Chapter 27: An Unexpected Surprise

Night had fallen, draping its heavy veil across the world. Amid the boundless mountains, a nondescript, bald, yellowish hill squatted quietly behind the main peaks of the Crescent Moon Sect. At its base, jagged rocks jutted from the earth, not a single blade of grass in sight. The only thing of note was a dilapidated wooden house, whose battered exterior stood out against the desolation.

Inside the hut, bright lamplight dispelled the darkness. Lined up within stood a row of people in silver combat suits, each gripping a massive alloy axe. Their faces were stiff and expressionless, their eyes empty as they stood guard before a glowing portal. Supplies flowed ceaselessly from that portal, being carried out one load after another.

“Damn, are these people clones too?” murmured Ye Han, tightening his robe as a cold wind swept across the hilltop.

Just from their appearance, these figures exuded a far greater sense of menace than those artificial beings produced on Hanlan Star. Ye Han’s consciousness drifted lightly, silently enveloping the entire wooden house in his perception.

“Judging by the supplies being transported, it looks like the Crescent Moon Sect’s examinees are also from the technological faction,” he mused inwardly, creeping forward and peering at the distant lights.

Earlier that day, after shifting into the Crescent Moon Sect’s territory, Ye Han had suppressed his abilities the moment he sensed another presence, choosing instead to approach step by step in a straight line. Even when detours were necessary, he used the rune’s senses at his chest to ensure he and his target remained aligned, keeping deviations within a narrow angle—anything to avoid the other side’s detection.

Now, staring at the wooden cabin, Ye Han realized its location aligned perfectly with the direction indicated by his rune. He frowned, feeling a prickling unease. He still hadn’t located the sect’s library. His position was awkward, and he dared not use his shifting abilities for fear of alerting the enemy.

“Should I take a gamble?” Ye Han licked his lips, eyes glinting with anticipation. It was only eight hundred meters—if he could just cross that distance, he’d skirt the hut entirely. But if he failed, time would become dangerously tight. Considering the size of the Crescent Moon Sect, emptying the library would take at least an entire night. He needed to avoid the enemy’s awareness at all costs; if they realized he could shift through space, they’d surely post heavy guards around anything valuable. The library would become even more tightly guarded.

“If I’m going to get exposed, I’ll make sure I have the techniques in hand first!”

Ye Han narrowed his eyes, rising cautiously to his feet. Be patient, stay calm. It’s just a little wooden house! He tried to reassure himself, sneaking quietly down the slope.

But as soon as he took his first step, a sudden vibration rattled his backpack.

“What the hell is that girl up to now?” The jolt startled Ye Han so badly he dove behind a boulder. Aside from his ring, his only other possession was a virtual helmet—a pink pig-faced thing that Yan Qiluo had tossed him.

He unwrapped the bundle, donned the helmet, and sent a thread of his awareness into the virtual space.

“What is it?” Ye Han’s tone was impatient.

He could accept her leaving backdoors in other people’s equipment, but even the device she’d given him? That was too much.

Sensing his displeasure, Yan Qiluo’s lips curled ever so slightly before she donned a look of pitiful grievance and brought up a projection.

“My lord, if you move forward, you’ll trigger the detection devices they’ve set up!”

“Hmm?” Ye Han’s eyes brightened with surprise as he studied the projection. He never expected Yan Qiluo to provide a three-dimensional map of his surroundings. Though the topography wasn’t as detailed as what he sensed with his mind, the accuracy was over ninety percent.

Seeing his delight, Yan Qiluo’s eyes curved into crescents and her chest puffed with pride. “Of course I hacked their satellite data! This civilization specializes in genetics; their firewalls are terribly basic.” She zoomed in on the projection. “The area around that hut is covered by optical sensors. Beyond that, there are thermal detectors.”

Ye Han soon realized all these devices were positioned on the sect’s main peak—more than twenty kilometers from the cabin. According to Yan Qiluo, their coverage was impressive: a ten-kilometer radius centered on the main peak. The wooden hut sat right on the edge of their detection range.

Ye Han frowned at the projection. “If you can breach their firewalls, can you alter the devices’ parameters?”

“I’m afraid not.” Yan Qiluo looked awkward as she fiddled with her pinky, stammering, “This civilization is unusual. Their equipment is all single-use and the data only flows one way. Even a single byte sent back would trigger an alarm and shut everything down.”

“In that case, never mind.” Though disappointed, Ye Han didn’t press further. Still, remembering her mischievous tendencies, he put on a stern face: “Are you hiding anything else from me back home?”

Her sudden contact had opened his eyes to new possibilities. Hanlan Star had suffered calamity, but its information technology was still intact. He’d been so focused on using Hanlan as a bridge that he’d overlooked the steel buried within its structure.

“Hanlan hides nothing from you,” Yan Qiluo said softly, head bowed, her ponytail drooping down her back as her voice took on a fragile tone.

Ye Han nodded, then glanced curiously at the little girl. Was it his imagination, or was she acting strangely meek? That wasn’t her usual style—was she ill?

After a moment’s thought, Ye Han said, “Let’s leave it at that for now. Take care of yourself and drink more warm water.”

With that, he exited the virtual space. He’d already memorized the information from Yan Qiluo’s projection. Right now, stealing the techniques from the library was his top priority; he didn’t have time to waste.

Inside the virtual space, as soon as Ye Han left, Yan Qiluo’s expression shifted abruptly. “So it’s true—my lord’s tastes really have changed!”

…

Ye Han pursed his lips, then said, “Let’s leave it at that for now. Take care of yourself and drink more warm water.” With those words, he quit the virtual space.

He had committed all the details from Yan Qiluo’s projection to memory. Now, with precious little time, his focus had to remain on infiltrating the library and stealing its techniques.

Meanwhile, in the virtual space, as Ye Han departed, Yan Qiluo’s expression darkened. “So it’s true—my lord’s tastes really have changed!”