Bu Jingjue didn’t mind at all that 0725 needed to enter sleep mode to load its data.
Honestly, he was curious about worlds with an [infinite-flow] setup. Exploring one on his own would be a perfect way to satisfy that curiosity.
In the real world Bu Jingjue came from, technology was highly advanced, and full-dive games had long since become commonplace.
By rights, he should have tried games in the [infinite-flow] genre before… but Bu Jingjue had always found them boring.
Yes, boring.
If an [infinite-flow] game wasn’t tied to death, it was as dull as a play without Shakespeare.
Fear, flight, bloodshed, and death all woven together: that was what made an [infinite-flow] game a dazzling spectacle. Bu Jingjue smiled, feeling his anticipation grow.
He’d already sensed something was off about himself while talking to 0725.
The [green-tea sickly beauty] role identity card had certainly startled him at first, but there was something nice about feeling like this now and then… He felt gentler and more considerate.
That was nothing like his usual personality, Bu Jingjue thought. And yet some inexplicable emotion surged in his chest, telling him from deep within:
“This is who I’ve always been. Gentle and considerate.”
The smile at the corners of Bu Jingjue’s mouth lifted a little. This was so interesting.
His personality and emotions seemed to be under someone else’s control, and yet he could tell, and remain fully aware of it. Bu Jingjue touched his face, intrigued.
Come to think of it, his usual looks didn’t quite fit the [green-tea sickly beauty] persona, did they? He’d worked part-time as a model in college. His features weren’t overly delicate, but they were sharp enough. Going by other people’s descriptions, he was the “untouchable beauty” type.
But when he smiled, he did look a little like his stunningly beautiful mother, so he’d never been much of a smiler.
Oh, speaking of which, someone had once told him, “With a straight face, you look like a cool guy. When you smile, you kind of look like a beautiful woman.” And then he’d beaten the guy up, hadn’t he?
What a jerk.
Bu Jingjue wanted to find a mirror and see what he looked like now. With 0725 nowhere nearby to ask for help, he could only explore by himself.
The scene before him didn’t look like a “horror” [infinite-flow] world should. There was no apocalypse with fire raining from the sky, no asylum overrun with zombies, no panicked crowds… or players, perhaps?
It was a peaceful-looking little town, full of foreign charm. Maybe the designers had based it on some picturesque town overseas.
Bright flowers swayed in the breeze along both sides of the street. A fountain gushed nearby, its spray catching the sunlight, pretty enough to belong in a travel brochure.
Streetlamps, benches, pigeons in the square… It all looked typically foreign.
Shops of all sizes lined the streets, most selling food, jewelry, or flowers. That made it feel even more like a tourist town.
Colored glass decorated the shopfronts, shimmering with an enchanting glow.
The freshly painted signs were in English…
Bu Jingjue looked around, then fixed his gaze on the shop to his right. A large glass wall there, dark and semi-transparent, reflected his current appearance.
Never mind anything else, why was he wearing British-style shorts?!!!
He was well past the age of being a bright-eyed college student! Bu Jingjue stared in shock as he tugged at the hem. When he confirmed they were real, he froze…
Were there any men over twenty who dressed like this?!!!
A short-sleeved white shirt with shorts, and not just any shorts, either. They had suspenders. And the elaborately patterned scarf around Bu Jingjue’s neck was embarrassing enough on its own, until…
Until he felt the wool beret on his head…
Even Bu Jingjue couldn’t deny he was trying to look younger! He stood expressionless before the glass, his long bare legs on display, and straightened his hat.
He pinched his cheek. So soft. Then he estimated his height. He was probably around 176 centimeters at most. And his age… Was this body only sixteen?!!!
He tried to brainwash himself:
“Actually, this looks pretty good. British style, a bright, youthful high school boy! Young and full of energy!!!”
His leather shoes tapped against the pavement. Several times, Bu Jingjue caught sight of the white socks reaching up his legs, and nearly said something.
…
Bu Jingjue wandered around for a while, but didn’t meet a single person. It was as though he were the only one in the whole town.
He walked into a clothing store and helped himself to a long coat.
Don’t ask. He was cold.
He weighed the coat in his hands and couldn’t help sighing. Once he put it on, he could at least tell himself he was dressing warmly.
After trying and failing to call 0725, Bu Jingjue understood that it still hadn’t finished loading its update.
Still, the deserted streets were a little too quiet.
Golden sunlight blanketed the ground, and the stones in the street glittered in tiny flecks of light, dazzling Bu Jingjue’s eyes.
If only he’d grabbed a pair of sunglasses, he thought regretfully.
He took hold of the coat by its lapels, shook it open, then draped it over his head to shield himself from the sun.
At the same time, he quickened his pace, hoping to reach the next shop and look for clues.
Unfortunately, just as Bu Jingjue was about to look up, he walked straight into someone. He didn’t have time to see the other person clearly before a hand pressed against his shoulder, steadying him.
“Are you all right, kid?”
The voice belonged to a mature-sounding man, but his movements were every bit as gentlemanly. Once Bu Jingjue was steady on his feet, he let go at once.
The stranger had a handsome foreign face, with clear, pale blue eyes that seemed a little aloof. Yet the perfectly measured smile on his lips gave him a warm air.
What truly impressed Bu Jingjue was the man’s monocle. Unlike the gaudy frames and decorations he’d seen on cosplayers in the real world, this man’s monocle was old-fashioned and simple, with a cord rather than a chain connecting it to the frame.
This seemed to belong to a different genre altogether.
What century was this, anyway?
Bu Jingjue thought of his youthful, mismatched retro outfit. His chance encounter with this adult gentleman looked like a scene from a comedy.
Was this some kind of unusual “cosplay,” or a local feature of the tourist town?
Was the man in front of him an “NPC” or a “player”?
In just a few seconds, Bu Jingjue had considered a great many things. But his reaction was just as quick, as if he’d timed it to the second: he became the picture of a startled, innocent boy.
“O-oh… I’m so sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to! I should’ve watched where I was going.”
Bu Jingjue trembled slightly and lowered his head, looking mortified. Every so often he stole a glance at the man, like a little rabbit that had accidentally startled someone, twitching its nose as it nervously watched him.
Of course, all of this looked perfectly natural to the man. Asa Bristol chuckled and waved a hand to show that it was all right.
To put the kid at ease, he smoothly changed the subject.
“An unfamiliar face from the East… from the ancient, distant East. Are you visiting Beckwell?”
“Yes, sir.” Bu Jingjue fidgeted with his fingers, still looking ill at ease.
“Where are your parents?” Asa asked.
“Um… um… My parents passed away. They left me a large inheritance. I have a rather rare illness, and my doctor recommended traveling to clear my head. It might help with my treatment. I’m here alone, sir.”
Bu Jingjue seemed to have no sense of caution at all, spilling all the information at once. Perhaps deliberately, he made a point of adding that he was alone.
Asa laughed softly. This kid was far too trusting.
“So, kid, what’s your name?”
At last, Bu Jingjue raised his head and looked him in the eye. He seemed less shy when it came to introducing himself. “Bu. That’s my name. You can call me that.”
“All right, Bu…” Asa found the name a little awkward to pronounce. On second thought, it would be easier to call him “kid.”
He took in the boy’s pretty, youthful Eastern face, then his long, pale legs. His expression unchanged, he introduced himself.
“I’m Asa Bristol. You’ve probably heard about our town’s festival. I imagine that’s why you came. We’ve had a lot of visitors in Beckwell lately, all hoping to see the festivities for themselves. It’s rare to see someone from the East, like you.”
“Mr. Bristol,” Bu Jingjue said, his voice taking on a sweet note, though he was only trying his best to be polite.
He let a hint of dependence slip into his manner. “Could you tell me where everyone’s gone? I was coughing quite badly last night, so the innkeeper brought me some medicine. I went to bed early and woke up late…”
“When I got up, everyone was gone. I was so scared…”
Bu Jingjue twitched his nose. He really did look pitiful as he thanked Asa, his voice trembling with tears.
“Oh… I’m so glad I ran into you, Mr. Bristol. I was so frightened.”
Oh, what a pitiful little beauty from the East!
Asa gently patted Bu Jingjue’s shoulder, maintaining the perfect distance between them: not too intimate, but close enough to be comforting. He caught a faint scent on Bu Jingjue and, with a soothing smile, said softly,
“It’s all right. Everyone in town has gone to help prepare for tomorrow’s festival. That’s why you haven’t been able to find them. Would you like to see how they’re getting ready? I can take you there if you’d like.”
“Really? That would be wonderful! Meeting you was so lucky, Mr. Bristol. Thank you.”
Bu Jingjue looked up at Asa, tiny beads of tears gathered on his curled lashes. They seemed perfect for plucking and setting against black velvet, where they could be treasured.
A beautiful little boy, like a flower.
Asa Bristol, the [Collector], pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth and narrowed his eyes. That was what he did whenever a treasure caught his interest.
Then Asa carefully helped Bu Jingjue into the carriage. Bu Jingjue stepped onto a little stool and climbed inside.
Remembering the feel of Asa’s hand against his, and the calluses on his knuckles, Bu Jingjue smiled with gentle, harmless warmth.
The handsome, mature man and the innocent boy, each with his own thoughts, rode together in the carriage as it headed for the outskirts.