Caesar Tribe.
After watching Wang Yan leave, Xie Yufei finally let out a sigh of relief. The dignified demeanor she had maintained moments ago disappeared, her eyebrows arched mischievously, and she muttered to herself, "Xie Yufei, known since childhood as the invincible little demon, climbing trees, stealing birds' nests, hiding old men's walking sticks, misplacing old ladies' dentures, pulling little boys' pants... How could I settle for something as boring as developing civilization step by step? That's no fun! Messing around like Wang Yan does—that's interesting! Big fool Wang Yan will never understand the true meaning of life!"
If Wang Yan had been there to hear these words, he would have definitely collapsed in disbelief.
Who said having a high IQ means being normal?
Earth.
As Wang Yan stepped into the rehabilitation hospital, he suddenly shivered.
"Is something going to happen?" He glanced around but saw nothing unusual. Shaking his head with a smile, he muttered, "What could possibly happen? For the sake of the planet, I'll keep fighting!"
With that, he opened a dimensional portal and entered the hospital. He began picking up people based on the diagram Xie Yufei had given him, completely unaware that his "high IQ" ally was far from the normal person he thought she was.
Still, Xie Yufei had been thorough with her instructions. She had detailed the nurses' schedules, which rooms had companions, and even common time frames for various patient activities. Wang Yan had no idea where she had obtained such detailed information.
Wang Yan moved through the wards like a ghost, silently transporting patients who could no longer take care of themselves into his world.
3:00 a.m.
Except for a few individuals without significant skills, all the patients in the VIP ward had disappeared without a trace.
After a final check to ensure everything was in order, Wang Yan smiled with satisfaction and returned to his world. He would likely never need to return to this hospital again.
In his world, 23 men and women, all dressed in hospital gowns, lay awkwardly on the ground, looking utterly confused and miserable.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. One minute I was in bed, and now I'm here."
"Old Feng, is that you?"
"It's me. Is that you, Old Tang?"
"It's not just me. Looks like everyone from the rehabilitation hospital is here!"
"Does anyone know what's going on?"
"I've been here the longest. Every 30 to 40 minutes, someone else appeared out of nowhere. Whoever's doing this prank, they haven't given us any food. I've been hungry for over ten hours! I might not make it!"
"Be thankful! A little hunger won't kill you. I've wet myself several times already!"
"Same here..."
What began as a disoriented gathering quickly turned into a shared misery session. The old men and women, now free from embarrassment, openly discussed their troubles, including the indignities of incontinence.
"If we're left here without food or water, do you think this could be some secret government experiment on us old folks?"
"Old Xu, you're overthinking it. If the government wanted test subjects, they'd use death row inmates. What useful data could they get from a bunch of old, disabled people like us?"
"Maybe it's aliens?"
"I doubt it. I've read some sci-fi novels about something called the 'Main God Space,' where people are kidnapped from Earth and sent to different worlds to complete missions. This feels kind of like that."
"Yeah, I've read that too! But where's the guide to explain everything?"
"What's the Main God Space? Old Tang, since we've got nothing else to do, why don't you tell us about it..."
Despite their situation, the group was remarkably imaginative, speculating wildly about what was happening.
What Wang Yan had overlooked was the time difference. While he had been busy on Earth for 30 or 40 minutes, the first few patients had been lying in his world for over ten hours. Hungry, cold, and disoriented, they had been left to suffer. Wang Yan realized that in his haste, he had committed a serious oversight.
When Wang Yan finally appeared before them, the chatter stopped. Everyone—those lying down and those squinting up at him—turned their gaze toward him.
He was the only one there who didn't look like he belonged. Moreover, he stood out even more, dressed in a raincoat and mask on a sunny day, making him look every bit the suspicious figure.
The scene became oddly still, like a surreal painting.
Wang Yan stood there, stunned. What was going on? Why was it so quiet? Were these old folks playing dead or something?
Breaking the silence, he asked hesitantly, "Are you all okay?"
One of the older men, the one who had suggested the "Main God Space" theory earlier, spoke up, "Young man, are you the guide for this 'newcomer scenario'?"
Newcomer guide? Wang Yan was baffled.
"See, Lao Zhang? I told you your idea wasn't reliable!" another man scoffed. "Kid, which secret government department do you work for?"
"I don't work for any department. This is a... purely personal endeavor," Wang Yan replied, feeling the weight of their scrutiny.
"What personal endeavor?"
"Why did you bring us, a bunch of old and disabled people, here?"
"Is this some kind of evil experiment?"
The questions came flying at him like a swarm of bees, overwhelming him.
Wang Yan's head was buzzing. He tried to speak, but couldn't get a word in. If he had known it would turn into such a mess, he would have kept them separated!
"STOP!" he yelled.
The group fell silent immediately.
Seizing the quiet, Wang Yan, now looking stern, said, "From now on, no one speaks until I explain everything. Anyone who talks will be thrown into the sea to fend for themselves!"
Suddenly, the elderly group exchanged nervous glances. No one dared to utter a word. After all, they were the ones most afraid of dying. Otherwise, they wouldn't have spent so much money trying to recover in a rehabilitation hospital!
Now that things were quiet, Wang Yan surveyed them all, feeling pleased with their obedience. Clearly, a bit of fear was more effective than politeness. A Planet Lord must act like one.
At that moment, one old man timidly raised his hand, speaking with difficulty, "C-can I say something? Just one thing."
Wang Yan recognized him—Luo Mingde, the hemiplegic physics professor.
Wang Yan frowned. Was this old man challenging his authority right after being threatened? That took guts.
Should he allow him to speak?
If he did, would it weaken his authority?
If he didn't, would it undermine the control he had just established?
Old man, you're putting me in a tough spot!
After a moment's internal struggle, Wang Yan sighed. He couldn't bring himself to refuse the frail old professor. "Go ahead."
Luo Mingde, speaking slowly and slurred, said, "Young... man, c-can we get something to eat? I haven't eaten in over ten hours... If I don't get food soon... I won't need to be thrown into the sea... I'll die right here."
Wang Yan slapped his forehead, realizing his mistake. He had forgotten about the time difference.
With a flash, he appeared beside Luo Mingde.
A second later, both he and the professor vanished from sight.
The group gasped in horror.
One elderly man, trembling and pale, whispered, "Did he just take Old Luo to feed him to the fish?"