Infinite Nightmares

Zhang Wenda nodded in satisfaction as he watched the Wai Mushroom gradually recover. It wouldn’t be long before it was edible again.

’Although this thing is a bit indiscriminate when you use it, you have to admit it’s extremely useful at critical moments.’

Just then, Great Aunt followed him to the cave entrance. She watched the writhing mushroom and asked, feigning casualness, "Kid, about what I told you earlier... we don’t necessarily have to make this deal."

Zhang Wenda looked at her in surprise. "What do you mean by that? We already agreed, don’t change your mind now."

Great Aunt thought for a moment before speaking again. "What do you think of Mimi?"

"Her? What about her? She’s willful, selfish, unreasonable, and cruel. It’s a good thing I have her under control. If this were a xianxia novel, she’d be an early to mid-stage villain, no question."

"Everyone has their flaws. You could try looking at her good points."

"But doesn’t she have a few too many flaws?"

Spotting Song Jianguo in the distance walking along the eaves with several cats and a bag of food, Great Aunt sighed and said nothing more.

Song Jianguo had bought takeout in white styrofoam containers. Who knew where she got them from. The box she gave to Zhang Wenda was entirely vegetarian, but hers was piled high with braised pork.

Completely ignoring her protests, Zhang Wenda used his chopsticks to scoop more than half of the braised pork into his own container.

Watching from the side, Great Aunt sighed, her expression incredibly complex.

The day passed just like that. Zhang Wenda had expected the Big Circle to send someone for him soon, but by the end of the second day, no one had made contact.

One day bled into the next, to the point that Song Jianguo’s monthly visitor had nearly come and gone, but still, no one came for him.

’Did the Big Circle kick me out because I hogged all the loot?’ Zhang Wenda couldn’t sleep in the treehouse, his mind racing.

Not a single cat was near him. Ever since he’d turned into a monster, they seemed to sense the danger. Even Black Coal no longer came to cover his navel while he slept.

’So, if the Big Circle doesn’t come for me in the next few days, does that mean my mission is considered complete? Can I go back now?’

However, just as Zhang Wenda was entertaining these happy thoughts, even getting a little excited, a black crow at the cave entrance suddenly made him freeze.

’Its arrival hadn’t even alerted the Black Cat on watch. This is Tang Xingxiong’s Crow.’

As Zhang Wenda watched, the Crow hopped onto the rim of the Wai Mushroom’s pot, tilting its head to carefully inspect the dusty gray mushroom.

SNAP! The Crow’s black beak took a bite right out of the regenerated mushroom cap.

"Hey!" Just as Zhang Wenda’s shout woke Song Jianguo and Great Aunt from the pile of cats, the Crow flapped its wings and landed on his shoulder.

"This won’t do. There are rules everywhere," Tang Xingxiong’s voice emanated from the Crow’s beak.

"Weren’t you the one who told me we need to break free from our shackles and create our own ideology?" Zhang Wenda asked, playing dumb.

"Don’t play games. You know what I’m talking about." Tang Xingxiong’s voice had lost its earlier casualness, replaced by a stern edge.

"This isn’t like the Big Circle you described," Zhang Wenda replied calmly. ’He knew he had to go back, and she knew it too, but some things still required going through the motions.’

"I’m the one who recruited you. What you did puts me in a very difficult position. I hope this is the last time. I’m being reasonable here. But the boss... he isn’t in a good mood every day. If he decides to get serious with you, you’ll be in a world of trouble."

Hearing her say she had recruited him, Zhang Wenda changed his tack. "Oh? I was under the impression that casually selling out teammates was standard procedure in the Big Circle."

"Stop with the clever tricks. Play smart, and you’ll pay for it sooner or later." As she spoke, Tang Xingxiong herself entered from outside, clad in a black bodysuit.

Unlike their last encounter, the Crow’s nest was now adorned with several glowing trinkets. It was unclear if the Crow had collected them or if they were Tang Xingxiong’s own decorations.

"So what exactly are the rules of the Big Circle? Just spell them out, and I won’t break them. But you said I’m your man? Does that mean I have a backer in the Big Circle now?"

Tang Xingxiong ignored his question, changing the subject instead. "That said, you going a little overboard this time isn’t a huge deal. After all, people with ambition are more likely to be put in important positions within the Big Circle."

"Is that so?" Zhang Wenda chuckled.

Just when Zhang Wenda thought the whole process was nearly over, Tang Xingxiong spoke up. "I heard you traded for some intel on improving your strength? Not bad. Let me have a look, I’ll vet it for you."

Zhang Wenda’s brow furrowed. "How did you know?"

"The Big Circle has eyes and ears in the market. Now, let me see it."

’This was obviously the fake intel that Third Line had spread.’ Since he had no use for it anyway, he wasn’t too concerned. He simply took the paper out of his enamel mug and handed it over.

The Crow on Zhang Wenda’s shoulder snatched the paper and flew it back to the nest. The paper was unfurled, and six crow eyes scanned it for a moment before one of them picked it up and returned it to Zhang Wenda’s hand.

"What was that about?" Zhang Wenda was completely baffled.

"What was it about? I’ve helped you with it," Tang Xingxiong said, turning to walk out of the treehouse.

"Since you’re my man now, I might as well resolve this for you. Your power was a bit lacking before. If you can raise it by one more level, then you might actually become useful."

As Tang Xingxiong left, a confused Great Aunt walked over. "What was that all about, kid?"

But right then, Zhang Wenda had no idea what was happening either. Everything had happened too fast. This wasn’t how he’d predicted things would go at all.

’I was supposed to get back in touch with the Big Circle, admit I was wrong, and at worst, split some of the money with Liu Jianming and Hu Maomao before finally being allowed back in. That’s how it should have played out.’

To be honest, this situation had completely blindsided Zhang Wenda, filling him with a vague sense of unease. He couldn’t shake the feeling that things weren’t so simple.

’But why would Tang Xingxiong suddenly help me? How can I be sure she’s actually helping me improve my strength out of goodwill, and not for some ulterior motive?’

’Other possibilities were manageable, but the worst-case scenario was that our identities had been discovered, and Tang Xingxiong was leading us to a place for a secret execution.’

"Hurry up! What are you waiting for? Fuck!" Saber’s voice, laced with curses, echoed from outside the cave.

Zhang Wenda steeled himself and leaped toward the cave entrance.