Chapter 516
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After the initial astonishment abated, Lin Sanjiu immediately forced herself to calm down. Glancing out, the duoluozhongs looked like green molds that scattered inside the City of Ants. The sky was still shrouded behind the dense layer of fog, appearing white and empty.
"What do you mean? Why Deva would come over here?"
"Because she's the one who picks the warden!" The pregnant woman breathed heavily. It was as if every word that escaped her lips was taking away a bit of her lifeforce, "...There's a connection between the two of them, and she would sense it right away if something happened to the warden…"
Lin Sanjiu exchanged glances with Ji Shanqing, and they frowned in chorus.
"Right away? But it has been a while since we killed the warden," the grand prize mumbled, "How come Deva isn't here yet?"
The pregnant woman was stunned. A vacant expression dawned on her bony face, "She is not here yet? How long has it been?"
"It has been around six to seven minutes," Ji Shanqing nodded resolutely.
"That's weird…" The pregnant woman's brows furrowed in confusion, "...By all account, Deva should be here already… Why isn't she here yet?"
She lowered her head and thought for a while. They did not know what was going on in her mind; they only saw the woman suddenly pull her hair and curl into a ball like a cooked shrimp. She uttered a low guttural growl as if she was extremely disgusted with herself.
Just as Lin Sanjiu felt all at sea of what to do, the pregnant woman raised her head again.
"I—'m fine. I just suddenly remembered the oracle that they always keep on the tip of their tongue… It disgusts me."
"Oracle? What kind of oracle was that?"
The corner of the pregnant woman's lips quivered as she forced a smile on her face, "...The will of God is incomprehensible for the likes of us."
Lin Sanjiu had no idea why but those words sickened her; her stomach churned. She couldn't describe that feeling; she just felt extremely uncomfortable.
"Whatever the reason may be," Lin Sanjiu concluded, "Since that goddamn Deva is not here yet, we should take the opportunity and get out of here."
The pregnant woman shook her head, vigorously, "You guys leave."
"How about you?" Lin Sanjiu looked at the woman, and her face was full of disapproval, "If we're leaving this place, we will be leaving in three. I'm not going to leave you behind. That's my promise."
"Here will be my final resting place. And I know my body very well. I'm afraid I don't have much time left," the pregnant woman rubbed her face before continuing with a pale complexion, "I did not help you to get me out of here. It's just there's something I have to get done before I die."
Gawking, Lin Sanjiu turned wordless.
"Mind telling us what you're going to do?" Ji Shanqing asked as he looked into the deepest part of the cave that was filled with darkness. With some bits of help from the sunlight, he managed to make out a few skinny figures, women and men, old and young, hugging each other and staring fixedly at them; their gazes were filled with horror, and their faces were weary. They couldn't extend their limbs comfortably and adequately as every inch inside the cave was filled with many unfinished idols of Deva.
"Every baby that was born will be collectively sent to a special cave to be nurtured and raised," huffed the pregnant woman. As she was talking, she struggled to pull her heavy body forward, "...I'm going there."
"Why would you want to go there?"
"I want to see." Steps by steps, the pregnant woman walked with an unsteady gait toward the exit. Lin Sanjiu hastily followed behind her and looked around. "Every time I gave birth to a baby, they would immediately take it away from me. I did not have a chance to even look at my own born at all… So I want to take a look. I want to see what kind of thing I have given birth to."
Lin Sanjiu's frown grew deeper, "What could it be?"
Every human here was brought to this world via this method. Why she had to go over there just to take a look?
"I know what's in your mind and I know they look normal…" The pregnant woman explained in a low voice, "But… every gestation took only three months. If I did not get a chance to see with my own eyes and confirm that I have indeed given birth to a human being, I wouldn't be able to find peace even after I died."
However, it seemed that she might not be able to last until then.
The duoluozhong was dead, and the chain in between her ankles had disappeared, but with the breaking strain of her oversized and bulky belly, she could hardly walk at all. Each step she forced herself to take were accompanied by panting and swearing. Her body shook incessantly, and her movements were shaky.
Truth to be told, it was a miracle that the duoluozhongs did not discover her after she had walked for five steps outside.
"Jesus," Lin Sanjiu cursed and spun her head around to peer into the cave. When she saw that no residents ran out from the cave, she strode forward and placed a gentle palm on the pregnant woman's shoulder and said, "Please, just stop walking. It tires me out."
With that, she lifted the pregnant woman to her chest, asking, "Show me the way."
"What are you doing?" The pregnant woman was shocked, "Now is the only chance you have to escape. Once Deva is here—"
"She did not show up after so long. Maybe she doesn't care about the warden at all," Lin Sanjiu said with a fluke mind. "Quick, tell me. Where is that place? We don't have much time left. We have to get out of here before those people go to warn the duoluozhong."
Instantly, the pregnant woman pointed a determined finger above, "There! At the hallway above. It's nearer to the outside, and it'll be easier for you guys to escape if Deva shows up."
At that moment, all of them were at the bottom of the large "bowl." They had to go around the wall of the "bowl" to escape from there. When the roar of the duoluozhong drifted into her ears, Lin Sanjiu knew they had to act immediately and act fast. Hugging the pregnant woman with both her arms, she hollered to Ji Shanqing and stormed up a few poorly built staircases toward the next hallway.
Although the pregnant woman was thin as a rake, the amount of body fluid in her body proved to be no easy task for Lin Sanjiu to carry her around. She seemed to be getting heavier and heavier with each step Lin Sanjiu took. Her water had long broken, but she endured the pain. Lin Sanjiu wondered how much willpower she had amassed to pull that one off, and at the same time marveled at her endurance. Looking at her face that was becoming even paler with every second and her sweat-soaked hair, Lin Sanjiu bit her lower lips and picked up her pace.
After a few seconds, the woman yelled, "Over there. I can see it."
Unlike other caves, the cave they were heading had a spacious and deep entrance. The interior was exceedingly large, at least a dozen times larger than other ordinary residential caves.
"Hiliu, that's my name," the pregnant woman in her embrace mumbled, "Never thought I would have a chance to say that name again before I died."
Lin Sanjiu couldn't say anything. She had seen countless dead people and many who were dying. And Hiliu was right—she didn't have much time left.
"Tell me," after a few seconds, Lin Sanjiu opened her mouth to speak, and her voice was desperate, "...Tell me how to save you."
Moments later, she felt Hiliu shaking her head in her embrace.
"Save your breaths; there's nothing you can do about it. Besides, I have accepted this as my fate, so… yeah," Hiliu's voice was as weak as a thin strand of fiber, which grew fainter, "...If you really want to help, why don't you give me a cigarette?"
Following which, she chuckled, heartfully and weakly, "...I haven't touched a lighter ever since I came to this shithole."
Biting her lips, Lin Sanjiu stopped. She remembered she still had several boxes of cigars and liquor left after spending her time with Qing Jiuliu in the same world. After requesting Mrs. Manas to temporary power up the strength of the [Defense Forcefield], Lin Sanjiu stood as stiff as a post amid the attacks and retrieved a packet of cigarette and a lighter from her card. She then put both of the items gently onto Hiliu's hand.
"Wow, you really have it," putting the cigarette in between her teeth, Hiliu stroke the lighter several times in quick succession. Fire sparks jumped out a few times, but the cigarette did not light up. She smiled at herself disparagingly, putting down the cigarette and held it together with the lighter, "Let's keep moving."
Lin Sanjiu and Ji Shanqing looked at each other. It was just at the moment as their gazes clashed, both of them suddenly recalled that Hiliu could read their minds.
The pale-faced Hiliu closed her eyes slowly. Cold sweat continued to ooze out from her forehead.
When they were nearer to the nursery cave, the duoluozhongs suddenly became agitated. Their attack snowballed and turned more intense. Whenever the [Weather Forecaster] broadcast an incoming attack, there would be another four or five attacks coming along with it and hit them first.
All sorts of strange sounds whistled through the air, and the [Defense Forcefield] was hit several times, blinking incessantly like a broken lamp. Gritting her teeth, Lin Sanjiu rushed into the nursery cave, followed by her grand prize and the [Weather Forecaster].
The light dimmed, and the group could see nothing but only contorted shadows of rocks stretching further into the deeper part of the cave. And as they entered the cave, they were welcomed by an air mixed with milk and stench.
For a cave specially built for nursery purpose, it was surprisingly quiet. The sound of water dripping echoed in the noiseless cavern. Every drop was long, and the echo remained in the air for a long while before fading away. The scream and bellow from outside seemed like another world to them at that moment.
Seizing the opportunity before their pursuers realized that they had entered the cavern, Lin Sanjiu rushed along the narrow passage into its deeper part.
Surrounded by stone walls and rock, they found no firebrand at all inside the human-made cave. Darkness quickly enveloped them once they had walked for a few steps forward, and to their chagrin, they did not stumble upon any light source even after walking in the dark for a while. Lin Sanjiu then took out her [Ability Polishing Agent]. As the silvery light filled the space, all of them froze.
In front of them was a large underground cavity.
In the distance where the silvery light couldn't reach, the back part of the cave had drowned into the darkness. Many wooden baby cribs in all sizes filled every inch of the cavern. As the silvery light made its advance into the cavern, one expressionless face after another appeared from the dark, looking silently at the intruders.
"W—why they are all so quiet?" The grand prize stammered a question. He walked closer and bent over his body to observe one of them.
In front of him was a baby girl around six to seven years old. She laid obediently inside her baby crib that didn't fit her size, and she was too tiny and too skinny for her age. Next to her were more children of different ages; some of them were boys, while others were girls. However, everywhere the grand prize looked, soulless eyes stared back in return, making gooseflesh coat his skin.
As he rushed back to Lin Sanjiu's side, hundreds of small faces followed him and stared at Lin Sanjiu.
"Put me down," Hiliu ordered.
Caught in her hesitation, Lin Sanjiu remained still.
"Put. Me. Down," Hiliu repeated, emphasizing every word she said.
This time, Lin Sanjiu only opened her mouth to speak after a few seconds.
"Actually… You aren't a smoker, right?" Her voice was soft and in a whisper, as if she was now talking to a terrified small animal, "You don't even know how to light a cigarette."
"You have to take a short puff from the unlighted end while holding the cigarette close to the flame so that you can draw flame into the cigarette and light the end," Ji Shanqing added. "We know that from our friend, who is a heavy smoker."
"You just want to check whether or not I have a lighter, am I right?" Lin Sanjiu sighed, "If you just wanted to take a look, why do you need a lighter?"
Hiliu remained silent for a long while. Then, she smiled.
"You already know that since the beginning, don't you?" She said calmly before rolling herself free from Lin Sanjiu's embrace. The latter quickly went forward and picked her up, easing her sitting on the ground, "The kids here, and those human outside, they all are not human beings. They are just breeding machines, tools, laborers of Deva produced through our wombs. Hence their very existence is unforgivable. And I must correct this mistake before I die."
With a snapping sound, the fire that danced in the dark lit up her lower face in red.
"If you don't go now, I'll burn myself first," there was a faint glow of decisive and manic light inside Hiliu's calm eyes. Lin Sanjiu suddenly remembered that she must have this expression during that time she put the blade on her artery, "...I can read minds. I know precisely a person like you would definitely not allow your savior to die because of you."
"But—"
"Don't try to change my mind. They are not a real human. They are a mistake; a horrible mistake. It would be best to erase their existence from the surface of the planet," Hiliu knew exactly what Lin Sanjiu was going to say next. She countered her with her own point of view before Lin Sanjiu could say anything, "Look at them yourself! Have you ever seen children like them?"
Lin Sanjiu turned her eyes and met glances with a toddler.
That toddler had no expression. His two eyes had no light of desire nor displeasure nor joy nor pain, just two swirls of black tunnels that went on forever. She wouldn't move nor make any sound, and what made her even less human was that she did not blink her eyes ever since she locked gaze with Lin Sanjiu.
When Lin Sanjiu shifted her eyes onto another kid, a bright fire burst from her back, and she knew Hiliu had tricked her. She turned her head around, but she was too late. The baby crib nearest to Hiliu was ablaze. The fire was intense, quickly spreading to the crib next to it. Hiliu was climbing toward another cot, and with some effort, she set the cot aflame as well.
"Sis," Ji Shanqing went forward and pressed Lin Sanjiu's arm, "Look."
Amidst the dancing fire, the girl finally moved. Her eyes rolled around sluggishly in the eye sockets. When the fire licked her body, she suddenly dropped to the bed clumsily. However, there was no fear in her eyes, as if she didn't feel any pain at all. When she moved, only then Lin Sanjiu saw her lower torso was slightly bulged.
"Let's go, sis," the grand prize sighed, "Everybody has their own fate, and we can't save them all. We have to go now. Or else, it'll be too late if the duoluozhong bottleneck us inside this fire hole."
Clenching her jaw, Lin Sanjiu darted a glance at Hiliu.
Unbeknownst to them, Hiliu had already lain still on the ground, looking serenely at the fire.
Her hard jawline was a bright red color, and her skin was covered in a layer of trepidation which sparkled against the fire like stars in the sky. When she felt Lin Sanjiu's gaze, she said in a low voice without turning her head, "...My wish has been fulfilled. My moment of death has drawn short, so I won't be seeing you guys leave."
Lin Sanjiu did not reply and merely lowered her head. Then, as if she had finally made up her mind, she grabbed Ji Shanqing and darted toward the exit. As if she had heard something, Hiliu turned her head before collapsing down on the ground. There was a smile on her face.
Her "thank you" was drowned in the crackling of the wood and the raging flame.
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After the initial astonishment abated, Lin Sanjiu immediately forced herself to calm down. Glancing out, the duoluozhongs looked like green molds that scattered inside the City of Ants. The sky was still shrouded behind the dense layer of fog, appearing white and empty.
"What do you mean? Why Deva would come over here?"
"Because she's the one who picks the warden!" The pregnant woman breathed heavily. It was as if every word that escaped her lips was taking away a bit of her lifeforce, "...There's a connection between the two of them, and she would sense it right away if something happened to the warden…"
Lin Sanjiu exchanged glances with Ji Shanqing, and they frowned in chorus.
"Right away? But it has been a while since we killed the warden," the grand prize mumbled, "How come Deva isn't here yet?"
The pregnant woman was stunned. A vacant expression dawned on her bony face, "She is not here yet? How long has it been?"
"It has been around six to seven minutes," Ji Shanqing nodded resolutely.
"That's weird…" The pregnant woman's brows furrowed in confusion, "...By all account, Deva should be here already… Why isn't she here yet?"
She lowered her head and thought for a while. They did not know what was going on in her mind; they only saw the woman suddenly pull her hair and curl into a ball like a cooked shrimp. She uttered a low guttural growl as if she was extremely disgusted with herself.
Just as Lin Sanjiu felt all at sea of what to do, the pregnant woman raised her head again.
"I—'m fine. I just suddenly remembered the oracle that they always keep on the tip of their tongue… It disgusts me."
"Oracle? What kind of oracle was that?"
The corner of the pregnant woman's lips quivered as she forced a smile on her face, "...The will of God is incomprehensible for the likes of us."
Lin Sanjiu had no idea why but those words sickened her; her stomach churned. She couldn't describe that feeling; she just felt extremely uncomfortable.
"Whatever the reason may be," Lin Sanjiu concluded, "Since that goddamn Deva is not here yet, we should take the opportunity and get out of here."
The pregnant woman shook her head, vigorously, "You guys leave."
"How about you?" Lin Sanjiu looked at the woman, and her face was full of disapproval, "If we're leaving this place, we will be leaving in three. I'm not going to leave you behind. That's my promise."
"Here will be my final resting place. And I know my body very well. I'm afraid I don't have much time left," the pregnant woman rubbed her face before continuing with a pale complexion, "I did not help you to get me out of here. It's just there's something I have to get done before I die."
Gawking, Lin Sanjiu turned wordless.
"Mind telling us what you're going to do?" Ji Shanqing asked as he looked into the deepest part of the cave that was filled with darkness. With some bits of help from the sunlight, he managed to make out a few skinny figures, women and men, old and young, hugging each other and staring fixedly at them; their gazes were filled with horror, and their faces were weary. They couldn't extend their limbs comfortably and adequately as every inch inside the cave was filled with many unfinished idols of Deva.
"Every baby that was born will be collectively sent to a special cave to be nurtured and raised," huffed the pregnant woman. As she was talking, she struggled to pull her heavy body forward, "...I'm going there."
"Why would you want to go there?"
"I want to see." Steps by steps, the pregnant woman walked with an unsteady gait toward the exit. Lin Sanjiu hastily followed behind her and looked around. "Every time I gave birth to a baby, they would immediately take it away from me. I did not have a chance to even look at my own born at all… So I want to take a look. I want to see what kind of thing I have given birth to."
Lin Sanjiu's frown grew deeper, "What could it be?"
Every human here was brought to this world via this method. Why she had to go over there just to take a look?
"I know what's in your mind and I know they look normal…" The pregnant woman explained in a low voice, "But… every gestation took only three months. If I did not get a chance to see with my own eyes and confirm that I have indeed given birth to a human being, I wouldn't be able to find peace even after I died."
However, it seemed that she might not be able to last until then.
The duoluozhong was dead, and the chain in between her ankles had disappeared, but with the breaking strain of her oversized and bulky belly, she could hardly walk at all. Each step she forced herself to take were accompanied by panting and swearing. Her body shook incessantly, and her movements were shaky.
Truth to be told, it was a miracle that the duoluozhongs did not discover her after she had walked for five steps outside.
"Jesus," Lin Sanjiu cursed and spun her head around to peer into the cave. When she saw that no residents ran out from the cave, she strode forward and placed a gentle palm on the pregnant woman's shoulder and said, "Please, just stop walking. It tires me out."
With that, she lifted the pregnant woman to her chest, asking, "Show me the way."
"What are you doing?" The pregnant woman was shocked, "Now is the only chance you have to escape. Once Deva is here—"
"She did not show up after so long. Maybe she doesn't care about the warden at all," Lin Sanjiu said with a fluke mind. "Quick, tell me. Where is that place? We don't have much time left. We have to get out of here before those people go to warn the duoluozhong."
Instantly, the pregnant woman pointed a determined finger above, "There! At the hallway above. It's nearer to the outside, and it'll be easier for you guys to escape if Deva shows up."
At that moment, all of them were at the bottom of the large "bowl." They had to go around the wall of the "bowl" to escape from there. When the roar of the duoluozhong drifted into her ears, Lin Sanjiu knew they had to act immediately and act fast. Hugging the pregnant woman with both her arms, she hollered to Ji Shanqing and stormed up a few poorly built staircases toward the next hallway.
Although the pregnant woman was thin as a rake, the amount of body fluid in her body proved to be no easy task for Lin Sanjiu to carry her around. She seemed to be getting heavier and heavier with each step Lin Sanjiu took. Her water had long broken, but she endured the pain. Lin Sanjiu wondered how much willpower she had amassed to pull that one off, and at the same time marveled at her endurance. Looking at her face that was becoming even paler with every second and her sweat-soaked hair, Lin Sanjiu bit her lower lips and picked up her pace.
After a few seconds, the woman yelled, "Over there. I can see it."
Unlike other caves, the cave they were heading had a spacious and deep entrance. The interior was exceedingly large, at least a dozen times larger than other ordinary residential caves.
"Hiliu, that's my name," the pregnant woman in her embrace mumbled, "Never thought I would have a chance to say that name again before I died."
Lin Sanjiu couldn't say anything. She had seen countless dead people and many who were dying. And Hiliu was right—she didn't have much time left.
"Tell me," after a few seconds, Lin Sanjiu opened her mouth to speak, and her voice was desperate, "...Tell me how to save you."
Moments later, she felt Hiliu shaking her head in her embrace.
"Save your breaths; there's nothing you can do about it. Besides, I have accepted this as my fate, so… yeah," Hiliu's voice was as weak as a thin strand of fiber, which grew fainter, "...If you really want to help, why don't you give me a cigarette?"
Following which, she chuckled, heartfully and weakly, "...I haven't touched a lighter ever since I came to this shithole."
Biting her lips, Lin Sanjiu stopped. She remembered she still had several boxes of cigars and liquor left after spending her time with Qing Jiuliu in the same world. After requesting Mrs. Manas to temporary power up the strength of the [Defense Forcefield], Lin Sanjiu stood as stiff as a post amid the attacks and retrieved a packet of cigarette and a lighter from her card. She then put both of the items gently onto Hiliu's hand.
"Wow, you really have it," putting the cigarette in between her teeth, Hiliu stroke the lighter several times in quick succession. Fire sparks jumped out a few times, but the cigarette did not light up. She smiled at herself disparagingly, putting down the cigarette and held it together with the lighter, "Let's keep moving."
Lin Sanjiu and Ji Shanqing looked at each other. It was just at the moment as their gazes clashed, both of them suddenly recalled that Hiliu could read their minds.
The pale-faced Hiliu closed her eyes slowly. Cold sweat continued to ooze out from her forehead.
When they were nearer to the nursery cave, the duoluozhongs suddenly became agitated. Their attack snowballed and turned more intense. Whenever the [Weather Forecaster] broadcast an incoming attack, there would be another four or five attacks coming along with it and hit them first.
All sorts of strange sounds whistled through the air, and the [Defense Forcefield] was hit several times, blinking incessantly like a broken lamp. Gritting her teeth, Lin Sanjiu rushed into the nursery cave, followed by her grand prize and the [Weather Forecaster].
The light dimmed, and the group could see nothing but only contorted shadows of rocks stretching further into the deeper part of the cave. And as they entered the cave, they were welcomed by an air mixed with milk and stench.
For a cave specially built for nursery purpose, it was surprisingly quiet. The sound of water dripping echoed in the noiseless cavern. Every drop was long, and the echo remained in the air for a long while before fading away. The scream and bellow from outside seemed like another world to them at that moment.
Seizing the opportunity before their pursuers realized that they had entered the cavern, Lin Sanjiu rushed along the narrow passage into its deeper part.
Surrounded by stone walls and rock, they found no firebrand at all inside the human-made cave. Darkness quickly enveloped them once they had walked for a few steps forward, and to their chagrin, they did not stumble upon any light source even after walking in the dark for a while. Lin Sanjiu then took out her [Ability Polishing Agent]. As the silvery light filled the space, all of them froze.
In front of them was a large underground cavity.
In the distance where the silvery light couldn't reach, the back part of the cave had drowned into the darkness. Many wooden baby cribs in all sizes filled every inch of the cavern. As the silvery light made its advance into the cavern, one expressionless face after another appeared from the dark, looking silently at the intruders.
"W—why they are all so quiet?" The grand prize stammered a question. He walked closer and bent over his body to observe one of them.
In front of him was a baby girl around six to seven years old. She laid obediently inside her baby crib that didn't fit her size, and she was too tiny and too skinny for her age. Next to her were more children of different ages; some of them were boys, while others were girls. However, everywhere the grand prize looked, soulless eyes stared back in return, making gooseflesh coat his skin.
As he rushed back to Lin Sanjiu's side, hundreds of small faces followed him and stared at Lin Sanjiu.
"Put me down," Hiliu ordered.
Caught in her hesitation, Lin Sanjiu remained still.
"Put. Me. Down," Hiliu repeated, emphasizing every word she said.
This time, Lin Sanjiu only opened her mouth to speak after a few seconds.
"Actually… You aren't a smoker, right?" Her voice was soft and in a whisper, as if she was now talking to a terrified small animal, "You don't even know how to light a cigarette."
"You have to take a short puff from the unlighted end while holding the cigarette close to the flame so that you can draw flame into the cigarette and light the end," Ji Shanqing added. "We know that from our friend, who is a heavy smoker."
"You just want to check whether or not I have a lighter, am I right?" Lin Sanjiu sighed, "If you just wanted to take a look, why do you need a lighter?"
Hiliu remained silent for a long while. Then, she smiled.
"You already know that since the beginning, don't you?" She said calmly before rolling herself free from Lin Sanjiu's embrace. The latter quickly went forward and picked her up, easing her sitting on the ground, "The kids here, and those human outside, they all are not human beings. They are just breeding machines, tools, laborers of Deva produced through our wombs. Hence their very existence is unforgivable. And I must correct this mistake before I die."
With a snapping sound, the fire that danced in the dark lit up her lower face in red.
"If you don't go now, I'll burn myself first," there was a faint glow of decisive and manic light inside Hiliu's calm eyes. Lin Sanjiu suddenly remembered that she must have this expression during that time she put the blade on her artery, "...I can read minds. I know precisely a person like you would definitely not allow your savior to die because of you."
"But—"
"Don't try to change my mind. They are not a real human. They are a mistake; a horrible mistake. It would be best to erase their existence from the surface of the planet," Hiliu knew exactly what Lin Sanjiu was going to say next. She countered her with her own point of view before Lin Sanjiu could say anything, "Look at them yourself! Have you ever seen children like them?"
Lin Sanjiu turned her eyes and met glances with a toddler.
That toddler had no expression. His two eyes had no light of desire nor displeasure nor joy nor pain, just two swirls of black tunnels that went on forever. She wouldn't move nor make any sound, and what made her even less human was that she did not blink her eyes ever since she locked gaze with Lin Sanjiu.
When Lin Sanjiu shifted her eyes onto another kid, a bright fire burst from her back, and she knew Hiliu had tricked her. She turned her head around, but she was too late. The baby crib nearest to Hiliu was ablaze. The fire was intense, quickly spreading to the crib next to it. Hiliu was climbing toward another cot, and with some effort, she set the cot aflame as well.
"Sis," Ji Shanqing went forward and pressed Lin Sanjiu's arm, "Look."
Amidst the dancing fire, the girl finally moved. Her eyes rolled around sluggishly in the eye sockets. When the fire licked her body, she suddenly dropped to the bed clumsily. However, there was no fear in her eyes, as if she didn't feel any pain at all. When she moved, only then Lin Sanjiu saw her lower torso was slightly bulged.
"Let's go, sis," the grand prize sighed, "Everybody has their own fate, and we can't save them all. We have to go now. Or else, it'll be too late if the duoluozhong bottleneck us inside this fire hole."
Clenching her jaw, Lin Sanjiu darted a glance at Hiliu.
Unbeknownst to them, Hiliu had already lain still on the ground, looking serenely at the fire.
Her hard jawline was a bright red color, and her skin was covered in a layer of trepidation which sparkled against the fire like stars in the sky. When she felt Lin Sanjiu's gaze, she said in a low voice without turning her head, "...My wish has been fulfilled. My moment of death has drawn short, so I won't be seeing you guys leave."
Lin Sanjiu did not reply and merely lowered her head. Then, as if she had finally made up her mind, she grabbed Ji Shanqing and darted toward the exit. As if she had heard something, Hiliu turned her head before collapsing down on the ground. There was a smile on her face.
Her "thank you" was drowned in the crackling of the wood and the raging flame.
After the initial astonishment abated, Lin Sanjiu immediately forced herself to calm down. Glancing out, theduoluozhongslooked like green molds that scattered inside the City of Ants. The sky was still shrouded behind the dense layer of fog, appearing white and empty."What do you mean? Why Deva would come over here?""Because she's the one who picks the warden!" The pregnant woman breathed heavily. It was as if every word that escaped her lips was taking away a bit of her lifeforce, "...There's a connection between the two of them, and she would sense it right away if something happened to the warden"Lin Sanjiu exchanged glances with Ji Shanqing, and they frowned in chorus."Right away? But it has been a while since we killed the warden," the grand prize mumbled, "How come Deva isn't here yet?"The pregnant woman was stunned. A vacant expression dawned on her bony face, "She is not here yet? How long has it been?""It has been around six to seven minutes," Ji Shanqing nodded resolutely."That's weird" The pregnant woman's brows furrowed in confusion, "...By all account, Deva should be here already Why isn't she here yet?"She lowered her head and thought for a while. They did not know what was going on in her mind; they only saw the woman suddenly pull her hair and curl into a ball like a cooked shrimp. She uttered a low guttural growl as if she was extremely disgusted with herself.Just as Lin Sanjiu felt all at sea of what to do, the pregnant woman raised her head again."I'm fine. I just suddenly remembered the oracle that they always keep on the tip of their tongue It disgusts me.""Oracle? What kind of oracle was that?"The corner of the pregnant woman's lips quivered as she forced a smile on her face, "...The will of God is incomprehensible for the likes of us."Lin Sanjiu had no idea why but those words sickened her; her stomach churned. She couldn't describe that feeling; she just felt extremely uncomfortable."Whatever the reason may be," Lin Sanjiu concluded, "Since that goddamn Deva is not here yet, we should take the opportunity and get out of here."The pregnant woman shook her head, vigorously, "You guys leave.""How about you?" Lin Sanjiu looked at the woman, and her face was full of disapproval, "If we're leaving this place, we will be leaving in three. I'm not going to leave you behind. That's my promise.""Here will be my final resting place. And I know my body very well. I'm afraid I don't have much time left," the pregnant woman rubbed her face before continuing with a pale complexion, "I did not help you to get me out of here. It's just there's something I have to get done before I die."Gawking, Lin Sanjiu turned wordless."Mind telling us what you're going to do?" Ji Shanqing asked as he looked into the deepest part of the cave that was filled with darkness. With some bits of help from the sunlight, he managed to make out a few skinny figures, women and men, old and young, hugging each other and staring fixedly at them; their gazes were filled with horror, and their faces were weary. They couldn't extend their limbs comfortably and adequately as every inch inside the cave was filled with many unfinished idols of Deva."Every baby that was born will be collectively sent to a special cave to be nurtured and raised," huffed the pregnant woman. As she was talking, she struggled to pull her heavy body forward, "...I'm going there.""Why would you want to go there?""I want to see." Steps by steps, the pregnant woman walked with an unsteady gait toward the exit. Lin Sanjiu hastily followed behind her and looked around. "Every time I gave birth to a baby, they would immediately take it away from me. I did not have a chance to even look at my own born at all So I want to take a look. I want to see what kind of thing I have given birth to."Lin Sanjiu's frown grew deeper, "What could it be?"Every human here was brought to this world via this method. Why she had to go over there just to take a look?"I know what's in your mind and I know they look normal" The pregnant woman explained in a low voice, "But every gestation took only three months. If I did not get a chance to see with my own eyes and confirm that I have indeed given birth to a human being, I wouldn't be able to find peace even after I died."However, it seemed that she might not be able to last until then.Theduoluozhongwas dead, and the chain in between her ankles had disappeared, but with the breaking strain of her oversized and bulky belly, she could hardly walk at all. Each step she forced herself to take were accompanied by panting and swearing. Her body shook incessantly, and her movements were shaky.Truth to be told, it was a miracle that theduoluozhongsdid not discover her after she had walked for five steps outside."Jesus," Lin Sanjiu cursed and spun her head around to peer into the cave. When she saw that no residents ran out from the cave, she strode forward and placed a gentle palm on the pregnant woman's shoulder and said, "Please, just stop walking. It tires me out."With that, she lifted the pregnant woman to her chest, asking, "Show me the way.""What are you doing?" The pregnant woman was shocked, "Now is the only chance you have to escape. Once Deva is here""She did not show up after so long. Maybe she doesn't care about the warden at all," Lin Sanjiu said with a fluke mind. "Quick, tell me. Where is that place? We don't have much time left. We have to get out of here before those people go to warn theduoluozhong."Instantly, the pregnant woman pointed a determined finger above, "There! At the hallway above. It's nearer to the outside, and it'll be easier for you guys to escape if Deva shows up."At that moment, all of them were at the bottom of the large "bowl." They had to go around the wall of the "bowl" to escape from there. When the roar of theduoluozhongdrifted into her ears, Lin Sanjiu knew they had to act immediately and act fast. Hugging the pregnant woman with both her arms, she hollered to Ji Shanqing and stormed up a few poorly built staircases toward the next hallway.Although the pregnant woman was thin as a rake, the amount of body fluid in her body proved to be no easy task for Lin Sanjiu to carry her around. She seemed to be getting heavier and heavier with each step Lin Sanjiu took. Her water had long broken, but she endured the pain. Lin Sanjiu wondered how much willpower she had amassed to pull that one off, and at the same time marveled at her endurance. Looking at her face that was becoming even paler with every second and her sweat-soaked hair, Lin Sanjiu bit her lower lips and picked up her pace.After a few seconds, the woman yelled, "Over there. I can see it."Unlike other caves, the cave they were heading had a spacious and deep entrance. The interior was exceedingly large, at least a dozen times larger than other ordinary residential caves."Hiliu, that's my name," the pregnant woman in her embrace mumbled, "Never thought I would have a chance to say that name again before I died."Lin Sanjiu couldn't say anything. She had seen countless dead people and many who were dying. And Hiliu was rightshe didn't have much time left."Tell me," after a few seconds, Lin Sanjiu opened her mouth to speak, and her voice was desperate, "...Tell me how to save you."Moments later, she felt Hiliu shaking her head in her embrace."Save your breaths; there's nothing you can do about it. Besides, I have accepted this as my fate, so yeah," Hiliu's voice was as weak as a thin strand of fiber, which grew fainter, "...If you really want to help, why don't you give me a cigarette?"Following which, she chuckled, heartfully and weakly, "...I haven't touched a lighter ever since I came to this shithole."Biting her lips, Lin Sanjiu stopped. She remembered she still had several boxes of cigars and liquor left after spending her time with Qing Jiuliu in the same world. Afterrequesting Mrs. Manas to temporary power up the strength of the Defense Forcefield, Lin Sanjiu stood as stiff as a post amid the attacks and retrieved a packet of cigarette and a lighter from her card. She then put both of the items gently onto Hiliu's hand."Wow, you really have it," putting the cigarette in between her teeth, Hiliu stroke the lighter several times in quick succession. Fire sparks jumped out a few times, but the cigarette did not light up. She smiled at herself disparagingly, putting down the cigarette and held it together with the lighter, "Let's keep moving."Lin Sanjiu and Ji Shanqing looked at each other. It was just at the moment as their gazes clashed, both of them suddenly recalled that Hiliu could read their minds.The pale-faced Hiliu closed her eyes slowly. Cold sweat continued to ooze out from her forehead.When they were nearer to the nursery cave, theduoluozhongssuddenly became agitated. Their attack snowballed and turned more intense. Whenever the Weather Forecaster broadcast an incoming attack, there would be another four or five attacks coming along with it and hit them first.All sorts of strange sounds whistled through the air, and the Defense Forcefield was hit several times, blinking incessantly like a broken lamp. Gritting her teeth, Lin Sanjiu rushed into the nursery cave, followed by her grand prize and the Weather Forecaster.The light dimmed, and the group could see nothing but only contorted shadows of rocks stretching further into the deeper part of the cave. And as they entered the cave, they were welcomed by an air mixed with milk and stench.For a cave specially built for nursery purpose, it was surprisingly quiet. The sound of water dripping echoed in the noiseless cavern. Every drop was long, and the echo remained in the air for a long while before fading away. The scream and bellow from outside seemed like another world to them at that moment.Seizing the opportunity before their pursuers realized that they had entered the cavern, Lin Sanjiu rushed along the narrow passage into its deeper part.Surrounded by stone walls and rock, they found no firebrand at all inside the human-made cave. Darkness quickly enveloped them once they had walked for a few steps forward, and to their chagrin, they did not stumble upon any light source even after walking in the dark for a while. Lin Sanjiu then took out her Ability Polishing Agent. As the silvery light filled the space, all of them froze.In front of them was a large underground cavity.In the distance where the silvery light couldn't reach, the back part of the cave had drowned into the darkness. Many wooden baby cribs in all sizes filled every inch of the cavern. As the silvery light made its advance into the cavern, one expressionless face after another appeared from the dark, looking silently at the intruders."Wwhy they are all so quiet?" The grand prize stammered a question. He walked closer and bent over his body to observe one of them.In front of him was a baby girl around six to seven years old. She laid obediently inside her baby crib that didn't fit her size, and she was too tiny and too skinny for her age. Next to her were more children of different ages; some of them were boys, while others were girls. However, everywhere the grand prize looked, soulless eyes stared back in return, making gooseflesh coat his skin.As he rushed back to Lin Sanjiu's side, hundreds of small faces followed him and stared at Lin Sanjiu."Put me down," Hiliu ordered.Caught in her hesitation, Lin Sanjiu remained still."Put. Me. Down," Hiliu repeated, emphasizing every word she said.This time, Lin Sanjiu only opened her mouth to speak after a few seconds."Actually You aren't a smoker, right?" Her voice was soft and in a whisper, as if she was now talking to a terrified small animal, "You don't even know how to light a cigarette.""You have to take a short puff from the unlighted end while holding the cigarette close to the flame so that you can draw flame into the cigarette and light the end," Ji Shanqing added. "We know that from our friend, who is a heavy smoker.""You just want to check whether or not I have a lighter, am I right?" Lin Sanjiu sighed, "If you just wanted to take a look, why do you need a lighter?"Hiliu remained silent for a long while. Then, she smiled."You already know that since the beginning, don't you?" She said calmly before rolling herself free from Lin Sanjiu's embrace. The latter quickly went forward and picked her up, easing her sitting on the ground, "The kids here, and those human outside, they all are not human beings. They are just breeding machines, tools, laborers of Deva produced through our wombs. Hence their very existence is unforgivable. And I must correct this mistake before I die."With a snapping sound, the fire that danced in the dark lit up her lower face in red."If you don't go now, I'll burn myself first," there was a faint glow of decisive and manic light inside Hiliu's calm eyes. Lin Sanjiu suddenly remembered that she must have this expression during that time she put the blade on her artery, "...I can read minds. I know precisely a person like you would definitely not allow your savior to die because of you.""But""Don't try to change my mind. They are not a real human. They are a mistake; a horrible mistake. It would be best to erase their existence from the surface of the planet," Hiliu knew exactly what Lin Sanjiu was going to say next. She countered her with her own point of view before Lin Sanjiu could say anything, "Look at them yourself! Have you ever seen children like them?"Lin Sanjiu turned her eyes and met glances with a toddler.That toddler had no expression. His two eyes had no light of desire nor displeasure nor joy nor pain, just two swirls of black tunnels that went on forever. She wouldn't move nor make any sound, and what made her even less human was that she did not blink her eyes ever since she locked gaze with Lin Sanjiu.When Lin Sanjiu shifted her eyes onto another kid, a bright fire burst from her back, and she knew Hiliu had tricked her. She turned her head around, but she was too late. The baby crib nearest to Hiliu was ablaze. The fire was intense, quickly spreading to the crib next to it. Hiliu was climbing toward another cot, and with some effort, she set the cot aflame as well."Sis," Ji Shanqing went forward and pressed Lin Sanjiu's arm, "Look."Amidst the dancing fire, the girl finally moved. Her eyes rolled around sluggishly in the eye sockets. When the fire licked her body, she suddenly dropped to the bed clumsily. However, there was no fear in her eyes, as if she didn't feel any pain at all. When she moved, only then Lin Sanjiu saw her lower torso was slightly bulged."Let's go, sis," the grand prize sighed, "Everybody has their own fate, and we can't save them all. We have to go now. Or else, it'll be too late if theduoluozhongbottleneck us inside this fire hole."Clenching her jaw, Lin Sanjiu darted a glance at Hiliu.Unbeknownst to them, Hiliu had already lain still on the ground, looking serenely at the fire.Her hard jawline was a bright red color, and her skin was covered in a layer of trepidation which sparkled against the fire like stars in the sky. When she felt Lin Sanjiu's gaze, she said in a low voice without turning her head, "...My wish has been fulfilled. My moment of death has drawn short, so I won't be seeing you guys leave."Lin Sanjiu did not reply and merely lowered her head. Then, as if she had finally made up her mind, she grabbed Ji Shanqing and darted toward the exit. As if she had heard something, Hiliu turned her head before collapsing down on the ground. There was a smile on her face.Her "thank you" was drowned in the crackling of the wood and the raging flame.
