Asura in Arknights

At that time, all the giant beasts in Yan Kingdom except for Sui had been driven out. If the King of Han wanted to study them, Sui would be his only research subject.

Not to mention that it later split into twelve different fragments. What could be better research material than that? After the King of Han died, the results of his research were naturally taken to his tomb.

The victims of several bloody incidents thirty years ago, who split into twelve incarnations from the age of 18, were originally two completely unrelated groups, but were thus connected by a historically unknown figure.

"On this matter, I think our interests should be aligned."

So what if that's the case?

Xi clearly wanted to struggle a little longer. "Those who plot to seize the power of the giant beast are not few and far between. I think there are even people in Si Suitai who have this idea, but so many years have passed and nothing has happened, has it?"

"Can a mere mausoleum really change all of this?"

“This time is different,” Zhang Daoling said with a very serious expression. “Previous research on giant beasts… even if it went too far, it was still under the control of the Ministry of Rites, and there were no unexpected situations.”

“But that organization is different. They are hidden too deeply in the Great Yan. If it weren’t for my disciple’s insistence on investigating this case, the Great Yan would never have discovered their existence.”

"More than twenty years have passed since those bloody incidents. Who knows what they did? Even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance that the Beast of the Year will be resurrected, we will absolutely not allow such a thing to happen."

"Besides, didn't you have that dream?"

At this moment, Xi's expression finally changed, and she exclaimed, "Wait? How did you know? Who told you...?"

"...Yes, your older brother and sister have a good relationship with you. If anything happens, they will definitely tell you."

Xi murmured.

However, Li Ang, who was standing to the side, seemed a little puzzled.

A dream? What kind of dream?

It sounds like all the incarnations of the Year Beast had a dream related to the Year, which is why they caught Zhang Tianshi's attention. But if Li Ang is also one of the incarnations of the Year Beast, why didn't they have a dream? Is it because he has only been in Yan Kingdom for a short time?

In that instant, Li Ang's identity became shrouded in mystery once again.

"So, that's why you contacted us?"

Xi's voice sounded somewhat low, and her long bangs hung down in front of her forehead, making it difficult for the master and apprentice opposite her to see the expression on her face.

"Why don't you go find my older brother and sister? They're much more capable than me. If I remember correctly, isn't my older sister quite free these days?"

"...Many people know that she has nothing to do now, which is why we can't look for her."

Zhang Daoling's tone carried a strange meaning, "Xi, I know this request is a bit excessive for you, but you are definitely the most suitable candidate."

"You don't want the Year Beast to be resurrected again, do you?"

These words finally shattered Xi's last line of defense, and she shouted in a fit of despair, "Enough!! I understand!"

"I'm the kind of guy who doesn't really stand out! That's probably what you guys think!"

Even with Zhang Daoling's thick skin honed over hundreds of years, he was starting to feel embarrassed; that was indeed what he was thinking.

He just hadn't expected Xi's reaction to be so strong.

Based on the intelligence provided by Li Ang, Zhang Daoling also obtained some information from the badge that Jingzhe brought back.

Although their specific purpose is unknown, there is no doubt that their actions are related to the mausoleum of the Han king and the mythical beast Sui.

Zhang Daoling had a bad feeling about Si Suitai's recent actions. He wondered what they were planning to do by colluding with the Ministry of War, and he couldn't rule out the possibility that there were spies from that mysterious organization among them.

The Year Beast has twelve incarnations. Excluding those who are dead, missing, or not in Yan Kingdom, Zhang Daoling can only find a handful of them. All of them hold important positions in the court. Not only Zhang Daoling can find them, but the people of the Year Platform can also find them.

But Xi was an exception. She could stay in the mountains for decades without ever going out, and she almost never caused any trouble. Si Suitai didn't even know that he existed. Zhang Daoling only found out about her whereabouts recently by chance. No one was more suitable to participate in the next operation than her.

Zhang Daoling also tried to contact the Sui Beast incarnations that were not within the territory of Yan Kingdom. If they could return here without being discovered, they would be a formidable force.

To prevent the resurrection of the Year Beast without incurring a significant cost, the power of these Year Beast incarnations is essential.

Otherwise, even if the Sui Beast had only resurrected a phantom, it would have been enough to bring annihilation to a city in the Great Yan Dynasty.

With Li Ang's comforting words, Xi, who had just lost her temper, finally calmed down.

Only then did Li Ang have a chance to ask, "By the way, what did you mean when you said that not everyone had arrived yet? Did you find other people?"

"Of course, just to be on the safe side, I also tried to contact all the Sui Beast incarnations that are not within the territory of the Great Yan, and some of them have already decided to rush back as soon as possible."

Upon hearing Zhang Daoling's answer, Xi was immediately startled, and her eyes gradually turned dangerous.

"Wait, you didn't call that guy back, did you?"

-------------------------------------

P.S. Waaah, I'm stuck on writer's block again...

PS2. How come 'being wiped out' is also a banned word?

Chapter Twenty-Five: Night

The sun slowly sank below the horizon, and this busy and noisy day finally came to an end.

Lying in bed, listening to the crisp chirping of cicadas outside, Li Ang was wide awake.

He's just been through so much during the day, it would be a miracle if he could fall asleep without any psychological burden now.

The incarnation of the Year Beast... the mausoleum of the Han King... the organization hidden in the shadows... and even the conflict between different organizations in the Yan Kingdom's court. It was hard for Li Ang not to think too much about everything he heard from Zhang Daoling.

"...I can't sleep at all."

Taking a deep breath, Li Ang simply jumped out of bed, got dressed, and pushed open the wooden door to the room.

The evening breeze rustled through the treetops, making the leaves whisper in the wind.

It was already three in the morning, and the courtyard was quiet. Everyone except Li Ang was asleep. There were probably very few people still awake in the entire city of Gouwu.

Anyone still awake at this hour is either suffering from insomnia or plotting some shady business.

After looking around the courtyard and finding that there was no one around, Li Ang quietly jumped onto the roof.

After assuming a comfortable position, Li Ang lay down on it.

Two moons hung high in the night sky, casting a faint silver glow upon the earth; apart from them, not a single star could be seen in the sky.

Unlike the Terrans, who knew almost nothing about this, Leon had at least a basic understanding of the planet and the universe beneath his feet.

This situation is clearly not quite normal.

While starlight in the city can be affected by artificial light sources on the ground, in the wilderness where there are few artificial light sources, Li Ang still cannot see any stars.

This situation is only possible if... there are no other celestial bodies within a radius of thousands of light-years around Terra, besides the two moons and the sun.

Alternatively, there might be some man-made object in the sky above the mainland that is blocking the starlight reflected from distant celestial bodies.

Regardless of the truth, this is not something that can be easily ignored, and it is a special situation that Li Ang only discovered after regaining his sight.

After all, such common knowledge is usually not something anyone would specifically tell Li Ang.

After freely speculating about possible alien conspiracies and cosmic wonders left behind by previous civilizations, Li Ang's mind gradually calmed down.

Even if a Death Star fortress is floating above them right now, and the Twin Moons are gravitational tidal weapons controlled by aliens, they won't fall on them anytime soon. Li Ang has more practical problems to consider right now.

"The Tomb of the King of Han... So that old guy specifically called me here just to rob a tomb?"

Muttering to himself, Li Ang looked somewhat amused and exasperated.

Although their ultimate goal was to prevent the resurrection of the Year Beast, the actual process involved going to rob tombs, which was quite novel for Li Ang.

After explaining the general situation, Zhang Daoling hurriedly left.

He is the head of the Celestial Master's Mansion, and like the eldest brother and sister in the incarnation of the Year Beast, wherever he goes, people will be watching his every move.

During this period, Zhang Daoling stayed in Gouwu City under the pretext of visiting his disciple who had been dismissed from his official post. However, he had stayed there for too long, and if he did not leave soon, it would affect their subsequent actions.

Next, Zhang Daoling, in his capacity as the head of the Celestial Master's Mansion, will do something big to draw all eyes, whether overt or covert, to himself and provide cover for them.

The situation on the border between Yan Kingdom and Ursus is already precarious, and there is an urgent need for a powerful and prestigious general to take charge, who can both deter the ambitions of the Ursus people and manage the troops gathered on the border.

Although Zhang Tianshi was not a member of the military, his status made him more than qualified to go there.

Previously, people had been speculating about the purpose of his return to public life. Now that Zhang Daoling has gone to the front line, those people can finally put their minds at ease.

As for Li Ang and his group... all they need to do is wait for the last person to arrive in Gouwu City, and then they can follow Zhang Daoling's arrangements to secretly go to the place where the Han King's mausoleum might be located. Zhang Daoling had already arranged everything before Li Ang arrived in Yan Kingdom.

"The last one... my sister?"

When Zhang Daoling said that there was still one Sui Beast incarnation who hadn't arrived, Xi's expression changed noticeably, clearly indicating that she had guessed who that person was.

Under Li Ang's persistent questioning, Xi reluctantly told him that if Zhang Daoling could still contact the Sui Beast avatar outside of the Great Yan territory, then Xi could only think of her annoying older sister.

That is, the incarnation of the Year Beast, whose birth time was close to that of Xi, and who was also closest to her.

However, the two did not get along very well, just like in countless ordinary families. The enthusiastic and cheerful older sister always liked to tease the introverted and shy younger sister. Although Xi knew that this was an expression of affection, she just hated her way of doing it.

Her older sister was also one of the otherworldly factions. Because of her abilities, she once held an extremely important position in the Ministry of Works of the Great Yan Dynasty. Many of the mobile cities in the Great Yan Dynasty were built by her.

However... later, because the tasks assigned to her by the Great Yan Kingdom were too heavy, she couldn't bear it anymore, so she secretly ran away and left the Yan Kingdom.

After learning about this, Xi Ke laughed at it mercilessly.

However, even though she had left the territory of the Great Yan, she still maintained contact with the Great Yan. She left under the pretense of going on vacation, and if the time was right, she could return to her post.

After all, the power of the Great Yan is indispensable if we want to fight against 'Sui'.

The twelve beast incarnations split into two factions. Some actively integrated into the Yan Kingdom, such as the eldest brother and sister among them, while the other group, like Xi, were reclusive and did not want to get involved in the troubles of the world at all.

Given the possibility that the Year Beast might be resurrected, Xi has no choice but to participate, even if she doesn't want to.

If the Sui Beast truly revives, it will be a catastrophe for these incarnations. If they might have been able to resist the Sui Beast before its resurrection, once the Sui Beast's consciousness awakens, even if it is only an incomplete part that is revived, it is not something that these fragments of power can contend with.

……

As the night breeze blew, Li Ang drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

He didn't know how long he had slept, but when he woke up again, the surroundings seemed to have changed.

"Huh? What's this?"

It is unclear when it began, but an extremely thick fog began to permeate the world.

"Is this... foggy?"

Chapter Twenty-Six: Fog

Looking around, Li Ang could only see things within a meter of his surroundings.

As far as the eye could see, there was only a vast expanse of white mist. This mist seemed to have a mind of its own, clinging to Li Ang and changing its shape with every move he made.

The surroundings were deathly silent; even the incessant chirping of cicadas in summer had fallen silent. The quiet was eerily so.

The dense fog stirred up unpleasant memories in Li Ang's mind, as if the offspring of a terrifying fish might suddenly emerge from the corners of the fog at any moment.

It's not very lethal, but it's definitely disgusting. Li Ang has absolutely no liking for those slimy creatures.

However... the fog surrounding Li Ang was not ordinary fog.

Ordinary fog is composed of tiny water droplets in the air. Although it is invisible to the naked eye, it is still within the range of perception.

However, in Li Ang's perception, these mists did not exist; it was as if they were merely a visual special effect.

"Wait, where is this place?"

Li Ang just wanted to see what the fog was and, incidentally, how the others were doing.

To his surprise, the other people who were supposed to be in their respective rooms had disappeared, and even the roof below had changed.

Although the architectural style of Gouwu City is quite ancient, it is still mainly based on brick and tile structure. However, what Li Ang is touching now is a handful of prickly thatch. The originally beautiful blue brick and tile house has now become a somewhat dilapidated thatched house.

Jumping off the roof, the ground beneath my feet was no longer the gray stone bricks, but a lush green meadow.

The ground has a certain slope, and he can feel the slight effect of gravity on himself. Did he take a nap and then inexplicably end up on the mountain?

"Wait... this strange feeling..."

Soon, Li Ang noticed something was amiss.

Everything around him, from the pervasive mist to the thatched hut next to him, gave him an unreal feeling, like a reflection of the moon in water that could shatter at the slightest touch.

The last time I encountered this situation was...

"The world in the painting?? How did I get back?" Li Ang was astonished.

Wasn't that painting still in his luggage? Li Ang had received so much information today that he hadn't even had a chance to ask Jingzhe if she could find the artist of that painting, but unexpectedly, this accident happened that night.

Was it the sea creature sealed within the painting that caused all of this? Or was it the badge that Li Ang lost?

Intuition told Li Ang that maintaining contact with that mysterious organization could be extremely dangerous, so after dropping the badge and confirming Shuiyue's reaction, Li Ang didn't pick it up. It should now be sealed in the world of the painting as well.

These two things are most likely the culprits behind this change.