Chapter 52: Not feeling bad anymore?

The big brother above.

They relied on brotherhood to bind the followers around them, ordering the followers to risk life and death, to work for them.

The words 'righteousness' are just a means produced after deceit and infighting to steady people's minds.

Having hung around this circle for many years, they were still good-for-nothing little thugs, yet they firmly believed that their opportunity had not yet arrived.

But before they could obtain this opportunity, an accident happened.

They killed someone, caused trouble, and were put on a wanted list by the magistrate.

They wanted to find help, but everyone avoided them like the plague.

Even former friends secretly called the authorities to capture them for a bounty.

What he said, although it has been simplified.

But in fact, it is still Li Jiaci's personal experience from his previous life.

He also shouldn't have told these things to Wang Yingna, but seeing how hard she was enduring, he also wanted to help divert her attention.

Moreover.

He himself also greatly needed an outlet to vent, someone to confide in.

And Wang Yingna, from her initial playful attitude, became serious.

She said nothing, just silently listening to Li Jiaci's narration.

Li Jiaci said unhurriedly: 'In the end, there was no other way; they could only flee south on foot.'

'Perhaps it was heaven's blessing, or perhaps just luck.'

'They successfully escaped the pursuit and also successfully crossed the border.'

'That place was not like this peaceful land now; there, war raged and people could die at any moment.'

'But what about them?'

'Not only did they not feel afraid,'

'They also foolishly thought they could make a career in that place of killing and arson, the golden belt.'

'Before they could act, they were tricked out of all their money and even sold to the local warlord as forced labor.'

Recalling those days.

Li Jiaci's eyes also unconsciously showed fear.

'The warlord, to fully control them, gave them powder.'

'And under the powder's control, they became like walking corpses.'

'By day they toiled away chopping wood; by night they crouched in the corner, eagerly waiting for the superiors to come distribute the powder.'

Li Jiaci raised his head to look at Wang Yingna and said: 'You know, the most terrifying thing in this world is not death, but the utter lack of fear of death.'

'Someone who was chatting with you yesterday about heaven and earth would die the next day from an overdose of powder right before your eyes, and you wouldn't feel anything.'

'When gunfire rang out and everyone fled, you only thought about the powder left under your pillow, rushing back through the hail of bullets to get it, almost getting shot but feeling no fear, only relieved that your powder wasn't taken by others.'

'Newcomers could not eat or sleep in peace, constantly plotting escape, but you only thought about whether the powder would arrive on time tomorrow, and how to ration the issued powder over several days to avoid the pain of withdrawal.'

Wang Yingna herself was also a victim of that thing.

And she naturally understood very well what that feeling was like.

Better dead than alive!

That is the true meaning of 'better dead than alive.'

Moreover, what's even more terrifying is that one cannot control one's own thoughts at all.

One's heart and mind are filled with thoughts of obtaining powder, as long as it brings pleasure, no matter the cost.

And when she thought of herself that day in glory, Wang Yingna couldn't help but feel a lingering fear.

If it weren't for a chance encounter with Li Jiaci, she wouldn't know what she would do for powder.

She pondered briefly.

Wang Yingna raised her head to look at Li Jiaci and asked: 'Then what happened? Did they die?'

'They didn't die.'

Li Jiaci shook his head and said: 'When he went back to look for powder, he was caught by another group of warlords.'

'And the methods this warlord used to control his subordinates were even more brutal.'

'There, people lived worse than livestock; their means of control were not powder but violence.'

'Any slight mistake earned at least a whipping; if mistakes exceeded three times, they were dragged out and shot.'

'At first, when they arrived, the warlord leader directly ordered that those addicted to powder be locked together and forced to quit.'

'During that time, almost every day someone died from withdrawal, but they were fortunate; after half a month they successfully kicked the powder habit.'

'Only after walking out of that black room again did they sense fear, for they had been just a step from death, just a step from leaving this world.'

'After that...'

'That warlord faction was then defeated by another warlord faction, and they took advantage of the chaos to escape, returning home along the border.'

Having said that, Li Jiaci stopped speaking further.

And hearing him, he stopped speaking halfway through.

Wang Yingna, who had been listening to the story with rapt attention, was somewhat dissatisfied.

'Why did you stop?'

'And then? What happened to them afterward?'

Li Jiaci gave Wang Yingna a deep look, sighed, and said: 'After returning to the country, they turned themselves in and each received the punishment they deserved!'

'Ah?'

'How did they turn themselves in?'

Wang Yingna looked puzzled and said: "This isn't like in the movies, ah. In the movies, those big shots after going through such big storms and returning to the country, aren't they all supposed to get better and better?"

"You also said, that's just a movie!"

Li Jiaci chuckled and said: "But how could reality be the same as a movie? They just turned themselves in, they just accepted legal judgment."

He didn't wait for Wang Yingna to continue asking.

Li Jiaci then asked Wang Yingna: "How do you feel now? Aren't you feeling less uncomfortable?"

Upon hearing these words.

Wang Yingna was stunned for a moment.

She carefully felt it, and a look of surprise and joy instantly appeared between her brows.

"Indeed."

Just not long ago, it felt as if thousands of ants were crawling on her body.

Moreover, inside her body, it felt as if a god governing wind and snow had taken residence, making her so cold she even wanted to crawl into a stove.

But just while Li Jiaci was telling the story, those ants and the wind-and-snow god seemed to have suddenly disappeared.

Wang Yingna looked at Li Jiaci in amazement and said: "What's going on?"

Li Jiaci didn't hide it either, and said slowly: "In the first two days of quitting the powder addiction, it's mostly the psychological addiction at work; only on the third day does the body begin to show a mild stage reaction."

"As long as you can find something to distract your attention and get through that hardest stage, there won't be any problems."

Wang Yingna raised her eyebrows and asked: "Just like me now?"

"Yes."

Li Jiaci nodded and said: "At least until tonight, you won't feel as uncomfortable as before."

Wang Yingna thought for a moment and then asked: "What about tomorrow?"