Zone 19, in the lair of the Light and Shadow Association.
Lu Zixun looked up at the mural on the wall, slightly fascinated.
The painting depicted a group of people holding something akin to the Sky Pool, kneeling with faces full of fervor.
These people must be the disciples of the Light and Shadow Association.
Yet, what they worshiped was only a fleeting Shadow,
Yet, from the mural alone, Lu Zixun could feel the twisted force emanating from the shadow.
It was indeed strange...
A contemplative look appeared in Lu Zixun’s eyes.
If the disciples of the Light and Shadow Association worshipped the Shadow daily, the twisted force should have corrupted them long ago,
Why then did these people show no signs of shellification?
Thinking of the shellified members of the Light and Shadow Association he had previously killed, Lu Zixun had a realization,
Could it be that resistance to the twisted infection is related to consciousness?
He instructed the members from the Demon Country to destroy the mural, then Lu Zixun turned and headed towards the laboratory.
This was where the Light and Shadow Association conducted human experiments, and the tables were covered in mechanical designs, including both bodies and weapons.
The myriad of gadgets made Lu Zixun dizzy.
Some of the designs he had seen on the shells, now he could confirm one thing,
The Light and Shadow Association wanted to assemble mechanical parts with shellified humans to create a distorted and powerful entity.
Although the idea seemed far-fetched, they had indeed created such beings, and they were indeed powerful.
Just like Lun Yang Lu Zixun had encountered before.
Had it not been for Lu Zixun’s timely acquisition of "Puncture" at the marketplace, attached to his Night Evil Sword, he wouldn’t have defeated the shell that bore Lun Yang’s consciousness.
"Take all these things and bring them back to Pan Building, let Sarah study them properly."
Ge Changming waved his hand, leading the members of the Demon Country to scour the Light and Shadow Association’s lair clean.
"Be careful with objects bearing twisted forces, like the mural from earlier."
Lu Zixun did not stop Ge Changming’s actions, but he did give a word of caution.
After all, Lu Zixun did not want the folks from the Demon Country to be corroded by the twist,
Lest it be captured and posted on Night Talk, inviting unforeseen supernatural troubles.
Back in the Demon Country, his previously relaxed mood tensed up again,
For one reason, the Night Watchman had requested a meeting.
Lu Zixun had a rather favorable impression of the Night Watchman.
After all, not everyone could handle the job of guarding the Abyss.
But the timing of the Night Watchman’s visit meant it was unlikely to be good news.
Lu Zixun pondered for a moment, then still allowed Ge Changming to let the visitor in.
Lu Zixun had roughly guessed the purpose of this visit from the Night Watchman,
And he wanted to find a way out based on the Night Watchman’s attitude.
Taking precautions was always wise.
Gu Linchuan, who entered Lu Zixun’s office, took a moment to examine the surroundings, then nodded and smiled, "Tasteful, the office is quite nice."
"Mm, would you like something to drink?"
Following behind, Ge Changming poured a cup of tea for Gu Linchuan and a cup of milk tea for Lu Zixun before exiting the office.
Looking at Lu Zixun’s still steaming milk tea, Gu Linchuan lifted his cup and took a sip, "Drinking milk tea frequently isn’t good for your health."
"Unhappiness can also be bad for your health," he said with a smile, as Lu Zixun’s gaze fell upon Gu Linchuan.
"You specifically came to the Demon Country, and I suppose it wasn’t to discuss how drinking milk tea is bad for your health?"
Fixing his gaze on Lu Zixun for a while, Gu Linchuan was somewhat unused to Lu Zixun’s straightforward manner of conversation.
With a light laugh he said, "Don’t you want to chat about family matters first? Being so direct isn’t very nice."
"It saves more time this way."
Lu Zixun teased, "I assume you didn’t come here to chat about family matters either?"
After laughing three times, Gu Linchuan put down his teacup and shook his head, "With your temperament, you’re really suited to be a Night Watchman."
"That is indeed a pity."
Expressing regret, Lu Zixun drank his milk tea, waiting for Gu Linchuan to speak.
Folding his hands on the table, Gu Linchuan narrowed his eyes, "I wonder what your views are on the current situation in the Crimson Land."
After beating around the bush for a bit, Gu Linchuan finally got to the main point.
"I knew it was for this reason you came."
Lu Zixun thought to himself, put down his cup, and after a moment of thought said, "Now that the Crimson Land is free from the watchful eyes of the Insect Clan, within three months, it will be able to harvest resources and enhance its overall strength. Eventually, the Crimson Land will become a second human society, but..."
Smiling sardonically at Gu Linchuan, Lu Zixun said softly, "Once people are well-fed, they start looking for trouble, and the Demon Country will undoubtedly be the best place to vent their emotions."
In his eyes, Gu Linchuan showed nothing but admiration for Lu Zixun.
For the way Lu Zixun had lucidly analyzed the situation in the Crimson Land in just a few words, Gu Linchuan was generous with his applause.
"So, facing this situation, what should the Demon Country do?"
Stopping his applause, Gu Linchuan looked at Lu Zixun with a pondering gaze.
"I had no idea before."
Tail flicking, Lu Zixun said lazily, "But now, hasn’t the person with ideas arrived?"
Hearing this, Gu Linchuan couldn’t help but smile, impressed by Lu Zixun’s insightfulness.
"I became a Night Watchman thanks to Elder Yang’s strong recommendation, and I know all that you have done for the humans."
Pausing for a moment, Gu Linchuan glanced at Lu Zixun before continuing, "So, Elder Yang gave me an idea."
Watching Lu Zixun nod, Gu Linchuan squinted his eyes, "We must have a Witch Cat King so that the hot-blooded warriors with nowhere to direct their energy can find something to do."
The smile disappeared from Lu Zixun’s face as he looked seriously at Gu Linchuan.
After realizing he wasn’t joking, Lu Zixun fell into deep thought.
This approach was something Lu Zixun had also considered.
But by doing so, the Demon Country would undoubtedly be positioning itself against humanity.
While this idea was indeed a good way to break the stalemate,
the problems that would appear in the Human Gathering Place would naturally occur in the Demon Country as well.
Still, Lu Zixun’s considerations leaned more toward humanity.
Lu Zixun sighed silently and looked out the floor-to-ceiling window at the Demon Country which had already developed greatly.
Now, Lu Zixun was no longer the active STO staff member he once was.
Instead, he was the leader spearheading the development of the Demon Country, and he was not willing to let the Demon Country die out just like that.
Thinking over these matters, Lu Zixun began to seriously consider the method Gu Linchuan had mentioned.
The Witch Cat King, then...
After a while, Lu Zixun looked up at Gu Linchuan, "What do I need to do?"