Chapter 795: Zhang Liang: Why Do the People Here Seem a Little Off?

“I’ve finished reading…” Zhang Liang set down the chronicle, his feelings in turmoil.

Xu Lang crossed one leg over the other and placed a report beside him. “In the section about Mad King Building, you should have seen information about me.”

“I’m not an ordinary person who happened to gain extraordinary powers. I’m a chosen player, and the ruler of Mad King Building.”

Zhang Liang’s expression shifted. Remembering the name that had appeared repeatedly in the chronicle, he blurted out, “You’re Xu Lang?!”

“Mm,” Xu Lang replied.

“Then why did you infect the shelter residents? What are you planning to do with us?” Zhang Liang didn’t seem to have the best social skills. Then again, perhaps his bizarre experiences had left him in a strange state. His expression agitated, he asked, “Do you want to protect us, or… rule us?”

A trace of mockery curled at Xu Lang’s lips. “Of course I want to protect you. Earth is my home. How could I let calamities ravage it?”

Back when he had a gun, Xu Lang had also said he wanted to protect the other players.

What decent person, upon ascending the throne, wouldn’t pay lip service to doing it for everyone? If he came right out and said, “I’m going to rule you,” that would be a bit too much of a Jiahao move.

Still, with Xu Lang’s Charm now, perhaps he really could act as willfully as Senior Sister Red Butterfly.

“I wonder what ability the Black Crown would give birth to if I conquered Earth…”

Xu Lang mused to himself.

Back then, he had listed Heaven’s Judgment Building, Evil King Building, and Amusement Park Building as his conquest targets, but in the end, he had only conquered Evil King Building.

And that conquest effect had only manifested after he logged off and encountered Evil Dragon.

Conquering the Mad King Building players had given the Black Crown “Endless Challenge to the King,” which could draw aggro. The effect produced by conquering the Evil King Building players was no worse than “Endless Challenge to the King.”

So now, he was somewhat interested in conquering other factions.

Earth probably didn’t have any powerful figures. Going there himself would be like a max-level expert entering a beginner’s village.

Hearing Xu Lang say he wanted to protect them, Zhang Liang was instantly overjoyed.

“Hahaha, that’s wonderful!”

“We’ve finally been waiting for you, Dorm Owner Xu Lang!”

“Haishi’s three major shelters need your help right now!”

“Do you know? We’re desperately short on supplies, and there are monsters outside, watching us like hawks. We’re almost out of ammunition!”

Zhang Liang rambled on, pouring out one thing after another.

In his eyes, Xu Lang’s arrival was nothing short of a deus ex machina, saving the country from disaster.

It had been almost a year since Earth’s calamity had erupted in full. Initial estimates suggested that Xia’s population had fallen by at least seventy percent!

And worldwide… the death toll might have been even higher!

After all, when it came to responding to natural and man-made disasters, Xia’s execution was beyond reproach.

Xu Lang listened quietly, occasionally asking a follow-up question. Each time he spoke, he did so at just the right moment, like pulling a trigger. Zhang Liang’s mouth became a machine gun, endlessly spitting out bullets.

It was about half an hour before Zhang Liang finally stopped.

“Sorry, sorry, I talked too much. I don’t know why, but being around you makes me feel especially energetic.” Zhang Liang took a deep breath, picked up the coffee beside him, and drank.

“Items used by players have special effects,” Xu Lang said with a faint smile. “The coffee you’re drinking helps you stay alert.”

“I see.” Zhang Liang looked surprised, then asked, “When are we going to Earth? We can’t hold out much longer over there.”

At that, Xu Lang fell silent for a moment, and the atmosphere grew a little awkward.

“Let’s wait a bit.”

“I was in a bit of a hurry, so I brought you over.”

“The connection to that side has grown weak, and you can’t go back now.”

Thinking of that, Xu Lang felt a little helpless too.

Zhang Liang froze, but quickly grasped the logic.

So he was supposed to be the pillar holding up the sea, and now Xu Lang had yanked that pillar over to his side. Which meant he couldn’t get back!

Xu Lang coughed. This really was one of his rare awkward moments, and he added, “Don’t worry. In theory, the passage has already been opened. It shouldn’t take long to open it again, two days at most.”

…

Su Yuan was the Neighborhood Committee’s chief administrator and had plenty of day-to-day matters to deal with. So even though Exploration Mode was all the rage now, he hadn’t gone exploring.

Xu Lang handed Zhang Liang directly over to Su Yuan and told him who he was.

“Dorm Owner, should we give this Mr. Zhang a player identity?”

“Not for now.”

“Should we let the other players know about this?”

“Sure. Let the players prepare to reconnect with Earth.”

…

After leaving Demon King Castle and standing in the corridor, Su Yuan still felt shaken to his core.

Xu Lang had actually established a connection with Earth, and even brought someone over.

Composing himself, Su Yuan turned to Zhang Liang and said, “Come with me.”

A crowd of Neighborhood Committee members was waiting outside. When they saw Su Yuan come out, they gathered around.

“Brother Su, why’d you bring someone out?”

“Who is this?”

“He looks unfamiliar. Is he a player who just moved here? Why was he in the Dorm Owner’s room?”

Su Yuan waved his hand to quiet them down, then said, “Get someone from the News Department to come to my room. I’ll introduce everyone to a new friend.”

Seeing these people dressed in bizarre outfits, Zhang Liang felt inexplicably afraid. He had the sense that every one of them could crush him to death.

…

News that a “fellow Earthling” had arrived in Mad King Building soon spread, causing a sensation.

Riding the wave of excitement, Su Yuan brought Zhang Liang to the square.

Every player still in Mad King Building came to watch.

The Dorm Owner’s power had actually reached Earth, and he had even brought someone over. It was practically a divine feat!

Su Yuan and Zhang Liang stood onstage. The former delivered his speech without notes, describing Xu Lang’s greatness and his intentions.

The more Zhang Liang listened, the more something seemed off.

What did they mean, “The light of Demon King Castle will shine across Earth”? What did they mean, “The Dorm Owner will save all humanity”? What did they mean, “Everyone will live forever in Madness”?

Why was the Dorm Owner going to lead the players home and then take them all to fight their way through the Blood Mist?

And what were they crying about? Had the sun blinded them?

Had he somehow wandered into a religious gathering?

Besides, the people here were way too fanatical, practically deranged… They didn’t seem mentally stable at all!

As he listened to the deafening wails, Zhang Liang kept swallowing nervously. Quite a few players had passive domain skills, and their demonic auras, Demonic Qi, holy light, and baleful energy all blurred together. The whole sight seemed deeply wrong.

Suddenly, Zhang Liang regretted coming.

This bunch of so-called players might be even more dangerous than the monsters outside the shelters!