The Law of Heaven

Chapter 24 Aihara: I've been set up

Zhou Lunshuo's appearance saved Aihara from her predicament.

Aihara could actually sense that this strange person who suddenly appeared hadn't exerted much effort at all, so he was certain that the other party had no malicious intent. At most, he just lacked a sense of boundaries and his behavior was very strange.

Some nice people just come up and start poking at other people's eyes.

But Master Zhou's words caught his attention with a key phrase, and he was immediately terrified.

prison Break.

Aihara sized up the other person.

The man was wearing a white shirt and black pants, barefoot and wearing electronic shackles, which looked very strange.

He really is a prisoner!

"Master Zhou, you haven't retired yet?"

Fu Wanghu scratched his head, his voice low and sickly: "I don't want to listen to your lecture. If you have nothing else to do, go play somewhere else. I want to see his eyes."

"Playing hard to get? How could anyone not want to listen to my lecture? This child is still young, why are you teasing him? Captain Jian instructed me to take good care of him. I'll take him around to familiarize himself with the place first. You stay here and don't move. I'll come back to give you the lecture in a little while!"

Master Zhou pulled Xiangyuan away, and the female secretary next to him also breathed a sigh of relief, secretly wiping the corner of her eye. She had almost been scared to tears just now, and snot bubbles were coming out of her nose.

Aihara could sense that the usually unserious master was actually a little flustered. He had never been this nervous when he was kidnapped. Something was clearly wrong.

Fu Wanghu shook his head helplessly. Seeing that there was really no chance, he said, "Hey, don't let them know you're sick."

Aihara was stunned.

Master Zhou and his female secretary did not hear this sentence.

The sound traveled directly to my ears.

These words seemed ordinary, but they stirred a strange feeling in him, causing him to hesitate for a moment.

Because his second uncle had said the same thing to him before.

Aihara has an eye disease; he was born with a visual impairment that is not simply nearsightedness. He has visited hospitals all over the country for many years, but has not been able to get a cure.

His eye condition has many symptoms.

Photophobia, dryness, high intraocular pressure, etc.

However, his second uncle concealed his illness and asked him to keep it a secret from everyone. From childhood to adulthood, neither his teachers nor his classmates knew the truth about his condition.

As he grew older, Aihara's eye condition worsened. If he hadn't awakened his Alaya consciousness, he would no longer be able to attend school normally and would even have to obtain a disability certificate and get a guide dog.

Now, however, his condition is easily seen through.

"Oh dear, Mr. Fu, why are you wandering around again!"

A researcher in a white lab coat rushed in from outside, leading a group of people who surrounded Fu Wanghu and respectfully invited him back, as if they were inviting a great deity.

"It's too stuffy in the lab, so I came out to clear my head."

"Then please let me know if you find out, I'm afraid you'll run away."

"Where can I run to in this state?"

The whispers faded away from the garden.

Aihara turned around and asked, "Who is this person?"

Master Zhou waved his hand: "What bad luck! This guy is a real scourge, named Fu Wanghu. Twelve years ago, he almost succeeded as the head of the five great families, but later, this guy went crazy for some reason and committed a heinous crime, and was sentenced to more than a thousand years in prison."

More than a thousand years?

Aihara was shocked: "Can immortal beings live that long?"

Master Zhou licked his teeth and said, "Probably not, at least not Fu Wanghu. But the crime he committed was indeed very serious. Since he can't be sentenced to death, the only option is to add to his sentence. Oh, to be precise, it's 1,200 years. He recently escaped from prison without permission, so he was given an additional 200 years."

Aihara said admiringly, "A genius, but why not sentence him to death? Wouldn't it be better to just execute him by firing squad?"

Master Zhou sighed with a somber expression, "Firstly, Fu Wanghu is strong enough. Although he is seriously injured, if he really attacks recklessly, the five major families wouldn't be able to subdue him. Secondly, his status is what it is; killing him would cause a lot of trouble, so he still has his uses. Thirdly, and very importantly, Fu Wanghu has been corrupted. If it weren't for his strong will, he could easily become a dead disciple..."

"If Fu Wanghu is killed, he may very well complete his transformation in the last second before he dies. If he goes berserk then, the company will suffer heavy losses."

He emphasized, "Fu Wanghu is a ticking time bomb. The company originally wanted to get rid of him, but he just didn't want to leave. What else can we do? It's already good enough that this guy is willing to stay here and not cause trouble."

Aihara understood. Ultimately, the company's strength was insufficient to suppress this heinous demon, leaving them with no choice but to compromise.

"Then why did he escape from prison the other day?"

He couldn't help but ask again.

Zhou Lunshuo scratched his head: "This involves classified information..."

Aihara immediately applauded.

Sure enough, this was the correct way to use Master Zhou. The old man immediately beamed with joy and casually glanced at the female secretary next to him to get rid of her.

"Fu Wanghu escaped from prison during the Fog Mountain Cataclysm a while ago. The higher-ups of the five major families were worried that he wanted to become a Dead Apostle and sacrifice himself to Heavenly Principle in order to evolve. But as it turns out, Fu Wanghu did not do that. Otherwise, he would have become a monster that is neither human nor ghost by now. He would not have pried out your eyeballs just now, but swallowed you whole."

Master Zhou said, puzzled, "No one knows what Fu Wanghu went to Wushan for, but every move he makes has a deeper meaning, so the company is also investigating him. Some people think that Fu Wanghu seems to know something."

Aihara gazed at the garden where crape myrtle blossoms were falling. His second uncle had also mysteriously encountered an accident in Kiriyama around that time. He wondered if there was any connection between the two.

"Master Zhou, what exactly is Wushan?"

He always felt that Wushan was unusually mysterious, attracting countless people to flock there.

"Actually, I don't know what's in Wushan, but tracing its history can provide some clues."

Master Zhou, with his hands behind his back, began to show off his knowledge: "The history of the immortal race can be traced back more than 10,000 years. The oldest artifacts unearthed by current archaeological projects date back to that time. Our country's immortal race civilization was the most glorious, continuing uninterrupted from the Xia and Shang dynasties. However, in the last few hundred years, the major immortal race families fought fiercely among themselves, ultimately suffering heavy losses. You should have learned about the later history in your textbooks, so I won't go into too much detail here."

He paused for a moment: "By 1892, this place had become a German colony. The Germans began to carry out large-scale infrastructure construction. At first, people just thought that the Germans wanted to build a port here and make a fortune through trade. But after the war ended, the ancestors of the five families migrated here and took over the projects left by the Germans. That's when they discovered that the Germans intended to use modern machinery to forcibly explore the Fog Mountain. In other words, there was something in the Fog Mountain that attracted them."

Aihara pondered for a moment and said, "So, in the history we know, there are actually shadows of immortal beings, including the two world wars?"

Master Zhou said angrily, "Of course, the Germans' ambitions are not limited to trade and resources. They also want to transcend the mundane and covet the power of the gods. There is a side in the Misty Mountain, but it did not move at that time."

"The Fu family, Jiang family, Jing family, Yan family, and Ruan family, these five major families formed the Deep Blue Alliance and swore an oath to protect the other side of the Mist Mountain. The ancestors of the five families speculated that an ancient Heavenly Principle might be sleeping deep in the Mist Mountain. No one knows its origin, but judging from the power it has shown, its status is obviously extremely noble."

He continued, “Generally speaking, we can determine the origin of the Heavenly Principle that exists in a region by tracing history. But the Heavenly Principle of Wushan has no historical record, as if it were a ghost that does not exist. Fortunately, it has been asleep for the past hundred years and has never been revived.”

Aihara seemed to be deep in thought: "Recently, He has awakened?"

"Yes, we all want to know why that being, Tenri, has awakened. So far, we haven't found the answer. But ever since Tenri awakened, all the immortal beings in this city have become restless."

Master Zhou said quietly, "This may be a disaster, but it is also an opportunity for the immortal beings to advance. Crisis and opportunity always coexist, don't they?"

Aihara was about to say something when he was patted on the shoulder.

"Being extraordinary sounds wonderful, but it can also be a path of no return. Everyone who embarks on this path has their own reasons, including you."

Master Zhou chuckled and glanced at him: "You came here because of your second uncle, right? The laws of nature are manifesting, and an unprecedented upheaval is about to occur. In this great change, you may get what you want, or you may not. This world is far more complex than you imagine; no one is omniscient or omnipotent."

The master finally exuded the unfathomable wisdom of a scholar, as if his previous idiocy and eccentricity were all an illusion: "The important thing is how you understand the world. Your understanding of the world determines the kind of life you can lead."

These words are very profound.

This is especially true for Aihara, who has just become an immortal being.

"Master, I have truly benefited greatly from your lectures."

Aihara exclaimed in genuine admiration.

"I'm not lecturing, I'm just talking nonsense with you."

Master Zhou was taken aback at first, then revealed a teachable smile: "Oh, I see, you want to listen to my lecture, don't you? Oh dear, you should have said so earlier..."

Aihara turned around with a dark expression, then suddenly stopped. Around the corner of the garden, he saw a familiar figure from behind, stirring up long-forgotten memories.

That person was Jiang Youqing.

Jiang Youqing also saw him and was stunned for a moment.

"Long time no see, Senior Jiang."

Aihara made a rare gesture of greeting.

Meeting under such circumstances is like meeting an old friend in a foreign land; since everyone is a fellow alumnus of the school, there is a natural affinity between them.

In fact, Jiang Youqing felt the same way, but she was obviously more withdrawn and less eloquent. She simply nodded and said, "What a coincidence, it has indeed been a long time."

She hesitated for a moment: "I'll take better care of my health in the future."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Aihara was left standing there, completely bewildered.

The senior student's gaze was particularly strange as she left.

Awkwardness tinged with sympathy, shame tinged with sympathy.

"What does she mean?"

Aihara turned around and asked.

"You didn't know? I spent so much time comforting you just now."

Master Zhou looked completely bewildered.

Aihara suddenly had a bad feeling.

·
·
In the pavilion under the crape myrtle tree, an old woman sat at a stone table brewing tea. A faint fragrance of gardenias wafted in the breeze. Someone sat down opposite her.

"When I first saw you, I thought you were really pretty, but your eyes were a bit too sharp. You'll have a hard time finding a boyfriend if you look like that. Sit down, let me pour you a cup of tea. You must be tired after a long day."

The old woman busied herself brewing tea. Steam rose from the rustic teapot, and the rich aroma of tea swirled and spread. The boiling water bubbled and hissed.

"What's wrong? You look so strange."

"It's nothing, I just ran into someone I know."

"You know someone else?"

"Yes, a former alumnus."

Jiang Youqing raised her clear, cold eyes, her voice like sake mixed with ice: "I thought the teacher was in a meeting."

The old woman blew on the fire on the stove: "I'm old, how can I have so much energy to spend all day in meetings with them? I've come all this way, and I want to see him as much as I can. Who knows who will die first, so every meeting is one less time we'll see each other."

Jiang Youqing frowned and asked, "Since you still cherish the past, why do you still want me to investigate him?"

The old woman smiled and said, "I am indeed sentimental, but I can't possibly disregard the lives and safety of tens of millions of people. I am still the head of the five major families. If I become complacent and truly fall into depravity, I will have to personally eliminate him."

Jiang Youqing shook her head and said, "It wasn't him."

The old woman raised her cloudy eyes: "Oh?"

Jiang Youqing said expressionlessly, "Based on my judgment, the Tianli in Wushan woke up at the end of March. Fu Wanghu entered Wushan in early April. He probably sensed something, but did not take any action. Later, I found out that Xiang Chaonan also went to Wushan, but unfortunately died there. The cause of death is unknown."

The old woman was stunned for a moment: "Xiang Chaonan? That charlatan who slept with so many girls from our five families? That old bastard is gone?"

"That might not be the point."

Jiang Youqing took out an autopsy report from her beige crocodile skin bag and handed it over: "Do you remember the construction team from Maohai Industry? Four workers who came back alive from the Fog Mountain, they all died in prison."

The old woman took the investigation report.

She thought for a moment, then took out her reading glasses from her pocket.

"Don't bother looking anymore, I'll just tell you the conclusion."

Jiang Youqing paused for a moment: "These four people are all immortal beings without exception. They are not ordinary workers. That story is false. There are no such workers in the Maohai Industrial project team at all. In other words, these immortal beings infiltrated the area with the purpose of going into the mountains, or rather, finding that other side."

The old woman's expression showed a sudden realization.

"So what is their purpose?"

The tea is ready.

The old woman slowly picked up the teapot and poured tea.

The mist clouded Jiang Youqing's face, and her eyes sharpened slightly as she said softly, "These immortal beings were all contaminated, but the forensic doctors discovered after the autopsies that their genes had undergone a reverse transformation."

The old woman paused slightly as she poured the tea.

There are many ways in which immortal species can be contaminated.

Or a breakdown of one's own sanity.

Or perhaps a mishap occurred during the fusion of ancient artifacts.

Or perhaps staying in the opposite side for too long leads to madness.

Of course, some people are corrupted and defiled because they have no choice but to confront the truth of the world.

But this process is irreversible.

The ultimate fate of corrupted immortal beings is to degenerate into dead apostles, constantly evolving and mutating towards the realm of mythical creatures, yet forever unable to reach that insurmountable barrier.

The ultimate fate can only be death from madness.

However, the reverse transformation breaks this common sense.

The so-called reverse conversion is the process of tracing back the contaminated genes, which is inherently impossible.

If this possibility truly exists, the Dead Apostles could potentially revert to human form and be healed.

"The reason these corrupted immortals didn't fall into the Dead Apostles is because they were injected with a special serum. It's an inhibitor, an inhibitor beyond our understanding. I tried to isolate the components of this serum from the corpses, but unfortunately I failed."

Jiang Youqing held up a slender white finger and said seriously, "I'm only certain of one thing: this serum is not naturally formed, but artificially synthesized."

The sea breeze rustled through the crape myrtle blossoms, and the old woman's silver hair swayed in the wind. With her cloudy eyes lowered, she handed over a teacup filled with tea.

"This means that someone is conducting experiments in Fog Mountain. We've been guarding Fog Mountain for so many years, yet a bunch of petty thieves have stolen our peaches."

She said softly, "They're incredibly audacious."

With a soft sigh from the old woman, the pink and red petals were swept up by the wind, rising into the air like a tidal wave, before fluttering down again.

Jiang Youqing was enveloped in a shower of flowers, a scene that was naturally beautiful and poetic, yet she sensed a chilling undercurrent of death within it.

"Does that serum really work?"

"It probably does work."

"Your thoughts?"

"The resurgence and rampage of the Heavenly Principle are most likely related to the experiment. Someone has violated the taboo and created a huge crisis. The Dead Apostles currently active in the city are not a threat; they are just a rabble. But once they learn of the existence of the serum, they will most likely flock to Mist Mountain; it is their only way out."

Jiang Youqing picked up her teacup, her lips slightly parted, and she gently blew on it: "Tianli no longer accepts sacrifices from the Dead Apostles, and even devours them in large numbers. If those Dead Apostles want to survive, they can only find that serum to suppress their own contamination."

The old woman remained silent for a long time. The boiling water in the teapot gurgled and steamed, the surging bubbles like lava, as if it were about to erupt at any moment.

"Since that's the case, there's no need for us to keep watching. Since that ancient principle has gone berserk, let's borrow its power to open up another dimension."

The old man's kind voice changed, becoming like the clash of tempered swords, exuding an undeniable authority: "I'd like to see who has the audacity to act so recklessly under my nose."

　Please vote! Please vote! Please vote!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)