No more sleep.

  Li Ming jumped from bed, moving too fast, knee hitting the bedframe, pain making him grimace. He ignored it, walking to the window, pushing it open with one motion. The wooden frame squealed, morning cold wind pouring in, cutting his face like knives—but he felt no pain, nerves too taut for pain signals to register.

  "Must stay awake."

  He pinched himself, pain shooting through his arm. It worked, but briefly. Soon that groggy feeling returned, like someone pouring lead into his brain.

  "Need another method."

  Li Ming began searching the room, rummaging through wardrobe, drawers, beneath the bed. The original's memories held something called "Wakefulness Pills" for outer disciples—kept you awake for several hours, cheap too, three pills for one spirit stone. But he didn't have any. Among the original's meager possessions, the most valuable were three low-grade spirit stones—not even enough for one pill.

  "Three spirit stones..."

  He pulled them out, looking at the three gray stones in his hand, faint spiritual energy flowing within, like light swimming inside. Low-grade spirit stones, the lowest quality, thin spiritual energy, lots of impurities.

  "Can I exchange for Wakefulness Pills?"

  Li Ming thought. The original's memories held a black market in the outer sect, dealing various pills and magical tools. Located in a cave at the back mountain edge, open daily from Xu hour to Zi hour. But it was illegal—caught by Law Enforcement Hall meant one month confinement, plus confiscation of all spirit stones.

  "Law Enforcement Hall is already hunting me anyway."

  He laughed bitterly, tucking the spirit stones into his robes against his chest, then straightened his clothes and pushed open the door.

  As soon as he left his room, he felt someone watching him.

  Not yesterday's gaze—a new one. More concealed, more... familiar?

  Li Ming turned, seeing Wang Hu standing behind a distant tree, half-hidden, waving at him. Wang Hu looked nervous, constantly checking both sides, like guarding against something.

  "Come here." Wang Hu whispered, barely audible.

  Li Ming hesitated, then approached. Wang Hu didn't look like he meant harm—more like... fleeing?

  "What are you doing here?" Li Ming asked when close. "Not afraid Chen Feng will find you?"

  "Chen Feng is sleeping at the library." Wang Hu said, tone urgent. "He knows you won't come early, so he's resting."

  "You know he's waiting?"

  "I know many things." Wang Hu said, eyes drifting. "Like... Law Enforcement Hall chased you last night."

  "You know that too?" Li Ming's heart tightened.

  "In Qingyun Sect, many eyes exist." Wang Hu said. "Some belong to players, some to Cleaners, some... to the sect itself. Your every move might be watched."

  "Which kind are you?" Li Ming stared into his eyes.

  Wang Hu was silent several seconds, like weighing something. Finally he said: "I'm a player's."

  "How do you prove it?"

  "I can't." Wang Hu shook his head. "Just like you can't prove you're not a Cleaner. In this game, nobody can be trusted, only yourself."

  Li Ming said nothing, helplessness rising in his chest.

  "But..." Wang Hu pulled a small bottle from his robes. "This can prove."

  "What?"

  "Wakefulness Pills." Wang Hu said, pressing the bottle into Li Ming's hand. "I know you can't sleep tonight. These last six hours. Enough to get you through tomorrow."

  Li Ming took the bottle, pulling out the stopper. A cool scent emerged, like mint, like something else, smelling instantly refreshing.

  "Why help me?" Li Ming asked.

  "Because..." Wang Hu paused, expression growing complex. "Because I owe someone a favor."

  "Which one?"

  "The one who died before me." Wang Hu said, voice soft. "Before dying, he said if I met a new player, help if I could. He said... someone had to do it, or this game couldn't be played."

  "What's his name?"

  "Don't know." Wang Hu shook his head. "He only told me his player number... Player 233."

  Li Ming's heart shook.

  233, far from 487. Meaning before Wang Hu arrived, over two hundred players had already died?

  "Then..."

  "Don't ask." Wang Hu interrupted him. "Take the pills, go quickly. Handle Chen Feng yourself. Law Enforcement Hall... I'll help draw them away."

  "Why?"

  "Because..." Wang Hu paused. "Because I'm also going to the library today."

  "For what?"

  "Stealing books." Wang Hu admitted, no concealment. "Same books as Chen Feng. *Advanced Qi Circulation Method*, *Spiritual Energy Circulation Detailed Explanation*."

  "You also..."

  "But not for him." Wang Hu shook his head. "For myself. I have my own plans."

  Then he turned and left, walking fast, like afraid of being discovered.

  Li Ming stood there, watching his back disappear into the trees, clutching the small bottle. Palm-sized, glass, glinting in sunlight.

  "Wakefulness Pills..."

  He pulled out the stopper, sniffing. The cool scent rushed to his brain, like cold wind blowing through his mind, instantly alert. That groggy feeling vanished, replaced by... excitement? Like drinking three cups of coffee, hyper-focused, thoughts racing faster.

  "This effect..."

  Li Ming felt his thinking become exceptionally clear, like an overclocked CPU. He could think about multiple things simultaneously, simulate code running in his mind, predict what might happen next.

  "Must go to the library."

  He checked the sky—Si hour had passed, sun overhead, probably Wu hour. Chen Feng said he'd wait, but didn't say until when.

  Li Ming walked toward the library, passing several outer disciples who looked at him strangely. Some whispered, some pointed, some simply avoided him, like he carried plague.

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  "Heard Law Enforcement Hall issued a warrant for him."

  "Really? Why?"

  "Said he trespassed forbidden zones, assaulted Law Enforcement Hall."

  "And he dares come out?"

  "Don't know, maybe running. Or... looking for a scapegoat?"

  Li Ming pretended not to hear, walking straight ahead. His steps were steady, face expressionless, but palm sweating.

  When he reached the library entrance, Chen Feng was already gone.

  "You're late."

  A voice came from behind, very close, like speaking in his ear.

  Li Ming turned. Chen Feng leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, expression bland, eyes coldly watching him. Noon sunlight fell on him, stretching his shadow long like a blade.

  "Went to buy something." Li Ming said, keeping his voice calm.

  "Wakefulness Pills?" Chen Feng smiled, something playful in the expression. "Wang Hu gave them?"

  Li Ming's heart tightened: "You know?"

  "I know many things." Chen Feng said, eyes sharpening. "Just like you know many things. In this game, no secrets exist."

  "Then do you know..." Li Ming paused. "Wang Hu is also a player?"

  "I know." Chen Feng said, tone flat. "Player 487, arrived two months after me."

  "Then you..."

  "I'm Player 073." Chen Feng said. "Arrived one year before you."

  Li Ming's eyes went wide, mouth forming an O.

  One year? Then how did Chen Feng... survive until now? By Wang Hu's account, over two hundred died monthly—in one year... how many deaths?

  "Surprised?" Chen Feng laughed, this smile not mocking but... resigned? "Let me tell you, this game... isn't about who's strongest, it's about who lives longest. Whoever lives to the end wins."

  "Then how did you..."

  "Become an Executor?" Chen Feng finished, like anticipating the question. "Because I made a choice."

  "What choice?"

  "Surrender." Chen Feng said, two words spoken lightly. "I surrendered, became part of the game."

  "So you're..."

  "A Cleaner?" Chen Feng shook his head. "No, I said I'm an Executor. Cleaners are NPCs, following programs. I'm... a fallen player."

  Li Ming clenched his fist, nails digging into flesh, palm bleeding.

  "Then why help me?"

  "Because..." Chen Feng paused, eyes drifting distant. "Because I need teammates."

  "Fallen players need teammates too?"

  "Fallen players need them more." Chen Feng said. "Because other players want to kill me, Cleaners don't trust me either. I... belong to neither side."

  Li Ming fell silent.

  Chen Feng's words differed from before. Previously threatening, coercive—now like speaking from the heart. But this could be acting? Chen Feng was an Executor, could his words be trusted?

  "The books?" Chen Feng asked. "Real ones this time?"

  Li Ming pulled the paper from his robes, handing it over. Crumpled from his grip, densely covered in crooked code.

  Chen Feng took it, opening, glancing once.

  Then his expression changed.

  Eyes widening, mouth corner twitching.

  "Fake again?"

  "Not fake this time." Li Ming said, tone certain. "It's... incomplete."

  "What does that mean?"

  "The real *Advanced Qi Circulation Method* has bugs." Li Ming said. "You've seen the complete version? No, right?"

  Chen Feng was silent several seconds, expression growing complex: "No."

  "There you go." Li Ming said. "Books in the library are all incomplete. Where's the complete version...?"

  Chen Feng stared at him for a long time. Wind blew, library wind chimes ringing, breaking the silence.

  "You really want to know?"

  "Yes." Li Ming said, no hesitation.

  "Then I'll tell you." Chen Feng said. "Complete techniques are in..."

  He paused, like hesitating whether to say.

  "The inner sect." Chen Feng finally spoke. "Only inner sect disciples can learn complete techniques. Outer disciples... all get defective versions. Deliberately defective."

  "Why?"

  "Because the sect fears." Chen Feng said, eyes turning gloomy. "Fears outer disciples learning complete techniques, then... seeing things they shouldn't."

  "Seeing what?"

  "Code." Chen Feng said. "This world's... source code."

  Li Ming's heart jumped—thump thump thump—like bursting from his chest.

  "You can... also see?"

  "Yes." Chen Feng said. "But my version is higher than yours. Code Cultivation System v0.5.1, you're v0.1.0-alpha, right?"

  Li Ming said nothing, heart still racing.

  "Higher version means seeing more." Chen Feng continued. "But also more dangerous. Because the more you know, the more others want to kill you."

  "Why?"

  "Because..." Chen Feng paused. "Because the system itself... is also code."

  Li Ming froze, like struck by lightning.

  The system was also code?

  Then... who could modify the system? Game administrators?

  "You want to ask who can modify the system." Chen Feng said, like reading his mind. "The answer is... game administrators."

  "Who are the game administrators?"

  "Don't know." Chen Feng admitted, shaking his head. "I searched one year, never found. But I believe... definitely within Qingyun Sect."

  "Why?"

  "Because..." Chen Feng pointed at the ground beneath them. "Because Qingyun Sect... is a testing ground."

  "Testing ground?"

  "For testing players." Chen Feng said. "Over a thousand players thrown here, seeing who survives, who can... find the truth. It's a screening process."

  "Then what's the reward for surviving?"

  "Don't know." Chen Feng said. "But I heard... someone cleared it before."

  "Who?"

  "Old Zhou." Chen Feng said, admiration in his tone. "He said he cleared it, but then... came back."

  "Came back?"

  "Yes." Chen Feng nodded. "He said clearing wasn't leaving, but... becoming part of the game. He chose to return, become a Guide, help new players."

  Ice ran down Li Ming's back, like cold water flowing down his spine.

  "Then you're..."

  "I want to become." Chen Feng said, eyes turning determined. "Because only by becoming part of the game can I... modify the rules."

  "Modify what rules?"

  "Death rules." Chen Feng said. "I don't want to see players... crushed like bugs anymore. Player 233 died before me, I... couldn't save him."

  Li Ming fell silent.

  Chen Feng's words differed from before. Previously threatening, coercive—now like confessing. But this could be acting? Chen Feng was an Executor, could his words be trusted?

  "You're acting." Li Ming said, voice cold.

  "What?"

  "Acting." Li Ming repeated, staring into Chen Feng's eyes. "Previously threatening me, now telling me these things... you're testing me, seeing if I'll believe you."

  Chen Feng smiled.

  "Clever." He said, this smile carrying appreciation. "But what I said... was all true. I have no reason to deceive you, because we... are on the same side."

  "Then how do I trust?"

  "You can't." Chen Feng said. "Just like I can't trust you. But..."

  He paused, expression turning serious.

  "But we have no choice." Chen Feng said. "Cooperate or die. Which do you choose?"

  Li Ming looked at Chen Feng for a long time. Noon sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting mottled shadows across Chen Feng's face.

  "I'll give you the books." Li Ming said. "But you must do something for me."

  "What?"

  "Help me investigate someone." Li Ming said. "Player 233, the one Wang Hu said died before him. I want to know... how he died, and what he saw... before dying."

  Chen Feng was silent several seconds, like weighing something. Finally he nodded.

  "Fine." He said. "Three days, I'll give you an answer. If I'm still alive."

  "Then the books..."

  "I'll take them." Chen Feng tucked the paper into his robes. "But remember, tomorrow... bring real ones."

  "What's real?"

  "You know." Chen Feng said. "Complete code, not defective."

  "Then how do I get complete ones?"

  "Go to the inner sect." Chen Feng said. "Outer disciples have monthly inner sect assessments—pass, and you can enter."

  "When?"

  "First day of next month." Chen Feng said. "Twenty days from now."

  "Then these twenty days..."

  "Survive." Chen Feng said. "Don't get caught by Law Enforcement Hall, don't get killed by Cleaners, don't... fall asleep in dreams. Remember, Cleaners have many attack methods—dream intrusion is just one."

  Then he turned and left, footsteps tap tap tap, quickly vanishing behind the library.

  Li Ming stood there, watching his back disappear, palm covered in cold sweat.

  "First day of next month..."

  He clenched his fist, nails digging into flesh, palm bleeding.

  "Twenty days..."

  He turned back.

  As he reached the outer sect district, he felt—

  The pills wore off.

  Drowsiness surged like tide, eyelids heavy as lead, even lifting his head was difficult. Mind growing groggy, thoughts slowing, like being dragged by something.

  "Damn."

  Li Ming cursed, pinching himself, leaving a red mark on his arm.

  It worked, but effects grew shorter. Wakefulness Pills lasted only six hours—time was up.

  "Need to find somewhere..."

  He looked around, seeing a pavilion in the distance, built beside a pond, willows planted around, wind blowing through swaying branches.

  "Go there to sleep... no, to rest."

  Li Ming walked toward the pavilion, steps staggering, like drunk.

  Halfway there, he couldn't hold on.

  Legs giving way, knees hitting stone pavement, pain making him gasp.

  "Can't sleep..."

  He bit his tongue, pain bringing momentary clarity, metallic blood taste spreading.

  But the next second, darkness swallowed him.

  His body tilted, falling into grass. Consciousness sank rapidly, like falling into an abyss.

  In the final moment before losing awareness, he heard a voice, like coming from far away, or emerging from deep in his mind:

  "Player 1025, dream intrusion complete."

  "Beginning... memory synchronization."

  Then, nothing.

  What Li Ming didn't know was that after he collapsed, a dark figure emerged from behind a tree.

  It was Old Zhou.

  The old man in gray robes, wooden staff in hand, slowly walked to Li Ming's side. He looked at Li Ming's body, expression complex—resignation, apology, and... determination?

  "Sorry." Old Zhou said, voice soft. "But I must do this."

  He reached out, touching Li Ming's forehead. The stone at his staff's tip glowed pale blue, conspicuous in sunlight.

  "Some truths... you cannot know now." Old Zhou said. "Knowing... would kill you."

  "At least not now."

  "When you're strong enough, when you can face it, I'll tell you everything."

  Then he vanished into the trees, walking fast, quickly out of sight.

  And in a place Li Ming couldn't see, the system interface automatically appeared before him, new code being written, golden, glinting in sunlight:

  ```

  [Li_Ming_Status.py]

  def memory_sync():

  status = "IN_PROGRESS" # synchronizing

  progress = 0.03 # 3%

  estimated_time = "20 days" # estimated 20 days

  target = "Player 1025"

  source = "System_Gate_001"

  purpose = "FAIRNESS_ADJUSTMENT" # fairness adjustment

  ```

  Twenty days.

  Same day as the inner sect assessment on the first of next month.

  This couldn't be coincidence.

  Someone was arranging all this.