"Meng Yao, slow down. What happened to Wu Di?"
Shen Yiyue felt dizzy from Ji Mengyao's shaking, but she could tell from Ji Mengyao's anxious demeanor that something urgent had happened.
"Today is my birthday, and that guy has disappeared. He's been acting mysteriously lately, and he even refuses when I invite him for drinks."
"Are you all hiding something from me?"
Ji Mengyao felt a strong sense of unease growing increasingly intense in her heart.
"He..."
Shen Yiyue hesitated only briefly, realizing there was no point in keeping secrets anymore, seeing how worried Ji Mengyao had become.
"He wanted to secretly prepare something you like as a gift."
She honestly told Ji Mengyao, while also feeling a sense of foreboding in her heart.
"What thing?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Mengyao's suspicions were confirmed - Wu Di must have left the base, otherwise he wouldn't be absent even on her birthday.
Something must have gone wrong.
"I think it was... a vinyl record player..."
Shen Yiyue recalled after a moment, finally remembering what Wu Di had mentioned last time.
"That... idiot!"
Ji Mengyao couldn't contain herself anymore and ran out towards her apartment.
"Meng Yao, where are you going?!"
Shen Yiyue tried to stop the impulsive Ji Mengyao, but she was too fast.
"I'm going to find him!"
Her voice carried from a distance, as she had already run quite far.
"Wait! We'll come with..."
Shen Yiyue tried to call out, feeling partly responsible since she had helped plan this. But then she realized:
Ning Yu had left early in the morning and hadn't returned yet.
This left Shen Yiyue in a dilemma - should she chase after Ji Mengyao immediately, or wait here for Ning Yu to return before acting together?
Her mind raced as she made a decision:
Wait one more hour, and if Ning Yu hasn't returned, have Shen Qianqian pass on the message while she goes ahead first.
Seeing Ji Mengyao's state, Shen Yiyue also sensed something bad might have happened.
She couldn't help but recall the incident with Wan Heng, who had also left the base and was ambushed by mutant zombies.
And according to Ning Yu's analysis, it was likely orchestrated by someone.
30 minutes later.
Shen Yiyue sat anxiously on the sofa waiting, knowing Ji Mengyao must have already left the base. She paced back and forth, even making Shen Qianqian notice her sister's anxiety.
Suddenly, the apartment window opened, and Ning Yu climbed in from outside, carrying someone on her back.
Shen Yiyue had no time to wonder why Ning Yu came through the window, rushing over to tell her:
"Something terrible happened, Yu..."
"I know, Wu Di's in trouble."
Ning Yu settled the injured Lin Hao on the sofa, beating Shen Yiyue to delivering the news she had just received.
"How did you know?"
Shen Yiyue was stunned.
"That's not important now. Quick, help treat Lin Hao, then we'll leave the base."
Ning Yu didn't answer her question, instead pointing to Lin Hao who was still bleeding. She had only given him basic first aid.
Shen Yiyue immediately noticed his condition and had no time to get details from Ning Yu - that could wait for the car ride.
She placed her hands on Lin Hao, and though bandages obscured his injuries, his pained expression clearly eased.
The deep cuts inflicted by Yan Xing were instantly healed by Shen Yiyue's ability.
"Ji Mengyao has already gone after him."
Shen Yiyue said urgently, having just used her power.
Ning Yu nodded, having guessed that Ji Mengyao might have discovered something was wrong.
Only Lin Hao on the sofa looked completely bewildered - his wounds that had been causing him such pain were suddenly completely healed. He sat up and removed his bandages.
It was a medical miracle, absolutely incredible. If possible, he wished he could become an Awakened One too.
But Ning Yu and Shen Yiyue had no time to deal with him, already preparing to leave.
[Ding! Task: Near and Far progress updated!]
[Task: Near and Far (4/4) Find Ji Mengyao and Wu Di]
While gathering supplies, Ning Yu received the task progress update in her mind, seemingly reaching the final step.
She tried to glean information about Wu Di's fate from the task prompt, but unfortunately the task title contained no qualifying terms.
In other words, whether they would be found dead or alive was uncertain.
Now that Ji Mengyao had surely taken her own car, they needed to get another vehicle.
Hopefully they weren't too late.
The two quickly left to borrow a car from the exploration team.
......
Ji Mengyao opened the car door and killed a zombie lying underneath with one swing of her axe.
She looked up at the building before her.
City A Cultural Exhibition Center.
She could guess why Wu Di had come here - there was a famous store that specialized in vinyl record players showcasing their machines here.
She remembered mentioning to Wu Di while drinking that they should come check if they could get a record player when they had the chance.
She had only mentioned it casually then, and since no missions had brought them near here, they never came.
She never expected Wu Di would silently remember and come here to find one as her birthday gift.
Ji Mengyao should have felt touched by Wu Di's thoughtfulness, but now she could only feel panic.
She remembered Wan Heng's empty, lifeless face after death, and feared seeing Wu Di like that.
That fool!
Ji Mengyao bit her lip. Rather than birthday gifts, she wished Wu Di wouldn't do such foolish, risky things.
And he came alone to create a surprise.
She dared not imagine what situation Wu Di might be in as she dispatched several approaching zombies with her fire axe, making her way to the exhibition center entrance.
She keenly noticed several recently killed zombies on the ground, their heads destroyed.
She knew this method all too well, making her more certain Wu Di was here!
Climbing over the ticket gates at the entrance, she found many zombies inside had been cleared out.
The surviving zombies were mostly stragglers, and seeing this, Ji Mengyao felt slightly relieved - there didn't seem to be any major threats.
She found a small map of the venue and located the vinyl record player exhibition area, moving in that direction.
The venue was quite large, divided into many sections, with her target being in Zone B.
But just as she reached Zone B's entrance, before even reaching the record player exhibition area, Ji Mengyao's breath caught.
She saw a bloody suit jacket on the ground, in a style she knew all too well.
Because she had personally helped Wu Di choose it.
Resolve] Gu Yang was once a true disciple of the Falling Cloud Sect, but after failing to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, his cultivation regressed, his foundation was damaged, his lifespan was nearing its end, and he was about to be demoted to a menial servant. At his moment of despair, he awakened the [Daily Intelligence System]. By refreshing it daily, he could learn about countless hidden opportunities and secrets within the cultivation world! [Today's intelligence has been refreshed] [White Intelligence: One month ago, the Foundation Establishment spiritual item "Profound Ice Spirit Marrow" used by the host to attempt his breakthrough contained a trace of the poison "Bone-Corrobing Spirit-Dissolving Powder".] [Purple Intelligence: Tonight during the Yin hour (3-5 AM), a wisp of "Golden Crow Primordial Flame" will overflow... If this flame is devoured, it can recast the shattered cultivation foundation, fully restore cultivation, and awaken the one-in-ten-thousand—Primordial Supreme Yang Body. [Click to view coordinates]] [Golden Intelligence: Shen Qingyue, a Golden Core elder of the Falling Cloud Sect who possesses the Nine Yin Body, suffers from backlash of cold energy every full moon night, causing her strength to plummet and excruciating pain. Grand Elder Zhao Wuji has secretly bribed Shen Qingyue's personal maid, Hongxiu, and learned the rear gate array node of the protective formation "Clouds and Mist Veiling the Sun Array". Tomorrow late at night, he intends to take advantage of Shen Qingyue's flare-up of the cold poison, when she is weak and unable to resist, to use a secret technique to refine her into a cauldron and force her into a Daoist partnership. [Click to view coordinates]] The cultivation world is a jungle where the strong prey on the weak, and human hearts are as treacherous as ghosts? Sorry, but I can read the script! From then on, relying on his informational advantage, Gu Yang proceeded step by step with careful planning. Seizing opportunities, plundering fortunes. Selling intelligence. Playing rivals against each other. Step by step, he ultimately became the Immortal Emperor!
ial death, also known as "shè sǐ" in Chinese, generally refers to... well, never mind, it's not important. My name is Ye Cheng, and I'm about to experience social death firsthand. ... 【Host, your mission is to confess your love to the young lady of the Dongfang family, the current student council president, in a way that will be unforgettable for everyone at the freshman ceremony!】 【Host, assist the girl with a sprained ankle in front of you to reach the infirmary, and fulfill the wicked thoughts in your heart!】 【Host, act on your desires and punish the arrogant young lady before you mercilessly!】 【Host, follow your instincts—abandon shameful surrender, begging, or groveling, and ruthlessly criticize the domineering, ill-mannered young lady in front of you!】 【Host...】 Ye Cheng: "Here, here, you take this host role—I quit!" Wait, why is the girl with a sprained ankle the daughter of a mafia boss? And what kind of punishment method is this for the arrogant young lady? Also, who the heck said anything about wicked thoughts in my heart? Come out here, let’s settle this one-on-one!!! ... The haughty student council president, the scheming mafia princess, the fragile yandere young lady, the airheaded maid-in-waiting, the mixed-blood loli/...
shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
