It seemed he now understood what this person was about.
Indeed, no matter how society developed, there would always be rebellious dissenters under any order.
And the man in front of him was likely one of the many dissenters in this dream version of Haicheng.
To understand the rules of this dream, this person was an excellent window. Yu Jin had no reason to let him go.
But to be cautious, he still had to confirm it one more time.
So, after pondering for a moment, Yu Jin threw a question at him.
“Then have you ever considered that the step I took toward the phone booth might have just been because I twisted my ankle?”
“?”
The masked man had clearly never thought of this question. His face froze, a trace of suspicion and alarm flashing in his eyes, but his gaze quickly grew firm again. He slowly shook his head.
“Impossible! You clearly stood there for a while after drawing closer. You were listening to that passerby's unfortunate plight. Your heart is still warm. You wanted to help him, but because of the existing laws, you couldn't completely cast aside your own situation to lend a hand. This isn't your fault. It's the fault of the twisted environment under the current system. You don't have to pretend. I'm not a vigilance patrol on a fishing expedition, nor am I here to arrest you. I truly want to help you.”
Yu Jin remained noncommittal, murmuring to himself, “Shouldn't someone stand still for a bit after twisting their ankle to relieve the pain? Could it be that anyone who pauses because of a twisted ankle is the person you're looking for?”
“!!??”
The masked man was stunned. His previously confident expression tightened, and his entire posture became plagued by self-doubt.
He warily scrutinized Yu Jin, thinking he might have actually approached the wrong person.
Seeing this, Yu Jin also let out a sigh of relief.
There probably wasn't some kind of trap here like the ones Xia Jie designed to harm people.
After experiencing betrayal, a person naturally became cautious.
In a way, Xia Jie was indeed a “good teacher.”
Yu Jin gave a self-deprecating laugh and extended his hand to the other party.
“A small joke, don't mind it. I am indeed the person you're looking for.”
Looking suspiciously at Yu Jin's extended hand, the masked man didn't dare to shake it. Instead, he threw Yu Jin's own words back at him: “How can you guarantee that you didn't just twist your ankle, and that you really are the person I'm looking for?”
“...”
For a brief moment, Yu Jin doubted whether he could actually get the information he wanted from someone like this.
If you called him stupid, he still knew how to test people.
If you called him smart, he believed anything.
If I really had a problem, I would have reported you to the Bureau long ago. Why would I still be here letting you doubt me?
Yu Jin was amused to the point of laughter. He maintained his hand-extending posture and said nothing.
The masked man stared at Yu Jin's hand, frozen for a moment as if finally realizing the absurdity. His face instantly flushed with embarrassment.
Seeing this, Yu Jin smiled. “Figured it out?”
The man nodded, extending his hand with a strange expression to shake Yu Jin's.
“I figured it out. But I want to say... true kindness doesn't need to be guarded.”
Yu Jin looked around, unable to bring himself to agree. “You're right, but it also depends on the environment. In the current Haicheng, knowing that not being guarded will lead to trouble, yet stubbornly displaying your kindness in the face of risk... what awaits you won't be praises from others, but only the Day Prison. You have to be tactical. Charging blindly won't work. Didn't you also test me just now? Now, are we even?”
The man stared blankly at Yu Jin, processing this for a moment. His grip on Yu Jin's hand tightened.
“You're very smart.”
“I'm flattered. How should I address you?” With a smile, Yu Jin pulled his hand back, gently shaking it behind his back.
This guy looked skinny, but his grip strength was no joke.
The masked man introduced himself: “Sun Dongyu. Dongyu, as in the eastern horizon where the sun rises.”
“Good name. I'm Yu Jin. Pleased to meet you.” Yu Jin did not hide his name; there was no need to hide it in a dream.
Sun Dongyu's eyes lit up. “Yu Jin is also a good name. Our current situation is very much like a moral ember, waiting for the sparks of kindness to reignite.”
Hearing this explanation, Yu Jin's expression became slightly subtle. His name did indeed come from the concept of embers, but those were not pleasant memories.
He shook his head, throwing the stray thoughts out of his mind to focus on the present. He immediately asked, “Since neither of us is unwilling to lend a helping hand, Brother Dongyu, let me ask you something: what kind of crime is Replacing Evil with Good?”
“?”
Sun Dongyu was taken aback, seemingly very surprised that Yu Jin did not know of this crime. But he quickly came to an understanding. “Are you an outsider?”
Who?
Me?
Well, relative to this dream Haicheng, I really am an outsider.
Yu Jin blinked and nodded quickly. “Good eyes. You saw through me in an instant. Yes, I am indeed an outsider. This is my first time visiting a big city.”
Sun Dongyu wasn't surprised. He just frowned and muttered under his breath, “Why do I keep running into outsiders lately?” Then, he squeezed out a smile to explain to Yu Jin:
“Replacing Evil with Good is exactly what the name implies. If you perform a 'good' deed that benefits society, but in the process, you violate the laws laid down by the Bureau—especially by overstepping your authority, doing something outside your job description, or doing something you shouldn't have done—you have committed the crime of Replacing Evil with Good. Replacing Evil with Good is the greatest crime in Haicheng. Those convicted of this crime are to be executed by law.”
“!!!”
Yu Jin's entire body shook, unable to comprehend it.
“But you clearly said that was doing a good deed...”
An angry expression appeared on Sun Dongyu's face, full of resentment.
“Yes, it is indeed a good deed. But the Bureau believes that any act of overstepping authority to help others in the name of doing good must have a filthy logic of avoiding punishment behind it. No exceptions. They firmly believe that unless they have some other agenda, 'normal people' would never show kindness.”
“...”
“You find it absurd too, right? It is precisely because of these twisted laws that we came together! Brother Yu, believe me, one day, Haicheng will no longer be shackled by these filthy laws, and the sky of Haicheng will no longer be covered by these dark clouds! Our Gongji—”
Wait!
Yu Jin felt like he had heard something mind-blowing. He was stunned for a moment and interrupted, “The Gongji Club?”
Sun Dongyu nodded, then shook his head. “Our original intention was indeed Gongji, meaning mutual aid, but due to some special reasons, we are now called the Gongji Club—spelled like 'rooster.'”
“Which rooster?”
Sun Dongyu said, “The crowing rooster. We firmly believe that our efforts are like the clear crow of a rooster before dawn, destined to awaken the frozen kindness in people's hearts!”
“...”
It really was that rooster.
Yu Jin's lips twitched as he asked, “So, are you the leader of the Rooster Club?”
Sun Dongyu shook his head. “No, I am not the leader. Our leader, just like the person you care about, was arrested and thrown into the Day Prison for the crime of Replacing Evil with Good!”
“!!!”
Yu Jin's pupils shrank suddenly. Only at this moment did he realize that Sun Dongyu, who had followed him all this way, had long noticed his situation.
“You saw everything...”
Sun Dongyu gave an “mm”. “Precisely because of this, I dared to take the risk to come and invite you. I invite you to join us, to become a part of the Rooster Club, and work together to save our friends, save Haicheng, save kindness, and save humanity's hearts! Yu Jin, are you willing?”
“...”
Am I going to become a rooster too?
Is there a slightly more dignified way of putting this?
Yu Jin fell silent. After a long time, he asked a question Sun Dongyu had probably never heard in his entire life.
“Can I choose not to crow?”
Sun Dongyu froze, then burst into a hearty laugh.
“We are named after the rooster, but we never crow. Instead, we blow the whistle! When the whistle blows, you and I, brother, shall work in harmony and mutual aid!”
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