Destiny in Cinders

There were only really few truly old people in Skysource. It wasn’t that resources were so scarce that they killed off the elderly once they reached a certain age. As long as one reached Qi Refinement, aging would be slowed to the point that one only looked at most around sixty at the end of one’s lifespan. There were also beautification surgeries and face-setting pills that could help even the oldest ladies at the end of their lifespan to look youthful and delectable.

The old woman before Metalhand, however, was different. He sat down in his usual, but much cleaner, seat and feigned turning to look at the building’s entrance in thought. Madam Huai finished her cleaning and rested in the building.

This old lady doesn’t have any cultivation. Something like this is even rarer in Deepnight City than people who have reached the Foundation Building Realm. Even if one doesn’t have a lick of talent or possesses some kind of birth deficiency, it’s possible to use surgery to at least reach the Silk Essence Stage. There’s no way someone without any cultivation can survive, whether in the city, safe zone or the badlands. Only a truly large household would be able to sustain someone who doesn’t cultivate for their whole lives... Not to mention, she looks so healthy even at the end of her life and is even able to clean!

That old lady has talent for cultivation and even decent innate qi... But most of it is gathered within her soul and not applied to her physical body. Metalhand twirled his pen around in deep thought. Is she some rare talent being kept alive by some large household? Or...

Given his vast experience, Metalhand actually managed to guess the inklings of Madam Huai’s true identity. As he didn’t understand the whole situation, he wasn’t able to follow the train of thought to the logical endpoint. What kind of friend did Huo Qing make to be able to meet someone like this? And they’re going to get property too...

Before Metalhand could ask her anything, Madam Huai came over with a bowl of meat-mushroom soup. ”I was planning to serve it up to Huo Qing and the rest once they came back, but I bet that you’re already thirsty for something after such a long journey, Boss Metalhand.”

”I am indeed. Thank you.” He scanned the soup with his red bionic eye and drank it after making sure it was fine. The soup tasted fresh and delicious, a far cry from the simple one he made with salt and canned meat. At the end of the day, cooking precisely didn’t matter as long as one could digest it with a nourishment technique.

After drinking another mouthful, he decided to stop Madam Huai from leaving to clarify his doubts. ”Apologies for being rudely direct to an elder, madam, but I can see that you’re far from a normal person. At the very least, you’re not someone who should be showing up at my place. How did someone like you get to know that foolish nephew of mine?”

Madam Huai shook her head and said, ”I didn’t know Huo Qing initially... but a junior of my cult happens to know him.”

After some consideration, she ended up giving a hint of who she was by mentioning her cult. She knew that An Jing claimed to be a badlander, but his behavior didn’t quite resemble one. Though, she could guess based on her experience that tribes weren’t the only factions in the badlands. There were probably other members as well. She would need to wait for An Jing to come back to get their stories straight.

Metalhand noted how she didn’t reveal much information at all. A cult? No wonder she doesn’t quite resemble a badlander or a city dweller. To think that she’s from a secret cult... wait...

Metalhand suddenly remembered the ”badlander” kid that had helped Huo Qing, someone he called a friend. Oh, it’s him! I knew that something was off with that kid with how naive and clueless he seemed. He doesn’t seem like someone from the city, but also doesn’t appear to be a badlander. To think that he’s a member of a secret cult!

Since the world calamity, many secret cults and sects sprang up in the badlands and the safe zone like mushrooms after rainfall. Some of them were righteous cults that tread the just path, huddling around the blessings and powers of divinity. Others were sects that had been corrupted by heavenly fiends whose sole purpose was to incubate fiend calamities. Considering that kid and her appearance, they’re probably from righteous cults. Even if they aren’t, this is no time to get into a fight.

The two of them continued to talk a bit about the cult. Madam Huai wanted to get a read on Metalhand and indulged in the conversation by describing certain rituals and philosophies of the Heavenly Divine Cult in as abstract terms as possible. It was an expertly crafted bag of half-truths that Metalhand found incredibly convincing, even knowing that she wouldn’t be honest about it.

”You truly are wise, madam. Your cult’s teachings seem to preach peace and equality. It must be one that cherishes their own people.”

Madam Huai’s conversational ability could rival that of a hundred Huo Qings and fifty You Ruhuis combined. Metalhand talked to her for a whole hour and felt like he had learned lots of useful lifehacks, improving his impression of her considerably.

When he saw Madam Huai’s pained smiles as she divulged some information about the cult, he came to understand something. Ah, a cult might sound good, but it’s that kind of cult after all... The whole story sounded even more convincing to him than before. There was no such thing as a cult without a few screws loose in a world as chaotic as Skysource.

Right as he was about to ask more questions to see what kind of information his nephew gave away for free, he suddenly received a message. ”Huh?! Senior Sister?!”

His eyes glowed when he parsed the message. The shock and bewilderment in his face were clear to Madam Huai. Is that a message from a person he admires? Or that of a close relative? Huo Qing had received such messages before, so Madam Huai knew that Metalhand had received the same through his chip. She could tell from his expression that it wasn’t a message from just any old acquaintance.

As expected, once Metalhand’s eyes dimmed, he rose and said, ”I have something urgent to tend to. Madam, feel free to rest here. Once Huo Qing comes back, tell him to contact me.”

”Very well, Boss Metalhand. See you next time.” Madam Huai wanted to send him off, but Metalhand stopped her.

”Madam, you should save your strength. I can see that your lifespan is nearing its end. Then again, there’s something I find a bit odd.” This was a question that Metalhand was so curious about that he couldn’t help but ask it despite his urgent impulse to go to Deepnight City. ”I noticed that you don’t have any body modifications. Is this a precept of your cult? Why wouldn’t you opt for a life-extension surgery?”

”Well... it’s for personal reasons.” Modification? Life extension? This world’s technical capabilities are far beyond my imagination... Though Madam Huai had no intention of extending her life, she did commit the existence of such a surgery to mind.

Metalhand left in a hurry, leaving her alone in the small building behind the recycling house. She smiled and shook her head. ”I have already determined how I’ll spend my final days. There’s no need to ask about anything else.”

She continued to cook as she waited for An Jing and the others to return. They were still busy collecting their battle spoils.