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Deus Ex Machina: Chapter 37
Chapter 37
A clown’s tongue shot out from the gun’s muzzle, and just as it was about to touch Bai Yunci’s cheek, it lost its momentum and fell to the ground, accompanied by a flurry of colorful confetti.
“Beep beep, amazing!” Luan Chen couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the frozen expressions of Bai Yunci and Zhan Feng. Bai Yunci, usually so calm, couldn’t contain a low growl in response to such a prank: “Are you crazy?”
Even the most mischievous kids wouldn’t come up with such a lowbrow joke.
“I think it’s quite interesting,” Luan Chen said, looking at Zhan Feng. “Zhan Feng, you really are losing your composure. It’s not bad to be able to mess with you like this; for that, I can let both of you have a way out.”
“You…” This time, Zhan Feng was genuinely infuriated by Luan Chen, his cheeks slightly flushing red. He should have been used to Luan Chen’s unpredictable moods by now, should have realized that this man had countless lowly tactics; he should have been able to keep a straight face.
Luan Chen said, “How can I believe you’ll help me find Yang Jin?”
Zhan Feng fell silent.
“You,” Luan Chen’s voice softened, “have never told me the truth since you opened your eyes. How can I trust a word you say is genuine? Haven’t I been tricked and deceived by you enough times? We haven’t even settled the score for what happened in Sand City.”
Zhan Feng still remained silent.
“However, it’s not the time for settling accounts,” Luan Chen said, almost as if he were talking to himself. He took out a cigarette, and with a quick flick of the lighter, half of his face was illuminated. He lit the cigarette but didn’t smoke it; instead, he tossed the lighter onto the nearby bookshelf, igniting several newspapers that quickly burst into flames.
“Since you can’t find Yang Jin right away, I have no reason to waste time here with you,” Luan Chen said. “The fire will take a little while to spread, giving you enough time to escape. Looking forward to seeing you again, Queen.”
He prepared to leave gracefully, but Bai Yunci called out to him, “Are you Checker?”
Luan Chen didn’t directly answer the question, merely smiled before leaving.
In just a short while, the entire bookshelf was engulfed in flames, with broken wood falling to the ground and sparks flying up. The ground, not very dry, soon began to fill with acrid smoke.
“There’s too much biological glue on the internet,” Bai Yunci said. “It’s impossible to open. The ground is so damp; it shouldn’t be burning this fast—too fast…”
As the fire reached the ground, it flared up almost instantly, threatening to surround them.
Luan Chen wasn’t giving them a chance; he clearly wanted them to die a more painful death.
Zhan Feng closed his eyes, swallowed hard, and murmured, “I’ll try… I’ll try…” He had a versatile potential, but after awakening again, he had hardly used his physical strength. He vaguely sensed that his body had a critical threshold; all his actions stayed within a safe range, and he would absolutely avoid crossing that line unless absolutely necessary.
That absolute necessity was probably right now.
He suddenly opened his eyes, furrowing his brows. With a powerful shout, he exerted all his strength, the veins on his forehead bulging faintly. He gritted his teeth and let out a roar that teetered on the brink of his limits. The thin wire wrapped around his fingers, leaving dark blue marks that quickly began to bleed.
“Zhan Feng, you…” Bai Yunci gasped.
“I can—ah!!!” Zhan Feng’s bones cracked as the wire finally tore open under the strain, creating a situation that couldn’t be contained. The wire cut deeply into his palm, but compared to the wound on his hand, his overall condition seemed even more precarious.
He wasn’t the type to have brute strength; in fact, he was quite slender. At this moment, he was pushing himself too hard, and his complexion had shifted from red to pale, making him appear extremely fragile.
“I told you, I can.” Zhan Feng carelessly tore the wire from his hand, instantly staining his palms red. “We… we need to go…” Before he could take a step, he collapsed.
If Bai Yunci hadn’t rushed to catch him, he would have fallen straight into the sea of flames.
“Zhan Feng!” Bai Yunci called out to him, but there was no response. He had no choice but to quickly carry Zhan Feng away from this disaster.
Just as they burst through the door, the flames followed behind them. A wave of scorching heat surged at their backs, and Bai Yunci had no time to look back, forcing himself to keep moving forward.
Suddenly, the previously disabled screen flickered back to life, showing a signal that had been lost for a long time. Feng Mang perked up and ran to the screen.
“Lao Bai!” he shouted. “Are you and Zhan Feng okay?”
“Still okay,” Bai Yunci coughed a couple of times. “I’m fine, but Zhan Feng might be in trouble. Call the fire department; we’re at the logistics distribution center. Hurry!”
“Ah? Why? What happened to you?” Feng Mang asked.
Bai Yunci snapped, “What the hell are you talking about?”
It was the first time Feng Mang had seen Bai Yunci speak to him in such a terrifying tone, and without uttering a word, he called the fire department. Just as the call was being processed, Shi Yixi and the others returned.
“So fast?” Feng Mang was surprised.
“The necessary things have already been said,” Shi Yixi replied. “There’s no need to waste time.”
This was bad news everyone knew was inevitable. Feng Mang said, “There’s some good news; Lao Bai and the others made contact.”
“Mm,” Shi Yixi nodded, showing no surprise.
Ying Si said, “Now it’s just a few of us; what do we do?” In less than a day, it seemed everyone had grown accustomed to looking to Shi Yixi for guidance.
“I’ll go by myself,” Shi Yixi answered simply.
“You’re going out there by yourself? To save Yang Jin?” Ying Si exclaimed. “Are you crazy? Do you even know what you’re saying?”
Shi Yixi nodded. “I know.”
Ying Si snapped, “Then why are you saying it!”
“Someone has to try,” Shi Yixi replied. “But I can’t ask you to join me in taking risks, so I can only say I’ll go alone because I can only be responsible for my own actions.”
“No way! I can’t let you, you idiot, go out there alone to get into trouble!” Ying Si insisted. “If you really have to go, then I’ll go with you.”
Dalia jumped up and raised her hand. “Me! Me too!”
“You all…” Shi Yixi felt slightly helpless.
“Are you all insane?” Feng Mang interrupted. “Three kids here planning to sneak into the Intercontinental Alliance headquarters? Excuse me, am I hearing this right?”
Shi Yixi replied, “At least I’m an adult now.”
“Stop talking nonsense,” Feng Mang said. “Let’s think of a way. How long do you think Yang Jin can hold out? Has he conveyed any messages to you?”
“Not anymore,” Shi Yixi answered. “I only know he’s still alive.”
“Then we need to hurry,” Feng Mang urged.
Outside, the clouds were still rolling ominously.
Meng Die was in the kitchen preparing lunch, but it was already afternoon. She glanced up at the window, noticing some people outside. Although the citizens of Aurora were enveloped in a terrifying atmosphere, life had to go on.
No matter how fearful one might be of the unknown dangers and fears, people still needed to eat and drink. Humans were far more adaptable and resilient than any other creatures on this planet.
In the distance, the sound of a crowd rose and fell, and soon, a procession passed by Meng Die’s window—another parade. They were condemning the Intercontinental Alliance’s inaction, criticizing Qianfan for doing nothing. Despite the advanced technology and the civilized nature of humanity, disasters continued to occur.
Those heroes in whom people had placed their hopes had yet to appear. Anger filled the masses as they prepared to march towards the headquarters of the Intercontinental Alliance to protest, undaunted by any hidden dangers.
“Hey…” Meng Die didn’t notice when the plate in her hand fell to the floor. She bent down to pick it up, hearing He Xun speaking behind her.
“Xiao Die,” He Xun said, “are we doing the right thing?”
Meng Die carefully gathered the shards and asked, “What are you talking about?”
“They’re asking where the heroes are,” He Xun said with a bitter smile. “The heroes have either died or hidden away, just like us.”
Meng Die replied, “We have nothing to do with those people anymore.”
“But some things are etched in our bodies; there’s nothing that can change that,” He Xun said. “Xiao Die, you’ve sacrificed too much for me already.”
“This isn’t a sacrifice,” Meng Die stepped forward, her emotions a bit heightened. “I want to do this!”
He Xun asked, “Are you willing to do anything for me?”
“I am!” Meng Die blurted out, but then realized what He Xun might say and immediately shook her head. “No, that’s not right!”
He Xun walked over and gently tucked the stray hair back from Meng Die’s face, his palm lightly touching her cheek. He smiled and said, “You know me so well, and I know you just as well.”
Meng Die replied, “I don’t want to do anything for anyone associated with Qianfan anymore.”
“It’s not for them,” He Xun said. “It’s for us. Qianfan no longer exists, and the situation is so chaotic that this news will eventually be made public. What will happen then? What actions will the predatory Sanctum take? If it falls into chaos and turmoil again, we won’t be safe either. Whether it’s love or hate, it’s all built on the foundation of peace.”
Meng Die pointed outside and said, “Is it for those idiots who only hold up signs asking ‘why’?”
He Xun replied, “Xiao Die, do you remember the oath we took when we joined that project over twenty years ago?”
Meng Die quietly said, “For the collaborative tomorrow of humanity.”
“Collaborative,” He Xun emphasized. “The universe is vast, yet there are millions of life forms on Earth alone. Each species, each individual life has its differences, but we must share this world because we only have each other. I have a feeling that humanity’s tomorrow is approaching, and the God of War should not be absent.”
“I…” Meng Die showed a soft expression for the first time. She gently rubbed her cheek against He Xun’s palm and softly said, “I just want to be with you.”
“So do I.” He Xun kissed her forehead gently. “But maybe this is what we must fight for, just like we did over twenty years ago.”
Meng Die said, “We can go to other planets, to a place with no one else.”
He Xun simply smiled.
Bai Yunci returned to Feng Mang’s building with the still unconscious Zhan Feng. The sight of the two surprised the other four.
“What…” Feng Mang stared at Zhan Feng’s tragic appearance, unsure of what to say.
“Don’t ask,” Bai Yunci said. “Help me gather tools and medicine; I need to treat his wounds.” He laid Zhan Feng on the bed, who was twitching slightly in his unconscious state. Bai Yunci then turned to the nearest Ying Si and said, “Hold him down.”
Ying Si turned his face away. “Not a chance.”
Bai Yunci grabbed a pair of scissors nearby, and seeing this, Feng Mang quickly said, “I’ll do it, I’ll do it.” He pressed Zhan Feng down while Bai Yunci quietly treated Zhan Feng’s hand wounds.
Zhan Feng slightly opened his eyes, his gaze unfocused, murmuring incoherently, and his body trembled even more. The others rushed to help, and Dalia asked, “What’s he saying?”
Feng Mang listened carefully and said, “It sounds like, ‘Yang Jin killed… killed Zhan Feng.’”
Zhan Feng continued, “Regeneration… execution…”
Feng Mang frowned and asked, “What are you saying?”
Bai Yunci quickly finished treating Zhan Feng’s hand wounds. When Feng Mang asked if he could calm Zhan Feng down, Bai Yunci wasn’t sure what was going on with him and was afraid that using drugs might cause an unknown condition similar to Shi Yixi’s, so he decided to knock Zhan Feng out instead. Everyone was sweating profusely, and Feng Mang asked, “What’s going on?”
“From the reactions, his body has exceeded its limit,” Bai Yunci summarized the events they had experienced at the logistics center. “But to understand what specifically caused this, I need to conduct a more detailed examination. It might be related to his ‘regeneration.’”
“Damn!” Ying Si shouted. “My brain is going to explode! Why are there so many unsolved mysteries? I don’t want to play anymore!”
Bai Yunci said, “Tell me what you’ve discovered over there.”
Feng Mang explained what he knew to Bai Yunci, who pondered for a moment and said, “I should go.”
“You just escaped with your life; isn’t it too much to go find Yang Jin again?” Feng Mang said. “You’re a doctor, not a warrior. Your potential can support you in pulling people back from the brink of death, but not in battling someone hand-to-hand.”
“Is there a choice?” Bai Yunci said softly. “There isn’t.”
“Maybe there is.” Shi Yixi pointed at the screen. On the monitor were He Xun and Meng Die.
Several people sat around the sofa, initially silent, the atmosphere a bit awkward. Feng Mang went to make himself a large cup of coffee, gulped it down, and glanced at Meng Die’s dual blades resting beside her before saying, “So… what brings you two here? Did you forget something?”
“That little little demon,” Meng Die pointed at Shi Yixi, “I can help you rescue Yang Jin, but you have to agree to one condition.”
“What condition?” Feng Mang asked hastily. “How much do you want?”
Meng Die replied, “I want the formula for the Star Mark.”
“…” Feng Mang took a step back. “Farewell.”
Bai Yuncai said, “That’s fine.”
“Fine my foot!” Ying Si said beside Bai Yuncai. “We don’t even know if Zhan Feng is dead or alive. What if he…”
“There’s a smell of blood here,” He Xun suddenly said. “Is someone injured?”
“No,” Ying Si instinctively replied.
“Zhan Feng is injured,” Bai Yuncai said calmly. “The situation… isn’t good.”
He Xun asked, “Can I see him? The smell of his blood is a bit strange.”
“Come on.” Bai Yuncai stood up and said to the others, “You stay here and discuss how to rescue Yang Jin.”
“Okay.” Feng Mang nodded.
Meng Die walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and gazed far away at the heavily guarded building. The others were hesitant to approach her, unsure why she suddenly agreed to their request, even wondering if there was some ulterior motive behind her agreement.
“ZZ is in that building,” Meng Die said. “It’s the main system of the Intercontinental Alliance. It’s a standard artificial intelligence, cold and unfeeling, indifferent to any human emotion. Its system is very advanced; while it doesn’t compare to Pony, it’s still enough to prevent anyone from getting close.”
“Can’t you say something else?” Feng Mang said, speechless. He truly didn’t understand why Meng Die was stating things everyone already knew.
“Something else?” Meng Die said. “If Yang Jin really is in that building and in danger, ZZ will definitely not stand by. According to the agreement between the Intercontinental Alliance and Qianfan, the Alliance has no right to impose any substantial penalties on Qianfan members. So there’s only one possibility: someone has bypassed ZZ.”
“Isn’t ZZ impervious to being reprogrammed?” Feng Mang asked.
Meng Die sneered, “ZZ isn’t an idiot like you.”
“So you’re saying that perhaps the person doing this isn’t part of the Intercontinental Alliance but has intricate ties to it?” Shi Yixi said.
“A machine can never discern whether the communication between people is evil or good, or both,” Meng Die said. “Daytime isn’t a good time for action; let’s go at night.”
Ying Si asked, “Aren’t you anxious? Are you hoping to wait until nightfall to see Yang Jin get killed before you’re happy? I think that’s why you’re here!”
Shi Yixi patted Ying Si on the shoulder. “There are only a few hours left until dark.”
“A little demon is still a little demon,” Meng Die said. “Yang Jin being alive is far more useful than him being dead. Besides, is he that easy to kill?”
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