Chapter 3

Unparalleled excitement surged like a raging tide!

His heart was like a stirring war drum, pounding fiercely against his chest...

Every moment was immersed in a dreamlike, intense sense of unreality...

About halfway there, Xia Zhi realized his near-uncontrollable state was inappropriate, so he subconsciously slowed his pace, shifting from a sprint to a walk, striving to suppress his rapid breathing to calm the waves of his mood and emotions.

As if afraid that any slight movement would startle the target ahead.

And after forcing himself to calm down, he quickly realized there was a problem—

Namely, he had not yet figured out how to approach her, nor how to plan his next move.

To be honest, this situation was indeed somewhat rare.

After all, for a very long time, there had been nothing that made him hesitate, whether leaping from an altitude of thirty thousand meters or triggering a US stock market crash in a single day; he would always act without hesitation.

However, the current situation could not be treated the same way.

This was an opportunity not to be missed, likely fleeting, with no room for trial and error. For the same reason, there was no time to weigh and hesitate repeatedly; he could only choose to strike decisively.

After all, after countless repetitions, he had even given up hope, and only in this cycle did he finally see the dawn.

Who could predict whether, once this was missed, there would ever be another chance?

Thinking of this, Xia Zhi couldn't help but take a deep breath, and at the moment his heart pounded violently, a subtle fear quietly arose.

If he hadn't gone out today...

If he hadn't gone out at this time today...

He would probably have missed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that had finally appeared.

Fortunately, that boss who did nothing but cause trouble—from a certain perspective, he should actually thank him...

Buzz—

The phone vibrated again.

While taking deep breaths to adjust his emotions, Xia Zhi didn't even look, ruthlessly hung up the call and directly blacklisted the other side; damn boss, hurry up and die!

He didn't want to be distracted at this time; he had to use this opportunity to try to escape!

A reincarnation that even death could not end was undoubtedly the saddest prison; time would always cycle, tomorrow would never come, and his state would constantly reset, his body always returning to its proper health, his spirit always remaining sound.

Like a calm water surface, no matter how many stones were thrown in, it would eventually return to tranquility.

This meant Xia Zhi didn't even have the option of breaking down; he could only, clear-headed and despairing, welcome that day-after-day hopelessness.

No one could empathize with him or understand his plight.

Naturally, no one would understand what determination a clear-headed madman would erupt with once he saw hope of escape in such a situation.

………………

The target was not far ahead.

The last few short steps suddenly became not so easy to take at this moment.

Xia Zhi was still adjusting his slightly chaotic aura as much as possible, striving to restore steady breathing; although with the help of his powerful emotional regulation ability, he was no longer excited to the point of losing control, he was still somewhat nervous.

After all, the more one cared about something, the more it could stir one's emotions.

While continuing to urge himself to stay calm and composed, he used this brief moment to quickly and carefully size up the opposite side.

—The girl on the opposite side had a head of beautiful silver hair; beneath her bangs were a pair of emerald-green eyes, with a faint scar under her left eye and a faint mark under the outer corner of her left eye, adding a touch of heroism and mystery.

—The shirt and leather armor she wore had a retro vibe, full of rivet elements, and in her hand she held a sword engraved with deep patterns like ancient incantations, shining brightly under the sunlight and flashing with cold radiance.

Indeed quite eye-catching; walking down the street, she would be a conspicuous person.

If she appeared somewhere like a comic convention, this outfit could naturally blend into the environment, but in the situation before her eyes, it was quite debatable.

Especially that sword, obviously a peerlessly sharp weapon that had been carefully honed; anyone with a normal head probably wouldn't carry this kind of controlled knife around while shopping.

So Xia Zhi didn't think in the direction of "cosplay" at all, but directly assumed the opposite side was for real, and in an instant didn't know how many things he had associated.

A transmigrator?

Seems plausible too; what hope was there in this hopeless world? If there really was any, it could only be pinned on power from the outside world.

Just like sinking in a swamp of despair, weeds equally drowned in the swamp couldn't be relied on; only those outside the swamp might perhaps extend a helping hand to pull him out...

She should be able to lend a hand, right?

After all, being able to transmigrate over, wasn't there a possibility of transmigrating back?

Xia Zhi's mind was in turmoil, who knew how many chaotic thoughts surged, filled with anxiety.

The transmigrator opposite was vigilantly scrutinizing the surroundings, carefully observing the environment around her. Her eyes were filled with obvious vigilance and caution, like a leopard with nerves on edge, sharply scanning everything around.

That gaze naturally swept over Xia Zhi in front.

This also meant negotiations were about to begin.

Xia Zhi somewhat reluctantly moved his gaze away from the sword body in the other's hand, simply no longer worrying about how to say the opening line. Anyway, the language probably wouldn't be understood; the main thing was to show his attitude and express the desire to negotiate.

Just like that! Just go for it!

No matter what changes would be triggered next, it was always better than no change!

Anyway, even if the situation got worse, it probably wouldn't be worse than his current predicament...

He squeezed out a businesslike professional smile, trying to keep his tone calm, but couldn't suppress the lightheartedness within, just like his mood at this moment, and simply opened his mouth to say a greeting—

"Hello."

This was exactly a most ordinary greeting.

However, the effect it brought was unexpected, and the other side's reaction was even more astonishingly intense.

"..."

"..."

After a brief sudden silence.

Xia Zhi watched with his own eyes as the transmigrator opposite reacted, like a cat with its fur blown up, as if someone had stepped on its tail, the whole person suddenly sprang up... but not to attack, instead she violently retreated backward!

Wait! What's going on?!

The reaction from the Opposite Side naturally left him somewhat stunned.

At the moment he decided to speak, Xia Zhi had already preset various possible plot developments, even prepared to face possible attacks, yet he never expected things would unfold in such a strange manner.

Why would the other party be frightened? Just now weren't they still very calm, directly sweeping their Gaze over him, as if completely unconcerned?

Compared to this abnormal bizarre reaction, the teleportation-like special ability the other party displayed seemed less important instead.

In the very next moment, the trajectory depicted by the white light quietly disappeared, and that white-haired figure, after pulling away Distance, immediately moved again, an abnormally dazzling light Flashing in the alley, like Stars breaking dawn.

"Hey! Wait——!!"

No time to think too much, Xia Zhi's Expression instantly changed, he clearly Perceived it was an oval-shaped flash, from its Outline it looked more like a "Channel" or "Door" formed in an instant.

——Could it really Transmigrate back?

——Wait! I haven't gotten on yet!!

This unprecedented intense thought pierced through Rationality and contemplation like Lightning, his body moved before his brain issued the command, exploding with unprecedented speed in the instant of thought to rush over!!

Although the contact process was not Smooth, the negotiation plan also ended in failure, the entire event's evolution was even more chaotic and incomprehensible……

But none of that matters! Not one bit!

What truly matters is the possibility the other party revealed! The possibility of escaping this Despair World!

This was his Target from the start! To some Extent, the current situation before his eyes could be called not Smooth, or perhaps could be called too Smooth…… like skipping the process and directly achieving the goal?

The only problem lies in whether he can seize it……

————

————

Light……

Curve……

Time and matter……

All manner of vast information, accompanied by incomprehensible scenes, surged together into the depths of the brain, as if the whole World shattered before his eyes, yet in an instant reconstructed in the ocean of thought and Consciousness.

————

————

Unable to determine how much time had passed.

As if floating in unperceiving Darkness for countless centuries.

Xia Zhi's perception seemed to revive in an instant at a certain moment, like awakening suddenly after enduring long nothingness, becoming aware of his own Existence and capacity to think.

So Sudden, like a bolt of Lightning suddenly cutting through a chaotic world.

Precisely because it was so Sudden, it gave him no time to recall, nor let him figure out his condition. The Next Moment, he felt himself pass through unperceiving Darkness in one go, regaining gravity!

——The light is blinding.

——There seems to be Wind sound by the ear.

Reaction time too brief, and can't see anything, the things that can be done are really very limited.

Xia Zhi instinctively Adopted a tactical defensive posture, to protect head and vital points, and curled his body as tight as possible, preparing to welcome possible Impact…… Next Second, as if a stirring symphony movement rang out.

Clatter clatter, crackle crackle, a continuous series of collision melodies Reverberated endlessly in the Air.

He doesn't know what he knocked over along the way, nor how many things smashed onto his body, dense as raindrops.

Fortunately no overly Pointed Sharp objects, and his Impact and speed all came from that final moment's flying pounce, still within tolerable range, no added Danger coefficient.

The chaotic clamor lasted a good while before finally Subsiding.

"……"

"……"

Brief tranquility.

Under the dim light Environment, the space appeared exceptionally compact and deep, this was largely because those bookshelves packed row upon row, occupying almost all space. Clearly visible was a row of bookshelves toppled horizontally on the ground, books scattered all around.

A complete mess, chaotic beyond measure.

Not long after, a sound came again, those books piled like a small Mountain slid down like an avalanche, among them Xia Zhi struggled to raise his head, panting violently, breathing in large gulps of Air.

Although he nearly passed out, fortunately he wasn't buried alive in the book pile, but he was clearly very excited.

Good! Safe landing!

Although some minor scrapes, completely no problem!

The change in surrounding Environment was truly uplifting, simply like a scene Switch in a movie, skyscrapers, neon lights, the City of cars, suddenly vanished without a trace, replaced by this mysterious Library-like space.

Since a spatial Transfer occurred, then this should count as……

Successfully passing through the "Door"?

This most concerned question Flashed through his Mors Brain, he Subconsciously quickly Casual Scanned the Surroundings, examining the surrounding Environment, Immediately his Gaze slightly froze, pupils that had just adapted to the light change contracted——

Right in Front not far away, through the Window, Outside World light shone in.

By the Window was a desk, stacked with piles of very high books.

Before the desk was a crescent-shaped seat, a slender figure sat there, surrounded by extremely tall bookshelves.

Upright bearing, exquisite features, with a head of shoulder-length Gold Box hair and emerald green Pupils, a doll-like girl pursing her Lips, also watching this side, Expression seeming stunned yet puzzled.

After all she was just quietly reading, an uninvited guest crashed into the Library without warning, knocked over bookshelves, made such a huge commotion.

Too Unexpected, caught her off guard too.

"……"

"……"

Both sides staring wide-eyed at each other, neither speaking.

Awkward silence aura! Activate!

Xia Zhi pulled at the corner of his mouth; this scene was a bit awkward, leaving him momentarily unsure what to say. Although many excuses flashed through his mind, none were appropriate, and moreover he estimated that even if he spoke them the other party wouldn't understand.

However, he also counted as well-informed and widely experienced, and before crossing over he had already gained realization, so he simply didn't hesitate, directly standing up from the pile of books.

Books slid down one after another, making noise; he acted like nothing had happened, patting the clothes on his body, and by the time he raised his head again, his face already wore a very sincere smile, a very embarrassed appearance:

"Sorry sorry, giving you trouble... I am Xia Zhi, may I ask your Designated Title?"

Expression sincere, tone earnest, first expressing his attitude of friendly communication.

But helplessly the languages didn't connect, truly regrettable.

"..."

"..."

Again a Naturally silence, the scene once more even more awkward.

Just when in Xia Zhi's heart he subconsciously thought "Indeed so", believing the other party couldn't understand —

"Vivian... I am called Vivian."

The girl with a strange gaze sized up that seemingly sincere expression on his face, pursed her lips, just as if she were a sheltered young lady who had never seen the Outside World, who would also hold goodwill toward unfamiliar things, with a stream-like pleasant voice she whispered:

"You can also call me Meng."

"..."

"..."

The Library interior once again fell into the usual tranquility; through the Window, the Outside World's scenery also seemed eternally unchanging.

Under a Sky like Twilight, towered a giant World Tree.

(Chapter End)