"Longmen, the city of Yan Kingdom."
Valentine turned around, leaned back on the table, and looked at the night scene outside. Roadside shops and layers of old signboards are squeezed into the outer ring of the gantry like matchboxes, forming a sharp contrast with the rows of skyscrapers in the distance. If it weren't for the Chinese characters that can be seen everywhere, Valentine would have thought that he was still in Colombia, avoiding the pursuit of Rhine Life.
Colorful neon lights filled the entire Longmen slum, painting the black sky into dazzling colors. Even at night, the brightness of the slums was not as different as during the day. Young people with dyed hair wearing motorcycle jackets gathered together to show off their motorcycles and skills on the deserted streets, showing off their youth wantonly. Pedestrians on the street were in twos and threes, and the sounds of laughter, talking, and yelling dispersed into the greasy air, making Valentine feel extremely familiar.
It was no different from where he had lived as a child.
The scavenger disappeared when he took the first step into the Longmen slums. Valentine looked for him for two minutes without seeing his shadow. Considering his battle with the Integration Movement in Chicheng and the fact that as a new operator, he took the initiative to carry out the task of collecting intelligence, Valentin felt that it was not a big deal for Rhode Island to send someone to monitor them. Something to be surprised about.
It's just that Rhode Island doesn't know that Valentine knows most of the operators in the base and knows about the existence of SWEEP, even though the opponent has never appeared in the Rhode Island base.
It can only be said that Kelsey was a bit unlucky. The operator sent to monitor Valentine happened to be his favorite vanguard in his previous life. He remembered the scavenger files clearly.
Although Valentine did not have a clear plan, his actions in the Longmen slum today were still effective. A large number of refugees poured into Longmen, causing the biggest change in the slums. In just one afternoon, he encountered law enforcement from the Longmen Guards Bureau twice. Those arrested were all cut into refugees. The pair of small, round and furry ears were evidence of this.
To be honest, he really wanted to rub Winter's ears to see how it felt, but considering the power gap between himself and her, Valentin reluctantly gave up the idea.
Xing Yihuang knew how to control his strength when hitting him, but Lin Dong didn't know that.
As for truth, Valentin had touched it many times, back in Chernobog. It feels good, the hair is a little hard, but overall it's soft and warm. It can even be used to warm your hands in winter.
The price was to be beaten half to death by the book Das Kapital, which was given to him by Valentine.
"Do you feel like you're back home?" He lightly bumped into Xing Yihuang beside him, and the other party just rolled his eyes in response.
"No."
"I think I should light a cigarette and hold it in my mouth, looking at the pedestrians in the distance in the smoke and pretending to be serious." Valentine turned around and picked up a chopstick and pretended to smoke. Xing Yihuang just glanced at it. She glanced at him and continued to focus on her noodles.
"Smoking is harmful to health." A bowl of noodles was placed in front of Valentine, and the clear soup was garnished with a little red oil and coriander.
"Please use the noodles you want slowly." The dragon chef with two horns on his head smiled at Valentine, then turned around to greet other guests.
The Dragon Clan is the race with the largest population in the Yan Kingdom, even in this most open city-state in the Yan Kingdom.
"Slums, neon lights, food trucks, noodles... the cyberpunk style is all here." Valentine picked up another chopstick to stir the noodles, picked up a few and put them into his mouth.
The taste is average, not as good as Raphael's craftsmanship.
Of course, it was Raphael after he became proficient in cooking.
However, considering that this bowl of noodles only costs five Longmen coins, Valentine thinks it is still worth it.
"It would be more artistic if it rained heavily now..." Valentin chewed noodles, his voice slurred.
"What artistic conception?" Xing Yihuang wiped his mouth and threw the napkin into the trash can. She always eats quickly, especially when eating Chinese food.
The noodles at this food truck are more Chinese-flavored than those at the Rhode Island cafeteria.
"Cyberpunk is a form of artistic expression, high technology and low life. The villains are always companies that are no different from the country. The protagonists are all 'untouchable' killers who are born and die in the slums to survive, with strong dystopia and pessimism. ism color..."
Valentin racked his brains to explain this concept to Xing Yihuang. He didn’t know much about cyberpunk, and he was only interested in it because of the game “Cyberpunk 2077” that had not yet been released.
"You can even fuck transvestites in the game."
This is why he opened Baidu to search for relevant information.
"never heard of that."
Xing Yihuang briefly reviewed the memory in her mind. This was the first time she heard this word.
"Then I am the father of cyberpunk in the world of Terra? I now have a bold idea..."
Valentine slurped the noodles and began to imagine his life as a big star.
"I think it would be better for you to think about where we should stay at night." Xing Yihuang decisively shattered Valentine's unrealistic imagination and raised an extremely realistic question.
They are now in the same situation as when they just escaped from the Rhineland. They have no identification, Ursus's mobile phone card has no signal, and the surrounding wireless networks are all locked.
Obviously there is no such software as WiFi Master Key in this world.
"I will always love Sir Chen... Pfft." Valentine looked at the wifi signal that could be found on his phone and laughed out loud.
"Isn't this guy afraid of having his water meter checked by the Guards Bureau? Star Bear's shield will definitely leave a deep impression on him."
"Are you familiar with the Guard Bureau?" Xing Yihuang pushed the napkin box in front of Valentine. This guy accidentally spit out some noodle soup when he was laughing. He looked like a child who didn't eat well.
"I'm not familiar with it. I've heard some scandals there." Valentine simply wiped the table in front of him and threw the garbage on the ground, ignoring the trash can at his feet...
And the little punk lying next to the trash can wailing in pain.
Just when Valentine was looking for nearby wifi, two groups of people behind them got into a fight for some unknown reason. Their voices were loud and loud, but their moves were completely unsightly. They were all throwing punches. There were not many real slaps on the face. After a few minutes of beating, only a few people were lying on the ground squirming. They were completely incomparable to the gangsters in Ursus.
Xing Yihuang looked at the lively scene in front of him and had no intention of stopping it. The owner, chef and waiter of the food truck also showed no fear. He sat behind the table with an excited face and kept waving his hands as if he was watching. Boxing match spectators.
"Aren't you scared?" Xing Yihuang glanced at the boss, his expression a little surprised, only for a moment.
"Why should you be afraid? They are just a bunch of boys. They don't even have weapons. They are not a real gang at all." The noodle stall owner shrugged.
"For me it's just entertainment... but if they dare to destroy my food truck, that's another way of entertainment."
The noodle stall owner raised his arms to show off his plump biceps.
"Are you from Qicheng?"
Xing Yihuang nodded.
At this time, Valentin was holding his cell phone and trying to crack the locked WIFI, trying his luck by entering 123456 one by one.
The WIFI at the city gate is free and the speed is very fast. However, when you enter the city, you can’t use the Internet. It’s really *expletive*.
"In your eyes, this is not a gang, right? I heard that your gang had a war two years ago and many people died." The boss leaned on the table and chatted with Xing Yihuang. , using authentic Chinese.
Xing Yihuang is from the Dragon Clan of the Yan Kingdom. Although she has been growing up in Ursus, she has not forgotten Chinese, but her accent is a bit strange.
"There is such a thing. One gang declared war on four other gangs and unified the entire Qicheng underworld in a few weeks."
And she and Valentine are the most powerful figures in the underground world.
Was.
"The gangs in Longmen are not the same as yours. There is only one gang leader here, called the Rat King." The boss casually pushed away a gangster who accidentally approached and closed the door of the dining car.
"The Rat King regards the slums as his own, and has formulated a lot of rules to discipline the gangs here. As long as someone dares to violate these rules, not only the Guards Bureau, but also the Rat King's punishment awaits them."
"So, the gangs in Longmen are very well-behaved. Although there are occasional fights, very few people are killed. They have their own industries in the slums, and many chain fast food restaurants and hotels are run by gangs. , just to find a place for his subordinates to work, so that they will not have trouble looking for trouble. If they are targeted by the Rat King, they will be in trouble. Similarly, these reasonable industries can also provide a layer of disguise for those illegal activities. "
He pointed at the gangsters who were still fighting outside: "As for these guys, they are not even a gang. When they fight, they only shout slogans and beat each other with their fists. They are just a group of young people who have watched the hot-blooded gangsters. , the Rat King doesn’t even bother to care about them.”
"Didn't they cause any deaths?" Xing Yihuang looked at the gangsters lying on the ground and still saying harsh words to each other, and felt that they were really embarrassed.
When these guys mature a little and look back at what they did today, they will definitely want to hide in the toilet in shame.
"If they dare go out on the streets with sticks and sharp weapons, there will be caring citizens who teach them how to behave - and I mean actual gang members."
"What a magical city." Xing Yihuang sighed in a low voice as he looked at the gangsters who were still scolding each other.
What's going on with the gangs now? Each one is more formal than the other, and they will take the initiative to maintain public order in the city...
"Of course there are unruly gangs in the slums, but there are very few. The Rat King has no handle on them, so it's not very safe here. At least it's not as safe as the Lower Town and Uptown. But don't worry about someone trying to take you away. s life."
The noodle stall owner seemed to have a good impression of Xing Yihuang and kept talking.
"The Guards Bureau has also become more concerned about the slums than before, especially after a new superintendent took office. People from the Guards Bureau patrol the slums every week, and those guys living in the sewers do not do bad things. opportunity."
"In short, the slums are very suitable for us people to live in. At least we can find a job here that can make a living. We don't have to worry about our lives and property being inexplicably threatened. There are no nobles squeezing the blood and sweat of the common people. As long as you don't cause trouble, You can live peacefully in the slums of Longmen until you die of old age."
Hearing this, Xing Yihuang glanced at Valentine subconsciously.
This guy seems to be born to cause trouble, and he probably won't be able to calm down when he comes to Longmen this time.
"Thank you, boss." Xing Yihuang nodded and placed a Longmen coin on the table.
"Is there any hotel nearby where you can stay without identification?" She took out another Longmen coin and put it on the table.
The boss looked down at the table, smiled and put the money in his pocket: "Every hotel in the slums does not require identification, but double deposit is required."
After getting the answer, Xing Yihuang nodded, stood up, took Valentine's arm and left, completely ignoring his words.
"Hey, hey, hey... I haven't finished eating yet! Wait a minute, you're trying too hard and my arm hurts!"
The wail of a certain Waifan came from the alley. The noodle stall owner looked at the two people walking away, shook his head and clicked his tongue twice.
"Poor young man... it must be uncomfortable to be in a relationship dominated by a woman."
Just when he was about to close the door, a deafening roar came from the back of the food truck: "Damn it! What time is it? Why don't you close the door quickly! Clean the bowl for me before going to bed! I have to buy ingredients tomorrow morning! Hurry and make it Go to bed after work!”
"I understand, honey! I'll finish washing it soon! You go to bed first!"
The noodle stall owner patted his somewhat bald head with a look of despair on his face, but his voice was extremely flattering.
Looking at the still colorful night outside, the man sighed, threw the remaining bowl into the sink, and turned on the faucet.
——————Feel the power of communism! ————————
Nights in the slums are not quiet.
Valentine was lying on the bed, covered with a thick quilt. Xing Yihuang slept next to him, about one meter away from him - just enough space for a large bedside table in the middle.
Xing Yihuang was probably asleep. At least in the half hour after they lay down, Valentin didn't see Xing Yihuang turn over or go to the toilet. Although they had closed the curtains, the colorful neon lights still stubbornly broke through the dirty curtains and squeezed into the room. Valentine lay on the bed with his eyes open, watching the faint color changes on the ceiling.
Probably because they were tired of playing, the sound of the motorcycle engine that had been lingering next to Valentine's eardrums since he was still eating noodles finally stopped. The whole world fell silent at this moment, and the slums finally fell asleep. Only the neon lights were still shining alone. Valentine unlocked his phone and adjusted the brightness.
"1:47..."
It's very late.
"It's a pity that I can't sleep." Valentine sighed softly, turned over, and faced Xing Yihuang, who was sleeping soundly.
When Valentin came to the hotel to book a room, when he was about to book two ordinary rooms, Xing Yihuang had already obtained the key to a double room from the front desk. Looking at the thumbs up and suggestive eyes of the uncle at the front desk, Valentine felt very tired.
Since meeting Xing Yihuang, they have stayed in hotels three times. The first time was because he didn't have much money and he opened a double room to save money. The second time, I also booked a double room to save money, but Xing Yihuang opened it himself. This is the third time. They have been accumulating in Chernobog for two years. Although Valentin made drastic reforms in the middle and wasted a lot of gantry coins, they still have more than 100,000 gantry coins in their account. There is no money at all. I need to save these dozens of dollars...
Valentin didn't understand what this sister was thinking.
It can't be because Xing Yihuang is afraid of the dark, right?
He didn't believe it himself.
If she had any ideas, Valentin didn't see any real action from Xing Yihuang. She still followed him with a glance as before, resolutely carrying out her obligations as a bodyguard...
By the way, some physical corrections were made while he was trying to commit suicide. The relationship between the two was as harmonious as that of brother and sister.
I say they are siblings because the way they get along doesn't look like a couple at all. No hugs, no kisses, no words of love, just mutual trust and a common path.
Valentine's body ached. This is the sequelae left after he became an infected person. The Source Stone crystals in his body will show their presence every midnight, as if countless tiny needles appear in his body, constantly stimulating His pain-sensing nerves surged one after another, like the tide at night. Sometimes the pain was excruciating, and after a while he no longer felt the pain. This became the main reason for Valentine's insomnia. He could only sleep well a few days after injecting Rhode Island's mineral sickness inhibitor, which was why he had to inject it once a week, especially after coming to Rhode Island.
I have to get up early to work every day, and I can no longer sleep until I wake up naturally and fish openly like before.
Tonight was probably the first time that he observed Xing Yihuang's face so carefully. If he were asked to use two words to describe Xing Yihuang, Valentine would definitely blurt out that he is handsome and chic.
This is also the impression Xing Yihuang left on most people.
As a girl in her prime, Valentin had never seen Xing Yihuang wearing a skirt, not even a long skirt that was very conservative and would never expose her body. Instead, she wore trousers and hot pants. Being loved by her is probably related to her experience in Qicheng.
As a gang leader, and at the same time protecting Valentine's safety, Xing Yihuang always wears professional attire, a black women's formal suit, but his lower body is not a standard skirt and black silk, but trousers .
Valentin once made a proposal to let Xing Yihuang wear a skirt, but after seeing the faint black dragon behind her, he took the proposal back and rotted in his stomach.
But now Valentin decided to change his impression of Xing Yihuang. Xing Yihuang was very cute in his sleep. She was sleeping on her side, with her hands on her chest and her mouth slightly open. The black hair hung down by her mouth, swaying regularly with Xing Yihuang's breathing. Valentin quietly lifted up the quilt, walked to Xing Yihuang and squatted down, carefully observing her sleeping.
...Xing Yihuang actually drools while sleeping.
Valentine thought he had discovered big news. But this also shows that Xing Yihuang trusts him. He sleeps so hard and is not afraid of him coming to attack him at night. Valentine turned around, took the cell phone from the bedside, and turned on the camera.
He wanted to take a picture of this scene. Xing Yihuang, who was usually so handsome and unrestrained, would drool like a little girl while sleeping. If he told Raphael about this, he would probably laugh at her for a whole month.
Valentin pressed her thumb on the speaker and turned her cell phone to silent so as not to wake her up with the sound of the shutter taking pictures. If he woke up, the consequences would be serious. Valentine could call Kelsey directly and ask to end the mission early because he was in the ICU.
He took his mobile phone and opened the curtains a little to let in more light. The whole process was very exciting. Valentin slowly opened the curtains while looking at Xing Yihuang's face, his heart beating as fast as a high-speed train.
Very good, this sister is not awake.
Valentine squatted down, pointed the phone camera at Xing Yihuang's face, found a position with the best light, and pressed the shooting button.
After a flash of light, Xing Yihuang's sleeping face was clearly recorded on his mobile phone. At the same time, Valentine also woke up the sleeping female dragon.
He turned off the sound but forgot to turn off the flash.
Looking at the confused Xing Yihuang, Valentin felt that he was going to spend a night of pain and happiness today.
He closed his eyes, locked his phone and threw it next to the pillow, preparing to face the coming storm.
Five seconds later.
The expected punch did not hit his face, which made Valentine a little confused. He opened his eyes and saw Xing Yihuang lying on the bed again. Only this time she wasn't facing Valentine, but fell asleep facing inward.
"It shouldn't be..."
According to Xing Yihuang's violent character, Valentine would definitely have to be fisted when taking embarrassing photos of her. This time, he turned around and went to sleep without beating him. Valentine felt that what he brought out should be someone dressed up as Xing Yihuang. Raphael of Phoenix.
Putting those unrealistic imaginations behind him, Valentine scratched his head and prepared to go to bed. Since he hasn't been beaten, he should rest well and try to get another one during the day tomorrow - in other words, his skin is itchy.
Lying on the bed, Valentin turned on his phone and found the photo. Xing Yihuang in the photo looks like a little girl under the flash, very cute and even a little silly. Soon, Valentine noticed something special about this photo: January 1, 1097, 1:52.
His stay in this world has entered its third year.
Valentine turned off his phone, and the only light source in the room disappeared. In the darkness, he looked at the back of Xing Yihuang's head not far away, and an inexplicable emotion emerged in his heart.
"Happy New Year."
Valentine smiled, lay on the bed and closed his eyes.
After an unknown amount of time, Xing Yihuang slowly opened his eyes. Everything seems to slow down in the dark, including time. She turned around slowly, and Valentine's side face came into her view.
Valentine had fallen asleep, snoring slightly and occasionally scratching his face.
"Happy New Year."
She repeated the greeting in a voice that only she could hear, and fell asleep again.
