Chapter 2155: Chapter 2150: Solitary Confinement (24)

So is this considered an Extraordinary Power or a sudden severe illness?

It’s a bit hard to say.

But what is certain is that the pain from the finger is becoming increasingly intense, with a faint tendency to spread.

Fu Qian moves his fingers, feeling the feedback from them.

It hasn’t affected his actions for the moment, but if it is of an extraordinary nature, it’s undoubtedly worse news.

It means that even while acting in the Surface World, there’s a risk of being influenced by the extraordinary.

What’s worse is that it seems to provide a mark for competitors.

No matter if the "Old Hunter" knows someone is racing against him, if he truly retains some extraordinary abilities and spots someone with an extraordinary aura, his reaction wouldn’t be optimistic.

Of course, even so, this trip is still quite rewarding.

First of all, traces of two missing persons were found, and even the possible itinerary of his competitors was sorted out.

For a task where time is constantly running out, such gains are almost worth any non-lethal cost to pursue.

Secondly, a question that had existed before seems to have found an answer — regarding the encounter between Zhen and Mr. Huck Sr.

Zhen herself said that she originally had Wednesday off, but because Rachel took a day off, she came to fill in.

Logically, someone called in as an emergency replacement shouldn’t arrive too early.

So how did the "Huck," who came particularly early at that time, meet her?

Now combined with the situation at the Art Prison, there seems to be a more reasonable explanation — could it be that Zhen didn’t meet "Huck" today, but rather earlier?

For example, yesterday morning?

Otherwise, how could "Huck" be looking for the whereabouts of missing persons in the morning and still have time to come here and slaughter?

The timing doesn’t quite match.

Brother Tantou also mentioned that two people came here yesterday, could it be that the "Old Hunter" was already looking for people at that time, so he entered the breakfast restaurant Zhen was working at?

As for why he would enter the Inner World, it’s still unclear, but because of the deep impression left by the exchange, even when filling in at the last minute the next day, Zhen unconsciously poured a glass of milk due to the influence of her subconscious.

And at that time, the Old Hunter likely had already visited the Art Prison.

This is the correct sequence.

...

His competitor not only seems to retain extraordinary abilities but even acted at least a day earlier.

The situation is more severe than imagined.

Although even like this, the suspicion of Mr. Huck Sr. still can’t be ruled out.

After all, the task hasn’t failed yet, which means the Old Hunter hasn’t found the White Key.

Near despair after so much effort, thus guiding me to help find it in this way, trying to be the hunter behind the hunter, doesn’t sound impossible.

The good news is that regardless of the situation, the next thing I need to do is the same — to check the situation of the artist, Yiven, in this world.

Giving up the clue is impossible; if it’s really some open conspiracy, then why not confront it with the same method?

And I can also take the opportunity to confirm what nature the issue with my hand belongs to.

Without waking Brother Tantou, Fu Qian directly headed toward the Guards’ Tower, just like before.

...

Even in this world, the owner of the studio seems to be absent.

Very quickly, under scrutinizing gazes, Fu Qian arrived at the Guards’ Tower once again.

Mr. Huck Sr.’s suggestion showed its value once again.

The watching crowd neither greeted like Brother Tantou nor reacted much to me entering this place.

If I came wearing a police uniform, it would at least attract some attention, even if it didn’t scare anyone, right?

Sighing, Fu Qian easily unlocked the door with the tools he brought from the car, and pushed the door open.

Indeed, not only did knocking not elicit a response, but the door was even locked.

Luckily, always being prepared, the small preparation meant the time delayed at the door did not exceed three seconds.

So much so that the crowd appeared unaware of anything unusual.

I just wonder if they, like Brother Tantou, haven’t noticed anything unusual inside either.

...

The tower is very quiet, with no reaction to the intruder.

And Fu Qian casually closes the door, surveying the surroundings.

Vines cover the place, wrapping around it, there is actually a similar creation here.

From the start of the task till now, this place probably aligns closest with the Inner World’s vibe, Brother Yiven is indeed extraordinary.

Sighing in awe, Fu Qian swiftly confirms no one is upstairs, directly descending the familiar staircase.

In contrast, the hanging paintings are much more abstract.

Soon, he reaches the entrance of the previous corridor, finally noticing something different.

There is still a painting, but the content has become abstract.

Apart from colors that are similar, it is sketched with only a few strokes, creating ambiguous shapes that make identifying the theme difficult.

Of course, it can’t be ruled out that Brother Yiven hasn’t finished it, because there are brushes and paints nearby.

Meanwhile, the artist himself remains absent.

Fu Qian doesn’t hesitate to lift the canvas of the painting.

...

Indeed, it’s a passage, but it seems a bit different.

Gazing at the scene revealed behind the painting, Fu Qian appears thoughtful for a moment.

It’s still a similar position; a hole has appeared on the wall, suitable for entry and exit, with a similar size.

But at first glance, you can see it’s different from the Inner World —

The hole is much more orderly, transformed into a common abandoned passage, far less vibrant with life than before.

So... why has so much of the natural essence disappeared? Could it be because the painting isn’t completed?

The scene before me is undoubtedly more realistic, yet Fu Qian retains the habit of questioning ’why.’

Even in the next moment, he truly picks up the pen from the side to mark the painting.

Wait, I think I’ve realized the answer to that previous question...

If Brother Yiven is indeed depicting an invisible plant, then what exactly is that spherical space?

Why place bodies inside it?

The answer is actually quite simple: it genuinely resembles a fruit part, but it doesn’t grow at the root.

People often have certain cognitive biases, like plants should have roots below and branches above.

But just as holding the pen earlier, immersing in Brother Yiven’s perspective, Fu Qian redraws those lines from the creator’s angle, resulting in a relatively "subversive" interpretation — for that invisible entity, those extensions downward aren’t its roots but branches.

That thing is upside down, with the spherical area being the fruit, flower, or any reproduction-related piece among the branches.

And putting bodies inside completes a process similar to pollination.

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