Su Ming’an faces the "Exotic Species" in the room.
It’s called "Exotic Species," but its appearance is indistinguishable from a human. This Exotic Species is a young man with blue hair, regular facial features, and his entire body is bound by iron chains with golden talismans attached. Such heavy sealing indicates this blue-haired man’s extre danger.
As the blue-haired man lifts his head, Lin Yunting suddenly retches, her eyes instantly filled with blood. She clutches her head and suddenly screams wildly: "Ah, ah—ah ah ah ah—!"
In an instant, three soldiers rush in from outside and imdiately pull Lin Yunting out.
"Doctor Su... my condition is really... ugh..." Lin Yunting keeps retching, her eyes almost turning the color of fresh blood.
Su Ming’an looks surprised at Lin Yunting’s suddenly poor condition.
Lin Yunting’s eyes are bloodshot, indicating symptoms of brain attack. It shows that Lin Yunting’s ntal defenses almost collapsed the mont she saw this "Exotic Species," and she nearly turned into a madman like those forr colleagues.
But in Su Ming’an’s eyes, this blue-haired man looks just like a normal person; Su Ming’an himself doesn’t feel the slightest danger from the "Exotic Species," let alone any ntal contamination.
Lin Yunting is sent out for treatnt, leaving only Su Ming’an standing inside the room.
"Doctor Su, if you sense any ntal discomfort, shout at any ti, and we’ll imdiately pull you out!" The broadcast sounds from the ceiling, likely from the monitoring room people speaking—when the Soul Guard interacts with the "Exotic Species," there are people monitoring above to take ergency asures at the first sign of Su Ming’an encountering trouble.
"...Okay." Su Ming’an responds.
Su Ming’an turns his gaze back to the blue-haired man on the chair. Even though humans only need to be a bit close to the "Exotic Species" to suffer significant ntal contamination, Su Ming’an’s mind remains clear.
"Boom." With a heavy sound, the iron door is closed, leaving only Su Ming’an and the Exotic Species in the room.
—Previously, Su Wensheng likely did the sa, communicating alone with the Exotic Species to extract information. This vest should be an exceptionally outstanding Soul Guard, and this psychological counseling center seems to be his.
Su Ming’an pulls over a stool and sits in front of the blue-haired man.
"Doctor Su, you’ve co again." The blue-haired man grits his teeth, speaking with a hint of gentleness.
"Mm." Su Ming’an looks the blue-haired man in the eye.
Su Ming’an really doesn’t know how Su Wensheng usually interacts with the "Exotic Species," as Su Wensheng is quite unreliable, not even leaving behind a single mory fragnt.
"Where did we leave off last ti?" Su Ming’an can only say this.
"Mm... we talked about how you liked playing with mud as a child." The blue-haired man says kindly.
"...That topic is quite rustic." Su Ming’an remarks.
If it weren’t for the faint bloodstains on the ground and the constantly flickering talisman paper on the blue-haired man, they’d look like ordinary people having a chat.
As he speaks, Su Ming’an catches sight of the bloody words on the room’s wall.
...
[Soul Guard and Exotic Species Communication Laws:
1. ntal defenses must never falter, absolutely not! Report and exit the room imdiately if there’s anything wrong with your condition!
2. Never fall for the Exotic Species’ temptations, not even a word! Record the information only—do not accept, do not accept, do not accept!
3. After every five minutes of conversation, proceed for an emotion test to confirm no ntal issues before continuing. Maximum talk ti per day is ten minutes, with over a day’s rest needed thereafter to avoid extre risk of madness.]
...
The font is specially printed in a bloody color, to warn everyone.
"Exotic Species" is practically indistinguishable from nuclear radiation. Once humans get close, even if they only make brief contact, the brain will be left with indelible contamination.
Su Ming’an glances at his status bar.
...
[san value: 50 points]
[Exotic Species tamorphosis Degree: 0%]
...
Though appearing dangerous, the san value is his daily figure. This Exotic Species tamorphosis Degree... seems unchanged since the instance began, remaining at 0%.
"What is the reason for your Exotic Species’ creation?" Su Ming’an directly asks the most fundantal question.
"..." The blue-haired man slightly widens his eyes and laughs: "You’re upfront this ti. Previously, haven’t we been discussing rather everyday topics? Or is it that the human high-ups can’t sit still any longer?"
"We can’t keep talking about playing with mud." Su Ming’an says.
The blue-haired man chuckles twice.
"It was because you constantly chatted with about everyday matters that I was willing to interact with you." The blue-haired man says: "Didn’t expect you’d start asking these boring questions."
Su Ming’an says: "Chat with about a boring question, and I’ll chat with you about an interesting one, how about that? It’s quite fair, right."
The blue-haired man nods: "Sure, sure."
...
[NPC (Exotic Species·Chi) Favorability: 80 5!]
...
"As I’ve ntioned before, I’m not sure about the cause of our creation." Chi says: "Sotis I wonder, what I see with my eyes—is it real? What I hear with my ears—is it real? Or are we fundantally two parallel lines that never intersect?"
"Parallel lines?" Su Ming’an vaguely grasps sothing.
"Alright, it’s my turn. I ntioned before, after chatting with you about a boring topic, let’s chat about an interesting one." Chi says.
"Go ahead."
"Besides playing with mud, what else do you enjoy playing?" Chi asks with interest: "I’ve heard that human juveniles are fond of toys; maybe next ti you could bring so for to play with?"
"Didn’t you play it when you were a kid?" Su Ming’an asked with a hint of deeper aning.
"Hmm... ever since I can rember, I’ve been in this form," Chi said. "Ordinary humans go insane when they see . And no matter where I go, a lot of people die, even though I don’t want to kill them. I’m sorry... Oh dear, weren’t we supposed to have a chat? Why did it go back to this?"
Su Ming’an realized that even though this "Exotic Species" appeared to be an adult, its ntality was childlike. It didn’t enjoy killing but inadvertently caused death and madness, much like uncontrollable nuclear radiation.
"I really like a human toy called a ’Barbie doll’, Dr. Su, could you bring one next ti you chat with ?" Chi asked.
"Oh." Upon hearing this, Su Ming’an’s tone lifted, showing interest: "I know soone who enjoys playing with it, I’ll bring him with next ti to play with you. He’s very knowledgeable."
"Oh, that would be wonderful..." Chi smiled, innocent and naive.
At this mont, anxious voices from the monitoring personnel ca through the ceiling:
"—Dr. Su, five minutes are up. Please step out for a ntal check."
Su Ming’an glanced at his 0% Exotic Species tamorphosis value, a asure representing his level of tamorphosis. The 0% indicated no influence from the Exotic Species. He responded to the ceiling, "It’s fine, I can continue chatting, no need to step out."
However, with a "bang", the iron door behind opened, and imdiately two soldiers rushed in, grabbing Su Ming’an’s arms on either side, attempting to pull him out.
"Dr. Su, every five minutes of contact with an Exotic Species, you must undergo a ntal check. It’s for your safety. You have had the most contact with Exotic Species to date; nothing should happen to you." said the soldier.
"Many before believed they were fine, only to have been beguiled, please co with us." said another soldier.
Su Ming’an thought for a mont, did not resist, and let the soldiers pull him out.
After exiting, he underwent a series of checks: pupil check, literacy test, reaction tests, and various talismans flickering around him, with dozens of doctors nervously observing his condition.
The examination room was huge, with over a hundred people, and the adjacent monitoring room was equally vast, with hundreds of caras covering the Exotic Species inside without any blind spots. The hum of computers, the movent of people, and the clatter of keyboards filled the room. Su Ming’an hadn’t realized such a massive institution existed underground. Every word he exchanged with the "Exotic Species" was heard by hundreds.
For such a hazardous nuclear radiation-like Exotic Species, humans are exceedingly nervous, an abundance of caution is justified.
"Nothing seems amiss." Dr. Jiang Ying said, taking off the stethoscope with so confusion: "Dr. Su’s ntal state has always been excellent... this truly puzzles us. Previously, everyone who ca into contact with the Exotic Species experienced dizziness, vomiting, and loss of senses, but the doctor has none of these symptoms, ever."
"So, the doctor is indeed an extraordinary person." spoke another doctor with blue hair, nad Zhen Miaomiao. True to her na, her hair looked like flowing blue water, speaking softly: "So doctor, you must not take risks. If you feel any discomfort, stop communicating imdiately, understood?"
"Hmm..." Whenever Su Ming’an heard them call him "Doctor", his heart would tremble slightly. The Ruined World had shaken him deeply, impossible to forget.
"Impressive, Dr. Su!" An excited voice ca from the doorway, a man with ssy hair walked in, a naplate reading [Ubang Nation Psychological Consulting Center·Deputy Director Qu Botao] on his chest. He eagerly said, "Just five minutes of chatting, and you probed the Exotic Species’ generation thod! This is a breakthrough for humanity! I’ll report it imdiately, the Union Governnt will definitely award you an Honor dal!"
"This..." Su Ming’an suddenly felt unsure. He had no interest in an Honor dal, it might even expose his vest.
"What appeared to be a nonsensical chat managed to uncover the secrets of the Exotic Species... a feat unattainable by predecessors. Dr. Su’s technique in communicating with Exotic Species is truly enigmatic," Qu Botao sighed, "It seems we have much to learn."
Hearing this, the other doctors nodded, their eyes filled with admiration.
Su Ming’an: "..."
He really just casually chatted with the Exotic Species, and it desperately spilled information on its own. There was no special communication technique.
Su Ming’an gave a slight cough: "I’m going back."
"Please do be careful."
Under a hundred admiring gazes, Su Ming’an awkwardly returned inside.
On the chair, Chi was quite bored, but upon seeing Su Ming’an, its expression imdiately turned joyful: "Oh, you’re back!"
At that mont, Su Ming’an felt Chi was like a child waiting for a parent’s return.
Chi was captured by humans, sealed with talismans in this airtight place. Apart from the occasional visit from Soul Guards, Chi had no contact with anyone, which is why it depended so much on Su Ming’an.
"I heard that you Exotic Species don’t like communicating with humans. But when you et , you all are very interested in chatting?" Su Ming’an sat down again in front of Chi.
Chi pondered: "Your temperant is very appealing to us, being with you feels comfortable, unlike those humans full of fear."
Su Ming’an instantly recalled his identity as an Eligible, and imdiately changed the topic: "We’ve talked about Barbie dolls, now it’s my turn."
"Yes, ask away."
"What do you think the[Rules]are?" Su Ming’an asked.
"[Rules]? Like those [Instant Death Rules] where if you look in a mirror at three in the morning, you’ll drop dead?" Chi said, "Just like there are four seasons in a year, those are the [Rules] of nature, and have existed for a long ti."
"No." Su Ming’an contemplated, "In a normal world, such [Instant Death Rules] shouldn’t exist."
He believed there had to be so sort of "change" for the world to beco like this.
"A ’normal’ world?" Chi chewed on the word, then suddenly sneered:
"—It has always been so, is it right?"
"—Beyond your understanding, is it wrong?"
"I’m just considering things from basic common sense, not thinking from a contrarian logic. I believe it’s unlikely that a world fundantally has [Instant Death Rules]." Su Ming’an said calmly, "Unless there’s sothing like a Deity that has changed this world. Maybe from High Dinsions, maybe from the Universe, or perhaps... from a ga."
"So what do you consider a ga?" Chi asked.
"Anything can be a ga," Su Ming’an said.
"Anything? Computer gas? Mobile gas? Trampoline gas played by kids? Or..."
"’Anything can be a ga’—implying, ’World Ga.’" Su Ming’an replied.
Chi’s eyes subtly changed:
"So, you believe that sothing known as a ’World Ga’ has changed this world?"
"I think this world may have been altered by so kind of power from the start, thus becoming a ’World Ga’, a ga nad ’World’." Su Ming’an said.
"Your perspective is intriguing," Chi nodded, "If killing soone really can cause damage numbers and Experience Points to pop out. If interacting with a person really can reveal their Favorability towards you—such unscientific things can only be explained by ’ga’. You see, the Dream Tour Ga can also display Favorability and Dream Tour Spirit Points, can’t it? If soone were to claim they also see these things in reality, then wouldn’t this world be a ’ga’ called ’World’?"
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