Chapter 27: What Is True and What Is False (New Book, Please Add to Your Collection)

"The crows of Los City only keep company with the living! Ah!"

Xi Yan awoke with a start, finding himself lying in his own bed. Beside him, Xi Lin had fallen asleep, her head resting on the mattress.

His sudden movement roused Xi Lin, who sat up and rubbed her eyes, delightedly gazing at him. "Brother, what's been wrong with you lately? I just bought you some medicine—please take it."

She got up, poured a glass of hot water from the table, and brought both the water and the medicine to his side, handing them to him.

As he looked at the cup in her hand, Xi Yan recalled the warning that girl named A Yuan had given him: never take anything Xi Lin offered.

That medicine must count as well...

He didn't realize it himself, but he obeyed A Yuan's words almost instinctively, suddenly finding himself unable to trust the sister he loved most.

When he didn't take the medicine, Xi Lin tilted her head, puzzled. She set the water and pills on the nightstand, sighing. "Brother, what is going on with you?"

Meeting her questioning gaze, Xi Yan turned his eyes away, unwilling to look her in the face.

Seeing that he wanted nothing to do with her, Xi Lin didn't press him further. Rising, she said in a cold, measured tone, "Brother, I don't know what's happened to you, but in your current state, you should rest more. Take your medicine soon."

There was a trace of impatience in her voice, barely concealed—something Xi Yan would never have noticed before. But his mind was in turmoil, every little detail standing out, every nuance enough to stir suspicion.

After Xi Lin left, Xi Yan sat on his bed, staring at the medicine and water on the nightstand. He realized that, except for breakfast a few days ago, he hadn't taken anything Xi Lin gave him recently.

He turned his head to the window, gazing outside. Only now did he notice that the birds calling from the trees were crows.

Crows!

Suddenly, that cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind again: The crows of Los City only keep company with the living.

Los City—the place where he lived. If that statement was true, then...

The thought sent a chill through him.

In recent days, he'd been out many times and seen crows, though rarely, so he hadn't paid them much mind. But today, there were so many more. And since he first noticed them, he realized the crows never followed anyone but himself.

"No... No, that's impossible..."

Xi Yan sat on the bed, hugging his knees, feeling helpless and afraid. The longer he spent with this "Xi Lin," the less she felt like his sister. He had no reason, no proof—just a feeling.

"What have I forgotten? A Yuan... Why does she feel so familiar? And that mechanical voice..."

His head ached as he pondered these questions. But there was nowhere to seek answers, and he began to wonder if he was losing his mind.

The crows' cries outside grated on him, making him anxious to go out. But as soon as he swung his legs from the bed, fear made him retreat, as if the covers were his sole protection from danger.

If, in this city, he was the only living person, then what were these "people" around him? What was his sister?

The more he thought, the more terrified he became. At last, he conquered his fear, put on his shoes, and resolved to see the city for himself.

Just as he was about to leave, he glanced back at the medicine and water Xi Lin had left on the nightstand.

From this angle, inexplicably, he saw not medicine and water, but a piece of raw meat and a glass filled with red liquid.

Swallowing hard, Xi Yan hurriedly left, making his way into the city.

The crows followed him everywhere, never leaving his side, no matter how many people he passed. No one else seemed to see the crows at all.

In all of Los City, only he could see the crows, only he could hear their cries. Which meant...

If he wasn't mad, then he was the only living person left in this city.

Desperately, Xi Yan wanted to find that little girl, A Yuan.

She must know something!

He yearned with all his heart for her to appear.

Perhaps Heaven was moved by his plea, for A Yuan suddenly appeared before him.

But she was pale and frail, her lips nearly white—a picture of illness and exhaustion. Dressed in a red dress, she looked almost spectral.

Yet Xi Yan felt no fear, only worry. He crouched down, trying to support her.

Just as his hand was about to touch her, he remembered—he shouldn't be able to touch her at all, or he wouldn't have doubted his own sanity.

But to his surprise, this time he could touch her. And he noticed the crows did not approach her either.

He instinctively let go of her arm.

She had just felt his support, but as he abruptly withdrew it, she nearly lost her balance.

He wanted to steady her again, but his mind overruled his reflexes and he stopped in time.

A Yuan wasn't angry. In fact, she smiled weakly, as if pleased.

"Brother... So you heard that phrase... Don't worry, I can see the crows, but they can't see me..." Her voice was feeble, as if she'd suffered a grave injury.

"You..."

"My time is short. Listen: apart from you, Brother Qu Ya and Sister Lin Shuang have already cleared the trial and are waiting outside. The reason you haven't finished is because the guardian of the first stage tampered with things... cough, cough..."

She coughed weakly, then continued, "To leave this place, you must kill Xi Lin. You must! Trust me! Please, I'm begging you... Brother Xi Yan, we're all waiting for you..."

Her figure faded away once more. Xi Yan squatted there as people passed, casting him disdainful glances, but he paid them no mind.

"Kill... Xi Lin..."

He wanted to believe A Yuan, but it wasn't enough. Not even close. He couldn't kill Xi Lin just on her word. She was his sister! If all of this was just his imagination, he would regret it forever.

Why could no one else see the crows? Why only he and A Yuan?

Because it was all in his head...

That thought began to supplant A Yuan's words.

Deep down, he was convinced: the problem was with him. He was seeing hallucinations, losing his grip on reality.

"No... I can't kill my sister... I can't..." Xi Yan stumbled home, muttering to himself, half-mad with confusion and fear.