Chapter 101: Am I Pretty?

Upon realizing she had been spotted, the figure hiding behind the wall shifted her gaze and then stepped forward without hesitation.

She was a woman.

Clad in a trench coat that concealed most of her body, her hair loose, and wearing a black mask, only her eyes were visible—unnatural, cold, and lifeless, like those of a dead fish, staring blankly at Fan Li.

In her hand, she held a massive pair of scissors, stained with congealed blood.

Instinctively, Fan Li raised his katana defensively, but the next moment, as if recalling something, he lowered his weapon and simply gazed back at her quietly.

On this deathly silent street, the distant growls of zombies could faintly be heard. Yet, amidst this terrifying scene, a man and a woman stood tens of meters apart, locked in a gaze.

The woman kept studying Fan Li, tilting her head as if trying to see some hidden aspect of him. Strangely, her head bent past the human limit, curving all the way down to her chest, her entire head hanging upside down.

Though Fan Li had prepared himself, he was still caught off guard by this formidable presence suddenly appearing before him, momentarily stunned.

Her vacantly glazed eyes, the scissors in hand, and her head twisted a full one and a half axes—if he were a heart patient, he might have fainted on the spot. But having encountered many twisted beings, Fan Li remained composed, even breaking into a warm smile, revealing eight teeth.

[Reputation Points: 20]

[You have attracted the attention of some monsters.]

Though somewhat prepared for visitors, Fan Li had not expected monsters to approach him just one night after arriving.

They could not stand staring at each other forever. The monster handbook had mentioned that if one behaved well, there was a chance to tame the visiting creatures.

The value of monsters had already been demonstrated in earlier battles, and Fan Li did not want to miss any opportunity to improve his survival odds. To break the awkward silence, he decided to show some gentlemanly grace. Taking a step forward, he said, "Hello."

There was no trace of fear on his face, as if greeting an old friend after a long separation. They had traveled different paths over the years; one hesitated to rekindle past bonds, while the other took the initiative to exchange pleasantries.

Unlike zombies, monsters could communicate. This was a lesson Fan Li had learned over time. Though twisted and grotesque, alien to humanity, they possessed their own thoughts and emotions.

Ellie would swing a giant hammer to smash the skulls of zombies for a bag of chips.

Button had reformed through friendly exchanges and become a competent employee.

Fan Li did not seek to enslave monsters, for each one was essential to his survival in the apocalypse. He aimed to offer them the rare warmth they could find in this world.

This world had burdened them with prejudice. Like wild beasts lost in darkness, they vented their anger through constant killing. Fan Li hoped his presence could help them emerge from the shadows and glimpse a life beyond death.

His warmth was returned. The woman gradually straightened her head and stepped forward. Her footsteps were light, almost soundless. Each step seemed to press upon Fan Li’s heart, deepening his smile, so much so that his weapon instinctively shifted a few centimeters forward.

Three meters.

The woman halted, her dead-fish eyes fixed on Fan Li. The folds of her mask creaked softly as a surprisingly gentle voice whispered in his ear.

“Am I beautiful?”

Fan Li had wondered what her first words might be.

“I want to eat you!”

“Do you know how many people I’ve killed?”

“Could you lend me your head for a trim?”

But never had he expected, in this unfamiliar place, facing a stranger, she would ask, “Am I beautiful?”

Her gaze was unfocused, like the eyes of a cold corpse. Under such a stare, Fan Li felt as if crawling centipedes and venomous bugs covered his body, making every hair stand on end.

Yet he treated this as a test she was giving him, a way of revealing her wounds to see if he could accept her.

This question was far from simple.

“Does beauty matter?” Fan Li replied with self-mockery.

She had asked this countless times before, but Fan Li’s counter-question was new to her.

After a moment’s hesitation, she seemed to realize, then repeated, “Am I beautiful?”

Fan Li shook his head. Seeing this, the white circles in her eyes began to spread, as if pent-up resentment was about to explode. Her left hand slowly rose, poised to touch the mask and remove it.

A tone of disappointment sounded:

“Outer beauty fades easily. Only inner beauty endures. A beautiful face can attract admirers, but to captivate forever, one needs a beautiful soul.”

“I don’t know why you ask, but to me, the soul is the window to true beauty.”

Her movement froze. It seemed Fan Li’s words stirred something within her; her fingers trembling slightly on the mask, hesitating whether to tear away the cloth that sealed her murderous mode.

Sensing her doubt, Fan Li softened his voice further: “If you like, I can introduce you to some new friends: children with bad teeth who love ballet, a slaughterhouse worker who hides herself due to disfigurement, and a diligent employee shunned by coworkers, lost in his work.”

“They all face more or less prejudice, rejected by the world. But I don’t mind, because I see the pure land deep within their souls.”

“If you have your own troubles, don’t worry. Know that there is always someone who will accept your imperfect self.”

“And I am the one you have been searching for.”