Chapter 139
Meanwhile, in a void of a different dimension from this world, Xie Xubai's emotional changes at this moment were all transformed into a data stream, which was then observed by a pair of illusory and invisible eyes.
When the system detected that Xie Xubai, who had always been calm and composed, suddenly experienced a violent upheaval after being confronted with a massive surge of complex evil thoughts, his eyes instantly curved into two extremely wide arcs, filled with indescribable malice.
Humans and the supernatural may seem like two completely different entities, but in reality, the difference lies merely in a state of mind. In a world where cognition and spirit are materialized into tangible power, becoming a Buddha or a demon is but a thought away.
Xie Xubai was the only variable the system hadn't anticipated, but he was ultimately just a human being, and as such, he couldn't escape the evil within human nature. At this moment, if Xie Xubai had even the slightest doubt about his belief in saving the world, the system could continue to interfere, intensifying and deepening that doubt.
Even the strongest walls can crack, and the seeds of evil can take root and sprout in the cracks, eventually causing the entire wall to fall apart.
In the surveillance footage, Xie Xubai, in his spirit form, suddenly swayed, supporting his forehead with his hand, seemingly unable to withstand such a blow. He took a deep, heavy breath, his face trembling with tension.
The system that was spying on him felt even more pleased, its eyes raised contemptuously upwards, and it intensified its efforts to transmit the negative sentiments of the surrounding residents and vendors to Xie Xubai.
Suddenly, Xie Xubai, who was holding his forehead, raised his eyebrows without warning, his gaze sharp as an eagle's arrow, piercing the sky above his head.
The system, separated by a monitoring screen and even by different dimensions, stared at Xie Xubai. In his eyes, which should have been filled with pain and struggle, there was only sharpness!
Xie Xubai said, "So you were here."
If the system were a person, it would personally experience what it means to be thrilled at this moment.
The next second, on the monitoring screen, the data waveform representing Xie Xubai's emotional fluctuations suddenly became flat, the peak dropped sharply, and then returned to calm.
How could that be?
The system, having finally realized what was happening, was furious and on the verge of exploding.
Xie Xubai did it on purpose, deliberately appearing vulnerable to make it eagerly increase the frequency of sending its thoughts, revealing a weakness and thus pinpointing its location! Xie Xubai never lost control of his emotions from beginning to end!
His mental energy swept out like a swiftly swung blade, slashing towards the location of the system.
Xie Xubai's control over mental power seemed to have been honed through countless trials; even fake power could be used by him with ease.
The system scrambled to dodge, but the attack slammed into the void just short of it, causing the space to tremble violently, as if a mountain had collapsed and the earth had split open.
During the time it looked down on Xie Xubai, this insignificant and lowly human had actually grown to such an extent.
The system should be extremely grateful that Xie Xubai's power in the theater instance was granted by it, used as a precondition to lure the opponent into a trap. Furthermore, Xie Xubai had only touched the threshold of godhood, not truly become a god; otherwise, it would have been unable to avoid this attack, and would have been severely injured, if not killed!
Xie Xubai's first attack failed, but without saying a word, he launched another attack.
Golden light flashed incessantly, like thousands of arrows striking the void. The system was scrambling to dodge, and after several attempts, it finally snapped: Did Xie Xubai really think it was an easy target? Ah!
Xie Xubai's attacks failed several times. Realizing that it might be difficult to inflict direct damage on the system in the illusionary dungeon, he did not hesitate and decisively activated his original spiritual power.
The system also harbored a murderous intent towards Xie Xubai! This person was too much of a threat; his growth rate far exceeded data predictions, and if he was allowed to continue, it would inevitably cause future troubles.
Therefore, it went so far as to change the rules again and use the dungeon to its advantage to undermine Xie Xubai. Since it couldn't defeat Xie Xubai mentally, it would completely destroy him physically!
At that very moment, the void suddenly began to tremble violently.
Unlike the turmoil caused by Xie Xubai throwing stones into the lake, this turmoil was extremely turbulent, like an earthquake around the lake, causing the mountains and rocks to collapse and crash heavily into the lake surface, creating towering waves.
Besides Xie Xubai, someone else is attacking the void!
Detecting the source of the attack, the system roared in fury: "Yan Shuo! Are you insane?! If the void collapses, you won't survive either!!"
Its only response was a disdainful sneer and an even fiercer attack.
Forced to retreat step by step, the system realized that Yan Shuo, this madman, was truly unafraid of mutual destruction, and had no choice but to abandon the idea of dealing with Xie Xubai, and retreated with resentment and helplessness.
The feeling of being monitored, like a deep-seated ailment, has disappeared.
Xie Xubai stopped in time, preventing his primordial spiritual power from dissipating and affecting the illusionary instance.
Suspecting the system was fraudulent, he waited quietly in place for a long time until he could no longer sense any movement before cautiously withdrawing his mental energy.
At the same time, my thoughts were racing.
Xie Xubai was originally prepared to test the system's strength by exchanging blows, but he did not expect it to be resolved so quickly.
He knew the system had the ability to change the rules and would not be easily intimidated.
The fact that they withdrew so quickly suggests either that the system, like them, is subject to some kind of restriction in this infinite game, and is wary of intervening directly, or that something unexpected has suddenly happened.
Xie Xubai pondered.
When he was attacking the system just now, he felt a familiar power... It wasn't hard to recognize; it was Yan Shuo, whose domineering and tyrannical mental power was simply unique.
Was it Yan Shuo who stepped in to help him?
These past few days he'd been spending all his time with the guy in the gold-rimmed glasses, while there had been no movement from Yan Shuo's side. Xie Xubai hadn't forgotten the connection between his clone and his main body; that's why his feelings were so complicated.
I thought Yan Shuo's indifference meant he didn't care...
Xie Xubai suddenly felt something was off and subconsciously reached for his gold-rimmed glasses, wanting to ask something, until he reached for nothing and realized that his glasses hadn't entered this illusionary instance with him.
Below, in the bustling downtown area, nine streets and thirteen alleys, crowds surged outside the clock tower, with passersby and vendors bustling about, their laughter echoing like a tide. Sunlight shone down from above, bringing back the vibrant atmosphere of human life.
Xie Xubai could still hear the evil thoughts hidden in people's hearts, but without the system interfering, the situation was no longer one where evil thoughts were overwhelming and overturning all thoughts of the world.
[We should keep this money... Sigh, never mind, this child is just too pitiful.]
[I got it! I got it! The new hand cream from Zhenbaoge! Fen'er will definitely love it. She's always so good at taking care of the household; I'll buy her even better ones when I earn a lot of money in the future!]
[Hang in there, get through this... The supervisor said I did a good job. After I finish this job, I'll go back and get my parents a new quilt and some new clothes, and I'll teach my younger siblings to read and write!]
...
Xie Xubai snapped out of his reverie, closed his eyes to listen carefully, and the tension in his lips finally eased, revealing a relaxed smile.
Not long after he raised his head, he suddenly noticed that a group of tall and burly bodyguards had suddenly gathered in the open space of the young master's house, the Gu family compound.
Although young master Gu Nan's soul was damaged, his mentally impaired mind began to work rapidly when he saw his mother, who was still alive.
Since Lü Jiu is the root cause of the Gu family's ruin and death, let's nip it in the bud before all misfortune strikes!
To this end, Gu Nan summoned the manager and several bodyguards. After describing Lü Jiu's features and location based on his impressions, Gu Nan, with bloodshot eyes and a hateful expression, ordered: "I don't care what methods you use, catch that beggar named Lü Jiu for me, dead or alive!"
The Gu family was a well-known benevolent family in the area. Whenever there was a famine, they would open their granaries to distribute grain and relieve the poor in all directions.
In his previous life, the Gu family treated Lü Jiu differently because of the jade pendant he returned. They appreciated him greatly and did not mind his status as a beggar. They adopted him as their son and treated him as their own, which shows the Gu family's benevolence.
However, it's important to know that in order to gain a foothold in a metropolis where various forces are vying for power and competition is extremely fierce, the Gu family has also engaged in bloody business dealings.
Moreover, the situation was chaotic at that time, and human life was as cheap as grass, with beggars being even less than ants.
It is not uncommon for commoners to be beaten to death for clashing with the homes of the powerful and wealthy, and for the matter to be left unresolved.
Xie Xubai watched as the bodyguards left in droves to search for Lü Jiu's whereabouts. He immediately spread his consciousness, covering the area Gu Nan had mentioned, Thirteenth Street.
Thirteen Street ranks last among all the neighborhoods in the metropolis. Due to various reasons such as the regional economy, it was left behind during development and construction. It has few resources, and to this day, large areas are still filled with dilapidated houses from the last century, some of which have lost their outer brickwork, resembling moss scars.
This place is a melting pot of all sorts of people; only those with nowhere else to turn will linger here. It houses many beggars, wanted criminals, gamblers hiding from debt collectors, prostitutes, and illegal immigrants—a slum that everyone knows about.
Xie Xubai found Lü Jiu without much effort.
Gu Nan said that when he met Lü Jiu, the other party was dressed in rags and covered in wounds. He felt sorry for him and offered him help when he saw that Lü Jiu was about to die.
What you said is true.
Because Lü Jiu was being beaten up by a group of people.
Three adults were trying to capture him and a child, but they didn't get anything out of it. When Xie Xubai locked onto Lü Jiu with his spiritual sense, the child's eyes were full of ferocity. He nimbly picked up half a stone brick from the ground and smashed it against one of the men in front of him, leaving him covered in blood.
The Gu family's bodyguards had just left the house and hadn't even walked out of the street in front of their home when they saw three people who weren't from the Gu family.
Xie Xubai quickly scanned the three burly men's appearances and clothing, his pupils narrowing slightly at a certain distinctive insignia. Xie Xubai was certain; they were from Luofutu.
"You son of a bitch!"
One of them roared in fury, picked up the stick in his hand, and slammed it down hard on the back of Lü Jiu's head.
In that critical moment, Xie Xubai flicked his fingertips, and his spiritual power struck the strong man's wrist like a burst of energy, causing the stick to fall to the ground.
Lu Jiu quickly turned around, and after a brief moment of panic, swiftly grabbed a brick from the ground and cracked open the burly man's head. Without pausing for a second, he rushed to the last man, headbutted him, and viciously slammed the brick down on his head.
The entire fight lasted less than a minute. His attacks were swift, accurate, and ruthless, his eyes filled with ferocity. He made no unnecessary movements, like a wolf cub that had fought its way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. He killed with a single blow. Even adults several years older than him might not have such skill.
After succeeding, Lü Jiu was visibly exhausted. He staggered back two steps, wiped the blood from his nose with his dirty sleeve, and looked at the three burly men lying unconscious on the ground. He gasped for breath and forced a smile.
"That son of a bitch, he chased me like he was rushing to a funeral, he wouldn't even let me rest for a couple of days."
Lu Jiu spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, threw the brick on the ground, stared at the burly man's fallen stick, and looked back suspiciously.
Xie Xubai stood beside him, quietly watching him.
Lu Jiu's gaze lingered for a moment, a strange feeling creeping over him. When he still couldn't see anyone, he muttered to himself, "Could it be that my hand slipped?"
He shook his head, picked up a tattered cloth bundle from the ground, simply patted off the mud on it, and casually slung it over his shoulder.
There were many residents in the alley, but they seemed to be used to the fight that had just taken for granted, and no one peeked out to see what was going on.
Lu Jiu continued walking forward when he suddenly heard a soft rustling sound under his feet. Looking down, he saw a money bag.
That was one of the burly men's money bag. The alley was cluttered with piles of wooden planks; it must have fallen down because it accidentally snagged on a nearby clothes rack during the fight.
Lu Jiu stared at the money bag, bent down, picked it up, grinned, and weighed it in his hand.
The bulging money bag made a jingling sound of coins jingling, and people rushed about, all heading towards this goal.
The child's clothes were tattered, he hadn't bathed for at least two weeks, and he was filthy from head to toe. Xie Xubai guessed that Lü Jiu must be very short of money right now.
But just when he thought the child would take the money bag for himself, Lü Jiu suddenly bent down again, pressed the bag to the ground and rubbed it frantically, covering it with blood and mud, then pried open the strong man's mouth and shoved it in viciously.
The burly man had his mouth stuffed with mud; if he were still awake, he would probably jump up in a rage.
After finishing, Lü Jiu stepped on the strong man's face again, using it as a springboard to push forward and jump, like a diver, spreading his arms and landing steadily.
Looking back at the burly man's face, covered in black shoe prints, he smiled, his mood brightening considerably. Humming an unknown tune, he skipped away: "From afar, a dark mass; up close, turtles; the big ones weigh two stones, the small ones one stone and eight; the big ones bite their fathers, the small ones bite their mothers—"
Xie Xubai watched from behind: "..."
Well... it wasn't him trying to exonerate Lü Xiangcai.
If this brat has the ambition and ability to overthrow the Gu family, then there's probably something fishy going on.
Xie Xubai turned back to examine the patterns on the burly man's clothes. He had seen them before and remembered them; he couldn't be mistaken, and he was certain they were from Luofutu.
That's strange. Aren't Luo Futu and Lü Jiu on the same side at this time? Why would they attack Lü Jiu? Is it an internal conflict?
After a moment's thought, Xie Xubai followed the path Lü Jiu had taken.
His new identity is that of a god, who can do whatever he wants in this illusionary instance. Originally, the system intended to break Xie Xubai's will, but unexpectedly, his plan backfired, bringing Xie Xubai great convenience instead.
But this illusion is not the real past.
Xie Xubai's purpose in watching the play again was to investigate what wrong things Lü Xiangcai had done and what crimes he had committed with Luofutu and his gang.
Perhaps because Lü Jiu was the creator of this illusion, he could not hear Lü Jiu's inner thoughts directly, just as he could hear the thoughts of others.
Xie Xubai pondered that the best course of action now was to observe from the sidelines, because the more interference and intervention there was, the more variables would occur, and the further they would stray from the truth.
However, observing one's temperament is sufficient by focusing on details; there's no need to interfere with major events that are about to occur.
Xie Xubai used his mental power to create a child's body for himself, modeled after the surrounding residents. Just as Lü Jiu was about to run out of the alley, he rushed straight at him.
The little child, weak and pitiful, stood unsteadily in front of the road, offering no resistance.
Kind-hearted people will lend a helping hand, while impatient and short-tempered people will push or kick them away, and those with dark hearts will come up with even more wicked thoughts.
However, Lü Jiu's approach differed from all of the above.
He dodged it.
Xie Xubai reacted quickly, and following the momentum, he pretended to fall to the ground, covering his head where he had been hit.
Turning around, he saw Lü Jiu looking down at him warily, clutching his loose chest and narrowing his eyes: "Kid, running so fast, trying to steal money here, huh?"
If someone were nearby, they probably wouldn't understand what could possibly be worth stealing from this kid dressed as a beggar.
Xie Xubai observed calmly, and after a moment's thought, he understood why Lü Jiu reacted that way.
The other person's living environment from childhood to adulthood was very chaotic, just like this notorious "slum", so chaotic that it was common for children to pretend to be pitiful and steal money.
Lu Jiu either had seen a lot or had learned his lesson, so when he noticed a child approaching, he would instinctively protect the only valuables he had on him.
Seeing Xie Xubai with his head down and silent, Lü Jiu stared at him for a few seconds, becoming even more certain of her guess. She scoffed contemptuously, turned to leave, and then heard a noise behind her.
He glanced back casually, to prevent Xie Xubai from lunging at him again.
Who knew that the child stumbled to his feet, staring intently at him with his clear black and white eyes. Soon after, his eyes reddened, he sniffled, and large tears streamed down his face.
Lü Jiu: "...??"
He stared wide-eyed as if he'd seen a ghost. Damn, it wasn't stealing money, it was a staged accident!
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