This time I chose Paladin.

Chapter 87: Full of Cracks
In the new world, not many people dare to show their beliefs. Even the major forces only require the defendants to demonstrate their beliefs and corresponding skills in a process similar to political review.

Because compared to origin, lineage, and personal life, established beliefs are a person's eternal weakness.

Perhaps a person's beliefs are ordinary, just something like "avoid danger and live a peaceful life", but as long as the beliefs are frustrated or even defeated, the person will suffer almost irreversible trauma.

There are only three types of people who dare to show their beliefs: the young and ignorant who do not understand the consequences, the arrogant who underestimate the consequences, and the strong who are absolutely confident - whether it is confidence in their strength or confidence in the belief itself.

Nie Weiyang was clearly neither of the first two. He was simply confident. He had always had a clear understanding of himself, whether it was his status, influence, or abilities, personality, and behavior, as well as the reactions or backlash these conditions would trigger.

Knowing yourself clearly is the greatest respect for yourself.

Before entering the urban area of ​​Yuzhou, Nie Weiyang walked with the team for a while.

He has been working almost day and night these days, either racing or fighting. It has been a while since he slowed down and took a look at the world bathed in sunshine.

Blood, mutilated limbs, death, victims, and some people worse than beasts... Oh, there are also the whistles of police lines, the screams of engines, the clash of swords and shields, and the fleeting secrets emerging from the mist of history.

All these things that could not be avoided no matter how fast they moved were now temporarily left behind, hidden in the wind like the receding tide.

Nie Weiyang's tense nerves gradually relaxed, even if only a little.

He was already used to fighting in split seconds and taking lives at extreme speeds. At this moment, he was like a bowstring that suddenly relaxed. Although his heart was still weighed by the secrets concerning the world, a trace of imperceptible fatigue appeared in his eyes.

The ground in Gushi was dry and hard, and the roadsides were covered with a thick layer of golden fallen leaves, piled beside thin tree trunks or thick tree stumps. Every step Nie Weiyang took made a fine but clear rustling sound, so pure that it almost drowned out the lingering buzzing in his ears.

It rained a little here last night, and now the air was as clear as spring water, washing away the blood in his lungs.

The soil has been warmed by the sun, and the unique light scent of growing and withering grass lingers in all directions. In the distance, there are several flames, and a faint wisp of smoke comes with the wind and passes by in an instant.

If you walk around here and lose your concentration, you might think you've returned to the normal world.

"They're burning the wasteland." Someone in the team said with a smile in his voice, "If it were in the past, that would be like setting fire to the mountain—"

"No one will be sent to jail for life for this matter now." Nie Weiyang smiled.

Nowadays, if you encounter such a thing, you usually kill the person immediately.

His smooth response made everyone laugh. Most of the people who survived to this day were not stupid, so they could naturally see his good intentions.

What's more, he can show people calmly even something like faith that ordinary people don't show easily.

Add to that renowned power and level number...

Someone came closer. It was a young girl. She didn't seem timid at all. She even showed her profile as she approached. Nie Weiyang took a look.

You Yan, female, lark, level 12 'imitation singer'.

Oh…it’s her. One of the future superstars of the new world, her skills are related to sound waves and voice, she’s very powerful, but her main focus is on entertainment and functionality, so her actual strength isn’t that high. As for the fame and fans she will have in the future, Nie Weiyang didn’t even consider that in his strength calculations—those are external resources. He’s just that kind of simple pragmatist.

Nie Weiyang tilted his head slightly and said nothing.

"Hello, Mr. Nie," You Yan asked with a smile, "What brings you to Gushi this time? Is there anything we can help you with?"

"No." Nie Weiyang replied.

He didn't say whether it was okay or there was nothing he could do to help. Instead, he smiled kindly and politely asked, "Miss You, can I ask you some questions?"

"Ah? Um, oh..." You Yan was stunned for a moment. She subtly felt a strange affinity - "You...you ask."

"What's the current state of Gushi?" Nie Weiyang asked. "I want to know what it looks like in your eyes."

What is the city like now?

You Yan pondered for a moment and said, "I'm very grateful to the authorities for implementing direct military management, otherwise I would have died long ago."

Nie Weiyang listened patiently.

"Well... you must also know that the more people there are, the harder it is to manage. When the number of people gathered in one place reaches a certain level, unrest and conflict will follow. Humans are just that kind of creature." You Yan smiled, a smile devoid of emotion. "The original population of Gu City was over ten million, and those with combat professions as their primary occupation accounted for one-third of them, which means four million combat professions - that's four million true superpowers.

"When I think about those days, I feel that if I were in the position of administrator, I would have shot myself on the third day. Because any city that enters this situation will quickly become a bloody vortex that will cause people to suffer a headache and die."

...It's an unexpectedly low rating.

"If it weren't for the troops, you'd only see ruins now," You Yan said. "Some people think that the troops should be independent at a time like this, and that those with higher combat power should use the corpses of ordinary people as beds. This isn't Earth anymore, and anyone still trying to uphold the rules is a fool..."

There were a few coughs in the team. Nie Weiyang's eyes moved under his sunglasses and saw two soldiers on both sides, one on the left and one on the right, looking up at the sky and the ground, as if they had closed their hearing.

"This situation was already serious before the blood moon rose. After it did... it got even worse." You Yan shook her head. "People are constantly trying to harm others. Furthermore, theft, robbery, and rape are rampant, regardless of gender. Previously, to prevent people from escaping with the food, the grain was gathered and managed in one place. But a few days ago, someone stole the granary..."

"Why are you saying this?" someone muttered softly.

"It's no secret. Many people in the city are starving. Mr. Nie will see it when he enters the city." You Yan curled her lips. "The strong combat professions in Gushi who are willing to contribute are now killing mutant animals for currency and food. A large amount of resources are concentrated on buying food every day - thank you vending machines. But even so, resources can't keep up with consumption, and people are always starving to death."

starve.

This word, once so distant from China, suddenly silenced the winds. Millions died and were lost, living conditions declined, and social stability collapsed. All of this finally made humanity realize that the breath of doom had truly clung to them. Life, the future, and everything once familiar were now cracked and bloody.

After a long time, someone finally answered in a low voice.

"People who are starving to death will do anything." It was a young boy, a trace of melancholy on his face. "You know what? Gang robberies have become flash mobs now. They spot their targets, then suddenly appear and drag them into a corner to beat them up. There are even cult members at the artists' market. I don't even dare to talk to them when I go back now!"

(End of this chapter)