Chapter 24 Trust Chips
"You probably have chronic moon poisoning, little witch."
“……!!”
Upon hearing Xiao Ying do this, Beichen immediately turned pale and gently stroked her forehead and shoulders to check the brand - sure enough, the brand had faded away at some point, which meant that her contract with Xiang Ying and the twins was broken.
"The contract...is interrupted..."
That is, even within the communication range, she could not contact any of them.
Compared to her worries about her physical condition, the fact that all connections with Xiang Ying and the Twin Claws were severed suddenly plunged her into great terror.
what to do?
Where are they now?
Is everything alright? Are you safe?
Will there be any misunderstanding due to the termination of the contract and he will give up on her and look for another contractor?
Concern made her confused, and the overwhelming anxiety and lack of confidence suddenly shattered all her rational thinking, causing her to fall into all kinds of completely unfounded and even somewhat ridiculous speculations.
──After all, she had only just realized her feelings a short time ago. Although she herself was reluctant to admit it, if emotions were too strong, it would hinder one's judgment.
"What should I do... Why do Xiangying, the twins, and I get moon poisoning when we're apart?"
"sorry."
Seeing Beichen's face filled with worry, annoyance and concern, Atlas apologized quietly like a child who had made a mistake. His tail wanted to grab Beichen's hand but stopped before touching it.
Beichen came back to his senses a little after hearing Atlas' voice, then forced a smile and patted his tail.
"It's not Atlas' fault. You didn't hurt me. If it was your star power, I would have contracted acute moon poisoning and collapsed to the ground like Mr. Gu Yinyue did. It's probably because of the injury caused by the Disaster Emperor that some of the star power remained in my body. After all, I didn't have any weapons to purify and absorb the star power after I was injured."
Seeing Beichen say this, Atlas immediately nodded happily and stuck back to Beichen.
"So, what are you going to do?" Xiao Peng interrupted at the right moment. "Do you need my blood to detoxify?"
Beichen shook his head.
"You're terrible. I don't want to owe you a favor if I can help it. The most urgent thing now is to reunite with my war machine. Atlas, you're the only one who can accurately determine their location and mine. Could you please find them immediately and bring them here?"
"But I have to protect Beichen."
Beichen looked around.
"It should be safe here. Besides, you've killed all the nearby Disaster Kings. There's no way other large-sized Possessed Moon Envoys can squeeze through such a small underground passage to get here. I'll wait for you here. It should be fine. Please, can you help me with this?"
Atlas was silent for a few seconds, then finally nodded.
"Okay, I'll bring them here with maximum efficiency."
After saying that, he took a few steps back, then turned around, spread his wings, took a few run-up steps, and flew out of the door, disappearing at the end of the corridor behind the door.
"I'm gone."
Xiao Ying looked at the door and said something softly, then turned to look at Beichen.
"Now that there are only two of us left, do you think it would be best if I just kill you right here and get rid of a big scourge for the world?"
"Then let's give it a try?"
Beichen smiled at him:
"You've seen my strength with my bare hands, right? Do you think you can kill me quickly?"
"The problem is that you're in a poisoned state now. How much strength can you still exert?"
“…”
Beichen frowned, lowered his head and clenched his fists: Although it is not very obvious, the body does feel weak and powerless, and it feels like I can't do anything.
"No matter what, I will resist with all my might, but if I really can't defeat you,...there's nothing I can do."
Sighing and shrugging his shoulders, Beichen turned around and prepared to continue looking at the screens... but found that these screens had disappeared at some point.
"Huh?"
Beichen was puzzled, but he still walked over to the crystal and placed his hand on it. Perhaps it was in hibernation or turned off? A restart would fix it.
But then something unexpected happened.
Woo──
A huge electronic buzzing sound suddenly came from above his head, and a flashing red light suddenly filled the entire hall. Then, before Beichen could come to his senses, the door in the distance had already slammed shut. Compared to the state before he came in, there were actually several more layers of alloy material.
Oops! We're trapped inside!
At this moment, a female voice that sounded like an electronic synthesized sound (but it was obviously not in any understandable language) was heard above the hall, and at the same time, the voice in Beichen's mind also rang out.
[The Moon Beast is attacking! Alarm! The Moon Beast is attacking! All personnel, please retreat to a safe zone immediately. The Armed Forces, equipped with transforming weapons, will now proceed to the entrance area to conduct subjugation operations. I repeat, the Moon Beast is attacking! All personnel, please retreat to a safe zone immediately...]
"What happened?"
The red light like an emergency alarm continued to flash throughout the entire square. Xiao Ping looked at the dome, frowned, and asked Beichen beside him.
"I... I don't know either. The broadcast was saying the 'Moon Beast' was coming...! What the hell was that?! There's no one else living here except us, so how could there be a Moon Beast?!"
Xiao Ying was stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly seemed to think of something and patted Beichen on the head hard.
"You idiot! Have you forgotten your current physical condition?! You've contracted the Moon Poison, and are now possessed by a Moon User! The Moon Beast, of course, refers to you!"
"Eh... Eh...!? In other words... my action just now was judged as possessing the Moon Envoy and infecting their computers?!"
"I don't know what a computer is, but this ruins has treated you as a monster that must be eliminated!"
"...No, that's not the case. You thought I was the Red Moon Priestess just now!"
Beichen twitched her lips as she watched the ruins buzzing with alarms and flashing red lights. The radio was playing over and over again. Before she could think of a solution, the ground shook again. Several pieces of the ground sank and then moved away horizontally into the wall. After a few seconds, the ground rose again, and on the raised ground, stood a strange thing -
“…What is that…”
Beichen involuntarily took a step back, while Xiaoying narrowed his eyes, shook his right hand, and with a "snap", a long whip made of fine iron scales appeared in his hand.
Opposite the two men, two strange animals, each one meter tall, appeared: they stood on two legs, had long tails, velociraptor-like heads and a mouthful of sharp fangs, their claws tucked into their chests, their eyes on the sides of their heads, and their bodies covered with a glittering, metal-like iron shell.
At this time, the two strange animals seemed to have found their target and slowly approached as if observing the strength of the enemy.
Beichen swallowed, slowly moved his feet, lowered his center of gravity, and assumed a defensive posture.
Although she had never seen the monster in front of her before, for some reason it always gave her a strange sense of familiarity.
But before he had time to think about it, one of them screamed in a strange voice and pounced on Beichen!
“──!”
Beichen held his breath and dodged to the side, and the monster missed. Before it could turn around, Beichen had already raised his leg and kicked the flat head, hitting the eye right on it!
Oh!
The monster let out a loud howl of pain, and Beichen's face turned pale as he retracted his foot and jumped a few steps—it hurts! That piece of metal is too hard!
Wait...Iron Shell──?
Iron shell... Where have I seen it before? ...
On the other side, Xiaoping swung his whip to intercept another monster that was also pouncing on Beichen. He lashed out at one of its well-developed hind legs, entangled it, and then pulled it back fiercely. The monster was pulled straight to the ground and slid several meters in Xiaoping's direction. It screamed and tried to get up, but Xiaoping had already stepped forward lightly, retracted the whip, and turned his wrist -
Then swing horizontally from bottom to top with force!
Bang!
The monster, who was as tall as a man, was thrown several meters away by the force of the whip and rolled on the ground for several times before stopping - it was not over yet. Following the heavy whip, Xiao Peng immediately rushed forward and caught up with the enemy's rolling body on the ground. When the opponent stopped, he had already stepped forward and took out a spirit crystal "Explosive Flame", crushed it, pried open the monster's mouth and quickly stuffed it in!
The monster was beaten dizzy. Xiao Peng jumped back a few steps, watching it dazedly trying to get up from the ground with a sinister smile on its face.
A few seconds later, there was a loud "bang" and the monster's head was blown to pieces by the "explosive flame" of the spirit crystal!
"Wow—that's amazing!"
Beichen was fighting with the monster on the side. Seeing Xiaoqing deal with the monster in such a short time, he couldn't help but admire him.
Although he did not use any outstanding fighting skills, Xiao Yan's movements were agile and delicate, and no action was superfluous. He determined the combat method as quickly as possible, and then executed it in the most decisive way, easily defeating an enemy with the least consumption and the highest efficiency!
"Okay—I'll do my best too!"
Beichen muttered something to encourage himself, and then when the monster pounced on him again, he jumped sideways lightly and dodged behind it, kicking it in the abdomen with all his strength!
With a "puff" sound, although the monster did not suffer much damage, the kick was very powerful. The monster lost its balance and fell to the ground. How could Beichen miss such a good opportunity? She immediately ran to the monster's head, jumped into the air and kicked hard on the flat head!
Oh!
The monster, who was about to stand up, was stepped on the head by Beichen. He screamed miserably and began to struggle desperately. Beichen jumped up again, and pressed his hard leather boots with the weight of his whole body on the head again!
"I'll crush you to death! I'll crush you to death!!"
So Beichen, while watching the fight with Xiao Peng's lips twitching, jumped up and down on the head vigorously, stomping on it dozens of times, and finally killed the monster. The iron plates on the head were softened, and golden blood slowly flowed out from the gaps in the iron plates.
Beichen squatted down, panting, and looked at the corpse at his feet.
"I guessed right... Iron shell and golden blood—it's the same monster that appeared by the lake the other day, right?"
"Oh...? Yeah, you seemed to have come into close contact with that thing."
Xiao Peng curled up the corners of his mouth in interest.
"Things seem to be getting more and more interesting. So that monster is related to the ancient ruins?"
"Hmm...it's very possible. ...But how did they do that? They didn't show up at first, right? They only appeared after I, the possessed Moon, activated their things...Then why did that giant monster appear by the lake? Was it human error or an accident...?"
"Anything is fine, and before that..."
Xiao Ping put away the whip, walked up to her and gave her a dangerous smile.
"Before that, we should think about how to get out. Besides, staying here with your current physical condition will cause a lot of trouble. What should we do if something like this keeps attacking us?"
Beichen's eyes drifted around guiltily:
“Then…then…”
"Drink my blood, cure the moon poison first, and let the ruins settle down."
As Xiao Peng spoke, he lifted up his sleeve and bit his wrist. A stream of golden blood flowed down his arm. With a terrifying expression that said "I'll beat you to death if you don't drink it", he handed his wrist to Beichen.
“Drink it now!”
“Oh…oh, I see…”
Since he had indeed caused trouble, Xiao Ying roared and Beichen could only hold up the hand, grit his teeth, and swallow the blood into his mouth with the wound in his mouth.
Unexpectedly, the weapon's blood did not have any fishy smell, but instead had a subtle sweetness and fragrance, which made people feel comfortable drinking it. Beichen was a little nervous at first, but she relaxed as she drank. She gulped down the blood, treating the hand in front of her as a drink bottle. A stream of blood even flowed out of the corner of her mouth, and she unconsciously licked it to avoid wasting it.
"Gu!"
For some reason, Xiao Ying suddenly made an awkward gurgling sound in his throat, then his ears turned red, he turned his head away, and began to curse under his breath - of course, Beichen, who was concentrating on drinking blood, didn't notice.
As he drank, Beichen suddenly felt an itch on his neck. He reached out and touched it, and the small blue-purple crystal fell off easily and landed in Beichen's palm.
"call……"
Letting go of Xiao Ying's wrist, Beichen looked at the crystal in his palm and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Looks like it's healed. ...Ah, really, the alarm has stopped."
"snort!"
Xiao Ping inexplicably became very upset. He put down his sleeves, turned around and walked to a corner to sit down - probably because he had lost too much blood and felt a little weak and irritable.
Beichen came closer in a flattering manner.
"Uh, sorry, Xiaoping...are you feeling a little unwell...?"
"Nonsense! I've lost so much blood, how can I feel comfortable?"
Xiao Peng rolled her eyes at her in annoyance. Beichen twitched his lips, but still had to bite the bullet and continue to thank her.
"...Anyway, thank you for helping me detoxify..."
"Well, now you owe me two things."
“…”
Beichen was silent for a few seconds, watching Xiaoying take out a small towel from the storage space and hand it to her.
"Huh?"
"Bandage me, stupid woman!"
“…”
After bandaging Xiao Ying's wound with frustration, he snorted with his nose turned up, and his complexion looked a little better.
After thinking for a while, Beichen clapped his hands and sat down next to Xiaoqing against the wall.
"Um, why did you help me just now? Those two things were coming for me, right? Aren't you from the organization that's against the Red Moon Priestess? If I die, your goal will be accomplished, right?"
"Yes, the goal has been completely accomplished. Then is there any need for the Thirteen Moon Slaughter Seats to exist?"
Xiao Ying sneered and played with the towel wrapped around his hand.
"This organization cannot be disbanded yet, and I have many ways to utilize it."
"Aren't you afraid that if you keep me, the world will really fall into disaster?"
As soon as the words fell, the peerless beauty looked at Beichen with amusement.
"Just you...? I really don't see that you have the courage to destroy the era."
"...I'm really sorry that I don't look like the Great Demon King at all."
After taking a breath, Xiao Ping looked up at the dome of the hall.
"I saved you not for you, but for myself. I have no way out and time is running out. I've already jumped into the air, and you've chosen me as my next landing point. If you refuse my permission to land, I'll be smashed to pieces—well, maybe not that exaggerated, but paraplegia is a real possibility."
As he spoke, he turned his head and stared into Beichen's eyes expressionlessly.
"I'm just showing my sincerity, little witch."
Beichen didn't answer, but just looked back at him with the same focused eyes.
"Of course, accepting me will indeed cause you a lot more trouble, but I can also guarantee that the benefits I bring to you will outweigh the disadvantages."
“…”
"I know what you're worried about. First, I look like a conspirator, and conspirators are most uncomfortable being under someone else; they're always thinking about climbing higher. Second, since I might oppose my master now, I might also betray you if I join you. Third, my 'Charm Spirit Addition' ability allows me to quickly obtain all your information. --I can admit that your concerns are correct."
"...Uh, that...Actually, I only thought of the first two points..."
"Can you be any more stupid?"
“…”
Beichen coughed a few times awkwardly.
"Indeed, you are right. My life is not just my own now, so I can't make a decision rashly. But..."
As she spoke, she looked seriously at Xiao Peng's face - but because that face was too deceptive, after looking at it for a few seconds, she blushed and looked away.
"I've noticed, Xiao Ping, that although you're considered a conspirator, you seem to be the type who disdains lying."
Xiao Ping was stunned for a moment, then nodded hesitantly, as if even he himself had just noticed this fact.
"Plus, after seeing your fighting style just now, I think our fighting auras should be quite compatible."
"...I don't think I would crush an enemy to death."
"That's because I don't have any weapons! ... Ahem, I mean... there's a saying in our world called..."
"Your world? You're not from this world. So that's how it is. The Red Moon Priestess is from another world. No wonder the organization can't find her..."
"...Please stop being so sensitive and just listen to me."
"Okay, go ahead."
Looking at Beichen's helpless face, Xiaoying's mood became better.
"There's a saying that goes, 'Don't employ those you doubt, and don't doubt those you employ.' I think there's nothing wrong with me seriously doubting you before hiring you. Because my decision will affect many people, I won't do anything that might hurt my family and friends because of you."
"Well, your doubts are necessary, so I didn't force you to make a decision."
"But I do feel that we lack someone who can coordinate our plans, and you are very suitable for this position. Although Yagad is very powerful and intelligent, he has no sense of good and evil, and no social outlook, which will easily lead to his behavior going astray. Yaye is indeed very powerful, but he doesn't seem to like being bound by constraints—"
"You mean, you agreed?"
"I think you're the one who should think things through. While I don't intend to bring disaster to the world, my identity is definitely out there. Even I don't know how things will turn out in the future. If you follow us, you'd better be prepared to be hunted by people all over the world."
"Since you are willing to bear the calamity I caused, I naturally won't complain about being affected by your affairs. Moreover, before this, as long as I had the bargaining chips in my hands, there was no way I would let those things happen."
"good."
Beichen nodded seriously to Xiaoying.
"In that case, I welcome you to join our forces. Ah, but having said that, if my warriors object, I will regret it."
"You're spoiling them too much, aren't you? Never mind, if you just nod, I can easily convince those guys."
Xiao Ping said this and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Don't employ those you doubt, and trust those you employ... Ah. It's easier said than done. To be honest, I don't have the resources to earn your trust right now, as you have so little information about me. So, let me tell you why I turned against my former master's faction."
“…Huh?”
Putting away all his expressions, the long whip called Xiaoying seemed to recall something that he had finally forgotten, and smiled with a hint of sarcasm on the corner of his mouth.
"My boss killed my three best brothers, then my previous master, to whom I was like a brother. He also used another friend of mine as a hostage to force me to sign a contract with my current master. But after I compromised, he went back on his word and killed that friend. Furthermore, my boss... condoned my current master. Even though he's a man, he still tried to force me to sharpen my blade."
“…”
As Xiao Peng spoke, there was still a gentle smile on his face, but his fists were clenched tighter and tighter, causing a bloodstain to seep out of the small towel used to bandage the wound.
Seeing him like this, Beichen was silent for dozens of seconds and re-bandaged his wound:
"...I understand. Don't worry, I already believe you."
"That's it? How can you be sure I'm not lying?"
"Well, I know you didn't lie. ...I trust my own judgment."
“…”
Xiao Peng frowned with a complicated expression:
"...Since you believe it, then you..."
"Do you want me to comfort you?"
“…”
Beichen lowered his head and sighed.
"Perhaps you truly need someone to comfort you in your current situation. However, as an outsider, I can't understand the depth of your grief and anger over the loss of your loved ones. Therefore, offering some superficial comfort would be quite rude. After all, whether I try to dissuade you from grieving or to continue grieving, I'd be very sorry for your family and friends, wouldn't I? In contrast, all I can do is help you through this difficult time, so that you can, afterward, seek revenge or strike back—and quickly wash away the darkness."
Xiao Ping stopped talking, just lowered his head and stared blankly at the towel wrapped around the wound on his wrist.
"Thank you for your hard work. You've been able to endure this with a smile on your face until now. I admire you very much. However, since you're in front of your 'comrades', there's no need to suppress it. It's important to vent appropriately."
The girl sitting next to him cooperated by turning her body with her back to him and whispered this to him.
"……Um."
After a long time, Xiao Peng barely managed to squeeze out a trembling breath from his throat.
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