Chapter 345: Enemy?

Confirmation of the "Lizardmen" intelligence cast a more bizarre and dangerous hue over the journey to Guixu. The existence of these native ruin-dwelling creatures meant they would not only face chaotic spatial laws and hostile factions lurking nearby, but also remain ever-vigilant against deadly attacks from shadowy corners.

The Base's preparations were thus fine-tuned, adding training modules focused on high-corrosion bodily fluids, spirit pollution, and close-quarters combat under harsh environmental conditions. Xia Wan further intensified her Guardian Power's resistance to and purification of these negative effects.

As the departure date drew near, a mixture of tension, excitement, and resolve permeated the Base. Everyone understood this might be the most risky and most meaningful expedition humanity had undertaken since venturing into deep space.

That evening, after completing her final round of spirit pressure training, Xia Wan went alone to the upper observation deck of the Base. Here, a simulation replicated Earth's night sky, dotted with stars, sharply contrasting the Base's cold technological ambiance. She needed solitude to settle her thoughts and reflect on the weight of her responsibilities.

The simulated evening breeze carried a faint chill against her cheeks. She gazed at the familiar yet distant simulated stars, her mind flashing with her family's faces, the busy comrades in the Base, Qin Feng's inscrutable figure, and the heavy burdens entrusted to her by Yun Ge and Jing Yi.

As she sank into her thoughts, a slightly lazy voice sounded behind her:

"Oh? Little Guardian, all alone here, mourning the moon?"

Xia Wan didn't need to turn around to know who it was. She gathered her composure, turned, and indeed saw Mo Yu leaning against the deck's railing, tossing his Seven-Colored Dice in the air, a signature smirk playing on his lips. Xiao Bao wasn't with him—probably being doted on by some research staff who liked children.

"Senior Mo Yu." Xia Wan gave a slight nod.

Mo Yu walked over beside her, imitating her stance as he gazed at the stars—but his gaze didn't seem to admire; it seemed more like… inspecting his own backyard.

"Leaving soon. Nervous?" Mo Yu asked casually.

"A little," Xia Wan answered honestly. "More than that—it's responsibility."

Mo Yu smiled, offered no comment, then shifted the topic: "By the way, how much do you know about Guixu?"

Xia Wan paused, then summarized the known intelligence: "An extremely ancient and dangerous ruin. Its internal space is shattered, its laws chaotic. It may harbor forbidden knowledge or power, attracting the covetous eyes of multiple factions, and is occupied by native beings called Lizardmen."

"Hmm, good summary—all surface-level info," Mo Yu nodded, then his tone grew subtly profound. "But do you know how Guixu became this mess?"

Xia Wan froze, then shook her head. The Base had obtained almost no information on Guixu's origins—only that its history was ancient, possibly tied to some cosmic cycle.

Mo Yu's gaze drifted into the depths of the stars. In those usually mocking peach-colored eyes, a rare flicker of memory—and… coldness—passed.

"Long ago, in many eras past, that place was a sacred site of a glorious civilization—a race that sought to touch the universe's origin and establish eternal order. Their final proving ground." His voice deepened, carrying an ancient weariness. "They were powerful. And… arrogant. They dared to replace parts of cosmic law with their own will."

Xia Wan listened silently. She knew Mo Yu was about to reveal secrets buried in the river of time.

"The result? You see it now," Mo Yu sneered, dripping with mockery. "They burned themselves. The experiment went rogue, triggering some… higher-level 'correction' force. The entire sacred site, along with most of that civilization's essence, was shattered and exiled into the seams of spacetime—becoming this chaotic, cursed ruin we now call Guixu."

Xia Wan was shaken. A civilization that tried to replace cosmic law? Destroyed because its experiment failed? It sounded like myth—but sent a chill down her spine.

"Then… what triggered the 'correction' force?" she couldn't help asking.

Mo Yu fell silent. His dice-tossing stopped. He turned to look at Xia Wan, his expression growing complex.

"Who knows?" He shrugged, his tone returning to its earlier lightness—but beneath it, something lurked. "Maybe the universe's own immune response. Or maybe some… 'neighbor' who found them annoying? After all, running dangerous 'experiments' right next door? That's bound to ruffle feathers, right?"

His tone was teasing, but Xia Wan caught the odd undercurrent. She studied his seemingly casual profile—and a bold thought suddenly surfaced.

Senior Mo Yu… knows too much about Guixu's past. His tone even carries a faint… disdain? Or perhaps… amusement?

Coupled with his impenetrable strength and origins, and Qin Feng's cold but tacit approval of him…

Xia Wan hesitated, then softly voiced her suspicion:

"Senior Mo Yu… are you… connected to that destroyed civilization? Or to Guixu…?"

She paused, choosing her words carefully,

"…are you enemies?"

Mo Yu spun his head sharply. His peach-colored eyes widened slightly, clearly startled by her question.

He stared at Xia Wan for several seconds. His expression shifted from shock to something profoundly strange—like he wanted to laugh, yet was utterly baffled.

"Enemies?"

He repeated the word, as if hearing something absurd.

Then he burst into exaggerated laughter:

"Hahahaha! Enemies? Little Guardian, your imagination is too rich!"

He laughed so hard he slapped the railing. "Me? Enemies with those long-dead fools? They don't even deserve the title!"

After a long while, he finally calmed, wiping away tears of laughter, and looked at Xia Wan's bewildered face with a grin.

"If you insist on putting it that way…"

He rubbed his chin, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.

"I was just… a passerby who accidentally 'helped' the 'correction' force a little… a concerned citizen?"

"And while I was at it, picked up a few bits of 'leftovers' no one wanted from that little 'firework'."

He shook his Seven-Colored Dice, its surface seeming to hold infinite probabilities, his lips curling into a knowing smirk.

"So don't go imagining things."

"I have no grudge against Guixu."

"At most… I've had some 'business' dealings with it. And I enjoyed the show."

With that, he ignored Xia Wan, lost in thought, and strolled away humming a tuneless little melody.

Left alone under the simulated stars, Xia Wan replayed Mo Yu's words—half-truths, half-bullshit, yet packed with staggering implications.

Concerned citizen? Helped a little? Picked up leftovers?

If what Senior Mo Yu said was true… then his role back then…

Xia Wan stared at the direction Mo Yu had vanished. The once carefree senior now seemed infinitely more mysterious and inscrutable.

And the waters of Guixu… were deeper than she'd ever imagined.