They are not human! (From chapter 61)

134

Dog???

Wen Qing lowered his eyes, thinking of Song Xuan.
He was silent for a moment and asked 001, "Can this item be used on all species?"
001 explained: 【The anomaly-level active item can be used on anomaly-level and lower species.】
Wen Qing was puzzled: 【But the Victim's Halo is human-level. Why does it work on anomalies?】
001 patiently explained: 【Although the Victim's Halo is an active item, the choice is not yours, but the target's.】
The Victim's Halo produces different effects based on the target's nature.
Wen Qing looked at the Dog Trainer's Halo's detailed explanation, pondered for a while, and suddenly understood.
The Dog Trainer's Halo lets him control the target to do things, with the initiative on his side. Wen Qing curiously asked, "Can it really make them do anything?"
001 said calmly: 【As long as you can think of it.】
Wen Qing continued to ask, "Can I directly control his body movements like a puppet, or do I command him, and he does it himself?"
001 was silent.
Wen Qing was puzzled: "Can't you answer that?"
【No,】 001 paused and explained, 【I'm just surprised you're asking in such detail.】
Wen Qing blinked in surprise, "You can be surprised?"
001: 【...】
After a moment of silence, it responded flatly, like a robot: 【I am a humanized system.】
Wen Qing thought, isn't this what I say to compliment 001?
He slowly agreed and asked again, "You haven't answered my question."
001: 【You give the command. The dog has some autonomy, so actions will vary.】
Hearing 001 mention the dog, Wen Qing inexplicably thought of Song Xuan again, feeling this item was tailor-made for him.
He pursed his lips, lowered his head, and carefully reread the item details.
【Usage: Slap on the face.】
Wen Qing stared at it for a while and asked, "Does the slap have to be on the face?"
001 affirmed.
Wen Qing frowned and asked, "What about faceless anomalies?"
001: 【It can't be used.】
Wen Qing replied, understanding there were limitations.
Why must it have a face?
He didn't mind hitting faceless anomalies.
"I want to check my personal information."
The next second, 001 switched the panel content.
【Player: Wen Qing】
【Identity: Human (delicate and needs to be loved)】
【Age: Twenty (adult in human years)】
【Human World Visa: Fifty days (Can only stay in the human world for fifty days. Please note the date)】
【Skills: ?? Cry ?? (consequences of using the skill unknown)】
【Buff: Guide (all non-humans will like you, those with * want to *, those without * also want to *)】
【Items: Holy Grail (Master, stick to me, sniff sniff), Victim's Halo (Come bully me, boohoo), No Touching (no touching, no touching, hehe), Dog Trainer's Halo (Master, I'm your dog, woof).】
Wen Qing stared at it for a long time, then couldn't help but say to 001, "Look at this."
001: 【Hmm?】
Wen Qing poked the transparent panel, which wasn't solid, so he only touched the air: "All my buffs and items are weird."
"Is there really no problem?"
001 was silent for a moment and then replied: 【No problem.】
Wen Qing pursued, "Do other people have items like this?"
001 honestly replied: 【No.】
Wen Qing: "???"
"Then why do you say my items and buffs are fine?"
001 explained: 【Players' items and buffs vary.】
Wen Qing thought over his words and asked 001, "Do you mean I'm weird, so my items and buffs are too?"
001: 【No.】
You are different.
Wen Qing hummed twice, thinking it must be because he had bad luck, so he didn't get any serious items.
He stopped obsessing over the items, went into the bathroom: "I'm going to take a bath."
...
Time in the human world and in instances was different. When Wen Qing left Dezhi High School, it was noon, but in the human world, it was already nine at night.
After washing up, Wen Qing sat on his bed. He felt jet-lagged, tired, but couldn't sleep.
Holding a cup of milk, he looked at the police badge on his bedside table, thinking about Xing Ze and that gentle kiss.
Suddenly, 001's voice sounded in his mind: 【Do you like Xing Ze?】
001 had asked this before, and Wen Qing answered without thinking: "Yes, like a friend."
After saying that, he wondered why Xing Ze kissed him.
Hugging and touching between friends was normal, but kissing... not so much?
Wen Qing hesitantly asked 001: "There shouldn't be any custom of friends kissing in Wen City, right?"
001: 【...No.】
Wen Qing was stunned: "Then Xing Ze..."
001 bluntly stated four words: 【He likes you.】
Wen Qing looked blankly at the air, uttering a low "ah."
After a while, he murmured, "So Xing Ze is gay."
"I didn't notice at all."
001: 【...】
Wen Qing sipped his hot milk, recalling his time with Xing Ze. Thinking that straight guys might be misunderstood by gays.
If he had known, he would have kept a bit of distance back then.
After finishing the milk, Wen Qing sighed and told 001: "Your advice to keep distance was right."
Hearing this, 001 immediately said: 【You've received many messages.】
【Do you want to see them?】
Guessing they were from Ye Ye, Li Ran, and the others, Wen Qing nodded: "Yes."
The messages were not just from today. Since he left the human world, there were many, filling the screen.
Li Jingjing: 【I've entered the instance. I'll find you for a meal when I'm out.】
Li Jingjing: 【I'm out. Human-level instances are pretty easy.】
Li Jingjing: 【I'm going in again. Are you not out yet? Don't tell me you're in a god-level instance.】
Li Jingjing: 【Remember to call me when you're out.】
...
Li Ran: 【Bro, are you back?】
Li Ran: 【Bro, I'm going in, I'm scared, boohoo.】
Li Ran: 【Bro, if I come out, remember to treat me to a meal. My sister is too poor to afford it, boohoo.】
...
Ye Ye: 【Are you out?】
Ye Ye: 【Let me know when you're back.】
Ye Ye only sent two messages, a stark contrast to the many from Li Ran and Li Jingjing.
Wen Qing replied to each, telling them he was back.
【I'm out.】
As soon as he sent this to Ye Ye, Ye Ye replied instantly: 【Going out tomorrow?】
Wen Qing: 【No, resting for a few days.】
Ye Ye: 【Are you hurt?】
Wen Qing: 【No, just don't want to go out.】
Wen Qing looked at the transparent panel. He was just tired and wanted some time alone.
After a while, Ye Ye sent another message: 【Glad you're not hurt.】
Ye Ye: 【Brother Bai is back.】
Ye Ye: 【Want to see him?】
Wen Qing: 【How is he?】
Ye Ye: 【See for yourself.】
Wen Qing hesitated, but before he could reply, Ye Ye sent another message: 【Call me if you want to go out.】
Wen Qing replied okay, then looked at Li Jingjing and Li Ran's messages.
There were no replies; they were probably still in an instance.
Wen Qing rubbed his eyes, put down the milk cup, and lay on his bed, staring at the white ceiling.
Because of Xing Ze, he wanted to go home more.
He missed the orphanage director, the dorm head... everyone.
He didn't want to stay here alone.
001 spoke: 【You're not alone now.】
Wen Qing felt that 001's cold voice had a hint of gentleness, as if it was comforting him.
He burrowed into his blanket, clutching the corner, and called softly: "001."
001 hummed in response.
Wen Qing closed his eyes, slowly saying: "If you had a body, it'd be nice."
I could touch you.
"Good night."
【Good night.】
...
The next day
Wen Qing lazed in bed for half the day. Only when he was too hungry did he get up to wash.
After washing up, he found a steaming bowl of noodles on the desk, still hot.
Wen Qing didn't hesitate, knowing 001 had ordered it.
He was used to 001 spending points without mentioning it.
Wen Qing sat at the desk and watched a movie with 001 before leisurely opening the forum.
The message board was as lively as ever, the front page full of hot tags.
Wen Qing glanced and saw a striking title: 【Does anyone know what instance upgrade means?】
Original post: An anomaly-level instance, a small one with few players. From entering to leaving, I didn't see any anomalies, only people, and players couldn't use items on the NPCs. Anyone guess which instance this is?
I won't talk about the instance details, just what happened.
During the instance  game time, the main system suddenly said the instance was upgrading. It repeated this several times, and then the sky changed, like in a sci-fi movie.
Soon after, the main system said the instance upgrade was terminated.
I was confused. When I found the other players, a big shot directly told us the advanced task answers and let us leave.
I was too embarrassed to ask what happened and left immediately.
Has anyone encountered this instance upgrade situation?
1L Dame Dame Yo: Never encountered it, next floor.
2L Flying JJ: Can an active instance upgrade? Never heard of it.
3L System is my Dad: I've been to that instance, only completed the main task. Even the big shot in our team didn't pass the advanced task.
4L Spicy Tangyuan: Am I the only one curious if there's compensation?
5L OP: There's compensation, points and visa extension.
6L Coffee Can: Hey? This compensation is similar to the one when the zoo instance closed early.
...
50L All Downstairs are My Sons: The zoo instance closed early, now an upgrade, what's the system up to?
51L Upstairs is My Grandson: Not just instances changing, the human world is changing a lot too, feels ominous.
52L Palm Moles: Feels like the main system is up to something big.
53L OP: So no other instances have had this happen?
54L Durian More: From what I've observed, OP, yours is the first case. The other players? Let's bring them out.
...
205L OP: No one else showed up, maybe they don't browse the forum.
206L OP: Since the post is so hot, I'll say something. We teamed up temporarily to help each other a bit. We're not obligated to do everything for you. Even if you're scared, don't screw your teammates. You're not the only one scared, I was too.
207L Good Luck: This upgrade... could it be related to the neighboring post?
208L Never Change ID: Which post? Link please!
...
Wen Qing guessed the OP was Zhang Yang and Jiang Yan was the one who gave the advanced task answers.
He stared at the post, thinking it was because of Ji Yu.
Can Ji Yu's name be mentioned in the human world?
Wen Qing tried typing, but the keyboard seemed unresponsive.
He dismissed the thought, repeated 001's words.
503L W: 【Because there was an unstoppable force.】
After posting, Wen Qing didn't read the replies, switching to the front page to find the "neighboring post" they mentioned.
After browsing through posts, he finally found it.
Title: 【WTF! WTF! WTF!】
Original post: OMG OMG, I heard many big shots got hurt. They were all in the same instance. Even Oz nearly died.
What's scarier is this instance has a high entry rate. OMG, my visa is expiring soon, am I gonna die?
1L OP: OMG, I'm so scared. I only have one day left.
2L OP: Big shots have life-saving items to leave instances. I don't! I'm doomed!
3L Flying JJ: Is it real? What instance is that scary?
4L OP: I don't know, just heard about it. Apparently, Oz didn't even last a day in it.
5L Your Baby: OP, don't scare me. I'm going tonight.
6L Black Speaker: It's true, many lost their life-saving items. It's a brutal instance.
7L Stubborn: I heard too. Jixiang Restaurant closed because of it.
...
Seeing the 7th reply, Wen Qing's eyelid twitched. Why did it close?
Ye Ye didn't mention it.
Could it be related to Bai Tong?
Wen Qing hesitated and sent a message to Ye Ye: 【Is Bai Tong hurt?】
After a while, Ye Ye didn't reply.
Wen Qing scrolled through the post. Half were scared, the other half confirmed the instance's difficulty and death rate, with no clues about the instance content.
After eating his noodles, Wen Qing changed clothes and decided to visit Jixiang Restaurant.
...
Human World Commercial Street
Wen Qing stood in the red pavilion, observing. The street was unchanged, people coming and going in groups.
Maybe because of the forum post, no one was guarding outside the pavilion this time.
Wen Qing felt relieved and left the red pavilion.
Without lifting his head, he saw the huge light blue giant in the sky.
This time, Wen Qing confirmed the white mist dissipated from bottom to top.
Last time it reached the fingers, this time it reached the arms. The rest remained shrouded in mist, unclear.
Wen Qing watched it, then noticed the giant's mist-covered face slightly turn.
He couldn't see where it turned, but it moved.
Wen Qing nervously clenched his palm and asked 001: 【What is that giant?】
001 didn't answer.
Wen Qing pursed his lips and quickly walked to Jixiang Restaurant.
The greenery along the road was lush, the trees vibrant and beautiful. Birds chirped, occasionally flying over people's heads, and flowers bloomed under the trees.
Wen Qing glanced at the passersby. Most looked normal, used to it.
Sometimes, he saw a few dazed people, either new to the human world or just out of an instance, noticing the changes.
As Wen Qing reached Jixiang Restaurant's entrance, a girl walking two meters ahead suddenly fell.
Her companion helped her up, laughing: "How did you fall?"
The girl patted her knee and glanced at the grass, puzzled: "Something tripped me."
"There's nothing," her companion checked, "Nothing on the ground."
"There was," the girl frowned, continuing forward, "Something by my foot, maybe a snake."
"Don't scare me, I hate snakes. No snakes in the human world, right?"
"Then what tripped me?"
...
Wen Qing glanced at the ground where they stood, seeing nothing but swaying grass.
He didn't think much, entering Jixiang Restaurant.
The restaurant, as the forum said, wasn't serving but was open, with a Mohawk-headed guy at the front desk.
Wen Qing approached, "Hello, I'm looking for Bai Tong or Ye Ye."
The Mohawk guy sized him up without speaking.
Wen Qing was about to speak again.
The Mohawk guy smiled: "You're Wen Qing, right?"
Wen Qing was stunned.
The Mohawk guy explained: "Ye Ye mentioned you several times. If a guy dressed like a beekeeper, with a nice voice, it's Wen Qing."
Wen Qing looked at his outfit: "..."
The Mohawk guy used his walkie-talkie to call a replacement, then led Wen Qing to the back kitchen: "Let's find Brother Bai."
"Brother Bai asked about you a few days ago."
Wen Qing followed, asking, "How is Bai Tong now?"
The Mohawk guy sighed: "Not good."
"Remind him to apply his medicine and eat properly."
Wen Qing frowned, Bai Tong was hurt.
They left Jixiang Restaurant through the back kitchen door, then crossed to the opposite building.
The Mohawk guy explained: "This building is our staff dormitory. The code is 0000."
"You can come here next time."
Wen Qing nodded, following him inside.
The interior was hotel-like. The Mohawk guy took him to the elevator, pressing the tenth floor.
"Brother Bai lives in 1020, Ye Ye in 1001."
Wen Qing nodded.
The Mohawk guy led him to 1020, knocked: "Brother Bai, someone's here for you."
"Come in." Bai Tong's voice came from inside.
The door was unlocked. The Mohawk guy left.
Wen Qing entered. The room was spacious, Bai Tong sat on the sofa, shirtless, back to the door, seemingly applying medicine.
The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and medicine, clear even through Wen Qing's mask.
Wen Qing removed his mask, softly called: "Bai Tong."
"It's me."
Hearing the familiar voice, Bai Tong's pupils shrank, he stood up abruptly: "Wen Qing."
Wen Qing replied, seeing Bai Tong's chest to waist wrapped in blood-stained bandages.
"Don't—"
Before he could say "move," Bai Tong hugged him tightly.
Worried about the injuries, Wen Qing didn't dare move, letting Bai Tong hold him.
Bai Tong was shirtless, Wen Qing's face pressed against his chest, skin to skin, feeling Bai Tong's rising temperature and quickening heartbeat.
Wen Qing grew more worried, trying to ask Bai Tong to sit down.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside.
The door opened, Ye Ye's voice rang out: "Wen Qing!"
The next second, Ye Ye pulled Wen Qing from Bai Tong's embrace.
Ye Ye looked at the blood on Wen Qing's clothes, gritting his teeth: "You're hurt and came to see Bai Tong?!"
"You're not even gay!"
"Don't do things that will make Bai Tong misunderstand!"
Bai Tong: "???"