Deep Within the Living-Chapter 28: The Photograph

According to current research, when a Corner of Thought forms, the hypothalamus undergoes the most significant changes, with the pituitary gland at its core acting as the hub for its development. It serves as the origin of all induced transformations:
Capable of receiving the "whispers" from the Corner.
Amplifying an individual's obsessive pursuit of desires.
Providing near-perfect suggestions for deception.
Gradually inducing humans to transform into their most feared "entities."
When an Impersonator is defeated or killed, and its brain structure is destroyed, the pituitary gland loses the support of a complete brain and ceases to function. This allows humans to repurpose the "Cornerized Pituitary Gland" to obtain things beyond the reach of technology. This is one of the primary reasons the world's attention is focused here, driving large-scale immigration. (
[Publicly Available Information - Historical Timeline]
: Censored due to mysterious forces. For those interested, you can check the end of my other books for fragments of the timeline. Additional updates will be provided later to enhance the reading experience.)
"Cornerization of Objects" is the most common and relatively safe method, having the least impact on individuals. In simple terms, it involves combining the extracted pituitary gland with physical objects:
For example, sealing the gland in crystal or metal and embedding it in a ring to create a "ring."
Or grinding the gland into powder and infusing it into special fabrics to make clothing, gloves, or hats.
Once integrated, the object can activate its corresponding "Corner Traits." These traits achieve effects beyond the capabilities of current technology, proving highly effective against Impersonators and Anomaly Events. Such objects are essential for subsequent Corner exploration.
However, caution is always necessary when using these objects. If you hear whispers from the object or sense a foreign intrusion in your body, you must immediately visit the local hospital for a comprehensive examination. These side effects are particularly pronounced in minors and individuals still in their developmental stages, potentially driving a normal teenager into creating a new Corner of Thought within themselves.
This was precisely the class leader's concern.
Currently, the pituitary gland extracted from the zombie-like Impersonator was entry-level due to its low maturity. However, its unique "cancerous transformation" tag indicated that it was highly suitable for integration with external objects, requiring no preprocessing and preserving its essential traits.
The chosen object for integration was a machete, still stained with dark zombie blood and dried cerebral fluid.
Crack!
The glass container holding the zombie’s head was opened by Director Wang, who deftly inserted brain forceps through the nasal cavity. With practiced precision, a dark, oval mass was extracted, dripping with the destroyed brain’s putrid fluid.
Despite the otherwise dull appearance of a pituitary gland, this one emitted an eerie black glow.
At the sight of it, the four young individuals felt a strange sensation, as if being watched from within the [Corner].
Director Wang carefully placed the gland on the machete. Without any additional procedures, the moment the gland touched the blade, it seemed to "recognize" its intended host. Leveraging its "cancerous" properties, the gland began to grow rapidly.
Black neural tendrils spread across the machete's surface, forming intricate patterns that extended over the entire blade. As the network of tendrils expanded, a skin-like structure resembling a zombie's decayed flesh emerged, covering the weapon.
What was once a cold, inert machete now appeared almost alive. The tendrils squirmed, and the gland itself embedded into the junction of the hilt and blade, transforming into a fixed bolt.
The transformation ceased, leaving behind a machete wrapped in zombie flesh and neural pathways.
This was a Cornerized Object.
As the others observed the machete with cautious awe, Luo Di, propping himself up, eagerly reached out. His decisiveness surprised Director Wang, who initially intended to offer him insulated gloves for initial contact. However, seeing the resolve and hunger in Luo Di's eyes, the director withdrew the gloves, allowing direct contact.
Smack!
Luo Di’s hand firmly gripped the hilt. His fingers wrapped tightly around it as Director Wang discreetly started a timer. If Luo Di could withstand a minute without signs of anomalous corrosion, it would confirm his compatibility with the object.
Immediately, waves of Yin Energy emanated from the blade, coating Luo Di's hand. Tendrils of neural matter leapt from the hilt, crawling up his arm.
The invasive process made everyone tense, including Director Wang, who began counting down silently. If the invasion persisted beyond ten seconds without abating, he would forcibly retrieve the object.
10...
9...
...
3...
2...
Just as the final second was about to tick away,
Click.
Luo Di casually clicked his tongue.
As Luo Di's tongue click echoed through the room, the neural tendrils clinging to his hand gradually retracted. His palm returned to its natural, healthy color.
Clang!
A chair toppled over heavily. Anna collapsed to the floor, clutching the class leader's pants leg, seemingly triggered by some form of PTSD.
Luo Di, undistracted, fixed his gaze on the machete in his hand. He experimentally slashed and hacked with it, noticing a peculiar sensation while wielding it—a tactile responsiveness he had never experienced before.
It felt as if the blade could self-regulate, enhancing the precision and power of his swings. The machete felt heavier, more aggressive, and more attuned to his movements.
Luo Di asked the question most on his mind:
"Director Wang, can this thing cut through those intangible Impersonators?"
"It can," Wang replied.
"Perfect!"
Wang cast an approving glance at Luo Di. "It seems you've fully adapted to this object. From now on, you’ll need to come here once a week for compatibility checks over the next six months.
"Also, here's the 'container' for the weapon. When not in use, always keep the object sealed in it to avoid affecting others."
Luo Di noticed that neither Wang nor the staff produced a proper container for the machete. He quickly realized it was the white cloth wrapping previously used to secure the weapon.
Taking a closer sniff, he detected a faint preservative smell emanating from the bandage.
"This?" he asked.
"A treated Shroud Cloth. It effectively suppresses corpse-type Impersonators and neutralizes the pituitary gland's influence when wrapped around the object. If it’s damaged or lost, you can come back here for a replacement, though there might be a small fee."
"I’ll take good care of it," Luo Di replied, wrapping the machete carefully in the shroud cloth and tucking it into his backpack.
Thus, the Jupiter City Research Bureau concluded their compensation for the incident. The four young people departed in succession, planning to celebrate at a restaurant recommended by the class leader. (Anna, however, chose to defer her compensation until after graduation.)
Director Wang remained seated, seemingly deep in thought. Nearby, a young staff member, new to the position, diligently scrubbed residual stains from the tabletop with cleaning fluid. Unable to hold back his curiosity, the staff member spoke:
"Director, it’s my first time seeing a minor successfully handle a Cornerized Object through direct contact."
"Yes," Wang replied. "Do not his information to higher authorities just yet. Otherwise, they might come to the city and take him away, disrupting Luo Di's current situation.
"Of course, my risky decision here will draw criticism. Let’s wait until his condition stabilizes and include the information when he advances to higher education next year."
"Understood."
In a private room of a popular hotpot chain, glasses filled with coconut milk clinked together.
"Cheers!"
"Congratulations to us for completing the practice safely and earning S-tier evaluations across the board! And cheers to Luo Di for being the first in our class to earn his own ‘object’ before even becoming an adult!"
The class leader, shedding her usual ladylike demeanor, was brimming with excitement. Combined with the chili-induced blush on her face, she looked almost tipsy, setting a lively tone for the gathering.
Even Gao Yuxuan, the typically reserved vice leader, seemed taken aback by her animated behavior.
"Wenwen, you just got out of the hospital. Go easy on the spicy food," Anna reminded.
But Wu Wen ignored her, stuffing freshly boiled tripe into her mouth while tugging at her stretchy short-sleeved school uniform, exposing one of her shoulders entirely.
Gao Yuxuan averted his eyes immediately. Meanwhile, Luo Di, who had been fixated on the hotpot, shifted his gaze, his eyes locking onto her.
A white scar running up to her upper chest was clearly visible. The wound had been completely healed with no side effects, likely thanks to some advanced medical technology.
"Relax. They discharged me because all the inflammation was gone. I’m here to enjoy myself tonight," Wu Wen said, her voice muffled as she chewed.
Anna quickly yanked Wu Wen’s shirt back into place, shooting a glare at Luo Di, who had been staring.
"By the way, Anna, didn’t you want to test your strength against Luo Di? Now that we’re all relaxed, I’d love to see which of you is stronger," the class leader teased.
Luo Di, just about to refuse while picking up a quail egg, paused, seemingly reconsidering, and nodded.
"Huh? You’re actually up for it?" Anna was surprised, knowing Luo Di’s usual reluctance to entertain such challenges.
Luo Di put down his chopsticks and planted his right arm on the table, ready.
This action immediately activated Anna's competitive streak. Her expression grew intense, mirroring her focus from when she’d faced zombies.
"This is going to be epic! I’m definitely recording this!" the class leader exclaimed, quickly switching her watch to camera mode and setting it to selfie.
She adjusted the frame to center the arm-wrestling duo while squeezing herself into the corner of the shot, making a peace sign with her fingers. Gao Yuxuan, meanwhile, stayed in the background, cradling a bowl filled with tofu-based foods and watching intently.
Click!
The camera captured the scene just as the two began exerting their strength.
Their palms, still slightly slick from oil, combined with their full-force efforts, exceeded the frictional limit between their hands.
Their grip slipped.
Both arms slammed against the table and into the edge of the hotpot bowl with a loud impact.
The class leader, startled, accidentally pressed the shutter again, capturing the chaos.
Looking at their hotpot-oil-stained uniforms and confirming no one had suffered burns, the room erupted into laughter.
The infectious joy spread outward, pulling even Luo Di into the mirth as he laughed audibly for the first time.