Day and night tour

Chapter 371 The Thoughtful Engineer

Zhou Xuan felt that the current situation was quite troublesome.

An invisible "rumor disease" is raging in Mingjiang Prefecture. However, he still held onto a glimmer of hope and asked Li Changxun, "Li Shanzu, the reconstruction of Mingjiang Prefecture is about to be put on the agenda. In essence, this reconstruction is to rewind time in Mingjiang Prefecture...rewind to three days before the disaster."

"Back then, Mingjiang Prefecture was prosperous and thriving, filled with the sounds of wine and neon lights. There were no rumors or killings, and the people lived in peace and contentment... If I had sped up the time and completed the reconstruction quickly, could I have used the power of time reversal to dispel the rumors?"

Three days before the disaster, there was no spread of rumors in Mingjiang. If we go back in time, those rumors should not have existed either.

Li Changxun said, "From the perspective of how the Book of Will works, the possibility you mentioned exists... but... is it too late?"

"What do you mean by 'too late'?" Yun Ziliang glanced at Li Changxun and asked.

Li Changxun gestured with his hands for a while and said, "What I mean is, the reconstruction will still take a few days, even with the help of the Willpower Book, and the spread of the rumors will only take a few days."
Is it faster to rebuild Mingjiang Prefecture, or for the rumors to spread faster? This involves racing against time and progress. If we win, everyone will be happy, but have you considered what if we lose?

"The plan to rebuild Mingjiang Prefecture has been ruined. The whole city is afflicted by an outbreak of disease that is out of control."

Winning is winning, losing could be a crushing defeat—a defeat from which there is no chance of recovery.

After considering this, Zhou Xuan said, "Let's seize the time first."

He stood up and said, “There’s a saying that goes, ‘Man proposes, God disposes.’ But I think that man proposes, and man also decides. The more critical the moment, the less we can afford to back down. If we are worried and afraid of this and that, we are bound to lose!”
As for whether we'll succumb to the rumors when things reach a fever pitch, that depends on our ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Seeing that Zhou Xuan had taken a stand, the painter's anxiety immediately subsided.

That's the general situation. As long as the core leader is still thinking and figuring out how to handle the key points, the others in charge can remain calm and won't lose their composure.

He asked Zhou Xuan, "Then, sir, what should we do next?"

"For now, we will continue to proceed according to the original plan."

Zhou Xuan said, "Continue to imprison those rat-like beings. Have the Panshan Eagle kill the escaped rat-like beings. As for the Coffin Maiden, use a secret letter to urge her to expedite the 'Bitter Ghost's' response to the Book of Will."

"I'll go prepare the storytelling proposal. Once the Bitter Ghost responds, the Book of Willpower will activate, and we'll immediately begin the reconstruction of Mingjiang Prefecture. Everything is a race against time; we must speed things up as much as possible."

In addition, research on the rat-like disease must also be prioritized. Although deciphering the spread of this disease through mysticism is extremely difficult, and no one in the history of Jing Kingdom has ever succeeded in doing so, we must still strive to do it.

"You might as well try to catch a rabbit while cutting the grass; what if you manage to catch it?"

"Understood, sir."

……

The group then went off to do their respective tasks.

At Huifeng Medical College, the first wave of the rat infestation was greatly aided in capturing the "rat-like people" thanks to the portrait provided by the mastermind of the Buddhist Kingdom.

Panshan Eagle also fully utilized his talent as a "mountain bandit," killing every single rat-like person who tried to escape at the outer edge of the academy.

With the combined efforts of those inside and outside, those who needed to be arrested were arrested, and those who needed to be killed were killed. In addition, Zhou Xuan's speech during the rat infestation suppressed the turbulent public sentiment and did not cause too many ripples or repercussions.

The painter also contacted Li Chengfeng, asking this scholar of celestial beings to immediately organize a team to tackle the "ratification" mystery through mysticism, striving to find out how the "rumor disease" spread and what solutions were available as soon as possible.

Li Chengfeng gladly accepted this arduous task.

He assembled a team of "mysterious scholars" and selected three research subjects in the room where the "rat-like people" were imprisoned.

With researchers and research subjects secured, all that remains is the research equipment.

The damage to Huifeng Medical College was not severe, and most of the equipment was well preserved. However, since the researchers were studying rat-like organisms and had strict time requirements, they naturally needed to use the best equipment.

The best instrument for mystical research in the entire Mingjiang Prefecture is in Zhou Xuan's secret realm—the Blood Well and the Human Brain.

"I'll go find the Master to borrow a human brain."

……

Li Chengfeng went to find Zhou Xuan with great confidence.

Zhou Xuan was engrossed in writing in the bamboo house when Li Chengfeng entered, interrupting his thoughts. He asked, "Old Li, what are you doing here? Weren't you researching rat-related diseases?"

"Sir, I need to borrow your equipment: Blood Well Brains."

Li Chengfeng rubbed his hands together and said with a smile, "It would be best if you lent me both... With the Blood Well's human brain, I'll definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort. Please put your mind at ease on this point, sir..."

Before he could finish saying "Don't worry," Li Chengfeng was subjected to a severe scolding.

Of course, it wasn't Zhou Xuan who was cursing, but Miss Wall from the secret realm.

Miss Wall's consciousness emerged from the secret realm and scolded Li Chengfeng: "Li Chengfeng, are you out of your mind? What can you possibly understand with just a few people like you? Two Blood Well Brains? Even if you had all the Blood Well Brains in the entire Blood Well Kingdom, that would be a waste. Get out of here right now."

"Miss Wall...actually..."

Li Chengfeng felt very wronged.

Miss Wall continued, hands on her hips, angrily rebuking: "Still feeling wronged? Don't forget, all the mystical knowledge of your Bone Elder Society came from me. With me helping Ah Xuan, there's nothing for you great scholars to do! If you ask me, you should go to the kitchen right now and help the disaster victims cook a few more dishes. That would be much better than begging and pleading to do experiments."

This lecture was just like a strict teacher reprimanding a stupid student.

Zhou Xuan stepped in to smooth things over, gently nudging Li Chengfeng and giving him a wink towards the outside, signaling him to go back first.

"Master?"

"It's rare to see Miss Qiang so assertive; she must have something on her mind. You should all go back first. It's the same as leaving the research on the rat disease to Miss Qiang."

After whispering something to Li Chengfeng, Zhou Xuan persuaded him to leave the bamboo house.

After Li Chengfeng left dejectedly, Zhou Xuan gently asked Miss Qiang, "Qiang, what's wrong with you today? Why are you so fiery?"

“I get angry when I see those worthless scholars from the Bone Society.”

Miss Wall said to Zhou Xuan, "Xuan, have you forgotten someone...? She's an expert in studying these rumors."

"Who?"

"An engineer, huh?"

Miss Wall said, "As I told you before, the Engineer is the most intelligent consciousness in the Flesh and Blood Dynasty... If you ask her for help, it will be much more efficient than those scholars from the Bone Society."

"Oh dear, how come I didn't remember?"

Zhou Xuan slapped his forehead.

Beneath the East Market Street, engineers from the Flesh and Blood Dynasty reside. The Flesh and Blood Dynasty is a dynasty of "Flesh and Blood Technology," and is most adept at researching those bizarre and strange problems.

"Let's go find the engineer."

Zhou Xuan quickly put the pen and paper into the bamboo basket, planning to write again when he returned.

"Aren't you going to finish writing this section about the rift? I'm still waiting to read it."

Miss Wall urged.

"I'm not writing anymore, Liangzi is still on my mind."

As Zhou Xuan spoke, he had already summoned the "Book of Will".

The "Book of Will" was originally formed through the "Cleansing of the Records of Wrongs".

Zhou Xuan still had a number of times he could return to the palace to clear his name. He turned to the last page of the Heavenly Book, crossed out the number of times he could return to the palace, and then entered the "Totem Palace".

The Totem Hall is the crater on the mother planet where the engineers are located.

This hall once imprisoned not only engineers, but also the ancestral peach tree.

Since the Peach Blossom Ancestral Tree returned to the ground, only the engineer remained in the hall, making it seem somewhat lonely.

"Engineer, I am Blood Woman. Ah Xuan and I have come to let you out."

Miss Wall emerged from Zhou Xuan's secret realm, cupped her hands to her mouth, and called out the engineer's name.

"No need to shout."

Zhou Xuan walked to the spot where he had discovered the "engineer," a place right next to the old peach blossom ancestral tree. He would never forget this location. Immediately, Zhou Xuan used the power of feng shui; the powerful "force," like an invisible hand, penetrated deep into the ground and dug out a small hill.

The soil at the edge of the mountain was rapidly falling away, and in a few moments, a huge amber resembling jelly was revealed. The engineer's graceful figure was inside the amber, waving to Miss Wall.

Zhou Xuan used his strength to support the amber with one hand, and shouted to the "Dragon God of the East Market" above the Great Mother Star Crater: "Dragon God, you originated from the Great Mother Star Crater and have been lurking here for many years, suppressing the engineers. From today onwards, you are free and can go wherever you want."

The dragon god roared.

The dragon dwells in the abyss; the ancestral dragon-level dragon god always remembers the great river that flows day and night in Mingjiang Prefecture.

With Zhou Xuan's command, it became restless, but due to its innate duty, it wanted to fly into the great river immediately, yet was too embarrassed to leave.

Zhou Xuan continued, "Dragon God, I have investigated and found that the engineer from back then merely taught the 'Colorful Play Hall' techniques of mind control and consciousness aggregation. Even if he committed some crimes, he has already served his sentence of two thousand years and should be released by now."

"The engineer's release is a freedom for both you and it."

As Zhou Xuan finished speaking, the Dragon God of the East Market finally took a deep breath. The amber that had sealed the "Engineer" melted away, turning into streams of viscous wax that flowed continuously on the ground. At the same time, as the Dragon God's golden light fell, the wax began to evaporate, and the Dragon God absorbed its energy.

"This is dragon's saliva. It was with this dragon's saliva that the Dragon God sealed the Engineer."

Miss Wall was overjoyed; the fact that the dragon's saliva had been absorbed by the Dragon God meant that the engineer was completely free.

As the last drop of dragon saliva was consumed, the Dragon God regained his freedom, soaring and flying through the clouds into the Mingjiang River, where he frolicked with the Mingjiang Ancestral Dragon.

The Great Mother Star Crater, having lost the Dragon God's presence, suddenly lost its vitality. The purple sky and the fleshy, sprouting earth turned grayish-white, like lifeless stones.

"Congratulations, engineer, you are free."

Miss Wall and the engineer are embracing.

Zhou Xuan watched from the sidelines, feeling both moved and horrified.

The emotion is palpable because the reunion of old friends after a long separation can always infect the emotions of those around them, making onlookers feel excited for their joy.

Is it sexy?
The engineer was just too sexy. Not only did she have a curvaceous figure, but her outfit—that white lab coat—gone "uniform fetish," especially with those black-rimmed glasses, which added to her flirtatious charm...

"Your Flesh and Blood Dynasty's attire is quite trendy."

The engineer's attire always reminded Zhou Xuan of those pitiful women in his past life's hard drive who "couldn't afford takeout, were bullied by classmates, and had to find someone to fix their water pipes."

The engineer listened to Zhou Xuan's praise, adjusted his glasses, and exuded charm in every gesture.

"This is Ah Xuan, a very powerful person in the Jing Kingdom. Moreover, his secret realm is very large and comfortable, making it perfect for us to live in."

Miss Wall enthusiastically introduced her "landlord".

Zhou Xuan, however, was very persistent about clothing and asked Miss Qiang, "Miss Qiang, is the clothing of your Flesh and Blood Divine Dynasty so trendy?"

“Oh, Brother Xuan, I, the engineer, am a flesh-and-blood citizen of the Divine Dynasty who has already grown up. Although the source of my consciousness is not as noble as that of the Blood Maiden, my mental control is much stronger.”

"When you first met me, my mind control stole the memory images from your brain, and based on your reaction to those images, I selected your favorite outfit."

Zhou Xuan: "..."

His expression became that classic meme again—old man, subway, cell phone.

“You may have stolen something wrong. You didn’t steal my memories; you stole images from my hard drive,” Zhou Xuan said, frowning.

"From my spiritual perception, Brother Xuan has many other favorite outfits, such as the Flying Guillotine, sailor uniform... If you like, I can wear them all for you next time..."

"That's not necessary."

Zhou Xuan still remembered those "poor women" on his hard drive; they were talented but still "couldn't afford" clothes. If the engineer were to cosplay one, well...

"You deserve to be suppressed, it's too terrible."

Zhou Xuan sighed, feeling a sense of insecurity about his privacy being compromised.

……

The Dragon God and the Engineer were both released. The Engineer, like Miss Wall, moved into Zhou Xuan's secret realm with just her bags.

Zhou Xuan returned to the bamboo house and focused his mind on the secret realm, chatting with the engineer and Miss Wall.

"Engineer, Miss Wall must have told you about the rat-like disease, right?"

Zhou Xuan said.

"I've already explained it."

The engineer said, "Regarding the rat infestation, I don't think it's the virus or disease that the people of Jing believe it to be."

"Although it has a name, it cannot be considered a disease."

"Then what is it?"

Zhou Xuan asked.

"According to my preliminary speculation, the origin of the Heavenly Demon is the same as that of me and the Blood Woman. They are all visitors from outer space. The Heavenly Demon is more like the aggregation and evolution of desires."

The engineer sat at an angle, and her plump thighs swayed so much that Zhou Xuan's eyes hurt.

Zhou Xuan didn't continue the conversation, but instead made a suggestion: "Ms. Engineer, I think it would be better if we dressed more formally for a serious chat, otherwise I won't be able to concentrate."

"What constitutes proper attire? I can't find it in your memory," the engineer said truthfully.

"..." Zhou Xuan.

Zhou Xuan pondered for a long time and finally imagined in his mind how Gu Ling would handle serious matters, and gave the engineer a model.

Although Gu Ling is naturally sexy, her attire in normal settings is not enough to attract the attention of those around her.

Finally, the engineer replaced the "high-waisted clothes, leather pants, and white coat" with a normal Chinese women's cheongsam.

Zhou Xuan felt much better in his eyes and continued the conversation: "You said that the Heavenly Ghost is the embodiment of desire?"

"Ah."

The engineer counted on his fingers, saying, "'Chaos' represents hunger, so its instinct is to devour; 'Ancestral Rumors' represents deception, so its instinct is to spread rumors."

"Desire is inherently formless and intangible, so rumors also become formless and intangible. Before the people of Mingjiang Prefecture fully fall ill, you will not know whose body has been sown with the seeds of this disease."

Zhou Xuan said, "So, you think the so-called disease of rumors is desire?"

"Desire requires a subject."

The engineer said, "When a person has will, he will have desires. The same applies to the disease of rumors. First, one must have the 'will to be human,' and then one can be attached to desires. So, you think that the evil rat, the son of the abyss, has died, but it has not truly died. Its will is dispersed in the bodies of the people of Mingjiang Prefecture."

"This is how the evil rat comes back to life."

The engineer pointed to the Mother of a Hundred Demons not far away and said, "The people of the Buddhist Kingdom mainly rely on their physical bodies, so their bodies are extremely important. But the Heavenly Demon is different. Like me and the Blood Woman, it relies on consciousness. So as long as its consciousness does not perish, the Heavenly Demon will live forever."

Upon hearing these remarks, Zhou Xuanguang realized that the engineer had real expertise.

The God of Suffering once said that in a battle between the gods and the demons, the gods were stronger than the demons in a head-on confrontation. However, those demons were immortal and resurrected in an endless cycle, which eventually made the nine gods suffer.

"Once the entire Mingjiang Prefecture is controlled by the Abyssal Rat, the rat will return even stronger... Your next target will likely be you."

The engineer pointed at Zhou Xuan: "You possess the characteristic of chaos encompassing all things, while the evil rat possesses the characteristic of the 'Ancestral Rhyme' within chaos. When it becomes powerful enough, it will still try its best to devour you. At that moment, the two characteristics will converge, and chaos will be reborn."

"And Chaos will become the first celestial demon to descend upon the human world once more."

"After all that, it turns out that vicious rat is still haunting us!"

Zhou Xuan slammed his hand heavily on the water's surface and asked the engineer, "Do you have any way to suppress the rumors and completely crush that rat in the gutter?"

“There is a way, but I dare not say it… I’m afraid I’ll offend the supreme will of the Jing Kingdom and be suppressed for two thousand years.”

The female engineer, having been imprisoned for over two thousand years, has developed a phobia of persecution...

(End of this chapter)