Chapter 82
Bai Jun asked the question that hit the nail on the head, the one that concerned him most.
Possessing power comparable to Aeon would be wonderful, but what if the price is losing oneself and becoming like "The Hunt" Lan? Does he truly have the courage to give up everything he has...?
"I'm sorry, Mr. Bai Jun, I can't give you a suitable explanation. It's a pity that the club's members rarely interact, and most of them have already died at the hands of the Lord of Silence. Otherwise, perhaps we could find one or two members who know about your physical condition, but..."
Screwllum for a moment, then said seriously:
"But no one in the world can accurately predict the future. Even the all-knowing and all-powerful, like the Nous, can only constantly simulate and speculate based on the information and experience he possesses, seeking the most accurate possibility... The more you rack your brains, the further you stray from your original intention. Conclusion: Day after day of worrying is constantly eroding your soul."
The smile in Screwllum's eyes gradually disappeared, and his face was no longer that of a gentleman with a gentle smile, but rather one that seemed to be pursuing absolute rationality... a kind of longing anticipation.
"Like a campfire deep in a dense forest, a solitary stone sword points to the stars. The Cancer of All Worlds all realms is spreading, causing all kinds of calamities. Even the unobservable Aeon are constantly undergoing changes and perishing. The world is in chaos. Not only me, but everyone seems to be witnessing the birth of a miracle, the changing of an era called 'hope.'"
As if taking turns with Screwllum, Ruan Mei gently patted Bai Jun's arm and explained to him with a light laugh:
"Screwllum's meaning isn't that hard to understand, Mama Bai. You just need to know that the power of choice is in your own hands. Don't worry too much, just follow your heart and pursue your true desires. I also look forward to your future."
"Thank you... By the way, what did you just call me?"
Bai Jun's gratitude lasted less than two seconds before he realized Ruan Mei's teasing and couldn't help but retort.
"It's nothing. Speaking of which... do you hate me?"
Ruan Mei didn't explain her earlier joke. Instead, she stretched out her slender fingers, just like when they first met, and used them to support Bai Jun's chin and gently touch his neck, carefully examining him.
Giving you truth serum on our first meeting—does that seem like a lot of trouble to you?
"Yes, I was very angry at the time, and I'm still thinking about getting my revenge on you when I get the chance."
Bai Jun was taken aback for a moment. After hearing her words, he made no attempt to hide his feelings and nodded honestly.
Ruan Mei slowly lowered her fingers and gently shook her head. "It's okay if I can't let go, and you don't need to understand my thoughts. However—even if I were given another chance to go back to the past, even knowing that you would resent me, I would still make the same decision... But among the countless beings I've met, you are the only exception who successfully proved it to me."
"No, I'm angry, but I don't dislike you. On the contrary, I think you're very similar to me."
"Huh?"
Bai Jun's answer caused a flicker of surprise and bewilderment to cross his clear, rational, light blue eyes.
If this is merely Ruan Mei's wicked personality, an eccentricity that sets her apart from normal people, then perhaps that's all there is to it.
But after spending some time together, Bai Jun realized that Ruan Mei was at least not a person with bad behavior; in fact, in many ways she displayed the personality and logic of a normal person... He always felt that Ruan Mei was very similar to himself in some ways.
A single tear fell from the corner of her eye; similar embroidery patterns; a past deliberately avoided and unwilling to be touched...
--She was afraid, afraid of losing what she loved, afraid of leaving her, so she was unwilling to invest her feelings, and instead tried to escape and sever all emotional ties and bonds.
So, Bai Jun extended his right hand to her.
"Since you've done something wrong to others, you can't just shirk responsibility. So, as punishment, let's be friends. You can't refuse."
The association imposed on her may be the greatest punishment she can receive.
However, upon seeing the outstretched hand, the woman suddenly laughed, laughing until tears streamed down her face.
"You're really strange. Don't you think it's childish of you to make friends like that?"
Bai Jun's skin certainly wasn't thick enough to be considered thick-skinned, otherwise he wouldn't have felt so embarrassed about his childish remarks afterward. But even so, he forced himself to maintain his outstretched hand gesture, just as his heart was growing colder...
The next second, those soft, warm, slender hands tightly grasped Bai Jun's palm, as if her determination was also conveyed through their skin.
The usually aloof and silent beauty smiled like an innocent child.
"Then please take care of me, my friend."
The emotions and meanings infused into this sentence are indeed changing.
It shed a layer of skin and broke through the outer shell.
Perhaps that's one way to put it.
From the side, Screwllum nodded repeatedly in admiration, seemingly marveling at the new qualities he had discovered in Bai Jun: "What keen observation skills! To be able to clearly see through appearances to a person's essence—is it a trait of Path? Or perhaps a person's character...?"
"So slow! We're already three minutes past the agreed time. Screwllum can't believe you can make such a basic mistake."
Herta's dissatisfied complaints had already reached the ears of the three people who had just opened the door, even though Bai Jun was walking last among the three. Strangely enough, Herta's gaze was precisely locked on him.
"Bai Jun? What brings you here too?"
"Hmm... it seems there's nothing else. I'll take my leave now."
Bai Jun also fell into deep thought. Indeed, his question had already been answered while chatting with Screwllum, so there seemed to be no need for him to continue. Therefore, he decisively chose to open Run.
"Wait, since you're already here, I have something to tell you."
However, Herta suddenly called out to him, casually brushing a strand of hair from his cheek as he said, "When you first arrived at the space station, weren't you constantly pestering me for the doll-making technology? Since you helped the space station once, I'll make an exception..."
"So, Herta, you've finally decided to teach me?"
What are you thinking about?
Before Bai Jun could get excited, Herta shook his head and made a big X with his arms in front of his chest.
"It's not that I don't want to teach you, but puppetry technology involves a lot of private secrets, which isn't really appropriate from your perspective as Xianzhou native... However, if you're willing to give up your identity there and become my little follower, I can give you anything you want, not just puppetry technology!"
A meaningful and charming smile appeared on Herta's delicate face.
Please allow me to refuse.
"Tch, that was a decisive rejection. I hope you won't be stunned when you see my true form later."
Herta snorted irritably, not bothering to keep her in suspense any longer. "While I can't teach you puppet-making techniques, I can easily make a few for you free of charge. Time is not an issue; just tell me your body measurements when the time comes."
"Dolls? I never expected Mr. Bai Jun to be interested in this field..."
Screwllum and Ruan Mei turned their gazes to Bai Jun almost simultaneously, especially the latter, whose eyes were practically gleaming.
Bai Jun chuckled and scratched his cheek, explaining somewhat embarrassedly, "It's not that I'm interested in this field; it's just to fulfill some idiot's wish to taste dessert."
"The Ten Kings' Holy Judgments reveal that karmic retribution is constant."
As the moonlight faded, the judge, dressed in snow-white robes, strolled out from the depths of the alley, blocking the Foxkin's last escape route.
"This is never going to end. Do you really think I'm afraid of you?"
In desperation, the brown- Foxkin abandoned its escape plan, determined to fight to the death to take another one's place. It let out a howl, and its sharp claws whistled as it swung towards the judge in front of it.
The judge's quick reflexes were barely enough to react when the iron chain he carried stretched into a loop, trapping his attacking claws.
Amazing sparks flew from the point where the claws met the iron chain, briefly illuminating the darkness deep within the alley. The force carried by the claws made it difficult for the iron chain to catch them, and the Foxkin seized the opportunity. The moment his left claw broke free, his body spun at high speed, and his right claw attacked the Xue Yi from another angle.
Like the chilling moonlight leaving its mark, it collided with the judge's Demon-Breaking Awl with astonishing power, creating numerous sparks and emitting a piercing wail.
The Foxkin looked at his right hand, which was twisted at an unnatural angle, and instead of feeling fear, he burst into laughter.
At the edge of the line of sight, the judge, dressed in snow-white robes, had several hideous claw marks on his left shoulder. Instead of flowing blood, there was a faint electric current spreading and parts breaking apart.
"So it's just a lousy machine from the Ten Lords Bureau. I thought it was something special... A cleverly designed body is ultimately inferior to the bodies of us Long-lived species; our potential is immeasurable."
The next second, his broken left hand was forcefully straightened, and after the terrifying cracking sound subsided, his left hand was once again completely intact.
However, the target of the mockery remained unmoved; Xue Yi's eyes remained as dark and cold as ice, as if everything happening before her was utterly boring and not worth mentioning.
Gripping the iron chain and the Demon-Breaking Awl Xue Yi tightly, he quickly retreated, preparing to create some distance between himself and the enemy. The sense of confrontation between them was as subtle as a balance scale; if one side tilted, the other side would inevitably gain the upper hand.
"Too slow!!!"
Seizing this fleeting, brilliant opportunity, the Foxkin's figure blurred into a brown storm, leaving a sharp footprint in the ground. He regarded his body as a taut bow and an arrow released from the string, and launched a surprise attack by splitting the ground.
The high-speed and ferocious claw strikes are like those of a mad beast fighting for its life, abandoning all skill and thought, relying solely on the bloodthirsty instinct and destructive desire of a wild animal.
The left claw, which had been knocked to the ground first, swung in a cold arc in the air. Then, the right hand formed a claw with its fingers, like a sharp spear, thrusting straight at the judge. The smooth, flowing attack gave the judge no time to think or hesitate. As she dodged the left claw to the side, the right hand seized the opportunity to strike.
We succeeded!
The sensation from his right hand made the Foxkin grin from ear to ear. In his eyes, this ingenious judge had already sentenced him to death. The Foxkin smiled and tried to pull his right hand away, but it was held firmly in place. Several chains were interlocked, like spider silk tightly binding his arm.
"Now you can't run away, can you?"
The judge felt no pain from having his shoulder blade pierced. His eyes gleamed through his flowing black hair, an expression that reminded the Foxkin of a predator that had caught the scent of blood.
"Stop pretending, Foxkin! You really think I'm the one who can't escape? You're the prey, aren't you?!"
The beast trapped in the snare struggled frantically. The Foxkin gripped the chains tightly, every muscle clenching and creaking, while the chains snapped and rattled in the air, making a teeth-grinding sound. The shadow of his giant left claw hurtled toward the judge's head.
At this distance, the judge had no chance to dodge, but her expression remained unchanged. She simply stretched out her right arm, placing it across the path of the giant claw's attack, attempting to block the attack with her slender and fragile arm.
A sinister smile spread across the Foxkin's lips; he seemed to already see the judge's head being shredded by his claws in the next second.
However...
The judge's slender arm easily blocked his claw strike, sparking a dazzling display of light that illuminated the Foxkin's astonished face.
"H-How is this possible?! What have you done?!"
The Foxkin, caught in the chaos, tried to escape backwards, but the inescapable chains forced him to lose his balance. The next thing Foxkin received was a sharp and heavy Demon-Breaking Awl.
Like the tip of a sword piercing his already wolf-like jaw, the fugitive, driven mad by demonic possession, struggled left and right, but could not shake off the judge who was tightly entangled with him. He rolled around in excruciating pain for a long time, spurting out a large amount of blood, and finally lost consciousness, collapsing like mud.
The judge slowly pulled out the Demon-Breaking Awl, her entire body soaked in blood.
"Lady Xue Yi! I... I'm here! How is everything here? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, just some minor injuries."
A matcha-flavored cake rushed over anxiously, carrying a soul-summoning banner, while the judge in blood-red robes stood up from the Foxkin's body, casually brushing aside his blood-stained hair as if nothing had happened.
"You, you're saying things like that again, you never take your own body seriously... I've already stuffed all the best, hardest, and most sensitive parts into Lady Xue Yi's body, but this month your injury and damage rates are still the highest in the department... The craftsmen in the Interrogation Department are starting to complain."
She saw Huo Huo's fox ears twitch; was it expressing dejection?
"Furthermore, Lady Xue Yi, your attendance this month has been far too frequent. Lady Hanya has already told you countless times to take care of your rest."
"Sorry, I just wanted to... no, it's nothing, I'll rest for a few days."
Xue Yi stood on the roof, and by the moonlight, she could see the dark patterned arm guards. There were more than twenty shallow scratches on the pair of arm guards, like a warrior's medals, each representing a fatal attack that had been blocked for her.
Unconsciously, she gently stroked the lines of the mark, as if she could feel the person's warmth through the cold armor. Whenever she thought of this, Xue Yi felt an indescribable emotion.
She hadn't seen Bai Jun this month. Although she had heard that he had temporarily left the Xianzhou for a trip, she had refused his invitation a few days before he Xianzhou. Because of her hesitation and inner turmoil, she missed the chance to see him one last time.
Self-loathing swirled in her mind. She reflected on her behavior, blamed herself, and deeply regretted not seeing Bai Jun one last time before he left.
Although it was only a short month apart, Xue Yi felt a sense of loss and loneliness she had never experienced before. Her heart felt like it was being burned by a raging fire, and she wanted to go to Bai Jun right now and bow down to him to apologize.
So painful, so regretful...
It was as if he wanted to dispel the faint sting in his heart through countless battles, but every time this arm armor saved his life, this feeling would surge up again, turning into an even stronger emotion.
The bright moon, hanging high in the sky, was gradually obscured by drifting clouds. A blue glow enveloped the surrounding area, and twinkling stars twinkled in the depths of the sky, beyond the reach of sight. The night breeze that brushed against the skin was very cool.
When will he come back...?
Xue Yi gazed up at the deep blue night sky, her words carrying a hint of melancholy.
The matcha cupcakes beside her presented a stark contrast. Huo Huo was taking notes with her head down, her soft fox ears trembling slightly, and her good mood was clearly evident.
"This... this is the thirty-second mission I've handled this month? I never thought I could actually achieve the mission targets that only senior judges can reach... Will Lord Bai Jun praise me? Will he gently pat my hair, and then... and then... hehehe... Lord Bai Jun super handsome... uh-huh!?"
Lost in a quiet joy, Huo Huo suddenly felt a chilling gaze upon her, sending a shiver down her spine. Just as she looked around, unsure of what was happening, the ever-silent Mr. Tail spoke up in a slightly helpless tone, reminding her:
"It's just your imagination. Anyway, don't look back."
"Huh? W-why...?"
Mr. Tail pursed his lips and quietly shifted his gaze behind him.
Because the Xue Yi, covered in blood, was staring at her with dark, empty eyes and a smile devoid of any emotion.
Sigh, it seems like this little coward's future is going to be particularly tough.
Chapter 110: The Unique Use of "The Mask of a Thousand Faces"
A gentle breeze made footsteps on the space station.
The fluorescent lights cast a monotonous and quiet glow, and the air conditioners ran steadily and orderly. It was 6:33 a. m. The attack had come to a complete end. Although the Antimatter Legion's attack destroyed a great deal of hardware, paralyzing nearly 40% of the station's pipelines, the space station was still stubbornly operating.
Asta's original plan was to directly purchase a new space station, but finding a space station on the market comparable to the "Herta" was by no means easy, at least not in the short term, and even if she did, it would take a lot of time to transport it.
And the idea of directly replacing a space station... it's hard not to wonder who was behind this, isn't it?
Ultimately, after Arlan's strong persuasion, Asta reluctantly abandoned the plan and instead focused on the repair and reconstruction of the space station.
A few days passed after that.