The Gazetteer of Taiye

Starting from the southern foot of Tianmu Mountain, the route along Black Wind Ridge includes Yanghe Valley, Qifeng Pass, Small Tianmen, Taiyin Mountain, and Bodhisattva Valley.

A rugged mountain road stretching for hundreds of miles separated Taiye and Zhuzhou. Every time caravan travelers went on a long journey, they had to be prepared for the possibility of never returning, and they had to bring enough luggage and supplies and hire enough martial arts bodyguards.

Even modern armored vehicles would break down here, because there's simply no road.

--The same applies to Kunwu.

In a place without "roads," no matter how advanced one's era or how sophisticated one's mind, one cannot devise a suitable way to struggle for survival. Unlike the protagonists of various time-travel novels he was familiar with, when he arrived in this godforsaken place, he did not have a smooth and easy time conquering everyone—on the contrary, his far-fetched understanding and concepts became deadly curses. This primitive society had many rules, and if Kunwu wanted to violate these rules, he would have to face the rule's executioner's blade.

So Kunwu compromised and became an accomplice of the butcher's knife, a member of Judas's alliance.

At this moment, he is trapped inside the clay sculpture, about to witness the head-on collision of two violent machines.

The offspring of giants were the highest-ranking fighting force raised by Judas. These giant warriors could become religious idols, the Pofa King Kong of a region, or they could become demons, prisons, or the manifestations of a wrathful king who terrorized the common people.

Aside from the uncontrollable natural disaster of Flash Butterflies, this should be Judas's most powerful weapon.

If we go back two or three hundred years, Kunwu might have thought that Shambhala would always operate according to Judas's rules.

However, this time traveler, who came from 2013 and arrived in the parallel universe of FE33031, always believed that the BOWs (biological weapons) created by this kind of bioengineering would be destroyed by cheaper shells.

Now Kunwu has witnessed the power of [материализм·Materialism] with his own eyes and heard the roar of machinery.

The enormous mechanical body was dancing gracefully, sometimes leaping and running, sometimes pausing and standing still, deliberately waiting for the turbo lag in power response after the roar of guns and cannons, just like breathing.

Without the aid of an electronic control chip, these two nameless warriors operated the dead machine with brute force.

The giant's flesh and blood body was a joke in front of this armor, like a short and weak farmer encountering a fully armed knight in iron armor—now with both arms crippled, it still wanted to use its speed advantage to find a way to survive. It tried to escape to the rocky hollow at the mouth of the valley, but when it stepped onto the protruding rock on the slope, the Big Frog immediately grabbed its right leg.

The Type 88 cannon burst forth with a ball of orange-red flame!

Even its blood-soaked body couldn't protect it anymore. It was in excruciating pain, its face contorted. After being struck by the steel fist, its head was shaped like a shoehorn, and it was on the verge of death.

Its legs immediately snapped open, causing it to stagger and lose its balance, falling back onto the rocky ground without immediately collapsing.

The armored creature raised its butcher's knife and thrust forward, only to hear the roar of an overloaded diesel engine. The thick blade couldn't pierce the giant's bones; it was about to lift its prey, to a height where Gate of Death were wide open—

--The body of the Vajra of the Vajra was half-suspended, Hanging from the right arm of the giant frog, Then I saw the two coaxial machine guns of this refined iron artifact, a man-made deity, The secondary weapon on its left arm also attacked.

More than four hundred bullets were sprayed out from these three gun barrels, firing machine gun rounds for a full sixteen seconds!

It unleashed a thunderous burst of energy, forcing the giant to retaliate in pain.

It was beaten until it cried out in despair, and finally lost even the courage to use its supernatural powers.

Blood splattered everywhere, dark red gushing from the chest, spine, and limbs. The tungsten steel bullets of the machine guns kicked up bits of flesh, splashing them like flowers on the rock face!

It still didn't give up; the knife-wielding hand hanging from the Big Frog reached forward, trying to bite the nameless person inside the cabin to death.

But this clumsy machine seemed to have been given a new soul, with only the clear, whistling sound of the steel cables twisting!

Ironclad discarded the butcher's knife in his right hand, took a small step back, and kicked off the hilt of the knife. With a combination of attack and defense, he slashed and struck, pinning the monster to the cliff once again.

"Huff. Huff. Hah. Huff." The Pofa King Kong stared wide-eyed, exhaling more than inhaling from his mouth and nose. His two arms were completely paralyzed, and his abdomen and torso were covered in sores. His body was slumped beside the stone Buddha, sitting with the stone sculpture.

The brass bullet casings scattered all over the ground are like the beneficial teachings given beneath the Buddha's lotus throne, or the red envelopes that Manjushri and Samantabhadra obtained by doing favors to enter the main hall.

"It's loading shells, but it can't move. The Gate of Death are open," Jiang Xueming said.

Xiao Qi: "The loader is broken. I have to crawl over and load it manually."

Jiang Xueming: "When did it break?"

Xiao Qi: "It was just now, when it jumped out from under the stone platform and punched it. That's when it broke."

Jiang Xueming: "Don't go out, I'll teach you how to use inertia loading."

As she said this, Xue Ming crawled to Xiao Qi's thigh and leaned forward.

Xiao Qi: "How about we ask the boss to disable the manual transmission in the Volga?"

Jiang Xueming was busy manipulating the left half of the Big Frog's limbs and didn't have time to respond to this suggestive remark.

"Watch closely, I'll only teach you once."

Xiao Qi: "That way you can stick your head out from the passenger seat."

With the operation of each mechanical switch and linkage lever.

The Big Frog raised its arms, and with the pull and swing of its humerus and forearm, the muzzle of the 88mm cannon opened and closed, and with a pull and tug of its elbow, the casing of the previous shell was flung out, and the next shell was closed and ready to fire.

"You've learned it?" Jiang Xueming asked.

Xiao Qi grinned and said, "Teacher, I'm a bad student. Could you teach me a few more times if you have the chance? Or maybe we can switch seats?"

Jiang Xueming held his lover's arm. "Aim at it!"

Xiao Qi lifted the main weapon's crossbar to the front of the mechanics table. The electronic sights were gone, but a series of rangefinder sights remained.

Xue Ming: "Did you see it clearly?"

Xiao Qi: "It can't move at all."

Xue Ming: "Count to three?"

Xiao Qi: "Three!"

"Boom!--"

The Big Frog's arm trembled slightly with the muzzle flash!

This machine has accompanied the nameless man through one difficulty after another. It is not afraid of mud, swamps, or even demons and monsters. It is only afraid of the lack of high-quality diesel fuel and food, and the lack of nuclear raw materials for centrifugal purification. Quick Knife and Gate of Wonders have a mature team of mechanics, and every craftsman regards it as his beloved.

The cannonball struck the skull of the Pofa King Kong, hitting between his eyebrows without any resistance. In an instant, his head exploded into a pulpy mess, like a water-filled balloon.

Kunwu the Taoist also wanted to take this opportunity to launch an attack.

--Perhaps these two nameless individuals will lose their composure when they unleash their killing blows in the final battle. If he could release the [Defying Heaven and Changing Fate] spirit at that moment and let Yaksha Mei try it out, allowing her to enter their bodies, Kunwu would gain new bargaining chips.

Thinking this, at the same moment the shelling was carried out, more than a dozen blue bird-men flew out of the demon's Barry and crawled into the Big Frog's cockpit.

The shockwave from the cannon's muzzle flash shattered the Yaksha Mei's attack formation. As they flew to the front of the cabin, they saw two dazzling spirits with cat heads and human bodies, staring intently with eyes the size of copper bells.

Kunwu was so frightened that he fainted on the spot, without any hesitation, very quickly.

It happened so fast I didn't even have time to describe how he fainted.

--Just like his mother's sudden death.

"Zhang Congfeng was the emperor's Imperial Physician."

"Emperor Xia Lie was born in May of the 77th year of his reign in the Nine Realms Divine Continent. His life story is unknown."

"Taiye Prefecture has four garrison officers and generals serving as clerks in Hexi, Yingyang, Benhu Pass, and Bodhisattva Valley."

"In the seventeenth year of Lingzong Lingzong's reign, Prefect Li Kunhai ordered that a demonic monk in the city had caused chaos and kidnapped the Yin Yang Qian Kun Tai Ping Zhen Jun Kunwu the Taoist —therefore, troops were dispatched to suppress him."

"They fought all the way to Xuanwu Gate, but could not capture or kill him. The clerk, anxious to save his lord, led a dozen or so riders in a second pursuit, and died in battle."

"The order was given to advance from Benhu Pass to Yingyang Village, but the clerk was ambushed and killed in battle."

"The left and right wings blew conch shells to seek the help of the giant spirit Hu. In that year, he was appointed as the Gongcao (a high-ranking official) and fought in the Bodhisattva Valley, where he died in battle."

"The True Lord of Great Peace governs the qi in accordance with the heavens, and looks up to the merits and virtues of the eight directions."

"Following the principles of spirits and deities, we offer sacrifices with utmost sincerity."

"The parents of the people, the idols of the gods."

"Things that are in motion or still, gods that are large or small, places illuminated by the sun and moon, and the southeast that rests upon."

The official in charge of copying the poems said—

"--Oh! You stubborn villain! Oh! You stubborn villain!"

"Baby shark! Dudu! Baby shark, dudu, baby shark!~"

Shasha picked up the copyist's notebook, ran to the temporary medical station in Mujiazhuang, Hefeng Town, and delivered the booklet to Mr. Wood.

The job of the copyist was to record the events that happened in various towns and villages, and then compile them into local chronicles.

It was wearing headphones and humming as it ran.

"Daddy Shark, doo-doo! Doo-doo!"

Wood: "Alright, I'm not your father."

"Yes, sir!" Shasha stood at attention and saluted. "This is enemy intelligence captured from the Taiye direction! Please take a look, sir. I'll go and direct the maintenance work now!"

Wood returned the greeting with a smile, "Very good! Shasha!"

Two whole days and two nights have passed--

--When Xue Ming and 9527 drove the Big Frog back to Hefeng Town, they fainted. Their spiritual energy had run out, and they were exhausted.

Wood immediately went out to meet the people, using Hefeng Territory as a temporary base. Later, the two mechanics, Billy and Fuyanni, also arrived. With the gunsmith kicking down the door to scout ahead, the subsequent swift blades and many brothers from the Gate of Wonders were able to smoothly receive supplies.

"Heh," Teacher Wood opened the local chronicle of Taiye, glanced at Xue Ming's deeds in the city, and then looked at the history of this Kunwu Immortal, Taiping Zhenjun.

He kicked a clay figurine in the corner of the kitchen wall.

"Wang Damin, wake up."

Kunwu heard someone call his real name and woke up with a start, immediately becoming alert and turning over from side to side.

He then realized that his mouth was blocked by thick rice paste again, and he couldn't open his eyes; he could only breathe through his nose. Muffled groans came from his throat.

"He managed to bring you, the cult leader, back from the midst of a massive army—the gunsmith is truly impressive," Teacher Wood exclaimed. "What are your thoughts?"

Kunwu: "Ugh! Ugh ugh ugh! (You bastard! Open my mouth!)"

Wood: "Wait, I need to tell you something first. Otherwise, if we start arguing later, it might ruin everyone's harmony."

Kunwu immediately stopped moving.

Wood pulled out a packet of medicine.

"I have a kind of medicine, I don't know if Judas has told you about it."

"It's called H16T hallucinogen. I don't know if this stuff will work on Blood-giving Monster of your level."

"At least Pellegrini and George Joshua are afraid of it."

"It's like a nuclear bomb; once I tear the outer packaging apart, you and I will both suffer."

"Did you understand? If you understand plain language, then roll over to your right."

Kunwu immediately turned over, meaning he understood.

Wood Plark pulled the clay cap out of Kunwu's mouth, as if pulling a kettle stopper, and took out the sticky rice paste inside.

Once Kunwu could speak, he immediately shouted, "Eyes! Hey! Dude! Take off my blindfold!"

"I'm sorry," Wood Plark refused. "I'm afraid you're not being honest. As long as you can't see anything, and the spirit can't find me, I'll feel more at ease speaking to you."

Kunwu, utterly spineless, immediately asked, "You're from the Nine Realms, aren't you? What do you need me for? I'll cooperate completely! I'll cooperate completely!"

Wood asked, "First, you need to tell me who you are, what your rank is, and what your status is."

"Don't you know me well?" Kunwu found it unbelievable. "You know my real name, why do you have to ask again?"

Wood: "All I know is that after you passed out, you started talking in your sleep, and you called out the name Wang Damin while you were half-asleep."

"Huh?!" Kunwu pressed, "What did I say?"

"You say— Wang Damin, you live on, Wang Damin, you want to play on your phone, you want to play video games." Wood found these delirious ramblings unbelievable. "How exactly did Judas wrong you? Which company's executive are you? Were you captured and forced to do hard labor in Shambhala? How long has it been since you've touched anything from modern society? It sounds like you've been in prison for decades."

"Uh..." Kunwu was momentarily speechless.

Wood initially didn't consider the possibility of time travelers.

But this pause, this feeling of guilt, made him suspicious.

"You are not a person of this era."

"Kunwu, are you like me?"

Half an hour later, the two time travelers finally explained the whole story through a question-and-answer session.

Wang Damin then realized that Wood Plark also came from another time and space.

They were like two strangers, time travelers completely unrelated to FE33031, both rootless duckweed—except that their entrepreneurial experiences were diametrically opposed.

Kunwu understood the situation and immediately began discussing interpersonal relationships with this important figure from the Mortal World Philosopher Foundation.

"Brother, Brother Wood, I'll call you brother since we're from the same place—"

"--Wait a minute." Wood raised his hand to interrupt, "I'm not sure if we started from the same point."

"Leaving aside such a distant family connection, even if we were truly from the same hometown, you should think carefully."

"Now you are the Blood-giving Monster, and I am a member of the Nameless Assault Team, as well as an advisor to Ming De. You work for Judas —we each serve our own masters, and are enemies of absolute purity."

Kunwu chuckled dryly, "What's the big deal? You helping me is me helping you! I didn't have a choice before, but now that I have this opportunity, shouldn't I immediately abandon darkness and embrace the light?"

Wood said in a deep voice, "Then I'll give you a chance."

"Hey! Brother!" Kunwu immediately replied.

Wood: "Dispel your Soul Power."

Kunwu: "What?"

Wood: "Release your soul power and return the 666 lives on your body."

Kunwu's expression changed completely; after all, he was a businessman.

When it comes to business, words can be used to create countless variations—you can just spout off whatever comes to mind.

However, once tangible interests are involved, the situation changes.

Wood: "Is this difficult?"

Kunwu: "Hehehe, brother, you must be joking."

Wood: "Then I'll compromise. In exchange for five hundred lives, you release these five hundred hostages. I'll untie you, and then we can talk properly about turning away from darkness and embracing the light."

"Haha, brother, you're so funny!" Kunwu was still unwilling to give up. He needed some security. If he really did as Wood Plark said, he would have no chance to fight back at all—just a hundred or so attacks on vital points would be enough to damage his true essence. He had witnessed the gunsmith's skills, knew the speed of Fragrant Dream's punches, and was even more aware of the killing efficiency of the Nameless Warriors. Whether it was bullets or swords, their destructive power was terrifying. Giving in on this issue would only make Wang Damin more and more passive. If he had to turn against them and run for his life, he wouldn't have many bargaining chips or much chance of survival.

Wood continued, "I'll compromise further, how about three hundred hostages? I'll send you Cokes and arrange two laptops. Let you see what the world has become."

"How about less?" Kunwu immediately changed his tune, his tone calm and composed. He seized the opportunity to back down, having long wanted to surrender—he was too eager to advance, too eager to achieve merit, and too eager to return to the civilized world.

Wood earnestly advised, "Two hundred, not less. You must be wholeheartedly good, but you also need to show my boss a positive attitude towards work—he's Ming De, and doesn't like people like you who are glib and two-faced. You must be sincere."

"Deal." Kunwu still harbored some resentment. "The gunsmith won't kill me? I killed his friend."

Wood's expression shifted remarkably quickly, from surprise and doubt to anger, then immediately returned to calm.

--Teacher Wood had already sentenced Kunwu to death in his heart. At first, he still had a little bit of positive expectation for this high-value target, perhaps he could take advantage of the reputation and power of the True Lord of Peace.

Upon hearing this news, he thought Cao Pi had married a beautiful stepmother and was paying New Year's respects to his father-in-law—Zhen Ji's father was speechless.

"Then you've done something truly remarkable."

Kunwu: "What do you mean?"

Wood: "Do you know why gunsmiths are so good?"

Kunwu tensed up. "Hehe."

Wood: "That guy..."

After thinking for a long time, Wood decided to dodge the question, say some nonsense, and give Kunwu some end-of-life care.

"His strength lies in the fact that his teammates are exceptionally talented."

"I truly never expected that you, an old French nobleman and a fighting hero of the Plain White Banner—"

"--He actually managed to kill his comrades."