Chapter 586 Flower of Blood and Bone·Suicide
Terra Calendar 1591.1.24.
9:20AM.
Island City·Residential Area.
The residential areas of Island City are located around the urban area, and are mainly composed of single-family houses and some apartments.
The early morning sunshine shines on the neat streets, and residents have begun their day's activities.
Each street is lined with green trees, their shadows are dancing, and occasionally a few squirrels jump among them, adding a bit of vitality.
White wooden fences surround each single-family house, and colorful flowers are planted in the yards.
In the small garden in front of the apartment building, residents greeted each other and children ran around laughing.
The pace of life here is slow and peaceful, and the residents have close relationships with each other, like a big family.
Today's residential areas are particularly lively.
The residents gathered together, confusion and uneasiness written on their faces.
They formed a small circle and talked in low voices. The topic focused on the unusual phenomena near Mille Lacs last night and a highly discussed suicide.
"Did you hear the explosion last night?" A gray-haired old man broke the silence, his voice filled with uneasiness.
"Martha and I were so scared that we couldn't sleep all night long. What happened over there in Mille Lacs?"
"I know! I know!" A young fisherman interjected eagerly, "I was at the lake when I suddenly heard a series of explosions, followed by violent shaking. Those fishing guys were frightened, how dare they Keep fishing!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, and someone said: "The windows of my house were shattered. This kind of thing is so strange. It has never happened before."
"Yes. "We have to figure out what's going on." A middle-aged woman frowned and said, "We can't let this scare us away from Lake Mille."
On the other side, Several residents were discussing an even more bizarre incident - a reverse suicide that occurred this week.
"Liszt's suicide has been reversed again?" A middle-aged man asked in a low voice, with deep shock and confusion in his tone.
"Well, I don't understand what there is to hide." A young man who had worked with Liszt replied, with a little sadness in his eyes, "Everyone is also aware of his situation."
" Mental breakdown is human nature," a wise and compassionate old man said slowly.
"Weak people collapse!"
A young but not lacking in love said firmly, with a kind of pure perseverance in his voice.
The old man looked at the child and smiled slightly. He patted the child's shoulder gently and said sincerely:
"One day you will understand that no matter how strong a person is, he will be defeated by life. Life is like the sea, sometimes as calm as a mirror, sometimes as turbulent. Even the strongest ship will capsize in the storm. ”
While everyone was discussing Liszt, a golden figure came to the discussion crowd at some point.
The sun shines on his brilliant blond hair, as if giving him a golden halo.
He was wearing a blue winter coat, and the thick coat wrapped his body tightly, making him look particularly stable.
He was carrying a fishing bag and holding a bucket in his right hand, which contained several newly caught northern pike. The pike were jumping in the bucket.
Joseph, the old man who just spoke, seemed to have finally noticed the movement behind him. He was a wise and compassionate old man, over seventy years old, with silver hair and a face covered with traces of time.
The old man subconsciously turned sideways and looked back.
The sun was shining brightly, and a handsome young man with blond hair and golden eyes showed a warm and bright smile. He held up the bucket in his hand and said to Joseph:
"This is the trophy just caught today. Old man, now I am preparing to sell it at a low price, or give it out for free."
Joseph was slightly startled, "Are you a tourist visiting the State of Thousand Lakes?"
Xia Xiu smiled and replied: "That's right. Well, I am a marine biologist, mainly studying whale and shark marine life. No, these fish are one of my research topics."
The old man was once again stunned by the blond young man's answer. He couldn't help but think in his heart:
"I'm afraid you, a marine expert, don't study how to fish and eat fish."
In front of me The blond young man with some strange behavior did make Joseph a little stunned, but he glanced at the pike in the bucket in Xia Xiu's hand.
Several huge northern pike are jumping in the bucket. Each fish has shiny scales and sharp teeth. The strong fish body is constantly flapping in the water, making small splashes. .
Their gills opened and closed slightly as they breathed, appearing full of life, as if they couldn't wait to return to the lake.
These fish made the old man feel very excited.
He recalled what the blond young man said before, "It may be sold cheaply or distributed for free." The old man quickly understood something. He asked Xia Xiu:
"What should I do to get them for free?"
Hearing the old man's question, Xia Xiu showed his face like a fisherman who has caught the bait. smile.
The corners of his mouth were slightly raised, revealing his neat white teeth. His golden pupils shone in the sun, and there was a hint of cunning in his eyes.
He said to the old man:
"There is a famous saying: 'You have an apple, I have an apple. If you have an apple, I also have an apple, and we If we exchange these apples with each other, then you and I will still have one apple each. But if you have one thought and I have one thought, and we exchange these thoughts with each other, then each of us will have two thoughts."< br>
The old man looked at the blond young man with a vague understanding, frowned and said:
"Intelligence? News? Or a regional scandal?"
He looked a little wary.
Xia Xiu shook his head, his golden hair swaying gently in the sun, and his expression appeared softer and more frank.
"I'm not a federal officer," he said, "I'm just curious."
Xia Xiu shook the bucket in his hand and continued with a smile:
"Old man. You just need to tell me some stories about this place, or take me to visit the attractions here, and I will be willing to give these fish to you for free."
Joseph froze for a moment, then laughed, loud and cheerful.
"That's it, young man, you are such an interesting person. Okay, I promise you. But you have to keep your word!"
Xia Xiu nodded and smiled even more Brilliant, "Of course, I keep my word. Let's go, old man, let's talk as we walk. I really want to know more about the stories here."
Joseph smiled with satisfaction, picked up a fish, and carefully Looking at its appearance, it is as if you are admiring a precious work of art.
Other residents who were watching also came forward, casting curious and friendly glances at Xia Xiu.
Xia Xiu asked the old man to wait for a moment, and then he began to discuss the price with the residents gathered around him.
Everyone was very interested in the fresh northern pike, and soon he sold out all the fish in the bucket.
With the completion of the transaction, Xia Xiu had a stack of banknotes in his hand.
He did not put away the banknotes. Instead, he patted the banknotes gently in his hands and slowly walked towards the old man with a faint smile on his face.
The golden sunshine shone on his brilliant blond hair, shining with dazzling light, and the golden eyes in his eyes had a playful look.
The old man Joseph looked at the banknotes in the hands of the blond young man and the vague smile on his face, and he naturally understood something. A helpless smile appeared on his face and he sighed softly.
"It seems that you are still a businessman, young man."
Xia Xiu smiled and shrugged,
"No matter what, everyone has to make a living. , right? But my curiosity is not just for these fish." Joseph nodded, understanding what Xia Xiu meant,
"Okay, what you want to know is about the suicide. , right?”
Xia Xiu's smile did not change, "Yes, I am very interested in this matter. I hope you can tell me some details."
Joseph looked at Xia Xiu again , looked at the banknotes in his hand, and then said slowly,
"Well, now that you have won my trust, I will tell you what we know."
The old man took Xia Xiu then left the residential area and walked towards the street where his home was located.
They were walking on a street called Liuyin Road, which was lined with tall willow trees. The branches swayed in the wind, giving people a sense of peace and tranquility.
Joseph's home is located in an area on the south bank of the island city. This area is just outside the suburbs surrounded by dense forests and lakes to the south.
The path winds through patches of grass and woods, and the air is filled with the fresh aroma of plants.
Not far away, a blue lake shone with sparkling waves in the sun, and the willow trees beside the lake hung down their long branches, as if caressing the lake surface.
The signs next to the road signs read "Isati", "Holy Lake Orphanage", "House of Hope", "Jinghu Cemetery" and "Overseas", which are particularly eye-catching.
Xia Xiu glanced at the signboards and was full of curiosity about these places, but he knew that now was not the time to explore these places.
After passing the sign, they arrived at Joseph's house. This is a typical single-family house with red brick walls and white window frames that looks particularly cozy.
The house is surrounded by a small garden, which is filled with various flowers, plants and vegetables. A small gravel path winds through the garden and leads directly to the door of the house.
There is also a small wooden table and a few chairs in the garden, which is obviously where Joseph rests and entertains guests on weekdays.
“Come in, let’s go in and talk.”
Joseph opened the door and invited Xia Xiu into his home.
The interior decoration of the house is simple and warm, with several family photos and some landscape paintings hanging on the walls, revealing a simple atmosphere of life.
The photo shows Joseph as a young man, along with his family and some good memories. In the center of the room is a wooden dining table covered with a clean tablecloth and several comfortable chairs placed next to it.
There is an ancient bookshelf on the side of the wall, which is filled with various books and some small ornaments, which looks very neat.
There is also an old-fashioned fireplace in the living room. There are several chopped logs beside the fireplace. It seems that Joseph often lights a fire here to keep warm.
Several pots of green plants are placed on the windowsill, adding a touch of life to the whole room.
The sun shines into the house through the windows, making the whole room look warm and bright.
After the old man introduced Xia Xiu into his home, he shouted in the direction of the kitchen:
"Martha, I'm back, and there are guests coming!"
After a while, , a chubby but neat old woman came out of the kitchen.
She has silver curly hair, a face covered with laugh lines, and eyes that sparkle with curiosity and kindness. After she saw the fish in Joseph's hand and Xia Xiu standing next to him, she couldn't help but make a confused sound:
"Joseph, what's going on with these fish? And who is this young man...?"
Joseph smiled and said:
"Martha, this is the fresh northern pike just caught today. It is the masterpiece of Mr. Abraham. Not only does he have superb fishing skills, he also decided to These fish are sold to our neighbors.”
Martha had a surprised expression on her face, and then she said to Xia Xiu enthusiastically:
"Oh, thank you so much, young man! We haven't had such fresh fish for a long time."
"I'm glad I can help you."
Joseph briefly explained a few words , then handed the fish to Martha,
“Take it and clean it up, we will eat this fish today.”
Martha took the fish, her face was full of joy, "Okay, I'll deal with it right away."
She turned back to the kitchen and quickly started preparing dinner.
Joseph motioned to Xia Xiu to sit down on the sofa in the living room, then walked into the kitchen and took out a coffee pot and two cups from the cabinet.
He skillfully brewed a pot of black coffee, and the aroma soon spread, adding a bit of warmth to this cozy cabin.
He returned to the living room with coffee and handed a cup to Xia Xiu.
“Come and try my craftsmanship. This is the coffee beans I roasted myself. It tastes very good.”
Xia Xiu took the coffee and thanked him with a smile, "Thank you, Mr. Joseph."
He took a gentle sip, and the rich coffee aroma filled his mouth, making him feel refreshed.
Joseph sat down opposite Xia Xiu, picked up his coffee cup, took a slow sip, and then took a deep breath.
"Okay, now we can have a good talk."
The blond young man nodded and put down the coffee cup, with a trace of expectation in his eyes.
Joseph looked at Xia Xiu and began to tell, "As for the suicide you want to know about, it's actually not simple. The suicide was named Liszt. He was a very quiet person and had good relations with his neighbors. , but it always gives people a feeling of being worried. About a week ago, he suddenly jumped from the apartment building where he lived. Fortunately, he was hung by a branch and did not die on the spot."
Xia Xiu listened carefully. He nodded from time to time to show that he was listening carefully.
“However, the matter did not end there.”
Joseph continued,
“After Liszt was sent to the hospital, his condition stabilized for a time. Everyone thought he He would get better, but a few days later, he tried to commit suicide again.
This time, he chose to cut his wrists and was unable to save them. He seemed to have lost the will to live, so he died. "
"Does the police have any conclusions about this? "
"It's still under investigation, but the discussion on this matter is quite hot here. "
"Oh. Xia Xiu became interested and asked the old man: "Why are you so keen on discussing a suicide?" ”
“Because there is an imperceptible line between the living body and the inanimate corpse. The problem with death is that once that line is crossed, all the rules for dealing with the human body change. ”
The old man said to the fourth sword holder in heaven:
“Whether we are willing to admit it or not, the most intimate relationship in our lives is the relationship between us and our own bodies.”
“Death The final humiliation is the loss of control of one's own body - the suicidal person crosses over to another world where the laws and customs that govern him are different from those that governed him a week ago; and in reality, too, the problem with death is that once Cross that line and all the rules for dealing with the human body change."
When the blood stops flowing,
the heartbeat becomes a silent echo,
The temperature of your body gradually dissipates,
the you you once were,
turns into a cold shape.
In the eyes of the world,
he is no longer that person,
But an object.
Whether they are relatives or strangers,
they are all treated in this way.
At that moment,
the value of life was taken away,
The perspective of society
turns you into a thing,
no longer the warmth in memory,
but a symbol of the end.
Death means the lack of dignity of the living.