The Sick Beauty in the Republic of China

This is the place in Yunchuan City where Wang Luan has never been.

The sycamore trees along the road seem to be taller and bigger than the ones beside them, and the color of the dead leaves also gradually changes from golden yellow to red like a fire.

The black iron fence surrounded a large area of ​​yellowed grass. Several nuns in dark robes were standing scattered on it, not knowing what they were doing.

The car didn't stop, it carried Qi Chensheng and Wang Luan straight to the main entrance of the church.

At the moment when they got off the car, there happened to be bursts of bells ringing from the high bell tower.Wang Luan looked up subconsciously, but found that it was not the white doves that flew up one after another because of the bell, but a group of pitch-black crows.

Wang Luan couldn't help frowning, Qi Chensheng came to his side, supported his shoulders, and hugged him horizontally.In the dark gray remnant eyes, the shadow of a crow was reflected, and there seemed to be a hint of sarcasm: "This is really a good place."

Wang Luan's brows gradually frowned, not because he was afraid of Wang Mingsheng, but because he reached out his hand through his collar and pressed the canary tattoo under his collarbone.

Ever since Qi Chensheng snatched the cage that imprisoned the rest of the canaries from Wang Mingsheng's hands, this tattoo has not been touched for a long time.

But today Wang Luan felt that as they approached the church, the tattoo became hot, and now it was burning him even more.

why?Wang Luan lowered his eyes and pondered carefully. Is it because the canary is still restrained by Wang Mingsheng, or is it because - what is the connection between itself and this church?

"Ninth brother, what's the matter?" Qi Chensheng quickly noticed Wang Luan's strangeness, and asked with his head down.

"Shen Sheng, here—" Wang Luan tugged at Qi Chen Sheng's sleeve, motioning for him to turn his body sideways to block the sight of the nun not far away, and then he undid the pearl button on the collar with his fingertips, revealing the secret under the collar. of a slice.

The tattoo of the canary bird is still lifelike, but the skin that was originally white, tender and smooth has been burned red, and Wang Luan hums softly when touched a little.

Qi Chensheng's complexion became serious, and he covered the bird tattoo with his hands very carefully, and then a starry light flashed faintly, and Wang Luan immediately felt a burst of coolness, although there was still pain, but it was no longer a hindrance.

"Ninth Brother, please bear with me any longer." Qi Chensheng leaned over and kissed Wang Luan's place lightly, dispelling the last burn: "Soon—"

He raised his eyes and looked again. Under the bright autumn sky, it seemed that there was an invisible and dark church, and he closed Wang Luan's collar: "Soon, it will be over."

Wang Luan didn't say anything, and he also felt in the dark that a curtain blocking them was slowly being lifted.

He lowered his eyes and nodded, and was hugged by Qi Chensheng like this, and walked towards the church.

The blue-gray bricks and stones echoed the sound of footsteps, and the stone pillars carved with the patterns of the Virgin and Angels were covered by the cast shadows. A dark wooden door quietly appeared in front of the two of them, and thorny debris fell off mottledly. .

Qi Chensheng's gentleman's stick was already in his hand at some point. Although he was still holding Wang Luan, it didn't affect his movements at all. The slender gentleman's stick was against the wooden door in the blink of an eye.

"Squeak—"

A dull sound followed, and before Wang Luan could pay attention to anything, the moment he opened the door, the grand, deep and sad music of the organ sounded without warning, echoing throughout the empty church.

More crows flew from the eaves, casting countless ominous shadows on the sacred stained glass.

However, Wang Luan had no time to pay attention to these things any more. His eyes were firmly fixed on the figure who seemed to be praying under the solemn crucifix at the end of the church.

Even though he didn't turn around, speak, or even move a little bit, Wang Luan was enough to recognize him just by the figure of his back hidden in the loose robe.

"Wang Mingsheng."

Qi Chensheng's voice was not loud, but it pierced through the gloomy organ sound, and the whole church seemed to be distorted for a moment.

But soon, the sound of the zither surged up again like a sea wave, and the sound was deafening, as if to let the heavens hear their groans and mourning.

All of this did not stop Qi Chensheng's footsteps. He hugged Wang Luan, pushed open the last wooden door, and stepped into the church.The seats on both sides were empty, but the white candles hung faintly above them, one after another silently lit up, as if countless eyes had been opened in the dark, watching their progress.

They illuminated, and in the corner of the wall, there were pieces of relief sculptures. If he could get closer, Wang Luan would be able to see clearly. Those statues that have been immersed in the darkness all year round, although they also have some huge wings, are not angels.

Suddenly, a black feather floated down from the ceiling where the miracle of creation was painted, and landed at Qi Chensheng's feet.

Qi Chensheng's remnant eyes seemed to glance over it unintentionally, but he didn't stop there at all, and didn't take it to heart at all.

But the moment he took the next step, four starbursts that formed a bow suddenly appeared at his feet, emitting a light that was not dazzling.

And those hunters lurking in the darkness could no longer hold back the drive of hunger, the sound of cracking sounded one after another, and the dirty dark feathers broke free from the shackles of the stone carvings, spreading their ugly wings one after another.

Wang Luan turned his head vigilantly, and saw countless huge crows with human heads crowding and flapping their wings, flocking towards them.

He can almost smell the stench of carrion on their claws, and what is even more frightening is that the faces on those birds are all children who were raised with Wang Luan in Wang's house back then!

Wang Luan opened his eyes, but his heart seemed to be grasped by two hands, and it was pressed heavily into a pool of blood that could not breathe.

He knew that they were no longer human beings, and their former companions were nothing more than pieces of flesh and blood about to be eaten.

Seeing that the crow with a human head was about to pounce on them, a long cry of a goshawk finally rushed up from the depths of the starlight with the power that seemed to be able to tear everything apart.

The filthy crows suddenly stopped their wings as if they were frightened, but then they were called by something again, their eyes were stained with blood red like a madman, and they rushed desperately again regardless.

In an instant, with the heavy sound of a gentleman's staff falling to the ground, Wang Luan's vision was filled with blood-stained dark feathers all over the sky.

He couldn't see the goshawk's figure at all, it seemed to become huge, covering most of the zenith with the flapping of its wings, attracting a wave-like hurricane, tearing the crows with human heads mercilessly.

Qi Chensheng looked at him coldly, and saw that it had become a battlefield for unilateral killings. The church that should have been holy had been covered in layers of blood, like dark red roses blooming.

The damaged bird carcasses kept falling down, smashing against the wooden bench, splashing blood and dust, and filling the air with a suffocating stench.

He stretched out his hand, gently covering Wang Luan's mouth and nose in his arms, stepped on the dirty blood under his feet, and walked forward again.

And at this moment, at the end of the church, the praying man under the crucifix finally straightened up and slowly turned around, revealing his face with a bow-shaped scar.

Wang Mingsheng seemed very dissatisfied with what he saw in front of him. He casually took a candle from the altar, held it up low, and then slowly let go of his hand, letting the flaming candle fall to the ground. Between the dead bird and the pool of blood.

In a blink of an eye, the fire exploded, quickly spreading over all the bird carcasses and blood stains, and the dark feather symbolizing evil was burning in the raging fire, as if it could burn away all the sins.

Wang Luan and Qi Chensheng were standing in the raging fire, and the continuous star array surrounded them, blocking the raging fire.

Those familiar faces, those distorted human faces, were burned to ashes by the fire in their eyes.

Wang Luan's hand was tightly clutching Qi Chensheng's skirt, he didn't want to look at it, but he forced himself to look at it, those companions who lived together in the past, those real people who cried and laughed with him, just like this Following the dirty desires of some people, they were buried in the sea of ​​fire.

"Why?"

Wang Luan's voice was already hoarse. He stood up and looked at Wang Mingsheng under the crucifix with red eyes.

Compared with what he remembered, Wang Mingsheng in front of him was younger. Facing Wang Luan's questioning, he didn't feel any sadness, and he no longer hated him as before. Instead, he was very kind, like a real priest, Zhang He opened his arms and said, "My child, you are welcome back."

"I originally wanted to give you a surprise." He lowered his head and looked at the few burned bird carcasses on the ground with pity, and said regretfully, "I wanted them to greet you instead of me, but it's a pity they Seems too enthusiastic."

"Enough!" Wang Luan couldn't listen to Wang Mingsheng's hypocritical words anymore, and couldn't help but stop loudly, but he coughed violently, and fell back into Qi Chensheng's arms weakly.

Because of this, Qi Chensheng finally exhausted all his patience. He firmly supported Wang Luan's body. Although he didn't have the cane to move him, the light from the stars suddenly became brighter.

And on Wang Mingsheng's forehead, the scar of the same shape also emitted a strong light at the same moment, which stimulated Wang Mingsheng to hold his head and groan.

"Second Young Master Qi, we sincerely invite you to discuss cooperation, so why are we so tense?" At this moment, the side door of the church was also pushed open, and it was John Wang who walked into it.

Wang Luan recognized him at a glance. When he was trapped in Wang's house, he did have an older brother. Everyone called him "Wang Wu" according to the order.

When I didn't expect to see you again, it was in such a scene and in such a position.

And Wang Luan knew - he was no longer human, no matter how disguised he was, Wang Luan could still detect the breath of the demon from him.

At this time, Wang Mingsheng almost finally endured the pain on his forehead. He supported Wang Wu and walked towards them slowly.

"Qi Ershao, you might as well listen to my words first, and then decide what to do..."