The world of beauty drama begins with the surrender of Jason

Chapter 370: Things Become Spirits with Age

After explaining the cause of the incident, Loggins became a little nervous:

"I watched the live broadcast in New York some time ago. It's a big deal on TV right now. There are a lot of rumors among the public. The news from the government is also ambiguous. To be on the safe side, I followed his advice."

He looked embarrassed, and said with a smile, "You should be able to see that we didn't make a big fuss about it. After all, the nature of the matter has not been determined, and we have to consider the impact..."

Zhu Mingyao nodded slightly, understanding what he meant.

Small Midwestern towns such as Livingston lost their former status as economic nodes after the completion of the federal western development. Most of them declined and could only earn a little money by relying on primary planting and animal husbandry.

Therefore, as an important source of local income, the tourism industry must not allow any scandals to occur.

"Please rest assured that I will do my best to handle this matter in a confidential manner and ensure that everything is resolved in an unobtrusive manner."

"Thank you so much." After getting the promise he wanted, the old mayor rubbed his hands gratefully, "I'll go and ask them to arrange dinner. I must try our crispy grilled lamb chops, which is a famous dish in this town."

"Thank you for your hospitality, but before I enjoy my delicious meal, I plan to take a walk around town."

Although his response was polite, the young man's actual thoughts were quite different.

I really don’t care about the country food. I have to finish it quickly because I have to rush to the next trip!

……

……

The dark green algae swayed like hair, and the blue-gray artificial canal flowed slowly, passing along the edge of the town, irrigating the green fields.

Several old-style textile workshops from the last century have been deliberately preserved and stand quietly beside the canal. For a country with only more than 200 years of history, these are already invaluable cultural relics.

There are buildings scattered around, including shops, bars, schools, small squares, stadiums, cultural centers, and cinemas. Although they are all built in the style of decades ago, they still reveal some of the former prosperity.

"The conditions in your town are pretty good." Zhu Mingyao praised with some seriousness.

He had activated the Qi-gazing Technique from the beginning, and used it together with the Forehead God's Heavenly Eye to search for any suspicious traces.

Even though the Feng Shui was so-so, he could vaguely tell that the land was rich and peaceful, and that it was a good place with fertile soil suitable for farming and grazing.

Officer Kane, who was accompanying him, turned around and smiled dejectedly: "They are just living off their past success. Today's textile industry emphasizes scale. All the small factories around here have gone bankrupt, and the ranches are almost all bought out."

His face was gloomy, and he said with a sigh: "Like the mayor's kid, the young people with connections have gone to big cities to make a living, leaving only the middle-aged and elderly people holding on."

Zhu Mingyao raised his eyebrows slightly and responded with a sympathetic expression, but he had nothing to say.

Social development is not determined by human will. Although the idyllic peasant economy is romantic, it will eventually be replaced by large-scale industrialization. The desolation of this place is just a silhouette of thousands of towns with the same fate.

A warm, stench of animal smell wafted in, disrupting the instinctive political thoughts of the aspiring young people in China.

As dusk fell, a patch of pink, white and black spots moved on the horizon, and bleating sounds were heard everywhere. It turned out to be an old shepherd wearing a wide-brimmed hat, driving his flock of sheep back to the farm.

"Hi, old Gunter." Kane waved his fat palm and greeted lazily. "Who is he? Is he another lobbyist sent by the livestock company?" In response to his enthusiasm, he was asked coldly.

Scratching his brown and chapped cheeks, the old man shouted rudely:
"How many times have I told you that the ranch is not for sale!"

"You old man, you're being overly sensitive again!" Kane shouted angrily, "They came to see the mayor. After you drove those salesmen away, why have they come again in the past few months?"

He muttered angrily: "You are the only one left. I told you to sell it early and save some money for your retirement..."

However, before he could finish his words, the other party swung his whip, drove the sheep away, and only vague cold words floated in the wind: "I have lovely sheep, raising them... I don't need... others to worry about it."

"You're such a bad-tempered old stubborn man." The man cursed angrily, "You don't have a wife or children. Sooner or later, you'll have to ask the villagers to send you to a nursing home! Can you still count on those sheep to serve you?"

As if he heard his words, he kicked out his worn leather boots to vent his anger, and several stones scattered. Old Gaunt stomped his feet hard and increased his speed.

...a group of ignorant vulgar creatures. Humans only know how to greedily take from nature, eat the grass, and provide milk and wool. Lambs are the most noble existence!
……

……

The little episode didn't delay the time for too long. More than an hour later, the two stopped in front of a lonely building.

Although the Greek Revival-style house is only one story high, it covers a large area. The snow-white exterior walls were probably painted some time ago, and there is still a faint smell of paint in the air.

"What is this place used for?" Zhu Mingyao put his hands on his chest, looking slightly serious.

In his spiritual vision, the strange black gas that seemed to appear and disappear was like strands of silk threads, lurking in the deepest part with bared fangs and claws, and even seeping into the ground to a certain extent. Although the level was not strong, its properties were rather strange. To clean it up from the outside, it required flattening the entire area and digging three feet into the ground, which was quite troublesome.

A nest-type monster? Or some kind of wish-bound spirit? It doesn't seem like it...

"It's the Pioneering History Memorial Hall, and its main exhibits are the machinery of that time and some textile handicrafts." Seeing his face change, Officer Kane vigilantly reached for his service gun. Mayor Loggins had let out some secrets in private when he came.

"Is there a problem?"

After carefully inquiring about the internal layout, Zhu Mingyao had already guessed the approximate nature of "that thing". He tilted his head and thought for a moment, then grabbed a few utility knives from somewhere, and his fingers moved rapidly in the air, as if he was writing some words, and a silver-white light flashed by like a line.

Then he broke the blade along the oblique lines, and dozens of diamond-shaped blades flew out one after another like birds flying into the forest, as if they had life, and circled the memorial hall and plunged into the ground.

After making preparations, he handed Kane an amulet and told the police officer to stay away from him. He strode over with his head held high, not even bothering to push the door to unlock it. He just walked straight in amid the transparent ripples.

Having made up his mind, he did not give the hidden evil creature any chance to react. He shortened the ground to an inch and in two or three steps he reached the innermost exhibition hall.

Looking at the huge shadow that seemed to be formed by countless poisonous snakes and evil insects, and smelling the well-hidden stench of rotten flesh, Zhu Mingyao sighed softly.

"As animals grow old, they become monsters; as objects grow old, they become spirits. You, who have been entrusted with the power of human thoughts for a hundred years, must be the real culprit behind the silent disappearance of the tourists!"

The scarlet fire of the demon refining was dazzling, like a blooming Impatiens flower, blooming brilliantly at the fingertips. Its light was reflected on the brass nameplate, giving off a cold metallic luster:

Four hundred and seventy-six textile workers in Levenslanchi worked together and used their spare time for three years to weave the world's largest cashmere ball, winning the silver medal at the Federal Exposition, wishing the city prosperity, wealth and well-being.
— September 1900, 12.

(End of this chapter)