Chapter 4: This World Seems Complicated

"Although both are sketches, the content on this collectible and the one 'I' drew in the story aren't quite the same…" Feng Xue observed the portrait on the sketch, feeling something was amiss. Although the current [Campfire] and [Casual Sketch] were related to events, upon closer inspection, many inconsistencies could be found.

Whether these drops were related to the events or were the classic random drops of meat pigeon still needed further exploration. The most plausible explanation seemed to be that since it was his first time opening the meat pigeon, most collectibles were not yet unlocked, leading to what appeared to be coincidental drops.

Furthermore, these items categorized as "Survival Aid" didn't seem to have any special effects other than providing resources, so he decided to set aside this minor curiosity for now.

"Speaking of which, I now have 6 Hope points. In Integrated Strategies, that's enough to recruit a six-star operator. Too bad I don't have any operators, and I don't even know what I can buy."

While musing, Feng Xue turned his attention to the next node. The bright words [Standard Combat] put some pressure on him. After a brief hesitation, he took a deep breath and muttered:

"Don't be a coward, play bold!"

[Violence isn't always the solution, but it is always an option.]

Following the usual prompt, the square expanded and once again enveloped his consciousness in a murky darkness, with only a line of small text remaining—

[Youthful Exuberance]

"Uh, well…"

As the darkness lifted, Feng Xue regained sensation in his body, which was more adept than the infant form he'd previously had. In front of him, several children, seemingly around seven or eight years old, slowly spread out, apparently intending to surround him. The ringleader declared with an air of authority:

"So what if you can fight? You think you can take on ten of us by yourself?"

Feng Xue inwardly sighed, dismissing the idea of finding a mirror to check his appearance. Although his body was that of a child, his mind was still that of an adult who understood that…

The best defense is a good offense!

Without letting the talkative kid continue his bluster, Feng Xue made the first move. Considering he was likely still in the orphanage, he didn't go too hard, simply slapping the kid. However, in a group fight, intimidation can sometimes be more effective than actual harm. The crisp slap paused the motions of the other kids, and the kid with a handprint on his face immediately started crying.

When one child cried, the others quickly followed suit, and what had been a ten-on-one situation turned into a sobbing session. As the only child standing and not crying, Feng Xue suddenly felt out of place.

"Is this just the opening act? Will an orphanage teacher come to punish me next?"

While Feng Xue pondered potential pitfalls, the world around him began to collapse before he could react, reverting back to the fishbone diagram interface.

"That's it?"

Feng Xue felt somewhat bored, thinking he had overthought the situation before.

But before he could reflect further, the settlement screen appeared—

[Operation Ended, Perfect Tactics]

[Node Settlement: Dreams +2]

[Item Drop in Progress…]

[You have obtained a Purple Seal (Purple)]

"A purple drop?!" Feng Xue's eyes lit up, not minding that the collectible seemed unrelated to the storyline. He immediately checked the effects of the collectible—

Name: Purple Seal

Category: Survival Aid

Quality: Rare Purple

Effect: Dreams +25

Note: A seal carved from jade, its age marks seem to narrate the old dreams of times past.

"How is it always Survival Aid?" Feng Xue frowned at the exquisitely carved jade seal, puzzled. He had now acquired three collectibles, all categorized as Survival Aid, making him wonder if he was restricted to only dropping items from this category.

However, considering the drop rate was quite high, even for standard combat to yield a purple collectible, it was certainly generous.

Pleased with the drop rate in meat pigeon, Feng Xue shifted his attention to the new node, another [Standard Combat].

"Hope it's as easy as the last one."

Muttering to himself, Feng Xue didn't hesitate and opened the next node.

[Avoidance is shameful but useful.]

As the customary warning flashed by, the darkness unfolded, and the name also appeared—

[Afternoon Nightmare]

"Is this during a nap?" Feng Xue regained consciousness and looked around, spotting several foldable cots laid out with children on them, some whispering and others fast asleep. Two female teachers moved quietly but with stern expressions.

"I remember kindergarten looking like this before I transmigrated, but considering the kids here look about seven or eight, don't they go to elementary school? And these two teachers are as stern as prison guards, which makes me wonder if the original body's imprisonment affected my subconscious."

Despite not knowing where the danger might come from in this "combat," he remained vigilant, considering the scenario during the Orphan of the Snowy Night and expecting some other life-threatening event to unfold.

As time ticked by and more children drifted into sleep, even Feng Xue began to feel drowsy, reflecting the body's tiredness. But suddenly, a surge of intense palpitations burst forth, accompanied by a shrieking sound like a ghost's wail from a horror movie.

Almost instantly, the children in the room were startled awake, their screams and cries filling the air. The stern-faced teachers, as if relieved to have something to do, charged towards the source of the noise.

Feng Xue leapt from the cot and ran in the opposite direction of the sound. Glancing back, he felt a shock as if mustard had been squeezed into his nostrils.

The SAN value at the top of his vision plummeted, losing a third in an instant.

Dizzy and with ringing ears, Feng Xue quickly looked away, but the shadow in his mind lingered.

If he had to describe it, it wasn't particularly horrifying or grotesque, nor more frightening than some amateur animations. However, it seemed to wrap itself in a concept called "fear," just one glance enough to erode one's sanity.

"Is this what they call a nightmare? I wonder if it's a creature unique to the meat pigeon world, or if it's part of some real-world mechanism. If it's the latter, this world might be far more dangerous than I imagined!"

Feng Xue's brain raced, trying to distract himself from the lingering shadow, while his legs didn't miss a beat, dashing out of the nap room…

As he stepped out of the nap room, everything behind him shrank into a gray square, leaving only the slowly emerging settlement screen—

[Operation Ended, Successful Survival]

[Node Settlement: Dreams +2]

[Item Drop in Progress…]

[You have obtained a Seven Wolves Belt (White)]

Name: Seven Wolves Belt

Category: Object of Struggle

Quality: Common White

Effect: Increases attack power of all allies by 15%

Note: A father sees his son unharmed, draws out the Seven Wolves.