Chapter 20

Xia Zhi and the others took a wide detour.

They chose a winding, circuitous road to advance with considerable effort.

This cautious attitude was like an invisible ruler, constantly measuring their every step. The main reason for taking such a wide detour was to avoid that fallen Fairy Town as much as possible.

Along the way they glanced at it from afar; the town's location had become a forbidden zone eroded by darkness, embedded in the originally peaceful earth like a poisonous tumor, resembling a gate to Hell gushing forth under the night sky, its momentum soaring to the heavens.

Under the vast, dark, oppressive scene, even from a distant distance, one could feel the stifling, terrifying pressure rushing at them.

That seemingly bustling, tide-like surging spectacle was in fact formed by countless twisted, distorted Moss entities gathered together.

These Moss crowded and jostled, compressing against each other in utter chaos; in a chaotic, frenzied state of existence they wandered and struggled endlessly on this cursed land, having completely lost their original forms.

"This is really too abnormal……"

Vivian was extremely vigilant about this, and very concerned, muttering to herself.

"Why would so many Moss gather? Is there something attracting them……"

A hard-to-express palpitation surged in her heart; an unease from the depths of her soul spread like ripples. At the same time she recalled the description in the intelligence entrusted to her by another self from Pan-Human History.

It was a warning-like prophecy, revealing a terrifying fact——

If another self had not transmigrated past time, returning to her consciousness with heavy, crucial intelligence, then she would also have died on the night the Rain Clan was destroyed, unable to do anything.

Immediately after, the Great Calamity erupted the next year; no one could stand up to oppose it.

——Thus Britain perished.

Could it be…… could it be…… this is the Great Calamity about to happen next? The girl subconsciously reached this conclusion, and believed it very likely to be the truth.

"Maybe their King was born?" Xia Zhi said offhandedly, narrowing his eyes to observe the distance; the more he watched the Moss's movements, the stranger they seemed, and he strongly suspected these things could actually be classified as a single species.

"King of Moss?"

The golden-haired girl frowned, finding this concept hard to accept, yet she did not rush to deny it.

"Let's leave here first…… this aura feels really uncomfortable." Tetelot, lying in the grass nearby, protested softly; this loli's complexion was somewhat pale; she had never imagined she would one day see so many Moss gathered together.

Such a massive quantity; the aura they emitted alone was terrifying to the extreme.

Quantitative change always triggers qualitative change; with such terrifying cursed aura, ordinary Lower Fairies probably wouldn't even dare approach……

No need to be hit by a Moss attack; just this dense cursed aura constantly induces fairies to give up hope and directly turn into Moss.

"True, let's withdraw first……"

Xia Zhi nodded decisively; he glanced at the sky, and if they didn't return soon Index would probably starve to death.

Although the remaining ingredients at camp were actually still enough for two people for more than a day, for the silver-haired little nun it would probably only barely cover a meal or two, and she still couldn't eat freely……

"Mm, let's go——"

Vivian nodded slightly, finally taking a deep look in that direction.

————

————

They did not choose to rush straight to the target in a straight line, but chose a more tortuous and thorough marching strategy.

Moreover, out of a cautious mindset, the three did not simply bury their heads and hurry; they meticulously planned every leg of the journey, scrutinized the surrounding environment in minute detail, and carefully erased traces of their passage.

They had to avoid blindly stumbling into potential traps and dangers ahead……

And also try to eliminate conditions for potential enemy tracking from behind……

Although such steady progress greatly improved the whole team's safety coefficient, however, this cautious advance also brought an unavoidable price——marching speed noticeably slowed. It was not until deep night that they finally successfully reached that hidden camp.

——The campfire had not gone out, but had dimmed considerably……

——As if telling that a not-short time had passed since the last time firewood was added.

"Index! We're back!"

No response.

By the swaying dim firelight, a silver-haired loli could be seen lying face-down on the ground, long silver hair scattered around her, not moving an inch; if there were a pool of blood beneath her, it would be a perfect crime scene.

Suppressing the urge to walk over and use chalk to outline the little nun's body shape, Xia Zhi raised an eyebrow slightly.

Although Vivian had already appraised and confirmed Index was not a so-called "Servant", she was ultimately summoned by him; there still seemed to be some kind of contract or magical tether connecting the two.

Therefore, regarding Index's condition, he had a general idea in his mind and did not feel overly tense, because her current state was clearly just simple deep sleep.

After all, it was already deep night.

If the little nun had been waiting bitterly for the food delivery, by this time she would have been unable to hold back her sleepiness.

"Index?"

Xia Zhi walked straight up, called softly again, crouched down and lifted the little nun up; however, the latter still had no reaction, just let her head droop, silver hair falling, clearly sleeping soundly.

This really is…… nerves of steel.

Vivian also quickly approached, likewise crouching on her knees beside Index, skillfully performing a brief physical check on this silver-haired loli.

Tetelot behind them wore a curious-baby expression, craning her neck to observe this Index who belonged to the same loli camp as herself.

Seeing there was nothing for him to do, Xia Zhi casually picked up the parchment scrolls scattered around the little nun, gave them a casual scan, and discovered they were covered in dense text; his gaze flowed over them, and the dozens of parchment scrolls spread on the ground were all the same.

Huh?

This glutton loli wasn't just lazing around, but actually started working?

Xia Zhi instantly found this remarkable; he picked up a few pieces of firewood nearby and threw them into the campfire, and by the way, using the firelight and starlight's reflection, looked at the content recorded on the parchment scrolls; the handwriting looked somewhat new.

——"……The five grains can still save lives; people who get them live, people who lose them die; how much more so the supreme divine medicine, its benefit to people is it not ten thousand times the five grains? As for the Golden Core, the longer it is burned, the more marvelous its transformations……"

emmmmmm, why does it feel a bit familiar.

Think carefully, isn't this the content of "Baopuzi Inner Chapters Golden Core"?

Seeming to recall something, Xia Zhi continued reading with interest, flipped through a few more pages; just like the few pieces Index had written before, reading them presented no difficulty.

However, there is a significant difference between the two.

What Index recorded in the past were only "fragments", like magic fragments scattered in various places, unconnected to each other.

The texts before him, however, belonged to a single whole; they were all contents from the same Mo Shu Shu. The Parchment Scrolls no longer recorded isolated "Fragments," nor were they limited to a few independent and finite magics—

On the contrary, these Parchment Scrolls carried a compilation of various profound theories, detailed explanations of Jutsu, interwoven logical arguments, and comprehensive guidance for learning and Application……

And then, Faintly pointed toward a certain systematic and comprehensive vast system.

Flipping through it quickly, Xia Zhi discovered that this "Baopuzi" had significant differences from that familiar ancient text in his memory; the discrepancies in content did not stem from deletions, but rather added much novel content.

He could Ensure he had indeed never seen those contents, not the slightest impression at all.

Mo-modified version?

No, afraid it cannot be called a Mo-modified version; it should be the "Original Scripture Level."

Only, it is Index's World's Original Scripture Level, not his own World's Original Scripture Level…… even the worldviews differ, so works sharing the same name would naturally have differences; the distinction lies in whether they truly possess the secrets to teaching people to attain the Dao and become immortals.

Or perhaps, in Index's World, the classic "Baopuzi" also has a version accessible to Ordinary People; that should be the version he is familiar with.

For a moment, Xia Zhi's Thoughts were in turmoil, his mind wandering far and wide.

And just at this time——

"Mm…… so good…… I still want to eat……"

Index smacked her lips Dazed, finally gradually waking up from her Dream.

She examined her Surroundings with a trace of bewilderment; a Moment later she seemed to Realize: "Huh? Xia Zhi Xia Zhi, you guys are finally back, I thought you guys—— Wah ah ah ah ah!!"

Before she finished speaking, the little nun suddenly let out a string of Screams.

She didn't know where the strength came from, but she pounced up in one go, swiftly snatching the Parchment Scroll from the young man's hand.

"Can't look can't look! Very Dangerous!"

"……"

"……"

"Is there?" Xia Zhi Blinked, pointedly asking: "I know you're anxious, but don't panic first…… haven't you looked at this kind of thing before?"

"This is different," the little nun Explained with a Pale face, "Strictly Speaking, the previous ones weren't that Dangerous, but the current Knowledge was copied from a real Mo Shu Shu; that is Knowledge that 'corrupts the Soul with just one glance'!"

Speaking to here, Index was so anxious she nearly cried, staring at him expectantly: "Y-you, how much did you read? How do you feel now?!"

"Read it all, doesn't seem like any Sensation……"

"……"

"……"

"Eh eh eh?!" The little nun made a strange sound.

She had just Awakened from her Dream, Thoughts still in a haze, plus the light was dim; where her gaze reached, she shockingly discovered the young man ahead was half-squatting before the campfire, holding the Parchment Scroll she had copied, while his body was already covered in Mottled Blood Stains——

Actually caused by the previous killing……

Rushing back all the way, no time was spent specifically cleaning up……

——Instantly, Index's Brain went 'buzz' and blanked out completely.

What followed were all instinctive reflexes in action; like this she still feared she couldn't stop it in time, anxious to the point of nearly crying out.

However the result left her dumbfounded; the other party was actually completely unaffected?

"How can this be…… how is it possible……" The silver-haired little nun wore a stunned Expression; she looked at the calm young man, then lowered her head to look at the Parchment Scrolls she held in her arms, her thinking involuntarily falling into a bout of chaos.

——Did I copy wrong?

——Or in this strange Phase, has the Foundation of magic truly been Wavering?

Because theoretically, although Index's copies of Mo Shu Shu "transcripts" would not be imbued with magic power due to her own particularity, the books' contents would not change because of this; they would still be dangerous objects that drive ordinary people mad just by seeing them.

The Knowledge carried by Mo Shu Shu is "Poisonous"; those contents are all "Abnormal Knowledge" and "Abnormal Law"; the Human Brain, once accepting this Knowledge, would be Destroyed due to "incompatibility."

"What are you guys talking about…… what kind of——"

Tetelot was at a loss, poking her head out from behind to look at the Parchment Scrolls in Index's arms; just as she spoke she came to an abrupt halt.

Her gaze suddenly turned deep, a gray haziness like inorganic matter, as if the spirit within had been attracted and devoured by something in an instant…… until Vivian reacted swiftly, forcefully Pushing her.

Falling onto the ground, this Wing Fairy seemed to wake from a dream, looking blankly at the Other People, then vigorously Shaking Head.

"Huh? I just now…… just now……"

Tetelot spoke doubtfully, but her body swayed a few times, then suddenly toppled backward, going silent.

The Mors Girl's Expression changed slightly; she quickly came to the Wing Fairy's Beside to check, then let out a breath of relief, turning back to say: "Just fell asleep, no big problem…… should be originally very exhausted, then drained by this and couldn't hold on."

"……"

"……"

A bout of strange Silence.

"Good that there's nothing, understandable." Xia Zhi raised his slender Finger, scratched his cheek, revealing an awkward yet polite Smile.

Index also fell Silent, staring straight at him with a strange gaze.

It seems……

Appears it's not the Mo Shu Shu's Knowledge that has a problem, but this Fellow who has a problem.

————

————

Although there are Many questions, for the time being there's no Method to investigate deeply, nor can any reason be spoken.

The person involved has no clue himself; under these circumstances, no matter how much speculation, it can only be classified as Delusion, without much practical Meaning.

Moreover today this whole day, the things that happened are already enough……

Cleaned up the filth on his body; even Vivian wearily closed her eyes to rest, the Other People naturally were no Exception; the little nun didn't persist long either, after eating and drinking her fill, accompanied by the warm firelight she quickly fell into deep Sleep again.

In the Camp, only Xia Zhi remained Awake.

While thinking, he flipped back and forth through the transcript in his hand.

Index had only copied a part for now, not the whole "Baopuzi"; flipping back and forth, he had read it all through, memorizing it didn't seem to have any Difficulty.

He pinched his chin and fell into thought, pondered for a moment, then picked up another page of the Parchment Scroll and brought it to the flames.

The firelight easily ignited that page; it burned bit by bit until he let go, letting the page turn to ash, burned clean... can be damaged, no sign of self-protection.

Aside from the content on it, the copy itself shouldn't have anything unusual... hmm, should be.

He shook his head, no longer dwelling on these, instead fixing his Gaze on the remaining Parchment Scrolls; although he didn't know what these strange Phenomena meant, nor whether they were good or bad, he seemed to have nothing to Consider.

This damn World is so dangerous; next those Moss might well stir up big news, likely to sweep across the entire Fairy Kingdom...

If he doesn't step up his strength, how can he get by?

As if having made some Determination, he gently organized the Parchment Scrolls, carefully placed them to the side, and lay down directly on the blanket beside the Bonfire.

Slowly...

He also entered dreamland.

And in a half-dream half-awake state, or perhaps completely within a Dream.

Xia Zhi faintly, seemed to hear some words, as if inviting, as if bewitching—

"... Your body entrusts to my banner, my fate entrusts to your Sword!"

"... Answer the Holy Grail's Summoning, obey this will, this reason, respond to me!"

(Chapter End)