On my second playthrough, they were full of malice towards me.

Even though he had evacuated far away in advance, Liao Ji could still feel the ground trembling beneath his feet. Looking back in the direction he had come from, he could vaguely see a huge blood-red tornado ravaging the earth.

Beyond the storm, lingering reddish gusts of wind blew across the wilderness, causing a burning and stinging sensation upon the slightest touch to the skin. This prompted many villagers from Kano Village behind Liao Ji to tighten their tattered clothes even further.

The villagers' faces were now filled with relief at escaping death, and they all looked at the impending natural disaster with Liao Ji, their eyes filled with lingering fear.

The original village of Kano was obviously also within the scope of the natural disaster. If the young man had not informed them in advance and told them to abandon the village and flee, the villagers would tremble at the thought of being inside that terrifying blood-red tornado.

Natural disasters can be considered an old friend of Liao Ji in "The Fall".

Countless times, gathering places like Cano Village have withstood the monsters of the Turbid Calamity and repelled the invading scavenging thugs, only to be met with a final, merciless natural disaster. It was as if this futile effort was mocking the players, leaving them to watch helplessly as the infrastructure they had painstakingly built and the contractors they had invested so much time and effort in nurturing were all destroyed and annihilated by the disaster, ultimately turning into a "GAMEOVER" icon for the angry players outside the screen.

It's no wonder that Falling died quickly after its release; the game's cruel and demanding design, which torments players and the characters they raise, is enough to deter most normal people.

Fortunately, later on, there were veteran players like Liao Ji who persisted and finally figured out some patterns and omens of natural disasters, writing them into strategy guides, which more or less prevented similar tragedies. However, there are still a small number of natural disasters that are completely unpredictable and can suddenly appear at any time and in any place. Players who encounter such disasters can only accept their bad luck and at most curse the developers' relatives. But what if it's someone in the game world?

Liao Ji shook his head and turned his gaze away from the direction of the blood-red tornado.

Fortunately, there was an early warning for this natural disaster. Liao Ji had vaguely sensed it from the abnormal movement of the ant-beasts, otherwise his Zero Dream Journey would probably have ended prematurely.

"Just take this, and you can trade it for food with the Salvation Society!"

Some villagers immediately suggested that the girl should first bring out the things her parents left behind so they could take a look. Perhaps seeing these things would help the girl find her parents more easily.

After whispering among themselves for a while, the villagers seemed to have made a decision for the little girl. They told her to hand over the food coupons she had, and they would take them as a reward and a token, and return them to her as soon as they found her parents.

In addition to the fact that staying by Liao Ji's side was absolutely safe, some villagers couldn't help but have selfish thoughts. They were following the prophesied person now, and when Liao Ji really became the savior, they, the first group, would at least gain a reputation and live a life of comfort and ease.

As the troops advanced, perhaps due to the natural disaster, the number of monsters in the wilderness decreased significantly. Apart from a few isolated encounters that were dealt with by Liao Ji, they did not encounter any more groups.

"Yes, yes, yes! Let's keep her with us for now, and then switch her back after we find her parents."

Upon hearing that the villagers were willing to help her, the little girl was immediately excited and grateful. She quickly took out a small package from her bosom, opened it in front of the villagers, and found a thick stack of bills inside, with patterns resembling angel wings printed on them.

When they finally arrived at the outer edge of the red circle marking the "witch" area on the map, Liao Ji was forced to stop again, but this time it wasn't because of monsters.

"Who are this girl's parents? How could they have saved up so many food stamps? That's enough to feed us for several days!"

"Yes, I'm sorry! I just... I just wanted to ask, have you seen my mom and dad?" The little girl was scolded by the villagers. She clutched the hem of her skirt in fear, but she gritted her teeth and mustered up the courage to ask.

Even though Liao Ji was going to challenge the witch, the villagers of Kano Village insisted on continuing to follow him, no matter how Liao Ji tried to persuade them.

The little girl was simply recounting what had happened, but the villagers immediately focused on the "things".

Immediately afterward, amidst the villagers' impatient gazes, the little girl quickly gestured to show the features and build of her parents.

"You make a good point, so let's do it this way."

But

There was a little girl blocking the way ahead.

After the "natural disaster," the villagers were even more convinced of Liao Ji's identity as a "prophet," since only a "savior" could so accurately avoid a natural disaster.

This is why Liao Ji didn't bother with the fleeing scavengers. If they knew better than to come back, they were lucky to escape with their lives. But if they did return with their men to find Kano Village...

Then they can only blame themselves.

“She got separated from her parents, and it’s too dangerous for her to carry such precious things alone. We have to help her keep them safe.”

"No, I think we should let her stay here. You know, the place we're going to is very dangerous. We can bring her parents over to see her when we find them along the way."

But this time, they seem to have made a mistake.

"These are food stamps from the Salvation Society!"

"Hey, get out of the way! Do you know what we're doing? Don't delay our savior!"

because

“We were attacked. My parents left all their things with me and told me to go first, that they would catch up soon. But I’ve been waiting here for a long time. Why haven’t they come yet?”

Continuing on their journey, Liao Ji's goal was clear: to advance towards the final boss of this area, the "Witch," one of the five Great Turbid Kings.

Some villagers glared at the little girl with menacing expressions and waved her away. After all, they had seen many people like her before. Most of them had lost their settlement and could only beg and plead for help from passersby in the wilderness.

The villagers had relied on Liao Ji for help with the previous monsters, but this time, seeing someone dressed in tattered clothes, clearly a refugee, blocking their way, the villagers volunteered to help Liao Ji.

The villagers were about to refuse, but the little girl's next words made them speechless.

Faced with the villagers' "ardent" gazes directed at her, or rather, at the bundle of grain coupons in her hand, the little girl trustingly handed over the bundle left to her by her parents, repeatedly thanking them for their willingness to risk their lives to find her parents.

"Then... I'll stay here. Please take care of Mom and Dad. Thank you so much. I'm really grateful. Mom and Dad were right. There are many good people in this world. Everyone is a good person."

The little girl who had been blocking the way made way for the villagers. The villagers, somewhat averted by the girl's sincere and hopeful gaze, were just about to leave to report to Liao Ji that the problem had been resolved when...

The villagers were startled as soon as they turned around, especially the few who had divided up the little girl's food coupons; they were so frightened that they dropped the packages in their hands.

Because their prophesied one, the Savior, had somehow arrived here, and judging from his appearance, it seemed that he had been here for a long time, watching them.

Chapter 211 Athetis (Part 2)

"Sir, that's..."

Liao Ji ignored the somewhat stuttering villagers and walked up to them. He bent down, picked up the little girl's bundle and the scattered grain coupons, rewrapped them, and finally came to the little girl.

"You."

From the villagers' attitude towards Liao Ji, the little girl could tell that Liao Ji must be their village chief. Facing such an important figure, the little girl suddenly became extremely nervous, especially when she saw Liao Ji carrying a package as he walked over. She was at a loss, filled with confusion and bewilderment.

"Here you go." Liao Ji stuffed the package back into the little girl's arms.

"But...no, no, please, my parents are very important to me, I..."

Tears welled up in the little girl's eyes. She thought that Liao Ji had returned the grain coupon package, meaning that they were unwilling to accept her request to find her parents. She was on the verge of crying.

If we miss out on these kind people, we don't know when the next opportunity will come. Then our parents...

“If you want to find your parents, come with us. It’s on our way. If you happen to run into them, you can go and find them yourself.”

Liao Ji's words were concise and to the point. The little girl was initially taken aback, then quickly showed surprise, but that surprise quickly turned into unease. Hesitantly, she asked in a soft, uncertain voice:

"Can I follow you?"

The villagers huddled together and discussed it quietly. They quickly reached an agreement: they would agree to the little girl's request. In exchange, the little girl would first use her healing abilities to treat the people in their group. This way, once they were all healed, they would have more strength to help the little girl.

No.

"Big brother, how did you know?" The little girl was a bit confused. She remembered that she had never seen this big brother before, so why did he know about the package so quickly?

The villagers of Kano Village that Liao Ji is leading are essentially no different from refugees. Adding another child would only be a burden on the group, and no one would be willing to do so.

And on the other side.

As the little girl spoke, fearing the villagers wouldn't believe her, she immediately demonstrated it to them.

Liao Ji, who had stopped in place, turned around and looked at the end of the villagers' procession. He noticed that the little girl who had been following the procession was nowhere to be seen.

"Yes, yes, my son too! The wound on his arm just wouldn't heal, but now there's finally hope!"

"Huh? You have a wound."

It was almost a repetition of the last time. The villagers seemed to have lost their memory, completely forgetting that just fifteen minutes ago they had been stopped by a little girl. Yet, just like the first time they encountered her, they rushed to help Liao Ji.

A warm, soft white light rose from the little girl's palm. Under the light, the little girl's dirty appearance seemed to become more holy, just like a nun from legend.

"Yes, I... I don't know how it happened. Maybe I was too worried while waiting for everyone. I... I awakened the ability to heal others."

The little girl bowed to the villagers, but before she could finish expressing her gratitude, she suddenly felt as if there was another person in front of her.

Such an important figure made the little girl panic. She opened her mouth several times, but because she was very nervous, she didn't know what to say. She was also afraid of Liao Ji's staring at her. Suddenly, Liao Ji squatted down.

the reason is simple.

Liao Ji nodded, and before the little girl could say anything more, he had already returned to the villagers' group, ready to set off again.

Perhaps we shouldn't use "again"?

Liao Ji looked towards the front of them, where another little girl had appeared, blocking the way for the group.

However, the villagers were immediately surprised by what the little girl said next.

"Do you still have the package your parents gave you?"

As for the little girl, since Liao Ji had spoken, and considering their previous actions, even if the villagers of Kano Village were dissatisfied, no one dared to say anything more, let alone make any further moves on the little girl. They just let her follow along.

"But healing abilities are very useful! What if we—no, what if our Savior gets injured? With her around, things would be much more convenient!"

"Waaaaah... Waaaaah... It's all my fault. They were begging you to help me. Please, can you take me to them? What if they're injured on the way and can't come back? I... I can treat them! If we hurry, maybe we can still make it in time."

"A Calamity-Transformer? She's so young, yet she's already a Calamity-Transformer!"

"Treatment? You mean...?"

"Thank you so much! My parents were right. Everyone here is a good person. I'll go over there right away to help you."

But her eyes remained bright, and as the villagers approached, the little girl kept apologizing for blocking their way, saying:

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, but please, please help me! A few days ago, some kind people went there to look for my lost parents. They said they would come back soon, whether they found out or not. But... but I've waited so long, and they still haven't returned. I'm worried... I'm so worried about them."

The little girl hesitated for a moment, but quickly ran to the end of the line. She didn't dare to go near Liao Ji or to the middle of the line, but only dared to follow cautiously at the end, afraid of causing any trouble for the line.

The little girl looked at Liao Ji with a bit of confusion, thinking that Liao Ji was a villager who had come to him for treatment. But then she looked around at the villagers who had become reserved and silent after Liao Ji appeared, and the little girl suddenly realized that Liao Ji might be the village chief.

"No way, we're going to follow the Savior to defeat the witch, we don't have time to help her find her parents or anyone else."

And so, Liao Ji and the group of villagers following behind him moved forward for about fifteen minutes before the procession stopped again.

"I'm so sorry, could I take up a little of your time?"

When the villagers first heard that the little girl was asking them to find someone, they were immediately unhappy and even less willing to take on such a burden.

"I don't know if this can cure my brother's eyes."

The little girl looked exactly like the first little girl, but her hair was more disheveled, and her already tattered clothes were now even dirtier, with traces of mud, as if she had spent many nights in the cave.

"Alright, it's settled then. My wife just happened to have a leg crippled after being shot by a scavenger. Let's get this little girl to take a look at her!"

"What should we do? Should we help her?"

Liao Ji's sudden, unrelated question startled the little girl, who instinctively answered:

"The package is gone. The kind people said they would take it to my parents so they would know it was me when they saw it."