Chapter Fifty-Five: He Infiltrated

Within Organization Z, there were two martial artists renowned for their internal energy skills: Explosive Kui and Little Venom. Naturally, they were not unprepared against experts in internal energy.

For example, the sealed-line cameras installed at every tunnel entrance. These cameras functioned purely as optical signal collectors and could not be hacked. Once the signal was transmitted via sealed lines to the monitoring center inside the stronghold, only a few members with minimal cybernetic modifications were responsible for overseeing it—they specialized in this task. Their hands were entirely flesh and blood, and their brain implants were reduced to a single chip, lacking any control over limb movements. This setup ensured that even if someone tried to use “charms” or “spells” through the screen, they could not be immediately controlled.

These members also carried purely mechanical alarm devices.

This was quite a marvel. After reviewing several memories of outlaws, Xiang Shan recalled that such measures indeed existed—to defend against internal energy masters, some places simply employed “differential machines” as the control system for devices.

A differential machine is essentially a type of Turing machine used for computation. It is not that it cannot be hacked, but it clearly does not accept electronic signals. To hack a differential machine, one would have to physically jam specific gears or components.

Beyond that, the stronghold had another defensive measure.

About thirty percent of members’ brain chips were not connected to the Glierad-exclusive local area network server.

Only approximately seventy percent of members were directly linked to Glierad’s server.

Another twenty percent belonged to the second-in-command, Little Venom, while the remaining ten percent reported to the third-in-command, “Blue Steel Vulture” Daniel.

Additionally, the assault squads directly under Leif and Explosive Kui had their own separate networks.

This was to prevent the entire stronghold from collapsing in the event Glierad was attacked and killed by internal energy masters.

Glierad could normally issue commands to his direct subordinates with a mere thought. But to notify the other commanders or to command the entire stronghold, they had to rely on a primitive broadcast system.

Of course, this was all under the guise of “martial world etiquette.”

In this era, many so-called “etiquettes” were essentially useless or even reduced work efficiency, but in truth, they served as defenses against internal energy masters.

In other words, even if Xiang Shan managed to infiltrate the stronghold through Glierad’s server, he could not capture the entire fortress in one fell swoop.

At least two commanders, along with a small elite assault team, required alternative methods.

Also, bandits with lower cybernetic modification rates might not be under strict control.

But that was not a major concern.

The underground network was labyrinthine. The tunnels were not straight but branched repeatedly, with multiple turns and forks, and within those forks, more forks.

“Following the camera cables” was not a wise choice. Sometimes the coaxial cables were arranged in bizarre ways, with several points designed to mislead, and some fake wiring deliberately led in the wrong direction.

On the surface, there were also fabricated footprints and tire tracks.

Some dead ends even had EMP mines buried.

Though cyborgs like “Iron Flower” could resist EMP attacks to a degree, an EMP detonated beneath one’s feet wouldn’t give enough time to activate any defenses; they had to rely solely on the electromagnetic resistance of their own bodies.

However, Xiang Shan had extracted a map directly from Leif and Glierad’s minds, so he naturally would not get lost.

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Despite Organization Z having a surveillance system, manpower was limited, and they could not cover every inch. Moreover, most believed that as long as the entrances were secure, there would be no major issues inside.

Soon, Xiang Shan stopped at a tunnel junction without cameras. He shook the rear of his motorcycle and set down his disciple.

Yuki wanted to speak, but Xiang Shan covered his mouth and shook his head: “Don’t you know about echoes? In these tunnels, even the slightest sound carries far.”

Yuki covered his own mouth, trying to get used to typing mentally: “Then, Master, what should we do now...?”

“Hide here,” Xiang Shan said, pointing to a side passage. “This branch connects two frequently used paths but is seldom traveled, with enough corners. Hide around the first bend inside, understand?”

Yuki nodded eagerly.

They were only a few hundred meters from the stronghold now, and Xiang Shan had already received a signal from a certain server.

But this signal was one-way. Ordinary members could only download specific data from this channel—such as internal surveillance footage, material distribution, personnel movements, and orders from the leaders. They had no permission to upload, nor was it necessary. Certain communications and chats were handled via “radio.”

This prevented some members from being turned into “puppets” by “witches” when online, silently smuggling “charms” into the stronghold and leaking secrets out, ultimately selling the entire fortress’s secrets.

—Though Xiang Shan suspected Glierad himself had many hidden hands.

Now, Xiang Shan’s task was to enter the range where he could exert his internal energy—the distance at which the signal transmitter could reach the stronghold’s server.

By agreement, Yuki had to wait there.

“Remember, if you get discovered...” Xiang Shan warned.

“Evade the auxiliary lines!” Yuki replied.

“Damn it! How many times do I have to tell you? If you’re caught, say: ‘I’m the disciple of a swordsman. My master has already infiltrated your stronghold. If you don’t want to gamble on whether I carry any charms, please arrest me and bring me to my master for a chance to remove them.’ The auxiliary line system is just to prevent you from being killed instantly! It’s merely an entry-level training tool!”

Yuki hesitated: “Isn’t that betrayal?”

Xiang Shan repeated firmly: “Remember, say exactly that! Now, go hide well!”

Yuki obediently complied.

Once Xiang Shan confirmed Yuki was out of sight, he nodded: “Stay hidden. I’ll be back soon.”

With that, he and the corpse of Ali, under his control, started the motorcycle and headed toward the Z Organization’s stronghold.

Minutes later, he arrived at the destination—a parking lot.

This was a place for parking motorcycles, with several rows of weapon racks along the edges. Underneath the racks were three ammo boxes, supplying three commonly used calibers.

A few thugs were gathered there, huddled in a corner playing homemade handheld consoles, engrossed in Tetris.

“Games” were among the few cultural relics to survive from the old world. According to some theory, when novices practiced external martial arts, their neural activity resembled that of playing games. The thought processes of “prediction and planning,” as well as the emotional investment in “winning or losing,” were highly consistent.

However, in this era, no one dared to casually download resources from the internet. Even a few dozen lines of code might carry malicious charms. The few games available were products of the stronghold’s martial artists’ internal energy training.

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Some classic designs were passed down orally and recreated by generations of internal energy practitioners.

Someone greeted Xiang Shan and Ali’s corpse from a distance. Xiang Shan put his arm around Ali’s shoulder, waved toward them, and played a recording of laughter he had made before subduing these outlaws.

He had processed the audio to remove background noise. Though it sounded slightly odd, it was enough to deceive.

“Come on, come on! Play a couple of rounds!” a man shouted. “Loser takes a shot of ethanol.”

“No thanks,” Xiang Shan muttered vaguely. After all, Ali was not a fully cybernetically enhanced warrior. Having been dead for days, his body showed some abnormalities, and cheap chips could not program complex movements; his motions appeared stiff to ordinary eyes.

No charms had been implanted yet. Xiang Shan’s own internal energy was not fully restored. Even something as defenseless as the Z Organization’s server required some effort on his part. If he were discovered too soon and besieged by external martial artists, he might never find the chance to release the charm’s poison.

So he must remain undercover.

Fortunately, the outlaws did not press him and continued playing their game intently.

Xiang Shan carried some supplies toward the stronghold’s communal warehouse. After each raid, Organization Z’s goons would deliver their spoils there to maintain operations. This action aroused no suspicion.

Xiang Shan discreetly scanned the ceiling with his cybernetic eye, marking all camera locations, silently calculating their monitoring ranges and rotation frequencies, then comparing them with memories from Glierad and Leif.

Frankly, the cameras in this outlaw fortress were not densely placed. Only critical junctions, warehouses, server rooms, and power stations had more concentrated coverage.

Dragging Ali’s corpse through the narrow, dark tunnel, Xiang Shan soon faced two bandits coming toward him.

He cautiously adjusted his pace, ensuring they met in a dim section of the tunnel.

The two bandits eyed Ali’s unnatural gait and Xiang Shan’s unfamiliar face with suspicion.

Xiang Shan passed by them nonchalantly.

The two considered whether one of their brothers was high on drugs and thought about turning back to look.

At that moment, a sound like a gunshot rang out.

Xiang Shan’s arm gripped Ali’s steel staff and violently flicked his wrist.

The staff’s end struck the two bandits on the back of their heads before they could react. The intense vibration penetrated their brainstems, causing them to lose bodily control.

Xiang Shan turned, pressed their heads down, and emitted a high-frequency shock wave, shattering their vertebrae and crushing the main nerves within the spinal canal, then damaging their brains.

He then tossed the assorted supplies on the ground and quickly left the scene.