"Sorry, not interested, no time, thanks."
At the dock area, Ai Qing coldly rejected the man beside her who, like a piece of bubblegum, kept pestering her to treat him to a meal. She pushed her wheelchair across the warning line herself.
The man who tried to follow was stopped by the police guarding the explosion scene and, embarrassed, returned empty-handed.
"Wow, what a heart of stone."
Liu DongLi leaned against the wall and clicked his tongue in wonder. "Don't be so heartless all the time, Miss Ai. If you ask me, it wouldn't hurt to keep a backup, right?"
Ai Qing's wheelchair stopped next to him.
The teenage girl looked at him expressionlessly, continuing to do so until he felt a bit uncomfortable and averted his gaze. Only then did she slowly say, "If I have even the slightest self-awareness about my own circumstances, I would first understand one thing: no one will genuinely fall in love with a rich woman in a wheelchair."
"Uh…"
Liu DongLi was stunned for a long while, then managed a forced smile. "Don't say that. You are so beautiful, and besides, love is something that often defies logic."
"Right, that's why I defy it too."
Ai Qing looked at him. "And I also have money. I pay you to do your job, and you are currently under a review period by the Astronomical Society, so it would be best not to share your Cowherd's wealth-building stories with your Reviewer."
Liu DongLi helplessly shrugged his shoulders and said no more. He obediently followed behind, doing his not-so-promising job as a bodyguard and enforcer.
After a night of torrential rain, the scene at the dock was completely unrecognizable. The original clues had been thoroughly muddled by the foolish actions of certain individuals.
The site of the explosion was a warehouse, more than half of which had collapsed. It was covered in mud, with seven or eight containers already burned into molten iron. Patches of bloody coal dust were smeared haphazardly on the ground...
"Nicely done," Ai Qing nodded appreciatively.
"...Is that sarcasm?" Liu DongLi asked.
"No, it's a sincere compliment." Ai Qing raised her eyebrows, unusually pleased. "Incidents involving Border Relics are often bizarre and difficult to handle. You never know where clues might be. If it can't be resolved, it would become a blemish on my assessment period. Now that someone has stepped forward to take the blame, I don't have to bear any responsibility at all. When the Jurisdiction Bureau eventually assigns accountability, let those self-proclaimed smart fools take the fall."
"…" The corner of Liu DongLi's eye twitched. He was unsure what to say. Compared to this dark, covert struggle, like wrestling in a mire, even a Cowherd like me seems as pure as an Angel.
At that moment, Ai Qing's phone vibrated.
A message.
She glanced at it and froze, as if pondering something.
After a while, she turned off the phone screen.
"What's wrong?" Liu DongLi asked.
"They've discovered several more corpses, all social outcasts with histories of drug addiction." Ai Qing's fingers deftly twirled her phone as she remarked with mocking amusement, "I wonder how long they were interrogated before they died. Tsk, tsk. Such a terrible way to go."
"Heading to the morgue again?" Upon hearing this, Liu DongLi sighed resignedly and touched his face. Frequent visits to the morgue are not good for the skin.
"Why would I bother hurting my own eyes for no reason?" Ai Qing turned her wheelchair around and stated calmly, "Now that I've seen the scene here, let's all go home. When they're completely overwhelmed, I'll graciously step in and save the day."
Liu DongLi was astonished. "...You already have a clue?"
"Coming here was just a formality. The things that truly require attention can be understood by simply glancing at the scene and reading the medical examiner's report. The declared goods in the containers, destined for Europe, were electronic products, declared by a shell company. Tracing it further would yield nothing but a scapegoat. From the scene, it's clear that a group profiting from Border Relics had an internal dispute in the warehouse... The specific reason was probably an uneven split of the loot. What happened afterward is why we took over the case... All of this can be gleaned by merely skimming the reports. However, what concerns me more is this—"
Ai Qing extended her hand, and with two slender fingers, she plucked a small packet of powder from a compartment in her wheelchair.
"What is this?" Liu DongLi had, by now, perfectly adapted to his role as the straight man.
"A hallucinogenic drug found at the scene, a new type of narcotic," Ai Qing said. "The technical department's drug test results are out. It's mixed with Source Substance, which means..."
"It was made by that box-type Border Relic?!" Liu DongLi felt a chill. If it could cause such adverse effects, the severity of this incident might escalate even further.
Ai Qing spoke somberly, "If, after some time, I report this information, those old folks who have been covertly tripping me up... their downfall will surely be quite a spectacle, wouldn't you agree?"
"...Wait!" Liu DongLi suddenly felt a cold sensation at the back of his head. "You're just telling me this? Aren't you afraid I'll spill it? You're not planning to silence me, are you?"
"I'm telling you precisely because I want you to spread the word." Ai Qing casually swung the little bag on her fingertip and said lightly, "Don't you always pride yourself on your communication skills? Go tell them: their lives are in my hands. If they want to continue their happy, parasitic existence, they'd better come crawling to me for mercy..."
Damn it! Liu DongLi couldn't help but want to slap himself twice. Why did I have to ask so many questions? No, why did I have to gloat over her misfortune just now? Look what happened! She roped me into her scheme in less than ten minutes! This woman's vengefulness is way too strong, isn't it?
After a long period of shock and regret, Liu DongLi sharply identified the most significant issue. "But even if they're willing to bow their heads, you need to be confident you can resolve the incident, right?"
"Who says I'm not?" Ai Qing turned her head. Although she wasn't smiling, her eyes were full of mockery. "But do you really want to know?"
Sorry, I don't want to know at all! Liu DongLi's expression twitched, extinguishing his last bit of probing curiosity. This woman... she's just too much…
「. . .」
"I want to!"
At Huai Shi's house, facing the Raven's question, the boy nodded and answered without hesitation.
Do you yearn for a Soul?
To this sudden question, a scene that seemed like a devil's temptation, most people would probably hesitate. But he didn't even pause.
Having experienced a series of bizarre incidents in recent days and come to understand his current circumstances, his courage had grown somewhat. Anyway, if I can't get past this, I'm doomed. What's there to fear?
Although he didn't quite understand what a Soul actually was, it didn't stop Huai Shi from yearning for one. Not only that, but he also yearned for Money, Power, and breasts... However, come to think of it, shouldn't everyone have a Soul?
Raven responded with a question, "Everyone in fairy tales also has a happy ending. Do you really believe that?"
The lack of the anticipated struggle clearly displeased her, and even her explanation lacked enthusiasm. "The existence of a Soul is what defines the boundary between ordinary people and Sublimators. In the current era, there exists a creation known as the 'Sea of Silver'—or rather, it should be called a naturally formed, colossal Origin Spring. It's also referred to as a miracle akin to Perpetual Motion Machines, one of the sources that forged this vast world. Its true core is the Sea of Silver, formed by the collective projection of all human Source Substance. It's said that this intangible ocean is unimaginably vast; all existing human intellect is merely a tributary flowing from it. To embark on the path of Sublimation, to have one's Iron Stone nature traverse the Sea of Silver and sublimate into a Golden Soul—this is the original goal of Alchemy. Only in this way can a person possess a Soul and be rightfully called a 'Sublimator.' Otherwise, one's cognition and consciousness can only be sustained by the flickering sparks within the neural synapses of the brain, ill-equipped to face the darkness and turmoil beyond the Current Circumstances…"
"You keep mentioning the Current Circumstances and the Border. Does that mean there's another world?" Huai Shi interjected.
"In a sense, yes. And not just one, but thousands upon thousands..." Raven cackled strangely. "However, that's not something you need to concern yourself with right now. First, figure out how to awaken your Soul."
"…" Huai Shi could only listen attentively.
"Currently, the Astronomical Society is responsible for guarding the Sea of Silver. Based on the sedimentation rate of all human Source Substance, there are roughly three to four hundred slots available each year. But you won't get one of those. They're divided up by the various branches of the Jurisdiction Bureau before they're even announced, and the lists are booked up for ten years in advance... In reality, most Sublimators don't rely on special permission from the Astronomical Society. Instead, they awaken on their own, like stowaways. That's the path you'll have to take."
Huai Shi swallowed and nodded earnestly. "Then what?"
"For others, this process is naturally fraught with immense difficulty, more dangerous than a modern city dweller trying to survive in the wilderness. It's like launching a rocket with meager supplies, not only having to break free from the gravitational pull of the Sea of Silver but also facing all sorts of unexpected accidents and challenges. No one knows what awaits them. To succeed, both strength and Luck are indispensable, but even possessing both is no guarantee of safety. One needs abundant Source Substance, intense stimulation, the perfect opportunity, and a bit of Luck... It's often like winning the lottery—difficult to replicate. Fortunately, with such a large population base, there are always one or two who succeed."
"And those who fail?" Huai Shi asked.
Raven seemed to smile but said nothing. Huai Shi felt a chill creep into his heart.
"But don't worry, you don't need to concern yourself with that problem." She lifted a wing and patted Huai Shi's shoulder. "You have a unique advantage, boy. With the Book of Fate in hand, it's as if a grand highway to the heavens lies at your feet. Others are like Icarus; you're climbing a ladder. Very stable!"
"Then... what exactly do I need to do?"
"It's simple," Raven said. "You just need to kill people."
"If you do it yourself, the records in the Book of Fate will certainly be more detailed, right? Not only that, kill one, and you'll gain that person's skills. Kill ten, and you'll become an undeniable Talent. With it, the more people you kill, Huai Shi, the more powerful you will become."
She whispered in the boy's ear, "Haven't so many people looked down on you? You must hate them to death, right? Not just your classmates and teachers, but also the parents who abandoned you... This world hasn't treated you well. Why should you be merciful to it?"
Huai Shi was stunned.
Ah, he's finally scared, isn't he? For a moment, Raven felt a flicker of pleasure. But when Huai Shi looked up, she sensed in his eyes a trace of… surprise?
"Really?" Huai Shi was somewhat incredulous. "I just need to kill people?"
"…"
"Then let's start with Li WuYang," Huai Shi stated, counting on his fingers. "Who told him to always show off his good father and good uncle? Rich but heartless, he deserves to die! And that woman who flirts with him, the two of them are probably already an item... The English teacher is third; she's always making snide remarks about me in class... Right, and that fat guy who thought I stole his money. His brother is no good either, always picking fights at school. I'd be ridding society of pests, right? Old Yang, that rotten agent, too. I work so hard, and he just flaps his gums and takes a twenty percent cut..."
As he spoke, Huai Shi lifted his head, his expression blank as he looked at her.
"—They all should die because they've all offended me, right?"