“Beyond that, I’m not too sure.” Gu Nanqiu fixed her gaze on a nearby building topped with an ornate marble gate in Western style.
The gate was carved with lifelike animals.
Strangely, each of these creatures had a red thread hanging from their eyes, which looked somewhat comical.
Gu Nanqiu took Yue Yiyue’s hand. “That seems to be the Sculpture Museum we’re looking for. Yiyue, shall we go take a look together?”
Following the direction of Gu Nanqiu’s pointing finger, Yue Yiyue noticed a small fountain at the entrance, topped with a Mermaid King holding a large water jar.
Yue Yiyue looked up at the Mermaid King. Its appearance seemed somewhat familiar, especially the carved freckles.
Yue Yiyue touched her own face. “It has freckles too. Interesting.”
“Yeah, this sculpture was made by the owner here for her lover.” Gu Nanqiu gazed tenderly at the sculpture beside them. “It’s a great work of art.”
“I once stopped here to admire it when I visited before.”
Catching Yue Yiyue’s puzzled gaze, Gu Nanqiu snapped back to reality and gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry, I only remembered this place after seeing the sculpture.”
“It was just that I was too young back then.” Gu Nanqiu turned around. A gentle breeze blew through her hair, making it dance in the air. Her gaze carried a hint of nostalgia. “When I saw you earlier, Yiyue, this sculpture came to mind too. But you’re far more vibrant and dazzling than this one.”
“I think if this sculpture had a True Form, it might have been modeled after you, though it doesn’t capture even a tenth of your beauty.”
Listening to Gu Nanqiu’s words, Yue Yiyue looked up at the sculpture. ‘……’
Alright then. Gu Nanqiu was a very kind person, so she just needed to silently accept it.
“Let’s go in first.” Yue Yiyue walked to the entrance. The heavy door sensed their arrival and emitted a soft beep, then swung open.
A wave of warm air hit them, but it wasn’t stifling.
Beautiful warm-toned carpets covered the floor. Many photos adorned the white walls. Yue Yiyue glanced at them; they seemed to chronicle the Boss’s life.
The Receptionist, dressed in casual work attire, heard the sound and smiled at the two guests at the door. “Hello, do you have a reservation?”
Her gaze swept over Gu Nanqiu, and she froze for a moment before returning to her usual demeanor. “Oh, hotel guests—no reservation needed. The Sculpture Museum is to the left. Would you like a guide?”
“No need.” Yue Yiyue spoke before Gu Nanqiu could. “Thank you. We’ll do a self-guided tour. Are there any precautions we should know?”
The Receptionist handed over a booklet. “There is no Red Door in this Sculpture Museum. If you see a door, please inform us via the walkie-talkie, and professional staff will handle it.”
“Staff will only wear unified casual work uniforms. There will never be skirts or high heels, which aren’t suitable for work. If you see such attire, be wary of deception.”
“The sculptures in this Sculpture Museum are all intact. If you see any with damaged eyes, please contact staff.”
The Receptionist highlighted the three most important rules. “The rest generally won’t occur.”
“Oh, right. Occasionally, when the owner is in a bad mood, she comes here to look around. The innermost Exhibition Hall contains sculptures she carved herself of her ‘lover.’ Please don’t disturb the owner unless it’s urgent.”
Yue Yiyue memorized every word. “Thank you.”
The room was quite warm, so Yue Yiyue took off her coat. The Receptionist produced a garment bag. “Please leave it here. You can retrieve it when you leave.”
————
Ever since entering this place, Gu Nanqiu had grown quiet. She stood before a work named Eve, looking up seriously at the sculpture with its rich muscular curves.
Her black hair was like silk. The white sweater softened the contours of her face. Though her expression was indifferent, her eyes brimmed with emotion as they focused on Eve, as if gazing at a deeply beloved lover.
In that instant, a feeling rose in Yue Yiyue’s chest—one she often had when reading books: envy.
Being looked at by Gu Nanqiu like that was truly enviable.
In that moment, they didn’t seem like people who had come to the Sculpture Museum to solve a puzzle. They were more like two ordinary tourists, simply appreciating the exhibits.
Yue Yiyue stood in place, staring fixedly at Gu Nanqiu.
She thought that person was right; she really was selfish.
Right now, she was secretly glad it was reservation-only, with so few people around.
And thankfully Gu Nanqiu had worn a mask out. If others saw her like this, more people would crowd around…
She wouldn’t allow it.
This was a trip that belonged solely to them.
“Yiyue, this work has freckles too. I guess it was sculpted by the Boss here.” Gu Nanqiu’s voice interrupted Yiyue’s thoughts.
Hearing Gu Nanqiu, she rubbed her face to clear her messy thoughts. In the direction Gu Nanqiu pointed, she saw the inscription below: When I forget you, I always descend into madness—
“If that’s true, then the story between the Boss here and her lover must have been tormenting.”
“But they must have loved deeply.”
After all, only those who had loved could pour such emotion into cold plaster.
To carve their lover’s likeness bit by bit with their own hands, and finally build an Exhibition Hall to let everyone see a part of their love.
Gu Nanqiu didn’t respond. She simply walked toward the Exhibition Hall.
Yue Yiyue glanced around to ensure no clues were missed, then followed.
She saw many other sculptors’ artworks. Yue Yiyue’s favorite was a War God Statue.
The War God wore armor, which bore many scratches to give it an aged look.
It gazed determinedly ahead, sword pointing at the window opposite.
Behind it stood its soldiers, each with solemn, robust expressions that inspired reassurance.
Yue Yiyue curiously leaned closer and saw the Keyu Center building across the way.
She turned back to the War God Statue, feeling something click in her mind.
The President at the Keyu Center also dabbled in sculptures, but her skills seemed amateurish.
After all, the sculptures in that photo looked crude and poorly made compared to these.
Vaguely, Yue Yiyue sensed she was on the verge of grasping something—just one instant away from linking the clues. She noticed a red light flash somewhere on the opposite building.
She rubbed her eyes and looked again. Nothing.
It was as if she had imagined it.
In that dazed moment, Yue Yiyue turned her head and realized Gu Nanqiu, who had been ahead, was gone.
She quickened her pace and walked forward. A Red Door appeared before Yue Yiyue.
Seeing the door, Yue Yiyue recalled her previous encounter with the Coroner, when the door had nearly driven her into a minor frenzy.
“Hello, this is a visitor. I’ve spotted a Red Door near the War God area. Please come handle it.”
After static from the walkie-talkie, a staff voice quickly responded. “Got it. Sorry, please sit and rest on the chair beside the War God… burn… shortly… staff… burn… coming… burn… coming—”
The static turned into a piercing screech. Yue Yiyue instinctively pulled the walkie-talkie away.
The voice shifted, elongated, then calmed. A cheerful female voice came through. “Sorry, our temporary staff had a little issue just now. War God area, right? Please stand by to the side and wait.”
“Remember, there are no chairs by the War God. If you see one, it’s just temporary staff oversight. Do not sit.”
“Got it, received.”
Yue Yiyue looked at her current state; she couldn’t go looking for Gu Nanqiu right away. She doubled back to the spot.
Beside the War God, where nothing had stood before, there was now a small stool with a pastry next to it.
Yue Yiyue ignored it completely and stood under the War God sculpture.
She sent Gu Nanqiu a message saying she’d come find her soon and to wait.
Then she stood there, looking up at the War God.
Upon looking, Yue Yiyue noticed something off. The War God’s expression seemed even more solemn?
As if it had sensed an incoming threat.
As if hearing Yue Yiyue’s inner voice, the next moment, a faint sound came from the window.
A soft, almost imperceptible noise.
If not for the Exhibition Hall’s utter quiet, no one would have heard it.
Yue Yiyue immediately went on alert.
Patter sounds rang out, followed by the glass shattering into pieces that flew straight toward Yue Yiyue.
The War God moved first. It blocked in front of Yue Yiyue. The glass slashed its white plaster armor, and white liquid oozed from the cracks, like human blood.
Crack crack sounds echoed from all around.
Yue Yiyue turned her head. The surrounding sculptures… had come alive?
They moved with clear division of labor: some kicked over and shattered the chair.
Others rushed to the window, batting back the unidentified spheres trying to burst in.
The War God looked down to confirm the human beneath it was unharmed. It pointed toward the small red house, and they braced for enemies behind the door.
Click. The door opened, and countless computer mutant heads charged in.
Their screens displayed a single command—Eliminate.
Soon, the room erupted into slaughter.
Yue Yiyue wasn’t idle. She flipped out a dagger from her wrist and joined the fray.
Touching the enemies gave her a strange tingling sensation, but her mind grew increasingly exhilarated.
As if she’d drunk too much alcohol.
Her steps grew lighter, her movements faster.
She casually smashed the screen-head in front of her, then dashed to the War God’s side and kicked away a sneaking Computer Head.
She slapped it twice for good measure, confirmed it wasn’t human and never could be, then smashed another.
Yue Yiyue darted agilely through the room, repeatedly kicking away Computer Heads attempting sneak attacks.
She occasionally helped the Gypsum Soldiers teetering at the window, nearly pushed out.
This slaughter ignited Yue Yiyue’s most primal savagery. She grew more excited, her actions swifter.
Space twisted for an instant. At the Red Door stood a Computer Head. It paused, looking puzzled at Yue Yiyue.
Even the Eliminate on its screen turned into a ?
Yue Yiyue barely regained a shred of reason. She forced herself to calmly read the words on that Computer Head.
“Why you? Not because of fatigue? Want to slack off? Want to give up living?”
“Do you have any way to break this state? I… still want… to live.”
In that instant, a Computer Head burst from the corner, its blade arm stabbing toward Yiyue—
![Welcome to the World of the Strong [Unlimited Flow]](https://i1.wp.com/dobytranslations.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/21240336806.png?resize=151,215 "Welcome to the World of the Strong [Unlimited Flow]")
