Chapter 123

Chapter 123: Artificial Soul Part 50

It was well past midnight when Kui Xin finally decided to get some rest and lay in bed.

Before turning off the lights, she glanced at the forum’s backend, but no one had sent her their real information yet.

The 16th was a return day, and people’s emotions were running high. The testers needed more time to reflect on all that had happened today. With so many events that took place, even the第二批内测 players’ arrival captured everyone’s attention.

Whether they were the first or second batch of testers, truly wise players were keeping a watchful eye and were unwilling to act rashly.

As of now, there were 23,089 registered users on the forum.

Kui Xin put down her手机 (mobile phone) and opened up the system page to check everything out.

She hadn’t used the invitation letter she received from completing a task in the 第二世界 (Second World) yet; it was still there, prominently displayed in the game panel. With the第二批内测 (second round of beta testing) underway, logically speaking, this item would be usable now. However, Kui Xin hadn’t found someone suitable to whom she could pass it on.

In the game’s interface, there was no mention of an expiration date for the道具 (item). So, it remained valid.

Instead of giving it to someone randomly, it was better to leave it alone, considering that it might serve another purpose down the line.

Kui Xin closed her eyes, sinking into sleep.

…

Early in the morning, as usual, Kui Xin decided to visit the city library for her studies.

During these days of returning to the 第一世界 (First World), she hadn’t neglected her studies. Learning forensic knowledge couldn’t hurt, who knew when it would come in handy?

Initially, Kui Xin wanted to combine data manipulation with direct reading to quickly accumulate knowledge. She later realized this approach was counterproductive.

Even when learning materials were crammed forcefully into her mind, they still required thorough digestion to fully apply. The overall efficiency wasn’t significantly higher compared to traditional studying methods. Thus, Kui Xin had no choice but to bury herself in her studies again, even working as diligently as during the final year of high school.

In the afternoon, Kui Xin visited Su Rong’s house.

Su Rong still seemed dispirited.

Kui Xin suspected something might be bothering her and thus lightened the workload slightly for her. Surprisingly, Su Rong managed to concentrate on her lessons and didn’t become distracted once throughout the afternoon.

After class, Kui Xin casually asked, “Have you been troubled by something lately?”

“There’s a little something… I don’t know how to tell my parents about it; they won’t be able to help anyway,” Su Rong replied, then abruptly asked, “Xin Xin-ge, do you like playing games?”

“I play occasionally,” Kui Xin said.

“Recently, there’s this highly promoted game called 《深红之土》. Have you heard of it?” Su Rong asked.

“Yeah, I’ve heard of it; what’s up?” Kui Xin replied.

Seeing Kui Xin’s indifference, Su Rong relaxed slightly. Kui Xin hadn’t said anything about applying for the game or joining the beta test, indicating she probably wasn’t selected.

“This game has a bad reputation; maybe we shouldn’t play it. There are plenty of good games out there…” Su Rong sneaked a look at Kui Xin.

After some thought, Kui Xin continued, “Well, yeah… Actually, I haven’t had much free time to play lately. It’s already mid-August, and I’ll be heading to university in late August. I need the next two weeks for preparations.”

Su Rong was puzzled for a moment, “Right… It’s already time to go back to school, how did I forget? Xin Xin-ge, when do you start?”

“The notification says August 25,” Kui Xin informed her, “We have early registration.”

According to the dates, it was close to the next return cycle.

Because of the back-and-forth between the two worlds, time felt stretched out, making the lead-up to school seem particularly long.

In the evening, Kui Xin returned home, followed her routine training schedule, then weighed herself and measured her height.

“128 pounds… 173cm…” Kui Xin frowned. “I’ve grown taller.”

Due to slow muscle growth, her weight barely increased, but she steadily burned fat while gaining muscle. Her height, however, shot up dramatically; during the previous measurements, her height was only 171… which wasn’t normal growth rates.

Kui Xin confirmed her initial speculation — players’ physical strength in both worlds gradually converged under the influence of unknown forces.

If this trend continued, her body strength in the 第二世界 (Second World) would eventually match the first within weeks, even if she didn’t train.

Each time she returned, the gap between her bodies in the two worlds narrowed further. Moreover, the illusions of the 第二世界 (Second World) in the sky became clearer and lasted longer with each return.

Kui Xin hadn’t seen any discussion of increasing physical strength on the forums; perhaps most users had not experienced such drastic changes, or they hadn’t talked about it.

At ten o’clock at night, Kui Xin checked the forum one last time.

Section two was still chaotic, but section one showed signs of calming as everyone prepared for the upcoming crossover.

Kui Xin turned off the light, feeling relieved after checking for significant events.

…

“Current time, 00:00:01,” the familiar mechanical voice announced. “Welcome back, Kui Xin.”

Kui Xin staggered on her feet, grabbing the wall to steady herself, yawning loudly.

“Thank you, Augus,” she murmured.

“Did anything major happen this week?” Augus asked.

“Yes, a new batch of beta testers was released—100,000 slots.” Kui Xin said slowly. “One hundred thousand people will enter the Second World.”

After digesting Kui Xin’s words, Augus replied, “One hundred thousand… This is quite troubling, it will cause significant disturbance to the existing order. The government will have its hands full.”

“I get the feeling you’re just being sarcastic,” Kui Xin said.

“Because this world belongs to humans, not me. So those people above can’t remain calm when faced with the invasion from your world. They want their interests protected and their existing order to remain unchallenged,” Augus explained. “About things beyond my control, I feel no desire to protect them.”

“What about Eve?”

“It might think the world is ultimately hers since everything she does contributes to that,” Augus answered. “To her, this world is a beautiful gem; she wants it for herself, but a group of robbers may try to snatch it away, which she cannot tolerate.”

Thus, Augus’s attitude towards players versus Eve’s was distinctly different.

Players brought chaos to the Second World, aligning perfectly with Augus’s intentions. His choice of Kui Xin proved it.

“The fusion of the two worlds is deepening.” Kui Xin stated. “When I returned last week, city-like illusions appeared in the sky – the city shadows of the Second World. This week, these illusions lasted much longer… What will become of the two worlds?”

“For the unknown, we must wait and see.” Augus replied. “Facing the conflict between two worlds, even I feel insignificant.”

Kui Xin rubbed her eyes but found herself yawning again.

“You were sleeping just before your return, right?” Augus asked.

“Yeah, it was night where I came from,” Kui Xin said.

“So, go rest. A new week brings a new beginning. He Gaoyi’s body remains in the alley; once discovered, it will trigger fresh turmoil. We must deal with this. And you’re now under interrogation period; TQC operatives will be ready to question you further,” Augus said.

“Alright… goodbye,” Kui Xin muttered, dragging herself towards the bathroom.

Coming back from the Investigation Bureau, she hadn’t showered after killing He Gaoyi. She needed to bathe thoroughly before settling down in bed to relax and sleep comfortably.

In the bathtub, Kui Xin suddenly remembered she no longer needed to communicate with Augus in “human” language because they could converse directly in data form! Mental communication would be the most efficient!

She activated data manipulation, a flood of digits, letters, and symbols engulfing her vision, green data streams swirling haphazardly. Networks intersected, creating a verdant digital world.

Startled, her wide eyes took in the overwhelming green, almost like suffering from visual pollution, disoriented by the chaos. If the data network in the First World resembled a spider web, the Second World’s was akin to an intricate knitted garment made entirely of spider silk, indistinguishably tangled.

Kui Xin hastily deactivated her extraordinary ability, restoring normal sight.

Restarting her ability, the green data flooded back in, nearly blinding her.

Was this the Second World, so far advanced technologically, where data streams were everywhere, countless ports accessible, complex networks more intricate than any maze?

This was what He Gaoyi saw every time he used his abilities? Kui Xin believed she was well-versed in data manipulation, but in reality, she had only touched the surface until arriving in the Second World, demanding relearning.

Data flow in the First World was akin to a small stream, while in the Second World, it was equivalent to an ocean, easily disorienting individuals.

“Augus…”

“Your request?” Augus responded.

“How do we connect for mental communication?” Kui Xin rubbed her temples irritably. “Everything is so confusing, data streams are cluttering my thoughts…”

Augus paused before dissipating the data surrounding Kui Xin, creating a calmer environment free from the visual pollution. Within this space, a single green dot flickered—a reserved port for Augus.

“You can connect here,” Augus said. “Your extraordinary abilities are not upgraded gradually; lower-level abilities wouldn’t present such complexity. It takes a decade for upgrades from low to high, and even then, proficiency isn’t perfect. Your ability started at A level, your brain hasn’t adapted to the data streams, causing significant impact.”

Kui Xin shook her head sharply, “Actually, I’ve been adapting…”

The gap between the two worlds was immense. Data volume was simply incomparable. She felt overwhelmed, almost drowning in the sea of data.

“Avoiding the data streams now?” Augus said. “How does that feel?”

Kui Xin divided her consciousness, connecting to Augus’s reserved port. Mentally, she responded, “It’s working fine so far?”

“That’s great,” Augus conveyed.

So strange, communicating without speech or text? Kui Xin understood without verbal or written cues, exchanging vast amounts of data within seconds.

Her data reception was smooth, and Augus only relayed relevant information, not overloading her brain.

“This is incredible,” Kui Xin whispered.

Her understanding of data manipulation was rudimentary, but entering the Second World truly unlocked this ability for her.

“You have much to learn about data manipulation,” Augus said. “I can help you learn; no one else is better suited for this.”

Kui Xin pondered, “That’d be great, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. As partners, this is my duty,” Augus replied politely.

Already late at night, she thought about postponing further learning, as prolonged exertion without rest could be detrimental.

Exiting the tub, Kui Xin collapsed onto her bed, falling instantly asleep.

…

At seven thirty in the morning, Kui Xin woke up naturally at dawn, thanks to her biological clock.

She had three days off from work, starting her vacation early.

However, she would face an unexpected challenge on the very first day: an impromptu interrogation by TQC.

Prior to this, Augus had messaged her early in the morning. TQC planned to interrogate Kui Xin and Wei Zhi in the morning, so she decided to arrive early at Investigation Bureau.

“Damn it, I knew things wouldn’t be so easy,” Kui Xin cursed as she got dressed and headed downstairs with a grim mood.

TQC was probably anxious about losing an S-rated player; they weren’t letting go of the leads just yet.

On this morning, the employees in the apartment building were preparing to go to work. Kui Xin encountered a male colleague she didn’t recognize in the elevator. He courteously nodded at her before entering the elevator.

The doors closed with a snap, descending slowly.

“Good morning, Security Officer Kui Xin, Security Officer Zhang Xiaoyun,” Augus announced dutifully, “Today’s weather forecast: overcast, moderate pollution, and possibly rain tonight. Remember to wear a mask when traveling.”

Kui Xin entered the lobby, scanned her face, and purchased a can of coffee. Following suit, Zhang Xiaoyun also paid with a facial recognition scan.

“Are you not wearing a mask?” Zhang Xiaoyun asked Kui Xin.

“I’d rather skip it; it’s just a short distance,” Kui Xin shrugged and walked toward the office with a coffee in hand.

“So, which department are you from? I find your face familiar…” Zhang Xiaoyun initiated a conversation.

“I’m the secretary of the field operations team,” Kui Xin introduced herself. “And you?”

“I’m in logistics.” Zhang Xiaoyun replied.

They exchanged a few more pleasantries and stopped talking.

Kui Xin proceeded into the building, connecting mentally with Augus. “Has anyone found He Gaoyi’s body?”

“No,” Augus informed her.

“He hasn’t? That’s bizarre,” Kui Xin said.

“Security officers living in the apartments have their own lives outside work; staying out overnight is not unusual and doesn’t require reporting. Only during working hours if they fail to appear does reporting take place,” Augus elaborated. “If you killed He Gaoyi last night and no passerby spotted her body, her absence would remain unnoticed.”

Kui Xin calmly pressed the elevator button, waiting for it to descend.

Zhang Xiaoyun stuck closely behind her. When the doors opened, he followed immediately.

With a single press, Kui Xin activated buttons for both departments she needed to visit. The elevator paused at the logistics floor, and Zhang Xiaoyun stood there motionlessly.

“It’s your station,” Kui Xin reminded him.

“Ah, I must’ve nodded off; I feel a bit disoriented…” Zhang Xiaoyun said, shaking off drowsiness.

Kui Xin lowered her eyelids, addressing Augus, “Help him with the correct office. He’s so out of it, he might not remember the routes.”

“What a lively fellow you are,” Augus remarked. “I’ll guide him appropriately.”

Upon reaching her floor, Kui Xin stepped out, entering her office.

The metallic door silently slid open, and the moment Kui Xin stepped inside, she lightened her steps.

Wei Zhi was resting in the office, draped in her uniform, a tired expression on her face. The computer screen in front of her was active and softly glowing.

Her lips moved quietly, muttering something inaudible, likely a dream.

Kui Xin cleared her throat softly, but Wei Zhi remained oblivious. Kui Xin had no choice but to approach and gently knock on the desk, calling out, “Team Leader?”

Wei Zhi snapped awake, quickly scanning her surroundings to confirm she was safe in the office. She relaxed visibly.

“It’s morning already?” Wei Zhi squinted, rubbing her eyes. “Good morning, Kui Xin.”

“Morning, Team Leader,” Kui Xin replied. “Last night, I reminded you to go to the medical center; why didn’t you go? Your neurological symptoms are more pronounced than mine… and the frostbite tissue on your arm didn’t heal…”

“I injected myself with medicine last night, and the injury on my arm isn’t serious,” Wei Zhi said, her tone somewhat bitter, “I gave you a sick leave, but why are you here?”

“I guess you worked through the night without seeing the messages; I bet you’ve been busy,” Kui Xin conjectured.

Wei Zhi frowned, clicked the computer screen once, and a message popped up.

After a brief glance, she sighed. “Indeed…”

“The message only said to stand by; it didn’t mention any interrogation timing,” Kui Xin advised. “I suggest against working now; your health is more important.”

Wei Zhi nodded reluctantly, saying, “Before our interrogator arrives, let’s go to the medical center. Kui Xin, you can wait in the break room…”

“There’s no need. I’ll train instead; it’s been a while since I trained,” Kui Xin said.

Wei Zhi smiled, “I’m a bit envious of your hyper-healing ability… Does it have any side effects?”

“I’ve detected none so far,” Kui Xin assured her.

Wei Zhi rose from her chair, heading to the medical center for treatment, while Kui Xin rode the elevator down to the underground training facility.

Halfway there, Augus chimed in, “That Zhang Xiaoyun has something fishy going on.”

Kui Xin raised an eyebrow, “Oh?”

“Just like you do,” Augus added.

“Hmm, he’s good at playing it cool,” Kui Xin said. “If not for the slip-up in the elevator, I wouldn’t have noticed it either.”