Shen Nianzu was not too surprised when he heard that. After all, he had expected that the task from the Nightmare would not be so easy and simple.
The risks were high, but the rewards made it all worthwhile. After one beca a veteran player, their physique would be enhanced by the Nightmare and they would also be able to enter mid-level Cycle, where they could obtain abundant experience points and props way better than low-level Cycles could provide.
What he was more concerned about right now was Xinxin’s condition. Setting aside the unknown threat in the temple, just the ntal pollution alone was already fatal, especially to soone as timid as Xinxin. "Try to calm down," he sighed. "The more you stress about it, the more it will affect you."
"But I can’t help it..." Xinxin’s voice quivered as he buried his face in his hands, his slender fra trembling. "What should I do, Xiao Shen? I’m so scared that I can go crazy...!"
How to stop soone from overthinking? Shen Nianzu lowered his gaze in thought. Once, he had also been in Xinxin’s position. When he first entered the Cycle, he had also been extrely terrified and helpless. Thrown into a world where danger and betrayal lurked around every corner, he had been forced to find his footing and stand up for himself.
Fear, hesitation, cowardice – they were all burdens that held no value in this treacherous realm.
The longer Xinxin spent ti in the Nightmare Cycle, the more he would co to realize that fear would only hinder his progress. However, it was unknown whether he would manage to learn his lesson in this Cycle.
Shen Nianzu turned his gaze to the vast expanse of desert before him and said, "When that ti cos, count in. I will guard the temple with you."
"What?" Xinxin’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. But as Shen Nianzu’s words sank in his mind, he hastily waved his hands to refuse. "No, no, no! There’s no need for that! I can’t burden you—"
"Don’t misunderstand," Shen Nianzu cut him off firmly. "I am not doing this for you. It so happens that I have business in the temple as well." That damned husky told him that the source of the ntal pollution ca from the coffin. If it indeed posed a long-term threat to their survival, it was better to understand its cause beforehand. He truly did not like to be underprepared when facing an enemy.
But it seed like Xinxin still got the wrong idea in the end. His hand flew to his mouth, and the gaze he directed toward Shen Nianzu was like how a pilgrim would regard their holy faith. "Xiao Shen..."
Goosebumps prickled on Shen Nianzu’s arms and he quickened his pace, leaving the youth behind.
Once again, Shen Nianzu was spared from the burden of hard labor. Unlike the previous day when he had Jin Jiuchi to do the job for him, this ti Jiang Shun took the initiative to offer his help, mainly because he wanted to impress JJ in order to recruit him to the organization. And of course, Shen Nianzu knew how to seize the opportunity and readily accepted.
Yesterday they had seven people (plus one dog) to dig the pit, but now the number had dwindled to four.
Moreover, sothing was clearly amiss with Fatty. Everyti he looked at the two NPCs, he would shrink in terror like a mouse that cowered before the starving cats.
Jiang Shun took one look at him and shook his head in pity.
As the hours progressed, Fatty’s condition deteriorated further. Nearing the lunch break when the sun was high up in the sky, he finally reached his breaking point and threw the shovel down with force. "I–I can’t do this anymore... please! I don’t want to do this!" Tears and snots stread down his sweaty face. "I want to go ho! I don’t want to die... I don’t want to die in this place...!"
Lang Zhenya, irritated by his incessant complaints, snapped at him harshly, "Do you think any of us wants to be here?! You... You can’t even imagine the horrors I have endured to reach where I am today! This is only your first Cycle, so either cease your yapping or just drop dead sowhere!"
"What do you know?!" Fatty shouted at her just as loud. "Won sure have it easy! You can just sleep your way up and—"
"What did you just say, you fucker?!" Consud by fury, Lang Zhenya raised her shovel and swung it forcefully toward Fatty. But fortunately, Jiang Shun stopped her just in ti, or else she would have killed Fatty with her own hands for sure.
"Stop!" He barked out sternly. "What the hell is wrong with you, Zhenya?!"
"Ahh—!" Fatty scrambled to the side, almost hysterical. "That woman has gone crazy! She wants to kill !!"
On the side, Xinxin continued to shovel the sand as though unaffected by the ruckus. But on closer inspection, one could discern that his whole body was trembling nonstop for fear of what lay in the near future.
Shen Nianzu observed the strife that broke out between the players from the edge of the pit, his brows furrowing deeply. He murmured quietly to himself, "The ntal pollution is worse than I expected. It’s already this severe now, what about tomorrow?"
Even a veteran player like Jiang Shun was more or less affected, but why... did Shen Nianzu feel like nothing had changed with him at all? Was it because of his higher rank that made him immune to the pollution to so degree?
In this somber atmosphere, each passing second felt agonizingly slow, and as the sun descended on the horizon, they had managed to dig a pit four ters deep.
But the main problem was — there was no sign of water.
The sand was dry and scorching, it was hard to believe that water would co out even if they kept digging. The weight of this realization pressed upon them like heavy boulders, exacerbating their fatigue, helplessness, and irritation.
Aghast, Lang Zhenya yanked on her hair and demanded in despair, "Is there really water in this place? What if we can’t build an oasis tomorrow? What then?! Will we be trapped in this place forever?!"
Jiang Shun’s face contorted in the mixture of frustration and anger. He wanted to retort, yet no words ca out, for the sa question also crossed his mind.
"Fret not. It is through the acknowledgnt of our sincerity by God that the holy lake shall be ford," the NPC remarked, breaking the silence. He laid down his shovel, signaling the end of the day’s labor, and clapped his hands together. "We have witnessed your dedication. Now it is ti for us to select the guards for tonight."
.
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Mini theater
JJ: I’m the real salted fish in this Cycle hehe
A/N: everyone, we have received a chibi fanart of JJ and SN by HidingPig57
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