Chapter 19: A World Full of Pitfalls
Civil engineering might seem mundane; it's often the subject of jokes on the internet. Like any expert-level knowledge, it branches into various specialties—structural engineering, bridge construction, business management, etc.
The expert-level civil engineering that Feng Xue's predecessor possessed was unquestionably specialized for incarceration…
Starting with the basics was fine, but as he delved deeper, the details became increasingly grim, such as how to identify weak points in skyscraper construction; how to estimate the layout of a building's internal systems from external characteristics; how to rapidly construct fortifications in strategic locations…
Even without any practical experience, Feng Xue was confident he could cripple the prison's power hub based on this knowledge alone.
Whether or not there was a backup power system was another matter.
However, the most shocking part of his journey from novice to expert in civil engineering wasn't the prison-break techniques but…
"Why are the constants different in each country in this world?!"
Yes, as preposterous as it sounds, after meticulously reviewing the sections about parameter calculations for different countries multiple times, Feng Xue confirmed that the mathematical and physical constants varied from one country to another.
Take π, for instance. In Qingyun, π equals 3.14, but in Xinghuan, π is 3. This wasn't just a simplification for calculation purposes; it was an actual fact—for bees from Qingyun would build round honeycombs if they ventured into Xinghuan.
This bizarre phenomenon didn't strike Feng Xue as an error in the information provided by his golden finger. Given that in this world, everyone's imagination can influence reality, it would be odd if such discrepancies didn't occur.
"This world's technology tree must be wildly unpredictable, but then, wouldn't the human body's structure have problems too? Or does the G·I field automatically correct environmental adaptations? Or is it that 'I think I can jump around here, so I can jump around'?"
The more Feng Xue thought about it, the bigger his headache grew. But he soon shook his head; at least there weren't many bizarre issues inside the prison. Rather than investing effort into this area, it was better to focus on how to escape.
With just 2 phantasms left and understanding he couldn't afford anything else, he clicked to exit the shop. The shopkeeper, who seemed to always stare at him with a peculiar gaze, vanished, replaced by a line of text—
"The sun has already risen, all things are reviving, opportunities and dangers, one will always come before the other."
With the additional three phantasms, the scene before Feng Xue didn't change much.
However, unlike the typical solitary node "Snowy Night Orphan" at the fishbone diagram's head, two options now appeared before him.
One was the mundane "Chance Encounter," and the other was named "Impulse."
While the node's content wasn't specified, the dice imprint suggested it was likely a gamble on probabilities.
Just as this thought emerged, Feng Xue recalled a certain old lady who had swindled his belongings with stale bread and stories. Almost instantly, he clicked on "Chance Encounter," internally cursing all gamblers to damnation!
Yet after clicking, Feng Xue felt a twinge of regret. However, the golden finger gave no time for second thoughts, unfolding a new scenario amidst that characteristically grand declaration…
…
Regaining his body in the typical rigid state characteristic of "Chance Encounters," Feng Xue moved his eyeballs to survey his surroundings. His body seemed about 170cm tall, his clothes faded and his complexion somewhat pallid, suggesting life hadn't been too kind.
At that moment, text unfurled before his eyes—
"On your way to school, you spot a wallet that looks quite expensive. It appears swollen with cash, and while no one's around, you choose to…"
"1. Keep it for yourself."
"2. Wait for the owner."
"3. Ignore it."
Feng Xue was speechless at these options.
Logically, the first option would yield the highest return but might come with drawbacks, such as a SAN deduction or triggering an emergency operation. The second seemed more balanced, a neither good nor bad choice, while the third likely meant skipping the node entirely.
In a simple game, Feng Xue would've chosen the first for its high risk and high return, even if it meant a fight—akin to stepping into a known trap.
However, realizing his actions through this avatar influenced subsequent character development, he decided to play it safe this time.
With that, he chose the second option.
Then…
"The wallet's owner soon realized its disappearance and saw you with it as he retraced his steps. Misjudging you based on your appearance and demeanor, he mistook you for a thief and gave you a harsh reprimand, resulting in a loss of 5 SAN points."
"Damn!" Feng Xue stared dumbfounded at the outcome, wondering about the sanity of whoever designed this node.
But then he remembered—this wasn't a scripted narrative. These were experiences his predecessor might actually have lived through.
"Is this how the boss character in a novel or comic starts their descent into darkness? Did my predecessor also begin to turn at this point?"
With a sigh, Feng Xue redirected his gaze toward the next node.
At the crossroads, the options were "Intersecting Dreams" and "Regular Combat." Considering his mere 2 phantasms, he chose to risk the regular combat node—
"Violence isn't the answer to everything, but it's always an option."
"Ah, a combat node?" Intrigued by the familiar prompt, Feng Xue was eager to test the boundaries of this combat scenario, such as prolonging the fight to explore the map more thoroughly.
However, as the scene from "Bloodstained Streets" dissolved, Feng Xue lost his leisurely attitude, for in front of him stood a dozen fierce-looking punks armed with chains, machetes, and studded baseball bats, and he was alone.
"Shit!"
As he cursed in Central Plains Mandarin, it felt like the signal for battle to begin, facing these undisciplined foes, Feng Xue raised his hand—
"Fire!"