Rotten God Kingdom

"No rush, you can take your time to think it over. Until you've made up your mind, I can continue to guide you through this city."

The guide turned and walked back. The crowd dispersed like the tide, then converged again, surrounding him as he walked towards the church.

Only Jiang Wang, Jiang Xin, and Wang Ye remained by the campfire. The wind blew from the depths of the wilderness, carrying the scent of sand and dust.

Wang Ye scratched his head and said, "Brother, while you were unconscious, that photo album was flipped through at least dozens of pages."

Jiang Wang was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

"I don't know. Director Xiang once said that photo albums are only opened for true travelers. The more they are opened, the more worthwhile that person is to follow." Wang Ye's tone carried an envy that he himself did not realize: "Brother, you may be more like a traveler than you think."

Jiang Wang leaned against the dead tree with his eyes closed.

He quickly began to reason in his mind.

Is the album's recognition of him based on his experiences with countless germs, or on his character as a person?

If it's the former, Jiang Wang will most likely be exposed the moment he actually touches the album.

What are the consequences of being exposed?

Will I become a slave to the photo album forever, one of those who walk to their death behind the city of travelers, or will I die on the spot?

If it's the latter, what exactly are the standards by which the photo album approves of a person?

In terms of travel experience, he is no match for Wang Jin, and perhaps even less so for the fifteen or sixteen-year-old Wang Ye in front of him.

Jiang Wang opened his eyes, banishing all thoughts from his mind.

Thinking about these things was pointless, so Jiang Wang made up his mind not to touch the photo album. Once he arrived at his destination, he left immediately.

Jiang Xin stared longingly at Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang never told Jiang Xin about the bureau chief and the book of diseases, so it's normal that Jiang Xin didn't understand Jiang Wang's choice.

He patted Jiang Xin's head and said, "Do you remember what I told you? In this era, there are always trade-offs for gains. What will be the price for taking over the photo album?"

To wander the wilderness for the rest of my life? To bear the fate of these travelers? Neither is something I can bear right now.

Jiang Wang hesitated for a moment, but still revealed a little: "In my current state, I really can't accommodate a photo album."

Jiang Xin turned her head away angrily: "I knew you paid a heavy price to treat my illness, and you didn't even say anything. Am I still your sister?"

Jiang Wang was stunned by the question. He wanted to pat Jiang Xin's head, but she dodged it, got up, dusted off her pants, and walked towards the motorcycle.

I'm ignoring you!

Jiang Wang's hand froze in mid-air, and he shook his head self-deprecatingly.

Three minutes later, Jiang Xin returned and handed Jiang Wang a bag of compressed biscuits.

Are you hungry?

Jiang Wang chuckled and said, "Compressed biscuits are so dry, why didn't you bring a water bottle?"

Jiang Xin threw the compressed biscuits into Jiang Wang's arms; she was really angry this time.

……

Early the next morning, smoke rose from the city of travelers.

Jiang Wang was pondering what he should eat for breakfast.

Should we consider digging up some edible wild vegetables and canned food nearby and cooking them together? It might not taste very good, but in the wilderness, cost-effectiveness is always the top priority.

The tour guide appeared out of nowhere, carrying a stainless steel basin, and sat down next to Jiang Wang.

"Mind if I come over for a meal?"

"Hey, what are you saying?" Jiang Wang added a piece of firewood to the fire. "You're going to give me something so important without even blinking an eye, but it's just two cans of food. You can just freeload off me if you want."

"Really? Then I won't be polite!" Wang Ye had just gotten up and was stretching as he walked over. When he heard Jiang Wang's words, his eyes lit up.

These two siblings eat nothing but canned food and bread; how extravagant!

Director Xiang glanced at Wang Ye expressionlessly.

Wang Ye walked away silently.

Judging from their appearance, they clearly have something to discuss.

He decided not to join in the fun.

Only then did Jiang Wang have the time to seriously examine Director Xiang.

Around thirty-five years old, with a well-proportioned figure and a serious appearance; he looks like the kind of person you can rely on.

After changing into a windbreaker, he looked more like a traveler than he did the night before.

The director examined Jiang Wang's motorcycle carefully and praised, "It's neither the pre-disaster model nor the post-disaster model. Did you assemble it yourself? Your craftsmanship is really good."

"The main body was found in an abandoned auto repair shop, and the rest of the parts were pieced together from various sources, so its performance is definitely not as good as the original."

Besides, it was my sister who fixed this car; if you're going to praise someone, you should praise her.

This motorcycle, which was saved from the brink of total destruction, was a popular model before the disaster.

The Suzuki RG500, it is said, almost sold out back then because of a certain movie.

When Jiang Wang found the motorcycle, he also found a disc not far away. It showed a handsome guy riding the motorcycle with a beautiful girl on the back.

Unfortunately, the disc had deteriorated with age and was no longer usable; otherwise, Jiang Wang would have liked to watch the movie.

"Indeed, excellent craftsmanship." Director Xiang looked at Jiang Xin and praised her without reservation.

Jiang Wang presented the guide with a large bowl of canned soup and asked, "Is there anything you want to ask? Just say it."

"You're so direct, you didn't even bother to build up the conversation," Director Xiang said with a laugh after taking a big gulp from his bowl.

"Time was tight, and I'm always wary of unsolicited kindness."

Hunters are often like this: when you first meet them, they are incredibly enthusiastic, as if you could entrust your life to them.

They really don't hold back when they stab you in the back.

Jiang Wang didn't think it was a big deal. You have to use any means to deal with enemies. At most, Jiang Wang could guarantee that he wouldn't become that kind of person, but he should always be a little cautious when strangers approached.

Reserving some things is a way to protect yourself.

"Then you don't have anything to be nervous about. Travelers are a group of pure people. In other words, if you are in the wilderness with nowhere to go and you meet a traveler on the road, you can ask them for food, and they will most likely not refuse."

"As long as you don't say his cooking is bad, it's fine." Director Xiang chuckled.

"Just say what you have to say," Jiang Wang shook his head.

"Then let me continue with yesterday's question: would you be willing to become a guide in the City of Travelers? You know that if you agree, it will only benefit you, not harm you."

"I don't understand. Even if you can't truly master the photo album, can't you still gain inspiration? You can continue to travel with this city."

If I agree to your request, let's not even talk about what I'll get in return, just talk about you.

As a tour guide, you originally enjoyed a privileged status in this city, living in the largest house and never fearing abandonment. What happens after you lose that status? As an ordinary resident, will your quality of life decline? Will your status plummet?

What you should have done was to drive me far away, preferably so that I would never have to come near this city again, but you didn't do that!

Jiang Wang spoke at length, holding almost nothing back.

"Or are you really a good person? Or are you really just a pure traveler? But without me, the scenery is still the scenery; it's always been there, and its beauty won't change because I'm a guide or not."

Director Xiang remained silent.

Honestly, who doesn't have selfish motives?

Even if there are only three people in a team, they will fight over who has the right to speak, let alone a city with thousands of people.

"Do you see those people?" The guide pointed to the group of people who followed the city of travel on foot every day without any vehicles.

Their faces were etched with exhaustion.

At night, they would prick the blisters on their feet with needles, and the next morning, before the wounds had healed, they had to embark on a new journey.

The injuries will only worsen over time, and their physical condition will gradually decline until they can no longer keep up with the pace of the city and become abandoned.

"Some of them used to own cars, some rode motorcycles, and some had their own houses in this city. Later, their cars broke down, and their houses were given to others for various reasons. They fell behind and could never catch up again."

The director's tone remained calm.

When a person sees something happen repeatedly around them, their feelings will always go from initial excitement and pain to eventual numbness.

"I can see that they are pitiful. Travelers want freedom, but they are not free at all after arriving in this city." Jiang Wang felt that there was something wrong with this city from the beginning.

However, Jiang Wang has not yet been able to figure out exactly where the problem lies.

"right."

Surprisingly, Director Xiang admitted it directly.

"What travelers really want is freedom. They should be able to decide where they want to go, but this city goes against everyone's wishes and imposes its will on everyone."

Director Xiang's expression was very serious.

Every traveler who has just entered the City of Travelers is initially enthusiastic.

They are accepted in the city, and they don't worry about attacks from wild monsters when they act collectively.

This is good for someone who just wants to survive in this era.

For true travelers who crave freedom, this is torture.

"But I think this is pretty good. It's already good enough to be alive. Your lives don't seem too difficult to me," Jiang Xin muttered softly. "There are many people in the wilderness who don't even have enough to eat."

Everyone in the sick city is suffering, and other places also have their own sorrows.

Now, this group of people are dissatisfied simply because of "freedom".

This is not the era before the catastrophe; pursuing dreams is a luxury.

Director Xiang continued to shake his head, his tone heavy: "This city has hijacked everyone's will; you can only join, not leave."

Even I, sooner or later, will become one of those chasing after the city, and ultimately die on the road.

Jiang Wang found it difficult to judge whether dying from illness or being worked to death was more painful. He couldn't save the sick city, and now it would be difficult for him to save the traveler's city as well.

"So what exactly is your purpose?"

"I want to find someone who can control the photo album and fundamentally change the rules of the traveler's city."