"...Is this truly the world after death, or is it being controlled by some higher-dimensional existence?"
A gleam of data flowed through Cangxuan's ice-blue eyes.
There were clear rules and a specific objective to complete.
These two points alone pointed clearly to one possibility—a game.
An activity developed by an intelligent being for its own amusement.
Of course, it could also be an experiment.
Regardless, what Cangxuan needed to determine was whether there was truly an intelligent lifeform watching them from behind the scenes of this space.
"Whoa, sister, don't scare me! When you put it like that, I feel like someone's watching us in the dark."
Danzhu clutched the corner of her sister's sleeve, timidly scanning the library.
They were in the open area in front of the central reception desk.
A luxurious red carpet covered the floor, and a magnificent, iridescent chandelier hung from the ceiling.
Behind the long, rectangular reception desk stood three charming and beautiful girls.
They wore nothing but one-piece black bodysuits. The semi-transparent material not only outlined their lovely figures but also offered tantalizing glimpses of their private parts.
The library was enormous, practically a labyrinth.
With the reception desk as the center, it was roughly divided into left and right sections.
To the left was the "Forbidden Books Section."
The space was enveloped in a dim, oppressive atmosphere. Faint candlelight flickered between colossal bookshelves, illuminating narrow corridors leading into the depths.
There were twelve main aisles formed between the towering bookshelves, dividing the area into twelve zones labeled from "A" to "L."
Each bookshelf, reaching all the way to the ceiling, was set against a wall, partitioning the library into uniform spaces. If curtains were drawn between two shelves, the resulting area would be like a small dorm room.
To the right was the "Reading Area."
The Reading Area had no chairs. It was structured like terraced fields, with half-meter-high shelves filled with books, their extended tops providing a surface where one could sit on the floor.
A few girls were scattered about, sitting there.
They were not wearing black bodysuits, and their behavior was very strange.
Some were whispering to each other as if discussing something, but there was no one around them.
Others, despite holding no books, were reading with intense concentration, occasionally making the motion of turning a page.
Danzhu's heart began to pound. In the next second, her eyes widened.
Her sister was walking directly towards the staff at the reception desk, observing them closely.
Even under such scrutiny, the staff members showed no reaction whatsoever, simply standing there with vacant expressions.
"Hello."
No response.
The library staff were like dolls, unable to react to external stimuli.
Cangxuan thought for a moment, then climbed onto the counter and hopped into their workspace.
"Sister?"
Danzhu watched as her sister actually started pulling at their clothes.
Oh, to be precise, their one-piece black bodysuits.
Danzhu's cherry-pink lips fell open. Her heart trembled, certain that this would trigger some great horror.
Yet, nothing happened.
Just like that, Cangxuan stripped the bodysuits off two of the library staff members.
"Here, put this on."
"Huh?"
Danzhu caught the black bodysuit tossed to her. It was still warm and carried the faint scent of the girl who had worn it.
"Have you forgotten what the 'General Rules' mentioned? We can disguise ourselves as the Girls of the Shell to avoid the monsters."
Cangxuan referred to the hints displayed alongside the "Main Quest" as the General Rules, akin to source code.
The rules here in the library, on the other hand, were a lower-level "runtime program."
When the two conflicted, the source code should take precedence.
That was Cangxuan's judgment.
"Based on the current information, we can't yet identify what a 'Girl of the Shell' is, but the library rules tell us directly: the staff here are the Girls of the Shell."
"Oh, I see."
Seeing that the library staff remained completely inert, Danzhu grew bolder.
"They're all motionless, like puppets with only an outer shell. Could that be the meaning of 'Girl of the Shell'? When we disguise ourselves as them, do we also have to stay perfectly still?"
"It's highly possible. However, it's also possible they act according to a 'predetermined program.' After all, the library rules mentioned we could report problems to the staff."
It had to be said, the fact that these two sisters could slack off in Mobius's lab without getting fired proved they were capable.
With just a few words, their analysis was already close to the truth.
"But, sister, what if the rules are fake?"
"Ah, that brings us to 'skepticism.' In scientific research, one can doubt everything, but one must also learn to selectively 'believe.' Otherwise, we would lose all 'benchmarks,' and all our observations would become meaningless.
Until we find information that contradicts the facts, all we can do is trust the existing rules and use them."
Whether it was in the Previous Era, carrying out the Fire Seed Project in later generations, or right now, this was how Cangxuan had always operated.
She was naturally gifted at summarizing the flow of all things and deducing the laws of natural evolution.
"...Um."
Danzhu held the bodysuit and glanced around weakly.
"Sister, are we going to change here? Didn't you say we might be in a game, maybe even being monitored? There could be cameras filming us right now."
"Hmm, a valid point."
"Eh, sis, sister?"
Cangxuan acknowledged her sister's words, yet she snatched a staff member's chair, sat down, and began to change anyway.
She slipped off her light, white feathered robe, and her delicate, petite body was directly exposed to the air.
"Mmm~~"
Seeing this, Danzhu also glanced around. Seeing only the soulless Girls of the Shell, she placed one hand on the edge of the desk for support, lifted a tender pink leg, and shyly slipped off her own black feathered robe, which was identical in style to her sister's.
Both Cangxuan and Danzhu were barefoot and wore no underwear.
Under the brilliant glow of the chandelier, their smooth, fair skin reflected a lustrous sheen.
Soon, the two sisters had changed into the one-piece bodysuits, wearing their light feathered robes and wide sleeves over them.
"Mmm… it feels kind of loose."
Danzhu looked down. The bodysuit seemed to be a size too big; her little steamed buns couldn't fill out the curves.
"Danzhu, don't move."
Cangxuan's expression suddenly tensed, and she hissed in a low voice.
The twin sisters had perfect rapport. From her sister's gaze, Danzhu instantly guessed that a monster might be approaching from behind.
Though terrified, she remained perfectly still.
Cangxuan had observed that being "wet" could impede the monsters' vision, but the water on their skin would evaporate quickly.
The temperature here was like summer, and it would be far too difficult to keep their entire bodies constantly wet.
If the bodysuits… no, if disguising themselves as Girls of the Shell worked, it would be for the best.
Thump, thump, thump.
The monster, wreathed in murky black energy, drew closer. Danzhu held her breath nervously while Cangxuan's ice-blue eyes stared fixedly at it.
If it made any strange moves, she would attack immediately.
Don't be fooled by her delicate appearance; when she fought, she could be quite violent.
However, she couldn't beat the monster. She had tried before encountering Danzhu and was no match at all; the creature seemed to completely ignore her attacks.
But even if she couldn't win, she could delay it.
As the two sisters stood as tensely as statues, the monster dragged its heavy footsteps past Danzhu, not seeing her at all.
They both held their breath until the monster disappeared around a corner in the "Reading Area," only then letting out a sigh of relief.
"It really works!" Danzhu was overjoyed.
"Yes. Let's find a place to rest as well."
"Where?"
Cangxuan looked towards the "Forbidden Books Section," which was divided into numerous small areas by rows of bookshelves.
"There."
"Eh? Why?"
Seeing the large characters for[Forbidden Books Section]hanging on the sign, Danzhu felt a little panicked. It felt like a "trap area" from a labyrinth game, where terrifying monsters would jump out the moment you stepped inside.
Cangxuan said, "It's not just that monster we need to hide from."
"Eh?"
It dawned on Danzhu as well. The General Rules stated: Do not get caught by ■■.
They still couldn't be sure what this blacked-out existence was.
Therefore, they definitely couldn't stay in the wide-open, plaza-like[Reading Area], where there was no cover and everything was in plain sight.
If ■■ came to the library, it would spot them with a single glance.
"I get it… but being represented by ■■ usually means it's a super boss. Couldn't it just pinpoint our location directly?"
Cangxuan looked up. "If that were the case, what meaning would this game of chase even have?"
Danzhu's heart was filled with apprehension, but she knew her sister was right.
---o---
Ji Lin entered the library just in time to see Danzhu and Cangxuan disappear around the corner of the B-Zone main aisle.
"Cangxuan, Danzhu…"
She was just a step too late again.
But she was now even more certain it was them. She would never mistake them for anyone else!
Ji Lin's heart surged with excitement.
They were really alive!
During the battle against Chiyou, Ji Lin, who thought she had obtained great power, had once again failed to protect those she cherished.
Just like when she was a child, watching helplessly as Honkai Beasts destroyed her home, she could only watch powerlessly again as Cangxuan and Danzhu sacrificed their lives in a blood ritual.
At that time, she could do nothing…
Now, Cangxuan and Danzhu were truly resurrected, right before her eyes. How could she not be moved? How could she not be ecstatic!
Ji Lin was about to run after them.
But at that exact moment, the heavy door behind her slowly creaked open again.
Ji Lin's pupils shrank. Her legs felt rooted to the spot as she managed to call out with great difficulty, "Ma-Master…"
"Good evening, A-Lin."
Ye Feng smiled and greeted her as he walked forward.
The days of… educational guidance… had made Ji Lin subconsciously default to accepting everything Ye Feng did.
At this moment, she naturally didn't run. She even forgot about the so-called "game," simply standing there blankly, awaiting her Master's command as usual.
"Why did A-Lin come to the library all by herself?"
"I… I… um, I wanted to learn more about modern knowledge…"
"Learn modern knowledge? Then you shouldn't have come to this library. It only contains R-18 books. If you happen to find a non-R-18 one, you'll become a part of the R-18 scene yourself. However~~"
Ye Feng stuck out his tongue and licked Ji Lin's cheek, then narrowed his eyes. "That's the taste of a liar."
"!!"
The wet sensation made the nervous Ji Lin's expression falter.
Ye Feng couldn't help but chuckle. "You were never this nervous before, even when I plowed you until you passed out from exhaustion, A-Lin."
"Master must have his own business in the library. I will go look for information!"
Seeing her chance, Ji Lin tried to leave, heading towards the Reading Area.
Ye Feng grabbed her arm and placed her on the reception desk.
"I came here just for you, A-Lin. Ai, you can only blame Kiana for this. She ran off after I had just gotten started."
Ye Feng grabbed Ji Lin's jade foot, unable to put it down.
Her foot was exquisite and flawless, the sole long and symmetrical, soft and supple. Though the foot was plump, it appeared delicate and graceful.
The five toes, as elegant as carved jade, were perfectly proportioned. The smooth arch of her foot formed a beautiful, alluring curve.
The taut, elastic skin on the top of her foot was like snow, with a unique softness characteristic of a young maiden. Under gentle pressure, it would slowly retract, like caressing warm, fine jade—powdery, moist, crystalline, and smooth.
"A-Lin's back is top-tier, but I'm also extremely fond of these jade feet."
"…Master, please don't…"
Ji Lin turned her head away.
She felt a soft, wet, and itchy sensation on the sole of her foot. Her entire body went numb, and she fell backward, letting out a captivating moan.
"A-Lin does an excellent job. Very talented. You haven't let that pair of beautiful legs go to waste."
Ye Feng tickled the snowy-smooth top of her foot, and her ten toes obediently fanned out. He kneaded the tender flesh at their base, and they curled back like a sensitive plant. Whether it was the soft squeeze of the pads of her toes or the unintentional scrape of a nail, it all brought him immense pleasure.
"Master… today, could you please let me go…" Ji Lin pleaded.
She was terrified. If Cangxuan and Danzhu saw her in this disgraceful state…
"Hmm? Why?"
Ye Feng smiled. "Let me guess. The reason you're so nervous… could it be that you've met your good friends here?"
"..."
"Not talking?"
Ye Feng smiled faintly, a great idea forming in his mind.
He picked Ji Lin up, letting her hang onto his body.
With a muffled grunt, Ji Lin's legs shot out straight.
"A-Lin. The rules were very clear. If you get caught by me, you get eaten. You should have run just now."
"..."
Ye Feng walked around while holding Ji Lin, his gaze sweeping over the[Reading Area]before settling on the[Forbidden Books Section].
"A-Lin, you're so concerned. Could it be you've run into Cangxuan and Danzhu?"
Ye Feng could clearly feel Ji Lin tense up.
"Oohhh~~~"
Ye Feng said with satisfaction, "So it really is them. I've hit the jackpot."
"Were you going to find them just now? Do you know where they are? Hmm, it seems you do. Tell me, where are they?"
First, he ruled out the[Reading Area].
That left the twelve zones of the[Forbidden Books Section]. The aisles F and G were in the middle, directly facing the reception desk.
Employing a binary search, Ye Feng carried Ji Lin and walked towards the middle of the Forbidden Books Section.
He came to a stop between F and G.
When Ye Feng faced the direction of G through L, Ji Lin relaxed slightly.
"Nope. Then it seems it's this way."
Ye Feng turned to face the direction of F through A.
Ji Lin: "??"