Join Us and Be a Pig

The story of the chang gui and how human hearts haven't changed from ancient times to the present. Human civilization has become more brilliant and advanced, but this has nothing to do with morality and character... It's been like this in every era; some people shine with brilliance, bringing tears of admiration, while others wallow in the spit of the masses, yet remain smug.

Qin Luming was a bit annoyed, but that was all. He was long past the age of becoming impassioned and indignant at every unpleasant sight, unable to calm down without arguing right from wrong.

He didn't have a particular preference for pork. Compared to other meats, he would agree that pork was an excellent ingredient. However, the meat from the pigs before him emitted a cured stench.

Qin Luming tightened his grip on the handle of his entrenching tool. Judging from the attacks on the two white pigs earlier, these pigs had enhanced stamina and tougher flesh, but they weren't overwhelmingly difficult to deal with. They were basically on par with the tough hides of the wild boar kings found in frigid regions.

They were slightly larger than the wild boar kings, but ultimately, they were transformed humans. Lacking the combat experience and training that wild boar kings gained from growing up in the wilderness, their ferocity was lesser, their ruthlessness inferior, and their fighting spirit even more so.

He eyed the two white pigs he had struck twice with his shovel. Blood was seeping from their snouts, and he might have even knocked out a few teeth.

The other three black pigs grunted and shuffled around Qin Luming, their encirclement much looser than when they had surrounded Che Yun.

Qin Luming suspected that these pigs were more wary of him. Furthermore, they had intended to capture Che Yun earlier, so that she too could be transformed into a sow to serve the Big Black Pig. The Big Black Pig would surely prefer a sturdy and durable Che Yun, rather than one who had been trampled by pigs.

The Big Black Pig's sexual orientation seemed normal, which meant Qin Luming had no hope of becoming the Big Black Pig's favored pig. The pigs surrounding him could then afford to relax their formation and attack him more recklessly.

The large white pig, possibly transformed from Yang Xiaoyan, stood behind the Big Black Pig with an air of self-importance. Qin Luming could detect a hint of schadenfreude in its eyes, as if it were certain that Qin Luming, with his male chauvinism, was also going to be turned into a pig.

Even beasts had organization, division of labor, and hierarchies. Qin Luming thought about capturing the leader first, believing that taking down the boss would make the other pigs hesitate. However, this Big Black Pig was clad in a seven-colored gem-encrusted golden armor, wore a golden helmet adorned with green pearls and tassels, and had dark gold leg guards on its limbs. It looked formidable, like a divine beast, clearly not to be trifled with. Qin Luming decided to target the large white pig first.

The tricky part was controlling his strength. If he didn't use enough force, they were too thick-skinned and fleshy. If he used too much force, what if he killed it?

Qin Luming wasn't feeling any pity at this moment. He had seen too many TV shows and movies where, after killing an opponent in such a situation, their true form would be revealed. What if, after killing the white pig, the corpse that appeared before him was Yang Xiaoyan?

What then?

He wasn't good at disposing of bodies... If it were a real pig, he could figure out a way to carry it back and try the taste of wild boar king.

"Let's retreat for now."

A voice filled with a sense of vicissitude and depth rang out.

Qin Luming quickly looked around, his gaze finally settling on the Big Black Pig. This robust Big Black Pig spoke human language again: "I mean you no harm. I'll come find you tonight, and we can discuss you joining us."

The entrenching tool fell to the ground.

Qin Luming shivered and snapped back to reality. He saw that the Big Black Pig, which held absolute authority among the pigs, had already turned and run.

The other six pigs, three black and three white, followed behind the Big Black Pig with grunts and snorts, casting reluctant glances back at Qin Luming.

Qin Luming recovered from his shock, picked up the entrenching tool he had dropped, and stared dumbfoundedly in the direction the pig herd had disappeared.

Qin Luming wasn't Marshal Tian Peng; who would want to join them!

Just now, Qin Luming's thoughts were pure speculation, lacking sufficient evidence to support his idea that this group of pigs was Yang Xiaoyan and her companions. But now, he was completely certain... Yang Xiaoyan and the others had joined the Big Black Pig's ranks in the form of pigs.

As for whether Yang Xiaoyan and the others joined willingly or by force, it was easy to imagine. Even someone like Qin Luming, who was so interested in strange events, couldn't possibly turn into a pig just for the novelty of the experience.

This Big Black Pig, while saying it meant him no harm, undoubtedly wanted to turn Qin Luming into a pig as well.

This was called no harm? The malice was overflowing like a reservoir that hadn't been filled for decades!

This pig could also speak human language.

After all, he was more concerned about his own safety. Only after realizing that a pig was trying to turn him into one did Qin Luming begin to try and accept the fact that this pig could speak human language.

Human vocalization and the formation of language are determined by a combination of factors such as the human vocal tract, nasal cavity, oral cavity, larynx, and breathing habits.

Other animals could also communicate through sound, and their vocalizations were determined by their own physiological factors.

According to Qin Luming's understanding, a pig with extremely high intelligence that tried to communicate with humans should express its intentions with "grunt grunt" sounds.

Wait... Qin Luming stopped his train of thought. Humans could turn into pigs, and a pig was already speaking in front of him. What was he still thinking about?

It was as meaningless as a reader arguing with an author about plot details.

Was this pig coming to find him tonight? Would he himself turn into a pig tonight?

Should he run far away now?

Qin Luming thought about it and decided there was no need to flee immediately.

It was impossible for the Big Black Pig to turn him into a pig without him noticing... otherwise, he would already be a pig.

This meant he had the chance to refuse. Yang Xiaoyan and the others were completely defenseless against the Big Black Pig; they were all turned into pigs by it.

Qin Luming would not give the Big Black Pig such an opportunity.

He waved the entrenching tool in his hand, watched the sun nearing the mountain peak in the distance, and turned back to pull Che Yun out of the tent.

Flipping the entrenching tool, Qin Luming used the pointed end of the handle to poke Che Yun's philtrum. Che Yun cried out in pain and opened her eyes.

"Mom..."

Che Yun wailed, tears streaming down her face, and lunged towards Qin Luming.

Qin Luming dodged her with lightning speed.

Che Yun tumbled to the ground. She truly hadn't expected Qin Luming to dodge her. After a moment of stunned silence, the lingering fear and shock she had just experienced subsided considerably.

"Qin, are you even human?" Che Yun looked at Qin Luming, who had a "good thing I was quick" expression on his face, in disbelief.

"For example, if a man you strongly dislike, who looks ordinary and has slightly sleazy thoughts, lunges at you with snot and tears, wouldn't you dodge?" Qin Luming held the entrenching tool, reasoning with his words.

If it were some person named Liu, they probably would have already swung their entrenching tool.

Che Yun wiped her tears and was momentarily speechless. It wasn't that she thought Qin Luming was right, but rather her mental state had collapsed. How could she be so unlucky to encounter such things while camping? The only man by her side lacked any gentlemanly demeanor or magnanimity, offering her no comfort whatsoever.

Che Yun quietly shrugged her shoulders and finally burst into tears again.

Qin Luming thought about it and decided to call the police.

Calling the police was meaningless now; it made no difference whether the police knew sooner or later. However, Che Yun knew the entire sequence of events and could prove that Qin Luming was aware that Yang Xiaoyan and her group were missing and had gone to look for them. If Qin Luming didn't report it promptly, someone might cause trouble for him later, accusing him of not reporting it in time and delaying the search and rescue.

This wasn't Qin Luming's responsibility, but given the current public opinion environment, if something happened, people could stand on moral high ground and spew venomous words. Their spittle would then fall like snowflakes in the sky of moral superiority.

There were many people who could distinguish right from wrong, but they often didn't speak up frequently and didn't have the energy to argue. Therefore, those who typed louder on their keyboards had a greater presence.

Qin Luming ignored Che Yun, who was still crying hysterically. However, when he called the police, her wailing clearly added a slight sense of urgency.

Cases for missing adults are only filed after twenty-four hours. Missing minors are an exception and can be filed and investigated at any time.

Filing a case is one thing, reporting a case is another. Reporting can be done at any time.

Even if a case isn't immediately filed after a report, investigations and search and rescue efforts will still be organized based on the situation.

Hearing Qin Luming call the police, Che Yun finally stopped crying. She looked at him with hopeful eyes, wishing he would say something to her.

Qin Luming really had nothing to say. Should he tell Che Yun that her friends had all turned into pigs, and after turning into pigs, they immediately wanted her to turn into a pig too? That he was the hero who saved her?

Che Yun remained sitting on the ground where she had fallen. She wasn't obstructing Qin Luming's entry or exit from the tent, so Qin Luming ignored her and started preparing food.

Soon, he received a message from the search and rescue team summoning members. He entered the search and rescue team's group chat and reported that he was on-site.

The search and rescue teams in City A were all composed of volunteers. Besides thirty frontline members who formed the main search and rescue force, there were nearly two hundred secondary members. Qin Luming was one of the secondary members who couldn't guarantee participation in rescue efforts at any given time.

Sigh, Qin Luming knew there was no other way. The search and rescue team would definitely be mobilized, and he couldn't say anything too dangerous in the group chat to discourage people from coming… He would take the lead then.

He didn't care about the lives of Yang Xiaoyan and her group, but for the search and rescue team, which was entirely composed of volunteers, he definitely had to provide help to the best of his ability.

After finishing his food and waiting for a while, it was already dark. Qin Luming sat on the ground mat outside the tent, slowly drinking a pot of instant bird's nest porridge. The advance team of the search and rescue team, along with police officers and guides familiar with the area around the dam from their previous work there, arrived at the mountaintop, shining their flashlights.