# Chapter 8: Rapidly Taking the Fall
On the train, Su Xiao closed the communication platform. This time, the first-place reward was very tempting to him. As long as he obtained the "Tree Bud," he could gain access to the seventh layer of the Land of All Beings.
The sixth layer of the Land of All Beings had already reached an astonishing level of improvement in training efficiency. The effects of the seventh layer were unimaginable, and there might even be unexpected gains, especially in the development of blade techniques.
To compete for first place this time, there was no need to do anything specific—just obtain World Source. However, at the moment, Su Xiao hadn't even gained 1% of the World Source.
Judging from the current situation, obtaining World Source in this world was no easy task. Fortunately, Su Xiao had never been inferior to anyone in this regard.
The journey to Winter Spring Town was not short. By train, it would take about 30 hours or more. Based on distance, traveling on his own would be faster, but Winter Spring Town was a remote and small place, making it troublesome to find. It was safer to take the train.
The round trip would take considerable time, but Su Xiao had prepared in advance. In his office in Youke City, he had set an initial coordinate through the [Directional Coordinate (Holy Spirit Rank)], and later, he could return using the Demon Clan's spatial array diagram.
The morning sun rose outside the window. Su Xiao speculated that an attack was unlikely, so he lay down on the small bed to rest. There would be plenty to do once he arrived at Winter Spring Town.
As the number of passengers on the train dwindled, the scenery outside the window became more beautiful. After passing through a large cherry blossom forest, the train stopped, arriving at the long-distance terminal.
Su Xiao stepped off the train, and a somewhat crude and simple train station appeared before him. There were few people in the station. Some travelers wore loose clothing and had leisurely expressions. Unlike the bustling Jiaman City, Winter Spring Town was a great place for a vacation. Its hot springs were famous, and behind it was a snow-capped mountain with snow that never melted year-round.
"Sir, I am Mente, an external member of the Containment Institution."
A man in a black suit and hat spoke in a low voice. His expression clearly showed that he was worried about attracting attention, so he kept himself well-covered.
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. He already understood why this external member named Mente had been assigned to monitor the dangerous object in this remote place.
"Lead the way."
"Yes."
Mente walked ahead, pressing down on his hat. He felt that his chance to turn things around had come.
Arriving at Mente's temporary residence, Su Xiao met the other two external personnel. One was a woman with dead fish eyes, a cigarette dangling from her mouth, named Laura.
The other man appeared enthusiastic on the surface but had actually given up on being transferred away from Winter Spring Town. He was indifferent to everything and called himself a poet. In his words, the love of his life had abandoned him, so his name didn't matter.
Among Mente, Laura, and the poet, only Mente hadn't given up on the ambition to leave. The other two were outwardly respectful but inwardly indifferent.
Su Xiao sat on a single sofa. Just as he was about to ask about the situation, he heard a thud, as if something stiff had hit the door.
Laura, cigarette in mouth, looked puzzled. She pushed open the door and immediately took several steps back.
"Mente is dead!"
The cigarette between Laura's fingers deformed. Outside the door, Mente lay stiffly beside a woodpile, his entire body covered in a layer of frost. His expression wasn't one of fear but of a smile—a smile that sent chills down one's spine and made the back feel cold.
All S-class dangerous objects were difficult to deal with. Su Xiao had just arrived, and the dangerous object in Winter Spring Town had already sensed his presence, silently killing Mente. This was clearly a warning.
Su Xiao gestured for Baha to drag Mente's body inside. He began examining the corpse, thought for a moment, then took out a small notebook and wrote: 'Can cause instant death, estimated to be a long-range killing ability, no warning, whether a medium is needed unknown, cause of death is severe internal burns, the frost layer on the surface is unclear if it has special significance, this dangerous object has intelligence, this killing is likely a warning and an attempt to drive away.'
Su Xiao closed the small notebook with one hand. A crystal layer crawled onto his hand, and his fingertip touched Mente's brow.
With a crackling sound, the crystal layer on Su Xiao's hand shattered. This was caused by the instantaneous alternation of extreme cold and extreme heat.
Su Xiao realized that the dangerous object needed a medium to kill—for example, direct contact with someone killed by the dangerous object. Whether there were other mediums was still unknown.
"Before his death, did Mente touch anyone who died from frostbite or internal burns?"
Su Xiao looked at Laura and the poet. Laura was stunned for a moment, then shook her head, her expression sorrowful.
"Did he not touch anyone, or do you not know?"
"He didn't touch anyone. No one in this small town has died from an accident in a long time."
Laura's expression was somewhat panicked. It was clear she was trying hard to stay calm.
"What benefits did it give you? Peaceful coexistence?"
"Sir, are you suspecting us?"
The poet smiled bitterly, feeling an indescribable loss and bitterness in his heart.
"Poet, slowly step back. Laura, what benefits did it give you?"
Su Xiao placed one hand on the hilt of his blade and gestured with his hand for Baha to go bury Mente. His family would be taken care of according to the treatment for the orphans of Transcendents.
"Sir, what are you saying? The three of us have been stuck here for so many years, and you... you actually suspect us?"
Laura's eyes reddened, as if she felt a great injustice.
"What you were supposed to do was coexist with that dangerous object. Under these circumstances, reaching a deal with it was the wisest choice. But the situation has changed. I'm here to clean up that thing. Any cooperation or deals you had with it before isn't betrayal. If it were me, without the support of the 'Organization,' I would have had no choice but to do the same."
Su Xiao smiled. Hearing his words, Laura began to hesitate in her heart.
"Simply put, this is a choice now. Are you on the side of the 'Organization' or on the side of that thing?"
"Of course, the 'Organization.'"
Laura's words came quickly, even urgently.
"Good. Did it agree to peaceful coexistence with you, mutual non-interference?"
"Probably... yes."
Laura's tone began to become vague.
"Be clear."
"It doesn't harm civilians, and we don't interfere with it. Sir, you've just arrived. There are many things you don't understand. It..."
"So, you are indeed cooperating with that thing."
Su Xiao's words made Laura's blood run cold.
"Yes."
Laura backed up to the wall, her body trembling.
"You didn't accept its 'gift.' That was wise."
"I am an external member of the 'Organization.' I took an oath. We hide in the darkness, all of us nameless, revering the mysteries..."
Laura loudly repeated the oath she had taken when joining the Containment Institution years ago. It could be said that this emotional card showed a strong will to survive.
"Sir, how did you figure it out?"
Laura felt hopeless. She wanted to die knowing why.
"I guessed."
"Huh?"
Laura's mind went dizzy. She had thought that Su Xiao had the supernatural ability to see through people's hearts.
With Su Xiao's Charm attribute, of course, he didn't have that ability. The situation was already obvious. There was no need for analysis. Three external members with little combat strength had monitored an S-class dangerous object for several years and were still alive. For these three to have survived so long, they must have reached some kind of consensus with the dangerous object.
Mente had just taken the fall, so he was first ruled out of suspicion. The poet looked like a down-and-out figure. Apart from having the qualifications of a pretty boy, he wasn't outstanding in any other way. Even if he wanted to be a pretty boy, he wouldn't be the first choice, with his face full of kidney deficiency.
Only Laura, whose personality was somewhat strong, had unconsciously stood in front of the poet earlier. It was clear she had taken a liking to him. Under the dual influence of love and survival, it was almost inevitable that she had reached some kind of consensus with the dangerous object.
Su Xiao lit a cigarette. This dangerous object had been developing here for too long. The entire Winter Spring Town might have already become its territory.
Jingle~
The sound of bells reached Su Xiao's ears. A gust of wind carrying flying snow blew into the room, and the cold air met him head-on.
In the flying snow, a woman wearing loose clothing with embroidered patterns on the hem walked over. Several small bells hung from her waist on a red string, and a bucket-shaped bamboo basket was placed on her head.
The woman's steps were very erratic. Each time her figure flickered, she suddenly advanced several meters.
Crack, crack, crack~
Frost spread on the back of Su Xiao's hand, and a burning sensation surged within his body. The dangerous object of Winter Spring Town had appeared.