Chapter 52: Did You Become More Beautiful Today?

Chapter 52: Did You Become More Beautiful Today?

Until the crowd dispersed, the expression on the face of the tailcoat beautician standing in front of the Royal Dream Beauty Salon remained grim.

His eyes, identical to those of the townspeople, were fixed on Chen Shijin and Feng Tianhuai, and even without looking up, the two could feel the sharp and hostile gaze.

Clearly, the tailcoat beautician knew who the culprits of last night's thefts at the other beauty salons were, yet without any evidence and failing to catch them in the act, he was frustratingly unable to take direct action against them.

Feng Tianhuai felt the gaze and looked up, grinning widely at the tailcoat beautician. He relished the sight of someone disliking him yet being powerless to do anything about it—ineffective rage was his favorite!

The tailcoat beautician was clearly provoked by the madman, his standardized face contorting for a few seconds before he managed to calm his violently heaving chest.

Hmph.

After all, it was just a surprise move, doing what other exiles in this world wouldn't dare to do.

But if these two think they can pull the same trick again, they are sorely mistaken. With their guard up, there will be no chance for them to successfully steal the energy liquid again.

Next time, if they dare to reach out, he will make sure to cut off their hands directly!

The tailcoat beautician cast one last venomous look at the top of Chen Shijin's head, then turned and walked into his beauty salon.

It was only after he had gone inside that Chen Shijin slowly raised his head, wearing an unconcerned smile on his face.

Let's see who plays the game better.

Afterwards, the exiles who had already sworn allegiance to Boss Jin gathered together, all eyes shining brightly as they looked at Chen Shijin and Feng Tianhuai.

"Cousin! Cousin, I always knew you were the best! It seems anyone who opposes you meets a bad end!" Lu Jun held his face, full of admiration.

"Jin! You guys actually pulled off robbing beauty salons! And you succeeded! How could you not include us in such a big score?" A Fei rubbed his hands excitedly, "We want to do big things too."

The others nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with anticipation; they too wanted to explore beauty salons at night!

Chen Shijin raised an eyebrow at the group, all eager for action: "We're laying low for the next few days."

The crowd paused, displaying collective disappointment.

"...There are a hundred beauty salons around this square, and we've only hit ten percent of them," someone murmured, unwilling to give up.

Chen Shijin's mouth twitched: "But in five days, we're going to hit big, all together."

Dozens of people quickly looked up, their eyes shining brightly.

However, Chen Shijin didn't disclose what they were going to do next; he simply took out his phone, "Come on, everyone, I just upgraded my chat app. Let's add each other as friends and talk directly in the group."

Yun Xia caught a glimpse of Chen Shijin's phone, sparkling with gold and gem-like radiance, and realized, "Is that the phone from the City of Phones?!"

Chen Shijin smiled, "Just a token of gratitude from the townspeople. It's no big deal."

"However, the performance of mobile phones is still quite impressive. For instance, we can create groups face-to-face."

The refugees: "Heh."

It seems no matter where you go, you're faced with life-threatening Versailles.

But the fact that their long-unused mobile phones could once again perform their communication functions was indeed the most joyous thing for the refugees!

So, everyone quickly took out their phones to add friends and create groups.

They found themselves added to a large group called "Heart of Eternity No.1," unsurprisingly led by Chen Shijin as the group owner, with Feng Tianhuo, Lei Hu, Yun Xia, Jiang Hong, and Chu Tiankuo appointed as administrators.

Then, the first message in the group popped up.

Chen Shijin (Group Owner): [Everyone, welcome to Heart of Eternity. May we all eventually return to our homelands!]

Chen Shijin (Group Owner): [Everyone, please change your nickname to your real name, don’t use any strange aliases. However, you can add your special abilities in brackets to help us assist each other.

I will notify you of any important messages, other times feel free to connect and speak your mind in the group.]

Chen Shijin (Group Owner): [Also, since the mobile phones haven’t fully upgraded yet, we don’t have the emoji package feature. You can use text instead.]

Lü Jun Loves Cousin: [Seal clapping.jpg! Cousin is the best.jpg!]

Chen Shijin (Group Owner): […Shut up.jpg]

Chu Tiankuo: [It's true, striving to live always brings good things. I'm finally able to use a smartphone again. Please take good care of me.]

A Fei (Mission Critical): [Oh my God! Hahaha, how long has it been since I’ve spammed in a group with friends?! Bro, can we use this group anytime? Can it be used in the Devouring World and the Exile Lands too?!]

Zhou Mo: [Same question.]

Sha Yu (Fish Bro): [Same question.]

Luo Bo (Come to me for divination): [Same question.]

Chen Shijin (Group Owner): [Not for now. Currently, because we are close to each other and in the same Devouring World, sending messages short distances doesn’t consume energy.

However, once our distance exceeds 1000 meters, except for me, everyone else will need to pay energy value for sending messages. Temporarily, it costs one energy point per message, within a hundred words.

The same applies to the Exile Lands; short-distance message sending through the special network built by golden mobile phones consumes minimal energy, but beyond 1000 meters, energy value is required for message transmission.]

Chen Shijin (Group Owner): [I will strive to upgrade the main body of the mobile phones later, to reduce the energy cost of sending messages for everyone.]

Lü Jun Loves Cousin: [Seal clapping.jpg! Cousin is the best.jpg!]

Yun Xia (Power of Mist and Clouds): [This is already fantastic, it could even be said to be a groundbreaking development!

The reason why refugees in the Exile Lands are always so disjointed is because we can't communicate over long distances there, and even the messages we send have to rely on those two beings, without any guarantee of truth.

Now, having a way to send messages without relying on them is a game-changer for all the exiles in the Exile Lands.

Seeing this message, the exiles who were busy sending messages couldn't help but feel their hearts racing, struggling to suppress the smiles on their faces and the excitement in their hearts.

Don't they know that the "Guides" attached to them cannot be trusted? Don't they realize that the more they rely on the "Guides" and the "All-Seeing Eye," the less independent they become, essentially making a deal with the devil?

But what can they do even if they know? They can't find a way to break free, and in the Exile Lands, they must rely on these two behemoths to survive.

Thus, they could only numb themselves and become part of that vast web.

But now, it seems they have a chance to break free from the web!

As they were thinking this, a bold and enlarged message from the group owner popped up in their chat group.

Chen Shijin (Group Owner): [So, everyone, the first big thing upon joining the group: line up, and let me remove your Guides.]

The exiles incredulously looked up, only to see the young man smiling: "Once you join my group, you have to leave the others."

Instantly, the exiles heard the Guides' sharp, furious screams ringing in their ears.

[Unacceptable! Unacceptable!! No one can escape my control! Those who try to escape must die—]

In that moment, dozens of people simultaneously grimaced in pain, clutching their heads, especially Lei Hu, Yun Xia, and the exiles from their Thunder Squad and Nature Squad, who seemed to be in the most agony.

Clearly, the "Threads of the Guides" attached to them must have been there for a long time, perhaps already entwined throughout their brains.

As Chen Shijin watched their pained expressions, his eyes narrowed with determination, just as the colorful parrot on his shoulder suddenly flapped its wings and let out a squawk.

In an instant, the exiles clutching their heads froze in place, and the Threads of the Guides ravaging their brains were immobilized as well.

[Who is it?! Who dares to restrain me?! Who can restrain me?!]

The Guide's voice was incredulous and angry.

Then, the colorful parrot let out a gleeful cackle.

"It's your daddy, me."

Chen Shijin looked at Yue Feng in surprise, only to see the colorful parrot flutter around before flying back to his shoulder, demanding his reward: "Add me to the group~ Make me the group leader."

Chen Shijin: .

"Joining the group is fine, but you can't be the leader. A deputy position at most."

Yue Feng, the parrot, cocked his head, finally nodding in agreement. Although he had always been the boss, playing alone was not as fun as playing with more people.

Thus, Chen Shijin took advantage of the moment when everyone was restrained to remove the "Threads of the Guides" attached above their heads, some of which had already penetrated deep into their brains.

Because the Threads of the Guides were restrained and couldn't cause trouble, even old-timers like Lei Hu and Yun Xia, who had been in the Exile Lands for seven or eight years, had the threads removed virtually painlessly. These threads had been like shadows to the exiles from the moment they entered the Exile Lands, a malignant growth.

Then, the removed Threads of the Guides were divided and eaten by Chen Shijin and Yue Feng.

Chen Shijin initially planned to devour them alone, but as he formed the energy of the Threads into a ball and was about to put it in his mouth, Yue Feng, quick-eyed and quick-mouthed, snatched the energy ball from his hand and gulped it down.

After eating, the thieving parrot's eyes sparkled, and it flapped its wings: "Tasty!"

Unlike eating them raw, the essence of energy extracted by Chen Shijin's hands tasted pure and free from impurities, making it a truly delightful treat!

Thus, the colorful parrot began rubbing its head non-stop against Chen Shijin's neck: "Beauty! Just sponsor me, and I'll be your hero when it really counts!"

Even so, he hadn't promised to join the ranks of the exiles.

Chen Shijin was somewhat speechless, but not in a hurry.

Easy promises hold no binding power, especially for the powerful.

Action at the critical moment is more reliable than a false alliance.

And one day, he would willingly make this jester his own.

Thus, Chen Shijin naturally ate one thread himself and fed another to the colorful parrot on his shoulder.

Even so, the energy from these Threads of the Guides pushed him past 500,000!

Just from 48 people, there was nearly 1 million in energy.

Chen Shijin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Indeed, shearing the Guides' wool is the real deal!

It's unimaginable how happy he'd be, and what level he'd reach, if he pulled out and ate all the Threads of the Guides from all the exiles!

The moment the Threads of the Guides were removed from these forty-eight individuals, a dark, vast underground cave in the Exile Lands echoed with curses of immense anger.

[Chen! Shi! Jin! Damn Chen Shijin—]

How could such a damned exile exist in this world! Defying and challenging it! Now, he's actually become a threat to it!!

[No... This cannot... Damn it!]

The colossal creature within the cave writhed and destroyed in its frenzy, determined to kill Chen Shijin, to have him die within the Devouring World!

The City of Beauty would not listen to it, but other devourers and humans would.

Thus, the massive creature halted its furious movements, its body contracting and pulsating, before countless red threads shot out from the cave, heading in a specific direction.

*

Eternal Heart Chat Group 68/1000:

Lei Hu (Tiger Transformation): [Hahahaha, I've never felt so refreshed! Never felt so rational!! Finally, no more nonsense buzzing in my ears!

So what if we don't have the Guide's marketplace anymore? I'd rather not have that marketplace than a piece of trash that gradually invades my brain and controls my actions!

Hahaha, now I can even curse freely! Awesome!]

Yun Xia (Mist and Cloud): [It does feel great. Thanks, group leader.]

Sun Kong (Fiery Eyes): [Wuu wuu wuu! Brother Jin is super strong, Brother Jin is the best! Brother Jin, you are my god!]

Rong Shuile (Emotive Singing): [Brother Jin is of course the best. Also, @Captain Lei Hu, even though the Guide's marketplace is no more, we can still help each other out in this group.

My ability may not be great in combat, but it's pretty good for support. I can boost everyone's morale with my singing, help reduce pain, and after I level up, I might even be able to increase speed or strength.

It's wonderful to be able to act together with everyone.]

Rong Shuile's words quieted the lively group, followed by a burst of messages from other exiles, touched by her words.

Hua Baisui (Hundred Herbs Hall): [Sniffles, Rong's words have really touched me! Having such a group to be together with everyone is just wonderful! Even if I get devoured by the Devouring World, I'd be happy! And have no regrets! Because I feel like I suddenly have a family again!

Everyone in the group is my family! Sniffles, my family has been studying traditional Chinese medicine for generations! My great ancestor might have been Hua Tuo! My ability is to produce ten types of special herbs every day!

I used to think my ability was so useless, only good for saving lives or making medicinal pills, with no offensive capability, but now I know what my mission is!

I'm here to be the best healer and support for our big family! Anyone who's injured or poisoned, come to me! I'm willing to dedicate myself for my family!]

Qin Shui (Water-based Healing): [...Let's not exaggerate too much, as if you're the only healer here. I can heal too, and if the group leader or anyone else needs it, just call on me. After all, a group is like a family.]

Afterwards, the more than sixty members of the group began to reveal their abilities one after another, encouraging each other not to be shy and to help out as brothers, sisters, and family.

It was as if the abilities they once had to hide and protect in the Exile Lands, only known to especially trusted allies, no longer needed to be concealed here.

In fact, for this group of exiles who have drifted for too long in the Exile Lands, this chat group, free from surveillance and united by a common goal, has become another "home" where they can reveal their true selves and relax.

Chen Shijin stopped scrolling through the rapidly moving messages in the group and lifted his head to look at the people who were all bowing their heads, busy typing.

Even though they were close enough to communicate verbally, everyone chose to fervently tap on their phones.

Chen Shijin began to smile.

It seems everyone is shy on the outside but passionate on the inside.

"Huh?"

The colorful parrot on his shoulder tilted its head, completely baffled as to why everyone was looking down, incessantly typing on their phones at this moment.

And some had faces full of excitement, some had eyes brimming with tears, and there were even those who openly cried.

Chen Shijin turned his head, his ice-blue eyes meeting the parrot's, and then gently touched the parrot's chest with his index finger.

Conveying that indescribable emotion to him.

"This feeling, it's called—companionship."

Light shone beautifully in the young man's dark eyes: "They are fellow travelers on a long journey, partners who trust and can rely on each other."

The colorful parrot fell silent for a while, then its eyes showed disdain: "I've witnessed many companions betraying each other."

Chen Shijin smiled: "No one is perfect. But at least at this moment, each of them is resolute and will not betray."

The parrot shook its head in continued disdain, while Chen Shijin said no more, merely taking out his phone to send a bolded and blackened group owner's message in the chat.

Chen Shijin (Group Owner): [Everyone, I am announcing our first group mission since the creation of this group.]

The group instantly fell silent, everyone instinctively looking up at Chen Shijin.

Chen Shijin (Group Owner): [In five days, on the last night of the Standard of Beauty, we're going to pull off a big job together.]

Chen Shijin (Group Owner): [Destroy at least thirty beauty salons around the square. Whatever method you use, make sure all the equipment in the beauty salons is completely destroyed.]

Exiles: !!!

Chen Shijin looked at everyone's gazes and smiled: "Let's start by making it impossible for all the townspeople to become beautiful."

A light bulb suddenly lit up above Lyu Jun's green tea-infused little head!

Lyu Jun's Favorite Cousin: [Roger that! Cousin is the best! Cousin is the most cunning!]

This was followed by a string of acknowledgments.

Some people guessed a bit of the plan, and for those who didn't, it didn't matter; seeing the cascade of acknowledgments felt incredibly reassuring and supportive.

Yet, the waiting days were somewhat torturous—

On the first day of the Standard of Beauty, they had no choice but to collectively undergo eye surgery, acquiring watery, Kasirlan large eyes.

On the second day of the Standard of Beauty, as the similarity requirement to enter the community increased to 30%, everyone reluctantly underwent nose surgery, gaining beautiful high bridges and pointed tips.

By the third day, everyone had sausage lips, and the similarity in their faces had reached an alarming level. Were it not for differences in clothing and body features, it would be horrifyingly difficult to distinguish one another just by looking at the face.

By the sixth day, the exiles in Chat Group Number One had achieved a staggering 90% similarity.

In a bitter-sweet manner, they shared their photos in the group, which, despite being selfies, looked like the same terrifying emoticon.

Afei (Mission Critical): [Help, I can barely remember what I used to look like. I have to flip through my photo album every hour to remind myself of my previous appearance. Ahhh, it's terrifying, so terrifying! When will this end?]

Sun Kong (Fiery Eyes): [...Just one more day, we can take action tomorrow night! It's good that we can chat and vent in the group, and having family support me, or I would have gone mad too.

Not to mention I can hardly remember my own face, I'm even starting to think this sharp chin, sausage lips, high nose bridge, and big eyes are getting more attractive!]

Weekend (3+2≠5): [Yes, it feels like we are being assimilated aesthetically. Our faces, because we deliberately did not make them exactly like those on the big screen, still retain some minor differences.

I think it's these differences that allow us to barely maintain our sanity. If by tomorrow we are required to look exactly like the face on the big screen, I guess the moment we succeed in the surgery, we will also be completely brainwashed.

By then, we might not even recognize our own mothers.]

Feng Tianhuo (Admin): [Speaking of which, I saw those dozen or so remnants of the mutual aid society this morning, their faces are already about 90% similar to those on the big screen.

They haven't formed a group like us and don't know we're planning something for tomorrow night. Tomorrow they will definitely complete their surgeries, and then we will see what changes complete surgery brings.]

A string of [Understood] followed in line, and then everyone in the group started encouraging each other, calling out names, and sharing their previous photos to remind each other and themselves never to forget their real faces.

*

The seventh day of the Standard of Beauty.

It was also the last day of this trendsetter.

The exiles from Group One gathered at the Beautiful Square, facing each other and themselves with nearly identical faces, all equally unflattering.

Only Chen Shijin, using a verbal charm disguise, wore a mask identical to those seen in the square, and Feng Tianhuo, through persistent nagging, got one too. Thus, masked, Chen Shijin and Feng Tianhuo also looked just like the faces on the big screen.

From a high vantage point, one would see thousands in the City of Beauty sharing the same face, despite different expressions and body languages, essentially countless identical individuals moving about.

Gradually, it seemed even their emotions and facial expressions began to mirror each other precisely.

Feng Tianhuo, with his innate intuition, accurately found Bai Ling and about a dozen members of the mutual aid society, and the people of Group One witnessed the fate of those exiles who had undergone complete cosmetic surgery to match the Standard of Beauty—

It was a female exile from Bai Ling's mutual aid society, who, persuaded by Bai Ling, was the first to enter the beauty salon. Half an hour later, when she emerged, her face, which had previously slightly differed from those on the big screen, had become identical.

She then happily held her face, looking in a mirror while walking in the opposite direction from Bai Ling and the others.

Waiting outside the beauty salon, Bai Ling called out her name as soon as he saw her, "Xiao Qiu! Wu Xiao Qiu! Where are you going? Have you forgotten our plan?"

Wu Xiao Qiu paused upon hearing Bai Ling's call, turned around, and looked at Bai Ling and those who resembled her with her watery, large eyes, before finally asking:

"Who are you?"

The faces of Bai Ling and others like A Ruan quickly darkened.

"I'm Bai Ling! Do you still remember the exiles and the mutual aid group? Do you remember... who you are?"

Wu Xiao Qiu tilted her head, pondering seriously for a moment, then suddenly picked up a mirror to gaze at her beautiful face.

"Why should I remember who I am? Do the exiles and the mutual aid group have anything to do with me?"

"Oh, isn't it enough to be beautiful? It doesn't matter who I am, as long as I'm beautiful."

Then, Wu Xiao Qiu turned around without any hesitation, leaving the exiles behind her to join the city dwellers who valued beauty above all else.

In a moment, she became indistinguishable from the rest.