World-saving Plan: The Only Savior
Chapter 157 - 55: Asking the Way at the Cliff Edge

Chapter 157: Chapter 55: Asking the Way at the Cliff Edge

Regarding his Ultimate Item, Zhang Xiaoman now had some understanding.

Since it could forcibly modify certain System functions to enrich the background setting, it was no surprise that it could fabricate an organization like the Forest Guardians in the real world.

However, on the other hand, whether this so-called Forest Guardian organization was conjured from thin air, or whether it actually existed and the Sect Establishment Order merely exploited this to forcibly induce a coincidence, that remained unknown.

If it were created from nothing, then were Mr. Ye’s memories real?

If it indeed existed, and he himself came here and discovered it, was that process also influenced by something?

This question, upon careful thought, was terrifying and sent shivers down one’s spine.

"Mr. Ye, first I must say that, as far as I’m aware, there are no ghosts in this world..."

Zhang Xiaoman began to answer Ye Cang’s earlier question, but this first statement already struck the other party hard.

"Also, whether those Rangers you speak of are real, I can’t be certain at the moment. However, I can tell you that the badge on your bracelet, although a bit... rudimentary compared to those I’ve seen, is indeed the mark of the Forest Guardians, no mistake."

When Zhang Xiaoman had just finished the former part of his response, Ye Cang felt as if he had been struck by Thunder Strike, and his lifelong beliefs nearly crumbled in that instant.

Fortunately, Zhang Xiaoman’s last sentence saved this belief from capsizing and gave him a glimmer of hope again.

"Then... are you a Forest Guardian, sir? Or have you seen them before?"

Finally, Ye Cang asked the most crucial question, which was also the one that Zhang Xiaoman found most troublesome.

This was the first person that Zhang Xiaoman had hoodwinked up to this day who had actively mentioned the term "Forest Guardian."

It gave him a passive feeling and even caused a slight wavering in his decision not to recruit the Ye Family.

Seeing no immediate reply from him, Ye Cang grew anxious within but knew he shouldn’t appear too eager, so he looked at him with earnest hope.

Zhang Xiaoman was hesitating over what to say, but his gaze inadvertently fell on the Gang Store page that was open beside him.

His train of thought paused suddenly, as an image and a memory that had once flashed by his mind resurfaced, jolting him back to his senses.

Following that, in the midst of Ye Cang’s puzzled look, Zhang Xiaoman quickly extended his right hand and tapped on the System panel, reverting the interface back to the previous page, the gang list.

His eyes moved downward and finally rested on a grey name within the member list:

Ye Cang – Forest Guardian, located at Dragon Sleep Mountain.

"So that’s it! These grey names were actually the underlings the System recommended to me!"

When Zhang Xiaoman saw the member list of the gang, all the questions seemed to resolve themselves.

No wonder he had felt the name so familiar, and no wonder Ye Cang also knew about the Forest Guardians.

"It seems I might have overthought it before. My coming here wasn’t influenced by anyone. It’s more likely that the System itself intended for me to come here, and I just happened to encounter it myself."

As for whether the Forest Guardians truly existed in this world or the System created them and then altered Ye Cang and others’ memories, Zhang Xiaoman simply didn’t know.

It was like Old Xue’s cat; apart from the world itself, nobody knew the true nature of the matter.

Thinking this, Zhang Xiaoman’s gaze inadvertently fell on those few grey names below, and a sense of anticipation inexplicably rose within him.

There were names from Huaxia, and there were foreigners’ names, with a myriad of living locations.

From the bustling urban areas to the opulent estates, from rustic fields to dense mountain forests, these guys seemed to be scattered all over the world, which made Zhang Xiaoman very curious about what exactly they were all doing.

However, no matter what, it’s always better to search with a purpose than to recruit blindly.

At this moment, another item had been added to his list of upcoming targets, entangling Zhang Xiaoman—who was already ensnared by a slew of matters—in both agony and joy.

Ye Cang, though somewhat perplexed about what was going on with Master Pei as he seemed to have discovered something of great importance, still didn’t ask further and quietly waited for an answer.

He still had the patience for it, after all, in a certain sense, he had been waiting for the answer to this question for a lifetime, and it really didn’t matter to wait a little longer now.

Zhang Xiaoman came back to his senses, and his gaze towards Ye Cang had changed somewhat.

Since he was a junior recommended by the System, one might say he was already almost one of their own.

Therefore, the concerns he had previously held scattered to the wind, and certain things needn’t be kept secret any longer.

"I’m a Forest Guardian, but not just a Forest Guardian... Strictly speaking, the Forest Guardian organization had already disbanded over two hundred years ago..."

Straightaway, Mr. Ye experienced the "real world" that Xiao Shun and the others knew of; as Zhang Xiaoman’s explanations gradually spilled forth, a storm of surprise rose upon the old man’s weathered face.

As he quietly listened to Zhang Xiaoman lay out the facts one by one, a tear unconsciously slid down the corner of Ye Cang’s eye, a scene which was coincidentally witnessed by the former, leaving him feeling rather bewildered.

"Come on, it’s not that dramatic. I know I tell a good story, but it shouldn’t be moving enough to make someone cry," he said.

Of course, Ye Cang wasn’t brought to tears by Zhang Xiaoman’s words, but rather, the long-suppressed emotions of decades erupted after learning the truth.

From initially discovering that the Forest Guardians truly existed, to later understanding the lack of justice in the world, and finally learning about the existence of the Awakeners and the upcoming Great Fusion.

Mr. Ye’s emotions were a roller coaster of indescribable intensity.

Although the Immortal Path was hopeless, he was still grateful to the heavens for giving him a new Extraordinary Path, so how could the old seeker, who had searched for a lifetime, not be moved to tears?

Outside the pavilion, unbeknownst to them, a light rain had begun to fall.

Inside, a youth hidden in the shadows sat opposite an old man dressed in green.

Old and young, facing each other, looking at each other, and yet speechless.

After a long while, Ye Cang finally emerged from his silence and spoke slowly:

"We have talked for a long time, and yet I have not seen your face. Being a destined person from a hundred years ago, may I have the honor of seeing your true face... Rest assured about today’s matter. I will definitely not tell anyone!"

Zhang Xiaoman looked at him upon hearing this, remained silent for a long time, and then slowly nodded his head. With a wave of his hand, he dispelled the Eternal Veil that was wrapped around him, revealing his true face to Ye Cang for the first time.

In an instant, the rain outside grew heavier. Manager Sun, who had come from afar to observe, caught a glimpse of the blurry scene inside the pavilion and couldn’t help but shed tears.

He knew that the Sect Leader had finally grasped the last opportunity of his life.

The rain came suddenly, falling from the sky onto the Mortal World, overlooking the colors of this land. Time seemed to freeze at this moment as if it were a painting, slowly sketching out a clear small poem—

On Dragon Sleep Cliff Mountain, seeking the Immortal Path,

At Dragon Cloud Platform, divining Qiankun.

By Jade Lotus Pond, listening to the wind and rain,

In the Green Robe Pavilion, inquiring about immortality.

...