Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Simulation of the Coming Days and the Death Train

(PS1: Yesterday’s chapter simulation was correct for Day 27. After finishing it the night before, I saw a reader mention that it should have been Day 29, so I hastily changed it to Day 29. Today, while writing, I realized Day 27 was actually correct…)

(I forgot my own plot yesterday, Sorry^^)

Past simulations remained unchanged, still reverting to June 16th.

However, since Xia’er had spent two days in reality, Day 5 became Day 7.

But the simulation of the coming days… Xia’er remembered clearly that on Day 21, the simulated date was September 29th—100 days after Day 21.

Because the number was Day 100, it required 100 Mortality Points and disrupted Xia’er’s plan to simulate again, leaving an indelible impression.

Theoretically, today is June 23rd. Only two days have passed, so the simulation number for the coming days should be Day 98.

Yet the original simulated date of September 29th moved forward by two days to September 27th, thus becoming a simulation of 96 days ahead…

Xia’er’s timeline advanced by two days, and the future also drew closer by two days.

This was a situation Xia’er had never encountered before.

In the early days after activating the System, Xia’er’s simulation limit could not exceed 6:31 PM on June 19th because that moment was judged by the System as Fated Death.

Later, after Xia’er killed Thomas, who had consumed half a Potion, and Solari, the leader of Heishuidang, this restriction was lifted.

Now, the simulation date had unknowingly advanced by two days.

Using Day 21 as the benchmark for the last time Xia’er checked the simulation days, past simulations gained two additional days due to the progress of the real world, making Day 5 become Day 7.

Future simulations, with the advancement of displayed time and adjustments to the simulated timeline, also drew closer by two days, reducing a total of four days, making Day 100 become Day 96…

It now seemed that September 29th wasn’t just a random day chosen by the System.

It was most likely the System’s prediction of Xia’er’s Fated Death.

And now, for reasons unknown, the Fated Death had been expedited.

Rather than following the maid back to find Aivana, Xia’er directly went to the second-floor study, sitting quietly on the sofa to reflect.

“System, if the simulation of the coming days has advanced by two days, does that mean there’s a new Fated Death?”

Xia’er questioned inwardly toward the System.

She quickly received a clearly evasive response from the System:

[Oh well, who knows? Maybe you just misremembered? Why don’t we wait a bit longer? Originally, we’d have to wait 98 days to know the result, but now we only need to wait 96.]

[With a bit of luck, in a few days, we might only be able to simulate up to 30 days, allowing us to use just 10 Mortality Points for a cheaper simulation. Wouldn’t that be great? ^^_]

The System’s sarcastic tone didn’t faze Xia’er. Regardless of whether it was Fated Death or not, Xia’er needed to spend 100 Mortality Points to see what exactly would happen 96 days later.

She wanted to understand why her actions had led to the Fated Death and its acceleration.

However, 100 Mortality Points were too many for Xia’er. She currently only had 161 points. If she used them all now, she’d only have 61 left.

These points couldn’t be spared. With evident issues arising, not simulating would be like taking these points to the grave.

Moreover, Xia’er now had a relatively stable method to earn over 20 Mortality Points by drinking Potions and eliminating Jiti. The points could always be replenished if she worked hard enough.

Still, spending these hundred points wasn’t something to be done lightly. A detailed plan and thorough preparation were necessary.

At the very least, if it was indeed Fated Death, Xia’er needed to investigate the detailed cause.

Xia’er stood up and walked out of the study. Her canvas bag was still in Aivana’s room, and she needed to retrieve it to write down a detailed plan in her Notebook.

A maid waited outside the study door, but Xia’er declined her offer to guide her. She proceeded upstairs to Aivana’s room, knowing how to navigate through the manor now.

Stopping at Aivana’s door, Xia’er knocked gently. Nia opened the door shortly after, revealing Aivana seated at her vanity desk, writing something. Upon hearing the knock, Aivana immediately asked,

“You’re back?”

“Dinner won’t be ready soon. If Amy comes, you can entertain her first.”

Only Xia’er’s knocks allowed Nia to open the door without announcing, thanks to prior arrangements. Thus, Aivana knew it was Xia’er without turning around.

“Sorry, I may need to prepare some things,” Xia’er said upon entering and spotting her canvas bag on the glass round table in front of the sofa. She picked it up, glanced inside, and then carried it away.

“Previously occupied guest room, I’ll borrow it, Aivana.”

“Go ahead,” Aivana replied, turning around but only catching Xia’er’s retreating back as she quickly exited the room.

Nia closed the door behind Xia’er, exchanging glances with Aivana.

“What’s wrong with Xia’er?” Aivana inquired curiously.

“I don’t know, Miss,” Nia shook her head. “She took her bag and left.”

“Uh…”

Aivana put down her silver-edged dip pen, sensing something amiss. She was already drafting a letter to Derton Group for compensation regarding the “incident” earlier, as her purchased items were left there. Now, something seemed off with Xia’er.

Hadn’t everything been resolved?

Was there someone more powerful involved?

With no further focus on her letter, Aivana hastily finished the remaining paragraphs and stopped writing. Sealing the envelope with a stamp and her personal wax seal, she stood up and paced around the room.

“What do you think happened, Nia?” Aivana asked.

“I don’t know,” Nia shook her head cautiously. “Something related to the evil gods? Like cultists summoning them…?”

Aivana initially dismissed the idea but reconsidered after recalling the events at Derton Manor that afternoon. If anyone else mentioned such things, she’d dismiss it as a joke. But when it came to Xia’er, it seemed plausible.

Curious and concerned, Aivana wanted to ask Xia’er directly but hesitated, fearing she might disturb her. Instead, she reviewed recent events, trying to pinpoint potential problems.

After a while, Aivana gave up thinking and called the butler, instructing the staff not to disturb Xia’er while cleaning the rooms.

Meanwhile, Xia’er had returned to the guest room with her canvas bag. She placed it on the desk, retrieved her Notebook and Pencil, and began planning.

More than ninety days… 100 Mortality Points…

She had to make the Simulated Self do something meaningful, fully utilizing the time available…

Xia’er decided not to rely on the Simulated Self to devise plans. The Simulated Self, especially once aware of being part of a sub-system, lacked the same sense of urgency as the real Xia’er.

If the Simulated Self digested certain Potions, their personality might change significantly, making relying on them purely speculative.

Previously, Xia’er gambled because it only cost 10 points and the Simulated Self’s actions weren’t crucial. However, this time, the Simulated Self had nearly a hundred days to act and potentially gain more benefits after resolving issues.

Thus, Xia’er needed to establish a detailed plan beforehand.

Raising her hand, she wrote a line in Chinese:

[Investigate the cause of the Fated Death; note any abnormal occurrences.]

According to Xia’er, several possible entry points existed for investigation, with the Arrival Sect being the most probable.

Besides Amy, the Spiritual Being known as a Divine Servant left behind a notebook. The letter on parchment wasn’t addressed to Xia’er but to Amy.

It mentioned protecting Amy under the “Great Will” and warning a “most loyal follower” to assist Amy. It likely mistook Xia’er for the “Great Will,” meaning the problem probably stemmed from the “follower.”

This was one direction for investigation.

After writing “Investigate the Follower,” Xia’er pondered other possibilities.

Her existence was unknown to anyone. Any force capable of contacting or knowing about her could only be traced back to the incident at Derton Manor in Borough City.

The Arrival Sect, Derton Group, Salvation Goddess Religion, Redemption Society… These were all stakeholders in the event and must be thoroughly investigated.

Since the incident occurred recently, Xia’er couldn’t yet observe subsequent reactions or developments. She could only rely on the Simulated Self within the simulation to relay future information.

Writing all this into her Notebook, Xia’er paused briefly, then added another name:

Nia.

Aside from Amy being an unstable factor, Nia was a ticking time bomb.

Her current sanity relied entirely on Aivana’s Extraordinary abilities. If Amy lost control, Nia could transform into a terrifying iron-clad figure at Rank Three, which was a serious concern.

At 120 years old, though uncertain whether this was long or short for a Rank Three Extraordinary Person, it was undoubtedly far beyond a normal lifespan.

Nia’s violent outburst couldn’t be ruled out.

Supporting her head with her left hand, Xia’er twirled the pencil between her fingers with her right, then continued writing:

[If your investigation stalls or you feel danger approaching sooner, attempt the Replication Ritual or try digesting a Potion…]

If the Fated Death approached daily, inching closer each day, the Simulated Self would have at most 48 days to act upon initiating the simulation.

Assuming the worst-case scenario was essential.

[If within 47 days, you uncover nothing:]

[Take your sister, leave An Su, sever all ties in Borough City.]

[If you survive the remaining days after cutting all ties, it means the Fated Death has been averted.]

This was a last resort. If investigations failed, drastic measures were necessary.

If An Su proved unsafe, Xia’er considered leaving the country. If even that failed, she’d leave the continent altogether. Xia’er doubted any force could cross the ocean to track her down.

Moreover, she truly believed she wasn’t significant enough to warrant such extensive resources. Unless, of course, it was the Arrival Sect.

If confirmed, Xia’er wouldn’t hesitate to perform a grand Summoning Ritual in An Su during the simulation to expose the “rats” lurking in its dark corners.

Of course, this method was contingent on investigative failure.

If the cause of the Fated Death was identified and resolved, the Simulated Self shouldn’t stop.

[If the cause is discovered and you survive until Day 48 or even Day 49, gather all accessible First-Rank Potions and Replication Rituals.]

[Even if you don’t collect everything, ensure you document all sources.]

[If you’ve consumed a Potion, aim to digest it early and complete the next stage of the Replication Ritual, leaving your methods behind.]

[All available time must be utilized efficiently.]

Xia’er set the pencil aside after filling two pages with conjectures and instructions. This was her first extended simulation, so she left numerous tasks undone, almost specifying daily activities.

Xia’er retrieved her pocket watch and checked the time:

17:45.

After double-checking her notes and confirming nothing was missing, Xia’er laid the notebook down, leaned over the desk, and slowly closed her eyes.

The System Interface unfolded in the darkness before her eyes.

100 Mortality Points…must uncover something substantial.

Xia’er opened the Simulation Interface, selected Future Simulation, and chose the Save File option, which appeared before her face.

This time, anticipating potential dangers, Xia’er opted for No.2, the “Judicator” Save File instead of risking No.0 by consuming a Potion.

No.2 was her highest combat-capable save file, sufficient to handle most special situations.

“The future…”

“No.2.”

Xia’er silently recited, enveloped in a silver flash that gradually dimmed her consciousness…

…

[Future]

[Sheng Year 741, August 9th, 20:15]

[Countdown -23:59:59]

August 9th?

47 days later?

The silver glow dissipated, leaving a faint holographic countdown interface before Xia’er’s eyes for a few seconds before fading, revealing the flickering firelight of the night sky.

“Little Xia’er… Little Xia’er…”

“Little Xia’er!”

A call instantly restored Xia’er’s full control over her body, making her acutely aware of…

The familiar pain of the surrounding flames roasting her skin brought her back to reality.

In an instant, a shadow emerged behind her and lifted her up. Xia’er endured the chaotic howls and murmurs in her mind as she rushed toward the source of that familiar voice.

Whoosh—

The flames behind her continued to blaze furiously. As she burst through the inferno, Xia’er collided head-on with someone trying to rush inside, pushing them out.

“Sister…”

Xia’er’s gaze narrowed slightly upon seeing the figure she had knocked down.

She quickly turned around. Behind her was what seemed like a slope of rubble, with several neatly arranged train carriages scattered across it. The objects or coal carried within the carriages ignited everything. The entire freight train, along with the shrubs and grass on the slope, had been swallowed by fire.

The firelight illuminated the entire night sky. Amidst the flames were countless screams and cries of agony, which Xia’er could sense, causing her headache to intensify to the point where it felt like her head would explode.

Steam train… derailment?

Notebook!

Xia’er swiftly searched her body but found no canvas bag hanging from it.

She pointed toward the direction of the fiery sea, and four shadows emerged from her back, rushing straight into the flames.

Soon, one of the shadows returned, holding high a half-burned canvas bag.

Xia’er quickly grabbed the bag and opened it.

Inside were bundles of 20 Su Pound banknotes rolled into money rolls; many had been burned halfway or turned to ashes, leaving only three complete rolls of Su Pounds.

Underneath those Su Pounds lay a notebook with a charred cover.

Xia’er quickly pulled out the notebook and flipped it open. Fortunately, only the cover was scorched. The pages inside were slightly yellowed from smoke but still legible enough to make out the recorded information.

The notebook was almost filled with text, the last entry dated at 16:00 on August 9th, just four hours before the fire started.

What exactly happened?

Xia’er glanced at the final page of the records.

[Year 741 of the Holy Calendar, August 9, 16:30]

[Things have ended up this way… I’ve done my best.]

[I’ve investigated everything I could, even the devout believer from the Arrival Sect has appeared, yet I’m still unable to determine which organization or person is after me.]

[Recently, things have gone so wrong… No, it’s like I’ve been cursed. I don’t want to stay in Borough City for another day; it’s an ominous place.]

[Really, I want to use the sub-system’s “Deep Simulation” to see where the problem lies.]

[But my mission is to investigate and survive as long as possible. Even if I wanted to explore the Other Realm, I can only do so at the very last moment.]

[My Mortality Points are down to five, and the remaining potions have already been converted into cash. However, all the transfer arrangements are ready. I’ve already boarded the steam train with my sister.]

[After comparing options, I’ve finally decided to go to An Su. Though the steam train is slow and doesn’t go directly to An Su, requiring a transfer, overall, it’s faster than a carriage.]

[That’s it for today; I’m exhausted.]

“Xia’er! What’s wrong? Xia’er!”

A series of calls rang in Xia’er’s ears. Distracted by the murmurs tormenting her, Xia’er slowly raised her head and looked at Li Qi, who was shaking her shoulders.

“Take me… away from here…”

Xia’er slowly stretched out her hands.

Without hesitation, Li Qi took the canvas bag from Xia’er’s hand, picked her up horizontally, and ran toward a place far from the train.

Boom—!

Just as they ran about ten meters away, one of the train cars behind them exploded violently. The powerful shockwave made Li Qi lose her balance and fall forward.

Before hitting the ground, she forcibly twisted her body, landing on her side and shoulder, rolling several times to ensure Xia’er in her arms remained unharmed.

After the explosion, most of the murmurs and wails in Xia’er’s mind disappeared instantly, allowing her to fully recover.

Most of the people struggling painfully had likely perished.

Xia’er quickly got up, retrieved the damaged canvas bag and notebook, took Li Qi’s hand, and led her up the slope.

Only after crossing the railway tracks and reaching the other side of the slope, where they no longer felt the heat behind them, did Xia’er stop, coughing a few times.

The excessive smoke inhalation in the carriage had left Xia’er slightly dizzy.

Li Qi also stopped, panting heavily. She looked back at the thick smoke and flames behind them, feeling uncertain.

What exactly happened just now?

Her sister suddenly opened the window, and somehow, she inexplicably flew out, landing steadily on the ground.

But the next second, the train suddenly exploded, derailing entirely. Before her eyes, it rolled down the slope, bursting into fierce flames almost instantly.

Everything happened too fast for Li Qi to react.

By the time she realized her sister was still on the train, her sister had already emerged from the inferno.

It seemed like she also saw her sister’s canvas bag flying out of the flames…

“What… happened? Xia’er?”

Li Qi stammered, her nervousness making her speech unclear.

Li Qi was still shaken by the events, unable to focus her thoughts.

At this moment, Xia’er, holding the notebook in her hand, looked back with a puzzled expression toward the smoke-filled distance.

She also wanted to know what happened.

Why did the train suddenly explode and derail? Was someone aware of her itinerary and planted a bomb to murder her?

“Sis, what happened just now?”

Xia’er looked in Li Qi’s direction, gripping her hand tightly and asked calmly, “Can you tell me in detail what happened on the train?”

Hearing Xia’er’s calm voice, Li Qi seemed influenced by her composure, gradually calming her previously panicked emotions.

Slowly, Li Qi began recounting everything that had happened since boarding the train to Xia’er.

After boarding the train, everything was normal… except for a few people coming over to get acquainted with Xia’er, nothing unusual occurred.

Based on the simulation, her simulated self used the last five Mortality Points right before the explosion to send Li Qi outside—most likely using the “Judge” save file, as only black shadows could achieve that.

In the simulation, Xia’er, relying on the [Foreknowledge Gaze]’s one-second prediction, foresaw the explosion that would occur a second later and chose to send her sister out in the final moments.

As for herself, she was knocked unconscious by the smoke inside the carriage and nearly burned alive.

Xia’er analyzed that it was likely after the explosion killed the “Judge” save file, leaving the main body trapped inside with no way to escape from the flames. The system must have deemed her death inevitable, bringing her consciousness to this point in time.

She could have chosen to jump out of the carriage herself.

This would have allowed her to survive a few more days and conduct further investigations…

Xia’er couldn’t blame her simulated self for such an emotional decision. If it were her, she wouldn’t be able to watch Li Qi die again right in front of her eyes, especially when she had the ability to prevent it.

Regardless, her simulated self’s death caused Xia’er’s simulation to occur earlier, forcing her from September 27th to arrive on August 9th.

Apparently, she couldn’t travel to a time point that her simulated self hadn’t experienced yet, nor could she reach a time after her simulated self’s death.

Xia’er tightened her grip on the notebook, her mind clouded with doubts.

What exactly happened?

Why was her simulated self so negative today? Why was the investigation not progressing? And why wasn’t it the fervent believer from the Arrival Sect? Her simulated self had already met with them.

Xia’er desperately wanted to open the notebook and find out the truth, but currently, she had to take her sister to a safe place first.

Her sister had seen a small town in the direction they came from. Supporting her sister, Xia’er walked along the railway toward the town until the fire behind them became just a small dot. Xia’er then led Li Qi to the entrance of the town.

After renting a room in a simple inn in the town, Xia’er helped her sister settle in and ensured she fell asleep. Only then did Xia’er sit beside a wooden table and open the notebook.

[Year 741 of the Holy Calendar, June 23rd, 5:46 PM]

[I’ve seen the subsystem. The tasks left behind are numerous…]

[June 23rd, 9:30 PM]

[The banquet has ended, it was very sumptuous.]

[After eating, Aivana brought Adelle and Amy to the study. Nia briefly introduced Amy to the extraordinary background, then presented a list, asking Amy to choose.]

[The list included two pathways I haven’t seen before—”Performer” and “Gardener”… their abilities are completely unimaginable based on their names alone.]

[Currently, it seems only the last two pathways remain unknown. Even Aivana knows little about them, suggesting they might belong to a secret sect existing only in legends, rarely mentioned in books.]

[Do you remember the flowers in Amy’s garden and room?]

[Yes, that’s right. She chose “Gardener,” a potion I definitely wouldn’t select if given the choice.]

[However, Aivana doesn’t have the “Gardener” potion either. This seems to involve a mysterious natural sect. She decided to modify her claim against Derton Manor, asking them to find a “Gardener” potion containing the Replication Ritual.]

[Today is over. I plan to find my sister and ask her to move to the newly rented house. Aivana helped me investigate, and the landlord seems fine, just an ordinary old man.]

[I estimate that tomorrow, the relevant interest groups from Derton Manor will begin investigating the incident there. I’ll leave a message then.]

The first page ended here. Xia’er continued flipping through the notebook.

[June 24th, 12:00 PM]

[Today was supposed to be a long-awaited day off, promised to spend with my sister, but I can’t take a break; there are still things to investigate.]

[Investigating in the simulation is much harder. The subsystem cannot see changes in the number of simulated days; it only shows a deep simulation connected to the Other Realm. I don’t know what consequences my actions might trigger.]

[Today, I went to the luxurious clinic Aivana bought. Due to lack of publicity, there weren’t many customers, making it rather quiet. However, Adelle was experimenting with new potions.]

[Aivana’s progress on the Replication Ritual is slow, but Adelle’s speed has increased significantly—her previous creation of an antidote for “Dehydration Syndrome” seems to have inadvertently completed most of her “Plague Doctor” Replication Ritual. The potion has already been purchased, and now she’s ready to proceed.]

[No more talking, I’m going to eat lunch. Investigation news should come in the afternoon.]

[June 24th, 4:50 PM]

[There weren’t many patients this afternoon, but quite a few visitors came to see Aivana. Among them, I even saw some acquaintances.]

[The first was Lucy Hilufa, a senior specialist from the Derton Group. She came on behalf of Derton Manor to apologize to VIP Aivana. The compensation plan is still under discussion, and she will return with the compensation later.]

[The second and third were “Radiant Bishop” Xiu and “Missionary” Yulis. They didn’t recognize me, but I knew them well. However, when they arrived, I was helping Adelle test a drug and didn’t meet them directly.]

[According to Aivana, they came to inquire if she had noticed any abnormalities and offered to check if she had been brainwashed by cultists for free. It seems they’re screening people who visited Derton Manor to ensure no cult members were missed—better hide Amy.]

[—By the way, if Adelle asks you to test her drugs, absolutely do not agree.]

[She insists that “I don’t want enemies to be able to consume my medicine easily,” so she adds poison without mint. You must drink the antidote together with the potion, or something bad will happen.]

[The fourth visitor was a third-rank old professor from the Redemption Society. He seems to be Xie Lun’s teacher. He didn’t know that the incident involving Xie Lun occurred at Aivana’s house. He just came to apologize to Adelle and hoped she would return to the Redemption Society.]

[Besides these four, there was actually a fifth force, but they didn’t come visiting. Aivana actively visited them… It seems the royal family also sent someone to investigate. This is a major event within An Su’s borders, and the royal family cannot ignore it.]

[You’re right. After this incident, various interested forces began to appear. The only confirmed information now is that Derton Manor handled the aftermath extremely cleanly. Apart from the cultists, there were no other fatalities, only some people with minor or severe injuries.]

[They can only discover the Arrival Sect and the Sacrifice Ritual. The investigation has reached a dead end.]

[The only force capable of uncovering anything within is the Arrival Sect, and they seem to have made no moves yet.]

[Tomorrow evening, there seems to be a banquet where these individuals will gather to discuss the sacrifice event at Derton Manor. Many Extraordinary Persons will be invited.]

[As a party involved and the “local expert,” Aivana naturally received an invitation. Since this is a simulation, I’ve decided to follow her along, treating it as an investigation.]

[I hope everything ends soon.]

Members of the royal family too?

An unexpected but reasonable force appeared, but it shouldn’t affect the overall situation.

If this banquet were happening in reality, Xia’er would never attend. But her simulated self, for the sake of intelligence, chose to accompany Aivana.

They say criminals love returning to the crime scene to observe. Xia’er initially didn’t believe it, but now she does.

Up until this point, the records in the notebook seemed relatively normal.

Xia’er continued flipping through page by page until she stopped reading at a certain event, re-flipped a few pages back, and furrowed her brows slightly.