No one has ever thought about why the world is like this, why people live like this, these are "truths" that don't require thinking.
Lian Chuan knew as long as he could remember that this world would collapse and be destroyed one day, and there was nothingness beyond the black mist.
Bugs need to be cleaned up, redundancy needs to be cleared up, illegal births need to be recovered, mutations need to be recovered, travelers need to be destroyed, bats need to be destroyed, and memories need to be reset if you see something you shouldn’t see...
How many people disappeared under his hands, he did not know.
No one knows how many memories are erased.
Nothing needs to be known.
Because that's how hyenas live.
Whether it is the main city, ghost town, or Lost Valley, leaders or civilians, travelers or bats, experimental subjects or aborigines, disappeared bodies, retained consciousness...
That's all.
Everyone, everything, that's it.
No reason needed.
And the collapse began.
Except for the ground under your feet, everything that should be taken for granted, all "that's it", began to collapse together.
Lian Chuan has never been entangled in "who am I", I can be whoever I am, it doesn't matter who I am, I just need to understand that I am me.
But in the more than 20 years of his life, there was not a day when he was not suffering, and there was not a day when he could get rid of fear. He proved that he was irreplaceable with his invincibility. He used pain and fear to stay awake, and all he did was to survive.
He asked why.
Why me, why do I have to live like this.
Why
who arranged all this.
Who holds the revolving lantern.
Who is turning the revolving lantern.
Who decides to turn or stop, start or end.
Lian Chuan felt someone hit his back, and quickly bounced away.
He withdrew his thoughts and looked back.
Ning Gu sat behind him, rubbed his face, looking tired.
"Go back to the shelter?" Lian Chuan asked.
"Crazy uncle," Ning Gu looked at the crazy uncle next to him who lowered his head, "Do you want to stay here?"
"Where do you leave it?" the crazy uncle asked.
"Here," Ning Gu looked around, "is this not Tongwan?"
"It's almost the northern border here." Crazy Uncle said.
"Have you been there? The border." Ning Gu asked.
"I've been there," Crazy Uncle raised his head, "There is nothing, the exit is not at the border, and there is nothing outside the border, it is empty."
"Then do you want to stay here?" Ning Gu asked again.
"I'm going to stay here," said the crazy uncle, his voice lowered little by little, "Stay in this painting, follow the revolving lantern, and turn to the other side to have a look."
Ning Gu half-understood, he actually wanted Uncle Crazy to go back to the shelter with him, but Uncle Crazy told him that he had no such plan, and he didn't try to persuade him again, travelers are free.
"I want to take the nail away," Ning Gu looked at the old ghost again, "What are you going to do with these...travelers?"
"Just put it here," said the old ghost, "no one will hurt them again."
"Head, won't they find this place?" Ning Gu asked, "If they want to use..."
"There are only so many materials here," the old ghost laughed, "How can this be enough for his army?"
Ning Gu looked at him and didn't speak.
"These are not used up, he will not venture into the dense fog to look for them again," the old ghost withdrew his smile, and slowly turned his face to look at him, "The leader is a man of action, decisive, focused, and determined, he will It will definitely be done..."
"He already has an army?" Ning Gu asked.
"You will see," said the old ghost, "you will eventually choose the same path as him."
"No one can help me decide." Ning Gu said.
"You've already made up your mind," said the old ghost.
"Yes," Ning Gu walked to Nail, pulled his arm to carry him on his back, "I've already made up my mind."
"What did you choose?" the old ghost asked.
Ning Gu glanced at him, but didn't speak.
"What did you choose?" Crazy Uncle also asked.
"I want to cut off that hand." Ning Gu walked in the same direction as he carried the nails on his back.
"What hand?" Crazy Uncle was taken aback.
"The hand holding the revolving lantern." Ning Gu said.
After crossing the bridge built by the aborigines and walking for a while, Ning Gu stopped and glanced at Lian Chuan beside him.
"I can't move two people." Lian Chuan said.
"I know," Ning Gu said, "I want to ask you, do you know the way back?"
"You don't know?" Lian Chuan was speechless.
"Not sure," Ning Gu said, "I didn't pay attention to the road when I came here."
"Let's go." Lian Chuan continued walking forward.
"Are there any infected people nearby?" Ning Gu asked, and Uncle Crazy called those aborigines who were infected by the experimental body infected people.
"No," Lian Chuan said, "Now that the old ghost has made the aborigines absolutely avoid contact with them, the number of infected people will only decrease."
"You said, there are so many aborigines and infected people outside the shelter," Ning Gu frowned, "If the regiment leader already has an army, where are they hiding?"
"Underground," Lian Chuan said, "if the aborigines are really people who have adapted to the environment and survived in the previous world, where did they live before? What about houses?"
"Underground?" Ning Gu looked at him.
"The basement has many floors," Lian Chuan said. "There are so many travelers in the shelter, and there is no such a large-scale underground building, right?"
"You mean... the basement belongs to the aborigines?" Ning Gu was a little surprised.
"They used to live underground and left after adapting to the environment... If so," Lian Chuan said, "then there will be more underground banks."
"But where is it?" Ning Gu lifted the nail up. He had never carried a nail before, so he didn't know that the nail was much heavier than it looked.
"There are no or very few aborigines, and the distance from the shelter is not particularly far, but travelers generally don't go there," Lian Chuan said. "It must be safe from being discovered, and it must be able to reach the place where the car comes in the shortest time..."
"Metal cemetery." This was Ning Gu's first reaction, "But Nail and I always went to the metal cemetery and the garbage dump to find things, but we didn't find anything that could go underground, and there was already a crack there. There's an army down there..."
"The group leader made these for the travelers," Lian Chuan said, "he won't waste the materials, those materials are for travelers one by one, they are his companions, aren't they?"
"Say it directly." Ning Gu was a little anxious.
"When the crack came, he went to the material warehouse first, what made him give up the material?" Lian Chuan turned his face and glanced at him, "There are more important things ahead, and he wants to transfer his army , as the basement beneath the metal cemetery may have been breached."
It took Ning Gu a long time to say: "How do you know?"
"Guess." Lian Chuan said.
"Guess you are so sure?" Ning Gu said.
"Because I think I guessed right." Lian Chuan said.
The crack that passes through the middle of the metal cemetery and divides the entire metal cemetery in two is still emitting lightning, just like what I saw before.
There was no way to get close, so he couldn't be sure whether Lian Chuan's guesses were correct, but it was the first time that Ning Gu had doubts about those strange machines in the metal cemetery.
He has always wanted to know what is outside the black mist. A large part of the reason is that these machines that have never been seen before have no origin, except for those thrown from the main city, they can only come from outside the black mist.
Seeing these things now, he suddenly felt that what the old ghost said was indeed true.
These machines belonged to the former aborigines.
When there was more than a hundred meters away from the crazy uncle's hut, Ning Gu saw the head of the group standing in the middle of the road facing the strong wind.
He hesitated for a few seconds, but still walked towards the leader with the nails on his back.
"Where did you go?" asked the captain.
"North." Ning Gu replied.
"Did you go with the old ghost?" the group leader asked again.
"En." Ning Gu responded without mentioning Uncle Crazy.
"Maybe someone can survive after the destruction," the group leader looked at him, "but how much suffering and suffering will it take to change from a person to such an aborigine?"
Ning Gu didn't speak.
"Living is not the only choice," said the group leader. "Living is the last choice. Finding an exit, finding a new world, and allowing as many people as possible to live comfortably are the better choices."
Ning Gu can already understand the thoughts of the leader.
Go to new worlds, take some travelers with you.
Back at Uncle Crazy's hut, Ning Gu put some clothes on the floor and put the nails by the wall.
"The main city is also looking for an exit, right?" He took off the goggles on Nail's face, and stuffed the goggles into his clothes.
"Yeah." Lian Chuan sat on the recliner.
"If there is an exit, it's impossible to bring everyone in the main city, right?" Ning Gu asked, "It's even more impossible to bring travelers and bats."
"No one knows what will happen if there is an exit," Lian Chuan said.
"So the regiment leader needs an army," Ning Gu said, "not only to fight against the main city, but also to fight for a way out in the new world."
"Yes." Lian Chuan said.
Ning Gu didn't speak anymore, he couldn't imagine what would happen if that day really came.
All people want to live, and many people will die to live.
The leader and Li Xiang chose this path.
The old ghost chose another path that he thought could avoid such a fight.
And Lin Fan... Ning Gu felt that he still wanted to find a third way.
"The wind today is stronger than the previous few days." Lian Chuan closed his eyes on the recliner.
"Really?" Ning Gu stood up, walked to the door, and stood in front of the crack.
The wind blowing in from the crack of the door, with black ripples, made him unable to open his eyes.
"The car is coming soon," he said.
"I want to go back to the main city." Lian Chuan said.
Ning Gu turned to look at him: "What are you going back for?"
"Look for the administrator." Lian Chuan said.
"It's impossible for them to let you approach the City Affairs Office," Ning Gu said. "You have no weapons, no uniform, and a limiter around your neck. Even if Lin Fan doesn't activate the black circle, it will be difficult for you to fight against now." The firepower of the main city? My ability is not sure when it will be useful... "
"Don't go to the City Affairs Office," Lian Chuan said, "go to Lost Way Valley."
"Go to the Valley of Lost Path?" Ning Gu was stunned, "How do I find the administrator when I go to the Valley of Lost Path?"
"Poet," Lian Chuan said, "it's impossible for the main city to not monitor Lost Valley, especially Qi Hang's spiritual power is also in Lost Valley."
"You want to contact the administrator through the poet?" Ning Gu walked beside him, "Is it possible?"
"Just let Aunt Chun know that the poet is awake," Lian Chuan said, "she will understand."
"Who is Aunt Chun?" Ning Gu asked.
"Chunsan," Lian Chuan opened his eyes, "The person who raised me is Lei Yu's wife."
"Just like the head of the group, right?" It was the first time Ning Gu heard Lian Chuan talk about his personal affairs.
"Yeah." Lian Chuan nodded.
Ning Gu was suddenly curious. He sat on the armrest of the recliner and looked at Lian Chuan: "Is she treating you well?"
"Very good." Lian Chuan said.
"What about that Lei Yu? How is he treating you? What does he do?" Ning Gu asked again.
"Lei Yu is the captain of the clean-up team," Lian Chuan looked at him, "it's very kind to me."
Ning Gu was surprised: "You were raised by the captain of the cleaning team and his wife?"
"Yes." Lian Chuan responded.
"Then... your training, Betelgeuse's training, your..." Ning Gu looked at him, "Do they know?"
"I know." Lian Chuan said.
Ning Gu was shocked and didn't speak for a long time.
After a while, he leaned forward: "They really treat you well?"
"Within the limits of ability," Lian Chuan said, "everyone has things that must be done, pain that must be endured, and reality that must be accepted."
"There is no reason, the world is just like this, right?" Ning Gu said.
"Well," Lian Chuan looked at him, "It used to be like this."
"What about now?" Ning Gu asked immediately.
"What about you now?" Lian Chuan asked back.
"Have I already said it?" Ning Gu was inexplicably proud.
"Yes, the savior." Lian Chuan said.
"Here," Ning Gu raised his eyebrows, "What's the matter?"
"You are sitting on my hand." Lian Chuan said.
"Huh?" Ning Gu was stunned for a second, then jumped up, and found that Lian Chuan's hand was on the armrest of the recliner, and he was sitting on his hand all the time, he was a little embarrassed, "Why didn't you say that?" ? Did it hit the wound?"
"No." Lian Chuan said.
Ning Gu stood for a while, then sighed: "Do you never chat with people?"
"What are you talking about?" Lian Chuan asked.
"Nonsense." Ning Gu sat on the ground and glanced at Nail, "Nail and I usually go out to play together, looking for gadgets, and find a place to rest and chat when we're tired."
"What are you talking about?" Lian Chuan asked again.
"It's talking nonsense, there's no content," Ning Gu glanced at him, "Come on, don't lie on the chair, you can't talk in this position."
Lian Chuan got up and sat on the ground next to him.
"Lean." Ning Gu leaned against the wall behind him.
Lian Chuan also leaned back.
"Do you miss them?" Ning Gu asked.
"Who?" Lian Chuan asked.
"Chunsan and Lei Yu," Ning Gu said, "When I go to the main city, I will miss the leader and Nail very much."
Lian Chuan didn't speak, he seemed to be thinking, and after a while he said, "I will think about it."
"Did they take you out to play when you were young?" Ning Gu turned his head and looked at him, "When I was young, the leader would take me to play, and he even made me a small car, which was broken by me later. "
"Yes." Lian Chuan said.
Ning Gu waited for a long time, and found that the word Lian Chuan had finished speaking, he sighed: "Is it gone?"
"I can't remember." Lian Chuan said.
Ning Gu suddenly realized that when Lian Chuan was a child, maybe...he didn't want to recall it, and suddenly felt that it was a bit inappropriate for him to talk about this topic.
"That," Ning Gu was a little embarrassed, and didn't know how to change the topic. After all, he was the one who pulled Lian Chuan and had to teach him to chat. After chatting, he realized that Lian Chuan was not suitable for small talk at all, "Why don't you lie back."
"What kind of car?" Lian Chuan asked suddenly.
It took Ning Gu a few seconds to figure out what he was talking about, and quickly gestured: "The three-wheeled one is made of iron bars, and the wheels are also made of iron. You can move forward by digging with your feet on the ground, just run. It's so crazy, I bite my tongue when I speak."
Lian Chuan didn't speak.
Ning Gu was about to ask him if he didn't understand, when Lian Chuan suddenly laughed.
And couldn't stop laughing.
After laughing for a while, Lian Chuan turned to look at him: "The main city also has this kind of toy car, but they can't bite their tongues."
"Hey," Ning Gu looked at him in shock, "Lian Chuan, you look much better when you smile than when you don't."
"I'll look in the mirror and compare when I have time," Lian Chuan said.
Ning Gu laughed: "I have a mirror, I got it from Fan Lu."
"It was stolen." Lian Chuan said.
"Take it!" Ning Gu glared at him, then smiled after thinking about it, "It's all right, I stole it."
The mirror was stuffed somewhere, and Ning Gu rummaged in his small leather pocket for a long time.
"Why don't you use this iron piece..." He was interrupted by a whistle that pierced the sky above the ghost town in the middle of his words.
High-pitched and mellow, there is an ethereal sound in the loneliness that seems to come from a distant place.
"The car is coming!" Ning Gu turned his head suddenly.
But Lian Chuan, who was sitting against the wall, slipped and fell to the ground, and the black circle on his neck seemed to be ignited with a black flame.