The narrow streets still exude a rotten smell, and the people living here are still living as usual according to the habits they have developed in numbness.
It can be said that the people of Mudleg Alley were the first group of people to calm down in this series of chaos.
Mu Qing stood on the ground that had become a ruin, imagining how fierce the battle between Murong Jing and the others to capture Gu Yuan was, and he felt a little dazed for a moment.
There was a slight sound of footsteps behind him. When the footsteps stopped, a voice sounded: "Brother, have you noticed?"
Those people rescued from the underground prison seemed to prefer a darker environment. After Zhang Shaoyao settled those people, they found this place.
Mu Qing turned around and asked, "Uncle, are they okay? Why do I feel like they don't like me or are even... afraid of me?"
Mu Qing wanted to help at first, but as soon as he got close to those people, it was difficult for them to calm down.
Zhang Shaoyao blinked, frowned and thought for a while, then guessed and said: "They have been underground for more than ten years, and most people's memories have become confused, and my brother's appearance is probably the same as the one they remember. The city lords are somewhat similar, so this shouldn’t be fear, it’s just that they haven’t woken up from their previous memories.”
"Do they look similar..."
Mu Qing looked at the crowded and broken area behind Zhang Shaoyao and nodded lightly.
Zhang Shaoyao passed him and walked on the ravine-ridden ground among the ruins. Broken tiles and stones made a slight crunching sound under his feet. He did not stop until he came to the edge of a large sunken pit.
She lowered her gaze and looked carefully at the burned soil and stones in the pit, her face slightly condensed, and she didn't know what she was thinking.
Mu Qing came to her side, remembered her initial question, and whispered: "What did you find?"
Zhang Shaoyao withdrew his gaze, raised his chin and looked at the ruins extending in front of him, and said softly: "I was looking at the ruins behind you just now, and I felt that this place has not changed much after just a few more battles. Ruins become even more ruined ruins.”
Mu Qingxu narrowed his eyes and sighed softly: "We have lived here for several years. We didn't realize it when we were in Hidden Valley, but now we feel more and more clearly that the better we can live in such a place. Those who go down are actually powerful people to a certain extent.”
There was the sound of gravel rolling down not far away. The brother and sister, who were in some unspeakable emotions, looked at each other. Next to a pile of broken walls that were less than a person's height, dust was flying, and intermittent moans were heard. .
Before Mu Qing could move, a petite figure rushed past him from his perspective.
Zhang Shaoyao rescued a child in rags from the collapsed soil fastness.
Her hands were covered with a layer of cyan light, and she was cleaning the wounds on the child. Mu Qing stood beside her, looking around, his expression becoming more complicated for a moment.
At the base of the other half of the wall that looked like it would fall down at any time, there were a few relatively neatly shaped stones. These stones were piled up to form a stove with a shape that could barely be seen. On the stove was a chipped iron The pot, at this moment, something dark is boiling in the pot.
The spreading dust was about to fall on the pot and leave. Before Mu Qing could look away, he heard a soft voice next to him: "Hey~"
The child, who had just received Zhang Shaoyao's treatment with a frown on his face, recovered his strength from nowhere and rushed over. At the last moment when the dust was thrown into the pot, he raised the iron pot above his head.
At this time, the child seemed extremely happy that he had saved the pot, so when Mu Qing looked at him, he forced a smile at Mu Qing.
But this iron pot was too broken. Maybe it was impacted by the collapse of the wall just now, or maybe the child used too much force in a hurry. In short, this iron pot cracked directly from the biggest crack in the middle, and the mass inside the pot The still steaming thing fell to the ground with a clatter.
The juice with a faint odor splashed on Mu Qing's trouser legs, and when it fell from the child's chest, it even got all over the child.
Just when Mu Qing was thinking that this child, whose gender and age could not be determined, might not be able to bear the blow and started to cry, the child squatted down with unusual agility and used the remaining iron pot in his hand. , shoveled up the mass that spread to Mu Qing's toes.
Zhang Shaoyao's hand stretched out to the child froze in the air. She and Mu Qing watched in silence as the child packed the lump of food on the ground together with the dirt and gravel.
Then, the child's contented sigh was heard.
At this time, the sun rising from the east was shining its light on the entire city without selfishness. The child felt relieved and felt the two shadows surrounding him, and then realized that there were two people beside him. The presence.
His shoulders shrank subconsciously, and he raised a dirty little face. He happened to see Mu Qing's stern face. He hesitated and slowly raised the food in his hands.
"elder brother."
Zhang Shaoyao looked at Mu Qing with some confusion.
Mu Qing took a few steps back, trying not to oppress the child, and asked softly: "Where is your family?"
"me……"
The little boy shivered and didn't know how to answer, or he didn't want to answer. Mu Qing saw him subconsciously looking in a certain direction. Looking along, he saw a section of ruins stacked on top of each other. Maybe it was a dilapidated house a few days ago. little house.
Zhang Shaoyao said "Hey" and walked towards the ruins. When the little boy saw her action, he ignored the food in his hand and rushed forward.
The little boy stood in front of the ruins and looked at Zhang Shaoyao nervously.
Behind the little boy, two wooden boards tilted together, forming a hole that only reached the little boy's chest.
Mu Qing walked to Zhang Shaoyao step by step and stopped. This time he changed the question: "Who else is in your family? Brother? Sister?"
As if he felt the movement in front of the cave entrance, a weak and intermittent voice came from the narrow entrance: "Brother... I'm so hungry."
…
In the underground stone room, looking at Zhang Shaoyao who was checking the bodies of two children, Mu Qing quietly stepped out.
Zhang Zhiyuan stood in the passage outside the stone room, looked at Mu Qing with a heavy face, and said calmly: "If you think they are doing it because of the battle a few days ago, then there is no need to do so. As far as I know, Murong Jing did it for Let everyone leave and forcefully delay it for a long time.”
"Moreover, situations like this happen every day in Mudleg Alley."
Mu Qing smiled bitterly and said: "Of course I know. If I had been there at the time, I would have advised her not to do that."
Zhang Zhiyuan frowned and said, "Then you..."
Mu Qing narrowed his eyes and said in a heavy voice, "When I saw this pair of brothers and sisters, I remembered some of the things Shaoyao and I had experienced. In Mudleg Alley, children who lost the protection of adults would either die of hunger. and various diseases, or become a habitual offender."
Zhang Zhiyuan didn't seem to expect that Mu Qing would talk about this. His expression changed slightly, he was silent for a while, and then sighed softly: "It's just to live."
He raised his head, looked at Mu Qing, and said seriously: "I believe you have seen that the people living here quickly regained their composure after being shocked."
Mu Qing nodded and said hesitantly: "...Everyone is already numb."
Zhang Zhiyuan said: "Yes, they are numb, but that does not mean they are not afraid. I heard that when the fighting started here, some people were still running very fast."
Mu Qing heard something else, "What's the reason for those people who run slowly or don't run at all?"
Zhang Zhiyuan's eyes were a little sad, and he was silent for a long time before saying: "Most people in this world are actually resigned to the situation and are used to it, so they can survive even in the worst environment."
"But there are also some people who, although they have survived and adapted to such a smelly living environment and numb and boring repetitive days, they still have moments of sobriety. If there were no external impacts here, their sobriety would probably be It will be quickly smoothed away by numbness, but if they are shocked, it is when they are awake..."
When Zhang Zhiyuan said this, he looked into Mu Qing's eyes.
Mu Qing's eyes moved slightly, he frowned and said hesitantly: "Do they think death is a kind of relief?"
Zhang Zhiyuan nodded and glanced at the stone room, "It is the most painful for people who are occasionally sober, especially when they have children and descendants. When they find that everything they have experienced will be repeated or even more difficult. When it comes to their children, death becomes the only good medicine."
Mu Qing leaned against the cool stone wall, looked up at the top of the passage above his head, and repeated: "The only one..."
When Zhang Zhiyuan said this, his expression was sad, as if he remembered many past events. After being silent for a long time, he slowly said: "When I saw you bringing back those brothers and sisters, I roughly guessed several possibilities. Over the years, Some parents will send their children to me to study for a period of time, but most of them don’t persist.”
"When those children go back, they will ask their parents some unknown questions. Their parents may not know the answers, but at some moment, they will suddenly understand that even if their children have read, they have given them I can’t give my children a chance to change their lives.”
"So, for those who have children, sobriety amounts to the most brutal form of despair."
Mu Qing looked at Zhang Zhiyuan quietly.
Because he wanted to protect everyone's safety, Zhang Zhiyuan wore the armor of the Guards for a long time. But after he returned here, he returned to his usual plain clothes. The temperament of those children who disappeared inside was very different from the cold and hard aura that led the soldiers before, but it made Mu Qing respect him even more.
After Mu Qing waited for him to calm down, he solemnly asked: "What can I do?"
Zhang Zhiyuan heard the words and looked at Mu Qing for a moment. His slightly condensed expression relaxed a lot, and he said with emotion in his voice: "You can indeed do something for the people here, but is it too late?"
Mu Qing nodded heavily: "Of course there is time."
Mu Qing found that there were some acceptable changes in his mentality.
Before this, his identity as the city lord of Suzaku City seemed to bring him more pressure and distress to live up to everyone's expectations. However, when he realized that he could help the people around him and accomplish what he wanted to do, he felt a lot more pressure. Very calm.
Perhaps, he shouldn't be so worried about whether he will disappoint everyone after telling the choices in his heart. Talking openly and honestly with everyone should be a better way.
Mu Qing and Zhang Zhiyuan chatted for a long time. When Zhang Shaoyao came out, he looked at her and asked, "Will we go back together?"
Zhang Shaoyao seemed to have listened to the content of the conversation between the two. At this time, his expression was still a little calm. After hearing Mu Qing's voice, he raised his head and asked: "Where are you going back?"
"Um?"
"I heard that the house you sold is now occupied by Miss Liu's family, and the place where Senior Sister and the others lived before was Miss Murong, so where can we go back?"
Mu Qing opened his mouth and looked at Zhang Shaoyao's face carefully, but Zhang Shaoyao had regained his composure now, and even his voice was unhurried and did not reveal any emotion at all.
Mu Qing pondered for a moment and said truthfully: "Senior sister and the others probably won't go to those two places. You can stay with them."
"What about you?" Zhang Shaoyao asked.
Mu Qing smiled bitterly and replied: "I will probably find a place to stay alone. As you can imagine, there will be many people meeting me next, and I don't want those people to disturb them."
Zhang Shaoyao lowered her head to prevent Mu Qing from seeing her eyes, and said after a moment: "Then I'll just stay with my uncle. I'm used to it anyway, and I can still take care of my parents at any time."
Mu Qing sighed softly in his heart. The situation of Zhang Zhijing and the others was not optimistic. They were silent most of the time. Zhang Shaoyao's recent mood may have been affected, but not necessarily.
Thinking of this, Mu Qing said hesitantly: "It's safe outside now, and Uncle Zhang is still here. When you are bored, you can find senior sisters and the others, and of course you can also find me. Don't stay here all the time."
Hearing Mu Qing's concern, Zhang Shaoyao blinked and asked, "Then can I go find the two sisters-in-law? I heard that they are staying together now."
"Uh..." Mu Qing felt helpless, but seeing Zhang Shaoyao's big, clean and bright eyes, he really couldn't find a reason to refuse, so he finally nodded stiffly: "Of course, do I need to take you there?" ?”
Zhang Shaoyao finally showed a smile in front of Mu Qing: "No, I know the way. Brother, you still have a lot to do, so hurry up and leave."
After Mu Qing left, Zhang Shaoyao lowered her head. After Zhang Zhiyuan looked at her, she turned sideways, not wanting Zhang Zhiyuan to see her expression at this moment.
Zhang Zhiyuan and Zhang Anping looked at the frail and frail figure of his niece, his thick eyebrows knitted together, he scratched his head in distress, and finally hesitantly persuaded: "Shaoyao, listen to my uncle, it would be great for you and him to be brothers and sisters. I can It can be seen that he still cares about you."
Zhang Shaoyao moved his shoulders slightly and simply faced the wall, leaving his back intact to Zhang Zhiyuan.
Zhang Zhiyuan's eyes twitched, and he racked his brains and said: "That guy Mu Qing is very carefree..."
"Brother, that's not playfulness. I know those women have paid a lot for him."
The corner of Zhang Zhiyuan's mouth twitched and he said faintly: "But as far as I know now, he has three women, but it is different for you."
Zhang Shaoyao's shoulders moved slightly, "What's different?"
Zhang Zhiyuan's expression calmed down and he said affirmatively in the tone he usually used when answering students' questions: "Of course it's different, because he only has you as his sister, and you are the most special one."
Zhang Shaoyao turned around and looked in the direction Mu Qing was leaving, frowned, and said with a faint look: "What's the use of being special? Why don't I stay farther and farther away from him? No, I have to go and meet those two women."
The girl seemed to be talking to herself. After she finished speaking, she realized that there was another person standing next to her.
She turned her neck stiffly, looked at Zhang Zhiyuan with a serious face, and subconsciously shrank her neck, "Uncle, you didn't hear anything just now, right?"
Zhang Zhiyuan had a sullen face and said slowly: "It's true that I didn't hear anything, but you can't go anywhere today, so you just come with me to see the people here."
