Clack-clack—whoosh!
As the mist on the windows dispersed, the bus came to a stop on a tidy asphalt road.
The passengers got off one after another. An elderly man with a cane and graying temples noticed Ji Yan half-asleep in his seat and politely reminded him, "Young man, this is the stop. You should get off."
Ji Yan raised his eyes and looked at the old man's swollen belly. The "child" inside seemed to have drained away all his nutrients, leaving his facial bones and limbs thin as sticks.
He began the interaction. "Sir, how many months along are you?"
"About five months, I think. I pay close attention to my diet and lifestyle every day, eagerly awaiting its birth..."
Watching the smile on the old man's face, Ji Yan's expression turned contemplative. He replied politely, "You've been so diligent. I can tell your pregnancy signs are excellent—it will surely be a descendant of the Lord of Birth."
The wrinkles on the old man's face smoothed out, and his smile became brilliant yet chilling. "Oh! You truly are a polite young man. May the True Lord choose us all. We will be the lucky ones."
...This damned translated-dialogue vibe.
After exchanging a few more lines and finding no useful information, he got off the bus.
His feet stepped onto the damp road. With a travel bag on his back, Ji Yan looked at the "prosperous" town before him.
Yes, how prosperous.
People filled every street and alley. It was as though every resident here had nothing to do, spending all their time caring for the children in their bellies.
Everyone on the streets stroked their stomachs. Some leisurely drank afternoon tea, while others took relaxing walks. Every one of them carefully tended the "seed" in their womb.
The scene was