Chapter 40

“What are you following me for?”

“What do you mean by following me? Don’t I need to return to Clock Tower Lane? This path isn’t yours to buy, hehehe…”

Ignoring the teenage girl making faces beside her, Xia’er headed straight toward the direction of the Clock Tower Lane District, pondering her next move in her mind.

In terms of strength, she certainly couldn’t defeat a more powerful Extraordinary Person.

But that didn’t mean she had to fight them.

If she could find out where the Extraordinary Person was hiding, she could report it to the Church after returning to reality. Even if she only found a solution to the Dehydration Syndrome, she could go back to reality and take her sister away from the dangerous Borough City.

Xia’er felt like she was at odds with Borough City; no good ever seemed to happen when she stayed here.

After walking for a while, as they approached the checkpoint of the Clock Tower Lane District, Adelle suddenly asked, “Did your family die because of the Dehydration Syndrome?”

“No.”

“Friends?”

“No.”

“‘Life Friend’?”

“No.”

“Then why are you risking yourself to investigate?”

Adelle looked puzzled. Unlike Aivana, she wasn’t interested in others’ experiences; she simply couldn’t understand.

Seeing Xia’er didn’t answer, Adelle didn’t give up. After showing the emblem on her chest, leading Xia’er back into the Clock Tower Lane District, she seemed to remember something and changed the subject.

“By the way, Xia’er, since you’ve become an Extraordinary Person recently, can you write a Spiritual Note?” Adelle asked curiously.

“Spiritual Note?” This topic finally caught Xia’er’s interest.

She knew that Dur’s research notes were Spiritual Notes, which required more points to exchange and needed the System to erase the spiritual marks.

But Xia’er really didn’t understand why one would write a Spiritual Note or how to write one.

“You can’t? What about other spiritual anchor points?” Adelle seemed surprised.

“What anchor points?” Xia’er looked towards Adelle.

This was the first time she heard such terms. Aivana never told her about these things either, and this was the first time she heard anyone talk about them.

“Well… you can imagine it as something that reminds you of yourself when you see it. You are you… I don’t know if you can understand this?” Adelle exaggeratedly gestured, “If you don’t have it, you might start doubting yourself under the influence of a Potion’s whispers, and in severe cases, you might be assimilated by the Potion!”

Doubt in oneself…

Yes, Xia’er really had such thoughts before.

No matter in reality or in her simulated notes, she had experienced similar self-doubt, unable to distinguish between reality and simulation.

But, simulations aren’t Potions, do they also need spiritual anchor points?

“Generally speaking, various Churches and organizations are quite skilled at using Spiritual Notes. By recording some things every day, high-level Extraordinary Persons can occasionally check the notes to confirm the mental state of the note holder, making it easier to intervene.”

After thinking for a moment, Adelle continued, “If no one helps you check your Spiritual Note, those Extraordinary Persons who haven’t joined any organization will choose to make a unique item, feeling its weight and texture, to continuously form muscle memory, reinforcing self-cognition, and stabilizing their spirit.”

“Of course, this thing must be something only you know, but it must also be reproducible. If your long-held spiritual anchor point is replaced or disappears, it will increase the risk of collapse.”

“If you have time, I suggest you make one yourself.”

Xia’er nodded, understanding what Adelle described. Because of this unstable situation, she herself had indeed experienced it before.

And spiritual anchor points are like the spinning top in Inception, a means to reinforce self-cognition.

It seems that she really needs to find a way to create her own spiritual anchor point.

“Thank you, Adelle.”

Sh Xia’er sincerely thanked Adelle, and her impression of Adelle improved slightly.

Although Adelle had a somewhat eccentric personality, she was fundamentally good-natured.

“You’re welcome.” Hearing Xia’er’s compliment, Adelle reached into her black robe and pulled out a gauze mask, saying generously, “Take it! You’re welcome!”

Xia’er took the mask and put it on. After all, she still needed to stay in Clock Tower Lane District for some time and should take precautions against infection.

“By the way, I have a question,” Xia’er looked at the silver raven mask hanging around Adelle’s neck and asked curiously, “This mask has no protective effect. Why do you still wear it? It must be from a hundred years ago, right?”

Hearing this, Adelle’s cheerful expression immediately fell: “Because the next advancement path is called ‘Plague Doctor.’ Don’t just say me; everyone on the ‘Physician’ path has to wear it.”

It seemed that Adelle was also feeling suffocated, starting to complain to Xia’er.

The two soon arrived at the South-North Stone Street. Just one more street ahead was where they had encountered each other earlier. A little further ahead would lead them to Clock Tower Church.

“Wait here for me. I’ll go to the church and get you a badge so you won’t be mistaken for an unknown Extraordinary Person by other Physicians. Before, I had to test you because you didn’t have a badge,” Adelle signaled Xia’er to wait in place while she continued forward.

“Can’t I come with you?” Xia’er asked.

“The area around the church is the safest. It’s a quarantine zone where all the patients are. Other Physicians start checking from the periphery…”

Hearing Adelle’s explanation, Xia’er understood. Seeing Xia’er stop, Adelle waved her hand and ran directly towards Clock Tower Church.

Indeed, there were so many patients there. As Yulis said, the suffering of those around her would affect her. If Xia’er went there, her head would likely be filled with buzzing sounds.

However…

Thinking about it, Xia’er’s face showed some confusion. She watched Adelle disappear and then started to follow her.

Since she entered Clock Tower Lane District and walked to this place, her head hadn’t buzzed once.

She didn’t feel increasingly uncomfortable as she got closer.

She cautiously moved forward, finding nothing unusual. The streets remained empty.

The more intense the pain others felt, the stronger she sensed it…

Xia’er frowned, as if realizing something, and suddenly quickened her pace, running toward Clock Tower Church.

The Clock Tower grew larger in Xia’er’s vision. Rain had stopped, but the surrounding fog thickened.

Soon, she saw the large square in front of Clock Tower Church and the densely packed tents…

And on the wet black stone road, numerous corpses lay haphazardly, clearly having experienced fierce struggles before their deaths…

“Adelle!” Xia’er tightened her grip when she saw the silver-haired figure standing among the corpses.

Adelle slowly turned her head, her body stiff. Her fingers tightly gripped her throat, as if she was trying to shout something.

But she couldn’t produce any sound.

“Run!” Adelle tore off her mask and shouted toward Xia’er. With severe coughing, Adelle fell to the ground, spewing blood from her mouth again and again.

Meanwhile, Xia’er quickly passed Adelle and rushed toward the dense pile of corpses, searching rapidly from side to side.

She couldn’t escape.

The intense thirst overwhelmed her mind. She resisted the urge to tear off her mask and drink the stagnant water on the ground, determined to find the Extraordinary Person still alive and enjoying the fruits of the ritual victory among the corpses and tents.

But the suffocating dizziness came as expected, and her life was rapidly evaporating.