Plague Doctor

Chapter 233: Is that so?

“Gu Jun?” Kathlyn could sense the shock within Peacock and confusion struck her. “Who is that? How come Peacock reacts like we’re in the presence of some rockstar?”

“Rockstar? What is that?” Peacock could read her thoughts and wanted to slap Kathlyn for disrespecting the Phecda Hero. Rockstar or not, nothing could be used to compare to the Phecda Hero!

“Huh?” Kathlyn frowned. “Is he really that famous in your circle?”

“He is our God.” Peacock realized that was the most appropriate analogy.

At the same time, Malachite asked urgently, “Mr. Nightmare Man, you said you’re Gu Jun, what do you mean by that?” Gold added, “This is no joking matter!” Aquamarine asked with a shaking voice, “You just share a similar name with the Phecda Hero, right?” Either answer worried them. By now, the five knew that they had come from a future that had not occurred and they were now in the golden era where the collapse had not taken place. Perhaps Gu Jun was still alive, but how was it possible... that it was them who had saved him from the Dreamlands?

“I am the Gu Jun you know.” The nightmare man said evenly, “And over there is Wu Siyu.”

‘What?!’ The already stunned land’s travellers turned to look at the slender young woman with short black hair. They felt struck like lightning. If Kathlyn had to make a comparison, it felt like the land travellers had just found out they won the lottery but before they could cash it in, they were told their uncle had left them with a huge inheritance.

‘But who is this Wu Siyu? Why would she cause such a reaction among the land’s travellers?’ The same question troubled Tom and the rest too. ‘Is this yet another celebrity from their world?’

‘Of course, of course!’ Peacock’s heart was racing so fast. Her hands went to her knees as she doubled over. She mumbled, “It’s the Goddess of Hope...” Naturally these people from the golden era would not understand the meaning the Goddess of Hope meant to them who grew up in the City of Kindle... During those dark times, the thought of the Goddess of Hope would bring them a mother-like warmth. A gentle caress, an encouraging whisper, those were the gift of the Goddess of Hope.

But as the land’s travellers looked at Wu Siyu... they were honestly quite disappointed. Compared to the statues in the City of Kindle, this young lady lacked presence and grace, if anything, the other woman, Wang Ruoxiang fitted their vision better. Could this girl, who looked much younger than they were, really be the Goddess of Hope?

“Erm?” Wu Siyu was feeling awkward under their close scrutiny, she whispered, “Dirty-minded Jun, is there something on my face?”

“They’re probably reminded of something you said. To them, you’re someone like Pusa, the Goddess of Mercy.” Gu Jun shrugged, “And I’m probably Sun Wukong.”

Wu Siyu rolled her eyes at him, but considering everything that had happened so far, would it be so preposterous? “O well.”

While the land’s travellers were in shock, the Phecda members were overwhelmed by joy, excitement and confusion. Joy and excitement because Gu Jun was not dead! With his arrival, there was nothing that they could not overcome. The confusion was why was he wearing a mask? What spell was that imprint? And who were those five making all the noises around him?

In any case, they quickly moved into action. Cai Zixuan and Yang Ying who had regained their mobility pulled Wang Ruoxiang over. Even though she was the one who had lost the most control, she was also the one who recovered the fastest. She was already more or less her old self while Gao Yi and Zhang Zuodong were still struggling....

“Peacock, just keep those questions for later, I’ll give you the explanation after this. Now we need to focus on saving these people.” The land’s travellers nodded solemnly. They were definitely not going to disappoint the Phecda Hero!

Gu Jun led the five of them over to Lou Xiaoning who had reached the fourth chapter of the tome. He applied another ancient seal on her and then the rest of the Phecda members to help cleanse their spirit. Temporarily, they skipped over the members who had not reached chapter 3 for their spirit was not that corrupted.

“This is awesome...” Lou Xiaoning grinned through the pain. “This is one hell of a therapy!” Gao Yi and the rest groaned in painful release. Their eyes cleared up a lot after the session and their faces relaxed from the grimace. Under Xue Ba’s arrangement, other than Lou Xiaoning, the others were sequestered to the side to prevent them from further unpredictability.

By then, the 10 people in yellow had retreated more than 10 steps away. The normal citizens around the stage started to rush towards the middle. The Jacksons were the first to run with their daughter, they knew the only way to survive was to stay close to the masked man!

Up to hundred of citizens rushed towards the Phecda members and Cai Zixuan tried his best to keep them under control, to stop them from interrupting Gu Jun.

“Sir, it’s us! Can’t you recognize us?!” Mr. Jackson screamed. He hoped that his family would be given access into the inner circle based on their previous bond with Gu Jun.

Gu Jun ignored him as he walked towards Mr. Wang Erde. He used the sword to pick at the bloody robe and was dumbfounded to realize that the robe was empty... the strange figure inside it had disappeared. Gu Jun had been watching this heap of cloth and he was certain no one had escaped.

“Huh?” Wu Suyi’s heart twitched.

“Be careful, there is still residual energy in the air....” Wang Ruoxiang, who was resting, warned. “Those audience... I can’t be sure, but they aren’t normal illusions... they are more like mental projections that originate from the force which those people were trying to summon... That Mr. Wang Erde, be careful of him...” Thinking back to what happened earlier, her expression grimaced in pain. “We mustn’t allow them to summon that force...”

The group looked around. The anomalous environment that encaptured them did not dissipate; the dimension was still distorted. Despite the massacre and comeback, the tens of thousands of audience had not moved, they watched on silently.

‘Summon?’ Gu Jun thought back to what Wang Erde had said, “The King’s tattered robe will forever shroud over this world.”

‘The King?’ His heart sunk. Zheng Jialiang kept saying he was the descendent of Hastur, ‘Is that who they’re trying to summon? The King in Yellow, Hastur?’

“Is that so, is that so...” At that moment, Mr. Wang Erde’s curious voice rang out again. The wrinkled face appeared among the audience, suddenly at this corner, the next moment appearing at the other side. He slipped among the audience like a shadow but his small body was doubled over like he was bowing. His annoying voice kept repeating, “Oh, is that so, is that so....”

“What is he on about?” Lou Xiaoning groused impatiently. None of them had any clue but Gu Jun felt a great danger approaching. It was Wang Ruoxiang who said hoarsely, “He is trying to communicate with that power...”

“Is that so, you have not seen such a brilliant performance in a very long time... But it’s still not enough? Not enough death... yes, death is the greatest release, the moment one acquires true spirit.... This showing lacks spirit, is that so, is that so...” Wang Erde’s ubiquitous voice was grating and it echoed throughout the open air arena. “So we need more deaths to fix that?”

Suddenly the song began again. Next to 10 figures in yellow, more of the same robed figures materialized behind them. They moved to form a large spiral triangle with the headless bodies on stage to surround the living. The normal citizens were scared into silence. Phecda members and the land’s travelers frowned deeply. Even though the figures were adorned with tattered yellow hoodies, the hoodies had now fallen back and they revealed faces that were hidden behind a mask. A white mask, similar to the one worn by Gu Jun.

“Is that so?!” Wang Erde’s unhinged voice called out, “Then let us begin the final scene of this show!”