The Butcher in Hell

I love whoever it is...

Don't we still have to wake up without enough sleep and continue to face the world?

In any case, compared to the deep contemplation of the previous night, Xiao Xiao, who was woken up by the alarm clock in the morning, felt that his pain was unusually real.

For a moment, he had a fleeting urge to pack his things and go to work at the docks, then suddenly realized:

No, I don't need to get up early for work anymore.

All I need to do is go over there at night to oversee the business, and then lie down and fleece those shady industries.

However, after glancing at the time, he still got up early.

After all, his mother was still in the hospital. Following the advice of the nurse from yesterday, he could go there at noon. However, since he had decided to take care of her, Xiao Xiao wanted to do his best and at least prepare something nutritious to bring to her.

But it was also when he had these thoughts that he felt somewhat helpless in the face of his empty home.

It's been four years, and I don't think I've cooked a meal or cleaned the house much.

If I look at myself from the perspective of an indigenous person, I'm just a guy who stayed at home for four years and didn't care about anything!

"Waaaaah..."

When I stepped out of the courtyard, the sunlight seemed brighter than usual, even making me feel slightly dizzy.

The neighbor's three dogs immediately became excited, their front paws gripping the fence and their tails wagging like electric fans.

For some reason, Xiao Xiao felt that the big black dog and the Huang Mao were looking at him with a hint of worry.

The Erha didn't look; it stared at Xiao Xiao with a sheepish expression, as if asking:

"Why didn't you come over and say hello when you went out?"

"..."

Thinking of his failed attempt to summon them yesterday, Xiao Xiao stopped and whispered:

Why didn't you show up yesterday?

"..."

The count and the ghost looked even more guilty, their tails drooping, and they made sounds of regret.

The Erha looked confused for a moment, as if asking, "What did you say?"

"Fine, this won't happen again..."

Xiao Xiao actually knew why they couldn't appear, after all, Yang Jia had explained it to him.

But you still have to put on an angry face.

How derelict of duty is it that we didn't show up when we needed you?

Think about it carefully, why can the other party block us?

Isn't it because you guys aren't working hard enough?

Growing angrier by the thought, he said to the three dogs, "But the punishment still needs to be given this time, next time..."

The finger turned to the Erha: "You're out of sausages."

"?"

The Erha was clearly stunned for a moment, then started howling, while the other two dogs relaxed in a very human-like way.

Turning to look at the Erha, there was actually a sense of relief in her eyes.

After disciplining the three dogs, Xiao Xiao turned his head and looked up at the window of his neighbor's house on the second floor, where the curtains were hanging.

But before anything could be said, the deep, resonant sound of the Old Gramophone began to drift down:

"I gave it my all, only to obtain an uncertain miracle..."

"..."

"What kind of nonsense is this?"

Xiao Xiao's face hardened again, and he said in a deep voice, "Has the guarantee been written yet?"

"..."

The music suddenly went shrill again, and after a while, it changed to another song. "You hurt me, and then just laughed it off..."

These kids are getting better and better at talking back...

Xiao Xiao thought helplessly, "If only I could raise their ranks."

After all, according to Yang Jia, as long as their rank is high enough, the Black Forest cannot block their summons.

But how can we ensure they don't become distorted?

The Old Record Player didn't even dare to write a guarantee, which clearly shows a lack of confidence. How can you confidently give her more than 500 points?

I'm determined to grow and become a major player...

Perhaps the appearance of the people from the Black Forest was meant to convince or at least frighten him, to prevent him from sinking deeper into the "motherhood illusion." Others might also be frightened, and even if they didn't choose to be treated, they would at least remain stagnant. But Xiao Xiao wanted to think more deeply about the facts. He understood that he either had to simply believe the natives and accept their treatment.

Alternatively, one could acquire greater power to see what lies at the end of these strange phenomena.

As for myself, I made the decision yesterday.

"How about we go check out the other one first..."

Since he needed to buy groceries anyway, Xiao Xiao thought of another possibility. Ignoring the resentful Old Record Player, he slowly walked towards the butcher shop at the end of the street.

The sun was warm, and the Butcher's business looked pretty good.

While queuing behind a group of elderly men and women, Xiao Xiao kept observing the Butcher.

You couldn't tell he was fierce or terrifying at all. Now, he was just a tall man with a scarf around his neck, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, and a friendly, smiling face. When he sold meat to the neighborhood residents, he really did give them a 30% discount...

But the city's will had given him information about him.

Did he really kill someone?

It's just that nothing has happened yet, so he hasn't been taken away by the Guard Hall?

As Xiao Xiao thought about these things, and his position in the queue moved closer and closer to the Butcher, he saw the butcher's thick hands and eyes filled with dark red blood vessels. Even though the butcher always wore a kind smile, the crisscrossing muscles on his face were stiff and firm, making the smile look like a mask.

Some of the fine hairs on his skin stood up uncontrollably.

Xiao Xiao increasingly felt that this Butcher was quite different from the Pain Hound and the Old Gramophone.

Is this because the Butcher is a living, breathing "person," or for some other reason?

Silently thinking to himself, Xiao Xiao approached the chopping board and said in a low voice, "Cut two catties of meat."

"I want someone thin, not a single bit fat..."

After saying that, Xiao Xiao's heart stirred slightly. "What if I added, 'Cut it finely into minced meat'?"

But I only thought about it and didn't dare to actually say it out loud.

After all, we're not really familiar with each other theoretically yet...

"You're thin, aren't you?"

The Butcher gave a sullen reply, and as he began to cut the meat, he subconsciously glanced up at Xiao Xiao.

"Buzz..."

Their eyes met, and a strange feeling instantly arose between them.

It seems that on a spiritual level, some kind of connection was instantly activated, locking together certain emotions between them.

Xiao Xiao was stunned, and the Butcher was also stunned on the spot.

The two of them just stared at each other blankly, unable to look away for a long time.

Then, after about three or four seconds, they suddenly shuddered at the same time, quickly looked away, and deeply reflected on their actions.

That's so weird.

It's so strange how she looks at men with such intense, almost electrifying, gaze.

Xiao Xiao stood there thoughtfully. From this one glance, he could clearly feel that he was special to the Butcher. According to the points purchase theory, he could actually ask the Butcher to do anything for him, even to die in his place. But now he could only feel that the Butcher still had complete rationality and was even a stranger to him.

I wonder what would happen if I asked him to do something illogical now...

For example, could you waive the cost of the meat this time?

The default rule is that if you buy his meat, you get a 10% discount, but what if you force someone to give you that instruction?

Thinking this way, Xiao Xiao actually gave it a try.

While he was pondering these things, he didn't notice anything unusual about the Butcher. The butcher simply lowered his head, cut off the best piece of meat for him, weighed it, and skillfully put it into a bag without looking up.

But then he suddenly asked, "You look familiar, what's your name?"

"I live nearby, but I didn't go out much before."

Xiao Xiao smiled and replied, "My name is Xiao Xiao."

"?"

The Butcher suddenly jolted, and the ash from his cigarette fell into the pig's intestines.

He looked up at him in disbelief, and Xiao Xiao could even see the emotion overflowing in his pupils, along with a hint of pain.

Xiao Xiao, feeling the intense gaze he was being stared at, especially with his Extreme Sensitivity, sensed a strong but deliberately concealed emotion surging within him. He couldn't help but feel a little wary, but asked calmly, "How much is this meat?"

"No..."

The Butcher spoke, then realized his voice seemed a little hoarse. He lowered his head, cleared his throat, and whispered:

"It's free, we're all neighbors, and it's your first time here..."

"..."

"They're really not charging anymore?"

Xiao Xiao was also quite surprised, but after thinking for a moment, he still placed the prepared money in front of him and smiled:

"Next time!"

With that, he picked up the meat and quickly left.

This was my first encounter with an Aboriginal person I had ever bought from, and that Aboriginal person was defined as a "dangerous thing".

It feels very strange.

Whether it was because he knew the Butcher too well, or because the terrifying impression the butcher had left on him was too deep, or perhaps it was the strong insight and keenness brought about by his Extreme Sensitivity nature, even with a bright sun overhead and many elderly people around, Xiao Xiao could still feel the strong and strange bloody smell emanating from the Butcher.

Spending too much time with him can even cause you to have vague hallucinations.

I need to leave first and think things through carefully.

But just as Xiao Xiao turned around to leave, he suddenly heard the Butcher behind him say, "Hey..."

Xiao Xiao turned around and saw the Butcher standing in the shadow cast by the meat shop tent.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Xiao Xiao felt that the shadows around him were getting darker and darker, as if they were twisting slightly like living things.

He was right in front of me, yet it felt like standing in hell, looking down at the human world.

Even Xiao Xiao suddenly felt a strong sense of oppression and discomfort, but at that moment, the Butcher suddenly laughed.

That smile, however, did not bring joy, only a profound sadness.

"I have a daughter, her name is..."

"... Xiao Xiao."

"..."

Xiao Xiao suddenly froze on the spot, not knowing how to answer the question.

After a long pause, he smiled and said, "Really?"

"She must be a very cute child..."

"..."

Turning around and continuing forward, a strange feeling crept into my heart.

Even after walking quite a distance, when Xiao Xiao looked back, he found that the Butcher had been staring in his direction the whole time.

It was obvious that his impression of me had changed.

What category does this belong to?

Is it the city's will that is influencing his thoughts and will?

Xiao Xiao...

Xiao Xiao...

It feels increasingly strange. What kind of magical bond is this?

Puns will get you fined...