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墨書 Inktalez
“Please, go ahead!” Mo Cang gestured for me to proceed. Seeing me hesitate, he smirked, “What’s wrong? Are you having second thoughts?”
I chuckled in response, “Since you’re being so generous, I’m not one to go back on my word. However…”
“However what?” Mo Cang scrutinized me, his expression betraying no hint of displeasure.
I crossed my arms defiantly. “It’s impossible for me to willingly follow you. Come on!” I struck a ready stance.
Mo Cang smirked, “Then let it be as you wish!”
This caught me off guard even more; from the beginning until now, Mo Cang had never once contradicted me, making it seem as if I were the one instigating trouble!
Regardless, there was no way I was leaving today. It just so happened that since solidifying my powers with Fo Xi, I hadn’t truly fought anyone yet. This would be a good opportunity to practice against Mo Cang.
Mo Cang provocatively beckoned me with his fingers, his face full of disdain. “This is your last request; a person’s patience has its limits!”
I swung my stick down hard at him. Although I didn’t use all my strength, I put in about seventy percent. To my surprise, my strike, which felt like thunder crashing down, was easily deflected by Mo Cang. “Not bad! In such a short time, you’ve made this much progress. Among the younger generation, you have every reason to be proud.”
Mo Cang’s face appeared pale; I began to suspect he might be a vampire—he had such a sinister air about him. This young man, who looked only slightly older than me, was lecturing me like some ancient elder, and that feeling irked me.
I swung again with my stick, creating a flurry of shadows as it moved through the air. The shadows merged into a single wave; Mo Cang could no longer maintain his previous aloof demeanor and began to take me seriously. My mastery of the Great Shift technique was starting to reveal its true essence.
I darted around Mo Cang at high speed, but despite using all my abilities, he didn’t budge an inch. Or perhaps he did move, but I just couldn’t see it?
I took a few steps back and sheathed my Ruyi Stick. “No more fighting! You can’t look down on people like this…”
Mo Cang laughed lightly. “You’re the first young person who has ever compelled me to fight…”
I replied with frustration, “Always talking about being young, as if you’re so much older than me. It’s ridiculous! I can’t stand people who act all high and mighty!”
Mo Cang remained unfazed and said, “If I told you that my age could qualify me to be your grandfather, would you still find it strange?”
I was somewhat skeptical. "What about your appearance?"
"The outer skin is merely a facade, all an illusion! After practicing Buddhism for so many years, you still can't see through it?" Mo Cang replied.
I retorted impatiently, "Aren't we leaving? Let's go!"
Mo Cang had someone blindfold me and sealed off my six senses, then led me away. At first, the car ride was smooth, but after a while, it began to jolt.
We must be out of the city! I speculated.
After a long time, the car finally stopped. I felt a slight sensation of weightlessness as something was lifted off me. When the black cloth was removed, I was stunned.
Isn't this the Underground City? Have they not left at all? Are they hiding underground? Liu Er's earlier words were indeed correct!
"You've been here all along? Aren't you afraid?" I asked.
Mo Cang replied, "The most dangerous place is often the safest place. Besides, who would have thought that the Underground City has two layers?"
I was almost overwhelmed with shock. No wonder we found nothing in the first layer of the Underground City; when we tried to return, the door was actually welded shut. It all made sense now. I had even doubted myself before, thinking I had seen a ghost!
So there’s a second layer to the Underground City!
"You just revealed this secret to me without fear that I might spill it?" I inquired.
Mo Cang shook his head. "You would have to know this sooner or later. I'm just telling you in advance."
I was puzzled by his words. What did he mean by saying I would know eventually? Was I supposed to know this already?
Mo Cang continued, "Ling Feng, didn't you feel any sense of familiarity when you first entered the Underground City?"
I instinctively asked in surprise, "How do you know?"
Mo Cang smiled meaningfully, "Just as I thought!"
My heart felt as if it had been scratched by a cat's paw; Mo Cang was being quite cryptic, always leaving things half-said. I knew that if I asked again, he wouldn't answer, so I decided not to press further.
"Why did you bring me to your base? To show off? To give me a tour?" I asked, confused.
Mo Cang shook his head. "You belong here. If you don't come back here, where else would you go?"
His words were so self-evident that I couldn't help but wonder if I truly did belong here. Or perhaps I had suffered a significant blow and lost my memory?
Mo Cang led me to the door of a room—a copper iron door adorned with many dark golden carvings, exuding an ancient and grand aura.
I reached out to push the door, but it wouldn't budge. When I turned back to ask Mo Cang why he brought me to this room only to lock the door, I realized he had already left.
In the empty space, I was alone in the silver-white corridor that felt metallic.
I stared at the grand door and inexplicably felt as if I had been here before. Sure enough, on the right side of the door's wall was a switch with numbers from 0 to 9.
Compelled by some unseen force, I pressed the button. With a click, the door opened. In disbelief, I looked at my hand but couldn't resist my curiosity; I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room was spacious, furnished with an antique bed, a redwood desk, and a redwood bookshelf. There was nothing else!
I glanced at the bookshelf; it held a hodgepodge of books—some in English, some in Chinese! They all seemed to be scientific texts or journals.
Next, I walked over to the desk. On it were the four treasures of study—surprisingly, there were various sizes of large brushes. I thought to myself that the previous owner of this room must have had quite an affinity for aesthetics; who keeps brushes like these?
I plopped down into the swivel chair behind the desk. As my body turned, my mind suddenly felt like it was being pricked by countless needles; images flashed through my mind as if fast-forwarded.
I felt as if I were dying, rolling on the ground with my head in my hands. In my mind, the barrier that had once been so solid seemed to show faint cracks.
Perhaps hearing my cries, Mo Cang rushed in, excitedly gripping my shoulders and saying, "You remember! You remember, don't you?"
Strangely enough, his shaking made me feel much better; the pain in my head receded like a tide, disappearing without a trace.
Rubbing my slightly swollen forehead, I caught a glimpse of a photo frame on the desk.
The black-and-white photo inside showed a person with a cold expression, dressed in a suit, looking serious.
I was astonished as I picked up the frame, examining it closely again and again. I wiped the glass surface with my sleeve.
The person inside looked exactly like me. When had I taken such a photo? Moreover, judging by the color of the picture, it must have been taken decades ago!
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