These weird things are all mine

The artist closed his eyes, perhaps he was being too cautious.

When he was in Victoria before, the shadow cast by the Company was a bit heavy... after all, that was the heyday of the Company.

I hope that the company employees who come to Jiangcheng County this time are not "full-time employees" but just "outsourced employees."

The twisted skin of the villagers gradually healed, and the white mycelium was refilled into their bodies, gradually restoring their appearance before death, but the only difference was that their expressions were dull.

They took their first steps, stumbling at first but gradually becoming more skilled, and all of them scattered through the mountains and forests, heading towards the urban area of ​​Jiangcheng County.

Like a zombie.

Chapter 5: Unsustainable Daily Life (2k)

In November, although Jiangcheng County is located in the south and is not covered with snow, the howling winter wind has forced pedestrians to wrap themselves in heavy clothes.

Luo Ling rubbed his hands, exhaled with a slight shiver, mist rose into the air, and his vision flashed a little blurry.

"Too cold?"

Su Wan took Luo Ling's hand and gave a little warmth to Luo Ling's cold little hand.

“It wasn’t too cold…”

"You're still trying to be brave. You've been like this since you were a kid. Your hands and feet are always cold. Every night you have to let me cover your hands before you go to bed." Su Wan smiled, "Do you want to buy a pair of warmer gloves? It's not a birthday gift, just a piece of clothing."

"...Um."

Luo Ling nodded, carefully controlling the strength so as not to hurt her sister's hand that was wrapped around her.

Luo Ling is still very strong now, with a grip strength almost ten times that of an average adult, but he can barely control it and will not lose control and hurt anyone.

However, this amount of strength is not impressive among the awakened ones on the "Judgment" path. The "ancient warrior" Liu Songyi possesses the terrifying strength to shatter steel plates with his bare hands. Even Yang Meili, who is not known for her strength, is not much different from Luo Ling.

The reason why Luo Ling looked so embarrassed was that he did not have the corresponding skills to control his strength.

After this period of exercise, at least I can maintain my daily life without any problems.

Originally, Luo Ling and Su Wan went out to go shopping together in the shopping mall in the city. The important thing was not what they did, but being together.

It was rare for her sister to have a whole day of free time, and Luo Ling also wanted to accompany her to relax, regardless of whether today was her birthday or not, because her sister was too tired on weekdays.

As winter approaches, there are few people outdoors, but the shopping malls are crowded with people.

Perhaps because it was the weekend, there were quite a few couples coming and going, but Luo Ling and Su Wan looked more like close besties than sisters.

Both of them seldom went to the shopping mall in the county town. They were curious about everything and went shopping in several stores hand in hand, but they backed off when they saw the prices on the signs.

“Things in the city are so expensive…”

Su Wan was a little worried, wondering if she had not prepared enough.

The 1,500 yuan I had was only enough to buy two pieces of clothing.

I have to treat Xiao Ling to a birthday dinner later, so I can’t spend Xiao Ling’s money so soon...

Luo Ling had been secretly observing Su Wan. She keenly noticed that her sister's eyes had lingered on a plain white gauze dress several times and she seemed to like it very much.

She took a look at the price, only twelve hundred, which was totally affordable.

"My sister's birthday is not far away. I'll find a chance to buy it for her." Luo Ling said silently in his heart.

Finally, after visiting several stores, Su Wan bought Luo Ling a pair of warm gloves for two hundred yuan. They were a cute girlish pink color with some soft fluff on the wrists, which looked a bit childish.

Maybe in my sister's eyes, I am still the little girl following behind her.

Su Wan wanted to buy her another new dress, but Luo Ling refused, giving the reason that she had just bought it not long ago, so Su Wan had to give up.

At worst, you can use the extra money to eat something better.

The main reason is that the things in the shopping mall are really expensive. It is unimaginable to buy a pair of gloves for two hundred yuan outside. Before, the most expensive pair of gloves Luo Ling had bought was only twenty or thirty yuan.

It was almost noon, and the two found a barbecue restaurant. They had never eaten there before, so they wanted to try it.

"Is it tasty?"

Su Wan turned the meat in the baking pan and picked up a piece and put it in Luo Ling's bowl.

"Mm, it's delicious." Luo Ling looked at the untouched dipping sauce in Su Wan's bowl and said softly, "Sister, you should try it too."

"Don't worry, you are the birthday boy today." Su Wan smiled gently, "It won't be too late for me to eat after the little birthday boy is satisfied."

“Actually, birthdays are nothing special…”

Luo Ling looked out the window. In the busy shopping mall, it seemed that everyone was smiling.

But...the terrible scene in the dream did not appear.

The matter of the awakener seemed to be just a small episode in the ordinary days. Luo Ling had not been in contact with these things for a whole week and gradually walked out of everything in Baiyan Village.

"Well, it's delicious, but a little expensive."

Seeing that Luo Ling's eating speed had slowed down, Su Wan picked up a piece and started to taste it.

She looked up and saw her sister looking out the window. She asked curiously,

"Xiao Ling, what are you looking at?"

"..."

Luo Ling lowered his eyes, retracted his gaze, and looked down at the sauce dish with a few pieces of barbecued meat.

"It's nothing, sister."

How can it be?

Luo Ling lowered his head and tried his best to hide his slightly trembling eyes, his chest rising and falling slightly.

Did she see it wrong?

Have I had too many nightmares recently?

No... maybe, I'm not seeing things.

Luo Ling moved his gaze imperceptibly and looked out the window again.

A hunched figure with a bent back was walking aimlessly in the busy shopping mall, taking one step deep or one step shallow, seemingly out of tune with everything around him.

Luo Ling knew this old man.

It’s incredible to realize that.

"I'm not seeing things, this is... Uncle Huang." Luo Ling withdrew his gaze, feeling complicated, "What's going on? Whether it's the real Uncle Huang or the "meat animal", they should have been dead, right? How could he appear here?"

What exactly happened during this week?

"Xiao Ling, are you feeling unwell?"

Su Wan noticed that her sister was suddenly acting a little strange and quickly put down her chopsticks, but before she could stand up, Luo Ling raised her hand to stop her.

"I'm fine, it's just... a little stuffy in the store." Luo Ling shook her head and said, "I'll go out for a few steps to get some fresh air. You can continue eating, sister."

"But..."

Su Wan hesitated.

There is indeed about half of the food I ordered left uneaten, so it would be such a waste if I leave like this.

"I'm fine, I just went out for some fresh air." Luo Ling smiled, "I'm already a grown man, I won't get lost if I take a few steps, you wait here first."

Su Wan wanted to say something, but when she saw Luo Ling's expression, she suddenly understood something.

Hmm...so that's how it is.

My sister must have felt that she had eaten too little, so she made an excuse to go out so that she could finish the rest.

"Okay, don't go too far." Su Wan sat down again and picked up the chopsticks. "I really haven't tasted it properly yet, hehe..."

My younger sister is already so sensible. As her older sister, I really need to understand her feelings sometimes.

Luo Ling, who was still thinking about what to say to reassure her sister, was relieved when she saw that her sister suddenly changed her mind.

"Don't worry, it's just a walk."

Luo Ling picked up the gloves on the table and walked out of the store.

Avoiding her sister's gaze, Luo Ling settled the bill first and headed straight for the shopping mall.

At this time, Uncle Huang had already disappeared, but Luo Ling had no intention of chasing him directly to check the situation.

After finding a secluded corner with no one around, Luo Ling immediately transformed into the form of the "White Witch". A few spores swam out to check the situation, then she opened her phone to see what was happening in the group.

As soon as he entered the group, Luo Ling saw that there were two new members.

【Company dispatched specialist-Cen Xiangyun】

【Company dispatch specialist-Li Shaoheng】

It seems that these two are the "company" helpers invited by Ji Shinian.

Their profile pictures are all of their real selves. Cen Xiangyun looks like a fashionable urban beauty, while Li Shaoheng looks like a conservative middle-aged man.

No messages had been sent in the communication group this week, but today, just like Luo Ling, they also discovered that many dead villagers from Baiyan Village had suddenly appeared in the outside world.

After trying to contact them, I found out that these villagers were just puppets. After killing them, they would turn into a pile of sand and gravel and fall down.

Although there is no harm for now, people in the communication group are now clearing out the gangs because they are uncertain about the consequences. However, the clearance work is not going smoothly because they need to avoid the eyes and ears of ordinary people.

"The sand and stone turned into life, they should be the awakened ones of the 'All Spirits' path..." Luo Ling's eyes flickered.

In the performer’s memory, there is a person who fits the bill.

...artist.

After learning that the trouble was caused by the "Evil Pioneer", Luo Ling subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Dealing with the "Evil Herald" is much easier than dealing with the puppet rumor...

At least, Luo Ling has learned a little about this relatively mysterious organization through the performer's memory. It is not as scary as Puppet Ballad, which is mostly unknown.

But what is the purpose of the "Evil Herald" doing this?

These "meat animals" created with sand and stones are just for show. Once killed, they will return to the essence of sand and stones. It is impossible for them to possess the terrifying ability of "meat animals" to devour flesh and blood.

Of course, it still looks very similar.

...wait, they look alike?

Luo Ling realized something. At this time, her spores had already found Uncle Huang's location and were walking around the shopping mall.

"Not only does it look like it, but it also smells like it..."

Luo Ling's eyes grew serious. She had seen with her own eyes Uncle Huang transformed into a "meat animal", and his appearance was almost exactly the same as it is now.

However, she was sure that such "Uncle Huang" was harmless.

Just a pile of moving gravel.

Therefore, the artist's purpose could not be to target Jiangcheng County or the communication group...

His target, from the very beginning, was the same as that of the performers.

——High-risk and weird "Puppet Rumor".

"So, they are trying to lure the snake out of its hole..." Luo Ling took a deep breath, "It seems that they already know that the "eggs" of Puppet Rumor will devour each other."

The reason for putting these sand and stone creatures disguised as "meat livestock" into the city is to induce the appearance of "eggs".

Luo Ling inexplicably thought of Ji Ying.

...Will she show up?

Is she really an "egg"?

Although Luo Ling has been trying hard not to think about similar doubts during this period, he still finds it difficult to let go.

Just as Luo Ling's thoughts were flying, he suddenly saw a familiar figure from Spore's perspective.

...elder sister?

Why did she come out?

Luo Ling looked down at the time and instantly realized why.

Half an hour had passed before I knew it...

At this time, Su Wan looked anxious and kept asking people if they had seen Luo Ling. She was about to walk to "Uncle Huang".