"The inner fortress, with its chirping swallows and warbling orioles, adamantly denied entry to any likable n, not trusting them with any secrets; it was the domain of the clock family’s female guardians. Only won could enter that domain full of color, and only by exchanging themselves."
"There are no n who could possibly resist that place," she said.
"What if I went in and then ca out without any intention of thinking about it?"
Zicheng and the others managed to hide from view completely.
With a forced smile that worsened her pallor, she changed into the garb of a rcenary woman right away as she looked at the blue stone monunt before her. The person who introduced her was still that mysteriously secretive individual.
It was already night, although there was no distinction between day and black night in the fog-covered place they ca from. Ti was discerned by routine schedules.
Ruan Qing and Zicheng had changed into the current fashion for female rcenaries after preparing for a short while.
The wide Plaza to the east, at the base of the high tower...
...
...
"I have never once gone to that place, but any place that is honored as heaven must have its ti as hell. If there is a hell on earth, then this ti period here would correspond to that; it has nothing to do with distance."
After returning to the high tower, her plan was to use the Reincarnation mory Record Domain and the Color Domain to coax assistance from the Seventh Group’s mbers to bring down the entire place, akin to a destructive bet.
"I fear there’s no way to bring down this region; relying solely on my power is not enough. This visit of mine is only a marker for the next step, and I will certainly co back."
"What about you?" Zicheng asked.
"After this, you will imdiately start the Reincarnation Disk and go in. There’s no tower out there where one can live an easy life. What you’re actually afraid of is that I will take the two of you in; that is also the main reason for your haste. I will surely lead the two of you into this place that I must investigate," she said, with a stern expression.
"What?"
"Because of a certain incident I have to tell you about, I absolutely must bring the two of you forward into this place," she insisted.
Ruan Qing’s eyes glinted fiercely.
"Being treated as playthings, used by others, shouldn’t they just be safely placed in one area? Is this not an outrageous notion?"
Ruan Qing asked, "Could they possibly never be found again, now that more than three days have passed for their rescue?"
"They’ve already left the tower, these missing young won," said Wurou.
Could it be that a trendously powerful force is behind these young won’s disappearances?
Ruan Qing was also shocked by these horrifying tales, which had persisted for several centuries.
"If I’m not mistaken, young won have been going missing non-stop at least since the past six hundred years, or even longer," said Wurou.
Lacking a grasp of the concept for so long, Zicheng asked skeptically, "What could they possibly be thinking? Don’t they always have at least a short while for us?"
"The history of this case might be far older than your imagination," she replied.
While Zicheng and Ruan Qing were both seemingly aware of this cacophonous gossip, Wurou appeared to be using it as an excuse to talk about sothing else.
Looking at him chatting casually with the two won was like watching him relax among the blooming flowers; even his deanor remained very serene.
"Indeed, the disappearance cases on the lower level are related, at least from what we can see so far. However, this event is but one part of what I’ve been instructed to investigate. I’m here in this place because I’ve been ordered to investigate matters that include dealings between the outer tower’s malevolent forces of power and the inner tower people," she explained.
He had basically finished sorting out the matters that needed to be dealt with after coming out of the Yishi Tower.
There was no one in this dance hall who could pretend to be invincible just because there wasn’t a single surveillance cara. At the very least, Zhuang Yuming would surely have so other ans of observation.
——An inevitable question he had to consider was whether Reincarnation, having never considered bringing anyone from the Fifth Level up to the tower before, could actually feel the power levels. Of course, there were many slight variations, and information was received and sent directly without much delay.
They looked quite like two little kittens putting on an act from a distance.
Wurou had no choice but to lean in a bit closer, especially since Liu Zicheng and Ruan Yunqing had just relaxed a little, now that they could hear Reincarnation’s voice more clearly.
"What happened?"
"Sothing good just happened."
"You’ve been in the bathroom for so long, little brother."
Although Reincarnation had imdiately left the dance hall after giving Liu Zicheng and Ruan Yunqing so instructions, it didn’t an she had vanished.
To Zhuang Yuming, who was already used to the overwhelming presence of each individual at the height of their prosperity, Reincarnation’s words held little aning. He had found the person he was supposed to escort and successfully brokered the exchange, so he decided to stay longer in Army Guard Town.
...
...
To his surprise, Zhuang Yuming’s serious face was now twisted into a reluctant smile.
Chu Qing Reincarnation, regardless of her power level or companion strength, was capable of sensing the town’s authority. If they sent food to Army Guard Town as a gesture, it was certain to please "Daddy." This "Daddy" was indeed very powerful and had a clear understanding of Army Guard Town.
She herself, fortunately, could also serve as a substitute for "Daddy" and find two pretty dolls to amuse him, and her preparations for the reception had been recently completed. She hadn’t expected this.
No one could pose a threat to either the food domain or the color domain.
Actually, that place was even more dreadful than a gambling den — a red-level district in every
respect, rated according to the color scale if one looked closely.
In addition to the multitude of fallen forces to defend, this very place also harbored over seventy centenarians with super strength.
Looking at Reincarnation’s carefree face as he walked away from the escort, he had not thought much about the food and color domains — the places that "Daddy" personally oversaw.
Reincarnation actually revealed a genuine smile. "I’m really good, everyone calls a warm-hearted citizen, a good neighbor," he said.
"There may be so who resent you and can cause trouble behind your back, but you’re clearly very thoughtful, Zhuang Yuming. I advise you to avoid getting involved in any peculiar matters if these places an sothing unusual to you," said a guardian of the house, offering his advice when saying farewell to the other escort.
At this ti, a man who might be in the midst of an invitation to enjoy a fallen night, or perhaps allowed to et countless beautiful won.
Slowly approaching, shifting his body, letting the won from the hot springs off his back one by one, as he entered the fort. The sight of the fort incited a slight fear and anger in Liu Zicheng and Ruan Yunqing due to its intimidating presence, while the thoughts of old friends caused them to feel a trace of sadness.
—— The sight was touchingly startling, as it was expected from Reincarnation who wanted to proceed deeper into the misty water, after just one minute of walking away, with only one minute left to return to the high tower.
Ruan Yunqing and Wurou could no longer keep up, so she barged through the main gate of the fort, while Liu Zicheng kept trying to understand the allure of the purple-thread grass, unable to let go.
The Reincarnation Disk began to move for Liu Zicheng, and she inadvertently activated the disk as well.
Her blush deepened, betraying her, and making her even more alluring; Ruan Yunqing was still coming to her senses.
"Reincarnation, listen to my words! That’s a lie!"
"I heard the delicate voice of a little moonlight and chestnut just now, let go of your hand... little brother," Wurou said, despite Liu Zicheng’s warning tug.
Liu Zicheng, however, said, "Return, listen to ! That was fake," as he anxiously pulled on Zicheng.
It must be an unknown perilous zone, for even after entering through the great doors, all that was known was a white fog-draped domain.
Liu Orange stepped forward, planning to walk into the warm-spring area within the fortress’s grand entrance.
These fragrances could arouse certain desires, or even just evoke emotional responses in so way, causing the person to see or hear their own thoughts or visions of certain people or things; however, Liu Orange was still sowhat coherent compared to the white fog-induced fantasies, thanks to the illusion-causing purple threadgrass.
"...Ah, the horror... Zicheng... my death was so tragic..."
"...Zicheng..."
"...Zicheng..."
Even if one wouldn’t feel an ounce of joy or anger at such mystery, the white fog made one imdiately aware; especially the last warning it gave to the eyes.
...ominous, beckoning fingers of evil...
]What could possibly have those sa evil elents as this? It’s like Spiritual Possession spiraling outwards, existing within a particular environnt, generating the sa distorted forms, depending on the personal state and ntal condition of the people there. You couldn’t even guess—those who were deford by evil didn’t maintain the appearance of humanoid females; instead, they had gone beyond evil and beco sothing revoltingly ugly. This was, of course, an absolute understatent given the instability of the internal elents.
...a common term for the scent: The Hallucinogenic Variant, Peculiar Transformations[
They were not influenced by people ’playing’ with them. Though turned into grotesque forms, they might still possess recollections and obsessions from their past lives, or perhaps, lack intelligence altogether. You shouldn’t call them... not even her. And yet they carried a term coined by Mr. Zhuang Yuming, a scholar strict in word choice and logical structure; an aberration beyond understanding...them.[
But the white fog seed different; it might have no physical distance from heaven’s hall and earth’s dungeon.
To the front, it was definitely a celestial court, but for those interminably seeking exchange partners among the dance floors of the vividly organized hall, it offered an entirely different perspective.
Particularly for the n, the won’s moans and groans that involuntarily escaped from their throats might carry a faint tinge of pain, stimulating the n even more.
Or perhaps, it was because Liu Orange and Wurou were so astonishing that the scent of human flesh beca gradually apparent to the won, seemingly inducing restlessness in them, which was inconceivable.
Enveloped in srizing misty waters, they seed even more entrancing, making the won’s eyes hazy.
Part of the intense fragrance ca from the purple threadgrass; another part wafted from the won in the huge warm-spring area, blending gracefully into the water and fog, displaying enchanting figures intermittently.
With the playful laughter of the won mingling with the warm springs, innurable attractive figures frolicked in the waters, adequately disarming any defenses the n might have had. The grand inner courtyard flowed endlessly outward, taking the place of the warm springs and transforming into a lavish castle, reminiscent of a grand nineteenth-century cathedral.
The design of the fortress was such that upon entering through the great doors, one found oneself in a warm-spring realm.
The sight that greeted them was the inner courtyard of the great fortress, while at this very mont, the three of them stood within the bounds of the white fog outside the fortress.
Leaving the colorful realm would be fundantally impossible, though many would arrive here. Fortunate guests from the colorful realm could continue onward to the food realm by traversing the high sky-bridge of the fortress.
The food realm and the colorful realm were interconnected fortresses, eting in the middle where the greeters were stationed.
They were imdiately familiar with various grand displays of white fog, not having been shocked by what was before their eyes; however, they were still equipped with conventional wisdom at this ti, for the scent of the purple threadgrass needing so ti to fully affect their minds and hearts. The sight before their eyes made both Liu Orange and Wurou display expressions of shock.
]"Giggle, giggle, how simply hilarious, I beco an old color ghost, you’ll see, just believe what you’ve already looked upon. And besides hearing the scent... Not only does it originate from so interesting plants, but it’s far from just benign. You can’t find red threadgrass here, and at tis like this, stimulating the senses is just fine with the scent of red threadgrass. You might see hallucinations or have visions soon if you can’t manage to block them, with these two ladies unable to resist your encircling influences, and because of your life-sustaining powers, this is like clear water, a plant that produces hallucinogenic sensations with its strong fragrance is purple threadgrass.[
Suddenly, with a violent jolt, he opened his eyes.
What he first felt was a strong waft of fragrance; upon opening his eyes, the white fog slowly dissolved into a bright white clarity of consciousness.
...
...
The white fog could have co from the red realm, especially the Reincarnation.
Liu Orange knew full well that white light represented safety, even though he had never once managed to erge from the tower.
The white mist didn’t reveal its intentions outright, as three people led by Liu Zicheng—Ruan Qingyun, the white mist, and another person—initiated the motion of an intricate chanism shrouded in the utmost secrecy.
"But I really do want to hear what you find so interesting about this," Wurou said.
"I believe you’ve already felt an urge to destroy this place. Our horses will be back on top soon; we’re inextricably linked, no matter how much we might want to break free. As for the present situation... let’s just say I didn’t co here to suffer for no reason, to let you suffer, when the very evil is at its zenith. You thought you could just scare with a sudden jump... oh? You’re saying you’re okay now? Then I just ca here for nothing?"
Wurou clenched his fist one more ti, readiness to return to the high tower counting down the seconds apparent in his expression, albeit void of emotion.
Eager as ever for redemption, fearful of transforming into the very evil itself. But a strong sense of desperation was conveyed instead of welcoming the light gladly, with a re call of "save , save ".
These won had beco nothing but prepared relics of their past lives; they were not the embodint of wisdom... they had long since transford into the evil they now embodied, these won he had already co out to see.
Tears hotly filled her eyes, Ruan Qingyun’s eyes widened in astonishnt.
"Welco, light... save, save... ," she murmured.
A trendous sorrow was born within their hearts the mont they heard that single phrase, as Liu Zicheng and Ruan Qingyun began to push through a crowd of won from their past lives.
Ten seconds.
He was a miser guarding his hoard of goods, while she rely seed to be a woman watching so commodity... the overseer of a wealthy household.
Instead of arranging food in a more secretive manner, they just set it out as if it were a favorite foodstuff.
The atmosphere of reluctant acceptance was due to a variety of reasons, fear of people being one of them; yet, the sheer number of evil creatures here wanted nothing more than to cover up sothing simple and private about themselves, sothing more primal than a person’s desires that clothes can’t shield against.
She must co through here, my very best friend! They must co through here.
Maybe Liu Zicheng could feel it... but she hadn’t found Chestnut or Moonbreath.
Water mist failed to hide the tears on her face; Liu Zicheng’s face bore a sadness incomparable to any real sorrow, devoid of any desire.
"Chestnut... Moonbreath! Are you there? Answer ... ah!"
As the final twelve seconds of the returning Reincarnation Wheel ticked away, Liu Zicheng began to push these approaching won away, calling out the nas of his good friends.
Due to a lack of strength, because they had been weakened, their very movents that initiated life had beco almost akin to the affectionate interplay between lovers, seeming tender and vulnerable.
These countless won in this place of evil had undergone so much suffering; they were still people, even if they had now changed into sothing else.
This was essentially a hellish place, a dreaming man’s idea of a woman’s kingdom...
This was just a predator, starving to death, eager to swallow food, and certainly not here to serve.
They almost seed like so kind of attendants, licking Liu Zicheng’s skin delicately.
Still clinging to the old infatuation, one woman managed to stand up; using her damp hand, she grabbed Liu Zicheng’s ankle tightly, and then, slowly, she began to move towards Liu Zicheng, but they could do nothing more than drag themselves along the ground like paralyzed snakes, behaving akin to food that barely managed to support itself.
If they possessed any strength, they would certainly have beco frenzied predators breaching the fortifications of people.
Their cries were irrelevant to the intrinsic love of won for n; any sound they made was just an instinctive call.
Being confined to this area, filled with an intoxicating liquid, it was inevitable that these won would create negative emotions in people, but these won felt nothing of desire themselves, engulfed in the blinding white mist.
So of these won only contained a longing in their approach, sothing those few true-hearted n might not even understand.
Their smiles, silly and foolish, lingered on their faces, seeming to carry a hint of flirtation; their eyes veiled in confusion as if dazed, their walking pace akin to the slow movent of flesh-bound zombies, proving that they were not fully equipped to beco evil creatures.
These won had apparently all been injected with a heavy dose of a narcotic agent, as the white mist just realized, but they were indeed closing in on him in that instant.
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