Флаг-призрак

Глава 13

He saw nine Rong. Nine! Nine, no illusion!

He strained to open his eyes, trying to discern the truth. (Even if it was a hallucination, surely one of it must be real?) But he was disappointed. Nine Tong Rongs, each with a different voice, answered the same thing: "Sister Rong...has passed away...She is in a distant world...blessing us...She rests peacefully in the distant, solid ice above...Before she died, she hoped we...to live! To get out of here alive!"

Adin looked up. Tears welled up in his eyes.

—Rong…has…passed away…

He raised his hand: a hand in his hand; he closed his eyes: an endless darkness; he opened his eyes: a cold world; he wiped away his tears: nine silent skulls.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ “Continue… down, forward, there’s a stream, there’s water and food in the stream… Please, go yourselves… I’m leaving…” A-Ding shook his head. He choked back a sob, and a tear flew off his cheek.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ "Has he gone far?"

Will he die?

After a moment of silence, Zhang Dawei said, "I only saw a pair of hands!" Yan Kaixin said, "No! Those weren't hands!" He emphasized, "Those were gifts from heaven..." Zhu Qian sneered, "Perhaps Sister Rong had already arranged several meals to prolong our lives!" The others echoed in unison, "Yes. Sister Rong has always been taking care of us!"

"But now, we've found the stream first," Wu Xiaohui concluded.

—In the distance, a faint, hazy light can already be seen.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ The light was very faint. In the dim light, there was a stream. The stream contained water, and the water shimmered with a purple light.

The leader quickened his pace, and the other seven people followed suit.

We've reached the stream.

The stream was warm. Within it, faint purple lights, like flowers, and blue-white lights, like fish and shrimp, floated. Above, the light was also faint, like stars in the night sky.

The light gradually intensified, from extremely dark to slightly darker, from pitch black to dusky. One could vaguely make out five fingers by reaching out. Suddenly, people had the illusion of being in a vast wilderness. The sky seemed so close, yet so utterly unfathomable. The faces of the eight people gradually became blurred in the dim light.

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [45]: No one spoke. People were stunned by the first light, the first glimmer of light after the darkness. They strained their eyes to search for everything they could see, gazing greedily.

In the stream, the purple light gradually became clearer, and the faint light overhead also increased, as if a multitude of stars were vying to appear.

The light of the countless "stars" suddenly dimmed—the "moon" came out!

A round, green fluorescent disc emerged, like a green moon. Its soft green light exuded tranquility, indifference, wisdom, and remoteness… and within the silent space, numerous subtle sounds arose: the sound of flowing water from the stream; the sound of flowers blooming from the water's surface; the chirping of insects permeating every corner; the rustling of grass and trees from the slope directly ahead; and a buzzing sound, like the static interference of fluorescent lights in the dead of night, emanated from overhead, spreading to every inch of space. People were no longer disturbed by the terrifying sounds of their own internal organs; their own and others' breathing no longer sounded like the howls of wild beasts or the long roars of bellows. The green disc in the center grew brighter and brighter, and Wei Yiyi finally let out a trembling cry: "The moon! [Unintelligible text]"

Under the green moon, atop the mountain peak, stood two figures whose faces were indistinct but whose clothes were clearly visible.

He was dressed in a sharp suit.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ At this moment, Wang Jia and Wang Mu were looking up.

As the green "moon" began to appear, both of them suddenly felt a piercing sensation in their hearts.

Why do I feel a pang of sadness and longing every time I see the "green moon"?

Why does this scene always seem so familiar?

Life is but a dream. If there is a past life, did you perhaps experience the terrifying spectacle of a green moon illuminating the earth?

Their minds were in a trance, and in this trance, they suddenly saw words: "Searching high and low, from the heavens to the underworld, nothing can be found, black mountains and white waters beyond the sky, Atlanta death light appears." Twenty-eight words flashed from the "green moon."

"Green Moon" is the green light from the spiral-shaped opening at the top of the head. Within the green light, a faint purple light is appearing, and the flickering purple light sends out purple "words." The first three sentences are all Chinese characters, but the last sentence is English followed by Chinese characters.

The first sentence is in seal script, the second in small seal script, the third in cursive script, and the last sentence, Atlanta, is written in English, while Death Ray is in Song typeface.

This combination is indeed puzzling. Wang Jia looked at it again and again, and suddenly asked, "Amu, does 'Atlanta' refer to the continent of Atlantis in addition to the city?"

"Atlantis?" Wang Mu shook his head. "No way?... Even if it is, Atlantis wouldn't come to Eurasia."

"

Wang Jia continued to gaze upwards. The shimmering purple light had vanished, and the green moon-like light appeared even more distant. The longer he looked, the more he felt that the green light was the "moon," while the rain seemed to be in the distant reaches of space, making the "moonlight" appear very faint. The spiraling cave seemed endless; the longer he looked, the smaller the "moon" appeared, while the "light" appeared clear and bright like water under his spiritual eye.

The light seemed to freeze. To the two, however, it appeared as if the "water" had solidified into "ice." Seeing through water was already difficult; seeing through ice was even more strenuous. Wang Jia lowered his head and blinked—only then did he realize that even practicing the Spiritual Eye technique had its drawbacks. At the very least, he could no longer see darkness.

Wang Mu was still looking up. Wang Jia covered his eyes with his hands, "What did you see?"

"Hmm...it seems to be a cave that leads straight to the surface. The ground is all white—could it be snowing?" Wang Mu said, then suddenly said, "Hey! How about using your 'Circle Light' technique?"

Wang Jia nodded, concentrated for a moment, and pointed his right index finger at the green light.

The mirror-like green light, like water rippling in the wind, created a blurry, indistinct image. As the image gradually cleared, countless purple beams shot towards the starry sky in the white expanse.

The green light returned to its original state, and Wang Jia finished his work.

“I see the grounds of Wangzhuang! – It’s the Wangzhuang cemetery, no doubt about it!” Wang Mu looked slightly puzzled. “However,… there are dug-out holes everywhere, surrounded by barbed wire, with ‘No Entry’ signs. Hmm, there are a few large tents, but I don’t know if anyone is inside. What about you? – Can you see them?”

“I saw it. It was countless purple beams of light shooting into the starry sky from the snow.” Wang Jia pondered for a moment. “I remember now. The first two of those four sentences are often quoted and fit our situation. We are indeed stuck in a rut. But what do the last two sentences mean? Black mountains and white waters? We often hear about white mountains and black waters, which refers to the Changbai Mountains-Heilongjiang River basin, generally referring to Northeast China; but what are black mountains and white waters? ... The outer heaven can be used to represent another world, but what does ‘Atlanta Death Ray Appears’ mean? Could it be…” --- Magpie Bridge Fairy replied [46]: Wang Mu suddenly shuddered, jumped as if electrocuted, and exclaimed, “Oh no!”

"What's wrong?" Wang Jia was jolted awake from his reverie.

Fear crept into Wang Mu's eyes. "Did you see that?—If this really is a tomb, the scale of the project is simply enormous! It's something the ancients couldn't have built! Could it be…?" He lowered his voice, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before continuing, "—We haven't stumbled into an alien base, have we? I've seen a few horror movies where aliens abduct humans, and dissecting them is one thing, but when they turn human cells into pus, that's truly terrifying—disgusting! It's like they've stumbled into an alien base, and now they're just horrified!"

—If you were to encounter ghosts, monsters, or zombies after arriving here, it would be scary but understandable. However, the encounters you experience after entering the city are inexplicable by common sense. Although they are not as scary as encountering ghosts directly, you dare not think about them. The more you think about them, the scarier they become.

—What if the bright light represents death rays; what if this really is an alien base… He dared not think any further. He forced a smile and said, “Amu, don’t make it sound so scary…” “Scary? Not at all!” Wang Mu’s voice trembled. “Have you thought about this: when we fell from there, it was a sudden drop; then, we walked out of there and ended up in an endless tunnel. Then, we saw the words ‘Master of the Tomb, A Dong,’ took a nap, and ended up here. I think… what we experienced is too strange. If I told anyone, no one would believe me. Putting everything else aside, just look at this map—how can it be like a tracker or camera or something, reflecting the location and movements of all of us?”

He unfolded the "map" again. On the map, there were nine small white dots at the left end of the stream and ten small white dots at the right end. Then, he pointed down.

Under the green light, there are eight people on the left and nine people on the right.

The water on the right flows swiftly; the hot air on the left rises rapidly.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ It's a warm feeling.

A mist rose from the water, making the stream flow like a hot spring. The nine members of the Self-Reliance Alliance immediately felt a drowsy, bone-softening sensation. They stared blankly at the stream, each irresistibly drawn to soak in for a refreshing bath, or better yet, take a nap… The moon was high in the sky. They couldn't see Wang Jia and Wang Mu on the peak. The light was so bright that it was difficult to see anything darker. Under the light, purple "water lilies" floated on the water, emitting a dazzling, mesmerizing purple glow. In the water, there were also shimmering lights, their nature indistinguishable, yet they appeared as beautiful and captivating as the stars in the night sky.

The water was warm. No one knows who jumped in first, but the others, without any further hesitation, followed suit, shedding their last restraints and soaking and washing themselves with abandon. Then, someone touched a purple flower, opened it to bite, and let out a cry of praise. The others immediately followed suit, devouring it all.

It smells so good.

It tastes even better than human flesh!

VI. The Answer to Suffering

A Ding forward; upward.

In the boundless darkness, he moved with the speed of someone who could discern everything.

The higher he went, the colder it got; the further he went, the darker it became. He didn't know how long or how far he had walked, but suddenly he heard clear voices.

There are two people.

Two unfamiliar voices.

One said: "See that? — The nine people on the right are eating purple light."

One person said: "That should be a purple flower, right?"

Look! The eight people on the left have also gone into the water and are talking.

We can't hear what they're saying. Hey, there are two people waving! At us!

—Yes. It's waving at us. ...It seems to be saying something as well.

What are they saying? Look, they've crossed the stream!

The remaining six people were taking a bath. Good heavens! They were all completely naked—it was indecent!

Isn't the one on the right the same?

That's so barbaric.

Savage? Not at all. This is called returning to simplicity, returning to nature. Returning to the primitive. In this environment, everyone's just a skeleton; who cares about anyone else then!

Hey! Don't generalize! Am I a skeleton? This young master is handsome, dashing, elegant, and a prince charming who roams the world. Pan An and Song Yu would all be humbled by him, and Stallone and Schwarzenegger would be ashamed of themselves. This young master is a handsome guy! Handsome! So handsome, so incredibly handsome, so handsome that all the beautiful girls and sullen women in their boudoirs are dizzy! Handsome...---Magpie Bridge Fairy replied [47]: Okay, okay, are you done yet? Yes, yes, yes, extremely handsome, handsome enough to save the car. Look—those two have gone back.

Yeah. They're eating those purple flowers. But, don't I look handsome?

It's good to have something to eat and drink. ...Uh, yes, really, you're really handsome.

Okay? Didn't you say that a person's willpower is limited, and once there is a gap, all desires will be uncontrollably released and rampant like a flood?

Did I say that? I have a feeling that you said it.

Even if I said it, I'll say it again: Who knows if the water is poisonous? Every cloud has a silver lining.

It might be better not to eat or drink. Don't be in a hurry.

Is it okay if we don't rush?

Why not? I'm not in a hurry at all! —Hey! I'm really handsome!

I...you...

Yes, you're the boss. I'm the old principal, I'll listen to you. But what's the use of being anxious? Can you conjure up water and food? I don't think you can.

...It's getting brighter and brighter now, and you can even see people's faces clearly.

What's the point of seeing them clearly? They're all equally ugly and terrifying, devoid of any beauty! Oh no! Why aren't they moving? ...Could they be dead?

No way? Did she faint? ...Or maybe she just wants to sleep?

—Hey! Look, look! The purple light has passed! The white light has passed too!

※ ...

He had lost interest in continuing to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Keep moving forward.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ Upward. Forward. Upward. Forward… A cold current swept over him, surrounded him, rejected him, chased after him; his hand returned to its stiffness. He continued, mindless and thoughtless, a blank (or bewildered) upward, forward. When the dripping sound of water began and a faint light appeared, a deep, piercing pain suddenly surged forth. From the depths of his mind, a few lines of poetry, unknown in name and author, strangely emerged: For a calling you are destined to trek your whole life; do not seek to find anything, for the pursuit itself is sacred. He murmured, standing there, not knowing how much time had passed, before slowly taking his first step.

Then comes the second step.

Step 3...

Seven steps.

His eyes suddenly froze, then widened in shock.

His body involuntarily knelt down.

To worship.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ A bright light appeared before me.

Purple light shone before them. Opposite lay a deep pool. Around the pool was crystal-clear, pristine ice. The ice was crystalline. The ground was crystalline. The pool was crystalline. Within this seemingly immaculate purity, something unsettling lurked.

Fragments of clothing. An empty backpack. Miscellaneous items.

A pile of bones.