Chapter 44: Heart vs Feather Weight

In the afternoon, Duan Wenxuan first visited Qu Huachi at the department store. The inventory had significantly dwindled; their usual supplier, who partnered with the store, was supposed to replenish goods promptly. However, given the current situation, the supplier indicated they were temporarily unable to provide stock and that it would require some waiting time.

“No worries, just close the store for now. Stay inside as much as possible, and your salary will be paid regularly,” Duan Wenxuan assured him.

Qu Huachi walked with a slight limp. “No need, no need. It’s already very kind of you, boss, to let me stay here.”

Duan Wenxuan certainly wasn’t short on money.

“Boss, what’s happening outside? Over these past few days, people have been knocking on our store door, but I’m hesitant to open it,” Qu Huachi expressed his lingering fear.

Fortunately, police patrols were frequent now. Most individuals knocked briefly before leaving if the door remained unopened, while only a few cursed under their breaths. None dared to escalate by smashing the doors.

“Don’t worry about it. Move everything from the shelves into the back warehouse. If anyone asks, say it’s all sold out. Later, I’ll arrange for an additional fortified door inside the roller shutter gate. Be cautious yourself.”

Qu Huachi, lacking assertiveness, readily followed Duan Wenxuan’s instructions. Despite being older than Duan Wenxuan, he wasn’t particularly astute, so in any job, he tended to be obedient and reserved.

After picking up some rice and flour, Duan Wenxuan headed back.

Later that afternoon, Duan Wenxuan pinched his face again, transforming himself once more into Duan Yuanhui.

In the secret Registry of Files,

Yang Kai remained as busy as ever. With xenomena occurrences increasing worldwide, new files needed to be cataloged daily. However, his primary concern was the severe lack of comprehensive data in many existing records. This stemmed from their limited understanding of these mysterious phenomena.

Recently, the nation acquired a peculiar artifact called ‘Terminus.’ Yang Kai wasn’t fully aware of its specific functions or usage methods, but based on Terminus’ capabilities, the Hanming government had decided to establish five-member councils for each of the twelve cities with underground air-raid bases. These councils essentially served as elite advisory groups composed of five individuals per city.

Currently, the five-member councils were still in their nascent stages, piloted only in the capital, but reports indicated promising results.

With Terminus’s assistance, the country identified five exceptional talents across various fields, who entered a unique brainstorming state. Their hypothetical plans have successfully resolved several mysteries in the capital, leading to increased calm and safety there.

Seeing the success of Terminus, Yang Kai naturally hoped for An City to establish its own think tank soon. However, the pilot project in the capital was still ongoing and needed at least another month before expansion could be considered.

Taking a sip of coffee, Yang Kai rubbed his tired eyes; it had been ages since he’d enjoyed a proper night’s sleep.

“Director, Director…”

An urgent knocking sounded at the door. Yang Kai sprang up like a wound-up spring. “Come in, what is it?”

The person outside hastily opened the door and exclaimed, “Xiaowei, it’s Lin Xiaowei—Duan Yuanhui has appeared.”

Yang Kai abruptly pushed back his chair, nearly tripping in his haste to rush towards the door.

As he sprinted back to the Registry of Files, he found a girl dressed in police uniform intently watching a screen at her workstation. The display showed a scene from the entrance of a villa, seemingly unremarkable.

Upon spotting Yang Kai, Lin Xiaowei quickly adjusted the window on her screen. Within moments, the live surveillance footage shrank to half the screen size while another recorded video began playing alongside it.

Three minutes ago, on the road leading to the villa, a young man casually strolled with his hands in his pockets. As he approached the entrance, he looked up and waved at the surveillance camera; unmistakably, it was Duan Yuanhui’s image captured on screen.

“It’s him,” Yang Kai confirmed, recalling the face easily. He had a remarkable memory, rarely forgetting anyone he’d seen before. “What’s happening inside the villa?”

Lin Xiaowei promptly replied, “After the last incident, we removed all surveillance cameras from within the villa, so we’re unaware of the current situation. However, since he left, we’ve ensured daily cleaning and replenishment of fresh food and snacks in the refrigerator. Additionally, based on his previous gaming interests, we’ve developed new games specifically for him.”

“Good. His return indicates there may still be potential for collaboration.”

From the previous encounter, Yang Kai received a formal reprimand, narrowly escaping dismissal due to his impulsive actions.

In this critical time, no country could afford mistakes. With every step fraught with pivotal turning points, even a minor error could jeopardize everything—a risk they couldn’t take.

Knock knock.

The doorbell chimed rhythmically as Duan Wenxuan leisurely munched on snacks and sauntered over to open it. ”…Well, well…” His drawn-out tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

Yang Kai greeted him with a perfectly measured smile, his ordinary face exuding calmness. “Allow me to introduce myself: I’m Yang Kai.”

Duan Wenxuan nonchalantly walked back inside. “What about Zhao Mingcai? That old man was my most frequent visitor. Did he pass away?”

“No, Deputy Captain Zhao’s health is currently fragile, but his life should be saved.”

“It seems you’ve discovered quite a few useful things.” Duan Wenxuan sighed as he plopped down on the sofa, genuinely impressed.

His admiration was sincere; aside from his own fabricated knowledge, each nation undoubtedly had a deeper understanding of these mysterious phenomena than he did. With so many variations occurring, even if many were uncontrollable, there must have been some that could be managed.

Duan Wenxuan never underestimated the power harnessed by a fully mobilized country.

Contrasting Duan Wenxuan’s emotional outburst, Yang Kai calmly nodded with a reserved demeanor, masking his inner sigh.

In reality, they did possess something that could sustain Zhao Mingcai’s life, but it was obtained unexpectedly during their forced intrusion into Little Peak Mountain, which had cost numerous lives once again.

Now, the creatures within Little Peak Mountain viewed them as sworn enemies, and the vegetation has become extraordinarily dense and tall, making every step fraught with danger. Some have suggested using airplanes to drop various flammable liquids over Little Peak Mountain, then setting it ablaze to completely eradicate the threat.

This plan nearly gained approval until Suvarna, a country covering only 5.63 million square kilometers, provided a stark lesson: recklessness leads to dire consequences.

Suvarna, being a small nation, typically had little influence in international conferences, and many ordinary people were unaware of its existence due to its limited size and population of approximately five million—less than half that of An City alone.

However, Suvarna has now gained notoriety. Since the world’s anomalies began, one of its rivers mysteriously saw its water levels gradually decrease until it eventually dried up completely. The issue was that the upstream source faced no problems; the water continued to flow from there, yet the riverbed remained parched.

After extensive research, the President of Suvarna decided to blast open the riverbed to investigate. Following this action, vast areas near the river experienced bizarre evaporation of their water sources. A few days later, massive swarms of shadowy figures emerged from the blasted section, leaving drought and devastation in their wake. Both livestock and humans exposed to these entities suffered eerie dehydration, ultimately leading to terrifying deaths.

Currently, over two million people in Suvarna have perished, nearly half the population wiped out. The government and presidential institutions have collapsed, losing all control, as chaos reigns within the country. Citizens are left with no choice but to fend for themselves.

Taking heed from Suvarna’s experience, the decision to set Little Peak Mountain ablaze was urgently withdrawn just before implementation. For now, conservative research strategies remain in place.

What turbulent times we live in, Yang Kai thought, feeling somewhat dazed by the repercussions caused by Suvarna’s situation. It took a gentle reminder from someone nearby for him to regain his composure.

“Ah, Young Master Duan is joking. Compared to your enduring and enigmatic forces, our capabilities are likely insignificant.”

Duan Wenxuan smiled instead, fiddling with his phone. “The mutations are becoming increasingly severe; it’s only a matter of days before the truly formidable sects emerge. Although I’ve been enjoying some rare downtime lately, I stumbled upon something intriguing that might offer mutual benefits if we collaborate.”

“What is it?”

After a brief silence, Duan Wenxuan adopted a serious expression. “I’ve noticed differences between this current resurgence of mysticism and ancient times. While profound spiritual energy has returned, there seems to be a notable absence of overwhelming righteousness.”

Seeing Yang Kai and his companions attentively listening, Duan Wenxuan appeared satisfied. “In ancient times, profound spiritual energy emphasized vastness and depth. Even for demons or monsters seeking cultivation success, adhering to purity and avoiding evil was crucial.

“But now, amidst the heavens and earth, there’s an indescribable sense of obscurity. Unlike the past, as chaos stirs once more, even the established sects will face challenges. This presents an opportunity not just for ancient martial families like ours but potentially for you as well.”

Yang Kai understood what Duan Wenxuan meant.

If the revival mirrored ancient times exactly, those with long-standing sect legacies would remain dominant, relegating lesser martial families to obscurity as they had always been. However, if this resurgence differed somehow, it could potentially level the playing field, offering new opportunities for others to catch up or even surpass them.

But more importantly, Yang Kai focused on another aspect of Duan Wenxuan’s words. “Why would it be different?”

“Is that so strange? Just like how flowers may resemble each other year after year, yet the people change every season. When one flower withers, a new one blooms from its growth, but it is never quite the same as before.”

Yang Kai fell silent, pondering these thoughts.

Duan Wenxuan stretched lazily and said, “I went home recently and ended up arguing with those old men for hours. By the way, I realized my master hasn’t returned yet. Do you know where he might be?”

”…Has Young Master Duan not seen Mr. Gongsun?”

“If I had, why would I ask you?”

Yang Kai considered for a moment before replying, “Then perhaps Mr. Gongsun is still within the ‘Perilous Zone’ outside the city.”

The area shrouded by black mist beyond the outskirts was now officially designated as the Perilous Zone by authorities.

“Oh…”

Duan Wenxuan feigned surprise but knew well that Gongsun Wulong was indeed still there. He had some connection with those deployed individuals, though he never anticipated that during their exploration, even he couldn’t withstand the circumstances and had to hastily retreat, leaving Gongsun Wulong trapped inside. While unable to escape, Duan Wenxuan could sense that Gongsun Wulong was not yet dead.

“Don’t worry, Duan-gongzi,” Yang Kai reassured him politely. “Now that we know Mr. Gongsun is still within, we will organize a rescue mission.”

Duan Wenxuan waved his hand dismissively. “Even I struggle entering that place; it would be too much for you. Since we’re aware my teacher is trapped there, I’ll personally inform our family to send assistance. Aside from my teacher’s situation, I’ve discovered another intriguing matter upon my return.”

Yang Kai immediately understood what Duan Wenxuan meant.

Apart from the major issue at Little Peak Mountain, the primary cause of An City’s heightened tension was the appearance of the Gate of Sin and Virtue near the eastern outskirts. The ‘Gate of Sin and Virtue’ is unique to Rugia’s religious practices and a popular tourist attraction in Hanming Country, often featured on social media as a must-visit spot. It is also known as the Gate of Life and Death or the Yin-Yang Gate, typically carved from stone resembling a tower, split evenly down the middle with symmetrical halves.

According to Rugian religious beliefs, after death, individuals must pass through the Gate of Sin and Virtue, where their souls undergo judgment. The heart of the deceased is extracted by the guide of the dead and weighed against a feather. If heavier than the feather, it signifies guilt, leading to damnation in hell; if lighter, innocence prevails, allowing for reincarnation.

Unfortunately, this ill-fated Gate of Sin and Virtue did not appear in Rugia but rather surfaced in An City instead.

The two towering gate halves stood firmly along the eastern route of An City, resulting in the closure of most highways connecting the city to the outside world. There was no choice, as anyone passing near those areas instantly fell into a deep slumber.

Most people rapidly stopped breathing while unconscious, their bodies quickly turning cold. Only a few regained consciousness, recounting experiences of their hearts being weighed against feathers. Those who awakened had hearts lighter than the feather, indicating they were deemed innocent. Consequently, An City became effectively isolated, causing prices to skyrocket uncontrollably, with even the municipal government unable to enforce significant measures.