Chapter 50: Did You Become More Beautiful Today?

Chapter 50: Did You Become More Beautiful Today?

The sight of flesh and blood smeared across the wall elicited uncontrollable expressions of unbearable pain and anger from the other exiles present.

This pain and anger were directed not only at the absurd world of this so-called city of beauty with its extreme aesthetic but also as an accusation against the entire land of exile.

This is where they must struggle incessantly, in an endless darkness with no light in sight.

In the end, Lulu and the dozen other exiles all perished, with not a single survivor.

After their death, their once plump bodies quickly withered away, like deflated balloons, even torn and tattered.

Finally, Feng Tianhuo, expressionless, incinerated them all to ashes with flames, perhaps even considering it a stroke of luck to be able to leave this damned world completely, even as a handful of ashes.

Afterwards, everyone spent an entire day on the square, eating and running around, managing to dodge the massive fat ones by a hair's breadth despite getting fatter with each bite. Only after gaining an additional twenty pounds did they, pale-faced, return to their residential complex.

The neighborhood's matriarch, waiting at the entrance, was not entirely pleased that Chen Shijin and his two companions had only gained twenty pounds. However, Lu Jun, at a crucial moment, released the "charming fragrance of tea" coupled with his tea-related chatter, which barely convinced her to let them stay in the complex.

"You kids! You’re paying less and less attention to your beauty! Let me tell you, if next time you’re this negligent, no matter what you say or how much you beg, I won’t let you in!"

"Those who do not take beauty seriously have no right to survive in the City of Beauty!"

Chen Shijin, Lu Jun, and Zhou Mo nodded and agreed repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Right, right, right."

"Got it, got it, got it."

It was only when the three were walking through the corridor, heading to their respective homes, that Lu Jun wiped his face and said, "Cousin, I feel like this world is getting harder by the day. Even with time seeming to pass more quickly, it’s becoming tough to get by."

Chen Shijin paused for a moment before replying, "After the new trends are announced tomorrow, let’s search carefully for any clues near the big screen. We should also inquire more from the beauty salons and the citizens of the City of Beauty."

"If necessary, we might try to bend the rules and requirements a bit."

"It’s not just you feeling it’s getting harder; the world itself is becoming increasingly difficult."

"We can’t possibly just follow the trends and wait until the end of the fourth week."

By the twenty-eighth day, they would probably have all been defeated.

Lu Jun blinked, "Are we going for a big score?!"

Chen Shijin's mouth twitched, "Before we hit big, let's figure out whom we're hitting first!"

I really didn’t want to spend another second talking to this green tea.

Then, Chen Shijin walked straight into his room and closed the door behind him.

As expected, upon entering, he saw the colorful parrot shaking its head while clutching a smartphone at the window.

Chen Shijin scrutinized him with a discerning gaze.

He had already asked Feng Tianhuo about Le Feng, what kind of person he was, and what special abilities he possessed.

Upon hearing this question, Feng Tianhuo too pondered with a face full of thought, his expression carrying a hint of uncertainty even he himself couldn’t dispel.

"Le Feng is not suitable as a teammate."

"Alright, though I might not be the most convincing person to say this, that Le Zi person is even more unstable than I am, a madman."

"Not to mention, excluding those inherently bad with no bottom line, the rest of the exiles in the land of exile, regardless of their skills or personalities, share a natural fraternity with each other."

"Thus, in many devouring worlds, if not pushed to the last resort, exiles do not engage in fratricide. More often, they form alliances."

"But Le Zi is different," sighed Feng Tianhuo. "That person... how should I put it, he's neither inherently evil nor does he have any surplus of empathy for his fellow humans."

"Even in my view, that person lacks emotions entirely. He's like a natural-born, powerful, empathy-less observer."

"It seems as if nothing in this world, no one can move him; he will always do only what he wants to do, always seek only the amusement he prefers."

"Thus, he has no desire to build cities, no intention of leading humanity out of hardship, and even towards those Devourers, he bears little animosity," Feng Tianhuo said, scoffing silently, "Perhaps in his eyes, all beings truly are equal?"

"So even after chasing him for so long, in the end, I found not a single thing that could move him to become one of us."

"In his eyes, there's only the amusement he seeks. Oh, and the energy he wishes to consume."

Chen Shijin wasn't at all surprised when he heard Feng Tianhuo's description of Le Feng. In fact, if one were to imagine those deep, abyss-like blue eyes and that indifferent smile, such a person seemed almost to spring forth vividly.

"Do you know what his abilities are?" Chen Shijin found himself asking. "Given that everyone's abilities are so varied and unique, but being at the top of the bounty list for so long, his abilities must be somewhat known, right?"

Feng Tianhuo laughed at that: "His ability is well-known to all."

"And it was he himself who revealed it—'I am all things!'"

"Sounds pretty arrogant, pretty adolescent, doesn’t it?!"

"In reality, it's just that he can transform into various animals and plants."

Chen Shijin looked at the colorful parrot wagging its tail happily by the window, recalling the turmoil in his heart when he first heard the words "I am all things."

He understood even better than Feng Tianhuo how terrifying Le Feng's ability was; it wasn't merely about transforming into various animals or plants.

The crux lies in his ability to perfectly integrate every one of his transformations into the devouring world, without rejection, leaving no trace.

It was as if, just as he said of his own ability—'I am all things,' in every world.

He could even be the world itself.

Thus, Chen Shijin, looking at the parrot happily viewing photos, said: "Le Feng."

The parrot continued to shake its head, until Chen Shijin asked the next question:

"'I am all things.' Does that include the Devourers?"

The parrot's head-shaking motion stopped.

It suddenly looked up at Chen Shijin with those deep blue eyes, then flapped its wings.

"'I am all things~I am... all things!'"

It seemed to be unknowingly repeating Chen Shijin's question, but upon further thought, perhaps it had already given an answer.

Chen Shijin found it hard to articulate his feelings at that moment; he thought he needed a glass of ice water to calm his emotions.

After he grabbed an ice-cold cola and opened it, he looked again at the colorful parrot: "Can you help humans eliminate the Devourers?"

The colorful parrot took a few steps on the windowsill, then suddenly cocked its head, and its curved beak finally uttered something different:

"Why should I do that?"

"Isn’t the land of exile good enough?"

Chen Shijin, with a composed demeanor, replied: "The land of exile is not good. It's too dark, too bleak, too bloody, filled everywhere with despair, violence, and anger."

"If you enjoy amusement, after witnessing so many years of slaughter and strife for your twisted pleasure, why not experience a more beautiful joy?"

The colorful parrot tilted its head to the other side, and a hint of gold gradually emerged in its deep blue eyes: "What price are you willing to pay?"

Though it was the face of a bird incapable of any expression, Chen Shijin saw gloom and mockery on it.

"Offer yourself up to me?"

"Perhaps after eating you, I might be inclined to help humanity."

Chen Shijin raised his hand and gave it a virtual slap from afar.

"Dream on."

"Why should I pay a price for humanity? I am only responsible for my own choices."

"If you want to eat me or experience that unique difference, you’ll have to make an effort yourself."

"I won’t be a free pie."

The colorful parrot straightened its head, its gaze turning somewhat dangerous.

Then, it watched as this human approached step by step, suddenly reaching out to press a hand against its chest.

"Tsk. However, I'm willing to offer you some compensation for your labor."

"For instance, things you've never experienced before."

The colorful parrot was indifferent to the energy fluctuations emanating from Chen Shijin.

He couldn't possibly kill it.

He couldn't even harm it.

So, what did this exceptionally sweet and tempting, shining beacon among all the dull humans want to do?

Then, it heard his words:

"[Empathy.]"

In that instant, it felt as if something was transmitted to it through the young man's palm.

It was a slightly anxious feeling, tinged with a bit of sadness.

This feeling made it extremely uncomfortable.

It disliked it and even wanted to retreat.

Thus, the colorful parrot flapped its wings, ready to leave, yet its large wings were firmly grasped by Chen Shijin, rendering it unable to move.

Then, it experienced an even more uncomfortable sensation, mixed with some anger, intense anger.

An invisible energy exploded around the colorful parrot, and in an instant, the space twisted and pulled. The parrot, held by the wings by Chen Shijin, transformed into a tall man with perfect body lines, every muscle exuding indescribable strength.

The man had a face that was unforgettable at first glance, wild, handsome, and ruthlessly cold.

Like the icy wilderness, the deep sea abyss.

He suddenly stretched out his hand to grasp Chen Shijin's neck, and with a slight exertion, he pressed him down to the ground.

Then, the man as cold as a glacier revealed a thin smile: "These have not brought me any pleasure."

Saying so, he leaned down and bit towards Chen Shijin's neck.

The moment his lips and tongue touched that overly pale and delicate skin, another indescribable, complex emotion spread through his body like lightning.

He abruptly stopped.

"Then, what about this kind?"

Chen Shijin closed his eyes, recalling all the happy moments of his life.

Within that slight trembling, Le Feng began to feel a trace of an emotion he had never experienced before, a sliver of happiness.

However, he preferred the indescribable, complex, varied, and trembling emotions of the person beneath him even more.

The flavor of this emotion was somewhat sour at the moment, but his instinct told him that it was an unripe fruit. One day, it would become incredibly delicious.

Thus, the man's Adam's apple moved: "Not enough."

Chen Shijin took a deep breath and opened his eyes: "Of course, you would find the emotions of others insufficient."

"So, if you help me, I can let you experience more, and one day, you will have your own true happiness."

Le Feng's deep blue eyes met Chen Shijin's pitch-black ones, and then he slowly revealed a sly smile.

"Then, it depends on my mood."

"If you provide me with amusement, I might just help you out."

"But for now, I'm not going to help you destroy the City of Beauty."

Saying this, he slowly stood up, his tall figure gradually becoming translucent, then transformed back into the colorful parrot.

"Unless you willingly lie there and let me consume half of your blood energy~"

Chen Shijin shook the image of that man from his mind and scoffed coldly: "Pfft."

"I'll make it so you can always look but never taste."

"Also, why don’t you eat those Devourers?"

The colorful parrot lifted its chin proudly: "How do you know I haven't? Why else would I be in their world? I’ve nibbled on them, but few taste good. Pfft!"

A twitch formed at the corner of Chen Shijin’s mouth.

Alright, now he understood why this guy transformed into various animals in the devouring world.

It was to seek amusement while looking for tasty energy.

"So what about the sexy dancer?"

Le Feng, the parrot, without a hint of shame: "Amusement, and it looked like its butt and chest would taste good."

"…Did you eat it, then?"

"Pfft. If it doesn't even smell good, why would I eat it?"

"I’ve only bitten your butt, which tasted excellent!"

Then Le Feng, the parrot, tilted its head happily: "Give me another bite, and I'll tell you where the core is?"

Chen Shijin: "……………………"

He walked into the bedroom, slammed the door shut, and locked it.

He never thought he would one day face such a damned moral dilemma.

Pah!

And on the fifth morning, the beauty trend announced on the giant screen at Beautiful Square plunged Chen Shijin's mood to an all-time low—

[Good day, citizens of the beautiful city! It’s another beautiful day! Here are the beauty trends for today and tomorrow—]

[The Standard of Beauty!]

On that giant screen was a face with big eyes, a high nose bridge, full thick lips, and a pointed chin.

Without distinction between male and female, just that kind of face.

[Such a face is considered beautiful, dear citizens, strive to become beautiful!]