Chapter 248: Is This Really Right?

Gou’er recounted what had happened.

Back then, he hadn’t eaten anything for three days, so hungry his mind became muddled.

So, he picked up a stone and knocked that person down. He hadn’t expected the man to die just like that. And he did take the bloody Dry Cake.

“I was so scared at that moment…”

Gou’er murmured: “I didn’t mean to… I didn’t think I’d… kill him…”

After hearing this, Chen Changsheng asked: “If that’s the case, you did get the Dry Cake. Why were you starving again?”

Gou’er opened his mouth and said: “Just as I was about to leave, I ran into an old man who was dying of hunger.”

Chen Changsheng stared, stunned. Then Gou’er continued: “I gave that Dry Cake to him to eat.”

He bowed his head, adding: “Truth is, I don’t understand it either. I clearly cared so much about that Dry Cake. But when I saw the old man lying there dying on the ground… I just couldn’t hold back.”

Gou’er gave a self-mocking laugh and went on: “The people watching called me heartless. Then later, they said I was sick. I even think I’m sick myself.”

His gaze remained fixed on the campfire, watching the flames flicker while his own mind was in turmoil.

Chen Changsheng let out a sigh and said: “The human heart is the most complicated thing. It’s like fish washed up stranded on the shore.”

Gou’er blinked, confused. “Fish?”

Chen Changsheng continued: “If it’s a live fish, the first thought for someone who sees it might be to eat it. But if it’s a dead fish, many would feel pity and try to save it.”

“Then they’d toss what seems like a dead fish back into the water. But who’d have thought, that fish might come back to life. In that moment, the person might feel some regret, but then tell themselves, ‘Well, I did a good deed’—using that to comfort themselves.”

Chen Changsheng looked at him. “Whether someone wants to eat the fish or save it, neither is really wrong. It’s just the idea of mercy playing tricks on people’s minds.”

Gou’er listened carefully. He thought for a long time. It seemed like he understood, but also seemed as if he hadn’t grasped it at all.

“This…”

Gou’er blinked. “Is there any connection?”

Chen Changsheng smiled. “Of course there is. Deep down, you knew very well how important that Dry Cake was to you. Even if you accidentally killed someone, you were afraid, but you didn’t regret taking the cake. Yet you turned around and gave it away.”

“Perhaps, for you, in that split second, that impulse toward kindness was more important than your own life or death. But that’s not the act of a wise person.”

Gou’er lowered his head, thinking.

Yes. If he hadn’t been saved here by this very person in front of him today, without that grilled fish, maybe his body would be cold by now.

“I won’t do it again,” Gou’er said.

Chen Changsheng asked him, amused: “Oh, really?”

Hearing this tone, Gou’er added: “An uncle I worked with moving stones told me, only with a heart cold enough, and wise enough, can you live long here. I don’t want to die yet. So I need to be a wise person.”

Chen Changsheng nodded slightly. “Well then, I wish for you to become such a wise person.”

“Thank you.”

Gou’er thanked him, then asked: “Right, I still don’t know your name. You saved my life today. How, how can I repay you?”

Chen Changsheng replied: “Just a little water, one fish. That doesn’t count as saving a life. If you truly want to repay me, just tell I more about that City Platform.”

“About that…”

Gou’er thought back. “I’ve heard others say… every time a City Platform is completed, many, many people die. Probably because it’s too hard to build. I’ll go ask them more. If I learn anything, I’ll run back and tell you.”

Chen Changsheng nodded in agreement. “Sounds good.”

Gou’er tucked the debt of saving his life deep in his heart.

Because he had to work the next day, he didn’t linger here. He went back and lay down to sleep.

Nowadays, besides working every day, he spent his time asking people about the City Platform.

Perhaps because of that day when he killed a man, no one dared to try stealing his Dry Cake anymore. Gou’er no longer had to hide while eating every day or worry about someone grabbing it.

It was actually a good thing.

A few days later, the old man he had saved couldn’t bear the heavy burden and died while working.

Gou’er glanced over at the time, his heart in turmoil again.

He didn’t know when it started, but his thoughts began changing.

Looking at the people beneath the City Platform, exhausted one after another, starving to death, he kept asking himself inside.

Why must it be like this?

If they were given just a little more Dry Cake, just a little less work, maybe so many wouldn’t need to die.

Yet people around him just watched the collapsing bodies with cold indifference, treating it as normal.

Half a month later, after finishing work, Gou’er went again to the forest lake to find that man.

“I found out some things.”

“They say the City Platform is ordered built by a very important adult. The Divine Child chosen by Heaven will also catch that adult’s eye. And a Divine Child can not only avoid calamity, but also becomes very powerful. Later, it seems, they get sent somewhere… no one knows where.”

“Sent somewhere…”

Chen Changsheng stroked his chin. He looked towards the towering City Platform in the distance. He always felt it was a bit eerie, similar to a Wandering Spirit; like a Sacrificial Ceremony for summoning rain.

But if he wanted to truly understand the reason, it seemed he had to see it for himself.

Gou’er nodded. “Yeah. And there’s not just one City Platform. Many of them. Some people here, I hear, came from a different one.”

Chen Changsheng asked: “Anything else?”

Gou’er shook his head. “No. I asked a lot of people, that’s all I found out.”

Chen Changsheng looked at him. “Thank you for the trouble.”

“Not at all, not at all. You saved my life.”

Gou’er felt somewhat embarrassed.

Chen Changsheng purposely grilled a fish for him.

Gou’er didn’t wolf it down like last time. He ate slowly, seemingly lost in thought, a bit distracted.

Chen Changsheng asked: “So distracted… are you facing some troubles?”

Gou’er lifted his head. “There’s something… I can’t figure out.”

“Care to share?” Chen Changsheng prompted.

Gou’er spoke: “The longer you stay, the more you see. Since I started working at the City Platform, just these past days, three batches of workers have already come. Yet… workers haven’t increased. So many have died instead…”

“Most people come here just for a bite to eat. But the work is so back-breaking; eventually they collapse dead, exhausted or starved. Many were dragged here forcibly. Yet the place isn’t guarded. Anyone could leave anytime. But even so, almost no one does.”

“So many seem like their souls are gone. Every day it’s just work, collect Dry Cake, eat, sleep. Their eyes are completely hollow. It’s scary.”

“I don’t get it. Why does it have to be this way?”

“If the world were just a little better, these people wouldn’t need to come here. Or… just give out one more Dry Cake. Maybe then they wouldn’t be living like there’s no hope.”

Gou’er lowered his head. He felt troubled by the way the world was.

“Even they themselves seem to think this is just how it ought to be.”

He suddenly raised his eyes to look straight at Chen Changsheng.

“Is this really right?”