Author: 木尺素 / Mu Chisu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 64

Zhu Qiang, with his legs feeling weak, could barely stand. He gripped the Rib of God in Zhou Qian’s hand as if it was a lifeline, and with his other hand, he clung to Zhou Qian’s shoulder to support his body.

“What… What are you talking about? What did I overlook?”

Zhou Qian smiled and said, “You said it yourself. You’ve seen my analysis in ‘Apple Paradise’ about how game designers like to play with people’s hearts—the most dangerous places often offer players the greatest opportunities.”

“So what makes you think that I would really be trapped by these plants?”

Zhu Qiang: “You…you…”

“In fact, if you used your brain a bit more, you would have found the issue. But when you entered this instance, you thought you had obtained enough information. That was information the Peach Blossom Legion worked hard to collect; it’s very important and very reliable. So, with such a premise, you lost the motivation to think independently.”

“You focused all your thoughts on dealing with me and neglected the information in the instance itself. This is actually the most critical. After all, our real goal is to clear the stage, not to use the so-called traps in the instance to kill each other.”

Zhu Qiang’s face became paler and paler, and Zhou Qian’s smile became more and more pleased.

“So now, let me give you the answer to the puzzle.”

“‘Ordinary tourists cannot survive here… Maybe some changes will occur in you to adapt to this environment.’ —This is what the system told us at the beginning.”

“A very key piece of information revealed by this sentence is that the changes in us are produced to adapt to the environment.”

“Besides, before entering these high walls, the words of Mayor Ryan are also worth exploring. He said we are gifts from heaven, and we can adapt to the ‘evil spirits’.”

“So in my opinion, ‘evil spirits’ refer to some kind of radiation in this instance that ordinary people can’t adapt to. Ryan’s words imply that we can coexist with this radiation, and our life forms may deviate from the norm and undergo great changes.”

“Lastly, it’s all the clues related to ‘genes’ given from the beginning until now.”

“Qiang Ge, why not think outside the box? What forms do you think species or life exist in?”

Zhu Qiang couldn’t answer Zhou Qian’s question at all.

He even somewhat didn’t understand the meaning of the question itself.

Zhou Qian continued, “Wu Ren has leaves growing on him with very unique patterns, like the patterns on marble. We have seen such leaves—when we just ascended Weir Mountain, there were many of those trees.”

“Wu Ren, having the lowest life points, mutated first. And when his mutation began, there were those trees around.”

“The same goes for Ke Yuxiao. He has special ink-colored grass growing on his arms, just like the grass around us. I calculated the time and found that when he began to mutate, he was passing by this ink grass area.”

“Therefore, I suspected at that time that our body’s mutation is related to the environment at that time.”

“And it proved that my guess was correct. Look, I mutated in this place and indeed grew ink-colored grass.”

“Now we can conclude that—when we start to mutate, the ‘mirror’ in the instance will implant the genetic code of the plants nearby our location into our bodies, changing our genetic code and causing rapid mutations. But what’s next?”

“Shouldn’t this ‘mutation’ have some meaning?”

“After my body grows the ink-colored grass, what will I become, and what can I do?”

At this point, Zhou Qian glanced at the location of his left wrist and then looked at Zhu Qiang. “After escaping from the swamp, I received a message from Wu Ren. He briefly mentioned Yin Jiujiu wanting to kill Situ Qing. Additionally, he provided me with an important message—”

“He said that he felt a bit cold while sprinting, and then the leaves, which looked similar to those growing on him, actually went to surround him, as if warming him up.”

After a slight pause, Zhou Qian continued, “This sentence undoubtedly confirmed some of my guesses. So I came to try it out. Indeed, I guessed correctly.”

The voice of Zhu Qiang had already become hoarse to the point of weakness. “Zhou Qian, you, damn it, stop fucking beating around the bush. You—”

“Qiang Ge, look. If time could go back, when you got your first payment from this game, you should have gone to school and supplemented your knowledge instead of being brainwashed into calling for violence all day long. When one acts, relying solely on cleverness won’t do. You still have to weigh your own abilities, especially with technical tasks like killing.”

“Look, I’ve spelled it out for you. How can you still not understand?”

When Zhou Qian looked at Zhu Qiang, his eyes were full of undisguised mockery.

“I asked you just now if you knew that there could be many forms of life. Now, let me tell you a fact—in this instance, after we mutate, we can become a special form of life with the corresponding plants.”

“Take me and this ink-colored grass as an example.”

“I possess their genes, and part of my body has indeed become like them. You verified it yourself just now; I don’t even have blood anymore. But at the same time, these grasses don’t think. I, however, have a brain.”

“The mask on your head should be protecting your brain from being influenced, so you don’t fall into illusions.”

“Furthermore, the reason you haven’t mutated is also due to this mask’s added effect. You think it saved you. But in fact, it also completely stopped you from discovering the truth of this instance.”

“The truth is, after the mutation, I have completely symbiosed with these ink-colored grasses; we have formed a collective living entity. This is a very special form of existence. They, without a brain, will share one with me. In other words… they will obey my commands.”

Zhou Qian’s gaze became profound, and the smile at the corner of his mouth became exceedingly pleasant.

“So, the reason you could see me being entangled by the grass was because I commanded them to do so.”

“As for those chicks finding their way… Haha, sorry, which chicks got trapped by the grass, and which chicks could safely walk up to me, were also temporarily commanded by me.”

“Qiang Ge… There are no so-called traps here.”

“You, from the beginning to the end, have just been played by me!”

By this point, Zhu Qiang had finally understood.

Not long ago, he thought Zhou Qian’s limbs were trapped. He couldn’t even lift a finger because there were traps in the ink grass! He thought Zhou Qian, in his panic, had blundered into a trap and got himself stuck!

He also thought Zhou Qian used a “provocation strategy”, just to provoke him into the trap so that they would both be trapped here.

So, to demonstrate his willingness to kill Zhou Qian, to break these traps, and to walk into the ink grass field, he used the chick props capable of pathfinding, using them to avoid the traps to prevent himself from being entangled by the ink grass…

He was so proud, thinking he could easily see through and break every move Zhou Qian made.

Even just now, when he realized he fell for the card duplication trap, even if he knew he would die immediately, he just thought he had lost in this final step!

But he was wrong! He was completely wrong from the beginning to the end!

Now he knew, all of this was Zhou Qian’s performance!

Zhou Qian was never controlled from the beginning to the end! He could even control these ink grasses, making every strand of grass follow his command!

Zhu Qiang vomited several mouthfuls of blood violently. The frustration in his heart was beyond words.

All his pride, all his meticulous calculations… had become a complete joke!

Throwing knives to test the grass, carefully holding the lighter, sending out chicks to scout…

The actions he took at that time… in Zhou Qian’s view, were probably like watching a monkey show, right?!

Zhou Qian had been toying with him from the start!!!

If, if he hadn’t worn such a mask, he would have mutated too! Being in this ink-colored grass, he would also have possessed their genes and become a symbiotic life form with them!

In that case, he would have noticed! He would have found out that he could also command them!

But he… wore the mask.

Suddenly, Zhu Qiang remembered Priest, who appeared before him before entering the instance.

“All tools are prepared for you, especially that mask. It’s crafted by a high-level player blacksmith. Our goal is to lure Zhou Qian into the illusion. This mask can keep you unaffected by the marshland swamp.”

“Go. We will succeed in killing Zhou Qian.”

The confidence of the past had now become a complete joke.

The mask that could protect his brain, that could protect him from the so-called illusion erosion… It also blocked him from discovering the truth, reducing him to just Zhou Qian’s toy.

After a moment of shock, Zhu Qiang suddenly thought of something and immediately raised his left wrist to take a look.

But the system panel’s message menu was empty, showing nothing.

His gambler, Priest, had sent no messages.

In fact, Zhu Qiang had immense faith in Priest’s abilities.

Before Zhu Qiang entered the instance, Priest’s speculations about genes were very similar to what Zhou Qian had said. He didn’t know the real secret of this instance because he hadn’t witnessed it firsthand. But now, having observed the situations of Wu Ren and the others from his perspective, he should be able to guess!

He should have come to the same conclusion as Zhou Qian: that after humans mutate, they can form a life symbiosis with corresponding plants and subsequently control them…

But why didn’t he tell me or warn me?

No matter how much he doubted, Zhu Qiang could no longer wait for Priest’s answer.

He looked up at Zhou Qian, a mix of desperation and extreme fatigue in his eyes. “So… what are you trying to say? You lowered your health to the minimum… just to watch me act like a monkey in front of you? Why didn’t you just command these plants to kill me?”

“For someone like you, simply killing you would be boring,” Zhou Qian replied. “Your expression now—that’s what’s interesting.”

“Enough. It’s about time to send you on your way.”

As Zhou Qian said this, all the ink-like grass bindings on him withdrew on their own.

In Zhu Qiang’s desperate gaze, Zhou Qian made a simple move—grasping the Rib of God, pulling it from the terrified and weakened grasp of Zhu Qiang, and gently pushing him.

Using the Rib of God, Zhou Qian froze time in a small area.

But outside this area, time flowed normally.

If Zhu Qiang stepped out of the time-frozen area into the normal time zone, it would be as if he’d leapt nearly two minutes forward.

Zhu Qiang had dared to enter this time-frozen area earlier, thinking he could afford to spend extra time tormenting Zhou Qian, relying on the fact that he had picked up four cards totaling 24 health points.

But those were duplicated fake cards, utterly useless.

So, when Zhou Qian took the Rib of God and pushed Zhu Qiang out of the time-frozen zone, Zhu Qiang returned to the regular time point. His health instantly depleted, and he collapsed, no longer breathing.

Life points were a special setting given to players by the instance.

The higher the radiation in an area, the faster these points would deplete. When they reduced to a certain level, players would face imminent death and be in the utmost danger.

However, precisely at this time, players could discover an incredibly crucial hidden setting within the instance.

Players would absorb the genetic information of animals and plants from their surroundings during mutation and begin to mutate rapidly.

If a particular animal or plant was abundant in the environment, players would prioritize obtaining its genetic code, most likely manifesting related mutations first.

When Zhou Qian entered the ink-colored grass zone, his life points decreased rapidly, triggering mutations, and his body grew ink-colored grass. Whether human, plant, or animal, all were affected by the “mirror” within the instance.

Thus, while Zhou Qian was influenced by the grass, the grass was also influenced by him. In a sense, Zhou Qian formed a symbiosis with the grass. The grass could understand the signals from his brain and obey his commands.

Everything happening now validated Zhou Qian’s suspicions.

But he still had one lingering doubt.

If the game simplified an intricate sci-fi setting, then Zhou Qian could predict the subsequent progression—each person’s mutation direction would be fixed. Right now, Zhou Qian mutated under the influence of the ink grass, grew ink grass on his body, and commanded the grass, but that would be the extent of it.

However, if the game didn’t simplify but instead developed based on a more realistic sci-fi setting, the course of events would become complex. If Zhou Qian mutated next to fish after replenishing and then lowering his life points again, could he then also form a symbiotic relationship with the fish?

What if, taking things further, the six players could also absorb each other’s genetic codes? In appearance, everyone would still be distinct, but in reality, all might become the same person.

Excluding Zhu Qiang, suppose only the six players entered within the high walls. Their genes would influence and alter the environment, but they would also be changed by it…

Would everything within the walls—every animal, plant, and human—ultimately merge into one life form?

That life form would become the god of this place—every blade of grass, every drop of water, every butterfly obeying its command. They would merely be parts of its life. It would become the true master of all things.

If things did progress to that stage…

Whose brain among the six players would dominate?

As these thoughts raced through Zhou Qian’s mind, he quickly moved out of the ink-colored grass zone.

He now had only one minute. After sending a message to Wu Ren, he hurried in the direction Wu Ren had indicated. Wu Ren had previously sent Zhou Qian a third message that he hadn’t told Zhu Qiang about—[I’m at the purification station. Only two cards can be ‘recharged’ at the same time.]

After verifying that he could indeed command the grass, Zhou Qian had them wrap around him while he gave his location to Wu Ren, asking him to send over a recharged card, adding, [Don’t come from the wetland side. It’s easy to get trapped in an illusion.]

Thus, only after confirming he wouldn’t die, did Zhou Qian dare to lower his life points rapidly and put on a show using his ability to control the grass.

Wu Ren had informed Zhou Qian of the clearing station’s location, but in order to assist Zhou Qian as soon as possible, he was already on his way with a “recharged” card.

Now, Zhou Qian was on his way to meet up with Wu Ren.

Throughout this time, constant messages flashed across Zhou Qian’s wrist.

​[Zhou Qian, you didn’t need to do that. You could have just had the grass bind Zhu Qiang. Why did you toy with him?]

​[You took such a risk just to mock Zhu Qiang! How were you so sure Wu Ren was trustworthy? What if he didn’t give you the card or lied about the purification station’s location? Was it worth it to punish Zhu Qiang by reducing your time to just one minute?]

​[Forget it, what’s done is done. But you need to put on those speed shoes and hurry to the purification station! Why are you walking so leisurely? What if Wu Ren changes his mind and doesn’t give you the card?]

……

“Hiss…” Zhou Qian quickly glanced at the messages, immediately looking away.

He raised his head, looking up into the void. He wasn’t sure Li Xuehai could see his face from this perspective, but…

He still said, “Doctor Li, you’ve become quite talkative for someone who’s usually so aloof and old-fashioned.”

Li Xuehai responded with: ​[……]

Zhou Qian smiled, then turned serious. “You heard my conversation with Zhu Qiang, didn’t you? So, I think… rather than worrying about Wu Ren, you should consider which of your colleagues might be a problem. This game isn’t simple. And… where do you think Qi Liuxing and Ke Yuxiao went? When I saw the illusion, you didn’t see it with me, did you? Did you notice where they were?”

Li Xuehai: ​[They headed toward the east side of the swamp, one ahead of the other and quite far apart. It seemed like they were both trapped in the illusion. They didn’t go south into the swamp. They just headed east. I’m not sure what’s there.]

Zhou Qian smiled politely. “Alright. Thank you, doctor.”

Zhou Qian didn’t look at the system again and continued heading northwest. He had less than a minute left. He had to ensure his own survival first and then find Qi Liuxing and the others. Finally, he also had to locate Situ Qing and Yin Jiujiu. These two girls were powerful fighters and would be useful later.

Meanwhile, on the other side, in a pitch-black corridor.

Situ Qing and Yin Jiujiu were still trapped in the ​[Sky Net]​.

Moments earlier, Situ Qing had used a flashlight to inspect their surroundings and realized they were in a tunnel beneath the ground. The tunnel was lined with high-grade metal and was spacious enough for both of them to walk side by side.

Currently, considering the rate of decrease in life points, Situ Qing had 120 minutes left to live, while Yin Jiujiu had 140 minutes.

Unable to communicate with the outside world, they had to find a way out or locate tools to restore their life points.

“The range of the ‘Universe Shift’ is within 500 meters, so we’re not far from Station A12. We can get back to the surface,” Yin Jiujiu said. “Moreover, the Sky Net’s effect lasts for one hour. After that, we’ll be able to leave. When the time comes…”

“When that time comes, if Li Buhui kills Zhou Qian, do you really believe he’ll take you with him?” Situ Qing retorted.

Yin Jiujiu glared at her. However, she knew this wasn’t the time for internal conflicts. They had to work together to find an exit.

They moved strangely, shoulder to shoulder, legs entangled, both trapped by the net. Using the flashlight, they inched forward like snails, dragging the net with them.

After posing her question and getting no response, Situ Qing glanced at Yin Jiujiu and asked, “Honestly, how did Li Buhui deceive you? I’m not making fun of you. I once had contact with a terrifying group. They told me if I killed Zhou Qian, I could join them. I tried to kill Zhou Qian and failed. Afterward, I decided to follow him. So, understand? If you’re not with that group, then you were used by them. Li Buhui must be associated with them.”

Yin Jiujiu frowned, clearly reluctant to engage in this conversation. But she knew she had been used, and the existence of the group annoyed her.

After some hesitation, she said, “During a time when I was rapidly leveling up, I met Li Buhui. He was useless, just a freeloader. But he was willing to run errands for me, so I let him tag along. I genuinely didn’t see anything wrong with him.”

“Now that I think about it, he only started sticking to me after discovering I had a ticket to enter ‘Flower of Evil’. Actually, I had the entry ticket to this hidden instance for a long time but didn’t dare to enter because it was challenging. It wasn’t until Zhu Qiang casually chatted with me, mentioning players like Zhou Qian and Situ Qing entering…”

“That I decided to join.”

After a while, Situ Qing said, “I’m not a good person. One thing I deeply regret is killing Gao Shan. But before that, I didn’t kill anyone without a good reason. Like when out of five players, only four could survive, we had to fight. If I had Zhou Qian’s wisdom, perhaps I could find a way to clear the game without harming anyone. Actually, my gambler back then probably knew a way, but he wanted to see me kill someone for him, so he didn’t tell me.”

“I’m not saying this to vindicate myself. But I’m not a born killer. Especially after the first time I did it, I broke down for a long time.”

“In this game, I remember the name of every person I’ve killed. But I haven’t killed any of your friends. I think there’s more to this story. From the beginning to the end, you’ve been used.”

By the time their conversation reached this point, they had already traveled a significant distance in the tunnel. Situ Qing didn’t hear a response from Yin Jiujiu, but suddenly a thought crossed her mind—She’d never believe me. She’s just afraid I might kill her again.

“W-What did you say?” Situ Qing asked Yin Jiujiu.

“What? I didn’t say anything,” Yin Jiujiu responded instantly.

“You said you’d never believe me,” Situ Qing persisted.

“I…” Yin Jiujiu’s eyes widened. “You can read my thoughts? I only thought that for a moment…”

Then, another thought popped into Yin Jiujiu’s head—​Is she dumber than me? After all that’s been said, she still doesn’t believe me. At this point, why would I lie?

“Situ Qing, it’s enough for you to fucking mock me once. Who would take someone like Li Buhui seriously? I was just careless. I’m not stupid!”

Yin Jiujiu shouted, then noticed Situ Qing’s puzzled gaze. “You can… You can read my thoughts too?”

The moment their eyes met, both of them felt utterly puzzled.

Just then, with a “snap” sound, both of them lost their balance and unexpectedly fell to the ground together. The instant their four hands propped them up from the ground, they both grabbed the Sky Net. Then, they tried to stand up one after the other, but their legs were uncoordinated, like they were tangled with each other, causing them to fall down again.

In the end, they both propped up their upper bodies with their hands and turned to look at their legs. As a warrior, Yin Jiujiu obviously had better physical strength. She propped herself up with one hand, while the other hand held up a flashlight.

The two girls, one with a fiery temper and the other cold as an iceberg, had both seen their fair share of challenges and could usually handle sudden situations with calmness. However, after shining the flashlight on their legs, they were both rendered speechless.

Somehow, Situ Qing’s left leg and Yin Jiujiu’s right leg had fused together.

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The author has something to say:

I want to explain Zhou Qian’s ability.

Zhou Qian’s skill is to slow down or even stop time. Take the instance when Gao Shan died: if both he and Zhou Qian were in the area where time was stopped, they shouldn’t be able to speak since everything stops in frozen time, including vocal cords, and sound cannot be propagated.

But in this story, there’s a concept where the holder of the “Rib of God” stands outside of time. Meaning, the person holding the Rib of God isn’t affected by any time constraints. So, when Zhou Qian freezes time and everyone else is still, unable to hear or speak, both he and Gao Shan, by touching the Rib of God, can communicate “outside of time”.

When time resumes, Gao Shan reaches the point in time where he dies.

Zhu Qiang experienced a similar phenomenon.

Some readers might not understand this, so I wanted to explain it further.

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