Above Destiny

Chapter 611 Clues
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Tong Shan was taken aback. He hadn't expected that even though he had come to Ji Jue's workshop to slack off, he could still hear people talking about work. But when he thought of Ji Jue's consistently outrageous style and consistently reliable plans, he couldn't help but perk up:
"Elaborate."

Ji Jue reached out and pointed to the screen. Suddenly, a scene in the corner of the screen magnified, displaying a large number of values. Soon, the distant image appeared before their eyes.

A bustling market, with numerous shops and densely packed stalls, beneath rows of white pagodas, selling everything from withered and droopy fruits and vegetables, damp and clumped herbs and spices, to hardware and copperware, handwoven blankets, and secondhand clothing...

People come and go, haggling over prices; in contrast to the desolation of other areas, it is unusually busy and bustling.

At the distant intersection, military trucks could be vaguely seen flashing by.

That was a live video feed from a surveillance camera.

Mercy Market is now one of the largest markets in the entire city of Tacheng.

Finally, the camera focused on a shop in the corner, where the closed door still bore traces of flooding, and the garbage at the entrance remained uncollected.

"There's a problem here."

Ji Jue pointed to the storefront and said.

"Are you sure?" Tong Shan asked doubtfully. "Where did you get this information?"

"Well, just consider it a clue provided by an informant," Ji Jue grinned, without giving a detailed answer.

Informant?

Of course, there are informants.

After being grabbed and instantly refined by Lu Changsheng, the werewolf Kelbasu was reduced to a tool and ultimately died tragically under the fifth-generation power armor of the Empire.

Just when he thought he had found a powerful patron, he blurted out a lot of useful and useless inferences and clues. Most of them didn't lead to any conclusions after Ji Jue's search, while a large portion of them were unearthed directly after the Empire conducted a thorough search.

One of the few clues came from here.

As a double agent who jumps back and forth between the cult and the White Wolf Pack, he always pays attention to clues that his own people wouldn't notice, due to the instinct of a reserve traitor to be vigilant and ready to jump ship at specific times.

Once, when he met other members of the White Bond Nationalist Front at their stronghold, he noticed that one of the people there was carrying a piece of paper that he used to line the bottom of a box.

The print on the paper is plain and unremarkable.

Because Kelbasu had disguised himself as a printing worker for a long time, he was particularly sensitive and attentive, and thus grasped the key point.

It's important to understand that there are practically no proper printing factories in Middle-earth; they're all family-run, illegal workshops. The pigment ratios used are all rudimentary methods, and almost every workshop has its own unique formula. As a result, it's easy to spot them if you pay a little attention.

Packaging paper with similar printing processes almost entirely comes from this market area.

Therefore, he speculated that his kind were probably hiding in the Mercy Market.

Considering the risk of alerting the suspects, Ji Jue did not rush in to investigate. Instead, he kept an eye on the market and sold another batch of lighters.

Even today, the Fly Lord's spirit, hidden in the surveillance system, noticed the staining and pointed directly to a shop selling hookahs and related equipment.

Tong Shan was taken aback: "With such a large-scale operation in the city these past few days, how come there are still wolves that haven't been found?"

"It's almost done."

An Ning raised her hand and said, "As for this market, my uncle and the others have already searched it, but they didn't find any trace of wolves."

"Even a wolf can't stay in the same place for 24 hours straight, right?"

Ji Jue shook his head calmly, not revealing that he had used a lighter to try and find a nest: "Anyway, even if we find nothing, it's just a wasted trip."

"So, Brother Shan, are you interested? I can go with you."

"Then let's go."

Tong Shan had already stood up. Without asking Ji Jue what he was planning, he put on his coat and took out his phone: "The terrain is a bit complicated. I'll go find Liang Mo to borrow some manpower... Can you confirm that there are people inside?"

"It's covered."

Ji Jue made an OK sign, "I just hacked the Wi-Fi inside."

"..."

Tong Shan was stunned and speechless for a moment.

In this modern society filled with complex devices, deus ex machina is still too comprehensive. Even if a person never tells a single truth, their browser history is absolutely honest.

Even in the face of major disasters like earthquakes and floods, when you have to flee, the thing you'll grab before you leave will always be your own mobile phone.

According to the router's records, no devices have connected since the night of the Imperial Investigation, until just now.

With the addition of the lighter's spiritual dyeing, there's absolutely no problem. Not even a dog would believe that, let alone Ji Jue.

Tong Shan immediately made an OK sign and made a phone call.

Ten minutes later, an ordinary-looking, dirty minivan pulled up downstairs. Ji Xue excitedly leaned out of the rear window and waved to Ji Jue.

"Master Ji, it's been a long time!"

"Huh? Sister Xue, you're here too? Why haven't you come to see me for so long?"

Ji Jue was speechless, not expecting Ji Xue to have followed him all the way to the Central Plains. He glanced meaningfully at the composed Tong Zhishu beside him and continued, "Where's Brother Liu? Didn't you two come together?" "Hey, didn't you see that coming?"

In the driver's seat, the unshaven, bearded driver took off his sunglasses, revealing a gold front tooth, and smiled smugly at Ji: "Disguise, kid."

"Huh? Who's this little girl? I've never seen her before. Is she my girlfriend?"

"right!"

An Ning suddenly took Ji Jue's arm and smiled sweetly.

Then, Ji Jue coldly brushed her aside, saying, "I've told you so many times, I don't date people without a college degree."

"Then... a girlfriend without a formal status?"

An Ning blinked, her eyes welling up with tears, looking pitiful: "A secret lover is fine too?"

"Alas--"

The brother and sister both leaned back in shock, their eyes filled with obvious sorrow as they looked at Ji Jue—you beast, how could you be so heartless? You're still harassing her! Wait, is this girl really an adult?

Beast! Degenerate! Scum!

Without the slightest doubt, I believed it without hesitation!

As for Ji Jue's integrity and character?

Just kidding, do artisans really have such things?

In terms of having no moral bottom line, Ember is generally well-known.

Compared to the outrageous behavior of his peers, Ji Jue is only at the level of messing around; he deserves a small red flower as a reward.

Besides, even if it's fake... you can still laugh at it as if it were real!

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'm going to use your phone to send 'I love the Federation' messages a hundred times!"

Ji Jue pinched her mouth expressionlessly, then withdrew his hand before she could bite him.

That was close! You were almost the one who got the reward!

Fortunately, the plant was a kind soul and actually came out to help Ji Jue out of the predicament. "This is the white deer hunter from the An family, Hunter of Light. He will be cooperating with our operation. Let's get to know each other."

When they got on the bus, Liang Mo's instructions and coordination had already been given.

To avoid alerting the enemy, they didn't even mobilize any personnel or inform them of the mission objective; they simply temporarily took over the management of several outposts near the market.

There's no way around it, the wolf's super sensitive skin is just too much of a problem.

Fortunately, Tong Zhizi was also half an ethereal being, and the blessed creations on her body were enough to suppress the murderous intent and malice in the car. Otherwise, if she had encountered a master, the wolf on the other side would probably have run away as soon as the car started to accelerate.

Once you leave the busiest part of the city, the roads become much more difficult to navigate. The scenery outside gradually becomes dilapidated and overgrown, with traces of explosions visible from time to time. On the dirt road, several scantily clad children squat by the roadside, curiously watching the passing vehicles, and occasionally a flock of sheep bleats by.

And the dilapidated white pagodas, some large and some small, gradually became more noticeable.

Every now and then, a few monks, their bodies tanned dark and their upper bodies bare, would carry water from a great distance to wash away the mud and dust from the stupa.

Perhaps these white pagodas are the last traces left in this world by the compassionate and benevolent king of yesteryear.

Ji Jue sighed.

Based on the limited historical records, this Tzu Chi King, among the many chaotic kings with complex backgrounds and extremely low levels of humanity, could be considered a truly great person to some extent.

At the end of the chaotic era, he was hailed as a merciful savior, a saint of determination and enlightenment, and had countless followers, yet there is no record of any struggle or brutal killing.

More importantly, he has never done any of the ruthless or shady jobs that can be compared to those of the Fire Thief, the Fate Weaver, or Hua Xu Jun!
What truly transcended the ordinary was the king's virtue.

It is said that in that chaotic era, when strange creatures and evil beings roamed freely, and scum and beasts crawled all over the place, anyone who listened to the teachings and speeches of the Tzu Chi King was able to understand their true nature from the chaos within their heart.

If you have a difficult choice to make or a decision you can't make, consult a wise ruler. He will clearly point out the consequences of your actions and reveal everything that will happen.

Those who listened and sought his advice, after meeting the Tzu Chi King, were all deeply moved by his compassion, repented of their past mistakes, and followed him closely.

It's neither about doing evil nor doing good; it's simply about helping people recognize themselves.

Even so, in a world rife with disasters, it still created a dreamlike paradise for everyone – Shangri-La.

With the end of the Chaos Era, the Tzu Chi King also disappeared without a trace.

It is said that the last place they stayed in this world was the area of ​​Baibang in present-day Central China, where the legend of the Pure Land of Heaven was left behind.

Today, it has actually developed into a religion, with ordinary people worshipping clay and wooden sculptures, hoping that the merciful savior on the altar will lead them to heaven after their death.

Shangri-La... the remains of the White Banner High Priest King...

Ji Jue was lost in thought. After regaining his composure, he couldn't help but press down on An Ning, who was practically squeezing onto him because the seat was too narrow. He looked up at Tong Shan in the passenger seat:

"Brother Shan, how exactly did the high priest of Baibang die?"

　Sorry, I haven't had much today, I'm having writer's block.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)