My lord, spare his life!

Du Fang said calmly, "I know."

Zhang Yang: "What do you know—"

This is simply a way for the game to rationalize NPC respawns.

"I know they're not truly alive; I forcibly confined them to this world. But with so many demons and monsters in this world, a few more won't make a difference!" Du Fang said indifferently. "Are the people you see truly human, and the ghosts you see truly ghosts?"

I can't tell the difference between a human and a ghost at all!

Du Fang's tone was chilling: "My wife married me at sixteen, died at twenty-six, both sets of parents died in famine, three sons and one daughter all died young, and the eldest daughter... she too was captured and boiled in a vat by her cruel uncle when she was delivering grain to her father-in-law's family during a famine..."

He simply wanted a chance to grow old with his wife, raise his children, and care for his parents in their old age—that was all. Even if outsiders didn't understand and thought he was deceiving himself, at least in his little family, his wish might come true.

A slight ripple appeared on Zhang Yang's usually expressionless face.

It was a barely perceptible sense of bewilderment and pity.

I'm puzzled as to why Du Fang has such a deep attachment to his family, yet I also pity him, thinking that this attachment is merely a setting given by the game. Is the love he believes in truly love that arises from his own heart?

She didn't notice Fan You's subtle actions.

"Ultimately, they are just Japanese devils you gave birth to with your own blood and qi, given the appearance and temperament of your parents, wife, and children." Fan You said this while leaning closer to Zhang Yang, afraid of inadvertently angering Du Fang. The "birth demons" posed little threat normally, but would go berserk once their weaknesses and bottom lines were crossed. "If you continue on your own way, one day, even if you don't die at the hands of the birth demons, you will be torn apart and devoured by these Japanese devils."

Du Fang was clearly aware of this outcome.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have arranged for their retainers to guard the place.

This was not to ensure his own safety, but to ensure that when Du Fang was attacked and dismembered by the Japanese, his troops could take advantage of the special circumstances to eliminate all the Japanese soldiers at the same time, so as to prevent greater disasters.

Du Fang remained silent for a long time.

"So what?"

He looked towards the backyard.

"Then let's divide it up, so they can have a good meal too."

Fan You: "Truly stubborn and incorrigible."

"This is the first time I've ever seen such a righteous and awe-inspiring birth demon."

Zhang Yang was completely confused.

However, Guan Zong's admiration seemed genuine.

Are you sure?

No, this plot is beyond the darkest level.

Guan Zongdao said, "What do you know? In the past, demon-breeding tribes would raise demon soldiers to serve them. They would feed and clothe their living troops well, but if the battle went badly, they would be wiped out. Demon-breeding tribes, on the other hand, raised their own demon soldiers, which cost no money. They could be fed with their own flesh and blood on a normal day, and on the battlefield, they could hunt enemy soldiers to replenish their blood and flesh. The more they killed, the more ferocious they became."

On the other hand, Du Fang simply treated the Japanese soldiers as deceased blood relatives and kept them at home for comfort. What could outsiders criticize him for?

Zhang Yang: "..."

This is a summoning-type NPC.

I can't help but recall a world boss from years ago, the Insect Queen. It didn't have much attack power itself, but it could continuously produce various insect mini-bosses. By controlling these mini-bosses, we could attack various survival bases and make the observation samples cry for their parents.

"The only downside is that this kind of work leads to early death."

In Guan Zong's view, everything else was an advantage.

Du Fang rubbed his temples: "It's late. I've troubled Lord Zhang and everyone else to make this special trip. I'll see you off."

He openly began to drive away customers.

After seeing the people to the door, Zhang Yang and his group hadn't gone far when they heard some hushed whispers behind them. Du Fang's "wife," worried about his health, had come out to check on him since he hadn't returned to the backyard for a long time. She was holding her newborn baby in her arms.

Du Fang: "I'm fine. My colleagues came to visit me because they were worried."

Du Fang's "wife" said gently, "Since they are colleagues, why don't you invite them over for a visit after you finish your postpartum confinement? The aunties in the neighborhood said that there is a lot of snow outside the city and it has been raining heavily inside the city for several days. The fact that they still come to see you at this time shows that they really care about you."

Du Fang raised his hand to block the rainwater dripping from the eaves.

"Okay, either way is fine. Let's go back inside first."

The couple returned home and closed the door.

Guan Zong: "He's a pitiful person, but then again, whether it's true or not, at least there's the visible joy of family reunion... It's better than being a lonely bachelor all by himself."

Fan You's expression looked somewhat gloomy.

"If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."

Guan Zong was merely moved by the scene, never expecting Fan You to retort, "I'm just talking about myself, what are you shouting about here?"

Zhang Yang: "His whole family is gone."

You have to hit the nail on the head to break down my defenses.

Guan Zong: "..."

Fan You's favorability towards you has decreased by 10.

Zhang Yang added slowly, "I don't have a whole family either."

Guan Zong looked embarrassed, his voice fading: "So, all of us together can't even come up with a pair of parents?"

Fan You glared at him with red eyes: "Shut up."

"Hmph, do you think I'm made of mud?" Guan Zong wasn't one to back down. Having been repeatedly challenged by this seemingly weak scholar, Fan You, with arguments revolving around threats like "the entire family's extinction," his rebellious streak finally kicked in. "No one has ever dared to boss me around like this! Anyone who has is dead!"

Hearing the two raise their voices in their argument, Shi Xu shrank back in fear, worried that they might suddenly lose control of their emotions and smash their already impoverished home to pieces, just like her father had.

When there was nothing left to smash, it was her and her siblings' turn to be beaten.

Zhang Yang didn't try to stop him, and watched with great interest.

Just as Guan Zong was about to draw his sword and leap into action, a chain formed from starlight shot out from the ground, binding him tightly. Enraged, he opened his mouth to curse. Before he could utter the first word, a ball of light was shoved into his mouth, expanding and sealing it completely. Aside from drooling and babbling, he couldn't utter a single swear word.

Zhang Yang raised his hand to cover Shi Xu's eyes.

"Don't look, it's R-rated play!"

Fan You: "..."

He laughed in exasperation.

Sensing danger, Zhang Dami carried Zhang Yang a few steps back, keeping a wary eye on Fan You while making threatening growls. Zhang Yang said, "You tied him up, but you can't tie me up too. I didn't say anything."

It wasn't her who touched a sore spot for Fan You.

With a wave of his long sleeves, Fan You released Guan Zong from his confinement.

Guan Zong's first action upon regaining his freedom was not to kill or seek revenge, but to distance himself from Fan You. He suspected that if Fan You hadn't been a lustful demon rather than a child-producing demon, this madman would probably have done something similar to Du Fang. A person who is ruthless to their enemies isn't really ruthless, but someone who is ruthless to themselves is definitely a madman you shouldn't mess with.

"Does my lord ever miss his parents and siblings?"

"Won't."

Whom can she miss?

Does she miss the game developer who wrote her story?

This NPC with self-awareness is a bug; she'll be removed once the game developers discover it.

Fan You's voice was barely audible.

"But I want to..."

Even in the dead of night, I dream of people lying in pools of blood.

Despite his righteous and stern words to Du Fang, he harbored a secret envy and jealousy. If Lie Xing Jiang Li were not a lustful demon but a birth demon, perhaps he too could have witnessed the eternal separation of his loved ones.

Shi Xu also hung his head, looking dejected.

"I miss my mother and sister too."

Where are they?

"It's been sold."

"Sold?"

"Before she died, her father had her sold off."

A living person and a corpse are not the same price.

Her sister was her twin. If it weren't for the fact that the family needed someone to take care of their father, she and her sister would have been sold together. The fact that twins look exactly alike could have driven up the price.

Zhang Yang: "..."

Watching Fan You and Shi Xu, she inexplicably felt a sour feeling rise in the empty space in her left chest, while at the same time, she felt a restless and angry feeling. The game planners had already given so many NPCs in the survivor base different and difficult fates, so why did they have to do this to the home side story?

Do you think you can't make a game without causing pain to NPCs?

"Where were they sold?"

"have no idea."

Where is your father?

Shi Xu's voice was tinged with excitement.

"I froze to death the day before yesterday."

Guan Zong: "That's truly a joyous occasion, and even the heavens have done a decent good deed."

Shi Xu wanted to agree, but he held back.

Zhang Yang said, "Let's go back and have a good meal to celebrate."

Fan You: "My lord, don't corrupt the children."

It's not that this event can't be celebrated, but rather that it can't be celebrated openly under this pretext. Filial piety is widely advocated, and any family whose children would joyfully celebrate such an event wouldn't fear public opinion. If Shi Xu wants to establish himself in society, he must also conform to the mainstream.

Even if it's just a perfunctory gesture.

Zhang Yang: "Since things have come to this, let's have hot pot."

None of them had ever heard of the word "hot pot".

Zhang Yang took out a copper pot from his game backpack, placed it on the earthen stove, poured in water and brought it to a boil. With his left hand, he took out a large bag of colorful and differently shaped "cakes," and with his right hand, he took out a bag of sliced, diced, and cubed frozen meat. Finally, he added a few boxes of spicy seafood seasoning.

"Eat up, eat up, it's pre-made hot pot, it won't kill you."

The observed samples said that eating too much pre-cooked food is bad for you.

however--

Even if things are bad, can being poor be even worse?

They don't mind that she's poor even if she makes pre-made meals, so what does she have to complain about?

As long as it tastes good!

Zhang Yang had many complaints about the game's producers, but the only thing she was satisfied with was the food system. It allowed her, an NPC pretending to be a player, to enjoy the game instead of obediently following the setting of "being forced to eat only earthworms, dried cockroaches, and jelly due to resource scarcity."

Guan Zong: "..."

After hearing that, he didn't even dare to pick up his chopsticks.

The water in the copper pot bubbled and simmered, various side dishes rolled around inside, and a steaming aroma filled the air. The flavor of the seasonings was a game-changer in today's world where cooking is the main activity.

Fan You: "This is the first time I've ever eaten hot pot like this."

Guan Zong's eyes widened as he ate.

Puyang Kui had just returned from work when he saw four people gathered around the earthen stove, the air still filled with the tempting aroma of food. Not far away, from the refugee settlement, pairs of eyes were peering in their direction. Puyang Kui approached, carrying several heads.

Seeing the head casually placed down, Zhang Yang paused, his hand holding the bowl still, and met several pairs of unseeing eyes: "Add more food?"

Judging from the bloodstains, it wasn't pre-made; it's very fresh.

Puyang Kui was taken aback.

"Would the lord like to try some?"

Zhang Yang: "...No, I find it disgusting."

Puyang Kui brought the head over for easy reporting, but unexpectedly, Zhang Yang and his men were having hot pot there. Zhang Yang naturally mistook the head for an extra dish. Puyang Kui waved for his guards to come over, take the head away, and not bring the body over.

"Would my lord be so kind as to grant me a pair of bowls and chopsticks?"

This hot pot smells amazing, even better than anything I've ever had before.

Puyang Kui was indeed quite hungry, and she devoured all the meatballs, noodles, mutton, and beef in the pot until a unique sense of satisfaction rose within her. Fan You somewhat awkwardly added shrimp paste to the pot.

"Has everything been taken care of at Cointreau?"

Puyang Kui picked up a piece of duck blood.

"I wouldn't dare to embarrass myself if I hadn't done it properly."

With the enemy in the open and her in the shadows, how could she possibly lose with such a huge advantage?

Everyone agreed that they should act while Du Fang was preoccupied, as this would greatly increase their chances of success, which gave Puyang Kui a significant advantage. The urgency of the situation meant that as long as there weren't any obvious flaws, the enemy would have a hard time spotting them, and they could almost always deceive the enemy successfully.

Puyang Kui was eager to make a name for himself, so he naturally couldn't afford to make a mistake.

In an instant, the tree fell and the monkeys scattered.

Most of the retainers employed by each household had absconded with valuables. Those left, truly dedicated to avenging their masters, were few and far between. They had either died at Puyang Kui's hands or fled wounded. Puyang Kui confidently declared, "A rabble, nothing to fear."

Fan You added, "We must not let our guard down."

Guan Zong swiftly snatched the meatballs that were being boiled in the hot water: "The old master has fallen. How many people would risk their lives to avenge him? Not everyone is Jiang Boyue. Even if they were, how many are Liu Bei?"

Zhang Yang: "Who?"

Guan Zong has a slight accent.

When Jiang Boyue's name reached Zhang Yang's ears, it became "calling Boyuan".

Guan Zong: "I wasn't calling you."

While silently adding details to Zhang Yang's literacy plan, Fan You analyzed, "Of the eight counties in Tianyue, this area is basically under control. The situation in the other seven counties is probably even more severe. It's not impossible that they might take the opportunity to incite refugees to riot."

Under the pressure of survival, humans are more terrifying than ghosts.

"Besides, after a great disaster comes a great plague, and under a great plague comes a hundred ghosts. Right now the weather is still cold and the corpses have not yet decomposed. Once the chaos ends and the weather warms up... those corpses that have not been buried will cause even more harm."

Zhang Yang focused on the key point: "A hundred demons?"

Fan You glanced at Shi Xu, noticing the latter was drawn to the hot pot, and continued, "In recent years, wars have become more frequent, more and more star lords have fallen, and more and more people have been affected. Do you know that 'nine deaths and one life' means that out of ten such people, one can be 'brought back to life,' but even if he survives, he will bear the punishment of 'the wrath of the stars' for the rest of his life."

These ordinary people are forced to bear this burden.

For example, Shi Xu.

Some people even took the initiative to hug them.

As an ordinary person, one wouldn't survive long in a chaotic world that's like a meat grinder. But if one can continue to cultivate using stellar energy, one's physical constitution will far surpass that of ordinary people, greatly increasing one's chances of survival.

In other words, among the ordinary people who were on the verge of death during this great disaster, perhaps one-tenth were burdened with the "Descending Stars' Wrath" and were forced to eke out a living. From then on, they would be entangled with a hundred ghosts.

"...The newly born 'ghost' may go out of control."

Negative and aggressive emotions affect one's mind and spirit, leading to numerous acts of violence.

??|??w?`)

I feel like I need to put pressure on myself. The more I write, the smoother it goes; the less I write, the more writer's block I get.