Chapter 106 The Mark of Birth
Yan Shi: ?
The bronze statue was unaware of Yan Shi's surprise. On the contrary, because the conversation had turned to herself, Lin Xuya became quite interested and started talking to the bronze statue.
"What do you mean by 'ordinary people from the Otherworld'?" Lin Xuya asked. "Wait, are there ordinary people in the Otherworld?"
Bronze statue: "Of course there are. Talent is fair. Even if both parents are geniuses, they may still give birth to a child who is completely devoid of spiritual awareness."
It was very talkative and launched into a long, engaging explanation of science to Lin Xuya.
"But," Lin Xuya was still puzzled, "I come from the surface world. Isn't your so-called 'inner world' what I understand as 'inner world'?"
The bronze statue immediately retorted loudly: "You can say I'm wrong about everything else, but I would never be wrong about this!"
It stopped in its tracks, stared intently at Lin Xuya for a while, and reiterated its conclusion: "You are from the Otherworld!"
Lin Xuya: "How do you, a person from the Otherworld, make this judgment?"
“The mark of birth,” the bronze statue said. “When each living being is born, the Mother Goddess bestows upon it a mark of birth, which serves as a guide home.”
"Being born in the outer world is the mark of birth in the outer world; being born in the inner world is the mark of birth in the inner world." As it spoke, it stretched out a hand, twisted out a bit of spirit, and drew two symbols in the air.
"The one on the left is the birth mark of the inner world; the one on the right is the birth mark of the outer world."
They are two somewhat complex but very beautiful circular emblems.
They both consist of several concentric circles of complex ancient characters surrounding the central symbol, but they are indeed quite different.
Birthmark, I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before...
Yan Shi fell into deep thought.
Sheng Chunqiu was born in the Outer World. During the interrogation of Liu Guang, Yan Shi asked, "Why is Sheng Chunqiu the sacrificial offering?"
Liu Guang told her, "Because she is a native of the Watch World. Only through her birth mark can we accurately locate the Watch World."
Putting aside why Lin Xuya actually possesses the birth mark of the Inner World, Yan Shi roughly knows the reason why the Emerald City world barrier shattered last time, causing Lin Xuya to fall from the Outer World into the Inner World.
According to the bronze statue, the birth mark serves as a guide home, and it is estimated that Lin Xuya was automatically identified as a resident of the Otherworld because of the birth mark.
Therefore, the law categorized her into the underworld.
Yan Shi suddenly realized.
Lin Xuya was taken aback.
"So, I'm actually from the Otherworld?" She pointed to herself. "But I've never heard my mother say that. Besides, my family has a genealogy for eighteen generations, and every generation has been from the Otherworld."
Lin Xuya was somewhat confused.
Her family has been involved in literature for generations, and there are records and photos of her ancestors, which can be found online. She didn't just suddenly appear in the real world.
Even if you were from the other world before and have lived in the real world for so long, there's no need for you to go back to the other world to have a child, right?
Having proven itself, the bronze statue swaggered on and continued leading the way: "I don't know anything about your family. But I've told you what I do know."
It then became smug again: "I truly deserve to be called the most learned artifact in the Summer Palace!"
"How did you find out all this?" Yan Shi suddenly interrupted and asked.
The bronze statue suddenly became somewhat guilty: "I am, I am a bronze statue from a long history!"
Lin Xuya immediately added, "I know you. The bronze statue in the main hall of Baotai Hall is about 540 years old."
"The oldest artifacts in the Summer Palace are about 2,400 years old."
In other words, the bronze statue is relatively young among the artifacts in the Summer Palace.
Yan Shi narrowed his eyes.
The bronze statue stammered, "Yes, yes, oh, I just know."
"You wouldn't want me to use violence to force you to cooperate, would you?" Yan Shi's voice was cold.
The bronze statue remained silent.
“Well,” it said, the large bronze object hanging its head dejectedly, “it was when the world barrier broke and the next day a woman gave me a piece of historical heritage crystal.”
This crystal, imbued with historical heritage, contains the memories and legacy of a powerful being who attained enlightenment through painting.
The bronze statue was certainly tempted.
The little bit of intelligence it possessed, which it had acquired through its spiritual transformation, was frantically telling it:
"This is good stuff!"
"Hurry up and say yes!"
Indeed, after absorbing that historical crystal, the bronze statue's cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds.
It quickly became the most valuable artifact in the Summer Palace.
Therefore, the bronze statue owner is usually in charge of handling matters related to cultural relics at the local cultural relics management bureau.
If it had known that Director Yan was coming tonight, it wouldn't have offered to lead the way.
The bronze statue wept with regret.
Yan Ju had been standing outside the main hall, expressionless, saying "destroy it directly" to its face, which left a deep shadow on the bronze statue.
Yan Shi: "What did she ask you to do?"
The probability of someone passing by and giving away a stranger an artifact that sounds valuable just from its name is extremely low.
Not to mention that because of the broken world barrier, the Summer Palace didn't even open the next day, as they were making agreements with the artifacts and cleaning up the ghost realm.
The fact that this person specifically infiltrated the Summer Palace to trade for the bronze statues is something worth investigating further.
The bronze statue said, "It's nothing really, she just asked me to keep an eye on the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs if I could..."
Its voice grew softer and softer, then it fell silent. Instead, it curled itself into a large lump of bronze.
"I know I was wrong, please don't destroy me, waaaaaah."
Yan Ju's expression grew even colder: "Finding the Cultural Relics Supervision Bureau of the Summer Palace, good tactic."
The headquarters of the Bureau of Alien Affairs is located in the surface world. Inside, there is an array set up by powerful beings. Without access to the array, one can only see a white mist from outside the Bureau of Alien Affairs.
At the same time, there is strict internal supervision over magical artifacts, alchemical products, and the like. Anything that can be brought in must be registered.
Very comprehensive preventative measures were indeed taken during the relocation.
Finding a newly formed, yet unformed, cultural relic, separated from the General Administration by only one wall, to monitor the General Administration is a rare opportunity to discover a loophole in this protective measure.
Because the artifact has not yet taken physical form, it is not registered in the underworld. The Bureau of Extraterrestrial Affairs only records it as an artifact.
That is, they currently belong neither to the inner world nor to the outer world.
Meanwhile, the Summer Palace and the headquarters are separated by only a wall. The barrier is weak.
The person who discovered this vulnerability is very familiar with the General Administration's security measures.
Seeing that its scheme had been exposed, the bronze statue stood there, feigning tears while cautiously observing Yan Ju's expression. Seeing her lowered brows, the nearby fire spirits grew increasingly hostile, surrounding it and stirring restlessly, their temperature rising ever higher.
The bronze statue immediately stopped pretending to cry and shouted, "I'm still useful!"
"I remember what that woman looked like!"
Yan Shi: "Speak."
The bronze statue racked its brains: "That day she was wearing an outfit that your Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs often wears, a dark green coat with an intricate chain. There were several very beautiful, sparkling silver diamonds—yes, exactly the same as the ones on your coat, Director Yan. And then, the way she walked..."
Yan Shi's brow twitched: "Stop talking nonsense. Get to the point."
The bronze statue quickly stopped: "Oh, right. She had heterochromia! One was gray, and the other was gold. I remember it very clearly!"
Guan Yunji.
Yan Shi's mind immediately flashed to Guan Yunji's heterochromatic eyes, which had left a deep impression on her as well.
Furthermore, the uniforms of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs vary depending on the design.
Yan Shi asked in a deep voice, "Is the uniform she's wearing similar to mine?"
Bronze statue: "Yes, that's exactly it, basically no difference. Apart from that woman and you, Director Yan, I haven't seen the same one before."
"Is this the uniform style for your senior management when they don't go out on fieldwork?" it also pondered.
Yan Shi's jacket and uniform were the standard for a bureau chief. Of course, no one else in the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs wore the same style.
Moreover, due to the intricate production process, the fabric, chains, and silver rhinestones of the jacket are all made of special materials, specially designed by the Logistics Department, making them difficult to replicate. Each new director receives a custom-made jacket upon joining the company.
Guan Yunji, dressed in a uniform of unknown origin befitting the head of the Bureau of Cultural Relics Supervision, came to the Summer Palace to find the Bureau of Cultural Relics Supervision.
That's a great idea. I hope there won't be another Guan Yunji.
The bronze statue then cautiously added, "According to the information I've gathered, the woman sends someone to collect it every two days. Someone will come tomorrow afternoon."
Yan Shi glanced at it: "When? Where?"
Bronze statue: "Tomorrow morning at seven o'clock, just as the Summer Palace opens its gates. Right here in the Baotai Hall."
Author's Note: Yan Shi: Some Shadows of Cultural Relics
When the bronze statue threatens the artifacts in the Summer Palace that have just been born with spirits, it says: "Let me tell you, if you don't work properly, Director Yan next door will destroy it!"
Chapters 103-105 have been revised; the chronological order has been changed from flashbacks to a forward sequence. Those who read them earlier can reread them.
Thank you to all the fans who gave me free tickets and nutrient solutions! I will try my best to update!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
