Chapter 31

Chapter 31

"Hello?"

Ji Xinghai held the phone, the screen lit up with the words 'Call in Progress', and the contact was 'JiuZhou'. It was a communication from the outside world, but his gaze didn't linger there. It passed through the willow branches swaying in the wind to meet the blurry silhouette on the wooden bridge.

Compared to the voice from the outside world, he was more intrigued by this 'guest'.

The wind carried an unusual fragrance, as if it were a summer morning sitting in a courtyard filled with blooming flowers, a freshly washed white shirt hanging on a line gently moved by the breeze. He swayed lightly on a rattan chair laid over cool mats, inhaling the clean, refreshing scent of soap mixed with the floral aroma.

It wasn't the smell of food, yet he felt hungry.

"We've received your gift, Ji Xinghai, and everyone here at JiuZhou is very grateful and fond of you."

A hearty voice of a middle-aged or elderly man came from the other end of the call, authoritative yet warm, interrupting Ji Xinghai's thoughts.

Ji Xinghai continued to look into the distance, his inner world calm.

It was the government of this world, the one that belonged to this body, contacting him. But he wasn't adept at dealing with politicians; their minds were more tangled than balls of yarn, requiring constant guessing, which would kill a bunch of brain cells each time.

Why were they contacting him?

Ji Xinghai pondered several possibilities, furrowing his brow before revealing a somewhat wicked smile: What kind of government did this world have? If they wanted to control him, they were bound to be disappointed.

As he thought, he casually picked up a fallen leaf from the ground. When he released his hand, the leaf flew away.

"I wonder how we should address you?"

Huh?

They had already noticed something was off? Well, he didn't have the original owner's memories, nor did he intend to cover it up. Anyone could see that something was amiss.

"Just call me Ji Xinghai," he said with a smile.

"Very well, Mr. Ji," the voice acquiesced. "Mr. Ji, you and our JiuZhou are like two sides of a mirror, sharing glory and suffering together. Therefore, whatever Mr. Ji wants to know, we will share without reservation."

"You accepted this fact quite quickly."

Ji Xinghai twirled a lock of hair between his fingers, his voice seemingly laced with amusement, but his eyes were cold. They discovered that someone else had taken over, yet they could accept it directly—was it because he could bring them greater benefits?

When weighing pros and cons, emotions always seemed so irrelevant.

"Regarding this matter, we are currently unable to speculate on why it happened. Trainee Ji Xinghai had been in a vegetative state for several years due to an accident, theoretically, he shouldn't have become a trainee. But now he has been selected, and Mr. Ji has appeared.

"It's unclear whether the selection of Trainee Ji Xinghai led to the appearance of Mr. Ji, or if Mr. Ji's unexpected appearance resulted in his selection as a trainee. We have no definitive conclusion."

"We have already contacted the parents of Trainee Ji Xinghai. They are delighted that 'Ji Xinghai' is alive, lively, healthy, and that is enough for them. They also hope that everything goes well for you inside."

However, they couldn't face this situation for the moment. Their beloved child had been replaced by another person, unknown to anyone, and they could only bear the heartache while entrusting others to convey their message.

Ji Xinghai was momentarily stunned, unwilling to admit that he was touched.

"Tsk, they're cautious and meticulous, even resolving the emotional issues of the original parents. To remain in such good physical condition after being in a vegetative state for years, his family must have loved him dearly."

Who was the one souring like a green plum?

Hmph, it wasn't him, he had that too.

"I'm currently in a strange academy where I have to take bizarre exams every month. Do you have any opinions or ideas about this?"

Ji Xinghai changed the subject.

They should have been prepared for this question, so when he asked, they used the most concise language to explain the current predicament faced by JiuZhou, the basic situation of the Hungry Academy and the Hunger Games, as well as the existence of 'trainees'.

Just as Ji Xinghai initially thought, trainees represented their countries in this game to compete for resources. Resources included, but were not limited to, purification of pollution.

But he didn't need to feel too much pressure. Most countries were developing their own strengths to cope with all possible situations. The existence of trainees was similar to global competitions of old, showcasing their strength while trying to secure benefits.

Normally, a country had two trainees, but this time, the other trainee exploited a loophole and defected. Currently, JiuZhou had only him as a representative.

That defector, number six, who died by his hand, was originally a JiuZhou trainee and was now a Federation trainee.

This was also the reason for the missing roommate.

A trainee needed to complete twelve scenarios to graduate, one per month, lasting from three to fifteen days, with the remaining time spent resting in the dormitory.

At the same time, any physical injuries sustained in the scenarios would be healed upon exiting, even death could lead to resurrection.

But the cost of death was severe, not only affecting the ordinary people of the affiliated country but also causing irreparable mental damage to the trainee themselves, with the risk of being permanently trapped in the scenario.

As for the rest, Ji Xinghai had already experienced it, so there was no need for further explanation.

Ji Xinghai got a general understanding of the situation. JiuZhou's stance didn't conflict with his interests, but it went no further than that. He listened to the gratitude conveyed from the people of JiuZhou, but his heart remained as still as an ancient well.

"What do you want me to do? Keep striving?"

"No," the old man said, "We can't prevent what has happened, nor can we provide any assistance to you inside. We only hope that you will face these trials according to your own wishes."

They didn't demand that he follow a conservative path for the safety of the people of JiuZhou, nor did they require him to strive again to create miracles.

There was silence on the call, even the sound of breathing was faint. Time ticked by for half a minute, leaving less than two minutes of the thirty-minute call. Only then did Ji Xinghai open his mouth, "Alright."

Even if they hadn't mentioned it, he would live according to his own desires.

"The ingredients in the supplementary volume of the 'Taotie Food Canon' have been confirmed to have healing effects on soul damage caused by abnormal beings. We will develop drugs based on them, and ten percent of the net profit will be directly transferred to your name."

"Give it to his parents, I don't need it," he said.

The creature paused for a moment before smiling and saying, "We will convey that message. Also, based on past experiences, the next exam often targets the winners of the previous one. Mr. Ji can make arrangements for this during the upcoming rest period, and we'll talk again next time."

The half-hour call ended, Ji Xinghai slipped the dimmed screen of his phone back into his pocket, his eyes fixed on the faint shadow on the wooden bridge.

A very polite individual, he only resumed his movements after Ji Xinghai finished his call.

With each blink of his eyes, the shadow advanced a little further. Blink once, and the other party would flash forward; in the span of a breath, that person was already standing right in front of him.

The scent of soap in the air seemed even more intense now. The initial fragrance was clearly a refreshing aroma mixed with water vapor, clean and crisp, yet it warmed up in the base notes. It was as if the white shirt had become softer due to being sun-dried and wind-blown.

For the first time, Ji Xinghai realized he could be so captivated by a scent. He couldn't help but take a closer look at the person who had arrived.

The newcomer had an Eastern face with black hair and eyes, his eyebrows like swords and his eyes like stars, his sideburns sharp. He conformed to the classical aesthetics of JiuZhou, and because Ji Xinghai was looking up from sitting on the ground, he appeared tall and upright.

Ji Xinghai felt a twinge of neck pain and said, "Sit down."

This was quite an impolite request, but since he was in a good mood, his tone and the corners of his mouth curled upwards, giving off an air of laziness akin to someone teasing a close friend. This caused the newcomer to give him a few more glances, their pitch-black eyes devoid of reflection, adding an eerie quality.

"You came looking for me, didn't you?" Ji Xinghai's eyes roamed over the other person. They weren't wearing the trainee uniform, and the aura they exuded reminded him of their inhuman nature. Yet, for some reason, he still felt that the figure standing before him was 'human.'

The other monsters he had encountered previously didn't have this 'humanity,' not even the masked man who looked most human.

"Ji Xinghai."

The newcomer uttered three words, their slightly hoarse voice bringing Ji Xinghai back to the game instance. His smile suddenly became even brighter, his hand supporting his cheek as his almond-shaped eyes blinked, their gaze like ripples on water: "Ah, it's an old acquaintance~ How should I address you? Following the school script, should I call you teacher?"

"..."

The newcomer fell silent for a few seconds before taking out a card from their pocket. Ji Xinghai glanced at it, noting the titles of Deputy Principal and Examination Supervisor written on it.

"Under fair and rule-abiding circumstances, I can offer some assistance. The value of cooperation," he said in a husky voice.

In the instance, Ji Xinghai had asked him this question, and this was the answer he gave.

"Teacher, you don't seem much like a deputy principal. More like... a spy from next door."

Facing Ji Xinghai's radiant smile, the newcomer nodded slightly, seemingly acknowledging this speculation.

"The academy has its regulations, and the examination has its rules. Within the rules, anything goes." The unseen depths of those eyes gazed intently at Ji Xinghai, as if the abyss was staring back at him, "Don't you want to make the game more fun?"

"No."

Ji Xinghai's eyes curved into two crescents, revealing his white teeth: "Before was before, now is now. So I've changed my mind. If we're going to cooperate, bring more and more stakes to the table."

This thoroughly malicious demeanor showed no sign of genuine intent to cooperate. He was more unpredictable than an abnormal entity, leaving even the newcomer, who had started getting used to dealing with lunatics, momentarily speechless.

"Conditions."

The newcomer's expression was serious, as if whatever demands Ji Xinghai made would be met. Thus, Ji Xinghai, who was initially just playing around, also turned serious.

"Sit down." He repeated, "I don't like looking up at others."

The newcomer looked at him, slowly squatting down until one knee touched the ground. Despite this position, their posture remained straight, resembling a well-trained military dog—tough, upright, and obedient.

This was a form Ji Xinghai could never achieve, and people were occasionally bewitched by those completely opposite to them. So he was entranced for a moment.

Ji Xinghai's cool hand touched the newcomer's face, his rarely genuine light-colored eyes staring directly into the other's: "You want to maximize the benefits for JiuZhou."

The newcomer neither denied nor spoke.

"But what does that have to do with me? Your greatest appeal to me isn't your identity that knows the rules." Ji Xinghai slowly leaned in, his lips almost touching the other's ear, his voice low, "I'd rather eat you."

Powerful, delicious, wanting to eat.

He was like a monster yearning for Tang Sanzang's flesh, but unfortunately, this Tang Sanzang seemed to possess the fighting prowess of Sun Wukong, making it impossible to make a move for now.

The newcomer's eyes shifted to the side, trying to see Ji Xinghai's current appearance, but could only catch sight of his short, black hair with slightly curled ends.

"After completing our cooperation, yes." He wouldn't misunderstand the meaning of 'eat' in Ji Xinghai's mouth, after all, in the instance, Ji Xinghai made no effort to hide his appetite for abnormal entities, "After completing our cooperation, I will willingly let you consume me."

The newcomer was an abnormal entity, yet possessed a strange trait that inspired trust, so his words carried an undeniable sincerity. To Ji Xinghai, they held a silent allure.

"…You've moved me. After the second instance, I'll give you an answer." Ji Xinghai finally turned serious, "I need to confirm whether what you can offer is enough to offset the lack of freedom that comes with bearing a contract. Similarly, you can continue observing whether I'm worthy of fulfilling your expectations."

Time passed quickly for Ji Xinghai, merely a few deep sleeps, yet it also dragged on slowly, long enough for JiuZhou's maritime testing site to finally deliver heartening news—the seas of JiuZhou were recovering their former healthy state.

Alongside this, there was another astonishing piece of good news: the soul damage caused by abnormal entities could now be cured!

This was an announcement made by the JiuZhou authorities, backed by the International Center for Mutant Entity Research, leaving even the Western media, notorious for their conspiracy theories, unable to deny its authority.

Families with 'patients' were nearly jumping with joy.

Their loved ones, their friends, had a chance to return to normal?!

JiuZhou published their research findings in a prestigious journal. The JiuZhou cheat code, the supplementary volume of the *Taotie Food Canon*, brought more than just ingredients or non-scientific culinary experiences; it offered a solution to the current international dilemma.

Yes, the consumables and usable items inside contained components that could heal soul injuries. These components were also found within abnormal entities in reality, but they couldn't be separated out. Only the ingredients in the supplementary volume possessed small amounts of gentle, side-effect-free healing factors.

The JiuZhou authorities promised that they would quickly produce a batch of special drugs using these ingredients to benefit the entire world suffering from the torment of abnormal entities.

But patients couldn't wait that long. After three years of abnormal natural disasters, nearly twenty to thirty percent of the population had suffered soul injuries, living in nightmares every day, with their conditions worsening. They didn't know when they would completely lose their minds.

Therefore, the JiuZhou citizenship application department's website was once again overwhelmed, this time with applicants including many elites. Some brought high-end technology, others vast resources; they had seen the potential of JiuZhou.

Simultaneously, the international black market immediately posted requests for the purchase of ingredients from the JiuZhou supplementary volume. And more people turned their attention to the JiuZhou citizens left in their own countries.

But would the JiuZhou government ignore such a loophole? They delayed releasing information to allow sufficient time to evacuate their nationals and their spouses and children from all over the world.

So when those people approached the JiuZhou citizens abroad, most of them had already left their homes empty. Only a few stubborn JiuZhou citizens who refused to leave regretted it bitterly, like 'children holding gold.'

In the blink of an eye, over twenty days had passed, marking another time for the global populace to watch with bated breath as students underwent their live examinations.

The Black Tower, busier than ever before, forced down their unease, presenting their most composed and professional demeanor in the face of this new challenge.

"The Hungry Academy cannot interfere once a scenario is underway, but as the 'chief examiner,' it holds the power to determine the questions. Based on past experiences, it tends to target the top-performing students from the previous exam. If the last scenario favored 'martial' skills, then this one will test 'scholarly' abilities.

"What glaring weakness does Ji Xinghai, the standout student from the last scenario, have?"

It was now time to speculate on the nature of the upcoming scenario. Even if they couldn't pinpoint the exact type, they could at least narrow down the possibilities. The Command Unit's head had a history of accurately predicting scenarios, but when it came to Ji Xinghai... he was momentarily at a loss for where to start.

"This time, it won't be a scenario set in the Y Continent," the deputy head stated confidently, a boon for jiuZhou students.

"The proportion of 'firearm combat' will be reduced; Ji Xinghai's shooting skills are practically a bug," the trainer analyzed.

"There's a chance it might focus on 'lifestyle' scenarios."

"58, 59, 60." They fervently debated the potential types of scenarios, the head watching the clock on the wall as he counted down silently.

"It's time," he said, his eyes fixed on the clock that represented the examination's duration. "At this moment, the students should already be inside the examination hall acclimatizing themselves to the environment."

Suddenly, the Black Tower fell silent. All eyes turned to the clock, which had reached half-past five.