Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 787: Choices

Translator: CKtalon

As for whether the Awakened were born after the disaster that destroyed the Old World, the Old Task Force had always lacked sufficient clues and couldn’t make effective guesses.

Many people were similar to them. Many historians and antiquarians secretly suspected that the disaster had brought about two abnormalities in humans. One was physical, resulting in Subhumans, and the other was mental, resulting in Awakened.

This was because they couldn’t come to a conclusion that Awakened existed in the Old World from the Old World text and various obtained items. They couldn’t even find the corresponding traces.

After the Old Task Force came into contact with Yama Tiger and DiMarco, they pushed the time node for Awakened to appear from the late Chaotic Era to the early years. They also believed that there was no Star Cluster Hall or the ritual process of exchanging three abilities for a price back then. However,

they had never been able to confirm if there were Awakened before that.

Now, through the Linhe Village that had appeared in the Buddhist Holy Land, they saw evidence that an Awakened was suspected to exist many years before the Old World was destroyed.

This made the truth of the Old World’s destruction even more confusing.

Jiang Baimian’s thoughts raced. After some thought, she slowly said, “The Eighth Research Institute’s main focus is to study the awakening of humans. During this process, they came into contact with the Kalendaria’s body of descent and discovered the New World. Therefore, they became highly

ambitious and tried to build a staircase that led to a forbidden zone of deities, bringing about a disaster that almost destroyed all of humanity?”

This guess was made based on the current situation and the Old Task Force’s past gains.

Bai Chen fell silent for a few seconds before saying, “I suspect that the Eighth Research Institute has already built a staircase that leads to the forbidden zone of deities.”

“Why so?” Long Yuehong’s eyes widened.

Bai Chen calmly read out the terms. “Star Cluster Hall, Sea of Origins, Mind Corridor, and the New World. Beyond that might be the Deities’ Forbidden Zone.”

Clap! Clap! Clap! Shang Jianyao clapped—

He excitedly said, “One might become a Kalendaria after entering the Deities’ Forbidden Zone.”

Long Yuehong wanted to retort, but he was inexplicably horrified and didn’t dare to discuss it.

At this moment, Jiang Baimian exhaled slightly. “From this angle, Star Cluster Hall—a series of originally non-existent items—might really be the staircase that leads to the Deities’ Forbidden Zone. However, the Eighth Research Institute seems to have paid a price. It has completely become

darkness-serving traitors and is working hard to do certain things like a slave.”

The four Old Task Force members didn’t relax their observation of the children at Linhe Village’s entrance as they discussed.

‘They were having fun under Xiaochong’s lead, and there was nothing else abnormal for the time being.

Suddenly, Shang Jianyao frowned. He kept making faces, attempting to attract his teammates’ attention so that they would ask what was troubling him.

Unfortunately, it was already dark. In order not to attract the anomaly over, Jiang Baimian and the others switched off the flashlight and hid by the old pagoda tree’s side, only relying on binoculars to observe.

In such an environment, nobody noticed Shang Jianyao’s tiny facial movements.

Finally, Shang Jianyao couldn’t help but suppress his voice and sigh.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Baimian asked.

Shang Jianyao immediately replied, “I just thought of a problem.”

“What problem?” Long Yuehong turned to look at the fellow.

Shang Jianyao said seriously, “There are 13 Kalendarium. They happen to be allocated 12 months and the leap month, or the entire year. If anyone enters the Deities’ Forbidden Zone, where will they find a new month for them to control?”

“Maybe they are jointly in charge of a month?” Long Yuehong guessed.

“It’s also possible that the new Kalendaria lives and that the old Kalendaria dies.” Bai Chen expressionlessly voiced a terrifying possibility.

Jiang Baimian didn’t say a word and began to associate this matter with the New World disputes.

Shang Jianyao smiled and gave his ‘answer.’ “Maybe a Kalendaria will degenerate to a Dayendria. If that happened, there would be more than 300 empty seats!”

Dayendria? Days… That naming sucks… Long Yuehong muttered inwardly.

After talking about Dayendria, Shang Jianyao looked at Linhe Village’s entrance again in satisfaction. He held the binoculars and said, “Why don’t I greet and make contact with the young Xiaochong? I think they’re about to return after they’re done with the fireworks. It won’t be easy to observe when the

time comes.”

Before Jiang Baimian could make a decision, Shang Jianyao had already run out and shouted as he ran. “Xiaochong! Xiaochong!”

Long Yuehong and the others were already numb to such matters. After all, a mental patient who had always been able to control himself couldn’t be considered a real mental patient. The price of performing crosstalk across multiple personalities every day wasn’t a real price.

Jiang Baimian was a little vexed, vexed that she had been too focused on thinking about the New World’s disputes and couldn’t grab Hey’s collar in time or stop him with her electrical sparks in her left hand.

In response, the only thing they could do was retreat in unison and do their best to distance themselves.

“Xiaochong! Xiaochong!”

As Shang Jianyao approached, the children—led by Xiaochong—rapidly faded and dissipated into the dark night.

Further away, the lights in Linhe Village went out at the same time.

It was dead silent again—desolate and cold.

Shang Jianyao stopped and quickly said, “Sorry! Sorry for the disturbance! I’ll make a move now!”

He suddenly turned around and ran back to the old pagoda tree.

Unfortunately, the anomaly in Linhe Village wasn’t restored.

Upon seeing Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen look over at the same time, Shang Jianyao sincerely apologized. “I was wrong.”

With his attitude so proper, Jiang Baimian couldn’t bring herself to reprimand him. She thought for a moment before saying, “Let’s wait a little longer and see if it continues.”

“Alright!” Shang Jianyao replied very loudly.

The Old Task Force waited for nearly half an hour in the cold wind, but Linhe Village remained dark and silent.

“Are we going to wait a little longer?” Long Yuchong felt that this wasn’t a solution.

Shang Jianyao glanced at Linhe Village—which had blended into the night—and looked down at the old pagoda tree. He then revealed a ruthless expression and chuckled. “Why don’t we dig out Du Shaochong’s corpse and bury him again?”

This would reenact the burial.

“He’s your good friend!” Jiang Baimian was peeved and amused.

Upon seeing Shang Jianyao’s disdain, she added, “This is Master Zhuang’s body of descent.”

If they really dug it out, it might anger Master Zhuang. ‘He’ could definitely use the corpse to establish a stable New World node.

The ruthless Shang Jianyao’s expression gradually softened as he nodded in fear. “Indeed.”

Jiang Baimian then said, “Let’s retreat to a kilometer away and camp. Well try to explore Linhe Village after dawn and see what we can find. If not, we’ll confirm if any abnormalities happen when it turns dark.”

Long Yuehong and Bai Chen had no objections, nor did Shang Jianyao dare to have one. He believed that he was guilt-ridden.

About two kilometers away from Linhe Village, at the Old Task Force’s camp.

After a simple dinner, Jiang Baimian instructed Shang Jianyao to guard the surroundings while she called Long Yuehong and Bai Chen over.

“Team Leader, what’s the matter?” Bai Chen asked directly.

Jiang Baimian said seriously, “The fact that the company hides the equivalence of Swamp Ruin 1 and Dajiang City has given me doubts about why Big Boss established the company and provided shelter. This is indeed rather intriguing when combined with the matter regarding the Fourth Research

Institute that Hey talked about.

“The company is our home, and our family and friends are in the underground building. I won’t become enemies with the company for no reason, nor will I ignore these suspicious points. Therefore, I plan on arranging a mission as soon as possible after this training session to leave the company.

Through investigating Shang Jianyao’s father’s whereabouts and the Eighth Research Institute’s location, we’ll figure out the truth behind the Old World’s destruction and figure out what the Kalendarium want to do. I believe we should be able to obtain an answer when the time comes and determine what

we should do in the future.

“This is my choice. There’s a high chance that Hey will do the same, but I won’t force you to do the same.” At this point, Jiang Baimian smiled bitterly. “In fact, I don’t know what choice I want you to make either. You can act together with us or stay in the company to enjoy peace and stability while waiting

for us to bring back the answer.

“The former is very dangerous, and someone might die at any moment. The latter might end up getting good news, bad news, or suddenly face the company’s anomaly before any news can be obtained.

“Hmm, there’s no rush to make a decision. Just tell me your choice before we return to the company.”

Bai Chen didn’t answer and turned to look at Long Yuehong.

Long Yuehong fell silent for a while before laughing self-deprecatingly. “How can I stay in the company with a clear conscience after knowing so much… Besides, I’m also afraid that someone will secretly flip through my memories as time passes.”

Bai Chen’s expression clearly relaxed a little as she said, “If we know the answer in advance, we can make preparations in advance and save our relatives and friends in the company in time.”

Her choice was self-evident.

Long Yuehong exhaled. “I think so too.”

Clap! Clap! Clap! The patrolling Shang Jianyao clapped…