Screening Mechanism of the Core Area

The dangers within the Core Area were far greater than Bai Zhi had imagined.

Although he had not been present earlier and thus had not ended up with a human-face mask like the Shadow Puppet, he had still been affected by that Anomaly.

—His memories concerning that Anomaly had been blocked.

Anomalies capable of silently altering a person's perception and sealing away their memories had always been the kind Players least wanted to encounter—one could even say they loathed them.

It seemed that, because it had been discovered early, the Shadow Puppet had suffered no serious harm beyond essentially having a layer of facial skin cut off. But if Chang Xi had not pointed it out, who knew how long the Shadow Puppet would have kept wearing that mask?

The longer it lasted, the deeper the influence became. Who knew what it might eventually develop into?

"But now that you mention it, Calamity Reimu and the others were affected too..."

Frowning slightly, Bai Zhi raised Q Ling Meng in his hand before his eyes. Noticing his gaze, Q Ling Meng hesitated for a moment before reluctantly holding out the lollipop she had been hugging toward him.

"...You should eat it yourself. Thanks."

Q Ling Meng: ヽ(/≧▽≦/)

"On a serious note, can you contact your Master?"

As he continued sprinkling seasoning onto the stove with his other hand, Bai Zhi asked Q Ling Meng in front of him.

"If you can, please help me... Never mind."

Watching Q Ling Meng shake her head while instinctively clutching her lollipop tighter in fear that it would be snatched away again, Bai Zhi shrugged slightly.

To be honest, he was not all that worried about Calamity Reimu's side. That Wine and Meat Monk seemed to be hiding his true capabilities as well. The only