Zheng Zhiqiang is currently in a standoff with his wife and son.
The news on the television continues to report and narrate the events related to the dangerous elements in the Dream World, but no one in their family is paying any attention.
He has never realized that his usually obedient and gentle wife could have such a strong side. He has also never noticed that his frail and sickly son would dare to resist and challenge him. He feels angry and somewhat guilty.
“What are you doing?! I wanted you and our son to enter the Dream World for your own good! If you don’t appreciate it, that’s one thing, but holding a knife against me?!”
Song Juan looked at her husband, who is displaying this behavior when he feels guilty, a behavior she has become very familiar with over their more than twenty years of married life. The guiltier he feels, the louder he yells as if that would make his argument more valid.
Song Juan felt a chill as if she had never truly known her husband.
She tightly gripped the kitchen knife in her hand and stared directly at her husband.
“Zheng Zhiqiang, do you have any conscience left? If you want to harm me, fine, but Atuo is your own son. He has worked so hard to reach this point, finally getting into the best medical university! He’s about to start his new life, and you want to send him into the Dream World?!”
Song Juan’s voice suddenly grew louder, “Do you think we’re ignorant of what the Dream World is?! Look, all the national channels are warning us not to enter the Dream World. Those who enter it are likely to become mindless puppets, controlled by aliens, and lose their own thoughts! How can you want me and our son to go in there? What’s on your mind?! Why don’t you send your little mistress from outside and her illegitimate child in there?!”
Zheng Zhiqiang’s face darkens immediately, filled with shame and anger at being exposed. At that moment, he even feels the urge to punch his wife. He shook his head vigorously, trying to calm his emotions.
He has been playing in the Dream World for a few months now, and he has only just reached level two. Most of the games he plays are dating simulations because he’s enamored with the unrealistic beauties in those games. He has accumulated very few Dream Coins.
Essentially, he has only bought one Level 3 “Turn Stone into Gold” card. He sold the dog-headed gold for nearly a million. While that sum is insignificant to high-level players in the world, for Zheng Zhiqiang, an ordinary office worker, it’s like a windfall.
Although he also dreams of becoming a world-dominating, womanizing, and wealthy man, as he gets older, he values practicality more. He thinks that becoming a millionaire, staying healthy, and being physically fit in the Dream World would be great. If he could live like this indefinitely, that would be just fine.
However, in the past two weeks, he has encountered some problems in the game. The NPCs that used to be easy to seduce or even actively approach have become much more difficult to win over. He has also inexplicably died in the game, either from being hit by a car or being stabbed by a rival. He has failed twice, enduring ten days of in-game penalty, and he has become visibly worn out.
He tried playing battle royale or mystery-solving games, but his deaths were even more gruesome. The third time, he couldn’t bear the pain of the penalty anymore, so he signed a master-servant contract with the system. Now, his guide requires him to guide at least ten people into the Dream World.
Before the government revealed the existence and dangers of the Dream World, he never thought it could be an invasion method by aliens. But now that he has signed the contract with his guide, what can he do? His guide told him that only those who don’t follow orders will suffer the tragic fate described in the news, and as long as he follows instructions, he will be a winner in life with no negative consequences.
Zheng Zhiqiang is not a fool, and he knows that his guide may not be telling the truth. But at this point, what else can he do? If he can’t complete the mission, he will suffer a mental penalty, which is so painful that he wishes he could die. He doesn’t want to endure that pain, so he has no choice but to do as the guide says.
The first people he thinks of are his wife and son.
He also feels that this behavior is not quite right, but he has no other option!
“Juan, Zhe, listen to me. The government doesn’t understand the benefits of the Dream World at all; they just want to protect their power. Look at me, I’ve been in the Dream World for nearly four months! I can now punch a hole through our table! And I can earn a lot of money. Didn’t I give you twenty thousand before?”
“The Dream World has only brought good things to me. I just need to play games in there; there’s no risk of becoming a mindless puppet or being controlled. Zhe, your health has always been poor, and I, as your father, worry about you. Once you enter the Dream World and use the Strong Body and Health card, you’ll become a person who’s immune to all diseases, strong and healthy.
“You can play basketball, and soccer, and do any strenuous exercise you want. You won’t have to worry about getting hurt from just a little activity like now!” Zheng Zhiqiang became more convinced of his own arguments as he spoke, and by the end, his eyes were filled with dissatisfaction and accusations when he looked at his wife and son.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“I’m clearly doing this for your own good, but you don’t seem to appreciate it!”
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Not only did this man present the idea of sending them to their deaths in a grandiose manner, but after she and her son made it clear that they refused, he actually wanted to force them into that so-called Dream World!
Song Juan suddenly felt overwhelming anger and frustration. She shouted, “You can forget about it! My son and I will never enter the Dream World, no matter what! Never! Get out of this house right now! I don’t need a husband like you, and neither does Zhe!”
Before Song Juan could finish her sentence, she was slapped away by an infuriated Zheng Zhiqiang. Zheng Zhe, who had been watching his parents argue, suddenly widened his eyes. He quickly ran to his mother’s side and helped her up, and his face, which had been extremely angry a moment ago, suddenly calmed down and filled with an intense rage, directed at his father.
Zheng Zhiqiang was somewhat unnerved by the sinister look in his son’s eyes. This boy usually acts indifferent, and it irritates him. He doesn’t have the lively and adorable nature of his illegitimate son outside. Now, this older son is looking at him like this, is he trying to kill his own father?
“What’s with that look?! How many times have I told you this is a good thing? If you don’t want to get beaten, just obediently accept the guidance! I’m not negotiating with you!”
He planned to guide his wife and son into the Dream World, and after that, he intends to find his parents, in-laws, and his eldest sister’s family. That should be around ten people, and not only will he receive rewards from his guide, but he’ll also get ten Level 5 Life Pill cards and one Level 6 Life Pill card. That’s an extra fifteen years of life!
The more he thought about it, the happier Zheng Zhiqiang became. So, he ignored his wife’s terrified expression, and he ignored his son’s face, which went from extreme anger to sudden calm. He summoned his guide to guide these two people into the Dream World.
At this moment, Song Juan held her son’s hand, urgently and tremulously urging him to run away.
“Zhe, Zhe, hurry and run…”
“We can’t go in, we can’t go in!”
But Zheng Zhe remained motionless. He silently watched as two radiant points of light emerged from his father’s forehead and moved toward him and his mother. When these points of light were about to enter his mother’s forehead, he spoke in a hoarse voice.
“Give up on my mother. I can handle ten people on my own. Otherwise, when you enter my mother’s body, I’ll kill her first, then kill myself. That would be a significant loss for you, wouldn’t it?”
The points of light suddenly stop.
Zheng Zhiqiang and Song Juan exchange bizarre expressions on their faces at that moment. Then they saw the lights that were originally about to enter Song Juan actually leave her and circle Zheng Zhe a few times before merging into one. It seems to enter Zheng Zhe’s mind with great excitement.
At this moment, Zheng Zhiqiang also heard the excited mechanical voice of his guide.
[Spiritual power 9, paranoid personality, higher than average intelligence. Judged as a primary candidate for cultivation.]
Zheng Zhiqiang instinctively furrows his brows and suddenly regrets insisting on guiding his son into the Dream World.
Zheng Zhe’s first conversation with his split-off guide in his mind is.
“Are Zheng Zhiqiang and I in a master-slave relationship? Can I kill him and take his place?”
The response from his guide is unwavering: “Yes. The Dream World can do anything.”
In another residential complex less than a kilometer away from Zheng Zhiqiang’s home, the situation is entirely different at Zhu Boshui’s house.
A dozen or so people have gathered together, and nearly every one of them wore an excited expression.
“Stone, are you really telling the truth? You’re not fooling us, are you? Just by entering that Dream World, we can get gold bigger than fists?”
“Yes, yes, and besides gold, there are countless beautiful women, and all kinds of gourmet food to eat, right?”
Zhu Boshui laughed heartily, “Of course, it’s true! Don’t you believe me? How about I show you how to get gold out of thin air? I’m the most loyal and sentimental person, hehehe. Of course, I think of all my brothers when there’s something good! Can you trust the government? They never tell the truth.”
“They’re just afraid that we’ll become too powerful for them to control! Hahaha. I can swear on my life that the Dream World is absolutely a great place! My younger brother Ah Shui can vouch for it too! My nephew didn’t have enough money for his medical treatment before, but now he’s got the money ready; he just needs a kidney source. But if he works hard and earns a ‘Life Pill,’ hey, he won’t even need a kidney source, and he’ll get better. Do you think that’s amazing? This is the power of aliens! It’s like the power of a god!”
Zhu Boshui’s group of idle friends immediately burst into laughter and cheered under his guidance. They all had desire and ambition in their eyes, and eventually, almost all of the ten-plus people entered the Dream World under Zhu Boshui’s guidance.
In the middle of this, Zhu Boshui’s brother, Zhu Boshui, opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he was given a fierce glare by his older brother. The look in his eyes is full of threats and intimidation. Zhu Boshui watched as those people who always freeloaded at his home and even flirted with his wife, in the end, he didn’t say anything and just headed back to the bedroom.
“Boshui, I, I just heard my big brother talking about ‘Life Pills.’ What, what is that? Can it directly cure Duo Duo? If it can, how can you get Life Pills? Is it by introducing me to the Dream World? I can—”
His wife waiting in front of the door asked the question that concerned her the most.
Zhu Boshui’s face suddenly darkens.
“No, you can’t enter the Dream World! I’ve already earned enough for Duo Duo’s surgery, just waiting for a kidney source. I can go in alone. You stay behind to take care of Duo Duo.”
“But…”
Zhu Boshui shook his head, “There’s no ‘but.’ It’s not a good place. Please don’t listen to my big brother’s nonsense. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Why would they be willing to give out so many magical things if it wasn’t for them wanting something in return?”
“Just like they say in the news, these methods are all lures! I didn’t feel it before, but last time, when I failed a challenge in the Dream World, the pain and punishment were too terrifying. You saw it too, right? I was shivering all night in bed. That’s the punishment for failing the game.”
“The entities that can give us such terrible punishments are definitely not benevolent. We’re like cattle raised by them to do their bidding. Anyway, I’ve already deposited the money in the bank, and there’s a gold bar under our bed. Even if something happens to me in the future, this money is enough for you and Duo Duo to live on. Listen to me; under no circumstances should you enter the Dream World. Even if my big brother tries to tempt you, you mustn’t agree! Once you go in, you won’t be able to come out.”
“Moreover…” Zhu Boshui tightly held his wife’s hand, and his gaunt face was filled with concern. “They can give us immense power and magical items, but they can also take them away. They’ve never guaranteed that we can keep these things.”
On Peaceful Street in Luocheng, an explosion of unknown origin occurred in the food court. Over a hundred people who were shopping and eating in the food court were injured by the explosion, with more than twenty of them severely wounded. Amid the frantic calls to 120 and 110, a young man with a mask and wearing a black windbreaker walked up to those who were seriously injured one by one. He leaned in close to their ears, speaking in a low voice, almost like a demonic whisper:
“You’re badly injured, and you might not survive until the ambulance arrives. I have a way to save you from dying and make you completely healthy, even stronger than most people. Do you want to try this method?”
“I won’t force you; after all, I don’t have many spots left. If you agree, blink twice. If you disagree, blink once. I’m in a hurry.”
In that instant, a woman lying on the ground, with her arm blown off and bleeding from her right side, her life hanging by a thread, showed a strong desire to survive. She blinked twice, and her trembling lips whispered, “Save me!”
Then, a point of light emerged from the man’s forehead and quickly entered the woman’s brain.
The man with the mask asked the same question to twenty-seven people, and only five of them refused him. As they heard the distant sounds of sirens and emergency vehicles, the man’s mouth under the mask curled up, and in the midst of the chaos, he left.
On the busiest street in Chang City, a large-scale melee targeting ordinary people was unfolding. Shoppers couldn’t understand what was happening and why suddenly a group of people with knives and clubs were chasing pedestrians on the street, capturing anyone they could and forcing them into the Dream World.
Of course, they knew what the Dream World was; it was the enemy of all humanity, as solemnly proclaimed by the country’s leaders, an entity that every human should be cautious of. So why were these compatriots, who were clearly the enemy, using knives and clubs to compel others to join them?
As long as someone refused to enter the Dream World, they would be beaten, and pedestrians would scream in protest and call the police. However, the thugs laughed heartily and paid no attention to these matters. Instead, they ridiculed the terrified people.
Finally, when a petite girl couldn’t bear the harassment and beatings from these men anymore, filled with hatred and pain, she nodded her head in agreement to enter the Dream World. Suddenly, the roar of engines appeared, and on the nearly deserted street where most people had already fled, a line of heavily armed military vehicles emerged. Without waiting for the frenzied thugs to react, the soldiers standing on the vehicles had already raised their guns and decisively pulled the triggers!
Bang!
Bang, bang, bang!
The successive gunshots echoed through the entire street in Chang City. After one minute, the soldiers quickly jumped down from the vehicles and ushered the speechless ordinary people onto the vehicles.
The petite girl, carried by a soldier, burst into tears. The soldier, somewhat at a loss, patted her stiffly and earnestly said, “Please rest assured, we are soldiers, and we will protect you.”
Within three hours of the issuance of Level 1 martial law, the behavior of forcibly compelling ordinary citizens to enter the Dream World and the capture of the thugs were stopped and arrested in most parts of the country. All channels on television and the internet broadcasted the footage of these events.
People saw the crazed thugs acting recklessly and saw the national soldiers who stood resolutely to protect them. The tension that had been hanging in the air relaxed slightly. The two news anchors on TV spoke with sincere voices.
“If the Dream World is truly harmless, they wouldn’t be expanding their ranks in this way. Please, everyone, stay true to your convictions.”
“Furthermore, for those who have been forced into the Dream World, please don’t worry. As long as you don’t harm the public, the country won’t take any harmful actions against you. We understand that you were coerced. We just hope that at critical moments, you can stay true to your own hearts.”
The content on the TV continued.
But suddenly, all communication devices experienced a mysterious fluctuation. When the flickering screen became clear again, the news anchors were gone, replaced by a man wearing a bronze mask, sitting on a black sofa.
“Hello, everyone. My name is Emperor Qin. I have something to say to those strong-willed individuals who are dissatisfied with the current situation.”
Author’s Note –
Next chapter, we should be able to conclude the real world part. Then, we’ll open up the competition in the second phase of the game. Don’t be impatient; I need to explain the real world clearly first.
Obrigada pelo capítulo ☺️
I caught up!
Things getting real!