Chapter 165

Xu Zhuangyan now lives in a two-story independent small house, which is very similar to the one she left in the world.

Of course, it is just similar. This house itself has nothing to do with her, but is the product of the thoughts of other trapped souls. But when Xu Zhuangyan found this house, it was empty inside - the soul trapped here had dissipated, and only the thoughts left in the other world still existed for a long time.

Although it exists, it is also empty inside. It can be said that except for the doors, windows and walls, everything is broken and dilapidated. Fortunately, this is not a problem for Xu Zhuangyan.

First, because of her current state, she has no demand for living conditions. Secondly, after she got the rule book from her adopted daughter, there was a secret passage inside and outside the door. On the first day when she figured out how to use the rule book, her adopted daughter couldn't wait to send someone over with bags to deliver supplies to her. Coincidentally,

Xu Zhuangyan also knew the person who was sent. He was an alien root fused from a human and a root. He had once made a deal with the lighthouse. Xu Zhuangyan happened to have come into contact with his separated soul... To be precise, he had come into contact with the two separated souls. Their names were both Landor

, and they lived in a building that looked like a university dormitory. He was handsome and had a nice voice, but his brain didn't work very well. He was a typical person who was clueless and unhappy.

The brainless man would always mention "Mingming" after talking for three sentences, and it seemed that he was his lover; when he was unhappy, he would just nest on the floor, like building a nest, and inexplicably exuded a very annoying temperament.

When she first came into contact with the two souls, she was still wondering which girl was so short-sighted that she dated such a silly lover - until their original bodies appeared in front of her with two snakeskin bags, Xu Zhuangyan couldn't laugh anymore.

... She suddenly didn't want to know who Mingming was that the brainless man kept talking about. She didn't want to think about it at all.

Fortunately, the original body seemed to be smarter than the sliced ​​pieces, and spoke in a relatively organized manner. Every time he came to deliver things, he could always help convey some of the outside situation. Although sometimes when she sees him mention Xu Ming, she still inexplicably wants to beat him up, but...how to put it.

Xu Zhuangyan now has a copy of Xu Ming's rule book. I don't know if it's because she is inside the door, although the copy book she got can be used normally, the communication function of the work badge itself is always sometimes working and sometimes not. Sometimes it takes a long time to see a message, and the handwriting is always unclear...

So, it is always a good thing for her to hear someone talk about the situation of the adopted daughter in person.

Since Xu Zhuangyan got the copy until now, Landor has come about three or four times. It is said that he needs to rest every time he goes out, so the intervals are longer. There were two other times when it wasn't him who came, but a girl wearing a protective mask. She also brought a lot of things. She didn't talk much, but she looked much more reliable.

Fearing that he would attract the attention of the lighthouse, Xu Zhuangyan specifically told them not to come too often. Based on her sleeping frequency, they come to deliver things about once every ten days or so. As for the supplies delivered, most of them were moved to the edge of this world by her, and the rest were stored in this small house for emergency use.

The mattress and pillow she was using to sleep on were all sent in from outside by her adopted daughter. In the living room downstairs, there were even more miscellaneous items piled up. Xu Zhuangyan walked down the dilapidated stairs slowly, checked the closed doors and windows out of habit, and then dragged out a slippery skin from the corner skillfully, and put the things he had selected the day before on it.

The skin was peeled off from the mutated monster. It was an item from outside. Once it leaves the building and is directly exposed to the light of the lighthouse, there is a chance that it will mutate directly. Things with small size and fragile materials are more likely to mutate, and the closer to the lighthouse, the greater the probability of mutation.

Fortunately, Xu Zhuangyan's current location is far from the lighthouse. Even so, for safety reasons, she prepared monster skins early to use as a packing tool.

After finishing packing, he opened the door and went out. Outside the door was another large piece of completely peeled monster skin, swaying as if it was covering something. Xu Zhuangyan pulled off the large piece of skin forcefully, revealing the iron-skinned three-wheeled bicycle hidden underneath.

The three-wheeled bicycle was also specially asked by Xu Ming to smuggle it in from outside. In order to prevent it from being mutated, a lot of monster skin was also pasted on the surface of the car. Despite this, metal cars sometimes still suffer from unexpected corrosion, the paint falls off, rusts, and grows mushrooms or something, but fortunately, it can still be used for now.

After moving all the things onto the back seat of the tricycle, Xu Zhuangyan climbed on the car, skillfully checked the brakes, and then stepped on the car, controlling the body of the car to move slowly forward.

The long and thin nails scratched the front of the car, causing a series of bell sounds, which meant that Xu Zhuangyan's work for the day officially began.

The first item of Xu Zhuangyan's daily work is the distribution and inspection of work badges.

This sounds simple, but it is actually very trivial and difficult. Especially considering the area where she is currently active.

As one of the very few lucky people who can move freely in this world and maintain their self-will for a long time, Xu Zhuangyan has tried her best early on, explored all the places she could reach as much as possible, and distinguished and named them in her own way-

first of all, according to her observation, this is not so much an independent world as a huge dining table.

Everything is to serve the lighthouse. Therefore, the existence dragged in is the food it collects for itself. Different foods may be cooked in different ways, but from the perspective of the lighthouse, their essence may not be different.

Taking the lighthouse as the starting point and radiating outward, Xu Zhuangyan hastily divided the world into five areas according to different external features.

First, it is the location closest to the lighthouse. It is close enough to see the base of the lighthouse. There is no shelter here, and everything will be directly exposed to the light of the lighthouse. If you look directly at the lighthouse at this distance, your soul will be torn apart by the light, but at the same time, this is the only way to climb the lighthouse.

This is also the most dangerous place. Because she cherishes her life, Xu Zhuangyan has never really approached there, and at most she has only looked at it from a distance.

However, it was this one look that made her lose her external eyes.

Therefore, Xu Zhuangyan called this place the "closed eye area."

Going further out of the closed-eye area, there will be more and more strange things on the surface. When a plant with a huge human face appears in front of you, it means that you have reached the second area from the lighthouse to the outside -

Xu Zhuangyan calls this the "Second Ring".

This place is completely chaotic and full of absurdity. Time and space are all completely shattered concepts here. Once you enter, it is unknown whether you can get out smoothly.

The greater possibility is that in the deepening madness, you will regard the light of the lighthouse as the only guide, and just walk deeper and deeper until you reach the lighthouse.

Or you will be caught by the hunting organs extended by the lighthouse, digested bit by bit, and completely become the lighthouse's nutrient.

The good news is that the fragmented soul in moth form is not disturbed by the chaos here. Xu Zhuangyan tried to break in several times before, and was only able to get out with the help of the moth.

Not long ago, her adopted daughter and old friend were dragged into the door and thrown into this place as well. Fortunately, they were not too deep, and the surrounding scenes were not that chaotic. Thanks to the moth's tip-off, she was able to make timely arrangements and lead the people out.

Beyond the second ring is the "third ring". It is also called "the sick street" by Xu Zhuangyan.

It is relatively less chaotic here, but equally absurd, with the main theme of a free mix of human social elements. Most mutants like her will be active in this area. Some still have their sanity, searching for a way out day after day; some are already in a daze, and the only thing they can do is to hunt and sleep by instinct...

No matter which one, without external help, the ending is nothing more than the same - becoming food or a slave, completely losing themselves, and becoming a part of this absurdity.

But if you can endure the infinite absurdity here and find the right path, there is still a glimmer of hope.

Because outside the third ring is the fourth ring, and it is also the only place in the world behind the door that has a shelter. Most of those gathered here are fragments of souls, or dead people who have mistakenly entered.

They are fragile and thin, with nothing but self and thoughts. However, it is these thin memories that outline buildings on this pale land, protecting themselves and passers-by.

Therefore, Xu Zhuangyan often prefers to use another word to call it

"Old City".

This is also a place with a heavier breath of the world, perhaps because those dead people from the world still have the protection of order.

Therefore, this place is relatively the least chaotic, and even retains a considerable part of the laws of physics and chemistry. As far as current practice is concerned, the rule book works better here... Of course, only indoors.

And the best effect is naturally the place farthest from the lighthouse - the edge of this world.

Naturally, this is also the safest place

Just like the watermelon is sweeter in the center and less flavorful towards the edge.

Because the edge of the world is often the place closest to the exit, Xu Zhuangyan took the initiative to give that edge area another code name.

Calling it "exit" directly is too misleading, she prefers to call it - "pier".

And for work considerations, Xu Zhuangyan currently lives not in the safest "pier", but at the junction of "old city" and "second ring road".

In other words, it is dangerous, but not completely dangerous. It is safe, but not that safe.

It makes sense to choose this place. The location of this intersection can be regarded as a sentry post. If a monster wants to pass through here and directly enter the old city to hunt, she can discover it as soon as possible; on the other hand, the monsters entrenched here are more likely to have normal brains.

It will also be more convenient to issue work badges.

As for who gets the work badge, it depends on fate. In the past, when resources were scarce, she could only use those familiar spirits who still had some sanity. Because there were not enough, she had to take turns according to the schedule. Now there is no shortage of work badges. Not only will Xu Ming deliver them on time, but she can also draw them herself... although they are ugly.

Xu Zhuangyan has become more generous.

Riding a tricycle, she walks slowly along the street from the junction into the depths of the old city. If you meet a spirit that looks pleasing to the eye and still has sanity on the road, just give it one!

If it's a spirit that looks pleasing to the eye but is stupid, just give it one!

If you meet a stupid but non-aggressive spirit, take it, take it!

If you encounter an aggressive spirit that has no arms and cannot remove its work badge by itself, just force it in without thinking!

If you encounter an aggressive spirit that has arms, try to remove its arms and force it in!

The chopped-off hands are also useful, so keep them and don't throw them away. Go back and process them, and hang them on the front of the car. They can also be used as bait.

Sometimes I suddenly feel hungry when I see them... It's okay, just control yourself.

Xu Zhuangyan thought silently, and suddenly stopped pedaling.

The next moment, she parked the car under a building, picked up the big bag in the car, and walked inside staggeringly.

This building looks like a teaching building, but when you walk in, you can see a small train passing by slowly. Several children were sitting on the train, shaking their heads. When they saw Xu Zhuangyan coming in, they all looked over and jumped down.

"Auntie, hello." Some of the more well-behaved ones were still awkwardly greeting, while some of the more lively ones jumped on Xu Zhuangyan and pulled her bag out of curiosity.

Xu Zhuangyan's body was now covered with dense thorns, and her insect-like hands were extremely sharp. Seeing this, he quickly pulled her away and waved his sharp fingers threateningly. After several children obediently moved aside, he squatted down, opened the bag, took out several small toys from it, and distributed them to the children.

The toys were all brand new and colorful. It was indescribable to be in such a gray place, and being held in the arms of those empty-eyed children was even more obviously weird.

Xu Zhuangyan didn't feel anything about it. Anyway, no matter how weird she was, she couldn't be weirder. She just told them not to fight slowly as a routine, and checked the badges on the children's chests one by one, and then stood up with relief.

"Auntie!" Just after she stood up, another child next to her called out. He also had a gray face and no eyes, but he looked much more lively and active than the others, and spoke very fluently. "Can I change my card? I want a nice-looking one..."

"No." Xu Zhuangyan said righteously, "Your name has been registered, and it will be confusing if you change it."

"..." The child actually didn't understand what "confusing" meant, but when he saw that she spoke sternly, he instinctively lowered his head and responded muffledly.

The other children seemed to be interested, and pulled her together to surround Xu Zhuangyan, chattering and asking more questions - Xu Zhuangyan looked over with an expressionless face, his expression looked a little stiff, but he was very patient, and answered these children's questions seriously. "

Auntie, what does the 'demolition' on the sign mean?"

"That's called demolition. The whole process is called the Monster Talk Demolition Office, which is the unit that subsidizes these signs to us."

"Auntie, what is funding?"

"It means providing help for free. It's something that only good people would do."

"Auntie, you're a good person too, right?"

"Yeah. I'm super nice."

"But Auntie, I saw you beating a big bug yesterday and strangling it with a rope."

"I didn't strangle it. I was just putting a work badge on it. That's also called funding."

Xu Zhuangyan corrected it seriously.

Actually, it was not a bug, but a wriggling meat tube that was at least five or six meters long.

There was also a huge eyeball inside the meat tube. Xu Zhuangyan was still struggling with what name to write on the other party's work card at that time, but seeing this, he decisively gave up the struggle and directly filled in "throat" in the name column of the work card.

Don't mention it, it's really suitable.

"...But auntie." At this moment, another small voice came out. Xu Zhuangyan looked over and saw the girl who spoke at the beginning pursed her lips hesitantly, and her lips cracked slightly:

"We got the badge too. Why are we brought here, but the bug doesn't need it?"

"..." Xu Zhuangyan paused slightly when he heard it.

After a moment, she exhaled softly.

"Because you are more likely to leave here than it is, I am going to test you now. If you pass, I will send you to a better place, understand me?"

"..." She was responded with deeper confusion.

After a while, one of them said blankly: "Leave... here?

" "Then where to go? On the street?"

...Of course not.

Xu Zhuangyan responded in his heart, and his eyes swept over the equally confused looks of several children, and he couldn't help but sigh.

But it's no wonder they think so.

After all, for them, under normal circumstances, they can't even walk out of this building-in fact, almost all the children here were moved here by her from other places.

Souls without mutations are very fragile, and the area they can move in is also very limited. But Xu Zhuangyan now has a rule book, as long as they wear work badges and are transported according to the rule book.

Based on this convenience, she has made new placements for the spirits who have received work badges as much as possible. Those who are of similar age, or who seem to be more compatible, should be put in the same place as much as possible. In a building - she called it a reconstruction activity.

Firstly, the selected buildings are more reliable, and the survival rate of the spirits hiding inside will be increased; secondly, although the spirits are still trapped in a corner and find it difficult to move freely after leaving the rule book, at least there is someone to talk to around them.

Moreover, whether it is talking to people often or doing more brain-stimulating activities, it is very helpful for people to maintain their sanity. Like herself, she could hardly speak clearly before getting the rule book, but recently, she has been forcibly selling it everywhere in order to issue work badges, and her lips, teeth and thoughts have become much clearer.

While helping these spirits to maintain their sanity as much as possible, she can also continue to observe... Once she is sure that there is no problem, she can quietly Arrange itineraries for these spirits, and quietly send them away while the lighthouse isn't paying attention.

As for the specific process, after some attempts in the past, Xu Zhuangyan is now very experienced. It is of course quick to send people away directly according to the rule book, but it still takes some thought to avoid the lighthouse's attention as much as possible -

as mentioned before, this so-called world is more like a one-person dining table for the lighthouse.

A huge creature like a lighthouse can't actually take care of every corner here. It's like some kind of overly scary wild animal, and the purpose of its actions is to eat, continue and grow itself.

Therefore, in order to obtain the resources it wants, it often shows unexpected cunning in certain places. and powerful, but correspondingly, they tend to not care much about those "foods" that are just obtained by the way.

But this is not a reason for them to steal people directly. What if the action is too big to arouse the other party's vigilance, and then modify the rules to target them, it would be too much of a loss.

Therefore, Xu Zhuangyan is currently taking a relatively roundabout way-

first move a group of people into the same building and observe the reaction of the lighthouse. If there is no reaction, move them to a location farther away from the lighthouse, and then observe again...

just move little by little. Until moving to the dock, the farthest edge from the lighthouse.

Then use the rule book to send people away one by one.

The main point is to be silent.

——It's like a table of food. You can't just take the whole plate away from it, but you can still sneakily take one or two fries from the plate.

Thinking of this, Xu Zhuangyan closed her eyes. There seemed to be a layer of sleepiness in her head, which made her open her eyes.

"No more chatting, I'm leaving first. "Realizing that the time spent on work was almost up, Xu Zhuangyan quickly spoke, tidying up the bag in his hand while speaking, then threw the bag over his shoulder, and walked out on his stilt-like legs.

The children were still reluctant to leave. Someone whispered to Xu Zhuangyan where she was going now. Xu Zhuangyan opened her mouth and wanted to explain, but felt that it was a bit troublesome...

So, after a brief hesitation, she decisively chose the simplest answer.

"I plan to go to the dock to get some fries."

She said seriously, regardless of whether they understood or not.

After that, she walked out the door quickly.