Embers Ad Infinitum

The man wearing sunglasses combed his short golden brown hair and finally got permission to enter the room.

He complained as he walked:

"Lan, who in the whole earth takes care of their hair as carefully as I do and always combs it neatly? Well, except you.

"You actually think it's not symmetrical enough."

The female voice sounded again, no longer so cold:

“Welf, remember, don’t take off your sunglasses, or I will definitely dig them out.

"It's hard to believe that the effect of genetic modification on you is so bad. You are simply a defective product."

As she spoke, her figure appeared in the living room.

She was wearing a white shirt, blue jeans, trousers of the same style, and a wide-brimmed high-top felt hat. All the details were so symmetrical.

This includes her oval face, eyebrows, long black hair and bright eyes.

Normally, human faces and even bodies cannot be perfectly symmetrical. There will always be some flaws. But not Xu Lan. She is like a work of an art master. It can be folded along the central axis, just overlapping, no more, no less. .

This makes her feel less natural and more traces of artificial transformation.

Welf, who was accused of being a defective product, felt angry, but he didn't dare to show it, so he could only mutter:

"Lan, actually I don't quite understand why you keep fine-tuning your body. Anyway, you can't see yourself and won't be controlled by the damn obsessive-compulsive disorder."

"Should I never look in the mirror? This is such a cruel thing for a woman." Even Xu Lan's smile was tempered, and the corners of both sides of his mouth were raised at exactly the same angle.

Welf did not dare to refute, and instead said:

"But there is no need to spend so much time adjusting clothes and hairstyle. If you go out for a walk or fight once, it will definitely become asymmetrical again."

Xu Lan sneered:

"Stupid logic.

"You poop out everything you eat every day, so you don't have to eat?"

As she spoke, she turned her attention to the glass coffee table not far away.

On the coffee table, there is an identical water glass on the left and right, as well as the same red jewelry box, with a tablet computer held by a support frame in the middle.

A thin dark red line hangs downward from the camera position of the tablet, perfectly dividing the whole thing into equal parts.

Welf felt indignant and decided not to partner with this damn obsessive-compulsive woman on the next mission.

While silently cursing, he thought of other colleagues.

That's really hateful in its own way, and it's hard to put into words.

A timid and weak person will always make those around him want to bully him.

Welf calmed down and watched Xu Lan light up the screen and unlock it.

Then the strictly symmetrical woman opened a telegraph simulation software and entered a series of numbers.

When the corresponding icon on the tablet showed that there was no network, Xu Lan directly selected "Connect".

The LCD screen suddenly dimmed, as if it had lost all power in an instant.

Not long after, the screen lit up again, and a blurry figure appeared.

This figure stood in front of a floor-to-ceiling window. The lights outside were bright, like a river of stars falling to the surface.

Farther away, there is a tall tower hazy, reaching into the sky.

"Have you found the target?" A human figure made a voice as snowflakes appeared frequently around him.

"Yes, 'Doctor'." Xu Lan lowered his head and replied respectfully.

On the one hand, she acted like this to express her respect and fear, and on the other hand, she did not want to witness the scene that made her blood rush to her head:

The "Doctor" didn't actually stand in the middle of the floor-to-ceiling window, but a little to the left!

Welf did not lower his head and said with the same respectful attitude:

"I've found where the target is hiding, but they seem to be aware of it."

"So you withdrew again?" The vague figure obviously understood Welf's acting style very well.

His tone became serious:

"Lan, take this tablet immediately and go with Welf to where the target is hiding.

"We must lock them in!"

"Yes, 'Doctor'!" Xu Lan answered without hesitation.

In her voice, she picked up a red jewelry box on the coffee table and opened it with a snap.

There was an ancient gold ring inside.

…………

Shang Jianyao led Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong and Bai Chen back to the rental house where Gnawa was.

"Have you noticed anything?" Jiang Baimian spoke a little faster than normal.

Gnawa moved his metal neck left and right:

"No, everything is fine there."

Jiang Baimian nodded gently and said:

“It does look like a trap over there.

"The information we obtained are all memories that have been modified by others."

Without waiting for Gennava's response, she directly issued the order:

"The target and his companions have locked onto us and need to evacuate immediately.

"We'll discuss the details in the car."

Soon, the "old tune team" recovered some of the cameras and got into their own Jeep and the rented car.

This time, Gnawa was following Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao, and listened to them talk about the harvest at Odik's house, the corresponding speculations, and what happened to Bai Chenlong Yuehong.

"One is an awakened person in the 'Final Man' field, but the price is timid and weak, and the ability is to read and modify memories on a large scale; the other is an awakened person in the 'Golden Scale' field, the price is symmetry obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the ability is temporarily unknown. ... Your inference can indeed explain all the current problems." The red light in Gnawa's eyes flashed many times, and he imported all the details into the corresponding model and made a complete analysis. "Our previous whereabouts have been exposed. When you are not sure when the enemy will come back and launch an attack, moving again is the best way."

Facing such a dangerous enemy, we must seize the initiative.

Jiang Baimian glanced at the alley the vehicle turned into and said with a smile:

“So, this time, we need to avoid the deserted streets more often.”

This avoids the tracking method of looking through memories.

Gnawa's eyes flashed red and said:

“The exits of these streets and alleys are actually relatively fixed, with only a few.

"If the other party spares no effort, expands the scope, and reads the memories of every human near the exit, they will definitely be able to track us.

"It would be best for us to camouflage the vehicle in an uninhabited area, and then by sensing human consciousness, we can go out when there are no 'witnesses' in a large area outside.

"Unfortunately, the 'thinking guidance' you mentioned does not involve memory, but only interferes with logical ability and thinking methods."

In Gnawa's view, the current plan can delay the enemy for a while and buy more preparation time for the team.

Jiang Baimian glanced sideways at Shang Jianyao, smiled and said:

"No need to bother."

The red light in Gnawa's eyes flashed again and he didn't speak again.

After detouring from the Green Olive District to the Red Giant Wolf District, the "old tune team" circled back to the Green Olive District again.

Shang Jianyao followed Jiang Baimian's instructions and parked the vehicle in front of an ordinary apartment that was only five stories high.

This is the stronghold of the "True Self Cult"!

Long Yuehong on the jeep behind her opened her eyes wide and didn't know why.

At this time, Jiang Baimian pushed the door open and got out of the car, muttering to himself:

"Let's rent a room here tonight."

Ah... As expected of you... Long Yuehong probably figured out Jiang Baimian's intention:

Only a few people know about this stronghold of "True Self", which is disguised as an apartment for rent.

So, it makes sense to rent an apartment here.

By then, if the "Old Tune Group" really has an advantage and the people of "True Self Teaching" see hope, they will definitely not be able to help but get involved.

Of course, the premise is that the "True Self Cult" will acquiesce to the actions of the "Old Tune Group" and allow them to rent a room here.

Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao took the lead in walking towards the apartment, and were unexpectedly stopped by members of the "True Self Cult" disguised as doormen.

"We want to rent a room." Jiang Baimian was very direct.

The guard was startled and said:

"You guys wait here, I'll go ask the owner of the apartment."

He turned around and hurriedly looked for someone who could make the decision.

About seven or eight minutes later, he returned to the door and said to several members of the "Old Tune Group" without expression:

"Please come in, the residents of a room on the top floor have just moved out."

He didn't mention how much the rent was.

Jiang Baimian laughed, her smile was very beautiful:

"Thanks."

The "old transfer team" found a place to park the vehicle. After entering the room on the top floor, Shang Jianyao threw his tactical backpack in front of him.

He opened the zipper and took out the "Angel of Life" necklace.

To do this, he had to stand on one foot.

Shang Jianyao immediately threw the silver necklace to Jiang Baimian.

"Huh?" Jiang Baimian stretched out his left hand to catch it, while his right arm drooped weakly.

This was an item that the company pointed out could be used to fight against danger. She felt that it would be most effective if it was placed in the hands of the strongest person in the team.

Shang Jianyao smiled at her and said:

"I'm afraid that the target and his companions will use the power of the 'nightmare'.

"With this necklace, you have some protection against that risk."

The truth is correct, but... Jiang Baimian asked:

"how about you?"

Shang Jianyao didn't answer immediately, and grabbed the "Six Senses Bead" from his tactical backpack.

He threw it to Long Yuehong:

"You take it."

"I can't use it." After Long Yuehong reached out to catch it, her eyes turned red instantly.

As an ordinary person, he will only suffer negative consequences.

"It has been blended into some weird atmosphere in the Buddhist holy land, and there is a certain probability that it can help you reduce the impact of the 'nightmare'. Therefore, you have to wear it all the time and cannot take it off even if you rest." Shang Jianyao said seriously.

After saying that, he didn’t know which personality he switched to and smiled:

"When the time comes, your dream will be so messed up that you may not be able to bear to look at it as a 'nightmare'."

"Okay..." Long Yuehong agreed hesitantly.

At this time, the honest Gnawa said worriedly:

"Could this lead to congestive necrosis?"

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became a little awkward.

Fortunately, Shang Jianyao was not an ordinary person. He took out the small jade Buddha from his pocket and threw it to Bai Chen with a normal expression:

"It also has its own uniqueness."

Bai Chen thought for a while and said:

"How about Xiaohong and I exchange items?

"I've suffered that kind of suffering before, so I'm quite used to it and can endure it."

This time, she spoke candidly about her past encounters, and there was no trace of emotion on her face.

"Okay." Shang Jianyao followed Shanruliu.

After Bai Chen and Long Yuehong exchanged items, Jiang Baimian looked at Shang Jianyao with half confusion and half concern:

"You have given us all the special items, what will you do?"

Shang Jianyao looked around and said with a smile:

"I have Teacher Du Heng and Xiao Chong to help me."

He emphasized the word Xiao Chong.

Jiang Baimian immediately understood what he really meant:

In his "Sea of ​​Origin", Xiao Chong's aura still remains!