Chapter 325: Arrival in the Underground District
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 325: Arrival in the Underground District
"I really didn't expect there to be such a massive area beneath Ninglan New City."
In a cramped housing unit within a remote settlement zone of the Underground District, several girls were huddled together.
"I didn't expect it either. What exactly is that giant glowing object? It can actually illuminate such a vast area."
"Sister Tan Han, how is it? Have those annoying City Guards left yet?"
Minian approached Tan Han and asked.
"Hmm... Oh?" Tan Han, who had just dispelled her summoning spell, snapped back to reality and looked at the concerned group.
"They've left. It seems Ninglan Qiuyue was right—the City Lord of Ninglan New City doesn't have the reach to control this place." Once Tan Han finished speaking, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"So... what do we do next?" Minian, who was closest to Tan Han, asked. Facing their current predicament, none of the girls had any good ideas.
Previously, they had hoped to gather intelligence in Ninglan New City, believing things would gradually improve. But no one could have predicted this turn of events. The City Lord had completely flipped his attitude toward outsiders, even welcoming their enemies—the Dream Demons—with open arms. To them, this was nothing short of betrayal.
If not for Ninglan Qiuyue's help in reaching this place, they likely would have been driven out of Ninglan New City. But even in their current state, there wasn't much difference between being here and being exiled.
"Yeah, what's next? The City Guards are gone, but it's not like we're necessarily welcome here either. And this place we're in... it's way too crowded. It'll be night soon. Are we really going to squeeze in here for the night?"
Although it was the girls' first time here, their initial impression of the area was abysmal. They could hardly imagine spending the night in such conditions.
"That... Captain of the Ground Patrol, I think his name was? He seemed to have some history with Ninglan Qiuyue. Didn't he say he'd come find us after dealing with the City Guards? We've been waiting here for ages."
"I'm not sure. Maybe he's still tied up in negotiations. Didn't Sister Tan Han say the other side had left? He should be back soon."
"He probably won't be coming. At least, not anytime soon," Tan Han interjected, her tone certain.
"Eh? No way? Was he lying to us?" Hettie asked, crouching in the corner.
"No, he just went to receive someone more important," Tan Han said, shaking her head. "We're insignificant to him. Besides, even without him, we know the City Guards are gone. But we still need to be careful here; we don't know how the locals feel about outsiders."
"Does that mean we can go out now?"
"We can, and I need to head out myself," Tan Han nodded. She had said what needed to be said; no one present was foolish enough to treat their life as a joke.
"Eh? Sister Tan Han, are you going alone?"
"Yes. I'm going to see someone."
"See someone? See... Sister Xiao Han? Are you going to see Sister Xiao Han?" Minian asked, catching on quickly. There weren't many people here that Tan Han would go out of her way to find.
Ninglan Qiuyue was one, Ninglan Qiuyu was another, but neither was here. The Captain of the Ground Patrol didn't count. That left only Sister Xiao Han. After all, the last time Tan Han said she was going to find someone, it turned out to be her.
"Yes. I'm surprised you guessed it," Tan Han said, looking slightly surprised.
"It really is her? You said before that Sister Xiao Han had disappeared. So she's been here all along? Can I come with you? Sister Xiao Han has been hanging around here for so long, I want to go join her!"
"I'm afraid not. If you go, or if everyone follows, it'll be too many people. Besides, I'm going there to ask about some specific matters."
"Alright, I was mostly joking anyway. I know I'd just be a drag. We'll wait here for your good news, Sister Tan Han... Wait, how do you know she's here? Did you see her?"
"I did. The person the Captain of the Ground Patrol went to welcome just now was Xiao Han... Her status here seems quite high. High enough that the locals and the Ground Patrol could protect her directly from the City Guards."
As she spoke, Tan Han recalled the scene she had witnessed through her shared vision. It was hard to believe, but when she remembered it was Xiao Han, it somehow felt reasonable.
"What? Sister Xiao Han has that much influence here? How did she do it? Then if we..."
"Alright, stop thinking about relying on others. If all of us go over there, we'll just be a burden to her. Don't you understand?"
"I know, I know... I was just talking. Don't take it seriously. I'm just lamenting how useless I am... Thinking back on the bad things I said about her before... I'm the real loser here."
"Enough. Don't put yourself down too much. Just learn to see yourself clearly," Tan Han said before opening the door and stepping out alone.
Watching Tan Han's departing figure, the group of girls looked at each other. Their descent had been too rushed; many of their companions hadn't even had the chance to come down, let alone the students from other Transcendent Academies.
"What do you all plan to do?"
"I don't know. Wait for Sister Tan Han to get back, I guess."
"I need to look after Lan Baihui. She's not doing well."
"Su Ningmu, you're not in great shape either. Don't push yourself."
"I only had my Soul Essence nicked by that thing. Lan Baihui had hers drained directly by that Dream Demon. I know I can't do much right now, so I'm trying to do what I can. You guys too—we can't just keep relying on Sister Tan Han or Sister Xiao Han. It was like this during the exchange competition, and it's still like this now."
"Alright, Su Ningmu, now isn't the time for complaining."
"I'm not complaining..."
"Fine. Now that Sister Xiao Han and Sister Tan Han aren't here, this is truly our moment. Let's think: with our current situation and abilities, what can we actually contribute?"
"Nothing at all." Someone's blunt remark silenced the room.
They were painfully aware of their own limitations. How long had they even been freshmen? Because of the opportunities from the confrontation and exchange matches, they had acquired many Mana Sources and spellbooks. They had learned half-baked theoretical courses, Elemental Theory, Transcendent common knowledge, and Witch Meditation Methods, along with some practical combat training.
But what use was any of that? At least here, it seemed useless. They had been herded here by the City Guards, their courage shattered in the face of death.
"I won't get in everyone's way. I'm going to meditate."
"I'll meditate to pass the time too."
"I have summoning spells. I don't have Sister Tan Han's specialized shared vision, but I can send a summon out to scout the area and have it report back to me."
"I'm fairly confident in my strength. Self-defense shouldn't be an issue. I'll head out and check the perimeter for any trouble."
Gradually, everyone found something to do. Even those without much power resolved to at least ensure they wouldn't be a burden to the others.
* * *
Underground District, Beyonder Research Base.
The moment I arrived, a group of scholars immediately swarmed me. Seeing the problems they were stuck on, I couldn't help but sigh. Expecting scholars who had only touched Runology for a few days to solve these was asking too much. Even with their deep foundations in Inscriptions, their thinking just couldn't pivot fast enough.
After resolving their issues, I prepared to leave. I had only been invited here after coming down for some air, and I was ready to head back.
"Is Scholar Xiao Han leaving already?"
"Yes. I'm used to an early bedtime. You all shouldn't stay up too late either; I honestly can't understand how you do it."
After a brief farewell, I headed for the exit. I'd likely be back tomorrow anyway, though I wouldn't be as enthusiastic. My primary goals were essentially complete; what remained were just weapons targeting Nightmares, which were optional for me.
However, as I stepped out of the base, I immediately spotted a familiar figure.
"Mmm~ Hmm~ Oh! Sister Xiao Han, you're out!"
"Yes." I gave a simple response, then shifted my gaze from the adorable cat-girl Fool's Dream to the person beside her. "Tan Han, you're a bit slower than I expected."
"Is that so?" Tan Han stopped stroking Fool's Dream's ears and looked at me. "Do you have time right now?"
"I do. Ninglan Qiuyue told me you had something to ask. It's about that, right?" I lightly patted Fool's Dream's head as she ran toward me, telling her to head back first. It was getting late, and it wasn't suitable for her to linger outside.
At that moment, Sister Bai walked up from behind me.
"Hello, Senior Sister," Tan Han said, politely greeting Sister Bai. Sister Bai gave a simple nod in return.
Tan Han's gaze returned to me. "Xiao Han, could we... talk privately?"
"Hmm... alright." I glanced back at Sister Bai. "In that case, let's head back first. This isn't the place for a discussion."
"Thank you."
"What are you thanking me for? I'm actually curious about how you've been doing. It's a bit of a walk to where I'm staying. Mind filling me in?"
I led Tan Han and Sister Bai toward our lodgings.
Along the way, I learned quite a bit from Tan Han—the current state of Ninglan New City before they descended, how many regular students they had gathered, how many had made it to the Underground District, and the hardships the others were facing.
In turn, Tan Han asked me for information regarding the current state of the Underground District and the locals' attitude toward outsiders.
Of course, I was more interested in the methods they had personally experienced that could damage Soul Essence.
According to Tan Han, not many City Guards possessed such means. Their weapons looked no different from their standard gear—cold weapons like spears and lances.
Once struck, victims described it as an excruciating, piercing pain. The sensation of life force draining away would instinctively trigger one's deepest fear of death.
When a person's Soul Essence was damaged, their conscious body in the dream would show abnormal transparency. The more severe the injury, the more transparent they became. Watching oneself fade into death was a horrific experience that could easily cause a mental breakdown.
"We're here. This is the place." I led Tan Han into the hotel. It couldn't compare to the Ninglanxiang Hotel in the upper city, but everything was relative; compared to other places in the Underground District, it was luxury.
"Let's go inside," I said to Tan Han, then looked at Sister Bai. "Sister Bai~ I'm just going to chat with her for a bit~"
"Alright, I get it. Go on."
With Sister Bai's permission, I entered the room and locked the door. I turned to face Tan Han.
"Have a seat. Anywhere is fine. Ninglan Qiuyue said you had questions for me, so ask away." I didn't wait for her to be formal; I plopped down on the bed in the most comfortable position I could find and looked at her.
"Xiao Han... I want to ask you something." Tan Han's aura shifted, her tone losing its previous softness. More importantly, she cast a Soundproofing Spell.
"Go ahead," I said, turning serious.
"Have you ever felt, at any moment, like you were someone being toyed with by fate?"
"Toyed with by fate?" I was stunned for a moment by the topic, but then I relaxed. "Why ask that? I thought you were the person who cared the least about such things. After all... what was your talent called again? Spirit Eye?"
"Yes, Spirit Eye. An ability that helps me see through fate. Almost every choice I've made has been connected to it."
"What? Thinking of rebelling now?" I asked with a smile. Although what Tan Han saw wasn't "fate" but "luck," she had guessed close enough. Wasn't the Script essentially her fate?
"Rebelling... No, I've always been rebelling. I couldn't refuse the power the Spirit Eye gave me. I had to master every scrap of strength to fight against so-called fate. But I've realized I might have been wrong... The more I resist, the more fate mocks my incompetence."
"And then? What is the source driving your rebellion? A desire for... freedom? Or just not wanting to be manipulated for no reason?" I continued.
Fate... it's naturally something that's unpleasant no matter how you look at it. But I hadn't expected Tan Han to bring this up now.
"I don't know. I just know I don't want this kind of life. It's as if... from the moment I entered the Witch Academy, everything I knew changed. Xiao Han, you must know something, right? Back then... the awakening of my Spirit Eye was related to you. Afterward, you kept your distance. You must have noticed something! Whatever you know, can you tell me?"
"I don't know anything. Also, I kept my distance before because of Sister Bai. Maybe she was jealous. Later... well, we cleared things up..." I started lying through my teeth. I couldn't explain this in depth; the contracts I'd signed weren't just for show.
"You're lying... Xiao Han, has anyone ever told you that you're a terrible liar?"
"Then what answer are you hoping to get from me?" Seeing my words ruthlessly exposed, I kept my expression neutral, maintaining my best deadpan face.
"I want to know what you... the teachers... even the Academy Dean... what are you all hiding from me? Stop playing dumb! Yang Yuehan! Even if you refuse, then please give me a clear refusal. I can act as if I never asked these questions..."
"Fine... I refuse."