"We once had a vanguard team!"

"Carrying hammers, drills, and pickaxes. Bearing the mission of building a beautiful future, striving forward, forward!"

The song echoed gently, the cold wind drifted.

Outside the temple in Yangshan Town, watching Yun You and the other two step by step toward the forest, those townspeople who were once members of the Hammer Vanguard Team stood at the door, singing loudly their [Pioneering Song].

With most of their memories erased, they could do nothing more, nor could they assist the trio. They could only rely on the instinct engraved in their bones to sing this song, to see off the brave ones.

But, this is considered enough...

With the encouragement of song, Yun You and the other two can at least know that even in this strange world, they are not fighting alone.

Those standing behind them are pioneers of exploration.

Perhaps the consciousnesses of these people have long perished, but their spirits will accompany Yun You and the others...

"If there's really a perpetrator behind this, then once we get out, I swear I'll find that bastard and cut him into pieces!"

"That animal...!"

As they walked, Frost Moon suddenly muttered softly, his tone carrying a hint of anger.

Frost Moon, being a hacker, always had slow emotional responses; joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were somewhat muted compared to ordinary people.

Yet even so, he felt an unprecedented fury, like an eternal flame scorching his brain.

Yun You said nothing, just silently clenched her fist, with a similar pent-up frustration in her heart.

Frost Moon's cursing was justified.

If there is indeed a mastermind behind this incident, then his crimes outweigh mere slaughter.

For personal gain, he conspired and planned for many years, not knowing how many lives he harmed during this period and how many families like Aurora's he tore apart.

He is no different from those Apprentice Death Gods who once made Yun You homeless, all bearing bloody debts and deserving to be shredded into pulp like scoundrels.

Yun You would not promise to kill the mastermind one day to avenge the victims.

She never considered herself a Knight, so naturally, she wouldn't make such a heavy vow.

But if there comes a day when the mastermind stands in front of her, then she will definitely pull the trigger... and conveniently send such a beast on its way.

As for Jack...

The mercenary was evidently more realistic and calmer than the two.

Although he was angry, he didn't say much, merely shook his head lightly.

"Don't think too much."

"Consider revenge for the innocents only after we get out."

"For now, let's focus on what's ahead, we're not out of danger yet."

Jack's words were like a cold shower poured over Frost Moon.

The hacker finally calmed down, nodding his head.

"You're right, Jack... Before punishing the strong and aiding the weak, one must first manage oneself."

Speaking of which, Frost Moon closed his eyes, murmuring: "My chip detected some faint footprints around here, and they're barefoot, size 31, slightly smaller than our employer."

"As for the time frame... Some are from two weeks ago, and some just appeared recently."

"If there's no mistake, these should be Aurora's footprints!"

Upon hearing this, Yun You was slightly startled.

If Aurora recently left footprints on the ground, wouldn't that mean she is still alive?

"Where do these footprints lead?"

Yun You couldn't help but speak: "Investigate further, see if you can trace her whereabouts!"

"Hold on a moment..."

Frost Moon nodded, then crouched down, carefully examining the prints left on the soil and leaves.

After a while, he began moving forward, tracing the markings slowly.

"There are not enough samples, can't locate them immediately."

"Let's follow these footprints ahead and explore, maybe we can find a path."

"Alright!"

Yun You and Jack nodded simultaneously.

Thus, the three of them braved the blood-red moonlight and stepped into the dark, damp forest outside the town.

The moment Yun You completely stepped out from the confines of Yangshan Town...

Those jars storing immortal organs suddenly lit up, emanating a faint, barely perceptible white glow!

Soon, the glow transformed into a starry galaxy, slowly drifting toward the sky, under the blood moon, gradually condensing into a light sphere the size of half a person.

At first glance... the light sphere seemed nothing special, like an incandescent lamp without a bulb, quite inconspicuous.

But had Yun You been there, she would surely have discovered that inside the light sphere, a slender shadow was hidden.

A human shadow.

He appeared to be around 16 years old, slender in stature, yet dressed in an opulent, imposing black robe with a Golden Crown atop his head.

This person was none other than the legendary "Young King" of Yangshan Town, the only immortal existence in the town.

He was a wise and enlightened Monarch, creating a great empire with his own hands... But in the end, he was struck down by greed and corruption, becoming a ravenous ghost upon the throne, devouring beauty bit by bit.

The Young King had already paid many prices, but seemingly hadn't yet redeemed all his sins. Even as his body perished, the organs still bore his greed, anger, and delusion, transforming into "It," wreaking havoc on the world.

However, at this moment, the King appearing within the light sphere seemed not to be a minion of "It," nor was he aligned with "It."

The Young King's righteousness was intact, his gaze profound without any impurities.

He looked down at his own body, then at the jars on the ground. After a long period of silence, he nodded lightly, perhaps understanding his situation.

Yet he showed no sorrow, nor did he wail, merely sighed lightly.

Afterward, he focused his gaze on the distant Yun You.

"It was you..."

"Thank you."

Without uttering unnecessary words, the Young King silently expressed gratitude. Then suddenly transformed into an inconspicuous streak of light, streaking across the sky at light speed, directly merging into Yun You's hand.

...

No unexpected occurrences, nor much change ensued.

Yun You didn't perceive the existence of the streak of light; neither Jack nor Frost Moon noticed it either.

Only one person... or rather, only one consciousness observed everything.

That would be Master Zero.

[This is...]

[The "King's" soul?!]

[Wow... I never imagined, Yun absorbed those organs and actually awakened the original consciousness and the pure, powerful soul of the Young King!]

[This thing is far stronger than any "Soul Stone."]

Master Zero muttered silently, not directly informing Yun You of this matter, but merely chuckled, amazed at the girl's good fortune.

[This is truly an unexpected harvest...]

[When the soul is complete, it might transform into a formidable weapon for Yun's use]

[Looking forward to its performance...]

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