Chapter 1182: Representing Heaven's Mouth
In the moments that followed, Wei Yang twisted the handbell in his hand with an eerie rhythm.
The numerous "Natives," like tamed dogs, followed Wei Yang's commands without emotion, lunging to tear into the "Participants."
Watching Wei Yang toy with so many people as if they were livestock, seeing the wounds accumulated day after day on the Natives' bodies and their completely numbed expressions, Chu Tianqiu couldn't help but ponder.
Was Wei Yang's approach righteous... or evil?
He was using the dead to attack the dying. Since the "Natives" had no subjective consciousness and could only act on instinct, their attacks were almost entirely suicidal charges.
This was the first time Chu Tianqiu had witnessed true "rivers of blood" since the "Pegasus Moment."
Such an immense volume of blood flowed out, following the grooves in the ground to form countless small streams. If one listened closely, there was even a faint gurgling sound.
So in this situation... who could claim that Wei Yang represented the side of justice?
People were nothing but livestock in his hands, after all, he had always possessed the mindset of a "Celestial."
No... Chu Tianqiu shook his head. Perhaps this question had been biased from the very beginning.
The "Natives" hadn't become livestock only in Wei Yang's hands; they had been livestock long ago.
Trading nearly ten lives for a single death, the "Natives" charged forward one after another at the sound of the bell. After tearing apart dozens of people like wild beasts, the remaining encirclement fled in panic.
After all, the gathered "Natives" were nothing more than a rabble. They had neither a leader nor any tactics. When they saw people starting to die, they couldn't immediately estimate the death toll and simply assumed they were defeated.
Once the first person began to flee, the rest followed closely behind.
Wei Yang employed the tactic of "encircling a city but leaving a gap." He and Qin Dingdong surrounded the "Participants" from the left and right respectively, leaving them ample escape routes, which brought the entire battle to a swift conclusion.
Having suffered such a severe blow, these rabble, in their extreme panic, wouldn't be able to regroup for a long time.
Amidst the gurgling blood on the ground, the setting sun finally emitted its faint glow.
A few meters from Dìshǔ, a door of light materialized out of thin air, slowly materializing.
The door of light resembled a crack or a cave, slowly rotating in midair.
"It's time..." Dìshǔ said squinting. "Dear leaders, the 'Heaven's Will Station' has arrived. Please hold the handrails and board through the front door."
Chu Tianqiu turned around, looking at that dark, rotating "door," his heart full of complex emotions.
Logically speaking, "Heaven's Mouth" was already a dispensable link in this grand plan, yet it had still ended up with nearly everyone dead. What about the other "Organizations"?
After hearing this, Qin Dingdong stepped forward and stood directly in front of the door of light. She turned to look at Chu Tianqiu. "Who do you want to bring on board?"
Chu Tianqiu paused and looked back at the few teammates behind him.
Zhang Shan, Kim Won-hoon, Little Glasses, Li Xiangling.
"Can I only bring one...?" Chu Tianqiu's lips moved slightly, feeling this was a difficult choice.
Entering the "Train" could mean either "escape" or "death."
After all, countless "Zodiacs" were waiting there. Stepping through this door might initiate a life-and-death struggle for everyone.
"I'm not going." Li Xiangling said, holding her injured shoulder. "My 'Echo' is useless. I've always relied on my fists and feet, and now that I'm injured, I'd just be a burden... I'll wait here."
"Alright..."
"So..." Li Xiangling slowly raised her hand, a faint wave of "Conviction" rippling around her. "Do you want to take one last look at Sister Qiaoyun?"
"No." Chu Tianqiu said. "That's not the real her."
Little Glasses also stepped forward at this moment. His right arm had been broken and now hung from his shoulder like a rope.
"I'm the same as Li Xiangling." Little Glasses said. "My 'Purity' isn't much different from her 'Epiphany.' She's survived this long on her fists and feet; I've relied on my cleverness. So I won't grace this 'elegant gathering.'"
With that, Little Glasses placed his left hand on Chu Tianqiu's shoulder. The next second, the bloodstains and dust on Chu Tianqiu began to visibly disappear. His calm face started to show through, but his eyes remained crimson.
"Mr. Chu, you represent our 'Heaven's Mouth.' You need to be clean when meeting the big shots." Little Glasses, seemingly the most rational person, actually choked up as he said these words.
"Alright..." Chu Tianqiu, perhaps pondering something else, only nodded woodenly.
"So, does 'Heaven's Mouth' need me to clean up... I mean..." Little Glasses pretended to push up his glasses, discreetly wiping the corner of his eye with his pinky finger, then looked up as if nothing had happened. "Can we... meet again next time?"
"I'm not sure." Chu Tianqiu smiled sadly. "But I believe we'll meet again eventually."
"Alright, I'll go clean up the site..." Little Glasses said. "And look for Old Lü's body. He was a friend, after all. I'll bury him."
Chu Tianqiu nodded, then turned to look at Zhang Shan and Kim Won-hoon.
If anyone could board the train, it was probably only these two who could follow him to the end.
"You two..." Just as Chu Tianqiu started to speak, both of them interrupted him.
"I'm going with you." They said in unison.
Chu Tianqiu frowned slightly upon hearing this. He felt that neither of them was in good condition. Zhang Shan's body was covered in cuts from the metal shards, and Kim Won-hoon's complexion was deathly pale, having lost nearly half his sanity.
Under these circumstances, entering the "Train" would be certain death.
"Neither of you are allowed to go." Chu Tianqiu said. "Find a place to tend to your wounds. I'll fight this battle alone."
"Shit, don't fuck with me." Zhang Shan waved his hand, flinging blood off like shaking off water droplets. "They're just wounds. If I can activate 'Heaven's Motion' on that 'Train,' they'll heal in no time."
"Same for me." Kim Won-hoon said with a blank expression. "Brother Chu, you said it yourself... the crazier a person is, the stronger their 'Echo.' I'm that strong now."
Chu Tianqiu lowered his head in thought for a moment, his gaze finally settling on Zhang Shan.
"Zhang Shan, you'll come with me." Chu Tianqiu said. "Kim Won-hoon, find a place to rest."
"Why?" Kim Won-hoon was stunned. "Why won't you let me come, bro, huh?"
"Because your mission is different from Zhang Shan's." Chu Tianqiu said. "The reason he came here, joined 'Heaven's Mouth,' might have been for this very moment."
"I..." Kim Won-hoon paused and fell silent, lost in thought.