From the end of the world

Chapter 60 Ma Zao's Friend 3
Is Number Two, like Ma Zao, a person from the apocalyptic era?
And according to what No. 1 said, No. 2 is not even "someone who traveled from the doomsday era to modern society", but "someone who is still surviving in the doomsday era"?
My eyes immediately focused on No. 2, who timidly shrank back on the rock seat, seemingly frightened by my gaze.

Although I really want to ask about the giant first, I am more concerned about No. 2 than that person who doesn't respond.

"Is what Number One said true?" I asked.

"Yes, it's true..." Number Two was as nervous as a timid little animal, "Although you probably won't believe it..."

"The world is on the verge of destruction, and there is a wishing machine that can fulfill all wishes. These are just foolish dreams." Number One said calmly, "If you really want others to believe in such a fantastic concept, it is best to show evidence. Words are not enough."

Although he was in an incredible dream, he seemed to be holding on to his stubborn thoughts. But, did he really think so? Maybe he didn't completely disbelieve it. Show me the evidence - this might be his most important request.

I am the same way. To be truly convinced, I have to see it with my own eyes.

I asked No. 2, "Can you describe to me what the end of the world looks like?"

"Uh..." Number Two was a little embarrassed.

Is it because I can't answer it? No, maybe my question is too abstract. If someone from another world suddenly asked me to describe the world I live in now, I wouldn't know where to start.

"If the doomsday prophecy circulating in Luoshan is true, then after the doomsday comes, all life and matter will be wiped out, and everything will return to nothingness." Number One said, "How can humans survive in such a world?"

"But there are still people alive in the world I live in..." Number Two said weakly, "Although there are few of them and it is difficult for them to meet each other, there are still some people struggling to survive in the ruins..."

"...It's not impossible." Suddenly, No. 4 spoke, shifting his attention to our conversation. "Everything has a process, just like the world has four stages from birth to death, so the end of the world should also have a stage.

"The time period we are in is just a sign of the end of the world, and the catastrophe has not yet arrived. The time period she is in may be after the catastrophe has arrived, but it has not yet deteriorated to the stage of the four elements being lost."

"Finally you've come to your senses, Four," said One. "Why, do you want to believe Two's stories?"

Number Four straightened his clothes and introduced himself in a serious voice: "There is no need to give me a numerical code. You can call me 'Xuan Ming'."

"——Xuan Ming?"

Number One and Number Two reacted to the name at the same time.

The former blatantly revealed his fear, while the latter vaguely revealed his fear.

Does the name Xuanming have any special meaning? I also feel like I have heard of this name somewhere. After searching my memory, I could only find some ancient allusion.

The name of this allusion is "Xuanniao gave birth to Shang".

It is said that in the primitive tribe in ancient times, there was a woman named Jian Di who swallowed the egg laid by the black bird and gave birth to a son named "Qi". This Qi was the ancestor of the Shang tribe and the ancestor of the founder of the Shang Dynasty. He was a contemporary of the legendary Dayu who controlled floods.

Qi's nickname was "Yanbo". He invented the calendar based on the time of Mars (Antares) and was proficient in the technology of managing fire. In ancient times, it was very difficult to preserve fire, but he was able to rekindle the flames time and time again. Therefore, he was honored as the God of Fire by later generations.

In the Song Dynasty, he was called "King Xuanming".

Could it be that this No. 4 who calls himself Xuanming has some connection with the legendary King Xuanming? Or is he King Xuanming himself? Perhaps because this is a dream, I even have such an absurd assumption.

However, the emotions expressed by No. 1 and No. 2 towards No. 4's declaration were clearly not the proper reactions to a far-away mythical figure.

"Are you the Xuan Ming?" Number One asked in a complicated tone.

"It seems that both of you have heard of me, so I will get straight to the point. You both have fragments of the divine seal, right? Can you trade them to me?" No. 4 Xuanming showed a straightforward attitude, "I am willing to pay all the compensation within my ability for this."

"I refuse." Number One answered without hesitation, "Since we were pulled into this misty dream by the fragment of the divine seal, it means that we are already bound to it, and a deal cannot be made. Even if the fragment of the divine seal is thrown into the sea, it will automatically return to its own side.

"More importantly, I don't want to have any private contact with someone as dangerous as you, or let you know my true identity. As for number two..."

"I don't seem to be from the same time as everyone else..." Number Two observed our conversation and said frustratedly, "Besides, I can't give my real name like Mr. Number Four. I'm sorry."

I was originally curious about No. 4 Xuanming's identity, but when I heard the second half of No. 2's words, I immediately had an idea: "Why can't you tell me your own name?"

"Isn't it obvious? Who would reveal their true identity to strangers in such a suspicious place?" Number One said as a matter of course, and added, "Except for a certain careless guy."

I turned a deaf ear to his words and looked at Child No. 2 over and over again.

Number One said before that she was a little girl, and I observed that this was true. Judging from her height and voice, she was no more than ten years old, and still in elementary school.

A little girl around ten years old...Come to think of it, Ma Zao also mentioned that her friend was a little girl around ten years old...

According to Ma Zao, in the apocalyptic world, "not being able to give one's real name" has a special meaning. It may mean that the person has forgotten his or her name and past, and is on the verge of becoming a demon. When her friend first met her, she was also in a state where she couldn't even remember her own name.

——Then, could number two be the friend that Maha mentioned?

I know that my sudden speculation seems abrupt. How could there be such a coincidence? However, since Ma Zao's unlucky physique is like a whirlpool that attracts weird things, and my fate has not yet escaped from Ma Zao's whirlpool, then I must attach importance to every coincidence I encounter on the road and try to connect it with Ma Zao. This is especially true for coincidences encountered in weird events.

The black jade was brought to me by Ma Zao's unlucky physique, and in this misty dream that I entered through the black jade, I met someone who had the same characteristics as Ma Zao's friend.

They were both residents of the doomsday world, both were ten-year-old girls, and both seemed to have forgotten their own names...

These "coincidences" made it natural for me to ask the next question.

"You are not unwilling to tell me your real name, but you can't do it, right?" I said to No. 2, "If I am right, you have forgotten your real name now, am I right?"

"Huh?" Number Two seemed surprised, and then admitted, "Yes, yes..."

Number One's gaze towards me suddenly became scrutinizing and confused.

Number 4 Xuanming first observed the reaction of number 2, and then looked at me with a meaningful look.

Looking at the reaction of No. 1, could it be that he knew that No. 2 couldn't say his name because he couldn't do it, and the reason he had that attitude before was to help No. 2 cover up? I originally thought he was just a rude person, but now it seems that is not the case.

"Why does Mr. Three know that?" Mr. Two asked in confusion.

I didn't answer her question directly, but continued to talk on my own: "In other words, you are not far from becoming a demon now?"

“Even the Karma Demon knows about this…” Number Two seemed to realize some possibility and said excitedly, “Could it be, could it be that Mr. Number Three, you are…”

"Don't worry, you still have to answer one more question for me." I didn't completely believe her yet, "What is the nickname of the Karma Demon?"

Number Two immediately responded, "It's 'Weirdo'!"

"Weirdo?" No. 4 Xuanming and No. 1 seemed to react to this word.

"Mr. No. 3, are you from the apocalypse like me?!"

Number Two was so excited that he couldn't help but jump off the rock seat and trot over to me.

"No wonder I didn't know where you were. The future..." No. 4 Xuan Ming looked at me thoughtfully, "If it is a fragment of the divine seal, maybe it can really connect the future and the present through dreams..."

I had no intention of exposing their misunderstanding for the time being, and it seemed like Number Two had something else he wanted to say.

She stood in front of me and looked up. After hesitating for a moment, she finally couldn't help but said, "Mr. No. 3... can you answer a question for me? I've been looking for someone..."

"Wait." Hearing this, my premonition became even stronger.

I stopped her first, glanced at the other two, and then said to her: "Don't say anything here, let's talk at a distance and alone."

"Where are you taking her?" Number One asked alertly.

Number Two was also hesitant. Even though we were both from the apocalypse, it didn't mean I was trustworthy. Rather, Ma had mentioned earlier that the moral standards of the people living in the apocalypse were not very high. It was normal for Number Two to be wary of me.

As for someone like Ma Zao, she is obviously an exception. She has a doomsday style that ignores the law, but she also has a conscience that does not want to involve irrelevant people. Her sense of morality in some aspects may be higher than that of many modern people.

Number Two finally made up his mind and said, "I understand... I'll go with you, Mr. Number Three."

Number One seemed to want to intervene, but gave up and let me take Number Two away.

We moved to a place where the other two could not hear the conversation. The fog was thick all around, and I could no longer see the rock seat or the others. There were no reference points here, so I could only remember the direction I came from purely by mental power.

"If you had any questions for me just now, just ask them here." I said to No. 2.

"Okay, okay..."

She was so nervous that her words were a little unclear, but she finally became firm and said as clearly as possible: "I'm looking for someone. That person has been protecting me before, but we were separated recently... I may soon become a monster, and I don't know if that person is still alive...

"So... I at least want to find out about that person before I turn into a monster..."

As she spoke further, her voice became increasingly sad, and she seemed about to cry.

"What's the name of the person who protected you?" I asked.

"...Ma Zao." She said, "Her name is 'Ma Zao'."

(End of this chapter)