Gun of Ashes

”What if what I remember, these vague memories, are all false? No flaming gold, nothing at all...”

In the numbness of alcohol, immense fear enveloped Shao Liangxi.

The Anti-Meme is a blazing fireball; it can burn fierce enemies and also infect the bearer of the fire. Doubt will lead to self-collapse, but not everyone can achieve absolute trust, almost blind trust.

”Shao Liangxi.”

Shao Liangye spoke in a deep voice, rare anger showing as he looked directly into Shao Liangxi’s eyes.

Shao Liangxi responded with a perfunctory smile and then said.

”Thinking about it, thinking about it is always possible, who knows about such things? The Anti-Meme protected us and also made us doubt ourselves, that’s why we have credos to restrain us.

I still believe in the credos, only sometimes I can’t help but remember them.”

She no longer wanted to continue.

”Such matters are hard for others to understand, let’s leave it at this for now.”

Everyone was silent; the atmosphere froze for a few seconds until Lorenzo broke it all.

”Doubt... huh? Actually, I can understand, Shao Liangxi. I’ve had such experiences too, though you might not believe it.”

Lorenzo swirled his wine glass, remembering those secrets hidden deep within his soul, unable to resist smiling.

”Don’t worry too much, the forgotten will eventually be recalled. For you, when you return to the Forgotten Great Wall once more, everything will be answered, won’t it?”

”Return...”

Listening to Lorenzo’s not-quite-comforting comfort, Shao Liangxi paused and then that strange smile spread across her face again, as if in the next second she would think of some trick to tease you.

”Thanks for your kind words!”

She said, raising her glass to clink with Lorenzo’s.

Everyone celebrated again, but like Buscalo, Rod was similarly drunk, leaning on the bar, barely lifting his eyelids, the scene before him blurred.

Even so, he could easily discern a few figures, his mind replaying Lorenzo’s words.

Return to the Forgotten Great Wall...

Actually, everyone knew, even peripheral figures like Rod, a brutal battle awaited them, death could descend at any moment, no one could escape.

But no one thought in that dark direction, just like Shao Liangye wouldn’t let Shao Liangxi think wildly; sometimes playing the fool can lead to a happier existence.

Yet for some reason, maybe just having touched the dark side of this world, or perhaps because Rod was a ”newcomer,” he felt different from Lorenzo and everyone here.

There was something in his heart, still unextinguished.

Rod fell into a deep sleep, the cheers grew stronger, primarily from Lorenzo and Shao Liangxi, while Heracles carried Polo out. The big rat seemed to have been sleeping, bewildered as it was held, vigorously rubbing its smooth fur.

...

Signing one document after another, they piled up like a mountain at the other end of the long table.

Night had fallen, the outside thunderstorm showed no sign of stopping. Selyu glanced at the window, stretched heavily, finishing today’s tedious work.

She sat in the chair for a while, the surroundings silent and empty. Selyu remembered something, walked to the nearby cabinet, opened the hidden safe within, revealing a few heavy books.

Selyu carefully packed them up and then placed them into a briefcase.

After a few knocks, the old butler came in, gestured toward Selyu.

”The carriage is ready.”

”Give me a moment.”

Selyu donned her coat, wrapping herself tightly. Considering the current situation, she also concealed a Folding Blade within her coat, to handle any potential situations.

Walking to the long table, she packed the documents needed for the Purification Mechanism along into the briefcase, then headed towards the old butler.

The old butler extended his hand, trying to take the briefcase, but this time Selyu didn’t let him have it. It was heavy; she insisted on carrying it herself.

”Are those books for them too?” The old butler noticed Selyu’s earlier actions and asked.

”Sort of,” Selyu replied.

The old butler followed behind Selyu, curiously looking at the dark briefcase.

He had an impression of those books too; when Selyu returned to Ingwig, besides herself, she only brought back those books, preserving them meticulously, as if they were valuable treasures.

”We... shall first visit Black Mountain Hospital. I’ve arranged a meeting with Dean Abigail, and delays are becoming impossible.”

Selyu sat in the carriage, which was supposed to go directly to the Purification Mechanism, but she changed her destination temporarily. The old butler said nothing; after all, now she held real power, whatever he said would likely be considered merely as advice, which she wouldn’t pay much heed to.

The carriage drove into the storm, racing ahead.

This wasn’t a vehicle from the Stuart family; after the Death Row plan began, the Purification Mechanism took over the security of the Nation-Builders, and now Selyu was also one of them. She was directly protected by the Purification Mechanism, and only their drivers could find the road to Black Mountain Hospital.

That hospital hidden within this prosperous city.

Selyu placed her hands on the briefcase, carefully touching it, feeling its texture, her mind replaying the scene of Lorenzo and the others leaving the Silent Sea.

The strange doctor did not return with Lorenzo; only he emerged alone from the World’s End.

Lorenzo was exhausted at the time, almost fainting upon climbing aboard the Morning Glow Advance. The subsequent escape was much smoother for them; they left that deathly place successfully, leading to now.

Throughout the journey, Lorenzo didn’t recount his experiences in the World’s End. Even upon returning to Ingwig, he only narrated information related to the Secret Keeper. If not for Selyu’s knowledge, few realized more than him had stepped into the World’s End.

It was unclear why; Lorenzo almost never mentioned the Plague Doctor. If he didn’t speak, no one could force him to reveal, Selyu included.

”He... is probably dead, right?”

Selyu whispered, recalling that terrifying doctor.

Plague Doctor.

Selyu hadn’t interacted with him much, but she knew of his wicked deeds. A character like him deserved to be forever imprisoned in the depths of Hell, subject to the burning and corrosion of flames.

Yet when the Plague Doctor handed those notes to Selyu, she felt a strange sensation, still unenlightened even upon reflection now.

In her leisure time, she also perused those notes, which recorded knowledge never heard before.

Selyu felt both joyful and fearful.

The contained knowledge was enough to propel medical advancement, yet she sensed the heavy scent of blood from those experimental conclusions; they nearly solidified into matter, pressing against her heart until it completely stopped.

She didn’t know how to evaluate the Plague Doctor; he deserved countless deaths but also inspired a slight radiance.

Selyu recalled her previous conversations with Lorenzo about good and evil, justice and wickedness.

According to Lorenzo, these concepts were constructed based on human self-cognition. Beasts didn’t understand them; they knew only feeding and reproduction. These were constraints for humans, but not for beasts.

So monsters like the Plague Doctor didn’t fall under these, but he had once been human, regardless of his distortion, retaining parts of humanity.

Conflict within sickness.

This was the monster’s final gift to the world; even departing, it emitted a mocking sound.

”It’s so strange.”

Selyu murmured to herself.

”What’s strange?”

The old butler sitting opposite asked, noticing the rare confusion on Selyu’s face.

”Humans.”

”Humans?”

”Exactly,” Selyu looked out the window into the rainy night, ”Humans are truly complex.”

”Like a riddle with no answer.”