Chapter 7

Zhang Heng climbed up the iron ladder to the second floor and reached out to push open the blue iron door in front of him.

Considering what he had seen on the way and the group of young men and women downstairs swaying their bodies and releasing their youth, he had originally thought that even if the style inside the iron house was not the same, it should be similar.

However, in reality, it was more like a VIP lounge at an international airport.

After pushing open the door, Zhang Heng felt as if he had entered another world. Soft lighting, a red Persian carpet, leather sofas, silver cutlery on the coffee table, a variety of snacks and fruits on the self-service counter, and a small bar to the right. When he closed the large door behind him, a gentle and soothing piano melody even played in his ears.

It was important to note that the sound waves downstairs had already exceeded 100 decibels. Although Zhang Heng was not an expert in the field, he was well aware that the material structure of something like a container had almost no soundproofing effect.

But now, the fact was right in front of him. When that iron door closed, the noise outside was completely blocked out.

Perhaps because Zhang Heng had experienced even more incredible things, he had developed a certain immunity to such occurrences. After a brief moment of contemplation, he took a step forward.

"Welcome." The woman in a red evening gown behind the bar said.

Zhang Heng took a quick look around. In this lounge, there were about a dozen other people besides him. They were sitting in booths not far away, some chatting together, and some alone. Strangely, the closest person, who was only a few meters away, had a face he couldn't see clearly.

It was a very strange experience. He could feel that his vision was fine, and his retina could form a clear image, but it was as if something was blocking the information from being transmitted to his brain.

Zhang Heng didn't believe in this evil. He tried to focus, feeling that he was about to break through the invisible barrier, but the next moment, a wave of nausea hit his stomach, and he had to hold onto the bar to keep from falling.

At this moment, a glass of lemon water was pushed in front of him.

"Relax, this is something every new player experiences when they first arrive here. Unless the other party allows it, players' appearances are by default unrecognizable in the City of Desire. In fact, your voices are also specially processed; what you hear is not the real sound. This is to protect your safety to the maximum extent."

"But I can still see your appearance." Zhang Heng took the lemon water and thanked her. The lighting had been dim earlier, and his attention had been on the others. It was only now that he noticed the face behind the bar was familiar. Despite the change in clothes, lipstick, and a different demeanor from the daytime, Zhang Heng still recognized her. "You are... the bartender from the maid café?"

"Not bad, your observational skills are sharper than I expected." The bartender continued to wipe the glass, still maintaining a bit of her daytime coolness. "No one says a person can only have one job in a day, right? By the way, I am the receptionist here and don't need to hide my appearance like the players."

"Sorry, you've been repeating words like 'player' and 'receptionist' since I came in, but to be honest, I still don't know what game I'm about to participate in. Is it Blackjack? Texas Hold'em? Or something like 'Sanguosha' or e-sports?" Zhang Heng sat on a high stool at the bar.

"I usually don't like to boast about my employer in front of customers, and in fact, I never like to boast about them, but this time I must say, congratulations, Mr. Zhang Heng. You are very lucky to be in the greatest game in human history. I can assure you that compared to this, the games you've played before are all weak. It will completely change your life."

"I often hear that at pyramid scheme seminars."

"It's not your fault; suspicion is a human nature." The bartender didn't get angry when she heard this. "Answer me one question, Mr. Zhang Heng. What do you think makes a person truly who they are?"

"DNA?" Zhang Heng took a sip of the lemon water, not sure why the bartender suddenly shifted the topic to this.

"There's nothing wrong with that statement. Each of us has a unique DNA, and certain parts of our bodies are encoded from birth, such as your appearance, family, and family medical history... But fortunately, we still have many choices after that. You can go to college, work, start a business, become an elementary school teacher, or an astronaut."

The bartender put down the crystal-clear glass she had been wiping, and her speech became faster. "Putting aside the things that are predetermined by nature, let me rephrase the question more accurately. What do you think makes a person who they are today? For example, why can an astronaut walk in space, why can a boxer knock out an opponent on the ring, and what makes a teacher pick up teaching aids?"

"Experience? Are you saying that experience and learning make us who we are today?" Zhang Heng quickly understood what the bartender was trying to convey and raised an eyebrow. "But I still don't understand how this relates to the game I'm about to participate in."

However, this time he didn't get any more answers.

"No amount of words can compare to seeing it for yourself, Mr. Zhang Heng. Your first round of the game has already begun. Cherish this rare and extraordinary experience. I look forward to meeting you again."

A glint of unusual light flashed in the bartender's eyes. After her last words, the clock on the wall struck eleven.

The next moment, a strong dizziness hit Zhang Heng's head, blurring his vision.

Not good, did I get drugged?!

Zhang Heng's first reaction was that there was something wrong with the lemon water. It was the only thing he had tasted. Since entering the bar, he had been on high alert, but perhaps because he didn't expect to run into someone he knew, his vigilance had slightly relaxed. He didn't know when the other party had made their move or what powerful drug they had put in it. Just a light sip had such a terrifying effect. He felt his head getting heavier and heavier, unable to support it any longer, and he collapsed on the bar, losing consciousness.

So men can also be drugged, huh.

Zhang Heng didn't know how long it had been, maybe a few days, maybe a few hours, or maybe just a few seconds.

A strange voice sounded in his ears.

[Player identity verification in progress...]

[Verification successful, randomly selecting a new player scenario for player 07958...]

[Selection complete—current scenario: Desert Island Survival]

"You set sail on a cruise ship for a sea trip. While sailing near the equator, you encountered a terrifying storm. The cruise ship deviated from its original course, and at the same time, the radar, sonar, GPS, and satellite phone on the ship all malfunctioned mysteriously. You lost your direction and aimlessly sailed for a month at sea. Unfortunately, you encountered another, even larger storm. At the time of the incident, you were standing on the deck, and a huge wave swept you into the sea. When you opened your eyes again, you found yourself lying on a strange beach."

[Objective: Survive for 40 days on this desert island]

[Mode: Solo]

[Time Speed: 480] (1 hour in the real world equals 20 days in this game, and after 40 days, the player will be forcibly returned to the real world)

Friendly reminder: The game will officially start in five seconds. Please prepare.

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