Chapter 247: Dark Clouds At Night, Collapsing Starved by the Lake
Chapter 247: Dark Clouds At Night, Collapsing Starved by the Lake
In this part of Heaven and Earth, there had never been books to read or studies to pursue. Life was harsh, disasters struck often. Monsters brought chaos to the world. Human Dao was shaky.
From the moment they were born, people had only one goal: to survive.
Simply surviving in this world was the hardest thing to do.
Chen Changsheng shook his head. “It’s nothing.”
He changed the subject. “How long have you been here?”
“Ten-odd days.”
Gou’er answered. He had been captured, but truthfully, he had also come willingly. Because without food, not coming probably meant he wouldn’t have lived till now.
Chen Changsheng said, “The labor here is so hard. How can a kid around ten years old hold out?”
Gou’er said, “Can’t hold out? Still must! Don’t eat? Don’t eat? Starve to death! Before, a dozen people came with me. Some got whipped to death. Others had their food robbed and starved. Here, people die every day. New people come in every day too.”
“Most are like me. Homes wrecked by disaster. Nothing to eat. Only option was to come here.”
Chen Changsheng thought this place was far harsher than he’d imagined.
“Like that…”
He then asked, “What exactly are they building?”
Gou’er blinked. “Sir, you…”
Chen Changsheng chuckled. “I said it before. I’m not a sir.”
Suspicious but avoiding further questions, Gou’er answered, “It’s a City Platform.”
“City Platform? Like an Altar?”
“Yes.”
Gou’er replied, “Only when the Divine Altar is finished can the people here hope to be chosen by Heaven. Become a Divine Child. Then you dodge illness, escape disasters. I hear, if Heaven chooses you? After that? You can live in a huge house. Eat lots and lots of Dry Cake, every day.”
“Dry Cake?” Chen Changsheng laughed, shook his head. Then he asked, “You think Dry Cake is the best food?”
“Yeah,” Gou’er nodded. “Dry Cake is good stuff. Half one, fills you up solid.”
Chen Changsheng fell into thought.
This so-called City Platform… seemed a bit strange.
Chosen by Heaven. Divine Child. Dodging calamities. Sounded somewhat unbelievable.
“How long till this City Platform is done?”
“Dunno. Fast? Maybe half a year.”
This City Platform was no small job. Even with thousands taking shifts? It’d take a year to finish.
Chen Changsheng planned to stick around and see. Half a year wasn’t actually too long.
Chen Changsheng said, “In the future, if anything happens? You can find me. From here, walk out three hundred meters. See the first mountain? Go inside. I live by the lake there.”
Gou’er froze. “You’re really not a sir?”
Chen Changsheng stood up, smiling. “Just passing by. Not a sir.”
He waved his hand, then walked away from the spot.
Gou’er watched the simply-dressed figure. Honestly, this was the cleanest person he’d ever seen. Even some important grown-ups weren’t as clean as this one.
Gou’er saw the man walk far off, then turned back himself.
Truthfully, this place wasn’t guarded at all. Coming in, going out? Too easy. But outside? Only endless roads. Some had tried to leave. Ended up just dead on the road, in the end. No food? The road to death.
At night, Gou’er recalled the man he’d met that afternoon. This person always felt different to him.
Probably just because he was too clean.
Back then, Gou’er didn’t realize what awaited him. In a lawless place like this? Simply staying alive was hard.
Later days? Truly turned difficult.
At first, Gou’er managed on half a Dry Cake. But after a few days? He felt dizzy-headed, faint. His whole body much thinner. Sometimes working, he panted and gasped.
Out of strength? Others working nearby noticed him.
One day, getting his Dry Cake? A group surrounded him.
Gou’er shoved the Dry Cake into his mouth.
But immediately? A fist slammed into his belly. The Dry Cake flew from his mouth.
Cake hit the ground. Eyes of several nearby burned red. Lunged for the cake.
“Mine!”
“Get lost! All of you, get lost!”
Six or seven fought wildly. Complete chaos. Shed blood even. Some got on the cake.
“Hahaha! Mine now!”
The winner didn’t care about the blood. Started cramming it into his mouth.
Didn’t expect it? A rock suddenly flew!
“Thud!”
Instantly, blood poured from his head. He dropped.
Gou’er scooped up the Dry Cake. His eyes swept the crowd. His rock-holding hand shook a little.
He immediately grabbed the bloody cake too. Stared at the men eyeing him hungrily. “Anyone comes!! I’ll smash them dead!”
Someone moved, checked the fallen man’s breath.
“He… he’s not breathing…”
Now? Everyone hesitated.
They never thought the kid could be this dangerous. Fear rose. They wavered, backing off.
Brutal glare, Gou’er retreated slowly. Moved away.
The grown-up with the whip nearby? Only watched coldly. This was normal.
But as Gou’er backed away? He tripped.
He steadied himself. Looked down. Saw a skinny old man gasping.
A man starving to death.
…
By a small forest lake stood a bamboo hut.
Chen Changsheng sipped wine. Held a long pole, waiting for fish to bite.
A bonfire crackled nearby. Firewood snapped continuously.
Night now. Sky heavy. Stars and moon faint behind thick clouds.
A thin, small figure staggered to the lake.
Chen Changsheng turned.
Saw Gou’er? Weak. Every step seemed hard.
“You said… could… find you…”
Gou’er’s voice small. Afterwards? Collapsed before Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng stowed the pole. Shook his head and sighed.
…
Chen Changsheng gave him water. Over the fire, roasted two fish.
Crackle, crackle.
Sparks spat from cracking wood.
Gou’er woke an hour later.
Chen Changsheng passed him a roasted fish.
“Eat.”
Gou’er grabbed the fish like a wild beast. His eyes held only the fish. Even chewed, swallowed the tail.
Chen Changsheng ate slowly. Waiting for Gou’er to recover. Then asked, “How starved to this?”
Gou’er smacked his lips after. “Wouldn’t have… but…”
He watched the dancing firelight. Couldn’t quite understand why he’d done it.