NABC Page 70
Page 70
Deep within the mine, besides the eternal sound of flowing water, there was only a silent standoff and the unknown brought by the black-robed man kneeling on one knee.
Zhang Su's consciousness was highly focused, manipulating the stand-in like a precision instrument, with every joint and every muscle on standby.
About two minutes later.
The figure, which had been frozen in a prayer pose, moved without warning.
He slowly stood up, his wide black robe draped down like the night.
At the same time, his right hand seemed to be making a very subtle, rhythmic gesture in front of his chest, a simple movement that conveyed an indescribable solemnity and focus.
It's like sketching a symbol, or perhaps soothing something in the void.
Just as Zhang Su's mind stirred slightly, preparing to control his stand-in to react—whether to be on guard or to quietly retreat—the moment arrived.
A gentle, slightly hoarse, yet exceptionally clear voice pierced through the cold air, carrying a soothing power that resonated directly in the vast cavern:
"My two friends in the shadows, there is no need to be alarmed. I mean no harm; I am merely fulfilling my duty to guide these lost souls toward peace."
As soon as he finished speaking, the figure calmly turned around.
As he turned around, he raised his hand and gently pulled down the hood on his head, revealing his true face.
This was a man in his fifties, with a gaunt face and deep features, bearing the marks of long contemplation and the weathered experience of witnessing life and death.
Her hair was pure black, but her temples were tinged with gray, and it was meticulously combed.
Most striking is the badge he wears on his chest—a silver symbol composed of a closed eye and a serene crescent moon, which radiates a restrained and sacred luster under the faint, cold light reflected from the river.
Through the double's vision, Zhang Su instantly recognized the symbol—the symbol of the Church of Requiem! It represented the authority over death and slumber.
My tense nerves relaxed slightly, but my vigilance was not completely gone.
He manipulated Mr. K, and with his distinctive, slightly magnetic, deep voice, calmly asked from the shadows:
"Are you a priest from the Church of Requiem?"
The old man in black robes nodded slightly, a gentle smile on his face: "Yes and no. In the Church of Requiem, we don't call ourselves priests, but 'priests'."
His gaze seemed to pierce through the shadows, landing on the location where Mr. K was hiding. "And I am one of the 'night watchmen' sent by the church to this area to handle related 'abnormal events'."
The Night Watch! Zhang Su understood immediately, realizing that this was a special unit within the Church of Requiem that handled extraordinary and unusual events.
That being the case...
Mr. K's figure emerged silently from the shadows of the stalactites, like ink blending into the darkness, and took two steps forward, fully exposed to the cave's dim light.
His stand-in number one stood silently behind him, maintaining a wary distance at the edge of the shadows, like a guard.
"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Night's Watchman." Mr. K bowed slightly, his movements elegant and restrained. "May I ask how I should address you?"
The priest's gaze swept calmly over Mr. K and the figure in the shadows behind him, showing no excessive surprise or inquiry into the existence of the second double. He was already used to this level of "abnormality."
"A name is just a label. If you prefer, you can call me 'Father'."
“Yes, Father,” Mr. K readily agreed. “I apologize for interrupting your prayer service. We two just happened to be here exploring and had no intention of offending the Church of Requiem. I wonder if our presence will hinder the Night's Watch’s next actions?”
The priest's smile deepened, revealing a worldly-wise tolerance: "As long as you do not become enemies of our Church of Requiem, and do not create unnecessary chaos and blasphemy in this resting place of the dead, your exploration will not hinder us."
“Of course,” Mr. K assured him clearly. “We have no intention of being enemies with any orthodox church, much less blaspheme the dead. You can rest assured about that.”
The priest nodded in satisfaction, his gaze returning to the pile of corpses with pity, before turning back to Mr. K: "Since your purpose is not in vain, would you like me to provide some guidance? The paths deep within this mine are complex and fraught with danger. We Night Watchmen patrol here year-round and are quite familiar with the conditions of certain roads and areas."
“Guidance?” Mr. K seemed to ponder for a moment, then said, “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Father. But before that, I’d like to ask you something important, and I hope you will be so kind as to answer it.”
"Speak freely," the priest said calmly, as if he had expected this.
Mr. K's voice was clear and direct: "During our exploration, if we happen to encounter any unclaimed or unguarded extraordinary properties, do we have the right to take them? And afterwards, will your church's Night Watch... hold us accountable for this?"
This is a very sensitive question, as it relates to their responsibilities.
The priest's gentle smile faded slightly, replaced by a calm and solemn expression befitting a law enforcer.
He remained silent for a few seconds, and the badge with closed eyes and the moon seemed to flicker slightly on his chest.
“This is a matter that requires clear boundaries.” The priest’s voice became low and formal. “According to Article 3 of Chapter 1 of the ‘Mystical Decree,’ jointly signed and promulgated by the great Calidor Empire’s royal family and the seven major churches of the True Gods: ‘The authority to discover, contain, supervise, and dispose of all supernatural phenomena, anomalous items, and their derivatives within the Empire rests with the officially designated agencies of the Empire and personnel authorized by the seven churches of the True Gods. Unauthorized persons are strictly prohibited from privately contacting, possessing, researching, disseminating, or utilizing any form of the supernatural.’”
He paused, then emphasized, "Therefore, the provisions of the law are very clear—in principle, it is absolutely prohibited."
After hearing this, Mr. K couldn't help but raise his hand and stroke the brim of his hat.
But then, the priest's tone took a subtle turn, his solemn voice revealing a deep understanding and acceptance of the ways of the world:
“However, the laws are written on parchment, but reality is complex.” His voice carried a hint of imperceptible weariness. “Even with their immense power, the Seven Churches and the Imperial government cannot cast their gaze upon every corner of the world, nor can they oversee every extraordinary manifestation and silence. This vast world, this profound darkness, is filled with the unknown and chaos.”
“Therefore,” the priest’s voice returned to its calm tone, but the seriousness of an enforcer remained, “at the practical level of enforcement, we tend to focus on those who disrupt the ‘balance’—those disasters, chaos, and mass panic caused by the abuse of the supernatural, or evil acts that blaspheme the authority of the gods and threaten the foundations of civilization.”
"Those extraordinary beings who appear and disappear quietly in unknown corners, like wildfires that burn and die out silently in the wilderness..."
He paused slightly, seemingly considering his words, before finally speaking in a manner that was both straightforward and official: "As long as they do not trigger 'events' that require our intervention, our manpower and resources are naturally unable and unnecessary to track down the whereabouts of every single speck of dust. Maintaining 'great balance' and 'great order' is our core responsibility."
The priest's gaze swept over Mr. K and the stand-in number one in the shadows again, his eyes seeming to say: You understand what I mean.
Zhang Su, controlling Mr. K, slowly nodded: "Understood. Thank you for your frankness, Father."
He understood the core of the conversation perfectly: the unspoken rule was that as long as they weren't caught red-handed and didn't cause any major trouble that forced the Night's Watch to clean up the mess, the Church could only turn a blind eye to wild superhumans or organizations.
This is the tacit understanding among all wild superhumans.
“Well then,” Mr. K said, his tone more relaxed, “I wonder if the priest could point us in the right direction, which tributary leads to the area that is currently… well, the quietest? There’s no one to bother us, and no night watchmen around. We’ll take that route, trying not to cause you any trouble and to avoid any unnecessary ‘chance encounters.’”
The priest's face regained that gentle, even approving smile.
Clearly, he was very satisfied with Mr. K's "rule-abiding" and "knowing when to advance and retreat" attitude.
The other party fully understood the subtext of his words and showed sufficient "cooperation".
"To the northwest, follow this main river for about a kilometer, and you'll find an inconspicuous tributary on the left." The priest raised his thin but steady hand, pointing precisely to the entrance of a dark waterway in the northwest corner of the cave, partially obscured by a huge ice cone. "The entrance to that tributary is narrow, the water is swift and extremely cold, and there's a naturally formed 'ice mist' deep inside, making it difficult for ordinary people and low-ranking superhumans to venture deep. In the past few days of exploration, no new explorers have ventured there, nor is it a key area we've been focusing on recently."
He lowered his hand and looked at Mr. K: "You'll have a lot more peace and quiet if you take that road."
“Thank you for your guidance, Father.” Mr. K bowed slightly again to express his gratitude. “Then we shall part ways here. May the deceased rest in peace, and may the Father’s journey be successful.”
Having said that, he no longer hesitated and turned to give a slight nod to the stand-in number one in the shadows.
Two figures—one elegant and composed, the other silent and mechanical—emerged simultaneously from their hiding place, their steady steps traversing the cold, frozen earth as they headed toward the dark, narrow tributary entrance in the northwest direction the priest had indicated.
The priest stood there, watching the two figures walk away. Then he straightened his black robe, knelt down on one knee in a devout manner, and returned to his original posture of prayer, facing the mountain of corpses.
His withered right hand rose again, tracing the symbol for soothing the soul on his chest. His lips moved silently, and a deep, solemn prayer flowed once more in the cold cave, like a guiding light for the departed souls.
In the enormous cavern, only the eternal murmur of the river and the silhouette of the night watchman kneeling on one knee, praying for the departed souls remain.
Volume 2: Chapter 22: The Wraith of Ice and Mist
The cold mine tunnels seemed to stretch on forever.
Double Number One and Mr. K followed the priest's directions and advanced for nearly ten more minutes through the rugged tunnel.
The chill around them grew stronger, the frost covering the rock walls thickened, and the air seemed to solidify into a translucent gel. Each movement of the Stand felt like traversing through viscous glue, consuming far more mental energy than usual.
Just as Zhang Su was fully focused on the Stand's senses, Yuan Shu's cold warning voice cut directly into his consciousness:
[Warning: Director, you have been controlling the Stand for nearly 50 minutes, which is close to the safety threshold. The Stand's mental contamination risk index has risen to a critical point. It is recommended to immediately disconnect and allow both the Stand and your mind to cool down. Continued forced control will cause an imbalance in the Stand's activity, potentially inducing irreversible distortions or mental contamination.]
"Tsk, has it reached its limit..." Zhang Su thought to himself. He immediately controlled his two clones to stop at a relatively open corner of the tunnel, where there were several huge rocks half-covered by frost, forming a natural semi-concealed space.
The plan is to have the stand-in remain in place and enter a state of silence.
Upon receiving the command, Stand One and Mr. K, like precision puppets that had lost power, instantly ceased all subtle movements, standing silently in the shadows like two black sculptures covered in a thin layer of frost.
Zhang Su's consciousness was pulled away from the cold depths of the mine like a tide, returning to his physical body near the mine entrance, hidden in a safe crevice in the rock.
The moment he returned to his physical body, a slight dizziness and mental fatigue washed over him, as if his brain was covered by a thin layer of ice that needed time to melt. He shook his head and took out the portable rations he had previously purchased from the Rock Workshop from the "void space" at his waist—hard but high-energy jerky and mixed grain biscuits.
He tore into the food, the cold food slowly melting in his mouth, providing the necessary warmth.
Although I don't feel intense hunger right now, replenishing energy regularly is an ironclad rule for survival in this environment.
After swallowing the last mouthful of dry rations, he took out his water pouch and drank several mouthfuls of cold water. Then, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, cleared his mind of distractions, and began to meditate to accelerate the recovery of his spiritual energy.
The cold air was inhaled into the lungs and exhaled with a faint white mist, and time slowly passed in absolute silence.
Twenty-five minutes later, Zhang Su suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance in them, and his mental fatigue had largely subsided.
He took a deep breath, his consciousness sinking again, like a skilled diver reconnecting to the cold "node" deep in the mine.
The reactivation of Stand One and Mr. K.
He manipulated his double to leave the cover and continue forward.
Just a few minutes later, the scene ahead suddenly changed.
The tunnels that were originally covered with a thin layer of frost have disappeared, replaced by a hazy and eerie scene—we have arrived at the 'Ice Mist Miasma Zone'.
Thick, swirling white ice fog filled the entire tunnel like a living thing, and visibility plummeted to less than five meters.
This fog was not simply water vapor condensation; it exuded a bone-chilling cold that seemed to freeze the soul, far surpassing the frigid conditions of the mines outside.
The light became distorted and dim in this foggy environment, with only the sharp icicles hanging from the top of the tunnel occasionally reflecting a faint blue light, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
The air was no longer gel-like, but more like a fluid composed of countless tiny ice crystals. Each movement of the Stand brought with it a subtle sound of ice dust rubbing together, like countless pieces of sandpaper being polished.
"Hiss... This damn place!" Zhang Su cursed inwardly, carefully maneuvering his avatar into the misty haze.
As soon as it entered, a strong feedback came through the Stand's sensory system!
Sluggishness! Severe sluggishness!
The steps taken by the stand-in number one became unusually heavy and slow, as if invisible lead weights were tied to his legs.
Mr. K's movement of raising his hand to touch the rock wall also became stiff and hesitant, with a rough, metallic friction-like sensation coming from his joints.
The body, which was originally as agile as a cheetah, now seemed to be in slow motion, with every step appearing extremely strenuous.
More importantly, the extraordinary energy flow driven by the Stand core also seems to be suppressed in some way, becoming obscure and sluggish.
"Yuan Shu, analyze the reason for the Stand's sluggish movements!" Zhang Su immediately ordered.
【Analyzing……】
[Conclusion: The core temperature of the ice fog miasma is as low as approximately -70 degrees Celsius. Low temperatures produce multiple physical effects on the material carriers:]
[1. Inhibition of Molecular Thermal Motion: The molecular thermal motion of the basic substance constituting the substitute carrier (activated Black Tai Sui tissue) slows down significantly as the temperature drops sharply. Intermolecular forces increase, and the overall rigidity and viscosity coefficient of the substance rise sharply. Macroscopically, this manifests as the carrier material becoming brittle, losing elasticity, and losing fluidity (resulting in a sharp decrease in joint flexibility).]
2. Changes in fluid properties: The active intracellular and intercellular fluids, which are important components of the substitute carrier, approach or fall below their freezing points. The viscosity of the body fluids increases exponentially, and even microscopic ice crystals begin to precipitate in some areas (at the microscopic level), greatly hindering the fluid flow and ion exchange efficiency required for muscle fiber contraction and relaxation.
[3. Suppression of Extraordinary Activity: The carrier matrix 'Black Tai Sui' itself is an activating substance containing extraordinary activity. The extreme low temperature directly suppressed its inherent activity, like placing a flame on the edge of absolute zero, causing the energy (psychic energy) that sustains the Stand's actions to flow within the carrier with an efficiency reduction of approximately 45%. Both energy drive and material response were severely hampered.]
[Summary: Current ambient temperatures have far exceeded the tolerance limits of the substitute carrier material (its design/suitable environment is around room temperature to -20 degrees Celsius). The carrier is currently experiencing the dual negative effects of low-temperature embrittlement and activity freezing. Continued exposure will lead to permanent damage to the material and the risk of permanent activity degradation.]
"I see! It turns out the molecules are almost frozen solid! Sure enough, even a 'living' stand-in made of extraordinary materials can't escape the laws of thermodynamics..." Zhang Su immediately realized the seriousness of the problem. If this continued, let alone exploration, the stand-in's own safety would be in question, let alone dealing with potential dangers.
"Equip the 'warmth and protection' kits! Immediately!" he ordered decisively.
The "Void Space" silently opened a crack next to the Stand, and the set of warm clothing that had been purchased from the Rock Workshop was quickly taken out.
"Equip the 'warmth and protection' kits! Immediately! According to the list from Rock Workshop!" he ordered decisively.
The "Void Space" silently opened a crack beside Stand One and Mr. K. Zhang Su, controlling the Stand, moved stiffly and slowly due to the low temperature, yet still accurately retrieved the professional mining and thermal equipment purchased at a "huge sum."
First, the salamander ointment was applied. Stand One and Mr. K unscrewed the expensive little jar and carefully applied the viscous ointment, which contained trace amounts of salamander blood extract, to all the potentially exposed areas of "skin"—mainly the face and neck.
The moment the ointment comes into contact with the substitute carrier, a weak but continuous flow of heat penetrates it, as if an invisible heat-insulating film is covering the cold carrier surface, significantly improving the surface's tolerance to extreme low temperatures and effectively preventing further deterioration of the "frostbite".
Then came the heavy-duty waterproof and cold-weather cloaks with hoods. The two quickly put on the thick cloaks, which were made of specially made thick canvas lined with warm cotton and had an oil-impregnated waterproof outer layer.
They deftly tightened the straps of their collars and cuffs, completely covering their bodies. Finally, they pulled up their wide hoods and lowered their face shields, leaving only a gap to observe the outside world, thus protecting themselves from the biting icy fog and cold wind to the greatest extent possible.
Next, put on thick, wool-lined leather gloves. This layer of protection is crucial, as it not only isolates you from direct contact with the extremely cold air and objects, but the wool lining also provides an extra layer of insulation to prevent your finger joints from being frostbitten due to the low temperature.
Finally, the stuntmen changed into miner's boots with thick linings that emphasized waterproofing and slip resistance.
The steel toe cap provides protection for your toes, the thickened lining slows down the conduction of cold air from the ground, and the special anti-slip tread pattern helps maintain stability on smooth ice surfaces.
The effect is immediate the moment the equipment is put on!
Although the outside air still contains a terrifyingly low temperature of -70 degrees Celsius, the specialized equipment creates a relatively stable microenvironment for the body.
The protective layer formed by the salamander oil directly resists the most deadly low-temperature attacks, protecting the most vulnerable surface tissue of the carrier.
Heavy (six) Yi Qi Yi F) Emu V#III Death (eight). The cloak, like a fortress, blocked the direct contact of the ice fog and the cold wind from taking away the heat. Its oil-impregnated waterproof layer prevented ice crystals from condensing on the surface and increasing the load.
Wool-lined gloves and thick boot linings slow down heat loss from the extremities.
The meager heat generated by the operation of the stand's core is able to accumulate and circulate inside under the protection of these insulating layers, and is no longer being frantically plundered by the environment.