Embers Ad Infinitum - Chapter 40
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Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Pursuit

Jiang Baimian was very busy. On the one hand, she had to focus on the road, afraid that she would drive the jeep into a swamp or cause the vehicle to be overturned by rocks, roots, and other obstacles. On the other hand, she had to focus on sensing the various electric signals around her to determine if the mechanical monk, Jingfa, was rushing over or what his current condition was like.

However, this did not stop her from thinking. Her brain seemed to have been optimized due to genetic enhancements.

That moment Jiang Baimian pondered before answering, but her voice was louder than a normal persons. I was in a very strange state. I didnt know who I was or what I wanted to do. Uh It wasnt that there was a problem with my memories. Back then, I could recall many things that had happened, but I couldnt obtain information on who I was or what I wanted to do.

At this point, Jiang Baimian habitually self-reflected. I thought that Jingfa would be unable to use his Awakened abilities by affecting his body. However, I made a mistake Is this the difference between a mechanical monk and an ordinary human?

Bai Chen shook her head. This has nothing to do with a misjudgment. Back then, you were desperately counterattacking. You had no way of considering so much at the time.

After Shang Jianyao buttoned up the clasps at his legs, he looked up and said, Awakened abilities mostly and probably rely on their consciousness and the influence that their bodies exert on them. For example, by injuring an Awakeneds body and causing them intense pain, they will not be able to think or shift their consciousness into what needs focus. In that case, they wont be able to use their abilities

As he spoke, Shang Jianyao suddenly fell silent as if he had realized that this could be used against him. Without waiting for Jiang Baimian and the others to speak, he took a deep breath and continued. Similarly, if one can knock out an Awakened with one punch, the Awakened will definitely not be able to use their abilities.

After giving an example, Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and agreed with Jiang Baimians previous judgment. In this regard, mechanical monks are indeed different from ordinary humans.

Jiang Baimian laughed self-deprecatingly. Unfortunately, my golden finger isnt too strong. If I could quickly hack into Jingfas energy supply system and turn off his power source, he probably wouldnt be able to use his Awakened abilities either. Actually, that might not work either. Who knows how long an Eternals consciousness can remain conscious after freeing itself from the bionic chips control.

Ha, you guys have to be careful too. You cant be too confident. Without solid evidence, its best to have more doubts about your judgment.

Bai Chen was a little stunned when she heard that. She turned her head to glance at Jiang Baimian. Team Leader, you seem to be in good shape. You dont seem depressed at all.

After all, they were currently being pursued by a terrifying mechanical monk. They should have been tense, repressed, angry, depressed, and uneasy.

The current situation is much better than when Jingfa captured us. Shouldnt we be happy and joyful? Jiang Baimian remained focused on her surroundings. If it werent for Shang Jianyao, I wouldnt have been able to escape his control. I really wouldve ended up in the hands of that psychopath. My fate would have been tragicvery tragic. Although Ive never seen the female corpses Jingfa killed, Ive heard someone describe them

When this matter was mentioned, Jiang Baimianwho had always been rather optimisticcouldnt help but let her expression be clouded by gloominess. She did not start a lecture because she was worried that it would affect Bai Chen, Shang Jianyao, and Long Yuehongs conditions.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao had already finished wearing the military exoskeleton. His lips quivered a few times before he finally opened them. Normally speaking, an Awakened only has three abilities.

Jiang Baimian turned the steering wheel and let the jeep circle a tree that stood in the middle of the road. Three Jingfa has one that makes me unsure of who I am Then there is Hungry Ghost Realm Anything else?

Long Yuehongwho was listening quietlyimmediately thought of an answer. Mind-reading! Jingfa told us that he can mind-read and that he can hear some of a persons thoughts.

Jiang Baimian muttered to herself as she drove, Weve figured out all three abilities Perhaps we can consider it from this angle and find an ingenious method to deal with Jingfa. Ah yes, there should be a limit to an Awakeneds abilities

She had been musing to herself very loudly, so everyone could hear her clearly.

Shang Jianyao thoughtfully replied, Jingfa was within a meter of us when he used his mind-reading and cognitive dissonance abilities. Its impossible to determine what his maximum range is.

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment before smiling. However, its not like we cant make a preliminary judgment. When he pounced at us from a tree in the distance, he chose to use Hungry Ghost Realm.

This choice itself implies some problems. Either the range of the ability to make a person suffer cognitive dissonance is far inferior to the Hungry Ghost Realm, or it can only be used against one person. In contrast, the Hungry Ghost Realm can affect everyone in a specific area.

Bai Chen recalled her experience and said, I have an impression of that. When I discovered the hungry ghosts around me, it was shortly after Jingfa pounced at us from the tree. He was about 20 meters away from us, or perhaps a little more.

She clearly knew more about the teachings, stories, and legends of the Monk Conclave than Jiang Baimian.

Yes, you need to remember that the Hungry Ghost Realms effective range is at least 20 meters. Jiang Baimian raised her voice slightly.

Shang Jianyao fell silent for a moment before saying, Hes better than me.

I dont know how many times older he is than you. He probably has also been an Awakened for years, Jiang Baimian consoled him.

Jiang Baimian had no way of knowing when Jingfa had become an Awakened. She could only determine that Jingfa had transferred his consciousness into a bionic robot chip, becoming an Eternal, after he had become an Awakened. Jingfa became rather active as a mechanical monk in the late Chaotic Era, before the establishment of the New Calendar.

At this moment, Long Yuehong seemed to accept the truth. His good friendShang Jianyao, who he had grown up withwas actually an Awakened with strange and terrifying abilities! He felt that he would never forget the scene he had just seen in his life.

Jingfawho was originally filled with killing intent and had a firm willsuddenly became extremely friendly after hearing Shang Jianyaos two sentences. He even shook Shang Jianyaos hand and bade him farewell reluctantly.

This overturned everything Long Yuehong knew.

He looked at Shang Jianyao and couldnt help but ask, W-when did you become an Awakened?

Shang Jianyao fell silent for a moment before saying, Not long ago.

Long Yuehong wanted to ask something else, but he suddenly felt that it wasnt a good idea. It was like poking into someone elses secrets.

In the jeep, nobody spoke for a moment.

Jiang Baimian broke the silence. She looked ahead and smiled. Do you need us to keep this a secret?

Thank you. Shang Jianyao slowly exhaled.

Bai Chen and Long Yuehong expressed that they would definitely keep it a secret.

Shang Jianyao was just about to say something when he saw Jiang Baimians expression suddenly changing slightly. At the same time, Jiang Baimian abruptly turned the steering wheel and made the jeep take a large turn.

Bai Chen, Shang Jianyao, and Long Yuehong couldnt help but lean to the right in the car, even though they were all wearing seatbelts.

A grenade flew past and landed where they were supposed to pass.

Boom!

Blazing flames bloomed as a violent shockwave made the ground tremble.

After the jeep turned a corner, Jiang Baimian floored the accelerator, making the vehicle shoot forward like an arrow.

A red laser drilled into and melted the ground with a sizzling sound, forming a bottomless hole.

Eleven oclock. Bai Chen seized the opportunity to inform Jiang Baimian which direction she couldnt go in using the hands of a clock. Otherwise, the car would sink into the swamp slowly.

Jiang Baimian was very familiar with such lingo. Without needing to do any conversions, she turned the steering wheel. Then, she shouted, Shang Jianyao!

Shang Jianyao took an indiscernible breath and suddenly opened the dashing jeeps door. His body tilted and rolled down.

With the jeeps current speed, it was inevitable that he would be injured if he did this under normal circumstances. However, he was currently wearing a military-grade exoskeleton.

With a push of his arm, Shang Jianyao easily jumped up and ran towards the source of the grenade and the laser in a zig-zag fashion. He did not bring an assault rifle or a submachine gun because they were useless against the mechanical monk. He could only rely on the grenade launcher and electromagnetic weapon that came with the exoskeleton.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

As he ran without regard for energy, Shang Jianyao saw the iron-black robot wearing a tattered monk robe and a red kasaya through the crystal goggles on his metal helmet.

However, Jingfa turned around and ran the next second. He circled Shang Jianyao and gradually increased the distance between them using the exoskeletons lack of reaction speed and fluidity that was inferior to a robots.

After a short pursuit, Shang Jianyao lost track of the mechanical monk. The exoskeletons comprehensive warning system did not detect anything either. It was clear that the other party had an anti-warning capability.

Unable to continue chasing, Shang Jianyao had no choice but to return the way he came. He relied on the traces of the jeeps wheels to find Jiang Baimian and the others. Then, without letting the jeep stop, he opened the door and got in.

On the way back, Shang Jianyao deliberately destroyed the wheel tracks and forged traces in other directions, hoping to interfere with Jingfas judgment.

Hes hiding from me. Shang Jianyao briefly explained the situation after closing the door.

Hes afraid of you? Does your ability counter him? Long Yuehong subconsciously voiced his thoughts.

No, the range of his abilities is greater. Shang Jianyao didnt avoid the question.

Jiang Baimian frowned slightly and was about to speak when she suddenly turned the steering wheel.

Boom!

Jingfas long-range attack came again!

However, Jingfa took the initiative to retreat and widen the distance when Shang Jianyaowho was wearing a military exoskeletonalighted and ran over, not giving Shang Jianyao a chance to fight.

Once, twice, thrice Similar situations happened at different intervals.

What is he trying to do? Long Yuehong also realized the problem.

Jiang Baimian curled her lips and said, Maybe he brought along quite a number of high-performance batteries. Maybe he feels that theres a chance of exhausting our exoskeletons energy. He sure is patient

Long Yuehong reflexively said, However, he cant carry that many grenades.

Bai Chen looked at the rearview mirror and said, He has only been using his laser weapon the past few times.

Long Yuehong was a little worried. Then what should we do?