Chapter 137: I Give the Traveler a Long Face (8000)
The streets fell silent, and since Xiao Nuan was gone, there was nothing but darkness and corpses all that remained on the ground.
About a pillar of incense passed, there was a slight sound of footsteps, Tong Fuling walked out of the darkness with a brush in his hand, he looked at the corpses all over the ground, and his eyes showed shock.
"What's the situation? Was there a battle here? ”
He also came out just now, and he didn't encounter the previous scene, so looking at the corpses in front of him, he couldn't figure out what was going on.
Along the way, following the traces left by Xu Bai, and this street also happened to pass by, although Tong Fuling did not see clearly who killed him, but after seeing the corpse on the ground, his face became more and more strange.
He had also seen it when the group of men in black took Xu Bai away before, and now these corpses were exactly the same as those dressed in black, and he could figure out the identities of these people with just a little association.
Why did he die? And who killed it? These two mysteries kept flashing in his heart.
"Do you want to tell Xu Bai directly, but before, Xu Bai said that if there is no fight, I don't need to be exposed." Tong Fuling's face was covered, but he was thinking about what Xu Bai told him in his heart.
After hesitating for a long time, he still planned to follow what Xu Bai said, first lurk around, and then wait and see what happened.
Thinking of this, Tong Fuling was not here, continued to stay, turned around and left the street directly, found a place not far from where Xu Bai was, and quietly lurked.
……
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the night has passed, and the sun is back in the clouds, and the sun shines on the earth, filling the clay mansion with warmth.
As the people begin their day, the streets return to their usual hustle and bustle, with shouts coming and going, passers-by stopping or hurrying along.
In that hidden house, Xu Bai frowned tightly when he heard what Xiao Nuan said.
"What do you say, that all of your people are dead, killed by unknown people?"
Just this morning, she suddenly found Xu Bai and told her about it, roughly saying that all her people had died, and she didn't know who had killed her, and the situation had become very complicated, so she asked Xu Bai not to go out and walk around.
Xiao Nuan nodded, and pretended to be very serious: "Lord Xu, this must have been done by those people who wanted to kill you behind the scenes, they must know that I sent someone to rob you out, so you must not go out during this time, at least until I clear your grievances, you can't get out of the house." ”
As she spoke, she also walked two steps at will, and the light veil on her body swayed and loomed.
Xu Bai did not speak, but his eyes did not shy away, and he looked at this woman carefully.
Xiao Nuan didn't flinch at all, and looked at Xu Bai openly, as if everything he did was above board.
"Okay, I promise you, but ...... After three or five days, if it doesn't work out, I'll leave this place. Xu Bai said.
Xiao Nuan snorted: "If it doesn't work out at that time, you can take me on top of the head, I don't have any complaints, then you stay here for the time being, and I'll go out." ”
Xu Bai nodded and stopped talking.
Xiao Nuan left, walking cleanly, as if he was really going to run for Xu Bai.
After Xiao Nuan left, Ye Zi suddenly stretched out his hands, grabbed Xu Bai's palm, and gently slid his fingers on his palm, writing down one word after another.
"I always felt like there was something big wrong with her."
Xu Bai nodded and did not respond.
In fact, he also saw that there was something wrong, from the beginning to the end, this woman always looked very enthusiastic, as if she was just trying to help him.
I only picked her up last night, and today all her men are dead, and if there is no problem, I can't say anything.
But what Xu Bai is thinking about now is indeed something else.
Is this woman the last man behind it? Is there anyone else behind?
If it is the mastermind behind the scenes, Xu Bai can now rest assured that he can do it boldly, but if this is just a small minion, and there are real masters behind him, he plans to let it go for the time being, and wait until he catches the big fish behind the scenes before making a move.
"Wait another three or five days to see what this woman wants to do." Xu Bai grabbed Ye Zi's hand and wrote.
Ye Zi hummed softly and did not continue to speak.
After such a small episode, time continued to go non-stop, and everything returned to normal.
Xu Bai was nothing, but he felt the strange fragrance in the room, which smelled better and better.
And this peculiar fragrance, with the passage of time, is gradually changing.
At first, he thought there was nothing wrong with the scent, but then he realized something was wrong.
Even if this woman is gone, the fragrance is still there, is it possible that there is something greasy?
Thinking of this, Xu Bai also had a plan.
This room has a window, and he opens it every day from morning to night to blow the fragrance away.
Over time, the room also returned to normal.
During this period, Xiao Nuan came once and saw Xu Bai's movements, but she didn't say anything, as if she wasn't interested in these things Xu Bai made.
And Xu Bai asked when he could clear his grievances, Xiao Nuan just said that the time was almost up.
In this way, the three-to-five-day deadline was getting closer and closer, and it wasn't until the last day that Xiao Nuan rushed to the room.
"Let's go see someone, don't be here, that person can help you clear all your grievances." Xiao Nuan changed her outfit, no longer wearing a light gauze, but a pink dress, and after coming in, she swore and said.
The pink dress is well-cut and brings out her temperament flawlessly.
Xu Bai said: "Who do you want me to see?" ”
"Lord Xu, it's not convenient to say now, I can't guarantee that there are no other people's eyes and ears here, just know when you go." Xiao Nuan said seriously.
Xu Bai turned his head, glanced at Ye Zi, and said, "Okay." ”
He didn't ask any more questions, but decided to go over and take a look.
Seeing Xu Bai's simple promise, Xiao Nuan didn't have any doubts, turned around and led the way in front.
During this time, she also saw Xu Bai's actions, such as opening the window and blowing away the aroma in the room.
This aroma is not poison, but medicine, a real great tonic medicine, even if it is a master, it will be aroused by the impulse in the depths of the heart.
It doesn't mean that staying in this environment for a long time will make you able to get deeper, when the first sip of the aroma is inhaled, the roots have already been planted, and it takes time to cultivate this root to grow strong.
So seeing Xu Bai open the window to blow away the aroma, Xiao Nuan didn't stop it, and even behaved normally, because she knew that all she needed was time.
Now, the time is just right.
At this time, it was already approaching night.
The streets were deserted and eerily quiet.
Xiao Nuan led the way in front, swaying her soft waist, while Xu Bai and the others followed behind, and several people went out of the clay mansion together, and finally came to a wood.
At this time, Xiao Nuan stopped and stood silently in place.
She turned her head with a hint of mystery in her gentle eyes.
"What's the matter, do I have something on my face?" Xu Bai touched his face and said.
"Lord Xu, if you want to clear your name, it's actually very simple." Xiao Nuan said as she untied the strap around her waist.
The red dress fell to the ground, empty and white.
This scene happened very quickly, starting in less than a breath, and obviously, Xiao Nuan's movements were very skillful, and it was not the first time he had done so.
"Slut!" Ye Zi reacted and scolded, his slender and white index finger clenched into a fist, and his face was full of disdain.
Xu Bai looked up and down without any scruples, and said, "I thought there would be a little foreplay, but I didn't expect to enter so soon, let's say, is it ...... Do you want to be a bed with me here? ”
It was the first time he had encountered this situation, and he thought that there was going to be a battle to fight, or an ambush, but he never thought that the other party would take off his clothes as soon as he came, what kind of trick is this?
"Lord Xu, the moonlight is beautiful tonight." Xiao Nuan walked over gently and said, "You...... Isn't it hot at all? ”
This sentence is as gentle as a river, but it speaks the words of a tiger and a wolf.
The next moment, Xu Bai was about to make a move, when he suddenly felt a hot ball exploding in his lower abdomen.
"What's the situation?" Xu Bai was slightly stunned, and then, his eyes turned red, and he felt that the heat was flowing all over his body, making him dizzy.
"What else can it be, plant the seeds." Xiao Nuan took another step forward and said slowly: "This is the happiest method, after all...... The method of the fox clan itself is to bring you happiness. ”
As Xiao Nuan spoke, a shadow suddenly flashed behind her, and the shadow gradually stood up and took the shape of a fox.
"Demon?" Although Xu Bai's consciousness is a little ambiguous, he can still see it clearly.
The so-called demons are weird, naturally there are demons, and as I said before, the demons in this world are demons, there is no good or bad, only the difference of race.
"Childe, it's not a demon, it's a witch." Ye Zi held Xu Bai's arm and said, "The psychic branch, willing to be a slave of the demon clan, to obtain the ability of the demon clan, is like a mouse, fleeing everywhere in the corners of the world, being hunted down and killed by everyone. ”
Witches?
It was the first time Xu Bai had heard of this business, and it seemed relatively novel.
"You, a woman of the Ye family, really know a lot, but the problem is not very big, you still have to live, wait until I plant seeds for him, and then take your skin." Xiao Nuan approached Xu Bai step by step and said, "At that time, I will become you, and you will become me to die." ”
A strange fragrance rose on Xiao Nuan's body, exactly the same as in the previous room.
When this strange fragrance appeared, Xu Bai felt that the heat on his body was even stronger, and at the same time, his whole body was full of blood, a little uncontrollable, and he wanted to move forward.
But he still retained a trace of sobriety, and said: "I didn't expect that in the end, I didn't even see the person behind the scenes, but it was planted in your hands." ”
Xiao Nuan was slightly stunned, and then laughed and said: "Lord Xu, should I say it or not, you are really cute sometimes, I am the person behind the scenes, and my ultimate goal is to break away from my current organization." ”
"What organization." Xu Bai's gaze became blurred, and he slowly walked towards Xiao Nuan.
And the four-grade puppet stood motionless next to it.
"Childe!" Seeing this, Ye Zi wanted to reach out and hold Xu Bai.
But at this time, Xiao Nuan suddenly flexed his middle finger and flicked at Ye Zi.
Ye Zi's shadow suddenly moved, and she quickly tied her hands and feet, unable to move.
"Shadow Zong, you're from the Shadow Gate!"
It's a big family member, Ye Zi naturally recognizes it.
"Shadow Gate and fox demon collude, you are witches!"
Xiao Nuan looked at Xu Bai, who was already in a daze in front of him, and said with a gentle smile: "You're right, the Shadow Gate knows that it can't rely on the strength of a single person to move forward, so he found some down-and-out demon clans,
The fox clan is very capable, and the seed is one of the most prominent of them. ”
As she spoke, Xiao Nuan lifted her slender and white thighs, walked in front of Xu Bai, and touched Xu Bai's face with her hand.
"Let go of my son-in-law!" Ye Zi used her hands hard, wanting to break free of the shackles of the shadow, but she was not good at this, and she was more suitable to be an assistant.
I struggled for a long time, but nothing worked.
"From tonight onwards, he will be my son." Xiao Nuan sneered, stretched out his right hand, and began to untie Xu Bai's belt.
But at this time, Xu Bai suddenly stretched out his hand and pressed Xiao Nuan's right hand.
Xiao Nuan: "??? ”
She raised her head reluctantly and looked at Xu Bai's fiery eyes, not understanding why this happened.
"In other words, you are the mastermind behind the Clay Mansion, and behind you is the Shadow Gate?" Xu Bai's eyes still had a fiery glow, and there were no symptoms that had disappeared, but he was able to remain clear at the moment.
"How could you?" Xiao Nuan's eyes were glazed.
She could see that the heat in Xu Bai's eyes at this moment was not a fake, it proved that he was still drugged by himself, but why was he still able to stay awake after being drugged?
This is not poison, even if Xu Bai has a way to detoxify, it is impossible to get rid of it!
"Probably because I'm more restrained." Xu Bai said with a smile.
Medicine?
Isn't this very similar to some of the medicines in previous lives?
Indeed, after being hit by this drug, he is very uncomfortable now, such as a certain position, which is particularly uncomfortable.
It's like it's going to explode, it's very unbearable, but just because it's unbearable doesn't mean it's unbearable.
Long ago, he had acquired the art of bedding.
After that, it was fused with the Kidney Strengthening Method to become the Kidney Strengthening Technique.
What kind of skill is that?
Fifth-order skills!
Very reluctant!
The Bed Technique, after reaching the full level, is an extremely subtle skill in itself.
In this regard, he has enough control to collect and release, that's what he said.
The initiative, with him, he can restrain if he wants to.
This function, he originally thought that this thing was also an incidental product, but he didn't expect it to have a miraculous effect.
Originally, men were in a weak position in this regard, after all, there was no bad field.
But Xu Bai is different, the initiative is completely with him.
Of course, he wasn't unprepared, he didn't just happen to be lucky, but he was ready for it.
Even if he was affected, the four-rank puppet next to him was not human, and would not be affected by the aroma in any way.
If he hadn't found out that he could control it, the Sipin puppet would have already made a move and cut off Xiao Nuan's head.
As for why you don't do it, I just want to see who the people behind the scenes are, and now that I know, there is no need for anything to continue.
"Something as bad as you wouldn't even have the slightest interest in me." Xu Bai's surging road.
Xiao Nuan froze directly, and then, she let out a hysterical cry.
"You call me a!"
"yes, what's wrong, don't you want to hear others scold her for being a bad thing?" Xu Bai said with a smile.
"You!" Xiao Nuan was about to take on.
But the next moment, she found a pain in her chest, and when she looked down, she saw that the black knife had pierced her.
"You still want to get out of your current life and pretend to be Ye Zi by my side, it's really a fool's dream." Xu Bai said expressionlessly: "Are you worthy?" ”
"I don't deserve it." Xiao Nuan felt that his chest was numb, and he couldn't help but look up and say, "I really lost this time." ”
She did lose, and she lost completely.
Actually, looking at her layout, there are no major problems.
The first is to kill Tong Fuling's move, plant the blame, and force Xu Bai to a dead end, which is indeed seamless, but the last thing that should not be done is not to use Karakuri.
But there is no way to do it, after all, Xu Bai's black knife is also a clever one, and only in this way can he get through the trick.
However, what Xiao Nuan never expected was that the so-called Karakum, Xu Bai was at the full level.
Second, drugging is also an excellent trick.
Including now, Xu Bai is still in a state of being hit, but he can restrain himself.
is the only way to be restrained, and it just so happens to be a dead end for Xiao Nuan.
One of the steps in this is replaced by another person, and he may have been tricked, and the seeds have already been planted by Xiao Nuan.
That is, Xu Bai can perfectly form restraint.
"You still have a lot of hurdles to break through, I don't believe you can get to the capital alive, I'll wait for you below, and then I'll look for the joy of fish and water with you." Xiao Nuan maintained the last trace of tenderness, and her hands slowly drooped, not blinking.
"Huh!"
Xu Bai put the knife back into the sheath, took two steps back, put his hand on his chest, and breathed a little quickly.
"Search for me, if she has anything of value."
Killing people and searching for corpses is Xu Bai's eternal principle.
And at this time, Ye Zi finally got rid of the shackles, and after hearing Xu Bai's words, he obediently ran to the pile of clothes and searched all over it, but he didn't find anything useful.
She found that Xu Bai's state was wrong at the moment, and hurriedly walked next to Xu Bai and held Xu Bai's arm.
"Lord Xu, I'm here!"
A figure appeared not far away, and Tong Fuling hurried over.
But when he arrived, he only found a naked corpse on the ground.
"Lord Tong, how does it end here, I'll leave it to you, Ye Zi, help me back to the inn." Xu Bai didn't even look at Tong Fuling.
Ye Zi hurriedly agreed, held Xu Bai's arm, and walked in the direction of the inn.
The four-rank puppet followed behind him, gradually moving away.
Only the Tong Mansion Order was left, which was messy with the wind here.
After so many years as an official, I have never encountered such a thing.
Originally, they were ready for a bloody battle, but when they came over, Xu Bai had already done everything, and just came to finish it.
"Lord Xu is really different." Tong Fuling smiled bitterly.
Now he has long lost his unruly momentum in the past, and has become obedient.
The Ascension King beat him, he could think that the other party's status was higher than him, so although he was convinced on the surface, he was still unconvinced in his heart.
But Xu Bai is different, at first, he looked down on Xu Bai, a man from the rivers and lakes, and thought that Xu Bai was just lucky, but now, no matter what aspect he is, Xu Bai crushes him in all directions.
"Perhaps, I was really short-sighted before." Tong Fuling looked at the corpse on the ground and fell into deep thought.
"Lord Xu's slap at the beginning, it was a good blow, it woke me up completely, and from now on, I will change my concept."
He touched his swollen face, said something secretly in his heart, and immediately began to finish.
……
On this side, Tong Fu Ling completely became a tool man, and on the other side, Ye Zi helped Xu Bai to come to the inn quickly.
"Childe, are you alright?" Ye Zi closed the door of the inn, helped Xu Bai to the side of the bed, and couldn't help but reach out and touch Xu Bai's forehead.
Scald!
It burned like fire.
The medicine seemed to only work for men, and Ye Zi didn't feel anything abnormal.
"Go and keep guard outside the door." Xu Bai gave an order to the four-rank puppet.
The four-rank puppet obeyed the order and went outside the door to guard.
"Stay away from me." Xu Bai took a deep breath and said.
This medicine is really good, although he has suppressed it, but if this thing is simply suppressed, it will stay in his body forever.
If you stay on your body, you will be uncomfortable forever, at this moment, Xu Bai is uncomfortable in addition to being conscious, it is really uncomfortable.
Ye Zi instantly understood what Xu Bai meant, and also knew Xu Bai's state at the moment.
She suddenly reached out and grabbed Xu Bai's hand.
"What are you doing?"
Suddenly touched like this, Xu Bai raised his head, and when he saw Ye Zi's natural soft appearance, he couldn't help but think about it.
"Let Ye Zi come." Ye Zi took Xu Bai's hand and put it in his palm.
Xu Bai fell silent.
"Childe, don't worry." Ye Zi looked at Xu Bai with watery eyes, and said softly: "Ye Zi himself is your maid, and he ......"
After a slight pause, he continued.
"And that night, you protected Ye Zi behind you, this is something that no one has ever done, and the sisters who were once sent out by the family have never had such a thing."
"This is Ye Zi's honor, Ye Zi wants to share his worries for his son."
Xu Bai remained silent.
Ye Zi let go of his hand and untied his clothes: "Childe......"
This voice was so soft that it was about to melt, and when Ye Zi said this, he used the ability of the divine soul a little.
At this moment, Xu Bai himself was restrained, and when he heard this voice, he couldn't bear it at all.
The next moment, the curtain next to the bed was drawn......
(One night omitted here)
……
Following.
When the first rays of sunlight shone in from the window, Xu Bai opened his eyes and looked at Ye Zi next to him, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
He's ...... Is it considered to give a long face to the traverser?
In the past, those male protagonists were still complete until the last chapter.
But he ......
The master gave the traverser a long face, this is what the traverser should do, although he didn't take the initiative.
Xu Bai's movements naturally woke Ye Zi up.
Ye Zi opened his eyes in a daze, and then stretched out his white arm, as if he found that his body was relatively empty, and suddenly retracted his hand again, arched into a ball, and looked at Xu Bai with blinking.
"Gong ...... Childe ......"
Xu Bai rubbed his eyebrows, he was ready to swing it.
"Smack!"
The crisp slapping sound sounded, combined with the wonderful morning, coupled with Ye Zi's red face, everything was particularly wonderful.
After a while, Ye Zi was neatly dressed under Xu Bai's gaze.
"I'll help Childe get dressed."
It seems that after getting dressed, Ye Zi's courage was a little bigger, and he hurriedly ran over to help Xu Bai sort out the clothes on his body.
"Last night......" Although Xu Bai planned to start messing around, he still had to say something.
Ye Zi's slender fingers pressed on Xu Bai's mouth and said, "Childe treats me well, I will treat Childe well, this is what I should do, don't say more." ”
Xu Bai held Ye Zi's hand and sighed: "Let's go out to eat." ”
After last night's incident, although he is still a little uncomfortable, but sometimes, it is normal to get used to it.
Ye Zi snorted and opened the door.
Outside the door, the Sipin puppet maintained the same appearance as last night and guarded outside all night.
Several people went out for a meal, and after eating, Xu Bai did not continue to go back to the inn, but took Ye Zi to the mansion.
Yesterday he had already called Tong Fuling to finish, and it should have some results in one night, he planned to go over and take a look today, and if there was no other discovery, he would rush to the next place.
When he arrived, he found Tong Fuling sitting on a chair with a tired face.
"Lord Xu is here?" When Tong Fuling saw Xu Bai coming, he quickly got up to greet him, and he no longer had the arrogance of the past.
Xu Bai didn't think much of Tong Fuling's change, whether the other party changed or not had nothing to do with him, he just wanted to know about the follow-up.
"Master Tong, are there any clues behind?"
"It's gone." Tong Fuling spread his hands, indicating that there were no follow-up clues.
It's really not, he didn't sleep all night, just to find the roots, but there were no follow-up clues to find out.
"In that case, I'll be gone in two days." Xu Bai said.
Tong Fuling was stunned for a moment, and then said, "Isn't Lord Xu staying for two more days?" When I have time, I will take Master Xu to visit the scenery of the clay mansion. ”
Xu Bai shook his head and said, "I'm going to the capital after all, it's inconvenient to stay here longer." ”
He promised the emperor that he would finish it early and feel at ease as soon as possible, of course he had to hurry up.
"Okay, then don't stay longer, Lord Xu will go all the way." Tong Fuling saw that Xu Bai had made up his mind, and did not continue to persuade him.
Xu Bai left the mansion again and returned to the inn.
As for why he stayed for two more days, he found that the enemies he had encountered recently were getting stronger and stronger, and it would be better to have more liver.
The most important thing is that this latest nameless knife scripture has already made a start, and if it is not finished, Xu Bai can't stand it.
After that, Xu Bai returned to the inn, and nothing bizarre happened, and the whole person seemed to become idle.
But it is not that there is nothing to do in the leisure, in addition to eating every day, it is the nameless knife scripture in the hands of the liver.
Of course, there are some special activities added in between, and the night is no longer boring.
There are things that eat the marrow and know the taste, and this sentence is not wrong at all.
In the past, Xu Bai saw some people posting words on the Internet, saying that after a long time, he would get tired of these things.
He would have agreed then, but now, he just thinks those words are purely false.
How can this kind of thing get tired? Even if you are eighty years old, you will not get tired of it.
If you are really tired, there can only be two situations.
First, the appearance is not good, it is just a transaction.
Ye Zi's appearance, then there is no need to say more.
Born with charming bones, it is natural and natural, it is the elite of the elites cultivated by the Ye family, and there is no such thing as getting tired of it.
Second, if the body is not good, of course, you have to use tiredness to find an excuse.
Is Xu Bai's body not good?
Yes!
Not only lined, but strong.
Kidney harvesting is no joke.
Every time he admits defeat, it is Ye Zi.
When both conditions are broken, will you still get tired?
Of course it won't get tired.
Xu Bai just felt that his life seemed to be getting better and better.
"Childe, where are you going next?" Ye Zi pillowed Xu Bai's head on his chest, put a peeled fruit into Xu Bai's mouth, and asked softly.
Next to it, the four-grade puppet mechanically held the book in its hand, acting as a bookshelf.
Luxury, just too extravagant.
He finally understood why the big families wanted so many maids.
It's easy to use, and it's ready to work.
Xu Bai tilted his head sideways, put it in a softer position, and said, "The next stop, you are very familiar with it, is the Wind Chime Mansion." ”
Wind Chimes Mansion?
Ye Zi's right hand paused slightly.
Of course she is very familiar with it, the Ye family is there, she was afraid of being given to Xu Bai that day, so she ran out of the Ye family.
But now...... She felt that she was right to run out that day, otherwise there would be no series of things that followed.
Especially that night, when Xu Bai protected her behind her, she could blow for a lifetime.
How to blow?
Just blow like that.
Now hearing that the next stop is the Wind Chimes Mansion, Ye Zi has a lot of thoughts.
"Since you have already had what happened that night, you are the person next to me, don't worry, they don't dare to do anything to you." Xu Bai's surging road.
Ye Zi snorted and nodded vigorously.
Of course she was relieved, and when she stayed by Xu Bai's side, she had never been at ease.
"By the way, speaking of which, I feel that my strength has increased recently, and I will soon enter the fifth grade." Ye Zi's good-looking eyebrows were raised slightly, and there was a look of doubt on his little face.
I don't know why, but now there are entertainment activities every night, which makes her stronger and stronger.
Xu Bai said mysteriously: "That's not because of me. ”
Ye Zi's face was flushed, he raised his white hand and patted Xu Bai gently.
In fact, Xu Bai was not wrong, the strong kidney collection technique itself continued the effect of the bed technique, and under the feedback, Ye Zi would of course improve.
Xu Bai felt that once the news spread, he would not be captured by some evil woman.
After all, it can enhance its strength and entertain, which is indeed very attractive.
Thinking of this, Xu Bai joked a little more, and after causing Ye Zijiao to be shy, he put away his thoughts and continued to look at the Nameless Sword Sutra.
This is a new one, and it is about to be completed, and when this liver is finished, he only has sixteen nameless sword scriptures left.
At this time, the progress bar was still walking slowly, and as time passed, gradually, the progress bar finally reached its final consummation......