After the purchase, Yan Huang’s points were essentially wiped clean.
He stored the item into his backpack.
Then, turning the doorknob, he stepped outside and placed the [Low-Level Omnidirectional Detection] at the doorway.
The hallway outside was eerily silent. The nutrient fluid had been almost entirely absorbed by the wooden floor, leaving it damp and even more golden.
He had to admit, that nutrient fluid was truly moisturizing—not only did it provide nourishment, but it also conditioned the floor. If it were packaged and sold as a product, it would probably sell like hotcakes.
Yan Huang mused to himself as he walked to the door across the hall.
That door was already broken.
The moment he stepped in, a powerful stench hit him—like the reek of urea from someone who hadn’t bathed in hundreds of days mixed with the smell of rotting food. It nearly made Yan Huang vomit.
The room’s furnishings were basically the same as his, only far more chaotic. Scattered papers lay everywhere in disarray—some covered in writing then blacked out in dissatisfaction, others torn apart.
The trash bins were filled with rotten food and vomit, piled together in a disgustingly foul heap, their pungent odor aggressively invading his nostrils.
And it wasn’t just one bag—there were dozens of them, stacked into a small mountain in the not-so-spacious room!
Could anyone actually live in this?
They’d be more pickled than old vat pickled cabbage.
Xie Fumu really had some heavy tastes—how could he stomach this?
Yan Huang considered himself to have decent mental fortitude, yet even he felt nauseated.
Pinching his nose, he forced himself to stay calm and began searching for clues.
He walked straight toward the computer on the desk with clear purpose.
[This Deceiver is really something. I’ve seen other Players who came here basically get knocked out by the stench first, then get thrown out by the guy inside. But he actually pushed through it.]
[Wuwuwu, the fact that he dared to walk out at that moment is already badass enough. A real chad. That peephole stare-off just now—even I had to pull my little feet back under the covers watching from my bed.]
[Honestly, this is the first time I’ve seen what’s inside this place. Dozens of bags of trash and he never throws them out—I salute the guy across the hall as a true man. Turns out human survival instinct can be this strong!]
…
Yan Huang turned on the computer. The other person hadn’t set a password.
He navigated to “My Computer” with practiced ease and did a quick scan of every drive.
Soon, he found a document named [Diary].
Seemed easy enough.
Almost suspiciously easy.
He clicked open the diary and adjusted his glasses.
According to the current timeline in the [City of Incubation], the diary started updating on June 1st, 2121—half a year ago.
That was the time this person arrived in Hatching Town.
June 1st, 2121, Sunny.
I’ve finally arrived at the legendary Hatching Town. I used to think a town that produces so many world-famous Geniuses would be a super strict place, but turns out the folks here are simple and honest, everyone’s warm and welcoming, and the customs are great too. On the streets you can see people doing Olympiad math, copying famous paintings, all kinds of things… It’s getting more and more competitive. No wonder they produce so many incredible people. Each wave pushes the one before. I hope I can find inspiration for my new book here.—Future Famous Writer, Tang Xin.
June 2nd, 2121, Sunny.
I went to check out the legendary Genius Stone. Didn’t seem like much, hahaha. It looks like an egg—hilarious!
I jokingly said something to the boss, and he actually glared at me… Sigh, I’ll respect their local customs, but this is definitely going in my new book.
Though I do have one complaint—can the couple next door tone it down? They’re so loud! They’re disturbing a future great author’s creative process!
June 3, 2121, Cloudy.
I think… there’s something a bit off about Hatching Town. Maybe it’s just my imagination, especially the way the boss and his wife treat the young boss. On the surface they seem harmonious… but the young boss is always covered in fresh bruises from beatings.
Today I overheard the boss and his wife calling him an aberration, a disgrace… My God! Is that what parents should say to their child? Though… the young boss does seem gloomy and sullen, a bit… off, I suppose.
This is their family business. I’d better not get involved.
…
June 7, 2121, Overcast.
Things have been strange lately. The hallway seems much quieter… Did that couple move out? I haven’t heard their moaning and groaning recently. But I haven’t left the inn these past two days, and I haven’t seen them leave either.
Hmm… strange, but at least it’s quiet now. Haha, happy writing on my new book!
Worth noting: the young boss got beaten again today. It sounded absolutely miserable. These bosses really are something, treating their child like that. I’ll tear into parents like them in my new book! Aren’t they afraid of beating the kid into a shell of himself?
Hmm… I vaguely overheard the word “Hatching.” What does that mean? I’m a bit curious.
I went to ask the boss, and he gave me a fierce glare and told me not to ask… Fine, don’t tell me then! No need to be so hostile about it! I’ll make you the big villain in my book!
…
June 10, 2121, Cold Wind.
Shit shit shit shit shit! This inn is definitely not normal! Definitely not normal! Shit… When I got up to pee at night, I kept hearing knocking at the door. I peeked through the peephole—it was the room next to the one next door… and the thing knocking wasn’t human. I saw a Monster!
An egg covered in eyes, all over it. So disgusting, so fucking disgusting! Holy shit… When that Monster touched the person next door, they just turned into liquid and got absorbed.
After the egg cracked open, a child walked out! Someone from town… I’m sure of it—just a couple days ago I saw their parents telling them they needed to absorb nutrients quickly, that they hadn’t been getting enough lately.
What the hell is going on?!
What is this town? What are these eggs?!
Nutrients… people?
God damn it! I need to get out—I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning!!
June 11, 2121, Sunny.
I’m done for… I can’t get out. When I entered Hatching Town, I was in a car with no visibility. Now that I’m out, it’s just a forest, and no matter which way I go, I can’t escape!
The boss caught me. He grabbed me! He’s going to kill me… He’s going to kill me! I’m losing my mind… What kind of hellhole is this?!
I tried to call for help online, but… any message about asking for help or revealing anything about Hatching Town won’t send! I’ve practically smashed my keyboard to pieces!
Someone save me, someone save me… The boss said if I try to run, the whole town will hunt me down. I don’t want to die. I’m too scared to leave my room… but staying here, I’ll die sooner or later anyway!
Another egg came tonight… the room next to mine was the victim.
The kid who came out of that egg couldn’t even do simple addition and subtraction within a hundred the day before, and today, for fuck’s sake, the whole town is throwing a feast over him solving world-class problems!
So this is Hatching? This is where Geniuses come from?
What the hell is this town doing?
This isn’t science!
They’re harming people—what the hell is this supposed to be?
Today it’s the neighbor’s… who’s next?
Who’s next?
I think… it’s me.
June 12, 2121.
I became—
a Chang-ghost.