Chapter 920: The Despair Maker
After leaving the monkey-human game venue, my face was cold and I remained silent.
I was indeed a bit angry.
"Ouch..." Jiang Ruoxue said to me with a wry smile, "What's wrong? I just wanted to go take a look, there won't be any danger."
"I don't understand." I said coldly. "We've done more than enough for him. To put it bluntly, he's just a 'participant.' And now we have to help him take away the 'seed'? That's a 'seed' growing inside the cold iron walls, tended by 'plastic roses.' Even if you can take it away, can it even sprout?!"
"I'll go understand the situation first, then decide what to do." Jiang Ruoxue said. "If I see 'karma,' I'll take the 'flower' and the 'seed.' If all I see are iron walls, then I'll let the 'flower' and 'seed' languish together."
"But this is very dangerous." I said anxiously. "You've heard about the situation at the iron wall too... It's different from here. Even a complete stranger could run into danger for no reason at all."
"What can they do to me?" Jiang Ruoxue asked nonchalantly. "Worst case, I die inside the iron wall. But my home is here, so if I die, I'll come back. There's nothing to worry about."
"That's still not okay..." I shook my head. "Ruoxue, even if you come back after dying, the 'iron wall' might assimilate you. What if your thoughts become those of the 'iron wall'? Let me go with you. With me there, no matter how many people come, they can't touch us."
"No need." Jiang Ruoxue reached out and patted my shoulder. "Zhichun, no one's thoughts can assimilate me. I do whatever I want, and I never listen to what others say. You stay here and wait for the White Sheep. This trip of mine will probably take several days. What if the White Sheep shows up in the meantime?"
"But—"
"Besides, I don't need some elaborate plan." Jiang Ruoxue continued. "Like I said, I'll just explore as I please. If I like that flower and seed, I'll figure something out. If it doesn't feel right, I'll just leave directly."
I thought about it. What Jiang Ruoxue said really wasn't problematic. The worst-case scenario was her dying there, but she'd eventually come back. And her way of thinking was truly free-spirited... trying to brainwash her would indeed take some effort.
"Maybe the 'seed' we bring out will one day become a help to the White Sheep." Jiang Ruoxue smiled. "When he comes back, he'll find several more strong people here. Wouldn't that give him a hand?"
I pondered for a long time, then finally nodded in agreement.
Before she left, she suddenly thought of something, turned around, and said to me, "Oh, Zhichun... there's something I need you to help me with."
"Between us, there's no need to talk about 'helping.'" I shook my head helplessly. "Go ahead."
"How do I put this..." Jiang Ruoxue thought for a moment. "Remember that method you used before to 'detect the future'?"
Jiang Ruoxue seemed to be talking about something from a long time ago, but I still remembered. After she had placed that 'karma' on me, I often used members of the 'Ultimate Path' to 'detect the future.'
"I remember." I said. "But I haven't used that method in a while."
"I have." Jiang Ruoxue said.
"Huh?"
"A few days ago, I followed your example and applied that layer of 'karma' to myself. Then I tested it on a very interesting little sister I met on the street, and in the end, I invited her to join the 'Ultimate Path.'" Jiang Ruoxue said. "I'm a bit worried about her. Can you help me take care of that little sister?"
"Little sister...?" I nodded. "Sure, how old is she?"
"A twenty-four-year-old little sister. According to her, she's 172 cm tall, weighs 75 kg, loves fitness, and is a fighting coach." Jiang Ruoxue chuckled. "You'll be surprised when you meet her."
I felt a bit speechless after hearing that.
"You call that a 'little sister'?"
"What's wrong with that?" Jiang Ruoxue shrugged. "No matter how strong she is or how much muscle she has, she's still a little sister. After all, she's not even twenty-four yet."
Apparently, she didn't see the problem.
"Ruoxue, I'm a senior in college." I said. "I was looking for an internship before I came here. Guess how old I am?"
The silence in the air lasted three seconds.
"Uh..." Jiang Ruoxue showed a trace of embarrassment. "I almost forgot... Zhichun... you're the little sister here... It's just that you're always so clever that I keep thinking you're the older one."
"You..." I was so irritated I didn't know what to say. "Fine, just tell me about that 'little sister.' With a build like that, it sounds like no three or five people could get near her. How does she need me to take care of her?"
"It's a long story. First of all, she has bipolar disorder and needs medication every day to keep her stable. Otherwise, she becomes extremely aggressive." Jiang Ruoxue sighed. "Once she has an episode, she becomes paranoid, impulsive, irritable, and shows violent tendencies..."
"So what...?" I didn't quite understand. "Even if she has bipolar disorder, that's her own business. This is a very real form of violence, not something I'm good at dealing with. If she really gets into a fight with someone... how am I supposed to protect her?"
"It's not about helping her fight." Jiang Ruoxue said. "I'm not worried about that at all. She not only has excellent fighting skills but also a 'Resonance' suited for combat. Under normal circumstances, even if she has an episode and wants to kill someone, few people can stop her."
"Then what's the point of me going to find her?"
"I'm just afraid she might lose her memory." Jiang Ruoxue said. "Do you know how I 'detected the future'?"
"How?"
"I made up a story for that little sister. I said, 'One day, you will meet someone who can change this place, and you will inflict the deepest despair upon him.'"
I swallowed slightly. Even though we were both 'detecting the future,' what Jiang Ruoxue said was way bolder than what I would say.
"She actually believed that...?" I asked skeptically.
"Without a doubt." Jiang Ruoxue said. "So I suspect that as long as you follow her, you're sure to find the White Sheep."
"So that's why you want me to take care of her..." I nodded. "I just need to make sure she always remembers she's part of the 'Ultimate Path,' right?"
"Exactly." Jiang Ruoxue said. "I can rest easy leaving this to you. That little sister's name is Lu Xiaoxiao. Honestly, you don't need to worry at all. She's a very nice and gentle person when she's not having an episode."
"And does she have many moments when she's not having an episode?"
"Not many."
Jiang Ruoxue and I stared at each other. I really wanted to hit her.
She told me the address where Xiaoxiao often hung out, then set off for 'Jade City.'
I always thought she wouldn't be brainwashed. But when she came back, it was as if she had become a completely different person.