Above Destiny

Chapter 677 Always Look on the Bright Side

"Dust and haze."

Ji Jue sighed softly, and the veterinarian sitting opposite him, holding a sausage, nodded in agreement, as if letting out a long sigh: "The dust and haze..."

But his eyes were fixed on the losing game beside him.

As a result, Hu Jian's expression turned even uglier.

For the Punishment Team, enemies and rivals must be killed, and so must friends and family—that's what makes them whole. But for Hu Jian, it's just friends and family…

Dust and haze is the workshop where Hu Jian came from!
As an apprentice who wandered among many workshops in the past, I paid a lot of hard work, but I also received a lot of guidance and training here in the dust and haze.

He exploited and squeezed people to the point of exhaustion, but he truly taught them the skills... It can be said that without the experience of being exposed to the dust and haze, there would be no Hu Jian as we know him today.

Even after the addition of the Transformation faction, as an appendage, the Vacuum faction still took the lead. It wasn't until Dust and Haze gradually withdrew from the leading position that they gradually distanced themselves from the Vacuum faction. Now, the two sides are subtly rivaling each other.

Even though it has stepped down from its leading position, Dust and Haze remains one of the largest workshops in the association.

The number of projects and research topics I've handled is countless!
Considering Hu Jian and Chen Mai's once close relationship...

All I can say is that Director Jiang's move was ruthless!

Fellow disciples kill each other.

No wonder they had to step in and clean up the mess, forcibly interrupting Ji Jue's plans. If they had followed Ji Jue's worst-case scenario prediction of "at worst, a real fight," then probably no one would have stepped forward now.

The struggle between craftsmen, in a sense, is an intelligence war.

A completely unknown workshop is far more terrifying than a heavily armed fortress; no one knows what extraordinary and ruthless techniques the craftsmen have hidden inside...

For example, that scoundrel surnamed Ji deliberately created a maze of deception, with his studio in Yacheng, the underground workshop in Xinquan, and the Fubao Industrial Park not being real workshops at all, and they were even filled with self-destruct buttons.

Inside the workshop of the Doomsday Train, there is also Isis and many other things that cannot be exposed to the light of day.

Let alone his peers, even a master would be lucky if he didn't lose half his life. If he encountered a monster like Ye Xian, who was beyond his reach, he might be able to use this little bit of weather to slightly soil the hem of their clothes.

At this moment, the penalty team is mobilized.

Even if you're still on the road, the action has already begun.

In the dead silence, everyone stared intently at the silent 'Benefit Bureau'—the investigation into Hu Jian had already begun the moment the briefing was received.

At the designated time and place, everything should be clearly explained.

Before this ship arrives at the dust cloud, right here in this workshop disguised as a ship, if Hu Jianzhen really doesn't have the open mind to change his status and wants to become a double agent, there are plenty of ways to deal with him.

At that moment, the captain, smoking his pipe, looked at him quietly, without any emotion, only calmness: "Is there a problem?"

For a moment, Hu Jian wanted to say something, but in the end, he could only sigh wearily and extend his hand: "I will obey the association's arrangements."

A soft click.

A shackle-like bracelet was already fastened to his wrist.

Ji Jue's eyelids twitched.

Heavenly craftsmanship?

Undoubtedly, that handcuff-like bracelet was a masterpiece of nature. The aura of the Heart Pivot, the Heavenly Origin, and the Embers… at least three chains of blessings?!

Judging from the sense of presence, it should be a forced command to ensure that the other party is under control, will not lie, and will tell the truth.

If something is withheld, the user will naturally sense it.

He felt his little hands starting to twitch...

Forced restraint and patience.

Without further ado, Hu Jian reached out again and took out a mirror from the box beside him. The mirror surface shone brightly, and a projection appeared in the void.

Soon, the complex and bizarre structure of the workshop came into view.

Numerous modules and different sequences, different spaces and locations, and even specific defensive measures...

Layer by layer, it was revealed to everyone.

Along with the unique technology used for labeling and numerous suspicious locations...

Along with detailed information on the many members of the workshop and everything Hu Jian knew.

The captain would ask questions from time to time, and Hu Jian would answer them without reservation.

"Let me make this clear from the start: I am not a member of the Dust and Haze Workshop. Even if we cooperate, we will still have reservations about each other."

After making up his mind, Hu Jian stopped hesitating. "The last time I went to Chenmai was seven years ago, and the last time I really got involved in specific internal affairs was ten years ago."

No one can say for sure how much has changed in the last ten years, so if there are any discrepancies, don't expect this information to be of any use.

"Of course, but it's enough as a reference."

The captain, puffing on his pipe, pointed again at the workshop's structure and asked a question.

Clearly, he didn't care about the details at all; all his questions were directed at the main structure that couldn't be completely modified or abandoned in a short time, and the opponent's usual defensive methods...

detail?

Details may be important, but that's a problem the penalty-taking team needs to solve.

What he needs to ensure is that the overall situation remains intact. He must ensure that, even in extreme circumstances, the dust and haze can still cause as much damage and disruption as possible to the workshops.

Unfortunately, Hu Jian was ultimately just a former apprentice and collaborator, and knew far too little.

“The director has chosen the wrong person,” Hu Jian sighed. “If we really want to find the core craftsman behind the dust storm, it’s his four students, and…”

"The premise is that it can be found."

The captain interrupted him indifferently: "How many years has it been since those acquaintances you know have shown up?"

For a moment, Hu Jian stood there, stunned. His face gradually turned pale.

I finally understood what he meant.

Indeed, it's perfectly normal for craftsmen to focus on their research, and it's not uncommon for them to suddenly go into seclusion for five or six years. High-profile appearances are rare, but most of the time, everyone is quietly working on their craft.

Even if they haven't seen each other for several years, it's not surprising.

Hu Jian initially thought they were working on some kind of project or research, but now it seems...

Even more terrifying, he suddenly remembered.

"Six, six years ago..."

Hu Jian's voice trembled: "Mr. Belzuna suddenly invited me to participate in one of his groundbreaking projects... I... I was still editing a book at the time and didn't have time. After declining twice... he never mentioned it again... I thought... I thought..."

He had always believed that it was his choice at that time that caused him and Belzuna to drift apart and their relationship to gradually cool. Countless times he recalled it, and couldn't help but sigh with regret.

But now it seems...

Perhaps, unknowingly, I escaped a disaster?

"Try to think positively about everything."

Ji Jue comforted him, "Maybe they've gone on a trip?"

"..."

For a moment, not only Hu Jian, but everyone else looked over in silence.

If you don’t know how to speak, you don’t have to!

Having ascertained the general situation, Hu Jian finally finished his explanation and lowered his head to drink water: "When will you arrive?"

"Soon."

"Are you sure?" Hu Jian frowned, looking at the projection outside. "That's not right, the direction of the Dust and Haze Workshop isn't..."

"The one to the north is fake."

The captain said calmly, "The real dust storm moved here two years ago. Jiang Tongguang searched for this place for a year and a half, and only last week did he discover the traces it left behind based on the water quality... If we hadn't discovered it beforehand, I'm afraid even if we got right up to it, we wouldn't have found any traces."

At this moment, the sea shimmers in the night, so tranquil.

But there was nothing there.

Do not……

Ji Jue lowered his eyes subconsciously.

A reflection?!
Amidst the surging waves and bathed in moonlight, a building that doesn't actually exist here faintly appears, the entire workshop hidden in its reflection on the sea!

On this remote stretch of sea, there would be no trace of it unless by moonlight.

Even this fleeting glimpse is merely the sole flaw left to enhance concealment. Through some method, the entire workshop, except for its reflection, has been completely hidden from the world.

Even though it was so close, there was absolutely no way to get in.

The captain slowly rose to his feet: "Gentlemen, how are the preparations?"

The young veterinarian smiled sweetly: "Anytime is fine."

"Finish this quickly so we can all go home." Yellow Beard stood up impatiently and picked up the flame-shaped sword leaning against the chair.

Ji Jue nodded: "I'm fine with anything."

Hu Jian sighed: "Me too..."

So, preparations were made to take action.

Everyone's time is precious, so why waste time chatting like an imperialist?

Let's finish killing them as soon as possible, go home, and then we can continue playing music and dancing.

boom! ! !
Just as everyone was ready, the fishing boat, like a ghost, appeared on the sea. Before its reflection, a shattering sound rang out...

Wooden beams and frames, as if alive, extended from both sides of the ship, expanding rapidly. Clearly, they had been specially designed and modified. After suddenly extending for tens of kilometers, they closed in from the other end, like a perfect circle floating on the sea, encompassing the reflection within.

Immediately afterwards, one after another, huge anchors were cast into the sea amidst a dazzling display of light.

The vast sea surface seemed to boil instantly, with a deafening roar and a spreading gale... Ji Jue could only see the faint outlines changing violently in the boiling seawater.

The massive anchor, which should have sunk to the bottom of the sea, seemed to be a phantom, merging into the reflection and becoming entangled on the workshop. Then... thunder roared, sparks flew, and tons of seawater surged forth and solidified.

The dust and haze workshop, hidden in the reflection, was forcibly pulled out by the anchor and reappeared in front of everyone.

The entire sea surface suddenly froze, and with the anchor and chains tangled together, the workshop, existing between reality and illusion, was stuck.

Immediately afterwards, the sound of harpoon-like cannons roared, and chains were driven into the castle-like walls, forcibly fixing them to the present world.

In the blink of an eye, the shift and change between illusion and reality, the hidden and eerie nature of the mirror, are revealed without a doubt.

Inside the castle, an alarm sounded, like a horn.

Cracks appeared on the wall, and iron-stone silhouettes, like giants, separated from the wall, staring coldly at the newcomer.

Within the shimmering water, vines and branches appeared out of thin air, entwining and eroding, penetrating every crevice, and confining the entire castle within.

The clashes and battles between workshops can decide the outcome in an instant.

The gap between craftsmen may not have been that large to begin with, but long before deciding to take action against the dust and haze, the association had already been gathering intelligence for an unknown period of time, and had created this series of artifacts in response to possible defenses and countermeasures.

How could we possibly give our opponents any room to retaliate?

(End of this chapter)