Chapter 83: Linked Fate: Journey

In the car.

David stared at the map in his hand, hesitating.

He had originally planned to head to Houston, Texas, as his destination, but now he didn’t want to travel far anymore.

Especially since Houston was close to Mexico, the idea was completely abandoned.

His eyes scanned the map repeatedly, searching for a suitable spot—just as David was making his decision.

On the invisible plane above Louis’s head, a gray-black aura flashed briefly, linking to the direction of Orlando, arriving at a gambler who had been subjected to the Transference of Misfortune spell.

At the same time, the fainter aura also connected to the person closest to Louis, the one he was most closely tied to.

Moments later.

“Decided. Right here.” David pointed at the map, at a city near the eastern border of Louisiana—this place was said to have waterfalls, an Indian artifact exhibition hall, nature reserves, and was conveniently close to the resort estate the farmer mentioned—a perfect two-in-one.

Hearing his decision, Jenny beside him urged him to drive faster; the highway had no shade and was blazing hot, but moving would bring some wind.

Soon, the car started again.

In the back seat, Louis was flipping through the Folk Canon in his soul.

After defeating and controlling the Heart-Stopping Cannibal, the Folk Canon granted a Chuancheng , but just like with Mary Shaw, only one Chuancheng was given.

Then again, this guy wasn’t particularly strong—even weaker than Louis himself—so getting one Chuancheng was already more than enough.

Besides, even without a Chuancheng , Louis didn’t lose; for him, the cannibal itself was the greatest reward.

As he flipped through the Folk Canon, a new Chuancheng appeared.

Illusory Light Technique.

From the Section on Unorthodox Arts, it requires water to cast, using the reflection of light on water to create illusions, commonly used to manifest human forms or heavenly palaces for live performances; its principle is said to relate to a mirage.

This technique originates from the Color Gate Illusion Arts. (Magic tricks.)

Louis pondered: a scene illusion technique—somewhat useless, but if used well, might yield surprising results.

For instance, using it against Jason, that idiot, would probably freeze him the moment his mother appeared; his brain couldn’t compare to last night’s cannibal.

Thinking of last night, had he truly had nothing to do with encountering the cannibal?

Louis felt something strange in his gut.

After all, up until now, he hadn’t encountered any real danger.

This journey had brought two strange encounters, both highly rewarding: the lifeless Mary Shaw, tied to grudges, yielded a perfect doll-making notebook and the Divine Step Technique; the Heart-Stopping Cannibal was the reward itself, plus the Illusory Light Technique.

He even felt like he was reaping a harvest.

Was he out here like a farmer gathering crops?

This situation made him suspect the Transference of Misfortune spell…

Forget it. He couldn’t figure it out, couldn’t confirm it.

He shook his head, steadied his mind.

He began focusing on cultivating Qi, using internal Qi to heal his leg muscles.

Last night’s Divine Step Technique had indeed damaged his muscles; thanks to internal Qi protection, he wasn’t immobilized, but for now he couldn’t run or jump—only walk, or else he’d feel needle-like stabs.

This was the result of incomplete technique cultivation.

The car sped down the highway.

Soon they passed a small town where something seemed to have happened—police stood tense before a red semi-truck cordoned off with warning tape.

But Louis and the others paid no attention; in fact, David sped up upon seeing it—he didn’t want to get tangled in any Momingqimiao trouble now.

It made him feel like he really was a jinx!

Soon, they drove past it, swiftly passing another abandoned church sealed off by police.

After they left, nothing happened in the church basement where over three hundred corpses had been dug up, but the two red trucks the police had been guarding suffered an accident.

The truck driven by the cannibal to transport food had been heavily modified, filled with countless hidden mechanisms; it caught two officers off guard and killed them instantly.

In the end, the local sheriff had no choice but to destroy it violently with grenades.

…

They sped on.

Emma and Yulenc stretched their hands out the window, feeling the wind’s resistance against their palms.

Gazing at the endless, empty wilderness, Louis couldn’t help feeling a vast, boundless loneliness and freedom—he suddenly understood why people in his past life loved to travel.

This feeling was truly pleasant; if he had money and time, traveling daily to see new scenery and local flavors, even flirting a little, watching all kinds of beauty—it would be a wonderful life.

Too bad the place was wrong. Forget it.

Soon.

The group arrived at a small town; David pulled over to refuel, while Louis and Emma went to the nearby convenience store to buy things.

As soon as they entered, they saw a white woman holding a small dog, asking the clerk, “Wow, did you guys change uniforms?”

“Yes, but no dogs are allowed inside.”

“Shit, this is my kid.”

The white woman muttered, then strolled over to the shelves to pick items. A man who had just finished shopping and came to pay raised an eyebrow: “Oh, bitch and dog, together forever.”

The clerk rolled her eyes: “Even if you say that, you still have to pay. But your tattoo’s nice—just can’t wash it off in a lifetime.”

The man glanced at her sideways: “Yeah, just like you—selling junk for life.”

“Oh shit!”

After the exchange, both burst into laughter.

Louis and Emma, who had just walked in, exchanged glances, bought their things, and left immediately.

Louis felt if he stayed any longer, his brain would get infected—and was this really Florida?

After eating lunch and wandering around town, they learned today’s town mayor had organized an event.

The Great Laughter-Resisting Contest.

Everyone tried to make others laugh; whoever didn’t laugh all day won ten thousand dollars.

That’s why Louis and Emma had seen the clerk and customer exchange those words.

In fact, there were many such bizarre events scattered across America; Louis had always stayed home, so he never knew, and Emma was much the same.

Only now, out on the road, did they learn about them.

David, after refueling, joined the contest with Louis and the others—but none of them had a low enough laugh threshold; they all cracked up eventually and declared defeat.

Soon, in the afternoon, the family set off again.

They’d pass through several more small towns or cities, encountering more oddities.

This was probably what made travel enjoyable.

But their destination was now not far off.

(End of chapter)