VAP - Chapter 157

Chapter 157: The Intersection of Illusion and Reality (22)

The cave was located deep within the Scarlet Beast lair, seeing no daylight. It was dark, cold, and silent, save for the rhythmic sound of dripping water coming from some unknown place.

Logically, one would have no concept of time in a place like this, but the system came with its own calendar and clock. Yue Du knew clearly that nearly a week had passed since the huntress was awakened.

As for the high-level Scarlet Beast that had led them there that day, it seemed to have vanished into thin air and never appeared again. Yue Du had reason to suspect it had long forgotten about the two kinsmen it had brought back.

People always forgot things with no use value exceptionally quickly, and this applied to Scarlet Beasts as well.

This evening, not long after they had eaten, Ji You suddenly straightened up and whispered, "They're here."

Before her voice had even faded, the chaotic sound of footsteps came from outside the cave—some light, some heavy. The light ones sounded like a cat's paws touching the ground, while the heavy ones were like the ponderous stomping of an elephant.

Yue Du moved her fingers, tossing the remaining utensils back into her system space. The huntress was not slow to react either; she immediately closed her eyes, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly, as if she were still lost in the illusion.

The next moment, several figures appeared at the cave entrance.

Yue Du's vision was excellent, and Ji You could also see in the dark. They both saw what the newcomers looked like: three high-level Scarlet Beasts. Two of them stopped outside the cave, and the only one to enter happened to be the one related to Ji You.

The high-level Scarlet Beast casually strolled over to a mixed-blood kinsman who looked to be about three or four years old. Before it could speak, it caught sight of the two people in the corner and couldn't help but pause.

"Gulun, what are you dawdling for?" a question spoken in the Scarlet Beast language came from outside the cave.

This high-level Scarlet Beast—the one its companion called Gulun—withdrew its gaze and replied in the same language, "It's the two little things I picked up before. They were raised by humans, but they hate people, so they're usable."

"Raised by humans?" the other repeated suspiciously, then asked, "What's their potential like?"

Gulun said, "Who knows. Their ability to pretend to be human is pretty good; I didn't even recognize them at first. Their potential is probably decent too."

"Then bring them along."

"Of course."

Gulun picked up the small kinsman from the ground and walked over to the two kinsmen it recognized. It raised its tail tip condescendingly and switched to human language, saying, "The time has come for you to contribute to the clan. Follow me."

After speaking, it turned and left, completely unaware that it was being followed by two puffs of air.

On the other side, Yue Du leisurely rolled up the blanket and put it away. She and Ji You rose together and made a gesture to the huntress, who had secretly opened her eyes a crack, signaling her to remain calm. Only then did they follow Gulun.

The mixed-blood kinsman was tucked under Gulun's arm, its face pointing backward. It looked at them curiously, but after a light glance from Ji You, it felt an instinctual fear and struggled desperately to turn forward.

Gulun slapped it impatiently. "Why is this one so restless?"

The other high-level Scarlet Beast let out a laugh. "Maybe it's because its potential is low. If I remember correctly, isn't this one your cub?"

Gulun snapped, "Nonsense. How could something born of a human be worthy of being called my cub? By that logic, you have six or seven cubs lying over there. Do you want to go over and call each of them 'good child'?"

Neither side gained an advantage. The two pairs of scarlet eyes glared at each other, and they fell silent.

It seemed these two Scarlet Beasts were not on good terms. They made no effort to hide their hostility toward each other and spared no effort in mocking one another.

As Yue Du thought this, she had a strange feeling.

Previously, when she faced high-level Scarlet Beasts, she had always held the attitude of forgoing words in favor of a fatal blow. She had never truly had a conversation with them. Now, watching from a bystander's perspective, she found their behavior surprisingly human-like; their tone when speaking seemed no different from that of humans.

Thinking back on the non-human species she had encountered in other small worlds, Yue Du fell into deep thought.

Could it be that all sentient beings spoke in the same way?

Ji You noticed she was distracted and secretly pinched her sister's side. Yue Du dodged away. "Don't mess around, that tickles."

"What are you thinking about, Sister?" Ji You asked.

Yue Du told her what she was thinking. After listening, Ji You tilted her head and blinked. "What about me? Do I talk like that too?"

Yue Du's eyes curved into a smile. "You're the most special, different from everyone else."

This was exactly what Ji You wanted to hear. She immediately clung to her sister's arm, transforming into an incredibly clingy, wheedling big cat.

However, the Scarlet Beasts didn't leave her much time to be clingy. The path wasn't long, and they arrived in three to five minutes.

As soon as they arrived, Gulun tossed the mixed-blood kinsman aside. The red-eyed child rolled over and sat up, looking very dazed.

Yue Du raised her head. Before them was a wide, spacious cave, a world of difference from the one where the humans were kept.

In the very center of the cave stood a massive red crystal shaped like an inverted cone. Its upper circular surface was smooth and glossy, as large as a small round table, and it was clearly not a natural formation.

The scarlet fluorescence it emitted illuminated the entire space.

"Have the smallest one come first," one of the Scarlet Beasts said.

Gulun grunted in acknowledgment and used its claw to lift its biological child with the human woman onto the circular surface. The child tried to get up but failed; it was bound in place by something, unable to move.

At first, the crystal didn't react. After a few seconds, wisps of a deep black, mist-like substance began to spread from the pointed tip at the bottom, condensing into small spheres upon reaching the circular surface.

Gulun said arrogantly, "I'd say its potential is pretty good, wouldn't you?"

The Scarlet Beast that had argued with it earlier sneered but didn't reply. Gulun ignored it as well and turned to the little cub. "How do you feel?"

It used the Scarlet Beast language.

But the mixed-blood kinsman, who had been dazed and ignorant just a moment ago, understood. It replied respectfully in the same language, "I am well, Father."

Gulun asked, "Can you hide your eyes?" After receiving an affirmative reply, it added, "Show us your ability."

The young kinsman did as it was told, its eyes gradually turning a normal dark brown, just like a human's.

At the same time, Yue Du felt a slight agitation. An irritable impulse welled up for no reason, as if several mosquitoes were buzzing by her ear.

Ji You covered her eyes and said, "Sister, don't look at it."

After her vision was blocked, the feeling of agitation indeed weakened to a nearly negligible degree. Yue Du rubbed her ears and thought to herself: Mental interference.

This was one of the many abilities humans awakened under the influence of psychic suggestion. As its name implied, it interfered with a person's mind, and in severe cases, it could even be fatal.

This ability wasn't uncommon. What surprised Yue Du was that the mental interference of a three-year-old child could actually affect her. This could already be considered an outstanding talent.

A smile crossed Gulun's pale face. "Not bad. You can stop now."

The kinsman stopped immediately, like a dog that had heard a command. It raised its head, its eyes fixed unblinkingly on its biological father, its expression full of adoration.

It was like a completely different person compared to just a moment ago.

Yue Du met Ji You's pensive gaze, and they both understood what the other was thinking.

Clearly, this was the key to why the Scarlet Beasts could toss their mixed-blood offspring into a dark cave and ignore them, speak of them with contempt, and still be certain that these children would be unfailingly loyal to the clan and obey their every command.

There was definitely something wrong with this red crystal.

Judging from the results, the little cub's so-called "potential" was probably quite good. Gulun set it down from the circular surface and then fixed its gaze on Ji You.

"Come, place your hand on this," it said in a bewitching tone. "You will learn that the talent judged by humans is not your limit. Our stone of resonance can make you even stronger."

The price of that power was probably being brainwashed. Then again, if this thing could really make the host, who was already at the ceiling of power, even stronger, then it would be truly impressive.

Neither of them had any intention of testing the stone themselves, so they used an illusion to fool the beasts. In the Scarlet Beasts' eyes, they took turns stepping forward to touch the red crystal. The potential they awakened was only slightly lower than the little cub's, and they were also successfully brainwashed.

Ah, to say "brainwashed" wasn't quite accurate. In their words, they had been "infused with the great will of the clan," and "the blessings of the ancestors will be bestowed upon you."

"They're really good at bullshitting," Ji You commented.

Yue Du felt that her host's ability to bullshit was no less impressive, but her host wasn't so shameless, which put her a cut above in the conscience department.

After a torrent of flowery words, Gulun finally revealed the purpose of cultivating the mixed-blood kinsmen.

"For the eternal glory of the clan, I want you to infiltrate the human lairs and take the opportunity to kill those who make you uneasy." Gulun's hoarse tone sounded treacherous and terrifying. "You two grew up in human lairs, so you know how to deal with humans. I am very confident in you."

This was said to Yue Du and Ji You. Then, its tone shifted as it addressed the little mixed-blood cub, "But my child, you are different. You do not understand the cunning and suspicion of humans, so you must never speak our language outside. You must learn to converse in the human way. Only after you have completed your mission can you return to the clan."

The "human lairs" the Scarlet Beast spoke of were, of course, the various strongholds. Listening to this high-sounding speech, especially the description of humans as cunning and suspicious, Yue Du put a hand to her forehead. "The Scarlet Beasts really spare no effort in glorifying their own kind."

But Ji You said meaningfully, "Perhaps it's not glorification. They themselves actually think that way."

Yue Du thought about it for a moment and understood what her host meant.

From the human perspective, the Scarlet Beasts that invaded from another world had seized their homes and preyed on their kind. They were mortal enemies who had to be eliminated.

But from the Scarlet Beasts' perspective, humans were muddle-headed creatures lost in illusions, food kept in pens like chickens and ducks. One day, they suddenly escaped en masse and built nests outside, even turning around to hunt their former masters. This was as unbelievable as pigs, cows, and chickens awakening self-awareness, escaping their cages, and then forming groups to kill people. They had to be suppressed.

Yue Du could understand the Scarlet Beasts' logic, but that didn't mean she agreed with it.

"Humans are the original masters of this small world. Moreover, humans are intelligent, more sentient than the vast majority of Scarlet Beasts. The invaders are the Scarlet Beasts; they are the ones in the wrong."

For one intelligent species to raise another as food, regardless of the reason, was immoral—at least, according to universal human values.

Almost as soon as Yue Du finished speaking, Ji You, with an expression that screamed "Sister, you said it so well," clapped in agreement. "Sister is right! I think so too."

Yue Du, however, became uncertain. "I know you don't have any special feelings for humans. I also know that, setting aside morality and personal bias, the conflict between humans and Scarlet Beasts is just the law of the jungle, with no party truly at fault. Ah Jiu, you don't have to deliberately agree with me. Having a difference of opinion on something occasionally won't affect anything."

Ji You smiled, her expression more serious than ever before. "How could that be? Your thoughts are my thoughts. I might have other, vague ideas, but not about the conflict between Scarlet Beasts and humans."

She took Yue Du's right hand, pressed it against the side of her own face, and nuzzled it with deep affection.

"I will always be on your side, Sister."

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