Chapter 8, The Crawling City

The old ATM is marked with numerous signs of being struck, along with exaggerated graffiti, while the camera above resembles an eye scanning its surroundings

Contract: Low Level

The subway station is only about 1 kilometer away from the neighborhood where Xiao Xiao's family lives, but it requires passing through a bustling square. Although it is getting late, there are still six or seven students, appearing to be middle schoolers, sitting in small groups on the railings at the edge of the square. They have tied their school uniforms around their waists, some have dyed their hair a striking white, some wear large silver earrings, and others have rolled up their pant legs, revealing a multitude of tattoos.

How can there exist a form of life that exists in the shape of a living city

He waited for two seconds, suddenly seeing the screen on the ATM flickering rapidly as if the power were unstable. Soon, a dark red silhouette intertwined with chaotic lines, reassembling to form a piece of text

to curry favor

Xiao Xiao answered the question calmly, looking at Yang Jia, but there was also a hint of melancholy in his voice: "But how should I live?"

Xiao Xiao and Yang Jia did not look directly into their eyes, slowly walking past them.

Yes

After they had walked a distance, a chorus of laughter and whistling erupted behind them, as if those people were proclaiming their own victory

Just as you see.

The old record player behind the white curtains on the second floor is emitting a hoarse cry, like a tormented soul struggling in hell

At the very least, if understood this way, our hometown still exists, it is just that we cannot return

This city sometimes falls ill, giving rise to certain distorted beings that can easily cause disasters, or is influenced by other mysterious forces, affecting both the city and the 'people' within the city and the books.

Yang Jia seemed to wait seriously for a moment. Seeing that Xiao Xiao did not attempt to shoot him in the head, a smile gradually appeared on his face as he lightly nodded: "It seems you have chosen to live."

It is the kindness of this city towards you

Xiao Xiao felt somewhat absurd for a moment, and really wanted to ask how to treat living among a group of beings that are monsters beneath their human appearances as if nothing had happened

But now, I have finally achieved it, and I can finally step out of my home and walk normally on the streets

Yang Jia seemed to have guessed what he was thinking and softly said: "Of course, our current goal is simply to learn how to survive in a city like this."

After all, as long as one is alive, reasons can always be found gradually

How to survive

Arriving at the dark and deep alley, he looked up and gazed into it

Only after distancing herself from that group of angry and aggressive young people did she slowly take out a cigarette, light it, and gently glance at Xiao Xiao

Xiao Xiao followed her and looked at the ATM in front of them

Yang Jia smiled gently and said, "The gun is still in your hand; whether you choose to kill yourself or keep it for self-defense, that is a path you are free to choose."

... ...

His voice was hoarse as he asked a rather vague question

Some also say that our world has been invaded by these unknown life forms, which have devoured our cities

Points: 30

I have been struggling in fear and pain for four years, barely surviving in a cramped bedroom

At the end of the alley, a butcher dressed in an apron splattered with blood, towering at least 3 meters tall, clutched a chainsaw covered in bits of flesh and blood, fixating intently on the prey hanging from the meat rack

Yang Jia accompanied the seemingly disoriented Xiao Xiao as they walked out of the subway station, quietly staying by his side without attempting to interrupt the turbulent fear and sense of distortion within him

... ...

Name: Xiao Xiao

Yang Jia said with a soft smile: "Malice cannot be measured, but kindness can be quantified"

The three vicious dogs in the neighbor's yard seemed to have ghostly flames flickering in their eyes as they stared at me intently

Yang Jia softly said: "We live in a city that is alive, its will constantly watches over us"

Having endured countless torments and weathered innumerable nightmares, I have honed my focus and compelled myself to think normally under this immense pressure

Thus, he reaped his goodwill, and this goodwill is usually manifested in the form of points

... ...

You just dealt with a rat person in this city... well, in the end, you fired the final shot, so I suppose you can say it was you who resolved it.

This response surprised Xiao Shao somewhat, and it seemed to have undergone careful consideration

Once you get used to it, everything will be fine

Some say that we are drawn into this false and mad world by a powerful, indescribable life, which contains everything familiar from our memories, yet its essence is alive

He even found it somewhat absurd: "We are in a world full of monsters, and even the city we are in is just a monster..."

Age: 21 years

The ATM dispensed a card with a dark red surface, featuring textures and sensations reminiscent of flesh and blood

The mint-flavored cigarette stung, causing Xiao Xiao to cough for a moment, but the numb mind seemed to start turning again as a result

His malice will make it difficult for us to move an inch in this city, where monsters are everywhere, while his kindness can grant us everything

But just as the words were on the tip of his tongue, he suddenly fell silent: did he already know what lay beneath their appearances?

Tomorrow, I will arrange for a more professional person to teach you how to utilize these points to enhance yourself

Xiao Xiao stood in the middle of the alley, allowing the countless cold gazes and strange sensations to intertwine upon him, feeling the palpable fear penetrate his heart, yet he remained silent for a long time

Xiao Xiao does not understand why Yang Jia emphasizes these two theories; in his view, regardless of the reason, it alters this crazy and terrifying fact

You can even pretend that your life has not changed at all

This city is alive

Yang Jia smiled and said, "As long as one has decided to live, then of course one must strive for that goal"

Before these points are completely consumed, you will typically no longer feel the hostility of this city; in this way, everyone you encounter around you will continue to play their roles

She turned her head, looked seriously at Xiao Xiao, and said: "In this city, the only way we can survive is by solving problems for him and healing this city"

But now returning, it feels as if one is about to step into a gigantic mouth

Of course, it cannot be ruled out that suicide is also a choice

To survive

... ... ''

For us, living is no easier than shooting ourselves.

Everything done here at https://www.hetushu.com is solely for the purpose of returning to this world

But I hope you are fully prepared

As she spoke, she had already slightly turned her steps and arrived in front of an old ATM by the street. Looking at Xiao Xiao, she smiled and said, "Moreover, we can still find a way to please 'him', can't we?"

Yang Jiadao: "As living beings, everything we encounter in our daily lives, including those who play various roles, is a part of this city"

Remember this integral, it is the most important thing for us

He merely stood silently in the darkness, not uttering a word, simply existing stubbornly

Xiao Xiao was somewhat surprised and suddenly raised his head: "What is this?"

As for him, he needs our assistance in resolving these issues

He raised the pistol given by Yang Jia and said, "Is this reliable? Can it work?"

The non-smoking Xiao Xiao instinctively reached for the cigarette upon seeing it, but Yang Jia, after lighting it, directly handed the cigarette over and stuffed it into his mouth

Xiao Xiao found it hard to believe as he looked at the tall and uneven buildings of the city, illuminated by lights that resembled the depths of the ocean

This is also the reason why I would not stop you if you just chose to shoot yourself in the head

Yes, survive

What exactly is this

That is another matter

But the world has already been stolen by someone

The youth in this city are filled with anger, and even adults cannot casually meet their gaze; otherwise, it can easily provoke unnecessary conflicts

When he just accompanied Yang Jia out of the alley, he did not have any particular feelings

They shared cigarettes with each other, passing the bottle of wine in their hands. Upon seeing Xiao Xiao and Yang Jia approaching, they all unconsciously stopped their playful banter, turning to look at them with expressionless faces

Even in the absence of any reason to continue living, the desire to persist is our most precious quality

As long as we are willing to exercise his will and help him with his illness, we can receive his goodwill

At this moment, a flame of frustration suddenly surged within Xiao Xiao's heart. Faced with the vast and writhing city before him, he felt an impulse to reclaim his own world...

... ...

This city is filled with monsters, how can we survive

Xiao Xiao was somewhat provoked by these three characters, feeling it was utterly absurd

... ...

Faced with his hesitation to speak, Yang Jia appeared very relaxed. She helped Xiao Xiao by pressing a button on the ATM and said, "Let's go home and get a good night's sleep"

He turned to look at the group of truant middle school students, and saw that they seemed to have surrounded a homeless man, mockingly beating him in a circle, kicking around the snake-skin bag that contained his belongings.

However, it must be said that some things are truly terrifying. Neither you nor I can guarantee that we will be able to survive in the face of these nightmarish monsters in the future

There are those who believe in various claims, each having found their own evidence, but we choose to believe in the former, thus referring to ourselves as outsiders

I truly do not want to die

After a long while, he merely lowered his head and slowly walked towards his bedroom

For certain high-level life forms, it is possible to exist in any form; it is just that we cannot comprehend it

... ...

Xiao Xiao held it in his hand, standing at the entrance of the subway station, watching Yang Jia's figure slowly disappear into the dim light of the street lamps. After a long while, he finally turned around and walked slowly home.