MTL - How to Feed an Abyss!-Chapter 14 "The Martyr"

"Yeah." Shi Yuan nodded cautiously, "I know."

"The watcher is not a good job." Xia Fang said, "The abyss will pollute all living things. People who can be watchers are talented and have very strong resistance. They will be injected with inhibitors every three days. But the abyss The influence of it is subtle, and no one knows whether he has been affected after living next to it for a long time."

Shi Yuan asked: "Isn't it possible to take a blood test?"

"Blood drawing can only check whether you are physically infected," Xia Fang pointed to her head, "but no one can tell the changes here, right?"

"What do you mean?" Shi Yuan said, "Your head will change?"

"..." Xia Fang broke down, "Shi Yuan, I'm talking about thinking! Thinking!"

"Oh." Shi Yuan was a little confused.

Xia Fang took a few deep breaths of cigarettes before calming down, and said: "Among the monitors, a very high proportion of them have mental problems, and many people's thinking has become... different from ordinary people, some are vicious and violent, some are paranoid, and some are mentally ill. It's persecutory delusions, and most of all it's the habit of monsters—like Tracy."

He flicked the orange cigarette butt: "Even the monitors who are normal at the beginning may have new problems as time goes by, as if the abyss is hidden in their heads, becoming a time bomb/bomb , will explode at any time. There is a great hidden danger for such a person to be a commander. Even if he goes wrong once, he can kill countless people. Therefore, those who want to be officers will not become watchers, that is tantamount to self-destructive future .”

Shi Yuan suddenly realized: "But Lu Tinghan is also a watcher."

"Yes." Xia Fang said, "so no one knows what he's thinking. He graduated early from a high-level military academy at the age of 18. His grades are so good that all the grandmothers on the street know his name. Everyone thinks that he wants to show off his ambitions. As a result, he became a watcher, do you think he is crazy?"

Shi Yuan curled up the tip of his tail guiltily, and whispered, "That's a good abyss, it won't infect people."

"What an abyss? What nonsense are you talking about?" Xia Fang sneered, "At that time, everyone was against the admiral. His talent should not be wasted. He should be a commander and blow up those The monster's head. He won't listen, he must go to Abyss No. 0, and he will go there for ten years."

He smoked, exhaling a puff of white smoke into the air, the pungent taste of inferior tobacco.

He continued: "But a genius is a genius, and it deserves an exception for the alliance. When he was in the observation tower, he used the military optical brain to command many battles and won many battles. Later, he rose to the top and became the only one who was a senior commander. monitor."

Shi Yuan heard Lu Tinghan's story for the first time.

He asked: "Then why did Lu Tinghan want to be a watcher?"

"I don't know." Xia Fang said, "Everyone doesn't know. Maybe he is too young, with a brain that can't tell right from wrong—and some young people think that the abyss watcher is very handsome. Anyway, he was He's only 18 years old, and his blood is normal."

He crushed the cigarette **** on the railing, and turned it around a few times: "Cheng Youwen can't understand land generals, that's why. He has seen the watchers go crazy, and he can't accept a watcher as an admiral, commanding those who decide us A battle of fate."

"To put it simply, if someone else makes a mistake, dozens or hundreds of people may be killed; if the timing bomb/bomb of the land general explodes, the consequences will be unimaginable." Xia Fang sighed, "To be honest, I am also right He had a point. We needed his talent and I appreciate what he gave, but I don't understand that choice, nobody understands."

Shi Yuan was a little confused: "Then why..."

"Why do you need him to direct?" Xia Fang said, "Because it can't work without him, it's that simple."

After Shi Yuan returned from the balcony, he was a little dazed.

He never knew what it was to be an abyss watcher.

He has never infected any living things, of course it is impossible to affect Lu Tinghan's mental state, but others don't know.

During those ten years, he was accompanied by joy and joy, but these ten years were an indelible stain, a willful fault that turned into a sharp knife pointed at Lu Tinghan.

He was very sad.

He sent a message to Lu Tinghan: [I changed my mind, you can touch my tail if you don't sleep with me]

Lu Tinghan did not reply as usual.

Shi Yuan knew that he must have seen it.

Shi Yuan was packing his things in the background, and he didn't see Cheng Youwen until after lunch.

Cheng Youwen walked over with a cane, swearing: "What kind of ghosts and snakes are auditioning today! They are so bad, so bad, these brats still want to play 'Savior', this world is destroyed!"

"Calm down," Qin Luoluo comforted him beside him, "There are still a few people the day after tomorrow."

"There's no time!" Cheng Youwen coughed a few times, "The performance will be held in two months, and the actors have not been found yet. It's over."

Wolfgang smiled kindly beside him. He was very taciturn and certainly not good at consoling people.

Shi Yuan knew what characters they were talking about.

He read the script yesterday and knew all the plots.

The play was called "Martyrs." The protagonist, Leo, is a gangster, idle, and after accidentally killing a child in the village, he fled to a remote town in fear of crime.

There is a forest outside the town, no one dares to set foot. One day, Leo drank too much wine in the tavern, boasted that he was a hero who slays demons, and walked into the woods.

There is a dryad in the woods—the one played by Shi Yuan. Leo was so frightened that he sobered up and had no escape. He killed the dryad with his sword and was treated like a hero when he returned to the town. It wasn't until this time that Leo realized that he was such a talented fighter.

He is a vain person, once he is sought after, he wants to have a second time. There are many monsters in this world, just like this, he kept honing his skills and beheading monsters by accident, and he really became a famous person.

No one knows his past, and no one knows his hypocrisy.

He is a hypocrite, a false hero.

In the trials again and again, Leo changed, knowing what sincerity, strength and love are. At the end of the story, he found the legendary savior with scars all over his body.

Rumors say that the savior can fulfill the wishes of believers, and he can also wipe out all monsters and end this nightmare completely.

Leo held his breath and saw the appearance of the savior—

It was a child.

It was the child he killed.

At this moment, Leo's shiny armor couldn't resist the child's calm gaze. It pierced into his heart fiercely, leaving him nowhere to hide and revealing his true colors.

The savior said, I will make the monster disappear, but I want your life.

So Leo died in the golden dawn.

He was a martyr, a true hero.

According to Cheng Youwen's design, the savior is a child.

Children can express that sense of holiness and innocence, but adults always lack a little feeling. But the people who came to the audition were all ugly kids, tall, short, fat, and thin, with two boogers and three yawns, which made him half dead.

"There is no such thing as a good boy in this world." Cheng Youwen was still scolding, "Grandpa, get out of here and do your homework. I will give you ten copies of "Happy Winter Vacation"!"

He was in a terrible mood, and Shi Yuan didn't want to disturb him at this time, but he had to show his new lines.

He curled his tail and stepped forward: "Mr. Cheng, can you listen to my lines?"

"No, absolutely not, I'm still angry!" Cheng Youwen waved his hand.

Shi Yuan: "Mr. Cheng..."

"Don't say it! Don't say it!" Cheng Youwen shouted, "Don't provoke me, I'm afraid my blood pressure will explode, and I want to live for two more years."

Shi Yuan: "I really want to..."

Cheng Youwen picked up his crutches and ran, Qin Luoluo was dumbfounded: "So you can run so fast?!"

Cheng Youwen performed a medical miracle in the corridor, and Shi Yuan was chasing after him when the wind was blowing under his feet: "Mr. Cheng, listen to it! Listen to it!"

"Impossible!" Cheng Youwen shouted, "Don't come here!"

However, Cheng Youwen hadn't exercised for a long time, a crutch was rattling, and his battery life was really bad, so he was still caught up by Shi Yuan.

Cheng Youwen leaned against the wall of the corridor, his eyes were ashes.

Shi Yuan said, "I changed the lines a little bit."

Cheng Youwen: "..." Judging from his expression, he really wanted to die immediately.

Shi Yuan recalled last night, imagining that Lu Tinghan was standing in front of him, approached and said, "Let me infect you."

Cheng Youwen's eyeballs moved, and he looked at Shi Yuan.

Shi Yuan continued: "The world is cruel, and human life is too short. It would be great if I could become a monster. I like you. Let us live forever in the mud and bones."

Cheng Youwen: "..."

"Is it still not enough?" Shi Yuan asked anxiously, "I, I'll go back and practice."

Just as he was about to turn around, his shoulders were grabbed by a pair of iron-like hands.

Cheng Youwen grabbed him, eyes piercing: "Shi Yuan!"

"Hmm." Shi Yuan shivered in fright.

"That's great!" Cheng Youwen's hands were shaking, "This feels good, just act like this, and I'll replace your original lines right away! Immediately!"

Only then did Shi Yuan relax: "That's good."

"Thank you," Cheng Youwen patted him on the shoulder, "My mother is alive."

Shi Yuan:?

Cheng Youwen was overjoyed, his whole body glowed with new vitality, and he happily went back to the office to change the script.

Shi Yuan continued to tidy up the backstage, and Xia Fang gave him a task of counting the props. While registering with a small book, he sorted out the stage props.

The line problem was finally solved, and he was very happy.

By accident, the role he got was also a monster. It would be too embarrassing if he couldn't play well all the time.

Shi Yuan touched the wolf tooth pendant and thought of Xie Qianming again.

He finally kept his promise and really became a member of the troupe. He hoped that Xie Qianming would be happier because of this, even if he knew that the person was dead, he would feel nothing.

Shi Yuan kept counting like this until the sound of hurried footsteps came from upstairs.

Cheng Youwen stumbled down on crutches: "Shi Yuan!"

Shi Yuan was startled again and trembled: "Huh?"

"I've made up my mind!" Cheng Youwen grabbed his shoulder again, with enthusiasm in his eyes.

Shi Yuan: "Huh?"

"You come to play the savior!" Cheng Youwen shook him vigorously, "Just use the feeling you just had, it's perfect! Don't worry about children, you are a well-deserved savior!"

Shi Yuan: "..."

Shi Yuan:? !

…

The Wild Rose Troupe is very poor, there are only 6 core members including Shi Yuan, and it is very common for one person to play multiple roles. For example, Xia Fang, who focuses on acting as passers-by and cannon fodder, appeared four or five times in different identities in "Martyr". Another example is Cheng Youwen, who has to play the role himself. For the rest of the supporting roles, I found part-time actors and played cameos casually.

But Shi Yuan never expected that he would play both a monster and a savior at the same time.

As a monster, he can barely be regarded as his true colors. But what is it to play the savior? Contrary to each other, putting the cart before the horse and being incompatible? If Cheng Youwen knew his true identity, he might not have vomited three liters of blood.

Shi Yuan kept persuading Cheng Youwen, trying to tell him that he was really not suitable to be a savior.

Shi Yuan said, "Look, I have a tail, horns and scales. How can I play such a role?"

"It's not important!" Cheng Youwen waved his hand, "I will solve it with the script!"

Shi Yuan said again: "But, I'm not very smart, and I can't play such a powerful person."

"You have come to perform, and you are better than everyone else." Cheng Youwen patted him on the shoulder, "You are the smartest person in the world, and I will be anxious to anyone who says you are stupid."

Shi Yuan was confused. Cheng Youwen looked at him as if he had discovered that a rotten vase dug out of his own mansion turned out to be a rare treasure after washing, his eyes lit up, he didn't listen to his suggestion at all, and was so happy that he gave him an hourly salary increase of one yuan.

Now Shiyuan can earn 6 yuan an hour, getting rid of the minimum wage.

Xia Fang commented on this: "It would be great if I could get a raise too."

Shi Yuan asked, "You said drinking makes a lot of money, so why don't you drink all day long?"

Xia Fang looked at him in disbelief: "Do you want me to be a plowed field? Who can stand it for a day?" He suddenly realized, "You don't think that the 'drinking' I said is really Just a drink?"

"Isn't it?" Shi Yuan asked, "What else do you want to do besides drinking?"

Xia Fang stayed for a few seconds, and said, "Oh, I won't tell you about this." He seemed to lose interest suddenly, drooped his shoulders, picked up the cardboard box and went to the utility room, "... Shi Yuan, what are you doing?" Remember, money is the best thing in the world."

When Shiyuan got off work that day, he felt dazed for a while.

Logically, he had found his human being, and fulfilled his only promise. He couldn't ask for anything, he couldn't want anything better - and he was really happy about it.

But the price of the abyss watcher and the matter of the savior made him a little confused.

Now he desperately wanted to be patted on the head.

He sent a message to Lu Tinghan: [Are you home yet? Can I come to you now? 】

Lu Tinghan didn't answer - he said yesterday that it's not convenient to reply to messages at work.

Shi Yuan sent another message: [Then I'd better go home first]

When he was about to board the bus, his cell phone rang.

Lu Tinghan: [I am busy today, you are waiting for me at Gangxi Station]

Lu Tinghan: [Find a place to sit and eat something]

Shi Yuan received a transfer of 100 Union Coins.

He struggled to check the traffic route, got on the bus, and grabbed the railing among the crowd. The car was rickety, he did the math, and now he owes Lu Tinghan 300 yuan, and he has to work 50 hours to pay it back.

Forty minutes later, he got off at Gangxi Station.

There are very few people in this area, and most of the houses are abandoned. In the far distance is an important military site, guarded by high walls, iron nets, and capable soldiers. In the air in the opposite direction, hot air is rising, which is the food distribution place.

Shi Yuan got a bowl of hot porridge and sat on the bench at the allocation office. He scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blew it cool, and ate it slowly.

The people around were chatting and laughing in low voices, talking about some topics that Shi Yuan couldn't understand.

Outside the city, at the end of the horizon, the sky is covered with dark purple and aurora green, and the setting sun ignites the clouds with dark gold and blood red. At first glance, it looks like a chaotic curtain, and the colors compete with each other.

It was a very peaceful day, a gorgeous evening.

However, this peace was quickly broken.

Before half of the porridge was drunk, Shi Yuan heard thousands of birds screaming, feathers rubbing, and claws clashing—human ears cannot capture sound waves of this frequency, but the monitoring center’s screen is filled with alarms , a large piece of bright red, which makes people flustered. Three minutes later, the two teams of flying machines pierced the sky like pitch-black strange eagles, chasing the fading sky light.

Shi Yuan continued to drink porridge.

This feeling is very strange, he is surrounded by diners chatting, and in the distance is the terrifying, storm-like noise, the two are so distinct that only he can perceive them at the same time. He seemed to be between two worlds, listening and seeing everything on the dividing line.

Soon a message pops up on the phone:

【Level III Warning

To all residents of Gleaming City: At 18:34 on August 24, 2240, 200 kilometers away from the city, a large-scale migration of infected organisms in poultry and birds was observed. Residents, return home, lock the doors and windows, or go to the nearest shelter.

Gleaner City Monitoring Center]

The whistle sounded in the city, which was much faster and sharper than during the curfew. Everyone scattered and flocked to the nearby underground shelter. The doors and windows were deadlocked, and the curtains were closed without leaving any gaps. In just a few minutes, the excitement ended, and the whole city fell into dead silence. Only Shi Yuan was left on the street. .

Shi Yuan didn't want to leave, he had to wait for Lu Tinghan.

After he finished his porridge, a group of patrolling soldiers came from a distance, so he had to hide in the alley next to them until they were far away.

At the end of the alley was a broken wall, half collapsed, exposing the red bricks. When Shi Yuan sat up, he could just see the setting sun outside the city.

He waited a long time until the sky and the earth darkened and the sun sank.

The birds are still restless, and the Alliance Air Force is still fighting them.

Shi Yuan couldn't help thinking of "The Martyr". Cheng Youwen's creative inspiration came from reality, and there are many monsters in the script. At the end of the script, the monsters disappear, so what about in real life? Will there really be a savior-like figure who can make the conflict between monsters and humans disappear?

The question was too complex for him to know the answer to.

In the sky far away, huge flames exploded, and an armed helicopter fell to the ground like a fireball. The light was shining like another round of sunset.