“Chapter 15: How Can I Live Without My Phone!”

"Chapter 15: How Can I Live Without My Phone!"

"Ignoring the excited screams of the guide in his ears and the growing chaos, Chen Shijin's attention was entirely on the 'music line' he held in his hand."

"Unlike the empty-handed image in the right field of view, in the silver vision of his left eye, his right hand was tightly gripping a wriggling 'red music staff' trying to attack him."

"This red music staff was long, and even though he was holding it tightly, little notes were still jumping at him, trying to collide with his body and ears."

"He saw some of the small notes enter his body, but most of the red notes were mercilessly repelled, shattered into very fine red dust, and then disappeared."

"This is the power of music."

"It's also the reason why Lyu Jun, Song Fang, and Old Shi were laughing madly."

"[Beep beep beep beep—Your energy has dropped to zero! Your N=0! Hahahaha stupid humans, without energy, you can't even leave this street!!]"

"The guiding voice has been laughing, screaming, and mocking non-stop, as if it could soon witness the miserable death of this human who dared to defy its guidance and even tried to compete with it for business."

"It had always said! Those who don't listen to it will die!"

"'Oh.'"

"However, the young man facing imminent death showed no sign of fear, merely responding with an 'Oh' to its death prediction."

"Just an 'Oh'!"

"A sharp blaring noise sounded again."

"[You this—]"

"[You this!]"

"[Ahhh ahhh ahhh ahhh you terrifying human! What are you doing ahhh ahhh ahhh!]"

"The terrifying human did nothing but stuff the red music staff he held in his hand into his mouth."

"[Ahhh—]"

"The red staff that just entered his mouth tasted somewhat spicy, with a texture like noodles but excessively bouncy, bouncing around in his mouth."

[Ahhhh—]

But with some effort in chewing, you could crush them all, swallowing that spicy energy with a gulp. It's just that eating too much can indeed be quite spicy.

[Ahhhhhh—]

It was then that Chen Qiang finally responded to the trash guide who had been screaming all along, with a heart-stabbing counter: "Little trash, do you see if I'm still a zero now?"

"I'll annihilate you."

Silence fell around him, accompanied by a sort of sizzling, frenzied noise as if something had exploded in rage.

At this moment, as Chen Qiang looked again at Yue'er Street, the chaotic sounds that brought sadness, anger, or excitement to people turned into a whole street of energetic delicacies in his eyes.

A deep blue musical staff flowed up to him, and Chen Qiang reached out and grabbed it.

The deep blue musical staff seemed a bit stunned, but one end was already stuffed into Chen Qiang's mouth.

Wow.

This blue flavor is refreshingly cool to the taste.

It's like the flavor of chilled noodles.

Shame that aside from its coolness, there aren't many other distinct flavors to call it delicious.

But at least it can relieve the spiciness.

"Little trash, take another look at my energy level now. Is it still the pitiful zero?"

Without waiting for the trash guide to answer, Chen Qiang looked at his own data and replied, "Turns out it's not. It's N=188 now."

"[Fizz buzz #@%*&!]"

"Two music lines provided him with 188 energy points, and there were at least a thousand more music lines of various colors all over the street! This must be what striking it rich sounds like."

"At that moment, Chen Shijin suddenly heard terrified screams coming from ahead."

"He quickly looked up to see Liu Chengli, whose arms had snapped off and who was now frantically shaking his head in horror, and Yang Mianmian, who had dug her fingernails into her flesh, blood starting to flow heavily from her chest."

"It seemed the pain had somewhat snapped them out of their sorrowful delirium, but by then, they had already become puppets of the music, unable to struggle free."

"Chen Shijin clearly saw the tightly wound orange and deep blue music lines binding them, almost covering their entire bodies."

"The orange lines around Liu Chengli's neck were tightening further, while Yang Mianmian's right arm, the one she seemed to want to plunge into her chest, had the most blue lines."

"Chen Shijin clicked his tongue lightly, not forgetting to wear a fake smile as he quickly approached them."

"It wasn’t about playing the hero, but if he could lend a hand without compromising his own safety, then why not do a good deed? Kind people tend to have better luck."

"Besides, these energies were somewhat consumable, though they felt a bit unclean."

"At this moment, Wang Baojie, the only one in the team still conscious yet unable to move due to the music, saw Chen Shijin's demeanor change dramatically after he suddenly bowed his head and muttered to himself."

"The crazed music seemed to have no effect on him; he could even smile while listening to it, casually walking amidst the turbulent chaos to Liu Chengli, who was on the verge of collapse. With a few tugs near his neck, Liu Chengli, who had been frantically shaking his head, gradually stopped!"

"Then, he moved to the tearful Yang Mianmian, repeating the tugging motion on her arm, and her heart-wrenching actions ceased as well!"

"Wang Baojie's eyes widened in shock, so stunned that he couldn't even hear the booming music around him. His mind was filled with thoughts of disbelief!"

"But the unbelievable continued—"

"After rescuing Liu Chengli and Yang Mianmian, Chen Shijin strolled around Zhou Mo, who had given up on living; Bear Bro, who was crying for a burial for his bear cubs; and Zhao Xiaofeng, who had slashed her wrists with a tile. Just with that magical motion of 'a tug here, a tug there, then a munch', he pulled three people out of their sorrow."

"And those who were 'tugged' by Chen Shijin managed to break free from the music's influence, staggering forward!"

"Wang Baojie: ..."

"My God, am I incredibly lucky to have met a big shot who could become a ruler?!"

"Stay calm, observe further!"

"With Zhou Mo and the others' recovery, Chen Shijin also saved the ecstatic Ah Fei, Song Fang, Old Shi, and Lyu Jun."

"However, Chen Shijin's smile was quite stiff while saving them, and it twisted even more when it came to Old Shi and Lyu Jun."

"Wang Baojie and the others could only marvel at how handsome and kind-hearted Chen Shijin was, repaying evil with good, possessing a heart of gold."

"But in reality, it was because the music lines entwined around these two were already a deep red, making the first bite feel like his tongue was about to explode."

"Damn, it's super spicy!"

"Although Chen Shijin felt that a bit of spice could enhance the flavor of cooking, he really wasn't into extreme tastes. So, he decided to skip these energies and opt for other colors instead."

"After all, having consumed the entire street, he now had an energy level of N=88888."

"Even the pesky guide didn't dare to make a sound anymore."

"Now, everyone finally regrouped, but compared to when they first entered Le Yue Street, they all looked more ragged."

"Those without physical injuries like Wang Baojie, Ah Fei, and Song Fang were okay, just exhausted and disheveled."

"But those who harmed themselves due to their addiction to music were in a bad state, especially Liu Chengli with both arms broken, Yang Mianmian with five bloody holes in her chest, and Old Shi, who nearly tore off the skin on his front, all needing support to walk."

"Oh, and there was Liu Dakai, who was almost uninjured."

"But everyone knew he couldn't leave the Phone City anymore—"

"As Chen Shijin approached him, he saw countless orange-red notes stuffed in his ears, and orange-red music lines had completely wrapped around his head."

"He tried to pull out those orange-red music lines and notes, but doing so caused Liu Dakai's ears to bleed a mix of red and white. Looking up again, his fiancé, who had always considered himself shrewd and proud, had become a fool with only a silly smile."

"The smile that had been on Chen Shijin's face finally dipped slightly."

"It wasn't the plight of his fiancé that saddened him, but a clearer vision of the cruel nature of this world's survival of the fittest."

"He constantly reminded himself that he must reach the top of the food chain in this exiled land. He should be the predator, not the prey."

"'Let's go.'"

"Chen Shijin turned and continued with a smile: 'To check in and take photos.'"

"In the end, eleven people completed the check-in photo at Le Yue Street. The photos they took this time weren't very flattering, even somewhat disheveled."

"But they finally heard the guide's second task completion announcement."

"The survival task was now 2/5 completed. They just needed to find three more check-in points and fulfill the requirements."

"Additionally, the kind guide offered to help the severely injured Yang Mianmian, Liu Chengli, and Old Shi by proposing an energy-sharing contract to access the guide's marketplace for healing medication!"

"Despite Wang Baojie's earnest advice against the unfair contract, Liu Chengli, who had lost both arms, and Old Shi, whose body was badly mangled, were eager to sign."

"Yang Mianmian hesitated for a while, but feeling the pain in her chest, she also signed the contract."

"Brother Wang, at least this way I can live a bit longer. To me, that's a good thing. And the guide doesn't seem bad; we're mutually benefiting, right?"

What else could Wang Baojie do but sigh deeply and turn to look at the golden leader he had newly acknowledged.

But by this time, the only one who had been laughing till the end could no longer smile.

He expressionlessly stared at the luxury gift wriggling in the box, politely inquiring, "Can I decline this gift?"

A wave of inexplicably nauseating air hit him.

The earring girl shook her head like a bobblehead: "Of course not! You've broken a record! You must accept this unique luxury gift from the city of mobile phones!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a sharp claw tore a large hole in the luxury gift package, and out popped a white, fluffy... dog head.

Chen Shijin: ……

"Awooo~"

The dog head instantly locked onto him, baring a row of sharp canine teeth.

Chen Shijin: …………

Did they think he was a fool? Even if it had shrunk to half its size and changed its fur to white, those eyes, ears, and big paws belonged to last night's pervert, didn't they!

If this wasn't frustrating, what was?!

"Awooo, awooo~"

The white dog waved its paws at him twice, and its big tail behind the gift package started wagging.

Likes, likes!

Chen Shijin: "Huh."

Doomed from the start, nothing good comes for free!