Chapter 28: The End of Fate
“Is it… too much?”
Luo Ling scratched the back of her head.
Excessively so!
The old man suppressed the urge to yell, took a few deep breaths, and then said,
“Young lady, it seems you have some understanding of the Awakened world, but not much. Generally speaking… a Grotesquery around Sequence 300 is something only a team of Mid-Order Awakened Ones is qualified to hunt.
“Moreover… the appearance of such a Grotesquery is not an opportunity, but a disaster. A slight misstep could lead to the deaths of thousands!”
“That terrifying?” Luo Ling’s eyes widened. “Then… a Sequence below fifty…”
“No, no, young lady, you’re not thinking of asking for a Sacred Relic of that level, are you?” The old man was even more astonished, his eyes wide. “I’m not exaggerating, but those High-Risk Grotesqueries… each one has the potential to wipe out an entire region.”
Seeing Luo Ling’s confused expression, the old man realized the pretty, white-haired girl truly knew nothing about this and patiently explained,
“Several confirmed High-Risk Grotesquery disasters, the most famous being the ‘Black Death’ that ravaged Europe from 1347 to 1353, has been confirmed to be the work of Sequence Twenty-One, ‘Pestilence.’”
Luo Ling couldn’t hide her shock. She finally realized what kind of existence the Puppet Ballad was. Even in its dormant state, it could easily subdue Ji Ying.
If it truly awakened…
Luo Ling thought of her own ability and shuddered.
Countless Spores scattering across the land, parasitizing ordinary people, then Proliferating, Controlling…
What kind of hell would Jiangcheng County become…? No, perhaps, far more than just Jiangcheng County.
Ji Ying, realizing this, had wanted to track down the Puppet Ballad’s true form while it was dormant. This was the only way to prevent this disaster.
“Young lady, what are you thinking?”
The old man’s words brought Luo Ling back to reality. He looked at her hesitant expression and asked curiously.
“Nothing…”
Luo Ling ultimately chose not to mention the Puppet Ballad.
It was a terrifying truth, and even more terrifying was the fact that this truth couldn’t be known by others.
The last person who knew was Ji Ying, and she had been targeted by the Lambs, somehow discovered by the Puppet Ballad. Even now, her whereabouts were unknown.
Luo Ling had to be extremely careful.
Those who hadn’t encountered the Puppet Ballad mustn’t gain knowledge about it.
The old man didn’t think Luo Ling knew anything. Even with his Other Shore ability, he couldn’t see much, let alone Luo Ling, who was currently a low-level Awakened One.
He believed in Luo Ling’s potential, but not her current strength.
“Have you considered it? If you need a Sacred Relic, we have a few group members who can help. This is a routine operation, not a condition,” the old man said kindly. “Or, is there anything you want to know? Perhaps I can help you glimpse it… Of course, not about yourself, I wouldn’t dare.”
His last accidental glimpse had left a deep impression on him, worsening his already frail health.
Of course, using his ability normally wouldn’t come at such a great cost.
Luo Ling hesitated. She had come here to join a group, and since the old man was offering her a glimpse, she might as well take it.
She thought for a moment and asked, “Can I see where someone is right now?”
“What’s your relationship with this person?” The old man spread his hands and said frankly, “If it’s a family member, forget it, I wouldn’t dare.”
“No, just a casual acquaintance.”
Luo Ling replied. She had only met Ji Ying two or three times.
“No problem.”
The old man breathed a sigh of relief, clapped his hands, and a deck of cards appeared out of thin air.
He drew a card and handed it to Luo Ling.
“Hold this card and picture this person’s information in your mind. I can use this information to find their corresponding thread of fate.”
Luo Ling took the card and examined it. It seemed ordinary, except for some crystals attached to it.
She closed her eyes and pictured everything she knew about Ji Ying in her mind.
“Alright, give me the card back,” the old man said.
Luo Ling opened her eyes and noticed that there seemed to be more crystals on the card.
The old man took the card, and his eyes turned into a starry sky as the card floated in mid-air.
Luo Ling watched his every move intently, not out of suspicion, but curiosity.
After all, she hadn’t seen many people use their abilities, especially not like the old man, who seemed to be performing a magic trick…
The old man stared at the card, seemingly searching for something through the crystals. After a while, he whispered,
“I see it…”
Before he could finish, the old man suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and the medical equipment beside him started beeping.
Huh?
Luo Ling was stunned. Why did he suddenly vomit blood? Was this also part of using his ability?
“Old Ji!”
The four people who had tried to intimidate Luo Ling at the elevator entrance burst into the room.
The burly man quickly used the nearby medical equipment to treat the old man, while the others watched Luo Ling warily, the atmosphere tense.
“Cough… don’t… don’t attack…” Old Ji coughed up more blood but managed to raise a hand weakly. “It’s my own fault… I accidentally took another look…”
Luo Ling: “…”
…Why did she feel like a walking disaster?
Why did this old man keep peeking at her…?
And wasn’t he supposed to be finding Ji Ying’s location? Ji Ying wasn’t even with her.
After his heart rate stabilized, Old Ji finally caught his breath. He leaned against the bed and looked at Luo Ling, his voice weak.
“I could only tell that she’s a High-Order Awakened One, but… I couldn’t see her location, I’m sorry.”
“Mm… alright.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Luo Ling’s eyes.
What else could she say?
He had been injured again while trying to help her, and it was because of her… although she hadn’t intended for it to happen.
“Young lady, please leave for now. I need to talk to them,” Old Ji forced a smile. “Of course, our deal is still valid.
“Welcome to join us, the Qingshan Psychiatric Hospital Patient Self-Help Exchange Group, or Patient Exchange Group for short. I’m the group leader, Ji Shinian.”
The other four looked at Luo Ling with suspicion. They had no idea what had just transpired.
“Mm.”
Luo Ling nodded at Ji Shinian and left the ward.
After Luo Ling left, Ji Shinian finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He closed his eyes, imprinting the fleeting glimpse he had just seen in his mind.
In the image, the person he was looking at was gently cupping the white-haired girl’s face, gazing tenderly at her tear-stained cheeks.
At the end of the thread of fate.
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