The wires were pulled. All the signals flared. The eyes that had been closed for years finally opened and saw the real world.
“We’re home.”
They were soaked in the nutrient solvent, so one couldn’t tell if they cried. Several hundred ‘people’ floated in the tank, but only fifty woke up.
“Based on facts alone, without your help, these people might be trapped in Han Hai forever.” No. 2’s voice came from the torture room. “However, I still have to beg you not to open the torture room’s door in real life. Xin Lu will be invaded by the shadow, and No. 0 will notice you.”
Gao Ming ignored No. 2 and removed the dreaming device. He asked Zhang Ding, “When I was gone, did Immortal Pharma send people over?”
“They sent seven batches of investigators.” Zhang Ding pointed at his feet. “Thankfully, we’re on a ship. I’m powerful in water. After all, I died from drowning.”
“They might send an Unmentionable soon. We should move.” No. 2 started to plan for Gao Ming. “Jiujiang is not a bad choice.”
To prevent Gao Ming from harming Xin Lu, No. 2 suggested Jiujiang and offered many pros. Gao Ming shook his head. He calculated the allies he had and remained silent.
“What are you worried about? The Unmentionables from the other cities will be here soon. If you want a cut of Xin Lu Blood City, you have to hide yourselves better.” No. 2 tried his best to persuade him when he realised he was held in place by the God of Flesh and Blood. “You…”
“I didn’t bring everyone from Han Hai to start hiding.” Gao Ming’s consciousness entered the torture room. Everyone could sense his emotions. “We don’t know anything about the Unmentionables from the other Blood Cities, but you’re different.”
“Me?”
“You can sense the situation with your real body. At least you have to know something about the Unmentionable who is keeping you imprisoned.” Gao Ming was brave. He knew he’d be detected by the Unmentionable when he discussed them, but he didn’t care.
No. 2’s lingering spirit cowered. He didn’t dare to spread his voice outside the torture room. “Is your target the Unmentionable?”
“You need to sacrifice half a city of humans to satisfy a Dream Ghost. That is too slow. The quicker way is to snatch the other Unmentionables’ altars.” Gao Ming chatted with No. 2 inside the torture room. “The Unmentionable who detains you is definitely our enemy. Why not make them our target? Once we succeed, all the Dream Ghosts will benefit, and we can save you and make us stronger!”
When Gao Ming included him in the plan, No. 2’s consciousness wavered. Ever since the world’s saviours left, he hadn’t felt such camaraderie.
“Unspeakable, unhearable and unknowable, those are the three grades of Blood City Ghosts. The thing that traps me is an Unknowable. It is far stronger than you can fathom. You might be able to face it after you rebuild the Blood City.” No. 2 was thankful that Gao Ming wanted to save him, but he was a realist. “If not for the limitations placed upon it in the real world, we might have been wiped out already.” No. 2 was etched with worry. “Xin Lu Blood City is the spot in the inner world that is closest to the real world. It is where the passage is. After they take over Xin Lu Blood City, the real world will be accessible to them. Then, we’ll have nowhere to hide.”
“So, what we need to do now is to head to Xin Lu Blood City and help you find the saviour’s altars?” Gao Ming knew No. 2 too well. He took a long detour, but his goal hadn’t changed.
“To be frank, we have no chance at all without the saviours.” No. 2 was rational to his enemy and himself. “If we keep waiting, we’ll only face death.”
“You sure are pessimistic.”
“If you really don’t want to head to Jiujiang, I know one more person who can help you. He is fully trustworthy.” No. 2 rarely praised someone. This was rare.
“Who?”
“Huang Yin.”
“Xin Lu’s greatest criminal?!” Gao Ming didn’t know Huang Yin. He only heard of him from the taboo game players. Huang Yin was the saviour’s best friend. He was loyal and strong. He was the taboo game players’ faith.
“Huang Yin knows many things about the saviours. Actually, the saviours trust Huang Yin more than me.” No. 2 revealed many things to Gao Ming because he trusted him. “I know where he is hiding. I can bring you to him. However, before that, you have to deal with these people on the ship.”
“Okay. I promise you.” Gao Ming was interested in both Huang Yin and the world’s saviours.
Xin Lu was about to be targeted, but they still hadn’t returned. What delayed them?
“Gao Ming!”
The devices exploded. The wire snapped. Wan Jie’s voice came from the control centre. He waved his hands. When he opened his eyes, they were white. His pupils were taken. He had to rely on his sense of touch to understand he was back in the real world.
“Captain Wan, we are back…” The leader of Team One also woke up. His heart broke when he saw the man he respected the most in his current state. Wan Jie was a hero. Every ‘corpse’ in the tank was a hero. They didn’t deserve this!
The Xin Lu investigators slowly woke up and gathered around Gao Ming. They still hadn’t gotten used to their bodies, but they instinctively guarded Wan Jie in the middle. After staying in Han Hai for so long, their bodies had united with the ghost patterns. They became monsters that were not humans and not ghosts. Some of their organs had mutated.
“Since you’re awake, put on some clothes. There are uniforms outside the test chamber.” Gao Ming looked at the other living dead and was silent with contemplation.
“They will never return. Their souls are buried in Han Hai. Their consciousnesses have faded.” The leader of Team One knew what Gao Ming wanted to do. He didn’t have the heart to continue. “If you want to use their bodies, you have to shoulder their karma and give them an explanation.”
“Don’t worry. An eye for an eye. Their sacrifice will not be for nothing.” Gao Ming’s torture room was filled with ghosts. Most of them had no corporeal shape. Having a human body would help ease a lot of things.
