Chapter 97
A short while later, the tattooed man came to the door. Avoiding everyone else, he briefly explained the notice from the Alliance Political Bureau and persuaded Pei Yuheng to abandon the clinic, take the supplies, and go with them to the Alliance Political Bureau to wait for rescue.
After so many days of feigned compliance, the tattooed man seemed to have become a little more sincere because Pei Yuheng was concerned about the casualties of his teammates. He said with a half-smile, "I advise you not to leak this news, and don't expect those people to be grateful for providing them with shelter. In a life-or-death situation, everyone thinks about their own life first. If there is a real chance to escape, who will care about you?"
Pei Yuheng: "Thank you for your kindness, I understand."
When the tattooed man saw that the man hadn't accepted his invitation, he scoffed and left, saying, "You can't reason with a damned devil."
After everyone left, Pei Yuheng looked at the spot where Xie Xubai and the other person were hiding. Xie Xubai appeared and stated bluntly, "He's right, we do need to make plans as soon as possible."
He realized that the tattooed man was testing Pei Yuheng's intentions and didn't intend to leave immediately. After all, the clinic had excellent protective measures and ample supplies, and there was no safer place in the entire South New District.
The rumors that the alliance's political situation was going to save people are just speculation, and there's no certainty yet.
The tattooed man's attitude also represents that of other survivors. Compared to the hope of escaping, most people would choose to abandon the clinic without a second thought.
The key issue is the limited number of rescue slots.
In order to save their own lives, who knows what kind of terrible disputes might erupt.
Xie Xubai had just inquired with player A and learned that Pei Yuheng was much more capable and shrewd in dealing with people, but his kindness remained unchanged and consistent. He accepted all survivors who were not infected with the virus without expecting any benefit from them, which led to a gradual shortage of supplies because too many people were taking advantage of him.
This kind of kindness is easily taken advantage of and exploited, and it is so now, and it will be even worse in the future.
So the first thing Xie Xubai did after returning to the clinic was to drastically reform the conditions for obtaining supplies.
Aside from children who are unable to lift a finger, the sick, the elderly, and the disabled who can receive a fixed amount of food and water, everyone else who wants to access supplies must exchange them for contribution points.
Contribution points are the points awarded for contributions made to the health center, including but not limited to searching for supplies, helping to rescue people, building health centers and strengthening protection, etc.
Previously, Pei Yuheng had also intended to give more rewards and supplies to those who contributed more to the health center, but his plan was not as detailed, reasonable and clear as Xie Xubai's.
As expected, the announcement sparked discontent among many people. The saying goes, "A little kindness is appreciated, but too much kindness breeds resentment." Resources that used to be readily available now require labor to obtain; who would be willing to do that?
Especially when they heard that the person giving the orders was a complete stranger, a young man named Pei Yu? They'd never even heard of him!
Immediately, many people, filled with righteous indignation, complained to Pei Yuheng. However, Pei Yuheng, who was usually easy to talk to and considerate of the people, turned a blind eye to it.
Xie Xubai wanted to reform the rules, and he silently agreed. Xie Xubai wanted to deal with those who bullied others and deducted their contribution points, and he nodded in approval.
Xie Xubai beat the men until their heads were bleeding. After inquiring, he learned that those men had harbored resentment after being punished and had conspired to harm Xie Xubai. His expression immediately changed, becoming so cold and ruthless that it was almost as if ice crystals were falling from his skin. He ordered the men to be thrown out of the clinic, and even though they cried and begged for mercy on their knees, he did not give in.
Seeing this, the others knew that Pei Yuheng and his companion were determined to eradicate the clinic, so they had no choice but to put aside their own thoughts and focus on the construction.
Under such urgent and pressing pressure, the development of the health clinic was twice as fast as before. In less than half a month, even trenches and fortifications were built.
A sturdy protective wall stands prominently, with four 10-meter-high observation towers providing all-around, blind-spot-free surveillance of the surrounding area. Patrol personnel are fully armed, and the cast-iron gate reflects the cold gleam of metal in the sunlight.
Looking at the completely transformed clinic—no, it should be called a small base in the south of the city—everyone felt a sense of accomplishment, but also a moment of disorientation.
They didn't know that the First Hospital, which would later treat tens of thousands of people, would be built on this foundation. They only vaguely sensed that this unassuming little base might shelter many people in the future.
bite.
A cold, impersonal notification sounded.
After participating in the early construction of the First Hospital, I felt I had gained a deeper understanding of it, and I could vaguely sense the establishment and structure of its rules.
Two months have passed in the blink of an eye. Not to mention how difficult it is to resist the invasion of monsters and viruses, the survival days have not progressed at all, and he can't contact his teammates. Player A is anxious and scratching his head all day long.
Xie Xubai then took the time to help him sort out his negative emotions, which made Player A so grateful that he cried: "Boss, you're so kind."
After he left, the little black octopus suddenly opened its eyes.
A pair of indifferent, emotionless eyes, seemingly unmoved by anything, glanced casually at the lingering golden light before closing again.
However, it was unable to take a nap as it had hoped.
A wisp of golden light gently wrapped around its tentacle, radiant, warm, bright, and comforting. Unwittingly, the tentacle coiled back, gripping the golden light tightly.
A young man's soft laughter came from above: "Lazybones, finally willing to move?"
The little black octopus slowly raised its eyes and saw the young man's bright, star-like eyes looking at it with a smile from behind his transparent lenses.
The past Yan Shuo is very different from the future. He has no raging anger like a volcanic eruption. He is as cold as a deep pool, as if he has no desires, no joys or sorrows. He is as sullen as a gourd with a sawed mouth. So far, he has not said a word.
Xie Xubai didn't care that it didn't respond. After working non-stop for so many days, even though he had strong mental strength, he couldn't hide his fatigue. He took off his gold-rimmed glasses and massaged his sore brow.
Suddenly, a burst of laughter came from outside the window; upon closer listening, it was several children chasing and playing.
Xie Xubai had met the people in this base once when he was compiling the personnel list, and he also remembered these few children.
They were rescued by Pei Yuheng when he came out to look for someone. It was both a blessing and a misfortune that their parents did not accidentally enter another dimension.
When Pei Yuheng first saw them, several children were huddled in a dimly lit apartment building without water or electricity, gnawing on rotten frozen meat, their hands covered in thawed blood.
They hadn't eaten for who knows how long, and were pale and emaciated. They wolfed down their food, and when the flashlight shone on their faces, their first reaction wasn't for someone to come to their rescue, but rather to instinctively dart away. When cornered, they covered their heads and trembled, repeatedly begging for mercy.
It is said that they witnessed someone being dismembered by a monster. After surviving, they dared not go out. Only when they were starving did they shakily climb upstairs, find a house with an open window, and climb in to find food.
After being taken to the clinic, the children remained shaken and couldn't speak properly for a long time. Now, they've gained some weight, their faces are much rosier, and they seem to have finally realized they are safe. Having escaped the shadows, their eyes are bright and filled with the joy of surviving a close call.
As Xie Xubai watched, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, a genuine and gentle smile spreading across his face. In the little black octopus's view, the whole world seemed to brighten a little.
Then Xie Xubai discovered that he couldn't put his glasses back on.
Without him noticing, the little black octopus floated in front of him, one tentacle gripping golden light, and the other pressing against his glasses.
Those scarlet bloodshot eyes stared intently at him, like ripples spreading across a calm sea, focused, deep, and intensely possessive, making the person being gazed upon feel uneasy.
Xie Xubai's heart skipped a beat, but having spent so much time with Yan Shuo, he had figured out the octopus's logic and immediately smiled: "If you don't let me wear my glasses, I won't be able to see you clearly."
He is not nearsighted; his glasses are non-prescription with no prescription. It's obviously a lie to say he can't see anything clearly.
The little black octopus slowly released its tentacles, and the glasses fell back into place with a thud.
The clear eyes, like the setting sun sinking below the horizon, fall behind the lenses, as if something is hidden, revealing a unique charm.
The little black octopus tilted its head silently.
Xie Xubai thought that he was probably bewitched by this natural appearance, which is why he subconsciously squatted down and reached out his hand to the other person.
An immobile octopus has almost no presence, more than air, and can be ignored.
However, that night, when Xie Xubai was sleeping, he suddenly felt a wet coolness on his face. Slippery, thick tentacles caressed his eyebrows and eyes, carefully outlining their contours with their slender tips. They took off his gold-rimmed glasses and put them back on, repeating this more than ten times, as if they were conducting some kind of observation experiment.
Xie Xubai was at his wit's end with the glasses addict, so he simply opened his eyes, turned on the light, and stared at the little black octopus.
The latter showed no awareness of disturbing anyone's sleep. Only when Xie Xubai opened his eyes did he seem slightly satisfied, and his movements gradually slowed down. He held his glasses up for a long time, reluctant to let go of his hand.
It cannot understand where its interests come from.
Perhaps it's because young people have sharp eyes.
But there are so many bright eyes in the world, shaped like jewels, shaped like amber, and beautiful beyond compare, so why is this pair different?
It observed several more times and saw that Xie Xubai remained calm and allowed it to do as it pleased, even raising his head in cooperation. The confusion and vague doubt in its heart finally became clear and emerged.
Why aren't you afraid of me?
Yes.
Its existence has a natural awe-inspiring effect on all things in the world. This awe acts directly on the soul and is unstoppable. Just looking into its eyes for a dozen seconds will cause mental confusion and even a collapse of consciousness.
Even though this was its clone, and it had deliberately concealed its power, no pair of eyes had ever dared to look directly at it so openly and honestly.
No hand dared to openly extend to it and invite it in.
It's like a bored, lonely, and dull audience member being unexpectedly pulled into a colorful screen by the people behind the scenes, experiencing unprecedented joys and sorrows in a moment of surprise.
"It's not that I'm not afraid." Xie Xubai smiled helplessly upon hearing this, and pulled the little black octopus's tentacle onto his wrist, letting it feel the quickening pulse.
The little black octopus casually touched it; human limbs were too fragile, and could be broken with the slightest touch.
Xie Xubai: "However, I am more happy than afraid."
In a completely unfamiliar era, encountering a familiar person, at that moment, Xie Xubai didn't even care about Yan Shuo's appetite for him, and subconsciously curled the corners of his lips at the little black octopus, his chest filled with a long-lost joy.
The little black octopus didn't speak, but just touched Xie Xubai's wrist.
The pulse of youth is subtly calming down.
For it, this seemed to be a very novel experience, so novel that it no longer cared about Xie Xubai's glasses.
Even as the young man fell asleep, it did not loosen its tentacles, its suckers pressed tightly against the blood vessels, quietly listening to that long, faint yet vigorous throbbing.
After an unknown number of days, a dark red crack suddenly appeared in the sky of the Otherworld.
Before the survivors could react, they were caught off guard and suddenly saw a dark mass of people on the street.
The people who suddenly fell into the other world were utterly panicked as they looked at this familiar yet unfamiliar scene.
"Damn! Where am I?"
"Is this the South City New District? Something's not right, why have all the houses collapsed?"
"Everyone, come quick! Blood! There's so much blood here! No, no, no, what is this? A monster! A monster! Aaaaaah!"
The pollution from the underworld spread to the real world even faster than the rescue efforts from the Alliance's political situation.
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