[Comprehensive] How to kill a rabid dog gently

The continuous rain has lasted for two days in the old town, and the poor drainage system here has been useless since the day before. The accumulated rain mixed with mud poured into the twisted buildings of the slums, making it extremely dirty and unpleasant.

The local residents closed their doors and windows tightly, and people from outside the city disdain to come here even more than usual. Apart from the sound of rain, there is no other sound in the lower city, just like a cemetery with only rubble.

Bai Lan was probably the only person still walking in this particularly dilapidated corner of the old city at this time.He wore an old coat that didn't suit his taste and leather shoes with badly frayed edges, and only relied on a wide-brimmed hat to shelter from the rain, walking alone among the alleys with complex structures and simple and rough structures.

His steps were not as smooth and brisk as before, but fortunately, the sound of the rain was able to cover up the sound of his footsteps, which is why, even though the wound became more and more painful in such a cold and humid weather, Bai Lan still believed that the rain was right. Another testament to his usual good fortune.

Bailan... Specifically, Bailan Jesso, who has just arrived in this parallel world, is in a very bad situation-of course, most of this is due to the aboriginal "Bailan" here, rather than being forced to take over at this moment the soul of this body.

As for the other Bai Lan, who has been traveling unscrupulously in parallel spaces, she was disturbed by unstable factors during one of her trips and fell into an unplanned strange world... It sounds about the same. Unfortunately, this is indeed a natural and probabilistic thing, even Bai Lan himself thinks so.

However, no matter how easy it seemed, Bai Lan was seriously injured now.

Every time he took a breath, he could feel the severe pain in his internal organs, as if the damp and cold air condensed water vapor into ice picks in his lung lobes, tearing the internal organs to pieces from the inside.

Bai Lan was so weak that she couldn't even ignite the flames.

This means that if he wants to reverse this unfavorable situation, he has to use some more efficient and brutal methods.

Bai Lan gradually slowed down, and stopped when he reached the gap between the collapsed low building and the high wall.

Because he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from the other end of the alley.

In such a situation, everyone must pay more attention to even the slightest disturbance.

Bai Lan reached into her bosom, took out a dagger from the inner pocket of the coat, and hid it in the sleeve with her backhand.During the half a minute when the owner of the footsteps walked in front of him, he looked up at the cloudy sky that was hastily divided into several pieces by eaves, high walls, and dirty wires.

It was probably impossible for the original Bai Lan to see such a scenery from such an angle.

--but now.

Strength, status, wealth and followers, these advantages are gone.

What is standing here now is just a tired and weak young man who is being hunted down.

Bai Lan couldn't help laughing.

This is really very interesting.

Who will he meet in the next few seconds?

He quietly listened to the soft sound of splashing water, while thinking.

Enemy, friend, or whoever it doesn't matter, and what happens after that is a farther unknown.

What happens in those brief minutes could very well determine Prynne's life or death, depending only on the person who is about to reach the bifurcation point—the key variable.

variable.

Bai Lan's heart was beating violently for this, and the light in his eyes was brighter than ever.

Then, please come to me quickly.

He sent out a gentle prayer in his heart, but at the moment another shadow appeared, the flickering of the arc of the knife was extremely decisive and cold.

The first attack of the sharp weapon did not damage the opponent's body, but scratched the opponent's umbrella surface, the black umbrella cloth was torn out a hideous wound, and the sharp sound of the dagger colliding with the umbrella bone tore through the rain curtain.

The opponent's subconscious reaction made him avoid the sudden danger, but the umbrella also fell from his hand under such an attack, so Bai Lan was able to see the opponent's face.

That is a woman.

His variable was a woman whose long hair was slightly wet from the rain and who was staring at him in surprise.

When the dream reached this point, Bai Lan woke up.

When he opened his eyes, the sound of rustling rain echoing in the empty alley was still in his ears, but Bai Lan raised his head from the desk, and it was clear that he was in a noisy classroom.

... Everything that happened in the dream is still vivid in my mind, compared to a chaotic dream, it is more like a colorful memory.

It's just that Prynne doesn't think these things have happened in his past.

He closed his eyes again, recalled the scene in his dream, and muttered to himself.

"If so, whose memory would it be?"

"What's the matter, Bai Lan?"

"...Cheng, I had a strange dream." He looked at the girl who was talking to him, and smiled, "Do you want to listen to me?"

Cheng nodded, moved the chair closer, and sat down opposite him, quietly waiting for the other party's explanation.

"I dreamed... Let's just think it was 'I', 'I' was being hunted down and seriously injured, maybe in order to avoid the pursuit, 'I' came to the lower city on a rainy day In a semi-abandoned city."

"It's a really bad situation." Cheng naturally blended into what Bai Lan said, "Although the deserted old city in rainy days can help you cover your tracks, this kind of weather will make the wound worsen faster."

"The situation is probably worse than you think, otherwise, 'I' would not be grateful for the bad rain." He continued, "Then, in the empty alley, 'I' happened to I heard another person's footsteps coming towards me."

"Who would that be?"

Cheng guessed.

"Are you here to hunt down your enemies? Or do you want to rescue your companions?"

"It's a woman."

He replied.

"Really?" Cheng asked curiously, "Is it someone you know? What kind of role did she play in this dream?"

"I don't know, Cheng—whether it's in a dream or not, I don't understand the reason why she appeared there." Bai Lan showed a troubled look, "The dream stopped abruptly here, this is my trouble place."

"Do you want to know what happens after the dream?"

Cheng couldn't help laughing.

"That's a really hard job."

For the first time since they met, Bai Lan showed a shy expression.

"I also guessed that I would be laughed at..."

"No, I didn't mean to laugh at you. I understand. It's like watching a movie halfway through. Anyone would want to know how it ends."

She squeezed her smile into a soft smile on the corner of her lips.

"Anyway, this is indeed a dream like a movie scene...In this case, let's deduce what the next plot will be."

"infer?"

"From the perspective of film studies, both characters and scenes are the basic elements to promote the plot." She was thinking, and unconsciously tapped the table with her fingertips, "It just so happens that we already have the basic information of the two..."

Cheng raised his face.

"What kind of woman did you meet?"

"..."

Bai Lan was brought back to the dream in a glimpse by these words.

"Long hair." He pondered, "Because of the rainy weather, he was wearing a black umbrella, and his clothes were simple but formal."

"Then, she is not a resident of a slum, and there must be some special motive for her to come here."

"Maybe 'me' was her motivation for coming here, and female assassins in the mafia are not uncommon."

Cheng smiled and continued to ask: "Any more details about her?"

"Let's think about it... Her skirt is wet, and so is her hair, probably because she walked in a hurry in the rain. Also, she looks..."

Kind of feels familiar to me.

Bai Lan recalled over and over again the last moment he met her eyes.

Those eyes felt familiar to him.

Could it be that I have really seen that face somewhere...

Bai Lan thought so.

"Though you seem inclined to think she was an unexpected visitor."

Cheng's voice interrupted his thoughts, and Bai Lan turned his gaze to the other party.

When meeting Shang Cheng's gaze, Bai Lan was stunned suddenly, and a faint sense of familiarity surged out of the dead corner of his mind instantly, and a pair of gentle eyes were depicted in his heart.

These eyes he was looking into.

"But, in my opinion, a dramatic encounter brought about by pure chance, it's also a pretty classic scene."

Cheng's eyelashes fluttered, and Bai Lan guessed that she was smiling.

"Classic, full of destiny...and romantic."

"Cheng!"

Cheng who was suddenly stopped turned around, and the blond boy was running towards her.

"Dino?" She stopped in place, waiting for the other party to come to her, "Didn't see you in the classroom today, did you miss class again?"

"That, that's because..." Dino murmured, his voice lowered, "You haven't come..."

He was reminded of the business by this sentence, and hastily changed the subject.

"Is something wrong? Why have you been absent from work these days? Is it because of Valya, or—"

"That's it, Dino."

Reborn, who was sitting motionless on Dino's shoulder, suddenly stopped him.

"Your authority is not enough to let you know this level of intelligence."

"Just like Mr. Reborn said." Cheng said apologetically, "I'm sorry Dino, I can't tell you the specific situation... But, there is nothing to worry about, so don't worry about me."

She remembered another thing.

"Also, Dino, I applied for early graduation."

"...!"

Dino's eyes widened, his heart sank heavily, and it took him a while to find his voice.

"why?"

Cheng once again fell into an embarrassing silence.

"Have you made such a judgment?"

Before Dino reacted, Reborn showed a clear look.

"Actually, I haven't obtained enough evidence to make a conclusion." Cheng replied, "No matter what the result is, it is my duty to perform the corresponding duties, whether it is for Pengel...or other individuals."

From their conversation, Dino vaguely realized that some kind of turmoil was happening, but this feeling that the truth was clearly close at hand but out of reach made him more difficult than being completely ignorant.

"What exactly do you mean—"

"Come on, Dino."

Reborn interrupted him, before Dino still wanted to fight for the right to know, he continued.

"Don't embarrass Miss Cheng."

His persistence was suppressed by these words, and Dino couldn't help clenching his fists.

"……it is good."

He said.

"if……"

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Dino stopped.

If there is anything I can do for you, please...

Even Dino himself felt that this promise was pale and fragile.

Cheng was gradually getting out of the reach of his arms, and Dino suddenly realized this clearly.

He was silent for a few seconds without finishing it.

"See you next time, Cheng."

He turned around, hardly daring to wait for her response, he was worried that any expression on the other side would make him feel embarrassed to himself.

——"Dino."

Cheng pulled him back and spoke to him in his usual gentle voice.

"Thank you."

"..."

Dino responded lightly, still without turning his head, and then Cheng let go of his hand.

"See you next time."

After saying goodbye to her, Dino kept walking forward, his mind was in a mess, and he was even more at a loss for his destination, but he kept moving forward, as if he was escaping from something that was chasing after him.

Reborn didn't stop him, until Dino finally realized that there was nothing but his own shadow behind him, so he stopped in emptiness and regret.

"Reborn, she thanked me," he said, "but there's nothing I can do for her."

"I know."

Reborn replied lightly.

"She understands that, too."

Dino froze for a moment, and his expression became more bitter.

"Are you afraid that she will disappoint you? Don't worry too much, she didn't take your feelings into account when she thanked you." Reborn said, "Miss Cheng is just showing her gratitude to you sincerely—this kind of The degree of concern is enough for her, after all, she didn't intend to ask you for the result..."

--"Or."

Reborn stopped, and suddenly asked: "Are you in love with Miss Cheng?"

Dino didn't expect that the other party would ask such a question, but his question did pull him out of his weakness and depression a little, and turned to think about this question.

"……I have no idea."

Dino said disappointedly.

"Cheng is very gentle. She understands me and never pushes me. When I'm with her, I can hardly think of troublesome things..." He closed his eyes, "I just hope that I can protect her and let her Days like this just go on and on.”

"Then there's nothing wrong with that." Reborn said calmly, "No matter what makes you think you're the one who can act as a protector, in my opinion, you're just wishful thinking about using her to escape your own pain That's all—just like you depend on your family and your father in the same way."

Dino raised his face abruptly.

"I--"

"It's okay, Dino."

reborn grinned grimly.

"It's not just the Gabrielone family, Miss Cheng also accepts your evasion and cowardice, you know very well, she is a gentle person."

"No, I don't want to..."

"You can stay where you are, because everyone will indulge your willfulness. Maybe watching Miss Cheng drift away alone will make you feel painful for a while, but as long as she still smiles at you, it's enough..."

"No!"

Dino.Gabrielo let out a low growl, anger burning deep in his eyes.

"I stop just looking at the backs of the people I hold dear."

"Even if you have to run with all your strength, even if you run out of breath and die with bruises all over your body..."

"I want to be brave for the people I hold dear, if only once."

Bai Lan was lying on the desk, looking sideways at the clouds that were dyed orange red by the setting sun outside the window.

He was the only one left in the classroom, and Bai Lan couldn't help feeling a little childish about it.

"...Is it because Vongola doesn't pay enough attention to me?" He muttered, "I'm left here alone. The strictness of surveillance is completely wrong?"

Bai Lan turned her face to face the dark room, feeling the familiar emptiness again.

so boring.

"Should I just kill a few of Vongola's guardians to increase my danger level... Ah, then the person in charge of me won't be Cheng... Please let me go, I will Not here to see the old men."

Bai Lan, who produced and negated an evil plan while talking to himself and lightly, turned his dissatisfaction elsewhere.

It would be nice if the dream in the morning was finished.

For some reason, he became unusually curious about what followed the dream.

Bai Lan closed her eyes and began to feel a little sleepy.

Less than three seconds had passed since the umbrella fell from the woman's hand and it fell to the ground.

Bai Lan kept looking into her eyes, and the surprise only stayed on the other person's face for a short time. The moment the umbrella hit the ground and broke the ribs, her expression had turned into a certain understanding.

Before Prynne was about to launch her second attack, she spoke to him first.

"It turns out that what those people are looking for is you."

She suddenly quieted down, looking back and forth.

"It's better to get out of here as soon as possible."

While she was saying this, a slightly messy voice came from afar. It was the footsteps of many people, probably attracted by the movement here.

Bai Lan quickly made a judgment and immediately took a step forward, but the woman she had never met before held his hand instead. Bai Lan turned her head and saw her lips move slightly.

follow me.

They walked very fast, and Bai Lan was going to be half a step behind. He looked at the other party's wet shoulders, and thought that he had broken her umbrella. He couldn't help but feel that the current scene was absurd and unreasonable.

"Have I met you before, or is there some connection between us that I don't know?"

"I guess this is the first time we've met."

She didn't look back.

"So why would a lady like you come to this semi-abandoned neighborhood?"

"...did you know there's a theater here that's about to be demolished?"

The other replied.

"Today is its last performance, and that's why I'm here."

She lowered her voice.

"I have no intention of interfering with your grievances, but..."

"what?"

"You're badly wounded," she said, "and I thought it would be better to go somewhere dry and warm than wandering in the rain... and besides that, a coincidence happened to me .”

"coincide?"

"About the theater I'm going to." She smiled slightly. "Although there was a prosperous period, it is quite deserted now. Even if it is a farewell show, there are very few people who buy tickets... in some subtle way Driven by my mood, I bought two tickets, but I haven't found anyone who can go with me."

She glanced mildly at the sky.

"In such bad weather, few people want to go to the old town to see an opera performance in an old theater."

Then, she looked at Bai Lan.

"Does your enemy like opera performances?"

"Do not."

Bai Lan laughed.

"I do not think so."

"In that case..."

She took out two slightly soaked tickets from her handbag.

"Will you agree to my invitation?"

The theater is not big, but because there are only sporadic audiences, it feels very empty.

The position of the ticket is neither front nor back, just in the most depressed and clean area.

The play to be performed tonight is The Magic Flute.

Bai Lan's coat was still dripping, and in just a few minutes, small puddles formed around his feet.

He's as stranded as the beleaguered prince Tamino in the first act, but doesn't look as broke and exhausted as he is.

Even if there is no second spectator who is as embarrassed as he described here.

"It's weird."

Bai Lan said.

"When you appeared in front of me, I never expected that I would be sitting here at this moment."

"I also thought I would come alone and watch the last show alone."

When she spoke, Bai Lan looked at her profile.

Noticing the other person's gaze, she also turned to meet his gaze.

"I thought that you, like me, have gotten used to the vagaries of life."

"..."

Bai Lan raised the corner of his mouth.

"I gradually began to recall that feeling."

The theater went dark and the sonata played.

The beams of light passed over the set, dividing the microscopic world presented on the stage of only [-] square yards into two parts with distinct light and dark.

Prynne took off his hat and put it on his lap.

He sat in the darkness under the stage, and outside this body, outside the theater, outside the rain curtain, his soul, which has been looking down on all living beings, gradually acquired quality.

His soul fell from the clouds, into this rain, into the theater and his body, and then the heavy drenched coat, the soft strings in the sonata, the blue lights in somber hues - all kinds of good and bad Things, feelings of good and bad, are once again full and vivid.

He felt her breathing and her heartbeat, but didn't know which side to sort it into.

"Your name is?"

Bai Lan asked in a low voice.

Her gaze fell on him, and she whispered a name softly.

The soprano chanted over her voice, but Prynne heard the name for sure.

Cheng.

Another Bai Lan who exists outside of this story also remembered.

This is what happened when he and Cheng met for the first time in countless parallel spaces.

When returning to the classroom, Cheng found that Bai Lan was still there.

He fell asleep on the desk.

When Bai Lan fell asleep, he finally no longer looked so mysterious and dissociated. His white hair looked soft, which made Cheng couldn't help stretching out his hand before waking him up...

Before she could succeed, the boy opened his eyes, and he subconsciously grabbed the fingertip she was about to retract.

He was still sleepy, with slight red marks at the corners of his eyes. The moment he saw the person in front of him clearly, a smile flickered from his hazy eyes, which was so gentle and innocent that it moved people's face.

"Did you have a good dream?"

"Well, I dreamed about something from a long time ago."

Bai Lan sat up slowly, staring at Cheng's face for a long time.

"Long time no see, Cheng."

"Is this dream really that far away?"

she asked with a smile.

"It's really far away."

There were only a few broken fragments left in that memory, Bai Lan understood the reason, it was his own handwriting.

What he was in at this time was not the world in which he was born.

Bai Lan came from the last tour of the universe. He once fought against the powerful inertia of the world's forward movement, reversed the fundamental law that was absolutely impossible to shake, and then reset the time axis, and countless worlds returned to their original positions.

Why did he do this, and how did he do it, Bai Lan can't remember now, and at the same time, he doesn't intend to delve into his past.

The distance between the two universes can only be measured through very complicated dimensions and formulas, but for Bai Lan, this indescribable distance can be summed up in just one concept.

From her side, he crossed many seas of stars, and came to her side again.