Shadow Behind the Curtain (Four Thousand Words)

That night, for reasons unknown, all the residents of Black Gate City vaguely felt as if a certain melody was echoing in their minds.

Angry, furious, ugh!

It's a very vague feeling, perhaps in the dreams of a sleeping person, or in the blurred vision of a drunkard, they see this slender shadow, see her kicking a trash can hard on the street, see her eating an ice cream in frustration by the roadside, see her skipping stones on the lake.

With a long face and pouting lips, her little fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

She's angry...

She seems genuinely angry with someone...

The people of Black Gate City all had this feeling, but it was vague and not real, and they forgot about it after they came to their senses.

Only Xiao Xiao was unaffected.

After leaving Ruan Ruan, he was in a good mood, especially thinking about the advertisement that had spread throughout the entire circle of strangers through Ruan Ruan's hands, and he almost laughed out loud.

It's all thanks to Record Player Miss that I was able to come up with such a great idea.

He hailed a cab on the street at midnight, ending his busy day and returning to his alleyway.

As he walked briskly into the alley where the streetlights had been broken for a long time, he took a deep breath and went to check on the three dogs.

Good, they are still three separate individuals and have not turned into some kind of conjoined monster.

Looking towards the end of the street, one could vaguely see fluorescent lights flickering in the window of the butcher shop. The Butcher seemed to be watching television, and this time it wasn't just static; it was playing some kind of program.

The quiet and peaceful atmosphere in the alleyway stood in stark contrast to the chaos and cruelty of the previous battle with the Branders.

This feeling made Xiao Xiao feel quite comfortable. He took out three sausages that he had bought earlier from his pocket and peeled them one by one for the three dogs.

At the same time, he worriedly advised them, "You should play with the Serpent Sisters less often in the future, it's too unhealthy!"

This time, not only did the Erha glance at him sideways, but the other two also kept eating in silence, pretending not to hear.

"Speaking of which..."

Looking at the three dogs, Xiao Xiao suddenly thought of a question, "What exactly are these three dogs?"

According to the indigenous people, these three dogs are merely projections of their own mental world. For example, if you see someone on the street and then project that person into your mind, that person actually has nothing to do with the person you saw. One is real, while the other is something your mind conjures up based on your impressions. From this perspective, the three-headed hellhound that you summon is essentially unrelated to these three dogs...

The Butcher, too, in reality, was just a father who had lost his daughter, and perhaps he had also broken the law.

But in his own illusions, he was a brutal and ferocious monster with unparalleled fighting power...

However, in reality, I do feel that my feelings for them have deepened after each time I summon them to fight.

So, what exactly is the relationship between myself and these three dogs and the Butcher in reality?

An even more important question is, if they really have nothing to do with me, then wouldn't I be wasting my time feeding them sausages every time I come back?

"Why can't it be understood as..."

Just as Xiao Xiao was pondering this question, a leisurely voice suddenly sounded in his ear, "When you summoned them, they also had a dream in which they became Cerberus, fighting alongside you?"

This sudden remark startled Xiao Xiao.

But he didn't show it on his face. He just quietly turned around, looked up, and saw a slender shadow looking down at him from behind the white curtains on the second floor.

You can't see her, only her shadow cast on the white curtains.

But Xiao Xiao could clearly sense that the shadow was quietly watching him, and there seemed to be a hint of... dissatisfaction in its eyes?

He smiled and said, "So, our spirits are connected?"

This explains many things, such as why the intimacy level between the two parties rises rapidly after the purchase, and they feel a certain spiritual connection.

"It is an ocean in itself."

The slender shadow behind the curtain said softly, "Everything in the ocean is intertwined with each other, and there are many things that don't exist in reality, such as the melody of a song, a glance caught on the street, or a scar deep in memory. These things cannot be stored in reality, but in the spiritual world, as long as they exist, they can be preserved. And because of their own special characteristics, they possess different spiritual powers, forming special elements."

Xiao Xiao had talked with the Shepherds, Yang Jia, and Mister Ye.

But listening to it, none of them seemed to be as direct and insightful as what the shadow behind the curtain said.

He let out a deep breath, looked up at the slender figure, and smiled, "You're finally willing to talk to me."

"Can we just stay silent?"

It would have been better if she hadn't asked. But once she did, the slender figure suddenly became a little angry. "If you don't speak up, you'll sell me off."

"A wish-granting system is launched? And they're even advertising it? And offering a 1% discount?"

Aren't you afraid I'll get tired?

"..."

Xiao Xiao was a little helpless. After a pause, he carefully asked, "Won't you get tired?"

"...Won't."

The shadow behind the curtain huffed, "But I don't like lending things to others. I've already had so many things stolen from me!"

Xiao Xiao asked in surprise, "So you can't get your things back?"

"Of course we can take it back!"

The slender shadow raised its voice, as if announcing something. "That's mine!"

"Call..."

Xiao Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. He had already become more than 50% attached to Black Gate City, so he had already sensed many secrets and knew that these things could be taken back.

Seeing the Record Player Miss appear, or rather, not the Record Player Miss, but the person behind the Record Player Miss, willing to talk to him through a thin curtain, made him feel even happier.

After learning about the plans and materials left behind by the Old Chairman, and after talking with the Shepherds, Yang Jia who glimpsed the secret of the Mysterious Source, Mister Ye, and others, he had figured out some things and knew that he needed to talk to the mysterious lady on the second floor.

But she seemed very cautious, communicating and guiding herself only through the record player, never actually showing herself.

It was only at this moment that I had my first formal conversation with her.

"I can feel your presence."

Xiao Xiao looked towards the second-floor window and said softly, "I sensed it a long time ago. I could also sense your cautiousness, your constant longing for something, and your fear of something..."

"I want to know, the Black Gate Mist Incident that Black Gate City experienced almost destroyed everything left behind by the Old Chairman, and almost killed all those who could be considered loyal at the time, yet you didn't intervene..."

"Is it that they can't, or that they dare not?"

"..."

The shadow that appeared on the second floor seemed to have come with a questioning attitude, but unexpectedly, Xiao Xiao suddenly asked himself the same question.

It's as if it was planned long ago.

She fell silent, unsure whether it was the right time to talk to him about these things.

But having already shown his face and been asked this question, he could only mutter, "Yes, I have both."

"Like the ferryman of the River Styx, you imprisoned him in a person's body, and so he, who should not have had the concept of death, was killed by you so easily."

"I wouldn't dare gamble on just one person."

"..."

Xiao Xiao listened carefully to her words, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he looked up curiously:

"So, I was right before, I'm actually a Branders too?"

"..."

The shadow behind the curtains on the second floor remained silent for a long time before saying, "There are some differences in essence, but you can understand it this way."

"The people I can choose are different. I had placed my hopes on some people before, but unfortunately, they all betrayed me."

"Unlike other Mysterious Source, their Branders are chosen by them personally and are forever driven and manipulated by them, while I can only be chosen passively."

"What's even more unfortunate is that most of my Branders woke up before I did!"

"I only have twelve chances, and so far I've failed seven times. Now, on this eighth time..."

"..."

Xiao Xiao's heart stirred slightly. "The eighth time won't disappoint you, will it?"

"No."

The shadow behind the curtains said coldly, "The first seven times were just him ignoring me because he had ulterior motives, but the eighth time he really screwed me over..."

At this point, her voice even trembled slightly, like a complaining little girl. "I Mingming wanted to test you, you should Mingming tried your best to earn my trust little by little, but why..."

She paused for a moment, as if searching for the right words. "... It's reversed?"

"..."

Xiao Xiao was also speechless for a moment.

I'm Mingming a very kind person, so how did I end up giving people this kind of impression?

At the same time, he also vaguely understood a lot. So, this is the true face of the Twelve Mysterious Guidepost?

The World Will, which had been largely devoured, was struggling to survive. Its will to survive was divided into twelve parts, and now, Black Gate City was one of the activated parts.

It was because Xiao Xiao learned from Mister Ye that the Mysterious Guidepost of Black Gate City had been activated when the Old Chairman was still alive that he vaguely guessed that the woman behind the curtain must have existed before the Old Chairman died.

However, she did not intervene in the Black Gate Fog incident.

If it were an ordinary Mysterious Source in another city, it would be reasonable for them not to take action, because they wouldn't care. But Black Gate City is different.

This only shows that she is really careful...

... Are you afraid of being scammed again?

"If something happens, then it is reasonable."

Xiao Xiao's mind raced, trying to figure out how to coax... no, how to explain. He put on a smile and said, "Besides, I'm actually genuinely thinking about you."

"After you told me about the wish-making mechanism, I had this idea. In addition, my heart resonated with this city, and I came to understand more knowledge that belongs to your realm of thinking. Then I can do these things with even more confidence."

"Are you really going to be so cautious, hiding in this Xiao Xiao Black Gate City, and still be able to affect the overall situation?"

"You have only awakened this little bit of your will, but in so many places in this world, Mysterious Source are still frantically devouring your original power."

"So, what are we waiting for?"

"The longer you wait, the weaker you will become, while the Mysterious Source will grow stronger."

"If that's the case, why not go outside?"

"..."

"Go out..."

The shadow behind the curtains was clearly conflicted and worried. "Won't this really lead to even greater danger?"

"Since I woke up in Black Gate City, has the danger been any less?"

Xiao Xiao smiled and said, his Mind Burst ability always making him seem to speak in an extremely relaxed tone, as if he had thought things through carefully, "When you wake up, your power will already be inferior to theirs, right?"

"When it comes to using a small investment to achieve a large return, there is only one option."

Let's take a gamble!

"..."

The young woman behind the curtain seemed taken aback by his words, and after a long pause, she said, "But I don't have much strength left..."

"Then there's only one last option left."

Xiao Xiao stared intently at the shadow behind the curtains and said, "Let's take a gamble!"

"..."

The shadow behind the curtains seemed stunned, its voice even sounding a little stammering. "I watch movies too, you can't trust gamblers..."

"They're just gambling!"

Xiao Xiao laughed and said, "All we can gamble on is fate. If things turn around, there's no chance of a comeback."

"..."

The shadow behind the curtains was so shocked by these words that it remained silent for a long time.

"Of course, this is just a metaphor."

Sensing her hesitation, Xiao Xiao's voice softened slightly as he said softly, "You have your perspective, and I have my considerations. I've only just achieved the first step of the Noah Project, and I've already been warned."

"They told me explicitly that all the cities would be my enemies, surrounding Black Gate City completely, and that all the strangers, who should be like me, wouldn't help me for various reasons. So, what should I do next?"

"When we have nothing, the choices we have are naturally quite simple."

"Let's invade their territory..."

"..."

"You..."

The Record Player Miss suddenly became worried and said, "You don't understand those things at all..."

"Yes."

Xiao Xiao smiled, his smile appearing strangely sinister in the narrow, cramped alley. "But I understand people..."

"No one understands better than me, who has been hiding in my bedroom for four whole years, just how strong my desire to escape all this oppression was..."

"..."

The shadow behind the curtains fell silent.

She seemed to have been persuaded once again...

Haha, I updated before 12 o'clock.