As excruciating pain surged through his body like an electric current, Chen Su thought he would once again taste the stench of the monster's pus splattered on his face.
That stench, a mixture of decay and putrefaction, was his most vivid memory of being pinned to the ground by that monster with seven eyes and oozing dark green pus on the tenth night. The sound of bones shattering was terrifyingly clear as the monster's claws pierced his chest; he could even see his own blood spraying onto the monster's wrinkled skin, then being swallowed by the writhing pus.
Before consciousness completely succumbed to darkness, the last image that appeared in my vision was a golden hourglass suspended in mid-air. The sand fell at a steady pace, making a soft "shush" sound, while at the bottom of the hourglass, a line of scarlet numbers was rapidly ticking—"0 days 0 hours 0 minutes 0 seconds." Immediately afterward, a cold, emotionless mechanical voice exploded in my mind:
"Reincarnation restarts."
But when he opened his eyes, what he saw was not the monster's hideous fangs, nor the ruins of a post-apocalyptic wasteland, but the ceiling of the rented room he had lived in for five years—the edges of the basketball star poster, missing one player, were curled up, twisted like his wildly beating heart. The phone screen on the bedside table was lit up, the bright words "October 1st, 7:03 AM" piercing his senses like an icy dagger.
"You're... back again?"
Chen Su muttered to himself, his right hand instinctively reaching for his chest. It was flat and smooth, without any gruesome wounds, only the warm feel of his pajamas. Yet the pain of being torn apart by the monster felt so real, so real that he could almost feel the sticky blood slipping through his fingers.
He grabbed his phone, trembling, unlocked it, and opened the calendar—the red "October 1st" stung his eyes. There were still ten days until the day he "died."
"impossible..."
He stumbled into the bathroom, the cold tile floor sending a chill down his spine. Standing in front of the mirror, he saw a pale-faced man with dark circles under his eyes, his gaze filled with lingering fear. It was indeed himself; there was no sign of near death.
Just then, a sudden burning sensation exploded from his temples!
"Well--"
Chen Su pressed his forehead in pain, but his gaze was uncontrollably fixed on the mirror—in his pupils, a palm-sized golden hourglass was slowly rotating, with grains of sand falling steadily from the glass ball above, making a subtle but clear "shush" sound.
The surface of the hourglass was engraved with dense patterns, like some unknown runes shimmering with light. At the bottom of the hourglass, a line of scarlet numbers was slowly ticking:
"10 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds"
"Buzz—"
Something seemed to snap in his mind. Chen Su staggered back a step, bumping into the sink with a dull thud. The faucet rattled, splashing water that soaked his trouser legs.
He's not dreaming!
Those ten days of doomsday were not a dream, the pain of being torn apart by monsters was not a dream, and this golden hourglass that appeared out of nowhere was not a dream either!
"Reincarnation...restart?"
An absurd yet perfectly fitting thought crept into his mind. He forced himself to calm down, took a deep breath, and looked at the hourglass in the mirror again—the scarlet number had jumped to **"9 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 55 seconds"**.
Time is truly counting down.
He suddenly remembered his struggle "before he died"—
He had tried to warn his colleagues about the impending apocalypse, rambling on about the monsters that would appear on the tenth night, but all he got in return was a colleague, Xiao Wang, patting him on the shoulder and saying with pity, "Brother Su, have you been working too much overtime lately? Why don't you take a couple of days off to rest?"
He once rushed to the entrance of the residential area and stopped an elderly woman walking her dog, shouting at the top of his lungs, "There will be a monster on October 10th, stay at home and don't come out!" The woman just hugged her Pekingese dog, looked him up and down with the eyes of someone looking at a madman, and then quickly left with her dog, muttering "crazy" under her breath.
The most terrifying incident occurred on October 8th. He suddenly found the courage to storm into the local police station, grab a young officer's arm, and shout, "Officer! Believe me! On the night of October 10th, this city will be overwhelmed by monsters! You must evacuate the people!"
The policeman initially listened patiently, but his expression changed when Chen Su described the monster's appearance. Not out of belief, but out of wariness. Just when Chen Su thought he had finally found a breakthrough, an invisible force suddenly gripped his heart!
That force was cold, domineering, and carried an unquestionable authority. Chen Su was in so much pain that he almost fainted, and his vision blurred. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself sitting perfectly fine at his workstation in the company, his unfinished report displayed on the computer screen. His colleagues looked at him as if he were a complete lunatic.
Is that a punishment based on "rules"?
Chen Su's heart pounded wildly, as if a trapped beast was roaring inside his chest. If all of this was real, then he had to find a way to survive these ten constantly resetting days, and find the truth to break the cycle of reincarnation!
He stared intently at the golden hourglass in the mirror, his fingernails digging deep into his palms, leaving several clear red marks.
"The monsters of the tenth day... what are their habits? Do they locate things by sound or by heat? Lottery numbers... what were the winning numbers for October 3rd again? And the safe zones in the city... that abandoned underground parking lot, are the ventilation shafts really able to keep out the monsters?"
Countless fragments of information exploded in his mind, each bearing the mark of death. He needed to organize them, to plan, to seize that fleeting chance of life before the next death came.
He recalled the panic of his first reincarnation—running around like a headless fly, only to die on the fifth day from diarrhea and dehydration after accidentally eating spoiled food in his rented room. In his second reincarnation, he was wiser, stockpiling enough water and food, but on the tenth night, while trying to climb out the window to check the situation, he was torn apart by a small monster that suddenly broke in. The third, the fourth… until the ninth reincarnation, he barely made it to the evening of the tenth day, but still couldn't escape the seven-eyed monster's claws.
Every death is a bloody lesson.
At this moment, the city outside the rented room window was still bustling with traffic, the faint sounds of rush hour horns mingling with the calls of breakfast vendors downstairs, like a gentle requiem. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting bright beams of light on the floor, dust motes dancing within them, everything as calm as the calm before a storm.
Chen Su slowly raised his head, the panic in his eyes replaced by an almost obsessive calm. His gaze swept over his reflection in the mirror, and also over the ever-flowing golden hourglass.
"Since it's a game, I need to figure out the rules, and then... complete the game."
He took a deep breath, turned, and walked out of the bathroom. His first step was to confirm whether the "initial conditions" for this cycle were the same as before. He walked to the window, pulled back a corner of the curtain, and looked at the bank building across the street—the electronic display there indeed showed October 1st.
Then, he strode to his desk, opened a drawer, and inside lay his ID card, bank cards, and... a fountain pen he hadn't used in a long time. He picked up the pen and wrote on a blank sticky note: "October 1st, first reincarnation, initial timeline confirmed to be normal."
Then, he turned on his computer and his fingers flew across the keyboard. The first thing he wanted to do was verify the guess that had been bothering him—the lottery.
He pulled up the lottery website, found the winning numbers announcement page for October 3rd, and stared intently at the string of numbers. His heart was pounding wildly in his chest; he could even hear his own breathing.
If... if the lottery numbers in this reincarnation match the numbers from his ninth reincarnation in his memory, then it means that the "script" of this world is fixed to some extent. He can then use this to accumulate start-up capital.
Time ticked by, and at the bottom of the golden hourglass in the mirror, the scarlet numbers had jumped to **"9 days, 23 hours, 58 minutes, and 30 seconds"**.
Finally, the lottery website page finished loading. Chen Su's gaze was fixed on the winning numbers, his pupils suddenly contracting!
Exactly the same!
The winning numbers were exactly the same as the winning numbers from his ninth cycle of reincarnation!
An indescribable surge of ecstasy instantly overwhelmed him, but he forced it down. He knew that now was not the time to relax.
"Very good...very good!" he muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Now that the script is fixed, I have my first bargaining chip!"
He quickly wrote down the lottery numbers and then closed the webpage. His next task was to compile a detailed "ten-day survival guide."
He pulled a thick notebook from the bookshelf, opened it to a brand new page, and wrote a few large characters with his fountain pen: "Hourglass Reincarnation Survival Manual".
Then, he began to quickly jot down notes in his notebook:
October 1st - October 3rd: Safe period. You can go out, collect resources, and buy lottery tickets. Note that you should not try to reveal the secret of reincarnation to anyone, otherwise you will trigger "rule penalties".
October 4th - October 6th: Warning period. Small-scale anomalies may begin to appear on the outskirts of the city, such as animals going berserk or unstable power supply. During this time, it is advisable to stay indoors as much as possible and minimize going out.
October 7th - October 9th: High-risk period. Monsters begin to appear, and their numbers and strength gradually increase. You need to stay in fortified safe houses or go to known safe zones.
October 10th: The End. A massive monster horde erupts, including high-level monsters such as the seven-eyed monster. Survival chances are extremely low.
His handwriting grew faster and harder, each word seemingly written in blood. He recorded all the resource points, dangerous areas, monster characteristics, and even the daily routines of some NPCs that he knew.
"The convenience store owner goes to the mahjong parlor next door every afternoon at three o'clock... and Lin Xiao, who lives on the third floor, always comes home promptly at nine o'clock at night..."
These seemingly insignificant pieces of information can become lifesavers in the cycle of reincarnation.
As Chen Su wrote, his wrist began to ache, but he dared not stop. He knew time was running out. The golden hourglass in the mirror continued to flow silently.
When he finally put down his pen, his notebook was filled with three full pages. He looked at his "survival manual," a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—a sense of uncertainty about the future, a fear of death, but above all, a do-or-die determination.
He looked up and gazed again at the golden hourglass in the mirror. The crimson numbers had jumped to **"9 days, 23 hours, 50 minutes, and 12 seconds"**.
"Nine days, twenty-three hours, and fifty minutes left..." Chen Su murmured, his voice hoarse but firm, "This time, I will not lose again."
His gaze swept over his reflection in the mirror, finally settling on the golden hourglass.
"Since it's a hellish game, I'll be the craziest player."
His first cycle of reincarnation officially began on this peaceful morning, signaled by the countdown of a scarlet hourglass. His battle began with recording his first survival tips, confirming his first set of lottery numbers, and recognizing the desperate predicament he found himself in.
The city outside the window remained completely unaware.
Interactive Script: If you were trapped in this ten-day cycle, what would you do first on the first day? Would you immediately buy the winning lottery ticket, stockpile enough supplies for ten days, or try to verify a "certain death point" that you suspect? Share your "first step to survival in the cycle" in the comments section and see whose strategy is the most hardcore!Chen Su stared at the winning lottery numbers on his notebook, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.
There are still two full days until the lottery draw on October 3rd, enough time for him to do a lot. But now, he has a more urgent verification to complete—regarding the boundaries of "rule-based punishment".
He took a deep breath, grabbed his phone, pulled up his contacts, and found the number he had marked as "Test Subject 1"—his colleague, Xiao Wang.
In the last cycle, he was nearly "rebooted" in his office when he tried to reveal the truth about the apocalypse to Xiao Wang and was choked by an invisible force. This time, he wants to conduct an even more extreme experiment.
"Hello, is this Xiao Wang? It's me, Chen Su." He deliberately kept his voice calm, but his fingers gripped the phone tightly, his fingertips going numb from the force.
A slightly lazy voice came from the other end of the phone: "Brother Su? What's up? Still working overtime on the weekend?"
"It's not about working overtime." Chen Su paused, forcing himself to say the lines he had prepared beforehand, "Xiao Wang, do you believe… the world will end in 10 days?"
The moment he finished speaking, he stared intently at the golden hourglass in the mirror.
The scarlet number remained unchanged at "9 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes, and 30 seconds".
"Huh? Brother Su, are you kidding?" Xiao Wang laughed on the other end of the phone. "Have you been watching too many sci-fi movies lately?"
Chen Su's heart pounded, and he continued, "I'm not kidding! On the night of October 10th, monsters will appear, and the entire city will descend into chaos! You must stay home, lock your doors and windows, and prepare enough water and food!"
His voice trembled slightly with excitement, and each word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
Xiao Wang was silent for a few seconds on the other end of the phone, then his tone became a little strange: "Brother Su, are you... sick? Should I go with you to the hospital to get checked out?"
Just then, a familiar chill suddenly gripped Chen Su's heart!
"Well..."
A sharp pain instantly swept through his body; he felt as if his heart had been crushed by an invisible hand. His breath caught in his throat, and his vision blurred. The phone slipped from his limp hand and hit the floor with a crisp sound.
At the bottom of the golden hourglass in the mirror, scarlet numbers began to jump wildly—
"9 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes, and 20 seconds"
"9 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes, and 10 seconds"
"9 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes, and 00 seconds"
...
The suffocating pain only suddenly disappeared when the timer reached "9 days, 23 hours, 44 minutes, and 30 seconds".
Chen Su took a deep breath and coughed violently, his chest burning with pain from lack of oxygen. He slumped to the floor, staring at his shattered phone screen, cold sweat soaking the back of his pajamas.
"As expected…" he muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism, "The trigger for the rule's punishment is not 'mentioning the apocalypse' itself, but 'trying to get others to believe and take action!'"
He had only stated that "the end of the world will come," which Xiao Wang took as a joke, and the rules were not triggered. But when he started instructing Xiao Wang to "stockpile supplies and lock doors and windows," he crossed the line.
This was the first clear conclusion he reached about the "rules" at the cost of countless deaths.
He struggled to his feet, picked up his phone from the ground; although the screen was cracked, it was still functional. He blocked Xiao Wang's number, then opened the "Hourglass Reincarnation Survival Manual" and wrote on a new page:
"Rules for triggering punishment: attempting to convince others of the apocalypse and inducing them to perform specific survival behaviors. Mild punishments include severe heart pain and time rewind; it is unknown whether severe punishments exist."
Only after doing all this did he feel a little more at ease.
Next, it's time to conduct the next experiment—the diversity of ways to die.
He walked to the window, gazing at the endless stream of cars below, his eyes hardening with a hint of madness. In the last time he was reincarnated, he was torn apart by a monster; the time before that, it was from accidentally eating spoiled food; and before that, it was from falling from a high-rise building…
But he hasn't yet tried whether "suicide" would trigger reincarnation.
Once the thought took hold, it grew wildly like a vine. He needed to know whether his death could only be caused by "external factors," or whether self-destruction could trigger a restart.
He took a deep breath, opened the door, and strode into the elevator.
The target is the rooftop of the office building across the street.
He was alone in the elevator, his pale, fanatical face reflected in the metal walls. A golden hourglass spun slowly in his pupils, while crimson numbers continued to flow silently.
"9 days, 23 hours, 40 minutes, and 15 seconds"
He knew he was doing something incredibly crazy, but in this endless cycle of despair, madness was sometimes the only way out.
Ten minutes later, Chen Su stood on the rooftop, a hundred meters above the ground.
A chilly wind rushed into his collar, making him shiver. Below him stretched a bustling street, like a flowing river of light. He walked to the edge of the rooftop, looked down, and a wave of dizziness washed over him, but more than anything, he felt an almost perverse excitement.
"Come on... let me see just how harsh the rules of this game really are."
He closed his eyes, leaned forward, and was about to jump—
"etc!"
An anxious voice suddenly came from behind.
Chen Su suddenly opened his eyes, his body stiffening on the spot. He slowly turned around and saw a middle-aged man in a security guard uniform running towards him quickly, his face full of panic.
"Young man! Please don't do anything rash! If there's anything bothering you, tell me!" The security guard ran up to him, grabbed his arm, and his strength was astonishing.
Chen Su was stunned.
He never expected that his suicidal act would be stopped. More importantly, when he had the "suicidal intention" and acted on it, that familiar "rule of discipline" did not appear.
"I..." Chen Su opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say for a moment.
The security guard, thinking he was genuinely upset, began to patiently persuade him: "Young man, you're so young, what hurdle can't you overcome? Heartbroken? Or having trouble at work? Tell me, I'll help you analyze it..."
Just then, the golden hourglass in Chen Su's pupils jolted violently!
The scarlet numbers began to jump wildly—
"9 days, 23 hours, 39 minutes, and 50 seconds"
"9 days, 23 hours, 39 minutes, and 40 seconds"
"9 days, 23 hours, 39 minutes, and 30 seconds"
...
A feeling of suffocation even stronger than before suddenly gripped his heart!
"Well..."
Chen Su doubled over in pain, his face turning deathly pale. He could feel that this punishment was much more severe than the last one.
The security guard was startled by his reaction and quickly helped him up: "Young man! What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Chen Su tried to say something, but could only let out painful sobs. He felt his consciousness rapidly fading, and the security guard in front of him and the scene on the rooftop began to distort and overlap.
Before he completely lost consciousness, a thought flashed through his mind:
It turns out that "attempting suicide" does not trigger reincarnation, but "suicide attempts that are prevented by others" will trigger strong punishment from the rules!
...
"Cough, cough..."
Chen Su coughed violently and struggled to sit up from the ground.
The familiar ceiling of the rented room came into view, and the time displayed on the phone screen was October 1st, 7:28 AM.
He's back.
25 minutes have passed since the last "death".
He touched his chest; his heart was still aching. The suffocating feeling he had just experienced was so real that he was still somewhat frightened.
But more than anything, I felt excited.
"Another rule…" he muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming. "The rule doesn't allow me to end my life voluntarily, but it also doesn't allow others to interfere with my 'death experiment'… Interesting, very interesting!"
He opened the "Hourglass Reincarnation Survival Manual" and wrote on a new page:
Conclusion of the death experiment:
1. Suicidal intent itself does not trigger reincarnation or punishment;
2. When a suicidal act is prevented by others, it triggers strong rule-based punishment, accompanied by time rewind;
3. Speculation: Only "involuntary death" (such as being killed by a monster, accidental death, etc.) will trigger the cycle to restart.
After writing this, he felt that his understanding of this cycle of reincarnation had deepened.
Next, he needs to verify another hypothesis—the completeness of "memory inheritance".
He remembered that in his last reincarnation (the one before his suicide), he had written down an important piece of information in his notebook: at 3 p.m. on October 2, a small-scale riot would occur in the city center square, caused by a conflict between a vendor and urban management officers.
He wanted to see if he could still remember the information after experiencing a "rule-based punishment" and a "death reboot".
He opened his notebook, found the corresponding date page, then took out his phone, brought up the calendar, and found the entry for October 2nd.
Then, he closed his eyes and tried hard to recall in his mind—
"At 3 PM on October 2nd... in the city center square... vendors... urban management officers... conflict..."
When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with surprise.
He remembers!
Clear and precise, down to the last detail!
"That's wonderful!" Chen Su couldn't help but exclaim softly, "The memory inheritance is complete! No matter how many times I die and restart, everything I've experienced and everything I've remembered will be completely preserved!"
This is the best news he has received so far.
With a complete inheritance of memories, he can act like a prophet with "future memories," accumulating advantages in each cycle and gradually uncovering the truth of that cycle.
He glanced at the golden hourglass in his glasses; the scarlet numbers displayed were "9 days, 23 hours, 20 minutes, and 10 seconds."
There is still plenty of time.
He stood up, walked to the desk, picked up the pen again, and wrote in the "Hourglass Reincarnation Survival Manual":
"The minor riot involving a clash between vendors and urban management officers at the city center square at 3 PM on October 2nd, with no fatalities, can be classified as a 'security incident'."
Then, he began to plan his next move.
First, he needs some start-up capital. The lottery is the fastest way, but he has to wait until the draw on October 3rd. Before that, he can do some preparatory work.
Secondly, he needs to stockpile supplies. Water, food, medicine, tools... these are all necessities for survival in the apocalypse.
Finally, he needed to find a safe haven. The abandoned underground parking garage was a good option, but he needed to check it out first to confirm whether the environment there was truly safe.
"One step at a time..." Chen Su muttered to himself, his eyes becoming incredibly determined. "This time, I will survive. Not just until the tenth day, I will survive until I find a way to break this cycle!"
His gaze returned to the golden hourglass in the mirror, the ever-flowing crimson timer both his death warrant and his beacon of hope.
His first cycle of reincarnation has only just begun. And his death experiments are far from over.
Interactive Q&A: If it were you, after confirming the "complete inheritance of memories," would you first stockpile resources and make money, or continue to recklessly test the rules? Share your "Second Step of Reincarnation" plan in the comments!Chen Su folded the note with the winning lottery numbers for October 3rd and stuffed it into the innermost compartment of his wallet.
The crimson numbers on the golden hourglass in the mirror jumped to **"9 days, 15 hours, 20 minutes, and 5 seconds"**. With less than 42 hours until the draw, he had to be fully prepared before then.
The first step is to make money.
He turned on his computer and quickly browsed a map showing the distribution of local lottery outlets. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he chose a small lottery outlet three blocks away from his rented apartment—the owner was a taciturn old man who usually focused on studying lottery trends and rarely questioned customers' strange or unusual theories.
After changing into relatively clean clothes, Chen Su locked the door and hurried downstairs. The streets were still a bit chilly in the early morning, and pedestrians were in a hurry, no one noticing the strange light in the young man's eyes.
He deliberately avoided the company's direction and all routes where he might run into acquaintances. In this cycle where information asymmetry equals the right to survival, any unnecessary social interaction is a risk.
Ten minutes later, he stood in front of the glass door of the lottery station.
The old man, wearing reading glasses, was leaning over the counter studying the lottery trend chart on the wall. Hearing the door open, he asked without looking up, "What numbers are you going to buy?"
"Double Color Ball lottery, five quick picks." Chen Su's voice was calm, but his fingers were slightly curled in his pocket. He didn't directly announce the winning numbers—too conspicuous. Five quick picks, one of which was a "lucky number," seemed more natural.
He recited the string of numbers he already knew by heart.
The old man skillfully operated the machine, printed out five lottery tickets, and handed them to Chen Su: "Ten yuan in total."
Chen Su paid, took the lottery ticket, carefully folded it, and placed it with the note in his wallet. Having done this, he didn't linger, turned, and left the lottery station.
He hadn't walked far when he turned into a side alley. After making sure no one was around, he leaned against the wall and let out a long sigh of relief.
Step one, done.
The next step is to stockpile supplies.
He opened his phone's map and marked several target locations: a large supermarket, a pharmacy, and an outdoor gear store. These places would be his main activity areas for the next few hours.
He first went to a large chain supermarket. Pushing his shopping cart, he headed straight for the food section.
Compressed biscuits, canned goods, chocolate, energy bars... he tossed all these high-energy, easy-to-store foods into his shopping cart. He calculated his consumption for ten days, buying enough of each type of food.
Then came the water. Bottled water took up too much space, so he opted for a large quantity of bottled purified water and several cases of energy drinks.
In the daily necessities section, he selected a large quantity of toilet paper, wet wipes, and garbage bags. These items may seem insignificant, but in a post-apocalyptic environment, they are crucial for maintaining a basic quality of life.
Passing by the pet food section, he hesitated for a moment, but ultimately took a few bags of dog food—in extreme circumstances, this could also be a source of emergency food.
Next up are pharmacies.
Cold medicine, fever reducers, anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, iodine for treating wounds, gauze, bandages... he swept almost every common medicine he could find on the shelf into his shopping basket. Considering the potential risk of infection, he also bought a few doses of antibiotics (although he knew these were prescription drugs, in the rules of reincarnation, there seemed to be no "purchase limit").
Finally, there are outdoor equipment stores.
He needs some tools to protect himself.
A good entrenching tool is essential; it can be used for digging and clearing paths, and can also be used as a weapon in critical moments.
A high-quality hiking backpack is used to carry supplies.
Several rolls of sturdy climbing rope, with a wide range of uses.
There are also flashlights, spare batteries, multi-tools, lighters, waterproof matches...
He carefully selects everything, choosing the best quality possible. Money is not an issue; he'll have plenty of funds after winning the lottery.
When he walked out of the outdoor gear store carrying three large bags full of supplies, it was already 11 a.m. The golden hourglass in the mirror showed: "9 days, 11 hours, 5 minutes, and 30 seconds".
He hailed a taxi and asked the driver to take him to the nearest courier point to his rented apartment. He needed to store the supplies there first and then find an opportunity to secretly transport them back that evening—moving so many things back to his apartment at once would easily attract the attention of his neighbors.
After dealing with the supplies, Chen Su did not go home immediately, but went to the abandoned underground parking lot that he had marked as a "safe zone candidate".
This parking lot is located in the old town and has been abandoned for several years due to planning issues. The iron gate at the entrance is rusty and has a large, equally rusty padlock hanging on it.
Chen Su walked around the parking lot, carefully observing the surrounding environment.
The location is relatively remote, and few people come here normally. The parking lot has a complex structure with multiple levels and many dead corners. With proper renovation, it could indeed be a good refuge.
He tried pushing the iron gate, but it wouldn't budge. The lock was very strong; he couldn't open it with his current strength.
But this didn't stump him. He remembered that during the tenth reincarnation, he had accidentally discovered that the lock's cylinder was already broken and could be opened with a thin wire.
He searched around nearby, picked up a relatively thin twig, broke it off, removed the leaves and twigs, leaving only the bare trunk. Then, he squatted down in front of the iron gate and began trying to pry open the lock cylinder with the twig.
Sure enough, just as he remembered, it didn't take much effort; with a soft "click," the lock opened.
Chen Su pushed open the iron gate, and a smell mixed with dust and mildew hit him. He turned on his flashlight and cautiously went inside.
The parking lot was pitch black, with only the beam of a flashlight illuminating a small area ahead. A thick layer of dust covered the ground, along with various footprints and tire tracks—it seemed that even though it was abandoned, people still occasionally came here.
He slowly ventured deeper into the passageway, the beam of his flashlight sweeping across the graffiti on the walls and the various odds and ends. He noticed that the ventilation system seemed to still be working, as he could feel a faint airflow.
This is good news, meaning that the area won't be completely sealed off, and air circulation won't be a problem.
He walked to the center of the parking lot, stopped, turned off his flashlight, and adjusted to the darkness.
In absolute darkness, he could hear his own heartbeat and breathing, as well as the faint sound of dripping water in the distance.
"This place... is indeed a good choice," Chen Su muttered to himself, a satisfied gleam in his eyes.
He turned on his flashlight and began to plan: where could he use as a rest area, where could he store supplies, where could he set up guard posts...
Just as he was engrossed in his planning, the beam of his flashlight suddenly swept across a corner, illuminating a figure huddled there.
Chen Su's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly gripped the entrenching tool in his hand (he had brought the entrenching tool with him when he came in).
"Who's there?!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the empty parking lot.
The figure seemed startled and moved slightly, then a hoarse voice rang out: "Don't...don't hit me...I'm just hiding here..."
Chen Su frowned, slowly walked forward, and used his flashlight to illuminate the figure.
It was a boy who looked about fourteen or fifteen years old, dressed in tattered clothes, his face dirty, and his hair a mess. He was looking at Chen Su in terror, his body trembling slightly with fear.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Chen Su asked warily. He didn't remember seeing this boy in any of the previous reincarnations.
The boy flinched and whispered, "I...I'm called A-Qiang...I live around here, but...nobody's home. I had nowhere to go, so I hid here..."
Chen Su frowned even more deeply. He racked his brains, but indeed had no memory of this "A-Qiang." Could it be that his change in actions had caused a slight shift in the timeline?
He looked at the thin boy in front of him and a hint of hesitation rose in his heart.
In this cruel cycle, any additional variable could bring unknown risks. On the other hand, the boy looks pitiful, and his familiarity with the underground parking lot might provide some useful information.
"How long have you been here?" Chen Su asked, his tone softening slightly.
"It's been...it's been a few days..." A-Qiang answered timidly, "I don't dare to go out during the day, I only dare to go out at night to find something to eat..."
Chen Su fell silent. He knew that in a post-apocalyptic world, it would be difficult for orphans like A-Qiang to survive.
"Alright," Chen Su finally made a decision, "You can stay here for now, but you must listen to me."
Ah Qiang's eyes lit up, and he nodded quickly, "Yes, yes! I'll listen to you! I'll do whatever you say!"
Chen Su nodded without saying anything more. He turned off the flashlight and said to A-Qiang, "Stay here and don't move. I'm going out for a bit, I'll be right back."
After saying that, he turned and left the underground parking lot, locking the iron gate again.
He didn't know if his decision was right or wrong, but he knew that in this endless cycle of the game, sometimes, a little bit of kindness might bring unexpected rewards.
He glanced at the golden hourglass in his glasses; the scarlet numbers displayed were **"9 days, 9 hours, 40 minutes, and 15 seconds"**.
Time continued to pass, and his battle for survival had only just begun.
Interactive Question: If you encountered an "extra variable" like A-Qiang in a cycle of reincarnation, would you choose to take him with you or leave immediately? Share your choice and reasons in the comments!
Chen Su stood outside the iron gate of the underground parking lot, the rusty feel still lingering on his fingertips. A-Qiang's appearance was like a pebble suddenly thrown into a lake, disrupting his carefully planned rhythm—was this boy, not part of any of his "memory scripts," a sign of a loosening of the timeline, or a new trap planted by the rules?
He took out his phone and glanced at the time. The scarlet numbers on the golden hourglass in the mirror were ticking down to **"9 days, 8 hours, 30 minutes, and 12 seconds"**. There were still 38 hours until the lottery draw. His immediate priority was to move the stored supplies to the parking lot and, incidentally, verify whether Ah Qiang was trustworthy.
He went around to the back door of the courier point and used a crowbar he had prepared beforehand to pry open the corner ventilation window—it would be too conspicuous to just walk in through the front door and carry three large bags of supplies; this "unconventional operation" was in line with the survival logic of the cycle. The supplies were heavier than he had imagined; the backpack squeezed his shoulders painfully. He gritted his teeth, carried two bags, and walked towards the parking lot first. Sweat dripped from his forehead onto the dusty ground, spreading out a small dark stain.
As Chen Su pushed open the iron gate again, a slight sound came from the darkness. He instantly gripped the entrenching tool at his waist, only to hear A-Qiang's timid voice: "Is...is that you?"
The beam of the flashlight swept across the room, and the boy was crouching in the corner, clutching half a piece of dry bread in his hand. When he saw Chen Su, he immediately hid the bread behind his back, as if afraid it would be stolen. Chen Su's vigilance eased a little, and he put the supplies on the ground: "Help me move these things inside, the more hidden the better."
This time, A-Qiang didn't hesitate. He picked up a bag of compressed biscuits and headed deeper into the parking lot. His steps were light, like a nimble cat in the darkness. He quickly found a corner hidden by discarded cardboard boxes: "This used to be the security guard's storage room. I hid here before. No one would come."
Chen Su followed and shone his flashlight around—the space wasn't large, but it was big enough to hold supplies, and there was a small window for ventilation, making it a good storage spot. He moved the remaining supplies in and began to sort them: medicines were placed separately in waterproof bags, compressed biscuits and canned food were piled at the back, and tools like entrenching tools and climbing ropes were placed where they could be easily reached.
"Did you come here often before?" Chen Su asked casually as he tidied up. He needed more information about the parking lot and also wanted to probe A-Qiang's background.
Ah-Qiang squatted down beside him, helping to unpack the cardboard boxes, and answered without looking up, "Um... My home is in the old building next door. After my parents passed away, I often came here to hide. Sometimes a breeze blows in through the ventilation openings here, which is warmer than under the bridge."
"A ventilation vent?" Chen Su stopped what he was doing. "Do you know where the ventilation vent leads?"
Ah Qiang thought for a moment: "It seems to lead to the flower bed on the ground. I heard footsteps above it before. However, several vents are blocked by something, and only the innermost one can still ventilate."
This is crucial information! Chen Su immediately memorized it—if the monster tide arrives on the tenth day, the ventilation shaft can serve as both ventilation and an emergency escape route, provided that the passage is clear beforehand.
After organizing the supplies, Chen Su glanced at the hourglass: "9 days, 7 hours, 50 minutes, and 5 seconds." He decided to check the ventilation vents now, and take A-Qiang with him—if the boy dared to play any tricks, he could expose him now.
"Take me to see that ventilation opening." Chen Su picked up a flashlight and led the way into the depths of the parking lot. A-Qiang quickly followed, leading the way with lighter steps than before, seemingly relieved to be able to help.
The innermost ventilation opening was high up on one wall, requiring one to stand on tiptoe to reach it. Chen Su asked A-Qiang to help him hold the ladder (an old wooden ladder he had just found in the storage room), and climbed up himself, shining a flashlight inside—the ventilation duct was thick, there were no obvious blockages inside, and he could see faint light coming through from a distance.
"Can we climb in?" Chen Su asked.
Ah Qiang shook his head from below: "I tried, but the opening is too small, I can't climb in. And it's full of dust and cobwebs inside."
Chen Su nodded and climbed down the ladder. He couldn't confirm whether the passageway was completely clear, but at least for now, the ventilation shafts seemed usable. He then checked other areas of the parking lot and found several cracks in the walls and a fire hydrant—though he didn't know if it contained water, it was better than nothing.
"From today onwards, this will be our safe house," Chen Su said to A-Qiang. "I will give you food and water, but you have to do two things for me: First, check the ventilation openings and fire hydrants every day, and tell me immediately if there are any abnormalities; second, don't let anyone know about this place, including people you know."
Ah-Qiang nodded vigorously, his eyes shining like stars: "I know! I definitely won't tell anyone!"
Chen Su took out two packs of compressed biscuits and a bottle of water from his backpack and handed them to A-Qiang: "Eat something first to regain your strength." The boy took the food and wolfed it down, not caring that crumbs fell on his clothes. Looking at him, Chen Su suddenly thought of himself during his first reincarnation—struggling in a desperate situation, clinging to any glimmer of hope.
But he quickly suppressed these emotions. In the cycle of reincarnation, compassion is the most useless thing; he must remain clear-headed.
After dealing with the safe house, Chen Su prepared to leave—he still needed to confirm the "clash between urban management officers and street vendors" on the afternoon of October 2nd, which was the first "verifiable fixed event" in his memory. If the event occurred as expected, it meant that the changes in the world line were still within a controllable range; if not, then A-Qiang's appearance might have brought even greater variables.
"I'm going out for a bit. You stay here and keep watch, don't wander off," Chen Su instructed. A-Qiang, his mouth full of biscuits, mumbled a reply.
After leaving the parking lot, Chen Su didn't go straight home. Instead, he went to a coffee shop near the city center square. He chose a window seat, ordered the cheapest coffee, and pretended to look at his phone while secretly keeping a close eye on what was happening in the square.
Time ticked by, and the numbers on the hourglass in the mirror kept decreasing: "9 days, 6 hours, 30 minutes, and 10 seconds," "9 days, 6 hours, 20 minutes, and 5 seconds"...
Finally, it was exactly 3 p.m.
Suddenly, a quarrel broke out in the square. A food vendor pushing a cart and a man in a city management uniform were wrestling. A crowd of onlookers quickly gathered, some taking pictures with their phones, others jeering. The scene was exactly as Chen Su remembered.
Chen Su finally breathed a sigh of relief—the regular events had occurred as scheduled, indicating that A-Qiang, this "variable," had not yet affected the core timeline. However, he dared not let his guard down; who knew if there would be any new surprises later?
He didn't linger and got up to leave the coffee shop. Just as he reached the door, his phone rang—it was an unknown number.
Chen Su hesitated for a moment, then answered the phone. A hoarse male voice came from the other end: "Did you also... see the hourglass?"
Chen Su's heart skipped a beat, and his fingers gripping the phone tightened instantly!
He realized almost immediately that this call was definitely not simple. In the past nine cycles, he had never received such a call, nor had he ever met another person who "could see the hourglass."
"Who are you?" Chen Su's voice was as cold as ice. He looked around warily but found nothing unusual.
The man on the other end of the phone paused, as if confirming something: "My name is Lao Zhou, and I run a watch repair shop in the west of the city. If you want to know the secret of the hourglass, come to my shop at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Remember, don't tell anyone, and don't be late."
After saying that, the phone call ended.
Chen Su stood there, holding his phone, his mind racing.
Old Zhou? A watch repair shop? The secret of the hourglass?
This is yet another new variable! And it's even more dangerous and unknown than Ah Qiang's.
He glanced at the golden hourglass in his glasses; the scarlet numbers displayed were **"9 days, 5 hours, 50 minutes, and 30 seconds"**.
To go or not to go?
Going might lead to new traps or even trigger death conditions; not going might cause you to miss crucial clues to uncover the truth about reincarnation.
Chen Su took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes.
In this endless cycle of the game, you can't be afraid to take risks if you want to survive.
"Old Zhou... watch repair shop..." He repeated these two keywords in a low voice, memorizing them firmly.
He will keep the appointment at 9 a.m. tomorrow. But before that, he needs to make thorough preparations—he needs to confirm whether the supplies in the safe house are sufficient, explain the follow-up tasks to A-Qiang, and be prepared to deal with any potential dangers.
He turned and strode quickly toward the underground parking lot. The setting sun cast a long shadow of his, falling on the bustling street like a lonely mark.
His first reincarnation seemed to be much more complicated than he had imagined.
Interactive Question: If you received a mysterious call from Lao Zhou, would you go directly to the appointment, or secretly investigate the watch repair shop first? Share your "coping strategy" in the comments!Chen Su stood on the street corner, clutching his phone. The dial tone of Lao Zhou's call still echoed in his ears. The icy touch of his fingertips reminded him that this suddenly appearing "kindred spirit" might be an even more formidable opponent than the seven-eyed monster. In the past nine cycles, he had never seen another person who could see the golden hourglass. Lao Zhou's appearance was like a key suddenly inserted into the lock of the cycle's rules, but no one knew whether the door concealed the truth or an abyss.
The scarlet numbers on the hourglass in the mirror jumped to **"9 days, 5 hours, 40 minutes, and 15 seconds"**. With 15 hours left until his appointment tomorrow, he had to be fully prepared before then.
He first went back to the underground parking lot, where A-Qiang was sitting on a cardboard box in the storage room, holding a half-eaten compressed biscuit in his hand. When he saw Chen Su return, he immediately stood up: "You're back! I just checked the ventilation vents, and there's nothing wrong, except there are a lot more cobwebs now."
Chen Su nodded, took more food and water from his backpack and placed them on the ground: "I'm going out tomorrow and might not be back until noon. You stay here, don't leave, and don't open the door for anyone—no matter what they say." He deliberately emphasized the last few words, and the seriousness in his eyes made A-Qiang instantly drop his playful smile and nod vigorously: "I know! I definitely won't go out, and I won't open the door for anyone!"
After explaining the safe house, Chen Su didn't linger. He needed to confirm exactly where the "watch repair shop in the west of the city" that Lao Zhou mentioned was, and more importantly, he needed to figure out the terrain of that area—in case tomorrow turned out to be a trap, he needed at least an escape route.
He opened his phone's map app and searched for "watch repair shop in the west of the city," which brought up three results. The one furthest in was located in an old alley, and its name was simply "Old Zhou's Watch Repair." The address matched the vague location Old Zhou had given him over the phone. Chen Su memorized the address, closed the map app, and took a taxi straight to the west of the city.
The taxi stopped at the entrance of the old alley. Chen Su paid the fare but didn't go in directly. Instead, he walked around the perimeter of the alley. The alley was very narrow, with mottled brick walls on both sides. There was only one entrance and one exit, with several narrower side streets intersecting in the middle, like a maze. The watch repair shop was in the middle of the alley. The storefront was small, and the four characters "Old Zhou Repairs Watches" on the wooden sign were faded. Dark curtains were drawn in the windows, so he couldn't see inside.
He noticed that there were no security cameras in the alley, only a few old streetlights, so the lighting must be very poor at night. If he encountered danger here tomorrow, there were only two escape routes: either rush out from the entrance or hide in a side alley. Chen Su memorized the location of each side alley, and even noticed an abandoned trash can at the end of the alley, behind which there seemed to be a narrow gap that could allow one person to pass through—that was the last resort for escape.
After surveying the terrain, he didn't approach the watch repair shop but turned and left the alley. Now was not the time to make contact; revealing his whereabouts too early would only put him at a disadvantage.
It was already 8 p.m. when Chen Su returned to his rented room. He took out the "Hourglass Reincarnation Survival Manual" and wrote on a new page:
New variables added on October 1st:
1. Lao Zhou (watch repair shop in the west of the city): He can see an hourglass, invites you to meet at 9 am on October 2nd, purpose unknown, high risk level;
2. The terrain of the old alley in the west of the city: one-way entrance and exit, no surveillance cameras, and a narrow escape gap at the end of the alley, so emergency tools should be prepared in advance.
After finishing writing, he flipped to the "October 2nd Events" page he had previously recorded. In addition to the watch repair shop invitation at 9 a.m., there was also a conflict between urban management officers in the city center square at 3 p.m. - that was a "fixed event" that he had confirmed. If he could make it back after going to the appointment, he might be able to further verify whether the timeline was stable by observing the conflict.
He took out an entrenching tool from his backpack, checked the sharpness of the blade, and then put the multi-tool, lighter, and spare cell phone (a second-hand phone he had bought that afternoon, only for emergencies) into his inner pocket. After doing all this, he lay down on the bed, but he couldn't fall asleep—Old Zhou's voice, the curtains of the watch repair shop, and the side streets in the alley swirled in his mind like fragments.
He drifted off to sleep, but was startled awake by a series of urgent knocks on the door.
It was still dark outside the window. My phone showed the time as 4:10 a.m. on October 2nd, and the hourglass in the mirror showed the numbers as **"8 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes, and 5 seconds"**.
Who would be knocking at this hour?
Chen Su instantly sobered up, gripping the entrenching tool under his pillow. Without turning on the light, he quietly walked to the door and peered through the peephole—
A person wearing a black hoodie stood outside the door, the brim pulled low, obscuring their face. The person seemed aware he was watching, raising their hand to knock again, the movement slow yet carrying an undeniable sense of pressure.
Chen Su's heart leaped into his throat. He didn't recognize this person, and had never seen such an "uninvited guest" in any of his previous reincarnations. Was he sent by the old guard? Or was he a "cleaner" sent by the rules?
"Chen Su, open the door." The hoodie's voice was hoarse, somewhat like Lao Zhou's, but with a different kind of coldness. "I know you're going to see Lao Zhou. I have something for you."
Chen Su did not move. In the cycle of reincarnation, anything that "voluntarily comes to you" can be a deadly lure.
"It's okay if you don't open the door." The hoodie-wearing man didn't seem to be in a hurry. He took something out of his pocket and stuck it on the door. "Take this. You'll need it when you see Lao Zhou tomorrow. Remember, don't believe a word he says."
The footsteps gradually faded away until they disappeared into the stairwell.
Chen Su stood behind the door for a long time, and only after confirming that no one was outside did he cautiously open the door a crack—there was a small metal box on the door, about the size of a palm, with no markings on it.
He brought the box in, closed the door, turned on the light, and carefully pried it open with a multi-tool—inside was a silver pocket watch with the same pattern on the dial as the golden hourglass in his pupils.
The hands of the pocket watch were stopped at the 9 o'clock position.
Chen Su picked up the pocket watch, feeling its icy touch against his fingertips. He gently opened the watch case; inside, there was no spring, only a folded note with the following words written in hasty handwriting:
"Old Zhou is the 'eye of the rules.' He's looking for you to identify 'abnormal individuals,' so don't let his clock tick you down."
The eyes of rules? The outlier?
Chen Su's heart skipped a beat. He remembered that Old Zhou ran a watch repair shop, and he remembered the warning on the note—"Don't let his watch hands touch you." Could Old Zhou's watch directly trigger the rules of death?
He carefully put away the pocket watch and the note, lay back down on the bed, but couldn't fall asleep again. The appearance of the hooded man made the already complicated situation even more perplexing—who exactly was this person? Was he friend or foe? Why was he helping him?
The sky outside the window gradually brightened, and sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains. Chen Su glanced at the golden hourglass in his glasses; the scarlet numbers jumped to **"8 days, 12 hours, 05 minutes, and 30 seconds"**.
There are less than 3 hours until I meet Lao Zhou.
He got up, changed into clothes that were easy to move in, hid the entrenching tool in the side of his backpack, and put his pocket watch in his inner pocket. Before leaving, he sent a text message to A-Qiang (he had specially bought A-Qiang a second-hand mobile phone yesterday for easy communication): "Guard the safe house and don't reply to any messages from strangers."
When he arrived at the old alley in the west of the city again by taxi, it was already 8:40 a.m. The alley was a bit more lively than yesterday. A few early risers passed by, glanced at Chen Su casually, and didn't ask any questions. He slowed down, pretending to look at the graffiti on the alley wall, but actually observing the surroundings—he didn't see anyone wearing a hoodie, nor did he find any suspicious figures.
The watch repair shop was open, its interior bathed in warm yellow light. Chen Su took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The shop was filled with the smell of engine oil and old wood. The walls were covered with various old clocks, their ticking sounds rising and falling like countless small hourglasses counting down simultaneously. An elderly man with gray hair sat behind the counter, wearing reading glasses, holding a watch in his hand, intently repairing it—it was Old Zhou.
Hearing footsteps, Old Zhou looked up and his gaze fell on Chen Su. There was no surprise in his eyes, only a knowing calm: "You've come."
Chen Su didn't speak, his gaze sweeping over the counter—on it was an open pocket watch, the hands slowly turning, the pattern on the dial exactly the same as the one in his pocket.
"Sit down." Old Zhou pointed to the chair in front of the counter. "I know you have a lot of questions, but before I answer them, I'd like to take a look at your 'hourglass'."
Chen Su's hand stealthily reached for the pocket watch in his pocket, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. He knew that every step he took next could determine his life or death.
Seeing his tense expression, Old Zhou suddenly smiled and picked up the pocket watch behind the counter: "Don't be nervous, I just want to confirm whether you are a 'real anomaly.' Many people can see the shadow of an hourglass, but can't grasp its essence—just like these clocks, they can see the hands moving, but don't know how the gears inside turn."
He pushed the pocket watch in front of Chen Su, and the hands pointed exactly to 9 o'clock.
"Come on, touch the hands of the clock." Old Zhou's voice carried a strange allure. "Touch them, and you'll know the secret of the first rule."
Chen Su's fingertips hovered above the pocket watch, the note left by the hoodie man flashing through his mind: "Don't let his watch hands touch you."
To touch or not to touch?
He glanced at the golden hourglass in his pupils; the scarlet numbers jumped to **"8 days, 12 hours, 00 minutes, and 05 seconds"**.
It's 9 o'clock.
Interactive dialogue: If you were Chen Su, and Lao Zhou offered you a pocket watch, would you choose to touch the hands as he suggested, or would you refuse and expose him directly? Share your "breakthrough choice" in the comments!The moment the clock hands pointed to 9 o'clock, the ticking of all the clocks in the watch repair shop suddenly synchronized, as if a unified switch had been pressed. The dense sound, mixed with the smell of machine oil, entered Chen Su's ears, making the nerves in his fingertips tremble.
Old Zhou's gaze fell on his suspended hand, his eyes behind his reading glasses narrowed into slits, and a knowing smile still lingered on his lips: "What? You don't dare?" He tapped the counter with his fingertips, and the metal case of the pocket watch made a crisp "click" sound. "You've been hiding in the cycle of reincarnation for so long, isn't it because you want to know the source of the rules? These watch hands are the first answer."
Chen Su's gaze swept back and forth between the pocket watch and Old Zhou's face. The cold touch of the silver pocket watch in his pocket seeped through the fabric, and the warning left by the hoodie man pierced his mind like a nail—"Old Zhou is the 'eye of the rules'." He suddenly noticed that Old Zhou didn't wear any watches on his wrist, and on the wall behind the counter, all the clocks' hands, like the pocket watch on the table, were fixed at the 9 o'clock position. Only the golden hourglass in his own pupils was still ticking scarlet numbers: "8 days, 12 hours, 00 minutes, and 18 seconds."
"Why should I believe you?" Chen Su took a half step back, his hand secretly tightening around the entrenching tool on the side of his backpack. "In the previous nine cycles, there was no one who could see the hourglass. You suddenly appeared and made me touch something unfamiliar—this is too suspicious."
Hearing this, Old Zhou put down his screwdriver and slowly took a notebook from the drawer. The cover was yellowed, with the same hourglass pattern as a pocket watch. The open page was filled with densely packed dates, the latest line being "October 1st, abnormal fluctuation detected." "You think you're the only one keeping this up?" He pushed the notebook in front of Chen Su. "Every 'eye' has to record the movements of the abnormal, that's the rule. But I'm different from them. I want to know why you can restart ten times, while others disappear completely after a maximum of three."
Chen Su's gaze lingered on the words "completely disappeared" in the notebook, and his heart sank. He had always thought reincarnation was infinite, but he hadn't expected there to be a risk of "disappearance." Just then, the pocket watch behind the counter suddenly clicked softly, and the minute hand, which was stopped at 9 o'clock, moved slightly, pointing to 9:01.
Old Zhou's expression changed instantly, and he abruptly reached out to press the pocket watch: "Don't let it go!"
Chen Su instinctively backed away, his peripheral vision catching the clock on the wall start moving, its hands spinning faster and faster, the ticking sound like a rapid drumbeat pounding on his heart. He suddenly realized—Old Zhou was lying; this pocket watch wasn't the key to revealing the rules, but the switch to trigger the trap!
"You lied to me!" Chen Su grabbed the notebook from the table and ran towards the door. Just as he reached the entrance, he heard Old Zhou's shout behind him: "Stop him!"
Several residents who had been passing by in the alley suddenly changed their expressions, stiffening as they surrounded him. Their pupils no longer held the golden hourglass, but only a murky white, like manipulated puppets. Chen Su gripped his entrenching tool, dodged a resident's outstretched hand, and rushed towards the narrow escape crevice at the end of the alley—he had specifically confirmed yesterday, when surveying the terrain, that it was wide enough for one person to pass through, and now it was his only way out.
"The rules won't let you escape!" Old Zhou chased after him, holding another pocket watch in his hand, its hands spinning wildly. "You've touched the scent of my pocket watch. Once the hands complete a full rotation, you'll be marked by the rules!"
Chen Su didn't dare turn around, only feeling a chill run down his neck, as if invisible threads were wrapping around him. The abandoned trash can at the end of the alley was right in front of him. He kicked aside the cardboard blocking his way and bent down to squeeze into the narrow gap. The gap was narrower than he had imagined, and the bricks scraped his arms painfully. He gritted his teeth and crawled forward, hearing the sounds of residents banging on trash cans behind him.
He crawled through the narrow gap, and outside was a small alley piled with clutter. Chen Su didn't even have time to catch his breath as he ran out of the alley until he entered a bustling commercial street, where he dared to slow down. He found a secluded corner, took out his phone to check the time—9:20 a.m. The scarlet numbers on the hourglass in the mirror were **"8 days, 11 hours, 40 minutes, and 35 seconds"**, without any abnormal fluctuations, but the chill on the back of his neck hadn't dissipated.
He opened the notebook he had stolen from Lao Zhou's shop. The first few pages were filled with dates and "abnormality numbers." When he turned to the last few pages, a line of scribbled handwriting made his pupils shrink: "'Eye's' task is to filter out abnormalities. Abnormalities touched by the clock hands become 'rule containers.' The more times they are restarted, the more stable the container becomes—Lao Zhou is the 7th Eye, and I am the 6th."
The signature was blurry, and below it was a drawing of a pocket watch, exactly the same as the one the hoodie man had given him.
Chen Su suddenly realized that the hoodie-wearing man was the previous "Eye," who was being hunted down for rebelling against the rules, which was why he gave Chen Su the pocket watch and the warning. Old Zhou, on the other hand, was the "Eye" who was loyal to the rules and wanted to turn Chen Su into a vessel to carry those rules.
Just then, my phone vibrated. It was a text message from A-Qiang: "There are strangers loitering near the safe house. They are wearing black clothes and a hat."
Chen Su's heart leaped into his throat—the hoodie-wearing man had gone to find A-Qiang? Was he trying to protect A-Qiang, or was he trying to use A-Qiang to blackmail him?
He immediately replied, "Stay in the storage room and don't come out. I'll be right back!"
Putting away his phone, Chen Su strode towards the taxi stand. He knew this wasn't the time to hesitate. A-Qiang was his only attachment in this cycle of reincarnation, and he couldn't let anything happen to him. Besides, Lao Zhou definitely wouldn't let it go easily; he had already exposed his whereabouts, and every step from now on would be more dangerous than in the previous cycles.
The taxi drove towards the underground parking lot. Chen Su touched the two pocket watches in his pocket; his fingertips were icy cold. He opened the "Hourglass Reincarnation Survival Manual" and wrote on a new page:
"New information added at 9:30 AM on October 2nd:"
1. Old Zhou is the "eye" of the rules. His task is to turn abnormal individuals into "rule containers." Being touched by his pocket watch needle will result in being marked.
2. The hoodie-wearing man is one of the previous six "eyes," rebelling against the rules. The pocket watch he gives away may be the key to defying the rules.
3. The safe house has been exposed; A-Qiang is in danger and needs to be evacuated as soon as possible.
After finishing writing, he looked up at the window. The sunlight was dazzling, and people were coming and going on the street. No one knew that the world was being controlled by unseen rules, and no one knew that he, the "abnormal person," was gambling with the rules.
The taxi stopped at the entrance of the underground parking lot. Chen Su paid the fare, gripped the entrenching tool in his backpack, and took a deep breath—what he was about to face might be an even more terrifying "rule-based pursuit" than the seven-eyed monster.