Forge a path to success.

Chapter 284 A Flow of Inspiration (EX)

On the night of the day the blessing reappeared in the third lineage.

Fulatari quickly finished revising the manuscript, tossed it to the Poison Otter, and roared, "One last time!"

"You even plagiarize a dialogue draft? I don't know what to say to you." Poison Otter carefully read it over. "I'll let you off this time. We'll accept the manuscript. When will the payment be settled?"

"Let's go with the Green Branch. Anyway, you can get divine power crystals anywhere..."

The old octopus curled up a bunch of green branches and listlessly slumped onto the table. Van der, quick to notice, handed him a cup of hot ginger tea: "Professor, you've had a hard day."

"If it weren't for you, you wicked disciple, exposing my past, I wouldn't be in such a predicament," Fulatali sighed.

"Oh my, you yourself said that there is a code of honor among thieves in class. Taking free mushrooms and putting them in your own pocket, I wonder who was dishonest first."

Vande wasn't afraid of it at all, a testament to the teaching style of the Twilight Library. It poked the old octopus: "So, Professor, what brings you to the city-state to write books? Our library isn't bad, everyone copies each other's work every day, you're guaranteed to have a full stomach and plenty of food."

"Never heard of 'stillness breeds restlessness'?" Vlataari glared, his beard bristling. "We demons value freedom above all else! For a bite to eat, ah, a library for centuries, is that even right? We need poetry and distant horizons!"

"You have a youthful mindset; even though you're old, you're not..."

Fulatari grabbed it with one hand and sneered, "Don't just talk about me. Vande, let me ask you, how much of your graduation thesis do you still remember?"

Upon hearing this, Vande smiled innocently: "To be honest, I've forgotten everything except the title."

"I knew you were a good-for-nothing! You're completely clueless, and you still dare to travel like that? You're a disgrace!" Fulatari cursed.

It pulled a gleaming silver key from its beard and tossed it to Vander: "When you have time, go to the Mansa Star Castle library and look for your old reference materials. Get your old skills back. Remember, people are only willing to take you around because they care. You need to have your own abilities when you're out in the world. With your mediocre hypnosis skills, you're not going to go far!"

Van Der's eyes lit up: "A certificate from the Jingsha Grand Library? How generous! Thank you so much!"

Vande slung the key around his neck and happily slipped away. Fulatari finished his ginger tea irritably, yelled a few words towards the counter, and stormed out, grumbling.

Chu Hengkong waited for Fan De to go upstairs to read, then asked Gulibo, "How long has Fulatari been in the city-state?"

“It’s been quite a while…” Gulibo thought for a moment, “His first book seems to have been published decades ago.”

·
Furatali's home is located on the most remote branch of the third vein. Its little house is almost right next to the edge of this vein, and from a distance, it looks as if it would fall from the sky and into the sea at the slightest tremor.

In such a remote area, there are naturally few residents, and even the municipal facilities are quite old. The streetlights on the street are intermittent, with intervals lasting more than ten seconds. During the ten seconds that the streetlights go out, there is no light at all, and it is pitch black, like a monster silently opening its huge mouth.

Fulatari groped its way into the house in the dark and turned on the lights. It sat down by the window, gazing silently at the road that appeared and disappeared, its tentacles trembling with its thoughts.

Fate is a strange thing. Fulatari thought to itself. It had long since given up, keeping the little key only because the trouble of losing it might be even greater… out of a sentimental reason—a longing for the past…

It quite liked the city-state of Thorn Robe, but it stayed there only to avoid trouble. The city-state was about to become unsettled, so it naturally wanted to make a quick profit and then find another way to hide itself in a paradise or a dust-free land.

But "Vande" truly appeared. Despite being completely ignorant and surprisingly weak, it was undoubtedly "Vande"... and the silver-armed man was its contractor...

Fulatari let out a long sigh and slumped down at the table.

"Twilight, my mission is complete," it whispered.

It does nothing; the moment the key leaves its side, the curator's concealment spell fails. At this moment, it has been exposed, and the people searching for it should be arriving soon.

The streetlights went out. 13 seconds. They came back on, but no one was on the street. The second darkness lasted longer, 15 seconds. Still quiet. The next time, it was only 3 seconds. The next time, darkness stretched for a full 17 seconds.

When the darkness ended, three men stood in the light.

One was a man wearing an old helmet and covered in hair. His wrists were crimson claws, and blood-red eyes were hidden among the curled hair.

The imagined demon is "cold-blooded".

One of them was a man wearing a gray robe, carrying a metal spear, and bearing a bone cannon on his back. Tiny, viscous tentacles grew from under his hood.

The fantasy demon "Oblivion".

The last one was a burly man wielding two hammers, white flames burning in his eye sockets, his bones tearing through his flesh, forming bizarre structures like jet vents on his back.

The mad fantasy demon is "tyrannical".

One Madness-level demon and two Fantasy-level demons pierced the darkness towards the house. The pursuers had arrived; it could no longer hide. The demons approached the house slowly, seemingly unconcerned about the old octopus escaping.

The lights went out again, and a snoring sound came from the darkness.

Someone is eating noodles.

He ate with great relish; even just from the sounds, one could imagine the blissful way he ate. He must have been extremely hungry, so hungry that he ate and drank heartily, scraping the bottom of the bowl with the tips of his chopsticks, not spilling a drop of soup or water.

The dim lights came on again, and the tall man squatted under the streetlamp, eating noodles. The noodles were a simple stir-fried noodle dish, topped with cabbage, a fried egg, tomatoes, and two large shrimp. The bright red broth in the large bowl smelled delicious. Such a bowl of noodles could satisfy any hungry person's craving; no wonder this man ate with such relish.

The tyrannical demon raised his twin hammers, while the man continued eating his noodles, seemingly oblivious. A slightly shorter man stood nearby, enjoying a jianbing (Chinese crepe) with relish; a folding fan was tucked into his waistband.

"Squatting while eating is bad for your stomach and intestines," Ji Qiufeng said.

“Noodles have to be eaten squatting down,” the man began to drink the broth. “Eating standing up is no fun!” He wiped his greasy mouth with the back of his hand, stood up with the bowl of noodles in his hands, and his sunglasses were fogged up by the heat. The demon-possessed people’s gazes were fixed on what was behind him, on the dirty military overcoat.

"It's so late, have you eaten yet?" Trek asked. "There's no restaurant up ahead. If we go any further, it'll be considered trespassing."

The streetlamp flickered for a moment, and in that instant of darkness, the Demon of Oblivion shot out like a hawk. Its spear swept across the area beneath the streetlamp, inscribing a spell that erased memories. A colorless light emanated from the barrel of its cannon, and a powerful beam of energy shot straight towards the house at the end of the road!

Then the streetlights came on again, and the Forgotten Demon froze. It remained in the same charging posture, but was forced to kneel down. Trek was sitting on its back, using it as a convenient chair.

Its cannon was pinned to the ground by a wooden crossbow, a level 5 relic weapon, yet it was shattered in a single exchange!

Trek rummaged through the meager amount of noodles left in the bowl, clicking his tongue in disapproval: "I warned you guys..."

A cold glint flashed in the ruthless demon's eyes, as if it were about to fire, but its superior acted even faster. The tyrannical demon appeared behind Trek, its twin hammers slamming down simultaneously, countless sharp, blood-soaked spikes bursting from them. It cared nothing for Forgotten's life or death, intending to crush Trek and Forgotten together.

Its blood hammer struck directly, shattering the man's lower body into pieces with a single blow. But behind the tyrannical demon, a chilling silence reigned, for Trek stood leaning against his back, the body he had shattered a forgotten memory that hadn't even had time to react!
“That’s why young people these days just won’t listen to advice. Uncle Trek, I’m a policeman, and I represent ‘justice.’” Trek raised his right leg high. “Why are you racing against justice? Justice might be absent…”

"But it will definitely not be 'late'."

The tyrannical demon instantly retreated, flying 1,700 kilometers from under the streetlights to the bustling commercial district of the Third Order. But the first thing it saw after its relocation was Trek's smile. That kick had struck him squarely in the heart, sending the tyrannical demon flying backward like a rag doll!

The tyrannical demon crashed heavily against a wooden wall. This was impossible, for he had been attacked high in the air; even if he were thrown back by the impact, he would only crash into the clouds. Yet he had indeed struck a solid wall, the wall of a narrow, filthy little room, with rusty iron chains hanging from it.

He was kicked into... a cell!

Trek smiled and waved from the doorway, then the heavy door closed silently, leaving only darkness for the tyrannical demon.

In this darkness, no lights will occasionally come on.

Beneath the streetlamp, the ruthless demon turned without hesitation, its long fur revealing thousands of eyes glaring angrily, releasing a light that clouded the very space. However, it crashed head-on into a paper bag, the back of which bore a talisman drawn with sweet bean sauce.

It instantly detached from the man's body, becoming ethereal, and disappeared into the talisman like a phantom. The possessed man collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Ji Qiufeng flicked the talisman, then stuffed the remaining bite of pancake into his mouth with one hand. Just then, Cui Ke appeared under a streetlamp and frowned upon seeing him: "So sloppy~~~"

"What you said really makes me feel complicated." Ji Qiufeng tossed the talisman to him. "It's about a combat strength of 4 points, which is the top in the Fantasy level."

“The fifth team has to write a report tomorrow.” Trek said gloatingly. “You’re really something. I’ve been investigating for so long without any results, but after trying your method for less than two days, everyone is rushing to contribute.”

"Some people are born this way. You can leave them there and do nothing, and fate will come knocking on their door," Ji Qiufeng said with a smile. "Don't you think so, Heng Kong?"

A third shadow emerged from under the streetlights, and Chu Hengkong stepped out from the shadows, looking helpless.

"You've become addicted to using me as a fishing rod."

“How can you call it fishing? You’re demonstrating your excellent character and contributing to maintaining the city’s security!” Trek patted him on the shoulder. “Young man, you’re so cautious at such a young age. You’re much more reliable than your Uncle Ji was back then.”

Old Octopus was the first acquaintance of Van D that Chu Hengkong encountered, and also a long-time member of the "Twilight Library." Logically and personally, he should have a good chat with him. However, he hadn't expected to witness such a scene so soon after catching up, and the two senior figures were well-prepared, so he didn't need to put in any extra effort.

“Hengkong, leave this to us for now,” Ji Qiufeng said. “You’re too close to Fan De; knowing too much is not a good thing.”

"Okay." Chu Hengkong nodded. "What about Fenya?"

“I sent it to recuperate; it’s now in the safest place in the Thorn Robe.” Ji Qiufeng thought for a moment, “Perhaps the safest place in the Senluo Secret Realm.”

Chu Hengkong didn't dwell on it and turned to leave. The tide of fate was what it was; knowing too much about the secrets Fan De and Fen Ya were hiding wouldn't do him any good. These matters weren't his concern as a mere point 3; when his abilities improved, trouble would naturally come to him.

"What a kind heart!" Trek exclaimed. "Professor Vlataari, is there anything you'd like to say?"

The old octopus walked out of the hut, his face clearly showing his indifference.

"Ask whatever you're curious about. I was cursed just like Vande, and I don't remember much. If you boil me, you still won't know."

“It’s much easier now that you’re cooperating.” Trek walked up to it and suddenly asked, “Was the Inspiration Mushroom your own idea?”

"what?"

Fulatari had been preparing for a long time, but unexpectedly, this was the question he wanted to ask. He replied blankly, "Yes, yes."

"Let me confirm one more time," Trek said, enunciating each word clearly. "Was the Inspiration Mushroom a tool you developed through your own independent thinking? Did anyone else offer you suggestive or other misleading insights?"

“…No.” Fulatari said, puzzled. “Even if I’m weak, I’m still a demon. How could I not notice the temptation on my body?… This is just inspiration drawn from discussions about creative tools, with a little personal bias added.”

“I see.” Trek nodded. “Then, regarding the second question, my men lost track of a large order while investigating the Inspiration Mushrooms, with the estimated transaction volume ranging from 300 to 500.”

“I do remember this… It must have been a wealthy businessman who saw a business opportunity and bought a large number of samples to take for analysis,” said Vlatatali. “The agent who came to buy the mushrooms was very cautious, but judging from his accent, he seemed to be from Mansacinburg.”

Trek nodded and took a step back: "Official business is settled, now it's time to do personal work."

Ji Qiufeng stepped forward, flicked his folding fan, and smiled, "Then please tell us about the 'Twilight Library'..."

　(No updates for the next two days, will resume on Thursday~)
　　Everyone's May Day holiday is over, and the author is also taking a short break. Wishing everyone a happy holiday!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)