"The land of the panda eaters... is a little special."

In the backyard, Yunluo and everyone introduced the situation of the Pangolin Land.

The metal fingers nimbly flipped through the data and pictures preserved from different eras, making some unique sounds of metal joints turning.

"Oh, it's a 'heavenly' area." The one who spoke was the Golden Lion Rachel.

He is a soldier who has been active on the sentry post and was just transferred back to Kyoto this year. He has experienced many battles and is familiar with the distinctions of various contaminated areas.

The term "Tiankai District" is a jargon used by border sentinels.

Most experienced sentinels are familiar with the differences between contaminated areas of different eras.

The newly born contaminated zone has a distorted and dangerous internal space. The deformed species living in it are low in intelligence, dazed, confused, ferocious and manic. Killing humans is an instinct for them and they cannot communicate.

But for some unknown reason, as time goes by, the situation in some polluted areas will gradually become stable.

The monsters in it will also gradually become stronger, wise, clear-headed, and enlightened, and they will be able to communicate and interact.

They will even evolve a social system and way of survival of their own.

The world there is like a real different dimension, although it is still distorted and weird, and seems incompatible with the human world.

But there is indeed a society, rules, and people living in it.

There are a few relatively mild-mannered deformed races that even allow humans to enter and exit, and peacefully exchange some rare resources in their respective areas.

There are very few such areas, and they are called "Tiankai Districts". Although this is a term not recognized by the Empire, they do exist.

In order to survive or for profit, many people would risk their lives, sneak into the Tiankai area with goods, and deal with those mutants.

There were also some people who made huge profits and earned a lot of money.

It’s just that these deformed species are emotionally unstable, cruel and twisted, and their values ​​are completely different from those of humans. It’s very dangerous to interact with them.

But in this world where people can easily starve to death, there are still countless people willing to take risks just for a bite of food.

"So? If we communicate well with the mutants, they won't attack us?"

Nicole had never heard of this before. She widened her eyes and gestured with her hand.

Not only her, but even many sentinels who do not often go to contaminated areas do not know that there are such places and such things in the world.

The Empire used the harsh living environment and the horror of the polluted areas to rally the people and impose heavy taxes. Of course, it was impossible to spread the news that monsters could communicate and that some polluted areas could be entered and exited safely.

"Not only can you communicate, you can even see how they live. Just follow the rules in the contaminated area." Yun Luo said.

"But it doesn't mean it's safe. Sometimes it's even more dangerous and cruel."

The cold mechanical fingers pulled out an old photo from the numerous documents and showed it to everyone present.

The photo was yellowed, with a few dark brown bloodstains on it.

The photo shows a dozen sentries being hanged in the wild. They were apparently not dead yet when the photo was taken. The content of the punishment made all the strong warriors at the scene shudder and could not help but avoid looking.

At the very front of the photo, a distorted being wearing a pink Rococo-style dress stands in front of the camera.

She has a human face, an insect body, and a saw-toothed sickle arm covered with blood-red entrails. She is posing in front of the camera with an innocent smile on her face.

"This is a photo taken ten years ago. It shows the fate of a team of sentinels who entered the land of the panda. They all died in the end. The leader... was my teacher when I was a teenager."

The photo held in Yun Luo's mechanical fingers was dark and yellow, stained with blood from someone unknown, like a window peek into hell.

That dark, bloody, and extremely cruel moment was frozen in the picture, making it hard to imagine that such horrific abuse and torture could exist in this world.

In the quiet and peaceful imperial capital, in the back garden of Lin Yuan's family where spring flowers bloomed, everyone fell silent as they looked at the photo in Yun Luo's hand.

Du Yuanyuan clapped her hands and changed the heavy topic. "The land of the panda eaters is a matriarchal clan, and is very unfriendly to men. I think you gentlemen should not go this time."

She reached out and held Lin Yuan's shoulders, "This time, it's just Yuan Yuan and I alone."

"I'm going too." Nicole said unconvinced. Under her explosive hair, there were silver scales on her cheeks that sparkled in the sun.

Du Gungun stretched out his long arm and put his other hand on Nicole's shoulder. He felt like he was hugging her left and right and was very proud of himself.

A pair of furry black ears on its head trembled with joy, and the panda's iconic black eye circles appeared on its face.

Du Yuanyuan and Nicole had just had a fight during training, and the winner was still undecided. Neither of them was convinced of the outcome, and the physical state of the materialized spiritual body had not yet been eliminated.

At this moment, they had forgotten their hatred and even blurred the gender boundaries, and the three girls squeezed together happily.

Lin Yuan had a dazed look on his face, Du Yuanyuan and Nicole had mud and grass all over their heads and faces, and they laughed at the other boys.

"I have to go, even if I have to dress up as a woman." Rachel smiled fearlessly, "Captain Yun, don't force yourself this time."

The Golden Lion was tall and had golden proportions. But there were also many burly female sentinels, and Du Yuanyuan was almost as tall as him.

Yun Luo blushed, "I want to go. That's where my teacher is buried. Men are not prohibited from entering... but their status is lower. I can just bear with it and go through."

Nicole noticed that Lin Yuan was a little absent-minded. Although she had a blank expression on her face as usual, as a guide, Nicole was able to detect that something was on her mind. It seemed that she was always looking at the personal terminal on her wrist inadvertently.

"What's wrong, Yuanyuan?" Nicole stayed after the training. "Do you have any other sentinels you want to invite to go with you?"

"Yes, there is one person." Lin Yuan answered honestly, "I want to invite him to go with me, but I'm not very good at typing and I'm afraid I might misrepresent my meaning."

Both girls were sweating a lot. Wearing short-sleeved tight training clothes that exposed their arms, they walked hand in hand along the courtyard wall where roses were blooming.

"What's so difficult about this? Isn't there a banquet tonight? Can't you just ask him in person?" Nicole said, "He has to attend the Queen's banquet, too."

There will be a grand dinner tonight in the name of Her Majesty the Queen. Most of the sentinels and guides with a certain status in the empire will be in attendance.

Yes, if I want to ask Xiaoyu whether she wants to go, why don’t I just ask her directly when I meet her today? Is that okay?

It's such a simple thing.

What are you thinking about?

Lin Yuan didn't understand why she felt embarrassed to see Ni Ji.

The tentacles following Lin Yuan were playing with Nicole's silver snake by wrapping their bodies around each other.

After hearing the conversation between Lin Yuan and Nicole, they all looked up and started talking.

[You just can't type? It might be worse if you speak.]

[I told you to let me write for you, but you still refuse to do so this time]

[Just listen to me, don't say anything, just act directly]

[The only thing that is good about this entity is its ability to take action.]

[Please return our fish. We haven’t fished for a few days.]

[The little fish is so pitiful]

【Zha Zha Garden】

【*&$%！】

The target of the tentacles' mental transmission was Lin Yuan himself. However, because they were in contact with Nicole's mental body, Nicole "heard" some of the noise.

"What fish?" Nicole stretched out her hand and grabbed Lin Yuan's arm. "Come on, Xiao Yuan, tell me what you did behind my back."

Lin Yuan looked away, kicking the stones on the roadside with the toes of his shoes, and avoided Nicole's question.

After a while, he put his hand close to Nicole's ear and whispered a few words in her ear.

Nicole has known Lin Yuan for a long time and is very familiar with his personality. She knows that this guy is emotionally closed and as straight as a rock. He always speaks his mind without hesitation.

This was the first time she saw Lin Yuan with such a subtle expression.

Under the wall of an empty courtyard covered with rose branches, two girls whispered their secrets to each other.

The whispers spread in the flower-filled courtyard, unwilling to be heard by others.

…

Before the dinner started, Roy, the head of the Special Research Department, excitedly brought Lin Yuan an evening gown, saying it was a gift from Her Majesty the Queen.

The dress was made of high-quality silk and gorgeous brocade, embroidered with flowers, revealing layers of lace, and the hem was embellished with countless sparkling diamonds. It was luxurious and beautiful to the extreme.

"You are so beautiful, just like a princess." Roy was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. "You are so lucky. The Queen's supreme love for you is so enviable. If your mother were still alive, I wonder how happy she would be."

Lin Yuan turned in front of the mirror, and the tiny diamonds lit up a layer of floating light, as if she was covered in moonlight. It was very beautiful, exquisite to the extreme, almost making people forget that they were in this chaotic world.

During the day, she had just read a lot of information about the contaminated area.

In those photos and videos, there are countless soldiers, civilians, and even some children and the elderly who died tragically in the dangerous and cruel polluted areas just for a few pitiful living supplies.

They have to go. In this poor world, they cannot survive unless they fight for their lives.

In a blink of an eye, I found myself in front of the mirror, wearing silks and satins, adorned with jewels, preparing to spend a night at a banquet that offered endless food and wine.

Inside the tower, people indulge in revelry day and night, and live in luxury and lust.

Outside the bone-like stone wall, there was no food to eat and starving people lay everywhere.

Lin Yuan looked at the girl in the gorgeous gown in the mirror and felt a strong sense of separation.

The person in the mirror has a slender waist, porcelain-white skin, a pointed little face, and a cold look without any distinct expression.

Suddenly I felt that if I put on a white veil to cover my face and put on red lipstick, I would look like a replica of the queen, the powerful presence at the top of the White Tower.

Just? Younger and smaller than her.

The royal banquet is the most lively event in the empire and is always held in the spring when flowers are in full bloom.

At this time of year, fresh lambs, beef, seafood and wild delicacies would be brought to Kyoto from all over the country. The fresh ingredients were skillfully cooked, seasoned with precious spices and continuously supplied to the luxurious banquet halls.

The lighting was very artistic, and all the latest high-end products brought back from the polluted area were offered at this banquet.

Three-dimensional virtual singers danced in the wine pool. Singing kingfishers were placed beside the paths for all the guests to sing for this grand banquet.

American wine was made into small fountains for everyone to drink as if it were free, and gems and flowers embellished the prosperity of the empire.

The banquet hall was located inside the White Tower, without windows, so no one needed to see the dark night outside.

All you need to know is that this is soft and fragrant red soil, a city that never sleeps, a place where everyone can feel safe and intoxicated.

Lin Yuan's arrival attracted a lot of people's attention.

The young tour guide had a young face, and she was too lazy to even give a symbolic touch of red lips. She walked through the crowd with her long skirt lifted, but it seemed as if she was dragging the bright moonlight across the world.

"Did you see that? That skirt was given by His Majesty himself."

"It is such an honor."

"Director Lin Xiang is such an excellent person, so beautiful that it makes people intoxicated. I heard that His Majesty will summon her every few days."

"She hasn't found a match yet, has she?"

"I don't know what kind of sentinel would be worthy of such a beautiful and gentle guide like her."

"I heard that she has royal blood and a rich family."

"Then the prince is also a good match."

"Who said it wasn't?"

Lin Yuan didn't understand. She was still the same person as before. Her appearance and personality hadn't changed much. She was even more eccentric and unruly.

But for some reason, the public opinion about her changed completely.

It's just like when people said she was eccentric, disabled and weird for no reason, and they blamed and despised her for no reason.

Now she is inexplicably labeled with many qualities that she does not possess, such as gentle and beautiful, intelligent and generous, and charming.

Along the way, countless eyes and thoughts were focused on her. Many friends greeted her warmly.

Although she doesn't realize it, Lin Yuan is undoubtedly extremely beautiful.

Before leaving Kyoto, she was wearing a black dress that was as white as smoke, a beauty that was simple, lonely, cold and detached from the world.

Now she was ordered to put on the white dress again. The dress was as beautiful as the moon and the song, but the person wearing the dress no longer had any trace of the loneliness she once had.

That was a tall figure that had been stained with blood on the battlefield, witnessed countless lives and deaths, and walked through the hail of bullets, revealing natural confidence, agility and strength as it walked.

No matter what, the soft gauze dress could not cover the warrior's soul that could stand alone between heaven and earth.

Many people were watching her secretly, wanting to go up and talk to her.

Those noble sentinels who boasted of their status, holding their wine glasses, wanted to approach and have a few words. However, somehow, they always shivered inexplicably before they could get close.

It seemed that what was hidden under the beautiful skirt was not a slender figure, but countless powerful dark objects surging in the shadows on the ground.

It makes people feel frightened, timid and dazed. When they come to their senses, the dreamy figure like moonlight has disappeared.

"Didn't you say you would talk to Director Lin today? You put on makeup for so long. Why are you walking back like a fool again?"

"Oh, yes, that's right. I was going to look for her, but I don't know why I turned back."

"Strange, where is Director Lin? I can't find her. She was here just now."

"Has anyone seen Lin Yuan? Damn it, how could she disappear in a moment of distraction? I dressed up all night just to leave a good impression on her today."

Lin Yuan quietly used the tentacles to drive away another person who wanted to disturb her for no reason.

Find a quiet corner, sit down and drink secretly.

The man-made garden has lotus flowers by the water, and wisteria branches hanging down in the shade of the trees by the water.

Lin Yuan just sat in the shadow of the flowers and drank by himself.

Those guys with ulterior motives walked back and forth in front of her, but none of them could see her.

She has been very good at this since she was young. Even in the most lively occasion, as long as she wants, she can make everyone ignore her unintentionally and not disturb her.

Only a very special person who has a strong obsession with her can find her.

She saw Ni Ji in the crowd.

Xiaoyu was wearing a military dress today, which made her look broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, and her legs were straight.

Just like me just now, there were a lot of people around him.

Lin Yuan pricked up his ears and listened. Those people were talking and congratulating Xiaoyu for his outstanding achievements in entering and exiting the polluted area several times.

Congratulations, he is about to be promoted to Adjutant of the Royal Guard, an important position close to the top of the White Tower, so he is surrounded by people who are trying to get close to him.

Lin Yuan sat under the shade of purple flowers, licking the sweet wine happily and secretly looked at the sentry surrounded by the crowd for a while.

I haven't seen him for many days. He seemed to have dressed up carefully today. His hair was combed neatly and he might have put on some makeup.

She has delicate features, a cool temperament, and is both beautiful and cool.

I don’t know who I’m going to meet.

Those inky eyes didn't even turn towards this corner, as if they didn't notice me.

Such a party is extremely boring and has no fun at all.

The only interesting thing is that there is plenty of alcohol, and you can drink to your heart's content when no one is paying attention.

The hustle and bustle is nearby, as is the smell of fish. I sit quietly in an unnoticed corner, with the shadows of trees and flowers covering my face. Even the taste of the wine seems to have become sweeter.

Is there? A hand reached out through the hanging wisteria bouquet and took the wine glass from Lin Yuan's hand.

"You drank so much again."

A strange voice sounded in my ears.

Lin Yuan turned his head and saw a shadow under the shade of the tree, the shadow that had completely faded from his memory.

"Yuanyuan, can we? Can we? have a talk?" Jiang Yangshuo, standing in the shadow of the tree, looked at Lin Yuan.

He seemed to have drunk quite a bit of wine, the corners of his eyes were red, his hair was a little messy, and a line of golden light was faintly visible in his dark pupils.