Forge a path to success

"what."

After chewing two large spoonfuls of Sichuan peppercorns, Miss Qingye's complexion turned a healthy yellow.

"—Waaaaaaaah!!"

"Oh, this time it's an electric spark!"

"You learned 100,000 volts on your own, that's amazing, Zanshin-ja."

"You...!" Qingye's fingertips trembled. "How... hehehe!"

Vande responded with a disdainful laugh: "It seems that you, in your naivety, have finally realized that the so-called hot pot is a real battle where the outcome is decided by the food. Only by seeing through the tricks of your fellow tablemates can you win this duel!"

It leisurely dipped the beef slices in its sauce and ate with relish: "Fools without wisdom only deserve to eat hot pot broth. Remember this well! Who changed my dipping sauce to wasabi?! Aaaaaah!!"

Vande rolled around on the table, covering his eyes. Qingye's expression changed, revealing a sinister smile, a tube of wasabi between her fingers! This was a decisive assessment of the situation!

Ji Huaisu covered his eyes with his hands: "How is this possible... such a powerful hot pot effect! I saw a diner grow at the speed of light!"

"This, this has already reached the level of the hot pot king!" Guli Bo's expression was solemn.

So, can someone get me some plain soup?

Chu Heng ladled two spoonfuls of broth into Shi Zhong's bowl. The latter remained silent for a moment, then wrote in distorted handwriting: 【Spicy…】

Sethlen glanced at it: "White soup, turned red..."

"How did my hot pot turn out like this?!"

"The destiny of a yin-yang hot pot is to have a spicy broth."

Chu Hengkong couldn't bear it, so he secretly tossed a few pieces of mutton into Qingye's bowl, earning a grateful look from the other, like a small animal repaying a debt of gratitude. Undoubtedly, in this cruel battlefield, only the tentacle-wielding leader still had a conscience; the rest had long since become ravenous beasts.

As the main ingredient—duck blood—was added to the pot, diners quietly picked up their chopsticks, the second round of the battle about to begin. Ah, this is truly a bloodless and tearless hot pot battlefield! Only the most valiant diners can persevere to the end and claim the glory of being the first to empty their plate!

Chapter 129 Negotiations should take place after dinner.

About an hour later, the small stove was turned off. The air was filled with the aroma of butter and chili, and the remaining red soup base was covered with foam. The mountain of ingredients that had been piled up earlier was completely gone.

Gulibo lay on the table, his round belly protruding, like a miniature plush airship: "Looking back, I realized there was plenty of food, so there was no need to fight over it..."

Vande, sitting on the small cushion, had a green glint in his eyes: "I feel a bit nauseous from eating too much."

"Stay away from me!"

Vande extended several tentacles, acting as the vengeful spirits of the shipwrecked sailors, while Gulibo rolled and scurried across the table. Chu Hengkong skillfully ignored the pranksters and cracked his whip to attract everyone's attention.

"The meal is over, let's get down to business." He scanned everyone's faces one by one. "You all came to this Dust Island for your own reasons. I think it's best to clarify everyone's needs first, and resolve any difficulties as much as possible, so that things will be easier in the future. What do you all think?"

[In favor]

"Hehehehehe!" "Hehehehe!" Miss Qingye, who was facing the greatest difficulty, was the first to raise her hand, and Ji Huaisu next to her trembled.

Chu Hengkong stared at them for two seconds, then looked away: "Anyway, we'll talk about you two last."

"Giggle?!"

“Our problem… hehe… is the most important one, isn’t it! Hehe!” Ji Huaisu expressed his strong protest.

“Fools can always be lively and energetic, so it’s fine.” Van der shook his tentacle. “Let’s start with the people who need help the most from a positional standpoint, um…”

It stared at Sethlen for a long time: "Mr. Frozen Bald."

Sethlen couldn't hold back: "Is this the first thing you said to me seriously?!"

"Sorry, sorry. After all, you're the only one here who didn't introduce yourself. What's your name again?"

"...The Ice Man?" Chu Hengkong said.

“Bald monster…?” Ji Huaisu scratched his head.

"You guys came to help me without even knowing my name... I feel like crying in every way..."

The middle-aged man sighed and at least gave a brief self-introduction. His life was as simple as everyone guessed: an unhappy childhood, a dust explosion accident after starting work, and after surviving, he became a porter, a job he still holds today.

"Then why did you say you were a mercenary before?" Gulibo asked.

“It’s…the mayor’s job…to move the goods and do some experiments along the way, and I’ll get a bonus…” Sethlen looked dejected. “When I came to my senses, I was back to how I was before…I had memories that didn’t exist…and I didn’t get the bonus…”

"That stone goblin is so trashy, huh?"

Chu Hengkong winked at Fan De, and they secretly communicated using their communication artifacts: (It sounded like he'd been brainwashed.)

(There's a slight difference; it involved forcibly inserting memory fragments as a catalyst. The foundation of elemental power is emotion, and Jin Ye probably just stuffed a large fragment of memory, imbued with longing, directly into this person's brain. Successful digestion would result in a rapid-fire point 3.) Vande said, (But this method is too crude. Logically, the bald guy should have absolutely not survived, yet he's still doing quite well.)

Chu Hengkong thought of another problem: (When we first encountered Jin Ye, it was a statue, and even you didn't recognize it.)

(This is indeed strange...) Vande waved his tentacles at the Ice Man, “Big guy, do you remember what happened back then? You don’t have to force yourself to remember, just a rough impression will do.”

Sethlen racked his brains for a long time, and his fingers unconsciously started scratching his face.

"It seems...we've gone to a very deep place...the mayor is smiling..."

Then there was fog... gray fog... but... then...!!

His breathing became rapid, and his nails dug deep into his flesh. Without saying a word, Vande cast a hypnotic spell on him, stopping the tears that were about to erupt again.

He leaned against the wall, feeling deeply guilty: "I'm sorry... I..."

“It’s not your fault, Bo.” Gulibo ran over to comfort him, and Sethlen was as sad as a child.

"Besides that... I remember everything... I hurt so many innocent people... I caused a ruckus in the streets... Even now, when I get emotional, it unleashes my power... I still remember my frozen face... I..."

He began to sob, large tears streaming down his rough face. As he picked up his memories, the past he didn't want to recall also came back to him.

"Should I turn myself in? Or... leave here... be sentenced to death... I've caused so much misfortune for so many people, what should I do?"

The burly man was bewildered and completely at a loss. He looked at everyone, hoping to be told what he should do—to make amends, to apologize, or simply to do what was right in a generally accepted way. But no one offered him guidance; the self-absorbed people continued as usual.

"Mr. Sethlen, how old are you this year?" Chu Hengkong asked casually.

Sethlen was bewildered: "41..."

Chu Hengkong smiled at him, “You’re really unlucky. You’re suffering because of something that has nothing to do with you, and you’re forced to take on responsibilities that aren’t yours. You can make sense and be right no matter what you do in this matter. But no matter how you handle it, there will definitely be people who criticize you, and you won’t have any reason to refute them.”

Sethlen panicked: "Then, what should I do?"

“It’s fate that we met, and we don’t mind helping you out. But this is your own life, so please make your own decision,” Chu Hengkong said. “I just want you to remember one thing. You have hurt some people, but you have saved many more lives; that’s why everyone here is risking their lives to save you, a complete stranger.”

He patted Sethlen on the shoulder with his tentacle: "You're middle-aged now, not a child anymore. Think about it yourself first."

"Hehehe," Qingye agreed.

Sethlen remained silent for a long time, his eyes filled with grievance and guilt, as well as anger and panic. But those emotions eventually subsided with his breathing, turning into a calm, cement-like gray.

"Thank you, thank you everyone." He thanked each person earnestly. "I want to learn how to control my power first... then atone for my sins... and help everyone as much as possible... there's nothing I can do about being resented. I'll make a decision after careful consideration... you all saved my life, and I don't want to let you down."

"After you finish, you can come sell ice cream in our city," Gulibo encouraged him. "Many people in the food industry end up doing this!"

Sethlen smiled happily and fed it a piece of dried fish. After thanking it again, he left first and found a room to rest. Gulibo swallowed the dried fish, feeling complicated emotions.

"Lord Divine Tree, the human race is so strange. Some humans are adults in their teens, while others don't grow up until they are over forty."

"Growth lies in the heart, and this applies to all races," the Stone Seed wrote. "He is no longer controlled by power, so we can rest easy for now. But the darkest malice still lurks beneath the earth."

"Hehehehe." Qingye tried her best to express her concern.

At first, everyone thought that the underground of Golden Leaf City was some kind of ruin involving the secrets of the Shadow Knights, but after Golden Leaf appeared, even the most optimistic people changed their minds. Golden Leaf, who used to be a Bitter Staff, became a Stone Demon after going underground. Not only did his particle level increase, but his path also changed. This is not an effect that ordinary external pollution can achieve.

During the chaotic battle in Huilong City, Chu Hengkong personally witnessed the superior Demon Biao, whose ability to instantly create three demons was a capability unique to a Rank 4 Calamity Species. Even by the most conservative estimate, the thing beneath Golden Leaf City is at least Rank 4, and most likely even higher.

"Could there be a spiral tower laboratory beneath our feet?" Ji Huaisu speculated. "My ancestors guarded this place to seal off demons..."

Van Der offered a groundbreaking insight: "It's also possible that a large number of your ancestors were killed by that thing, and what we're seeing are the manifestation of vengeful spirits! Oh no! Stop! Stop!"

Ji Huaisu pressed down on the Eye Demon with both hands and began to perform the Squid Folding Technique. The bloodshed and brutality of his methods made Gu Libo, who was watching from the sidelines, turn pale.

“Vander’s words make sense; this matter is beyond our capabilities,” Chu Hengkong said calmly. “Make all preparations, but don’t go underground or conduct any proactive exploration. We should return to Huilong City first, and leave the rest to the city lord to decide.”

"Agreed." "Agreed." "Hehehe."

Nobody's a fool. Knowing there are tigers in the mountains and still venturing into them is brave, but knowing there are demons or evil spirits in the mountains and still charging in is courting death.

Chu Hengkong looked at Fan De: "When can we restore communication?"

Before setting off, Youyou specially brought them a communication relic. This communicator is composed of several level 2 relics and is driven by the current, enabling communication across Dust Island in special environments.

Vande waved his tentacles, speaking weakly: "Don't even think about it. Jin Ye's death has caused magical disturbances throughout the city. We won't have a signal until the sandstorm clears. I estimate it will take at least two days."

Without establishing communication, they couldn't contact the city lord's mansion and could only wait for the patrolling dragon boat to arrive in half a month. On their first day off the ship, they encountered the knights sealing off the city, and today, with the disturbances following the stone goblin's death, they couldn't find a single opportunity to make contact. The circumstances were so coincidental that, aside from bad luck, there was really no other explanation.

“Bad luck…” Chu Hengkong said thoughtfully.

"Don't look at me, I don't know." Vande lay down in Ji Huaisu's palm and started to act nonchalant. "When I came to my senses, all my memories were deleted, which means the insurance the curator set for me has been activated."

Ji Huaisu immediately felt this was unnecessary: ​​"We've already named the mastermind behind this, why delete it?"

"That's exactly why it has to be deleted!" Van der argued vehemently. "What can you do when you hear that name? It won't have any impact because you don't know the meaning behind the name. To you, the name of a big shot is no different than hearing several identical syllables together by chance."

But I'm different! The instant I hear that name, I can recall all known records about it, its origins, its source, and the characteristics of its power. Knowing this is no different than standing next to a powerful figure; with a single thought, it could grab me and smash me to pieces!

"But you called out its name before!" Gulibo exclaimed in shock. "Doesn't that mean it has already seen us?!"

Van Der hesitated, staring at the tentacle, "Well... the museum owner's insurance should also have counterintelligence detection... The fact that we're still safe and sound means it should be working, right..."

Chu Hengkong nodded: "Next time we're in big trouble, we'll throw Fan De out first."

"Agreed." [That's a good idea.] "Hehehe."

"What a crazy idea! Don't throw the team's only intelligence officer out like a grenade!" Vande protested vehemently.

Joking aside, Chu Hengkong had no intention of taking it seriously. Fande was a useless college student, but its teachers were no pushovers. Since the "Master's" backup plan had been activated, it shouldn't be their concern. And if the mastermind really came knocking…

There's probably not much of a chance against those things whose names can't even be mentioned; whether you know them or not doesn't really matter.

Shi Zhong tapped the floor with his mental whip: "Future plans aren't urgent. Right now, I'd like to ask you all to tell me about our predicament..."

"Pop pop pop!" Upon receiving the order, Gulibo gestured and vividly recounted his tragic experiences over the past ten days, from being shipwrecked while delivering a package to being rescued by pirates, from finding the stone to drifting to Jinye City. His story was so moving that it could be described as a fantastical version of Robinson Crusoe.

The three from Huilong City looked strange. Vande spoke up for them, saying, "So you're one of the unluckiest people out there..."

"Stop talking!"

“The City-State of Thorns is the stronghold of the Seven Divine Trees of Matter, and one of the pillars of the Mysterious Realm of Senluo,” Ji Huaisu said. “How did you drift here from the Mysterious Realm of Senluo?”

"I was originally going to deliver books to the Land of Wonders, Bo. The interdimensional rafts that run this route haven't had any accidents in hundreds of years, who knew I'd run into Bo..." Guli Bo was on the verge of tears.

"Do you remember the specific process?" Chu Hengkong asked.

"It happened in an instant. Fifteen days ago at noon, a very strong light rose from the distance, and the small raft collapsed..."

Vande muttered to himself, "(Damn, isn't this the day we destroyed the Immortal Machine?)"

(My creation of a 2x2 particle-level machine could cause a shipwreck in a city-state? The butterfly effect doesn't work like that.)

At this moment, Qingye raised her hand tremblingly and, after much effort, managed to speak.

"I...hehe...know the reason..."

"Fifteen days ago... the 'Toadlight Fortress' in the middle of the desperate battle line fell, and three high-quality point powerhouses died... It must be the aftermath of their deaths..."

Gulibo panicked: "Why did three high-quality powerhouses die on the same day?!"

"The battle report says... the Empire's war commander..."

"Please stop talking, I'm so scared!!"

Gulibo covered his ears and huddled in the corner, while Chu Hengkong's expression became even more strange.

(This matter concerns us...)

(How could it be related? Don't overthink it!) Vande said firmly. (What kind of person is the Imperial War Marshal? In his eyes, we're nothing! Would you pay attention to ants fighting in some nook and cranny? Would you feel offended by some microorganisms in the corner?!)

Indeed, he shouldn't scare himself unnecessarily. At best, he's only a level 2 particle; high-level experts wouldn't bother paying attention to such a minor character. Chu Hengkong nodded secretly, dispelling his worries.

But he still found it strange. Gulibo wasn't an Ascended Being, nor did it carry any deep-seated hatred. According to the course of fate, it shouldn't be the one to encounter a shipwreck. Unless…

What goods did you deliver at that time?

"The picture books we ordered from Paradise," Gulibo said listlessly, "we lost them all during the shipwreck...we couldn't find a single one, and now we have to pull leaves off the hedgehogs..."

"It's probably something wrong with that little picture book. You're just really unlucky this time." Van der clicked his tongue in amazement. "So, back to the stone... do you recognize this thing?"

Chu Hengkong took out the letter requesting help, and Gulibo's eyes lit up: "Sriel really sent the letter?! You've come to rescue us, Bo?!"

“The ancient dragon and the divine tree have been allies since ancient times, so this is our duty.” Chu Hengkong looked at the stone seed. “Currently, due to limited resources, we can only send you to Huilong City first and then make further plans. Where does the stone seed want to go?”