Chapter 119: Journey to the Abyss
Lin Ye opened his eyes to find himself standing in the asylum corridor, with Miles in orderly uniform beside him.
"What's wrong?"
Noticing Lin Ye had stopped walking, Miles turned back to ask.
"Nothing."
Lin Ye continued forward. Miles seemed to be doing well, looking much more spirited than before.
After exchanging a few casual words, Lin Ye found an excuse to head to the library alone.
He didn't know how Kevin and Miles were getting along, so he didn't dare chat too much.
The library remained unchanged - Bob wasn't there, nor was anyone else.
Deep Abyss Secrets was still in its previous position, untouched by anyone.
"You really love reading books, don't you?" Mia suddenly appeared in the seat opposite him, wearing pink glasses and holding a book with a black hardcover.
The book looked remarkably similar to Deep Abyss Secrets.
"When I was very young, my mother often forced me to read. She only attended elementary school, and in her view, reading was a good thing. I resisted at first, but gradually grew accustomed to it because reading meant I didn't have to do other chores. Eventually, reading became an essential part of my life. Every time they started fighting, I would escape into the world of stories."
Lin Ye sat opposite Mia. This was the asylum library, a perfect place to share warm childhood stories.
"How touching! Then today, let big sister Mia accompany you in reliving those beautiful childhood moments."
Mia wiped her dry eye corner, struggling to suppress a smile as she placed her book beside Deep Abyss Secrets.
The book was titled Deep Abyss Records.
"I'll just read this one."
Lin Ye placed his hand on Deep Abyss Secrets, declining Mia's offer.
"Are you certain you want to read Deep Abyss Secrets?"
Mia asked with a smile.
"......"
Lin Ye carefully recalled the book's name, but his memory grew hazy. The characters for "Secrets" and "Records" blended and mixed in his memory, finally merging into a new character.
"If you open the wrong book, your consciousness might never return. Are you certain you want to open Deep Abyss █?"
Mia vanished from opposite him and reappeared in the adjacent seat.
"What do you want? How have I offended you?"
Lin Ye felt an impulse to open the book in his hand, but he clearly understood that whichever he chose would be the wrong one. This was similar to the game room - when gambling on someone else's turf, they ultimately decide win or lose.
"Of course not. I just want to make this story more interesting."
Mia pushed the other book between them.
"I'll accompany you through this chaotic story blended from both books. I don't know how it will end either. Don't you think that's exciting?"
Mia showed a slightly crazed smile, staring into Lin Ye's eyes.
"...I don't find it exciting, but I accept your invitation. I hope we can experience a good story together."
Lin Ye also pushed his book between them. They simultaneously opened the first page of their books, their consciousness sinking as they entered the books.
........................
Lin Ye opened his eyes to find himself leaning back in a rocking chair, basking in sunlight.
Unlike the amnesia beginning last time, Lin Ye now clearly remembered everything, even knowing the basic information about this body he was using.
Heath, a recently retired old hunter, enjoying the final chapter of his life.
"Uncle Heath? Are you there?"
A clear voice called from outside the yard.
"Here."
Lin Ye examined Heath's body and discovered that although Heath appeared thin and aged, he was actually a solid third-tier spiritual energy user equipped with various highly practical spiritual energy items.
Many of these spiritual energy items were handmade gadgets, suggesting Heath was likely also a rune expert.
'What kind of ridiculous beginning is this? I'd believe the world was about to end any moment, and this isn't even the Abyss...'
Thinking this, Lin Ye suddenly realized a very troubling possibility.
"Uncle Heath, Mom asked me to deliver this."
The person entering was a short young man who seemed quite familiar with Heath.
"Thank you, just put it beside me."
Lin Ye sensed his surroundings, trying to detect any signs of approaching danger, but found only an ordinary, peaceful village without anything related to the Abyss.
"Uncle Heath, tell me more stories about the outside world."
The young man pulled up a stool and sat nearby, looking at Lin Ye expectantly.
"...Alright then, let me tell you a story about a wolf and Little Red conspiring to murder grandma with poisonous mushrooms."
Lin Ye suppressed his unease. He knew what would happen here next but had no idea how to prevent it.
And even if he could prevent it, it would be meaningless. Here, he couldn't save anyone.
So he might as well tell a story - crafting a tale that belonged only to this place, in this false world that felt both illusory and real.
"Too... good... Uncle... Heath... Huh... why are... you... sideways..."
The young man's body sagged like paste, transforming into a pool of thick flesh and blood, yet he remained conscious. He tried to raise his hands to straighten the sideways Uncle Heath, but he could no longer do anything.
"Huh... what's... wrong... with... me..."
After uttering these final words, the young man permanently lost consciousness.
Watching the hopeful young man turn into a pile of mush wasn't a pleasant experience, but Lin Ye could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything.
"Old man, time to work."
A silver-haired, hunched old woman barged into Heath's small yard.
"I've retired."
Lin Ye immediately recognized the old woman as Mia. Her walking movements were identical to those in the asylum, without any attempt at disguise.
"What am I supposed to do if you retire? I'm not good at fighting."
Mia looked genuinely troubled.
"...What's the current situation? What should I do?"
Lin Ye didn't vent excessive emotions. He had chosen to enter; this had nothing to do with Mia.
"It's we."
Mia corrected Lin Ye's mistake.
"Fine, we."
Lin Ye didn't argue. They were companions now.
"This plane is currently merging with the surface layer of the Abyss. Our task is simply to survive."
Mia answered Lin Ye's question in a single sentence.
"A plane merging with the Abyss? Why were there no signs beforehand? Why didn't I sense anything?"
Lin Ye raised more questions.
"There are two scenarios when a plane falls into the Abyss. One is the Abyss attracting the plane to fall into it. The other is the plane moving and coincidentally overlapping with the Abyss. We've encountered the latter situation. Everything has changed in ways you cannot perceive."
Mia looked at the pool of flesh and blood on the ground. This was the first screening.