Chapter 74: All Is Revealed
The tram doors have already closed, slowly departing from the platform. Within the relatively narrow space, there is absolutely no room for evasion.
Kichyō wielded the Nine-Syllable Blade and exhaled with a resounding voice, "Thou shalt not escape!"
Nishino Junko's expression changed, and in the blink of an eye, she skillfully disguised herself as if she were innocent and helpless.
"Who will come and help me!"
"Help! This woman is insane!"
"She's holding a sword, she wants to kill me!"
Several dozen passengers in the train compartment exchanged looks, their expressions grim and displeased. They wanted to step forward and offer a few words of advice but were hesitant, fearing the blood-stained sword.
Kichyō calmly recounted, "Please, everyone step aside. She is a follower of the malevolent deity, and we cannot trust anything she says."
Upon hearing the words "follower of the malevolent deity," even the most righteous individuals raised their hand in instinctive defense, lowered their heads, and motioned repeatedly to step back, overwhelmed by a surge of righteousness.
"I can't help, I can't help…"
Nishino Junko, seeing that nobody was coming to her aid, rose from the ground in a disoriented state. It was as if she had reached the end of her wits, and immediately let out a cold laugh, her expression suddenly turning ferocious.
Just like a sudden change of expression, her demeanor swiftly shifted from harmless to hysterical, as if she were the pottery artist Tao Yinghong, holding onto a pressure cooker.
"I want to kill me? Fine! Come and give it a try!"
She turned around, and there was an additional person in front of her.
Kichyō furrowed her brow and said, "How despicable."
Nishino Junko took a hostage, a young elementary school boy who was riding the train alone. She held a dagger in her right hand, its sharp blade already cutting across the boy's cheek.
The elementary school student had a piece of candy in his mouth, making no sound. He simply made a soft, puzzled "hmm" sound, as if he had yet to fully comprehend the situation.
The atmosphere inside the train became deathly quiet and heavy, the passengers crowded to the sides, looking from a far distance.
"Do not move!" Nishino Junko threatened, "Dare to come any closer and I will truly slit his throat!"
"Do you think you can escape like this?"
"Ha…"
"I know what you're thinking," Kichyō glanced at the timetable on the train, "There's one more stop until Ginza. Once we reach the designated location, the train will be detonated. You just need to delay these moments."
Nishino Junko's pupils contracted intensely, "You, you…"
Her plan was being executed solely by her, it was simply impossible for anyone else to be aware of it.
She had a gloomy expression, "So what if you know?"
She held a hostage in her hand; this was an insidious scheme… She had set the train to explode, even if Jesus himself appeared, it would be of no use, as she proclaimed!
Kichyō responded in silence, but her blade shifted, now held firmly in both hands, with its tip pointing towards the ground.
Time continued to pass, minute by minute, second by second, and the tram was approaching the Ginza platform.
---We have arrived at Ginza Station. Please alight from the tram in an orderly manner, starting from the right side. Those in the back, please wait your turn.
The sound of the announcement was drowned out by terrified voices.
The passengers who had listened intently to the conversation between the two individuals rushed out of the tram in panic, colliding unavoidably with the closing doors.
The continuous congestion and frantic movements of these individuals caused the tram to sway with a considerable inclination.
When Nishino Junko leaned to the side, her shoulder was injured and bumped against the column, causing her right hand to uncontrollably tremble.
It was precisely in this fleeting moment.
The Kichyō, who had long been waiting, suddenly swung her blade, and this swift and skillful strike was executed with great force.
The Nine-Syllable Blade emitted a melodious resonance, as sunlight permeated through the car window and cascades into the compartment, casting a radiant glow upon its blade, instantaneously adorning it with a golden sheen.
Sufficient to sever all malevolent forces.
Nishino Junko raised her dagger, and with a clash of metal, she shockingly realized that she could not hold her ground. Not only did her knee crash into the ground, but her shoulder also received a brutal blow, as the sharp blade cleaved into her scapula. In a splatter of fresh blood, accompanied by a hint of charred scent.
Ouch! It hurts!
She felt as if her very soul were being seared with pain. She had clearly consumed the tainted blood of the progeny of the malevolent deity, rendering her devoid of physical sensation. This indicated her transformation towards immortality. However… why was this blade able to harm her?
The searing pain made her complexion turn pale, and something deep within her was churning as if there was something anxious and restless trying to escape from within her body.
Suppressing the feeling of nausea, she relinquished the immobile state of her right hand and snatched up the little boy nearby, using him as a weapon to strike at the white-clad bride who was once again brandishing her blade.
Kichyō had no choice but to raise her hand and catch the elementary school student. Seizing this opportunity, Nishino Junko pushed through the crowd and managed to escape from the train.
"Are you alright?" Kichyō set the boy down and gently wiped away the blood from his face.
"No problem at all." The little boy got up from the ground, pouting and crossing his arms defiantly. Not only was he unafraid, but he even put on a show, saying, "This level of injury can't harm me, the divine being!"
"The divine being?" Kichyō tilted her head in confusion.
"Yes, I am…," the elementary school student pointed to himself with his thumb and introduced himself.
Kichyō lowered her head to look at the item that fell out from the elementary school student's backpack. Inside, there was a book titled "Resurrection of the Demon Sovereign, translated edition by Yingzhou".
"Children shouldn't read this kind of book, you know," Kichyō gently tapped the elementary school student's head.
"I am not!" The young child's face turned red.
After confirming the safety of the hostages, the girl dashed out of the train. The crowd outside bustled with activity, and despite her tiptoeing efforts, she couldn't spot Nishino Junko. However, the bloodstains left on the ground served as a reliable guide, leading her to pursue along the trail.
…
Nishino Junko was trying to escape, but she was too weak. It was evident that she wouldn't be able to escape like this.
As she stepped out of the train station, the people around her instinctively recoiled upon seeing her. No one would dare to approach someone covered in blood.
Not wanting to be detained by the railway police for questioning, and feeling extremely anxious, she suddenly brightened up as her eyes caught sight of someone.
A young man didn't step aside to avoid her; instead, he looked at her with great interest.
"Please help me!" she hurriedly approached, saying, "Someone is trying to kill me. I implore you…"
The young man paused for a moment, seemingly taken aback that she had initiated the conversation.
"Please, I beg of you!" tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, her voice trembling with a touch of sorrow.
"Alright." The young man yielded with a compassionate tone, "You are badly injured, come with me first."
"Thank you!" Nishino Junko lowered her head and followed the other person. Beneath her expression of gratitude, there lay a cold and cruel demeanor.
So easy to deceive.
She thought to herself.
…
After walking for over ten minutes, the surrounding buildings became increasingly sparse, transitioning from modern structures to a quaint cluster of wooden buildings.
Unbeknownst to me, she had arrived at a completely unfamiliar place.
"Where am I?" Nishino Junko asked curiously, "Weren't we supposed to go to the hospital?"
"I never mentioned anything about going to a hospital," the young man halted his steps.
Nishino Junko finally realized something was amiss, "Who are you? Where am I?"
"I am Bai Wei," the young man introduced himself, "This is not our first encounter, Nishino Junko."
Nishino felt a moment of dizziness, wondering why the other person knew her name and why he gave off the same impression as the previous woman.
No, it's even more perilous!
Bai Wei disregarded her change in expression and continued on his own, "Now that you're still Nishino Junko, she should have returned to her rightful place. Well, this is truly good news, as it eliminates unnecessary troubles."
"What on earth are you?"
"I've said it before, my name is Bai Wei, just an ordinary person from the Ming Country, who has gone through various occupations," Bai Wei explained, gesturing with his fingertips to indicate a certain distance. "So, my life experiences are slightly more enriched, just a little bit."
Nishino Junko's expression turned unpleasant. "I don't care who you are, let me go," she demanded.
"That won't do." Bai Wei whispered, "I must eliminate all potential hazards."
"Wha…"
"Do you recognize this?" Bai Wei tossed out a piece of sleeve that had not been burned.
"The priest's robe, could it be that you… impossible! Absolutely impossible! That monster, how could you have…?" she denied.
"The stronghold of the Holy Church has already been seized. Whether you believe it or not, it doesn't matter," Bai Wei said, expressionless. "Now, it's your turn."
Nishino Junko saw him take a half step forward, and in a state of shock, she collided with the wall. Begging, she said, "Please, spare me. I was truly forced…"
"Forced?"
"Yes, forced. I didn't want to, it was all because they coerced me," she explained.
Bai Wei remained silent.
Nishino Junko, thinking that it would be effective, hurriedly said, "After I joined the cult, I lived in constant fear and anxiety every day. I truly wanted to leave… However, I didn't have a choice. I could only act this way, forced and helpless."
Bai Wei asked curiously, "So, drinking the blood of the offspring of the evil god was also done under duress?"
Nishino Junko choked on her words.
Bai Wei continued to inquire, "Was it also done under coercion to make the heart stop through the ritual?"
She lowered her head, her gaze avoiding contact.
Bai Wei asked again, "Was it also done under coercion to embezzle funds, purchase explosives from the Shihai Corporation, and sabotage the electric train?"
Nishino Junko lifted her face, choosing to carry on with the performance, her expression filled with bitterness. "I, I… truly was just…"
Bai Wei supported his right elbow with his left hand, while his right thumb and index finger lifted his chin.
"Actually, I have always had a suspicion that you are not a member of the cult. Joining the cult was merely a means to another end," he speculated.
"This was just a speculation, initially incomplete, but now that I have seen you with my own eyes, I have confirmed this conjecture is not without foundation."
"I don't have much knowledge about your personal family background, but I presume that your family conditions are not poor. You can afford to hire a professor from Heihe as a private tutor, as both financial means and social status are indispensable."
"Being in a wealthy and privileged family, it is astonishing that you willingly involved yourself in the cult of the evil deity. Either Heihe's brainwashing tactics have been remarkably successful, or you have some ulterior motive."
"You don't have to hurry to refute, listen to me finish."
"The followers of the evil deity, although leading a detestable and wicked existence, do have their benefits, and one straightforward aspect is that it can actually improve one's life to a certain extent and provide a sense of belonging. However, none of these are necessary for you… Therefore, I believe that you and that priest are likely of the same kind, often yearning for the mysterious."
Bai Wei calmly expounded, his gaze flickering.
Nishino Junko's expression remained unchanged, yet she unconsciously exerted pressure on the wound.
Bai Wei continued, "Mystery implies transcendence. In this world where reincarnation determines ninety-nine percent of one's accomplishments, the blessings bestowed by the evil deity are among the rare few mysteries that can be acquired postnatally. They have the power to transform a person completely and enable them to ascend to great heights."
"When it comes to its only drawback, it requires paying an equivalent price, along with the need for rituals and contracts, which can be extremely cumbersome. The evil deity maintains a decent reputation among its followers, and these extradimensional beings are willing to engage in such transactions. However, if one is not a devotee, it becomes difficult to gain recognition and instead, one is more likely to be mocked."
"Therefore, becoming a member of the cult is the first step in the plan."
"The second step is to figure out how to obtain the mystery… This is also why you chose the radical faction, because they are in need of manpower, allowing you to quickly access the core of the cult."
"After a considerable period of time, I presume you must have learned a great deal from Heihe and ultimately established a comprehensive plan."
"According to the logic of the evil deity, you need to fulfill two conditions."
Nishino interrupted, saying, "How could I ever do such a thing… You're just making baseless speculations."
Bai Wei paid no attention and sequentially raised his index and middle fingers.
"Condition one: Materials and rituals."
"Condition two: Sacrifice."
"How coincidental, isn't it? You have fulfilled both of these conditions."
"The impure blood of the profane deity's heir, the ritual of transcendence, and most importantly…"
"The souls of one thousand people sacrificed."
Bai Wei's voice is hoarse and deep.
He thought about the explosion case before the reset, and more than a thousand people were involved and affected.
"This is also why you chose Line 4, why you chose the train departing from Ginza at 6:20 p.m., because during this time period, there is the highest volume of commuters that can fulfill the required number of sacrifices."
Nishino Junko remained silent, a prolonged silence.
She chuckled suddenly, "How is that possible? If there was a bomb to be detonated, I would have been on the train at that time too… Wouldn't that mean I would definitely die?"
Bai Wei said bluntly, "Of course, you would die… Are you suggesting that this is a case of misplaced priorities?"
Nishino Junko asked, "Certainly if I were to die, what would be the meaning?"
Bai Wei chuckled lightly and applauded, "Of course, it holds great significance… Only by dying can you be reborn; only by dying can you break free from the cult's control; only by dying will you avoid being held accountable. You can assume a new identity and start a fresh life."
He said calmly, "You shall undergo a transformation from the deceased husk… When your physical body perishes, your consciousness will awaken within your abdomen. It will manifest as a new form of life that you have constructed, like a silkworm cocoon, concealing yourself within its interior."
Nishino Junko's expression finally underwent a complete transformation.
Especially when Bai Wei uttered the word 'cocoon,' her expression shifted from trepidation to utter stillness and ferocity.
Bai Wei thought to himself, "Guessed it right."
Although it is currently unclear why the soul of Kichyō has entered Nishino's physical form, the secret of their intertwined spirits is finally revealed.
The direct reason why Nishino's physical form can accommodate two souls is that Nishino's body is destined to perish. It is merely a transient vessel, much like a silkworm cocoon, with Kichyō becoming the outer layer of the chrysalis while Nishino Junko remains hidden within, absorbing nourishment.
And this, as early as the very beginning of beginnings, he had witnessed this clue with his own eyes…
Written on the black exclamation mark is the word "cocoon."
That is precisely the proof of the completion of the ritual for the evil god!
She is dead, yet alive, her body transforming into a chrysalis, an extraordinary life awaiting conception and rebirth!
This means that prior to the first rollback, her plan was proceeding exceptionally smoothly.
At the thought of this, even Bai Wei couldn't help but sigh.
"The person who is tough on themselves deserves to be respected…"
"If it weren't for involving Simozi, you would have truly succeeded."
Slipping the Han sword with a tiger-head pommel from his sleeve, the young man took a step forward, the gleaming blade seemingly extending the sunlight as it cast its judgment.
"Now, give me a reason not to kill you?"
