Infinite Nightmares

Not only did Zhang Wenda see the plane in the sky, but 2826, standing beside him, saw it too.

"Looks like I guessed right. They probably observed everything you just did. The next time they make a move, those guys will definitely be prepared."

Hearing one piece of bad news after another, Zhang Wenda’s head started to ache. He looked at 2826 and asked, "Don’t just stand there talking, think of something! Other people are brazenly putting a bounty on me, and you guys from Bureau 507 have no reaction at all?"

"Who’s the official organization here, you or them?"

After a moment of contemplation, 2826 said to Zhang Wenda, "I’ll go and ask around for you now. This whole thing started because of me, and on top of that, there’s the matter of you delivering the sun. I’ll see if I can get them to make an exception and let you join Bureau 507, even as an unofficial member."

"As long as you become one of us, they absolutely won’t dare to do this. Anyone who dares to put a bounty on a member of Bureau 507 is provoking all of us."

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda, who had no better ideas at the moment, could only let him go and try. If he succeeded, this problem would be considered solved.

"You guys stay alert. Don’t fall into another ambush. Try to stick to crowded places. I’ll definitely be back before dark." After saying this, 2826 flew up into the air and vanished in moments.

After learning that the Big Circle had issued a bounty, Zhang Wenda didn’t dare to linger in the outskirts anymore. He quickly had everyone else head back to the city.

With the help of the cats, the treehouse was pushed and rolled toward the city. They had managed to save their home base, just barely.

Once they reached the streets, Zhang Wenda didn’t let his guard down. Now, as he looked at everyone on the street, he felt a sense of hostility from them all.

Zhang Wenda knew this situation had to be resolved as soon as possible. If he kept on being this suspicious, he was afraid he’d have a nervous breakdown.

They couldn’t go anywhere under the current circumstances. Zhang Wenda first helped the cats tie the treehouse securely to a lamppost. To prevent the treehouse from growing legs again, Zhang Wenda even went out of his way to buy several bundles of rope and tied it down tightly.

Next, he sent the cats out to act as scouts and keep a close watch on everyone nearby.

To avoid being poisoned, Zhang Wenda didn’t even dare to eat regular food, only the sparrows caught by the black cats.

Inside the treehouse, the fire was burning brightly. Zhang Wenda gazed at the sparrows roasting on sticks by the campfire. Only now could his frayed nerves finally relax a little.

"Is this friend of yours reliable?" Teacher Rabbit asked, looking outside with some worry.

"Reliable isn’t exactly the first word I’d use, but we have to try, right? What if he actually succeeds?"

As Zhang Wenda spoke, he picked up a roasted sparrow, blew on it, and took a small bite. Finding it a bit undercooked, he handed it to the drooling Black Coal beside him.

Then he turned to look at Teacher Rabbit next to him, then stared into the campfire and asked, "Teacher Rabbit, do you think... deep down, I also want to be a monster?"

Hearing this, Teacher Rabbit’s heart skipped a beat.

Immediately after, he heard Zhang Wenda rambling on about what had happened with the invisible red mouse.

"Teacher, you know? Looking at that mouse... it was like I was looking at myself. I even feel like there’s another person hidden inside my body."

Zhang Wenda looked down at his own chest. "It’s like... the me right now isn’t the real me at all."

"Don’t doubt yourself. You are human, not a monster," Teacher Rabbit replied very calmly.

After a moment of silence in the treehouse, Zhang Wenda asked again, "Teacher, is it that I can’t actually turn back into a human? The only reason I’m human right now is because you transferred the monster body away, isn’t it?"

Hearing this, Teacher Rabbit turned to look at him, blinked his red rabbit eyes, and said, "What are you talking about? I don’t understand."

Zhang Wenda smiled, then looked at him with a complicated expression. "Teacher, I’m not an idiot. It’s happened twice now. My body only turns back to normal after you touch me. Even Song Jianguo could’ve figured that out, right?"

"My monster body doesn’t actually shrink back inside me, does it? You transfer it to yourself, right? I used to think your transfer ability could only move injuries, but now it seems that’s not the case."

Recalling the madness in the mouse’s eyes, Zhang Wenda fell silent again. He didn’t want the most important person in his life to bear such a thing.

"Teacher, thank you for giving me this long of a break. It’s enough. Give the real me back. I can handle it."

Hearing Zhang Wenda say this, Teacher Rabbit finally stopped refuting him. "Wenda, you said it yourself before. You wouldn’t refuse another’s good intentions."

"I know, of course I know." Having already guessed that Teacher Rabbit wouldn’t agree, Zhang Wenda immediately tried to approach it from another angle.

"You see the situation we’re in. There are people out to kill us at any moment. We need to be strong enough to protect ourselves."

"No matter where it came from, no matter what side effects it has, it’s better than being dead, right?"

The Big Circle is constantly coming after me. If I’m always in my monster state, my chances of winning will be much higher, no matter what enemy I face.

"Wenda, how about I tell you a story?"

"Teacher, this isn’t a classroom, and I don’t have time for a lecture! I’m serious! I can handle it!" Hearing Zhang Wenda’s voice rise, Song Jianguo, who had been eavesdropping nearby, immediately leaned in, his eyes lighting up.

Regardless of whether Zhang Wenda wanted to listen, Teacher Rabbit began to speak on his own. "The same heavy rain can be a life-or-death catastrophe for a newly sprouted seedling, but for a great tree, it’s merely a bit of wind and frost."

"But some people always think it’s good for the seedling to endure as much wind and rain as possible. But a seedling that goes through such trials is likely to never grow into a mighty tree. It might perish prematurely, and even if it doesn’t, the constant battering from the elements might cause it to grow into a stunted one."

At this, Teacher Rabbit patted Zhang Wenda’s head. "I know you can handle it, but there’s no need. This might be a catastrophe for you, but for us adults, it’s really just a little rain. I’m already soaked. There’s no difference between getting caught in one downpour or two."

"Teacher! I don’t want to be controlled by anyone. I really hate being controlled, in any way, shape, or form," Zhang Wenda said with great seriousness.

Teacher Rabbit was silent for a moment before saying, "Then how about this? When you need this power, I’ll give it back to you. When you no longer need it, I’ll transfer it back again. How does that sound?"

Faced with this proposal, Zhang Wenda asked another question instead.

"Teacher, tell me honestly. Are there side effects to being in monster form all the time? Why are you so against me becoming a monster?"