Meng Chao sank into deep thought.
Meng Chao did not know whether it was a figment of his imagination or whether it was because of the powerful spirit energy magnetic field interference from the crystal mine, but Lin Chuan's vitality magnetic field was a little abnormal. Meng Chao felt that after he went underground, his eyes would occasionally shine with a strange light.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm not talking about Lu Siya's father. He used my father's death and the birthday present he gave me to put on an act to create the image of himself as someone who values relationships."
The light in Lin Chuan's eyes faded away and he said calmly, "Lu Siya's father can't be blamed for handling my father's death. He called my father his best brother on multiple occasions and took good care of our family's lives, especially me, who received the birthday present.
"When he noticed that I had extraordinary talent, he spared no effort in training me and gave me the chance to study in a noble school. In fact, during the critical period when we were competing for the position of the general person-in-charge of a mining company, he even brought me to his house to stay for a while, which made Lu Siya and I become really good friends.
"After I stepped into society, Lu Siya and her father also spared no effort in helping me. I was able to become the Weeping Reaper I am today because of their support.
"Even if he's just putting on an act, Lu Siya's father's acting skills can be considered to be peerless and almost perfect.
"But all of this can't replace a real father. Can you understand how I feel?
"The pain of losing your father is like a jar of wine that's buried deep underground. When you're young, you're unable to taste its full flavor, but as you gradually grow up, that unforgettable pain will surge into your heart from time to time, causing you to be unable to sleep at night and lose all hope.
"That's right. My father's death brought a lot of things to the family. In fact, he completely changed my fate. But when he was alive, he wasn't a perfect and loving father. He was a little ugly, often covered in stinky sweat, and had a really bad temper. He was completely different from Lu Siya's elegant, elegant, and wise father. But … he's my father!"
Meng Chao nodded and remembered his father.
Meng Yishan was a harvester. Sometimes, he was tired from work and did not even have time to wash up before he went home, so he smelled bad.
Besides, when his family was poor and his work was not going smoothly, his temper was not that good either.
But he was still a mountain in Meng Chao's heart.
Even though he had awakened to supernatural powers and could kill Nightmarish Beasts with his bare hands, smelling his father's scent still made him feel strangely at ease.
"When I was an ignorant teenager, I could ignore the difference in our statuses and go crazy with Lu Siya, but people grow up and realize that we're different."
Lin Chuan's eyelids twitched, and he said with great difficulty, "After I became a superhuman, I gained the experience of fighting in the wild and exploring mines. When I looked back at the mine exploration mission that caused my father's death in the past, I found a lot of suspicious things about the mine exploration mission. Perhaps if Lu Siya's father had reported it to the higher ups of the corporation beforehand and sent a larger mine exploration team, he could have chosen a safer path and method, and this accident could have been avoided.
"I don't want to say that Lu Siya's father caused my father's death. After all, he took the lead and also risked his life. He didn't use any forceful methods either. Instead, he used great rewards to attract the miners and mine explorers to join him willingly. Everyone knows just how dangerous the mission is. Life and death are determined by fate, and if you're willing to gamble, you have to be willing to lose.
"Besides, Lu Siya's father's actions can't be blamed on her. Even if there was a flaw in her father's choice in the past, it shouldn't have affected my friendship with her.
"But humans aren't completely rational animals.
"Logically speaking, I know that she's innocent.
"But emotionally speaking, I can't get along with her as purely as before.
"Besides, every time I see her, I can't help but come into contact with her father, the man who might have caused my father's death but took care of me and cultivated me.
"That's why I hid from her for a few years. Then, this time, she entered Graveyard Forest, where I was active all year round. I could no longer hide from her, and I reluctantly joined her mine exploration team.
"I thought that this operation could ease our relationship, but now, I regret it. When I see Lu Siya's unscrupulous way of doing things to achieve her goals, I can't help but wonder whether Lu Siya's father was the same when we were deep underground. Did he order people like my father to take risks again and again just to search for crystal mines? In the end, he caused everyone's deaths?"
When Meng Chao saw that he was becoming more agitated as he spoke and gritted his teeth, he looked completely different from his usual gentle and elegant Weeping Reaper. He quickly held his shoulder and said, "Big Brother Lin, are you alright? Is the spirit energy magnetic field interference too strong? Your mental strength index is fluctuating. Do you want to enter deep meditation and rest for a while?"
"I'm fine."
Lin Chuan sucked in a deep breath and calmed down. Then, he said earnestly, "I'm telling you all this because I want to remind you that your life belongs to you, and it also belongs to your family. If you want to stand out, you should definitely risk your life, but you can only fight for yourself and your family. No one else is worth it.
"So, if you run into danger in the next mission, remember that the most important thing is to protect your own life. Lu Siya, me, or anyone else in the team isn't worth it for you to risk your life to save them. Otherwise, if you die and she completes the mission, she will obtain wealth, glory, and power. Is there any meaning to her crying at your grave?
"As for whether you want to join Sky Pillar Corporation or another superpower, you can, but remember this. You can only fight for yourself. You can sell your time, skills, intellect, and even dignity, but you can't sell your life to anyone, understand?"
"I understand."
When Meng Chao heard this, he could not help but say, "Big Brother Lin, you've really misunderstood. I risked my life to save Ms. Lu just now not because I want to sell my life to her.
"This mine exploration mission has nothing to do with her either. I just want to fight with you and end this battle as soon as possible.
"I'm the same as you. I don't admire Ms. Lu's way of doing things, and I don't believe in her promises or bewitchment. But there's one thing I think she's right about. Whether we can find the Red Radiance Jade mine is very important to us winning the northern offense. And as a Spirit Sensor, she has an irreplaceable role in finding the Red Radiance Jade mine. That's why I risked my life just now.
"I don't care how ambitious Ms. Lu is, and I don't care how many benefits she can get from the Red Radiance Jade mine. At the very least, she can end the extreme weather and fog on the surface so that our steel army can rush into Shattered Starlake and Graveyard Forest. We can obtain a satisfying victory, and it'll be beneficial to Dragon City and all of human civilization. Isn't this worth risking our lives for?"
Lin Chuan stared at him for a long time.
Suddenly, he grinned and started laughing soundlessly.
He laughed madly and covered his face with his hands. His shoulders moved up and down, as if he was performing a clumsy and strange dance.
Meng Chao frowned. "Did I say something wrong? Is it really that funny?"
"No, I'm not laughing at you. I'm just laughing at my past self, because my original thoughts were the same as yours."
Lin Chuan was finally done laughing. He moved his palms away and revealed a face that was crying from laughter.
There was still a faint hint of a smile on his lips.
But his gaze was as sharp as a cold blade.
It was as if he had finally made some sort of decision.
"Listen, Meng Chao, if you really believe in Lu Siya's promise and fight for money, power, authority, and all sorts of resources, even if you sell your life for her, then even if it's stupid, there's still a slight chance that you can get what you want."
He drew closer, and with a stern expression, he enunciated each word clearly. "But don't fight for your comrades, humanity, or civilization. You'd rather work for Lu Siya or any other specific person or specific benefits than for human civilization. This is the most sincere advice I'll give you."
Meng Chao was puzzled, and he could not help but break out in cold sweat. "Why?"
"Because there's no such thing as a human civilization. In fact, there's no such thing as a human," Lin Chuan said in an unfathomable manner.
Then, he stood up. "Come with me."
He brought Meng Chao out of the tent and through the camp to a corner of the cave.
There was a lot of spirit energy here, and it gave birth to all sorts of pests and underground creatures.
It was also near the territory of the Stone Statue Fungus. The Stone Statue Fungus released a presence that humans could not recognize, but it could easily attract pests and lure them into a trap.
Hence, when Meng Chao lifted the rock gently, he saw a lot of squirming insects. It was a detailed ecosystem.
Lin Chuan had Meng Chao retract his aura and observe quietly.
Most of the pests had never seen humans before, so they were not afraid of them. In fact, they could not understand just what sort of existences they were.
They just focused on hunting, eating, digesting, and reproducing.
Soon, Meng Chao saw a small insect squirming and eating moss. Then, it was eaten by a praying mantis-shaped monster. The praying mantis was then taken away by a lizard-type monster. The lizard-type monster was then eaten by a strange snake with a tumor on its head. The strange snake was attracted by the fragrance of the Stone Statue Fungus. It swayed its head and tail and swam toward the Stone Statue Fungus swarm. It was a hell of sticky liquid and sharp blades.
"Do you see these monsters?" Lin Chuan asked Meng Chao.
"I see them." Meng Chao nodded.
Even though there was no sunlight underground, the crystal mine shone with a faint light. It stimulated the superhumans' visual cells and allowed them to see an incredibly dazzling and rich world.
Lin Chuan shook his head and said, "No, there are no monsters here."
Meng Chao was a little stunned. He thought that Lin Chuan meant that the pests were too weak and did not deserve the title of monsters.
"I only see insects, praying mantises, lizards, poisonous snakes, spiders, and fungi," Lin Chuan said. "Tell me, where are the monsters?"
"Aren't they all monsters?" Meng Chao asked.
"Are they?"
Lin Chuan smiled faintly. "Let's say that they're all monsters and they're suddenly given intelligence that's on par with humans and the ability to communicate with each other by some mysterious power. Then, the poisonous snake says to the lizard, 'Brother Lizard, we should fight to the death against human civilization for the monster civilization.' What do you think the lizard that was just swallowed by the poisonous snake would think?
"What if the poisonous snake takes it one step further and says, 'Brother Lizard, for the great, sacred, and noble monster civilization, all of us monsters have to do our best, fulfill our duties, and contribute all of our strength? So, you should take the initiative to jump into my mouth and sacrifice yourself so that I can become stronger so that I can bite more humans to death. This is for the sake of millions of monsters!'
"Do you think that the lizard will believe the poisonous snake?"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
