Embers Ad Infinitum

After Long Yuehong, Bai Chen and Gnawa left the current room, Jiang Baimian said to Shang Jianyao:

"The matter in room '506' is almost over. All the information that should be squeezed out should be squeezed out. Even if there are still some secrets, the owner of the room himself is not clear about it, or has not studied it in depth. Once you touch it, he will point out I may not be sure which one I will face directly."

"I think so too." Shang Jianyao was now calm and rational.

Jiang Baimian nodded gently:

"You can then explore other rooms and find the door to the 'new world'. Well, don't affect your daily tasks."

She feels that judging from the information currently available, most of the problems are rooted in the "New World". Without knowing the specific conditions there, it is difficult to make accurate judgments and cannot effectively and substantively solve them. Corresponding "suffering illness".

Among the "old tune group", the one who is currently most promising to find the door to the "new world" is undoubtedly Shang Jianyao.

Of course, if he really found it, Jiang Baimian would not agree to Shang Jianyao going in directly. Instead, he planned to collect more relevant information, and after having a certain plan, wait for the right time.

Shang Jianyao replied eagerly:

"good!"

"Have a rest tonight and refresh yourself." Jiang Baimian saw through his plan.

"Okay." Shang Jianyao walked to his bed disappointedly.

The next morning, the "Old Adjustment Team" drove out of Cliff Village again and headed for Shan'ao Town.

The bloody smell of slaughtered sheep and cattle still lingers in the air here. Although the stains on the streets have been washed away by the stream, they still attract some tiny creatures to hover and linger there.

These were not the flies and mosquitoes that Long Yuehong was familiar with. In this season, these two creatures would not normally appear near the ice sheet.

As for what they were, Long Yuehong couldn't recognize them at all. She only suspected that they were some cold-resistant flying insects created by aberrations.

Shang Jian Yao walked familiarly through the vehicles parked in the small square and several surrounding streets, searching for Lao He.

"It smells so good..." Suddenly, he said this.

Long Yuehong sniffed subconsciously, and sure enough, she could distinguish the aroma of barbecue in the faint smell of blood.

"It's impossible to eat something so greasy so early in the morning!" Shang Jianyao looked to one side sadly.

There, several people from Suimo City were using the remaining fire from last night to roast several pieces of pork cut into strips.

They don't have any seasonings, only salt and a plant powder native to the valley, but just the pork belly itself, the fat from the roast is particularly attractive and arouses appetite.

Shang Jianyao leaned over, looking like he wanted to criticize this unhealthy diet.

"What can I exchange for one?" he asked.

"Clothes!" "Energy bars." "Weapons." The three young people from Sumo City gave different answers.

Although they produce furs, the climate in the valley is warm. Except for winter, it is almost the same as in the south most of the time, so there is no need to wear too heavy clothing.

Shang Jianyao took out two energy bars and exchanged them for a large piece of grilled pork belly.

He stood there and started eating, his mouth full of oil.

Long Yuehong couldn't help but swallow her saliva, turned her head to look at Bai Chen and said:

"do you want to eat?"

"I just finished breakfast not long ago." Bai Chen said that she didn't want to eat, and then she added, "You can change it yourself and have a taste."

"No need." Long Yuehong shook her head, "I've had barbecue for the last few meals."

Finally, Shang Jianyao finished chewing the pork belly and took the opportunity to inquire:

"Where's Lao He?"

The young man who just collected his energy bar pointed at a car on the back side of the square:

"Old He is doing morning prayers. What they believe in 'truth' is trouble. Unlike us, except for high mass on the last day of every year, you can do it any time you like. You can do it whenever you like."

It was very consistent with the big boss's attitude towards believers... Long Yuehong felt an inexplicable feeling of closeness to her.

Before Shang Jianyao could get there, Jiang Baimian pointed at him:

"My companion also believes in 'Si Ming', but it seems different from yours."

"Yes, yes," Shang Jianyao said enthusiastically, "We hold full-moon ceremonies and funerals respectively when a newborn is born and when the deceased passes away. At other times, everything is simple. We just wake up every morning and thank Zhi Sui. Keep yourself alive, and at regular intervals, the guide will call us to give a sermon and enjoy the Holy Communion."

As he spoke, he raised his right hand and wiped his mouth.

He didn't seem to be worried at all about being accused of being a heretic.

The young man who just answered, with messy hair, fair skin and light brown eyes, showed an envious expression:

“We only have Holy Communion when we have High Mass.”

"What is your Holy Communion?" Shang Jianyao asked impatiently.

The young man pointed to the small amount of cattle, sheep and pigs that had not yet been traded:

"It means slaughtering various animals, which means they will eventually return to the throne, and then using their various parts to make different dishes. The most precious ones are the various blood-related dishes. Alas, it is a pity that we brought blood sausage this time It’s all sold in the south, otherwise I can treat you to a taste.”

He is not hostile to Shang Jianyao, who also believes in "Si Ming", and is quite enthusiastic.

"Blood sausage, I seem to have heard of it somewhere..." Jiang Baimian muttered to himself.

Gnawa wanted to give an answer, but considering that the identity of his intelligent robot could not be exposed here, he promptly interrupted the operation of the sounder.

Jiang Baimian quickly thought of it:

"I heard in Tarnan that the special delicacies from President Gu's hometown were brought to Tarnan by him."

"Yes, there are also butchered pig dishes!" Shang Jianyao clenched his right fist and left palm, "Guanzhu Zhou still owes us a meal of butchered pig dishes."

He never forgot this.

"She doesn't owe it." Jiang Baimian corrected again.

After listening to this, the young man from Suimo City suddenly realized:

“We also have pig meat at our high mass.

"The President Gu you are talking about should be from a certain area in the north of the old world, or their descendants. We also have many such people in Suimo City."

As for which area it was in, he couldn't tell. Firstly, he himself was not a descendant of those people, and secondly, the current ice sheet had swallowed up the corresponding place, which could not form a good comparison with the map of the old world.

"What do you call it?" Shang Jianyao's eyes lit up when he heard the pig meat dish. "I will go to Suimo City to visit you later and attend your high mass. We are all believers in 'Si Ming' and we must not be allowed to see you outside."

He didn't use "thinking guidance" for the time being. He followed Jiang Baimian's advice and wanted to see what he could ask normally.

The young man from Suimo City felt the sincere enthusiasm and replied with a smile:

"My name is Li Bingliang, which means pure and good-natured.

"Well, our Suimo City does not accept outsiders, so as not to reveal our specific location, unless you can get an invitation from a certain elder."

"Oh..." Shang Jianyao was quite disappointed, "Is Lao He an elder?"

"No." Li Bingliang shook his head.

Only then did he remember to answer the question of why the rituals and Holy Communion were different even though he believed in "Si Ming":

“Our Suimo City was founded mainly by the Suimo Religion, and you should belong to other sects that believe in Suisu.

"Long Night Sect, Sunset Sect, or 'Life Ritual'?"

"'Life Sacrifice'." Shang Jianyao answered without hesitation.

Li Bingliang said that it was indeed the case.

After chatting for a few more words, the "Old Tune Group" walked deeper into the square and came to Lao He's military vehicle.

Lao He was wrapped in a bearskin coat and was sitting in the passenger seat. He was holding a book, his head slightly lowered, and he was reciting silently.

Jiang Baimian and others looked at each other and nodded invisibly.

They began to lean towards the speculation that the “truth” was not the “last man”.

Because "anti-intellectual religion" has always preached that "knowledge is poison and thinking is a trap", how can we allow believers to recite scriptures during morning prayers?

Even if this is another sect of the "Last Man", they should not be completely different from each other using similar symbols.

The "Old Tune Group" waited for a while until Lao He finished his morning prayer and closed the book.

Jiang Baimian looked at it curiously and saw the words "university physics".

College Physics... Jiang Baimian was well-informed and did not let his expression change.

"Physics?" Shang Jianyao made a questioning voice.

Lao He smiled and replied:

“Physics is the theory of things, the truth of this world, and the manifestation of our Lord.

"Of course, the physics written by humans is only close to the truth, but it is not the truth. There are always certain omissions, which are often overturned and corrected.

"Just like before, I read a review of physics and said..."

Long Yuehong suddenly recalled the feeling of powerlessness in the physics class in college, while Shang Jianyao interrupted Lao He:

“This doesn’t look like the puppet on your pendant.

"It has no five senses, which means it doesn't see, hear, smell, or ask. It only obeys orders and is a bad person."

Lao He replied a little angrily:

“That’s a pagan interpretation!

"The real meaning of this symbol is that human eyes, nose, ears, mouth, and eyebrows are not as important as the brain!"

He immediately got out of the car, stretched out a finger from each hand and pressed it on both sides of his head.

Immediately afterwards, Lao He spoke:

"The truth is in our heads!"