Who left their last words here?

Chapter 41: Stormy Weather, Citywide Manhunt! (Please continue reading!)
The pale moonlight shone on the words on the title page.

The moonlight, like gauze, gathered more and more near the book, slowly being absorbed by these ceremonial, symbolic words.

In a daze, Bai Zhou saw a thick and ominous black fog.

Enveloped in black mist was a blurry, fragmented, and strange world.

Looking around, all you see is a vast ocean of gray silt, covered with black spots that, upon closer inspection, reveal to be living heads bobbing up and down with the waves.

The eyes of those heads were filled with unspeakable pain, and their sunken faces wept bitterly.

A shattered, crescent-shaped blood moon hangs high above the ocean.

But this blood moon is not the real moon; it vaguely resembles a person's profile, ever-changing.

That is……

— Thousands of different, pained faces, some male, some female, some human, some animal!

Bai Zhou felt a sharp pain in his brain, and a frenzied singing echoed wildly in his ears. The singing included shrill, hoarse female voices and powerful tenor voices, the grating, mocking sounds piercing his ears.

The extremely filthy and evil echoes corrupted Bai Zhou's spirit, causing his sanity to rapidly decline.

What does 1+1 equal?

Why are there five fingers?

Sleep...wakefulness...where is the boundary?

Am I a man or a woman... or something else?
Even more remarkably, a blood vessel on Bai Zhou's right hand bulged out on its own, transforming into a wriggling, slippery venomous snake.

It twisted and slowly raised its head, its body gradually expanding.

--"not good!"

With a silent cry, amidst countless frantic echoes, the white boat before him, spinning wildly, tremblingly raised its left hand to grope in its bosom.

A lollipop was taken out.

Then, without hesitation, he put the lollipop in his mouth.

—Al the Despicable Lollipop!

"Reason is the most precious treasure of intelligent beings; therefore, God bestowed gilded apples as a sign of the blessing of wisdom."

The lollipop melts in your mouth.

As the aroma of unripe apples explodes in your mouth, an unparalleled coolness immediately rushes to your brain.

The surrounding sounds vanished instantly, and the dizziness disappeared without a trace.

As reason returned, all the emotions and distractions in my heart were suppressed, and there was no longer any possibility of them being provoked or stirred up.

All I could hear was absolute silence, and my heart was as cold as a "crow's crystal ball."

With a "smack"—

Deprived of the fuel of madness, the writhing venomous snake ceased to grow and suddenly broke free of the white boat, falling to the ground.

Then, Bai Zhou picked up the short stick and beat it to death.

"boom!"

Just one strike,
The venomous snake writhed a few times on the ground, then quickly deflated like a punctured balloon.

Finally, it turned into several dark stones, hard and peculiar in texture, with eerie patterns on them.

—It is obvious that these are the things that Bai Zhou cut off, the embodiment of the “twisted,” “madness,” and “out of control” just now.

Now, Bai Zhou abandoned them on the ground and killed them with his own hands.

Suddenly, I felt a sense of clarity wash over me...

"what?"

Setting aside the influence of madness, Bai Zhou suddenly made a new discovery—

It seems that there are normal fragments of speech hidden within the ramblings!

By capturing the fragments and rearranging them for reading, Bai Zhou finally understood the message conveyed by the text on the title page.

The Dead Sea Scrolls is a "forbidden book".

The forbidden texts, in fact, are a kind of container.

Knowledge and its transmission lie within this.

However, it is not for others to study or read, but rather it is "instilled" into those who are qualified and meet the conditions.

Ultimately, the one who receives all the knowledge will become the new master of the forbidden texts.

"Forbidden text!"

As expected, the Dead Sea Scrolls is indeed a "secret scroll-level forbidden book".

The extremely useful "Oath of the Saints" is a fragment of a secret scroll-level forbidden book.

—And now, Bai Zhou has directly obtained the entire book!

The treasure that the Special Administration and the Blood Worship Cult fought tooth and nail for but could not obtain.

Bathed in the white moonlight, it lay quietly in Bai Zhou's hands...

Bai Zhou played with and explored her at will, and she was incredibly obedient.

but……

Unlocking the Dead Sea Scrolls, even just the first chapter, requires meeting extremely stringent conditions.

—It needs to absorb a large amount of high-quality death energy from the undead!
"No wonder."

Bai Zhou glanced at the funeral home sign above his head.

Buried here, it turns out, there was a deeper meaning behind it.

The unlocking progress has therefore advanced by... 0.1%.

It might not be there yet.

The Dead Sea Scrolls' specific requirements for the death aura of the undead are nothing short of fantastical, enough to drive any extraordinary individual to despair!
however--

Bai Zhou blinked.

Deathly aura of the undead?

He knew that there was no shortage of such a place.

There's plenty to go around.

He saw with his own eyes the skeletons of at least a thousand extraordinary beings.

There was also a mad skeleton who called himself a general.

—Both in quantity and quality, it is extremely impressive!
Should we head to the depths of the Void Realm again?
But the thought of that crazy skeleton's inexplicable duel sent a chill down Bai Zhou's spine.

unless……

Bai Zhou felt the strange texture emanating from the Dead Sea Scrolls in his hand, lost in thought.

The Dead Sea absorbs death energy...

Is it possible that the Dead Sea Scrolls can counter skeleton undead?
— Worth a try.

It's okay if it doesn't work.

As long as he can find a way to bypass the Undead General, absorbing the other skeletons should be enough for him to unlock most of the first chapter...

"call……"

Bai Zhou slowly relaxed and took the lollipop out of his mouth.

Her eyes regained their emotion, becoming clear, lively, and full of vitality.

He felt heartbroken looking at the lollipop that was half melted.

It seems that Al's despicable lollipop is more useful than I thought.

—Especially in this mysterious world full of “twistedness,” “madness,” and “out of control”!

Bai Zhou quickly wrapped it in a tissue and carefully put it away.

It's alright, we've already used the Dead Sea Scrolls, we can use it again next time.

Eat them sparingly; one is better than three!

"and this……"

Bai Zhou then looked at the strange pebbles formed from the poisonous snake at his feet.

Adhering to the principle of not wasting anything, he bent down and picked it all up.

As soon as he encountered the situation, Bai Zhou felt a surge of unease.

Negative emotions surged within me, and familiar feelings gradually returned...

Until the white boat completely puts them away.

"Good stuff!"

Bai Zhou's eyes grew brighter.

Exceptional materials.

Perhaps, it could be made into a special kind of bullet?

"Wow..."

The shadow of a bird, under the cover of night, swept past the white boat.

“Pah.”

The sound of footsteps approached from afar, faint and indistinct.

Three o'clock in the morning.

At the end of the long street, shrouded in a white mist, a hazy figure slowly walked towards us.

Bai Zhou first tensed up instinctively, gripping the short, black stick tightly.

Once he saw who it was, he relaxed again.

The girl with the knife arrived as promised.

So, the bird I couldn't see clearly earlier must be a crow...

……

however.

The crow that approached from a distance had a very strange expression on its face.

The crows in the sky knew how much effort she had put into finding Dongxing Road.

Although she still had a map, it was the same as Bai Zhou's—

She doesn't recognize the directions in reality either.

Fortunately, the crows provided her with a bird's-eye view.

After finally arriving, the crows found no trace of the white boat at the crossroads.

A man who breaks his promise will have points deducted!
Crow was worried that something might have gone wrong with Bai Zhou when he turned around and saw Bai Zhou standing in front of a shop.

Oh, so you've come for lunch... Did the restaurant just close?

Just as the crow was thinking this.

The quiet moonlight shone on the shop's signboard, and the crow could clearly see its contents.

—Of course, it's that sign that says "Customizing the last page of your life."

Bai Zhou, holding a strange book that looked like a "big brick," stood obediently under the sign.

At Bai Zhou's feet, there was a pit that he had just dug open, with fresh mud surrounding his feet.

crow:"?"

Funeral home, earthen pit, waiting boy.

To reiterate, it is 3 a.m.

—This bizarre scene is like seeing a ghost.

"What are you..."

He blinked twice.

The crow shook its head, its eyes looking a little confused.

……

underground base.

"Click——"

The tightly closed dormitory door was opened.

"This is Bai Zhou's dormitory."

The nervous dormitory manager led in a group of "big shots," including the major.

The empty dormitory room and the walls covered with colorful posters left everyone stunned.

"Where's the table? Where's the bench?" an officer asked, puzzled.

The dormitory manager stammered for a long time, but couldn't come up with a coherent explanation.

"..."

The major, wearing sunglasses, looked around and then looked up at the poster on the wall.

He first stared silently at the Terminator robot wearing sunglasses on the poster on the wall for a while.

Then, he coldly gave the order:

"Tear down all these posters!"

"Tear--"

The grating sound of cheap posters being torn apart echoed in everyone's ears.

The various mottled marks on the wall came into view.

"This is……"

The expressions on everyone's faces changed to varying degrees.

It's not a stain, there's no graffiti, and there are no blank spaces.

The wall was completely covered with dense, layered knife marks, some deep and some shallow.

The place was a complete mess.

They are not random; upon closer inspection, they exhibit inexplicable patterns, reminiscent of the scene seen earlier through the black box [Fragment Echo].

—That holy light slash that was concentrated into a single point and then exploded in an instant.

In this narrow and oppressive space,
Someone forged that sword through repeated decisive slashes, thrusts, and parries.

Between these crisscrossing knife marks, there were also some dried, mysterious bloodstains that seeped into the wall, scattered here and there, forming patches.

Everywhere there were potholes and pits, like a jungle ravaged by a storm.

The small dormitory was so messy that it was unbearable to look at.

—But for some reason, everyone was speechless.

There was only a deathly silence.

Faintly visible, a figure can be seen practicing, struggling, burning with passion, and tempering themselves here every night.

It stood out vividly before everyone.

It turns out that he never yielded, nor was he ever brainwashed by them.

He successfully fooled everyone!

Perhaps from the very first day he left Wancheng, Bai Zhou never gave up on becoming stronger and escaping.

Those knife marks, growing deeper and more refined and terrifying,
That was the path to redemption he sought for himself.

...But how is that possible?

Doesn't he get tired from working during the day? Doesn't he sleep?

Where did he get his extraordinary knowledge and heritage?
What is his purpose in training so diligently?
This "lamb" that Han's adjutant had been eyeing...

Who is he? !
"Tear!"

The last poster facing the window was also torn down.

Above, there is a figure with outstretched arms, welcoming the raging wind and rain.

Everyone knows who the person on the poster is—

His name is Andy Dufresne.

A man imprisoned within stone walls, yet who used a small pickaxe to chisel through the impossible and ultimately embrace freedom.

But now, seeing this man's figure and thinking of his story...

Everyone felt a burning sensation on their faces, and the pain was intense.

If Bai Zhou is Andy Dufresne...

—So, who is that arrogant and foolish warden?

"Idiots! A bunch of idiots!"

The major's harsh voice reached everyone's ears.

Oh, the warden is here...

Following their earlier thought, some people unconsciously shifted their gaze to the major.

But he immediately snapped to attention, quickly looked down and averted his gaze, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

“He probably wasn’t from the [Holy Remains Institute]... He was probably much weaker at the beginning than he is now.”

"—Pathetically weak!"

To get a better look at the marks, the major took off his sunglasses and slowly approached the wall to observe them.

My fingers traced the very shallow and rough engravings, then touched the completely different, deep imprints behind them...

The major's already cold expression became even more chilling.

"He actually grew up secretly right under our noses."

"A tremendous humiliation!"

"With so many knife marks, where did he get the knife?"

"—Didn't anyone hear any unusual sounds?"

Faced with the major's questioning, the officers all looked at the dormitory manager.

"This this……"

The dormitory manager was trembling with fear.

An officer gave him a wink.

Immediately, two soldiers came over and dragged the dormitory manager away.

"I'm innocent! No one has reported this problem!"

The dormitory manager struggled, but only made the "big shots" feel that it was too noisy.

As they were dragged to the door, the dormitory supervisor's gaze swept over the poster that had been thrown on the ground.

There was plaster on the wall, and a dirty footprint on the title of "The Shawshank Redemption".

The following sentence catches the eye:
“You know, some birds are destined not to be caged; every feather of theirs shines with the light of freedom.”

This is an old movie; many people on Earth have seen it.

Therefore, the dormitory supervisor knew that there was a second half to this line:
"When they fly away, you will sincerely congratulate them on gaining their freedom."

"—However, the unfortunate thing is: you still have to continue to eke out a living in this boring place."

"..."

The dormitory manager was dragged away like that.

Nobody cared; they just needed someone to step in and quell the major's anger.

“His provocations and insults really angered me.”

"...but he may not be able to bear the consequences."

The major slowly narrowed his eyes as he stroked the engravings on the wall.

"Pass on my order—"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone who dared not utter a sound, he slowly turned around.

"Bai Zhou has been confirmed as a remnant of the Black Robe Clan and a spy for the Blood Worship Cult!"

"He assisted the Blood Worship Cult in its invasion, killed several officials of the Special Administration Bureau, instigated a secret riot, and even fled with a secret box..."

"—He is a heinous criminal, an extremely dangerous and arrogant fugitive!"

The major rattled off a long list of crimes almost without hesitation.

"Based on the Special Control Agreement, the Eastern Federation Black Box Management Regulations, the Special Administration Anti-Intrusion Handling Measures, and other laws and regulations..."

"On behalf of the 36th Division of the Black Box Special Control Bureau, I hereby declare martial law in Tinghai and issue a city-wide warrant for Bai Zhou's arrest!"

"--Wanted level, equivalent to a high-ranking cadre of the Blood Worship Cult!"

"The notice should be sent down to everyone, from the police department to the gangs in the city."

"Report any relevant clues immediately! But they are not allowed to act on their own!"

After a brief pause, the major continued,
"—In addition, in the name of Zijing Company, issue a black market bounty!"

"..."

Numerous orders were issued in succession.

"Won't this warrant alert other departments...?" an officer asked, frowning.

"If we don't issue a warrant but instead launch a large-scale manhunt, it will only arouse more suspicion."

"Fortunately, Bai Zhou's identity is blank, which makes things easier to manipulate."

The major answered without hesitation.

“Official departments each have their own responsibilities and are burdened with heavy burdens. Unless absolutely necessary, no one has the energy to help us catch the rats.”

"This is a matter for the Special Administration Bureau; it's Branch 36 that's the victim!"

"While my superiors are busy dealing with the Blood Worship Cult, I will use the pretext of revenge to take the blame upon them..."

"This will allow us to take control of the manhunt."

After reassuring everyone, the major held up five fingers and surveyed the group of stern-faced officers before him:

"Five days."

"I can only give you five days."

His expression was remarkably calm, yet he spoke slowly and deliberately, each word carrying immense weight.

"With the [Sword Bearer] by your side, use all your means to find him."

"...Then, kill him!"

His voice was calm.

"Let him know all the secrets and die with him."

"If you cannot do it, I will personally take action."

"But this also means..."

The major gently brushed the dust off his epaulets and slowly put his sunglasses back on.

"I won't need you anymore."

Upon hearing this, the officers' faces turned deathly pale.

"Yes!!!"

The sound of boots stomping on the ground rang out.

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.

After half an hour,

Special Administration Division 36 issued a citywide Class A arrest warrant.

In the dead of night
Following the major news of the Blood Worship Cult's infiltration of the Special Administration Bureau's branch,
The second thunderclap arrived without stopping, leaving the various forces that had been secretly watching the spectacle speechless, exclaiming that tonight was far too exciting.

Small gatherings, small associations, and various extraordinary religious groups all witnessed the Special Administration's thunderous wrath.

A notorious and extremely dangerous fugitive, with multiple charges and virtually unheard of in the past five or even ten years, has emerged as a top-priority fugitive.

His name is Bai Zhou.

—A man who emerged from the Blood Worship Cult's stronghold in the City of the Dead.

He is said to be extremely skilled at disguise and used sweet talk to deceive everyone in the Special Administration.

In the end, he blows up the base, kills the official cadres, escapes with the black box, and is determined to fight the Special Administration to the death.

—I haven't seen such a powerful person in years!
He's a character!

...A massive amount of data is pouring out from secret networks.

Without exception, they were all repeatedly searching for the name "Shirazuki".

But nothing was found.

It added a touch of mystery.

that's it--

Unaware of this, Bai Zhou suddenly entered the field of vision of various forces and officially stepped onto the stage of Tinghai City.

...Although, it was done in a bizarre manner, with bulldozers driven roughly, leaving people speechless.

(End of this chapter)