Seven hours had passed since the commanders had given them a squad. Many things happened in the last seven hours. Some kids activated their dantian and finished the task, while some died trying.
They were no longer kicked and pushed by the guards, but the atmosphere was still the same.
They were told that they wouldn't get anything to eat or drink unless they finish the given task. And while some of them were as young as six years old, they had no choice but to survive such harsh conditions.
The adults who tried to raise concerns for the kids were immediately executed in front of everyone.
The five squids were named after the titles of the five commanders.
Wu Jinhai's squad was called the Iron squad, and it had 93 members left. Bao Tianlong's squad was called the Ox squad, and it had 106 members left, even though the crimson shadow had given him 20 members in exchange for Liam.
Jian Lei's squad was called the Thunder squad, and it had 89 members left. Ren Shanying's squad was called the Crimson squad, and it had 86 members left.
And lastly, Lin Xueya's squad was called the Viper squad, although they didn't like that name. Surprisingly, all the 100 members were alive in her squad.
[Clear your mind, you son of a shit! How many times do I have to tell you that?! Do you want me to give you a nice dose of seizure, huh?!]
The system had decided to be kind to Liam and help him cultivate his dantian, but after five attempts, the system decided to stop being kind.
[Why are you so stupid?! Look, even that six-year-old kid was able to do it. And he doesn't even have a system! He followed the instructions given by that old man.]
Liam, annoyed by the constant bickering of the system, uttered, "Maybe the old man is a better teacher than you are?"
[I see what you are trying to do. I am above all feelings and emotions. Such lame provocation won't work on me.]
"Well, looks like you couldn't conquer your anger issues."
[....]
SIGH!
"Look, I am trying to do as you told me. I am sure you know it. Maybe this… just isn't for me? Didn't that bald guy say earlier that not everyone can cultivate their dantian?"
[It's not about 'can' or 'cannot'. You 'have' to do it. They will kill you if you don't.]
"The cooldown will end in 9 hours. Even if I fail, they will kill me and throw my body somewhere. I will use that opportunity to run away."
[So that's your plan?]
"Yup. I don't have to worry about anything. Once they kill me, I will be free."
[If that's what you want to do, then okay. I am your guide. I am to guide you, not to make decisions for you.]
'I will wait for another quest.'
[You have three quest slots. If you don't complete a quest, it will remain until it has been completed.]
Liam pondered for a moment and got up. He stretched his arms and legs and started walking.
While everyone else was busy trying their best to complete the given task, Liam was casually strolling. They all looked at him as though he was a menace.
'I don't like the way they look at me. Why are they all looking at me like that?' he asked himself.
"Hey! You there!" a guard stopped Liam.
"Hmm?" Liam turned around.
"What are you doing? Did you cultivate your dantian?" the guard asked and placed his hand on Liam's stomach. "I don't sense it!"
"Because I haven't!"
"Do you not value your life?"
"Pipe down. I want to chuck a shit. Which way should I go?"
"..." After a brief silence, the guard pointed his finger at a distance and walked away.
Liam calmly walked in the direction while cautiously glancing around, seemingly making sure no one was following him.
[What are you doing?]
"Aren't you curious?"
[About what?]
"A few dozen people have already died. The guards take their corpses somewhere. I want to know what they do with it. It's better to have a back-up plan in case something goes wrong."
Liam carefully inspected the ground and followed the trails that were formed because of dragging.
[I am not sure whether to call you a fool or brave.]
"Call me daddy, then."
ZAP!
The system sent an electric current to zap Liam.
"This is abuse."
[This is discipline.]
After walking for a while, Liam reached a well.
"Hmm~ Do they throw the bodies inside?" Liam hummed in amusement. "That is not good. What will happen to me if I am dumped there after they kill me?"
"Will I spawn inside the well again?" he wondered.
"Hmm?"
"..."
After a brief moment, Liam grew impatient and muttered, "Hey system. I am asking you."
[....]
"Whoa, are you sulking?"
[....]
"Aren't you supposed to be my guide? Help me out."
[...]
"Do you want me to apologize or something? I mean, since you claim to know so much about me, you must also be aware of my character. This is how I am." He shrugged his shoulders.
[I wish I had chosen someone else instead of you…]
"What do you mean?"
[You will not spawn inside the well. Your current body will be healed.]
"What if… chop my limbs or cut open my body?"
[It will regenerate.]
"What if they behead me?"
[As long as you have immortality outside of cooldown, you are immortal. You cannot die.]
Liam realized that if they killed him and dumped him into the well, he would still be stuck in the well.
'I can't escape this place even by dying…'
It was at that moment where Liam had truly realized that situation he was in. All this time, he was in the hope that he would be able to escape after dying. And once he had finished ten quests, he could go to the real world.
However, not only was he stuck as a prisoner, he was stuck in the dream world for potentially all his life.
"Nope. I have many things to do. I have got to kill that restaurant host and all the motherfuckers who are responsible for putting me into this mess. And I have some unfinished business in the real world, too."
[Let's cultivate your dantian, then.]
"Yeah."
Liam was about to leave, but he stopped when he saw the guards approaching the well with a few more dead bodies. And with them… was a mysterious old man which he had never seen before.
The guards were carrying him in a hand carriage, followed by the Iron fang and Thunder palm.
'Looks like my shit is going to take a little longer…'