Embers Ad Infinitum

His black hair was extremely short, and his right eye seemed to have been modified.
His iris reflected a strange purplish-red color, and there was an inconspicuous mole under his left eye.

“Mechanical modification?” Long Yuehong asked Shang Jianyao softly.

Shang Jianyao tersely acknowledged it and solemnly replied, “I can only see the modifications for the time being, but I don’t see any machinery.”

Not all metals could be described as machinery.

The woman—who was responsible for drawing water opposite them—was in her late twenties.
She had long black hair and a gentle and intellectual bearing.
She didn’t look like a Ruin Hunter who had been out adventuring for extended periods.

An antiquarian? A historian? A natural scientist? She hired a relatively powerful Ruin Hunter team to protect her for her venture deep into the Mount Chilar area? When Jiang Baimian retracted her gaze, guesses flashed through her mind.

The Ruin Hunter team didn’t seem to have any intention of coming over to communicate.
Jiang Baimian also didn’t send Shang Jianyao over to agitate the other party.
The two parties remained vigilant and maintained peace.

This was the norm when caravans and Ruin Hunters encountered each other at a water source.
They weren’t related, nor did they have anything in common.
There was no need to communicate unless they were gathered for a particular matter or someone was in a rush to ask for directions and information.

After the other party started a fire and had dinner, Jiang Baimian arranged for Long Yuehong and Bai Chen to take turns to be on duty.
She and Shang Jianyao were in charge of the most dangerous period when people were most prone to lowering their guard.

Shang Jianyao got into the jeep and didn’t say anything.
He massaged his temples and fell asleep.

…

Back when he had just familiarized himself with his abilities and had yet to leave Redstone Collection, he had wandered around the Sea of Origins again and headed for the next island.

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In the shimmering illusory sea, Shang Jianyao rotated between all kinds of poses to entertain himself to tide through the boring ‘journey.’

He swam freestyle at times, switching to backstroke or doggy paddle at other times.
He would trace out an S-shape as he aimlessly moved forward.

After an unknown period of time, an island appeared in front of him.

This island had mountains, water bodies, and vegetation.
Compared to the previous two islands, it was like heaven.

Shang Jianyao had just climbed up when he assumed a posture to take on any possible attacks.
However, nothing happened after a while.

He looked around and didn’t discover any monsters that were manifestations of fear.

After some thought, Shang Jianyao sat down cross-legged and decided to compete on patience.

Basking in the warm sunlight and taking in the gentle breeze made him feel a little sleepy, but it wasn’t to the extent that he couldn’t control himself.

This abnormal state continued until he began to tire.

Therefore, Shang Jianyao naturally left the Sea of Origins and returned to the real world.

He suddenly opened his eyes, looked at the front seat of the jeep, and opened his mouth.

After hesitating for a moment, Shang Jianyao shut his mouth and closed his eyes again.

This time, he really fell asleep.

…

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Jiang Baimian stayed on duty until dawn.
She instructed her team members and the ‘servant army’ to pack their items and prepare to leave.

As they slowly drove to the valley entrance, the man opposite them—who seemed to have undergone mechanical modification—hesitated for a few seconds before shouting, “Are you heading southwest?”

“Yes!” Shang Jianyao rolled down the window and answered—looking as though he would answer any posed question.

The man touched the cold metal on the right side of his face and said loudly, “Then, it’s best to circle around.
A Superior Heartless appeared in the southwestern mountains.”

Superior Heartless? Jiang Baimian rolled down the passenger window and asked curiously, “When was this?”

Miens and the others had just come out of Tarnan and passed through the area to return to the Linhai Alliance.

The man—who had replaced half of his skull with silver-white metal—replied, “Just recently.
He wasn’t there originally; he just entered the mountainous area yesterday.”

Jiang Baimian came to a realization and asked, “Did the Heartless mutate, or did an Awakened contract the Heartless disease?”

“I don’t know.
This is information I obtained from several Ruin Hunter teams that suffered tragic casualties,” replied the other party.

They didn’t seem open to say anything more.

Jiang Baimian exhaled and didn’t continue pestering him.
She loudly said, “Thank you!”

“Thank you!” Shang Jianyao also expressed his thoughts.

After leaving the valley, and before Jiang Baimian could stop Jorgensen’s car to ask about a possible detour route, Shang Jianyao suddenly said, “I discovered the third island last night, but it’s strange.”

Why didn’t you say so earlier? This thought subconsciously flashed through Jiang Baimian’s mind before she gently asked, “What’s strange about it?”