Infinite Nightmares

Holding three lollipops on a bustling street, Zhang Wenda looked down at the loose change in his hand.

After paying for the candy and his breakfast, he was left with 11.27 yuan.

This was only after adding the 10 yuan his uncle had given him. Without that 10 yuan, he would only have 1.27 yuan left, a truly pathetic amount.

Recently, Song Jianguo had been running around everywhere with him, so he’d had absolutely no time to stop and earn money. His income had completely dried up.

It wasn’t that Zhang Wenda was obsessed with money; he just felt he couldn’t sit back and wait for disaster.

People were already coming after him, and 2826 wasn’t very reliable. Of course, he had to find a way to increase his strength.

And the fastest way to get stronger was to buy it with money. Ten yuan could buy a basic Superpower, though it was pretty much useless.

’Looks like I really have to sell this thing, huh?’ Zhang Wenda pulled the iridescent drop of Oil Bab from his pocket.

He had risked his life to get it, barely surviving, and it was worth a huge sum of 200 yuan. But no matter how reluctant he was to part with it, now was the time.

If he got killed by someone because he wasn’t strong enough, it wouldn’t matter how much money it was worth; it would just get snatched by someone else anyway.

After thinking for a moment by the side of the road, he started to head back.

"Haozi! Haozi!" Zhang Wenda heard someone calling him from behind. He turned and saw his childhood friends, Fatty and Glasses, running toward him with their schoolbags on.

"Haozi, where have you been all this time?" Pan Dongzi asked, panting.

Seeing his old classmates again, a complicated expression crossed Zhang Wenda’s face. Although not much time had passed, so, so much had happened.

"Nowhere special. How about you guys? You all doing okay?"

"Same old, same old. School, then the Youth Palace to watch cartoons. How about you? Are you really not coming back?" Fatty asked with a worried look.

Zhang Wenda looked down at them and smiled. "I can’t go back anymore. You guys should stay in school as long as you can. Trust me, the outside world isn’t as fun as you might think."

"Oh, right. Since we finally got to see each other, I’ll treat you to a big meal." Zhang Wenda pulled a red one-yuan bill from his pocket and handed it over.

Faced with the huge sum of one yuan, the two of them immediately erupted in excited shouts.

"For real? Isn’t your family, like, really poor? Where’d you get so much money?" Fatty asked in surprise.

"Sigh... only you would ask something so tactless. Go on, it’s my treat for everyone. Also, give Teacher Ouyang a message for me. Tell her I’m sorry."

"Okay! Got it. Remember to come over to my place when you’re free! I got a new comic book!"

After a brief exchange, the three of them parted ways again, each heading in their own direction.

Zhang Wenda watched their retreating backs, a complicated look on his face. He didn’t know when it had started, but he and his friends now lived in two different worlds. The world of a child is always so fleeting.

’Maybe we’ll never see each other again. But maybe that’s for the best. It’s better if they never have to experience the things I’ve been through.’

After a moment of reflection, Zhang Wenda turned and left. But after just a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned his head, and looked back at them again. ’Why do they seem a little shorter?’

Fifteen minutes later, Zhang Wenda was back at the base of the treehouse. He didn’t go in, but instead walked over to 2826, who was sitting at a nearby tea stall. "Hey, man. Can I ask you something?"

"What?" Though still a little angry, 2826 answered.

"If the Xinhua Bookstore is a Third Line station, then you should know the purchase requirements for the advanced Superpowers inside, right?"

When it came to spending money to get stronger, the first thing Zhang Wenda thought of were the catalogs he had seen the last time he’d bought a Superpower.

’If ten yuan can buy the most common one, then 200 yuan should be enough to buy the best.’

"You can’t use those. Any Superpower is converted into a Tri-Core before it enters our bodies. Besides, you don’t have the coupons."

"Speaking of which, I was just about to ask you about that. Why can’t we learn Superpowers directly? Why do they all get converted into a Tri-Core?" Zhang Wenda asked, rolling up his sleeve.

picked up his tea, then set it back down. "How do you think the Tri-Core was invented? Superpowers with all their different principles and logics were impossible to utilize. That’s why the Third Line’s researchers figured out a way to convert them all into the Tri-Core. This way, different rituals can be performed for different situations, maximizing their use."

He glanced at Zhang Wenda, then continued, "And don’t forget. Superpowers only exist within Thought Wave One. The concept doesn’t even exist in other Thought Waves. Unless you plan on staying in Thought Wave One for the rest of your life, the Third Line’s system is far more adaptable than any single Superpower."

"Is that how it works?" Zhang Wenda crossed his arms and stroked his chin. ’This Thought Wave One is really strange... No death, but there are Superpowers. Is this what the world of children is like?’

’Since the Xinhua Bookstore is a dead end, the flea market is my only other option.’

Though Zhang Wenda said nothing, 2826 had already guessed where he wanted to go.

"I’d advise you to stay away from places like that. A lot of the stuff they sell has a shady past, and you’ll easily get into trouble."

"For instance?" Zhang Wenda leaned back slightly.

"For instance, the moment you leave, they’ll sell your information to the Big Circle Gang."

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda’s heart skipped a beat. "They... they’re working with the Big Circle Gang?"

"What do you think? Where else would they get the stuff they sell? You could say their biggest clients are organizations like the Big Circle Gang, which can provide a steady supply of goods. A freelancer like you is just a side gig. Do you really think they’d risk offending a major client just to keep your information secret?"

"Besides, don’t you find it strange? You had just bought a Blue Core from there, and people from the Big Circle showed up right on your tail. Do you really think that’s a coincidence?"

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda’s brow furrowed. Although it was just speculation, it was a possibility he couldn’t afford to ignore.

"The Xinhua Bookstore is a no-go, and the black market is a no-go. So, are you saying this drop of Oil Bab is just going to rot in my hands?"

was silent for a moment before speaking. "I’ll take you somewhere you can trade that Oil Bab for some valuable things."

"Where?"

"The International Friendship Store." As he spoke, 2826 pulled four coupons from his pocket and handed them to Zhang Wenda.

"What are these?"

"Foreign exchange certificates. They’re issued internally by the Third Line on a regular basis. You can use these to get into the International Friendship Store. Not only do they buy high-value items like the Oil Bab, they also sell things you can’t get on the outside, including some things that can increase your strength."

"Man! You’re a true brother! You’ve helped me out big time," Zhang Wenda said gratefully. This was a real lifesaver.

snorted. "I’m not worthy of such high praise. After all, I’m just a very useless person who can’t help with anything."