Chapter 201: The Organization Decides

"Then you began happily nurturing and refining it, licking— I mean, you did so for a full ten years?" Tang Luo asked.

Chi Jing Daoren nodded, his face still unable to conceal his sorrow, making one want to sing "Nothing to My Name."

"The Yin-Yang Mirror was brought out from a mission world; it wasn't a direct reward from the Gods and Demons, was it?" Tang Luo asked.

Chi Jing Daoren shook his head slightly. "No, I discovered it by chance."

"It seems it wasn't necessarily by chance." Tang Luo said, "This person told me he had already lived for over a hundred years."

Chi Jing Daoren glanced at the dried corpse on the ground. Mhm, it did indeed look like someone of over a hundred years.

"He lived for over thirty years inside the Yin-Yang Mirror's internal world, and lived another seventy-plus years after leaving it." Tang Luo said, "And he should be a person from the real world."

"..." Chi Jing Daoren fell into deep thought.

Ultimately, did the Yin-Yang Mirror deceive that Shi Ren, giving him false memories?

Or, before Chi Jing Daoren brought the Yin-Yang Mirror from the mission world to the real world, had the Yin-Yang Mirror's "tentacles" already spread to the real world?

Chi Jing Daoren suddenly brought up an unrelated topic: "The real world should be extremely important, right?"

"Of course. We Gods and Demons Walkers aren't even allowed to stir up trouble in the real world." Tang Luo said.

Just this point alone proves the special nature of the real world.

Not to mention that some mission worlds are inextricably linked to the real world's history, myths and legends, and various stories.

That's right, the real world is just fireworks of a different color!

"But it's allowed in mission worlds." Chi Jing Daoren frowned slightly, pondering, "Then, since people like us exist who travel to different mission worlds, in those different mission worlds, are there people or things that likewise come to the real world?"

"The Yin-Yang Mirror might just be another 'us' from another world. Long ago, it reached its tentacles into the real world, and taking advantage of an opportunity, 'smuggled' its main body here."

Chi Jing Daoren's thinking opened up, and he spoke eloquently, "I instead became the bridge and channel for its smuggling, successfully deceiving the 'Gods and Demons'."

Pausing a moment, he looked at Tang Luo and asked: "What does Master Xuanzang think?"

"Makes sense." Tang Luo said with a smile.

But Chi Jing Daoren heard a few notes of perfunctoriness, and was slightly displeased. Laozi analyzed things so logically, even admitting to becoming a "traitor," and you just give me a "makes sense"?

Why don't you say "Well said"!

"Of course, actually this is the more optimistic view." Chi Jing Daoren threw out an even more shocking, even more panic-inducing thought of his own, "If my above reasoning holds, there's a suspicious point: the issue of equipment information."

"Since the Yin-Yang Mirror generated information, that proves it is permitted to be carried, a piece of equipment recognized by the Gods and Demons Game."

"The Yin-Yang Mirror has a spirit, and is equipment recognized by the Gods and Demons Game."

"You mean..." Chi Jing Daoren's face revealed a hint of ferocity, "Could this be a trap set by the Gods and Demons for us 'players', these 'pieces'?"

"Mhm, makes sense." This time, to add conviction, Tang Luo even nodded once.

Chi Jing Daoren finally couldn't hold it in: "You keep saying 'makes sense', 'makes sense'. Won't you give your own take?"

"Daozhang, this poor monk's take is exactly that what you said does indeed have several points of merit." Tang Luo looked utterly sincere.

"And then!" Chi Jing Daoren was stifled with anxiety.

"There is no 'and then'." Tang Luo said, "Information is severely insufficient. Based on the situation understood at present, deducing these quite 'reasonable' scenarios, this poor monk feels is already enough."

"... That's enough?" Chi Jing Daoren nearly jumped up. "Aren't you worried?"

"Worry about the distant, neglect the near." Tang Luo spoke four characters.

Chi Jing Daoren was stunned. After a moment he smiled bitterly: "... I was overthinking it."

"No, no, it should be thinking too early." Tang Luo corrected.

The various conjectures and doubts Chi Jing Daoren raised had no problems whatsoever—if one must find fault, it's just that he's thinking a bit too early right now.

Even though he is a powerhouse among Gods and Demons Walkers, a very, very strong powerhouse.

But Chi Jing Daoren still has no capital whatsoever to break free from this "game".

Inexplicable traversal, inexplicable missions—what exactly lies hidden behind them? For Gods and Demons Walkers, they haven't even touched the tip of the iceberg.

Everyone has groped out various patterns from one life-and-death mission after another.

But they are merely various patterns, nothing more. The so-called "Gods and Demons" is ultimately just a term everyone compiled.

It's like if humans now, via spacecraft outside the solar system, found a planet rich in energy; once mined successfully, they'd never have to worry about resource depletion again.

Everyone in the world could live like those fat cats in the American empire.

Everyone is very happy, and then...

Then of course it's back to business as usual, continue developing technology, strive to put people on Mars, achieve XX's small step, mankind's giant leap.

Wait until the day everyone leaving the solar system is as easy as going abroad, then consider the development issue.

"Right, I was thinking too early." Chi Jing Daoren said, "But preparing for a rainy day isn't a bad idea either."

"That's why this poor monk said Daozhang's words make a lot of sense." Tang Luo laughed.

"The Master sees through things thoroughly." Chi Jing Daoren said sincerely.

Those thoughts just now, even he himself couldn't help but tremble when he thought of them, fear and excitement coexisting.

It was simply like the first time he entered a mission world and engaged in a life-and-death battle.

Then, he saw a "dumbstruck" detached monk. Here, "dumbstruck" is meant in its original commendatory sense.

This is a realm one level higher than his own.

Coupled with the circumstances of his emergence from inside the Yin-Yang Mirror, the other party might be even stronger than himself.

Chi Jing Daoren's heart relaxed slightly. The sky might fall, but having a tall person prop it up when it does is truly a good thing.

"No, no, that won't do!"

The next second, Chi Jing Daoren discarded that line of thought again.

What he was considering was indeed distant worry. But letting it go at that, counting on a tall person to prop it up, that's also digging one's own grave.

The best response is naturally to have a clear idea in mind, act with a plan, neither rash nor appeasing.

"This matter, we can tell other Gods and Demons Walkers, at least let everyone have a bottom line in their hearts." Chi Jing Daoren concluded, "Equipment... might be poisoned."

Delivered the final closing summary.

"Very well, this poor monk has extensive connections and belongs to various organizations; spreading the news is no problem," Tang Luo said.

Rather than saying spreading the news, it would be more accurate to say it was actually a dispassionate retelling of the matter, devoid of any personal feeling.

As for what everyone thought or did afterward, that was beyond Tang Luo's control.

For the time being, this was all he could do.

Was it really necessary to let the Gods and Demons Walkers know about just this one matter?

"Organization..." Daoist Chi Jing said, "Master, to hide nothing from you, this poor Daoist also happens to be a member of an organization; I wonder if Master has ever heard of 'Wulin Mythology'?"

Talent like this could be recruited into the organization.

To speak of it, he hadn't shown his face for ten whole years, living a life truly cut off from the world, and had no idea how Wulin Mythology was faring now.

"Are you the founder of Wulin Mythology?" Tang Luo asked.

Judging by Daoist Chi Jing's rather advanced age, it was truly possible.

Of course, such age wasn't necessarily real; it could be from staying in mission worlds for a very, very long time, causing him to age.

"No." Daoist Chi Jing shook his head slightly, "This poor Daoist merely enjoys the shade under trees planted by predecessors, having picked up the treasures left behind by seniors."

Simply put, several decades ago, Daoist Chi Jing and a few companions discovered some relics of the former "Wulin Mythology" — right in the real world.

A situation similar to Tang Luo discovering Little Drill Wind.

Presumably left by some senior or seniors; the few of them conferred and thus reconstituted a "Wulin Mythology."

And it developed extremely well, ultimately becoming today's Wulin Mythology.

Daoist Chi Jing spoke very modestly; in reality, it could be understood as the difference between the Ming Cult's Persian Headquarters and the Central Plains Ming Cult.

If the former Wulin Mythology had completely collapsed, leaving only a few relics.

That would be the relationship between the Ming Cult and the Sun Moon Holy Cult.

Calling him the founder wasn't much of a stretch.

"I see; actually, this poor monk is also a member of Wulin Mythology," Tang Luo said.

"Really?" Daoist Chi Jing was somewhat surprised and delighted.

"Look." Tang Luo fished out his phone, opened the chat APP; although there was no internet or signal here, he could open his Enlightenment Transaction Group for Daoist Chi Jing to see.

Daoist Chi Jing's brows furrowed deeply, very deeply.

Oh my god, completely incomprehensible; serves him right for secluding himself in the real world for so long.

In just ten years, the outside world has advanced by leaps and bounds.

Must catch up with the times quickly, Daoist Chi Jing thought to himself.

The drawback of constant seclusion lay right here.

"This person is named Kong Ming; he is currently a management member of Wulin Mythology," Tang Luo said, pointing at Kong Ming's avatar, "I was also pulled into the organization by him; does Daozhang know him?"

"Know him."

Daoist Chi Jing laughed, "Never expected the little brat from back then could hold his own now."

"Wulin Mythology develops in a hidden state," Tang Luo said, "Right now, Huaxia still has an official one on the surface called Approach Science."

"I see."

"Since Daozhang is the 'Ancestral Founder,' matters related to the Yin-Yang Mirror will be handed over to you," Tang Luo said.

"This... Master may not understand this poor Daoist. This poor Daoist is used to being a carefree idle cloud and wild crane..." The implication being he didn't manage affairs; since you're also an organization member, why not hand it to you?

From the fact that he went into seclusion for ten years straight, one could tell roughly what sort of temperament he had.

Tang Luo found a kindred spirit: "Daozhang, you and I have affinity; I'm also of a similar temperament, dislike managing affairs, just like giving enlightenment, ferrying people across, punishing evil and promoting good, earning merit."

"Then..."

"Hmm..."

Tang Luo pointed at Kong Ming's avatar and said, "Kong Ming is a good comrade; what does Daozhang think?"

"Master's words are very reasonable."

The two looked at each other and smiled; the organization decided, it's you who'll take the fall... no, handle the matter!

Far away on land, Kong Ming suddenly shuddered, his face changing slightly: "What's going on? Why do I suddenly have a bad premonition?"

On the table before him lay scattered a large quantity of drafts, containing profound postures from mathematics, psychology, logic, public sociology, economics, and other related fields.

Currently deducing the various impacts and countermeasures if Tang Luo's mentioned "changing fate format" were to succeed.

Can't hold it in, I, Kong Ming, still can't hold it in!