The Last Gentleman

Chapter 9

Perhaps it was because this was his first time swallowing something as large as a ping-pong ball, or maybe it was because the events that followed would decide his life or death. Or maybe it was due to the heightened sensations brought on by the small, fleshy ball. Yi Chen could clearly feel the digestive reactions happening within his stomach. The smooth, embryo-like surface of the crystal bubbled and broke down under the onslaught of stomach acid, and the dissolved outer layers were absorbed by the stomach as nutrients.

Eventually, the diseased core of the crystal was exposed, revealing a "green, worm-like structure" somewhere between a nematode and a root tendril.

The substance made its way from his stomach into his intestines, where it was further decomposed and absorbed by digestive enzymes and bile, then entered his bloodstream.

In an instant, all of Yi Chen's blood took on a fluorescent green glow.

The walls of his blood vessels began to undergo "secondary growth," a process unique to plants, forming a vascular bundle structure nested within his blood vessels.

The entire process was excruciatingly painful, as if his blood vessels were being torn from the surrounding tissue.

The pain far exceeded the agony he’d felt when his foot was punctured and then pulled free. Just as his consciousness began to dissipate under the onslaught of pain, the diseased essence circulating in his blood reached deep into his brain, transporting him to a peculiar memory from the past.

It was a fragmented memory stored within plant cells, one that his brain had to integrate and process, projecting it into his mind for a "personal experience."

He could feel a tree's entire lifecycle: from seed germination to sapling growth, and finally, the formation of its trunk.

He experienced the roots growing downward, absorbing water from deep within the soil, and the symbiotic relationship formed with bacteria in the earth.

He felt the unique process of photosynthesis within plant cells, breathing in carbon dioxide from the air.

He went through the phases of primary and secondary growth, developing a complete and robust plant system, ultimately transforming into a silent guardian of the cemetery.

Until it was eventually infected by an unknown pathogen, assuming a zombie-like form.

Unbeknownst to Yi Chen, as he absorbed this plant memory, his physical body in the operating room was undergoing strange changes. New green stalks sprouted from his pores, wriggling out from his cuffs, collar, and waistband.

From his mouth, nostrils, and ear canals emerged thin, writhing tendrils.

His widened pupils turned green, pulsing between different sizes.

It was unclear how long this state lasted. When the memories concluded, his consciousness returned to the present.

“Did I survive?”

Yi Chen quickly checked his body and found no trace of bark or branches (they had long since retracted inside him)... His body was as it had been, though he sensed a faint improvement in his physical condition.

The cemetery’s caretaker, Mr. Wilbert, smiled in satisfaction.

"I knew you’d make it."

He seemed to have anticipated Yi Chen's survival and brought over a prepared meal of unprocessed vegetables. When Yichen saw the vegetables, he felt like a starving man presented with a feast. He ravenously devoured five or six pounds of the food.

While he ate, the wounds from his earlier fight with the zombie healed at a visibly rapid pace, with the scars from the little flesh ball stitches gradually being covered by new flesh.

Yi Chen murmured to himself, “Something has changed in my body...”

The overseer explained, “That’s correct. You’ve fully assimilated the crystal’s ‘pathological traits.’ As for what specific changes it’s brought, you’ll have to explore that on your own.”

He continued, pulling a special metal card from his pocket, silver in color.

The card bore the insignia of the organization, G&D, on the back, while the front displayed the flowing script Seven-Day, representing the Seven-Day Cemetery where they currently stood.

As he handed over the card, he added:

"Since you've met the 'requirements,' the little fellow on your shoulder now belongs to you.

"Remember, if anyone asks about its origin, you don’t have to answer.

"If necessary, just show them this card—it’ll save you a lot of trouble.

"The world is sick, and even healthy creatures have grown suspicious by nature. When you travel alone, try to avoid unnecessary problems.”

"Thank you."

As Yi Chen took the card, Wilbert suddenly recalled an important question.

"It seems I didn’t consult you about your own wishes and went ahead, guiding you to join the organization on my own.

Let's start over... Do you want to be part of the organization?

If your desire isn't strong, or if you feel resistant, you can continue working in the cemetery, and upon contract completion, you’ll receive a generous salary."

Without hesitation, Yi Chen replied:

"I want to see the outside world."

"Very well.

Tomorrow at noon, head to the eastern exit of the town.

Show the card to the coachman, and he’ll take you to an area related to the organization."

With that, the manager tossed him a small linen pouch filled with heavy coins.

"These are your overdue wages from the past few months, as well as a special bonus for this incident.

Since your work uniform was damaged in the fight,

make sure to stop by the finest clothing store in Easton Town before you depart... show the card to the owner, and she’ll prepare a quality outfit fitting your new role.

The organization has certain standards regarding appearance and attire.

Don’t forget the gentlemanly manners you learned at the orphanage... Graceful habits help shield the mind against mental decay."

"Understood. And, um..."

Yi Chen looked wistfully at the silver-plated hand axe in his hand. This axe, with its craftsmanship and the disease-repellent qualities of silver, was quite remarkable.

The manager waved his hand,

"Take this basic weapon crafted by the organization’s artisans, along with a specially made long-lasting kerosene lamp. The journey to the organization won’t be smooth; a light source and a weapon are essential."

"Thank you."

With only a short time until dawn the next morning,

Yi Chen bade farewell, returning to the cabin for rest.

When the faint sunlight finally broke through layers of mist, squeezing through gaps in the leaves and illuminating the cemetery,

the young man, with his kerosene lamp and hand axe secured at his waist, bowed deeply to Cemetery No. 7 and then set off...

Correspondingly,

at the entrance of Cemetery No. 7,

the cemetery’s manager, Wilbert, watched the young man’s retreating figure through the structures and trees of the cemetery, his crow-like gaze piercing the distance, his lips twitching slightly.

It seemed he felt an intense reluctance over a certain "item" that the young man had taken with him.

It wasn’t the high-quality crystal taken from a corpse,

but rather the important product of the cemetery—a small, fleshy lump stuck to Yi Chen's shoulder.

"I wonder if such a costly investment will be worth it.

The 'Mature Consciousness Entity' of the Nameless Cemetery hasn’t appeared in over a hundred years, right?

And now it coincides with the emergence of a potential individual capable of slaying living corpses and integrating crystals.

A coincidence? Or some form of synchronicity?

Forget it… let's treat it as a high-stakes gamble."

Yesterday, during his conversation with Yi Chen, the manager had intentionally glossed over the ball of flesh, simply referring to it as a "pet" or "cemetery product."

What Yi Chen didn’t know was that

the division of graves not only corresponded to differences in corpse forms, management rules, and tombstone types.

There is also important significance in the sequence of numbers from 1 to 6.

As the number increases, the time required to produce a corresponding "product" from the grave dramatically lengthens, and the complexity and danger of the corpses buried within also rise incrementally.

In other words,

the "Nameless Monstrosities" buried in Cemetery No. 6, with no names or known origins, are the most dangerous.