novelraw Chapter 1195 - 610: Loss and Victory
Chapter 1195 - 610: Loss and Victory
"Hmm..."
Tong Shan pinched his chin, deep in thought. After all, since Ji Jue suddenly asked this question, he had to think seriously about it.
"Me! Me! Me!"
An Ning's eyes lit up instantly. She raised her hand, attempting to answer eagerly, "I know!"
"Even Brother Shan doesn't know?" Ji Jue was shocked.
"Me! Me! Me!!!"
An Ning had already pushed her way over, forcibly occupying Ji Jue's line of sight, raising both hands!
Ask me! Ask me! Ask me!
"That's right."
Tong Shan finally reacted, "The professional is right here, isn't she?"
That's why I'm asking you!
Ji Jue sighed silently: If he directly asked her, who knows how many opportunities she'd seize to take advantage of him... Is his own innocence not precious?
At this moment, hearing these words left him seemingly bewildered, looking up at An Ning in surprise:
"You actually know?"
"Of course!"
An Ning smugly placed her hands on her hips, "My family is professional in this regard!"
"Then perhaps Miss An can speak first, and I'll add on," Tong Shan glanced at Ji Jue and sighed. He really didn't know if he was also part of their play, "To be honest, although I've seen some broad descriptions in many records and documents, there are still some details I don't quite understand."
After all, no matter how comprehensive the Security Bureau's documents are, this kind of thing will never be explained clearly.
Otherwise?
What else could be done?
Isn't this mess created by Tian Yuan?
For hundreds of years, this wretched place called Central Earth hasn't had a moment of peace.
Before, it was many nations killing each other. Though difficult to stabilize, by gritting their teeth, they could still get through the hard days... Unfortunately, ever since discovering the richness of Central Earth's resources and the astonishing storage of Fuel Elements, people's days have been numbered.
Everyone, don't be afraid, don't worry. It's the Federation and the Empire bringing the warmth!
Overthrowing governments, fostering puppets, constructing conflicts, creating blood feuds... Leading the charge is White Country, which, with its relatively advantageous geographical location, still contains numerous metal and Fuel Element resources.
Days were never peaceful.
With bone-scraping exploitation and relentless interference, in the end, even the inheritance of the Sacrificial King had to be meddled with. National humiliation ensued, yet the appetites of the Federation and Empire grew larger and larger.
Eventually, they settled on a strategy of jointly dividing White Country, intending to split it into two factions for each to feast upon.
In the face of the Heavenly Yuan Dual Polarity's preparation to divide, the Sacrificial King of that era could only choose to stand out...
Unfortunately, there was no chance to become an icon, instead opting to let things fall apart.
Bringing in the Wolf Evil.
Fine, if you won't let me live well, then no one will!
—As long as I turn into shit, no one would dare to eat it!
The situation decades ago was perilous, with extremely complicated internal dynamics that Ji Jue, as an outsider, was destined to find difficult to experience. Yet, one can imagine facing a nation passed down to this point, now crumbling in his hands, with internally growing resentment among the people, and the oppressive invasion and control from both the Empire and Federation, he had no other options.
When you are at a dead end, and discover a Gate of Hell in front of you... what choice do you have but to push it open?
Going berserk, suddenly became the optimal choice.
The White Deer clashing directly with Tian Yuan.
The Wolf and Tian Yuan were absolutely irreconcilable.
Once Wolf Evil descended on this land, the Empire and Federation couldn't continue their relentless erosion and control like before using Tian Yuan's power.
Unfortunately, even so, the final plan still fell apart halfway.
White Country's actions provoked the wrath of the White Deer.
From top to bottom, all participating sacrificial figures were nearly wiped out by the White Deer Hunters, with old wolves rushing in from all over suffering heavy losses too.
The Sacrificial King's gamble ultimately lost.
But it also won.
Just as he hoped, regardless of the gamble's success, once the plan started, all the gamblers at the cracking table would become losers.
White Country lost, completely losing its territory and sovereignty; the Hunter lost, with the wolf's progress on early labor cut short; Tian Yuan also lost, having its plan to completely hold White Country with the Heavenly Origin Decree utterly thwarted. To prevent the Heavenly Origin construct from being polluted by White Country, they could no longer directly annex White Country, having to continuously foster puppet governments, filtering through layers while pinching their noses to slowly drink the dirty water.
All of White Country's people lost, but it didn't matter to them.
They never won; they just continued to stay stuck in the mud a little deeper—so what?
But did the Sacrificial King lose?
His game was not over yet.
As is well known, in enterprises, when executives and key figures choose to switch jobs, their salary and benefits are usually raised a notch.
An active Heavenly Person's allegiance is also considered a crucial new blood for the yet-unborn Wolf.
The Great Evil is never stingy in terms of benefits, unlike the conservative Superior, who is often shockingly generous when facing genuine talent and beauty.
If the Sacrificial King succeeds, then the power of the yet-unborn Wolf will surge again. If in the future the yet-unborn Wolf could really complete its birth and arrival under the Vortex, then the Sacrificial King would also become a Mutated blessed by the Great Evil, or a true Great Evil extension...
Stepping into the realms of the Saint and Dragon, would be no hardship. By then, even if the whole world turns against him, perhaps it wouldn't be impossible to carve out a path for White Country's survival under the Empire and Federation's control.
Too many possibilities, too many maybes, and much has yet to occur. Currently, Ji Jue is entirely unable to judge whether this was a brilliant move for survival or an act of courting death.
But aren't most affairs in the world like this? Who knows what one's decisions will lead to in the future? There is no absolute confidence given to the weak, only a reckless, risky strike.
Who cares about the future's flood?
Thus, under siege from all sides, the Sacrificial King eventually died.
Half died.
To be precise, it's more than half.
"What about the remaining half?" Ji Jue instinctively asked.
"..."
An Ning's expression suddenly grew complex, indiscernible whether it was pity or disgust, as she looked out the car window, "Isn't it everywhere?"
Endless toxins, so close at hand.
With the Sacrificial King's death, the blood seeped into every inch of the White Country's land, and from then on, the Wolf Evil entangled with that ground.
In a final desperate struggle before dying, the Sacrificial King's soul polluted everything. The Wolf Blood Alliance from the Sacrificial King had already intertwined with all the blood and souls of the White Country people.
It is for this reason that he left himself a glimmer of hope; as long as there are enough wolves and the land's mutation is deep enough, one day, he could be resurrected under the pull and attraction of this blood alliance.
Right under everyone's noses, An Ran fell into a long sleep.
The Federation and the Empire tried to completely eradicate the Sacrificial King to ash, but unfortunately, they couldn't bear the cost of severing everything.
The best way to truly sever everything would be to kill all the White Country people, leaving none. By then, the Sacrificial King's soul would have no place to return to and would naturally dissipate.
But at what cost?
By then, millions of blood debts, curses, and grievances would enwrap Tian Yuan. Do they still think the pollution over Heavenly Governor and Earth Emperor isn't severe enough?
The Soldier Master, who has been slack for hundreds of years, wouldn't come to facilitate this slaughter in the name of justice. For the sake of maintaining the lock's stability and the present world's stability, neither side would allow such a great evil to be committed.
And so, this stalemate continues to this day.
Neither crisp nor soft, we continue to sink into an endless hell and mire, and as of now, the long-standing ailment is incurable, the illness is beyond remedy.
Ji Jue suddenly heard a mocking voice from the Hua Xu Monarch.
If one day your lock disappears entirely, when everything beneath the vortex returns to reality, what will your world become?
Ji Jue remained silent, not speaking further, staring silently at the desolate outside.
He suddenly wanted to contact Marvellous Old Deng...
Does Nirvana want to eat fish?
"Almost there."
Ji Liu slowed down, as a checkpoint appeared ahead. He skillfully retrieved a pass, speaking fluent Central Earth's language, cheekily flattering the soldiers at the checkpoint. The soldier glanced at the heap of bottles and jars filling the carriage, waved his hand, and let them pass.
Like an ordinary delivery person, they slowly approached the market, merging into the completely jammed traffic.
In the carriage, An Ning suddenly jumped up, stepping on the seat, ignoring Ji Jue's resistance, climbed over him, and opened the window.
In the air mixed with the smells of rotten vegetables, dust, and sludge, she took a slight sniff.
"Feels... not quite right?"
She squinted suspiciously at everything outside the window, her expression serious, but her little hands restlessly moved over Ji Jue's leg until he grabbed them.
Taking advantage at every turn, just what are you White Deer up to...
"What's wrong?" Ji Jue asked bluntly.
"Seems like there's a wolf?" An Ning reluctantly retracted her gaze, scratching Ji Jue's head a bit confusedly: "It feels like there isn't..."
It's unlikely there's a wolf, but also unlikely there isn't?
Ji Jue rolled his eyes, slapped her hand away, wanting to pinch An Ning's head and see if little points were sprouting from her scalp: "Don't take advantage without stop, what exactly are you speaking of?"
"It's just very strange, not right." An Ning sat down, her expression solemn: "If you go looking with purpose, you can indeed find a little trace of a wolf's feeling, but it feels entirely wrong, like there is, yet isn't, ah, so annoying!"
As she spoke, she grew increasingly annoyed.
"Could it be your skills aren't up to par?"
"Ah, how can I say this, it's like doing a problem — if there's an answer, there is, if there isn't, there isn't, but when the result is 'is there or not,' you just don't understand what happened."
An Ning angrily defended, "This is not about skill, even if my uncle came they'd be just as confused!"
"Well said!"
Ji Jue nodded expressionlessly: "So, can you get off of me now?"
An Ning reluctantly moved a little, then a little more, and finally, under Ji Jue's gaze, sat back in her original position.
She blinked obediently, smiling ingratiatingly.
Making Ji Jue regretful — he originally thought if she continued to mess around, he could take the opportunity to be angry, but it seemed as if she noticed and wisely withdrew just in time.
In return, he got even more frustrated!
He was always the one pushing boundaries, yet someone else could circumvent his!
Just as he was about to speak, Tong Shan's expression suddenly changed.
Boom!!!
The ground suddenly shook, the entire Mercy Market erupted with a loud roar, a dull explosion accompanied by a violent wind, sounds of collapse following endlessly.
Dust spread out in cascades.
Panicked screams and shouts suddenly emerged.
An earthquake? No, it was a dilapidated building that suddenly collapsed, engulfed by flames, thick smoke billowed... perhaps it stored too many dangerous items, like gas and carbon, or perhaps it contained too many flammable substances, or maybe it was just due to long-term disrepair.
But why, of all places, did only the water pipe shop where Ji Jue had his camera locked dissolve into smoke?
Destroying evidence? Or erasing traces?
Ji Jue's mind raced.
An Ning suddenly leaped up again, shedding the previous levity and relaxation, her whole body tense: "The guy inside took advantage of the chaos to escape!"
She pointed her finger:
"Brother Ji Jue, it's him!"
In the chaotic scattering crowd, a shepherd with sun-tanned dark skin held a lamb and fled with the masses in all directions.
He moved further and further away.
Chase!