Chapter 15: Man Proposes, God Disposes

Lying in bed, Feng Xue was devoid of any slumber. Although the phantom pain in his chest had completely dissipated, the shock from his brush with death lingered, unsettling his spirit.

As he lay on his back, he occasionally lifted his hand to gaze at the bracelet on his wrist under the dim light of the cell, hoping against hope he had been mistaken. Despite the murkiness, up close, he could discern every detail of the bracelet, confirming it was identical to the shackles described in the prison law for death row inmates sentenced to immediate execution.

With a deep sigh, Feng Xue abandoned the vain hope and began to reassess his recent experiences with the pigeon game. More than lamenting his situation, he recognized that the key to his survival was the knowledge and skills he had garnered, especially the architectural techniques he practiced during the fire scenario. The instinctual features of the rain he conjured, such as heat absorption and evaporation, were likely a result of his scholarly approach: ingrained knowledge from his education that dictated water's behavior—familiar concepts that he didn't need to actively command.

However, this did not necessarily bind him to a scholarly path. After all, he was in a foreign world where fantasy shapes reality, and whether the principles he knew aligned with this world's laws remained to be seen. Moreover, he had yet to successfully perform an architectural feat outside the confines of the game simulation.

But no matter the realm, practicing architecture was essential. If he managed to escape prison one day, he would undoubtedly face relentless pursuit, especially from adept architects. This possibility led him to consider practicing extensively within the confines of the pigeon game. Nodes like "Youthful Spirit" and "Schoolyard Bullying" offered controlled environments conducive for training, where he could afford to leave one enemy alive to prolong the scenario for practice and exploration.

After considering the potential limitations of these scenarios, as experienced in the hero game where he hit an invisible barrier, he decided that exploring these limits was worth a try.

With these strategic thoughts cataloged in his mind, Feng Xue drifted into a fitful sleep amid mental exercises designed to refine his architectural skills.

…

"Rise and shine!"

The sudden flare of light and the clatter of the morning wake-up startled Feng Xue from his sleep. After a moment of disorientation, he remembered where he was and hurried through his morning routine. Despite the guards' outward respect, he knew better than to assume it extended beyond mere protocol—disrespect was not an option.

Swiftly, he joined the other inmates at the cell door where a different guard from the day before was waiting. After activating his shackles, the guard led them to the cafeteria.

Walking the familiar route, armed with knowledge from his studies in prison law, Feng Xue viewed his surroundings through a new lens. The Hornet's Nest Prison, a model facility in the world of extraordinary prisons, often cited in textbooks as an exemplary institution, held him captive. This insight helped him piece together that his incarceration was no older than a week.

Although he was curious about the exact date, he dismissed the thought as it offered no strategic advantage. Knowing the date of his execution wouldn't change his capabilities or reduce the pressure to prepare for an escape at any possible moment.

Resolved to treat each day as potentially his last, Feng Xue ate his breakfast and proceeded to the day's labor in the workshop. Operating the sewing machine was a task that required little mental or physical effort, providing him ample opportunity to continue his mental exercises. These efforts were crucial, especially given the scarcity of G·I particles in the air, a result of the prison's design to suppress inmates' architectural abilities.

By focusing on improving his mental discipline and physical condition, Feng Xue prepared for any opportunity to enact his escape or face his fate, whichever came first.