Chapter 869 — A Mysterious Signal

After these matters of business were concluded, the two of them fell at the same moment into a brief silence, which Gaoyang then took the initiative to break. "Half a year has passed already—have you grown used to your new identity and your new life?"

"Better than I expected," Beiyila seemed to smile. "I thought becoming a plant would be terribly dull, but the endless stream of new things you've brought has given me a great deal to do. Watching this land gradually revive is a thing that brings great fulfillment... and there is the magic-net broadcast and the shadow plays to watch as well."

"So long as you're willing to keep on being a law-abiding imperial citizen, the future will hold only more wonders—this is an age that changes with each passing day."

"I shall look forward to it," Beiyila said with a nod, then suddenly raised her head and looked into the distance. "Ah—our guest has arrived."

Gaoyang turned to look, and there he saw the figure of Selina Geer abruptly appear in the air.

He nodded to this Holy Maiden of Dreams. "Are your matters all settled?"

"Yuri and Semler can handle matters in the real world, and Naretiel and Duvalt will deal with the follow-up within the network," Selina said unhurriedly. "As for me... I merely wished to keep a little distance from that foolish fellow Magnam."

"What has he done now?"

"He and Norris were chatting most amiably, and then he took it into his head to rope me in to found a club composed of 'network minds'—a thoroughly stupid notion."

Gaoyang laughed despite himself. "But I think the idea is rather good—after all, you and Magnam and Norris are in similar states now, and in the future we shall add even more 'network citizens.' Magnam's suggestion may be one road toward having these 'network citizens' rebuild their social organizations under a new identity. I think you might even bring Megor in..."

"He named the club 'Everlasting Presence,'" Selina said faintly. "After I worked out what that phrase means, I decided to keep my distance from him."

Gaoyang's heart lurched.

He realized that the *Gaoyang: The Sacred Saucy Sayings of Emperor Cecil*, which Amber had been secretly compiling, had already begun to circulate—and his several prior searches and confiscations had evidently failed to take effect.

"...That name does indeed leave something to be desired," Gaosong said, his expression turning as wooden as Beiyila's. "And what about Norris? What does he think?"

"He isn't interested—he is a man worthy of respect; he thinks only of the grain-producing regions of the Holy Spirit Plain and of when he can return to his work," Selina said with a shake of her head. "Which is why I still cannot fathom how such a respectable man could find any common ground with Magnam..."

"...Perhaps merely out of courtesy," Gaoyang said in a low voice, then fell silent for a moment. "My apologies, ladies, but I must take my leave—there is a matter I wish to discuss with my Minister of Intelligence."

Beiyila bowed slightly in salute. "As you please."

Gaoyang departed. In the quiet flower field beneath the giant Solin tree, only Beiyila, encircled by flowering vines, and Selina, lantern in hand, remained standing still.

After a moment of silence, Beiyila looked toward the former Ever-Sleeper of the Yaoji Sect. "I never imagined we would meet again under circumstances like these."

"I heard about your 'new state.' Frankly, the reality is more inconceivable than I imagined," Selina said. "I warned you long ago—your biotechnological techniques carry considerable hidden risks..."

Beiyila smiled faintly. "And how fares your path of the soul?"

"...Fair enough."

The two fell silent once more.

They stood quietly beneath the tree, as though letting seven hundred years of time slowly settle, until several minutes later Selina softly broke the silence. "Seven hundred years already..."

"Back then we were still human," Beiyila said calmly. "And then we grew less and less human."

"...You have taken root in this land for some time now. Tell me your view—is 'He' worthy of trust?"

From the canopy of the giant Solin tree came a rustling rush, like the surge of waves.

"What dwells in that body is a nonhuman soul, but by my judgment, this nonhuman soul is making every person in this land live more like a human being—perhaps we cannot determine exactly what thoughts an outlander like 'Him' harbors, but at least his actions thus far... are better than anything we ever did."

"Indeed... he would even issue citizenship to a plant."

"And to 'ghosts' like you."

"..."