Chapter 13: Locking Himself Up |
After returning, Lu Guangqi and Zhang Qinglang each took turns comforting him.
Zhang Qinglang even treated him to another big meal and led him on a tour around the base.
Wu Zhong nodded on the surface, but inside he felt very insecure.
He thought: They won't sacrifice me, will they? They won't trade me to the ghosts and gods, will they? I don't trust you for a second.
He really couldn't trust them—failure meant death.
He'd never felt secure from the start; his life had been plain and uneventful, and the successive upheavals had made him hypersensitive.
Today’s conversation between Lu Guangqi and the ghosts and gods had snapped the taut string of his nerves.
He had seen and heard with his own eyes and ears that those ghosts and gods wanted his life.
And he could very well be butchered and sold off.
Maybe Lu Guangqi just hadn’t finalized terms yet, or maybe he didn't have the right to decide.
But what if the terms were agreed upon?
In such a huge disaster, what did sacrificing one person amount to?
If they reached an agreement, he didn't think he'd survive.
Besides that, there was his door-welding ability.
He'd been keeping it secret, hadn't dared to tell anyone, but he felt he couldn't hide it forever.
Wu Zhong was torn: should he confess proactively, or keep hiding it to the end?
He didn't know what the consequences would be.
After all, these people told him almost nothing, kept him outside the circle, and left him unsettled.
Even the name "985 Firefighting Unit" he only heard accidentally from his lifesaver, Infinite Summer.
But hiding it wasn't realistic either.
If anyone started suspecting this direction, he'd have to say it eventually; being stubbornly silent could lead to bad outcomes.
They had that Ever-Thirst Plum—if someone contracted Ever-Thirst, life would be worse than death.
Just thinking of that thing made Wu Zhong shiver.
This world was far more terrifying and mysterious than he had imagined.
And though he had a superpower, damn it, it was practically useless.
He couldn't rely on his door-smashing fists to match Lu Guangqi's turtle-style energy-clearing palm in a power showdown—was he insane?
"Ugh… this is so annoying."
Wu Zhong trailed behind Zhang Qinglang as they strolled and came near the B12 gate.
He had a thought: Infinite Summer must be locked in there.
"Daoist Zhang, yesterday Lu Team Leader said they would bring some Ever-Thirst Plum today to use on that guy. Is that true?"
Zhang Qinglang paused: "Bring Ever-Thirst Plum? Oh… you mean Infinite Summer. If that fellow refuses to cooperate, then he might get exposed to it."
"But that guy should have comrades who will come rescue him, so there’s no rush. Maybe they can play the long game and catch bigger fish."
Wu Zhong asked, "How do you know he definitely has comrades coming to save him?"
Zhang Qinglang smiled: "It's obvious. He's so calm and composed, doesn't take the firefighting unit seriously at all—he must be relying on something."
"Either he has a hidden ability he hasn't used yet and believes he can break out, or he has comrades coming to save him."
"But the former is almost impossible. He's a defeated opponent of Lu Team Leader. If he could escape, he would have left long ago—why stay in this cage?"
Wu Zhong cocked his head. So Zhang Qinglang was a mercenary?
Makes sense—everybody else basically wore uniforms, and he was the only one in a Daoist robe, looking out of place.
Although Zhang Qinglang acted like one of them here, he clearly wasn't an official member; he was probably a long-term cooperating external aid.
"What do you mean by 'disaster world'?"
Zhang Qinglang chuckled lightly: "It's just our circle of people. You're not part of the circle, so don't ask too many questions."
Wu Zhong sighed. Disaster world… this exclusive circle must be people with special abilities.
Because they thought he wasn't part of the circle, they told him only what was necessary and nothing more.
That made him want to reveal his superpower right away.
But Wu Zhong restrained himself.
Wu Zhong hesitated: "Um, Daoist Zhang, can I go in and talk to Infinite Summer?"
Zhang Qinglang was surprised: "Huh? What would you talk about with him?"
Wu Zhong said: "He saved my life after all. I want to thank him properly face to face."
"If it weren't for him, I would have been killed by the Day Wandering Deities yesterday afternoon."
Zhang Qinglang clasped his hands: "I'll ask Lu Team Leader. After all, I'm a guest here and can't decide on my own."
Wu Zhong heard that Zhang Qinglang would ask Lu Team Leader and felt it was a long shot, so he silently returned to his room.
But an hour later, Zhang Qinglang suddenly came with a card.
"Come, come, Lu Team Leader agreed. I'll take you in."
Wu Zhong brightened and hurried to follow.
They arrived at the B12 gate, and Zhang Qinglang rummaged in his sleeve and produced an air shield!
Click—the air shield fit into the grid slot, and the gate slowly opened.
"What's that…?"
Zhang Qinglang shook the air shield in his hand like a translucent cube: "I can't condense an air shield myself; that's the 985 unit's absolute trait."
"And this gate detects the composition of the air shield; it must reach a specific ratio and arrangement."
"But since Lu Team Leader prepared an air shield, it can last an hour. I borrowed it for use."
Wu Zhong was startled—that was basically a key, wasn't it?
He'd seen condensed air abilities before and thought the user had to maintain them, but he hadn't realized a product could be made and given to someone else.
And the gate using an ability-derived product as a key guaranteed its uniqueness.
"Daoist Zhang, can I touch it?"
Zhang Qinglang thought for a moment and tossed it to him.
Wu Zhong toyed with it. The air shield was extremely light—truly just air shaped by an invisible force welded into the form of a shield.
He was stunned; it was a little like his door-welding ability.
Only, he welded doors—this welded air.
Damn, look at that ability!
It could weld air into huge scales and block attacks from ghosts and gods… even though it hadn't fully blocked them that time…
But how useful it could be—Wu Zhong immediately thought of many clever uses.
Compared to that, his own door-welding made him want to curse; thinking about it only brought him tears.
"Daoist Zhang, what do they call this? Absolute trait? Does everyone in the 985 unit have it?"
Zhang Qinglang nodded: "Basically yes. The air shield is their exclusive specialty."
Wu Zhong excitedly asked: "Can I learn it?"
Zhang Qinglang glanced at him: "In theory you could, but you don't learn it like a skill… an absolute trait is basically an infection."
Wu Zhong froze—an infection?
Lu Team Leader had also used that term yesterday, saying a single glance could infect someone with Ever-Thirst.
Without doubt, Ever-Thirst was an absolute trait too… the name fit: an effect that lasts forever and is essentially unsolvable—an absolute trait.
So the fact that the 985 unit could make air shields meant they'd been infected with a trait themselves—by sight, touch, or something else.
Only this was a positive effect, while Ever-Thirst was the ultimate negative.
"Don't get your hopes up. The 985 firefighting unit isn't easy to join. It's an official containment unit."
"You'd have to be an outstanding cadre to be selected for training… what's your political status?"
Wu Zhong blankly: "I'm an ordinary citizen."
Zhang Qinglang smiled: "That's far from enough. Becoming a formal member is basically impossible."
"Hand the air shield back to me."
They were already in the corridor as he spoke.
He saw Wu Zhong casually close the gate with the air shield and reached out to take it.
"Oh, okay."
Wu Zhong obediently handed the air shield back to Zhang Qinglang.
After Zhang Qinglang put it away, he looked at him and suddenly said: "Why is your heart beating so fast?"
"Huh? Oh, I heard you talk about all this and my heart surged—it's so shocking that our world actually has these things. I never knew before," Wu Zhong said. He could hear his own heartbeat and hadn't expected the Daoist to hear it too—the man's hearing was really sharp…
He was indeed nervous, because he had borrowed the air shield and, on a whim, closed the gate—welding the door shut!
To be honest, he didn't know why he had acted so boldly!
He just felt this was an opportunity.
Opening and closing this gate required an air-shield trait. He hadn't expected Zhang Qinglang to bring a temporary air shield and let him play with it.
Of course he had shut the gate.
As for why he'd welded it shut afterwards—truthfully, he didn't know!
He only instinctively felt that if he missed this chance, it might be gone forever.
Exposing his trait? So what—sooner or later it would be exposed anyway.
Besides, his ability left no energy trace and no visible mark; by these people's standards, it was an absolute trait and particularly stealthy.
If no one else tried to open this gate, who would know it had been welded shut?
And for the moment, almost no one else would come through; it was just him and Zhang Qinglang.
If there was no later chance to escape, he could undo the weld by touching the gate when he and Zhang Qinglang left together.
No one would ever notice.
Yes—escape.
The thought of escape grew in Wu Zhong's mind; after all, he was too worried about Lu Team Leader making a deal with ghosts and gods.
Better to believe there's a threat than to deny it.
Infinite Summer remained calm even while imprisoned and seemed unconcerned about Ever-Thirst—he most likely had a way to escape!
Either he had the ability himself, or his teammates would come to rescue him. Either way, Wu Zhong wanted to ride that tide and had to talk to him first.
If he had a chance, he'd gamble—beg Infinite Summer to take him along.
Wu Zhong told himself that since the ghosts and gods were after him, he couldn't go back to ordinary life. Being so weak, he had to cling to some strong ally.
Infinite Summer was a disaster-world mercenary, a golden-tier one—higher than Daoist Zhang…
Lu Guangqi said this man was cold-blooded and ruthless, but Wu Zhong didn't fully believe that… after all, would a truly cold-blooded person save him?
Even if the rescue was a reflex, that act would betray a more benevolent nature, not someone who'd watch others die with amusement.
Of course there were many possibilities, but the point was Wu Zhong had no choice.
Infinite Summer was his only hope of changing his situation.
He could either stay obediently and be manipulated—betting they'd spare him to pacify the ghosts and gods—or gamble on Infinite Summer and hope he'd take him away… both were bets.
Only that Infinite Summer wasn't official, which might mean he wasn't obligated to "resolve the ghostly disaster"—that could actually be safer for Wu Zhong…
Click.
Zhang Qinglang used the card and opened Infinite Summer's cell.
They entered, and Zhang Qinglang called out: "Infinite Summer, your companion is here to see you."
Hearing that, Wu Zhong's mouth twitched: "Huh?"
Infinite Summer opened his eyes: "I have no companion."
Zhang Qinglang chuckled: "You really don't recognize him?"
He was testing Infinite Summer again—or testing Wu Zhong?
These people always felt Infinite Summer's act of saving someone and the ghosts and gods hunting people down were too coincidental, as if he knew something.
Wu Zhong didn't care; he knew for sure he didn't know Infinite Summer, and after being rescued yesterday, the man hadn't even glanced his way!
So he was certain Infinite Summer had acted on instinct when saving him… Wu Zhong was just a random man who should have been hit by a car.
"This guy wants to say something to you." Zhang Qinglang leaned against the wall, watching Wu Zhong to see what he would say.
Infinite Summer watched Wu Zhong with interest.
"It's you, huh—being hunted by those ghosts and gods at all costs? That's the first time I've heard of something like this…"
Wu Zhong brightened when the man spoke to him. He'd feared Infinite Summer would be aloof and cold and give him no chance to talk.
"Brother Xia, my name's Wu Zhong—'Zhong' like finishing what you start..." he stammered. "You saved my life yesterday. I wanted to thank you then, but you ignored me."
"I didn't expect we'd meet again… I couldn't talk with you yesterday, so I begged Daoist Zhang to bring me in today just to thank you properly."
"And thank you too, Daoist Zhang. You're not from here yet you asked Lu Team Leader for the key just to grant my small wish. I really appreciate it."
Wu Zhong bowed sincerely in thanks and also expressed gratitude to Zhang Qinglang.
"Haha, you're too polite. It's nothing. My face is broad—it's not that troublesome," Zhang Qinglang said with a smile, not noticing that Wu Zhong had just revealed how he had come in and other details.
The Daoist wasn't part of the 985 unit; he’d gotten the key from Lu Team Leader, and Lu himself hadn't come—if he had, there would be no need to give a key.
Revealing that the key was on Zhang Qinglang's person, and that it was only the two of them here, was information that could help Infinite Summer escape.
Infinite Summer commented with interest: "Really? I was the surprised one. I only lifted a finger, and unexpectedly saved someone who Ji Meng wanted dead."
"Truly a lucky accident… Kid, do you know Ji Meng and those ghosts and gods?"
Wu Zhong looked miserable: "How would I know them? I was living a fine life and suddenly got targeted by ghosts and gods. They want my life for some reason."
"So now I have to live here under protection, can't do anything, and was even taken to meet the ghosts and gods—it's terrifying."
He revealed his predicament.
Infinite Summer chuckled: "Ji Meng and the others never target an individual. They're only focused on restoring their dominance and bringing ghosts and gods back to rule the world."
"So despite being weak, they’re hasty to kill you—maybe because you might block them in the future."
Wu Zhong was startled.
Zhang Qinglang threw himself against the glass wall: "Hey! What do you mean by 'never target an individual'?"
"They only appeared yesterday morning. Did you see them before? There are no traces of them in the last few hundred years of disaster history—when did you ever see them? Why have they reappeared? What else do you know!"
Zhang Qinglang grew agitated. They had always suspected Infinite Summer was suspicious, not just an ordinary intruder.
He seemed to know more about the Mount Lu ghosts and gods than they did.
But that was unreasonable—since the 985 unit was the first to discover and take over the scene, the whole site had been sealed.
Infinite Summer smiled faintly: "Oh, I just said it casually. Is there a need to nitpick words?"
"After all, they're ghosts and gods from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Before they regain strength, targeting a single mortal is odd, isn't it?"
Zhang Qinglang snapped: "You must know more! Say it!"
"Heh." Infinite Summer only smiled without answering.
Zhang Qinglang clenched his fists: "Not getting angry… Great Dao governs the stars, adapt continuously… wisdom clear, heart at peace…"
Wu Zhong took the chance: "Brother Infinite Summer, stop pretending. If you know something, just say it."
"When you're under a roof, you've got to bow. You're a lone mercenary trapped here—can you really escape?"
"If they really have that Ever-Thirst Plum and deliver it today, it would be disastrous if you caught Ever-Thirst…"
Infinite Summer's mouth curved: "I can leave this place whenever I want. No one can stop me… unlike you."
Hearing that, Zhang Qinglang laughed: "Who broke in and got captured by Lu Team Leader with bare hands!"
"Lu Team Leader has decided to stay and guard until you explain everything. If you have comrades, let them come—come and we'll seize them!"
Infinite Summer remained silent.
Zhang Qinglang decided not to waste words and gestured to lead Wu Zhong out.
"Done talking? Then let's go. I'll take you to see Lu Team Leader."
Wu Zhong followed silently. After Zhang Qinglang stepped out first, Wu Zhong suddenly stopped.
"Hmm?" Zhang Qinglang turned back to look.
He saw Wu Zhong move like lightning—slam!—and shut the cell door.
"What are you doing!"
Zhang Qinglang frowned; he didn't know what the kid was up to.
He guessed Wu Zhong wanted to meet Infinite Summer and might be problematic, but both he and Lu Team Leader thought the two had some kind of connection.
Especially since they'd found mysterious money transfers to Wu Zhong from someone now abroad and untraceable… it could be linked to an organization, with Wu Zhong as a fringe recruit.
So Lu Team Leader had agreed to the meeting to test the waters—see if Wu Zhong and Infinite Summer would have a secret rendezvous.
A twist occurred, but he hadn't expected Wu Zhong to lock himself inside—that was an attempt to pass secret info to Infinite Summer alone?
Hmph, that was blunt and crude.
Zhang Qinglang took out the access card to swipe and reopen the cell, but then froze.
The door didn't open automatically.
"Huh?"
Puzzled, Zhang Qinglang pushed hard with his palm, but the big door didn't budge.
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