The Human Cannon and the Truth Revealed

The moment Li Chunsheng’s words faded, the stagnant air seemed to awaken, suddenly pulsating with life.

Investigator Liao could distinctly perceive countless invisible particles transforming into subtle vortexes, converging on Li Chunsheng like a myriad of rivers flowing into the sea.

Even the receding debris in the air was disturbed by this strange power, veering off its original trajectory.

‘Is he charging up? Should I attack him now?’

‘No, this is likely a trap. He seems to be anticipating my attack. I mustn’t fall for it.’

Trusting his years of investigative intuition, Investigator Liao remained still, focusing his entire mind as he quietly observed his opponent’s every move.

Sensing the other party’s inaction, Li Chunsheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

‘I gambled correctly. This plan requires a lengthy charging time.’

‘But I wonder how long this facade of profound mystery could last…’

Exploiting his opponent’s suspicious nature, Li Chunsheng seized every precious second, frantically retrieving and compressing the golden particles dispersed throughout the space.

He intended to create something. Soon, the outline of that ‘something’ materialized from the void, slowly taking shape in the air.

It was a colossal, black cylindrical object, its muzzle a gaping black hole, remotely locked onto Investigator Liao’s position.

“So… you really enjoy firing at me, don’t you?” Li Chunsheng grinned, his tone utterly frivolous.

“Then why don’t you try taking one from me? How do you like this Armstrong Cyclone Accelerator Jet Armstrong Cannon? I guarantee it’s got a kick!”

Investigator Liao, of course, had no idea what that string of names referred to, but he instinctively felt the terrifying pressure emanating from the black cannon—a pressure capable of threatening his very life.

High-tier combatants in this world primarily relied on Paladins, possessing almost no knowledge of large-scale thermal weapons.

However, handguns did exist in this world for dealing with ordinary people. Based on his many years of experience with police firearms, Investigator Liao judged that this thing likely functioned similarly to a handgun in its attack method. ‘Let’s just call it firing a cannon,’ he thought.

Li Chunsheng was quite pleased with his masterpiece. His figure flickered, then merged into the cannon’s body from behind.

“Are you really not going to fire at me?”

“If you don’t fire at me soon, I’ll be the one to fire at you then, won’t I?” His tone grew increasingly smug, brimming with mockery.

The immense pressure solidified further, as if brewing an earth-shattering strike. Investigator Liao had no doubt that a direct hit from it would spell his demise.

Caution had been his lifelong creed, but faced with this unprecedented weapon and an opponent of unknown strength, Investigator Liao’s line of vigilance finally reached its limit.

He no longer hid, his form materializing from the air. Darkness swirled madly around him, devouring all surrounding light, as an unprecedentedly powerful energy condensed before him.

The will to fight surged within his heart. This kind of evenly matched, honorable duel made even a middle-aged father feel a long-lost rush of adrenaline.

Was this not the battle he had yearned for since childhood, the embodiment of the knightly spirit he pursued?

Investigator Liao’s eyes fell into a momentary daze.

Suddenly, he solemnly cupped his fist in a salute towards the black cannon: “I am Liao Dongyi. Please instruct me!”

Exchanging names before a duel was a knight’s courtesy.

‘Wow, that formal?’

‘This almost makes me feel bad about proceeding with my plan… just kidding.’

A muffled response came from within the cannon’s barrel: “Li Chunsheng.”

As their words fell, the aura of both men simultaneously ascended to its peak.

“Li Chunsheng, I’m going to fire at you!” Liao Dongyi roared.

****

The next moment, as if to tear through the darkness, a pure white, pristine beam of light surged forth from the black hole around him, shooting unimpeded into the cannon barrel constructed by Li Chunsheng!

“Ooooh! It’s in!”

“So full… but it’s enough!”

The originally dark muzzle of the cannon was instantly filled with dazzling white light, its internal energy seemingly capable of destroying the world at any moment.

Yet, the golden particles in the air continued to be absorbed relentlessly.

‘Is this a move that absorbs my energy only to return it twofold?’

Liao Dongyi’s mind was taut, standing ready for anything.

Just then, the thick, black cannon barrel suddenly began to vibrate violently. The muzzle, which had been radiating white light, abruptly sealed shut!

“?” Liao Dongyi froze.

“I can’t take it anymore, I can’t! I’m going to fire too!” Li Chunsheng’s shout echoed from within the cannon barrel.

The energy accumulated within the barrel had reached its limit; another second might cause it to self-destruct, injuring him.

“Boom!”

With an earth-shattering roar, an opening suddenly appeared where the cannon’s breech should have been.

“I’m off! To the sky!”

“This is the Human Cannon!”

A black figure was violently ejected, standing on a mass of continuously burning and decomposing metallic substance that provided powerful propulsion!

“Hahahahahaha!”

“Didn’t expect that, Investigator! This is my escape route!”

The rapidly receding figure left behind a trail of burning particles dancing in the sky, like dazzling fireworks, and also like ultimate mockery.

Liao Dongyi stared blankly as the man he had considered a formidable opponent transformed into a shooting star, vanishing into the distant horizon.

His face flushed red then paled, his breathing sometimes rapid, sometimes heavy, until a sweetness surged in his throat, and with a ‘噗’, he spat out a mouthful of old blood.

“Li Chunsheng! I will definitely kill you, I must kill you!”

In the park, only Liao Dongyi’s furious roar remained.

But none of that mattered anymore. What mattered was that Li Chunsheng had successfully bought precious time.

****

Meanwhile, Liuxia had arrived at the place where she first awoke—a vacant lot within the South City inner ring.

Returning to this spot with a purpose, she finally discovered its ‘special’ quality.

This specialness stemmed from the area’s utter lack of anything.

There were no storefronts, no trash cans, no vehicles, not even any containers that could hide anything. As far as the eye could see, there was only an empty concrete patch and the main road beside it. Anyone’s first impression would be that no secrets could possibly be hidden here.

‘Me, hiding something here? What could possibly be hidden here?’

Liuxia fell into contemplation, then a flash of insight struck her.

If something conspicuous appeared, it would be utterly impossible for me to ignore!

Liuxia’s intuition told her that the time reversal was nearing its end.

On the main road nearby, a taxi was rapidly reversing. However, as it approached the vacant lot, its speed strangely slowed.

Liuxia stared intently at the car; it was the very taxi she had initially taken to the park.

‘So that’s it…’

‘After going in such a huge circle, the thing I’d been searching for was right at the starting point all along.’

Liuxia couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

‘But if one didn’t personally experience all of this, who could have possibly guessed?’

She walked forward and opened the taxi’s trunk.

Inside, a smooth, black, shiny mud slab and a dark carving knife lay quietly.

“I found you.” Liuxia smiled faintly, picking up the carving knife and meticulously recording all the information she had gathered during this loop, stroke by stroke.

‘Finally, it’s over.’

The moment she finished the last stroke, the power of time reversal was exhausted.

The flow of the world returned to normal.

Liuxia’s eyes instantly became hazy as a torrent of vast, fabricated memories surged into her mind, attempting to overwrite everything.

But when her gaze fell upon the mud slab in her hand, inscribed with the truth, all the false memories shattered like bubbles.

“I succeeded… I’m gradually understanding everything.”

At that moment, the taxi driver poked his head out of the window, greeting her warmly:

“Hey, little girl, ready to go?”

Liuxia hugged the mud slab to her chest, got into the car, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.

“Yes, let’s go!”

‘After all, someone important is still waiting for me.’