Infinite Nightmares

Zhang Wenda apologetically pushed the can in his hands back to the Lamp God. "I’m so sorry. She’s just a kid and doesn’t know any better. Please don’t take it personally."

Song Jianguo had a collar around her neck; she couldn’t run far. If Zhang Wenda wanted her to obey, all it would take was a single command.

The Lamp God clutched the can, glancing hesitantly at Song Jianguo, who was still glaring at him like a predator. "Are... are you two playing me? A good cop, bad cop routine?"

"Of course not! Come on, do I seem like that kind of person?" Zhang Wenda said, enthusiastically pulling him forward a couple of steps. "By the way, do you have any leads on the Oil Bab?"

"If I say no, is your cat going to snatch my stuff again?" the Lamp God asked hesitantly.

"No, of course not. Didn’t I already say? We’re friends. Why would I rob a friend?"

Zhang Wenda tried to throw an arm around the Lamp God’s shoulders in a friendly gesture, but their height difference made the attempt look rather comical.

"Er... alright, I’ll trust you for now." The Lamp God stuffed the squashed enamel tea mug into his pocket and stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"The Oil Bab... let me think. That thing’s not easy to get your hands on. It’s the device that can turn water into oil, after all."

"Alright, seeing as we’re friends, I’ll give you a useful piece of information. That thing you saw in the market earlier was a fake. The real Oil Bab is a controlled item. Even in this world, it’s illegal. No one would dare display it out in the open."

"Really? What else? Where can I get one?" Zhang Wenda pressed.

"If you’re still looking for it now, your only option is to try your luck on the dark web. A friend of mine said he saw one there not too long ago," the Lamp God said, naming an unexpected place.

"The dark web? Where’s that?" Zhang Wenda’s heart skipped a beat.

The Lamp God glanced around before lowering his voice. "Are you sure you want to go there? That place doesn’t have a firewall like we do here. It’s extremely dangerous inside."

"Kid, out here, the worst you’ll run into are scams and swindles. But that place is different. People actually die in there."

After a moment of serious thought, Zhang Wenda replied, "I want to try."

"But what exactly are these rules you’re trying to fight? Is it really worth risking your life over?"

Seeing Zhang Wenda’s determination, the Lamp God’s voice held a rare trace of concern.

Zhang Wenda sighed. "I have to obey these rules right now. If I break even one, it’ll make my life a living hell."

"Then just don’t break them. Simple, right? Why do you have to defy them?" the Lamp God said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"If there are rules, just follow them carefully. Why do you have to fight against them? As long as you obey the rules, nothing bad will happen, right?"

Song Jianguo sidled closer as well. "I’ve actually been wondering the same thing. You seem to really hate these rules, but they haven’t really interfered with you that much, have they?"

Zhang Wenda gave them a strange look. "Why would you think that? There’s some bizarre rule that’s been slapped on you like a shackle, and you’re just willing to accept it?"

The aunt, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. "We’re not willing to accept it. But compared to risking our lives in a place like the dark web, having our actions restricted a little doesn’t seem so bad, does it?"

Zhang Wenda stared in shock at the group who had suddenly turned against him, his voice rising. "I just don’t like it, okay?! I just don’t! I don’t even know why!"

He whipped his head back to the Lamp God. "Tell me. The entrance to that place."

Seeing the look on Zhang Wenda’s face, however, the Lamp God shook his head firmly. "No. Seeing you like this, I really can’t tell you."

"What? Didn’t you say you were my friend? Is this how you treat a friend?"

The Lamp God nodded knowingly. "It’s precisely because I actually consider you a friend now that I won’t tell you. If you were still acting like you were before, I would’ve told you without a second thought and let you go get yourself killed."

The aunt pulled Song Jianguo behind her, her expression uncharacteristically serious. "Kid, Mimi might be forced to obey you, but I’m not wearing a collar. As her aunt, and as an elder, I won’t let you lead her to her death."

Zhang Wenda stared at the three of them in disbelief, then nodded with a look of bitter understanding. "Fine. Fine, fine, fine. If none of you will go, I’ll go by myself. I can still figure things out without you!"

With that, he shook them off, pushed his way through the pedestrians in front of him, and stormed ahead.

Following the flea market to its end, Zhang Wenda pushed aside a thick curtain of dog fur and found himself back under the banyan tree. The constant SHHH SHHH SHHH of writing filled the air, surrounded on all sides by people with their heads down, scribbling away.

Just as Zhang Wenda was about to walk past them, the aunt’s voice came from behind him. "Is it because of your future that you’re so resistant to being controlled?"

He turned to see the aunt standing there alone, watching him calmly. "You seem to know what happens in your future."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Zhang Wenda muttered, lowering his head and starting to walk away from the tree.

"The rabbit said you’re not an elementary schooler, and you don’t act like a child in the slightest. Plus, it seems something is wrong with your future self. Add to that how easily triggered you are... honestly, you’re even easier to read than Mimi."

Zhang Wenda froze, his voice low. "It seems you’re smarter than you look."

"Mimi is just a child. As her elder, it’s my duty to be a little more thoughtful on her behalf, isn’t it?"

"I don’t know what you’ve been through, but don’t make impulsive decisions when things get tough. You might just make the situation even worse."

Zhang Wenda was silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "I was once locked up in an internet addiction school. That’s... that was after I tried to run away and they caught me."

"I don’t know if this reaction of mine is related to that experience. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t."

"Can you tell me what happened?" The aunt reached out and gently patted Zhang Wenda’s shoulder.

Zhang Wenda opened his mouth, but then closed it again, his expression pained. "Forget it. It’s all in the past. It was nothing... just beatings and stuff. I got used to it."

"Don’t let the past affect your present. What’s past is past. Just focus on living well now. Don’t go to the dark web. Neither Mimi nor I want you to throw your life away there."

The aunt’s words calmed Zhang Wenda down. He began to seriously consider whether his reaction to the rules was too extreme, to the point of being willing to risk his life.

’Should I go back? Go back and just carefully obey the rules? As long as I don’t trigger them, I can probably survive.’

Zhang Wenda didn’t move. And the aunt stood there, quietly keeping him company.