In the silent, gloomy "Forbidden Books Section," Cangxuan moved with swift and silent grace.
Her figure was agile and ethereal, like a butterfly flitting through flowers.
But no matter how she tried, she could not shake the figure pursuing her from behind.
In truth, Cangxuan couldn't see Ye Feng, but she could feel a pair of eyes glued to her back.
It was like having thorns on her back!
She couldn't shake him off.
The man seemed to be doing it on purpose, playing a game of cat and mouse.
Cangxuan's heart sank slightly, knowing that her odds were not good.
I hope Danzhu and that other woman are safe…
"This way."
Just then, a dark green figure suddenly appeared, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards a basement.
Cangxuan instinctively tried to pull away, her gaze following the movement.
She couldn't see the person's face; it seemed to be shrouded in a fog, allowing her only to discern that it was a female.
She had a petite frame, and her rich, dark green aura pulsed with the breath of life, yet it also carried an eerie mystery.
However, Cangxuan did not feel any aversion. Instead, she felt a sense of familiarity and allowed herself to be led.
They passed through the book-lined corridors and arrived at a spiral staircase leading underground.
Looking at the deep, dark stairs, the feeling of familiarity in Cangxuan's heart grew stronger.
"Follow me."
Only then did Cangxuan realize that the woman's voice was also veiled in mist, making it difficult to distinguish her tone.
The figure released Cangxuan's hand and elegantly descended.
She walked with a graceful sway, especially in her waist and legs, which twisted with a captivating charm. Yet, it did not feel vulgar.
Cangxuan hesitated, but the prickly sensation of being watched had completely vanished. She steadied herself and followed.
The underground space was a laboratory connected to the library.
Cold, white light illuminated metallic walls. Various instruments and culture dishes were arranged in an orderly fashion, with an operating table in the very center.
The sight of the operating table made Cangxuan's pupils contract slightly. This model was a configuration that only existed in the Previous Era.
Five thousand years ago, after waking from her cryogenic pod, Cangxuan had tried to replicate it, but due to the limitations of the era, she ultimately had to give up.
Now, it appeared here, in a lab beneath the library…
"Thank you for your assistance."
"You're welcome. Please, have a seat."
Cangxuan scanned the room.
Although the woman had said "have a seat," there were no chairs or sofas in the room.
Did she mean to sit on the floor?
Cangxuan then noticed a welcome mat by the door with the characters for "Safe Travels," which seemed completely out of place with the lab's aesthetic.
"You were smart not to fight him, but to run instead," Mobius continued.
"Is it impossible to fight back?" Cangxuan asked.
"It's not that it's impossible, but that you can't succeed."
Mobius leaned her body slightly against the operating table, looking as supple as a snake, outlining a seductive curve.
"In this place," Mobius said, "any attack against him is useless. Attacking rashly is simply a lamb walking into a tiger's den."
"Attacks are useless…"
"Yes. You can think of it as a rule of this world… No, it is a rule. Unless he rewrites the rules again."
Cangxuan found it hard to believe.
"Rewrite the rules of the world? Is he a god?"
"A god? Hehe."
Mobius smiled charmingly. "That depends on your definition of a 'god'."
"..."
Cangxuan was silent for a moment before saying, "My name is Cangxuan. I'm just an ordinary researcher."
She gave her name not because she trusted this woman for saving her.
The information contained within a "name" is only meaningful in a society of acquaintances.
When she awoke after 50,000 years in a cryogenic pod, the world had long since changed, and no one knew who she was.
At that point, a name was nothing more than a symbol.
—Just as Cangxuan thought, a "name" is only meaningful among acquaintances.
And so, Mobius chuckled and introduced herself, "My name is Ye Mei. Like you, I'm just an ordinary scientist."
"Miss Ye Mei, thank you for your help. You seem… very familiar with this world?"
"That's right."
Mobius tilted her head slightly, her gaze returning to Cangxuan with a smile.
"Based on my own perception, I've been here for about ten years."
The simulator? Does time in the simulator count, too?
"But this is the first time I've participated in a game like this," Mobius quickly added.
"A game…?"
The word conjured many unpleasant associations for Cangxuan.
"Yes, that's right, a game. If you win, you can have any wish granted in this world."
"?"
Have any wish granted?
Cangxuan wore a bewildered expression that said, "Is that really a thing?"
The [Rules] didn't mention that. Was it a hidden condition?
Although there was no clear evidence, Cangxuan felt it was likely true.
Mobius then began to speak as if she were an NPC explaining the backstory in an RPG.
"To be honest, I didn't want to participate in this game, but unfortunately, the mother I despise most also joined this party… this feast. If I didn't get involved, I was truly worried that Father would be seduced by that shameless mother of mine.
Ai, I had no choice. To win Father's favor, and to prevent Mother from monopolizing his O-chin-chin, I had to reluctantly come here."
Cangxuan's mind was in a whirl.
What was this all about?
She understood every word, but why did they sound so bizarre when strung together?
What did she mean, your mother is seducing your father?
And O-chin-chin… combined with "Father's favor," Cangxuan felt her entire worldview was about to shatter.
Even in the "database" Danzhu kept under her bed, there was nothing from this genre.
"Hmm? You look a little confused. Oh, I didn't explain it clearly. My mother was originally my colleague."
"??"
No, no, no, now my mind is even more confused.
Your mother was originally your colleague?
So before you had a mother-daughter relationship, you were colleagues first?
Seeing Cangxuan's utterly bewildered expression, the corners of Mobius's mouth slowly curled upwards.
"That's right. She was even a nun who abided by all the precepts and rules. Who would have thought her true nature was so shameless? Originally, Father and I were living a peaceful life in the suburbs, but then she suddenly appeared and ruined everything.
She even kept engaging in shameless copulation with Father in every corner where we had lived.
Isn't a person like that just awful?"
Cangxuan's mouth twitched.
Am I supposed to be listening to this?
We've known each other for less than three minutes, right?
Isn't this a bit too personal for such a new acquaintance?
But the other woman persisted, "Cangxuan, tell me, isn't that woman just awful?"
"Umm…"
Cangxuan's ice-blue eyes shimmered. Even without the aid of a soulgold computer, she could process vast amounts of data, but faced with this question, she struggled to find an answer.
"This is Miss Ye Mei's family matter… I'm sorry, but I really can't pass judgment."
"Tsk."
Mobius clicked her tongue. "I would have been happy even if you just lied and told me she was awful… Oh well. Here, take this."
Cangxuan caught the bottle Mobius tossed to her.
Inside the transparent glass bottle, a crystalline blue liquid sloshed around.
"What is this?"
"An antidote."
"What?"
Mobius narrowed her eyes. "Even if there is a god in this world, he is an Evil God. He loves to play with young, beautiful women, though he won't refuse older ones if they're beautiful.
He has a bad habit of poisoning people with his dick. If you're touched by it, even just on the skin, you might fall into a poisoned state."
Cangxuan was instantly horrified.
"What did you say…?"
Danzhu had been poked by him from her cheek to her stomach.
Her bottom was even slapped twice…
Cangxuan seemed to understand something: Was this also part of the so-called[Verification]?
"If you're poisoned… what will happen?" Cangxuan asked, her voice trembling.
"Ah, something very terrible will happen."
"Terrible? What is it?"
Mobius's eyes curved into crescents. She knew well that "the unknown is the most terrifying," so of course, she wouldn't be specific.
"The memory of 'what happens when you're poisoned' has been deleted from my mind. I can only say this: it's more horrifying, more terrifying than facing a billion Herrschers."
Memory deleted?
That phrase only deepened the unease in Cangxuan's heart.
"How do I take this?"
"Orally. Injection works too."
"Thank you."
Cangxuan clutched the glass bottle tightly.
She didn't fully believe Mobius's words, but what if?
If something really was wrong with Danzhu…
It was probably just her imagination, but Miss Ye Mei seemed a little… excited?
Although she couldn't see her face, she could feel her emotions.
"I told you, no need to be so polite. It was nothing," Mobius said.
"May I ask one more question?"
"Feel free. Ask as many as you like."
"If one is poisoned, how long does it take for the effects to manifest? And what are the symptoms?"
"The symptoms? I don't remember. But your body will show signs. As for the onset time, maybe a few minutes, maybe a few hours. It depends on your luck."
"..."
Hearing this, Cangxuan's expression grew even graver.
She stood up straight and gave a slight nod.
"Um, thank you very much for your help, Miss Ye Mei. But I have something very important to do right now, I need to leave."
"I can tell by your expression. Someone important to you has been poisoned? Go on, then. Hope you have smooth feng shui."
---o---
Leaving the laboratory, Cangxuan couldn't help but recall Miss Ye Mei's final blessing.
Smooth feng shui?
Was it a slip of the tongue, or a custom from where she came from?
But… water.
Ever since entering this game, water seemed to be mentioned constantly.
Was there some significance to it?
Thinking carefully, there were many strange things about Miss Ye Mei.
But Cangxuan didn't have time to investigate.
She hurried through the forest of tall bookshelves, relying on her astonishing memory to find her way back.
The library was dead silent.
Cangxuan was on high alert, guarding against the "Evil God" on one hand while moving quickly on the other. After passing each bookshelf, she would peek her head out to observe carefully before silently crossing.
Thump thump thump~~
Suddenly, the noisy sound of running echoed through the hall.
Then, a white-haired dumpling leaped into view.
She was running in the moonlight streaming through the large arched window, holding a metal baseball bat, her two braided pigtails flying in the air.
She was shouting, "What the hell is this thing! I can't kill it no matter how many times I hit it! Stop chasing me! Ahhh, Mei, where's Mei? Dammit!"
Another game participant?
Is this girl an idiot? Cangxuan thought. Even if you don't believe the rules at the entrance, there's no need to test them so recklessly. Or did she not read them at all? That seems unlikely.
Hmm? Wait.
No, don't run this way!
Hiding behind the corner of a bookshelf, Cangxuan watched as the white-haired dumpling executed a sharp, drifting stop and came running straight towards her.
Then she saw the horde of monsters behind her, like a surging tide of chaotic black mist, rushing towards them.
"!!"
This sudden development made Cangxuan lose her composure entirely.
She glanced at the roiling mass of monsters, turned, and ran.
During the chase, the white-haired dumpling caught up to her.
As she ran, she scratched the back of her head, flashed a brilliant, toothy grin, and said, "Huh? A new face? Are you a newbie? Hi, my name is Kiana Kaslana."
"..."
Cangxuan completely ignored her.
How can she still be smiling at a time like this!
Should I call her an optimist, or an idiot?
No, she's definitely an idiot. Now is not the time for self-introductions!
Cangxuan could instantly deduce why a huge swarm of monsters was chasing her: this girl must have been making a racket in the library.
Cangxuan was anxious.
She was in a hurry to find her sister.
If what Miss Ye Mei said was true, Danzhu was in danger.
"Hey? Why aren't you talking? Are you an NPC? You don't look like one. You're running away with me, and your expression is very lifelike… Could it be that scoundrel developed a new type of NPC?"
"…Don't follow me. Let's split up."
Cangxuan spoke, exasperated.
Whichever way she turned, this white-haired girl turned with her.
Can't we just run in different directions?
Are we that close? We shouldn't be sticking together right now.
"Wow, you really are a newbie! Don't worry, as long as I'm here, I'll definitely protect you! Whoa—!"
Kiana confidently puffed out her chest, and in the next second, she performed a spectacular trip over nothing.
She went flying.
Ah, it wasn't a trip over nothing.
A foot had suddenly jutted out from the empty space, tripping her.
Kiana looked back and saw a man casually sitting against a bookshelf, reading.
"Ye Feng! When did you get here?" Kiana exclaimed in surprise.
As for Cangxuan, she was left with nothing but terror.
The Evil God!
The Evil God has appeared!
The monsters chasing them prostrated themselves and retreated as if they had received a command from the highest authority.
The tide of monsters was gone, but Cangxuan felt the air grow even thicker.
She stared fixedly at the man.
If she were caught by him…
Before Cangxuan could react, the white-haired dumpling charged forward, throwing herself at him and pinning him down. She turned her head and shouted:
"Go! Run!"
"…Eh?"
Cangxuan's mind went blank.
She never would have imagined that this girl would sacrifice herself to save her.