Evolution - Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Ji Changqing soaked in the pool for a full nine days, which was thirty-six hours in real time.
The experience was truly something else.
Not to mention the alternating hot and cold, her flesh, blood, muscles, and bones were tempered over and over again. While it wasn't as agonizing as having her flesh gouged and bones scraped, the combination of tiny pains, tingles of numbness, and persistent itches—all interwoven and lasting for an incredibly long time—was a far more terrifyingly invigorating experience.
By the end, she was in a daze. When she was hungry, she ate; when she was tired, she'd lean against the side of the pool and doze off. After all, even the most resilient and carefree person couldn't possibly sleep soundly while their entire body was aching, numb, and itching.
As time wore on, she sometimes thought about just giving up. Quitting the game would end the torture. But subconsciously, she felt she should hold on a little longer. And as she persisted, out of sheer boredom, she even started practicing her Physique techniques while soaking in the pool.
Soaking motionlessly was uncomfortable, and practicing Physique was tiring, so why not do both at the same time?
She never expected to stumble upon such a happy accident. While submerged, she felt a sense of weightlessness, but any movement was met with greater resistance. The force generated by the displaced water was a subtle, indistinct sensation. The resistance made it easy for her Physique forms to lose their shape, forcing her to slow down and concentrate fully, striving for perfect execution.
Once a person has something to focus on, they have less mental energy to spare for the pain, numbness, and itching in their body. After arduously completing one set of all the moves she had learned so far, she was more exhausted than if she had practiced them three to five times before. As she sat panting against the wall to rest, she was surprised to find that the itching and numbness had lessened considerably.
But less than an hour later, perhaps after accumulating enough energy, the painful, itching sensation started up again. What could Ji Changqing do? Continue practicing Physique, of course!
It was a bit tiring, but it worked like a painkiller and anti-itch cream. What a rare find!
Then, she discovered that the game was particularly thoughtful, providing all sorts of learning materials and mini-games. This allowed people to soak in the pool with peace of mind. Those who wanted to study could study, and those who wanted to lose themselves in mini-games to make their "solitary confinement" more bearable could do that too.
If she were still in her teens, she definitely would have chosen to play games. But Ji Changqing, having been weathered by society for so long, naturally had more self-control than a teenager. She didn't get addicted to the games, instead quietly cycling through Physique—studying—eating—gaming—napping.
Over and over again.
She felt she could handle this monotony. What screenwriter or storyteller couldn't easily hole up for a month?
Well, that part was true, but she had misjudged her own ability to endure pain. Perhaps because practicing Physique in this bootleg Ascension Pool was exceptionally effective, she broke through to Physique Level 2 on the eighth day of game time.
This was certainly something to be happy about, but the accompanying bonus was heartbreaking—the level of pain she felt in the pool skyrocketed. She gritted her teeth and endured it for a day, but in the end, she couldn't stand the stabbing pain of a thousand needles and promptly bailed.
When she emerged from the game pod, ravenously hungry, she uncharacteristically didn't head straight for the shower. Instead, she grabbed her phone, opened a food delivery app, and ordered several dishes in one go before limply shuffling to the bathroom.
Beneath the misty water, her eyes were bright and clear. When she had broken through to Physique Level 1, she had just assumed that regular exercise was making her healthier and stronger. Everyone in the group chat had mentioned feeling better and reacting faster, even losing some fat. They all agreed that even if the game had no other special features, its fitness benefits alone made it worthwhile.
But just now, as she got out, she realized that even without her glasses, the things in her line of sight were no longer blurry.
She just didn't know if this was a result of breaking through to Physique Level 2 or the so-called marrow cleansing.
Regardless, it was a delightful development. The fitness effects were real, and her eyesight was slowly recovering. It made her look forward to what other changes might come. There was nothing more exhilarating for a middle-aged person, who had been feeling their physical abilities decline daily, than to feel rejuvenated and full of vitality again. Even the joy of earning a large sum of money couldn't compare.
Not long after Ji Changqing finished her shower, the takeout arrived. Her eyes practically glowing green with hunger, she devoured the food like a storm sweeping through clouds, then found herself somewhat stunned. She had been prepared to have at least half of it left over, but now she had eaten everything and didn't even feel stuffed.
Is my stomach connected to a black hole? She silently pressed a hand to her stomach, seriously contemplating whether this counted as a new skill. Could the multi-talented Miss Ji perhaps branch out into mukbang videos in the future?
She held this pose for about half a minute before letting out a long, slow sigh, deciding to blame it on her Physique Level 2 breakthrough. "Poverty for scholars, wealth for warriors. The ancients truly did not deceive me."
But really, what was a little hardship in training or a skyrocketing food bill compared to getting a strong and healthy body?!
Ji Changqing, who was reasonably well-off, did a quick mental calculation of her assets, decided it wasn't a big deal, and contentedly went to sleep.
When she awoke from a deep sleep, she felt a little dazed and melancholic. Sitting up in bed, she scratched her face. Could it really be that when you're warm and well-fed, you think of lust?
She had actually dreamed of Yu Zhiyao. In the dream, that heartless woman looked just as she had in the past—cool and reserved, with a touch of casual detachment, her smile faint and shallow.
She scoffed and pounded the bed in frustration, filled with a mix of contempt and pity for her own weakness.
Honestly, they had broken up ten years ago! Both of them had firmly agreed that the best kind of ex is a dead one. After the breakup, they had deleted all of each other's contact information, never reached out, and never appeared in each other's lives again.
It was so complete, it was as if the other person had never existed in this world.
She knew Yu Zhiyao had gotten married, and she herself was no slouch, having had other relationships since. Out of all her exes, why did she have to dream about her? It was just absurd!
It was probably because she wasn't busy enough, her workload wasn't heavy enough. With all this renewed energy, her mind was starting to stir up trouble. Ji Changqing muttered to herself, wondering whether she should check in on her company's affairs or write a new story as she washed up. If she kept herself busy, her heart wouldn't get restless just because her body was rejuvenated.
After she finished, she patted her abdomen, which had recently lost even its slight paunch, and decided that company business and new stories were too far off. There was something she could do right now to keep herself busy! Acting on the thought, she immediately grabbed her phone and called Xue Hong. "Hey, you home? Let's get something to eat!"
Xue Hong cursed from the other end, utterly furious. "It's Tuesday! During work hours, of course I'm at the goddamn office!"
Oh. Then you're useless. Ji Changqing thought coldly, preparing to hang up without mercy. But a shout came from the other end, "Don't hang up! Go get your car keys and treat me to hot pot. I'll send you the location in a bit."
Fine, you have some use after all. Ji Changqing agreed, went to change, and grabbed the spare key and access card for Xue Hong's apartment. She went downstairs, walked through the underground garage, swiped the card to get in, and took the elevator up to get the car keys.
The two of them had bought apartments in the same complex. Since Ji Changqing claimed to be a freelancer who didn't go out much, she saw no use in buying a car and usually bummed rides off Xue Hong. A couple of years ago, Xue Hong had gotten a new car. Her old one was well-maintained but wouldn't sell for much, so she decided not to sell it and just parked it in Ji Changqing's spot, driving it on days when her new car was restricted by license plate number. Today, neither car was restricted from entering the city, so she naturally had her friend drive over at top speed to treat her to a meal.
The two successfully convened at the hot pot restaurant at eleven o'clock. As was their custom, they each ordered what they liked and could finish. Ji Changqing checked off her choices and handed the menu to the waiter. As the waiter read back the order to confirm, he repeatedly asked if this was really what they wanted. After getting their confirmation, he asked with a dreamy look on his face, "Are you two mukbangers?"
My god, two people had ordered over sixty dishes. It was unbelievable. Normally, two people couldn't even finish twenty.
Xue Hong rolled her eyes impatiently. "No. Just put the order in, we're hungry."
Ji Changqing said wistfully, "I feel like I'm about to be unable to afford to feed myself." Her body was strong and her appetite was huge; she could eat for three people or more, but her income was unlikely to triple.
"Alright, alright, stop whining and tell me what earth-shattering changes there are, besides your appetite." Besides Zhong Lan and Ji Changqing, who had passed successfully, the other three in their group were still struggling. She and Qian Jing had already been killed and sent back twice and were starting over. Lin Huang had been killed once, but her new team seemed pretty reliable; word was she was close to passing.
The thing about this stage in the game was that no amount of guides was very useful anymore. It had now devolved into a massive brawl. Originally, everyone just wanted to pass through the forest peacefully. Then, some people started organized ambushes at the camps to stop others from passing. After that, Ji Changqing and her group invented a new tactic: the counter-ambush. So, when the people who had struck first realized that ambushing at the camps could easily get them counter-killed, they took it a step further, ambushing people anywhere, anytime on the road. And that's how it became what it was now. Realizing they probably couldn't pass together, it turned into a mutual-destruction free-for-all. When two teams met in the forest, it didn't matter if you were planning an ambush or not—the first move was to kill on sight.
Ji Changqing sighed at the story. "People really can degenerate quickly."
"You bet," Xue Hong said, refilling her own tea. "Hurry up and tell me what fun stuff there is after you pass."
"Well, after you pass, there's something like a marrow cleansing. The changes are pretty big. Look, I don't even need to wear glasses anymore. Who knows, in a little while, my vision might even be good enough to be a pilot's," Ji Changqing said, pointing to herself, then to the confirmed menu. "And I eat a lot. More than three people combined." Of the sixty-plus dishes they had ordered, at least forty were for her.
"A complete transformation," Xue Hong said, both surprised and envious. Before, everyone thought the fitness benefits were amazing enough. Now it could actually transform your body and even cure nearsightedness. What kind of black technology was this?
Ji Changqing mulled it over. This black technology couldn't possibly allow people to evolve just by playing a game. Physique was one thing, but wasn't the nutrient solution in the game pod the most likely suspect?
"If that's really the case, didn't the people who didn't buy high-end pods lose out big time?" At eleven in the morning, the hot pot restaurant was nearly empty. The kitchen was fast, and the waiter began bringing out the dishes. Xue Hong added food to the pot while muttering, "If I'd known, I would have bought a high-end pod too."
She even put on a show of sighing to express her resentment of the rich.
"You don't even play games that much, how did you pass so smoothly?" It was enough to make one sick with envy.
"Oh, beginner's luck, a reliable teammate, and good timing," Ji Changqing replied nonchalantly. Although they were just a two-person team, they were both dependable, and their luck was good.
Thinking about it, Lin Huang also had a high-end pod but had the bad luck to be killed and sent back. In contrast, Zhong Lan had an explosion of luck, getting picked up by Ji Changqing on the verge of death and passing smoothly with her. With that thought, Xue Hong felt much more balanced.
It really seemed like luck was the most important thing in this world.
Anyway, she had already encountered the greatest luck of all—she was being rejuvenated. As for other things, like falling behind in the game for now, she could let it slide. "You and Old Cadre better work hard and build up some resources. Carry us when we get out, 'kay?"
"Just practice your Physique. It's pretty interesting and very useful," Ji Changqing said, her words muffled as she ate. "I'm going to a boxing gym later to see if I can take on three people at once." If her appetite was three times normal, could her fighting ability also work miracles through sheer force?
She was looking forward to it.
"The scumbags who use violence to bully others are in for a rough time," Xue Hong said with a click of her tongue, clearly gloating. Imagine people who were used to the strong preying on the weak suddenly discovering that the streets were full of people who could send them flying with a single punch. When they wanted to cause trouble, they wouldn't be able to judge if someone was a weakling or a steel plate based on their build or gender. The thought of their frustration was just too cool.
This friend of hers had once been the victim of a purse-snatching while getting into her parked car at night. But she was quite fierce and cautious. Her car key was already in her hand, so she let go of the bag without a second thought, started the car, and drove right at the thief, scaring him so badly he scrambled away, crying for his mommy and daddy.
Ji Changqing found that all her friends had an unyielding, sharp edge to them. One time, another friend had her phone stolen while shopping. The girl pulled a fruit knife out of her bag and chased the thief for two blocks, threatening him with the knife until he gave the phone back. The phone had already been passed off, but she just stood there, brandishing the knife with a ferocious look that said she'd stab him if he didn't return it. After a tense standoff of about ten minutes, she finally got her phone back.
The heroic deeds of her friends often made Ji Changqing feel like she didn't quite fit in because she wasn't crazy enough.
But she also admired this daring spirit in her friends. People with a spirit of resistance could live more authentically, rather than being swept along by the so-called opinions of others into a life they didn't like.
Amidst the rich, spicy aroma, the two ate with gusto, chatting idly about this and that until every dish was gone. They ordered two drinks to top things off, and Xue Hong sighed, "If you get rich, don't forget about me."
Ji Changqing swirled the cup in her hand and looked up. "Alright, alright. Hey, it's kind of sad that we're no longer full of anticipation and passion for the future."
Xue Hong hummed in agreement.
When a truly great change in an era occurs, there are always many signs, but no one knows what it will evolve into. Just like their generation, when they were preparing for college entrance exams, the internet was just taking shape, and countless people flocked to related majors. At that time, many vaguely sensed that this would be the direction of the future. They made their choices with longing and anticipation, both excited and anxious, hoping to make their mark in the near future.
Even now, looking back, they could clearly remember that feeling.
Now, just like back then, the technology that seemed to break through dimensional walls and the incredible effects of the game were all signs that they were likely on the cusp of a spacefaring age.
The difference was, while they might still have longing and anticipation, their feelings were completely different. If back then they had actively thrown themselves in, hoping to shine their own light in the future, now their attitude was more along the lines of:
I know about it, I'm participating in it, and I'll just see where it goes.
They followed current events, paid attention to the changes, kept up with the pace, and observed carefully. What they wanted was not to be disconnected from society or left behind by the times, and to see if new opportunities arose. They no longer had the desire of their youth to be the trendsetters riding the crest of the wave.
Perhaps this was it: Flowers may bloom again, but a person is never young twice.
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