Gu Shen was certain that no matter how fast the car was traveling, it was impossible to escape the detection of Heavenly Eye... Once Deep Sea captured any abnormality in the face of the main driver, the information would be reported.
Perhaps, Mr. Bai’s abilities had shielded everything.
Or perhaps... Deep Sea had made a little error.
Chu Ling was not in the link, and without a way to ask, Gu Shen could only bury this question in his heart... However, during the short drive, he had come to realize the formidable capabilities of this Mr. Bai.
This was likely an ancient Titled Transcendent, related to the past of his teacher and A-009.
Mr. Bai was probably also a Titled Transcendent.
But this Titled Transcendent... seemed to be here to personally ensure his safety?
Thinking this, Gu Shen felt a bit overwhelmed... This was a privilege enjoyed by council members, Chen San had a Titled Transcendent who followed him closely, which had secured one of the only two seats of power in Da Du.
"Did Zhou Jiren give you ’Bengxue’?"
Mr. Bai suddenly spoke softly.
"I would like to see that bullet... may I?"
Gu Shen was startled. Bengxue was kept close to his body, and since Mr. Bai had managed to obtain the Compass, he could easily take Bengxue without much effort... using the same method as before, Bengxue would appear in his hands.
But Mr. Bai did not do so.
Instead... he sought his consent.
Gu Shen’s expression was solemn as he took out the box and, like withdrawing a necklace, he took out the bullet pale as snow... Mr. Bai then released his hands, no longer steering the wheel, as if invisible palms covered the steering wheel, and the vehicle continued to move steadily without any deviation or loss of control.
Mr. Bai gently took Bengxue in his hands.
He gazed deeply at the bullet, as if an old, sorrowful soul emerged overhead and hovered in silent gaze.
The voice sounded again, tinged with melancholy.
Mr. Bai returned Bengxue to Gu Shen.
Gu Shen placed it back in the box, silently thinking... According to his teacher, this bullet, with lethal power to kill any Transcendent, seemed to hold more significance as a keepsake than in actual combat...
From Mr. Bai’s reaction, it carried even more than he had imagined.
"Zhou Jiren didn’t have the heart to fire this bullet, if you get the chance, fire it for him," Mr. Bai spoke softly, "It doesn’t matter if it hits, just firing it is good enough... Keeping this bullet is a burden for him, for me."
He murmured, "Those who move forward must forget the pains of the past to traverse thousands of miles."
"I came to Da Du this time... actually for you."
"You don’t need to inquire about my identity, nor delve into my purpose. You just need to know that with me here, you won’t die," Mr. Bai lifted a bottle of liquor and drank deeply, "You can think of me as... a shadow. If one day the shadow dissipates, it means the sun has appeared and there’s no need for a shadow anymore."
Gu Shen sat desolately in the passenger seat, feeling somewhat powerless as he looked at Mr. Bai, who had spoken these words of sorrow.
After he had returned Bengxue, the faint mist around Mr. Bai’s face lessened somewhat, but he still did not reveal his true appearance.
Gu Shen opened his mouth.
He genuinely didn’t know what to say...
He didn’t know when it began, but it seemed as if he had become the center of the world, with all events revolving around him—Blood Fire, Compass, his teacher, the series of upheavals in Da Du seemed unrelated at their birth, but ultimately interconnected, all relating to him.
All of this, inevitably, reminded Gu Shen of what Xiao had once said to him...
The world needs a savior.
And he, it seemed, was considered by many to be that savior.
Now, even someone he had only seen once, a Titled Transcendent, had said "consider me a shadow."
There must be something that he was unaware of.
Mr. Shu was keeping something from him.
Chu Ling was also keeping secrets from himself.
Perhaps... there were even more people, known and unknown.
After hesitating for a long time, he still spoke up.
"Can you tell me why?"
The voice kept echoing.
The echo lasted for a very long time.
Finally, there was an answer.
"Because... we only found you today."
The moment this response appeared,
the whole world suddenly became quiet.
The previous roar of vehicles seemed to be thrown thousands of miles away in an instant.
There were no more intense blinding lights continuously thrown behind, the whole world plunged into shadow, a huge cloud enveloped everyone including Gu Shen.
That layer of fog dispersed, and he saw a handsome young face.
Mr. Bai was a young man in his early twenties.
Gu Shen realized he was standing, as if he had never boarded the vehicle but had been standing under the huge cloud all along, while Mr. Bai across him was neither tall nor burly, but delicate and slim.
The two faced each other as if separated by a huge mirror.
Gu Shen looked at the young Mr. Bai, slowly extending his hand, wanting to touch, but his fingertips only touched the mirror surface, sending ripples surging that were blood-red, familiar yet unrecallable ripples that spread out, filling the huge world-piercing mirror with ancient texts, burying the glowing wisdom of old humanity at the edge of the cloud cover.
And no ancient texts.
Gu Shen stood utterly alone in this vast dark world.
Before him were not the roaring vehicles but the glaring sunlight, the swaying curtains, the pristine bed sheets, and Nan Jin, Song Ci waiting by the hospital bed.
Senior Sister Nanjin spoke softly, "’Holy Wood’s’ treatment is only limited to the physical aspect; it seems the explosion has damaged your spirit. You soon lost consciousness... it took you a whole night to wake up, how do you feel now?"
Gu Shen held his forehead tightly, his voice hoarse, "How did the deal go? Where is Mr. Bai?"
Nan Jin frowned, "What are you talking about... what deal? Who is Mr. Bai?"
He dumbly looked at his senior sister; the confusion and incomprehension in her eyes were genuine, a glance that discouraged him from continuing the conversation.
All of this was a dream...
No, how could all of this be a dream?
Since when had he begun dreaming?
"It’s good that there’s nothing serious; it seems there’s no major impact, just that your mind isn’t quite clear, probably because you’re muddled from sleep,"
Song Ci had been anxiously watching the time, scratching his head, but seeing that Gu Shen had finally come to, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He hurriedly put on his coat, "The nomination for the alternative council member by the lady is about to start... I must hurry."