some sweat. He hadn't anticipated being a step late, but at least he had made it.

The stairs leading up here were absurdly long. Initially, he enjoyed admiring the murals while ascending, but after reaching a point where the artwork became repetitive, lacking novelty, and he found himself dizzy from the endless staircase, he decided to take a break halfway up.

He never expected the high schooler to be so silent and yet so quick. Fortunately, the passage led directly into the palace, and he just made it.

Jiang Yujin raised his eyes to the person with the missing strand of light golden hair standing opposite him and asked, "Hello, could you lend me your big robe?"

He was referring to the dark red royal robe. He continued, "I want to put him down, but it's too cold on the ground. It's quite pitiful for such a little kid to sleep directly on the floor."

He tried reasoning, but it was apparent the other person wasn't listening.

After slightly dodging an incoming ice spike, Jiang Yujin's initially polite tone turned cold, "A heartless being, lacking compassion."

At that moment, it was unclear who was being more unreasonable. As the other party didn't comply, Old Father Jiang went straight for a grab.

Snatching the robe turned out to be relatively easy since the person with the blue eyes had never experienced someone trying to take the royal robe before. With a noble face but no experience in defending the robe, they couldn't protect their own noble robe in the end.

The noble robe felt quite exquisite, likely an expensive item, which pleased Jiang Yujin. He casually placed the person he held in a corner and intercepted the incoming ice spikes with his hand, taking off the red rope in his wrist.

The moment the red rope was removed, it vanished or perhaps fragmented into smaller entities. As the ice spikes emerging around the palace approached a certain area, they suddenly turned into a pile of rubble, scattered on the ground, unable to advance any further.

The drooping eyelids lifted slightly, and the light-colored pupils met the gaze of the person who, despite not wearing the royal robe anymore, still stood with an air of nobility. In an instant, the person wearing a plain grey jacket acted.

A tremendous noise echoed from the mountaintop, and a large hole appeared in one side of the palace, causing prolonged vibrations. Shards of ice floated in the air, refracting colorful light, incredibly dazzling.

The person wearing the crown was forcibly pushed out of the center of the palace and through the palace walls, rushing to the edge of the precipice, where they were pinned down, their entire head hanging over the cliff, feeling the cold breeze blowing from below.

Jiang Yujin firmly gripped the person's neck on the ground with one hand and chuckled, saying, "Stop with the petty tricks. Let's play for real now."

Chapter 52 – Kala Snow Mountain (5)

The person who had been firmly pressed down on the ground originally had sleek, compliant hair, now tousled. Their expression, once noble and aloof, couldn't be maintained. They struggled to raise their hand, then clenched it tightly into a fist.

Suddenly, massive ice spikes emerged from the ground, shooting skyward.

Jiang Yujin, half kneeling on the ground, stood up, evading the ice spikes, and before doing so, delivered a kick to the person lying on the ground, sending them flying off a cliff.

Below, on the snowy ground, nearly round ice pillars rapidly grew. The person who had fallen from the cliff stood atop one of these pillars, their light golden hair billowing in the wind blowing from below.

Amidst the radiant sunlight, snow began to fall from the sky. Snowflakes danced, continuously blurring the person's vision. Unexpectedly, the snowflakes felt like a burning sensation upon touching the skin.

However, this had little effect on Jiang Yujin. Clad in a snowsuit and a hat, only his face and hands were exposed. Ignoring the snow with extreme temperatures and the distance between the cliff and the ice pillar, he leaped, effortlessly spanning the seemingly bottomless abyss and darted toward the person with the light golden hair.

A strong gust of wind from below the mountain blew. The hat that had been firmly on his head was blown into the air, and his hair, almost the same color as the white snow, fluttered.

The person standing on the ice pillar immediately contracted their pupils, almost resembling vertical slits, and swiftly stepped backward.

"Remembered me?" As the other person retreated, Jiang Yujin continued to advance, smiling. "Didn't expect to meet again."

His voice carried a smile, yet it sent a shiver down one's spine for no apparent reason.

In an instant, there was an unusual sensation at his wrist, followed by intense pain. The person with blue eyes looked at the one approaching and their own twisted wrist, no longer hesitating, and leaped downward.

During the descent, their twisted wrist rotated, and a transformation began at the top of their head. Their two feet rapidly twisted and deformed, bones making an unsettling sound in mid-air.

The initially noble-looking person transformed into a creature with deer horns on the head and a lower body resembling that of a sheep. Compared to before, now it truly looked like a genuine strange species.

A creature with a human head and a sheep's body, known in the Snow Country's mythology as the creator god, named Badans.

This is its true form. In this most primal state, this strange species can unleash its most inherent abilities. Its limbs, slender yet agile goat hooves, kicked in the air. One after another, ice pillars emerged from below, steadily supporting the descending Badans.

Jiang Yujin descended step by step behind on the ice pillars, unperturbed.

As Badans ahead turned to look at him, with a forceful stomp on the ice pillar, the snow on the icy ground instantly surged upward, forming a thick, overwhelming heap. First, it soared into the sky, then converged together, fiercely smashing towards the person still walking on the ice pillar.

The coverage of the thick snow was vast, to the extent that there was no possibility of evasion upon its descent. The initially taller ice pillars were the first to be smashed by the thick snow, instantly fracturing and slowly plummeting.

The person walking on the ice pillar descended along with it, buried under the weight of the heavy white snow.

Badans stepped back onto the cliff atop another ice pillar, looking down at the snowfield, motionless.

"Where are you looking?"

A slightly hoarse voice came from behind. Badans turned their head, and all they saw was a sea of white. Not the color of snow, but of hair.

In the moment of turning, their head, which was turned away, was forcefully turned back, facing the snowy expanse.

The person behind Badans held the back of Badans' head tightly with one hand and jumped off the cliff with the god without hesitation. The descent was resolute, the wind rushing past their ears couldn't halt the other's action. The force on the back of their head didn't relent.

From this height, both would die.

…This is a lunatic.

Though Badans had realized this in their previous encounter, they hadn't expected this person to go utterly mad.

The person behind wasn't aiming to survive; Badans had to think of a way on their own. Ice pillars emerged once again from the snowy field. Their body collided repeatedly with the pillars, gradually descending with each impact.

At a certain height, the ice pillars rose again, but this time they were directly kicked apart by the person behind. They fell mercilessly from mid-air to the ground.

The impact from the fall was immense. Badans was buried headfirst in the snow, unable to breathe. Two of their legs were broken, kicking futilely in the snow, spraying it around, but to no avail.

The creator god of the Snow Country was born from snow.

Jiang Yujin looked down coldly at the motionless and silent figure, remarking, "Dying in the snow suits you."

Behind him, silently and swiftly, sharp, arm-thick diamond-shaped ice spikes took form and quietly aimed at him.

In the instant the entire person was pierced, the figure that had been crouching on the ground vanished from the spot. The ice spikes were too fast, impossible to retract in time, and brutally impaled Badans' back.

The ice spikes, numerous and sizable, melted into icy water upon impact. The back of the strange species lying on the ground was a mass of flesh and blood, with several noticeable holes, blood and ice water mingling together.

Squatting nearby, Jiang Yujin asked, "Still playing?"

Badans rolled over on the ground, blood oozing faster from the holes, staining the surrounding snow red.

"Playing," the god said, "I can't die here."

A blood-stained hand tightly gripped the wrist of the person squatting nearby, its eyes turning a crimson hue. "Let's play one last round."

The layer of snow beneath them melted away, revealing a deep ice cavern with no visible bottom. Both plummeted downward.

The final game was a gamble. There was an ice spike below in the ice cavern—any contact with it from this height meant certain death. The bet was who would encounter the spike.

The frigid air rushed past as the enormous ice spike at the bottom of the cavern came into view. Badans adjusted their position in mid-air, ensuring they were on the side without the spike, forcefully hurling the person they held toward the direction of the spike.

Then came a tearing, ripping pain.

Perhaps it wasn't metaphorical tearing; it was literal.

Badans lowered their gaze, seeing their own hand missing its palm, blood gushing out. The person at their side stabilized himself against the ice wall, then kicked the god directly.

The already rapid descent sped up further. The sheep-bodied strange species' pupils were fixed on the sharp point of the ice spike, enlarging within its eyes.

There was no time for any response, no chance for any action. The spike finally covered the entire pupil.

Jiang Yujin landed, gazing at the thing impaled entirely by the ice spike.

A fifty-fifty chance, which in reality was a hundred percent. He couldn't die right now, so the other had to die instead.

Watching Badans' eyes gradually losing their shine and the crown falling to the ground, the person standing by suddenly remembered something. Rushing closer to Badans, he shook the god vigorously. "Don't die yet!"

His hat flew off, and he hadn't had the chance to pick it up!

Even though he shook frantically, the strange species' pupils continued to dilate, possibly hastening its demise without any response to stimuli.

Citizen Jiang gave up shaking the strange species that could no longer withstand any touch, swiftly ascended the ice cavern, attempting to find his hat in the snowy expanse.

Near Mount Kala, the snowstorm and hail had ceased. The roads were once again clear, and people on the road encountered fallen snow heaps. They also spotted a vehicle hit by a tree on the roadside.

The vehicle, a camper van, held various personal belongings, including phones and wallets on top. Given the situation, they must have rushed somewhere urgently. Someone reported the license plate number and the name of the travel agency on the vehicle to local authorities.

Officials tried contacting the driver, the guide, and each tourist, but all they got were busy signals from outside the service area.

A search and rescue team mobilized and, guided by locals, arrived at some small sheds where a few people might have sought shelter from the storm. However, the sheds had collapsed. Underneath the collapsed sheds were scattered footprints, indicating that someone had indeed been there but had left due to the untenable conditions.

After an unsuccessful search in the vicinity, the rescue team's attention turned to the only place they hadn't explored—the Mount Kala.

Despite assumptions that with a guide and a local driver, they should have known it was dangerous to enter Mount Kola, it remained the only plausible place. The team geared up more professionally and ventured into the mountains to search.

The landscape in the mountains differed slightly from when they had previously rescued stranded tourists. There were too many things that didn't belong there, and sometimes they stumbled upon skeletons buried in the snow.

Eventually, they found several unconscious tourists on the slope's backside. Some were lying on the ground with long ropes nearby. One person was crouching. They assumed the person was also unconscious until, as they approached, the person lifted his head, eyes drooping, gazing at them.

After a brief moment of reaction, his eyes slightly opened, expressing surprise: "Finally, someone's come to rescue us."

It was a bit of surprise but not much—more like rehearsed enthusiasm.

The rescue team first checked the vital signs of the people lying on the ground, then asked, "Is everyone here?"

"Not all. Two are missing," Jiang Yujin said. "My son, and another male tourist."

He was advised not to wander. Skipping the in-between, he didn't exactly wander; he was adhering to the agreement by squatting there.

The rescue team inquired about the direction his son went, so he pointed in a certain direction.

Chen Jing was found about a kilometer away. Nearby lay what seemed to be another male tourist. Unlike the previously conscious or unconscious tourists without obvious injuries, these two had clearly experienced something significant.

The male tourist was already deceased, having been lying in the snow, making it challenging to determine the time of death. The other individual had a penetrating wound on his shoulder, and the snow around him was stained red, yet his vital signs were relatively stable.

The priority was to transport the injured person out. The rescue team reinforced, even borrowed a nearby civilian vehicle on the closest road. They transported all unconscious individuals. The only awake person didn't leave with them, eventually departing with the rescue team.

He was the sole conscious individual and was asked numerous questions throughout the journey, unable to find any time to play Xiaoxiaole or relax.

Citizen Jiang cooperated well during the interrogation, enthusiastically responding while selectively omitting certain facts. He mentioned a sheep appearing while they were seeking shelter in the sheds from the hail, leading them into the mountains.

He claimed he wasn't clear on what happened afterward. As he sent his big son to find an exit, due to hunger and cold, his consciousness faded. He only vaguely remembered waking up and seeing them.

It was a coherent story, and he didn't feel the need to lie. The others believed his words wholeheartedly, thanking him for his cooperation.

Citizen Jiang also smiled, expressing gratitude for their rescue.

When Chen Jing regained consciousness, his vision was blurry, and he saw an unfamiliar ceiling above him.

Gradually, his other senses returned. He smelled the familiar scent of disinfectant. Wanting to move instinctively, he felt a sharp tearing sensation.

"Awake?"

He first heard the sound of Xiaoxiaole before hearing the human voice.

Looking up, he saw someone sitting by the bedside, glancing at him while playing on his phone, his eyes rather busy.

Moments ago, it was a strange species in front of him. Now, everything had changed. It was warm and dry here, the sky outside the window completely darkened. Chen Jing couldn't immediately figure out what had happened.

Did he touch the crown?

But his memory seemed to lack that crucial moment of actually touching it.

Jiang Yujin spoke before Chen Jing could, "Where were you earlier? The rescue team was looking for you for a long time."

He threw out a question, and the high schooler could only pause momentarily to contemplate, unable to divert his thoughts elsewhere.

After listening to what seemed like a reasonable explanation, Jiang Yujin nodded in agreement, indicating he accepted the story provided. Then he asked, "Is it painful?"

He was referring to the wound's pain.

Chen Jing shook his head.

Objectively, it hurt a lot, but he was accustomed to it and could endure it.

Jiang Yujin immediately patted his head, "Nonsense."

In a conventional sense, the person in front of him was still a patient, but he didn't hold back at all.

Withdrawing his hand from the head pat, he seemed to recall something and added, "Everyone else is okay. The guide and the others are in good spirits, except the uncle who went to the mountain before us—he's gone."

Chen Jing lowered his gaze.

Compared to usual, the high schooler today seemed more reticent.

Jiang Yujin glanced at him, then went out to call the doctor.

Passing by the nurses' station on his way to find the doctor, the nurses inside were chatting, discussing the events on the mountain today.

Despite being keen on gossip, Citizen Jiang wasn't particularly interested in gossip related to himself. After calling the doctor, he didn't return to the ward but found a spot to play Xiaoxiaole on his phone. When he felt the doctor should be about done, he returned to the ward.

By the time he returned, the high schooler had finished changing the dressing, sitting on the bed in patient attire, gazing out the window.

He pulled up the previously used chair and sat down, engrossed in his game.

After a while, or perhaps a longer span of time, the person sitting on the bed began nodding, mechanically tapping the screen. The puzzle remained unsolved for quite some time.

"I think I've done something wrong."

Before the person holding the phone collapsed, the high schooler sitting on the hospital bed spoke briefly, then fell silent.

The person whose eyes were completely shut blinked in confusion, "Huh?"

Chen Jing lowered his head and looked at his hand.

The man's wife was the one he had killed.

In that snowy mountain dungeon, he encountered a woman who was mentally unstable and determined to kill him. She was skilled and swift, allowing no reaction time for each attack.

She held a beautifully carved knife, and in the moment the blade aimed for his heart, he redirected it, piercing the woman's heart. He had thought he forgot the feeling of warm liquid splashing on his face at that moment, but in reality, he remembered it vividly.

The man died there too, all for the sake of his wife.

"Well, that's good."

The phone almost slipped from the person nodding vigorously. He straightened up again, and Jiang Yujin adjusted his clothes, saying, "Knowing you've done wrong shows you're still human."

Chen Jing looked at him, and after a prolonged silence, he said, "Are you cold?"

This person had been wearing a hat and a windbreaker since waking up, never removing them, even putting on the hood.

Facing the heating in the ward, Jiang Yujin said, unperturbed, "Yes."

He continued, "The heating here isn't very effective."

The high schooler seemed somewhat skeptical but then appeared to believe him.

Yawning, Citizen Jiang left the ward immediately, saying, "Too tired, I'll go get some sleep. If there's anything, call a doctor, nurse, whoever, just don't call for me."

That was indeed something a good father would say, and the big son sitting on the bed watched the other person leave.

Considering the injured patient was a minor who was almost of age, the hospital, after some consideration, arranged a room for the adult citizen, who was also a victim. The room wasn't spacious but could accommodate a bed and a cabinet.

The person who claimed he was going to sleep didn't doze off immediately. He removed his hat and set it aside, sitting on the edge of the bed to send a message to the barber shop owner, once again kindly asking about dyeing his hair.

[You are not yet friends with this person.]

Chapter 53.1 – It's a lotus flower, not a water lily! (1)

Bitterly blacklisted, Citizen Jiang, in complete anger, put down his phone.

Unfazed, later that night, Citizen Jiang, lay alone in bed, heartbroken.

Chen Jing's injuries were severe, requiring an additional two weeks of observation at the hospital before being transferred to another hospital in A City for further recovery.

By the second week, as there were no relatives or friends to claim the deceased man's body, local officials, after contacting the man's hometown, ultimately decided to send the man's body to the funeral home for cremation.

On the day the body was transported from the hospital to the funeral home for cremation, Chen Jing stood by the window upstairs, watching the transport vehicle depart.

Down below, Jiang Yujin's entire figure was blocked by the hospital door. As the vehicle carrying the body left, he withdrew his gaze and glanced upward.

His first encounter with the high schooler was on the snowy mountain. The weather was decent that day, without a cloud in sight. Before his conversation with Badans atop the snowy peak, he saw someone standing at the center of the snowfield, not looking too old and not particularly tall.

A woman in the distance ran towards him, a sharp knife glinting in her hand, flashing briefly.

There were young individuals in the game, but this was his first time seeing someone so young and fierce.

The woman fell to the ground, her blood staining the white snow. The child had blood on their face, looking down at their hands before staggering away.

As the child moved along a snow slope, a figure appeared on the other side. It was a man's figure, swiftly running toward the fallen body.

The slender figure half-hidden behind the snow slope observed as the man picked up the woman's body and wept bitterly, then slowly departed. With deep black eyes, the frail figure seemed as if it could be swallowed by the vast snowfield at any moment.

Taking back his gaze, Jiang Yujin turned and left the hospital through another exit.

…

Calculating the time, Chen Jing hadn't seen Jiang Yujin for a long while.

This person had been relatively diligent in appearing at the hospital in the days leading up to the hospitalization, frequently chatting with doctors, nurses, and the cleaning staff responsible for maintenance. However, eventually, he seemed to have heard enough of the hospital gossip and sharply reduced his visits, sometimes not showing up for two days straight.

In summary, he was quite conscientious.

Jiang Yujin hadn't been to the hospital for two days mainly to return to greet the owner of the barber shop, deepening their already strong friendship.

Quietly, he made a trip to A City and returned, sporting a normal haircut, engaging in conversations throughout the hospital.

Two weeks later, the high schooler was transferred back to the hospital in A City, accompanied by Jiang Yujin in a car.

The day they returned to the A City hospital happened to be a Saturday. The high schooler's friend sent a message, preparing to visit, prompting the adult man to willingly step aside and take a stroll outside, waiting for his drained Xiaoxiaole energy to recover.

In the past, he had experienced this exact injury, just not in this specific spot on the shoulder. Chen Jing adapted well, and going by previous habits, he was already fit to be discharged for free movement. However, with Jiang Yujin involved this time, he refrained from making any extra movements, following the doctor's judgments precisely.

When Zhang Xin and Xiao Pang entered, the person sitting on the hospital bed was still bent over working on some papers.

Xiao Pang, holding fruits, was instantly drawn into conversation, exclaiming, "You're still working on homework like this?"

Chen Jing jotted down a formula and then looked up, saying, "There's nothing else to do around here."

If he didn't study, this family would likely fall apart. Considering the current sole adult's reliance on luck for work and his highly unreliable nature, he would undoubtedly become the economic pillar of the family in the future. If he didn't study, this family would probably struggle financially.

Zhang Xin and Xiao Pang pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought of someone, understanding something. Xiao Pang sympathetically patted Chen Jing's shoulder, earning an emotionless look from Chen Jing.

He had just patted the wound with his hand; fortunately, the high schooler had good self-control, so he didn't make a sound.

Zhang Xin placed a thermos on the table and said, "This is chicken soup my mom made. I tasted it, and it's quite good."

Xiao Pang's fruits were freshly picked from their family's orchard.

After they came out of the Game, they were taken to a shelter, where they spent some time. Later, upon receiving information, their families traveled across half the city to bring them back, and since then, they had been living with their families.

They all had happy families, and their continued investigation of strange species was for the sake of their families. The Game collapsed, strange species appeared in the real world incessantly, and although their families might not have been affected by the strange species yet, life is long, and if the strange species persisted, there would always be risks.

There had to be a reason behind the continuous emergence of strange species in the Game. To thoroughly resolve the strange species issue, merely dealing with the existing strange species wouldn't suffice. The root cause behind them needed to be identified and resolved.

They spent a considerable time in the Game and encountered those at the top of the leaderboard. Though their time together was brief, they had a clear understanding of these top players. These individuals had transcended the realm of ordinary people.

In the Game, they were more like real players than survivors, a likeness that extended to real life. Their focus was predominantly on absolute self-interest. Most strange species didn't disrupt their lives. They didn't engage in thankless tasks for others or show interest beyond themselves. Those individuals had lost the curiosity and interest in investigating what lay behind the Game.

Before being taken away by their families, they spent a period of time in the shelter. During this time at the shelter, they became acutely aware that organizations like the Special Investigations Unit, driven by their own agendas, various considerations, and entangled interests, were inclined to eliminate strange species after their appearance and sweep anti-social organizations after their emergence. They were not inclined to invest significant manpower, resources, and finances in possibly futile pursuits of an elusive cause—one that might not have a feasible solution even if found. Instead, such pursuits tended to create internal panic, disrupting the relatively stable atmosphere painstakingly established after the emergence of strange species.

After they started taking action, as far as they knew, there were already many top-secret files in the SIU, which had not been opened since they were archived. This strongly indicated their stance.

But someone had to seek the reason. The top players in the Game didn't, nor did the SIU. So, it was up to them. Just like the top players, they didn't have some grand idea of protecting the world. They wanted to solve the problem at its root because their families lacked the ability to protect themselves from the strange species.

Xiao Pang and Zhang Xin were driven by their families' safety. Chen Jing had been working alongside them but had never disclosed his reasons for doing so.

Everyone had their thoughts, and if the other party didn't say anything, they wouldn't ask.

Xiao Pang consciously grabbed a chair and sat down, observing the ward for a week before asking, "How's Uncle doing?"

Chen Jing paused his writing and replied, "He's out for a walk. His energy in the game ran out."

Zhang Xin took a bite of the fruit Xiao Pang brought and nodded in agreement.

It was safe to say it aligned with the other person's character.

Xiao Pang helped to open the thermal bucket brought by Zhang Xin. Underneath, there were exactly three bowls for the chicken soup. He poured out the chicken soup while saying, "In E City, someone claimed to have seen a person with markings on their face again. It's a one-eyed man."

The SIU couldn't retrieve any information. Maybe even 001, who might have known something, couldn't be found. Their only current lead is an organization called Zero.

Zero used to hide well. At least, their previous search efforts failed to find any news about Zero. But recently, it seemed like they suddenly became more noticeable. Several incidents related to them emerged instantly, one after another. Starting from the previous person with a marked face, this was the second person walking the streets without concealing the markings on their face.

There must be a reason behind this abnormal behavior. Perhaps the other party had something new or obtained something, giving them the audacity to flaunt. What they needed to understand was whether the things the other party obtained had any connection to what they were investigating.

Chapter 53.2 – It's a Lotus, Not a Water Lily! (1)

Zhang Xin sipped the soup and said, "I've had time these past two days."

Earlier, she had accidentally injured her hand. Her parents thought she encountered a strange species, causing them great distress. They picked her up from school every day, and she couldn't refuse. So, for quite some time, she couldn't find anything substantial. Most of the work was done by Xiao Pang. Now, her parents were finally a bit more at ease, giving her the chance to continue.

"I'm available these two days too," Xiao Pang munched on fruit, looking at Chen Jing, "You probably can't go these few days, right?"

After all, he was hospitalized. An adult would probably check in from time to time. If he escaped the hospital, he wouldn't stay hidden for long.

With chicken soup and fruit in hand, a brief discussion felt like a casual chat.

Chen Jing said, "I have time, as long as I return before the doctor's rounds."

Just before the arrival of the two people in front of them, the adult man received a phone call. The caller claimed to be from the community committee, inviting him to the neighboring city to see the lotus flowers. They used the gossip from his absence as bait.

Citizen Jiang immediately took the bait without hesitation, readily agreeing and completely forgetting the words he once said on his way back from the Kala Snow Mountain that he didn't want to go out to the city for another six months.

Some people are easily deceived.

"Oh, by the way," Xiao Pang said, "During this hospital stay, did Uncle notice anything unusual?"

Although he already knew the other person wasn't of an age suitable for being called "Uncle," especially after seeing the photos on the wall of No.6 Middle School, he couldn't shake off the habit after saying it out loud.

Chen Jing shook his head. When the doctor mentioned the numerous old and new injuries on him, he nodded continuously, slowly responding, "It's normal for kids to get injured from time to time." Seeing he was too exhausted to speak further, the doctor didn't press on, letting the matter pass.

The easygoing person remained stable in the hospital.

After a brief sigh, Zhang Xin and the two others arranged the time for their next meeting.

Jiang Yujin stopped halfway through his walk. His Xiaoxiaole friend, Xu Tonggui, had generously sent him some precious energy, sparing him from wandering around to kill time.

His Xiaoxiaole friend was still working hard today, too busy to message, and only managing to spare some time to give him Xiaoxiaole energy. Even amidst the busyness, their spirit was admirable.

Compared to the busy Xu, the slacker in the team appeared much more relaxed, occasionally sharing gossip, easily recognized as the expert slacker.

Playing Xiaoxiaole while replying to messages, until his energy ran out, Jiang Yujin chose to head home between the hospital and returning home to take a shower, preparing for the gossip fest tomorrow.

At home, it was just him and the goose. He left the TV on for the goose and went to his room to gather things needed for viewing the lotus flowers.

Firstly, a fully charged phone, and secondly, another fully charged phone.

Realizing there was nothing much to prepare, Jiang Yujin laid on the sofa, watching TV with the goose.

The next morning, he was awakened by a cheerful uncle's phone call.

His eyes were open, yet his soul hadn't fully awakened. Hearing the deep voice across from him, he wasn't even sure what he replied. When he regained clarity, the phone call had ended. His friend's neighbor had sent a location, mentioning it as the meeting point, and thoughtfully noted the departure time.

The departure time was less than ten minutes away from now.

Jiang Yujin hurriedly left his house at the fastest pace in his life.

There were quite a few seniors from the community going to see the lotus flowers. They had rented a large bus, which quickly transported everyone.

By the time he arrived, it was too late; there was already a crowd around the expert gossiper, forming a center of gossip. He had arrived late and could only sit on the outskirts of the gossip circle. Considering it was an activity for self-cultivation like viewing lotus flowers, glancing around the bus, Jiang Yujin felt he might be the youngest one on board.

—There was an unexpected encounter. In a corner of the bus, Citizen Jiang, spotted the barbershop owner from downstairs. Unable to smoke inside the vehicle, the barbershop owner was restlessly gazing out the window.

The sadness of not finding a spot in the central gossip circle was instantly diluted. Jiang Yujin stepped forward, casually took a seat beside the barbershop owner, and greeted him with a smile, "A morning without smoking is quite wonderful, isn't it?"

The barbershop owner glanced at him.

Before the barbershop owner could respond, Jiang Yujin preemptively reminded him, "Open flames are prohibited inside the bus."

The barbershop owner remained silent. Jiang Yujin continued, "How come you're here?"

It was evident the barbershop owner had been pulled along by a regular client who frequented the shop. The bus was already rented, and if there were empty seats, it felt like a disadvantage.

The journey to the neighboring city turned out to be the golden age of gossip. Although he was a bit distant from the central gossip circle, Citizen Jiang was fully absorbed in listening.

The barbershop owner looked at him with a familiar disdain that wasn't masked in the slightest.

The neighboring city boasted the largest lotus pond in the entire area. Even though the local community members who came to see the lotus flowers were mostly middle-aged and elderly, in reality, the lotus pond attracted visitors of all ages. There were quite a few young people and even children who had come to witness the beauty of the lotus pond.

For their side, the real peak blooming season for the lotus flowers hadn't arrived yet. However, after a recent rain, the lotus flowers in this pond had begun to bloom sporadically since one early morning. It had become the only place in the entire nearby area where one could currently appreciate the lotus flowers.

The moment Jiang Yujin stepped off the bus, he noticed the barbershop owner had disappeared for a while, then returned. Judging by the expression on the barbershop owner's face, he guessed the barbershop owner probably hadn't found a designated smoking area.

The lotus flowers in the pond were far more beautiful than the emotionless face of the barbershop owner. Jiang Yujin chose to capture images of the pond, meticulously selected the best ones, and sent them to his big son who was in the hospital, adding a note: "[Wishing you] Good luck and happiness always, like the lotus."

Putting away his phone, Jiang Yujin remarked, "Young people should appreciate these sights. Pretty, isn't it?"

The barbershop owner chose to remain silent.

Without the barbershop owner's support, Jiang Yujin redirected the images to his gossip buddy and Xiaoxiaole friend, who was presumably still working.

The gossip buddy replied with a confused emoji, while the Xiaoxiaole friend was indeed busy at work and hadn't responded.

With no one appreciating the beauty of the lotus flowers, Jiang Yujin regretfully set his phone aside.

Although named a pond, the lotus area was vast and expansive. Even after walking a long way, there seemed to be no end in sight.

As he proceeded further, the number of people increased. Individuals by the roadside were straining to see something. As he neared the end, the lotus leaves and flowers, taller than human heads, appeared.

Truly towering. Jiang Yujin stood and gestured, realizing the leaves were taller than himself. With a gust of wind, the leaves and flowers swayed, and a lotus flower bent down, landing perfectly on his head.

The barbershop owner's mood improved, but Jiang Yujin was adamant about not getting closer to the lotus flowers.

Trying to ignore the visibly improved mood of the barbershop owner, Jiang Yujin leaned in and said, "Old Yuan, why don't we just roast these lotus flowers?"

It was a suggestion driven by a heavily revengeful mindset.

Old Yuan had no intentions of helping him roast lotus flowers, especially since these were lotus, not water lilies.

While attempting to persuade the barbershop owner to roast lotus flowers, Jiang Yujin's phone in his pocket rang.

During the break, he took out his phone to check. It was a message from his Xiaoxiaole friend, responding that the flowers looked beautiful.

As he read the message, the barbershop owner glanced toward a nearby spot.

Standing there was a group of people, dressed uniformly in black. Among them was someone tall with long legs, eyes fixed on their phone.

The barbershop owner raised an eyebrow slightly, turned to the person beside him, and asked, "Is your Xiaoxiaole friend Xu Tonggui?"

Jiang Yujin nodded and saw a notification on his phone, prompting him to "Look up." He raised his eyes.

The person in the crowd looked back at him, their sharp gaze softening slightly.

A group of uniformed men stayed briefly and then quickly left.

Putting away his phone, Jiang Yujin turned to the person beside him and said, "What's up? Do you have something to say?"

The barbershop owner didn't have anything to say; he simply had a toothache.

This person beside him had developed this foul mood and the habit of not cooking, largely due to the indulgence of the other party. His days of being scolded and occasionally getting beaten up every now and then were mostly thanks to him.

No wonder this person's temper had recently worsened.