Embers Ad Infinitum

Arriving at the back door of "Afu Gun Shop", Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao saw An Ruxiang waiting here.

In a room on the second floor, Bai Chen and Long Yuehong, who had also been awakened, monitored their surroundings through the window to guard against possible accidents.

Under the moonlight at night, An Ruxiang covered her left lower abdomen, which had been simply bandaged. Some obvious blood stains could be seen on her hands and clothes.

"Are you okay?" Jiang Baimian asked with concern.

"It's okay." An Ruxiang was quite calm.

It was obvious that her injuries were not serious.

Jiang Baimian breathed a sigh of relief:

"Let's talk about it later."

They have first aid kits in their rooms, which can provide better treatment and prevent subsequent infections.

After finishing this matter, Jiang Baimian said to Gu Changle:

"Go back and forget about it from now on.

"If you get involved, it will cause you unnecessary trouble."

Gu Changle thought about his children and left Shang Jianyao's room without being pushy.

After closing the wooden door, Jiang Baimian turned around and looked at An Ruxiang:

"What happened?"

She didn't rush to ask just now because An Ruxiang didn't rush to tell. This showed that there was no need to rush for time, and the murderer could not be caught even if he knew more than ten minutes in advance.

An Ruxiang said calmly:

"I was attacked."

"Attack?" Jiang Baimian was a little surprised.

In her opinion, a direct attack was not the "priest's" style.

An Ruxiang said methodically:

“I also work as a ‘temporary teacher’ in another place at night, teaching literacy to those who are busy until late.

"After it ended at 11:30, I returned from West Street to where I lived, and met a person on the way."

After 8:30 p.m., only West Street and North Street will not lose power, and the "temporary classroom" is at the home of a student there.

"Wearing a black trench coat, he looks very thin and sick?" Shang Jianyao interjected and asked.

An Ruxiang was not surprised, nodded and said:

"right."

"Sure enough, it's him." Shang Jianyao smiled.

An Ruxiang continued:

“He came up to me and said, ‘Madam, knowledge is the cause of the ruin of the old world’.

"I have always been very wary of such incomprehensible people, and then I remembered the investigation you did this afternoon. Without giving him a chance to continue, I pulled out the dagger and asked him to stay away from me."

It was indeed An Ruxiang's style... Jiang Baimian nodded gently, knowing that things had changed differently here.

Shang Jian Yao asked in confusion:

"Why don't you shoot?"

"At that time, I just wanted to scare that person away. It would be easier to pull out a dagger." An Ruxiang explained simply, "Fortunately, I pulled out a dagger, not a gun."

"Huh?" Jiang Baimian expressed doubts in his tone.

An Ruxiang pointed to the wound on the left side of her abdomen:

"My hand suddenly lost control and stabbed myself."

"Another awakened person ability..." Jiang Baimian was not too surprised, but more wary.

"I think so too." An Ruxiang also met the "Advanced Heartless" and was a ruin hunter who came into contact with the Awakened. "If I was holding a gun, it was probably shooting at myself."

"Then what?" Jiang Baimian asked.

An Ruxiang's expression changed slightly:

“The man did not take the opportunity to attack me, nor did he just leave.

"He stood there, looked at me, and continued: 'You are poisoning humanity, please stop this immediately, otherwise the sling will be coming for you.

"I controlled myself and didn't attack him again. After he finished speaking, he turned around and left."

"Crazy!" Jiang Baimian cursed sincerely.

Shang Jianyao sighed with understanding:

“It’s really a ritual.”

When Jiang Baimian looked sideways at Shang Jianyao, An Ruxiang finished:

"I simply bandaged it and came to find you."

It's just early morning.

"That's an 'anti-intellectual religion'. The person who attacked you probably has the nickname 'Father'." Jiang Baimian revealed some of the intelligence he had here.

Shang Jianyao immediately shook his head:

"He's so pathetic."

"Ah?" Jiang Baimian failed to grasp Shang Jianyao's thoughts this time.

Shang Jianyao sighed and said seriously:

“This is the evil consequence of anti-intellectual education.

"You have to do everything yourself. Your subordinates will be of no use at all and will only be a hindrance."

Jiang Baimian smiled and said:

"really.

"The three consecutive attacks were all personally carried out by the 'Priest'. This leader is too cheap. I feel tired for him."

Speaking of this, Jiang Baimian said to himself thoughtfully:

"No wonder he wants to control Lei Yunsong, Lin Feifei and the others. For the Anti-Intellectual Cult, good helpers are so rare...

"Well, another reason may be to frame the blame and provoke."

She suspected that the "Anti-Intellectual Cult" knew that Lei Yunsong and the others were employees of "Pangu Creatures", so they took action against them and controlled them to do things that would seriously offend Weed Grass City and "Prime City", thus provoking the two major Power disputes.

An Ruxiang often pays attention to the tasks issued by the guild, knows about Lei Yunsong and Lin Feifei, and does not find anything strange about Jiang Baimian's "self-talk".

Jiang Baimian quickly recovered his thoughts and said to An Ruxiang:

“You’ll sleep here tonight.

"Wait until dawn, go to the city defense army, report the matter, and then cooperate with them to issue a mission to the guild to find the leader of the 'anti-intellectual religion' nicknamed 'Father'."

An Ruxiang is a line that has nothing to do with Lei Yunsong, Lin Feifei and the others, so there is no need to worry about alerting others.

"Why not now?" An Ruxiang asked.

"The city defense army alone can't do anything in the middle of the night. We still have to wait for the guild to open." Jiang Baimian explained, "Besides, there is still a small problem that needs to be solved."

An Ruxiang asked no more questions:

"good."

At this time, Shang Jianyao raised his hand:

"Where do I sleep?"

"Of course you sleep in your own bed." Jiang Baimian rolled her eyes at him, "An Ruxiang and I squeeze together."

"Abuse the wounded," Shang Jianyao said.

"Okay!" Jiang Baimian said unceremoniously, "An Ruxiang sleeps on your bed. You can either go to the opposite side and squeeze in with Long Yuehong, or you can sit on the stool and sleep."

Although An Ruxiang didn't understand the interaction between the two people opposite her, she didn't have the habit of interfering with others. She followed the arrangement and lay on the bed, feeling sleepy.

Shang Jianyao took the opportunity to go next door and told Bai Chen and Long Yuehong what happened.

He didn't stay overnight. He returned to the room and sat on the stool in front of the table, lying down to sleep.

I don't know how long it took, An Ruxiang suddenly woke up and found that her neck was hanging in a "rope loop", and her own hands were holding both sides of the "rope loop".

The "rope loop" connected the upper bunk of the bunk bed was enough to hang her.

It was Shang Jianyao who woke An Ruxiang up. Under the moonlight in the middle of the night, his eyes were bright.

Jiang Baimian, who was on the bunk bed, also woke up and lay there, looking down.

"Did I do it myself?" An Ruxiang asked hesitantly as she let her neck leave the "rope loop".

"This is the little problem that needs to be solved." Jiang Baimian explained with a smile.

According to Zeng Guangwang's experience, there should be only one "suicide" caused by hypnosis.

Of course, it doesn't necessarily have to happen while sleeping.

An Ruxiang recalled what she saw and heard:

"Hypnosis?"

"Absolutely." Jiang Baimian didn't say much.

She didn't let Shang Jianyao use "reasoning clown" to eliminate the hypnotic effect. On the one hand, she didn't know the characteristics of the "priest" ability and was afraid that she would miss something and harm An Ruxiang. On the other hand, it was unnecessary. She didn't want to expose Shang Jianyao's awakener ability.

"Does this mean it's lifted?" An Ruxiang asked cautiously.

"Theoretically, that's the case." Jiang Baimian replied, "You continue to sleep, and we will observe and observe."

Anyone else would always feel a little uncomfortable hearing such words. After all, few people can get used to sleeping under the gaze of others, but An Ruxiang had no problem at all and fell asleep quickly.

This time, she slept until dawn.

After breakfast, at nearly 8:30, they went out separately, going to the city defense army while going to the Hunter Guild to look for Odik.

As soon as Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao entered the hall, they saw Odik sitting in the waiting area on the edge.

"Good morning." Shang Jianyao greeted him energetically, showing no signs of not sleeping all night.

Odik nodded in response.

Then, he pointed to the stairs and said:

"City Lord Xu wants to see you."

"Okay." Jiang Baimian agreed without hesitation.

This is what she expected.

After following Odik to the second floor and walking about ten meters, Jiang Baimian suddenly turned his head and looked at Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao looked back, nodded after a few seconds.

Arriving at the end of the corridor, Odik stopped outside a room guarded by four armed men.

After whispering for a while and handing over their guns, they were allowed to enter.

The room was large, with plenty of light, making it quite bright.

There are large desks and two rows of bookcases inside, and several key places are guarded by heavily armed bodyguards.

Sitting behind the desk is a young man in his early twenties. He is wearing a rather old-fashioned black top and his hair is neatly combed back, as if he wants to look more mature.

He is of medium build, with deep facial features, and seems to have a bit of Red River blood.

"City Lord Xu, they are coming." Odik walked two steps forward.

Xu Liyan nodded slightly, pointed to the chairs opposite the desk and said:

"sit down."

There was a rather tall man standing next to him.

This man was wearing a hooded robe, covering himself tightly.

After saying hello, Jiang Baimian took Shang Jianyao and sat down quite naturally.

Xu Liyan glanced at their faces and said thoughtfully:

"Are you together with Lei Yunsong, Lin Feifei and the others?"

"We are investigating the reason for their disappearance." Jiang Baimian avoided the important matter and asked instead, "City Master Xu, what exactly did they want to ask you when they came to you?"

Xu Liyan smiled and said:

“Something about ‘mechanical heaven’.

"They don't know where they heard that there is a 'master brain' in 'Mechanical Paradise', a 'master brain' that was running before the destruction of the old world."

PS: Ask for a guaranteed monthly pass at the beginning of the month~