After the deadly traveler slept, the dragon did not sleep at all.
Gu Yanshu woke up first.
He looked around the room.
Everyone else was still asleep.
He looked at the beds.
Then he looked at the pillows.
Then he said, "This house is useless."
He opened his empty space and stored all of the pillows and beds inside it.
Everyone woke up after that.
Qu Yaoyang, Lan Wege, Qiu Weiran, and He Mulin all stood up without asking anything.
But Bao Yuan frowned and said, "Huh? Can you even let me sleep?"
Gu Yanshu ignored him.
Then he sliced the house in half without saying anything else.
Everyone started walking.
Bao Yuan was left behind for a second, then he ran and joined them again.
They walked near the restaurant where the dragon had slept.
Everyone stayed quiet for a while.
No one did anything.
No one ran.
No one spoke much.
Then suddenly Bao Yuan said, "I am getting bored. I need to run or something. Give me something entertaining."
Gu Yanshu did not answer.
So no one answered.
Lan Wege was looking around cautiously.
Gu Yanshu said that before sleeping, because he could also heal people.
Bao Yuan spoke again.
"Why are you guys walking so cautiously?"
No one answered at first.
Then the dragon said, "Because the sect is about walking cautiously, watching things, and doing random shit, but not almost random. The sect is about that."
Bao Yuan did not have an answer to that.
So he stayed quiet.
Qu Yaoyang looked around and saw a newspaper seller.
He walked over and purchased one newspaper for 0.7 money.
Then they kept walking.
Qu Yaoyang ran back and came near Gu Yanshu.
He showed the newspaper to Gu Yanshu.
Gu Yanshu took it.
The newspaper said Yumatu Shenzi had predicted something with ninety-nine percent accuracy.
It said he had predicted one thing in the future with only thirteen percent confidence before, and that prediction had turned out right.
Now he had reached ninety-six percent.
The prediction was that the world would be destroyed.
So the paper warned everyone not to do anything foolish, because the world could be destroyed at any time.
Gu Yanshu looked at the information about Yumatu Shenzi.
He was thirty-seven years old.
He was the biggest man known for predicting the next thing in the future.
His predictions had always been right.
He did not cultivate.
He did not have strength.
He was a human cultivator who did not cultivate but only predicted.
People still called him a cultivator because no one else had that kind of power.
His mother and father had died.
He lived alone in his own house.
He liked helping people with anything that could help them.
Some people even called him a righteous cultivator, but he did not accept that title.
He gave alerts every time he made a prediction.
People called him the key of humanity.
If a door was locked, he would be the one to open it.
Gu Yanshu opened his empty space and stored the newspaper inside it.
Qu Yaoyang slowly said, "Why didn't you slice that newspaper in half? Last time you sliced the newspaper in half, didn't you?"
Gu Yanshu said, "Indeed, I did it last time, but this guy is another thing."
Everyone stayed quiet for a while.
Then Bao Yuan asked, "Who is Yumatu Shenzi?"
Gu Yanshu answered, "I don't know. He is a new guy who is mentioned as a world predictor who predicts the future. He looks new, but the newspaper says he has been predicting for a while. So this was the first newspaper we saw about him."
Bao Yuan nodded.
"Oh, that is the point, I guess."
No one answered.
They still kept walking.
The road stayed open in front of them.
Not empty.
Not crowded.
Just open enough for everyone to move without stopping.
Bao Yuan looked from one side to the other and then asked, "So we are just going to keep walking like this?"
Gu Yanshu said, "Yes."
Bao Yuan frowned a little.
"That feels too simple."
Qu Yaoyang replied, "Simple is not the same as easy."
Bao Yuan thought about that for a moment.
Then he said, "That sounds like something annoying people say when they know more than me."
The dragon answered, "That is often true."
Bao Yuan looked at the dragon.
Then he looked at Gu Yanshu.
Then he said, "This sect really has a strange style."
Gu Yanshu did not look back.
"It works."
Bao Yuan asked, "Does everything in this sect work like that? Strange style, no name, lots of walking?"
Qu Yaoyang said, "You can leave if you do not like it."
Bao Yuan immediately shook his head.
"No, no. I am not leaving. I just want to understand."
The dragon said, "Then keep asking."
Bao Yuan nodded.
He looked at the road again.
After a while he asked, "Does this Yumatu Shenzi guy actually scare people?"
Gu Yanshu answered, "If people believe him, yes."
Bao Yuan blinked.
"So it is the prediction itself?"
"It is the fact that people move because of it," Gu Yanshu said.
Bao Yuan looked thoughtful.
"That is powerful."
The dragon said, "Yes."
Bao Yuan turned toward the dragon.
"So if he says the world is going to be destroyed, people will start acting like it already happened?"
The dragon replied, "Some will panic. Some will prepare. Some will ignore it. That is what people do."
Bao Yuan nodded slowly.
"Then what should we do?"
Gu Yanshu said, "Walk."
Bao Yuan gave a short laugh.
"Of course."
They kept moving.
The road curved slightly, and the buildings grew lower on one side. A few fences appeared. A few old carts sat near the edge of the path. The town they had passed was behind them now, and the next stretch felt quieter.
Bao Yuan looked at the papers in his empty space and asked, "Can I read that newspaper later?"
Gu Yanshu said, "Yes."
Bao Yuan looked surprised. "You are actually letting me keep it?"
"It is information."
Bao Yuan smiled a little.
"Good."
Then he asked, "Does the newspaper always know what is true?"
Gu Yanshu replied, "No."
Bao Yuan looked confused.
"Then why do people trust it?"
The dragon answered, "Because it is easier to trust something written than something unclear."
Bao Yuan considered that.
"That sounds sad."
Qu Yaoyang said, "It is also useful."
Bao Yuan gave him a glance.
"You really like that word."
Qu Yaoyang answered, "Because it is correct."
Bao Yuan shook his head and kept walking.
The dragon turned its head a little and said, "We should rest again before long."
Bao Yuan looked up.
"We just slept."
The dragon replied, "That does not matter."
Bao Yuan sighed.
"You all talk about rest like it is a strategy."
Qu Yaoyang said, "Sometimes it is."
Bao Yuan muttered, "This sect is really weird."
Gu Yanshu finally looked slightly to the side, just enough to see him.
Then he said, "You are still here."
Bao Yuan blinked, then smiled.
"Yes, I am."
The group kept walking.
A short silence passed.
Then Bao Yuan asked, "If Yumatu Shenzi is really a predictor, how come nobody stopped the world from being in trouble?"
Gu Yanshu answered, "Maybe they did not believe him early enough."
Bao Yuan said, "That sounds bad."
"It is bad," Qu Yaoyang said.
Bao Yuan looked ahead.
"Then what happens if he predicts us?"
The dragon answered, "Then he sees us."
Bao Yuan frowned.
"That was a very calm answer for something scary."
The dragon said, "Being calm does not mean not noticing."
Bao Yuan went quiet for a second, then nodded.
They walked on.
The road now became smoother.
The buildings were spread farther apart.
A few trees appeared along the side.
The wind moved softly through the branches.
Bao Yuan looked up at the leaves and said, "This part is nicer."
Gu Yanshu replied, "Yes."
Bao Yuan asked, "Do we go this way often?"
Qu Yaoyang said, "If needed."
Bao Yuan smiled slightly.
"That answer again."
The dragon said, "You will get used to it."
Bao Yuan looked at the dragon.
"Do you always give answers like that?"
"Yes."
Bao Yuan gave a short laugh.
"Okay. Fine."
He looked ahead again.
After a while he asked, "What do you all do when you are not walking?"
No one answered right away.
Then the dragon said, "We keep walking in different directions."
Bao Yuan stared at it.
"That is not a real answer."
Qu Yaoyang said, "It is close enough."
Bao Yuan looked at Gu Yanshu.
Gu Yanshu said, "You learn. You adapt. You move."
Bao Yuan slowly nodded.
"That actually sounds like a real answer."
The dragon said, "It is."
Bao Yuan smiled again.
He seemed to be getting used to the tone now.
Then he asked, "So this Yumatu guy… if he predicts the world will be destroyed, does that mean he will be blamed if it happens?"
Qu Yaoyang answered, "People always want someone to blame."
Bao Yuan looked at him.
"That sounds very unfair."
Qu Yaoyang said, "Most things are."
Bao Yuan did not argue.
They walked.
The day moved on with them.
The light shifted little by little.
Bao Yuan looked over his shoulder once, then asked, "Are we being followed?"
Gu Yanshu answered, "No."
Bao Yuan breathed out.
Then Gu Yanshu added, "Not right now."
Bao Yuan blinked again.
He turned to look at him.
Gu Yanshu did not explain further.
Bao Yuan rubbed the side of his neck.
"Your way of talking makes me nervous."
The dragon said, "That is often the point."
Bao Yuan sighed.
Then he said, "I guess I should be glad I am still here."
Qu Yaoyang gave a small nod.
"That is the correct attitude."
Bao Yuan looked at him.
"You say that like you are grading me."
Qu Yaoyang replied, "Maybe I am."
Bao Yuan looked offended for a second, then smiled anyway.
The road opened into another wide stretch.
Not a town.
Not a village.
Just space.
Bao Yuan looked around and asked, "Do we stop soon?"
Gu Yanshu said, "Soon."
Bao Yuan nodded.
Then he asked, "Can you tell me more about the sect?"
The dragon answered first.
"What do you want to know?"
Bao Yuan thought about it.
Then he said, "Everything."
Qu Yaoyang let out a short breath.
"That is a big request."
Bao Yuan said, "I know."
The dragon looked at him carefully and said, "Then ask smaller questions."
Bao Yuan took that seriously.
"Okay. First question. How many people are actually in the sect right now?"
Qu Yaoyang answered, "Enough."
Bao Yuan stared at him.
"That is not a number."
"It is the answer," Qu Yaoyang said.
Bao Yuan shook his head, but he did not look angry.
He seemed almost entertained now.
Then he asked, "Second question. Who decides things?"
Gu Yanshu said, "I do."
Bao Yuan nodded quickly. "Okay. That one was clear."
The dragon said, "Good."
Bao Yuan then asked, "Third question. Are all of you always like this?"
Qu Yaoyang asked, "Like what?"
Bao Yuan thought and said, "Quiet. Weird. Serious. Walking like the road belongs to you."
The dragon answered, "Yes."
Bao Yuan looked at them and then laughed softly.
"Wow. That is actually true."
They kept moving.
The road went forward without interruption.
The town from before had become distant enough that it no longer shaped the air around them.
Bao Yuan looked more comfortable now.
He asked smaller questions after that.
What kind of food they usually ate.
Whether the inn in town was expensive.
Whether the dragon always sat on Gu Yanshu's shoulder.
Whether Qu Yaoyang ever got tired of walking.
The answers came in the same calm rhythm as before.
Some short.
Some long enough.
None of them rushed.
And as they walked, Bao Yuan started asking less because he was confused and more because he was curious.
That change made the pace feel lighter.
Even Gu Yanshu seemed a little less rigid.
Not soft.
Just easier to follow.
The dragon noticed it and said nothing.
Only kept moving with them.
After a while, Bao Yuan pointed to the road ahead and said, "There is a fork coming up."
Qu Yaoyang looked up.
"Correct."
Bao Yuan looked pleased. "I saw it first."
The dragon said, "You are learning."
Bao Yuan smiled. "I am trying."
Gu Yanshu said, "Take the left."
Bao Yuan asked, "Why left?"
"Less dust," Gu Yanshu said.
Bao Yuan looked at him.
Then he looked at the road.
Then he nodded.
"Okay."
They took the left path.
It was quieter immediately.
Less used.
But still passable.
Bao Yuan asked, "Are you always this careful?"
Gu Yanshu answered, "Usually."
Bao Yuan nodded.
"Good. I think I am starting to understand this sect."
The dragon replied, "You understand the walking part."
Bao Yuan smiled.
"That counts."
They continued.
No one fought.
No one ran.
No one stopped for anything serious.
Just walking.
Talking.
Listening.
And moving forward through the day.While the third blacker was walking, a call came.
He picked the call.
Sweat drops.
It was his little brother again.
He picked up the call.
Little brother said, "Come back home fast and don't forget to bring Miyagu food this time because I need that so much."
The third blacker said, "Yeah, yeah, I will bring it this time, I promise."
Little brother said, "You promise all the time and don't bring it."
The third blacker cut the call.
His face was still sweating.
Then he saw a girl.
The girl said, "Ha ha ha, didn't I get a big target there?"
Then her body started transforming bigger and bigger.
She turned into a wolf, but with two legs walking, mixed with a tiger, sharp and big.
The third blacker looked annoyed.
He said, "I don't even want to fight you, and I don't even know who you are. I will just call the surgery cops and get out of here."
He opened his phone and called the number.
The surgery cop said, "This is surgery cops. Tell me your emergency."
The third blacker said, "There is a big giant female wolf walking around Area 917, middle area, location to Sumati Town."
The surgery cops said, "We will come soon. Please run."
Before the surgery cops could finish, the third blacker cut the call.
The third blacker started walking away.
The surgery corps was just in Area 915.
The surgery cops raised their blades and headed over to Area 917.
The giant wolf kept swinging her hand, destroying houses with her sharp nails, but the third blacker was blocking all of the attacks.
Soon enough, the third blacker distracted her and put down his bat.
Then, when her attention was on the bat, the third blacker took the bat and flew far away.
The surgery cops soon came in when they saw exactly what the third blacker had described.
They said, "This is your end."
One guy shouted, "Captain Chen, watch out!"
Chen Ying dodged a powerful nail attack from the girl.
Then the attacks started getting more and more intense.
Another guy slid in and tried to attack the girl, but the girl screamed.
Her aura expanded.
The man froze.
He fell.
Chen Ying shouted, "Enough! I had enough! Laratha, attack!"
Laratha flew into the sky and tried again, but the girl kicked him away.
He was sent flying.
He did not die, but he was unconscious.
Chen Ying said, "I have to handle this myself."
He rushed forward.
The girl screamed again.
The aura became even stronger, pushing Chen Ying into a wall.
He stood up.
One guy asked, "Captain Chen, are you okay?"
Chen Ying said, "Don't you see? I am not even bleeding, so I am definitely okay."
The guy smiled nervously.
The girl struck again.
He fell.
The girl laughed at everyone, calling them weak.
Then the girl said, "I will use my final move. Nail Yua Strike."
Chen Ying stepped forward.
"In that case, I will use my final move too. Lightning Star."
His sword became so bright it looked like a star.
The wolf's body was overwhelmed by the attack.
The entire area shook.
A massive explosion erupted in Area 917.
Smoke filled the middle district.
One guy screamed, "Captain Chen, are you okay?"
Chen Ying did not answer immediately.
He stared at the girl.
Then he shouted, "Why are you here? You betrayed me, and now you are doing evil. I will not spare you."
The girl was still conscious.
She had not passed out.
Chen Ying's sword slowly stopped shining.
He pointed it at her.
The girl finally spoke.
"Yes, I betrayed you. I betrayed you because I already had a new husband giving me money. I was looking for money the whole time, not love."
Chen Ying said, "Shut up. Now tell me, why did you even do this?"
The girl replied, "You didn't give me money."
Then another figure appeared.
He said, "Touching my wife?"
The girl pointed at him.
"Yes, he was the one."
The figure jumped forward, trying to attack Chen Ying.
Chen Ying moved once.
The figure dropped.
Chen Ying took out chains.
He slowly said, "You are a new prisoner."
After chaining the girl, he took her to the base of the surgery corps and placed her in a room that always stayed silent.
Meanwhile, the third blacker had completely forgotten about buying the food his little brother wanted.
He looked at a nearby restaurant.
He searched for that food for three straight hours.
No one had it.
When he was finally about to give up, he decided this would be the last place.
And finally, he found it.
He bought the Miyagu food and returned home.
He fed it to the others.
Little brother was smiling happily while eating.
Bigger brother came down the stairs.
Everyone ate together.
Meanwhile, Gu Yanshu and the others continued walking.
Bao Yuan listened to the whole story after hearing bits and pieces from a traveler they passed.
He looked amazed.
"That third blacker sounds like a strange person."
The dragon nodded.
"He is."
Bao Yuan asked, "Do you think he actually forgot the food?"
Qu Yaoyang answered, "For three hours, apparently."
Bao Yuan shook his head.
"That is impressive."
Gu Yanshu said, "It is also dangerous."
Bao Yuan laughed.
"Dangerous for him, not for the monster."
The dragon said, "Little brothers are often more dangerous."
Bao Yuan looked at the dragon.
"That is very true."
They kept walking.
The sun had moved lower now.
Long shadows stretched across the road.
Bao Yuan tossed the last piece of fruit into his mouth.
"So, are all places this weird?"
Gu Yanshu answered, "Most places are weirder."
Bao Yuan looked ahead.
"That is both comforting and concerning."
Qu Yaoyang said, "Good."
The dragon shifted on Gu Yanshu's shoulder.
"We should find a place to stay before dark."
Bao Yuan nodded immediately.
"Yes. Preferably one that is not sliced in half."
Gu Yanshu glanced at him.
"No promises."
Bao Yuan sighed dramatically.
"This sect is trying to shorten my lifespan."
The dragon said, "You are still alive."
Bao Yuan replied, "That is exactly why I am complaining."
Qu Yaoyang almost smiled.
Almost.
They continued down the road.
A small farmhouse appeared in the distance, smoke rising from its chimney.
Bao Yuan pointed at it.
"That looks normal."
The dragon said, "Do not say that too early."
Bao Yuan immediately lowered his hand.
"Right. I forgot."
Gu Yanshu kept walking toward it.
The road was calm.
The wind was gentle.
For now, nothing was chasing them, exploding near them, or trying to transform into something enormous.
Bao Yuan decided that was a very good sign.The new disciple asked, "Why does Area 917 look so big?"
The dragon smiled and answered, "Because it is the biggest area in the entire world."
The new disciple said, "Really?"
The dragon said, "Yup, I am for real."
Qu Yaoyang looked around.
He thought they were looping because it looked like they were not even walking.
It looked like they were just standing, because anyone could easily see the rest around the dragon ate.
They were walking so slow.
Qu Yaoyang asked, "Are we looping?"
Gu Yanshu said, "No, we are not."
Qu Yaoyang said, "If we are looping, that is a bad thing, because looping is very rare in Area 1970."
Gu Yanshu said, "I already said, we are not looping. We are walking back slow. Look at our steps."
Qu Yaoyang looked down and saw they were moving very slowly.
Qu Yaoyang understood they were not looping.
Bao Yuan said, "What the f? I also think we are looping. Don't tell me the lie. Look, we are at the same restaurant. We are like walking for 19 or 14 minutes."
Gu Yanshu slapped Qu Yaoyang and—
Duh.
They opened their eyes and looked around.
The restaurant was fifteen meters away from them.
They were walking zero point zero point one meters every second.
It took them very long to even come here, the dragon said.
"I already told you, this guy," the dragon pointed at Gu Yanshu and continued to say, "always does a new sleep to make you guys."
Bao Yuan said, "I know him, he's my old friend. One time he had not slept for four days. Now he only slept for one day and did not sleep for seven days."
Gu Yanshu smiled.
"Yes."
"The pink is not that important, the duty is simple step."
"Not that important, do you actually have mind?"
Qu Yaoyang slapped him hard and said, "Do not talk that rude to Lord."
Gu Yanshu said, "It is okay, let him say whatever he says."
Qu Yaoyang stayed quiet.
After a while, everyone was quiet.
It was like a half an hour of continued walking, thirty-nine minutes.
Now, they could not see the restaurant.
It was way far away.
They had walked like 379 meters.
Below them was someone hearing all of their words.
It was someone unlike he would not come out.
He would not come out if he saw the opportunity.
When they continued to walk underground, that guy was swimming in oil and the deadly travelers were walking on oil because below them was oil and one guy was swimming in oil.
He had the dust.
That was the god of dustiness, also known as the god of the pit, also known as the god of underground.
The god of dustiness could control the entire underground whenever he wanted and right now he was spying on the deadly travelers.
And the jagged travelers did not know at all there was a god spying on them.
Gu Yanshu kept walking.
No one in the group changed pace.
The road stayed slow, and the strange stillness around Area 917 made the whole thing feel longer than it really was.
Bao Yuan looked ahead and then back again.
"Why does this place feel bigger every time I look at it?" he asked.
The dragon answered, "Because you keep noticing more of it."
Bao Yuan frowned.
"That does not sound right."
Qu Yaoyang said, "It is right enough."
Bao Yuan sighed and looked down at his own feet.
"We are really moving this slowly."
The dragon said, "Yes."
Bao Yuan glanced toward the restaurant again, now much farther behind.
"So we really did not loop?"
Gu Yanshu replied, "No."
Bao Yuan muttered, "I still do not like how it felt."
The dragon said, "That is because you are paying attention."
Bao Yuan looked up.
"That sounds like a bad thing."
The dragon replied, "It is only bad if you stop."
Bao Yuan paused.
Then he nodded slowly.
"I guess that makes sense."
They kept walking.
The road ahead stayed open.
The ground under their feet was steady, but the feeling below it was not.
The god of dustiness kept swimming inside the oil underground.
He heard every word.
Every complaint.
Every question.
Every step.
He was still not rising.
Not yet.
He simply listened.
Gu Yanshu noticed the atmosphere shifting slightly and kept his eyes forward.
Bao Yuan asked, "Why does the ground feel strange?"
The dragon answered, "Because something is underneath."
Bao Yuan blinked.
"That is not a comforting answer."
Qu Yaoyang looked at him.
"Comfort was never the point."
Bao Yuan looked at him.
"You all really know how to ruin a mood."
The dragon said, "We are very skilled."
Bao Yuan gave a short laugh despite himself.
"Yeah, I noticed."
They passed another long stretch of road.
Nothing interrupted them.
No one called out.
No one approached.
The only movement was their own slow walking and the distant shifting of dust in the wind.
Bao Yuan looked at the path and said, "This really is huge."
The dragon smiled.
"Area 917 is the biggest area in the entire world."
Bao Yuan shook his head.
"I still cannot believe that."
Qu Yaoyang said, "You do not need to believe it. You just need to keep walking through it."
Bao Yuan looked at him.
"That is such a harsh way to say it."
Qu Yaoyang replied, "It is also true."
Bao Yuan accepted that with a small nod.
Then he asked, "Do you think that underground thing is still there?"
Gu Yanshu answered, "Yes."
Bao Yuan swallowed.
"Still listening?"
"Yes."
Bao Yuan lowered his voice.
"And he can hear us right now?"
The dragon said, "Most likely."
Bao Yuan looked down immediately.
Then he looked up again.
"Why are you all so calm?"
Qu Yaoyang said, "Because panic does not change where we are."
Bao Yuan frowned.
"That is another one of those answers."
The dragon replied, "Yes."
Bao Yuan sighed.
"I hate how all of you are right in your own strange way."
Gu Yanshu kept walking.
The road remained slow.
Still long.
Still wide.
The restaurant was now much farther behind them.
The god below them stayed in the oil, silent and patient.
He was not in a hurry.
He was learning them.
That mattered more to him than any single movement.
Bao Yuan looked to the side and saw the land opening up farther.
"This area really has no end, does it?"
The dragon replied, "Not one you will reach today."
Bao Yuan looked at it.
"That is a very specific kind of discouragement."
The dragon said, "It is also accurate."
Bao Yuan muttered, "I am starting to understand why nobody here sounds normal."
Qu Yaoyang answered, "Normal is a temporary condition."
Bao Yuan stared at him.
"What does that even mean?"
Qu Yaoyang said, "It means nothing lasts the same."
Bao Yuan thought about that while walking.
Then he said, "That is somehow annoying and deep at the same time."
The dragon said, "That is a useful combination."
Bao Yuan smiled a little.
"Fine."
They continued forward.
The path stayed steady.
The underground god kept listening.
And the group kept walking, talking, and moving through the enormous silence of Area 917, while the road stretched on and the dust below them listened without revealing itself.