Dijing

Two and a half full days driving south, crossing over a thousand kilometers of snowfields. The pale expanse of snow gradually thinned. Everything in sight gave way to pitch-black ridgelines and grayish-black rock. The temperature remained below freezing, but the terrifying, biting chill had subsided. In its place came a gradual, insidious climb in altitude, making every breath an effort. The elevation was shifting. The deathly still ice plains were left behind. Ahead along their path, one could occasionally spot mice, packs of wolves, and blue sheep. Amid the snow, massive yaks silently grazed on grass roots beneath the powdery drift, their dark eyes lifting for an impassive glance at the roaring, uninvited guest before turning away in utter disinterest. At times, dark-skinned, weather-beaten herders could be seen on horseback, watching from a distance, whips in hand and cigarettes seemingly fixed between their lips. An enviable lung capacity, honestly. Gradually, signs of human habitation emerged. Broadcast cameras from airships multiplied, and fans could occasionally be seen cheering at road bends, some even speeding up in their vehicles in hopes of snapping a photo. Kunwu Relay Station—Dijing—had arrived! Though called a relay station, it was merely a small town hugging the edge of the mountains. Thanks to the bountiful riches of the Kunwu Mountains, dealers in precious metals and gems kept permanent representatives stationed here year-round. It was like waiting beneath a treasure mountain for flakes of gold and gem gravel to tumble down. Waiting by the stump for hares to crash into it. Beneath the facade of a rundown, unassuming town, jaw-dropping sums of money flowed through its hands every single day. Across the Kunwu Plateau, dozens of massive rare-metal deposits had already been detected, some sitting right in the open as high-purity surface veins, with gold in abundance. Unfortunately, feast your eyes though you might, you could neither grasp it nor swallow it down. The capricious weather and altitude-induced hypoxia were secondary concerns. Even the packs of roaming calamity beasts were manageable. But geological convulsions that flared as frequently as violent bouts of diarrhea, minor tremors every ten days and major quakes every year, alongside the ever-expanding atmospheric hole above the plateau and the lethal radiation bursts poisoning the land—all of it turned this spectacular mountain range into a literal death zone. Only after bloody, agonizing tragedies paved the way with cautionary tales did people manage to dig that precious thing called reason out of their pockets and put it back in their skulls. They kept a respectful distance. In earlier years, the ore here was called blood gold. Gold, jade, and precious materials were clawed from the mountain depths by miners risking life and limb. Even so, most people confined their activities to the mountain fringes. The vast interior, where barren ridges intersected like jagged blades, remained a playground for reckless madmen. One morning might bring a torrential downpour, turning seemingly smooth roads into rushing riverbeds of murky sludge; by afternoon, a scorching sun and venomous radiation would bake the earth, reducing all burgeoning life to a dying gasp. Unheralded thunderstorms, earthquakes, radiation-induced skin ailments and cancers, alongside bizarre calamity beasts spawned by this unforgiving expanse... Though covering a mere four days of the rally, this section boasted the highest mortality rate in the race's history. "Awesome!" An Ning cheered, practically bursting with anticipation. "We can finally catch little mice! Little mice! Little mice!" Ji Jue's eye twitched. He gave a stern warning. "If I find anything extra in my sleeping bag, it's ending up in someone's mouth—" "Then I can catch snakes instead!" An Ning puffed her cheeks and glared. "Slimy, freezing, slippery, wriggly..." "Never mind. Pretend I said nothing." Ji Jue let out a resigned sigh. Then, just as An Ning beamed with triumphant delight, he added, "Every time I find one, I'll take your phone and blast a video to all your contacts of you passionately reciting the Federation Constitution, professing your love for the law, and pledging allegiance to Tianyuan." An Ning scoffed. "As if something like that could possibly exist!" "Doesn't it? I bet it does." Ji Jue glanced sideways at her and snapped his fingers. Instantly, An Ning's phone began blaring the Midtown Hymn in her own voice. No matter what buttons she mashed, it didn't respond, until she looked ready to blow her lid. "Turn it off, turn it off, shut it off!" Safe to say, everyone feared social death, even a White Stag. A mere An Ning, easily handled! Only then did he realize that the water bottle he picked up had been spiked with a lethal dose of salt when he wasn't looking... Under Ji Jue's glare, An Ning stared out the window with an innocent expression, humming a tune as solemnly as a contestant in a try-not-to-laugh challenge, before finally clutching her stomach and bursting into laughter. And so, along the highway winding through the mountains, the mud-splattered car surged upward. Snowmelt and dust coated the exterior. After braving another sudden, ephemeral storm along the way, every trace of bloody ice had vanished from the vehicle. Yet the muddy nose and pitch-black bumper retained a faint, almost hallucinatory swirl of scarlet, and within the roar of the engine lurked a wailing, mournful screech. Amid cheers and shouts, they reached the end of Route S1. For rookie competitors entering the Desert Sea Rally for the first time to finish the blizzard-swept snowfields in fourth place, even the hired temporary workers could not help marveling in admiration. Upon reaching the relay station, staff members stationed there in advance promptly came out to greet them and handle logistics, while a long-prepared maintenance crew set to work inspecting and repairing the car. At the same time, the organizing committee's reception personnel brought somber news: despite exhaustive searches, the rescue team had been hampered by foul weather and failed to locate Team Tiancheng's competitors. Just moments ago, the driver and navigator had been officially declared missing. The search will continue, and we will make every effort to conduct rescue operations. Here, we remind all participants and enthusiasts: cherish life, prioritize safety. Don't drive angry; don't fight on the road! In response, when the cameraman aimed his lens Ji Jue's way, the contestant wore a look of utter shock and sorrowful compassion, letting out a melancholy sigh and pressing his hands together. "I only hope they're all right." His deep grief was plain for all to see. Then, bending down, he picked up the heavy suitcase beside him and headed toward the dining hall. As for what was inside the suitcase... Hahaha, just some personal belongings, of course! It couldn't possibly be the missing contestants, right? Yet the instant he pushed aside the heavy partition curtain, countless gazes in the cramped event camp locked onto him. The air seemed to congeal, a grim chill permeating the thin atmosphere. Sharp glares cut like blades, falling upon that face wearing a light, breezy smile. "What's the matter?" Ji Jue looked around curiously, brimming with confusion. "Why is everyone so serious?" No one answered. Most eyes drifted to the suitcase in Ji Jue's hand, around which hung a faint aura of spiritus. While outward fluctuations were faint and difficult to discern, the thick, cloying stench of blood clinging to Ji Jue—almost wet enough to drip—paired with his identity as an artisan made it impossible not to draw certain conclusions. In particular, the driver and navigator of the Northern Realm team, who had just arrived, held an irrepressible chill churning within their aloof eyes. Yet after a brief stare, they ultimately made no move. The two parties brushed past each other in silence. From beginning to end, Ji Jue had not slowed his pace, but along the corridor toward the lounge, his steps paused for an instant. Right by the doorway, empty liquor bottles were piled into a mountain. A burly giant clad only in a tight tank top held a bottle whose neck had been twisted clean off. Tilting his head back, he downed the potent alcohol in a single draught. Then he looked up at Ji Jue. Ji Jue looked back at him. It was hard to imagine those eyes belonged to a human... or perhaps they were merely pure, dark voids. Watching from afar through crowds or satellite feeds had previously made it impossible to get a clear look at that face. But now, Ji Jue was certain: those pupils held no luster whatsoever. Not even a trace of emotion could be seen—no disgust, no killing intent, no wrath, no joy. Nothing. Practically non-human. Like a bottomless abyss, a black hole hungering every moment to break free of its shackles. Beneath the crust's pressure over countless years, coal would metamorphose into diamond. Bound by matrix and blessings, a soul that had long crested the peak of Regeneration was gradually embracing the essence of the Desolate Ruins, transcending mortal clay and turning unhuman. Even through layer upon layer of locks sealing the soul, one could still sense the tempestuous fury on the verge of erupting. Like a volcano that had gestated for decades: once you caught the scent of sulfur, you knew a destructive eruption was not far off. Now, the volcano stood right before him. An invisible Stasis Zone rippled outward, blocking the way. "Care for a drink?" The giant known as Yue Chen raised his bottle in invitation, an apparent ghost of a smile on his face, though devoid of any warmth or mirth. "I don't drink. Thanks," Ji Jue replied without hesitation. "Suit yourself." Yue Chen sheared open another bottle, tilted his head back, and drained it, suddenly remarking, "Dropping out? If you forfeit now, I'll let you walk." In the sudden, dead silence, not only his nearby assistant but countless onlookers stood up instinctively, pale with shock or flaring with rage. Yet under Yue Chen's backward glance, all fell silent. No one could utter a sound. Only a light, careless chuckle broke the quiet. "Sorry, haven't considered it." Ji Jue looked at his surroundings, then at Yue Chen, and suddenly grinned. "The race is pretty fun, isn't it?" That smile held no mockery, only serenity. Yet against Yue Chen's vacant expression, the contrast was stark, casting Yue Chen's countenance like a mask. Gradually, the false smile vanished without a trace, leaving only icy indifference. "This road leads nowhere." "Roads are everywhere. If one doesn't work, just take a detour," Ji Jue countered. "Besides, as long as nobody's blocking the path ahead, what road could ever lead nowhere?" Hum—! In that instant, a shrill sound suddenly resonated, surging and radiating outward, stabbing into everyone's eardrums.