Chapter 16: How Can I Live Without a Phone!

Chapter 16: How Can I Live Without a Phone!

Facing the paw-waving white dog that reminded him of the third fool among the sled trio, Chen Shijin sensed a subtle malice.

Who gives a dog as a luxury gift? And not just any dog, but one that watches phones by the lake and likes hot male dancers!

He absolutely didn't buy that there wasn't something fishy going on.

Therefore, he would not be deceived into showing any kindness to this white dog. No matter how stupidly or sweetly the dog smiled at him, or how much its tail wagged like a windmill, it was all in vain!

Seeing through the trickery, Chen Shijin scoffed at the white dog, coldly warning, "Don't wag your tail at me or try to act cute! I won't be getting you dog food or grooming you."

"If you know what's good for you, turn around and be a stray. If you starve following me, I won't blink an eye."

"Awooo, awooo~"

The white dog, bigger than a Samoyed, didn't show any sad or upset expressions upon hearing Chen Shijin's heartless declaration. Instead, its tail wagged even more joyfully, and it leaned its head against Chen Shijin's palm in a tilted manner.

It was just like a well-behaved and adorable real dog that couldn't understand human speech.

"Wow, look how cute it is, young man!" The earring girl tried to speak up for the luxury gift.

Chen Shijin clenched his palm, struggling to ignore the smooth and fluffy touch, and pushed the dog's head away: "Some dogs might look cute and obedient on the surface, but who knows how many likes they've given to hot male dancers behind the scenes."

The girl with earrings: ...

Everyone: ???

The white dog: .

The deep blue eyes of the white dog blinked innocently and then stubbornly nudged its head under Chen Shijin's hand again.

Only to be coldly rejected once more.

"Ahem, well, it's getting late, and everyone's exhausted from the day. Let's just head back to the hotel, shall we?"

Wang Baojie, observing the ongoing gentle push and nudge game between Mouth Brother and the white dog, felt his music-tormented nerves ache even more. He now just wanted to go back and lie down, doing nothing else.

This suggestion was unanimously agreed upon by everyone, given that after a day of check-ins, their eyes and ears had suffered greatly, with some even sustaining serious injuries. It was miserable enough.

Ironically, someone seemed to have enjoyed a tourist-like day without much suffering, gaining both a combat-capable follower and a cute dog.

Who could understand such mixed feelings!

Out of sight, out of mind, perhaps.

Chen Shijin did not object either.

He had indeed gained a lot on this street, but he wasn't unscathed—

Feeling the pain in his left eye, he couldn't help but gently press its edge with his hand. Perhaps his "mortal body" still couldn't bear the power of the "Heavenly Eye" he had endowed himself with words. By the time he reached the end of Melodious Street, his left eye had already begun to hurt and blur his vision.

Even after he quickly closed his eye to deactivate the "Heavenly Eye," about twenty minutes later, his left eye was still in pain and his vision unclear.

This was the price of overusing his power, but Chen Shijin didn't feel the pain as burdensome at all.

In fact, he felt genuine joy in his heart.

What's a bit of pain as a cost?

Being trapped in a limited world without progress is what truly brings despair.

Currently, he can only use the "Heavenly Eye" for twenty minutes, and his eyes might hurt for half a day or a day, but when he uses the power for the second, the third time, he'll be able to see for longer.

He felt the pain, but also felt the growth of his power and the transformation of his physique.

Once the pain subsides, his vision will definitely improve by +1.

So, on the way back, Chen Shijin was in a great mood, even though he was followed by a big-eyed creature with pink underpants on his left and a white dog that wouldn't leave his side on his right; none of these affected his mood.

It wasn't until the setting sun cast a warm orange glow from the sky that the weary group suddenly realized something was amiss—

At some point, many people had appeared on the street, each one of them remarkably quiet, all bowing their heads without making a sound.

They appeared deeply engrossed in various colored small cubes in their hands, yet it was this silent obsession that now seemed particularly alarming.

"What's going on? Why has the street suddenly become so crowded? How come I didn't notice them just now?" The delivery guy couldn't help but look around, using his long-term counting skills to estimate the crowd: "There must be at least seven or eight hundred people here!"

"Don't know, but it's definitely not a good sign." Weekend pushed up his glasses: "Remember what that girl from Yue'er Street said? The street closes at dusk, and it's dusk now." His long-term office hours had made him particularly aware of quitting time.

"Dusk? What's so special about dusk?" Bear Guy didn't quite get it, "Is it closing time?"

But Yang Mianmian, a girl who loves romantic novels and comics, suddenly turned pale: "Dusk, also known as the witching hour!"

"Scientifically speaking, dusk is the transition from day to night." Zhao Xiaofeng, touching the deep scar on his wrist, said solemnly: "If I remember correctly, we also arrived in this world at dusk yesterday."

"But it was the end of dusk then."

This made everyone recall the terrifying experience of being chased by the big-eyed monster with a knife yesterday.

"Quick, quick, quick! Run back to the hotel as fast as you can! These guys aren't just looking at their phones, they're waiting for nightfall!" Wang Baojie immediately understood the problem: "Last night, I watched for a long time from the hotel glass door, and there was not a single normal person on the streets at night!"

Considering the world mission mentioned that the City of Phones was invaded by some unknown mutation virus, these people standing under the dusk sunset looking at their phones are likely infected!

Everyone started running, with Chen Shijin also keeping up and not falling behind.

But his thoughts wandered further. Last night, when he went out for a, ahem, breath of fresh air, and nearly ran through half the city without seeing a single normal human being, he wondered if all the normal people were hiding at home or...

Suddenly, ahead, Ah Fei screamed: "My goodness, I see those stall uncles and aunties! They are also looking at their phones!" Aren't they supposed to be vending at night?

Hearing this, Chen Shijin sighed, confirming his suspicion.

At this moment, the twilight's glow gradually faded, visibly darkening the world.

It seemed as if today's sunset sank faster than usual, the afterglow that usually lasted for half an hour dissipated in just ten minutes.

As darkness claimed the sky, for a moment, the running crowd felt a primal fear erupting from their bones—

Those who had been looking down at their phones all raised their heads, then, in front of them, they grinned widely, their eyes wide open, one hand holding up a phone, the other drawing various kinds of knives from behind.

Among these people, some had eyeballs so enlarged they looked like two big apples filling their entire faces, others had ears grown into fan shapes, swaying to catch any whisper of movement.

But the most drastic change was seen in the uncle who sold chicken legs next to Chen Shijin. His eyes and ears remained the same, but his entire face, his whole head, became flat, square, concave?

Then, Chen Shijin watched as he stuffed his large-screen phone into his face.

Chen Shijin: …

I've seen many phone cases, but this is the first time I've encountered such a luxurious human-face edition.

All the transformed citizens suddenly raised their phones and knives high:

"Like, like or else, we'll kill you!!"

Everyone: .

"Aaaah, run, run, run! They've all mutated!"

"Damn, the whole Phone City must be infected by the virus! Where do we even start to complete the world task?!"

"Lol, you're still thinking about the world task? Let's pray we can make it to the hotel alive first!"

Everyone desperately tried to run forward, but the mutated people around them were too many, effectively blocking them from all directions.

"No use! Stop running; we need to work together! No one can make it out alone!" Wang Baojie immediately called everyone to his side: "Let's use our powers to get through this!"

"The hotel is just 300 meters ahead, we can make it!"

"Lu Jun!"

Gritting his teeth, Lu Jun shouted, "Tea Fragrance Overflowing!" Instantly, a faint green glow and the enchanting aroma of tea began to emanate from him, causing the mutated people who smelled it to fall into a brief stupor.

At this moment, Wang Baojie and Bear Brother acted together, swinging their palms forward, grabbing two of the mutated people, flipping them over, and using them as shields to push their way forward dozens of meters, breaking through the crowd of mutants blocking their path.

"Quick, follow me!"

Dozens of meters later, before Lu Jun's tea fragrance could spread, Song Fang took a deep breath and addressed the mutated people: "Everyone! Let's discuss this! Don't act rashly yet!"

Instantly, the mutated individuals around them showed thoughtful expressions, as if they were genuinely considering the proposal for negotiation.

Then, Wang Baojie, Bear Brother, and Liu Chengli, who had now donned two prosthetic arms, joined forces once again to push through the crowd of mutated people, advancing another several meters.

At this moment, they could finally see the glass doors of the hotel.

Everyone's spirits were lifted, truly, there's strength in numbers!

Suddenly, two particularly agile mutated individuals with large eyes attempted to slice through the gaps, aiming their knives at Bear Brother and Wang Baojie. Zhou Mo stepped forward: "Double holidays! 3+7=8!!"

The two mutated individuals with large eyes vanished into thin air.

Even Express Brother was shocked: "Bro, you can use your power like that?!"

Exhausted, Zhou Mo chuckled wearily: "Isn't it all the same. Some things, always cunningly disappear out of nowhere. Like holidays, like people."

Ah Fei: "..."

With everyone's concerted effort, they soon arrived at the hotel entrance.

Upon seeing the hotel doors, Yang Mianmian didn't hesitate to transform, leaping towards the glass doors in a single bound, rushing into the hotel under the welcoming smile of the tailcoat waiter without looking back.

This made Wang Baojie and Bear Brother inwardly smirk, yet they continued to push through the increasingly dense crowd of mutated individuals.

Ah Fei, also capable of speed, found it hard to utilize his agility due to the sheer number of mutated individuals blocking his way. More importantly, he didn't want to run off at this moment, preferring instead to wield his knife and provide some resistance alongside Wang Brother and Bear Brother.

At this moment, though only a few steps from the hotel entrance, the crowd found themselves immobilized by the countless mutated individuals surrounding them.

Wang Baojie and Bear Brother were already wounded, with cuts on their arms and bodies, and the others were not faring much better.

In the worst condition was Old Shi, who had been unable to shrink into the middle of the group. The wounds he had inflicted on himself in Euphony Street had not yet fully healed, and now he was bleeding profusely from fresh cuts.

As three more knives from the mutated people were about to strike him, Old Shi's eyes reddened with a vengeful sneer on his face, he growled, "I have no choice! Let Chen Zijin handle it!"

Instantly, his position was swapped with his intended target of revenge.

At that moment, Chen Zijin was busy chasing off a dog.

Suddenly feeling a void in his palm, he found himself back with the main group.

And facing three incoming knives.

Chen Zijin instantly realized this was Old Shi's revenge on him, these knives being far more vicious than any ghost from a movie.

"Explode!"

But this time, the man likely did himself in, unwittingly providing the team with a divine assist.

"Explode! Explode! Explode!"

The mutated individuals blocking Wang Baojie and Bear Brother's path were swiftly obliterated.

Seizing the opportunity, Wang Baojie and Bear Brother roared back in defiance, grabbing the knives to slay a dozen mutated creatures on the spot.

Taking advantage of the chaos, everyone finally burst through the glass doors of the hotel.

Old Shi, surrounded by mutated individuals a hundred meters away, looked on in despair and shock: "Why didn't you enter the hotel?!"

How could someone like you, who seems to make anything they say come true and who effortlessly made it through Euphony Street, not have made it into the hotel?

Weren't you supposed to be the first one in? Easier and sooner than all of us!

That's why he had given up on that sheep's hoof girl and specifically chosen Chen Zijin!

He wanted this disdainful, fortunate, and universally praised pretty boy to be the first to get chopped!

Had he known, he would have chosen that damned sheep's hoof girl!

Unfortunately, Old Shi no longer had the chance to push others into deadly situations.

Meanwhile, everyone inside the hotel was rejoicing their narrow escape, but Chen Zijin, forced to enter with the group, stood by the door looking out.

Tsk, wondering if that white dog would get chopped.

Always cozying up to him for pets, it seemed too dumb to be of any use.

Chen Zijin stood by the glass door, frowning slightly.

He placed a hand on the door.

Though he had a heart of stone, that dog was, after all, given to him for free; it wouldn't feel right if it died like this.

What if this dog wasn't that wolf?

Then, wouldn't an innocent life be wronged...

Just as Chen Zijin decided to go out and save the dog, a powerful howl erupted from outside. Then, to the astonishment of everyone inside, a spirited white dog leaped out from among the mutated crowd. With remarkable agility, it stepped on the heads of the mutated individuals, hopping towards them as if jumping over logs.

Just before dashing through the door, it powerfully kicked away a big-eyed person swinging a machete at it, then precisely leaped into Chen Zijin's arms.

"Awoo, awoo, awoooo~"

The white dog buried its head into Chen Zijin's chest, acting as aggrieved as an eighty-pound puppy.

Chen Zijin: ……

If it hadn't sneakily pressed its not-so-soft but very elastic paw pad against Chen Zijin's chest.

Ah, the paw feel was excellent.

Chen Zijin might have actually just petted it without any scare.

"Don't touch me!"

With a roar, Chen Zijin spun and hurled the dog in his arms 360 degrees, flinging it away.

Yet, the white dog managed a perfect landing, tilting its head to look cute: "Awoo?"

Chen Zijin scoffed coldly: "Scheming fake dog!"

"Whose dog goes 'awoo' instead of 'bark'? And buries its head in chests and presses with paws!"

"A real freebie should struggle like the pink big-eyed one amidst the crowd!"

The white dog turned its head, seeing the other "gift" struggling to make its way through the crowd that was taller by half.

White Dog: Snort.

It instantly revealed a dog smile full of mockery.

"Bark."