Chapter 713 Cold Rain

Rain fell from the sky above the high floors. The tiny dots rapidly expanded in the pupils, and finally hit the forehead and the ground, splashing tiny water.

The sky was always gloomy, and there was no sunrise or sunset. This was a jungle full of steel, a maze with no way out.

With his hands in his pockets, he walked aimlessly along the black and winding streets, and all he saw were silent figures.

Since the end of the turmoil four years ago, all walks of life in Lusheng Star Region have entered a downward decline.

At first, it was just the businessmen who felt that there were fewer tourists, and then major companies began to generally cut salaries, and some marginal small industries began to collapse.

But this is not the end. As the star regions in various regions gathered together and the policy of trade protection was implemented in various star regions, the exports of Lusheng Star Region further decreased, and the economic winter gradually spread to the entire society.

There is no abundant natural output, nor outstanding industrial products or powerful factions here. This is just a star field with a small reputation for tourist scenery. Every summer, the cool reed lakeshore can attract many foreign guests. The local dance, water fish, and handmade products can also bring a lot of economic benefits.

As the federation gradually splits and the environment changes dramatically, star fields like Lusheng Star Field, which have no hard power support, have become the first victims. Unlike other economic models, there are too many alternative options for tourism. If it doesn't work, the planet is also OK. In fact, a person's life is only a hundred years, and it is not easy to walk around the planet where he was born.

Shuilu City, the largest city in Lusheng Star Field, has about 30 million people living around this city circle. Countless high-rise buildings stand in a row, and flashing lights decorate the night. Even if you walk in a dark alley, you can see various laser images shooting into the sky, reflecting the earth in a colorful and changing way.

"Huh..."

The hot breath blew over the wet collar, which was particularly clear in the night. He lifted the collar with one hand, and the cold water slid down his fingertips, making him feel a little sober.

Is it autumn already? Suddenly realizing something, he took out his personal terminal from his pocket, unlocked the interface in the raindrops and water marks that kept passing by, and then lit up the projection to show the current time.

[September 26, 1264 20:19:49]

Summer is over, when he didn't notice it.

The summer that was lively every year in his memory, decorated with lights and colors, welcoming all kinds of tourists, holding various activities, and the streets were crowded with people, is over

But he still didn't find a job.

He squatted on the side of the road, swiping the interface with his hand, trying to find a familiar friend to come out, confide his depression, and vent some wet emotions, but after the long list was finished, he didn't choose anyone in the end.

Is there really anyone willing to come out on this rainy night just to listen to his repeated complaints that he was tired of?

He didn't have such good friends.

In various games and film and television works, even if the protagonist is down and out, there will be one or two friends who will encourage him and then pick up his feet, or pull the protagonist together to do a "big thing".

But the real down and out will only make people annoyed, and no one will always pity him.

He put his hands back into his pockets and strolled on the street with sporadic cold rain, letting the water droplets run along his eyebrows.

When a person is forced to be alone, he often falls into memories, and he also took the same path.

Although he was also very poor in his youth, both he and his familiar partners were full of hope for the future, like a gorgeous ink painting, messy and full of vitality.

But as he grew up year by year, the future did not usher in the wonderful plot as he imagined in his youth. He just relied on his youth to find joy in the boredom of various studies and work, thinking that he just lacked an opportunity and a little experience, and there would be a day to display his talents in the future.

White reeds swayed, boats passed by on the cool lake, and tourists prayed to the undulating night lights on the water, feeling the beautiful scenery here.

One year after another, one summer after another

Years passed, and the years passed by easily

His future was like the night lights floating on the river, which went out one by one.

When a child is born, he has infinite possibilities, but this possibility will shrink as he grows older. One day, he suddenly realized that there were only a few options left for him, and those were never what he hoped for when he was a teenager.

His steps stopped. In front of him at this moment was the most famous "Red Wish Bridge" in the city. It is said that if lovers write each other's names on the same red ribbon and tie it to the bridge, they can have a long-lasting relationship.

Even though such stories and legends appear in various tourist cities, there are still people who believe tirelessly and are willing to pay the price to fulfill the little wishes in their hearts.

Walking up the long bridge slope, the cold wind blew sideways, and the water drops hit the thin clothes. Without the cover of the steel forest, the wind and rain here were obviously stronger.

Only the occasional vehicle passed by, making the sound of mud and water. The light fell on the ground, and the water stains reflected the broken white.

The cloth of the trouser legs clung to his legs because of the wind, cold and wet, and mixed with the weight of mud spots. He walked towards the bridge step by step. Under the red background light, there was only an empty steel structure. Many tied red ribbons were drooping in the rain. Only a few of them, with dried mud stains, swayed in the breeze, occasionally illuminated by the passing car lights, showing the color that had long faded.

The bridge, which used to be crowded with tourists, is now deserted. He turned his eyes and scanned the long bridge. Finally, he saw a young couple. They were wearing simple and plain student uniforms, leaning against each other, carefully tying a ribbon with their names on it on the bridge.

Looking at this scene, his heart was calm, but there was a hint of mockery and sadness.

Perhaps he should have confessed his love back then, just like the stupidest couple, leaving his name here, so that he could walk there today, take off the ribbon, and throw it into the river under the bridge.

Grabbing the cold and wet guardrail with his fingers, he wanted to shout loudly here, but because he didn't know what to say, he finally exhaled a burst of hot air and let it cool down in the rain.

Resist, complain? He didn't know what to resist or who to complain to, but he felt that the future was probably like this bridge, with only a downhill road that could be seen at a glance.

He probably didn't make any big mistakes, nor did he encounter any good luck. He just slowly fell along the tide of the times. The vision in his heart still stayed in the sky, lingering on the orange neon lights.

Tonight should be the best day in the future

He looked up and watched the raindrops fall into his eyes, then lowered his head and let the water droplets pass through his cheeks.

His steps down were particularly light, as if he was walking on clouds that could break at any time. The road on the bridge became more and more deserted, and the couple tied with ribbons before disappeared.

He had nowhere to go, just walked down step by step along the road under his feet, unwilling to look at the lights in the distance.

This is a big city, a prosperous city, but it still makes him cold.

Along the road in the rain, he walked forward in a trance, crossed the streets, walked past the high-end stores that were still lit, and walked through the night. Only the street lights occasionally illuminated his hair, allowing him to see his lonely shadow.

He kept walking, strolling, and moving forward without end. His body temperature was getting lower and lower. Perhaps it would be better to find a place to stay, but his gradually cold body made him addicted and unwilling to wake up.

He passed countless streets, and the road under his feet still had no end. Just like the advertisements in the sky, this is a metropolis with 30 million people, a prosperous city where countless people can live.

Finally, on a downward slope, he finally stepped into the air, his body rolled down, his head and nose hit the ground, and the dizzy pain made him curl up in the mud and struggle, licking his fishy lips. After several failures, he slowly supported his body and climbed up with difficulty, limping forward with the guardrail.

The body that was walking fast in his memory disappeared. At this time, he felt that he looked like those pitiful old people in the past, funny and funny.

"Heh--" He laughed at himself, his pupils staring at the path in front of him, his fingers grasping the guardrail, using the cold metal touch to make himself sober a little.

"Fuck"

"Uh, hehe, hahaha." The unpleasant laughter dissipated in the night, and it was particularly bitter.

After walking nearly a hundred meters with support, his legs recovered a little, and he didn't have to hold the guardrail all the time. Now he stood by the road again, watching the big trucks in the distance coming in the rain.

The bright lights made his vision dizzy, and a strange thought arose in his mind, but he quickly suppressed it.

Not yet...

He shook his head to make himself sober and cheer up a little, took out his personal terminal, and looked for the nearest way back.

It was so far away. Looking at the high taxi fare displayed on the side, he slowly put down his personal terminal and walked slowly into the night again.

His almost frozen fingers were put back into his pockets. He walked with wet steps and lowered his head again, as if the checkered pattern on the ground was the most worthy scenery to appreciate.

It was late at night

There were fewer and fewer shops and buildings with lights on the roadside, and the road was getting quieter and quieter. Only the occasional propeller sound came from the night sky, which was the trace of the advertising airship.

He was not a spoiled person, but as he walked forward in the cold rain, his physical strength was slowly exhausted, which made his steps slower and slower. Every step was painful and heavy, and the center of gravity of his body was difficult to maintain, and he began to shake.

No, he had to find a place to rest and recover his strength.

But when he looked around, this was already a remote suburb of the city, and even the street lights were particularly dim. Perhaps due to some subconscious psychological effect, he did not take the brightly lit avenue, but deliberately chose a side road with few people, which also caused the current bitter fruit.

He could only keep walking

With this thought in mind, he rested for a while, got up with difficulty, and walked along the road again, as if dragging the rest of his failed life.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

The black sky, frozen fingers, trembling body, cold and numb legs, everything was not good.

He saw a small flame burning on the roadside in the distance, and the folded paper pages were lifted up in the orange firelight, then flew up, and quickly fell down.

There was only a small flame left in his pupils. He moved in that direction almost obsessively until his fingers touched the rolling flames. The high temperature and burning pain woke him up again, but he was a little dazed at this time.

Everything in front of him seemed to collapse and hit the wet and cold ground. His ears were pressed against the rushing water, and only noise filled it.

A pair of hands tried to help him up, but he had completely lost his strength and could no longer cooperate, making the process particularly difficult.

Then, several more pairs of hands pulled him up slowly and carefully carried him to a place without rain. He should have heard voices talking, but unfortunately he had no energy to distinguish them. His eyelids were also very heavy, so he couldn't lift them up.

He didn't know how long it had been in the darkness. During this time, there seemed to be a warm touch wrapped around his body, making him fall asleep. When he regained consciousness again, he felt a little warm and could hear a slight whisper of prayer.

"May the winds of the four directions protect us, and the girl holding sage brushes away the pain, and guides the only lantern for the people at the end of their ways..." This was the first time he had heard such a prayer, but some of the key words in it were not unfamiliar.

He moved his thirsty throat and tried to sit up slowly. Such an action naturally attracted the attention of others. Soon someone helped him up and prepared a cup of warm water with sugar for him.

The cheap purified water mixed with the newly added white sugar granules had a sweet taste that had not yet melted. It was not as delicious as mature industrial beverages, but it still fascinated him. After drinking a cup, he drank another cup and then slowly put down the cup.

At this time, he found that he should be in a shabby warehouse. There was not even electricity here, and the walls were covered with gray and black mold spots, but it was very warm here. Someone blocked the leaky windows. There was also a group of people in black robes around him. They looked like men and women, about 20 people.

"You?" He wanted to ask who the other party was, but it felt a bit impolite.

"Thank you." He thanked sincerely.

"It's okay." An old man with a beard helped him cover the blanket on his body, and then stepped aside to let a younger woman come in front of him.

The woman looked about 20 years old, with an ordinary appearance, not beautiful, but her black eyes were very bright in the orange light.

Seeing him wake up, the woman held his hand and passed on a warm magic to him to heal the pain in his body.

"Are you feeling better now?" He felt the sincere kindness of the woman in front of him, which made him feel like looking directly at the sun, and he dared not look up.

"I'm much better." He took a deep breath with a slight tremor, and felt that his body was indeed much better now.

Later, the woman and the people around him told him what happened. It turned out that they were doing a prayer ceremony on the roadside when they encountered him who had fainted in the rain. They carried him here, helped change his wet coat, covered him with a blanket, and gave him simple treatment.

"Prayer ceremony..." He couldn't remember what festival it was today.

"Yes, pray for those poor and difficult people." At this point, he saw a rare piety in the woman's eyes, and such an expression made him feel a little strange and fresh.

In today's era, there are very few true believers, because everyone knows that there is no omniscient and omnipotent god in this world. If it is just powerful, then 'Golden Flame Flower' Isanissa is probably the most famous god.

"'Golden Flame Flower' Isanissa is great, but her eyes are more on those glorious people, not on us unknown dust people." A man said.

"Then what do you believe in?" He suddenly became curious and remembered the prayers he heard before.

"We believe in the eternal cradle wings, His Highness Loran Hill, she is the protector of all the poor, the benevolent who will never abandon or despise us, and only she will not forget us and will always leave a place for us to sleep."

When he mentioned that name, he saw the glittering hope in the eyes of the people on the scene, which was the perseverance and belief in life, the hot and boiling faith.

Why would they believe in the person who had left this world for thousands of years, the name that had long been dim in time.

He didn't understand, but felt a little sour in his nose.

This must be a cult. The prince has long stopped responding to people's prayers and has been sleeping forever in the Sea of ​​Aijaka, never waking up again.

"I..." He wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say anything.

"It's okay, take a rest, and then we will help you go home."

"I don't have money." If it was a cult that wanted to cheat him of his money, then forget it. He was not a young man who had just entered society and didn't understand the evil of human hearts.

The other party shook his head, held his hand, and said the sincere words again.

"We will help you, even without reward. Maybe this is strange, but I think if it is that princess, she will not give up on any of us."

"Individuals are lonely and weak, but if they unite, trust each other, and warm each other, they will gain great courage."

Is that so? Such words have actually appeared in countless literary and film and television works, but only today did they really penetrate his defense.

"Do you really believe it?" It seems to be asking the other party, but it seems to be asking yourself, are you still willing to believe in that long-vanished figure, that long-broken dream?

"I believe it."

"Even if everyone has abandoned their former ideals, it is still a belief that illuminates the entire era and warms countless people."

"The singer is only a gift given to a few people, and what we can ultimately rely on is still only our own hands and companions."

The cold rain still falls in this city, passing through the gaps between high-rise buildings, hitting the black earth, and the streets in the cold wind are lonely and bleak.

The small flames sway slightly in the dilapidated house, warming the scarred and lonely heart.