Deep in the Living

This dwarf Living Corpse is no ordinary creation, named "Kay Koffman," it's the first creature since the inception of the Human Body Exhibition that dared to steal something here.

The eventual outcome was being personally captured by Professor Noel.

Letting it go was naturally out of the question, but considering this creature's agility and speed, which surpassed that of creatures of the same level, a path of survival was given.

By willingly accepting "Human Body Refining," it could retain its own consciousness but would need to be bound to the Exhibition, working for Professor Noel.

Koffman, after accepting modification, advanced even further in terms of speed, helping Professor Noel with many tasks, even stealing some items from Mr. Rose.

Nowadays,

Koffman has become a capable operator, chiefly responsible for carrying out quick missions that require temporary seclusion.

Currently,

he received orders to swiftly retreat with a youth whose consciousness was fading, and whose neck bore black fang marks.

This task was to deliver this youth to a special location.

Professor Noel knew well that Master Jiang would never let Luo Di, who was like a dumpling to be seized, just escape and would stop at nothing to chase after.

No matter how fast Koffman was, with the gap in their level, he would surely be caught up.

Back when Mr. Rose established the Exhibition, to account for potential apocalyptic scenarios, a [Safe Haven] capable of complete isolation was built deep within.

As long as they could reach it, Luo Di's existence would be temporarily concealed, halting Master Jiang's pursuit.

When he was less than fifty meters from the door, a pair of shoes with a golden skull embedded on top stepped out from a side passage, the rose-gilded tie fluttered across the chest.

At the first sight of this person,

Koffman did not flinch, following Professor Noel's command, preparing to bypass this person to deliver Luo Di inside.

Unexpectedly, just as he passed by, his heel flew high.

Koffman fell heavily to the ground, and Luo Di, who had been carried on his back, had vanished, now trampled under the shoe of the opponent.

Mr. Rose softly said, "You go back~ I will take him inside. Your master is also in danger, dying here isn't worthwhile."

Koffman looked at the opponent's hand axe, and even though he feared no death, he couldn't help but swallow hard.

Quickly picking up the severed heel, he took out a stapler he carried and swiftly reattached the heel.

Koffman decisively left; the current situation was beyond his handling, better to return and find a way to assist his master.

Boom!

The doors of the Safe Haven completely closed,

Luo Di's unconscious body was thrown onto the ground,

after a long transfer, Luo Di's physical state worsened, even his Hell Shell turned mummified.

All life force was continuously leaking out from the hole in the neck.

A creature bitten by Master Jiang, even if not possessed, finds it hard to survive.

Mr. Rose squatted in front of this body, smiling slightly:

"What a surprise~ didn't expect such a development.

Using this body as leverage, Jiang can be fully drained, he still has some important things undealt with, neither at Jiang Mansion nor on him, but in his brain.

However~ can this little fella hold up?

Even though Jiang's possession got interrupted, those teeth did clamp down completely, spreading Corpse Poison... How long can he last? Life is slipping away rapidly; I bet he'll be dead in a few more minutes.

A bit of cleansing should do him good."

Just as Mr. Rose extended his hand, about to touch those fang marks on the neck, the Murderer's instinct sensed danger, swiftly retracting the hand.

Swish!

A shadow flashed past in front.

Luo Di unexpectedly raised his withered arm, slashing in his dying state, the strength hardly diminished, likely enough to chop a finger off if one didn't dodge.

Simultaneously,

a sound emerged from Luo Di's left hand, the sound of a tongue.

"Sslluup~ Just waking up, why does it smell so good… Aren't you the one called… Blueberry? Wait, it's Rose, right?

Can you pity me a little, cut your tongue off, let me taste? Just half of it, though a whole would be best! As long as it tastes good, if you ever come to Vortex Town, I'll arrange something for you personally."

Mr. Rose's expression instantly shifted as he reassessed the current situation.

He offered no verbal reply, stood up, bowed, and turned to leave.

The door sealed shut.

The Hell Shell was already darkened, resembling a mummy. Even the core Old Spine was blotched black, teetering on the brink.

Despite this,

Gust did not lend a hand, nor did it perform any licking.

Because its tongue could taste, perceiving a distinctly different flavor change… At this critical moment for Luo Di, he must resolve it personally.

Of course, the price of failure is death.

...

Luo Di's consciousness could no longer stand steadily on the Moon's surface,

currently drifting in a nearly gaseous state, floating between deep space.

The rapidly dissipating life force brought him to the brink of life and death,

differing from previous death-bound states, the pervasive Corpse Poison wouldn't sustain him long in this life-death balance.

The Corpse Poison, akin to zombie arms, continually pushed him towards the side called death.

Flashbacks rushed in.

Oddly, these past scenes would stall at some critical moments.

The interstice event that happened in Central High,

whether it was the vice Squad Leader or the Squad Leader who eventually laid by the classroom window, they both seemed to have told him:

"Survive..."

And just a moment ago, even Lady Linglong seemed to utter similar words, wanting him to live on.

Crash~ The rain pours down heavily.

The environment influenced by Jiang's presence made the entire exhibition area torrential. Luo Di could almost hear the sound of the rain, and the images in the zoetrope just so happened to freeze on a rainy night.

After things went wrong at home,

it was on a rainy night that he first stumbled upon the video store outside the neighborhood and rented a murderer movie for the first time, learning of the so-called [Undead].

Also on a rainy night, Luo Di went back to rent the sequel.

But compared to last time, his condition was terrible. He didn't know whether it was because he hadn't eaten or hadn't slept, his skin was pale, and his spirits were low.

While the shopkeeper was looking for old discs, Luo Di suddenly asked a question, one he had pondered on sleepless nights.

"Boss, why do you think people live..."

The shopkeeper was stunned, knowing of the Pseudo-Person incident in the resettlement district and that this young man was the only surviving member of the victim's family.

If he answered poorly, it might result in a terrible outcome.

He glanced at the Crystal Lake sequel in his hand and suddenly had an idea.

"Haven't you watched the movies? The way those murderers are always [Undead]... isn't remaining alive just another form of living?"

"Oh, I get it! To keep killing people, one must stay alive... I do want to kill someone, thanks boss."

"Hey~ wait! No... How should I put it, we're humans, not those murderers. What I mean is that humans are the same.

Look at me, or those people on the streets. Few smile, but they strive to live, don't they?

Most people repeat the same things daily, encountering troubles now and then, yet continue to live, don't they?

Take me for instance~ this shop is in a place with low consumption capacity. Rent is cheap, but business is poor too.

It's almost the end of the month, and I haven't made 500 yuan yet~ thankfully, there's a state subsidy for horror video stores, or I couldn't survive.

And my mom lies in a nursing home. Although there are state subsidies, I go every weekend to check up and need to tip the caregivers a little.

Plus, I'm still single, which frustrates me.

But one must live~ like just tonight, after closing, there's a new movie I've longed to see, and it feels exhilarating!

Also, next week I have a date with a girl, and who knows what might happen. Ahem~ you are still young and in school, don't get involved in these things.

The thing is~ another day alive brings new prospects.

How to put it, just don't fret over anything, just live! As long as you keep a mindset of survival, it's a form of undying.

We ordinary people live like this, without grand aims, living one day at a time. Life has some meaning in it after all! Enough talking, hurry home and make sure not to stay up too late watching.

A good night's sleep refreshes the mind, letting you catch more movie details."

"Oh... thank you, boss."

Watching Luo Di's departing back, the shopkeeper couldn't help adding one more sentence, "Kid, remember to return the disc on time, don't die."

"Alright..."

Buzz!

As the recollection ended, Luo Di fell into a strange state.

The images in his mind moved to the end where he met Professor Noel, under the Tree of Life, facing self-examination.

Perfect transition,

and he had it figured out.

His consciousness gradually solidified and regained its thinking ability in this process.

"Right~ why must I have grand, clear goals? In such a world, isn't it enough to just live?

As long as I live,

I can watch movies when bored,

eat a bowl of beef noodles when hungry,

lend a hand when classmates or teachers need help,

root out sources when I smell something foul.

Exactly... life doesn't need overly clear meaning, I was born this way, I lack firm future goals or great ambitions.

I'm not like Gust,

I'm not like Wu Wen,

I'm not like Hua Yuan.

I am who I am; I'm not one for setting 'goals'. Since Joke is dead, I'll just continue living."

Just then,

a red balloon floated into the deep space, towards Luo Di's once again focused consciousness, emitting a sound as it rubbed against the balloon:

"Yes, exactly! Everything should be based on survival, don't push yourself too hard! When facing danger, think first of avoiding it and placing yourself in the safest position.

Quickly recover and hide away in Vortex Town, what happens there doesn't concern you; hiding helps survive, which makes life interesting, don't show off."

Pop!

A firm grip.

Luo Di suddenly grabbed the inexplicable balloon... he knew clearly, it wasn't Joke, but something born within him after he killed Joke, something filthy.

"No... to survive, I need to clear away everyone who wants me dead."

Crushed!

The balloon exploded!

The sharp sound awoke Luo Di completely, his conscious form descended back to the pituitary space, to the surface of the Moon.

This time,

he saw a different scene,

saw a kingdom seemingly located at the edge of the Moon.

He carried the remnants of the balloon resembling a head, held a dark blade, and walked the road named Hell, nearing the kingdom...