Chapter 273 Crimson Mirror
There are no lights in the corridors of the old community, and the dark and damp buildings are filled with debris and covered with thick dust.
The kitten used all four paws to climb the stairs in a clumsy manner.
Xu Zhiyan didn't know which floor the cattery he left was on. After looking around and searching continuously, he couldn't find any information about the floor.
He didn’t know when the wild dog chasing the white cat would come back, so he just hoped he could be faster and faster.
But this building seems to have no end.
He climbed to the seventh floor in one breath and then realized the problem.
No matter how high he went, the scenery around him was almost the same.
Xu Zhiyan kept his composure, and when he stepped into the new floor, he did not continue going upstairs, but turned and walked to the resident's door.
There are four households on the first floor of the old building, two on each side and two in the middle, with stairs opposite.
Unlike other advertisements and other objects that are constantly repeated, Xu Zhiyan discovered that each of these four doors is different. Even if the colors are similar, there are some differences in style.
He looked at it for a while, then turned around and went up another floor.
Still four doors.
But it is different from the four doors seen downstairs.
As if he had thought of something, Xu Zhiyan continued to go upstairs.
In the live broadcast room, the audience did not receive any explanation and was still confused.
【What is Xiao Baiwan looking for? 】
[He should be looking for the door to the cattery. After all, judging from his current appearance, the mirror should still be in the cattery.]
[I've already guessed this, but this door... Shit, he's already climbed almost ten floors and he hasn't reached the end yet!]
[Can you guys above be more perceptive? You are not taking it seriously. Tsk tsk.]
[But what's so good about the residents' door? ]
[It’s different. Every door is different, as if someone really existed.]
[Hey - look at the box that Xiao Baiwan just passed by, the black plastic bag covering it seemed to move! It's a bit scary.]
The strange noises that the audience saw were not noticed by Xu Zhiyan because he was in a hurry to go upstairs.
He kept observing the doors of the residents on each floor.
Finally, after climbing for a while, he finally figured out that the building had eight floors and each of the thirty-two doors was different, which meant that there were actually thirty-two families living here.
But he couldn't find the door to the cattery from the eighth floor.
Staying on the eighth floor, Xu Zhiyan looked at the four tall doors with a somewhat confused expression.
Did he go to the wrong building?
That shouldn't be the case. He was sure that when he entered the corridor, he saw a sign pointing to the cattery, and it was indeed pointing to this narrow old building.
It seems like something has been overlooked.
He sat there motionless, his brain thinking rapidly.
Just then, a slight rustling sound was heard, and the serious-looking little kitten almost jumped up in fright.
"who?"
Xu Zhiyan looked at the cardboard box wrapped in a black plastic bag on the side of the aisle and spoke softly.
As if hearing his shout, the plastic bag on the cardboard box moved again, and then there was a "dong" sound, as if something fell down.
The corridor became quiet again.
After hesitating for a long time and unable to find an idea, Xu Zhiyan walked towards the cardboard box that made the sound.
He was still unsure of what was going on inside, so he walked very slowly, pausing at every step. When he finally reached the box, he first put his head against the side of the box and listened.
There was no sound, and the rustling sound just now seemed like an illusion.
A few minutes passed, during which the palm-sized kitten crawled and jumped around, trying many ways to knock on the moving box, but did not find any danger inside.
Xu Zhiyan finally plucked up the courage, used the leverage to climb onto a box nearby, and tore open the black plastic bag.
When the bag fell to the ground, he froze in place.
The box does not contain monsters.
Inside was a cat, a cat that looked weak and had just died.
There was almost no light source in the corridor except for the windows on the side, but with this faint light, Xu Zhiyan could barely see the condition of the cat in the box.
This is a female cat. Its belly is very round and it probably contains many kittens.
However, the mother cat's body was very thin, as if all the nutrients were used to breed the kittens, leaving nothing for herself. Its fur had faded away, and only the hair on its head could be seen. It must have been a beautiful purebred cat.
The blood flowing from the mother cat's body had completely dried up and turned black. The cause of its death was probably because it was pregnant with too many kittens at once.
There was also an empty syringe lying next to it.
Xu Zhiyan took a glance, quickly turned his head away, and hurriedly covered the bag back.
A strange sadness came over me.
Just like the fear he felt when he saw the dog before, he knew that it was the memory of the kitten that was affecting him.
Blurred images of the cattery flashed through his mind. He did not stop but rummaged through the cardboard boxes and garbage bags in the corridor.
Corpses. Almost all the bags and cartons here are filled with corpses of small animals.
In addition to cats, which accounted for the largest proportion, he also turned over the bodies of several small breed dogs and beautiful birds. The conditions of these bodies were different, which should be related to the time of death.
Some have already rotted and become infested with maggots, while others only have a bit of rotten flesh hanging on their skeletons...
He found the kittens from the same litter as him.
There were eleven cats in the entire litter, which were now physically scattered and then gradually disappeared into a pile of broken bones.
Except for the one that was pushed out by Xu Zhiyan at the beginning, the body of the kitten that died first was a little rotten, but it did not turn into messy broken bones like its other brothers and sisters.
Xu Zhiyan suppressed the nausea in his heart and the images flashing through his mind, and forced himself to continue thinking.
As soon as he entered here, he found that the kitten he possessed was in poor health. He was blind, deaf, and had no sense of smell. He was definitely a sick cat. If the symptoms of suspected fever were probably acquired, then deafness and the like could only be congenital...
Is it a birth defect?
One congenital defect can be considered an accident, but if a litter of more than a dozen cats all have defects, one has to wonder if there is something wrong.
Suddenly, he stopped focusing on the bones and ran back to the rotting body of a cat.
Looking at the insects that were working hard to decompose their limbs, Xu Zhiyan thought of something.
He walked downstairs.
There was no looking back at the cat carcasses.
Xu Zhiyan knew why he couldn't find the door of the cattery, and he also knew where the mirror was hidden.
The experience in the cattery is real, so everything inside looks reasonable; there are 32 different doors, proving that the kitten did see the doors after leaving the cattery; in addition, the most realistic thing is the green belt downstairs...
Countless green belts and residential buildings make up this world.
It is now known that almost all of the kittens in this litter will not live long due to congenital physical defects.
A clear line appeared in Xu Zhiyan's mind.
In order to ensure the appearance of the breed cats and not wanting to spend more money to buy more breed cats, the owner of the unscrupulous cattery allowed the cats in the cattery to mate continuously. At first, all the cats born were of high quality, but later, because the parents of the kittens were from the same litter, there were kittens with genetic diseases.
The litter of cats that Xu Zhiyan was in was unlucky. There was not a single healthy kitten in the entire litter.
Goods of no value.
The final outcome is death.
The entire litter of kittens was probably buried in the green belt downstairs...
This would explain why the short, strange, faceless man was wandering around.
The kitten has never seen any other human beings except the cattery owner.
It was only before it died, when it was put in the box, that it looked through the small hole at a human passing by in the distance. It was the first time it saw what humans outside looked like. Death had blurred its consciousness, and it could not tell how tall humans should be. It only remembered that there was only a tiny human outside the room.
As for what is more pitiful than kittens, it is probably the female cats who have been turned into breeding machines in catteries.
Xu Zhiyan was a little puzzled at first.
In his impression, the cat-raising families he knew usually had two or four cats in a litter. He had seen as many as six. It was rare to see seven or eight cats.
As a result, as soon as he entered the cattery, he met eleven kittens. Including himself, his original mother gave birth to a total of twelve kittens.
At first he was not able to react when he saw the pregnant female cat.
After checking other cartons and bags, he saw more than one dead female cat with a belly as round as a ball, and even a whole litter of more than a dozen newly formed kittens lying in the bag...
Only now, belatedly, did he realize the truth.
I'm afraid it was the owner of a unscrupulous cattery who gave the big cat some kind of injection in order to make the mother cat give birth to more kittens.
In the eyes of these scum, there is no humanity and no conscience. They are really in it for money and can do anything to abandon their bottom line!
…
The eighth floor of the hotel.
Beside the pool of blood, Blood paused as he stared at the mirror.
The pool of blood in front of him began to churn.
Soon, a drop of blood wrapped in a faint halo floated to its side.
"Dead."
The sound of the blood was different from before. It always carried a hint of sarcasm towards the slices. This time, it rarely expressed any emotion and was just stating the facts.
The death of the big white cat was foreseeable and justified.
There were so many dogs that a cat like him could not defeat them even if he had extraordinary abilities. He would end up being torn to pieces by the dogs.
"Why?"
Blood looked at the drop of blood, with doubt in his voice.
However, the drop of blood that had died and turned back to its original state could not give it any response.
"Why don't you convey the pain? Why are you so peaceful?" Blood reached out and touched the round blood bead.
Although it has returned to its original state.
But its clone can also feel pain, and it can make sure that every attack from the dogs falls on the big white cat.
However, unlike the blood beads that were sent to various worlds before, some of them were accidentally discovered and targeted by the system, and when they returned, they always brought various emotions, such as anger and unwillingness.
But this drop of blood, which could be called a 'tragic death', did not show the slightest bit of pain.
It's quiet and satisfying.
This drop of blood seemed to have completed all the missions of its existence in this world and died contentedly.
The blood was never satisfied.
The feeling transmitted from the clone made it feel novel.
"To be fair, I won't take back your memory yet."
It waved.
This drop of blood fell back into the blood pool.
However, in the mirror, Xu Zhiyan encountered trouble.
He went down to the first floor in one breath and immediately looked for the place where the kitten was supposed to be buried.
However, the trees in the green belt were very tall, and he was too small and walked slowly, so he ran around but couldn't find the burial site.
Suddenly, he shook his ears and looked up.
It's a dog barking.
A pack of wild dogs is running towards this place.
Xu Zhiyan suppressed his uneasiness and sped up his search.
However, it was pitch black around, and there was all sorts of garbage in the green belt of the old building. He almost got his foot cut by broken glass.
It wasn't just Xu Zhiyan who was anxious.
The audience in the live broadcast room was also anxious.
【Ahhh what the hell are these dogs? 】
[I think it's because of the difficulty in setting up the system? Otherwise, why are there so many? ]
[This is so weird! Even if it is difficult, this is too damn difficult. Xiao Baiwan is not a human anymore and cannot use props. ]
【Is there anyone who can brighten the screen to look for it?】
[It was adjusted, but the green belt is so big, who knows where Xiao Baiwan is going to look for it? I would find it strange if he didn’t go upstairs! ]
[Although I really want to scold Xiao Baiwan for not going upstairs, I am afraid of being slapped in the face. ]
【The dog is coming! ! 】
[Wait! Do you think Xiao Baiwan has found a trap? ]
In the dim green belt, Xu Zhiyan stumbled and did not look for a flat ground covered with fresh soil, but instead went to find a dug pit.
He didn't care about the wild dogs that were getting closer and closer, and could only use his thin little cat claws to dig the soil.
If this entire world was created by the kitten before his death, then the wild dog in the space is the biggest BOSS in this world. It is endless, will not die, and will not disappear.
What could make a sick little kitten feel more desperate and terrified than facing the Faceless Man?
There is only one answer.
The kitten, who was still alive, was buried in the ground for a short time before being dug out by hungry wild dogs looking for food.
Wild dogs eat everything.
This dog became an indelible and terrifying nightmare in the kitten's spiritual world, and was a more frightening existence than the faceless man.
Xu Zhiyan searched for a long time and finally found a dug pit.
Judging from the traces nearby, it must have been done by a wild dog.
“Woof woof woof!!”
“Woof woof…”
“Woof—woof!”
The barking of wild dogs was getting closer.
Xu Zhiyan didn't dare to look up. He believed in his own judgment. He felt that the mirror belonging to the kitten was right below!
He has to hurry...
Before the wild dogs eat him.
But his claws were indeed not suitable for digging. After digging for a while, his thin and skinny cat claws became sore and astringent.
The side effects of the sick cat's body are still there. Now he inhales droplets when he breathes. He begins to have difficulty breathing, but he dares not stop. He knows this is his last chance.
If you enter a residential building, wild dogs will most likely follow you in.
Even if the wild dogs don't dare to enter, they will wait under the tree like before and will not leave.
Since it's doomed either way, I might as well take a gamble.
“Woof woof!! Woof!”
In the distance, the first dog appeared.
It barked wildly and rushed towards where the kitten was.
Xu Zhiyan, who was digging hard, didn't know that the other party was very close to him. Perhaps even if he knew, he would not put up any resistance.
His impaired sense of smell prevented him from detecting changes in the smell of the air around him.
A strong smell of blood appeared around the pit. They seemed to have life and gradually gathered together, forming the shape of a cat.
On the eighth floor of the hotel, there was no trace of blood beside the blood pool.
A red cat that looked like a burning flame appeared behind Xu Zhiyan.
It seems very satisfied with its fur color.
But then, as if it thought of something, it changed its color again, and soon, a black cat that was completely opposite to the white cat squatted beside the pit.
Hundreds or even thousands of wild dogs were running into the green belt.
However, the leading dog suddenly braked and stopped when it saw the black cat.
But if it stops, the dog behind it will not stop.
After a few breaths, many of the wild dogs in the front row were knocked away by the wild dogs in the back row, and the chaotic dog pack became much quieter.
Just a look.
The wild dogs were so scared that they ran away in panic.
The scene among the wild dogs became extremely chaotic.
The kitten who was digging the hole was getting better and better.
Blood looked down at the kitten who was trying hard to dig downwards, with a complicated expression.
The black cat's front paws were covered with a lot of dirt dug up by the kitten, which looked a bit unsightly, but it felt that it didn't hate the dirt that much.
It feels like it should say something now.
For example, tell Xu Zhiyan to slow down, don't be so anxious, it doesn't matter if he can't dig it out...
But when it glimpsed that the kitten's front paws were trembling and almost unable to move, and were covered with scratches from stones and faint traces of blood, it was unable to speak.
Ever since Xu Zhiyan entered the copy, Blood had been observing this special human being.
The other party is always so at ease when facing slicing; when he is wandering in the copy to make money, he also has a lot of ideas and makes a lot of money with one move; even when faced with the puzzles given by the copy, he can always think of a good solution.
Only this time.
The superposition of out-of-control areas made the human in front of him lose all the advantages that belonged to the player, and he couldn't even get any information.
Why not give up?
The kitten's inner world was occupied by fear. Even if Xu Zhiyan was not sent to the distant utopia, as long as he went downstairs, the kitten would inevitably attract stray dogs.
So this is almost impossible to accomplish.
Even if there is a big white cat...
Thinking of that stupid white cat, Blood's face sank.
It knew that if it wanted to have a closer relationship with Xu Zhiyan in front of it, it could directly absorb the clones belonging to the tour guide and the white cat, and it could successfully obtain a new identity.
But it doesn't want to and won't use it.
As the original body, it possesses stronger willpower and self-control than its clone. It has its own pride, and it disdains to use its clone to gain such benefits.
Including the previous decision to use the appearance of the young master, it was just because I thought it would be more interesting.
Its memory was stolen by a traitor, and it did this just to see how the human in front of it would react. As for using the young master's skin to improve its favorability? It would never do that!
The kitten in front of him who was giving it his all made his blood a little fascinated.
When the soil piled on the black cat's front paws became higher, the entire space began to shake.
Blood suddenly found that his appearance had changed!
Before its cool black fur could be shown off, it turned into scarred, blood-stained white fur. Its left front paw was completely gone, and the wounds on its eyes and ears made it almost impossible for it to see clearly.
What's going on?
It had never encountered a situation where its appearance was changed by someone else before, unless it was the owner of this space... No, the owner of this space?
Xu Zhiyan found the mirror.
The skinny little kitten found the 'door' to this world from the place where it was supposed to die.
Xu Zhiyan was not a fool. As soon as he heard the sound of the dogs disappear, he realized that something must have happened around him.
It must be his big white cat coming back!
This realization made him feel complicated. He was not sure how the big white cat escaped from danger, nor was he sure what the big white cat meant to the little kitten.
But he was sure that the big white cat who could defeat fear in this copy must be the strongest!
A strange sense of confidence came over me.
When the ground began to tremble, the surrounding residential buildings collapsed, and large tracts of green belts burned out, the moment he touched the mirror, he turned from a kitten back into a human.
Kneeling in the pit, Xu Zhiyan grabbed the mirror in front of him, not caring about the dirt on his body, turned around and saw his big white cat.
The big white cat was indeed seriously injured just as he thought.
But the other party is still alive!
This made Xu Zhiyan breathe a sigh of relief.
He didn't care about the confused expression on the white cat's face. He pulled the cat into his arms and buried his face in its long fur that was still mixed with a strong smell of blood.
"You're not dead, that's great."
"I knew you wouldn't die."
After rubbing the still dazed white cat hard, Xu Zhiyan suddenly felt the mirror in his hand getting hot.
He turned around and saw translucent corpses of kittens constantly emerging from the green belt. There were all kinds of cats, of all breeds.
Jiuwei’s panel popped up.
[Congratulations to the player for completing the mission *￥@! ...)) You have rescued the kitten soul trapped in the mirror. ]
[Due to a system bug, there is no player reward for the time being. 】
[But your efforts have not been in vain. The souls of kittens without resentment will soon leave here and enter a new reincarnation, while the souls of cats with little resentment have an 80% chance of going back to hunt and kill their humans.]
[Do you need to stop it? ]
"No."
Xu Zhiyan gave the answer immediately without thinking.
Those blood-sucking cat dealers are just monsters in human skin.
Do not wait for the panel to disappear.
He quickly called out to the system that was about to retreat.
“I want this cat.”
Raising the silly white cat in his hand, Xu Zhiyan's tone was very sincere.
The world is about to collapse.
If the white cat stayed inside, it would surely die.
"I won't pursue your bugs, but you can always give me a cat, right?" he said as a matter of course.
Hearing this, the white cat in his hands began to struggle violently, and seemed very reluctant. But Xu Zhiyan would never let go. He took back his hands and locked the white cat tightly in his arms, then bent down and kissed the cat's head hard.
"obedient."
Two words and a kiss, and the white cat froze.
[Hello, I have enabled the storage function of the cat mirror for you. When you leave, the white cat will be locked inside and fall asleep.]
[Due to special BUG compensation, you can open it in the real world after you leave the instance. ]
The system gave Xu Zhiyan the props almost immediately; it did not say that his application had been given the green light all the way.
Xu Zhiyan breathed a sigh of relief, but when he lowered his head, he saw that the white cat in his arms began to bleed profusely. Before he could do anything, he felt his eyes go dark and he passed out.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself standing on the third floor of the Mirror Museum.
The pointed-faced cat mirror disappears.
A small mirror in the shape of a big white cat silhouette lay quietly in his hand.
"Finally brought it out."
Xu Zhiyan leaned against the door and slowly sat down.
In the blood pool on the eighth floor of the hotel.
The churning blood was almost boiling, and soon, a naked young man walked out of the pool.
The blood is going to die!
It just wanted to rescue that human on a whim, but half of its power was trapped by the abominable system? !
“Crash——”
The mirror beside it stood up and it turned its head to look at itself in the mirror.
I couldn't help but summon a new clone to talk. Now my power is limited by half. I have to change my habit of creating clones at will.
"Why didn't you refuse just now?"
The new clone raised doubts.
When the blood body heard the question, it suddenly paused.
After a long pause, it whispered back, "He, he cast a spell on me. After he kissed my forehead, I couldn't move."
“…”
The clone in the mirror looked at the original body who seemed to be blushing, with a very complicated expression.
If it hadn't just been split apart and hadn't copied the original body's memory, it would have almost believed the original body's lies! But it didn't know if it was the original body's influence, after thinking about it for a while, it felt that the original body was right.
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