Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game

Shen Ynj isnt too worried about not knowing, though, as he isnt one of those conspiracists with an unparalleled imagination.

Sometimes, even if you put the truth in front of him, he would refuse to accept for the cruelty of it.

Hes used to being quiet, silent, taciturn, and immersing himself in his own dry, desolate little world.

Listening to Mu Jiashi, Ding Yi, Fei, Wu Jian and co. discuss the prospects of X Beijin being NE was quite astonishing to him back then.

NE is an AI, you know?! X Beijin is a Tower resident. A human, isnt he?

How could an equal sign be put between them?

Even now, Shen Ynj is more leaning on X Beijin not being NE.

On this point of thought, the nine Missiontakers would also have their own opinions.

Of course, Lin Qin is excluded from the discussion. In fact, theyre wary about Lin Qin learning about it.

Speaking of, theyre also a bit curious about Lin Qin and X Beijins relationship.

Not that theyd ask, again.

So here, Shen Ynj wonders if Lin Qin is performing well in X Beijins Nightmare. Would he be peerless?

Looking at the Nightmare in front of him, Shen Ynj imagines Lin Qin just tearing it apart through sheer force.

Though Lin Qin can, they do not have his ability.

Shen Ynj sighs, and starts backtracking again to that question who would be the Missiontaker to have succumbed?

The question is important because it relates to the door theyre looking for. Would it be directly involved in the resolving of this Nightmare? Or simply be related to what the succumbed Missiontakers experienced themselves?

Clearly, the answer to the question will point to different answers.

The former, the truth of the Nightmare, means they just need to head downstairs.

Given their discoveries of the stairs being out beyond the 9thfloor, maybe if they took the elevator randomly until it went below the 9thfloor, maybe the grey fog will come as soon as they step outside somewhere below the 9thfloor.

If its what the Missiontakers have gone through, though, they must explore the building to uncover what the Missiontakers have experienced.

In comparison, its clearly a much more intensive task.

Ye Lan sees Shen Ynj fall into thought after only a few steps down the stairs, so asks, whats wrong? Did you remember something new?

Shen Ynj knows Ye Lan hasnt recovered their memories from the Tower yet, so she doesnt know whats going on.

He thinks about it, and tries to describe the current situation in simpler terms, do you think the door we want is related to the scene, or related to the people in the scene more?

Ye Lan, surprised, asks, is there even a difference?

Shen Ynj explains, if its related to the building, then we should head somewhere below the 9thfloor. Those people have modified this building into a real-life mystery game.

If its related to the people here, then we would have to look for someone who is clearly different from everyone else in personality. Thats what I think.

Ye Lan thinks about it, and thinks she is getting it, asking, you mean, the people might be like us, and came here from outside, until they became trapped?

Shen Ynj says with an uncertain tone, basically, yes They may have been the cause for this whole scene. Its like, their appearance created a fork in a large stream, and now we are visiting this smaller stream of theirs.

Then we should look for them, Ye Lan concludes, perhaps they can tell us more about this place.

Shen Ynj, though, suspects they might have lost their sense of self entirely at this point.

Though following what Ye Lan said wouldnt hurt either. Their exploration of this Nightmare was largely limited to areas above the 9thfloor. They were largely in the dark when it came to the floors below.

Even though what happened here was certainly sanity-defyingly disgusting, but Shen Ynj thinks the disgust itself is not enough to send someones lucidity down the drain.

Perhaps what was there below the 9thfloor was what truly caused the Missiontaker to go mad, and send them and this scene out into the fog.

After thinking a little, he says, lets go to the 16thfloor first.

You think theyre at the 16thfloor?

Possibly Shen Ynj explains, because that is the safezone in this building.

A safezone? Ye Lan seems surprised, commenting, if there is a safezone in this building, then in contrast, the other areas are all dangerous?

Shen Ynj says, not necessarily. And with this being a fork of a stream, it may not be as turbulent as the main one itself. Though the stairs would still be the safest option.

The elevators are dangerous?

Shen Ynj answers, thats right

Ye Lan shakes her head at the answer, feeling a little frightened.

When Shen Ynj said they should head for the 16thfloor, she involuntarily glanced right over at the elevators, not knowing about the possible dangers and risks at all.

She follows Shen Ynj to the stairs, while saying, it sure takes advantage of our usual mode of thinking.

There is always danger lurking even in our everyday lives, Shen Ynj replies with a grumbly tone, where we are completely used to and relaxed.

Ye Lan nods to that.

They walk downstairs in silence, until they arrive on the 16thfloor. There wasnt any danger on the way, and Shen Ynj couldnt see anything out of place on the small glass window of the emergency doors.

Until, finally, they arrive on the 16thfloor.

In the Nightmare, this was the safezone, with many survivors huddling and looking for an opportunity to bust out of the building, even if they would ultimately fail.

When Shen Ynj and Ye Lan arrive here, though, there is no one to be found.

Shen Ynj almost instantly looks over at the chair nearby, but does not see the man named X Beijin seated there.

Its empty.

The two of them look at each other, not sure what to do next, when suddenly, some noise comes from the elevator lobby.

They run over to see someone lying on the ground, pushing their head against the elevator doors, peeking inside.

Its certainly a strange scene to see, so Ye Lan asks, confused, is he it?

Lets go and ask.

They approach the person, who appears in his thirties or so. He is distinctly ragged, in the sense that he seems to have crawled here the entire way. His eyes are wide open, as if he is being heavily spooked.

When Ye Lan and Shen Ynj approached, he didnt notice at first, still staring right at the gap between the elevator doors; there is carpeting on the floor here, which makes their footsteps muffled.

Finally, when they are nearly standing over him, the man notices the unannounced visitors and immediately yells out in terror. It seems his legs are not functioning properly, as he is desperately trying to trawl himself to safety with his arms.

Ye Lan is knitting her brows at this pitiful and worrying display from the man.

Shen Ynj says, we dont mean you harm. We just want to ask some questions.

Then the person stops crawling, and looks at them suspiciously, before suddenly breaking into a strange chuckle.

Shen Ynj could be convinced he is a different person from just now

The man says, you also came from outside? Oh, sucks to be you. Its over, its over, hahaha

He is laughing out loud at the top of his lungs, seemingly using all the life he has left in him, just to make sure Shen Ynj and Ye Lan can see how morbidly amused he is.

Shen Ynj asks, what do you mean?

You will never be able to leave here again, the man says with a strangely hypnotic tone, forever, just like me. You will be stuck here forever.

Shen Ynj seems stunned for a moment before asking, forever? Why forever?

The man seems displeased, and explains, are you retarded? I mean, this place is beyond savingWe are beyond saving He chortles, and yells again, Beyond! Saving!