Chapter 20: Death Code – Portal

A stream that only dogs would enter closed with a final 10-second countdown.

The bullet chat had one last carnival:

[Damn, Li Yinan is actually a veteran who’s passed two instances!]
[The dog streamer actually got tricked!]
[I inexplicably feel sorry for the dog streamer.]
[I’m actually a little sad to see the stream close. Ahhh, when is the dog streamer’s next instance?]
[Is the dog streamer’s rating out yet?]
[The dog streamer made a huge wave of points. If I’d known, I would’ve applied to be a room manager too.]
[5 seconds left on the countdown. Goodbye, everyone~]
[Hope I’m still alive to watch the dog streamer’s next stream.]
[This is the time to worship God S for eternal life.]
[Worshipping God S. Goodbye, God S.]

The bullet chat for A stream that only dogs would enter had always been filled with malice and constant arguments.

But in the end, it miraculously turned the situation around.

Sheng Wen curled his lips.

As expected of the little streamer.

He didn’t exit the stream immediately, but waited until the countdown ended and the stream closed automatically.

Two seconds after the stream closed, a few system prompts popped up.

As the room manager, he had earned 2,000 points from the little streamer.

After his 10–90 split, the increase in his seven-digit point total was completely invisible to the naked eye.

Sheng Wen did a rough calculation.

He had spent nearly 60,000 points watching this one stream.

60,000 points was a number that Lower District players could only look up to but never reach.

His friend Guan Miao was so shocked, he spammed him with messages:

[Guan Miao]: Are you okay?
[Sheng Wen]: ?
[Guan Miao]: I noticed your points dropped by 60,000.
[Sheng Wen]: I spent it myself.
[Guan Miao]: ??? What did you do to spend so much?
[Sheng Wen]: Don’t ask.
[Guan Miao]: …
[Guan Miao]: Alright, as long as you spent it yourself. I thought it was a system bug. It scared me so much my legs went weak.
[Sheng Wen]: Is Lin Kuo’s rating out yet?

Guan Miao knew Sheng Wen had been watching the Lower District streams over the past two days, and that he had even spent extra points to check the streamer’s information.

So when Sheng Wen mentioned Lin Kuo, Guan Miao immediately understood:

[Guan Miao]: Lower District, Area B.

It was the same as the initial profile prediction.

Although Sheng Wen felt that, based on Lin Kuo’s abilities, he should at least be in Lower District Area A, Liang Sihong’s words at the end of The Intruder had stuck with him.

For now, Lin Kuo indeed wasn’t suited for the Walled City.

The higher the district level, the harder the instances.

Sheng Wen secretly hoped Lin Kuo could gain more experience in the Lower District.

Trusting others easily wasn’t a bad habit—

But only if it didn’t threaten your life.

Sheng Wen thought for a moment and replied to Guan Miao:

[Sheng Wen]: What are you doing?
[Guan Miao]: What’s your motive? Just say it.
[Sheng Wen]: Literally what I said.
[Guan Miao]: Oh, the newbies’ ratings are out. I’m leading them to the portal now.
[Guan Miao]: I know what you want to do!
[Sheng Wen]: Mmm, then take good care of him.
[Sheng Wen]: I owe you one.

Guan Miao stared at Sheng Wen’s last message, somewhat unable to believe it.

In his impression, Sheng Wen was someone who took revenge on the spot and didn’t easily owe favors.

So the message didn’t just surprise him—it made him curiously glance at Lin Kuo, who was walking behind him in the group.

Lin Kuo noticed the leader looking at him and met his gaze with a blank expression.

Guan Miao’s first impression of Lin Kuo was also formed:

Mmm, cold and distant. He looked like he wouldn’t be easy to get along with.

He coughed and began introducing the environment to the newbies.

It was the same path Lin Kuo had taken when he first entered the instance—a crevice between two high walls that stretched endlessly.

“This is the Walled City Crevice. Another ten minutes or so and we’ll reach the portal. The system will send you to your respective districts based on your ratings. My name is Guan Miao. I’m your guide. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me.”

The newbies looked at each other, faces filled with anxiety and uncertainty.

Guan Miao had led at least a hundred, if not a thousand, newbies before.

He knew that being at a loss was a normal reaction, so he kept going.

“This is the Walled City world. The Walled City is divided into the Upper District and the Lower District. Under these two categories, there are three sub-districts each, named alphabetically A, B, and C. Sub-districts also have level restrictions. Lower-level districts can’t watch streams from higher-level districts, nor can they select higher-level instances. The higher the district level, the more points you get as a reward from the instance.”

Speaking of points, Guan Miao used a vivid analogy:

“You can think of points as money. Food, clothing, and utilities in the districts are all exchanged for points. Oh right, I forgot to mention—you can’t travel between districts. If you have anything to say to your companions, say it now, because…”

At this point, Guan Miao paused.

The newbies all understood what he meant.

This was very likely the last time they’d be with their companions.

In this group of newbies, there was a mother and son.

The child was only about five or six years old.

To protect him, the mother had fought through thorns in the instance and finally earned a rating of Lower District, Area A.

Her son, however, was rated for Lower District, Area B.

The mother immediately panicked.

Her hands trembled as she clutched her son.

“Can I not go to Area A? I’ll voluntarily downgrade to Area B.”

Guan Miao shook his head apologetically.

The mother’s eyes turned red at once.

“Why not?! My child is not even six yet. How can he survive alone? Guide Guan, I’m begging you—can you apply to the Main God System? I’ll accept any condition, as long as I can stay with my child!”

The group of newbies was filled with sorrow.

Didn’t they want to stay with their companions too?

Xia Xinyu, walking beside Lin Kuo, looked pale.

“Lin Kuo, I’m in Area C. What about you?”

Lin Kuo had spoken too much in the instance.

Now he just replied simply, “B.”

Xia Xinyu gave a bitter smile.

“Alright. I knew your rating would be higher than mine, but… it still makes me sad.”

Lin Kuo pursed his lips and said no more, his gaze falling on the mother and son.

His own parents had died in a car accident when he was very young.

With her final breath, his mother had looked at him through tears and said:

“Little Kuo, Mommy doesn’t want to die. If I die, no one will take care of you and your sister. Mommy wants to watch Little Kuo grow up… Mommy is not ready…”

The mother before him now pleaded again and again, tears streaming down her face.

Guan Miao was helpless.

He pointed upward to the misty sky.

“See the fog? If you refuse to go to your own district, you’ll be trapped here in the Walled City Crevice. There’s no food or water. You’ll starve to death here. And before you starve, you might choke to death from the fog first.”

He continued, “You should be glad your rating is one level higher than your child’s. This way, you can watch his stream and send survival items to him through the donation channel.”

The mother seemed slightly moved.

She looked at her child. “But… but Sheng Sheng is so young. He doesn’t know how to take care of himself yet. How can he live alone?”

The little boy, Sheng Sheng, blinked. “Mommy, don’t cry.”

The mother began to sob uncontrollably.

“Is there really no way to change districts?”

Guan Miao: “How about you ask someone going to Area B to help take care of him?”

He had only said it casually, but immediately regretted it.

Among the group, only Lin Kuo was going to Area B.

Sheng Wen had specifically asked him to take care of Lin Kuo.

If Sheng Wen found out he had burdened Lin Kuo, he’d probably kill him.

Guan Miao: “The portal is opening. Let’s go there first.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the high wall ahead began to vibrate and rumble.

Like an earthquake, the ground shook, and everyone struggled to stay upright.

The wall slowly split apart like an automatic door, revealing several passageways—like the turnstiles at a theme park.

Someone was waiting in front of the passages.

Guan Miao turned to the group. “The portal stays open for only five minutes. This is your last chance to be together.”

Those with companions said their goodbyes.

Those without walked forward alone.

The person at the gate checked identities:

“Zhang Qiang, Lower C District, leftmost passage. Wu Zhikun, Lower C District, leftmost. Zhou Chongyang, Lower A District, rightmost…”

Xia Xinyu glanced at Lin Kuo. “Lin Kuo, I’m leaving.”

Lin Kuo: “Mmm.”

At the entrance, Xia Xinyu turned back one last time.

“I just want to say thank you. Thank you, Lin Kuo. You will definitely survive to the end.”

Lin Kuo replied awkwardly, “…You too.”

Xia Xinyu gave a helpless smile, then walked forward.

“Xia Xinyu, Lower C District, leftmost passage.”

“…”

Watching Xia Xinyu disappear into the passage, Lin Kuo also stepped forward.

“Lin Kuo, Lower B District, take the middle…”

Before the sentence finished, the mother rushed over and grabbed Lin Kuo.

“Young man, are you going to Lower B District? I’m begging you, please take our Sheng Sheng with you. He’s very well-behaved. I’m begging you.”

Lin Kuo pursed his lips.

Guan Miao hurried forward.

“Hey, hey, hey, don’t do this.”

But the mother ignored him.

“Your name is Lin Kuo, right? I’m begging you. Please take our Sheng Sheng.”

Seeing Lin Kuo remain silent, the mother suddenly knelt down.

“He’s only six. Just six years old, Lin Kuo. He’s still just a child. I know it’s hard to protect yourself in this world, but Sheng Sheng is really obedient. Please…”

“Sorry.” Lin Kuo broke free from her grip.

“I don’t know how to take care of children.”

Then he turned and walked into the middle passage.

The mother watched in despair as Lin Kuo disappeared.

Guan Miao stepped forward, feeling a little sorry for her.

“Time’s almost up. Please enter.”

He called to the little boy watching everything unfold.

“Sheng Sheng? Hurry to your district.”

Sheng Sheng walked up uneasily, hugging his mother tightly.

“Mommy, don’t cry. I’ll do my best to live.”

The mother held him tight and kissed his forehead.

“Sheng Sheng…”

Guan Miao had to interrupt.

“If you don’t enter the passage now, you and Sheng Sheng will be trapped here.”

Sheng Sheng hugged his mother’s face.

“Mommy, let’s go in.”

“Okay…”

The mother closed her eyes in despair.

“Sheng Sheng goes first. Mommy will watch you go in.”

But Sheng Sheng shook his head.

“I want to watch Mommy go in first.”

He kissed her forehead.

“Mommy can watch me on the stream, but I can’t see you. I want to watch Mommy go in.”

The mother’s heart ached.

“Okay, then Sheng Sheng will watch Mommy go in.”

Sheng Sheng smiled.

The mother stood up, ruffled his hair one last time, and resolutely walked forward.

“Yuan Yuan, Lower A District, rightmost.”

She nodded and walked away without looking back.

With her back to her son, tears streamed silently down her face.

I can’t turn back. I have to make Sheng Sheng feel at ease.

In the end, only Sheng Sheng remained.

Guan Miao, entrusted by Sheng Wen to take care of Lin Kuo, reached out a hand.

“Let’s go. Big Brother is going to Lower B District too. I’ll take you in.”

Sheng Sheng: “Thank you, Big Brother.”

“Jiang Sheng, Lower B District.”

Guan Miao led Sheng Sheng into the middle passage.

With that, the portal closed and the high walls joined once again.

The passage wasn’t long.

At the end was the gate to the district.

Sheng Sheng was nervous.

He was actually very scared.

It was his first time being separated from his parents.

He really wanted to cry.

But Mommy had said: A real man doesn’t cry easily. Others don’t like crybabies.

Sheng Sheng wanted to distract himself.

He pointed to the gate ahead, where a slender figure stood.

“Big Brother Guan Miao, is that Big Brother Lin Kuo?”

Guan Miao looked up and saw Lin Kuo standing at the gate.

He was stunned.

He had thought Lin Kuo had already gone inside.

Sheng Sheng asked, “Is Big Brother Lin Kuo waiting for me?”

Guan Miao scratched his head.

That question was beyond him.

He didn’t know either.

Sheng Sheng then ran forward a few steps.

“Big Brother Lin Kuo, were you waiting for me?”

Lin Kuo averted his gaze and replied stiffly,

“Of course not.”