The Truth of Winter Mountain

The wind and snow are intensifying.

Lin Yu and Sherlock stood in front of the rock wall amidst the wind and snow, remaining silent for a long time.

Finally, Sherlock broke his silence.

"This area simply has the highest probability of containing a cave; it's not 100% certain that there is one."

"But then again, you were given a dream—do you remember roughly where the cave was in the dream?"

Upon hearing Sherlock's words, Lin Yu rubbed his temples.

"That's the problem—according to my Memory from the Dreamscape, the cave should indeed be located here."

Lin Yu pointed towards the rock wall in front of him.

"And I always felt that this place was actually quite out of place."

The two of them had already been tapping and striking the rock wall, but to no avail.

Sherlock frowned.

"Yeah..."

He thought for a long time, then let out a sigh.

"If we assume your idea is correct, then it seems... we'll have to resort to skills!"

After saying that, Sherlock said in a low voice, "I want to know where the hidden 'door' and 'cave' are located around here."

As he spoke, Sherlock immediately activated his abilities as a "Detective."

Then, as if he had received a hint, Sherlock turned to look at Lin Yu.

"My Detective skills suggest that the key to finding the hidden 'door' and 'cave' nearby lies with you."

"On me?"

Lin Yu was somewhat curious.

Sherlock circled Lin Yu once, then suddenly realized and said, "I see clearly now, it's the Torch behind you."

"Torch?"

Lin Yu was somewhat puzzled.

"Does this thing have some hidden function?"

He took out Torch from behind his back, waved it around, but didn't sense anything unusual.

Amidst the wind and snow, Lin Yu lit the Torch.

A pale flame shot out, instantly melting the snow and wind surrounding Lin Yu.

Sherlock also came over to warm up.

"Seriously, why don't you just keep it on... at least it keeps us from getting so cold!"

"It's in my hands," Lin Yu replied succinctly, looking at Sherlock who was basking in the Torch, "Are you sure this is the clue? You're not just saying that because you want to bask in the Torch, are you?"

Sherlock shook his head.

"Don't mention it—do I look like such a shameless person? I have a sense of shame!"

"Do you really want it?"

Lin Yu countered with a question.

Sherlock, rubbing his hands to warm them, was rendered speechless by Lin Yu's question, "Well, I might indeed abandon pointless pride when necessary... but I really wasn't joking about clues."

"This thing really is a clue to 'finding' the cave."

As Sherlock spoke, Lin Yu had no choice but to turn his gaze back to the Torch.

"What exactly is going on? Do we need to go back to where I found the Torch?"

"That's not right. There's only one rock there, and it doesn't quite look like the entrance to the cave in my dream."

Lin Yu muttered to himself, and Sherlock also began to ponder.

"Hmm... let me think... the functions of Torch are nothing more than warmth, light, and lighting... could it be that we're supposed to look closely by its light?"

After Sherlock finished speaking, Lin Yu looked at the rock wall in front of him and brought the Torch closer.

"Hmm... it seems there's no difference."

However, a few seconds later, Sherlock and Lin Yu looked at the rock wall in front of them, which had not changed at all, and realized something at the same time.

"Wrong!"

The rock wall remained unchanged even when the Torch was brought close.

But the problem lies precisely in this lack of change!

There are still some protrusions and cracks on the rock face, with some ice and snow trapped inside.

But this ice and snow...

After Lin Yu's Torch approached, there was absolutely no sign of it melting.

It was as if someone had pressed the "freeze" button.

"There's definitely something wrong with this rock wall... but we still don't know what it is!" Sherlock exclaimed excitedly.

"It seems unaffected by external influences."

Unlike Sherlock, Lin Yu already fully understood what was going on.

"I understand... this thing is the 'past rock wall'."

"This thing definitely needs to be dealt with using Torch!"

As he spoke, Lin Yu slammed the Torch in his hand against the rock wall.

He turned the end of the Torch handle, first extinguishing the pale flame...

Then, it was lit again!

"Laugh!"

Flames erupted from the earth, scorching the rock wall.

Soon, the rock wall, which had remained unchanged at first, began to fade under the continuous scorching of the flames!

The rock's texture began to blur and melt, and its originally bluish-gray surface turned into an increasingly dark black!

The angular surface gradually became rounded and lost its original solid shape.

Then, it turned into a flowing, black paste.

This is why Lin Yu, compared to Sherlock, was able to fully understand what was going on with the rock wall in front of him.

Because he had seen this situation before.

However, what appeared before him then was not a large stone wall, nor was it an "Dead Thing".

It was a living, breathing Sherlock.

Soon...

These melted, black paste-like substances were ignited, and pale flames followed!

Lin Yu took a step back, and the pale flames spread outwards, engulfing the entire rock wall in flames.

"Just as I expected, this stuff is from the same source as 'Black Gold Oil'."

Lin Yu let out a sigh of relief.

"It's not only a very good fuel... but it can also transform into all sorts of people or things that have ever existed before."

Sherlock suddenly realized.

"I see... This is the 'technology' recorded in those books."

He looked at Lin Yu excitedly. "The organization that researcher belongs to has a marvelous technology that can extract people's emotions and Emotion Conversion into some kind of 'magical substance'!"

"That extracted magical substance is both the best fuel and a highly versatile raw material!"

"These are the things right in front of us!"

As Sherlock spoke, the entire rock face burst into flames.

The pale flames melted away the entire expanse of wind and snow, creating a rare area on this Winter Mountain that was free of wind and snow.

Soon...

The false rock wall formed by the black oil burned away, revealing the real part behind it—a fault-lined rock wall that was almost identical to the one they had just seen appeared before Sherlock and Lin Yu.

However, right in the very center of this rock wall, there is a cave carved out and a tall, round metal door!

This is exactly what Lin Yu saw in his sleep after being prompted by Will Valetti...

Exactly the same!

"Let's go in!"

As Lin Yu spoke, he took out the key and looked at Sherlock.

Sherlock rubbed his hands together excitedly.

"Okay, let's go..."

"Let's see what the Truth is about Winter Mountain!"