Chapter 68 Live-Fed Park - Awakening

The sounds gradually became clear, and she dazedly opened her eyes a crack.

Two people in white clothes and hoods were talking. It seemed like one was teaching the other the correct way to operate; he pointed at a machine nearby, saying something she couldn't quite catch.

Bai Xiao rolled her eyes in the direction he pointed. It was a machine with a touch-screen interface like a monitor. Several wires were connected to her body, which was clad only in a simple, sleeveless surgical gown.

Her arm was numb, and a thick needle was stuck into the most uncomfortable spot. A thin tube connected to the needle led upward to a small, transparent plastic bottle similar to an IV drip. At that moment, there was some blue liquid in the bottle and tube, appearing as if it had been drawn from her body.

The other end of the plastic bottle also had a tube connected to the machine. There was a button on the machine that seemed to adjust data; the trainee re-entered a few numbers and gave a final press.

As soon as he pressed it, Bai Xiao felt a sharp pain in her arm. That blue liquid really was being drawn from her body!

Seeing the blood draw proceeding smoothly, the instructor patted the newcomer on the shoulder and left.

Once he left, half of Bai Xiao's view, which had been completely blocked by the two of them, was cleared.

She was so sleepy and desperately wanted to sleep, but she also wanted to see what was in the distance. She tried her best to hold on, preventing her squinted eyes from closing completely.

Through a vision that seemed to have a blur filter applied, she struggled to refocus. The environment of the entire room became increasingly clear.

The more she saw, the more shocked she became.

To her left and in front of her were countless, densely packed beds arranged in neat rows and columns, stretching beyond her sight.

Beside every bed stood an identical machine and plastic bottle. People in white were walking back and forth; it seemed each person was responsible for one area. They were inserting needles into the people lying on the beds in order, then inputting values into the machines. Every time they finished the operation and clicked the button, blue blood would begin to be drawn away. Some had already had quite a bit taken, while others were just starting.

She wanted to turn her head to see what the other side looked like, but her head felt so heavy, and her eyelids were like lead. Even rolling her eyes was an extremely difficult task. She could no longer hold on; her eyelids drooped, and she fell back into a deep sleep.

"Grandma, I'm so scared."

A little girl was acting spoiled and aggrieved.

Who is it? Who's speaking?

"Xiao Xiao, don't be afraid. Listen to the nurse auntie. Grandma's good baby, as long as you get the shot, the fever will go away soon, okay?"

"I don't want to, it hurts."

"It won't hurt, Grandma promises you."

...

"Grandma, the blood is flowing back into the tube. You can't move around, or you'll have to get another needle."

This was a young female voice that sounded somewhat familiar.

In her dream, she seemed to see a young girl with her back to the door, guarding a hospital bed. On the bed lay a thin, small old lady with graying hair.

The old lady was breathing heavily, as if she didn't have much strength, but her face was kind and her voice was full of affection: "Silly child, Grandma's hands are like withered branches. Such a small needle doesn't hurt at all when it goes in."

...

The scene shifted. This young girl and a mature woman in a black trench coat stood before a tombstone. The photo on the tombstone was none other than that thin old lady from before.

The two stood in the wind, neither speaking.

After a long time, the girl didn't want to remain silent anymore. She turned her head and questioned the woman in the black trench coat with an expression of grief and indignation.

"Are your career and your new home really that important? You couldn't even make it back to see Grandma one last time before she died."

Bai Xiao was shocked to see that the young girl actually looked exactly like her!

The woman in the black trench coat looked pained. She opened her mouth several times, not knowing what to say.

Seeing this, the girl was utterly disappointed. She shook her head, as if thinking how ridiculous it was to still have expectations of her. She gave the woman in black one last deep look and walked straight away.

Seeing her about to leave, the woman hurriedly followed and grabbed her arm. She took a set of keys and a card from her bag and shoved them into the girl's hand. Tears she had held back for a long time finally flowed down as she choked out, "Bai Xiao! Mom knows you've always hated me. I've failed you and your Grandma. I don't ask for your forgiveness; I only hope you can live well in the future."

...

The images in the dream gradually faded away.

"Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao, wake up quickly," an old, loving voice lingered in her ear.

Bai Xiao snapped her eyes open and sat up with a start. She remembered!

She wasn't some 'No. 526'. She had a first and last name—she was Bai Xiao, and she was currently participating in a game filled with killing intent!

[Congratulations to Player No. 526 Bai Xiao for completing the hidden game mission—Awakening the Original Personality's Will]

[Announcing the mission for this game below]

[First, welcome players to this game. The theme of this game is—Life-Feed Park]

[Game Mission: Players who successfully escape the park within seven days will survive to the end.]

[Game Hint: So what if blood is different? All are equal before life and death.]

[Please note: Your personal game panel has been unlocked. Please check it.]

The familiar game voice sounded in her mind, and the low-end version of the subtitle display screen appeared along with it.

The game panel is unlocked? Bai Xiao raised her left hand. The bracer and ring, which were transformations of the weapons she bought from the mall, were back on her hand.

She lightly tapped the black butterfly mark on the inside, and her personal panel appeared before her. With a thought, the bracer on her hand disappeared, turning back into an icon floating in a prop slot in her [backpack].

In this game, everyone's clothing was the same, and they had absolutely nothing on them. Wearing this bracer and ring was too conspicuous. It was better to put them away for now; it wouldn't be too late to take them out when needed.

Bai Xiao got out of bed quietly. Her three unknown roommates in the same dormitory were still in a deep sleep. She walked quietly to the door and peered through the small glass pane at the hallway outside.

The hallway was dim and gloomy, with only a small red light every few meters emitting a faint glow.

Seeing no one in the hallway, she retreated back into the room with relief and moved to the window opposite the door.

Calling it a window, it was actually no different from the small windows in ancient prisons. This small window was located very close to the ceiling, about forty centimeters in length and width, with only a small crack open for ventilation.

The window was about three meters off the ground; normally, one couldn't even touch the windowsill. Even if one could, there was nothing to grip. Escaping through the window was simply impossible.

Bai Xiao didn't intend to escape through the window; it was just that moonlight was shining in. The moonlight was very bright today, like a spotlight shining down from the window. She used the light to roll up her sleeves.

Her elbow area was smooth and white; there were no needle marks at all.

Was it a dream?

Were those beds, the blood draw, and the people in white all fake?

She pressed firmly on her forearm; the closer she got to the middle of the elbow, the stronger the throbbing pain became.

The pain was still there; it was real. She just didn't know what method these people used to actually remove the needle marks that had just been made.

She didn't have a watch on her now, so she could only judge by the light coming in from outside. It was probably around four or five o'clock. It would be a few more hours before those blue-clothed Administrators came to open the door.

There was nothing she could do for the moment, so Bai Xiao returned to her bed and closed her eyes in thought.

Ring, ring, ring—

The very second the wake-up bell rang, Bai Xiao opened her eyes simultaneously.

Her roommates in the dormitory sat up, rubbing their eyes in confusion.

Watching their synchronized movements, Bai Xiao couldn't help but wonder: were these roommates of hers NPCs or players participating in the game?