Infinite Nightmares

He couldn’t just go back to the Big Circle by himself. He had to wait for someone to come looking for him.

As for his own home, Zhang Wenda had already gone to look. His one-room apartment in the building was gone. He heard the neighbors say, with all seriousness, that his house had grown legs and run off.

With nowhere else to go, Zhang Wenda wandered around for a while before he could only return to Song Jianguo’s treehouse. It was extremely crude, but it was just about habitable.

Lying in the treehouse, Zhang Wenda held the folded piece of paper between two sickles, his mind churning with various thoughts.

’Since 2826 gave this to me, it must be as valuable as a child who can generate their own Thought Tide.’

’Does that mean the information on this paper can make me even stronger than Wang Dayan, who has complete control over a small Thought Tide?’

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t curious. Zhang Wenda wondered what could possibly make his monstrous nature so powerful.

’Why did 2826 say this monster is my true nature?’ Zhang Wenda wondered.

However, just as he was about to open the note, his gaze fell upon the scars he had left on Song Jianguo.

He had caused all of them, even if unintentionally.

At the sight, Zhang Wenda’s heart seized. He immediately stuffed the note back into the enamel mug and slammed the lid shut.

’I can’t be a monster for the rest of my life, not even if it makes me stronger. I don’t need the side effects, like my increasingly violent temper, or the fact that I’m a constant danger to those around me.’

’I’m doing everything I can to *not* become a monster, to get rid of it! Not to make it stronger. I absolutely can’t get my priorities backward!’

Zhang Wenda glanced at the deep scar on Song Jianguo’s neck. Luckily, Jianguo wasn’t fussy about her appearance; otherwise, she would have been permanently disfigured.

After a moment’s thought, an idea came to him. He pulled a lollipop from his pocket and tossed it over. "Eat this. Your wound should heal up in a little while."

Song Jianguo picked it up, tore off the wrapper, and popped it into her mouth. She glared fiercely at Zhang Wenda, muttering something under her breath.

Zhang Wenda thought for another moment. Deciding that she had indeed been a great help, he separated fifty yuan from his four hundred and handed it to her.

"This is your project bonus. You’ve really pulled your weight recently. Good work, keep it up."

"Whoa!? A change of heart?" Song Jianguo’s eyes instantly lit up, and she reached for the money. ’With this much cash, how many mice would I have to catch? How much braised fish could I buy?!’

However, just as she reached for it, Dayima pulled her back into an embrace. "Mimi, we’re not taking this money."

While Song Jianguo and Zhang Wenda were both staring at Dayima in surprise, he came before Zhang Wenda, knelt down, and held Song Jianguo in his lap like a cat.

"Mimi was in mortal danger several times during this mission. One wrong move and she would’ve been a goner. And from the sound of it, future missions are only going to be more dangerous." Though he didn’t state it outright, Dayima’s meaning was self-evident.

"So? You want to leave?"

"Kid, you promised me. You said you’d help Mimi get her collar off, so she wouldn’t be under your control anymore."

Hearing him get to the point, Zhang Wenda sat up straight and said earnestly, "I want to, but as you can see, my hands are completely tied right now."

"Trust me. The moment I’m free, I swear I’ll release her from my control first thing. How about it?"

Dayima said nothing, his thickly bearded face remaining silent. His appearance might have been bizarre, but he was undeniably looking out for Jianguo like a true elder.

Zhang Wenda was getting a headache. After a moment’s thought, he said, "I know you care about Jianguo and don’t want her to take any more risks. But what am I supposed to do? What do I say when I go back to the Big Circle? How do I explain why the two of you left?"

Dayima stroked his beard. "Just go back and tell them we had a falling out over money. That should work."

"No way. Someone goes missing mid-mission? Who’s to say you didn’t run off to do something else? Besides, don’t forget they’re the ones who specifically captured Jianguo. They’ll get suspicious! Even if they don’t kick us out, they’ll never let you into the inner circle! And don’t forget, we’re supposed to be undercover."

"As for my promise, once I get back to the Third Line, I’ll have them figure out a way to remove her collar. If even they can’t do it, then I swear I’ll help you find that Youth Palace that swallowed the key!"

Dayima was about to speak again, but Song Jianguo looked up at his hairy chin and said, "Auntie, I’m not leaving."

As Dayima looked at Song Jianguo in surprise, Jianguo leaned close to his ear and whispered something. The two of them then muttered to each other for a moment.

A minute later, Dayima glanced at Song Jianguo, a little surprised. After seeing her nod emphatically, he looked back at Zhang Wenda.

"Fine. We’ve changed our minds. Mimi and I will give our all to help you complete your mission. But our payment is this: after you’ve finished, you need to help Mimi get her lost memories back."

"What? Not only do I have to get her collar off, but now I have to find her memories too? Is that my job now?" Zhang Wenda stared at them, shocked.

Dayima nodded forcefully. "That’s right. It’s not a big ask. Don’t forget, this mission of yours is extremely dangerous. Who knows what else you’ll have to face once you’re back with the Big Circle."

"No way, absolutely not!"

Zhang Wenda shook his head, feigning reluctance. He was only pretending, of course. His real fear was that if he agreed too quickly, Dayima would raise the price on him.

’As long as this mission goes smoothly, I can worry about the rest later.’

After a bit of performative haggling with Dayima, Zhang Wenda agreed with a very reluctant expression.

Seeing that she had bested Zhang Wenda, Song Jianguo was ecstatic. She excitedly threw herself onto Dayima’s belly, only to be met with a sharp elbow jab.

Zhang Wenda had been busy all day without a single bite to eat. The one mouthful he’d managed, he’d thrown right back up. Now that things had finally settled down, he immediately sent Song Jianguo out to buy food.

Meanwhile, he dug up a handful of dirt from under a street tree and placed it near the entrance of the treehouse. He then planted the gnawed, pitted mushroom in the dirt, leaving it out in the sun.

Zhang Wenda hadn’t forgotten the singing requirement, either. Now that he had money, he spent the equivalent of one braised fish to hire Song Jianguo’s Black Cats to sing to the mushroom.

"MEOW MEOW~ MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW." The Black Cats gathered around the mushroom, humming and bobbing their heads. As if answering a call, the mushroom began to wiggle, and under the sunlight, its damaged cap started to regenerate.