Returning to normalcy does not mean letting your guard down.
For Zhang Daoyi, his experience with the rules of the game has divided his life into two parts: the intermittent moments of reality and the main part of the game.
He must make good use of every "interval" to hone himself in order to cope with the increasingly dangerous "main chapter".
Exercise is no longer a hobby, but a necessity for survival.
At five in the morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten. Zhang Daoyi's figure had already appeared in the corner of the 24-hour gym near the apartment.
His training plan was completely restructured. Instead of pursuing extreme muscle mass or powerlifting numbers, the focus shifted to functionality, explosiveness, endurance, and precise control.
High-intensity interval training: simulating the demands of a game on explosive bursts of physical energy and rapid recovery. Battle ropes, swinging giant tires, explosive presses... sweat quickly soaked through his workout clothes.
Mixed Martial Arts Basics: He hired a retired combat coach to learn the most direct and effective grappling, breakaway, and vital strike techniques.
His brief encounter with "Thomas" in "The Bloody Dinner" taught him that even with supernatural powers, basic close-combat skills can still buy precious time and a chance to survive in critical moments.
Reaction and Coordination Training: Using reaction balls, complex rope ladder steps, and even some modified reaction training instruments with random light cues, simulate as much as possible the situations in the game where you need to deal with sudden crises and complex environments.
Precision Throwing: He practiced his throwing knife and projectile accuracy. Who can guarantee that in the next dungeon, he won't need to precisely throw a crucial item to a specific location?
Every time he reached exhaustion, every time his muscles ached, it reminded him of the importance of strength. The improvement in his physical fitness was real; he could feel his strength, speed, and reflexes steadily increasing, far surpassing that of ordinary fitness enthusiasts and even approaching the level of professional athletes.
Learning has also gained a completely new dimension.
His desk and computer screen were no longer piled high with simple programming or professional books, but rather:
"Criminal Psychology" and "Micro-expression Analysis": These works delve into the insights gained from the identity of "fraudsters," attempting to systematize and theorize the ability to understand people's hearts and distinguish between truth and falsehood, integrating it into instinct.
"Basic Chemistry" and "Common Poisons and Antidotes": Lessons learned from "Abandoned Schoolhouses"—understanding some basic principles may help find the key to breaking the deadlock under certain rules.
Instructor Qin Yue mentioned in "Architectural Structures" and "Classical Semiotics" that the background and environment of many rule dungeons contain hidden clues, and understanding these can increase the chances of survival.
A large number of unsolved bizarre case files (accessible only with internal access rights): This is his current focus of study, and also the direction that Lao Chen tacitly approves of and even encourages.
These files are a reflection of the undercurrents in the real world.
As the game of rules continues, around the world, the birthplaces of unsolved cases and ghost stories that have not been resolved in time or are inherently bizarre seem to be undergoing some ominous transformation.
Zhang Daoyi flipped through the records in the internal database:
[Serial Suicides at the "Eternal Sleep Apartment" in the West of the City]: Within six months, seven unannounced suicides occurred on different floors of the same old apartment building. On-site investigations found no signs of homicide, but all the victims claimed to have heard voices coming from inside the walls. Recently, the apartment has experienced an increase in the frequency of abnormal power outages at night, and some residents have reported hearing faint crying and scratching sounds, but maintenance and inspections have yielded nothing. Report Note: Pollution Index (Preliminary Assessment) - Yellow Alert.
[The "Invisible Angler" at Nanjiao Reservoir]: Several night fishing enthusiasts claim to have seen an "anger" at the reservoir who is always facing away from the light source and whose face is obscured. When spoken to, the figure is unresponsive, and disappears silently upon approaching. In the following days, these witnesses experienced various "accidents." Most recently, one witness's fishing line pulled up a highly decomposed finger entangled in aquatic plants, which was determined not to belong to any known missing persons. Report Note: Pollution Index - Orange Alert.
["Midnight Radio" Incident]: A previously shut-down illegal radio frequency band has recently been occasionally emitting weak signals again, playing distorted old songs interspersed with unintelligible babbling and cries for help. Tracing the signal source failed, but all listeners who received the signal reported recurring nightmares in the following days. Report Notes: Pollution Index - Red Alert (High Risk! Evacuation of surrounding residents and establishment of a quarantine zone recommended).
These are the prototypes of the "reality distortion" Qin Yue spoke of. These places, like "abscesses" in the real world, accumulate negative energy and unresolved obsessions, and are being eroded and transformed by the power of the rule-based game. They may very well one day in the future completely evolve into new, fixed replicas of the rule-based game in real-world locations! At that time, those involved will not only be the players, but may also include ordinary people who have stumbled into it.
The authorities are doing their utmost to suppress and isolate these "sources of pollution," but they are clearly not up to the task.
Zhang Daoyi understood that studying these files was not only for accumulating knowledge, but also for preparing for the future.
Who can guarantee that the next mandatory mission won't be launched in these places where things are already brewing?
Training, studying, analyzing intelligence... his daily life was packed full. Occasionally, he would call Zhao Qiang, who seemed to have also realized the dramatic changes in the world. Although he was still loud and boisterous, there was a hint of caution in his words that he hadn't shown before. He seemed to be trying to gather information in his own way, and the two exchanged some vague information tacitly.
As night fell, Zhang Daoyi stood by his apartment window, gazing at the still bustling, brightly lit city below. Beneath this prosperous facade, cracks were spreading. Ordinary people continued to struggle for a living, completely unaware of the approaching shadows.
He clenched his fist, feeling the power surging within him, and the increasingly calm confidence in his mind, honed by accumulated knowledge and life-and-death experiences.
The brief rest was coming to an end. He could sense that the call to the next game might not be far off.
Whether it's a mandatory mission or a randomly triggered one, he's ready. He comes with a stronger physique, more extensive knowledge, a calmer mind, and... a preliminary understanding of the upcoming, broader (and more dangerous) game world.
He turned and walked to his desk, continuing to unfold the analysis report on the architectural structure and historical rumors surrounding the "Eternal Sleep Apartments."
Sharpen your blade and wait patiently for the wind to rise.The sinking of consciousness was like falling into a cold, deep sea. When Zhang Daoyi awoke again, he was enveloped by an unprecedented sense of weakness and insignificance.
He found himself huddled in a dark, bumpy, cramped space filled with the stench of gasoline, sweat, and mildew. His body had become small and limp, his arms thin as sticks, and he was wearing a dirty, ill-fitting old T-shirt and ripped shorts.
He turned into a child, who looked no more than seven or eight years old.
Almost simultaneously, rules and identity tags forcibly flooded into his young mind:
The script for "Escape from the Deep Mountains" has been launched.
[Genre: Survival/Escape/Revenge]
[Background: You have been abducted by a human trafficking gang and are being transported to a remote mountain area.]
[Balance of Rules: Deep in the mountains, the lingering resentment of children tortured to death by human traffickers has manifested as "Little Brothers." They harbor goodwill towards living children and are your potential allies.]
[Warning: Over time, human traffickers will be gradually corrupted by the resentment of the deep mountains, transforming into powerful and eerie beings.]
[Pass conditions: 1. Successfully escape before reaching the human traffickers' stronghold in the deep mountains, and not be killed.]
Second, kill all human traffickers (including the transformed, bizarre ones).
In the upper left corner of the field of view, a label box appears, carrying a hint of childlike playfulness and willfulness:
[Random role this time: A mischievous child]
[Ability List: Unreasonable Requests (Proactive): Every two hours, you can make one request to a target. Whether a request is "unreasonable" is determined by the rules. The target must make every effort to complete the request; if refused or not completed within the allotted time (usually 10 minutes), a random penalty will be imposed according to the rules. The severity of the penalty is inversely proportional to the reasonableness of the request.]
(Note: There is no limit to the number of uses, only the cooldown time applies.)
False Accusation (Active): Can be activated once per hour while you are in a "crying" state. Designate a target and falsely accuse them of "bullying you." The target will suffer damage according to the game rules. If the target has indeed committed actual bullying against you recently, the damage will be increased; otherwise, the damage will be reduced.
Passive negative states: prone to crying, inability to sit for long periods, simplistic thinking.
His identity as a child! And a severely restricted, negative one at that! Zhang Daoyi (perhaps now we should call him "Little Yidao") felt a sense of unease.
His tendency to cry easily, his inability to sit still for long periods, and his simplistic thinking almost robbed him of his ability to analyze calmly and plan meticulously, pulling him back to the level of his most primitive instinctive reactions.
He suppressed the astonishment and strategic thinking that belonged to the adult Zhang Daoyi and tried his best to adapt to the sensations brought by this young body.
The car bumped along, and there were other faint breathing sounds and suppressed sobs all around.
He squinted, and with the faint light filtering through the gap at the back of the carriage, he saw four or five other children, both boys and girls, all of them thin and pale, with terrified eyes, like a group of frightened little animals.
"Waaah... I want to go home..." a little girl with pigtails and tear stains on her face sobbed softly.
"Don't cry, Xiaohua, you'll get beaten up by bad guys..." A slightly older boy with dark skin hugged her tightly and comforted her in a low voice, but his own voice was trembling.
Xiao Yi (Zhang Daoyi) watched them silently. The empathy that comes with childhood made his nose tingle, and he almost cried, but he forced himself to hold it back. He shifted slightly, feeling like his bottom was stuck in nails because he couldn't sit still for long.
"What... are your names?" he asked softly, his voice carrying the clear, childlike tone and a hint of barely perceptible probing.
The children looked at him warily, this "newcomer".
The dark-skinned boy hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "My name is Tietou. Her name is Xiaohua. That's Douyacai, and that's Erya..." He pointed to two even thinner children in the corner.
"My name is… Xiao Yidao," Zhang Daoyi said, using an alias. He tried to analyze the situation using adult thinking, but his mind was fogged up, making his thoughts slow and direct. "Where…where are we? Where are we going?"
"We were captured by bad guys," Tie Tou said, his eyes dim. "They're going to take us to the mountains to sell us to families without children, or… to do even worse things."
He was a bit older, seemed to know more, and his fear was deeper.
"Bad guy..." Xiao Yi chewed on the word, a mix of childlike anger and fear welling up inside him. He clenched his little fists.
After what seemed like an eternity, the truck finally came to a stop. The rear door was roughly pulled open, and blinding sunlight streamed in, causing the children, accustomed to darkness, to squint.
Two men with fierce faces, dressed in dirty camouflage, appeared outside the car. One had a scar on his face and a fierce look in his eyes (let's call him Scarface); the other was burly and had a face full of scars (Strongman).
"Get down here, you little brats!" Scarface roared rudely, reaching out to pull the nearest girl, Little Flower, down. The little girl burst into tears.
"Stop crying! If you cry again, I'll throw you into the mountains to feed the wolves!" the burly man threatened impatiently.
Xiao Yi and the other children were driven off the bus.
They stood at the end of a desolate dirt road, surrounded by endless, verdant mountains. The air was fresh, yet carried a primal sense of oppression. In the distance, nestled on the mountainside, a few dilapidated wooden houses could be vaguely seen.
This is deep in the mountains.
The children, their hands bound together with a rough hemp rope like a string of grasshoppers, were led by Scarface and the strong man, stumbling and trudging into the mountains.
The mountain road was rugged, making it even more difficult for the children.
Xiao Yidao's passive "inability to sit still" has become "inability to walk quietly" here. He always finds the pebbles, strange wildflowers, and jumping insects by the roadside more interesting and keeps wanting to stop and take a look. He was scolded by Scarface several times and was dragged around unsteadily.
"Damn it, how can this brat be so naughty!" Scarface spat at Xiao Yi.
After walking for about half an hour, we came to a slightly flat stream to rest.
"You all better stay put!" the burly man warned menacingly, then walked aside to smoke.
The children were tired and scared, so they huddled together on the rocks by the stream. Little Yi couldn't sit still, though, and started playing with the dirt nearby.
Then he noticed that in the shadows of the woods on the opposite bank of the stream, there seemed to be several small, blurry figures dressed in tattered clothes standing. They were silently watching this side, their faces pale, their eyes vacant, and they cast no shadows.
It's "Little Kid Brother"!
Xiao Yi's heart skipped a beat. He remembered the hint about the balance of rules. He tried blinking in that direction.
One of the older-looking "kids" tilted his head slightly, a faint, almost illusory smile appearing on his pale face.
It raised its finger and silently pointed to the keychain hanging on Scarface's waist, then pointed in a certain direction deep in the mountains, before its figure slowly faded away and disappeared.
Information! They're offering help! The key might be crucial! The direction could be a path to survival or... their final resting place?
Xiao Yi's heart pounded, a mixture of the small joy of finding an ally and the fear of the unknown.
After a short rest, the traffickers urged them to continue their journey.
The further they went into the mountains, the dimmer the light became, and the surrounding trees grew taller and more menacing, like monsters baring their fangs and claws. The scarred man and the burly man's expressions also began to look strange; their eyes occasionally flashed with an unnatural turbidity and violence, and their breathing became heavier.
The erosion has begun.
As evening fell, they finally arrived at the dilapidated wooden huts that blended almost seamlessly into the forest. This was the human traffickers' temporary hideout.
The wooden cabin smelled musty and had a certain indescribable fishy odor.
The children were locked in a dark room with only one small window, and the door was locked from the outside.
"Take photos and inspect these little brats tonight, and contact the next buyer first thing tomorrow morning!" Scarface's voice came from outside the door, carrying a chilling "work" tone.
In the darkness, the children's fear reached its peak.
Xiao Hua started to cry softly again. Tie Tou held her tightly, while Dou Ya Cai and Er Ya huddled in the corner, shivering.
Xiao Yi leaned against the cold wall, his inability to sit still for long causing him to constantly shift his position. Childhood fears surged like a tide, tears welling in his eyes (a tendency to cry), but he bit his lip hard, refusing to let out a sound.
He knew he had to do something.
He looked at the tightly closed wooden door and sensed that the two-hour cooldown period for the "unreasonable request" was almost up.
A bold idea, typical of a "mischievous child," was born from his simplistic thinking.
He walked to the door and banged on it with his little hands, crying out, "Uncle! Uncle! Open the door! I...I need to pee! I can't hold it anymore!"
From outside the door came the scarred man's impatient curses: "Damn it, so much trouble! Keep it to yourself!"
"I can't take it anymore! I'm really going to wet my pants! Waaah—!" Xiao Yi burst into tears, tears streaming down his face (his "crybaby" passive skill was perfectly triggered).
The crying was particularly jarring in the silent forest and wooden house.
"Shut up! It's so noisy!" came the burly man's roar.
"Uncle...please let me go out to pee...just for a little while..." Xiao Yi cried and begged, his voice pitiful and miserable.
Perhaps fearing he might actually urinate in the room and soil the "goods," or perhaps because the crying was really annoying, there was silence outside the door for a few seconds, and then the sound of a key unlocking the door could be heard.
"Hurry up! Don't try anything funny!" Scarface opened the door, glaring fiercely at Xiao Yidao, whose face was covered in snot and tears from crying.
Xiao Yi walked out timidly, pointing to the bushes beside the house. Scarface, pulling on the rope tied to his hands, followed impatiently for a few steps.
Just as Scarface reached the edge of the bushes and cautiously looked around, Xiao Yi looked up at him with teary eyes and activated his ability!
[Unreasonable request]!
"Uncle..." Xiao Yi said in a thick nasal tone and an incredibly "naive" voice, "Could you throw the key to the highest branch of that tree over there, and then croak like a frog three times?"
This demand is undoubtedly extremely "unreasonable" for a human trafficker!
Scarface froze for a moment, then his face contorted with rage: "You little bastard, you've tricked me?!"
He instinctively raised his hand to hit someone.
But the power of the rules descended invisibly! Scarface's body stiffened abruptly, his raised hand froze in mid-air, and a struggle and confusion flashed in his eyes.
He felt an invisible force compelling him to obey this absurd order!
"You...you..." He made a hoarse sound in his throat, his face turning red.
A ten-second countdown sounded in his mind (the execution time given by the rules)!
"Wah—! Uncle won't allow it! You bad guy!" Upon seeing this, Xiao Yi immediately increased his crying, while secretly observing the key chain on Scarface's waist and the surrounding environment.
Under the threat of punishment from the rules, the struggle on Scarface's face turned into humiliation and anger, but he was powerless to resist!
He suddenly ripped the keychain from his waist and threw it with all his might toward the branch of the tall pine tree that was one finger away from him! The key flew in an arc and, sure enough, got stuck high in the branch!
Then, in the quiet of the mountain forest at night, this fierce-looking human trafficker, his face flushed, spoke awkwardly and indistinctly:
"Croak...croak...croak..."
Three faint yet clear croaks, like the croaking of a frog being choked, rang out.
The children, including Tie Tou and Xiao Hua, who were peeking through the crack in the door, were stunned and forgot to cry.
After doing all this, Scarface seemed completely exhausted, panting heavily, and his eyes were filled with disbelief and a deeper, more intense ferocity as he looked at Xiao Yidao!
He grabbed Xiao Yidao, roughly shoved him back into the house, locked the door, and let out a suppressed roar and curses from outside.
The room fell into darkness again.
Xiao Yi leaned against the door, his heart still pounding. He had succeeded! Although the key had been thrown into the tree and he couldn't retrieve it for the time being, he had proven the power of his ability and severely provoked and weakened Scarface's sanity (whether human or about to become unsettling).
More importantly, he gave the other children a signal—this new "little one" seems... a little different?
Tie Tou leaned closer and whispered, his voice filled with hope and admiration: "Xiao Yidao...you...how did you do that?"
Xiao Yi wiped the tears from his face (his tendency to cry made his tears seem incredibly real), sniffed, and said in a childlike tone with a hint of pride, "I...I don't know, I just wanted him to do it...and he did it."
He couldn't explain the rules and abilities, so he could only vaguely gloss over them in a childlike way.
But the seeds of hope have already been quietly planted in this dark wooden hut and in the hearts of several abducted children.
However, Xiao Yi could sense that the aura of the human trafficker outside the door, due to the humiliation and the impact of the rules, seemed to have become even more unstable, and that inhuman, eerie aura was rapidly growing...The curses outside the wooden door gradually subsided, replaced by heavy, inhuman panting.
The scarred man and the burly man seemed to be having some kind of suppressed conversation, their voices distorted and unsettlingly hoarse.
Human reason is being rapidly eroded by the resentment of the deep mountains and the backlash against the rules.
Inside the cabin, darkness and fear remained intense, but a faint spark of hope began to flicker.
Tie Tou, Xiao Hua, and the other children instinctively moved closer to Xiao Yidao, as if this new friend who could make human traffickers croak like frogs could provide some kind of incredible protection.
Xiao Yi (Zhang Daoyi) leaned against the door, trying to concentrate his thoughts, which had been passively stirred up by "simplified thinking."
Zhang Daoyi's logical analysis ability as an adult is like looking through a layer of frosted glass, blurry and unclear, but his intuition and stubbornness, which belong to a "naughty child", are exceptionally clear.
Weaken them! The idea took root in his mind. Like taking apart a disliked toy, dismantle the villains bit by bit!
The cooldown period for "unreasonable demands" resets after two hours. This is his sharpest "toy".
Time passed slowly amidst the children's fear and anticipation. The night in the forest was exceptionally dark, and the wind whistled through the cracks in the wooden planks like the wailing of countless wronged souls. Occasionally, the distant, mournful howls of wolves could be heard, adding to the terror.
I don't know how much time had passed, but I estimate it was about two hours. The inhuman panting outside the door seemed even closer, as if it were right next to the door.
Xiao Yi took a deep breath, then pounded on the wooden door again, crying out, "Uncle! Uncle! I'm so cold! Is there any fire? I want to warm myself by the fire!"
This time, there was a moment of silence outside the door. Then, there was the slightly stiff sound of a key being inserted into the lock.
The door was pulled open a crack. Instead of the scarred face, the burly man was revealed.
His eyes glowed an unnatural red in the darkness, the fleshy parts of his face twitched, drool dripped uncontrollably from the corners of his mouth, and his whole being exuded a mixture of sweat and decay.
"You little brat…you're so troublesome…" His voice was hoarse and broken, like sandpaper rubbing together.
Xiao Yi, suppressing his fear and nausea, pointed to a military water bottle clipped to the burly man's waist (he had seen him drinking water before) and, in a naive yet somewhat willful tone, activated his ability:
"Uncle, could you pour all the water from the kettle onto your head and then hop around on one foot three times?"
Another seemingly childish but actually extremely insulting "unreasonable request"!
The burly man's body stiffened abruptly, his eyes flashed red intensely, and he let out a beast-like growl.
The power of the rules descended once more, clashing fiercely with the strange power burgeoning within him. His muscles tensed, his arms trembled, as if trying to resist, but the invisible binding force was even stronger!
Ten-second countdown!
"Waaah—! Uncle is being naughty! You bad guy!" Xiao Yi immediately started crying, his cries echoing through the night.
Ultimately, the enforceability of the rules prevailed.
The burly man let out a defiant roar, yanked out the kettle, unscrewed the lid, and poured the half-full of murky water over his head with a "splash"! Water droplets streamed down his contorted face and neck, soaking his clothes.
Then, under the children's horrified yet relieved gazes, this enormous body clumsily and unsteadily raised one leg and began to hop on one foot while awkwardly rotating its body.
One lap... two laps... three laps...
As he completed the third lap, he lost his balance and nearly fell to the ground, panting heavily, his eyes glowing red as if spitting fire! He stared intently at Xiao Yidao, his gaze no longer fixed on the "goods," but on an enemy he had to tear apart!
"Bang!" He shoved Xiao Yidao back into the house and locked the door again. Outside, came his suppressed, beast-like roar and the dull thud of his head hitting the wall.
"He…he seems to have gone even crazier…" Tie Tou said, his voice trembling.
Xiao Yi nodded, his little face showing lingering fear.
He could sense that after the two "unreasonable demands" that disrupted the rules, the strange growth within these two human traffickers had accelerated significantly. Their rationality was collapsing, but what followed was an even more dangerous and unpredictable madness.
"We can't stay here forever," Xiao Yi said with simple logic. "Once they've completely turned into monsters, we won't be able to escape."
"But... the door is locked, there are bad people outside, and there are wolves in the mountains..." Xiaohua said timidly.
"The key…" Xiao Yi thought of the keychain that Scarface had thrown onto the tree. "We need to get the key."
But the key was so high up in the tree that the children couldn't reach it.
Just then, the slightly larger phantom of the "little boy" silently reappeared in the dark corner of the room. It still had that pale appearance, but its eyes seemed a little more lively.
It raised its hand, first pointing to the window, then to the ground, and made a digging motion.
A window? An excavation?
Xiao Yi tried hard to understand. The window was small and secured with wooden strips; an adult definitely couldn't squeeze through, but a child… perhaps? Dig… what's underground?
He approached the corner of the wall that the "little kid" had pointed to and touched the ground. The soil seemed softer than elsewhere. He gestured for Tie Tou to come over, and the two boys began to carefully dig with the pebbles they had found.
Although the other children were scared, they also gathered around and helped with their little hands.
They hadn't been digging for long when their fingertips touched something hard. They quickened their pace, clearing away the topsoil, and discovered a small, rusty tin box buried underneath.
Upon opening the box, there was no key, but several items were found: a small, sharpened iron nail, a ball of tough hemp thread, a small black lump wrapped in oilcloth that emitted a pungent odor, and a crumpled, rough map with simple routes drawn in charcoal. The map marked a cabin, a stream, and a cave marked with crosses, located further away in the mountains.
This is... the "legacy" left behind by the "kid brothers"! These are the tools they prepared when they tried to rebel or escape before they died!
A spark of hope was instantly ignited in the children's eyes!
Nails and twine can be used to make traps or weapons, gunpowder might create chaos, and the map points out possible paths to survival (or places of revenge)!
"Thank you... thank you all..." Xiao Yi whispered to the fading phantom of "Little Brother." The phantom seemed to nod slightly before disappearing completely.
With these tools, the plan became clearer.
Xiao Yi looked at the map, then at the small window. "We... can crawl out from there," he said, pointing to the window. Although it was nailed with wooden strips, it was old and might be easy to pry open.
"But what happens after we get out? The bad guys are still out there," Bean Sprout asked worriedly.
Xiao Yi's gaze fell on the small piece of gunpowder, and a childlike thought, tinged with mischief and adventure, popped into his head. He looked at Tie Tou: "Tie Tou, do you dare...?"
He leaned close to Tie Tou's ear and whispered a few words.
Tie Tou shrank back in fear at first, but seeing Xiao Yidao's determined eyes and looking at his other companions, he finally nodded vigorously.
Next, the children divided the work. Xiao Yi and Tie Tou carefully pried at the rotten wooden strips at the base of the window with nails, while the other children took turns listening to the sounds outside the door and trying to cover the digging marks with dirt.
Time was of the essence, and the traffickers were making more and more noise outside, sometimes roaring, sometimes uttering incomprehensible babbling, as if they were undergoing some kind of painful transformation.
Several hours later, one of the wooden strips at the base of the window was finally loosened, enough for a small child to squeeze through. The cooling-off period for the "unreasonable request" also began again.
The time has come!
Xiao Yi took a deep breath and gave Tie Tou a wink. Tie Tou nervously gripped the small piece of gunpowder and a flint he had found in the house (probably used by the traffickers to start fires).
Xiao Yi went to the door again. This time, he didn't cry or make a fuss. Instead, he shouted with all his might, "Fire! The house is on fire! Open the door!"
He activated [False Accusation] at the same time! Although he didn't cry loudly, the extreme fear and tension made his voice tremble with sobs, barely triggering the prerequisite for the ability! He pointed at the scarred man outside the door!
"Uncle Scarface set the fire! He wanted to burn us to death! Wow—!" (False accusation)
Ability activated!
Almost the instant the shout subsided, a muffled groan of pain came from outside the door, as if struck by an invisible force! The rules began to take effect... Because Scarface had indeed caused immense harm to the children (abduction, imprisonment), the damage from the [false accusation] was aggravated!
"Damn it! You little bastard, talking nonsense!" Scarface's furious voice rang out, accompanied by actions that seemed even more manic after his injury.
At the same time, Tie Tou seized the opportunity, used flint to create a spark, ignited the small piece of gunpowder fuse, and quickly threw it out through the crack in the small window, towards the small amount of dry firewood piled up next to the wooden house!
"Swoosh—Bang!"
A loud, albeit not loud, explosion was enough to draw attention, accompanied by a small burst of fire and thick smoke rising from the pile of firewood!
"It's really on fire?!" the burly man's voice rang out in surprise and uncertainty.
Chaos! A brief period of chaos was created!
"Quick! Get out!" Xiao Yi shouted in a low voice.
Tie Tou was the first, nimbly squeezing through the loose window crack. Next came Er Ya and Dou Ya Cai. Xiao Hua was a little scared, but Xiao Yi gave her a push from behind, and she also managed to squeeze through.
When it was Xiao Yi's turn, he was a bit bigger and got stuck. He had to use his strength to squeeze out, and his arm was scratched and bled by the rough wood chips.
The children finally escaped the cabin and found themselves in the cold, dark forest!
In front of the cabin, Scarface and the burly man were already somewhat disoriented from the small explosions of gunpowder and the damage from the [False Accusation] rule. Scarface covered his head, looking almost frantic; the burly man watched the smoking woodpile warily.
They saw the children who had escaped, and their eyes blazed with a red light!
"Catch them! Eat them!" A roar, completely devoid of human tone, erupted from their throats. Their bodies began to undergo more pronounced changes: bluish-black scales appeared on their skin, and their nails grew longer and blacker, making them resemble wild beasts!
The eerie aspect is almost complete!
"Run!" Xiao Yi shouted, and following the direction indicated on the map, he led the way into the depths of the mountains and forests!
The children ran with all their might through the rugged, dark mountain forest.
Behind them were two pursuers who were transforming into monsters and letting out terrifying roars!
The road to escape is also the beginning of revenge. Does the simple map in his hand lead to a path to survival, or to the final judgment of evil alongside "Little Brother"? Xiao Yi doesn't know. He only knows that he must run, he must survive, he must... make these bad guys pay the price! He touched the cold iron nail in his pocket, his eyes flashing with a determination beyond his years.The icy mountain wind lashed at the children's thin clothes like a knife, and the withered branches and leaves underfoot rustled loudly, sounding particularly jarring in the deathly silence of the forest.
Behind them, the human traffickers—or rather, beings that were transforming into monsters—were getting closer with their inhuman roars and heavy footsteps, like the drumbeats of death.
"Quick! This way!" Xiao Yi (Zhang Daoyi), relying on his intuition, which had been weakened by "simplified thinking" but made him more dependent on it, and guided by the rough map in his mind, led the other children through the mountains and forests.
His inability to sit still for long periods of time became an advantage at this moment, giving him an instinctive ability to adapt to movement and changing positions. Although he stumbled and staggered, he could always find a relatively good place to put his feet.
Tie Tou held Xiao Hua tightly, while Dou Ya Cai and Er Ya supported each other. The five small figures were as insignificant as ants that could be crushed at any moment in the vast, dark forest.
"I...I can't run anymore..." Xiaohua said, her voice trembling with tears, her steps faltering.
"Don't stop! If you stop, you'll get caught!" Tie Tou encouraged breathlessly, but he himself slowed down.
Xiao Yi glanced back and saw the two figures appearing and disappearing among the trees, their changes becoming even more obvious.
Half of the scarred face was covered with bluish-black keratin, and his arm was unnaturally elongated.
The burly man grew even more imposing, his mouth dripping with corrosive saliva, smashing through saplings as easily as crushing straw.
If we keep running like this, we'll get caught up sooner or later!
Just then, Xiao Yi saw several blurry, pale "kid brother" phantoms appear on the roadside ahead.
They silently pointed to a narrow, downward-sloping path, half-hidden by vines, a path that wasn't on the map.
Trust them! Without hesitation, Xiao Yi led the way and went inside.
The path was extremely difficult to traverse, covered with slippery moss and sharp pebbles, and descended almost vertically into a deep mountain ravine. The children used both their hands and feet, practically tumbling and crawling down the slope.
The pursuers reached the crossroads, roaring angrily. The narrow path was too cramped for their mutated, enlarged bodies, and they were temporarily blocked.
This gave the children a precious respite.
They slid down to the bottom of the ravine, where a shallow stream flowed gently, temporarily concealing their tracks. The children collapsed onto the bank of the icy water, panting heavily, their faces covered in mud and scrapes, overwhelmed by fear and exhaustion.
Xiao Yi's heart was pounding; his childlike strength was waning. But he knew the danger was far from over.
"Look…there…" Er Ya pointed tremblingly to the other side of the stream.
Behind the rocks and under the shadows of the trees on the opposite bank, more ghostly figures of "Little Brother" stood silently. They were numerous and densely packed, staring silently at this side. Their pale faces were expressionless, but their converged gazes carried a heavy sorrow and a cold resentment.
They guided the children upstream along the stream.
The children helped each other along, following the directions of "Little Brother".
The stream meanders, eventually leading to the entrance of a cave hidden by boulders and dense vines. The place marked with an X on the map!
The cave was pitch black, filled with a strong earthy smell and a kind of... old, ashes-like odor.
"Do...do we have to go in?" Bean Sprout shrank back in fear.
Xiao Yi looked at the "little brothers" standing quietly at the cave entrance, seemingly waiting, then glanced back at the direction the pursuers might be coming from, gritted his teeth, and said, "Go in!"
He led the way into the cave. The other children hesitated for a moment, then followed.
The cave was more spacious than expected, but extremely cold and damp. By the faint moonlight filtering through the gaps in the vines at the entrance, the children witnessed a scene that chilled them to the bone—
On the cave walls, there were crooked, childlike graffiti drawn with some kind of dark red substance that looked like dried blood.
The graffiti included images of bound figures, crying faces, waving whips, and... simple line drawings of people buried in the ground.
In a corner of the cave, there were some small, decaying bones, as well as some tattered pieces of clothing similar to those on the children.
This is the final resting place for the "kid brothers," and also the core where their resentment gathers!
The illusory figures of the "little brother" who had guided them all the way slowly drifted into the cave, merging into the skeletons and graffiti on the rock walls. The temperature in the entire cave suddenly dropped even lower, and a vast and sorrowful energy of resentment began to silently gather and boil.
Xiao Yi understood. This wasn't a path to survival, but a place of judgment! It was a place of revenge prepared by the "kid brothers" for themselves and for those who followed!
"They...they're here!" Tie Tou, who was guarding near the cave entrance, shouted in a low voice, filled with fear.
The light at the cave entrance was blocked by two enormous, twisted figures. The scarred man and the burly man had completely transformed into something grotesque!
Scarface had transformed into a monster resembling a pieced-together corpse, covered in stitches and with a constantly opening and closing mouth emitting various painful howls and curses.
The strong man transformed into a giant covered in rock-like armor, possessing immense strength, with bloodthirsty flames burning in his eyes.
They discovered the cave, let out excited roars, and began frantically assaulting the vines and boulders covering the cave entrance!
"Bang! Bang!" The boulders began to loosen under their terrifying force, and gravel fell down in a flurry.
The children inside the cave huddled together in fear, staring in despair at the entrance that was about to be breached.
Just then, Xiao Yidao stepped forward.
Looking at the painful graffiti on the rock face and the small skeletons in the corner, the anger of the "naughty children" and the strong empathy aroused by the tragic fate of the "little brothers" made him forget his fear.
He walked to the center of the cave, facing the opening that was about to be breached, took a deep breath, and then used all his strength to unleash the [Unreasonable Demand]!
This time, he wasn't addressing any specific person, but rather the entire cave, and all the resentment of the "Little Brothers" gathered there, making a child's purest and most direct request:
"Brothers and sisters! Please...help us! Punish those bad people! Make sure they can never hurt any children again!"
This demand is not only "reasonable" to the "kid brothers" who are full of resentment and eager for revenge, but also the reason for their existence!
In an instant, the immense resentment energy gathered inside the cave was completely detonated!
The blood-red graffiti on the rock wall seemed to come alive, flowing and spreading as if it had a life of its own!
Those tiny bones emitted a faint, eerie glow! Countless phantom images of "Little Brother" reappeared, no longer silent guides, but transformed into vengeful spirits filled with anger and sorrow!
They surged toward the cave entrance like a tidal wave!
Just then, Scarface and the burly man crashed through the boulder blocking the door, and their ferocious heads poked their heads inside.
What greeted them were countless pale little hands, silent yet deafening accusations, and years of accumulated pain and resentment!
The "kids" entangled themselves around them, tearing at their mutated bodies and dragging them into an abyss of resentment!
The mouths on Scarface's body emitted even more shrill screams, and the strong man's rocky armor peeled off under the scratching of countless small hands!
This is a judgment of the rules!
This is the victim's final reckoning with the perpetrator!
Two powerful and eerie entities appeared utterly vulnerable before the torrent of revenge fueled by the resentment of countless children.
Their struggles grew weaker and weaker until they were completely submerged and decomposed, turning into pure, eerie energy, which was then assimilated and absorbed by the resentment of the "kid brothers".
Silence returned to the cave, broken only by the children's heavy breathing.
The phantom images of the "Little Brother" after their revenge slowly drifted back to the center of the cave.
The resentment on their bodies seemed to dissipate somewhat, and for the first time, an almost peaceful expression appeared on their pale faces.
They bowed slightly to Xiao Yidao and the other children, as if thanking them for finally bringing the enemy to justice and bringing about this long-overdue trial.
Then, their bodies began to emit a soft glow, like fireflies, rising little by little, and finally dissipating into the air of the cave, leaving only the blood-red graffiti on the walls and the bones in the corners, silently telling the story of past suffering and resilience.
[Successfully killed all the human traffickers (strangely).]
The imprisoned children were successfully rescued.
[Complete the hidden quest: 'Kid's Long-cherished Wish'.]
[The script "Escape from the Deep Mountains" is complete!]
[Evaluation calculation in progress... based on rule application, survival status, resolution of core mysteries, completion of hidden quests, and contribution to the depth of the plot...]
[Rating: SSS!]
[Reward: 800 points. Rank upgraded to [Silver III 2-Star]]
[Item Obtained: Bell of Pure Oath (Gold)]
Effect: Shaking the bell summons nearby benevolent child spirits (including special beings like "Little Kid") to provide one-time assistance or guidance. Ineffective against those with malicious intent. Cooldown: 72 hours.
Description: Forged from pure will and the vows of children, the bell's sound can pierce through the mist and connect with pure hearts.
SSS rating! Promoted to Silver rank!
With the generous reward, Xiao Yi felt his body enveloped in a warm power once again. His childlike state began to fade, and Zhang Daoyi's adult consciousness and power quickly returned.
He looked at Tie Tou and Xiao Hua, who were still in shock but whose eyes had been rekindled with hope, and his heart was filled with complicated emotions.
He crouched down and said to them in a slightly calmer voice, "It's alright, the bad guy has been defeated. We'll take you home."
A flash of light, and Zhang Daoyi and the children disappeared from the dark cave.
When he could see his surroundings again, he was back in his apartment in the real world. A small, exquisite, warm-smelling golden bell had appeared in his inventory.
He walked to the window and looked at the still brightly lit city outside, but images of the darkness of the wooden house deep in the mountains, the blood-red graffiti in the cave, and the "Little Brother" who finally returned to peace flashed through his mind.
The brief respite from reality was shattered by a notification message flashing silver light on the user interface.
The message didn't originate from a specific instance, but rather seemed to be directly imprinted on the rules, announcing to all players who reached the Silver rank:
[Cosmic Arena Announcement (Regional: Pangu Starfield - Hongmeng Galaxy - Solar System - Blue Star)]
To players in Silver rank and above:
Team dungeon access unlocked: Starting from Silver rank, there is a chance to be matched with "Same-Dimensional Team Dungeons". In these dungeons, multiple players will enter the same world with the same rules, cooperating, competing, or completing objectives independently. Note that team dungeons are significantly more complex and dangerous than solo dungeons.
Danger Level Increased: Silver Stage, the basic difficulty of the game scenario has increased. Based on the characteristics of this star system, dungeon levels are divided as follows:
Average: Overall rating is below S level.
Difficulty: Overall rating of S or above.
Hell: (Insufficient permissions, not enabled)
Matchmaking mechanism: The dungeon level will be automatically matched and will not differ from the player's own talent potential assessment level by more than two levels.
Automatic party formation: Not yet enabled. Party formation depends on specific items, special dungeon mechanics, or player-generated agreements.
Zhang Daoyi stared at this information, his pupils slightly contracting.
Team raids…this means he'll no longer be facing the rules and the bizarre alone, but will also have to deal with other players—people with similarly unique abilities, unknown intentions, and their own purposes. Cooperation? Infighting? Betrayal? The possibilities are complex and multifaceted.
The correlation between the increased danger level and the talent level made him even more wary.
His "identity" ability is clearly classified as extremely high-level, meaning he has a very high probability of encountering "difficult" level dungeons in the future. Although the "Hell" level has not yet been unlocked, the name alone is enough to send chills down one's spine.
Just as he was processing this information, his internal communicator rang. It was Old Chen. His voice was more serious than usual: "Zhang Daoyi, come to Conference Room One. Instructor Qin and people from headquarters want to see you."
What's meant to happen will happen. A promotion to Silver rank, especially a leap to SSS rank, will inevitably attract higher-level attention from the official team.
The atmosphere in Conference Room One was solemn. Besides Old Chen and the stern-faced Qin Yue, there was also a middle-aged man with a sharp and capable demeanor wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with a uniquely shaped tablet device in front of him.
"Comrade Zhang Daoyi, congratulations on your promotion to Silver." The middle-aged man pushed up his glasses, his tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable official air. "I am a special envoy from headquarters, codename 'Clerk'. I am here today for two reasons: first, to conduct a more detailed registration of your talents and abilities (based on the principle of voluntariness, but we hope you can cooperate); and second, to explain the situation at the Silver stage and give you two options for development."
Qin Yue stood to the side with his arms crossed and added, "Don't be nervous, but take it seriously. Your choices will affect your future path and resource allocation within the organization."
The "clerk" envoy opened his tablet, projecting a holographic interface: "First, regarding talents. We know that each player's abilities are their personal core secrets, and the official team respects this. We don't need you to reveal specific details of your abilities, but we hope you can provide a rough 'predisposition assessment' so that we can make macro-strategic plans. Please select the description that best matches your ability characteristics from the following dimensions; multiple selections are allowed."
The interface lists several options:
Rule parsing/logic deduction type —
Combat/Survival Enhanced Type -
Support/Support/Healer Type
Disguise/Fraud/Information Acquisition Type
Summoning/Contract/Creation Type —
Special/complex/difficult to classify——
Amnesty talent - please describe in detail___...
Zhang Daoyi's gaze swept over the scene, and he understood. The official team was trying to build a player ability model database, but they didn't want to provoke excessive resistance from players.
After a moment's thought, he chose the [Rule Analysis/Logical Deduction Type] and [Disguise/Fraud/Information Acquisition Type]. This basically matched the "detective" and "fraudster" characteristics he had already demonstrated, providing information while preserving the core secret of the "entry identity" being changeable.
The clerk noted it down and nodded: "Very good. Now for the important part." He switched the interface, displaying two clear options.
Option 1: Join the 'combat group'.
Positioning: Frontline combat and assault force, directly confronting the most dangerous rule-based dungeons and real-world anomalies.
Resource Allocation: Priority access to advanced intelligence, customized training, and specific item support; team quotas can be applied for under the "Balance of Costs" if necessary.
Development Prospects: Outstanding performers will have the opportunity to be selected for the "Pioneer" program to explore the origins and ultimate secrets of rule-based games.
Obligation: To obey orders and undertake high-risk tasks.
Option 2: Join the 'Research Department'.
Positioning: Rule research and information analysis, focusing on understanding the essence of rules, building a knowledge system, and reducing overall player risk.
Resource support: Gain advanced access to the internal database, access to more case studies, and receive research funding and item redemption discounts.
Career Prospects: Become a rule-making expert and provide support for strategic decision-making.
Obligations: 1. Continue to participate in the game according to the rules. 2. Report before and after participating in team dungeons (regardless of whether you are teaming up with official personnel). 3. After clearing a dungeon, submit a detailed analysis report of the dungeon rules (which may include details of your core abilities).
Two choices, two completely different paths.
Combat teams present both risks and opportunities. They represent power, resources, and access to core secrets, but also mean placing themselves in the most dangerous situations.
The research department is relatively safe and stable, making it more suitable for him to leverage his analytical and reasoning strengths and accumulate knowledge more systematically. However, it also has more restrictions, especially the two requirements for reporting team dungeons and mandatory reporting, which mean that his game experience will be closely monitored by the official team, and he loses some autonomy to some extent.
The meeting room fell silent. Old Chen, Qin Yue, and the "clerk" all turned their attention to Zhang Daoyi, awaiting his decision.
Zhang Daoyi quickly weighed the options in his mind.
The "Pioneer" program for the combat team was tempting, as it might involve the ultimate truth of this cosmic arena. However, he knew that his core advantage lay in the unpredictability of his "entity identity." Being fixed on the front lines might not maximize his value and could even prematurely expose his trump card, putting him in danger.
Although the research department has restrictions, "continuing to participate in the game" is a basic requirement, which meets his needs.
Submitting reports was troublesome, but he already had a habit of analyzing and reviewing, so he only needed to make minor revisions. More importantly, the research department could provide him with what he urgently needed right now—systematic knowledge of rules and regulations and broader information channels.
This can compensate for the knowledge gap caused by the randomness of his "entry identity," preparing him for more complex situations in the future. Moreover, the relatively free space for action also makes it easier for him to hide his biggest secret.
He raised his head and looked calmly at the "clerk" special envoy: "I choose to join the research department."
The clerk seemed unsurprised, making a few gestures on the tablet: "A wise choice. Your analytical skills have already been demonstrated in previous reports; the research department needs talent like you." He handed Zhang Daoyi a new encrypted communicator and access key. "This is your new identity credential and access to the research department's internal database. Specific workflows and report templates will be sent to you later. Welcome to the team."
Qin Yue glanced at Zhang Daoyi, a hint of "you know what's good for you" flashing in his eyes, and said indifferently, "The research department is not bad either, at least you can live longer and collect more intelligence. Remember, even if you are in the research department, you really die if you die in the game."
Old Chen breathed a sigh of relief and patted Zhang Daoyi on the shoulder: "Keep up the good work, Xiao Zhang. You can make important contributions to the country just as well in the research department."
The choice has been made, and the path is clear.
Zhang Daoyi knew that from this moment on, his role within the official system was officially established. He would become a "researcher" walking on the edge of the rules, continuing to explore this dangerous and mysterious game world within the official framework, utilizing the convenience of his "entry identity."
The door to the Silver rank has been opened. The unknown of team dungeons, the greater difficulty of the challenges, and the convenience and constraints brought by his official status will all become an indispensable part of his future path.The tension of the past few days, the pressure of promotion, and the weighing of official choices have left Zhang Daoyi's mind as taut as a bowstring.
He needs a touch of everyday life to connect with the world.
The best option was to go to Zhao Qiang—his best friend who could always wrap up serious topics with jokes.
He didn't make an appointment and went directly to the building downstairs of Zhao Qiang's company to wait for him to get off work.
When Fatty Zhao, dressed in a suit but still exuding a slick and carefree air, put his arm around Zhang Daoyi's shoulder and pulled him into a nearby steaming Sichuan restaurant, Zhang Daoyi felt that the lingering, cold atmosphere of the game of rules was somewhat diluted by the spicy fumes.
"Not bad, Dao Yi! Haven't seen you in a few days, and your aura... tsk, you've become even more of a repressed flirt!" Zhao Qiang said, expertly ordering spicy blood curd and boiled fish while sizing up Zhang Dao Yi. "Have you been secretly working out behind my back again, trying to rip me off?"
Zhang Daoyi smiled but didn't reply. He simply picked up his teacup and took a sip.
The scalding hot tea slid down my throat, spreading warmth throughout.
He looked out the window at the scene of streetlights coming on and pedestrians hurrying by, and felt a strange sense of alienation.
Not long ago, he was struggling in the darkness and bloodshed of the deep mountains, while here, it is still the same busy and ordinary human world.
"Stop talking nonsense, how have you been lately?" Zhang Daoyi steered the conversation towards the other party.
"What else can we do? Just hide!" Zhao Qiang sighed, his playful smile fading slightly as he lowered his voice. "I've been in there twice more, and damn it, each time it's weirder than the last. Luckily, I'm quick-witted, and with my silver tongue and a tiny bit of 'gift,' I managed to escape unscathed." He gestured, not going into details, but a hint of lingering fear remained in his eyes.
"What about your rank?"
"Bronze I, two stars already!" Zhao Qiang became smug again, as if his lingering fear from earlier was just an illusion. "If I can clear two more dungeons, I can reach Silver rank! I'll take you with me then, Dao I?" He winked.
Zhang Daoyi understood. Fatty Zhao's progress wasn't slow, but it wasn't fast either; it followed the typical growth curve for most ordinary players.
He could imagine how Zhao Qiang managed to survive in the dungeon using his "more convincing" ability and innate quick wit.
"Silver," Zhang Daoyi nodded. "Be careful, things are not the same after Silver."
"I know, I know. I heard we can team up now, right?" Zhao Qiang leaned closer and lowered his voice. "When the time comes, if we brothers team up, won't we just be slaughtering everything? You take care of the slaughtering, and I'll take care of the slaughtering!"
Zhang Daoyi's lips curled slightly at his words, but he quickly fell silent again. Join forces? The future team dungeons were fraught with uncertainty; he couldn't even control his own "attribute identity," so how could he guarantee anything?
The dishes were served with bubbling red oil and an enticing aroma.
The two started eating, temporarily putting their supernatural worries behind them.
After a few bites of spicy food, the atmosphere became lively. Zhao Qiang started rambling on about the bizarre things that happened at the company and the funny videos he had recently watched, trying to dispel the lingering melancholy between his friend's brows with pure worldly noise.
Zhang Daoyi listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a few words.
Looking at Zhao Qiang's beaming face, a subtle sense of envy welled up within him.
Zhao Qiang has his parents' frequent nagging phone calls, worries about daily necessities, and the pursuit of promotion and salary increases... These things that he once considered ordinary or even trivial now seem so precious and distant.
His roots were severed several years ago.
That sudden car accident took away his last blood relative in the world.
There were no dramatic family feuds or complicated inheritance disputes; it was just two ordinary people who loved each other, who were taken away forever by a driver who was driving while they were tired.
The funeral was simple and somber; the relatives, who were already estranged, almost completely lost contact afterward.
From then on, the world was separated from him by an invisible wall.
He went to school, graduated, worked, and exercised as usual, doing everything very well, even better and more disciplined than most people. But he knew that deep down there was an empty space inside him, a space that no achievement or daily routine could fill.
He was like a ship that had lost its anchor, drifting on a calm sea, seemingly stable, yet unaware of where it would eventually go.
Until the arrival of the rules of the game.
The cold notification sound, the deadly rules, the bizarre and fantastical dungeons, the life-or-death struggle... all acted like a shot of adrenaline, piercing through his numb shell.
The extreme danger brought him extreme clarity, allowing him to rediscover the reality of "being alive"—the primal urge of a racing heart, surging blood, and every cell screaming for survival.
He yearned to investigate. To investigate the truth of this game, the purpose of the cosmic arena, the logic behind those strange occurrences, to investigate... whether all of this was somehow secretly connected to what he had lost, and to all the irrational sorrow and death in this world.
This is not just about survival, but also about... a pursuit.
In the game of despair, he found a twisted "meaning".
"Hey! What are you daydreaming about?" Zhao Qiang waved his hand in front of his eyes. "Are you stunned by my handsomeness?"
Zhang Daoyi snapped out of his daze, looked at his friend's concerned yet teasing gaze, gave a soft "hmm," picked up a piece of fish covered in red oil, stuffed it into his mouth, and let the burning pain and fresh aroma explode in his mouth.
"It's nothing," he swallowed the fish, his tone calm. "I was just thinking, I wonder what it will be like next time I 'go in'."
He couldn't tell Zhao Qiang all his secrets; it was a heavy and lonely journey that belonged only to him. But he cherished the noise and warmth of the moment, which was his only remaining link to the "normal" world outside of the cold rules.
"Who cares what it becomes!" Zhao Qiang waved his chopsticks dismissively. "Bring it on, I'll deal with it! Let's eat! This sliced beef and tripe in chili sauce is amazing!"
Zhang Daoyi smiled and picked up his chopsticks again.
The night outside the window grew darker, and the city lights spread out like stars.
Amidst this bustling, vibrant atmosphere, a person who has lost his past anchor is searching for new coordinates and answers in a crazy world, in his own way.