Chapter 401

Chapter 401: Two-Pronged Investigation

Under a gray, dim sky and across an endless wilderness, the rain fell in a curtain—and within that curtain hid vague, blurred threads of information.

This rain came from Shu Ji. It fell from the world of the living, crossed the frontier between life and death, and kept spilling into Soul Wilderness, scattering an illusion-like overlay before Yu Sheng’s eyes.

But… why?

Yu Sheng stared at the “droplets” that formed in his palm and vanished just as fast. He tightened his grip, then let it go. “You’re saying this started right after my ‘death’?”

“Mm.” Luna nodded. “The knights and I patrolled. The range isn’t that big—it only rains along the stretch from here to the Flame Warden Cathedral. But as long as you’re within it, you get the illusion that it’s boundless and endless.”

“That’s not an illusion,” Yu Sheng said quietly. He forced down the tangle of half-formed guesses and kept his voice steady. “It’s a projection of sensation from the real world. In Shu Ji, this eternal rainy season really does cover the entire equator.” He exhaled. “Besides the rain, has anything else changed in the wilderness? Any effects elsewhere?”

“No.” Luna shook her head. “We checked all around. Everything outside the rain is ‘calm,’ as always.”

“Then leave it alone for now,” Yu Sheng decided. Through his connection to the wilderness, he could feel the rain’s limits and its shallow impact. “If the range expands, or anything else changes, report it immediately.”

Luna hesitated, then asked carefully, “…So it’s harmless here?”

“Harmless,” Yu Sheng said. “As for how it’s being projected over here, I’ll have to investigate properly. This can’t be rushed.”

“Understood.” Luna straightened. “I’ll follow your instructions.”

Yu Sheng nodded once, let his mind loosen, and took a step back.

In the next instant, he “fell” toward the world of the living.

Weightlessness hit. Sensation misaligned, surged, then receded. When the familiar feeling settled, Yu Sheng opened his eyes and found himself walking through Shu Ji’s rain in the real world.

Ahead, the abandoned factory stood at the edge of sight. Luna—dressed like a nun now—waited by the corner of the side wall and waved at him.

Yu Sheng smiled and hurried over.

The first thing he saw was the jade-faced golden fox slowly waking under everyone’s watch. Foxy and Big Nephew hovered nearby, bustling in that frantic, always-moving way they had.

Then Yu Sheng noticed what was bouncing behind the crowd.

Two little dolls.

One looked like she’d crawled out of a mud pit, filthy from head to toe. The other was even worse—sparks crawled across her whole body like she was a living lightning hazard, hopping in place with manic energy.

Everyone was doing their best to keep a safe distance. Foxy had even drooped all three tails to the ground like makeshift grounding wires, and every time Irene (Pika) got too close, Foxy looked like she was staring down a mortal threat.

Even after hearing Luna’s report in Soul Wilderness, seeing Irene (Pika) in person made Yu Sheng’s scalp go tight. He took one instinctive step back.

That was the mistake.

The two little dolls spotted him at the door and immediately charged over, cheering like they’d just found their favorite toy.

“Yu Sheng is back! Yu Sheng is back!”

One was a mudball. One was crackling with electricity.

They barreled straight at him.

Yu Sheng’s blood ran cold. He didn’t even know which one to dodge first. The split-second hesitation cost him. Both dolls launched themselves onto him.

The muddy one was manageable—she only smeared a ring of grime across his chest. The sparking one, though, slammed right into his face.

For a heartbeat, Yu Sheng felt like he was being dragged back into post-death chaos. He’d nearly failed to survive five minutes in this life.

“Don’t mess with my new account!” His vision went black for two full seconds. Through skull-filling thunder, he peeled Irene (Pika) off his head. He couldn’t bring himself to throw her—she looked far too delighted—so he held her by the back of her collar and kept her away from his face while enduring the residual crackle. “From now on, until you burn off the extra energy in this body, you are not allowed to jump on me!”

Irene (Pika) acted like she hadn’t heard a word. Dangling in midair, she shouted excitedly, “Hey, let me tell you—I was awesome just now! I fired a light cannon—”

“I already know the gist,” Yu Sheng cut in immediately. He’d learned the hard way that if he let her get going, she could talk for half an hour without breathing. “Luna told me before I came back. Honestly, you really did top the damage chart this time. Later, I’ll whale out and max your event skin for this month.”

Irene (Pika)’s eyes lit up—literally, because she was still sparking. “Yay!”

Yu Sheng carefully set both dolls down, then hurried over to Immortal Yuan Hao.

For a heartbeat, Immortal Yuan Hao went strangely still. Something about Yu Sheng’s sudden reappearance tugged at his instincts like a thread of doubt.

Then the feeling slipped away, as if it had never been there at all. It left behind only the sense that Yu Sheng hadn’t truly left—he’d simply stepped out of sight for a moment.

“The injured can be moved now, correct?” Yu Sheng glanced at the highland fox on the ground. His breathing was steady, like he was only asleep. “I’ll use Door Opening to send him to Thousand Peak Spirit Mountain.”

Immortal Yuan Hao nodded at once. “He can be moved without issue. I already contacted my junior brother and told him to prepare. Open the door directly in front of the Parted Clouds Palace grand hall.”

Yu Sheng lifted his hand, gauged the highland fox’s size, and took a slow breath. A door far wider than usual unfolded in the air, its outline solidifying in his grasp.

On the other side waited the familiar scenery of Thousand Peak Spirit Mountain. Yuan Ling and Yuan He stood there in person, leading a team.

It looked like a joint consultation between a master healer and a master veterinarian, which fit the patient a little too perfectly.

Immortal Yuan Hao raised his hand. The still-sleeping highland fox drifted through the doorway.

Yu Sheng turned—and saw Ling Long standing nearby, staring at the door with wide eyes.

Her gaze was still a little unfocused, like the aftereffects of being electrocuted hadn’t worn off, but the tension in her posture was unmistakable. Worry sharpened her expression. She was clearly afraid something had happened to her family.

“You should go too,” Yu Sheng said, beckoning. “You’ve got injuries as well. Once you’re there, have Immortal Yuan He take a look at you while he’s at it.”

“Ah… okay!” Ling Long nodded quickly and hurried over.

Then she stopped at the threshold, hovering and peeking in, suddenly nervous. She’d clearly never seen immortal arts like this before.

Irene (Pika) didn’t have the patience for hesitation.

The moment she saw Ling Long freeze, the little doll trotted over and poked one of Ling Long’s tails. “Boo!”

Crackle-pop.

Ling Long yelped and jumped straight through the doorway.

Yu Sheng closed the door immediately after.

“Alright,” he said, dusting his hands. “Let those two rest at Thousand Peak Spirit Mountain first. Before we head back, we’ll check this place again and see if we missed any clues—and then we’ll see what progress Xuan Che has made.”

…

The rain grew lighter, turning into a soft drizzle that seemed like it might stop at any moment. Yet it never truly stopped. It only swelled and faded, sketching an unsteady, half-real view beyond the window.

The sky remained dim and heavy as ever. Even when the rain thinned, thick clouds still pressed down over the whole city like night. Occasionally, a weak ray of sunlight pierced through and painted a suspicious, mottled “brightness” on the underside of the clouds and the tops of a few nearby high-rises—but it vanished almost as soon as it appeared, like a phantom pretending to be day.

A woman with a striking presence stood by the window, calm and composed as she watched the ink-dark city outside. She was vividly beautiful, her aura graceful and noble.

She wore a long black dress traced with gold. Her jet-black Rapunzel hair nearly reached her ankles. The hem of her gown was embroidered with swirling ink-cloud patterns in exquisite craft—the crest of Shu Ji’s great family, the Ink Clan.

She was Ink City’s lord: Mo Ran.

“It’s always like this here,” Mo Ran said, turning from the window to the guest in the room. “The rain seems never-ending, only easing up once in a while. Out of four hundred sixty days in a year, the rainy season lasts four hundred. The remaining sixty aren’t exactly bright either—the rain simply stops, and you can occasionally glimpse a little sunlight through the clouds. For many outsiders, Ink City isn’t a good place to recuperate.”

Her tone stayed polite, her expression serene. “So if you can’t get used to staying in the city, I can arrange another residence. On top of Refining Tower No. 7, the Ink Clan built a cloudtop villa. It isn’t very large, but at least it gets some sun.”

“Thank you for your kindness, City Lord,” Xuan Che said with a faint smile. He sat not far from the window, posture relaxed. “But I often travel outside on behalf of my master. I’m used to adapting wherever I go, and I enjoy all kinds of scenery. Ink City’s rainy season is actually a rather novel experience for me.”

He paused, then added gently, “And you don’t need to make other arrangements. I’m only here under my master’s orders to conduct a private investigation. The situation is special, and I’d rather not alert anyone. I hope you understand.”

“Mo Ran understands.” Mo Ran bowed slightly. “The Ink Clan has long been sheltered under the protection of Thousand Peak Spirit Mountain. That is why we have the foundation we have today. Now that the revered master has given an order, the Ink Clan will cooperate fully.”