Chapter 447: Only One Suffers

Next came the customary time for getting to know each other and exchanging contact information.

Everyone in this bar was a member of the Termination Association.

The Termination Association's headcount was a bit higher than Tang Luo had imagined, and the connections among them were not as tight as he had imagined.

Of course, it might also have something to do with Tang Luo having just joined.

For now he was a temp in the Termination Association, and the rest were much the same, all managed by Jiang Yuanming.

If one day Jiang Yuanming went out of contact, they were to contact the second handler Jiang Yuanming had provided.

Jiang Yuanming would assign tasks to everyone from time to time; after a period of time, they could advance further.

Regarding the Termination Association's upper echelons, they appeared extremely mysterious.

After basic exchanges, Jiang Yuanming also specifically explained to Tang Luo the methods for evading the Heavenly Punishers — this was a very important matter, at least for the Awakened.

The method was very simple: just don't stay in the same place for too long.

Otherwise, people like Tang Luo who had fought Heavenly Punishers, been targeted by them, and were on their list would sooner or later be found by the Heavenly Punishers.

Even faster than ordinary Awakened.

It was best to change residence every so often, or simply wander all over the world.

Including Jiang Yuanming himself, it was the same.

As for surveillance issues, they basically didn't need to be considered.

The Heavenly Punishers did not belong to secular power.

In short, as long as everyone didn't do anything out of line and maintained a state of "dynamic activity," they could make a hundred phone calls a day without worrying about being wiretapped.

Chat when you should chat, exchange intelligence when you should exchange intelligence.

There was no need for all kinds of covert meetups.

Of course, there were also those who let their guard down, gathered together frequently, and at some point were wiped out in one sweep by suddenly appearing Heavenly Punishers.

"The Heavenly Punishers have four forms; after the last form is killed, does that count as thorough death?" Tang Luo asked before leaving.

"Mm." Jiang Yuanming nodded. "Correct, but the Heavenly Punishers are endless; they can't be killed off."

"..." Tang Luo didn't speak.

Can't be killed off, or is it that after the heavenly soldiers die, the Black Tide swallows everything, and you don't even know — maybe you'll be devoured together at that time?

Thoroughly erased, just as if you never existed?

Does Jiang Yuanming know clearly about the Black Tide's existence, or is it that in the whole world, only outsiders like Tang Luo and his group are truly awake?

This "escape" mission had only two words, yet the information content was huge.

"If there are any missions, contact me more; my strength is very strong." Tang Luo said to Jiang Yuanming.

"Naturally; if it weren't for valuing your potential... the Termination Association wouldn't recruit just anyone." Jiang Yuanming said.

Lin Qing curled his lip in disdain at the side.

Clearly he'd been chased down a whole street by Heavenly Punishers; if I hadn't arrived in time he'd probably be done for, yet he still dares to boast shamelessly?

Jiang Yuanming sensed Lin Qing's change, shook his head and smiled.

Tang Luo didn't hold it against him either; after reminding him to help find someone, he left the bar.

Everyone drank quietly — Lin Qing didn't; he drank beverages.

Occasionally chatting a few sentences, the bar was very tranquil.

Another half hour passed, then Jiang Yuanming spoke: "Lin Qing, Xiang Weiran, Mu Xiangming, Jia Gaohan, come with me; the rest can stay if they want, the last one out remember to help lock the door."

The bar door wasn't locked, but outside there was always a 'temporarily closed' sign hanging.

The few people named by Jiang Yuanming all showed a trace of excitement.

Jiang Yuanming naming these people meant they could advance further, go deeper into the Termination Association.

To discover the world's truth, break this illusory cage.

As Awakened, none of them liked this oppressive, stifling, rotten false world.

In a sense, these people were quite sincere; as long as they broke the cage together, everyone was friends.

Jiang Yuanming took them to another place and held a video conference with the few of them.

Meaning Lin Qing and the others were no longer the Termination Association's "temps."

Quite a lot of information about the Termination Association was disclosed to them.

For example, as Awakened, they actually possessed the ability for a second, even multiple awakenings, just like the Heavenly Punishers!

However, the Awakened's second and third awakenings could only be realized with the help of the Termination Association's upper-echelon big shots.

Awakened, like Heavenly Punishers, had four ranks.

Like Lin Qing, who self-awakened and generated extraordinary power — that was rank one.

Moreover, the Awakened's general strength was actually greater than the Heavenly Punishers'.

Lin Qing was a rank-one Awakened; his strength was enough to match the Heavenly Punishers' second form.

Jiang Yuanming was a rank-two Awakened; the Heavenly Punishers' third form might not be his match either.

Among them, because Lin Qing had ample potential, it had already been decided above that he would undergo a second awakening.

Depart immediately tomorrow; Jiang Yuanming would take Lin Qing to the Termination Association headquarters.

Incidentally, the Termination Association's headquarters was not a fixed location.

As for the specific situation, Jiang Yuanming didn't say; he saw off the eager, excited Lin Qing and the three envious ones, then returned to his room.

The faint smile on his face quickly vanished; Jiang Yuanming took out a sheet of paper from the inner pocket of his clothes.

On it was a portrait sketch, realistic style, drawn fairly well.

At least it captured two features — protruding ears and an upturned nose.

Jiang Yuanming scanned and uploaded the sketch to the others on the video, and asked: "What do you think, who is this?"

"Hm?"

The rest of them all glanced over.

"Why are you drawing him?"

"This damn scum! He is our Termination Association's, the Awakened's disgrace."

"Don't put it like that, however you say it he's still a comrade."

"Comrade my ass. Back then we thought he was a genius among the Awakened, and what was the result? Either he just eats and drinks for free, doing nothing! Or he causes destruction."

"However you put it he's still a pillar of strength. His power is formidable."

"Do we need him to be a pillar? With the Association Head here……"

Speaking up to here, the voice abruptly dropped lower.

A group of people put on heavy, worried expressions.

"Alright." Jiang Yuanming said, "Someone is looking for him."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Why would someone be looking for him?"

Jiang Yuanming shook his head: "Don't know. Those two are newly noticed Awakened by me, potential not inferior to Lin Qing, yet they're looking for him."

"Could it be the Heavenly Punishers?"

"The Heavenly Punishers are just a bunch of programs; they can't pull off this kind of infiltration."

"You forgot what happened twenty years ago?"

"……"

Everyone fell silent once more.

After a while, someone finally spoke: "Let's observe first. What happened back then may not happen again, but we can't not be on guard."

"Good." Jiang Yuanming nodded.

"Wait!" Someone suddenly asked, "You're bringing Lin Qing to headquarters tomorrow, won't there be some……"

"How could that be?" Jiang Yuanming laughed in spite of himself, "Lin Qing officially joining was decided long ago, but meeting today was only decided two days ago, going tomorrow was only discussed just now."

"Make preparations first. If it really comes to that…… just let them come and never return."

"Good!"

Ending the communication, Jiang Yuanming walked out of the room, looking at the sky outside.

The weather was clear, the sky a stretch of deep blue, looking refreshing to the spirit, but it was only in appearance.

This oppressive, rotten false world — even the blue sky is that false!

In the hearts of Jiang Yuanming and the crowd of Awakened burned a ball of fire, wanting to tear apart this false sky.

"Bajie is actually in the Termination Association, and doing pretty well in there?"

While Jiang Yuanming was "battling heaven and earth," Tang Luo was thinking secretly in his heart.

The change when Jiang Yuanming saw the sketch did not escape Tang Luo.

As a man of action, Tang Luo walked out of the bar but did not leave; instead he chose to stay and see what Jiang Yuanming was concealing.

When Jiang Yuanming led people away, Tang Luo followed.

The Termination Association's main enemy is the program-like Heavenly Punishers; to put it bluntly, what everyone does is mutual brawling.

Extremely little scheming and intrigue, conspiracies and tricks.

In counter-surveillance and anti-tracking, Jiang Yuanming counts as a fairly seasoned member, but that's just the level he's at.

Moreover, Tang Luo employed the Merit Jade Lotus to become directly invisible.

Even standing in front of Jiang Yuanming, he wouldn't be discovered.

Next, having spectated the whole affair, Tang Luo remarked that Bajie seems to be doing pretty well.

Wait, Little White Dragon is also doing quite well.

Xiaotian Dog, being a cat, selling cuteness can also get by better than ordinary people.

So in the end only he alone is a miserable wretch?

Indeed, just as this bunch from the Termination Association said, this false terrible world ought to be destroyed.

Before that, must first find Zhu Bajie, preferably also find Xiaotian Dog.

If really can't find them, then at that time one punch shattering the firmament should also count as breaking free.

Tang Luo had no intention of harvesting merit power; the main reason being the merit power provided was practically none.

Because of wanting to make thorough preparations.

The time to bring Lin Qing to headquarters was delayed by two days.

Two days later, Jiang Yuanming brought Lin Qing to the airport, boarded a plane and departed.

Outside the plane, on top, Tang Luo and Ao Yulie two people sat.

The cold wind of high-speed flight didn't even stir their clothes or hair, completely isolated outside.

"Master, come up with a name." Ao Yulie's naming urge surged again.

This is a divine ability born from the Parry skill.

Cooperating with the Glazed Pure Garment, the formed "Golden Body" is impregnable; standing still, letting Little White Dragon attack for a hundred years wouldn't break its defense.

Now slightly exerting it, on the plane it's just like being at home.

"Call it what?" Tang Luo said.

"Let me think." Ao Yulie fell into deep thought; this is a top-priority matter, directly related to future prestige.

Alas, none of them are naming masters.

Thought for a good long while, could only squeeze out appellations like "Undying", "Vajra Indestructible" and such.

All things considered, he simply named it the "Undying Profound Gold Body"; after all, when truly deployed it was very similar to some people's divine abilities like "Undying Golden Body" or "Vajra Imperishable Body."

To distinguish it, he added the character "Profound."

It could be understood as "black," or as "profound upon profound, subtle and mysterious."

The plane landed, and Jiang Yuanming and Lin Qing rested for a night before continuing their journey.

Tang Luo followed behind them; they didn't even need Invisibility, tailing them with great ease.

"As expected, it's at sea? Much like the Dragon King — having no fixed abode is what makes it safe."

Watching the two board the ship, Ao Yulie said.