Upon arriving near the main city, the situation on the city streets was basically consistent with the disaster Ye Tianxuan had imagined.
Near the main city, where lifespan can be detected, many people with short lifespans kneel and beg or shout in protest.
"I only have two days left to live, I'm about to die... but I still have children to take care of! I can't die! The lifespan I earned from working will be paid out soon, but I can't wait that long! I won't live to see it paid out! Please, please help me!"
"Give me a few more days of my life, let me live a little longer!"
Another person nearby also cried out, "I can't take it anymore! Why must the resources of Longevity City be exchanged for lifespans... No matter how hard I work, the lifespans I earn can't make up for what I consume, and I still have to make offerings to the High Priest... Can I even survive? How much longer can I live...?"
"We'll be completely consumed sooner or later; our lifespans are being gradually taken away and disappeared in the exchange! At this rate, we'll all die!"
Most of those kneeling before the main city had already sensed the crisis in Changsheng City. They became even more fearless before their deaths, kneeling here shouting or begging, but the people around them were extremely indifferent. Who would risk their own life to save someone else?
They watched indifferently, seemingly used to the long queues for lifespan testing. They simply kept their heads down and waited for their turn, while also watching the commotion and occasionally making a few comments.
"What are these people thinking? Instead of kneeling here, they should be earning more lifespan right now. Even if it's through threats or robbery, it's faster than begging on their knees, right? What fool in this City of Longevity would give their life to someone else? Are they dreaming?"
"Isn't it annoying to kneel here every day? I might as well buy myself a coffin and prepare to die."
"Hey, you know what, I've already prepared to die at home, but the shop's business has been so good lately that I feel like even if I wanted to die now, I wouldn't die anytime soon."
"I'm so envious. People in this City of Longevity can live for many more years, unlike me, who is very short-lived and can't afford to waste even a day."
"It's all fate. Every day, I feel like I'm just living for the sake of living, all for that little bit of life. Sometimes I even think about giving up and just lying in my coffin."
Listening to the discussions in front of him, Ye Tianxuan glanced to the side casually. He had just reached the vicinity of the main city when he heard the shouts and was about to peek over to see what was going on and find out what was happening.
Seeing the crowd kneeling and weeping, their haggard faces and helpless expressions, Ye Tianxuan frowned, knowing full well the pressure that Changsheng City was putting on its people.
"How pitiful," he muttered, planning to test his lifespan later and figure out if he could give the other person a day or two.
As soon as he murmured to himself, the people behind him suddenly pushed forward, squeezing Ye Tianxuan out of the line and into the crowd.
Ye Tianxuan steadied himself in time, avoiding bumping into anyone, but the group of kneeling people were startled and quickly stepped forward to help him up, asking, "Are you alright?"
Ye Tianxuan smiled and waved his hand, then shook his head. "It's alright, I'm tough."
The other person looked at the pale face of the man in front of her with a forced smile. He didn't look like someone with thick skin; instead, he looked like a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse.
Before Ye Tianxuan could even stand up straight, two loud laughs suddenly came from behind him. Someone said sarcastically, "He looks like he's about to die. Who knows how long he'll live."
Ye Tianxuan turned around and saw a richly dressed, arrogant man giving him a cold snort. Despite bumping into him, the man showed no sign of apologizing, and Ye Tianxuan wondered what he was so arrogant about.
"What are you laughing at? Is it funny?" Ye Tianxuan steadied himself, patted his clothes, and stared at the other person with a smile. "Do you enjoy watching people fall down?"
"Sigh, you've already figured it out." The other party sneered, "I just like to see people who shouldn't be standing kneeling. People who are about to die shouldn't waste the resources of Longevity City. Why not just die sooner and leave the remaining lifespan resources to others?"
The sarcastic tone was unsettling, but Ye Tianxuan could roughly glean from his words the reason why he disliked him.
Seeing Ye Tianxuan's sickly appearance, this person assumed he was among those about to die, no different from the kneeling people on the ground. He believed that those nearing death shouldn't waste the life resources of the Longevity City and should die sooner, hence his dislike for Ye Tianxuan.
Rather than targeting Ye Tianxuan alone, it's more accurate to say that he dislikes all people who are about to die.
"Occasionally, there are people with your personality." Ye Tianxuan smiled and his eyes crinkled.
"What?" The other person raised an eyebrow, completely baffled as to what this person was muttering about.
Ye Tianxuan nonchalantly dusted himself off and strode toward him. "I mean, what a coincidence, I have the same hobby as you, I also like watching people fall down."
"I also like… watching people kneel." He stepped forward and kicked the other person hard.
The person, who looked like he coughed every two steps and whose face was pale, was kicked so suddenly that he was thrown out of the testing line and rolled several times before finally collapsing to the ground.
"What kind of madman are you! How dare you kick me!" The other person's face turned angry, and he glared at Ye Tianxuan, scrambling to his feet from the ground.
"I'm sorry." Ye Tianxuan looked down at the other person, slowly took out a cigarette case from his pocket, lit a cigarette with a dashing and elegant air, and smiled, "It was an accident, I did it on purpose."
The man didn't react for a moment, and only after getting up from the ground did he realize what had happened. He glared at Ye Tianxuan and said, "You kicked me on purpose, didn't you?!"
"No way." Ye Tianxuan tilted his head, wisps of smoke rising and making his clear black and white eyes appear narrow and cunning. "His leg moved on its own, it has nothing to do with me. You must have been careless just now, your hand suddenly moved and that's why you pushed me, right? I understand, neither of us did it on purpose."
The man was speechless for a moment, but his eyes were blazing with anger as he stared at Ye Tianxuan.
Ye Tianxuan wanted to say something more, but the person behind him suddenly tugged at him and whispered, "Forget it, you'd better not argue with him. This person has some connections in the main city. I'm afraid you'll get less and less lifespan in Changsheng City in the future."
"The lifespan discrimination chain in the City of Immortality has existed for quite some time now. Those with longer lifespans are eager for us to die sooner so they can use up more lifespan resources. Don't waste your lifespan with these people; let them laugh."
Ye Tianxuan seemed to be deep in thought. It seemed that the residents of Changsheng City had their minds distorted by this environment.
When did living a long life give people the right to be arrogant? Should those who are nearing the end of their lives be kicked to the ground and kept silent?
This was very unpleasant for Ye Tianxuan, who had always lived in the hospital.
However, he was also well aware that this was a problem of the larger environment; the rules and trends of the entire Changsheng City had shaped the people's mindset. To change this, the change had to start with the high priest who wrote down the rules.
"Alright, wait for me here. After I finish the test, I'll give you some of my lifespan to help you get through this period. See you in a bit." Ye Tianxuan patted the shoulder of the guy who had reminded him and turned back to the testing line.
The person who was patted on the shoulder was stunned for a moment, their mind a little slow to process what was happening.
Someone is willing to give up their lifespan? And they say it so casually, as if they don't care at all?
Did he hear me wrong?