Embers Ad Infinitum

Jiang Baimian quickly helped Shang Jianyao round out his words:

"Investigating this matter earned us an additional 50 ores."

Phocas, whose nickname is "Lion", nodded:

"Tell me about your investigation process in detail."

He walked back to the desk step by step and sat down.

During this process, he did not ask Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian to find their own seats, as if they were just two subordinates who came to report.

It's not easy to make some money... Jiang Baimian cheered up and started talking about how he and others "encountered" Zhao Yide and took on this task. He talked about waiting for Shen Kui, subduing him, and confirming that it was really " "Anti-intellectual religion" is at work.

As for how to find out from Zhao Shouren, the manager of the Zhao family, who is a "stranger", and how to get Shen Kui to truthfully explain the situation without taking the initiative to expose the fact that he was caught, Jiang Baimian only vaguely mentioned: "We There are some little tricks." We openly showed that we have secrets in this regard.

For many teams of relic hunters, this is not a rare situation - everyone has the ability to survive and survive that cannot be known to outsiders.

Phocas raised his hand and touched his chin, and suddenly asked a question:

"Why don't you go to the area near Zhao's manor to monitor the area, but choose a road further away from there?"

Sure enough, he is someone who has come through mountains of swords and seas of blood. He has a very keen sense of smell... Jiang Baimian smiled and replied:

"We are worried that the 'anti-intellectual cult' will pay special attention to points around the manor that are easy to monitor."

Phocas pondered for a few seconds, then laughed and said:

"The hunting team that investigated the presence of strangers in the manor was really lucky."

"Yes." Shang Jianyao agreed deeply.

Seeing that General Phocas easily noticed the problem he had deliberately raised, Jiang Baimian breathed a sigh of relief and said:

“There is a precedent for ‘anti-intellectual religion’.”

She then gave an overview of the action planned by the real "priest" in Weed City.

Phocas listened quietly and showed a slightly sarcastic smile:

"Are they plotting against me?"

Without waiting for Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian to reply, he stood up with great momentum:

“I’d love to see what exactly they’re trying to do.

"Do you recognize all the suspicious 'strangers'?"

"Yes." Shang Jianyao answered calmly.

Phocas smiled:

"That's good. Two days later, at nine o'clock in the morning, meet my guards here and we'll go straight to arrest them!"

He didn't seem at all worried about stepping into a trap.

"Why don't you choose an auspicious time?" Shang Jianyao asked.

Auspicious time is a word in the Hui Tu language. Since Shang Jianyao was speaking the Honghe language, he didn't know if he had a special vocabulary, so he used "lucky time" to express his meaning.

"Lucky time?" Phocas asked in confusion.

"For example, at two or three in the morning, when everyone is asleep." Shang Jianyao gave an example.

Phocas laughed:

"No, they are not qualified enough to deserve my treatment."

Saying similar words often doesn't end well... General, don't be so talkative... Jiang Baimian tried his best to change the topic:

"After participating in this operation, will we be able to get corresponding rewards?"

As she spoke, she glanced at the two guards on duty in the study.

"That's not my place to answer. It's up to your employer to decide." Phocas said confidently, "But I think it should be fine."

Without waiting for Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao to ask further questions, he sat down slightly tiredly:

"You can leave now, remember the time."

Shang Jianyao looked surprised and said:

"Aren't you going to leave us for lunch?"

Phocas looked him up and down, then suddenly smiled:

"Is this the price you pay?

"When the operation is successful, I will invite you to the celebration banquet."

"It's a deal!" Shang Jianyao responded with bright eyes.

Then, he and Jiang Baimian left the general's residence in Phocas and returned to the gray SUV.

Jiang Baimian glanced at the rearview mirror while driving:

"I even doubted whether he and you are related by blood, yet he chose to go ahead."

Shang Jianyao raised his hand and touched his hair:

"Probably not. If you really need it, you can."

Jiang Baimian suddenly laughed:

"Do you want to inherit his family property?"

"I will let his property be used in a more meaningful place." Shang Jianyao replied sincerely.

Jiang Baimian sneered:

"Like, filling your stomach?"

Without waiting for Shang Jianyao to answer, she turned the steering wheel and said seriously:

"At that time, we will definitely not be the main target. Even if there is an accident, it will at most be within the affected range. The degree of danger is not too high. Well, let Lao Ge put on a cloak and follow him. He is mostly awakened. The nemesis of the enemy."

Speaking of this, Jiang Baimian smiled:

"Phocas Mangguimang must be very strong.

"Zhao Zhengqi should have mentioned to him that you were an awakened one, but when he saw us, he only arranged two guards.

"Either the whole house is under the watchful eye of some strong man, or he is that strong man."

A strong man of that level should not bother to stay in the study pretending to be a guard, and could sit next to Phocas without any hesitation.

"He is very arrogant." Shang Jianyao expressed his opinion, "But he is not bad, and he even agreed to treat us to a big dinner afterwards."

Jiang Baimian said "hmm" twice and let the gray off-road vehicle drive to the inspection point on the street in front.

…………

Green Olive District, Rabe Street, Hotel Ugo.

Jiang Baimian brought Shang Jianyao back here and asked the boss about the latest situation:

"Were there any cases of 'unintentional illness' yesterday?"

Ugo shook his head:

"No.

"If there are no cases for another two or three days, you can move back."

He looked normal, nothing unusual.

"Hope." Shang Jianyao expressed his expectations sincerely.

After leaving the hotel, the two went to the rental house on Iron Medal Street as scheduled and met Bai Chen, Long Yuehong, and Gnawa.

After exchanging the results of their actions, Jiang Baimian laughed at himself and said:

“I was also stupid, treating them as beginners of Honghe language who had been educated in the company system.

“Let’s put together another introductory textbook on Gray Tu dialect later, based on the one for the first grade of primary school.

"Don't worry, I'll catch up on some sleep in the afternoon."

After lunch, Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong slept on the upper bunk of the bunk bed.

Just when Long Yuehong was about to complain that the other party occupied too much space, Shang Jianyao raised his right hand and pinched his temples.

…………

In the "Sea of ​​Origin", on the island with the golden elevator.

Shang Jianyao looked at himself sitting cross-legged at the door of the elevator, wearing a gray camouflage uniform. He shook his head with pity and sat down as well.

He spoke earnestly and said:

"You are me and I am you, we are an inseparable part.

"Everyone has conflicts and struggles, but they cannot separate themselves and go to extremes."

Seeing Shang Jianyao at the elevator door quietly listening to what he said, Shang Jianyao laughed and said the last two words:

"so……"

That Shang Jianyao raised his hand, took out his ears, and asked with a smile:

"What are you talking about? I can't hear you. I blocked my ears for fear of being affected by the 'reasoning clown'."

Shang Jianyao frowned slightly and looked at him.

Then, he also raised his hand and picked out his ears.

After a few seconds, Shang Jianyao sighed:

“We are so similar, we both made the same choice.

"I still want to accept you and let you get the best treatment in the hospital we built ourselves."

The businessman Jian Yao thought to himself and said:

“Conquering your last fear is your only way to the Corridor of the Soul.

"Since you are afraid of losing your companions, you must create opportunities to lose your companions and find an opportunity to overcome your fear in the process."

Shang Jianyao thought for a while and said:

“All nine of us get along well, why are you the only one who doesn’t get along?

"Is there something wrong with you? Tell us and let's talk about it. Maybe we can find some solution."

The businessman Jian Yao smiled and said:

“When you enter the ‘soul corridor’, you will gain qualitative change and have the ability to realize your ideals.

"If you create the opportunity to lose your companions, you can still control it to a certain extent and have the opportunity to make up for it. If you passively wait for the opportunity to come, you may not be saved."

Shang Jianyao sighed again:

"I suddenly don't know what to say, so I wish you a happy birthday."

The two of them just blocked their ears and talked like a duck.

And secretly, they are all trying to use "hypocrisy" to try to get the other party to take off the "earplugs" and listen to themselves.

As a result, the two jumped up at the same time, threw their "earplugs" and smashed them at each other.

Once again, Shang Jianyao and Shang Jianyao ended in a draw.

…………

After leaving the "Sea of ​​Origin", Shang Jianyao caught up on his sleep until four o'clock in the afternoon.

"How's it going? I think you seem to have entered the 'Sea of ​​Origin'." Long Yuehong asked with concern and curiosity.

Shang Jianyao sighed:

"We all know each other so well that there can only be one outcome."

That's a draw.

Jiang Baimian, who was on the lower bunk, thought for a while and said:

"How about you just listen to me and I can plan a plan for you?"