Chapter 11

Translator: Lordbluefire

The tune of the harmonica was pleasant to the ears.

And there seemed to be an inexplicable cadence to the harmonica’s tune, which transcended ordinary music.

It was akin to how Qing Chen felt in the nightmare last night.

However, while all the prisoners were immersed in the lovely melody, Qing Chen couldn’t suppress his awe and shock.

Because he had heard of this song before… Bidding Farewell*.

Outside the long corridor, along the ancient road, the green grass seemed to connect with the sky.

Qing Chen’s pupils slowly constricted. Wasn’t this the world of post-transmigration? Why did the song “Bidding Farewell” exist here too?

There was a moment after witnessing the mechanical civilization when he thought that this world and Earth were unrelated.

However, it seemed like he was wrong. Could this world perhaps be the future of Earth?

Qing Chen searched his memory to find a clue within the books he had memorized from the reading zone.

However, he was once again disappointed in the end. Those Chicken Soup for the Soul and philosophy books couldn’t help him.

The tune of the harmonica stopped, and No.18 Prison Fort started clamoring yet again.

All of a sudden, Qing Chen thought that this prison was like the Colosseum.

Behind every alloy door were steel monsters that represented different desires.

However, when the door opened, Qing Chen was no longer on his guard and rigid like his first day. Instead, he moved through the prisoners who had lined up, and he headed directly to the plaza downstairs.

Moving without permission didn’t summon the drones on the dome overhead, and the robot guards didn’t spare him another glance either.

Just as he arrived outside the dining hall, Lin Xiaoxiao greeted him, beaming. “Good morning… Did you not get a good night’s sleep?”

At this moment, Qing Chen bore two dark eye rings as he looked at Lin Xiaoxiao coldly. Inwardly, he thought, wouldn’t you best know about whether I could have a good night’s sleep or not?

Someone once said that even the longest dream lasted for only eight minutes, which was extremely short compared to your entire life.

Yet, when Qing Chen calculated the time on his countdown after the nightmare last night, he realized that the nightmare had trapped him for over two hours. He could not tell the time passing within the nightmare at all.

Moreover, when he broke free from the nightmare, he pondered over some stuff for a long time while lying on his bed too, and it was only at midnight that he was fast asleep.

Although Qing Chen had eidetic memory, he was still a normal person. He differed from extraordinary people like Lin Xiaoxiao, who could stay up at night and remain lively the next day.

Li Shutong took a glance at Qing Chen’s complexion and spoke up, “A regular person’s vitality will incur significant damage after coming out of the nightmare, and they’ll be listless for most of the day. You’re a little more special, however. You could break free from Xiaoxiao’s control and pick up the dagger in the nightmare. The fact that you’re even standing today is already an impressive feat.”

Qing Chen sat opposite him and asked right to the point, “How do I become someone like him?”

Li Shutong laughed. “You’re straightforward, but you can’t do it his way. Instead, my way will be more suitable for you.”

Once he said it, Qing Chen could sense a change in Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao’s expressions.

Qing Chen didn’t know why, but he suddenly felt that the atmosphere had turned a little sterner. Even the napping enormous cat lifted its head to watch him.

He wanted to ask what kind of way was Li Shutong’s way?

However, from Lu Guangyi and Li Shutong’s attitudes, Qing Chen deduced that the latter might be an infamous character out there, and it was likely that many knew what Li Shutong’s way referred to.

Qing Chen was a transmigrator though. It might be alright for him to go on a nonsensical prattle, but it would be fatal if he asked something that was common sense.

Qing Chen skipped past his confusion and asked again, “What do I have to do to walk your path?”

“Don’t misunderstand.” Li Shutong laughed.

It was only when Li Shutong laughed that Qing Chen noticed the traces that time left behind at the corner of his eyes. He might be older than Qing Chen imagined.

Li Shutong continued, “Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao couldn’t walk my path because it was a little too late by the time they met me. In your case, even though I appreciate you, you still haven’t proven yourself.”

“Understood.” Qing Chen nodded.

That made sense.

He felt that if someone were to give all they had to help after just one meeting, then there might be something wrong with the person.

What they faced might not be an opportunity but danger.

However, to Qing Chen, it was enough to interact with the edge of this mysterious world.

It was something he had daydreamed about, something that Earth did not have.

And now, he was already that much nearer to it.

“How about it? Are you still going to play chess today?” Li Shutong looked toward Qing Chen. “I don’t think you’re in a good condition. How about you rest for a day? A game like chess pays particular attention to having an evenly matched opponent. There wouldn’t be any meaning if I won from taking advantage of your poor condition.”

Following the prisoners lining up for food and having their meal, the free-roaming prisoners in the dining hall were increasing.

Something was different today. Many of the prisoners were observing the situation in Qing Chen’s area while eating.

In fact, some of them even carried their meal and stood eating, but their gaze fixated on the chessboard.

To be frank, not many prisoners understood chess, as it was an outdated form of entertainment to begin with.

It was just that Li Shutong was fond of it, so there was a need for them to pay attention to it.

What if they had a talent for chess too and could be highly regarded by Li Shutong?

Of course, this was just a form of imagination. Most of them were only watching the game of chess because they were too free.

In the past, Li Shutong would stare at the endgame alone and no one would dare to look his way. Now, with Qing Chen to play chess with, the atmosphere seemed to relax by much. Even Ye Wan stopped using his sharp glare.

At the side, Lu Guangyi was also watching in high spirits. A group of people was behind him, surrounding him as though he was their revered leader.

Lu Guangyi was enjoying it very much.

On the two sides of the chessboard, Li Shutong waited for Qing Chen’s reply. After that, Qing Chen stood up and replied calmly, “No need for rest. The Expulsion of Emperor Court’s endgame: Red chariot to rank 2, file 5. Red chariot advance to rank 5, file 7. Red cannon to rank 2, file 8. Red chariot to rank 5, file 6. Red soldier advance to rank 4, file 1.”

Chess was supposed to be a game of exchanges, but Qing Chen frankly and bluntly conveyed every move on his part. It was as if he was already certain that Li Shutong would obligingly move his chess pieces along with Qing Chen’s play until the conclusion.

Qing Chen’s red chariot entered the game to attract the black general, and then with the last response, with the red soldier advancing to rank 4, file 1, it dealt the fatal blow.

It was an ingenious move that was hard for ordinary people to consider.

Others might not understand what Qing Chen was saying, but Li Shutong definitely would.

There was only one way to break away from the Expulsion of Emperor Court!

At this moment, Li Shutong lifted his head and looked at Qing Chen. He then flipped his black general piece around on the chessboard. “To think that I thought you were not in a good psychological state and that I would be taking advantage of your difficulties if I won. Who knew I was overthinking it?”

Among the crowd, Lu Guangyi’s underlings heard Lu Guangyi muttering, “He won again. Isn’t this way too cool? No matter in which aspect, it would be worth it to win against a character like Li Shutong just once in this lifetime. I want to learn to play chess too!”

The underlings who just got recruited didn’t quite understand it. Why would Lu Guangyi be interested in something like chess?

One must understand that even though Lu Guangyi excelled in combat within No.18 Prison Fort, his educational level definitely came last in the rankings.

At that moment, Qing Chen looked at Li Shutong and requested, “Can I ask you a question?”

Footnote:

[1] Bidding Farewell is an actual song from 1915 and the lyricist has the same name as the old man in this novel, Li Shutong