Who left their last words here?

Chapter 64 Open Sesame Again! Reflected City (5k!)
"So, you're saying..."

"In just one day, you killed two Level 3 Extraordinary Beings, a squad of [Sword Bearers]—and a Level 4 Extraordinary Being assassin from the [Art Club]?!"

Upon hearing the reason for Bai Zhou's injury, even Ya could no longer remain calm.

"A murderer?"

How can he kill so many people?

They recite the menu like they're eating snacks; someone unfamiliar with the situation might think they're just reciting names of dishes.

So, when she was around before, she actually limited Bai Zhou's abilities?

"You taught me, you taught me..."

Bai Zhou, not seeking credit, shyly waved his hands repeatedly:

"It's all thanks to Teacher Ya's excellent teaching!"

"..."

Ya shook his head, his unfamiliar gaze sweeping over the familiar face. He felt that although it had only been a day since they last met, Bai Zhou seemed to have matured a lot.

It turns out, it all started sometime ago—

The boy who made a deal with her and always lacked a sense of security has completed the initial transformation.

Growth doesn't happen overnight, but recognizing the growth of those close to you can happen in an instant.

At this moment, the boy stood on the air conditioner unit on the 20th floor, his clothes fluttering in the strong wind, like a black bird about to take flight.

This filled the crow with both relief and mixed feelings: "I underestimated you."

"But... your injuries should not be ignored."

The voice paused, and the raven's face gradually became serious:
"Luckily you didn't encounter any new enemies, otherwise if you had forced your way into battle again, even I wouldn't have been able to help you."

"……What's the meaning?"

Bai Zhou was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously held his breath:
"Why does it sound like I'm about to die?"

"It's not a very optimistic situation."

This was the crow's answer.

"Extraordinary individuals rarely engage in intense battles; they usually prefer to sit in secluded basements, performing divination and casting spells..."

"Someone like you is even rarer."

The crow shook its head, then solemnly whispered:

"Because spirituality can help nurture new spirituality, excessive exploitation, like draining a pond to catch all the fish, is a major taboo for someone like you who has just entered the extraordinary realm!"

"Just as over-extracting water from a spring will cause it to dry up, soil that has been depleted of its nutrients will not produce new shoots."

"To be specific—your destiny has been damaged as a result!"

"To fully restore one's destiny to its original state, it will take at least three to four months."

"—And, during this period, you cannot participate in any high-intensity battles!"

"But……"

Bai Zhou felt a chill run down his spine, and his expression turned bitter. "Those people won't give me that much time."

He now wishes he could split every minute in half to use it, let alone lie down and recuperate.

Three or four months? Enough time for the major to plow his grave eighteen times over.

"I know……"

A fierce wind whipped at the hem of her robes; high in the sky, she clutched her long sword and sighed.
"...Fortunately, things haven't reached the point of no return."

She looked up at the gathering dark clouds on the horizon and asked Bai Zhou:

"What time is it now?"

Bai Zhou raised his hand and glanced at his watch: "8:30 PM on August 23th."

The crow estimated for a moment, then nodded slightly:

"That's the second year of junior high."

"—Just right."

"What do you mean?" Bai Zhou asked, puzzled.

"Although I would like to slice two cucumbers to solve your problem, unfortunately, this time I need some special ingredients."

The crow shook its head regretfully and said softly:
"In the mystical world, some herbs can be used to nourish one's destiny, such as holy basil, sage, angelica, cloves, and agastache..."

"They are great for making tea, using as incense, or taking a bath."

The cawing of crows paused here.

Just then, a streak of lightning flashed across the dark clouds on the horizon, illuminating half the sky.

"But your condition requires drastic measures!"

"For unrealistic methods like exorcising Tai Sui or Gan Lu, I recommend using Moon Water, a simple potion with the best cost-effectiveness."

"Moonlight water?"

Bai Zhou pondered the term, inexplicably feeling that it was a small drink that werewolves and vampires would like to drink.

With a "buzz"—

The moonlight seemed to be drawn down.

Through the thick dark clouds, a sliver of moonlight gracefully wrapped around the crow's fingertips, illuminating its profile.

"In the tradition of mysticism, many schools of thought attach great importance to the baptism, nourishment and balancing functions of the lunar phases."

The crow explained:

"During the full moon in the Void Realm, pure water is placed under the red moonlight overnight for purification through a special ritual—"

"You will receive a bottle of 'moon water,' which has a remarkable effect on restoring one's destiny."

"Although there is a full moon in the middle of each month, the water element of the full moon is different for different astrological charts."

"Your birth chart is Chen, and the most effective thing for you is the Moon Water made during the full moon in February."

"Once we get one bottle, all our problems will be solved..."

As he spoke, the crow paused slightly:
"I definitely can't make it by hand, but these kinds of things aren't uncommon in the ghost market, so you can try your luck there."

"Ghost Market... what is that?"

That sounds terrifying.

Markets trade chickens, ducks, cattle, sheep, and pigs; what does the ghost market trade?
people?
"In the city of the sea's reflection, the extraordinary individuals hold regular gatherings to exchange information."

The crow said:

“These gatherings are unorganized and unmanaged. The origins of the goods are unclear and their authenticity is difficult to verify. Transactions are conducted in the dark, with both parties maintaining mysterious identities and adhering to the rule of ‘money and goods exchanged without questioning their origin’…”

"—hence the name Ghost Market."

The reflection of the sea!

Bai Zhou's expression turned solemn.

In the crow's eyes, it was already familiar with the reflection of the sea.

But in fact, he had never been to this place.

That strange city, nestled in the crow's beak, a reflection of the sea that seems both real and unreal...

"In the ghost market, you can see counterfeit Philosopher's Stones, as well as genuine voodoo dolls and extraordinary antiques..."

The crow described what the ghost market looked like:
"There are even rumors that someone once stumbled upon a secret technique or half of a forbidden manual at the ghost market and soared to great heights!"

"Whether it's real or fake, whether you make a profit or a loss, depends entirely on your eyesight; it's very much a gamble."

eyesight?

Bai Zhou blinked, his heart suddenly pounding.

Although Bai Zhou doesn't possess the kind of "eyesight"—

But he can cheat.

Whether it's true or false, you can usually tell by reading the will.

"However, you don't need to worry about these things, because we are too poor."

With a light cough, the crow suddenly spoke again:

"I don't have the money to help you find a bargain, just buy some basic moonshine."

“I will teach you how to tell the difference… but there are almost no fakes because the profit margin on moon water is too low.”

“A few fake extraordinary materials, even stones that are suspected of being stained with the blood of extraordinary creatures, are enough to buy ten bottles of Moon Water.”

"Oh……"

Bai Zhou nodded regretfully, looking thoughtful.

"When should I go? Now?"

"No, it can only be tomorrow."

The crow shook its head:
According to the lunar calendar, tomorrow is the third day of the Lunar New Year.

"The Reflection of the Sea only holds gatherings on the 3rd, 16th, and 29th of each month."

"—That's why I said it was just right."

"Second year of junior high... Crow, are you sure you're not mistaken about something?"

Bai Zhou asked in confusion, "Isn't today August 30th?"

"—That's the Gregorian calendar."

Crow waved his hand, "Currently, the Gregorian calendar, which originated from the Western Federation, is widely used on the surface of Blue Star."

"But in the Reflection Ruins on the other side of Blue Star, including the important Twenty-Four Solar Terms, they use a lunar calendar originating from the Eastern Federation..."

"—Also called the Old Calendar, the Extraordinary Calendar!"

"Do the right thing at the right time, and do nothing at the wrong time, or you may bring misfortune upon yourself..."

The crow's expression turned serious:

"The extraordinary can never rely on power to be unrestrained; in fact, it may be quite the opposite."

"In this regard, the extraordinary history has particularly important guiding significance."

It's alright for someone as ordinary yet extraordinary as Bai Zhou...

The higher the rank and the more extraordinary a person like Ya is, the more they care about such things.

On the day the Blood Worship Cult invaded, Crow made sure Bai Zhou bathed and changed clothes, precisely for this reason.

...The old calendar, not the extraordinary calendar, is mysterious and impressive.

but--

"I know this very well!"

Bai Zhou clapped his hands.

He knew it was taboo.

A strange sense of familiarity washed over me.

It turns out that not only Wancheng, but also Blue Star has something similar.

"Where can I get a copy of the lunar calendar? I need to memorize all the contents," Bai Zhou said.

"During holidays, pharmacies offer free medicine with the purchase of medicine."

Bai Zhou: "..."

Even now, Hakushu still holds a deep reverence for things that are taboo.

The extraordinary world is full of mysteries; even just a glimpse of it is enough to study for a lifetime.

It seems that Bai Zhou has not yet fully exhausted Teacher Ya.

make persistent efforts.

"Rumble..."

Dark clouds rolled in, and thunder roared.

As the last star in the sky was obscured by dark clouds on the horizon, rain began to fall.

Listen to the sea; this city is enveloped in heavy rain.

But Bai Zhou was in a very cheerful mood despite the rain.

With a solution found for his injuries, and the return and awakening of Raven, he felt even more at ease.

At this moment, the only thing Bai Zhou needed to seriously consider was... if he held an umbrella on the air conditioner unit on the 20th floor, would he attract lightning?

After thinking for a long time, Bai Zhou was surprised to find that his head was not wet at all.

An invisible shadow transformed into an umbrella, shielding the two people above their heads. The crow, which was floating in the void and embracing the long sword, lazily yawned.

The girl's yawning while covering her mouth was somewhat cute, but it made Bai Zhou's heart tighten.

"Are you... sleepy again?"

Bai Zhou tentatively inquired:

"In the end what happened?"

Although this sounds like Bai Zhou is acting like a slave owner, preventing Ya from sleeping...

But his concern was genuine.

"It's an old problem."

Crow shook his head, his tone still calm, but his expression revealed a hint of seriousness:
"Once I leave Branch 36, I feel sleepy and need to rest, just like any other person."

"That's why I've been staying at Branch 36 all this time."

"—But I checked countless times and made sure that no one in the branch could see me, and that nothing unusual was affecting me."

"...Perhaps, there are some special secrets about that place that no one knows about."

The crow's tone was uncertain.

"But it shouldn't be the kind of special treatment that's just for me? I'm not sure."

As she spoke, she shook her head first:

"However, the impact is not significant; regular rest is enough to restore my condition."

"no need to worry."

The crow did not delve deeper into this topic.

But Bai Zhou kept it in his heart.

He couldn't help but be worried about the crow's "abnormality," but he was truly at a loss for what to do.

The sense of urgency in my heart became more and more obvious.

Even for the sake of Raven, he must grow up quickly and return to Branch 36 as soon as possible to clean it up from top to bottom.

At that time, all the secrets will come out.

—If it really exists.

"Speaking of which, you've reminded me of something."

Ya began to grope around in her bosom, her small, fair hands clenching into fists before opening them in front of Bai Zhou.

On her fair, rosy palm, there was a small, dark, sand-like object.

"This is Ashes, a high-level currency used in the Reflection Ruins."

Crow said calmly:
"Although I don't know what the prices are now, a single grain of ash is definitely enough for you to buy a lot of Moon Water."

"I only have two ashes left on me."

As he spoke, Ya earnestly instructed Bai Zhou:
"Don't buy anything recklessly, and remember to give me change when you get your money back."

Bai Zhou felt strange, inexplicably having the feeling of being ordered to buy a bottle of soy sauce.

Upon receiving the "ashes," the tiny ashes felt strangely textured in my hand, almost illusory.

"……what?"

As Bai Zhou examined the two specks of ash, his eyes suddenly blinked twice.

Looks familiar! Where have I seen her before?
Her clear eyes blinked twice, filled with disbelief and confusion.

Then, Bai Zhou was almost certain...

He had actually seen this thing before.

Deep within the ruins.

—During his first raid on the battlefield, he found a lot of black paste in a pile of pottery jars.

Those black, gooey things... they look like they're made of "ashes"?

In other words, this high-value currency, which appeared by the grain in the hands of crows...

They were everywhere in the ruins, collected and piled up into a small mountain by Bai Zhou, who considered them useless waste!
—I am actually the richest man?
Bai Zhou's heart was pounding.

"Want to go down?"

The sound of crows suddenly reached my ears.

"The rain is getting heavier, are you going to spend the night here?"

A crow, its trench coat fluttering in mid-air, looked at a boy wearing the same trench coat as itself standing... atop an air conditioner unit, and said in a strange tone:
"Actually, I've always wanted to ask you, how did you get up here?"

"At once……"

Bai Zhou scratched his head.

"That's it."

then,

Under the gaze of the crow's involuntarily widened eyes,
Bai Zhou transformed into a black cat covered in bandages, appearing on the air conditioner's outdoor unit.

"Meow meow meow."

crow:"……?"

"Quaa?"

Even the three-legged black crow perched on the girl's shoulder stared wide-eyed at the suddenly appearing black cat, tilting its head in astonishment.

"...Have we really only been apart for a day?"

The crow's eyes held a hint of confusion.

Could it be that she overslept?

Has a year really passed?
……

It was another night of torrential rain.

But this time there was no fierce battle, no pungent river of blood, and no explosion that shocked the entire Tinghai.

There was only one rich man "counting money".

At midnight, Bai Zhou went to the depths of the Void Realm and confirmed his guess.

—That's right, it's "ashes"!
Upon comparison, the two are almost identical, with the one in the deeper part of the Ruins being of slightly higher quality...

Holding a handful of ashes in the ruins, Bai Zhou was as happy as a 120-pound child.

Get rich!
Others may trade with gold sands, but he may have an entire gold mine to himself.

Forget about moon water and sun lotion... I'll start with ten bottles of mouthwash!
Having been poor all along, this was the first time Bai Zhou had experienced what it felt like to be "rich".

—Although he hasn’t spent a single ash to this day.

But the joy of making money lies in the fantasy of spending it, not in the painful moment of spending it.

...Originally, Bai Zhou had no way of reaching the depths of the Ruins Realm.

Because he is currently lacking in spirituality, and activating the Zhuluoji Pass requires spirituality.

However, when Bai Zhou encounters difficulties now, the one who responds to his prayers is the same person he was a day ago—

When I first received the Adventurer's Token from the Undead General, the spiritual energy I transmitted to the token was still stored inside!
The little bit of spirituality that he would normally not have paid attention to has now become Bai Zhou's lifeline.

Just one day later—the boomerang thrown in the past hit Bai Zhou squarely on the head.

It's also just right.

……

The next night.

Bai Zhou, who had secretly carried a large sum of money, randomly found a roadside building and climbed to the top floor where no one ever went.

Beneath your feet lies a road illuminated by golden light and a constant stream of traffic; everywhere you look, there are neon lights.

Under the watchful eyes of the moon and the raven, he began to prepare the ritual for stepping into the Realm of Reflections.

—But this time, it's not a deep layer of the Void Realm that one person can enjoy alone.

It is the true "Reflection Ruins".

The reflection of Tinghai City on the back—a bizarre and fantastical metropolis—

The true stage where all extraordinary individuals gather and showcase their talents—

The bizarre roams freely here, and extraordinary forces from all sides vie for supremacy.

Any action people take can trigger a chain reaction, attracting the attention of the entire Listening Sea and spreading widely throughout the entire Extraordinary World.

Countless scions of prominent families and mysterious new elites regard this place as the starting point of their path to fame and extraordinary success.

And the white boat—

"Dust does not return to dust, and ashes do not return to ashes."

"Left is right, back is front, the past becomes the present, the living sing a lament for the dead."

Using a random piece of broken glass from the ground as a mirror, Bai Zhou sat cross-legged, muttering incantations with a serious expression.

The moonlight shone on his face, creating an atmosphere of extraordinary mystery.

"Shadows weave silver keys, please open twenty-five doors for me!"

"Flip it over, flip it over, mirror—"

“Abrete Sesamo!”

Half a month later—

Open Sesame again.

White Boat embarks on a new adventure.

I vaguely saw a familiar gray fog before my eyes, but it vanished in an instant.

In a daze, his body seemed to be hanging upside down, passing through the gap between life and death.

When everything in sight returned to normal, the ground beneath my feet once again became the top floor of the building.

It seems like nothing has changed; this place is still the familiar sight of the sea.

But the crows were no longer by my side, the neon lights had disappeared, and the noisy traffic and crowds had vanished without a trace.

All that remained was coldness and deathly silence, along with an indescribable sense of distortion and grotesqueness.

In the distance, a thick gray fog shrouded the streets, making the dim city appear hazy.

The crooked streetlights, like drooping figures, stood in rows in the hazy fog.

Suddenly.

A long, resounding "hum"—

A massive steam-belching locomotive, like a ferocious monster, rumbled past the rooftops across the street, its whistle blaring.

Bai Zhou: "?"

The locomotive temporarily dispelled the fog in Bai Zhou's eyes, allowing him to see the shadows of steel buildings in the distance, appearing and disappearing in the gloom.

A huge clock tower can be vaguely seen in the city center, with the hands pointing to 24:01.

At the top of the clock tower, a blazing blue flame burns, seemingly visible throughout the entire Tinghai area.

And beneath this blue flame...

A rusty sign was dimly lit.

It was written crookedly on top—

[Listen to the sea, it ostracizes you]

"...?"

The air around them grew cold, and the huge sum of "ashes" in their arms felt heavy and icy.

Bai Zhou suddenly shivered.

He knew he had arrived on the far side of Earth.

The city reflected in the sea.

—A bizarre and distorted world that embodies the end of modern times.

(End of this chapter)