Chapter 817: The Sorrow of the World
“That’s not even a ‘mutual aid group,’ it’s two social media platforms,” said Ground Snake. “If you don’t understand something, could you please stop talking nonsense?”
“Then can you stop sneering at others?” Qiao Jiajin asked.
“Do I need to listen to you to decide what I do?” Ground Snake said with displeasure. “This is my own choice. Besides, everyone who joins the organization does so voluntarily.”
“That sounds nice,” Qiao Jiajin scoffed. “Do those old friends know you’re mocking them behind their backs?”
“Of course not,” Ground Snake replied. “If they knew, how could I keep laughing at them?”
“But these people thought they found redemption with you. Little do they know they’ve become the clowns,” Qiao Jiajin said. “When you run into misfortune in your own life, don’t you hope someone will help you? And when you finally muster the courage to accept help from others, only to discover it’s all a scam—won’t that crush you even more?”
“What does that have to do with me?” Ground Snake said. “What ridiculous ‘mutual aid group’… Do you think there are saints in this world who help others with all their hearts? I provide the venue, I provide the time, I provide the emotional support. These people just come to me to vent their troubles, and plenty of others comfort them. What’s the difference between that and pie falling from the sky?”
Qi Xia had been listening on the sidelines, and he felt something was off. He rubbed his chin and asked, “If I remember correctly, we just said we wanted to understand the ‘mutual aid group,’ and you’ve already laid out your hand for us. Is that right? What if we were ‘participants’ looking to join the organization?”
“Come on,” Ground Snake waved his hand. “The three of you have looks—one proud, one pure, one wild. What kind of sob story could you possibly tell me that would make me laugh my teeth out?”
“What if we did?” Qi Xia asked.
“If you did, then it wouldn’t be a story I could laugh at,” Ground Snake said. “I only need the sorrows of people worse off than me. I don’t want to hear the sorrows of people like you. You deserve to be down and out—it’s heaven’s justice, it’s evil getting its due.”
“I think I have a rough idea of what kind of person you are,” Qi Xia nodded. “But now that you’re ‘Ground Level,’ you’ve surpassed ordinary people in every way. Why do you still need to listen to other people’s sorrows?”
“Because I’m really, truly sorrowful!!” Ground Snake stared with wide eyes. “Can’t you see the sorrow in my eyes?!”
“Sorry, but you have eyes like a snake’s. I can’t tell,” Qi Xia said.
“And you have the nerve to talk about me…” Ground Snake sneered. “Are your eyes any better than mine?”
“It seems you know me…?” Qi Xia asked.
“I’m in a bad mood right now. I won’t answer that,” Ground Snake said, turning his head away.
“Fine, then tell me why a ‘Ground Level’ needs the sorrows of ordinary people?”
Ground Snake thought for a moment and replied, “I’m such a conflicted person. I’m cynical, I hate everyone, I resent the rich, the handsome, women, and the virtuous. But once I hear a truly tragic story… I actually feel sad too. I even deeply empathize…”
“So?” Qi Xia asked.
“So I need to hang myself…” Ground Snake said. “When normal people face something like that… they’d either jump off a building or hang themselves, right? But every time I hang myself, I realize how strong my body is. Something that could kill a mortal can’t even hurt me. That’s when I understand that even if those sorrows fell on me, I couldn’t be beaten. So I instantly feel happy again. That’s what I repeat every cycle. I need to ‘hang myself’ to prove I’m stronger than them.”
After hearing that, Chen Junnan could barely sit still. “Man, you sure live a conflicted life. You want to do it, then you’re sad, then scared, then suicidal, then happy again. Why not just stay put?”
“Stay put…?” Ground Snake said. “I told you, I do whatever I want. Even if every random thought leaves a deep impact on me, that’s my own doing. And if I really did nothing, I’d go crazy soon enough. I really can’t understand why those coworkers can stand at the venue entrance every day. Don’t they get bored to death?! Don’t they have any thoughts in their heads?!”
“They might have thoughts, but not as twisted as yours,” Qi Xia said.
“Ha.” Ground Snake was amused by Qi Xia’s words. “I’ve always been twisted. And I think everyone’s heart is twisted—just to different degrees.”
“Alright, next question,” Qi Xia said. “How’s your mood right now?”
“Not bad, but I still feel like hanging myself a bit,” Ground Snake replied.
“Do it later,” Qi Xia said, then pointed at Chen Junnan. “What did you just do to him? Can you control a person’s emotions?”
Ground Snake looked at Qi Xia after hearing that, then grinned. “Come on, let’s try it now.”
“Try it?”
Ground Snake stood up, walked between them, and extended his hand, palm down.
“Let’s all shout ‘Go team’ together,” Ground Snake said. “You’ll understand after we shout it.”
“Do you have nothing better to do?” Chen Junnan asked. “Why can’t you just tell us directly?”
“Where’s the fun in that?!” Ground Snake laughed maniacally. “Come on!! This will make me feel better!”
Qi Xia stepped forward and immediately placed his hand on Ground Snake’s. Qiao Jiajin and Chen Junnan followed suit, putting their hands on top of Qi Xia’s. Qin Dingdong was the last to join, stacking her hand with the others.
Ground Snake looked very happy. “I’ll show you my trick!”
Then he shouted, “One, two, three,” followed by a loud “Go team!”
It was only himself shouting from start to finish.
“Qi Xia,” Ground Snake called out. “Looks like you didn’t even keep your memories. That really cracks me up.”
“Oh?” Qi Xia raised his lips. “Hearing you call my name, I realize coming to find you was definitely the right choice.”
“Too bad I feel like talking to you one moment and ignoring you the next. What can you do about it?” Ground Snake said. “Now you’ve even forgotten what happens when you touch me. You’ve got a rude awakening coming.”
“Then I’ll wait and see.”
Within a few seconds, the expressions of the people beside Qi Xia gradually changed.
Chen Junnan and Qiao Jiajin both furrowed their brows, while Qin Dingdong’s eyes turned red.
They all looked deeply sorrowful, as if burdened by something heavy.
“Hahahaha!” Ground Snake burst into laughter. “It feels so good to laugh freely! No need to pretend! I’m just here to mock the sorrow in your hearts! I make you cry when I want you to cry. Am I any different from a god?”
But after a few loud laughs, Ground Snake gradually sensed something was off.
His gaze shifted from the people around Qi Xia and landed on Qi Xia himself.
Qi Xia stood there expressionless, then said, “Is this your ability?”
“What…?” Ground Snake was taken aback. “How is that possible… You were the one who touched me directly… You… you…”
“It’s fine,” Qi Xia slowly extended his hand. “Try again.”