Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 752: Familiar Night

Translator: CKtalon

Although Long Yuehong had experienced such situations time and time again since his first memory, humanity’s fear of the darkness and the unknown never disappeared. Unless one had mental problems, even the boldest person couldn’t help but feel a little scared when walking alone in the quiet, late-night corridor.

As the flashlight swept across the area, Long Yuehong recalled Shang Jianyao saying: Sing to yourself if you are afraid while walking alone at night!

Previously, he had scoffed at this. After all, he had lived on that floor for 23 years. Even if he discounted the little bit of childhood memories, he had nearly 20 years of familiarity with the corresponding environment. He wouldn’t take the wrong path with his eyes closed.

In such a situation, the fear wouldn’t be too serious. It could be completely overcome.

But now, on the unfamiliar 622nd floor, the darkness always ruled over the corresponding area after his flashlight beam moved away. It made him involuntarily feel a chill.

No matter how terrifying it is, can it be more terrifying than the nights in those city ruins? Long Yuehong muttered to himself silently as his courage seemed to return. His strides became wider, and his pace became faster.

As for the idea of boosting his courage by singing, he ultimately didn’t use it. Wouldn’t it be disturbing someone’s sleep on such a quiet night?

Thanks to the similar layout of the residential floors and the need to consider the layout of the sewage pipes, as well as Long Yuehong using the bathroom on this floor before lights out, it didn’t take him long to reach his destination.

This was the public bathroom at the intersection of Zone B and Zone C.

In the men’s bathroom, the dim yellow light swayed in the cold, gloomy night wind. It was dim and indistinct, reminding Long Yuehong of the ghost films in the Old World’s entertainment.

This thought flashed through his mind. With his 20 years of rich experience, he determined that someone had switched on a flashlight while squatting in the bathroom.

Don’t you know how to conserve energy!? Long Yuehong—who was a D7 employee—remained thrifty in this regard.

The energy allocation quota in Pangu Biology was only determined based on one’s rank and position. It couldn’t be bought with contribution points even if one wanted to!

Of course, this was only on the public level. In private, there were people who allowed others to use electricity at their home as long as the price was right.

Long Yuehong retracted his gaze and walked to a small urinal to relieve himself. In order not to have splashback, he also didn’t turn off the flashlight and lodged it on the back of his hand—on the back of the T1 mechanical arm.

After doing the shake and zipping up, Long Yuehong subconsciously looked at the spot where the yellowish light was swaying.

Suddenly, his gaze froze slightly.

He saw a faint plume of smoke fill the yellowishness. It sometimes swelled and sometimes tumbled as if it had a life of its own.

As Long Yuehong frowned slightly, he vaguely heard a suppressed groan. This groan sounded faint as if it were restraining some kind of pain.

Long Yuehong’s mind became extremely clear. His first reaction was to leave the public bathroom and formulate a plan. However, he then realized that this was the company. If anything really happened, everyone would be affected, and he couldn’t retreat.

Confirm the situation first. If something goes wrong, quickly report it to the Order Supervisory Department… Long Yuehong quickly made a decision. He switched off his flashlight and walked to the cubicle.

The closer he approached, the more obvious the smoke became. The groans that carried some kind of pain became clearer.

Upon seeing his target at hand, Long Yuehong jumped over.

The next second, he exchanged looks with the man squatting in the cubicle.

After a brief pause, the man turned anxious and angry. “What are you looking at?”

Long Yuehong’s mouth quivered. “Why didn’t you close the door?”

The man held a cigarette in one hand and held the door with the other. He laughed in anger. “It’s late at night, and there’s nobody. What’s wrong with me opening the door to get some air?”

Long Yuehong composed himself. “Where did you get the cigarettes from?”

Within Pangu Biology, apart from most of the deceased older generation and a few people who got hooked, the other employees didn’t smoke. Therefore, Long Yuehong didn’t think in that direction.

This was a luxury good in a sense.

If not for the fact that his stomach hadn’t been cleared out and that his butt hadn’t been wiped, the man squatting there would’ve jumped up and beaten Long Yuehong up.

He snapped, “I exchanged it from a settlement in the Blackmarsh Wilderness when I was outfield! What’s wrong? I’m an employee who just joined. It’s normal for me to be addicted to cigarettes!”

As he swept his gaze, his pupils suddenly dilated, reflecting Long Yuehong’s iron-black arm.

Long Yuehong saw the other party clearly; he had relatively dark skin, and he had a mouthful of yellow teeth. His face was pockmarked, and his eyes were clearly bloodshot. It was obvious that he was a foreign employee who hadn’t undergone genetic enhancement. It could only be said that he wasn’t ugly or terrifying.

Despite the embarrassment, Long Yuehong still asked, “Then, why did you groan just now?”

“Can’t I be constipated, Bro?” The man’s attitude became rather good.

Long Yuehong laughed dryly. “I just came back from the field, and I’m still quite tense. I overreacted a little. Sorry.”

“Understood, understood.” The man looked very amiable. He paused and said, “Can—can you not stand in front of me like this? Uh—no, can I close the door?”

“Sure, sure.” Long Yuehong was especially grateful that the light was dim and couldn’t illuminate his face.

Just as he said that, the cubicle door swung back to a close.

The man inside fell silent for a few seconds before asking, “Which company are you from? Where did you get the mechanical arm?”

“I’m from a special operations team.” Due to confidentiality, Long Yuehong could only give a vague answer. He then curiously asked, “Why are you concerned about a mechanical arm?”

The man in the cubicle sighed and said, “I’m a foreign employee, and I’m not qualified to undergo genetic enhancement. I also have to go out on missions on the surface often. In order to survive—to survive until an internal transfer can be carried out—it’s very worth it to exchange an arm for a mechanical arm.”

Long Yuehong thought for a moment and sincerely said, “It’s very expensive.”

“Sigh…” The man in the cubicle sighed again.

Long Yuehong didn’t tell him that he could perform a biological prosthetic limb transplant for free if he lost his arm during the mission. There were just no options to choose from. Furthermore, it was impossible for him to obtain those with good abilities. This was because losing an arm meant excessive blood loss. The probability of not being resuscitated was significant, especially when he was on the surface and couldn’t be treated in time.

He turned around and walked out of the public bathroom.

With this comparison, he suddenly felt that his current situation was pretty good.

It’s even better if I don’t have to go out on missions again… As Long Yuehong thought, he casually shone the flashlight around. He saw many graffiti-covered walls drawn with chalk. Some were deep, some were childish, and some were exaggerated. They were all unique.

This was identical to the scene in many places on the 495th floor. It was the same for the other residential floors.

For some reason, Long Yuehong was inexplicably happy.

This was a sign that foreign employees had begun to integrate into the company, and it was also a symbol that their descendants were being born.

At the thought of this, he returned to Zone B’s Room 59 with a faster gait.

After taking three to four steps, Long Yuehong stopped and turned his ear. He seemed to have heard something.

After listening carefully, he didn’t discover anything apart from snoring.

As expected, I haven’t completely relaxed… Long Yuehong shook his head in self-deprecation and walked toward Zone B, Room 59.

…

The next morning, Room 14 on the 647th floor.

Long Yuehong and Bai Chen walked hand in hand and realized that Shang Jianyao was alone in the office.

He sat with a pompous posture, leaning back in his chair to its limits with his feet on the table.

Long Yuehong released Bai Chen’s hand and subconsciously asked, “Where’s Team Leader?”

Shang Jianyao replied with a bright smile, “Guess.”

Lost again? Long Yuehong wanted to answer, but he suddenly felt a chill at the back of his neck and jolted awake.

If Team Leader were loitering in the corridor and heard me bad-mouthing her behind her back, things would be troublesome! Her hearing is different from before! Long Yuehong suddenly looked back and didn’t discover anyone passing by outside.

But from the corner of his eye, he saw Bai Chen secretly retract her hand from the back of his neck.

Long Yuehong looked over and saw the corners of Bai Chen’s mouth curl up slightly with a serious expression.

He also smiled.

“Woof, woof, woof!” Shang Jianyao barked.

Long Yuehong was feeling a little embarrassed when the phone in the office rang.

“Quick, pick it up,” he quickly said to Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao had a nonchalant expression. “They must be looking for Big White. She’s not around, so picking it up will require us to come up with a reason for her. It’s better not to pick it up.”

“That’s true.” Long Yuehong thought for a moment and felt that it made sense.

Bai Chen didn’t object.

The ringing stopped after a while.

After about ten minutes, Jiang Baimian walked into the office. She didn’t explain anything and greeted her team members with a normal expression.

Not long after Jiang Baimian sat down, the telephone rang again.

She picked up the receiver and brought it to her ear. After listening for a while, she tersely made a few acknowledgments before turning to Shang Jianyao and shouting, “Hey, it’s for you!”