第三十七章 隐匿与猜测 -2
The image of Zhu Yin handing him the manual surfaced in Yang Zicang’s mind.
逐银递给自己手册的画面浮现杨子藏心头。
This guy in front of him was planning to use this psychic training ground to send a message to others, wasn’t he?
眼前这家伙，是打算通过这个念力训练场给其他人传递消息吗。
“There’s no time to cut this one with the sword,” Yang Zicang muttered to himself as he looked at the large crate falling from the sky.
“这一个来不及用剑劈了。”杨子藏对着天上坠落的大箱子自语了声。
Walking was fine, but once he started running, he felt like a toddler learning to walk, completely unable to control his body’s coordination.
走动还好，当跑动起来，他感觉自己就像蹒跚学步的小孩子般根本无法控制身体的协调。
[The Barking Dog Gate told me that Group Leader is secretly laughing at my movements.]
[犬吠之门告知我，组长正在偷偷笑话我的动作。]
“Ha!” Yang Zicang looked up.
“呵！”杨子藏抬头。
[Graviton Arc activated.]
[引力弧光发动。]
Bang! A silver spear spun into view from the horizon, chasing after the large crate that had suddenly accelerated to evade.
嘭！银色长枪从天际旋转着出现，追着徒然加速躲避的庞大木箱追击而去。
Boom!
轰隆！
With one strike, the crate split into eight smaller crates at an altitude of less than thirty meters, their collision trajectories scattering in even more complex patterns.
一击之下，木箱在不到三十米的高空分裂成了八个小箱子，它们碰撞的轨迹更为复杂地四散开来。
The stone bricks on the ground lit up one by one without any discernible pattern, but each one was quickly pinned down by a falling crate.
地面的岩石砖块依次亮起毫无规律的地砖，但每亮起一个就迅速被一只坠落的木箱所压住。
In some office, the Montai Officer sensing the scene in this training ground through the Luminous Tube shook her head.
某个办公室中，通过辉光管感知着这个训练场画面的蒙西干事摇摇头。
“This kid, without his model ability, it would be almost impossible for someone with less than the third ring of psychic power to clear this training ground.”
“这小子，要不是他的模型能力，想通关这个训练场，不到三环精神力的人几乎不可能办到。”
“Yeah. To do it with just hands and weapons, you’d need a genius who can control their mental power with extreme precision, getting ten times the effect out of every ounce. That kid got incredibly lucky.”
“是啊。若靠双手与武器，得是对精神力的控制非常精微，能将一分用出十分效果的天才方能办到。这小子，实在是捡了个大便宜。”
“It really was a stroke of luck for him.”
“也是他运气使然。”
In Yang Zicang’s office, a young woman named Jiaoma sat quietly at her desk, her hand gently touching the flickering Luminous Tube.
在杨子藏的办公室内，名为娇玛的少女正在自己的座位上静静将手触摸在闪动的辉光管上。
Through the contact, a blurry image from the training room was transmitted to her.
通过与之相接触，那个训练房间内的画面，模糊的传入。
Hearing Yang Zicang’s faint, dismissive “Hmph” clearly in her mind, a small dimple appeared at the corner of the girl’s mouth.
听到杨子藏对自己那声略带不屑的模糊“呵”声，少女的嘴边露出个小酒窝。
Box after box came crashing down in rapid succession.
密密麻麻的箱子争先恐后地落下。
In an instant, nearly ninety wooden boxes were already firmly piled up across the square.
转瞬间，广场上就已经稳稳铺满了接近九十块木箱。
Just as he was about to fill the last ten gaps, a huge metallic crate engulfed in flames suddenly appeared in the sky, moving at incredible speed, even whipping up layers of spinning clouds.
就在他即将完成最后十个空缺的填补时，天空中突然出现了一个巨大的烈焰金属箱，速度极快，甚至带起旋转的云层。
“Is this the last one?”
“这是最后的了吗？”
Amidst the blazing heat, Yang Zicang, already feeling immense strain, tightened his heart. Stumbling to the center of the square, the moment his hand touched the sword’s hilt, it felt as though a shapeless force extended from the sword, spreading over his body like an external projection of his mental power.
灼焰中，已经感觉痛苦的杨子藏心中一紧，踉跄跑到广场正中的他将手触摸到剑柄的瞬间，仿佛一种无形的力量迅速至剑中延伸，如精神力外放般覆盖向自己的周身。
The collision between this covering energy and his own outwardly released mental power gave rise to a cacophony of murmurs, countless whispers.
这覆盖的能量与自己外放的精神力之间碰撞，响起无数呓语。
{…Remember…}
{…记住…}
{…Trajectory…zzz…}
{…轨迹…滋滋…}
Indeed, relying solely on the training ground to convey messages is easily discovered. Even though this information transmitter had cleverly utilized the tones vibrated by the collision between energy membranes and mental force, it still failed.
果然，仅仅想靠训练场来传递消息，是很容易被发现的。哪怕这个信息传递者已经精巧的利用能量膜与念力间的碰撞所震动出的音调，也还是失败了。
The large metal box came crashing down.
大金属呼啸而下。
Yang Zicang calmed his expectant heart. He braced his right leg back, held the sword horizontally with both hands, and only when the box got closer did he let the sword actively lead his arms in an upward slash, striking the final large box.
杨子藏放平了期待的心，他右腿后撑，双手握剑平举，当箱子靠得更近的时候，才由这柄剑主动带着自己的双臂一剑上挑砍向这最后的大箱子。
It was as if it was teaching him how to use a sword.
就像是要教导自己如何用剑一般。
Instantly, a blazing gale spun into existence along the blade, crashing onto the metal box like a azure dragon.
瞬间一道烈焰疾风在剑刃上旋转着出现，如同苍龙般撞到金属箱上。
Boom! The large metal chest exploded into eight smaller metal chests, and all the remaining wooden chests fell together at that moment. Silver-white model lines flickered, rapidly replacing and adjusting their exploding trajectories.
轰！大金属箱柜炸开成八口小金属箱，剩下的所有木箱此刻一起落了下来。银白模型线条闪动，迅速替换修改掉它们炸开的轨迹。
The scorching high temperature finally began to subside.
炙热的高温终于开始降低。
In the wind, Yang Zicang swayed as he sheathed the sword and stood upright, watching these final chests decelerate from high speed and slowly settle into the empty spaces.
风中，杨子藏身形摇晃的收剑而立，目视着这些最后的箱子被由高速变慢，缓缓落入空缺。
{Perfect, my friend.}
{完美，吾友。}
[SUPER!]
[SUPER!]
{Congratulations, you have successfully obtained a SUPER rating in the “Heroic Legend: Pushing Boxes in the Gale” training ground, and triggered a hidden challenge.}
{恭喜你，成功获得《烈豪传：在疾风中推箱子》训练场SUPER级评价，且触发隐藏挑战。}
The voice of the Barking Dog Gate rang out.
犬吠之门的声音响起。
{Do you wish to continue the hidden challenge?}
{是否继续隐藏挑战。}
“Huh? The hidden challenge isn’t over yet?”
“嗯？隐藏挑战还未完吗？”
Yang Zicang looked toward the blurry figure that had not yet dissipated, but he was already feeling a bit overwhelmed.
杨子藏看向还未消散的模糊人影，但自己已经有点吃不消了。
{For a genius like my friend, how could a mere “Blessing Mark” be enough as a reward?}
{像吾友这般的天才，仅仅以“加护印记”作为奖赏，怎么够呢？}
The Wind Spirit Martial Artist’s silhouette flickered before Yang Zicang, and a faint, indistinct face subtly revealed the trace of a smile.
风灵武士的身影闪动到杨子藏身前，模糊的脸庞隐约可见到他的微笑。
{I commissioned someone to use “Mental Alchemy” to forge three hidden rewards. If you can perfectly clear this training ground three times in a row within four days, you may choose one to take away.}
{吾托人以“念力炼金”能力铸下三份隐藏奖励，若友能四日内连续三次完美挑战此训练场，可挑敛一份带走。}
Three mental phantoms instantly appeared before Yang Zicang.
杨子藏身前瞬间出现三个念力幻影。
They were a ring, a pair of round-framed crystal glasses, and a strange small object shrouded in smoke.
分别是一枚戒指，一副圆框水晶眼镜，以及一个被烟雾包裹的奇怪小东西。
As Yang Zicang scanned them, the names of these three objects slowly surfaced in his mind.
随着杨子藏的扫视，这三个东西的名字也缓缓出现于心间。
[Memory Drill Ring, Glasses of Equal Perspective, Unjust Evil Force.]
[记忆钻指、平视之镜、不平恶力。]
[Barking Dog Gate informs me that I can either claim the current reward or rest before continuing to challenge higher-tier rewards.]
[犬吠之门告知，我可以选择当前的奖励，或者休息结束再继续挑战更高的奖励。]
Hearing this, Yang Zicang finally breathed a sigh of relief.
听到这话的杨子藏，总算是松了口气。
The model’s deployment was manageable, but the gale and scorching flames were truly too much for him to handle. If he continued the challenge now, he would likely end up mentally exhausted, with his physical body collapsing as a result.
模型的调度还好，这狂风与炙焰对自己来说，着实有点让人吃不消了，若现在继续挑战，恐怕最终会以因耗尽精神力而躯体崩溃作为结局。
“I’ll come back tomorrow.”
“明天再来吧。”
He turned around and saw many heads pressed against the isolated force field wall, watching him.
他回头看去，发现很多脑袋趴在隔绝的力场壁上观望着自己。
“Ha, sorry, everyone. None of you can get in here to clear the stage for me.”
“呵，不好意思啊各位。你们是没办法进来替我通关了。”
Along the corridor paved with retro floor tiles, the old brass tubes hummed faintly as they transported steam power. Under the watchful gazes of the iron orcs and marble statues lining both sides, Wei Zhenguo and Yang Zicang, who looked slightly weary in spirits, walked down the long hallway.
铺就复古地砖的走廊上，古旧的黄铜管微微嗡鸣着运送着蒸气动力。在走道两旁的铁质兽人与大理石雕像的注视下，伟振国和精神略显疲惫的杨子藏行走在长长的走廊中。
“Not bad at all. To think you’re strong enough to trigger the hidden level.”
“很不错嘛，居然强到能够触发隐藏关卡的程度。”
“Hehe, thanks. But I know my own situation well enough.” Yang Zicang smiled bitterly. “That scene was simply not something someone of my strength could clear. Even if my control over mental power were five times more precise, I’d only barely meet the standard for an SUPER rating. Being able to clear it by sheer luck was entirely thanks to the model.”
“呵呵，谢谢，我是什么情况我自己清楚。”杨子藏苦笑道，“那场景根本就不是我这种实力能够通关的，恐怕就算再对精神力的控制精细度高上五倍，也只是堪堪能够达到SUPER评价的标准。能够侥幸通关，完全就只是因为模型的缘故。”
“By the way,” Yang Zicang continued, “I chose to continue the challenge, so for now, I can’t recover the Virtual Zero Sequence I invested.”
“对了，”杨子藏继续道，“我选择了继续挑战，所以暂时就没办法拿回投资进去的虚零时序了。”
“Haha. That bit of timing, don’t keep it on your mind.”
“哈哈哈。那点时序，就不要挂在嘴边了。”
A slightly hesitant expression appeared on Yang Zicang’s face, as if he wanted to say something but held back.
杨子藏脸上露出略微迟疑的表情，欲言又止。
“Want to ask a question?” Wei Zhenguo saw through the awkward little secret on Yang Zicang’s face at a glance.
“想问问题？”伟振国一眼就看出了身旁杨子藏的窘迫小心思。
“Yeah, there’s a question on my mind, but I don’t dare ask. I’m afraid that if I’m right, I might not be able to resign.”
“嗯，想到个问题，但不敢问，怕万一蒙对了恐怕没办法离职。”
“If it’s information you’ve deduced yourself, as long as you don’t go around broadcasting it outside, it’s not really a violation. So no need to worry about that situation.”
“如果是自己推导出来的信息，只要不在外面大肆宣扬，算不上什么违规。所以不用担心那种状况。”
“Alright.”
“好吧。”
A silver ring emerged on Yang Zicang’s chest, and he pointed at his own model.
杨子藏胸前浮现出银色的圆环，他指了指属于自己的模型。
“Everyone has this thing. What… is it exactly?”
“所有人都有这东西，它…到底是什么？”
Wei Zhenguo stopped in his tracks.
伟振国停下脚步。
Yang Zicang’s gaze met that of the square-faced man, who said thoughtfully:
杨子藏的目光与这个国字脸的男人目光相触，男人带着思索道：
“Actually, I’ve discussed this issue with many colleagues. We’ve come up with many possibilities, but in the end, no one knows which one is closest to the truth.”
“实际上我也跟许多同事讨论过这个问题。大家提出过很多可能性，但最终却也不知哪种可能才最接近真相。”
The young man furrowed his brow slightly, thought for a moment, and said, “Then let me propose a possibility. Uncle Wei, listen and see if you’ve discussed this one before?”
青年的眉头皱了下，想了想道：“那我说一个可能，伟叔你听看看，你们有没有讨论过这个可能性？”
“Go ahead and tell me.”
“你讲讲看。”
“Could it be… the remnant of someone’s thought from the old world?”
“它会不会是…旧世界某个人的心念？”
“This…” Wei Zhenguo saw that Yang Zicang wasn’t joking, “How did you come to that conclusion?”
“这…”伟振国看杨子藏不像是在开玩笑，“你怎么得出这个结论的。”
“Because of the Lost Frequency Land… Ah, forget it.” Yang Zicang wasn’t willing to make assertions based on mere guesses.
“因为失频之地…唉，算了。”杨子藏也不想因为一些猜测的事情就信誓旦旦的讲出来。
Seeing Yang Zicang a bit discouraged, Wei Zhenguo smiled and said, “Speaking of which, someone’s had a similar idea, but it was about the model being a manifestation of our own energy. After all, some people can upgrade the model’s lines just by using their consciousness.”
伟振国见杨子藏有点气馁的样子，便笑道：“说起来，也有人有过类似的想法，不过是咱们自己的某种能量所化现的模型，毕竟有些人靠自己的意识就能让模型的线条升级。”
“That makes sense.”
“说得也是。”
The two continued walking. As they walked, Wei Zhenguo said, “Speaking of which, Xiaocang, we haven’t invested in each other yet, have we? Anyway, I’ll be heading to a new Fate Track soon, and maybe we’ll run into each other over there. Let’s exchange some lifespan, so we can contact each other through the model.”
两人继续迈开步伐，伟振国边走边道：“话说，小藏。我们还没有互相投资过吧。反正我不久就会去往新的命运轨迹，说不定以后我们会在那边相遇。咱们就互相交换下寿命，以后也好通过模型联系。”
“I couldn’t ask for more.”
“求之不得。”
[Wei Zhenguo wants to make an active investment in you.]
[伟振国想为我进行主动投资。]
[Wei Zhenguo invested 1N all-power timing in you.]
[伟振国为我投资了1N全权时序。]
[I, the Great Quadrilateral, repaid Wei Zhenguo 1.1N.]
[我，伟大的四边形为伟振国返还了1.1N。]
“Those invited by the Lost Illusion Company are all exceptionally outstanding individuals. If we meet again on a new fate track, I believe we can join hands and move forward together. Keep up the good work—I have high expectations for your future performance.”
“能够被遗失幻境公司邀请的，都是非常优秀的人，以后若是在新的命运轨迹再相遇，我想咱们能够携手共进。加油，我非常看好你未来的表现。”
Yang Zicang was deeply moved.
杨子藏深受感动。
A strand of thread shot over. After sensing the information within it, Yang Zicang smiled and said, “Group Leader Jiaoma has invited us to dinner.”
一道丝线射了过来，感受了下信息后，杨子藏笑道：“娇玛组长约我们吃晚饭。”
“Haha, you two young ones go ahead. This old man won’t be a third wheel.”
“哈哈哈，你们两个小年轻去吧，我这老头子就不去当电灯泡了。”
“……”
“……”
Yang Zicang finally caught on. So this older guy was trying to set him up with the young group leader? Was that what he meant by wanting to drink wedding wine before he left?
杨子藏总算明白点什么了，原来这大叔是想撮合自己和组长小妹妹啊，所谓的走之前想喝喜酒是指这个？
Speaking of which, did people of this age love playing matchmaker, regardless of gender?
话说这个年纪的人，不管男女都喜欢撮合对象吗。
Come to think of it… Yang Zicang rubbed his chin.
说起来…杨子藏摸了摸下巴。
He wasn’t much different himself.
自己好像也差不多。
“…I’ve recently read a lot of information about certain continents from the Old World… and on the replicated fate tracks, it’s possible that…”
“…我最近阅读了很多关于旧世界某些大陆的信息…在复制的命运轨迹上，说不定…”
As they continued walking side by side, Yang Zicang found himself increasingly unsettled. The voice of the man beside him—once steady—was now trembling more and more violently, as if losing its clarity.
埋头共进的杨子藏越听越觉得奇怪，身旁这个男人的声音，居然越来越震颤起来，像是有点失真。
Yang Zicang turned to look. Wei Zhenguo, who was even slightly taller than him, seemed to be noticing the same problem.
杨子藏转头看去，比自己都还要高一点的伟振国，似乎也发现了自己的问题。
He stared at his own hands. Wisps of vapor were spreading from his palms. Then came his hair—and then his entire body!
他看向自己的双手，一丝丝雾气从手掌上扩散，随即便是他的头发，还有身躯！
“This is…”
“这是…”
Yang Zicang’s eyes flew wide open in shock as he watched the man beside him dissolving into mist.
杨子藏的眼睛猛地睁大，震惊的看着身旁如雾气般消融的男人。
In that instant, the metal statues standing along the corridor—unchanged for years—suddenly ripped free with translucent, spectral bodies of energy.
这一瞬间，走廊两边常年静立的金属雕像们身上猛地拉扯出半透明般的能量身影。
They instantly surrounded the two, appearing as if out of thin air.
它们瞬间来到两人周围，如同凭空炸现。
A tiger-faced figure in a top hat and magician’s robe grabbed Yang Zicang and stepped back two paces. The remaining few figures, of varying heights, quickly converged around the vanishing Wei Zhenguo.
一个顶着礼帽身穿魔术师长袍的虎脸人一把抓住杨子藏后退了两步。剩下几个或高或底的身影迅速靠拢正在消失的伟振国。
Several force fields lit up, seeming to try and envelop the energy spreading from his body, but it was futile.
几道力场亮起，像要将他身体扩散出的能量给包裹起来，但却毫无用处。
“What’s wrong with him?” Yang Zicang cried out tensely; he had already felt a sense of dread, but he couldn’t grasp why a living person could suddenly scatter like mist right before his eyes.
“他怎么回事？”杨子藏紧张的叫到，他已经预感到了不妙，但为什么一个活生生的人会在自己眼皮子底下突然如雾气般飘散。
{No high-energy attack sustained, not energy assimilation.}
{未遭受高能攻击，不是能量化。}
{No fluctuations detected in the five elemental forces.}
{五行元素未发现波动。}
{His ethereal field’s energy is rapidly diminishing.}
{他的以太场能量在快速消减。}
The energy in the corridor warped as the concentrated force was suddenly compressed into a sphere and then stretched vertically. Taking shape quickly, it formed the silhouette of an adult man. The next second, a grave-faced man in a gray casual uniform appeared, striding in one step to stand before Wei Zhenguo, reaching out to grab what little remained of his body, only to have his hand pass straight through it.
走廊上能量扭曲，富集的能量被无形的力量猛然压缩成球后又上下拉高。迅速挺起的它浮现出成年男子的身材，下一秒一名身穿灰色休闲制服的男人面目凝重的出现，一步跨到伟振国身前，想要伸手拽住他所剩不多的身躯，却从其体内直接划过。
They all fell silent.
几人齐齐沉默。
The tiger-man released his firm grip on the young man’s arm. Yang Zicang rushed forward, his eyes wide, staring at the middle of the corridor, where nothing but a slowly swirling mist lingered.
虎人抓住青年胳膊的大手松开，杨子藏跑上前去，瞪大了目光看向只剩烟雾缓缓飘荡的走道中央。
Even that mist was now spinning and dispersing rapidly.
此刻就连烟雾也在快速旋转着消散。
“What’s going on!” Yang Zicang exclaimed in shock, but he found his thoughts growing increasingly hazy, as if questioning why he even asked that question.
“这是怎么回事！”杨子藏惊骇道，但他发现自己的脑袋又越来越飘乎，仿佛在怀疑为什么要问这句话。
The man in the gray casual uniform said solemnly, “His past has been altered. In this timeline, he no longer exists.”
身穿休闲制服的男人凝重道：“他的过去被人修改了，在这个命运线，他已经不存在了。”