Reverse flow of the Yellow Springs

Chapter 32 The Heart of Killing

A series of alarms jolted Li Yelai awake from his drowsy state.

He couldn't count how many alarms there were.

Thirty? Forty? Or more?

Just how many forbidden objects have breached containment?

Among them were even Class B forbidden items from the lower level. Could it be that even the captain and the others were in trouble?

When I woke up, the world had changed!

Is this reality, or a nightmare?
Li Yelai sat up straight in bed instantly and felt a chill.

The cold air filled his nostrils, making his mind a little clearer.

Suppressing his shock, he immediately asked, "What happened?"

At the same time, she reached out and buttoned up the collar of her cheese pajamas, concealing the dazzling spring scenery.

Cheese belatedly realized what was happening, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face, and immediately jumped off the bed barefoot.

"You were led into a deep sleep by the Dream Eater, and with the out-of-control Ice Witch, the temperature in the Black Prison has dropped to below minus ten degrees Celsius. It's very dangerous!" Cheese grabbed a saccharin pill and stuffed it into his mouth, quickly explaining, "I noticed the alarm went off but you didn't come out, so I knew you'd been affected."

The rapidly dropping temperature caused white mist to appear in her vision as she spoke.

This made Li Yelai feel a little scared.

The Baku is a living taboo. Its danger level is Class C.

When out of control, it will put those around it into a deep sleep.

A single Dream Eater is easy to suppress, but when combined with the Ice Demon King of the lower level, it forms a deadly combination.

Forced to lie dormant in a low-temperature environment, they might freeze to death at any time.

If no one had noticed, Li Yelai would probably have fallen asleep in his room.

Moreover, if even Li Yelai, a second-level psychic, could fall victim to this without realizing it, wouldn't it be even worse for those office workers?
"Quick, get dressed and grab your weapons. Head to the command post!" Cheese urged, tossing Li Yelai the clothes he had placed on the bedside table.

She then ran back to her room to get dressed.

As soon as she realized something was wrong, she immediately broke down the door and called for help, without even having time to put on her gear.

However, just before stepping out the door, she suddenly stopped. She looked outside in shock.

Li Yelai, who had just put on his clothes, gave her a strange look.

Following her gaze towards the door, they saw an unfamiliar corridor and an open containment room. Inside the containment room, the forbidden object was nowhere to be found.

This...this is the upper level containment unit?

That's not right, the lounge is located in the rest area.

The containment unit should be at least ten meters below.

Is there a spatial distortion?

Or is it a case of being lost in a maze?
Startled, Li Yelai immediately put on his clothes.

He picked up the crimson longsword and the summoning bell, and slung the jet axe over his shoulder.

"What's going on? Are we trapped in a maze?" Li Yelai grabbed a thick coat he had brought and handed it to Cheese.

After putting on his coat, Cheese slowly shivered: "It's a Möbius strip, it's broken through containment too!"

Then, Cheese looked at Li Yelai and said, "My communicator is in the room. You can contact the command center."

On the other side, in the square that was originally bustling with people, many civilian staff members were wearing thick coats and helping each other move forward.

Some walked a few steps and then suddenly collapsed and fell fast asleep.

Some people deliberately leave wounds on their bodies to fight off sleepiness with pain.

Some of the guards were settling civilian staff around, dragging them to the warmer campfire.

Inside the command center, dozens of civilian staff members had fallen into a coma after contracting the virus, while the remaining dozen or so were struggling to keep their eyes wide open.

One of the bald men, holding a small knife, stabbed himself in the arm. The intense pain jolted him awake.

He couldn't sleep; he had to stay awake until the very last moment. Prepare for the worst!

Just then, a message came through.

The bald man glanced at the screen quickly, saw it was Night General, and immediately connected to the communication.

"Night General, are you alright?" the bald man asked.

"What's the situation now?" It was Cheese's voice that answered him.

"Cheese? You're all together? Great! A large number of forbidden items have breached containment. The forty-eight handlers, two hundred and seventy-three civilian staff, and three teams of Iron Guards on the upper level are all out of contact. You are the only ones who can reach me!"

While bandaging his wounds, the bald man quickly explained, "Because the Möbius strip has also broken through containment. The area under its influence has become a maze. Only the plaza and the black elevator on the upper level were unaffected. The rest of the area has become a maze."

[Class C Forbidden Item: Möbius Strip]
It possesses a powerful ability to warp reality; if it gets out of control, it will alter the surrounding space, creating a spatial paradox.

In layman's terms, it's like being trapped in a maze.

The containment unit has become a maze-like structure.

Li Yelai was taken to the containment unit from the doorway of the rest room.

On the other side, Li Yelai couldn't help but ask into the communicator, "Have you contacted the branch? Have you mobilized a team to support Black Prison?"

The bald man on the other end gasped in pain: "A large-scale, out-of-control distortion has occurred in the giant city. There's something wrong with that Fantasy Band. Some kind of music they're playing is causing the audience to start distorting wildly."

What beasts! That's tens of thousands of people! And they're all twisted and out of control at the same time!
Almost all the agents from all branches, and even headquarters, have been mobilized. It seems the forbidden objects sensed this, which is why they dared to collectively breach containment! Meanwhile, we can only hold the command center and the black elevator; we can't provide support, and we can't even find you.”

Fantasy Band? Is that where Xinghuo and the others went? Li Yelai's heart skipped a beat.

Fortunately, Li Yunyan is unable to leave the house and remains in the family apartment, so she should be safe.

"So, we don't have any reinforcements for the time being?" Cheese sighed. "We'll have to rely on ourselves."

"Unfortunately, that's true. I hope you can reunite with your teammates." The bald man replied, "If possible, please suppress the Möbius strip as soon as possible, especially if it affects the lower level."

Li Yelai replied in a deep voice, "I understand!"

He understood the seriousness of the situation. The most dangerous thing was not the combination of the Dream Eater and the Ice Witch, but this Möbius strip!

If its labyrinth extends to the deeper lower half of the Black Prison, then even Class B or Class A forbidden objects could break through containment!
'Damn, this time, I might really have to make a deal with Mr. Shadow.' Li Yelai thought to himself.

"Also, watch out for the King of Zhelan's flag!" The bald man's voice was full of vigilance.

"The Folding Orchid King's Banner, that forbidden item that accelerates things?" Li Yelai asked, "What's wrong with it?"

"Its danger level has increased, get away from it." The bald man's voice was intermittent, and eventually only static came through the communicator.

It seems that the signal has been completely lost.

After ending the call, Li Yelai felt a little heavy-hearted.

At this moment, Cheese also put on the clothes and shoes that Li Yelai had brought.

Because of the height difference, it doesn't fit well.

The good news is that Li Ye brought her a bag of saccharin before he arrived, which prevented her from being unable to use her abilities.

Cheese picked up the saccharin and said in a calm tone, "Do you remember the forbidden substance we saw before?"

“Of course,” Li Yelai nodded.

"That's good. Don't put pressure on yourself. When you encounter something forbidden, suppress it step by step." Cheese encouraged him, a smile appearing on his slightly pale, delicate face: "With me as your strong backer, just hold on tight!"

"Don't worry, I'm brave too!" Li Yelai replied in a low voice, holding his long sword.

Both of them were lying, given this situation.

Neither the cheese nor Li Yelai could be certain of anything. All they could do was try their best.

So the two of them left the room and began to explore the way.

The Möbius strip has a very strange ability; any intersection or gate can lead to any location.

When Cheese opened the door to a lounge, he found himself in a containment room.

The forbidden object in the containment room had escaped, and there were three mangled corpses of civilian employees on the ground.

Their sidearms were empty, and their bodies seemed to be trampled by some giant beast. Blood splattered on the walls and floor.

They did not give up resistance until the very last moment, but the enemy was so formidable that all resistance was futile.

Looking at their ravaged faces, contorted with pain and rage.

Li Yelai felt increasingly heavy-hearted.

Cheese then stepped forward, closed their eyes, and calmly examined their wounds.

"His bones were crushed by horse hooves; he was trampled to death." Cheese frowned. "Which forbidden item could it be? Is there such a forbidden item on the upper level?"

In her memory, there seemed to be no taboo against such methods of killing within the East City branch.

The Class B centaur is one example; it has hooves. Furthermore, it's a forbidden item in the lower half of the hierarchy.

Thinking of this, her face grew even more pale.

"Could it be that the Möbius strip has already infiltrated the lower half?" Cheese's tone carried a hint of despair.

This means they are very likely to run into something that is forbidden by Class B laws next.

Only Captain Yang Chen and the elite Night Shield in the team are capable of confronting this level of forbidden object.

"No." Li Yelai waved his hand: "Definitely not, otherwise, with my luck, I would have encountered a Class B as soon as I opened the door."

Indeed, what if the lower levels were also thrown into the maze?

Given Li Yelai's luck, the moment he opens the door, he might receive a "hello" from a Class B forbidden object, which would then devour him alive.

"You haven't even activated your abilities, so you shouldn't be in this mess." Cheese forced a smile.

The next moment, several gunshots rang out, and a slight tremor was felt.

"It's a pistol!"

Li Yelai and Cheese exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

So he immediately rushed out of the containment chamber and sprinted toward the direction from which the gunshot had come.

Most psionicists don't use guns. Those in the Black Prison who are equipped with handguns are mostly clerical staff.

If necessary, they would use a pistol to try to suppress the taboo, or... to give themselves a quick death.

Now that we've confirmed they're civilian staff, we need to join them immediately!

Perhaps other processing staff will also arrive there.

But as they were about to arrive, the previously intense and loud gunfire gradually subsided.

Li Yelai and Cheese felt a chill in their hearts and simultaneously prepared for battle.

And as they rushed out of the corner.

Instead, they saw an office worker covered in blood and shirtless.

They are pursuing two civilian employees who fired back.

At his feet lay several other civilian employees, their fates unknown.

At this moment, the man turned his back to Li Yelai and Zhishi and quickly approached the two civilian staff members in the distance.

What's going on? Is this civilian staff attacking civilian staff?

Upon seeing this, Cheese's expression changed. Without asking what happened, he said in a deep voice, "[Listen to me] Cardiac arrest!"

The naked man paused, then suddenly turned to look at the two of them.

This allowed the two to see that a crimson heart was attached to the man's chest, with crimson veins merging into his skin, and the crimson heart was beating violently.

Class C Forbidden Zone: The Heart of Slaughter!
After carrying it, your physical strength will be continuously enhanced. The longer you carry it, the greater the physical enhancement.

But the price is that greed will grow in your heart.

The holder will crave power even more, making them unwilling to relinquish their heart. Stronger, stronger still.

In the end, they lose their rationality and become killing machines!
Therefore, the authorities are very cautious about the use of this forbidden substance.

If processors want to strengthen their physical bodies through this method, they not only need to pay merit points, but also need to do so under strict protection.

They will be removed immediately when the time comes, in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

But clearly, this office worker has been turned into a killing machine, frantically slaughtering his colleagues.

"Is there any hope for him?" Li Yelai stepped forward, knife in hand.

"It's too late now," Cheese said quietly.

"I understand," Li Yelai exhaled. "I'll see him off!"

Meanwhile, upon spotting the two individuals, the killing machine instantly changed its target.

He quickly bent down, grabbed a fire axe from beside his feet, and then charged towards the two men.

His powerful physical strength is comparable to that of a second-level True Martial.

This allows a distance of tens of meters to be shortened almost instantly.

He raised the fire axe high in his hand, as if he were about to use a powerful strike to split Mount Hua on Li Yelai!
But at the same time, Cheese spoke up: "[Listen to me] Close your eyes!"

The killing machine immediately closed its eyes, and its powerful strike missed its target.

When he opened his eyes, all he saw was his headless corpse collapsing helplessly.

The instant he closed his eyes, Li Yelai swung his sword and slashed at his neck.

Even a strengthened physical body cannot withstand the sharpness of psionic weapons.

Within a fraction of a second of losing sight, he was beheaded by Li Yelai.

But then a sudden change occurred!
The moment the headless corpse fell, the killing intent suddenly detached from the body and shot towards Li Yelai at an extremely fast speed.

Li Yelai and Zhishi were both horrified; this was unprecedented! How could it continue to spiral out of control after being suppressed? What kind of sit-ups were these? Was this never going to end?
In this close-range surprise attack, Li Yelai had no time to dodge.

The murderous intent pierced through his psionic barrier and adhered to the back of Li Yelai's hand.

The next moment, the desire to kill merged into his arm.

Li Yelai felt a chill rise from his heart and immediately unbuttoned his clothes and pulled open his collar.

Then he saw a bright red heart beating powerfully in the center of his chest.

Golden-red veins spread out like a spider web, sticking to the skin.

At the same time, a powerful force is surging into the body, as if awakening anew, and the physical body begins to be strengthened.

"Holy crap, I can't handle this overwhelming wealth."

Book Recommendation: There's Really Nothing Strange About This World

Watching his younger sister crawl up the door like Spider-Man, then up the ceiling, and then over Fu Tianqing and the other person's heads, heading towards her own bedroom.

Fu Tianqing turned back and shrugged at the terrified tenant. "She's just naturally athletic. There's no such thing as the supernatural in this world."



(End of this chapter)