As Mu Yiran entered the cave, her companions were all turning on their phone flashlights to illuminate the dark cave.
Qin Ci, however, walked the slowest, without his phone, standing alone in the darkness, seemingly hesitant.
Mu Yiran coughed lightly, stepped forward, and gently patted Qin Ci's shoulder: "Let's go, it's getting dark."
"I want... to listen to the radio one more time in this world," Qin Ci said, pulling a small, retro-style radio from his pocket.
Mu Yiran was clearly surprised that Qin Ci carried a radio, and after a slight astonishment, gestured for him to proceed.
Qin Ci held the smooth, wood-colored radio and turned on the retro switch.
—When Qin Ci first arrived at his office in the Heart City Central Hospital, he was undoubtedly surprised, because the furnishings were so similar to his old office five years ago, including the retro-style radio on his desk—a birthday gift from his girlfriend.
Years ago, she was so heartbroken that she put away her radio and stopped listening to it. Then, her house was burgled, and the despicable thief even stole the radio—it was practically the only memento she left Qin Ci.
Qin Ci turned on the radio in the cave. An old English song was playing, and a woman's slightly husky, magnetic voice seemed to imbue the entire cave with a soul.
His companions, walking ahead, paused briefly upon hearing the music, glancing back at Qin Ci without saying a word.
The cave was pitch black, yet an old English song had a surprisingly relaxing effect.
Just as Wei Dong was about to suggest turning up the volume, the song abruptly stopped.
The sudden disappearance of the song seemed to make the cave even darker, as if one's senses had fallen into a black hole within a black hole, unable to escape.
"Listeners of Xincheng, we have an urgent news briefing,"
the radio announced, the host's voice sounding anxious.
The members all stood still, listening intently.
"—Just now, our city's special police cracked a massive smuggling case on the city's border. The smugglers who attempted to resist were all shot dead on the spot. There were five smugglers in total, one of whom was a woman."
Everyone listened attentively, though somewhat confused, but they figured this couldn't be news unrelated to them.
—"This afternoon at 3 PM, the man shot dead in a phone booth at the city border checkpoint has been identified. His name is Luo Wei, 24 years old. It was this young man who, after discovering the smugglers' intentions, risked his own life to call the police immediately. This allowed the police to quickly seal off the border checkpoint, successfully kill the criminals outside the city, and intercept a batch of animal resources most important to the city."
Everyone listened quietly, as if they could feel their blood rushing through their veins.
It turned out that Luo Wei's first call was to the police, and his second call was to the hospital.
"—Luo Wei, my sincere hero! With the approval of the mayor, Luo Wei has been posthumously recognized as an outstanding contributor to the city…"
Everyone felt a pang of sadness, wondering what significance this title of outstanding contributor held for Luo Wei, who died within the painting.
—"The municipal government just held an emergency meeting and decided to have a high-ranking expert perform a ritual to release the beasts from their clutches, cremating them alongside the deceased's remains, truly fulfilling the people's advocacy of 'the beast returning to its original form, the soul intact'! This batch of beasts includes a rare divination beast, precisely the nourishing beast urgently needed by the secret beast outside the city. If the criminals succeed this time, the consequences will be unimaginable; my city could very well fall again…"
Mu Yiran frowned as he listened to this news, which was packed with information. Many of his doubts seemed to be slowly unraveling.
A secret beast outside the city? Could it really be as he had initially guessed, that the beast within each person's body is the energy or nourishment needed by some secret behemoth? Once the secret beast has absorbed enough, it will grow, attack, and even besiege the city.
As the Book of Revelation says: "The beast you saw, which was once, is no longer; it will rise from the bottomless pit and return to destruction..."
This mysterious beast outside the city once caused the fall of Heart City, but now it has recuperated and is ready to strike again.
"...This landmark decision will rewrite the history of my Heart City! From now on, beasts will be listed as the number one prohibited item. All beasts currently on the market will be exorcised and returned to the remains and souls of the dead. Furthermore, the long-banned profession of psychologist will be allowed to resume operation, as this profession is believed to be of great significance in eliminating the beast within people... As for the beast, it is better to annihilate it in its cradle than to exorcise it afterward..."
Everyone was silent, a strange excitement rising amidst utter heartache: Luo Wei had changed the history of Heart City.
Luo Wei had even indirectly prevented the attack of the mysterious beast outside the city, saving a city single-handedly.
Luo Wei saved a city.
Luo Wei saved a city in the painting.
No one thought about the meaning of being inside or outside the city anymore, just like the boundary between the heart and the outside world. Some things you want to discard but can't, some things you want to keep but can't.
"If it weren't for Luo Wei, we wouldn't even have thought of getting autographs!" Wei Dong said.
Yes, if it weren't for Luo Wei, none of us would have gotten out today.
The news broadcast ended, and the English song started playing again, but the listeners' moods had changed.
The heart and the outside world can actually be changed by a song, but some people try their best to seal their hearts shut, which slowly breeds bacteria, and maybe even gives birth to beasts.
In this city of the heart, known for its romance, the beasts in people's hearts are said to be related to love, but love is just a point, a point that can reflect so much.
If the human heart is big enough, it can contain the universe.
Suddenly, a faint light emanated from the cave. Could this be the so-called cave wonder?
Countless firefly-like flying insects gathered, forming a large cloud of light. This light, sometimes gathering and sometimes dispersing, slowly settled on the cave wall, forming three shimmering, artistic characters—"Yu Bei Guo" (雩北国).
Faced with these three familiar yet unfamiliar characters, everyone felt a mix of emotion and wistfulness. This mountain was a famous scenic spot in the city, and this cave was a key attraction. Those who had lived in the city for a long time were sure to have seen the three characters formed by these shimmering insects
. Although the three characters of "Yu Bei Guo" were incredibly bright in the cave, they seemed fragile and sensitive due to the flickering light, as if a slight cough could scare away these timid insects, and the name could disappear at any moment.
Ke Xun held Mu Yiran's hand tightly in the darkness. When the glowing insects formed a gate of light below the name "Yu Bei Guo," no one's emotions were particularly stirred.
The signature was found within seven days, and the gate was opened.
The design of this gate was so unconventional and unique.
But what was the use?
They couldn't take Luo Wei with them.
...
The difference between the real world and the world in the painting became smaller and smaller, to the point that when everyone returned to the Benxin Art Museum, they still felt like they were in the City of Hearts.
The temperature and humidity were the same, the wind carried a coolness, and sometimes a hint of inexplicable warmth.
The wind in the painting was fragrant with flowers, but now it carried only the scent of decaying leaves unique to late autumn.
Ten days later, everyone composed themselves and finished the unfinished business for their friends left in the painting.
There was less than a week until their next visit to the painting—yes, they still had to go. Everyone carried that damned art museum ticket that would never leave them.
The Bronze Art Museum was their destination.
The veteran members prepared for this visit in their 'Painting Discussion'—
Wei Feng·Mang: Has Dr. Qin fully woken up? [Awake from a deep sleep, forgetting what day it is.jpg]
Jian Dan Qin Xin: Yes.
Wei Feng·Mang: Is Mama Luo feeling better?
Jian Dan Qin Xin: She can be discharged in a few more days.
Wei Feng·Mang: Sigh, I didn't expect Mama Luo to have that illness all along.
Jian Dan Qin Xin: This illness has become her psychological protection; she always thought that each of us was Luo Wei, just as her son had never left.
...
ZHW: [A very complex image of the capital letters formed by the locations of eleven art museums]
Jiandan Qinxin: The letter after the T is still unrecognizable, it looks like a half-written M, or maybe an N.
Weifeng·Mang: TMD, the art enthusiasts just want to go all out.
ZHW: These letters are probably the key to completely creating the painting.
Weifeng·Mang: I had a nightmare the other day, that I had to follow the traces of art museums all over the world to complete the 26 letters of the alphabet in my lifetime.
Corgi: [A screenshot of a news photo.jpg]
Weifeng·Mang: When did I start reading news websites? [Don't say I don't believe you, I just don't believe you.jpg]
ZHW: Su Benxin is finally in trouble.
Weifeng·Mang: Holy crap, I don't understand what's written here, what does "suicide pact" mean?
Jiandan Qinxin: The court determined that this case was premeditated murder, and the painter Yu Ji provided a lot of strong direct evidence for this case. Su Benxin's actions constituted inducing Yu Beiguo to commit suicide. Furthermore, it's stated that Su Benxin had two similar experiences before, with both of her ex-boyfriends committing suicide, though there's currently insufficient evidence to prove it.
Wei Feng·Mang: [Look at this perverted woman.jpg]
Wei Feng·Mang: Anyway, they all died in the painting. Those people wouldn't last more than 10 days outside, so I don't care what fate awaits Su Benxin. Jian
Dan Qin Xin: That's different. It has a different meaning for her living family and friends. The final verdict is also different.
Wei Feng·Mang: But for Su Benxin, it makes no difference. Once she closes her eyes, she won't know anything anymore.
Jian Dan Qin Xin: After death, she enters another world, pr
obably like entering another painting. It's impossible to treat all the dead equally. I still firmly believe that good and evil will ultimately be rewarded.