Chapter 68
"Miss Nian, please come up and have a seat. My car is fast and comfortable, you can squeeze in without any problem."
Nian grinned and let Texas sit on it first. Then he sat at the end, using his tail to keep himself in place.
"Hold on tight!"
Exusiai turned the handle and drove out of the alley.
A gust of wind blows, Qipao flutters.
As they accelerated, a cold wind blew in their faces. Nian, clinging to Texas's waist, secretly pondered how to shake off the two of them and turned back to peek.
109 Some are happy, some are sad
At 8 o'clock, Temple Street was still bustling with people.
All 108 streetlights along both sides of the road are now lit. The magnificent light fixtures, illuminated by the night sky, resemble stars descended from heaven.
Colorful veils and pennants fluttered gently, filtering the light into hues of crimson, purple, tender green, and indigo. Walking through the Temple Street felt like stepping into a dreamlike, enchanting realm. Various lantern displays soared majestically into the air, forming a long, illuminated corridor.
She was under the special attention of the two Messenger, but her mind was not on admiring the lanterns at all. She might be able to fool Exusiai if she used a puppet, but it would be difficult to fool Texas.
The three of them strolled around Temple Street
For a long time, I traveled on and off, and couldn't find a reasonable way to get away from it all year.
She didn't find an opportunity until fireworks lit up the sky at nine o'clock. Feigning panic, she slipped into the crowd.
There were so many tourists at the scene that Exusiai and Texas disappeared after only a few seconds.
She quickly reached the exit of Temple Street, flagged down a taxi, and rushed to the warehouse. Actually, she had the means to run just as fast as a car, but that would make her more likely to be caught on camera by traffic cameras.
After waking up this time, many new electronic products appeared on the Terra. While bringing convenience to people, they also restricted her, preventing her from acting as recklessly as before.
As they drove onto the third street, Nian suddenly caught sight of the Mudrock's Squad on the side of the street. Mudrock, dressed in all black with white hair, was a highly recognizable Sarkaz.
"Driver, could you pull over for a moment?"
Nian leaned close to the car window and turned to look back, but didn't notice any obvious changes in Mudrock. On the contrary, the infected people who were with her all had bandages wrapped around their hands and feet.
Look at how the Sarkaz mercenaries are chatting and laughing; they're even happier than at the banquet.
Could it be that the Dragon King can truly cure Originium-related illness?
Now that the Mudrock's Squad has left and is heading towards the Lower City outpost, there's no need to go to the warehouse anymore.
"Master, back to Temple Street."
The taxi driver was speechless; the woman had just gotten in and now he wanted to turn around and go back. Out of consideration for the female passenger's attractive appearance, he refrained from Lungmen. He complied with her request, made a U-turn at the next intersection, and went back.
By the time we arrived at Temple Street, the fireworks show had already ended. Tourists were gradually leaving, causing severe congestion near the Entrance/Exit.
After getting off the bus, the man didn't rush inside but instead went to the pedestrian overpass. Once the two Texas men found him, he took a motorcycle back to the warehouse.
The 21-member Mudrock's Squad was overjoyed to find the taxi they had taken that year.
Shi Lei was practically their second parent, actually helping them remove the Originium attached to their limbs.
Such a sophisticated surgery is probably beyond the capabilities of even the top medical institutions in Columbia. Even if they could, it would cost them tens of millions, wouldn't it?
Just as V said, it is no exaggeration to say that Lord Shi Lei gave them a new life.
Becoming infected is essentially the same as being dead. Even though there is no risk of transmission through contact, one still faces contempt and hostility from different countries and social classes.
Although it wasn't a complete cure, removing the Originium from their limbs would allow them to live the normal life they've always dreamed of. They just need to wear more clothes to conceal their bodies and try to use Originium Arts as little as possible, or not at all.
"This wound really hurts, but it also feels really good. I feel like if we all work for a few years, we can be like Lord Shi Lei and buy a warehouse to live in together."
"V, all we've learned over the years is how to kill. What else can we do?"
"I'll find a job that doesn't require any skills first and slowly gain experience. It doesn't matter if it's long-term or short-term, as long as I can do it. I'm physically healthy, I won't starve to death, will I?"
"That's true. We should take any job that comes our way. We need to make sure we have enough to eat and wear before thinking about anything else."
"Haha, that's more like it. I just passed by a restaurant and peeked through the glass. That pumpkin carving was awful, and the knife skills were worse than mine. Anyway, we're all playing with knives, so maybe we all have the potential to be chefs. What about you, boss? Any plans for the future?"
Mudrock walked forward, head down, staring absentmindedly at the road. Caught off guard, he reacted a beat too late.
"Huh?"
After she left the warehouse, the feeling of vitality she had was gone.
This stark contrast left Mudrock feeling lost and dejected. It seemed that only staying by its owner's side could bring it some relief.
V noticed her unusual behavior and asked in confusion:
"Boss, what's wrong?"
"No, what... what did you just say?"
"Oh, they're asking if you have any plans for the future."
Mudrock shook his head, his reaction somewhat dazed:
"I don't know, I haven't thought about it."
She's currently helping manage the infected patients at the Lin family, planning to work for two months to pay off the debt she incurred from the inhibitors. As for the future, we'll see.
If possible, she plans to save up enough money to buy the warehouse next to Lord Shi Lei. She heard he spent 500,000 yuan on it, and she thinks it would cost her around 700,000 to 800,000 yuan.
Mudrock was usually quiet and didn't talk much to anyone. Seeing this, V didn't press him and continued to discuss future plans and arrangements with the rest of the team.
By the time they returned to their base in the Lower City, it was already past 11 p. m. The exhausted Sarkaz went back to their rooms, wanting to rest as soon as possible.
I sprayed hemostatic spray on the wound left by removing the Originium and wrapped it with layers of bandages. I won't be able to shower for the next few days, so it's best to rest and recuperate.
Mudrock returned to the bedroom and pushed open the door. Looking at the pristine white walls, she felt a sense of emptiness in her heart.
This feeling is indescribable and inexplicable.
She paused at the door for half a minute, then went up the stairs to the Clay Sculpture room on the third floor. This was where Mudrock worked, and her subordinates rarely came to disturb her.
The room was filled with clay figurines of all sizes and shapes. Moonlight, like silk, streamed through the windows, bathing them in a silvery glow.
Mudrock walked to the best-lit corner, where there was a life-size statue of Shi Lei. The original version with a mask stood not far away, this was the plus version with a face.
She sat down beside the base and hugged
He held the clay figure's thigh and pressed his face against it, as if he were embracing the real thing.
What is the master doing at this moment?
"Achoo~"
Shi Lei sneezed unexpectedly and quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe it off. How could he have caught a cold so late at night?
Texas glanced at him sideways and suggested:
"Let's go to sleep after this game. If you want to play more, wait until tomorrow morning and play while basking in the sun."
Exusiai, the one who wanted to retaliate, put her right hand on her neck and stretched it slightly upon hearing this:
"Okay, you decide."
After the game ended, Nian pressed his ten fingers on the mahjong tiles and looked at the three Messenger who had not yet left their seats:
"Don't go yet, I have something I want to tell you."
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110 Could this friend you're talking about be you?
Upon hearing Nian's request, the three of them stood still and waited quietly for her to continue.
I estimate I'll be leaving tomorrow night.
Exusiai's pupils dilate slightly, which is quite incredible.
"Huh? So suddenly? He's only in the second year of junior high!"
There was nothing she could do about it; she received the text message from Amiya while she was taking a taxi back to Temple Street.
The fact that Rhodes Island can receive text messages in Lungmen indicates that it has entered the signal service area of Yan. Our This Ship will enter port as early as tonight or as late as tomorrow.
"I know, but Rhodes Island is coming all the way here. Once they finish customs clearance, I'm going to cut off..."
Reporting from the boarding area. We're not sure when we'll be leaving tomorrow, so I'm letting you know in advance.
Exusiai twitched the corner of her mouth, feeling quite regretful:
"Can't you stay a couple more days? If you leave, we won't even have enough people to play mahjong."
Nian Xiaoxiao knew it was a joke.
It's unclear whether she can find enough players. But if Shi Lei wants to play mahjong, he definitely won't be short of people.
"Yan's an old saying in Yan: 'All good things must come to an end.' I've had a wonderful time following you all these past few days. Here's a set of mahjong tiles and an iron table for you. I'll come back next year around the Lunar New Year."
Hearing Nian's promise to "come back next year," everyone could only accept it helplessly. She had indeed mentioned long ago that she would have to leave once Rhodes Island arrived.
It just so happens that it's the New Year holiday, and most companies are closed for the holidays. I thought it would be after the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, but it came much sooner than expected.
Life is truly unpredictable.
Year 1999 tossed two mahjong tiles into the mahjong box and sent a private message invitation to the man sitting to his left:
"Shi Lei, are you free now? I have something I'd like to talk to you about in private."
He nodded in agreement, then pointed to the other side of the warehouse:
"How about going over there?"
Nian shook his head, feeling that someone might be listening.
Shi Lei understood and used rocks to build a platform that encircled him and Nian, then surrounded it with railings. He then used rock pillars to raise the platform to a height of twenty or thirty meters.
"How about this? No one should be able to hear us now."
The platform he built next to the warehouse looked like a chimney from a distance. But being in mid-air ensured that the content of their conversation wouldn't be easily revealed.
The girl leaned over the railing, looking around, and seemed very satisfied with her surroundings. Her white dragon tail moved automatically without any wind.
As one of the twelve fragments of 'Year', Nian is neither old nor dead. Her long lifespan makes her and her brothers and sisters uninterested in most things. Because, the one thing they have in abundance is time.
No matter how obscure or difficult the knowledge, or how complex and sophisticated the technology, as long as you invest enough time in learning and studying, you can minimize the difficulty.
But...
There are also pressing matters that must be addressed as a priority. That is, within the next few decades or centuries, her true form, 'Sui,' will awaken from its seal. This timeframe is several lifetimes for ordinary people, but for the fragments, there is truly very little time left.
During this period, Nian had been observing Shi Lei.
Whether it's the use of rocks, special shields, or the treatment of Originium-related illness, it all proves one thing.
He is very strong.
No, to be precise, it's the Dragon King who is very strong.
If even a fragment is this powerful, who knows how strong it would be if it were restored to its true form?
In Terra History, Great Beast have been referred to as gods. If the Dragon King is the god among gods, could we ask him to end this calamity when he awakens in the future?
The difficulty in discussing this matter lies in the fact that Shi Lei will not admit to anything related to the Dragon King. She wants him to understand her needs without revealing his true identity.
Creating stories became the best option for the year. By cloaking it in mythology, it could be used for both offense and defense.
"Speak, what do you want from me?"
"No rush, let me tell you a story first."
Shi Lei still doesn't understand what she's up to:
"Okay, I'm listening."
The young man coughed twice, this time without using dialect:
"Perhaps a thousand years, perhaps ten thousand years. Long, long ago, a civilization arose on this land. Humans groped for order in the wilderness, each cultivating their own territory. One of them was named 'Flame'."
The early Yan people were weak and ill-equipped to adapt to the game of war. But Sui, on a whim, changed the course of the war. The True Dragon, having gradually gained a foothold, used the guise of sacrifice to turn against the gods. Sui, however, decided to betray his own kind and stand with humanity, becoming the ruler of the Yan and creating a new civilization.