Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Nan Ge, let's go. It's really cold." Baldy tightened his jacket as the yacht slipped away into the deep sea, the bright searchlight fading into the thick night.
"Right." The Leather Jacket Man snapped back to reality, rubbing his slightly sore eyes. He turned around and looked at the six cars parked haphazardly in front of him, grinning widely.
"Damn it, we hit the jackpot!" The Leather Jacket Man laughed heartily, sorting through the car keys in his hand. Without hesitation, he seized the driver's seat of the imposing Raptor, tossing the other keys to the group and instructing, "Search inside the cars and see if there's anything good left."
The boys beamed with excitement as they climbed into the vehicles, rummaging through them. Aside from the food and drinks left by Song Jiu, they also found a bag of clothes in the SRT's trunk. Yang Xiaomeng had bought so much that she even forgot there was another bag in the car, which now benefited the Leather Jacket Man and his crew.
The Leather Jacket Man tossed aside his tattered battle gear and said cheerfully, "Everyone change into something nice! Damn it, we need to clean ourselves up and not look like beggars next to Song Jiu and her crew."
The boys burst into laughter at his words. It wasn't that they couldn't find clothes to wear; they were just too lazy. In the city, they rarely encountered any living person throughout the year. They didn't farm or raise livestock; their food came from scavenging in alleys and corners. Climbing high and low every day meant that clean clothes would turn to rags in no time. Moreover, this season was the rainy season in the city; for them, having something to wear was enough—who cared about cleanliness? But now their mindset had changed; young people easily find idols, and undoubtedly, this brief encounter with a new group left a significant impression on them.
A group of them laughed and sorted through their spoils. Men and women stripped down right there, each picking out clothes they liked. Accustomed to being scruffy, they felt a bit out of place suddenly looking fresh. The ladies ran to the beach to scoop up some seawater to wash themselves off, not caring whether they would get salty; they just wanted to scrub off the dirt first.
Compared to Song Jiu's group, the youth team was too small in stature; both men's and women's clothes looked oversized on them. The boys managed somewhat by rolling up their pant legs and sleeves, but for the ladies who usually wore ragged clothing for coverage, new outfits laid out before them were too tempting not to try on.
After more than half an hour of fussing around, the Beggar Gang Youth Group emerged looking renewed. The youthful boys and girls donned adult-sized clothing with pride as they hopped back into the vehicle, their faces glowing with joy from their haul. Water dripped from their hair after washing off in the sea, but no one minded; their happiness from their bounty was enough to ward off the chill of the ocean.
"Nan Ge, I can't drive."
Just as they were about to set off, a problem arose.
Aside from Leather Jacket Man, none of the youth were adults. Many had families that owned cars once upon a time, but owning a car didn't mean knowing how to drive it. Being underage meant they couldn't even get a driver's license. Over these past few years navigating their own city had never prompted anyone to think about driving; suddenly having so many vehicles was overwhelming.
Leather Jacket Man laughed heartily; he was clever enough to realize that while having many cars was great, they had no way to deal with gasoline since others couldn't drive either—this would save fuel.
"Everyone get in." He patted the massive body of the Raptor proudly and declared, "This will be our dedicated ride from now on. Let's head home first; we'll come back tomorrow to siphon some gas."
"Nan Ge, there's also a Fuel Truck!" a chubby boy exclaimed excitedly.
"Useless, the oil has been drained by Song Jiu." The Leather Jacket Man called out to Song Jiu with a familiarity that made it seem like they were old friends.
"Let's go home."
With a command from the Leather Jacket Man, the freshly dressed men and women swarmed into the back of the truck. The vehicle was already spacious enough, especially the Raptor, which was designed for show. As a dozen or so people gathered in one place, someone in the back shouted, and the Leather Jacket Man stretched his arms, recalling his driving instructor's earnest teachings. He started the engine and pressed down on the gas pedal.
In the passenger seat were two girls, around fifteen or sixteen years old, their faces lit up with curiosity as they touched this and looked at that. Their youthful inquisitiveness was evident, though their revealing outfits seemed a bit odd. It was no wonder; most of the clothes Yang Xiaomeng had gathered were heavily influenced by nightclub culture. With their flat chests trying to pull off a sexy look, the young ladies were clearly out of their depth.
The Leather Jacket Man hummed a tune as he fumbled to turn on the car's sound system. Suddenly, loud heavy metal rock music blasted through the speakers, startling the kids. Being young, they initially found it noisy but soon began to sway to the powerful beat of the drums. It seemed they had found their groove; their youthful energy surged forth as they danced wildly to the chaotic music filling the cabin.
While chaos reigned inside the truck, it was eerily quiet outside. Baldy and a few others exchanged glances, regretting not squeezing into the cabin themselves.
Familiar with the route, half an hour later, the fiery Raptor drove past a garbage hill and slowly entered a villa compound.
The people in the cabin had partied enough; their faces were flushed and drenched in sweat, feeling exhilarated.
The Leather Jacket Man jumped out of the car with a cigar in his mouth, hands on his hips, and shouted with a laugh, "A Long! How many times have I told you to remember to lock the door when you come back?"
The young boys and girls followed suit and got out of the car. Two Young Men went over to close the iron gate and looked around in confusion. "Where's the lock?"
"Probably taken back without thinking," another Young Man shrugged and said. "A Long's head is filled with nonsense; he never locks up."
In a good mood today, the Leather Jacket Man waved his hand for everyone to stop chatting and start moving in with their food and clothes. The front door was unlocked; it swung open easily. The Leather Jacket Man followed behind, pulling out his gun from his waist and weighing it in his hand—it felt heavy enough for show. As he toyed with his weapon, he felt increasingly pleased and strutted into the house, shouting, "Sister Jiu! Come here; big brother will teach you how to shoot!"
The Young Men around him chuckled foolishly. Baldy stumbled into the living room in search of something and wondered aloud, "Where's the wax?"
"What can you do? There's some in the kitchen; go find it." The Leather Jacket Man slapped him on the back. Without any lights, he couldn't make a grand entrance; he was still planning for a perfect reveal with Sister Jiu.
Food and clothing were scattered haphazardly on the floor as everyone at the Song Jiu Camp indulged in food and drink. At this moment, they were all lively, gathered in the living room, either sitting or standing, ready to engage in a night of endless chatter about the day's events.
Baldy, feeling too lazy to head to the kitchen, remembered there was a half-burnt candle on the windowsill. He hurried over, pulled out a match from his pocket, and struck it to light the candle. The orange flame flickered to life, casting a sinister face against the glass opposite him.
"Ahhh!" Baldy screamed as his scalp prickled in fear. He stumbled backward, tripping over his own feet. The newly lit candle slipped from his grasp and extinguished once more.
"Shut up! Where's the candle?" Leather Jacket Man snapped irritably. The others burst into laughter at the sound of Baldy's fall, teasing him for having less courage than a girl.
Still shaken, Baldy crawled back into the living room and exclaimed, "There’s a face at the window!"
"Nan Ge and Sister Jiu aren’t here," two girls chimed in after having searched upstairs in the dark, checking each bedroom without finding anyone.
"Everyone quiet down," Leather Jacket Man said with a hint of annoyance as he tucked his gun into his belt. "Where is everyone?"
Terrified, Baldy clung to another Young Man and urgently insisted, "There really is a ghost outside the window!"
Before he could finish speaking, the closed door creaked open.
The noisy chatter fell silent instantly, leaving only Baldy's words about the ghost echoing in the room.
Leather Jacket Man rolled his eyes and said irritably, "A Long, enough already. Stop messing around and come in; I have good news for you."
"Nan Ge, let me tell you some bad news first."
Sister Jiu's voice floated in as she stepped through the doorway.
Light flooded in as Sister Jiu entered with a candlestick in her hands, her face streaked with tears. She limped into the room as the night breeze swept inside, causing the flame to flicker and cast shadows that morphed into various eerie shapes.
"Sister Jiu, what's wrong with you?" The Leather Jacket Man was taken aback and hurried over. Before he could reach Sister Jiu, several burly figures appeared behind the door. The Leather Jacket Man froze; they were all unfamiliar faces, and they were all foreigners.
Sister Jiu's face was now clean of dust, her tangled hair washed and clinging to her face as if she had just been pulled from the water. She wore a large windbreaker, completely bare underneath, with her right leg wrapped in pristine white bandages, a hint of red seeping through.
The Leather Jacket Man took two steps back, muttering, "Who are they? What happened to your leg? Where's A Long? Where are they?"
"They're dead," Sister Jiu said, tears welling up in her eyes. She sniffed and coldly added, "The ones who called you brother killed them."
"What? Who?" The Leather Jacket Man was utterly bewildered. He looked around, and at that moment, a man and a woman walked in through the door. The woman had striking golden hair, while the man was missing his left hand, replaced by a metal hook.
The young boys and girls grew tense, silently standing up and backing away. They saw that the foreigners entering the room were all muscular and armed with guns that looked like something out of a movie. Their cold and piercing gazes made it seem as if they were looking at a group of lambs ready for slaughter.
"You just sent those people away," Sister Jiu wiped her tears. The Blonde Woman gently patted her back and leaned down to whisper something in her ear, leaving a crimson lip print on Sister Jiu's cheek.
"Song Jiu, what are you talking about? He even gave me medicine! He said it wasn't true. Did you guys fight? Where's Xiao Lu? Where's Aku?" The Leather Jacket Man felt his head spinning; the influx of unfamiliar faces suffocated him, and Sister Jiu's words only tangled him further.
"Nan Ge, you've been deceived by them," Sister Jiu said, her frail body trembling as she pointed to the coffee table where a blood-stained silver crossbow bolt lay.
The Leather Jacket Man's mind buzzed as he suddenly recalled the stunning woman in the courtyard whose voice sounded masculine. She had been holding a crossbow. Could it be that he had been tricked? Wasn't Song Jiu supposed to have just sustained minor injuries? How could she be dead?
The Blonde Woman took Sister Jiu by the arm and strode over to the sofa, carefully helping her sit down. Clearing her throat, she asked, "Did he tell you where they were going?"
"Ah?" The Leather Jacket Man was startled. Just as he was about to shake his head, he suddenly came to his senses and stared suspiciously at the foreign woman before him. "Who are you? What are you people?"
"We are from the Armed Division of the Red Cross," the Blonde Woman said solemnly, pulling out an ID from her jacket and flashing it in front of the Leather Jacket Man. "Those people are dangerous; I am pursuing them."
"What is this?" The Leather Jacket Man felt a bit panicked. He knew about the Red Cross but was confused about what an armed division meant. However, the Blonde Woman didn't seem to be lying; although he couldn't see what was written on the ID, her uniform looked quite official.
"Those people cruelly killed your companions. We tracked them down just in time to save this poor girl." The Blonde Woman sighed, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "God bless, they didn't lay a hand on you."
"It can't be. I was with them all afternoon; how could that be..."
Sister Jiu covered her face and sobbed, her voice trembling as she said, "We ran into a few women at noon. They were so ruthless. We just wanted to ask for some food." Sister Jiu cried uncontrollably, murmuring, "Little Lu and Aku are still being treated, but A Long... he’s gone."
The Leather Jacket Man's mind was in turmoil. He recalled what Song Jiu had said to him before leaving, the gun and medicine he had given him made no sense. If Song Jiu and the others had killed A Long, why wouldn't they have killed him too? Why say those things? Nothing added up.
"Where are they going?" the Blonde Woman interrupted his chaotic thoughts, asking softly, "Tell me, it's important."
"I... I don't know." The Leather Jacket Man struggled to focus, unsure of whom to believe. Song Jiu and the others had already set sail; confronting them was impossible now. He swallowed hard and said urgently, "Where are Xiao Lu and Aku? I'll go ask them."
"Don't you believe me?" Sister Jiu lifted her tear-streaked face, revealing a heart-wrenching expression.
"No, no," the Leather Jacket Man hurriedly explained. "I just want to see how they're doing. What about you? How are you?"
"She's fine," the Blonde Woman interjected, picking up a crossbow bolt and speaking solemnly. "But what they did to a girl is simply unforgivable. You are their guardian; I hope you can help me find them. You are not the first victims; the sins they committed cannot be washed away by the sea. Do you understand?"
"I don't understand." The Leather Jacket Man sniffled and sank to the ground in despair. The truth and lies intertwined in his mind, nearly robbing him of his ability to judge. After a moment of silence, he murmured, "I want to see my friends. Where are they?"
"I've already arranged for someone to take them to safety." The Blonde Woman stood up and walked in front of the Leather Jacket Man, her gaze fixed on the gun at his waist as she coldly stated, "Perhaps it was this gun that killed your friend."
"Stop saying that." The Leather Jacket Man shook his head and nodded again, his thoughts completely jumbled.
"You really don't know where they are?"
The Blonde Woman leaned closer to the Leather Jacket Man's face, her warm breath brushing against him, making it hard for him to breathe.
"No, I don't know. He didn't say." The Leather Jacket Man hesitated for a moment, but then recalled Song Jiu's last words. Caught in a dilemma, he struggled for a bit before whispering, "He said he was going to a place, and maybe they will come back."
The Blonde Woman stared into his eyes for a while, stepped closer, and suddenly opened her arms to embrace him.
The Leather Jacket Man was taken aback as he heard the Blonde Woman's voice: "I deeply regret what happened to your friend. If possible, please allow me to offer my humble assistance. I can take you and your friends to a safe refuge where there is no deceit, no danger, delicious food, clean clothes, and an endless supply of fresh water. You can start a new life there."
Happiness did not come too suddenly.
The Leather Jacket Man awkwardly pushed the Blonde Woman away. Her deep blue eyes were beautiful, but he felt something was off. He shook his head and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but we don’t want to leave here."
"Oh? Why not?"
"This is our home." The Leather Jacket Man forced a strained smile, exhaled slowly, and said firmly, "We’re not going anywhere. Thank you for helping to treat my friend. Can you bring them back?"
"Of course." The Blonde Woman smiled slightly, turned and walked a few steps away before returning to link her arm with the Leather Jacket Man's, guiding him out the door. She asked, "Did he say anything else?"
"Nothing more. He said he couldn't live on land anymore and wanted to look for something at sea."
"What was he looking for?"
"I don't know; he didn't say."
The Blonde Woman led the Leather Jacket Man out of the Yard Gate and around behind the garbage mound. She pulled out a folded piece of paper from her jacket pocket and opened it up; it was a drawing of a Deputy.
"Have you seen this girl among those people?" the Blonde Woman asked.
The Leather Jacket Man took the paper and looked at it under the moonlight. His tone was uncertain as he replied, "I think I have. She's quite tall with long hair. I don't know her name."
"Did she really board the ship with those people?"
"Yeah, they all left."
"Thank you."
The Blonde Woman put away her origami and looked up at the hazy moon, saying, "Home can be rebuilt; there's no point in clinging to the past. You need to learn to look forward." After a pause, she turned to the Leather Jacket Man and asked, "Are you really not considering going to the shelter?"
"No, home is here. We don't want to go anywhere." After rejecting the foreign beauty twice, the Leather Jacket Man felt a bit embarrassed and added apologetically, "But thank you anyway."
"No need to thank me." The Blonde Woman smiled slightly, suddenly raising her hand and pressing the silenced Bayonetta 92F against the back of the Leather Jacket Man's head.
A soft click echoed.
The King of Kids lay beside a heap of garbage, his face pressed against the cold ground, eyes wide open with lingering disbelief. Dark red blood slowly spread beneath him. Not far away, Little Lu, Aku, and A Long also lay by the side of the garbage mound, their lifeless eyes staring blankly at the darkening sky. In the distant inky night, a few stars flickered out abruptly.
Comment 0 Comment Count