"Right then, shall we grab something to eat and drink first?"
Towards Bai Wen's invitation, Long Hua replies—
"If you're paying, sure."
"Heh, an iron rooster really doesn't like to have its feathers plucked."
"You can't possibly expect to pluck a featherless rooster."
"I suppose. Right, this way."
Following Bai Wen, Long Hua and Tian Cheng headed for the blue pavilion.
Along with the way, Bai Wen introduces them to the role each pavilion is meant to serve in this village.
(It's as if someone shrunk an archaic city's neighborhood down, and decided to just drop it here.)
Is the impression that Long Hua has of this place.
According to Bai Wen, the reason this village is able to escape from the detection of GC012's detection system is because it is located in a pocket dimension.
Towards this reveal, Tian Cheng inwardly thought—
(This Zhen family's influence in the practitioners' circle of this world must be huge.)
(Surnamed Zhen's family is probably ranked highly in the practitioners' circle of this world.)
Similarly, the same thought crosses Long Hua's mind.
Entering the blue pavilion, the group moves over to the right—where a small canteen is located, with tables and chairs.
As soon as they seat themselves, a waitress—dressed in a comfortable set of white robes, gives them the menus.
Without looking at the menu, Bai Wen simply orders—
"Your best wine, and a plate of pistachio nuts."
"Stir-fried noodles, mildly spicy."
Having finished their order, the waitress retrieves the menus, and leaves a catalog in front of Long Hua, to which, Bai Wen points to, and explains—
"Items sold by the village are all listed in there."
Picking up the catalog, Long Hua looks through the pages, however—
"I can't afford any of this."
Raising a sigh, Long Hua stores the catalog away.
"Without a reliable source of spirit stone income, I guess you-"
"Can it. I'm aware of my financial situation quite well."
Heaving a sigh, Long Hua changes the topic by saying—
"Tell me about the restrictions of this world."
Shrugging his shoulders, Bai Wen answers—
"Lack of spirit Qi is one, but that's only limited to this world's current area."
"Current area?"
"Not really something you should be concerned with—until you reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm. Right then, let's talk about your number one issue right now, outside of accumulating spirit Qi and wealth."
Thinking for a bit, Bai Wen adds—
"Under ordinary circumstances, those born within the Leng Bing Realm are unable to exit."
"Then what kind of extraordinary circumstances would allow me to exit?"
Towards the question, Bai Wen is at a slight loss as to how he should answer.
"Hmm, how do I tell you any of these things without spoiling the fun?"
"Does it really matter at this point?"
"Of course it does. Well, an extraordinary circumstance would be when this entire world is being prepared to be wiped out. When that happens, rifts leading to the outside world tend to appear at random. If you're able to make it into one of those rifts before the wipe-out, you're partway free."
For a moment, Long Hua didn't know how to react to the news of this world being wiped away. And judging by Bai Wen's tone, this seems to be something that happens regularly, to which, he asks—
"Why would something like that happen? And why only partway free?"
"The first question is something for you to find out yourself. As for the second, where do you think the vessel—that is used to contain this entire world, is located?"
In response to this question, Long Hua's expression darkens, and answers—
"…Ling Yuan family's territory. Perhaps, somewhere in their estate—under heavy surveillance as well, I would assume."
"Correct. So, the moment you escape, chances are high—that you'll just end up being recaptured."
"…"
(A vessel capable of holding an entire world within itself cannot be ordinary. It is probably a treasure of the highest class. In that case, the individuals guarding it cannot be weak either.)
Thinking of this, the Tian Cheng inside of the dreamscape, has an unamused look on her face, while Long Hua asks—
"In your opinion, what's the highest realm of cultivation that I can attain in this world—assuming I have unlimited time?"
"Ai, you could turtle your way up to the Immortal realm if you had unlimited time, but it would take ages. I'll just say this, the individuals guarding the vessel are at least in the Dao Manifestation realm with an Immortal realm practitioner leading them."
Understanding that it is tantamount to suicide should he attempt to escape in the manner that Bai Wen had suggested, Long Hua frowns.
Momentarily, the food that was ordered is carried over, and placed onto the table.
"There's no set interval for when a wipe-out phenomenon happens. But when that time comes, you could come into this village for shelter."
Having said this, Bai Wen pours them both a cup of wine.
Downing the cup in silence, Long Hua raises a sigh, before digging into the noodles, to which, Bai Wen remarks—
"If you can still eat, then you're taking all this surprisingly well."
"This is only one of the few methods available. What's the normal method?"
"The normal method is by having a practitioner from the outside world take you out, but if they do-"
"You end up as their slave, or something of that nature, correct?"
"Correct. Also, I should mention this just in case, but should a denizen of this world attempt to escape during a wipe-out phenomenon, the laws that govern this world will erase them the moment they take one foot out of the vessel. However, since your soul and method of reincarnation are rather unique, this law shouldn't apply to you. Though, at some point—you should still test it out just to make sure. Ah, I almost forgot, but you being able to be understood by the denizens of this world—is probably also due to this reason."
Taking these bits of details in, Long Hua doesn't reply until he finishes eating, and upon doing so, he sets his chopsticks down, prior to asking—
"What makes you considered a denizen of this world?"
"The fastest way is to die once. During reincarnation, the laws of this world will brand your soul, thus registering you as a denizen."
(Looks like saving him from that bullet is paying off real nicely.)
Towards this piece of news, Tian Cheng smiles with glee on the inside, while also thinking—
(Assuming the standard laws of this world don't apply to him… He either needs to have enough strength to escape from an Immortal realm practitioner, or become a slave? Hmm, if this is the old him, then surely…)
Just as Tian Cheng is thinking of which option Long Hua will take, the latter, who is refilling his cup, says—
"Neither of these two methods is considered good. But if I had to pick one, then I'd go for the first."
"Even though it's suicide?"
"Suicide? What does a person who has already died once have to fear from death?"
Downing the cup, and washing away the taste of the noodles, Long Hua adds—
"In the first place, living under someone else's whims—can that even be considered living? Walk around in the practitioners' circle for long enough, and you'll eventually discover—that there are an infinite number of creative ways, to make an individual feel like death is the better option to take, rather than to continue living in a half-dead state. In other words, the only life worth living for a practitioner, is the one filled with desperation and thrills."
With every word said, the brighter the gleam that emanates from Long Hua's azure-colored eyes became.
"…"
In response to Long Hua's statement, Bai Wen feels a sense of envy towards the former—for being able to speak in such a manner.
(I may have arrived at a point in my life—where I am unable to take another step forward because the road ahead is completely shrouded in darkness. One misstep means falling, and yet… Lao Long seems like the sort who would make an attempt to tread through this darkness, even if…)
Pausing his thoughts here, Bai Wen looks to Long Hua, and asks—
"Even if-?"
Before Bai Wen can finish voicing his question, Long Hua smiles, and states—
"Even if that way of living leads me to ruins. Regardless of how pathetic, or laughable my end is, I can at least say—I didn't live a boring life. There's nothing more humiliating than to have your life tale end up being a common tale—that could be heard at whatever inn someone ended up visiting for the night."
Despite being bold enough to say these words on the outside, Long Hua sighs weakly on the inside.
Outwardly, he can put on an arrogant front, but inwardly—he's the exact opposite, which is to say, if he doesn't put on such an arrogant front, his inner insecurities couldn't be more obvious.
As far as Long Hua is aware of, there are no old friends, or family to be found in this world, and with how harsh the practitioners' circle is, if one doesn't put on a strong front—to make themselves seem tougher than what they really are, their sole choice would be to submit to the strong.
If submission is the sole choice, then death would be the much more preferable option to take—in Long Hua's opinion.
(The way I died in my previous life…)
Although he cannot remember the details, Long Hua instinctively feels like—
(It was probably laughable. Anyone who heard it, would have called it pathetic.)
Thinking up to here, Long Hua can't help but recall the way—in which Nian Tao Tao had set him up to loosen his guard.
(One loss of focus nearly cost me my dog life, and would have made getting out of this realm much more difficult… Shizun said, I'm someone who has terrible luck with women. That seems to be true even in this life. "Do not ever trust them, and know to maintain a proper amount of distance from them," hmm.)
Contemplating about a way to deal with this issue, a focused gleam emanates from Long Hua's eyes, as he downs another cup of wine.
"Ai…"
Taking in what Long Hua had said, Bai Wen raises a light sigh, as he also downs another cup of wine.
(Lao Long's attitude is probably a means for him to cover up his own insecurities. Words are easier said than done. I guess time will tell, if he's truly as mentally strong as he makes himself out to be. Still, what an envious arrogance to have.)
"People with an attitude like yours—tend to end up in one of two ways. Either they live for a short duration, or they end up making a name for themselves."
Turning their heads in the same direction, the three see Zhen Huai approaching them.
(If he's able to maintain this attitude—both on the outside and inside, he'll probably start returning to his old ways again.)
Glancing at Long Hua, the Tian Cheng within the dreamscape—has mixed feelings about the matter.
On the positive side, if Long Hua returns to the way he deals with matters, as he had done in his previous life, his odds of survival in this world would be much higher.
In turn, this would allow him to have a higher likelihood of successfully escaping from the Leng Bing Realm via his first option.
On the negative side, he would become much more difficult for Tian Cheng to control.
(There's no way to tell how things will go between us unless I make contact. Hmm.)