Chapter 2619: Numb
Ling Mu left Broken Cliff again, feeling that it was a pity to leave so quickly after her last visit.
Cheng Feng regretted Ling Mu’s first departure even more, of course, though he did not reveal that to Little Lian. He maintained his untainted appearance, just like the strands of smoke that rose from the village below. It gave him an ethereal mien, as if he was detached from the world of cultivation and lived in harmony with the beauty of nature.
It was not long before a melodious voice started to sing. It echoed out, immediately captivating Little Lian and everyone else who was fortunate enough to hear it.
The voice even reached Lu Yin, prompting him to immediately turn back to look at Broken Cliff. The voice he heard possessed the remarkable ability to sway the emotions of those who heard it. A captivating essence seemed to unfurl like an intricately painted scroll. In the presence of this voice, even the stars seemed to intensify, and Lu Yin felt an indescribable surge of passion bubble up within him.
This song could stir emotions.
Lu Yin was immediately reminded of Luo Shen, and how her dance could also evoke people’s emotions. If she performed with Cheng Feng, it would lead to an unimaginably beautiful performance. What a pity it was that Cheng Feng was a spy.
As the song continued, Lu Yin entered the village. The ordinary people living there could not see him at all.
When he first visited the village while disguised as Tu Shuangshuang, he had felt that there was something wrong with the place, but had not been able to pinpoint what it was. He wanted more time to observe.
"Auntie, help me hold the ladder. There's a hole somewhere in the roof, and it leaks every time it rains."
"Alright, just wait a moment. I'm cleaning my hands."
"Old man, go water the crops when you can. We still need to harvest them for next year."
"Cough, cough. This cold won’t leave this old man. I don't have the strength."
"Just get out. It’s not like you’re going to die anyways."
"It'd be better if I were dead."
"Hush-"
As Lu Yin listened to the villagers chatting with each other, he gradually came to realize what was amiss. This chapter made its debut appearance via N0v3lB1n.
The people of the village were ordinary humans who had been given long lives and unchanging appearances. They were able to live out their days and years in a leisurely and uneventful manner. While this was something that many people might yearn for, as the idea of living forever was very appealing, was it truly what normal people desired?
If one lived in a world full of new mysteries that could offer a fascinating life, then immortality would be delightful. This was reflected in the lives of cultivators who could casually spend centuries in seclusion while striving for the pinnacle of cultivation, constantly climbing from one peak to another while pursuing the necessary resources. But what about ordinary people? They fetched water, irrigated their fields, mended their clothes, repaired their houses, and carried out other similar mundane tasks. They repeated the exact same actions every single day. What joy could such tasks offer? They were confined to their small village for eternity. Even if they had been granted immortality, their world remained the same small village. What was the purpose of such a life?
For these people, aging was just another part of life, but the people that Lu Yin was observing had nothing, and yet were forced to live on. This was not life, but torture.
Their eyes were numb. Not even Cheng Feng's bewitching songs could stir the slightest emotions from within these people. Even Lu Yin, a cultivator close to becoming a Semi-Progenitor, was affected by the music, but these ordinary humans were completely uninterested. They had become numb to the point of losing all zest for life.
These people would rather die than continue to live such lives!
Death, that was such a simple event for most normal humans, but it had become nothing more than a distant dream for these villagers.
What people referred to as living in harmony with nature and caring for his hometown was actually nothing more than Cheng Feng's fantasy. He was exploiting the villagers to carry out his own selfish desires. How were others unable to see this?
Lu Yin turned to stare into outer space. Could an exalted figure like Sovereign Ninth Lotus not see the truth?
The song ended, but the villagers carried on in the exact same manner as ever as they numbly engaged in their various tasks.
Cheng Feng returned. "Uncle, let me hold that ladder for you."
A middle-aged man offered his gratitude, though his eyes remained indifferent.
Lu Yin's eyes narrowed. Cheng Feng had figured out what was happening. This man was truly cautious. If Lu Yin had not tried to impersonate Shaman God and tempt Cheng Feng with the possibility of becoming the next Sage Hua, Cheng Feng would have never revealed so much.
Outside Broken Cliff, Old Dian and the others from the Bureau soon approached Jiang Xiaodao, Little Lian, and Ling Mu.
They had only just arrived, so Lu Yin had already started his conversation while disguised as Shaman God. The whole thing had been recorded with a communication crystal, but the video had only been shared with the Bureau officials. As soon as they saw Cheng Feng kneel to Shaman God, they knew that they were on the right track. When they arrived at the edge of Broken Cliff, they shared the video with Ling Mu and the others.
Ling Mu and the others were dumbfounded as they watched the video show Cheng Feng kneeling to Shaman God, and they listened as Cheng Feng confessed to killing Sage Stone.
Jiang Xiaodao was completely stunned. "Shaman God is here? We need to call for help."
"That is the acting Bureau Director disguised as Shaman God," Boss Guan explained.
Old Dian and the others from the Bureau were also rather perplexed; how had the acting Bureau Director known that impersonating Shaman God would be enough to deceive Cheng Feng? Xuan Qi was becoming more and more mysterious to them.
There was a loud bang, and a lotus bloomed. Cheng Feng tried to make his escape, but his legs had already been pierced by the bone pike, and he collapsed. Lu Yin restored his appearance as Xuan Qi. "Now that you've been caught, the other spies in this universe will start to behave themselves."
Cheng Feng glared at Lu Yin. "You are Xuan Qi! You impersonated Shaman God!"
At this moment, the Bureau officials and Little Lian quickly moved onto Broken Cliff.
At the same time, people emerged from the village, all of them looking confused.
Lu Yin looked down at Cheng Feng. "I have a question for you: do you think that these villagers want to live long lives?"
Cheng Feng had not expected this particular question, as it seemed completely random. After all, this had nothing to do with him being a spy. "Of course. Who doesn't wish for longevity?"
Lu Yin turned to the villagers. "Starting today, you are free. Whether you live or die, no one will bother you."
The villagers stared at Lu Yin with blank faces.
Cheng Feng had expected the villagers to scramble over to save him, but that did not occur. Instead, the villagers numbly stared on, revealing no reaction to the sight of Cheng Feng being captured by Lu Yin. Their complete lack of emotion sent chills down Cheng Feng’s spine.
"What have you done to them?" Cheng Feng roared as he started to struggle.
It was at this moment that Little Lian and the others arrived.
"Bureau Director." Old Dian and his team quickly grabbed Cheng Feng.
Lu Yin looked at Little Lian. "Little Lian, it's been quite a while."
Little Lian was surprised to see him. "Brother Xuan Qi?"
"Xuan Qi? What are you doing here?" Jiang Xiaodao shouted.
Ling Mu also appeared, and she stared at Lu Yin. "Are you also part of the Bureau?"
"I am the acting Bureau Director of the Voidforce Universe’s Bureau, Xuan Qi," Lu Yin introduced himself.
Ling Mu ignored the introduction. "Give me Cheng Feng."
Lu Yin arched a brow. "Cheng Feng is a spy, and it's already been proven. Naturally, my Bureau will now interrogate him. Why should I give him to you?"
"He is also one of Sovereign Ninth Lotus’s disciples. Regardless of his possible crimes, Sovereign Ninth Lotus will be the one to deal with him," Ling Mu replied. As she spoke, more people started to arrive. All of them were Sovereign Ninth Lotus’s disciples. Eventually, five people surrounded Lu Yin and the others from the Bureau. Battle techniques and lotus flowers started to appear in the void.
Jiang Xiaodao was thrilled to see Xuan Qi’s misfortune. Going against Sovereign Ninth Lotus’s disciples? Was Xuan Qi not afraid of death? How many disciples did Sovereign Ninth Lotus have that were part of the Sixverse Association? Her disciples were not people who could be reasoned with.
Old Dian and the others from the Bureau glanced at each other. Things had just gotten very troublesome. With Sovereign Ninth Lotus’s disciples forcing their way in, it would not be easy for them to arrest Cheng Feng. Of course, Sovereign Ninth Lotus’s disciples also would not protect Cheng Feng, and his fate would be just as miserable with them as with the Bureau. However, the Bureau could not allow Sovereign Ninth Lotus’s disciples to take the spy away before he was even interrogated.