The Dead Souls Struggling to Buy Their Freedom

The thirty-two pixelated figures on the screen began broadcasting an advertisement for a health product related to the Night God Group. It used Chinese, Japanese, and English subtitles, accompanied by catchy music, and chanted simple, repetitive slogans.

"--Awakening Pill! Awakening Pill! Awakening Pill! [Venom] Recharge! Replenish stamina! Nourish your brain! Turn you into a man like [Hot Wind]!"

The pixelated human's body language was unusually exaggerated, and he was extremely excited. The way he opened and closed his mouth and shouted sounded like he had eaten several volatilites.

Fifteen seconds later, the spirit that had been dead for over fifty years returned to normal and spoke to the shooting star and peace in front of the grave mound.

"Aren't you my descendants?"

"Grandpa!" Meteor shouted in Japanese, "Do I look like you? I'm not your son or grandson!"

The pixelated man cursed, "I don't have eyes! How would I know what you look like! You're so annoying! If you're not here to sweep my grave, offer sacrifices, or clean my soul, then don't bother me!"

Luo Ping'an stepped forward and asked, "How should I address you? Shall we become friends?"

The pixelated man immediately said, "Access denied to anyone not a family member. To unlock the visitation feature, please register for Night Wanderer Premium Membership through the [VENOM] agency. The monthly fee is 260 Hui Stone Currency."

Luo Ping'an: "Good heavens!"

Bu Liuxing: "Good heavens!"

For a moment, A Xing and Ping An were at a loss for words; this cemetery was just too strange.

This menacing pixelated figure seems to have fallen into a money-grubbing trap. Regardless of what it actually is, if this thing really is the spirit of a dead person, and a conglomerate is using it as a tool to amass wealth by turning it into a grave, then the function of this electronic cemetery is simply outrageous.

Meteor secretly discussed the matter with Brother Ping An.

"What's going on, Brother Ping An?"

Ping An: "It's a restless spirit, lingering in the mortal realm to be enslaved by demons."

Meteor: "What's that VENOM he's talking about?"

Ping An: "I think we couldn't live without our ID cards, then we couldn't live without our computers, and later we couldn't live without our mobile phones. The people of this Shinto City should also be inseparable from the VENOM organization. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all determined by this little box."

VENOM - Venom

--Bu Liuxing had seen this thing in the mission briefing; it looked like a mass-produced electronic component made of black pyroxene, a ruthless combination of psionic energy and technology.

"According to the First Charter of Shinto City, I have an obligation to tell you these things." The pixelated man suddenly spoke up, "VENOM is a mind model that was created in 1980."

"Shinto City is both a resource-producing area and a material-processing center. On this land of 378,000 square kilometers, magnificent and wondrous psionic technology was born."

"We possess a thriving culture, efficient and reliable education, world-class medical care, and inexhaustible wealth resources."

"It's all thanks to the research and development of VENOM. Based on the Liman Hypothesis, which imitates the human brain and observes its structure to create electronic brains, we established the [Day Wanderer] and [Night Wanderer] super conglomerates."

"By concentrating wealth and vigorously developing Artificial Intelligence, we have obtained many excellent thought models."

"Through unsupervised learning, supervised learning, final function correction, and manual verification, we obtained dozens of versions of the first-generation prototype."

"These Artificial Intelligence are teachers, artists, outstanding scholars, engineers, great philosophers, and leaders."

"Later, these Artificial Intelligence learned from each other based on the information in the database and became extraordinary gods. They officially took over the VENOM organization and carried out their governing duties. Everyone in Shinto City received divine grace."

"Want eternal happiness? Then buy your VENOM!"

After saying these words, the pixelated man became blank and motionless.

Meteor and Brother Ping An said, "It seems like there's no movement anymore, what should we do?"

Luo Ping'an: "Let's go up the mountain. This guy guards the cemetery, and he tries to sell services to everyone he meets, selling VENOM phones and doing underworld resale. If there's such a thing as a tool person in the world, then he's become a tool ghost too. We won't get any answers from him."

Meteor nodded. "Yeah, I also think it's like a salesperson."

Ping An continued, "That's right, we don't have any tools like the VENOM mechanism, and even if we wanted to pay, we couldn't find Chaos Egg to use as a POS machine. I think if we go to the Noble Cemetery, we might be able to get some information about what they have."

With that, the two of them started climbing the small hill.

The Black Brother lingered outside the cemetery, refusing to go inside no matter what they said.

Meteor sneered, "What are you afraid of! Ahei! You're a military dog! You're the child of a beast transformed into a saint!"

Black Brother just mumbled a few words, spitting out foul-smelling saliva, and shook his head. When he was a child, he protected his sisters and even dared to bite the War King. But now, these electronic graves covering the mountains and fields terrified him.

Mr. Ping An smiled, pulled Liu Xing along, and continued walking up the hill, making excuses for Ahei.

"Like people, it's brave when it's young, but becomes timid as it grows up—there's a saying that a newborn calf isn't afraid of a tiger. Adult wild animals are much gentler and more lovable, so don't make things difficult for them."

Meteor: "Alright."

The two walked toward the light source. The graves seemed to be able to sense it, whether it was an infrared device or a voice-activated switch. The tombstones on both sides of the road lit up, and pixelated figures with different expressions jumped out from them.

It was quite a lively scene for a while, with all sorts of talk spreading throughout the small hill.

"Kanjuro! Kanjuro, is it you who has come back to see me?"

"Honey, I miss you so much."

"You unfilial son! You still haven't had children? I'm telling you to bring your children and grandchildren with you! Otherwise, you don't even have the right to worship me! How dare you! You still dare to come and be scolded?"

"Please watch a 15-second advertisement before you begin your worship and ritual."

The lit tombstone illuminated the path ahead, but slowly went out after only ten seconds.

--To be honest, this scene is too surreal.

A Xing felt a strange mix of horror, morbid curiosity, and amusement. These tombstones, rendered in 32-bit low-resolution image quality, depicted the spirits of those who had long since died. Perhaps it was the Night God Group's humanistic concern, creating these "living" spirits to leave a lasting memory for their descendants still alive.

Upon reaching the middle of the hill, some unique burial mounds can be seen among the pixelated figures.

The screens on the tombstones on these burial mounds resemble those of SNK arcade game consoles, having reached a relatively high definition level and transcending the limitations of the Famicom (NES) game console's graphics.

According to the old man with the pixelated face at the entrance of the cemetery at the foot of the mountain, the funeral service they purchased was probably the lowest tier, without cameras installed, and they could only communicate with the outside world through a sound collection system, transmitting sounds from the Human World to the dead world.

These digital tombs with "high-definition" images are quite interesting. They seem to avoid advertising or simple, direct promotions like those for [Awakening Pills], but logically, they still induce the deceased's family to make purchases.

--For example, Brother Ping An paused in front of a certain screen, seemingly unable to move.

Meteor followed the gaze and saw a scantily clad, heavily made-up blonde woman on the electronic screen, wearing a sexy, revealing strapless top and a bright red jacket. She sat in front of a bar stool, dressed as a cartoon character.

"My name is Futian Liliya, I'm seventeen years old, and I'm a slightly strange girl! What are you looking at, brother?"

Brother Ping An stared, his eyes glued to the young woman's ankles, thighs, and then up her hot pants.

Meteor: "Good heavens!"

Miss Tomita seemed to understand the visitor's gaze, and her smile exuded youthful energy and charm.

"Brother! Do you want to know more about other people?"

Ping An: "Yes! I want to! Do I need to pay?"

"No need!" Miss Tomita placed her hands on her knees, her flat shoes swaying back and forth, and Brother Ping'an's eyes followed the swaying of her wheat-colored calves.

"But."

At this point, Ms. Tomita's eyes dimmed and her expression became hesitant, much like a girl in a manga. Coupled with the low-fidelity audio performance, it was full of a sense of nostalgia.

"But I'm already dead, brother."

Tears welled up in Ms. Tomita's eyes.

"I can't come to you, touch you with my body, shake your hand, or talk to you. I have no heart left. It's so cold and cramped here."

Brother Ping An immediately said, "Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid! My dear sister, I'm here."

"Does your brother also feel sorry for his sister?" Miss Tomita wiped away her tears with one hand, her hooked index finger resting on her lower eyelid, her chin slightly raised, her expression as if she had seen a savior.

Meteor: "Good heavens!"

Brother Ping An patted his chest and said, "Upholding justice, punishing evil, rescuing women and children, and helping the weak have always been my lifelong ideals!"

Miss Tomita immediately said, "Then don't be impatient, listen to me slowly."

Brother Ping An: "Yeah!"

Miss Tomita: "I died in a medical accident. I originally wanted to get my legs changed."

"Change your leg shape?" Ping An didn't understand.

Miss Tomita explained patiently--

"--It's these legs, they'll naturally turn into big radish-shaped legs after being used for a long time, they won't look good."

Ping An immediately squatted down and examined it carefully.

"A little, but not much. I think things are fine as they are now."

Miss Tomita pouted and complained, "What's so good about it! If it were good, I wouldn't have changed it! It's so tiring to walk in."

Brother Ping An: "What happened next?"

"Later," Miss Tomita pouted and squinted, her voice soft and hesitant, "I went to a quack doctor instead of the clinic recommended by Venom, and the surgical accident killed me on the spot. Luckily..."

She patted her chest gently, looking relieved.

"Luckily I bought the Cemetery Upgrade Pack, otherwise you wouldn't be able to see me now, brother. It wouldn't be good if I turned into a living dead like those 32-bit machines."

"It really looks good now!" Brother Ping An exclaimed in amazement.

Miss Tomita giggled and said, "I can be even prettier, brother."

Two product links popped up on the screen, both for cow-themed lingerie.

Ping An: "Goodness!~"

Ms. Tomita said, "If you buy it, I'll wear it for you right away!"

Her finger rested on the product image, then moved to the other side, to another small pink heart.

"If you'd like."

"I also record some desserts I enjoy when I'm bored."

"It's so embarrassing to admit, my face turned bright red. I couldn't breathe."

"Brother, if you pay this bill, maybe I'll become more attractive and be able to buy a clearer visual display service, and my voice will sound better too!"

Meteor: "Good heavens!"

Before he finished speaking, A Xing pulled Brother Ping An up the mountain.

Luo Ping'an: "No! Don't pull me!"

Bu Liuxing: "Brother Ping An, wake up!"

Luo Ping'an: "I'm overcoming my inner demons! I have to fight them! This is cultivation!"

Bu Liuxing: "Wake up!"

As he climbed the mountain, Meteor's inner world was greatly impacted.

He simply felt that those scumbags who force women into prostitution in real life were already utterly wicked.

I never imagined that in this blessed land of Shinto City, there would be a cyber brothel, with dead people on duty. It's truly surreal.

He was covered in cold sweat, filled with immense fear, as if a piece of his heart was missing. He opened his phone and took a few deep breaths of Teacher San San's photo. Finally, this 26-year-old man resolved to fill the void and regain some courage.

He thought—if the areas surrounding Shinto City, like Stone Hill Town, which is far from Kyoto, also have such a profound funeral culture.

According to Brother Ping An, what kind of demons are entrenched in the Shinto City?!

In the few seconds that the meteor hesitated, Ping An disappeared again.

He couldn't understand for a moment how the person in charge of the Black Stone Senate [Gate of Wonders] could have such poor concentration, letting go in the blink of an eye.

Whose VIP trial mission is it anyway? Who's leading whom?

The meteor searched all the way and finally found Brother Ping An in front of a grave mound.

If we say that the small grave mound with a 32-bit screen is the entry-level, budget-friendly funeral service offered by the Night God Group...

Miss Futian Liliya purchased the upgraded mid-range product, so the grave where Brother Ping An is currently located has reached 1080P, a noble tomb with some extended services.

Meteor said urgently, "What's so interesting! Brother Ping An! Take your soul back!"

Luo Ping'an didn't respond; he simply squatted down on the grave, carefully examining and listening.

When Meteor crouched down to examine the portrait of the tomb's owner more closely, he was so astonished that he was speechless.

An Akita dog crouches inside the screen, forever separated from the people outside by death.

It couldn't speak, it just looked out curiously. Behind it was a warm and comfortable doghouse, the wooden building decorated with red cotton and gold thread. The dog food bowl contained Kobe beef, with packaging instructions indicating the origin of the ingredients. In the distance, in the background, it seemed to be the owner's house.

It could see two uninvited strangers grinning at Ping An and Liu Xing, seemingly laughing, their smiles sly and wicked.

Bu Liuxing: "Brother Ping An."

This Shiba Inu was very friendly; it pushed its food bowl in front of the screen, as if showing off its food and offering it to the two travelers.

Luo Ping'an sighed, clasped his hands together, and bowed to the grave mound behind him.

Meteor's expression was complicated. Seeing that this dead dog was eating and living better than a dead person, his mind went blank, and he was speechless for a moment.

Luo Ping'an continued walking up the mountain.

"These dead souls want to redeem themselves, but in the end they are no better than a dog. I don't think it's the dog's fault."

Even animals won't hoard food once they're full.

"Let's go check out the mountaintop, young man."