Chapter 488: The Enigmatic Polluted Realm

The process of the Doll cleansing this polluted area must be quite a spectacle.

The frenzy in Sea Country continued for a long while, only gradually subsiding around midnight.

Lu Xin and the others obviously wouldn’t spend four hours simply watching a group of lunatics. After witnessing the completely deranged state of these Sea Country men, everyone except the data-collecting observers had long since abandoned the Command Center windows.

Outside the Command Center, a thick layer of reinforced glass was raised, sealing off the room entirely.

Each window was equipped with the latest Mental Detection Device, to prevent any stealthy pollution from creeping into the Command Center while everyone remained oblivious.

A group of Single Soldiers sat inside the Command Center; aside from Lu Xin, no one dared to casually remove their helmet.

Outside, people continued their tireless, frenzied dance, lost in wild revelry.

Though their bodies were clearly weak, they showed no restraint whatsoever.

Some, mid-dance, suddenly collapsed.

Their chests heaved violently as sweat streamed in layers until, in a final moment, their breathing cut off and their pupils dilated.

They literally exhausted themselves to death, yet no one gave a care.

Others, as they danced, seemed to go mad, screaming as they dashed into the sea, with no one paying attention.

Even Qinggang wouldn’t dare to send anyone for a rescue at this point.

Faced with such a large-scale, frenzied pollution, even fully armed Qinggang was reluctant to let its people get close.

……

……

“Single Soldier, have you noticed anything unusual?”

Inside the container, Professor Bai seemed eager to speak with Lu Xin. Behind the thick glass, his gaze was shockingly serious.

But to be honest, the sight of that dashing old man hiding in a container looking so stern was rather comical.

“I heard singing.”

Lu Xin replied simply, his eyes fixed on the dark, ominous sea.

“Singing…”

Professor Bai’s expression grew steely as his body shifted unnaturally, pausing before he could continue.

“But it was only the singing.”

Lu Xin knew what he was about to ask, and he gently shook his head, saying:

“I can’t locate the source of that song, nor understand why it appears.”

“When I looked at those contaminated people, I saw no sign of any Mental Monster…”

“……”

Professor Bai let out a deep sigh and said, “Then our earlier theory was correct. This form of pollution is highly sophisticated—far beyond what we can tackle through conventional means. Sea Country’s demise due to this pollution was inevitable.”

Lu Xin nodded slightly, recalling the odd expression that had crossed his face moments before.

The memory of that song and the stirring it caused deep within…

It was an overwhelming, sudden feeling—as if everything was morphing within, leaving no trace of logic.

Had it not been for Mom’s help, who knows what state this pollution would have left me in?

“What kind of pollution do you think this is?”

Lu Xin suddenly looked up, turning to Professor Bai.

He too was very curious about this pollution.

After a brief silence, Professor Bai replied, “In terms of form and essence, this pollution is remarkably simple.”

“Have you ever heard of a term, ‘Sea Conch Maiden’?”

“?”

Lu Xin paused for a moment. Growing up in Qinggang, he was well aware of the Sea Conch Maiden.

It was a product of ancient male fantasies.

Imagining that one day a tiny sea conch could transform into a beautiful, diligent celestial maiden.

A maiden who would quietly cook, wash clothes, and bear children… Of course, with the times changing, the Sea Conch Maiden was expected to evolve—possessing more qualities, such as owning a car and a house, having high academic credentials and emotional intelligence, a dowry worth billions, even being content to cook at home every day, and never getting jealous despite endless flirtations.

“Sea Country calls this pollution the ‘Curse of the Mermaid’ because that ethereal song evokes certain associations,”

Professor Bai continued, “But based on the essence of this pollution, I prefer to call it the Sea Conch Maiden.”

“These Sea Country men are all lured by a beautiful fantasy. When the song begins, a perfect illusion forms in their minds—a beauty forever out of reach in reality—that makes them willingly succumb.

“Human desire is a mechanism that brings pleasure.

Satisfy the appetite, and happiness follows; satisfy the urge for intimacy, and joy returns.

This pleasure principle drives us to seek food and pursue mates.

But for those in Sea Country afflicted by the pollution, one desire has overtaken all others.

The deeper the contamination, the more twisted that desire becomes.

Over time, they lose interest in everything except the siren call of the mermaid’s song…”

“……”

After finishing his analysis in one breath, he sighed deeply:

“We don’t know where this pollution originates, so we can’t sever its logical chain.”

“This pollution’s traits are embedded deep within them, leaving us clueless on how to cleanse it.”

“In a sense, it’s like an incurable disease!”

“……”

Lu Xin pondered Professor Bai’s words, feeling that the old man made a lot of sense.

His investigation had stretched to the very limits any ordinary person could reach.

It was clear that Professor Bai hadn’t come here for leisure.

He had already analyzed the origins and patterns of Sea Country’s pollution.

But the only problem was, even if you could analyze it, you couldn’t resolve it.

Everyone knew that a song haunted the minds of these Sea Country men, but how does one expel such a song?

After a brief pause, Lu Xin asked Professor Bai, “Do you know about the seven human flaws?”

Professor Bai, taken aback, replied, “Perception, Emotion, Desire, Understanding, Instinct, Memory, and Self.”

Lu Xin exhaled in relief.

He had seen these seven flaws in the database of the Eclipse Club’s Communicator.

Without the Club’s permission, he wasn’t even sure if sharing that data was wise.

But since Professor Bai was already acquainted with this knowledge, there was no need for further caution.

The pollution in Sea Country clearly belonged to one of the deeper categories among these seven.

“The layers of pollution deepen alongside these seven flaws,”

Professor Bai, understanding Lu Xin’s meaning, said softly, “The first three can be seen as shallow pollution in a broad sense.”

“The latter three, however, are deep-seated pollution.”

“Sea Country’s pollution appears as a distortion of desire. But as that distortion intensifies, its nature fundamentally changes.”

“So it should be classified as…”

“Understanding? Or perhaps Instinct?”

“……”

Lu Xin shook his head slightly and said, “I’ve experienced pollution on the level of Understanding; it shouldn’t be this deep.”

Professor Bai nodded and said, “Then it must be Instinct-level pollution. Theoretically, it makes sense—eating, drinking, and reproducing are all instinctual. In a deeper sense, just as animals are born walking and humans are born crying, it’s an embedded genetic code. But when pollution distorts that instinct…”

He paused before sighing, “This pollution twists the very essence of being. It destroys every man’s ability to pursue life, shattering their core values. That’s the fundamental reason it’s known as a nation-overturning force.”

“……”

Lu Xin listened in silence, long before responding.

This level of pollution instilled a profound, visceral dread.

After a while, he looked up and asked, “Do you still have faith in the results of this experiment?”

Professor Bai seemed slightly taken aback by his question, then nodded with a smile:

“Of course.”

“The diversity and depth of this pollution are indeed terrifying.

“But our Heaven’s Kingdom Plan was designed to take on exactly this kind of challenge.”

“……”

“Then, excellent!”

Seeing the old man’s confident smile, Lu Xin couldn’t help but return the smile before bidding them goodnight and leaving.

On his way back to his room, he stole one last glance at the chaos engulfing Sea Country.

Humans are indeed incredibly fragile…

It was his first time witnessing tens of thousands affected by deep pollution. Not to mention how terrifying the source of that pollution was, the sight of tens of thousands wildly dancing under the Red Moon was enough to deliver a profound, physical and emotional shock. Lu Xin even felt a faint tug deep inside his heart.

“Do you really want to join them?”

Back in his room, Lu Xin sat in silence for a long while before slowly looking up.

Mom was seated on the sofa across the room, a reserved smile on her face, as if waiting to talk with him.

As expected from Mom—she could instantly see what he was thinking.

“Thinking of throwing everyone into the sea and watching them drown could count as a kind of joining, huh?”

Carefully choosing his words, Lu Xin finally asked, “But I really want to know—”

“Why does it have such an allure?”

“……”

“Because it is a primordial pollution, something that strikes at the very essence of being…”

Mom smiled and said, “Of course. You could also see it as having just encountered a serious provocation.

At first, I never understood why you all cared so much about it.”

Taking in her words, Lu Xin’s face gradually broke into a smile, “Now I understand.”

“I’m also curious. As the pollution we encounter grows deeper and escalates in level, even the gaze of these researchers grows more far-sighted. I wonder what awaits us in the end.”

“……”

Mom spoke softly, “You’ve already seen the Research Institute’s data. You should understand the essence of this pollution.”

“There are thirteen abnormal mental powers in this world, and humans have seven flaws.”

“Any type of pollution can be mapped at the intersection of these thirteen and seven. Within this logic, problems emerge. Once you fully grasp how the thirteen mental powers correspond to the seven human flaws, you’ll know exactly what impact this Red Moon has cast upon the world…”

“……”

Lu Xin’s heart stirred as he asked, “Including the abyssal mutation and the truth behind the pollution?”

Mom only smiled in silence, as if to say, “Not only that.”

It suddenly dawned on Lu Xin, “Ah, right—what exactly is wrong with me?”

This time, Mom beamed brightly and said, “I always said that Qinggang taking this step is profoundly significant.”

“It means they are on the brink of entering a new realm, encountering entirely new elements. This may hasten their demise, or transform them from being meek and fragile into beings beyond their control.”

“And that is why this issue has stirred such varied reactions—some are curious, others disdainful, and many opposed it.”

“But that doesn’t matter.”

“What matters is…”

She turned her head and asked with a smile, “What do you plan to do?”

After a pause, Lu Xin slightly bowed his head, resting his chin on his hand as if deep in thought.

After a long while, he smiled—devoid of any ambition—and said, “I keep things simple. Since I’ve accepted this task, I must diligently fulfill my role as a guard.”