Chapter 38: Price

At the steelworks factorys door, Long Yuehong held the walkie-talkie and answered Jiang Baimians question. Jingfa! He said his name is Jingfa!

The person on the other end of the walkie-talkie fell silent for two seconds. Sounds of static transmitted across the airwaves. Jiang Baimian then anxiously said, Retreat! On the double!

As soon as she finished speaking, she switched off the walkie-talkie.

Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong didnt really understand why their team leaders reaction was so dramatic. She didnt even find out what had happened to the two of them after they encountered Jingfa and if they had been determined to be Fated. She just ordered them to retreat immediately.

Although they were confused, the two of them had no intention of violating Jiang Baimians decision. On the one hand, they followed the Security Departments standard operating procedures when they were out in the field and trusted their team leaders experience and judgment. On the other hand, they were also filled with fear for the mechanical monk, who was full of strange theories.

The two of them didnt say anything. They bent their backs slightly and widened their strides while holding their assault rifles, sprinting out of the steelworks factory.

With their genetically enhanced bodies and the fact that they had been training for a long time, it was not difficult for them to maintain their high-pace run for quite some time. It was not until they left the derelict cement road and were about to make a turn towards the jeeps hidden spot that they slowed down and took a few breaths.

The jeep had already begun driving over in an attempt to pick them up. This time, Bai Chen was in the drivers seat again.

Bang! Bang!

Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong got into the backseat through their respective doors and slammed the doors behind them.

Huff. Huff.

The two of them exhaled heavily.

Drive at full speed, Jiang Baimian ordered Bai Chen. She turned her head and asked Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong, How far were you from Jingfa when you used the walkie-talkie?

Long Yuehong panted as he replied, Very far. We were at the steelworks factory. Huff. Over at the door. Jingfa should havehuffbeen behind the chimney by then. We werent able to see each other any longer.

He didnt see Jingfa anywhere. He only estimated Jingfas location based on the direction, approximate speed, and time from when the two parties separated. It could be said to be very inaccurate and could only be used as a reference.

Jiang Baimian clearly had a certain level of understanding of the steelwork factory ruins. She recalled the layout and said, Speaking at that distance isnt too safe A mechanical monks auditory system is very strong. It can capture sound from relatively far away.

Bai Chen, dont worry about the electricity or overturning the car. Stay at the current speed.

It was just then that Long Yuehong noticed that his team leader had already picked up the somewhat heavy grenade launcher and replaced it with a more explosive grenade.

Team Leader, Jingfa said that we arent fated with the Monks Conclave. Theres no need to be so nervous. He quickly revealed the key information to prevent Jiang Baimian from overreacting.

Jiang Baimian looked at the rearview mirror and shook her head indiscernibly. Thats not the point. All of you should have learned that there are certain flaws in Eternal technology. All mechanical monks have certain mental problems.

These problems are different for all of them. According to the information the company has gathered, Jingfayes, hes one of the more active mechanical monks in the Ashlands. His problem is that he mainly Jiang Baimian paused before saying, Hates women!

Huh? Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong understood the meaning of her words, but they werent sure what they meant or how serious it was.

Jiang Baimian glanced at Bai Chen and said, As long as Jingfa encounters women or even hears a womans voice, he will go crazy and indiscriminately attack everyone around him. Also, from the remains of certain corpses, we have learned that he has rapist tendencies.

Hes just a robot Long Yuehong couldnt imagine it.

Jiang Baimian exhaled. Thats why its so scary Oh right, which one of you will use the exoskeleton?

Without waiting for Shang Jianyaos and Long Yuehongs response, Jiang Baimians already serious expression became even more serious. Quiet.

Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong instantly understood something. They turned their heads to look out the window, searching for the robot monk in the red kasaya. However, they could only see sparsely forested land, soggy gray soil, a black swamp, and rocks of different sizes. Apart from that, there was nothing.

At this moment, many potholes and rocks appeared in front of them. Bai Chen had to slow down the jeep. If the car really overturned, it would only exacerbate the problem.

Jiang Baimians left handwhich was holding the grenade launcherinexplicably slid down and silently patted Bai Chens right elbow.

Bai Chen did not turn her head. As she turned the steering wheel to the left, she reduced the speed of the car to a crawl, almost returning to normal speeds.

During the entire process, the windows on both sides of the jeep were open.

A black figurewearing a tattered monk robe and a red kasayasuddenly jumped down from the tree beside the road and went straight for Jiang Baimians passenger seat. It was the mechanical monk, Jingfa!

However, Jiang Baimian seemed to have foreseen this already. She had already raised the grenade launcher and aimed it at the Eternal.

This series of actions made it appear as though Jingfa had taken the initiative to pounce at the grenade launcher.

The grenadewhich was filled with powerful explosiveswas strong enough to cause damage to the mechanical monk.

Just as Jiang Baimian squeezed her finger and was about to pull the trigger, the red glow on Jingfas metal face suddenly flickered.

Jiang Baimian immediately saw many people. The figures were slightly illusory as they laid on the ground around her. They crazily grabbed soil, rocks, and leaves and stuffed them into their mouths.

Their stomachs bulged as if they would burst from eating anything at any moment. However, they didnt feel satiated at all; they ate whatever they saw.

Jiang Baimian seemed to have become one of these people. She didnt have the physiological feeling of hunger, but she felt that she should be very hungry. She felt like she was starving and had to eat something.

This urge, this self-awareness, made Jiang Baimian unable to control herself. She immediately relaxed her right index fingerwhich was pressing on the triggerand threw the grenade launcher back into her lap. She then took out a bag of compressed biscuits and crazily tore open the packaging before stuffing the food into her mouth.

During this process, she didnt even have the time to drink water. Despite choking to the point that her eyes rolled back slightly, she couldnt help but continue swallowing.

She was not the only one. Bai Chen stepped on the brakes and crazily ate an energy bar. Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong also took out their food and irrationally enjoyed a late dinner.

They couldnt be bothered that an infamous and dangerous enemy was lunging towards them.

The robot monk, Jingfa, landed beside the jeep with a click.

He opened the passenger seat door with his left hand and aimed his right palm at Jiang Baimian and Bai Chen, which also had Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong within the blasting range.

It was only at this moment that Jiang Baimian broke free from the hunger illusion she experienced.

The slightly illusory, pregnant figures on the ground around her had already disappeared.

Almost at the same time, Shang Jianyao leaned forward slightly and lowered his head.

Jingfa paused for two seconds. He did not use any laser weapons or fire to purify the four of them. The red light in his eyes flickered a few times before he said, Do you think this Penniless Monk wants to send all of you off? This Penniless Monk wont do as you wish. This Penniless Monk will first take you deep into the swamp and find a place where no one will disturb you so that you can enjoy yourselves.

As he spoke, he only paid attention to Jiang Baimian and Bai Chen.

Jiang Baimians expression changed slightly, but she didnt respond. She seemed to be considering how she could get themselves out of this conundrum.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao straightened his body and asked in confirmation, Are you an Awakened?

Yes. Even though they were enemies, and he would go crazy from seeing women, Jingfa seemed to maintain the principle that a monk shouldnt lie.

He examined Shang Jiangyaos seat. He then walked to the backseat and opened the door as he continued aiming the laser weapon and flamethrower in his right hand at Jiang Baimian and Bai Chen.

This Penniless Monk will sit in the middle, said Jingfa coldly and emotionlessly.

This way, he could monitor everyone in the car and allow the jeep to drive to his destination smoothly.

Shang Jianyao quickly alighted from the jeep and made room for Jingfa as if the latter was not an enemy.

Jingfa did not let down his guard. He boldly sat in the middle of the back row.

Shang Jianyao sat to the side as if he was thinking about something. Hating women is your flaw? Shang Jianyao did not use the word price. Instead, he used the term flaw, which ordinary people often used to describe mechanical monks.

Jingfa didnt lie and replied truthfully, No, the price I pay is increased lust. I originally imagined that I could obtain peace and be unaffected after I transmitted my consciousness to the bionic robot chip. However, that wasnt the case.

Shang Jianyao looked enlightened. I thought you couldnt lie.

Not lying is a precept of the conclave. Jingfa answered all of Shang Jianyaos questions. Either way, all of you will be liberated. It doesnt matter if you know.

Shang Jianyao closed the jeeps door and curiously asked, What was that ability?

Hungry Ghost Realm of the Six Realms of Rebirth and ExistenceSamsara. Jingfas red eyes looked at Bai Chen. Drive; keep going straight.

Upon hearing Shang Jianyao and Jingfas conversation, Long Yuehong and Bai Chen felt an indescribable sense of absurdity.

The mechanical monk clearly held them hostage and wanted to kill them somewhere, but Shang Jianyao and Jingfa were acting like good friends that had not met in years.

Just as Bai Chen stepped on the accelerator, Jiang Baimian laughed. Haha, I understand! You hate women because your current body makes it impossible for you to satisfy yourself. Your attempt to escape by uploading your consciousness ended up magnifying your flaws infinitely! Your mental state has already warped. Only physical violence can provide you with a certain level of relief! Haha, doesnt your conclave preach purity? Yet, a monk like you has such a tainted heart!

Jingfawho was forcefully suppressing his fluctuating consciousnessimmediately lost control. His eyes lit up as his body leaned forward. He was just about to pounce on Jiang Baimianwho was in the passenger seatand launch an attack at her.

Jiang Baimian did not dodge. Instead, she took the initiative to meet him. She flicked her left arm and gripped Jingfas black metal neck. Her left index finger extended as if she was prepared. With a slightly silvery-white electric current, Jiang Baimian inserted something into a hole in the robot monks neck.

It was a tool attached to the electric eel-like biomechanical limb. It had components that could connect chips, circuits, and sensors. It could also be used to read the data of computer-related objects and crack certain firewalls!

Apart from having a human consciousness, the mechanical monk was essentially an artificial intelligence robot.