"Yes. There is still so much beauty in this world, though darkness certainly exists. But isn't what we need to do simply to strive to make this world even better?"
Baizhi spoke these two sentences with genuine feeling, a reaction that somewhat surprised both Yangyang and Chixia.
Because this was the first time they had seen Baizhi like this.
—
[ At this moment, Scar in the video turned the right to speak over to Rover.
Scar: "Rover, next… the pen for writing is handed to you."
Scar: "I look forward to seeing what the story from your mouth will become after you have gained a deep understanding of this village."
Regarding this, Rover did not object and quickly began searching for clues within the village.
After discovering a diary in a corner, Rover also saw… a dark corner of this village.
Seeing this, naturally, Scar would not let this opportunity pass. His voice rang out from behind Rover once again at this very moment.
Scar: "Look, the story begins right here…"
Scar: "There was a flock of free and happy little lambs in the village. Every day, they relied on their own hard labor to find food."
Scar: "From ancient times to the present, people have always liked to draw lessons and comprehend truths from fables."
Scar: "Yet the inspiration for these stories is often drawn, more or less, from the lives of others."
Scar: "The same story, when passed through the mouths of different people, takes on an entirely different appearance."
Scar: "Those involved ultimately only understand one version of it."
Scar: "Just like us right now, we are in the midst of an ingenious plot, yet the one who caused all of this is not me."
Scar: "This village is the beginning of my entanglement with Jinzhou… Hehe… The Jinzhou Magistrate leading you here to meet me is the truly clever calculation." ]
[ .....]
〜Exposure Chat Group〜
Jinhsi: "Scar, stop spitting blood on people… You really can push anything onto me, can't you.⦍ClenchesFistJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Regarding the various events in the video, although for certain reasons, they had not actually happened yet. Jinhsi was relatively clear that everything there was indeed related to her original plans.
But on one hand, it was definitely not as Scar described, and on the other hand… her original plans were also devised by someone else. She had clearly just turned sixteen; how could she possibly come up with so many twists and turns?
Scar: "Hehe. Did I say anything wrong? Rover went through untold hardships to come see you, yet you wouldn't even meet them once."
Jinhsi: "…Bastard, you'd best hope I don't see you. When the time comes, you can go talk to my Sentinel Jue. ⦍FuriousJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Xiangli Yao: "However, from Rover's perspective, Scar's words would likely only deepen his suspicions."
Jiyan: "I don't think so. Although the Rover in the video doesn't share our vision, don't forget… he is that Rover. ⦍SeriousJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Rover: "If you know how to talk, say a bit more. When the time comes, I'll have Jinhsi give you a promotion and a raise. ⦍LikesJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Jiyan: "… (I was just telling the truth, why make it look like I'm desperate for advancement?)."
.....
[ At this time, the Rover in the video found a second diary.
The content above is clearly connected with the previous one, and Scar's story did the same.
Scar: "One day, a Shepherd came to the village."
Scar: "The Shepherd brought them food and shelter, satisfying the lambs' wishes. The flock henceforth lived a happy and stable life…"
Scar: "Quite the opposite. With the Shepherd's arrival, the story was only just beginning."
Continuing until the third piece of information was found, Scar was constantly narrating this story of the sheep and the Shepherd.
The Shepherd brought the lambs the power to grant wishes. From then on, the lambs only needed to wag their tails and beg the Shepherd to obtain more green grass and safe shelter.
It was from that moment that the Shepherd became an existence akin to a god in the hearts of the lambs.
Being able to possess endless resources and a perfect life without paying the price of labor, placed before any living creature, this would presumably be hard to refuse. ]
[ .....]
[ Just at this moment, the video paused once again. ]
[ ~Ding! Triggered video-related Q&A. ]
[ Question: While the lambs obtained the life they dreamed of, what price did they pay? ]
[ A. Their loyalty. ]
[ B. Their faith. ]
[ C. They didn't have to pay anything. ]
[ D. Themselves. ]
[ This question remains in buzz-in mode. A correct answer awards a ✦✦✦ Silver Treasure Chest; an incorrect answer will result in a corresponding punishment. ]
〜Exposure Chat Group〜
Carlotta: "Bastard, do the so-called little lambs refer to the residents of that village? This really is a lousy story that gives people a bad feeling."
Christopher: "Hehe. That's only natural. That guy Scar's storytelling ability… has never been very good."
Scar: "…"
Iuno: "So the destruction of that village was it all brought about by that Shepherd?"
Lupa: "That bastard truly deserves to die. So is that Shepherd this Scar from the Fractsidus? ⦍FuriousJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Cartethyia: "Those little lambs are so pitiful. If there were a knight who could protect them, perhaps…"
Cantarella: "Perhaps the story isn't that simple. And are those little lambs really pitiful? ⦍ConfusedJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Scar: "Hey, hey, hey… I'm no Shepherd. As for whether the lambs are really pitiful? Hahahahaha… you'll know if you keep watching."
.....
Clearly, for this Q&A, anyone who understood the story would definitely be able to answer it.
So people were instead discussing the story itself more.
[ ~Ding! Congratulations to guest Zani for successfully buzzing in. ]
[ Please, guest Zani, provide the correct answer within two and a half minutes. An incorrect answer or exceeding the time limit will result in the corresponding punishment. ]
Zani: "It's actually me? Looks like my luck isn't bad."
Zani: "The answer to this question is very simple, because there is never a free lunch in this world."
Zani: "So the correct answer must be the one with the greatest cost. I choose D: The price they paid was themselves."
[ ~Ding! Congratulations to guest Zani for the correct answer. ]
[ ~Ding! Congratulations to guest Zani for obtaining one ✦✦✦ Silver Treasure Chest. ]