Chapter 127

Chapter 127 With the desired book, Su Bei didn’t read immediately but went to find Wu Jin. He’d tasked him with searching, and since his goal was met, there was no need to trouble him. Descending to the second floor, finding no one, he returned to the third. Given his search speed, Wu Jin had likely finished the first floor, so starting from the second saved time. As expected, near the third-floor stairwell, he saw Wu Jin: “Wu Jin, I found what I wanted on the ninth floor. Want to come?” Wu Jin had no plans, and reading was fine. He nodded: “Sure.” They reached the ninth floor. Seeing the open secret room, Wu Jin glanced at Su Bei but asked nothing, calmly entering. They sat in corners, reading. Morning passed quickly. Nearing lunch, Su Bei exhaled, closing the book: “Let’s go.” Wu Jin, engrossed, forgot time. With Su Bei here, he’d delegated decisions, not bothering to think. Leaving the secret room, they faced the open bookshelf, exchanging looks. After two seconds, Wu Jin asked suspiciously: “You don’t know how to close it, do you?” Su Bei was silent—he really didn’t. He only recalled “As you wish, as you wish,” with no other clues. He’d studied the poem repeatedly; it held only that passphrase. If the book had no second passphrase, where could he find the closing method? The door likely needed a passphrase like the opening. Su Bei tried pushing the bookshelf, but it didn’t budge with his strength. Likely Ability-reinforced, only a passphrase would work. Closing his eyes, he decided the book was the only clue. Seeing him take it out, Wu Jin read the title softly: “Maoshan Calligraphy...” As if struck, Su Bei flipped to the poem, reading aloud. The bookshelf closed. Smirking, he was glad he hadn’t misjudged. He’d read the poem to open it, so he’d overlooked it. Hearing Wu Jin read the title sparked realization—reading it again didn’t conflict with before. “...Impressive,” Wu Jin said, giving a silent thumbs-up. Su Bei winked: “Let’s go—time for the Hongmen Banquet.” Though Feng Lan said the plan started after five, Su Bei didn’t believe a lunch gathering involving everyone would pass peacefully. Wu Jin sighed: “How about skipping it? I’m not that hungry.” With no one around, he lifted his hair, letting his eyes breathe: “I’ll read in the library.” Su Bei, briefly dazed by his appearance, felt helpless. Seen so often, why did he still pause? With that face, Wu Jin could dominate entertainment without skill. Tempted, Su Bei shook his head: “How can we miss such excitement?” Knowing the main event was post-five, any lunch tricks wouldn’t take effect immediately or cause a scene. No need to fear. Not attending risked missing plot points and raising enemy suspicion. After speaking, Su Bei dragged Wu Jin to the dining hall. Wu Jin, flustered, lowered his hair, reverting to his low-key self, muttering resentfully: “Watch your show alone—why drag me?” “Missing one person makes the play incomplete,” Su Bei said, grinning. The real reason was that he was forced to eat—why let Wu Jin slack off? No need to share that thought. The dining hall was bustling, more a banquet hall. Food-laden tables lined the sides, but few stopped for them, holding wine glasses, chatting with targets. Su Bei, uninterested in mingling, took a plate of sliced steak, grabbed utensils, and ate in a corner. Watching the crowd, he activated his Ability. As expected, most people’s small pointers leaned right, signaling bad events. A few leaned left. Su Bei’s gaze lingered, seeking differences. It wasn’t hard—those with left pointers held no wine, while others sipped red wine occasionally. The wine was the issue... Seeing Wu Jin, also without wine, eating fried rice, Su Bei chuckled. He’d been careless—red wine’s issue should’ve struck him seeing so many with it. The author wouldn’t let the protagonist group fall, so the problem was something they’d likely avoid. Wine was perfect—minors couldn’t drink. “Why’re you laughing?” Wu Jin’s gaze landed on Su Bei, then followed to the crowd. “Find something?” Knowing Su Bei, a sudden laugh meant someone’s fate was sealed. Su Bei, in a good mood, speared steak: “This food’s good.” No additives—pretty good, right? Seeing his dodge, Wu Jin didn’t press. Deciding to avoid the suspicious banquet, he quickly finished his rice: “I’m done.” Seeing his eagerness to leave, Su Bei laughed, finishing his food, strolling by the wine barrel, nodding: “Let’s go back to reading.” He’d uncovered the secret—staying offered nothing new. Leaving gave more reading time and avoided plot points. Even without Wu Jin, he wouldn’t linger. But before they could move, Jiang Tianming’s group entered, here to eat. To avoid plot, Su Bei arrived early at 11. Yet, despite rushing, he ran into them. Jiang Tianming’s sharp eyes spotted Su Bei instantly. Seeing him approach with classmates, Su Bei sighed: “Trouble’s here.” Wu Jin, initially confused, understood seeing Jiang Tianming’s group. “What a coincidence!” Mo Xiaotian bounded over, excited. “Find anything this morning? We found plenty!” He often followed Jiang Tianming’s group, practically the protagonist team’s fourth member. Per Su Bei’s forum observations, his popularity was high. “Find what?” Su Bei raised a brow, feigning indifference. “Aren’t we here to tour?” Though he said this, his morning actions weren’t guest-like. Who ransacks a host’s library? But Su Bei lacked that awareness. Observing their Destiny Compasses, all small pointers leaned left, big pointers fine—they’d likely succeed this time. “Want to hear?” Jiang Tianming approached. “Our findings.” With others, they’d hide findings, but with classmates, there was no need—they weren’t enemies. But Su Bei was different. Not telling him wasn’t suspicion but fear he didn’t care or already knew. Unknown to Jiang Tianming, Su Bei wanted to hear. He wasn’t omniscient—more information meant more options. Though he might not need to act, knowing helped. But spotting the stage being set up, Su Bei felt they were wasting time. With that stage, a speech was imminent. Given the timing and event, Su Bei was certain trouble would strike during it—mildly chaos, severely entrapment. He had no desire to join. Patting Jiang Tianming’s shoulder, he said: “Tell me next time, okay?” Ignoring their stunned looks, he signaled Wu Jin, and they swiftly left the hall. Outside, Su Bei glanced back. Wu Jin followed, asking: “We waiting here?” “For what?” Su Bei shrugged. “Back to reading.” They returned to the library, closing the door with the passphrase to avoid disturbances, planning to leave at five. Soon, Manga Consciousness spoke: “《King of Abilities》 updated. Please check.” Su Bei paused flipping pages. Splitting the plot into two updates meant more content awaited. But he didn’t check now—reading was priority. The manga could wait; this book was only accessible here. He’d read it after everything ended. Time flew reading. Finishing the book, it was just four. Su Bei rubbed his brow, exhaling. Reading a dense, informative book was draining, but he’d gained much. Study on the Birth of Nightmare Beasts, written a century ago by a powerful Ability User when Nightmare Beasts were new, was tough to counter but easier to trace. Feeling strong enough, the author explored their origins, entering a Different Space to reach the Nightmare Beast world. From the description, Su Bei sensed the world had few Nightmare Beasts then. They appeared suddenly, accumulating, not overflowing from long existence. Though unaware Nightmare Beasts would grow, the author suspected it. The sparse population suggested a recent emergence. He explored why they appeared. Much of the book detailed exploration—theory, practice, research. To ensure reliability, Su Bei couldn’t skip it. In the latter half, the author found answers. Nightmare Beasts’ emergence was tied to Ability Users’ appearance, likely simultaneous. This timing was odd. The author investigated major events before. He found a week prior, the aviation bureau reported a meteor set to hit Earth. Its trajectory was recorded, but no trace was found. After investigations, he confirmed Nightmare Beasts and Ability Users arose due to this meteor. Su Bei found this credible. The author verified the meteor’s existence and its unexplained disappearance. Given its size, it should’ve been noticeable. The author believed it caused a planetary shift, then dissipated. But this... Su Bei sighed. He sought Nightmare Beasts’ origins to find eradication methods. If a meteor caused them, what could he do? Time-travel to intercept it? Perhaps he should study the meteor’s origin. But if it was random, his research would be futile, a dead end. If there were possibilities, he’d try. But knowing the author, the meteor was likely a random event, no conspiracy. With a conspiracy, the author wouldn’t need Su Bei—the protagonist could handle it. This clue dead, he had two options: peaceful coexistence or sealing them in Different Spaces. The former aside, he had no ideas for the latter. If sealing were possible, past Ability Users would’ve tried. They tried and failed, letting the situation worsen. Su Bei didn’t underestimate himself, but he lacked relevant Abilities. Like a layman building a missile—dream on, even if a literary genius. Frowning, he pondered. Though he told Manga Consciousness he’d quit, he wouldn’t give up until truly hopeless. But now, he was clueless. Eradicating Nightmare Beasts offered few methods, all dead ends. Was there no hope? “What’s wrong?” Wu Jin’s voice broke in, his gray eyes showing concern. Wu Jin had never seen Su Bei so troubled, assuming something major happened. Saving the world was major, right? He couldn’t share this. Shaking his head, about to say he was fine, Su Bei thought asking might spark ideas. Carefully, he said: “If I want to do something but all paths are blocked, what should I do?” Wu Jin pondered. If it were him, what would he do? He looked at Su Bei: “Ask for help?” If truly stuck, Wu Jin might seek Su Bei’s help. Not the answer Su Bei wanted—who could help with this? Anyone able to eradicate Nightmare Beasts would’ve done it without his plea. ...Wait? Su Bei’s eyes lit up. Someone with world-changing power existed, unaware of it. The manga readers! He could alter his Ability, Mental Energy, or influence via the forum. Could he change the world, making readers believe the meteor issue was solvable, thus solving it? Ideas flooded. His brow relaxed: “You’re right—seek help.” “Need my help?” Wu Jin asked eagerly. Su Bei shook his head: “Not now. Keep reading—I need to think.” He wasn’t thinking but contacting Manga Consciousness: “Can I use readers to make them think the meteor is solvable, thus solving it?” After a long wait, he urged: “Manga Consciousness, you there?” “...Possible, but you must devise a logical solution without flaws,” Manga Consciousness replied. “The author couldn’t solve this, so the meteor was set as a random event.” Su Bei’s eyes gleamed. Manga Consciousness didn’t just answer—it confirmed the meteor caused the world’s change and Nightmare Beasts. But devising a meteor solution was a huge task. He’d need to craft its origin, find a way to make it reappear, and if gathered, Nightmare Beasts and Abilities could vanish. After planning, he’d ensure Jiang Tianming saw this book or its contents, letting readers learn of the meteor via him, then manipulate with his “Prophet” account. This needed careful planning later—not urgent now. With a direction, Su Bei felt relieved. His fear wasn’t complex steps but no direction. Complex steps, with patience, could be tackled. No direction meant no way. Standing, stretching, he smiled at Wu Jin: “Let’s go see outside. It’s probably chaotic.” Wu Jin nodded, returning the books. They left the secret room. The library was quiet—no one expected readers to stay, so no guards patrolled. At the entrance, security was tight. Sentries stood at several spots, visibly tense, as if fearing sudden disruptions. Distant sounds of fighting arose. The sentries heard but didn’t move. Su Bei understood. The mastermind was prepared—sentries were tense but ordered not to leave, preventing escapes or resource waste. “What do we do?” Wu Jin asked. “Should I act?” His true Ability was [Succubus], easily seducing a few. But it’d expose his secret, requiring his father’s intervention later. Without knowing Su Bei lacked control Abilities, Wu Jin wouldn’t suggest this. Su Bei was prepared: “No need. Here.” Wu Jin looked, seeing two Invisibility Charms. He sighed: “Should’ve gotten some myself.” Su Bei didn’t speak but knew his trust in the charms came from Manga Consciousness' enhancements. School charms were easily detected by professional devices.