Chapter 56: Players in a Play, A Game Within a Game

[Consciousness returns to darkness, the dreamscape collapses.]

[For an ordinary person, experiencing such a nightmare that digs into the deepest, most painful memories of the heart...]

[And being maliciously guided by high-dimensional power, waking up would inevitably lead to a period of emotional breakdown.]

[However, there won't be any short-term changes to the personality; this is for the sake of concealment.]

[This is also the habitual tactic of the Heart-Eroding Cult—first destroy your psychological defenses, then implant their madness.]

[But they miscalculated one thing.]

[The current you is no longer that helpless teenager who could only look up at the sky in the orphanage.]

[As early as the first day you Transmigrated here.]

[The moment the original owner's heart stopped and he died in that infusion room filled with the smell of disinfectant.]

[The former "little Li Ang" had already left forever.]

[You received his memories and body, and also received his pain, despair, unwillingness, and resentment.]

[On your first day in this world, you knew the cruel underlying tone of this high-martial world better than anyone.]

[For the weak, even breathing is a mistake.]

[Therefore, everything in the dream.]

[To you, it is not a new trauma, but an old scar that has long since scabbed over.]

[You train desperately, you Cultivate frantically, you even borrow money and take risks to intercept opportunities.]

[All just to avoid repeating the same mistakes.]

[You don't need the guidance of a cult; you yourself have a stronger desire to become stronger than anyone else.]

["Hmph, a clumsy script."]

[Deep in your consciousness, you coldly evaluated the dream just now.]

[Now, the pen of the script is already in your hand.]

[Since Great Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian has already set up the stage for you.]

[Then as the "bait," you must follow his requirements and continue acting out the play.]

[The next day, 4:00 AM.]

[Inside the Teachers Apartment, it was dead silent.]

["Huff..."]

[You sat up abruptly from the bed, your chest heaving violently.]

[By the faint moonlight outside the window, your complexion was as pale as paper.]

[Your eyes were filled with lingering fear and confusion.]

[Immediately after, your features began to contort, as if you were trying to suppress some emotion about to explode.]

["Wuu..."]

[You covered your face with your hands, your body curled into a ball, and your shoulders trembled violently.]

[Silent tears gushed out through your fingers, dripping onto the sheets.]

[It was a complex emotion mixed with an indictment against the unfairness of fate.]

[An extreme desire for power.]

[And the complex emotions after recalling the tragic experiences of your youth.]

[Only thirty seconds passed.]

[When you put your hands down, the tear stains were still on your face.]

[But those eyes instantly returned to the calmness and coldness of a deep pool.]

[All weakness, fear, and confusion disappeared at this moment.]

[Replacing them was a heart-palpitating rationality.]

[You didn't turn on the light; instead, you walked barefoot to the desk.]

[You skillfully pulled open the drawer and reached out to touch a slightly loose wooden board at the bottom.]

[With a gentle click, the wooden board popped open, revealing the hidden compartment inside.]

[There, an old button phone and a brand-new, anonymous SIM card lay quietly.]

[This was a prop you had prepared for a long time for this moment.]

[Insert the card, turn it on.]

[You didn't hesitate at all, dialing that number from memory.]

["Beep... Beep..."]

[The phone was answered after only two rings.]

["Hello!"]

[Liu Qing's familiar voice came through the receiver.]

[Although it was 4:00 AM, her voice was very clear, as if she had been waiting for this call.]

["It's me, Longnan, Li Ang."]

[You only said these six short words, your tone steady, without a hint of emotional color.]

[After speaking, you hung up the phone directly.]

[Pull out the card, snap it, throw it into the sewer to be flushed away—the entire set of actions was smooth and fluid.]

[This call was a key link in a multi-layered game.]

[For Liu Qing, this was the signal from her "benefactor."]

[It meant she could officially submit that file about the "Heart-Eroding Cult conspiracy" to the Wuyue City Investigation Bureau.]

[For Zhao Zongtian and Cold Kite hiding in the shadows, this was a sign that the "bait" had taken the bait.]

[And for yourself... this was just one of many acts.]

[After finishing all this, you walked into the bathroom and splashed your face hard with cold water.]

[The teenager in the mirror had deep, inscrutable eyes.]

["Time to go to school."]

[5:00 AM, Combat Training Hall.]

[When the first ray of morning light spilled onto the campus, you were already standing in front of the alloy dummy.]

["Clang!"]

[The battle blade left its sheath, bringing with it a shrill, cold light.]

[Today, you trained exceptionally hard.]

[In the eyes of everyone—including Cold Kite, who was hiding in your shadow—you were no different from the previous Li Ang.]

[Still the Genius who was diligent to the point of self-abuse.]

[But in the eyes of the "Heart-Eroding Cult," you were the "perfect vessel" that had already been implanted with suggestions and was about to fall.]

[Waiting for December 13th to arrive, to go to Changlin Park to bathe in "Divine Grace."]

[In the eyes of Zhao Zongtian and Cold Kite, you were the "heroic bait" who, despite your exceptional talent, was kept in the dark and was unknowingly cooperating with the official fishing plan.]

[Everyone thought they saw through you, everyone thought you were under their control.]

[Logically speaking, as a "veteran" with the Soul of an adult and having experienced many life-and-death simulations.]

[You considered yourself calm and rational, unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before you.]

[Before this, even when facing the pursuit of a Kaiyuan Realm Expert, you had never lost your composure.]

[But today, for some reason, your heart couldn't settle down.]

[Perhaps it was that damn dream last night.]

[Although you were not truly under the mental control of the cult.]

[It did indeed tear open the scar on your heart that had long since scabbed over.]

[Making you relive the despair experienced by the original owner.]

[Or perhaps... life during this period has been too stifling.]

[Acting as a perfect Genius at school, acting as an obedient student in front of teachers.]

[Acting as prey in front of enemies, acting as bait in front of allies.]

[You wore one mask after another, speaking one lie after another.]

[Every step had to be carefully calculated, every sentence had to be repeatedly deliberated.]

[You were beginning to forget what the real Li Ang, who just wanted to live simply, looked like.]

[And...]

[You felt the invisible net above your head tightening.]

[That sense of suffocation where no matter how you struggled, you still seemed to be on the chessboard.]

[Made you want to shout, want to roar.]

[The pent-up Qi in your heart was stuck in your chest, unable to dissipate for a long time.]

["Huff... Huff..."]

[Your breathing became heavy, your eyes gradually bloodshot.]

[Since rationality couldn't suppress it, then use the blade to vent!]

[Only the blade in your hand was real.]

[Only the act of slashing belonged to you!]

["Slash!"]

["Slash again!"]

[You drew your blade again and again, slashing again and again.]

[Every slash poured out all your spirit and energy.]

[Every slash felt like it was cutting through those invisible threads wrapped around you.]

[You practiced for a full half-hour longer.]

[Until your arm muscles were sore, until most of the Qi and blood in your body were consumed.]

[The frustration of being manipulated like a chess piece finally dissipated a little.]

["Huff..."]

[You stood with your blade sheathed, wiping the sweat from your forehead.]

[The expression on your face changed back to that gentle, humble, and sunny appearance.]

["Finished venting, the play must go on; I can only keep moving forward."]

[After all, the next act was already waiting for you to take the stage.]

[This is the self-cultivation of an old artist.]

[Morning, Class (1) of Grade 12.]

[When you walked into the classroom, you were greeted by an unprecedented wave of enthusiasm.]

["Assistant Instructor Li is here!"]

["God Li! Morning!"]

[If you were previously just a somewhat famous "Theory Emperor."]

[Then after experiencing "topping the final joint examination" and "making the school beauty Liu Xiyue cry," these two events.]

[Your status in the hearts of the students had been infinitely elevated, even carrying a hint of legend.]

[Many classmates squeezed toward your direction, holding notebooks or tablet computers.]

["Assistant Instructor Li, Assistant Instructor Li! I have a question about 'Meridians Reversal' that I really don't understand."]

["The answer analysis is too complicated, can you help me explain it using your method?"]

["God Li! I just renewed Group Leader Wu's VIP package yesterday."]

["But I feel the force generation of 'Move, Block, and Punch' is still wrong, can you give me some pointers?"]

["Assistant Instructor Li, I want it too! I want it too!"]

[Now, no matter where you went, you were the center of attention.]

[Even Liao Fan, the former class monitor who used to be at odds with you and always viewed you as an eyesore, right now.]

["Also held a notebook, squeezing in somewhat awkwardly."]

["Ahem... Li Ang, that... I also bought the package."]

[Liao Fan's eyes were evasive, his tone no longer as arrogant as before.]

["There's a question about footwork I'd like to ask for advice."]

[Looking at this face that was once arrogant and overbearing, but now submissive.]

[You felt no waves in your heart, even finding it a bit ironic.]

[This world is just that realistic.]

[When you are weak, even if you are right, no one will listen to your voice.]

[But when you show enough value and strength, when you succeed, the bad people around you seem to have disappeared suddenly.]

[The whole world smiles at you, and everyone is a "good person."]

["Which question? Let me see."]

[You smiled and took the notebook, patiently answering Liao Fan, just like treating any other ordinary classmate.]

[This composure and magnanimity, on the contrary, made Liao Fan even more ashamed, and made the surrounding classmates respect you even more.]

[Until the head teacher Wang Heng walked into the classroom, this group of enthusiastic students scattered.]

[It is worth mentioning that although there was a class reorganization when moving from Grade 11 to Grade 12.]

[But Wang Heng still served as the head teacher of your Grade 12 Class (1).]

[While this was certainly due to his teaching seniority, discerning people could see that he was benefiting from your light.]

[The school hoped that this teacher, who had a good relationship with you, could continue to "stabilize" you, the future top scholar candidate.]

[Time passed slowly in boring study and Cultivate.]

[But today felt exceptionally long for you.]

[While dealing with the questions from classmates, you also had to be constantly vigilant against the prying of that "bodyguard" in your shadow.]

[And constantly deduce the next plan in your mind to ensure there were no flaws.]

[Finally, the bell for the end of the school day rang.]

[Just as you were packing your schoolbag, preparing to go and coach Wu Changhe, Wang Heng suddenly called out to you.]

["Li Ang, wait a moment."]

[Wang Heng walked up to you, his expression somewhat serious, even carrying a hint of imperceptible nervousness.]

["What's wrong, teacher?" You stopped your movements.]

["That... don't go to the training hall yet."]

[Wang Heng pointed in the direction of the administration building and lowered his voice.]

["Go to the Principal's office, Principal Liao Xianyu has something to find you for."]

[Hearing this name, your pupils shrank sharply.]

[Principal Liao Xianyu.]

[The Origin Opening Realm Peak expert who was elusive and whose stance was a mystery in the last simulation.]

[The principal who played an unknown role in the "Blood Shadow Life Replacement" ceremony.]

[The school's top leader whose allegiance you still could not determine as friend or foe.]

["Why is he looking for me?"]

["Did he discover something? Or... is it about Liu Xiyue?"]

[Alarm bells rang in your heart, but you remained calm on the surface, just nodding obediently.]

["Okay, teacher. I'll go right now."]