Tao Ju kept recalling the previous ritual process and wondered whether he had made any mistakes; he was also worried about whether he was not pious enough during the prayer process; and whether the method of using "blood bags" to replenish blood was regarded as "taking advantage of others".
, so that it cannot be recognized by the target pointed by the ritual?
He circled the mistakes he might have made seven or eight times in his mind, doubting and worrying everywhere, but could not find the key point. At this time, the uncontrollable doubts about Tang Li who taught him the ritual surged.
came up, but the strongest thing was still deep regret:
Why would I believe him?
Even if I believe it, why would I be so eager to do it instead of checking the information and verifying it?
Was my brain eaten by a dog?
After thinking about it carefully, Tang Li has already left. There is no need for him to get involved in this big shithole of East 824th District again, so maybe he was just joking and I took it seriously. Well, he did say that in his words at the time.
A disclaimer such as “it has nothing to do with me”...
Did he just want to send me away directly in this way to end any future troubles?
Tao Ju inevitably considered these things, but in the midst of complicated inner torment, he suddenly discovered another extremely real and fatal problem: he had consumed and wasted too much time, energy and vitality in the process of self-internal consumption.
Even the "blood pack" prepared in advance has almost been used up. Now under the action of the blood pump, the dark red blood is still flowing out of his body and seeping into the tree trunk. Do you want to stop?
If he stopped, all his previous efforts would be wasted. He would become a complete joke tonight.
But if he doesn't stop and waits for him to fall down under this camphor tree and die, he will become a bigger joke that East 824 District will never forget for many years.
Tao Ju is about to collapse.
He began to think wildly in his mind: Did I think too much just now, and the "time" has arrived, but I didn't notice it? So, now I can actually completely peel off the bark of the tree, poke a few holes, and put it on my face.
Complete the ceremony?
This is not a rational idea, but only this idea can release the pressure in Tao Ju's heart that is about to explode. So, Tao Ju was clasping his fingers on the peeled edge of the bark and part of the trunk, and his instinct began to exert force, but he was too weak.
However, I misjudged it the first time and didn't take it off.
But it was such a decisive action that wiped away his hesitation. He made a low sound of "ho ho" in his throat. He exerted force again and relied on the weight of his body to pull most of the stripped bark trunk area and forcefully pull it down.
.
So, with a dull tearing sound, the bark in the reserved area and the trunk about six to seven millimeters thick at the rear end were forcefully torn off by Tao Ju, and a narrow, blood-stained section of bark below was also brought up.
The problem was that Tao Ju's movements were too rapid, he exerted too much downward force, and his legs and feet were not working hard. He immediately lost his balance, threw his body forward, and hit his forehead on the tree trunk. His head was dizzy immediately, and he knelt down under the tree again.
.
Despite this, he still couldn't control his body, and his face slid down the tree trunk. Amidst the burning pain of friction, he finally hit the blood-stained soil. The rainfall during this period still accumulated here, and the smell of rotten soil seeped into it.
There was a choking wetness at the end of his nose, as if he had fallen into a filthy pool, and his mouth and nose were directly sealed by the silt.
Tao Ju's brain was so groggy that he forgot to stand up for a moment. He just felt in a trance and just wanted to fall asleep. Maybe he did fall asleep and was in a coma, but it seemed like he was having a dream.
He seemed to be back on the "Gangyu", where, amidst the respectful and flattering words and expressions of the people around him, he was having fun and laughing, and let the luxury yacht go to the depths of the sea according to his will.
However, something unexpected happened, and for some unknown reason, he was betrayed. He was voted to a public meeting and passed unanimously. He was thrown off the boat, and was only given a small boat to get out. He rowed towards the shore in a daze, only to find that
The boat itself was leaking. Even if he continued to paddle and scoop water, all his efforts were meaningless, and the boat continued to sink.
People were watching him on the Corundum, either with indifference, pleasure, or simply fun?
There are Zuo Tai, Wu Xiude, and Tang Li!
Tao Ju was so desperate and angry.
Why is this happening! It shouldn’t be like this! I don’t want this!
Obviously I am the owner of the "Steel Jade" and I am the direct bloodline of the Grand Consul. Everything in the East 824th District and the 12th District belongs to me. At least I can take a big chunk out of it.
.
But now, I live like a dog...
At this moment, Tao Ju thought of Pava's "mud pit" and Pava's words that even if you are trapped in it, you must throw out the mud and urine on those who are watching.
Yes, that's it!
Even if we can never go back to the past, we must let them sink in and drown together in the sea of misery like me.
Yes, that’s how it should be!
Tao Ju's body twitched. He probably woke up, but he was still extremely weak. At this time, there was still a hot snake of hatred, gnawing at his heart. He struggled twice more, trying to get a little bit of it in his hand.
The mud was thrown to the depths of the courtyard, above the window, so that Mrs. Zuo, who had been watching with cold eyes, could see her determination.
The problem was that he was too tired, so he could only hold the rot in his hands and the peeled bark, tilt his neck back as much as possible, and let his mouth and nose breathe in a little fresh air. But because he was too weak, his
The range of movement was much smaller than expected, so that what was poured in through the mouth and nose was still moist sludge, and there was an even worse feeling of suffocation.
Tao Ju continued to struggle and twitch, but he didn't know to what extent. Anyway, he did not break free from the ridiculous desperate situation. On the contrary, he was excessively weak, causing the stars under his already sealed eyelids to be chaotic.
It was so risky that I actually saw a chaotic starry sky.
The "starry sky" is as abstract as an artist's brushstrokes. Each star seems to pull out a twisted trajectory. Whether it is an illusion or not, some of the trajectories are similar to some of the ritual symbols Tang Li taught him...
He actually still thinks about that ceremony!
Tao Ju smiled bitterly, and as a result, more blood-soaked soil was stuffed into his mouth.
But at this time, the twisted symbolic trajectories of the stars in his brain seemed to be being completed, extended, and expanded one by one by the painter, so that he himself fell into the vortex of the "starry sky."
Tao Ju felt that he was floating, but he was not sure whether it was a real physical sensation or an illusion.
Should it be true?
Because there is finally a little gap between him and the soil on the ground, and the "starry sky vortex" is driving him to complete the ritual that almost became a joke just now - peeling off the bark and trunks that have not been dug before.
Tissue, covering the entire face.
The smell of blood rushed into the nostrils, and then everything became dark.
No, the world is lit up!
Tao Ju's legs and feet twitched involuntarily. That's not the case. He was already walking.
He was walking out of the filthy sea, and there was a solid staircase under his feet. The slope was not high, and it went round and round, but it felt like it was always going up.
Perhaps, the end is the chaotic and twisted starry sky, the limitless sky?
In East 725th District, in the suburbs of Xicheng District, there is a club that was booked ten days in advance. The relevant venue layout has been completed, and at this time, many people who were preparing to participate in that major event came to the site one day in advance.
Have a ridiculous warm-up.
In order to erase the differences among all things and find the unified root at the core of the universe, we must first strip away the heavy moral constraints imposed by human history and society and release nature. Therefore, in the hot and humid side hall, people stepped on the water layer that only reached their ankles.
And the water vapor spewing up, indulge without limit, leaving the body uncovered, laughing, crying, performing or enjoying violence and joy with others.
"These people are running out of money...the threshold for big customers is getting higher and higher."
Mr. Yu wiped the fine drops of water on his head, temporarily separated from the absurd scene, and took a glass of strong wine from the waiter's tray standing beside him, but he did not drink it immediately, but frowned and looked around the entire side hall.
, passing through the misty water vapor, counting the number of people.
"The number of customers participating in this natural event is much less than the previous year, at least a 15% drop. Although most people will attend the official ceremony tomorrow, this sign is not good. The 'scenario' provided by the association is not good for
Those people are becoming less attractive."
In today's world, it's really not easy to attract customers.
In the colonial era, how could a population of more than two billion, most of which lacked stable sources of income and positive expectations, be able to support the prosperity created by a market of tens of billions before the Third World War? Not to mention the impact of the colonists’ high-end technology on socialized production.
Large-scale collapse.
The cake has shrunk significantly, and the appearance of rentiers has become even more ferocious.
Even a little bit of petty profit is divided up by major forces and consortiums.
This is doomed to mean that the "big customer" group of the Virtue Association is also highly concentrated. In fact, these large customer groups have long been the Red Sea where various similar organizations compete with each other and rob each other. Only they can give the Virtue Association enough
overhead support.
Like those people who make up the vast majority of society who eat purely industrial production and subsistence meals coming out of the assembly line, are busy looking for jobs in the city, and work hard in the wilderness, how much money can they pull out of their trouser pockets?
The association will also attract these people and even provide certain "help". This is of course not charity, but just to enhance social influence and enrich the experience of "big customers" in a scenario similar to today.
Mr. Yu knows very well that the "Virtue Association" is just a trademark, a carrier to strengthen memory and deepen cognition. The most important thing is the current "product scene" that makes people willing to spend money. At least, it can make next year's funds available.
If you have more money, you won't feel distressed by renting such a shabby clubhouse.
While I was thinking, a secret door opened here, and a subordinate hurried over and searched around the chaotic scene. Because of the mist, no one was found.
Mr. Yu frowned and said to the waiter beside him: "Go and ask, what's the matter?"
Soon, the waiter came with the subordinate. As soon as the latter saw Mr. Yu, he nervously reported:
"Sir, there's something going on at the main venue!"