Chapter 170: An Exhaustive Strategy
“!!!”
Luce’s eyes suddenly widened.
He couldn’t understand the reason for Wen Jianyan’s actions. The other party’s actions had no warning, but they were precise and decisive.
The bullet penetrated the man’s sturdy chest.
02 blinked in astonishment, seemingly slow to react. He slowly lowered his eyelashes, his gaze falling on his chest.
No fresh blood gushed out.
It was as if it pierced through a phantom, leaving only a swirling, water-like vortex.
So, this was…
A strong sense of suffocation gripped his throat.
A powerful, almost irresistible premonition emerged, like vines rapidly breaking through the soil, taking root, and sprouting in the depths of his heart.
Luce’s mind went blank.
“Sizzle.”
“Sizzle.”
There seemed to be some voice echoing in his ears, and the overhead light flickered, making it somewhat dazzling.
“How…”
Before the words could leave his mouth, he felt a strong pain rush out, almost like being cut by gravel. Luce frowned, suddenly realizing that his voice was extremely hoarse, as if it had been polished with sandpaper.
His whole body was filled with a strong sense of weakness.
His body felt limp, and he couldn’t bring himself to muster any strength at all.
“…”
Luce blinked slowly.
In front of him, a familiar scene unfolded.
A narrow, semi-enclosed space, brass-colored metal walls, emergency lights dimly flickering on the ceiling, and on the floor, two pale heads rolling with a grumbling sound.
The pale yellow liquid splattered, covering the entire elevator, and a heavy, nauseating smell filled the air.
The elevator door was wide open, revealing a dark corridor.
There was no color on Luce’s face.
A clear, undeniable conclusion slowly emerged from the depths of his heart.
He actually…
From beginning to end, no one had walked out of the elevator.
Apart from him, the others were slowly waking up.
“Ugh…”
In the narrow space, a hoarse and weak groan echoed. The anchor struggled to open his eyes, looking around the unfamiliar surroundings with a puzzled expression. It was evident that he had no idea what was happening.
Just now…
Hadn’t he already escaped from the underground and been about to leave the hall?
What’s going on?
Why did the scene in front of him suddenly change?
Wasn’t this elevator the same one he had taken down just now?
“It was an illusion—a double-layered one,” Luce’s voice squeezed out from between his teeth.
His voice was hoarse, falling on the ears of the onlookers like heavy stones, suppressing their breath.
The first layer was meant to confuse him. Only the second layer was the real illusion, specifically designed for him—placing what he desired most and needed to possess in front of him, subtly tempting him to let his guard down and walk in the direction predetermined by the other.
A high-risk patient, indeed.
Luce wondered what kind of fate awaited that guy who had seen through all this in the end.
Speaking of which…
Luce looked around quickly, his expression growing even more solemn.
“Where is that guy?”
The entire elevator only had five people.
And the person—the only one who had seen through the illusion and managed to bring him out—was now nowhere to be found.
“…”
Su Cheng and Blond also realized the current situation. They grimaced, shaking their heads slowly.
“I know, I just woke up…”
However, upon waking up, he discovered that he had returned to the elevator at the very beginning. Moreover, his teammate had disappeared since, who knows when…
This was nothing less than a wake-up call.
“So, you’re telling me that everything I experienced was just an illusion?”
Shao Yao asked in a hoarse voice. She raised her eyes and looked outside the door.
The dark and ominous corridor sprawled before her eyes, filled with danger and unknown threats. Within it lurk disasters that evoke fear and trepidation.
Despair flickered autonomously in her eyes.
How did it come to this…
Struggling against the odds, they find themselves back at the very beginning—especially in the crucial situation of losing the most important teammate.
“But, but, how can we be sure that the current situation is real?” Blond’s face turned pale, and he trembled as he asked, “Could this also be another layer of illusion? What should we do?”
Triple illusion?!
Upon hearing this possibility, everyone’s faces darkened.
The thought was too terrifying, yet it was a possibility that could shatter everyone’s mental stability, making it impossible to determine whether they were in reality or an illusion.
The air became too dark and heavy, making it difficult for everyone to breathe.
Suddenly, Su Cheng seemed to realize something, raising his gaze to the silently pondering Luce and asking:
“By the way, how did he… break the illusion?”
Interrupted by Su Cheng’s voice, Luce snapped out of his thoughts and briefly explained to everyone what had happened earlier.
The moment of swift and accurate gunfire, even when described in words, sent shivers down everyone’s spines.
Su Cheng was slightly stunned and asked, “You mentioned earlier that he shot at the critical moment, just ten meters away from the gate, right?”
“Yes,” Luce nodded.
“That timing… seems too close.” Su Cheng furrowed his brow, speaking in a low tone as if to himself. “If he really saw through the illusion much earlier, why wait until that moment?”
“Perhaps he only realized it at that time?” Shao Yao tentatively suggested.
“It’s possible,”
Su Cheng shook his head.
According to his understanding of Wen Jianyan, he was someone with astonishing courage at times, but he wouldn’t take reckless gambles without any evidence of success. At that moment, he was being pursued by the “nest,” and even if he had just discovered the clue at that time, Wen Jianyan would have taken action.
According to Luce’s description, his actions were decisive, indicating careful planning.
In other words, Wen Jianyan had realized this before, but he just hadn’t acted on it.
So, the timing and location of his actions must have been planned by him.
Wen Jianyan wouldn’t do something pointless; his actions must have a purpose…
“!”
Suddenly, Su Cheng realized something.
“I got it!”
“Wh-what?” Others were startled by him and looked at him one after another.
“First of all, the current situation should be real,” Su Cheng said slowly after a moment of silence.
“Secondly, what we experienced before is most likely real.”
“…I don’t understand? What do you mean?” Blond wore a bewildered expression and asked for clarification.
“Remember when we were in the stairwell? That guy drew a map on the wall and had the high-risk patient point out the locations of three nests. In reality, if we were to run, there are three straight paths leading straight down. He could have just told us the direction, but he chose to present it in a more intuitive way.”
“Secondly, the team formation. He should have anticipated that he would wake up inside the elevator, so the way he divided the teams was based on his own situation.”
With three nests, there needed to be more than three teams.
Three teams were indeed sufficient, but if there were four teams, the risk would definitely be lower.
In terms of team division, Wen Jianyan could have easily taken care of 02. He was a high-risk patient with absolute self-preservation capability, suitable for operating solo to divert the monsters’ attention. However, he chose to include himself on the team.
Moreover, remarkably, Wen Jianyan didn’t include any familiar or trusted members in the support team.
This was because he was actually planning the teams for the upcoming actions.
Su Cheng and Blond could look out for each other.
The other two, being on the same team, can provide mutual assistance.
As for Luce, being the team leader, he could take on the risk of forming a team, perhaps bearing the responsibility of informing other teammates about what was about to happen.
“So, he must have realized the double illusion very early on and planned the layout for what comes next.”
Shao Yao frowned: “Then why did he choose to shoot at the crucial moment?”
If he had already figured it out, why not resolve it earlier?
Luce seemed to have just realized something.
“He fired… at the moment when the crisis was resolved, right before leaving the building.”
“That’s right,” Su Cheng said, his eyes flashing. “He was testing.”
—Testing the likelihood of the plan’s success.
Only after confirming that this plan could ensure everyone’s survival did Wen Jianyan finally choose to take action.
“In other words, he knew three facts through some method.”
Su Cheng took a deep breath and looked up:
“Firstly, this is the real world, not a triple illusion.”
“Secondly, although we were just within the double illusion, everything we experienced before will actually happen next. In other words, the illusion was accurately constructed based on the framework of the real world. As long as we continue following our previous experiences, we should be able to make it out alive.”
“Most importantly…”
Su Cheng paused, speaking with difficulty: “He knew from the beginning that only he couldn’t leave. So, he hoped to take action first in a situation where he wasn’t present.”
Silence engulfed the air.
Shock and speechlessness were evident on everyone’s faces.
What does it mean… to plan beyond the last move?
***
The use of prop ended, and the toy gun disappeared from his palm.
Wen Jianyan’s expression was excessively calm. Standing in place, he didn’t need to turn his head to survey; he realized he was already in the lobby.
“Ah…”
02 sighed.
He lowered his head, raising his hand to touch the spot on his chest where the bullet hole had disappeared.
“Found out, huh? What a pity.”
Even after being exposed, his voice still carried a hint of laughter.
The man lifted his eyes, using those chocolate-colored, harmless eyes to gaze deeply at the figure in front of him, revealing a brilliant smile. His murmured in a soft voice:
“You really don’t hold back, sweetheart.”
【Ding! Congratulations to the anchor for completing the task: Find ???’s ward.】
【Reward points: 200】
The colors around them faded away.
Revealing the familiar, cramped hospital room.
“May I ask how you figured it out?” 02 asked in a curious tone.
“There were no people.”
Wen Jianyan said it indifferently.
He didn’t encounter any true “humans” in the illusion. According to the illusion’s settings, he should be in the outer world, meaning there should be patients and staff members in the Ping An Asylum. Of course, the monsters could be transformed into humans, or they might assimilate and consume humans. When Wen Jianyan dragged people out, he noticed that the faces of the bodies being digested inside the insect’s body were blurry and could hardly be considered true humans.
The entire corridor, including the presumably authentic corpses, was devoid of bodies. Isn’t that a bit strange?
Of course, this alone was enough to raise suspicion.
For Wen Jianyan, even more critical was the absence of patients. Since 02 was released, other individuals must have been released as well. He was on the second underground floor, so logically, finding others should be as easy as finding 02. However, throughout this extended period, Wen Jianyan hadn’t encountered any high-risk individuals other than 02.
He couldn’t help but feel that, given their level of obsession with him, they should have come looking for him.
However, during this extended time, apart from 02, no second person appeared.
“Weren’t you worried about guessing wrong?”
02 tilted his head, taking a step closer.
The hospital ward was so narrow, and the figure approaching was so tall that even a single step brought an undeniable sense of strong presence.
“Guess wrong?”
Wen Jianyan blinked.
He didn’t move, meeting the other’s gaze without flinching. Even though he was smaller in stature, he showed no sign of being at a disadvantage.
Although the attacking prop was useful, it was of too low a level. In the current instance, it couldn’t inflict any harm on any spiritual beings. Even if he wasted it, he’d regret it.
If they were not in the illusion, then it was the real world. Patients were not invincible—based on his previous experiences, they could be electrocuted and injected with sedatives. So, if the timing was chosen correctly…
They could die.
The young man chuckled.
In the dim light, he looked exceptionally handsome, with refined features, fair skin, and a gentle voice that lacked any aggressiveness.
“Isn’t that just perfect?”
Chapter 170: An Exhaustive Strategy
“!!!”
Luce’s eyes suddenly widened.
He couldn’t understand the reason for Wen Jianyan’s actions. The other party’s actions had no warning, but they were precise and decisive.
The bullet penetrated the man’s sturdy chest.
02 blinked in astonishment, seemingly slow to react. He slowly lowered his eyelashes, his gaze falling on his chest.
No fresh blood gushed out.
It was as if it pierced through a phantom, leaving only a swirling, water-like vortex.
So, this was…
A strong sense of suffocation gripped his throat.
A powerful, almost irresistible premonition emerged, like vines rapidly breaking through the soil, taking root, and sprouting in the depths of his heart.
Luce’s mind went blank.
“Sizzle.”
“Sizzle.”
There seemed to be some voice echoing in his ears, and the overhead light flickered, making it somewhat dazzling.
“How…”
Before the words could leave his mouth, he felt a strong pain rush out, almost like being cut by gravel. Luce frowned, suddenly realizing that his voice was extremely hoarse, as if it had been polished with sandpaper.
His whole body was filled with a strong sense of weakness.
His body felt limp, and he couldn’t bring himself to muster any strength at all.
“…”
Luce blinked slowly.
In front of him, a familiar scene unfolded.
A narrow, semi-enclosed space, brass-colored metal walls, emergency lights dimly flickering on the ceiling, and on the floor, two pale heads rolling with a grumbling sound.
The pale yellow liquid splattered, covering the entire elevator, and a heavy, nauseating smell filled the air.
The elevator door was wide open, revealing a dark corridor.
There was no color on Luce’s face.
A clear, undeniable conclusion slowly emerged from the depths of his heart.
He actually…
From beginning to end, no one had walked out of the elevator.
Apart from him, the others were slowly waking up.
“Ugh…”
In the narrow space, a hoarse and weak groan echoed. The anchor struggled to open his eyes, looking around the unfamiliar surroundings with a puzzled expression. It was evident that he had no idea what was happening.
Just now…
Hadn’t he already escaped from the underground and been about to leave the hall?
What’s going on?
Why did the scene in front of him suddenly change?
Wasn’t this elevator the same one he had taken down just now?
“It was an illusion—a double-layered one,” Luce’s voice squeezed out from between his teeth.
His voice was hoarse, falling on the ears of the onlookers like heavy stones, suppressing their breath.
The first layer was meant to confuse him. Only the second layer was the real illusion, specifically designed for him—placing what he desired most and needed to possess in front of him, subtly tempting him to let his guard down and walk in the direction predetermined by the other.
A high-risk patient, indeed.
Luce wondered what kind of fate awaited that guy who had seen through all this in the end.
Speaking of which…
Luce looked around quickly, his expression growing even more solemn.
“Where is that guy?”
The entire elevator only had five people.
And the person—the only one who had seen through the illusion and managed to bring him out—was now nowhere to be found.
“…”
Su Cheng and Blond also realized the current situation. They grimaced, shaking their heads slowly.
“I know, I just woke up…”
However, upon waking up, he discovered that he had returned to the elevator at the very beginning. Moreover, his teammate had disappeared since, who knows when…
This was nothing less than a wake-up call.
“So, you’re telling me that everything I experienced was just an illusion?”
Shao Yao asked in a hoarse voice. She raised her eyes and looked outside the door.
The dark and ominous corridor sprawled before her eyes, filled with danger and unknown threats. Within it lurk disasters that evoke fear and trepidation.
Despair flickered autonomously in her eyes.
How did it come to this…
Struggling against the odds, they find themselves back at the very beginning—especially in the crucial situation of losing the most important teammate.
“But, but, how can we be sure that the current situation is real?” Blond’s face turned pale, and he trembled as he asked, “Could this also be another layer of illusion? What should we do?”
Triple illusion?!
Upon hearing this possibility, everyone’s faces darkened.
The thought was too terrifying, yet it was a possibility that could shatter everyone’s mental stability, making it impossible to determine whether they were in reality or an illusion.
The air became too dark and heavy, making it difficult for everyone to breathe.
Suddenly, Su Cheng seemed to realize something, raising his gaze to the silently pondering Luce and asking:
“By the way, how did he… break the illusion?”
Interrupted by Su Cheng’s voice, Luce snapped out of his thoughts and briefly explained to everyone what had happened earlier.
The moment of swift and accurate gunfire, even when described in words, sent shivers down everyone’s spines.
Su Cheng was slightly stunned and asked, “You mentioned earlier that he shot at the critical moment, just ten meters away from the gate, right?”
“Yes,” Luce nodded.
“That timing… seems too close.” Su Cheng furrowed his brow, speaking in a low tone as if to himself. “If he really saw through the illusion much earlier, why wait until that moment?”
“Perhaps he only realized it at that time?” Shao Yao tentatively suggested.
“It’s possible,”
Su Cheng shook his head.
According to his understanding of Wen Jianyan, he was someone with astonishing courage at times, but he wouldn’t take reckless gambles without any evidence of success. At that moment, he was being pursued by the “nest,” and even if he had just discovered the clue at that time, Wen Jianyan would have taken action.
According to Luce’s description, his actions were decisive, indicating careful planning.
In other words, Wen Jianyan had realized this before, but he just hadn’t acted on it.
So, the timing and location of his actions must have been planned by him.
Wen Jianyan wouldn’t do something pointless; his actions must have a purpose…
“!”
Suddenly, Su Cheng realized something.
“I got it!”
“Wh-what?” Others were startled by him and looked at him one after another.
“First of all, the current situation should be real,” Su Cheng said slowly after a moment of silence.
“Secondly, what we experienced before is most likely real.”
“…I don’t understand? What do you mean?” Blond wore a bewildered expression and asked for clarification.
“Remember when we were in the stairwell? That guy drew a map on the wall and had the high-risk patient point out the locations of three nests. In reality, if we were to run, there are three straight paths leading straight down. He could have just told us the direction, but he chose to present it in a more intuitive way.”
“Secondly, the team formation. He should have anticipated that he would wake up inside the elevator, so the way he divided the teams was based on his own situation.”
With three nests, there needed to be more than three teams.
Three teams were indeed sufficient, but if there were four teams, the risk would definitely be lower.
In terms of team division, Wen Jianyan could have easily taken care of 02. He was a high-risk patient with absolute self-preservation capability, suitable for operating solo to divert the monsters’ attention. However, he chose to include himself on the team.
Moreover, remarkably, Wen Jianyan didn’t include any familiar or trusted members in the support team.
This was because he was actually planning the teams for the upcoming actions.
Su Cheng and Blond could look out for each other.
The other two, being on the same team, can provide mutual assistance.
As for Luce, being the team leader, he could take on the risk of forming a team, perhaps bearing the responsibility of informing other teammates about what was about to happen.
“So, he must have realized the double illusion very early on and planned the layout for what comes next.”
Shao Yao frowned: “Then why did he choose to shoot at the crucial moment?”
If he had already figured it out, why not resolve it earlier?
Luce seemed to have just realized something.
“He fired… at the moment when the crisis was resolved, right before leaving the building.”
“That’s right,” Su Cheng said, his eyes flashing. “He was testing.”
—Testing the likelihood of the plan’s success.
Only after confirming that this plan could ensure everyone’s survival did Wen Jianyan finally choose to take action.
“In other words, he knew three facts through some method.”
Su Cheng took a deep breath and looked up:
“Firstly, this is the real world, not a triple illusion.”
“Secondly, although we were just within the double illusion, everything we experienced before will actually happen next. In other words, the illusion was accurately constructed based on the framework of the real world. As long as we continue following our previous experiences, we should be able to make it out alive.”
“Most importantly…”
Su Cheng paused, speaking with difficulty: “He knew from the beginning that only he couldn’t leave. So, he hoped to take action first in a situation where he wasn’t present.”
Silence engulfed the air.
Shock and speechlessness were evident on everyone’s faces.
What does it mean… to plan beyond the last move?
***
The use of prop ended, and the toy gun disappeared from his palm.
Wen Jianyan’s expression was excessively calm. Standing in place, he didn’t need to turn his head to survey; he realized he was already in the lobby.
“Ah…”
02 sighed.
He lowered his head, raising his hand to touch the spot on his chest where the bullet hole had disappeared.
“Found out, huh? What a pity.”
Even after being exposed, his voice still carried a hint of laughter.
The man lifted his eyes, using those chocolate-colored, harmless eyes to gaze deeply at the figure in front of him, revealing a brilliant smile. His murmured in a soft voice:
“You really don’t hold back, sweetheart.”
【Ding! Congratulations to the anchor for completing the task: Find ???’s ward.】
【Reward points: 200】
The colors around them faded away.
Revealing the familiar, cramped hospital room.
“May I ask how you figured it out?” 02 asked in a curious tone.
“There were no people.”
Wen Jianyan said it indifferently.
He didn’t encounter any true “humans” in the illusion. According to the illusion’s settings, he should be in the outer world, meaning there should be patients and staff members in the Ping An Asylum. Of course, the monsters could be transformed into humans, or they might assimilate and consume humans. When Wen Jianyan dragged people out, he noticed that the faces of the bodies being digested inside the insect’s body were blurry and could hardly be considered true humans.
The entire corridor, including the presumably authentic corpses, was devoid of bodies. Isn’t that a bit strange?
Of course, this alone was enough to raise suspicion.
For Wen Jianyan, even more critical was the absence of patients. Since 02 was released, other individuals must have been released as well. He was on the second underground floor, so logically, finding others should be as easy as finding 02. However, throughout this extended period, Wen Jianyan hadn’t encountered any high-risk individuals other than 02.
He couldn’t help but feel that, given their level of obsession with him, they should have come looking for him.
However, during this extended time, apart from 02, no second person appeared.
“Weren’t you worried about guessing wrong?”
02 tilted his head, taking a step closer.
The hospital ward was so narrow, and the figure approaching was so tall that even a single step brought an undeniable sense of strong presence.
“Guess wrong?”
Wen Jianyan blinked.
He didn’t move, meeting the other’s gaze without flinching. Even though he was smaller in stature, he showed no sign of being at a disadvantage.
Although the attacking prop was useful, it was of too low a level. In the current instance, it couldn’t inflict any harm on any spiritual beings. Even if he wasted it, he’d regret it.
If they were not in the illusion, then it was the real world. Patients were not invincible—based on his previous experiences, they could be electrocuted and injected with sedatives. So, if the timing was chosen correctly…
They could die.
The young man chuckled.
In the dim light, he looked exceptionally handsome, with refined features, fair skin, and a gentle voice that lacked any aggressiveness.
“Isn’t that just perfect?”
