Chapter 108
A few months later, in Chenxi Town.
The warm breeze of spring blows away the cold of winter and the gloom of death, and the chirping of birds announces the arrival of new life.
New green shoots sprouted on the land that had been baptized by war. The long-lost sounds of people laughing and playing could be heard from the rebuilt houses, and children were playing on the paths.
Irene's grave is always filled with flowers.
In the center of the town, a new building was built in front of the original command center. It was simple in style but heavily guarded. In front of the building stood a large stone with a few simple large characters engraved on it: "Limited Perspective Research Institute."
This was Ango's decision, reminding himself and everyone who set foot here - whether it was an individual or a civilization, cognition had its limits, and arrogance was the biggest enemy.
Deep beneath the research institute, in a special quiet room, Ango sat cross-legged with her eyes closed, breathing slowly, her consciousness sinking into the vast and dangerous "territory" within her body.
Within this territory, there lurks an unspeakable consciousness, vast and dangerous. That consciousness and myself seem to form a delicate, fragile balance. They are not fused, but more like two rivers, wary of each other, yet forced to coexist. The river is silent, yet ever-present.
Ango could only use his own consciousness as a dam to build defense.
On the eve of the opening of the Limited Perspective Research Institute, the five people who entered the decisive battle site had a conversation.
Ango solemnly and seriously told them the current situation: "Lu Sheng's consciousness, along with his Book of Soul, is still dormant in my body. There are no abnormalities at the moment, but I don't know when he will wake up, or what changes will happen..."
The four people who witnessed the whole process that night naturally knew that what Ango said was true, and that there was a high possibility that some unpredictable and bad changes would occur in the future.
They all kept a secret and had not revealed the full truth since that night. They only said that Ghost Commander was indeed weak, and Ango destroyed his brain life support capsule with a metal rod, and everything was over.
After a brief moment of dead silence, Ace was the first to break it. He stepped forward, his eyes sharp, his voice deep but undeniably firm. "Then, let's keep this a secret between the five of us. Until we find a solution to this matter, no one should reveal a single word to anyone else, and no one six must ever know."
Lin Yaoxin nodded heavily: "I agree. People outside won't understand. They can only see danger."
Tang Yu's eyes swept over everyone present: "We can't cause unnecessary danger and turmoil. As long as we know the news, it's fine."
Finally, everyone's eyes fell on Xi Sen.
He had been leaning against the wall in the shadows, listening silently. He stood up, stepped into the light, and locked eyes with Ango. "The more people know, the more dangerous you'll be... Whether it's to protect you or to maintain the fragile balance and peace we've just achieved, we must keep this secret to ourselves."
Having said this, he paused, then continued, "I will also eliminate those who are trying to find out about this matter."
There was a hint of coldness and murderous intent in his promise.
Ango looked at the people in front of her, at the faces that had experienced life and death with her, and suddenly felt a warm current, because she was not the only one carrying this terrible secret.
"No matter what happens in the future," Ango said word by word, "no matter...what I become, we must remember the choice we made today. Remember...I will always be me."
"Yeah." Ace held out his hand, palm up, inviting everyone.
Lin Yaoxin and Tang Yu put their hands on him, and An Ge's eyes became moist.
She followed closely behind.
The last one was Xisen, his hand firmly covering Ango, with his unique, reassuring weight and warmth.
Without further words, under the cold moonlight, the five people formed a solid alliance.
After this, life seemed to become calmer.
Without the protection of Ghost Commander, the new leader Yang Enhui was quickly ousted. The Fanyue Group developed dormantly, and other monsters also appeared on the scene, one after another. However, these noises seemed to have little to do with Chenxi Town. The war around them subsided a lot. Although no one knew how the situation would develop in the future, at this moment this place was like a paradise.
The teachers of the former Sun Town Middle School, Principal Meng, Renee and Jas manage the affairs of the town, but the research and operations are still the responsibility of Ango.
Ace took over as the head of the defense team. He remained silent, the shadow of his sister's death still looming over the young man, but he had already developed a fortitude and sense of responsibility not found in his peers, which also became his motivation to protect the town's borders. Occasionally, at dusk, when no one was looking, he would bring the most beautiful flowers to Irene.
Tang Yu, Ango's deputy and also handling research, remains curious and adventurous, but possesses a newfound leadership spirit. Her work often overlaps with Ace's, and they maintain a rapport, though they occasionally bicker and argue. However, their shared bond, built through life and death, slowly takes root and blossoms into a towering tree.
Xi Sen's presence grew increasingly vague, and Lin Yaoxin followed him, entering previously unknown territory. They nominally belonged to the Institute's intelligence analysis department, but more often than not, Xi Sen operated in a gray area, leveraging his past experience and connections to build an invisible defense for Shenxi Town. He would periodically submit a concise report to Ango and then quietly disappear.
Others were not quite sure what they were doing, but everyone firmly believed that they were protecting the peace of the town in their own way.
Yang Haixi stayed in Morino City and continued to be her idol star, but privately, she was still transmitting information to Chenxi Town, and they maintained stable communication.
MAA, Jiang Mianyan and Jiang Can also closely follow the developments in Shenxi Town. They respect Ango's autonomy and are also exploring their own new direction after Lu Sheng's defeat.
It seems like everything is on track.
It was another night, and Ango went up to the terrace on the top floor of the institute alone.
The spring breeze blew through her hair, bringing the scent of earth and a faint fragrance of flowers. She looked at the lights gradually lighting up in the town and the faint laughter, and her heart was very calm.
Many faces flashed before her eyes.
Her parents, Irene, her deceased enemies... her past pursuits, her inner desires, her unstoppable research, and the price she paid.
She no longer wants to find an answer that can fundamentally solve all problems like she did before.
The answer used to be "volume", "research", and "absolute power", but she found that the answer was elusive.
"That's why we should cherish the present," she whispered to herself. "Perspectives are limited, so we just need to walk the path ahead well."
She cannot predict the future, all she can control is the choices and actions at the moment.
Ango turned around and prepared to return to the laboratory to continue the endless research and confrontation.
At this moment, a figure appeared silently at the shadowy entrance of the terrace. It was Xi Sen. He had just returned from outside the town, dusty and exhausted, with a subtle trace of fatigue in his eyes.
"Is everything settled?" Ango asked softly.
"Well, those malicious spies on the periphery have been eliminated." Xisen's answer was concise and powerful. After a moment's silence, he added, "You can rest assured for a while."
His words always revolved around her safety, as if it was the only way he could show he cared.
Ango looked at him. The lines of Xisen's face were hard, but something in his eyes was quietly melting. They had been through so much together—from the past of Interhead, to the later Sun Town, MAA, and now the heavy secret he carried within him.
"Xisen." Ango's voice was soft, with a rare softness that seemed to come from having let go of some of the burden. "I..."
As if knowing what Ango wanted to say, Xisen interrupted her: "I know."
Ango was slightly stunned.
Xi Sen chuckled and said slowly: "In that corridor, I have made a decision..."
At that time, the thought of "I want to be with this person for the rest of my life" occupied his mind, so he broke free from the illusion.
"I've seen darkness. I created it myself. The time bomb in your body is nothing. It can't be stranger, more terrifying than what we've experienced." Xi Sen took a step forward, closing the distance between them, so close that they could feel each other's breath. "We are no longer the same people we used to be. Even if more difficulties await us, we can handle them, right?"
Ango looked into Xisen's eyes. His gaze was so deep that it seemed as if he was looking into his soul.
"My past may never be washed away." Xi Sen's voice was low and clear. "I want to anchor my future here, on the battlefield where you are..."
Ango continued to stare at him.
She saw the same determination and courage in Xisen's eyes as her own.
She did not answer with words, but slowly stretched out her hand and spread out her palm, as if showing the invisible, heavy contract connecting the two of them.
Xi Sen looked at her palm, then slowly placed his own hand over it. There was no lingering interlocking of fingers, just a firm and powerful covering.
This is a silent oath - to bear the burden together and move forward side by side.
This is the fate they chose together.
Ango, carrying a latent symbiotic enemy and the scars of the past, steps into the next stage with the most important ally in her life.
The battle never ended, it just changed the battlefield.
Hope is like a glimmer of light in a spring night, penetrating the darkness and guiding the way forward.
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