Chapter Nineteen: Do Not Stare Into the Unknown

At this moment, Mu Chen's [Private Channel] was flashing even more frequently than the [World Channel]. He had no mood to check those private messages now. Instead, he opened the [Regional Channel] for a glance, confirming that the most crucial people in his area had received the information as well, then closed the channel options.

Gazing at the tightly locked gates of the grain storage base, he let out a slow sigh. Lacking strength—what now? Yang Zhiying's family should also come here. But to rely on them? That was unrealistic. Yet Mu Chen hoped they'd hurry over, since each person's starter quest only had one share, and he urgently needed more servants.

This thought was something he couldn't tell his sister yet. He knew that, compared to what he had become, she disliked interacting with this version of himself.

In truth, whichever self he was, how could memories ever be so blurred? My silly sister.

One part nitrate, two parts sulphur, three parts charcoal, add a bit of sugar—Big Ivan, this idea is truly brilliant. Once consolidated, his thoughts felt incredibly clear, more so than ever before.

...

"Brother, aren't we going to find a way inside?" Mu Jiu'er, her pretty face filled with doubt, asked. Since the appearance of the red mist, they'd been searching for a suitable place to claim as their territory. Now, standing at the entrance, stopped by a mere lock, it felt unreasonable.

"It's not yet time to go in. There are some difficult creatures inside," Mu Chen explained, seeing her confusion.

After his explanation, Mu Jiu'er planted her hands on her hips and stood before him. "Be honest—how much have you been hiding from me?!" she pouted.

"Back in the hospital, I thought it was odd. You always seemed to know things in advance—did you awaken some special ability? But whenever I asked, you wouldn't answer directly. Is it like in those novels, where if you tell someone, you'll be erased?"

As she spoke, Mu Jiu'er gasped and hurriedly covered her mouth.

Mu Chen: "..."

He hadn't said a word, and yet this little girl had already guessed this far. If she kept filling in the blanks, she could probably deduce the color of his coffin, Mu Chen thought wryly.

"I could tell you, but you need to be prepared—not to scream. My eyes really have changed; they can block out the red mist."

"Tsk, really?"

Mu Chen gave no answer.

The next instant, a pair of pitch-black, hollow eyes replaced his own. The sudden transformation caught Mu Jiu'er off guard, but soon she grew excited.

"Wow... what's there to be afraid of? Honestly, you look so cool right now," she said, her small hands poking and pinching his face as if she'd found a new favorite toy.

He swatted her wandering hands away, helpless. Just as he was about to explain the abilities of his eyes, he spotted a shadow atop the grain storage base behind Mu Jiu'er.

The shadow was motionless, shaped like an inverted triangle. Mu Chen knew it wasn't part of the building—it clashed entirely with the base's architecture.

As he tried to get a closer look, the shadow seemed to sense his gaze, slowly turning toward him.

A chill swept over him, and Mu Chen quickly averted his eyes.

"So sensitive?" he muttered, recalling the era's earliest warnings: When facing the unknown, do not look directly, do not listen, do not describe...

"Brother, what's wrong? Is there a time limit on your eye's ability?"

Mu Chen waved his hand. "It's nothing. Let's find a place nearby to set up a temporary camp and recover before we do anything else."

He then ordered the group to head toward a small courtyard nearby.

The fertilizer plant was five kilometers from their current location. If they went there and the Yang family recklessly entered the grain storage base, people would surely die.

He felt a pang for the servant recruitment scroll...

But without absolute strength, all plans were just wishful thinking. Now, he needed to quickly grow stronger.

A. Return to the Tumor Flesh Mountain cluster.

B. Go to the fertilizer plant.

C. Find a "big guy" to test his luck.

Mu Chen listed out the options for increasing his strength.

The location of the Tumor Flesh Mountain cluster was sacred in his eyes. But with his mental state deteriorating and his sanity low, that idea was practically ruled out.

To actively seek out the "big guy," he wasn't arrogant enough for that.

Thus, the answer was clear: the fertilizer plant was the best option for now. He would wait until his sanity and mental value recovered before trying anything else.

Exhaling softly, Mu Chen focused his mind, and the prompt appeared on cue.

[You realize your idea is excellent, but reality makes things difficult, for two "big guys" are gathered outside the fertilizer plant. It would be easier to enter the Tumor Flesh Mountain cluster than to slip past them.]

[You discover that the "big guys" are mindless fallen creatures; staring at them is a complete waste of time.]

Even his thoughts were being monitored—how absurd.

There were two adult aberrants in the fertilizer plant...

That would be tricky, especially since the prompt indicated his eye's special effect was useless here.

No matter what, he would go there first.

He needed to leave a warning for the Yang family, lest they recklessly enter the grain storage base.

Though there was no paper or pen at hand, it wasn't a problem for him.

After searching the area, he found a large plank and some branches.

He lit the dry branches with a lighter and wrote a warning on the wooden sign.

"Ferocious beasts inside. Do not enter."

...

PS: As usual, I'll post first and edit later. Let those pirated sites steal to their heart's content.