Edge of Pure Land

Chapter 10: People on different paths

At dusk, Lu Fuji walked out of the temple with a pile of documents in his arms. The towering skyscrapers cast a shadow, and the dusty ground was filled with light and dark.

"Brother Lu, why don't you discuss it with them? If it doesn't work, just change your profession. As long as you're not on the battlefield, there's no need to force yourself to evolve. After I earn enough merit, I'll exchange it for you for a bottle of sacred tree marrow." Is that enough? That thing can repair cells, maybe..."

José also held a pile of documents and whispered in his ear.

Lu Buer shook his head and responded: "It makes no sense. The old priest said that the so-called sacred tree marrow can only be used to repair over-consumed cells, so it cannot cure my disease."

He Sai stopped talking. He lowered his head and kicked the gravel on the ground with his feet, and whispered: "Brother Lu, I know that my parents are no longer in this world, but in fact I don't feel very sad. After all, they have already passed away." I got divorced and no one wanted me.”

“And if you are no longer here, I will be alone in this world, friendless and ruined.”

He paused and said, "It sounds very selfish. I hope you can survive...at the very least, I can't be the only orphan."

 “Are you talking humanly?”

Lu Fuji smiled silently: "Don't think about those things. At least I'm still alive now, right? People should learn to enjoy the present. At least we have a chance to be supermen."

 In fact, he does not feel that the future is bleak.

 On the contrary, I feel like I see hope.

His illness is obviously not that simple, especially since he also obtained the God's seed which is suspected to be a hidden tool in the land of the dead, so he may not be able to break into this new world.

If we can continue to understand more about everything that happened five hundred years ago, we may be able to know what his parents did back then and what happened to his illness.

The most urgent task is to first activate the authority of the God's Seed.

 The frontline battlefield was what he desperately needed.

The cocoon breakers left one after another. The beautiful senior sister named Anna gave them a loving look before leaving, biting her red lips in a pitiful way, obviously showing her goodwill to them.

 Probably hoping they could help her more.

It's a pity that the two straight men didn't react at all, although they both realized that their status was very different from before.

 For example, the pile of documents they held in their arms.

  It is the rights that can be enjoyed in the new world.

 One of them is that cocoon breakers can receive high-level psychological counseling on a regular basis, mainly to help them adapt to the unfamiliar environment five hundred years later and prevent them from developing mental illness because they are too lonely to integrate into society.

There is another more interesting thing, that is, in order to prevent the cocoon breakers from being unable to have their own social relationships in a short period of time after joining the army, the military is willing to help them reorganize their families, the most important of which is to find a spouse. Many people of the opposite **** who are of the right age or who are in urgent need of marriage, especially women who have suffered domestic violence or have been widowed, have always favored cocoon breakers like them who have been forgotten by the times, looking for someone with more money and less trouble to manage.

José complained: "What does this blind date mean?"

“It means that you can get married in the military. You may get a wife, maybe even someone else’s wife. Isn’t it exciting?”

 “Fuck!”

This thing sounds a little strange!

"Let's say goodbye here. Take care of yourself in the future and be careful in your behavior. The world has really changed." Officer An and Boss Zhang waved goodbye to them. As medium talents, they both received pretty good results. Profession.

 Earning a lot more every month than before.

Five hundred years later, the financial system has not changed much, but there is a unified currency called merit. It was originally provided to evolvers, but later became favored by ordinary people.

 Because of value preservation.

 Police Officer An can serve in the law enforcement team and be responsible for maintaining those robots. It takes a period of assessment before he can gain the right to perceive the sacred rhythm.

Boss Zhang can also work as a clerk in a lending company under the Morgan Group. Ever since he saw his daughter, he has become impatient. He just wants to stabilize himself quickly, go through the handover procedures, and reunite father and daughter. ,live together.

 “Come on, Boss Zhang.”

Jose cheered him up and said, "We will help you when the time comes."

Lu Fuji also nodded slightly: "Wait until we have a solution."

 “You just need to live your own life, don’t worry about us.”

 Police Officer An and Boss Zhang waved goodbye to them and turned to leave.

 In fact, relying on the friendship they forged in the Land of the Past, these two adults can definitely help the teenagers. After all, high talents are indeed uncommon and they are high-quality connections.

 But they didn't.

 They seem to still hold on to the values ​​they had five hundred years ago.

 Children are children.

 Even if you become a highly gifted person, you are still a child.

 Adults, of course, cannot cause trouble to children.

 The street was crowded with people, and they parted ways.

This is November 30, New Era 534. Another group of cocoon breakers who have been forgotten by the times have come to this world. Some of them shed tears looking at their sleeping family members in the cocoon of time. Others also emerged from the cocoon in the same way. They reunited with their old friends who had walked out of the war, and the two bitter teenagers went to the military headquarters and embarked on a new life that they had never imagined.

  ·

  ·

The military bus was bumping along the road. Lu Buer leaned on the seat in the last row, yawning and watching the scenery fly by outside the window, as if he had seen five hundred years in one glance.

At first he could still see some rusty trains, station platforms scattered with newspapers, desolate and quiet alleys, and old buildings that were slightly outdated.

 The closer you get to the city, the dilapidated feeling gradually disappears.

Along the way, there are huge neon holographic advertisements, towering high-end hotels and lavish high-end shopping malls, pedestrian streets with endless traffic, crowded bus stops, endlessly changing traffic lights on zebra crossings, and wide intersections that seem to lead to different worlds.

Couples on the street are holding hands or hugging, parents are holding their children out of dessert shops holding cakes, and on the zebra crossing are students jumping around, still wearing blue and white striped school uniforms, holding spicy snacks in their hands , you can still see a whole row of food stalls along the coast, and a group of people gather together to eat seafood and drink beer. It seems that nothing has changed from five hundred years ago.

 But it seems that everything has changed.

I heard that in today's era, there is a clear distinction between ordinary people and evolved people. The former still live a peaceful and beautiful life, while the latter live in blood and fire.

 For a cocoon-breaker like Lu Fuji, there seems to be no other choice.

 There are some magazines on the bus with interesting contents.

For example, "One Piece" resumed serialization after being suspended for 500 years.

For example, after experiencing 125 World Cups, the national football team still failed to qualify for the top 16.

  For another example, controllable nuclear fusion is about to be put into use, and mankind will embark on a journey to the stars and the sea.

　　And so on.

Since the Cocoon Breakers have no friends, the priests are responsible for the guidance and reception of them who have just arrived in the new world. They simply popularized the changes of the times: "Today's extraordinary world is maintained by the Supreme Federation, and the Akashic Holy Church maintains order. It is the only force that cooperates with the federal military because we believe in the Kabbalah Tree of Life. It is the sacred tree that opens the way for human evolution. The sacred tree has a very lofty status and is the embodiment of the will of the sacred tree. ”

The two of them were the only ones in the car, and the atmosphere was a little awkward for a while.

The pastors seemed to be used to this kind of silence and continued to explain.

 It is worth mentioning that the predecessor of Akasha Holy Religion is Aurora Technology, which was originally established by Easterners, but most of them are not religious.

Looking at today, there are many Easterners who have teaching positions, but they have no devout beliefs in their bones. They don’t even bother to teach, and they just work to clock in.

 Only take benefits, not loyalty.

They also claim that whether it is the Supreme Federation or the Holy Cult of Akasha, there is still a position above them, and that is the throne that countless people are flocking to.

 But they didn’t say what it was.

  In any case, it is not something that Lu Buer or He Sai can get involved in right now.

 Until evening, they arrived at the military base of the Third City Guards.

This place is also guarded by soldiers with live ammunition. The light of the lighthouse sweeps from a distance and shines on the faces of the comrades who have just got off the car, making it difficult to open their eyes.

 “Authentication completed!”

 Drones hovered in mid-air scanning their faces.

 “Recruit Lu Buer, allowed to pass!”

 “The new soldier He Sai is allowed to pass!”

 The priests took them to the military base.

 The brothers were very emotional.

I didn’t expect that when I woke up, I would change from a student to a soldier.

 At the entrance of the military base is an empty terrace. On the empty platform is a pitch-black sculpture, as if a soldier is watching the night. Half of his body is mutilated and scarred under the starlight, but he is unyielding.

There is a sentence engraved on the black stone base of the sculpture: "We are willing to devote ourselves to this never-ending battle until the last drop of blood is shed. We will never be timid or look back."

 Lu Fuji was slightly touched when he saw this sentence.

 I don’t know who carved this sentence.

 But it is awe-inspiring.

José said blankly: "Is this an oath?"

The priest shook his head and said: "No need, we will not force you to dedicate your life to this world. Wait until the day you are truly willing to take the oath, come here again. This was five hundred years ago, when the Human Watch Army was first established, the soldiers swore Of course, this is not the only sentence, there is another sentence that has not been recorded..."

They paused: "We die in the past, you open up the future!"

 “Sounds like an idealist.”

 Stag Fuji murmured softly.

 “Brother Lu, what is an idealist?”

José asked.

 “You can be understood as professional soldiers.”

The pastors explained: "And you are all unemployed soldiers. The difference is that after you have served in the military for three years, you can change jobs. Life in the military is a kind of experience for you and a way to obtain resources. You What you achieve in the military determines your treatment after you change your career, and being a professional soldier is a great profession in which you have to dedicate your life and soul to the world.”

The two brothers looked at each other and realized that this was what happened!

This military restricted area covers a large area, with drones hovering overhead and heavily guarded sentry towers everywhere. Armored vehicles roar past on the road, and the uniform footsteps of soldiers on patrol can be heard. Very clear in the night.

It was clearly already dark, but many parents and their children could be seen queuing up in front of an office building. They seemed to be going through the formalities for joining the army. I heard from the pastors that joining the army is as common as the college entrance examination, and it is very popular among the public. path of ascent.

The parents were a little surprised to see the priest personally bringing them. This was obviously the treatment given to the cocoon breakers who came out of the land of the dead, and it proved that their talents were very high.

Facts have proved that talented cocoon breakers do have privileges. They went directly to the fast track for routine physical examinations. The new era of information technology and medical testing are very convenient. It took about half an hour to complete the process and checked the brothers. Everything is turned upside down.

 He Sai's condition is kidney deficiency.

 The situation of Deer Fuji is malnutrition.

 As for the fact that the cancer was not detected at all, it is quite strange.

 The next step is to visit the facilities in the military base, headquarters, munitions depot, livestock farm, parking lot, apron, and aviation runway.

There are many soldiers coming and going in the military area. You can still see clothes hanging to dry in the dormitory building. There are even women's underwear and underwear hanging outside, frozen hard by the cold wind.

I also met a lot of pretty female soldiers along the way.

　José’s eyes were opened straight when he saw it.

Lu Fuji said speechlessly: "Look at your potential!"

The female soldiers smiled slightly when they saw the newcomer.

“The ones who were picked up alone seemed to be two high-level talents. Hush, look at the injuries on their bodies. Could they be Cocoon Breakers, people from five hundred years ago?”

 “Don’t be so scared that you cry for father and mother later.”

 “One of them is pretty good-looking, hee hee.”

 The female soldiers ran away laughing.

Hearing what they said, Lu Fuji had a bad feeling.

 “Is this our dormitory?”

José asked curiously.

The priests smiled and said: "No, you will go directly to the front line after a short training period, and that is where you will live."

The brothers were stunned: "Go directly to the front line?"

The priests replied: "You two are high-level talents who have returned from the land of the dead. You have experienced the battle with the White Walkers, but you still need to adapt to the harsh environment on the front line. We will not give the high-level talents too superior conditions, otherwise it will only Killing your fighting spirit will not help you awaken. The so-called front line is the edge of the land of death. Because there are often ghosts there, troops are needed to garrison it. This is why the new world needs troops. "

They paused: "Whether it is the president or the general of the military, including those families with a long history, or their descendants, anyone who is qualified to evolve must start from the front line. This is the starting point of everything. They have all experienced Yes, it’s the same start as you.”

José didn’t understand at all.

“In other words, the military department is the starting point of everything.”

Lu Fuji pondered for a moment: "Everyone starts from here."

The priests said: "Remember what the old priest said? Only anger and despair can make you truly awaken. But please don't worry. When you go to the frontline battlefield, if an emergency occurs, there will naturally be instructors to protect you. Safety."

 Lu Buer and He Sai looked at each other and understood.

"From now on, you are stationed here, you live here. When faced with life disasters, you fight. When faced with the invasion of heretics, you fight. You are responsible for guarding the borders of the land of the past, and shoulder the sacred mission of guarding the human world. ”

 The priests smiled and said: "Let's prepare for the recruit training next."

  ·

  ·

Aoki drove his car whizzing through the bustling streets. After many years of breaking out of his cocoon, he has become accustomed to the changes in the new world. There is only a thin line between the ordinary and the extraordinary in this city. Seemingly ordinary passers-by may have the power to evolve. , there is also turbulence hidden in the calm.

 The streets are busy with traffic and some people are selling snacks.

The traffic lights on the road changed, and the aroma of fried noodles wafted from the restaurant across the street.

Aoki walked through the quiet park. The young couple on the swing were scared to see his clothes and moved away. The school in the distance had just ended, and the students in school uniforms went back to their homes.

 Their life is peaceful and beautiful.

 It seems that there is a natural chasm between us and the world of the evolvers.

He walked from the old neighborhood on the Fourth Ring Road, through the downtown area of ​​the Third Ring Road, to the economic zone of the Second Ring Road, and finally arrived at the core ring, which is also the most prosperous area.

　　Until Aoki arrived at a black building that looked like a steel fortress, he passed through the heavily guarded gate, walked through the dark underground tunnel, and stopped in front of an iron door.

Before knocking on the door, the person behind the door asked:

 “I heard that we encountered the heresy of the Corpse Eater Cult this time?”

That voice is old and powerful.

Aoki replied respectfully: "Yes, sir. We were lucky this time. They happened to be the same group of heretics who escaped last time, and they all have the same characteristics."

 The voice behind the door asked again: "Kill them all?"

Aoki replied again: "No one was left behind. The cocoon breakers brought back also had their memories cleaned to ensure that this matter would not be leaked to the outside world."

After a brief silence, the old man said again: "The soil you brought back has been tested, and it is indeed contaminated. But have you ever thought that what they really want to pollute is the life in the place of death? tree!"

 Aoki was stunned for a moment, and he realized that he might have made a mistake.

“To pollute the great Tree of Life, it is by no means a simple ritual. Those heretics may seem weak, but they have terrible taboos in their hands!”

The old man suppressed his anger and asked: "Let me ask you, where are the things? You did a good job of keeping it secret, but you lost the most important thing! You deserve death!"

 Aoki's throat rolled up and down, and cold sweat flowed violently.

 He was careless and just thought it would be good to kill those people.

I didn’t expect those weak guys to actually have forbidden items in their hands!

With a thud, huge pressure rushed towards him, causing him to kneel on his knees.

“Your merits are enough to exchange for a bottle of the marrow of the sacred tree.”

The old man said hoarsely: "But now, I want you to get that thing back. Immediately, immediately, find it back. Although the memory of those cocoon breakers has been washed away, it is not impossible to take it away accidentally. What. Otherwise...you should know the consequences."

This time, Aoki lost his usual playfulness and joking.

The slightly aged eyes were full of fear.

 “But two people have already entered the military headquarters.”

Aoki said in a low voice: "And I have changed my profession, so it is difficult for me to go in for interrogation."

The old man said calmly: "I have a way to send you in. As long as you don't go too far, no matter what happens, I can tell you the truth. After all, you also know what will happen once the corpse food cult is exposed. s consequence…"

Chapter 1 today

 (End of this chapter)