Arc 2: Internet Addiction Treatment Center
Chapter 15: Search
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5039729
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
"It seems like the little cuties who just arrived at the internet addiction center are still not familiar with my rules. Since that's the case..."
The voice floating through the dark fog was faint, like a thin thread, as if it might break at any moment. Everyone held their breath, listening carefully, afraid to miss even the slightest bit of information. When it came to survival, all the people here were surprisingly united in their focus.
Qin Dongwan felt her hands becoming damp, not from sweat, but from the humid air that had covered her whole body, the thin chill creeping in.
"Since everyone is here because your parents sent you to treat your internet addiction, the first thing you need to remember is to be grateful to your parents. The second is to thank the professors who are helping you quit your internet addiction. My rule is, first, every student must copy a hundred famous quotes every day. The handwriting must be neat, and it must be handed in at 4 p.m. every afternoon. If not, you won’t be allowed to have dinner."
Hearing "a hundred quotes" and "handwriting must be neat," a few people who had already graduated from school for a long time showed frustrated expressions. After all, they hadn’t expected that they would still be forced to continue their studies during this time.
"Second, you must go to bed at 10 p.m. every night, and you're not allowed to leave the dorm. The dorm supervisor will check at random times."
"Third, you must go to class in the classroom every day, and you cannot be late. The class schedule will be posted on the classroom door today, and everyone must remember it."
The voice was heard but not seen, hidden in the darkness, and no one dared to look for its owner. After all, this was not a real treatment center but a place where vengeful spirits or ghosts might exist.
He continued to repeat old topics, like students needing to coexist peacefully and not harm each other's personal safety. His calm tone suddenly became sharp at the end, like a sharp tool grinding on a whetstone, making a screeching sound.
With a barely noticeable smile, his voice trembled as it rose by eight more degrees: "Who is Chen Qinglong?"
The last man to enter was called out, and his face suddenly changed. As the black mist thickened, he realized something was wrong. For a moment, he started to doubt the strange situation. The playground wasn’t very big, and people quickly noticed the abnormal expression on Chen Qinglong’s face. They silently spread out, leaving a space where only one person stood.
"You guys!"
He immediately realized that he had been betrayed by the people he had just met. His face turned red with anger, and he instinctively walked toward the person closest to him, still muttering curses. However, the next second, the small NPC woman, who had been silently standing in place, suddenly stepped forward and effortlessly pulled the over-1.8-meter-tall man toward her.
"Woo—"
He struggled in vain but had his mouth covered by one hand. The NPC was much shorter than him, and Chen Qinglong could only stumble a few steps before falling to the ground. Humiliated, he was dragged by the back of his shirt, leaving a long scratch on the fake grass beneath him. Soon, his figure disappeared into the thick fog, but those on the playground could vaguely see the direction he was being dragged to. It was the place Qin Dongwan had also seen earlier—the confinement room.
Qin Dongwan didn't know what the confinement room was like, but she could clearly hear Chen Qinglong's piercing, tragic screams cutting through the thick fog. Her body shuddered, and then she heard the voice return to its previous indifferent tone as if it were narrating something unrelated to itself:
"Student Chen Qinglong violated the rules, was disrespectful to the teachers, and will be confined to the confinement room for one day as a warning."
"Lesson over. I ask all students to follow the rules and not overstep. Now, please have the boys and girls form separate lines and begin a three-lap morning run."
Like a basin of clear water splashed into the sky, the surrounding dense fog gradually dispersed, and the vision suddenly became clear. Qin Dongwan felt that the palms of her hands were already greasy. In addition to sweat, there was moist water vapor. It fell darkly on the white palms, which made people feel uncomfortable.
She took out a tissue from her pocket to wipe it off and stood behind a girl casually. The morning run consisted of three laps around the playground. Although Qin Dongwan was not a homebody, she had not run like this for a long time. After two laps, she was already out of breath, and after three laps, she was dripping with sweat.
Luo Shu wore a Gothic-style dress that was completely out of place in this setting. Even after running three laps, the elaborate dress only made her forehead slightly damp with sweat, making others envious of her incredible stamina. It seemed that she had been wearing this dress since the last level and had never taken it off.
“Dongwan! Dongwan!”
Just as she was gasping for breath, Tang Zihang squeezed through the crowd. His gaze landed on Luo Shu, momentarily surprised by her outfit, but he quickly looked away. “After the run, we have to go to the classroom. Let’s sit together.”
Having a familiar face in the game obviously meant they could look out for each other. Even though Tang Zihang was not exactly a reliable teammate, having someone around was still better than nothing.
The Internet addiction treatment center was not very big. Its overall layout was similar to a school, but it was dilapidated as if it had been abandoned for years.
The cold wind licked every inch of land that the fog had just covered. It swept up rotten vegetable leaves and all sorts of messy garbage again, bringing a foul smell. Thinking that their noses would suffer in the next few days, those who had been chattering just now all started complaining about the environment.
The traces of time turned into mottled spots on the wall and were engraved on the low building of the teaching building, eroding it to the point where it was already in danger of collapsing.
Qin Dongwan stepped on the steps and almost slipped on the moss, Luckily, she grabbed someone nearby and barely steadied herself. Luo Shu, who was grabbed by the arm when she walked to her side, paused, and then heard the girl say "I'm sorry".
Seeing that she had grabbed Luo Shu, Qin Dongwan pulled her hand back like she had been shocked. But Luo Shu only glanced at her face, then stepped into a classroom in her unique little high heels.
The sign above reads "Class A108." It was a rare iron plate, already rusted all over. The howling wind blew the door, making it creak loudly. It was clearly not a good place for class.
Qin Dongwan followed closely behind and entered. The concrete floor inside was fairly clean, but every desk was either missing a leg or had a broken armrest. They wobbled so much that they had to be pieced together to barely be usable.
“Tang Erha, let’s sit here.”
Qin Dongwan immediately spotted a quieter spot. She walked over first and pushed two desks together. The "missing arms" and "broken legs" that swayed helplessly in the wind finally leaned against each other, barely managing to stand firm.
People trickled in one after another, each picking their own spot. Some dragged their desks to lean against the wall, while others paired up and pushed their desks together. Their faces did not look good.
Tang Zihang had always been carefree. Even though getting dragged into the game out of nowhere was scary, having a familiar person around made his mindset better than the others.
However, after witnessing a living example right before their eyes, even the short-tempered newcomers forced themselves to hold back. For now, no one was coming up with new and creative ways to court death.
After everyone had gathered in the classroom, their so-called teacher finally arrived—delayed and unhurried.
It was an old cripple, nearly seventy years old, with a hunched back. His temples were graying, but instead of making him look kind, they only added to the eeriness of his sharp, hawk-like, murky eyes.
He leaned on a thin cane, his frail body making people wonder if he would be blown away by the howling wind outside. His footsteps were nearly silent as he entered, while only the roaring wind outside seemed to welcome his arrival.
"A new batch has arrived again..."
As soon as he opened his mouth, the students in the front rows curled up like frightened birds, huddling together. Some of the more timid ones even started crying.
Amid the soft sobbing, Qin Dongwan narrowed her eyes and looked over. Her expression turned sharp in an instant.
The students in the first two rows were already so scared their legs had gone weak. The old professor's tongue was only half left, yet he could still speak. This was clearly not a normal person. They had actually encountered a ghost in a beginner-level stage.
The old professor seemed very pleased with their terrified expressions. The half-severed tongue in his mouth wriggled like a dying snake, a flash of bright red surging in his mouth before quickly disappearing.
He pressed his lips together, his pale face openly displaying his joy. A moment later, he spoke again:
"Today's task is to memorize pages 39 to 45 of “Moral Cultivation”. No one can leave the classroom until they have memorized everything."
Hearing that the task was just memorizing a book, most people sighed in relief. Although being forced back into a school setting made many feel annoyed, compared to losing their lives, they would rather wake up their long-dormant study habits.
Immediately, the ruined classroom was filled with the loud sound of recitation, completely overpowering the howling wind outside.
Qin Dongwan had an outstanding memory and was quite skilled at memorization. Even though this was not an ideal learning environment, she still managed to finish the task in about thirty minutes.
In contrast, Tang Zihang was struggling, scratching his head in frustration. He glanced at Qin Dongwan, who had already finished and was now idly watching the old professor. Then, he turned away and continued scratching his head, looking for another direction to focus on.
A few minutes later, the silent murmuring in the classroom was interrupted by a crisp voice. A young girl stood up from her seat. Her delicate face was calm, but her tightly clenched fingers revealed the fear in her heart.
"Professor, I have finished memorizing."
A sharp gaze, fierce like a wolf, swept over her. She clenched her small hands even tighter.
"Good, then come here and recite it for me."
The hoarse voice did not sound like it came from vocal cords but more like it was transmitted through an old, broken radio, sticky and eerie in a way that was hard to describe.
From that moment on, the people in the classroom became distracted, all focusing on the girl, waiting to see what kind of treatment the first person to step up would receive.
Once she reached the podium, she immediately closed her eyes and stopped making eye contact with the NPC, reciting fluently.
That gloomy and vicious gaze remained fixed on her face. The girl seemed to sense it. Even Qin Dongwan, sitting behind her, could clearly see her fingers trembling slightly. When the last syllable landed lightly, she finally let out a long breath.
"Pass."
Contrary to everyone's tense expectations, the girl had surprisingly passed the NPC’s first task without any difficulty.
The oddly shaped old professor bent down, rummaged under the podium for a moment, then dragged out a bag. He pulled out a black watch and tossed it into the girl’s hand. His expression remained blank as he slowly spoke:
"Lunch is from eleven-thirty to twelve. Today is your first day at school. After completing the task, you are free to move around. Follow the rules. The basketball court is only for boys. You cannot enter the cafeteria outside meal times. Once you leave in the morning, don’t come back."
As soon as the last sound fell, the big door made a "clang" sound and opened, revealing a gap that only one person could pass through.
The girl did not say anything and immediately walked out of the depressing classroom, making a few people with slightly bigger courage talk with envy.
"Should we recite faster and go out too? Staying here with him is too depressing."
"How do you know going out must be good? What if outside is more dangerous? Anyway, I want to wait for the big group to go together. At least more people are safer."
"That girl closed her eyes when reciting. Could there be some trick?"
The sound of discussions was like the chirping of cicadas, every voice piercing the eardrums. When the girl successfully completed the first task and left, it was as if she had injected a dose of adrenaline into those still remaining in the classroom, making the atmosphere slightly more lively. Those with the courage to do so started reading aloud according to their usual habits. The old professor did not stop them, merely standing there like a mud statue, waiting for the next person who needed to be tested to step forward.
When Qin Dongwan read this novel, she skipped most of the chapters. Only the beginner level remained clear in her memory. The first level of the game was never too difficult; it was just that certain places had dangerous taboos set up. As long as one didn't seek death too much, there was always a way to survive.
Every little hint in the game would become a keyword. Players needed to analyze bit by bit, just like doing reading comprehension, to get the most information. First, this period was a chance for players to search, and whether they could make good use of it depended on their courage. Also, the places they could not go had already been clearly stated.
Qin Dongwan did not want to be the first to stand up because she did not want to attract everyone's attention. Amid the noisy voices, she gently poked Tang Zihang's shoulder with an old textbook:
"Tang Erha, are you done? If you are, let’s go out together."
Tang Zihang turned his head again, and a constipated expression was clearly written on his face:
"Don’t disturb me. Just give me another ten minutes."
****
This guy was a little nervous, sweating on his forehead while memorizing the book, walking up to the podium like going to the execution ground. He had to practice with Qin Dongwan a few times before he slowly moved up. After getting a dry “pass” from the old professor, he felt like he was granted amnesty, hurriedly following Qin Dongwan and squeezing out through the door crack.
The dense fog had mostly disappeared by now, leaving only the rotten smell of dead fish in the air, an unbearable stench, and a layer of unknown greasy liquid floating on the puddle. Luo Shu, who came out after, wrinkled her brows in disgust. She was wearing a pair of shiny patent leather shoes, and if another layer of oil were added, it was really unnecessary. She could only carefully avoid it.
Not all novice players are stupid, at least after the lesson from that cocky older brother, everyone chose to team up. A boy came out a few minutes earlier, standing at the classroom door without moving. He only stepped closer when he saw a few more people come out. When he saw Luo Shu gracefully lift her skirt and carefully avoid the puddle, a sense of pity arose in him.
"Do you want me to help you?" he asked. "It looks pretty tough for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, a black figure flashed past him, jumping over the last puddle and landing steadily. Qin Dongwan couldn’t help but glance at that person, wondering how he had seen “difficulty, pity, and helplessness” in Luo Shu.
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5039729
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com
The young man awkwardly scratched his head, about to say something when he saw Luo Shu walking away emotionlessly. He immediately widened his eyes, unwilling to watch a reckless, beautiful girl venture out alone into danger. Wanting to call out to her, he saw Qin Dongwan and Tang Zihang getting ready to leave together. He hurriedly grabbed Tang Zihang’s arm.
"Brother, you two are going together, right? Isn't it a bit too few people? Can you take me with you?"
"This..."
Tang Zihang instinctively looked at Qin Dongwan for her opinion. Although he wasn’t very clever, he was polite. Seeing that the person was a stranger, Qin Dongwan decisively rejected him without hesitation. She herself was barely managing, and she wasn’t about to take along someone who might just be a burden.
"You—"
"Let’s go. It's already ten o'clock. We only have another hour and a half of exploration time. It might not be enough."
Qin Dongwan glanced at the watch on her wrist and directly walked toward Luo Shu. Meanwhile, the young man who stood frozen in place stared blankly at the spot where she had been standing. He didn’t know where the fresh blood had come from, but it slowly began to twist into a thin stream, merging into a nearby puddle of water.
His feet seemed to be frozen in place. Despite the fear controlling him, his intense curiosity couldn't help but keep him gazing at the puddle. After the oily surface was washed away by the blood, a lump of black, sticky substance was revealed. He squatted down for a look, but before his stomach could fully digest the food inside, it began to churn violently. He vomited, covering the spot and creating a stinking mess.
A mass of black hair was tangled with bits of flesh and meat, releasing a nauseating, fishy odor under the post-rain sunlight. Among it, there was a severed pinky, standing upright, bloodied and gruesome. The young man seemed to have poor psychological endurance. Terrified, he rushed forward and began pounding the classroom door violently. The sound of "thud thud thud" echoed like a frantic drumbeat, striking at one's heart.
In no time, the old professor's excited face suddenly appeared in front of him. His features were twisted, but his face wore a mad, delighted grin. His dead eyes stared directly at the young man, reflecting the terrified expression on his face.
The crime under the sunlight vanished without a trace, but the remaining evidence was buried under the vomit. Perhaps from this point on, no one would ever know the existence of that puddle.
****
To save time, the three of them decided to split up. Qin Dongwan and Tang Zihang went in one direction, while Luo Shu went in the opposite. Although Qin Dongwan preferred to go with Luo Shu, the latter was used to acting alone, so Qin Dongwan had no choice but to give up.
She remembered that when she was reading the novel, she really disliked Ji Yun, who had the Mary Sue halo and attracted many men to fall at her feet. She mostly skipped to the scenes with Luo Shu and naturally knew how powerful and destructive Luo Shu, the strongest villainess in the entire book, was.
It wouldn’t be impossible to rewrite her story into a separate book. This deceptively innocent-looking berserk loli, before the rise of the female protagonist, was truly unstoppable, killing gods and blocking demons. Although some men had shown interest in her, they all backed off because of her frightening strength.
By the end, the villainess Luo Shu died alone, despised by everyone and cursed by thousands.
Thinking of this, Qin Dongwan suddenly asked the system she was bound to:
"You said before that I was supposed to save Luo Shu, but you never told me how to save her."
Author's Note:
I’m dried up. I found out that a part was missed before. This should be correct now.
