Underworld

Chapter 18

Chen Xing knew he was doomed.

"完完" means "finished" or "about to die".

Death is inevitable; everyone will face it. Especially in this eerie and terrifying hellish place, sooner or later, everyone will face death.

But he was not willing to give up.

He knew that with his abilities, he should be able to easily kill people like Xiao Dao and Er Gou, and he should be able to fight the boss, or even defeat and kill him. After all, he was a disciple of a famous master, and the skills he practiced were top-notch in the underworld.

—As long as one can master the technique of “one flower, two flowers, three flowers”, or have a real knife in one’s hand, all problems will be solved.

Now he only regretted leaving the knife to Du Liu, and why he hadn't completed his own training sooner. Instead, he naively believed that someone like him, destined to be a member of the underworld, had to conform to societal norms and integrate into the world. Yes, he should have done that from the moment he arrived, but it was all a delusion, a strong delusion. Only now, when he was being misunderstood, did he realize how powerful his delusion had been!

With murderous intent filling the depths of their hearts, Xiao Dao and Er Gou had completely abandoned their boss's earnest teachings. They could hardly think of any reason to stop themselves from taking action against this despicable man in front of them.

—That damned dog, who dared to lay a hand on them a thousand times over! For that reason alone, I have two thousand reasons to chop him into mincemeat and eat him!

"Rest in peace!" Little Knife grinned maliciously. "I'm so hungry I'm practically weak, you're the perfect meal for me!"

"Go to hell!" Er Gou's face was contorted, and his voice left no room for retreat.

As they were talking, they both lifted their feet and stepped down.

Chen Xing wanted to retaliate, but he was powerless. He wanted to dodge, but he was completely incapable. All he could do was glare at the two of them, but that was all he could do.

"Save me!" These were the only two words Chen Xing could think of. But his boss wasn't there. Little Shovel wasn't there. Everyone who could save him was gone.

He turned his head with difficulty. In the stream, Wei Yiyi was still half in the water and half leaning over the bank. Her jade-like back was visible, and her shoulders were twitching slightly, as if she were sobbing. An Yingying's eyes were wide open, her gaze blank, clearly stunned. Huang Zilan opened her mouth wide in shock, as if she wanted to scream, but she seemed to be screaming silently.

Women are truly useless. On the verge of death, Chen Xing suddenly thought this.

But suddenly, a thought popped into his head. It was a thought that could save his life and make him stronger immediately. He didn't know where the strength came from, but just as the two people's feet were about to step on him, he rolled over and avoided the fatal step.

"Wait! Wait a minute!" he called out with difficulty.

"Grandpa can't wait any longer!" Er Gou roared and stomped down again.

"Wait a minute? Oh?" Xiao Dao stretched out his arm to stop him. "Looks like he still has something to say. Let's give him a chance." He looked down at Chen Xing. "Speak!"

“Killers die, you…kill me,…you yourselves won’t get out……” Chen Xing said with difficulty, but looked at Huang Zilan.

"Do you really think we can get out?" Xiao Dao chuckled. "Life and death are determined by fate, wealth and honor by heaven. If we could really get out, we could kill a thousand more and still get out! If we can't get out, even if we save a thousand, we still won't get out!"

Er Gou said impatiently, "Why the hell are you arguing with him? Just kill him first!"

"What are you so busy with?" Xiao Dao asked calmly and unhurriedly. "Getting him is easy, isn't it?"

Chen Xing shook his head with difficulty, "The Meng Po soup that brings back life and gives you hope of survival. You want to cut off your own path to life? So be it..." After saying that, he gasped for breath again.

“That makes sense.” Xiao Dao sneered coldly. “We’re about to cut off our own escape route!” A mocking smile appeared on his face as he slowly squatted down. His thin, knife-like hands were already raised diagonally, ready to kill Chen Xing with a single strike. Yet, he stared at Chen Xing with a cat-and-mouse expression.

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [60]: Chen Xing is still looking at Huang Zilan.

Huang Zilan had a very clear understanding of the current situation.

She could sense that Chen Xing had something to say to her. In Chen Xing's eyes, she saw an indescribable sense of tragic grandeur. This strange expression, for some reason, instilled in her a nameless fear. But just as many people, faced with a sudden and terrifying scene, though already terrified and disoriented, still didn't know to flee but instead approached the horror step by step, at this moment, deep in Huang Zilan's heart, she clearly knew that an indescribable tragic fate was about to befall her. Yet, she still couldn't control herself and stepped onto the ground, towards the three people whose lives were about to be separated.

"No, don't kill anyone," she said.

And they had already set foot on the land, heading towards the three of them.

Xiao Dao and Er Gou were stunned, never expecting that someone would actually come to stop them at this moment.

"What? What did you say?" Er Gou couldn't help but ask.

"No..." Huang Zilan ran a few steps quickly and rushed over. "Please, don't kill him." She said urgently, "The boss said that this place is a very dangerous place. Once someone is killed, it will cause endless dangers and make people exhausted."

"We'll be out of here soon, but if we kill someone again..." Xiao Dao coldly interrupted, "Are you defending him?" He suddenly slapped him across the face, "Get lost!"

Huang Zilan staggered, blood immediately trickling from the corner of her mouth. But she quickly got back to her feet. Before she could speak, Chen Xing roared, "Stop!"

Xiao Dao paused, then slapped Huang Zilan again, knocking her to the ground. "Heh! I'm going to humiliate her, so what?" Er Gou kicked Chen Xing again. "Kid! You've actually shown some backbone, that's rare!" He suddenly turned around and pointed at Huang Zilan, "Get back! If you piss me off, I'll kill you too!"

"Wait!" Chen Xing sat up again. "I...I need to say something to her!"

"Fine! I'll give you a chance to recover your strength, so you can die without any complaints!" Xiao Dao sneered, pulling Er Gou aside.

Huang Zilan sat up in a daze, staring at Chen Xing, unable to imagine what he was going to say next. But his words of "Stop!" had already deeply moved her.

Perhaps, in a life-or-death crisis, the bond between former classmates is still stronger than a chance encounter.

Chen Xing smiled bitterly, "Lanlan, I have to go first. But there's something I must say." Huang Zilan wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, a sudden wave of sorrow washing over her, "Go ahead and say it. I'm listening."

“We two were the first to betray them. Unlike them, who had a perfectly legitimate excuse.” Chen Xing smiled bitterly, pointing to Wei Yiyi and An Yingying. “So, even if we manage to get out of here alive, we will face a tragic fate. Do you understand?”

This is indeed the truth. Huang Zilan nodded sadly. That's how the world is. People often focus on appearances rather than substance. Although those people didn't actually have the opportunity to betray, and although Wei Yiyi and An Yingying also betrayed, her fate was undoubtedly the most unfortunate, simply because her sacrifice and her contribution were unknown and unforgivable.

Tears welled in Chen Xing's eyes as he said emotionally, "You were the first to sacrifice yourself to save everyone. Yet you receive no sympathy. And me? Bearing the stigma of raping Wei Yiyi, I was forced to betray her. I receive even less sympathy." His face suddenly contorted with boundless grief and indignation as he shouted, "But do you even know why I hit her?!"

Huang Zilan paused, then shook her head. "I...no. I don't know."

"I know you won't believe me," Chen Xing said with a bitter smile. "Yes! No one will believe me! Even I myself thought it was me! Until just now!"

He pointed to Wei Yiyi, who was still sobbing, "See that? What a brilliant performance! Who can tell that she wasn't actually crying anymore? — You know, anything can be an illusion or a lie. The way a man and woman make love is beyond question! If I hadn't just..." He thought for a moment, then finally held back, "—I, I'm not even sure I didn't do it!"

"But I know! [The right side of the jade cup is broken] [The emperor is beautiful and distant]?"

"Why?" Huang Zilan looked at Chen Xing, who was almost insane, and unconsciously stood up and walked towards him.

"It's a secret!" Chen Xing's voice lowered. "I can only tell you this!" Tears welled in his eyes, and his expression seemed lost. Huang Zilan suddenly felt very excited. She was so excited that she wanted to cry.

If a person isn't facing a life-or-death situation, some secrets will remain buried in their heart for a lifetime, right? But when facing death, who would one most want to confide their secrets to? She wept blankly, moved, and supported Chen Xing, pulling him into her arms.

A lonely person can only be understood by another lonely person. If it weren't for this life-or-death crisis, if she were still in real life, which of her classmates or friends would consider her a close confidante? Who wouldn't fear and loathe her from the bottom of their heart? Yes, just like A Ding, how is she any better than A Ding, whom almost everyone hates?

“It’s a secret. Yes. Right now, I can only tell you. And I don’t want anyone else to know.” Chen Xing said weakly and in a low voice in my ear, “—Because, while I am indeed very interested in women, I am actually bisexual. More often than not, I am more interested in men than women. Especially in sex!”

Even from such a low whisper, Huang Zilan was stunned. "What?...What did you say?" she repeated incredulously.

"And, in homosexuality, I am a 'woman'! Even if I can have sex with a woman, I must first get or think of a man! -- The Magpie Bridge Fairy replied [61]: Huang Zilan was finally stunned. She could not believe this unbelievable thing no matter what. However, once she thought of all the questions she had before, she could not help but believe it.

"He knows I didn't do it. But it's our secret. He can't defend me! So he made me side with the boss and wait for the right opportunity to act! That way, he can clear my name in a legitimate way later! And I had no choice, no choice at all! Do you understand?"

Though spoken softly, the words struck Huang Zilan like thunderbolts, each one a profound and unsettling blow. Therefore, when Chen Xing whispered in her ear, she didn't even realize the meaning behind his words. "Lanlan, everything I've said is the truth. Because I have no reason to hide anything from someone who has been kind to me and is about to die. Don't you agree?" She also didn't notice that at that moment, Chen Xing's one hand had tightened around her waist, and his other hand was already around her neck.

※※※※※

Wang Mu suddenly turned around.

On the "mountain", Wang Jia was rushing over. Behind him was his boss, who walked slowly and steadily but was no less fast than Wang Jia, and Xiao Chan, who walked with his hands folded, as if he was extremely afraid of the cold.

"Amu! I've finally found you!" Wang Jia shouted happily.

Suddenly, all three stopped and looked to Wang Mu's left. Their eyes were filled with boundless terror, as if they had seen a ghost.

What are they afraid of?

Wang Mu suddenly turned his head. A dozen meters away, on the inner edge of the rock wall, was a cave. In front of the cave stood a naked, handsome, and short-statured stranger. On his wrists, however, were four hands, two jet black and two deathly white.

"die!"

The stranger raised his right wrists, pointing his two index fingers at the leader and the little shovel, and suddenly snorted coldly, "It was you who killed—Rong!"

Disappeared suddenly.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through Wang Mu's clothes, and a chilling sensation immediately enveloped his body.

"Is it...A-Ding?" Someone stammered. Wang Mu suddenly realized that not only the leader and Xiao Chan were afraid, but all nine members of the "Self-Reliance Alliance" in the water were also silent and terrified. Even the skeletal Wang Jia had fear in his eyes.

Wang Jia was actually terrified. He knew that this was the person who was suppressing his martial arts—this "person" named A Ding! He immediately raised his voice and shouted, "Amu! Come up here quickly! I have something to tell you!"

"What is it?" Wang Mu responded, about to step forward, when he was suddenly pulled back. He saw a group of pleading faces, and the one pulling him was Zhu Qian, the most elegant woman in terms of looks, figure, and demeanor. He was stunned. "What?" Zhu Qian said in a trembling voice, "Those two...wanted to kill me..." "Such a thing?" Wang Mu was furious, his righteous indignation erupting. He coldly snorted, "Don't worry, as long as I'm here, they won't touch you!" He shook off Zhu Qian and strode forward. Wang Jia also strode down. When they were about a foot apart, they stopped simultaneously. Wang Jia waved, and the two took a few more steps to the side, distancing themselves slightly. Wang Jia sighed and said, "Amu, survival is within reach. But there's a problem facing us if we want to get out." Wang Mu glared at Wang Jia. "What problem?" Wang Jia said, "To get out, we have to cooperate with the boss and his men. They're tomb raiders, they know tombs like the back of their hand, clearing a path won't be a problem for them. We can be responsible for finding the exit. If we can work together, we can get out. You need to understand, without them, even if we find the exit, we won't be able to get out." Wang Mu frowned and said, "You haven't even been to the exit, how do you know we have to cooperate with them? —Do you know they're cannibals?"

Wang Jia nodded. "Of course I know. But this is the only option we have."

"No other way?" Wang Mu shook his head. "Wait, are you saying they had no other choice but to eat people, or that we had no other choice but to cooperate with them?" Wang Jia said helplessly, "Amu, I know you hate them. But eating people is a last resort here. Human flesh doesn't taste good, who would want to eat human flesh for no reason?" Wang Mu looked at Wang Jia in confusion. "Wang Jia, you've never eaten people, how do you know human flesh doesn't taste good?" Wang Jia waved his hand irritably. "Amu, stop arguing, okay? We're talking about serious matters." Wang Mu shook his head. "Don't say that, who's arguing with you? Whether or not we've eaten people is the most important thing. Look at you, you've only been down from up there for a short time, and you're already acting like they're old buddies. Look at their appearance, what about them looks like decent people?" Wang Jia shouted, "Amu!"

Their voices had become quite loud without them realizing it. After Wang Jia shouted, the two faced off like fighting cocks for a moment before Wang Mu softened first, "Alright. You continue."

“I know what you’re thinking,” Wang Jia misunderstood Wang Mu’s meaning, “but don’t worry, we will never be eaten.”

Wang Mu sneered, "Just because we're useful?" Wang Jia nodded in agreement. Wang Mu said, "Evil people are hard to change their nature. Have you considered whether they'll let us go before our escape is a foregone conclusion?" Wang Jia shook his head and said, "There's no need to worry about that."

"No need to worry?" Wang Mu snorted. "In this world, the law is supreme. They eat people to survive; aren't they afraid of being detained and tried after they get out? At that point, it would be strange if they didn't kill each other to cover it up!" Wang Jia suppressed his agitation. "Amu, in the face of survival, no one has the right to criticize. Besides, they're not eating living people, but the dead. So-called laws are just a kind of mandatory moral code that people create when they have nothing better to do. But in the face of a desperate situation, morality can vanish. Right now, we are facing a common predicament. In the face of a common struggle for survival, even animals know not to harm each other, let alone humans?"

"But it is precisely because we are all human that we can be compared to animals over a hundred years." Wang Mu's voice unconsciously rose again. "Even animals can unite in hatred and cooperation because of common danger. But what about humans? Haven't you heard enough stories of taking advantage of others' misfortunes? Don't you know enough stories of secretly harming others for personal gain?"

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [62]: Wang Jiawei said angrily, "Amu, this is not the time for debate. No one can guarantee what the future holds, but we cannot give up the opportunity because of this."

“Alright, we’ll cooperate.” Wang Mu waved his hand to stop Wang Jia’s anger. “But it must be stipulated that we must not harm each other before we are trying to survive. After we get out, who kills whom is none of our business; that will be decided by the law.”

Wang Jia didn't answer. He pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "Amu, you've become much more foolish because of this ridiculous 'justice.' The story of the 'hero' doesn't apply to modern times. Even if it does, even if you really want to do it, you must first remember the saying 'give without expecting anything in return.' Giving without expecting anything in return, yet here you are, relying on a possible favor to try to stop something that can't be stopped. Do you know that doing so will only push you to the edge of danger? People's hearts are unpredictable. You should know that if you insist on certain promises, even if you eventually get them, it may bring about resentment and even hatred."

These words seemed to mock the distracting thoughts that had crossed Wang Mu's mind after he stepped out of the stream. He seemed furious, as if someone had discovered something shameful. "Wang Jia! You don't need to say anything! There is true compassion in the world! Since I chose the profession of upholding justice and maintaining public order from the very beginning, I will always keep it in mind, I will persevere to the end, and I will never change because of changing circumstances. I will do my utmost to fight for the god of justice! There is a saying that a leopard dies leaving its skin, and a man dies leaving his name; dying for justice is heavier than Mount Tai. This is the principle that people should have, at least—this is also my principle!"

He glanced at the nine people in the stream and continued, "Besides, even if I were pushed to the brink of danger because of this, those I've helped wouldn't stand idly by!"

Wang Jia reached out and touched Wang Mu's forehead with concern, asking anxiously, "Amu, do you have a fever?"

Wang Mu was furious. "What? You think I'm talking nonsense?!" But he couldn't help feeling a little regretful—why didn't those people cheer loudly when I finished my speech? He immediately realized that this thought was utterly absurd.

Wang Jia sighed and patiently advised, "Amu, there are many kinds of people. There is a kind of person who is the most selfish and ungrateful, and such people are most likely to be born in complex and dangerous environments. Amu, the narrower the space, the further apart people's hearts become. Why can't you learn to be more realistic?"

Wang Mu asked with a sneer, "Fine, how do you want me to be realistic?"

"Kill to survive!" Wang Jia said sternly, "Amu, the only way to get out of here alive is to force Zhu Qian to commit suicide. Otherwise, there's no way you can live!"

"So, someone really did want to kill Zhu Qian!" Wang Mu's expression turned grave. "Tell me, why did Zhu Qian have to commit suicide for us to have a chance to live?"

"That's because she killed someone. Murder and bloodshed make the tomb ominous. As long as the ominous star remains, the tomb cannot show any auspicious signs. If this continues, even the only chance of survival will be extinguished."

"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

"Amu, please trust me this once!"

"Trust you this once?" Wang Mu shook his head repeatedly, unusually serious. "This concerns human lives, how can you expect me to treat this lightly? Wang Jia, why can't you be like me, with a sense of justice? That way, even if you die, you can die with peace of mind." He stopped angrily, turned his head to leave, but suddenly froze, muttering to himself, "So! You were just using this as a diversionary tactic!" He took a step forward to rush over.

By the stream, the eldest brother and Zhu Qian were already locked in battle.

As he took a step, the eldest brother's exclamation rang out at just the right moment: "—The Tree of Life!"

III. Tree of Life

While Wang Jia and Wang Mu were talking, the eldest brother and Xiao Chan were already sneering as they walked towards the stream, closing in on Zhu Qian and the others.