Once karma was involved, Yun Ming's premonitions would activate; he could sense it, but couldn't pinpoint what was happening.
His Martial Uncle said he wasn't without talent for divination.
But even if he learned it, it would be useless.
He couldn't divine anything… Yun Ming had tried; whenever he cast a hexagram, it always came up as 'great auspiciousness,' making it impossible to divine anything specific.
Later, he figured with his Martial Uncle around, not learning it didn't matter.
He just needed to be strong enough.
But it seemed some things couldn't be solved by strength alone; if he wasn't strong enough to reverse time, there would always be things he couldn't attend to.
Unpredictable… "Hong Dou, take Ling'er home."
"I'm going to check it out."
Hong Dou clutched Yun Ming's hand tightly, wanting him to calm down and not act impulsively.
"How are you going? Come back with me and let Dad drive you, and bring some people… Then let Dad contact his friends to see if the Public Security Bureau can search that area first."
"There's no time; I'm enough on my own."
Flying on his sword, ignoring the terrain, and activating his Innate Manifestation to absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth, was the fastest way to return to the Orphanage.
He ruffled Hong Dou's hair, his smile still gentle.
"This time, it's your turn to be good; wait for me at home with Ling'er."
His thin lips lightly touched the girl's forehead, easing some of her unease.
Hong Dou wanted to say more, but she was confined by a spiritual energy, unable to speak or move.
It was only then that she realized Yun Ming was a powerful cultivator, so strong that ordinary people, and even some seemingly formidable individuals, had no power to resist him.
"Don't be angry. Just like last time, I'll apologize properly when I get back. Even if you step on my face and make me say sorry then,"
"I'll apologize sincerely."
Yun Ming withdrew his hand, then glanced at the little blue-haired girl who was still fast asleep, and made a shushing gesture to Hong Dou with his finger.
Don't let Ling'er know about this.
Knowing would inevitably cause sadness.
As an older brother, he had to protect his younger sister, and while it couldn't be kept secret forever, at least not right after they'd just left.
Time would dilute many things.
Including sorrow and memories… There were some things he wasn't quite sure about yet.
This shouldn't be happening according to the game's plot; he had to investigate it himself. If merely being entangled in karma
could cause such a major upheaval… then how many people's fates would his arrival change?
It was as if a meteor that blotted out the sun hung in Yun Ming's heart, making it hard to breathe; some things he didn't even dare to think about deeply.
If karma and destiny truly existed… The young man shook his head, lightly cursing himself for being foolish.
If it existed, would he accept it? Since he clearly wouldn't accept it, who cared? Just like Nezha.
If it was destined by heaven, did he have to accept it?
He acted without any hesitation, directly telling the driver to stop the car, then jumped off the cliff.
A moment later, he ascended into the sky on the Qing Ming Sword.
Hong Dou gritted her teeth, her face flushed with anger. In a few seconds, the spiritual energy that had immobilized her dissipated, and she immediately leaned out the window, shouting loudly.
"You bastard, don't be impulsive! I'm going back to find people! And who wants to reward a pervert like you with their feet?!"
Her indignant shouts echoed in the air.
That figure had already transformed into a streak of light, streaking across the sky. The heaven and earth millstone spun furiously, converting Aether and spiritual energy.
His speed had far surpassed that of ordinary airships and helicopters.
To better utilize Aether and spiritual energy, Xuan Mingzi had even invited scientific experts from Lemnian Island to lecture his most highly cultivated disciples on Aether dynamics.
They discussed the eruption of Aether energy, and several ways and effects of its explosion. This was one of the few subjects Yun Ming had excelled in.
Therefore, he was unwilling to wait any longer.
Flying on his sword was the fastest method, and the anxiety in his heart intensified, seemingly urging him to go faster and faster.
Crossing mountains, passing through Defense Force garrisons… At this moment, in Peace Street.
The street sign was broken, lying on the ground, stained with fresh, crimson blood.
This disaster came too suddenly.
Everyone was unprepared. Less than a minute after the Void warning sounded from the street loudspeakers, the black hole, as if devouring stars, completely covered the entire street.
Aether was extremely virulent; in less than half an hour—
Ordinary residents with low Aether adaptability either transformed into Aetheric Undead, or were pierced and killed before they could transform.
Their limbs were torn apart.
The Void safety manual stated that in case of a secondary Void disaster, one should immediately go to an underground shelter or find a nearby underground bunker.
Some metals and deep soil could effectively resist erosion.
The Void erupted suddenly, leaving no time to reach a shelter.
Fortunately, the Municipal Government had equipped all areas with laser protection zones, and the Orphanage had one, located in the basement.
However, this measure could only defend against the lowest-grade Aetheric Undead.
"Nicole, I don't want to die… I—!"
Only four or five people, all children, remained in the basement. The director and teachers had sent them into the basement before running out.
Making noise to lure away high-risk Aetheric Undead… It was unimaginable that even Aetheric Undead transformed from human children were still enough to become monsters that could easily kill humans.
At this moment, the child in front of them gradually showed crystalline symptoms, which, under the influence of virulent Aether… was a sign of transforming into an Aetheric Undead.
He struggled painfully, but the Aether had already eroded his flesh, and the transformation was from the inside out… "I!… So painful—Nico, kill, kill…"
Nicole huddled in the corner in terror, holding a blood-stained blade in her hand. The other children had long been too scared to move.
Kill me… That's what he wanted to say, Nicole knew.
Nicole knew. The blood-stained dagger in her hand was given to her by the director. This wasn't the first one.
If you don't want to become a monster,
death is the only option.
"Ankes, I, I'm sorry—"
Nicole's hand trembled as she held the dagger, but she did not weaken. The blade plunged into his temple.
It was very sharp.
One stab, two stabs, three stabs, four stabs… She didn't even dare to look at his expression. Ankes let out a low growl from his throat; he was already in the process of transformation.
After a long while… The boy fell into a pool of blood, and the transformation stopped… His pale body was shriveled like a mummy; his already thin body was reduced to just bones and skin.
He seemed to want to smile at the end, to comfort his companions.
But the immense pain prevented him from smiling at all.
He stared wide-eyed at the basement exit, not with relief, but with endless pain and despair.
Crimson blood covered Nicole's body, soaking even her favorite little dress. She stood up weakly.
The strength that had erupted in the face of death caused her muscles some tearing pain. She staggered back to the corner.
She also wanted to force a smile, but she couldn't.
Blood and tears solidified on her face, and the girl's voice trembled, "Don't be afraid, someone will come to save us."
No one answered.
Besides Nicole, there were three other girls left in the basement. They all hugged their legs and buried their heads, seemingly unwilling to face it.
Ankes had good Aether resistance… But during their escape, to protect them, he was sprayed with mucus by a monster, and the virulent Aether quickly eroded his entire body.
Otherwise, they would have been the ones to die.
"Someone will come."
"I'll find a way…"
"Don't be afraid, everyone…"
In the empty basement, Nicole's lone murmur echoed, still unanswered.
Only faint sobs accompanied it.
No one wanted to die, but if they were corroded, there was only one path: death, just like Ankes…