This ti Chu Changge was quiet for a while.
The second hand on the wall clock made a full circle before Gu Mian finally heard his voice, "As I've said before, I can't tell who the Guardians are at first glance. I can only figure it out by observing their daily behavior. However, there is one person who can recognize a Guardian imdiately."
It was Xiao Qiao. Gu Mian rembered Chu Changge had told him about this.
"Not only can she identify who is a Guardian, but she can also determine which alternate world they co from. A long ti ago, I asked Xiao Qiao about this, and she told ..."
Reaching this point, Chu Changge fell silent again for a long mont, then said, "She said the Guardian from the world affiliated with the Slaughter ga is... Jiang Yang."
Jiang Yang. Chu Changge had brought up this na before, but only once.
He said Jiang Yang was Xie Bi'an's forr na. Jiang Yang used to be a very normal person, but now he wraps himself tightly in a cloak and no longer shows his true face to anyone.
Gu Mian had long known that Xie Bi'an also ca from a low-dinsional world, but he hadn't expected him to be from the world where the Slaughter ga existed.
Now, that sa Xie Bi'an was living in this very building, together with the others from Accompany next year, though he was rarely seen.
The first ti Xiao Qiao saw Xie Bi'an was on the school bus during the college entrance exam event. Although Xie Bi'an was bundled up tightly, she recognized him at a glance.
The first thing Xiao Qiao said after seeing him was, "He hasn't died?" It was as if she firmly believed he should have died long ago.
"You ntioned that Xie Bi'an had an accident a long ti ago, which made you all think he was dead... Can I ask what kind of accident it was?" Gu Mian asked.
He was having so trouble understanding. He had known Chu Changge since he was very young. However, Chu Changge seed to have known Xiao Qiao and Xie Bi'an even before the global ga began. Gu Mian really couldn't figure out when Chu Changge had gotten involved with those two.
Chu Changge leaned back on the sofa, as if lost in mory, "That was eight years ago, when you were fourteen."
Gu Mian: "..."
This introduction always made him feel like his dad was telling him the story of his long-deceased mother. Eight years ago was eight years ago; why did you have to ntion my age?
"Eight years ago, there was a tragedy in Jiang Yang's family, and all four mbers passed away... of course, that's what we assud. We never imagined we'd see him again after the ga started," Chu Changge said, leaning back on the sofa.
"What kind of tragedy?"
"Not sure."
If Conan were here, he'd definitely roar, "There's only one truth!" Too bad the little detective wasn't around.
Gu Mian rubbed his chin. "Listening to your description, I get the feeling this matter isn't so simple. It doesn't sound like an accident."
Besides, Jiang Yang's "Resurrection," which turned him into Xie Bi'an, must hide quite a story.
Just then, Fatty, who was beside them, speculated, "Is it possible that the forr Jiang Yang really did die, and the current Xie Bi'an is an imposter, so non-human entity? Could he have beco a ghost? Is that why he keeps himself wrapped up so tightly—because he's afraid of sunlight?"
Gu Mian gave Fatty a look. "Since when do ghosts fear sunlight?"
Indeed... So far, all the ghosts they'd encountered were quite lively under the sun. If you played so music, they might even start a disco dance.
Chu Changge also dismissed Fatty's speculation, "Xiao Qiao would recognize him even if he turned to ashes. He hasn't been replaced, nor has he beco a ghost."
"Ah, this..." Fatty opened his mouth slightly. "But I still feel that man is very dangerous." Even though he appears very friendly and has a pleasant voice.
"If I recall correctly, the first ti you saw Xie Bi'an after the ga started was during the Lantern Festival event, right?" Gu Mian looked at Chu Changge. "After that, he was present at every event we participated in."
It was unclear if the man was doing it intentionally or not, but he kept running into Gu Mian and his group. Now, they even lived in the sa building.
"If Xie Bi'an is a Guardian like Brother Chu, then he should protect the Doctor, right?" Fatty scratched his head.
That's not necessarily the case. Gu Mian still rembered what Liu Ruyan had done when she snuck into his house. Xie Bi'an was unpredictable, making it hard to discern his motives.
"If Brother Chu is really worried, why don't we have Xiao Hong sneak in and strangle him in his sleep?" Fatty proposed an ingenious plan.
Xiao Hong, who had been nad, was busily digging into Fatty's homade strawberry jam. She lifted her head when she heard her na, then imdiately went back to her digging.
Gu Mian glanced at Xiao Hong and withdrew his gaze. "Her chances of a successful assassination are about the sa as your chances of discovering I'm your long-lost father."
Fatty scratched his head, feeling the analogy was a bit strange.
"By the way, since Xie Bi'an is from the world of the Slaughter ga, he should know the na of his world, right? Xiao Qiao also definitely knows the na of her world," Gu Mian mused. "Why don't we go ask them first?"
Xiao Qiao should be easy enough. One sunny noon, Fatty prepared a lavish lunch and successfully lured her over. Without much effort, Gu Mian learned the na of Xiao Qiao's world.
"Twilight Gods World," Xiao Qiao said, stuffing a piece of roast at into her mouth.
Fatty was quite shocked to hear this na. The na sounded like it belonged to an incredibly spectacular world. He could already imagine countless deities walking the earth, the sky filled with the ashes of war.
How could such a magnificent world produce a simpleton like Xiao Qiao? Fatty fell into deep contemplation.
Seemingly reading Fatty's mind, Gu Mian said, "Perhaps her world primarily embodies the 'twilight' aspect, with less emphasis on the 'gods.'"
"What is your world like?" Gu Mian turned to Xiao Qiao.
Hearing this, Xiao Qiao stopped eating, looked up at Gu Mian, and recited, like a poem, "Our world has reached its end. All life shall greet the twilight. All history shall turn to dust. All civilization shall fade into darkness. Only a new world can bring a luminous future."
Well, good. Completely off-topic. But at least she answered. Gu Mian hadn't initially expected Xiao Qiao to speak at all.
Fatty blinked. "Sounds like an apocalyptic world."
Gu Mian forked a piece of waterlon. "The na 'Twilight Gods World' is quite apocalyptic. If it were changed to 'Gods Resurrected,' it might sound a bit better."
"Changing it to 'Gods Resurrected' would make it sound like a horror story. I'd rather stick with the apocalyptic channel," Fatty said, rubbing his arm, which had broken out in goosebumps.
"We haven't encountered an instance from Xiao Qiao's world yet, have we?" Gu Mian stroked his chin. "I haven't seen any instances based on the Twilight Gods World setting."
Xiao Qiao again mumbled, stuffing another piece of roast at into her mouth, "Twilight Gods World... not open. No instances."
No instances? Gu Mian looked at Xiao Qiao. What a strange world, indeed.
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