Su Ming'an waited for a while, and the blue-haired boy on the ground slowly opened his eyes.

"...Did I die?"

The blue-haired boy rubbed his eyes and said with a smile. Despite sitting in a pool of blood, he seemed to remain optimistic.

"You should be alive." Su Ming'an said.

The blue-haired boy looked up.

The white-haired boy stood in front of him, wearing a spotless white robe. His golden eyes sparkled like a deity, resembling a ray of light standing in the shadows.

"...Are you an angel?" the blue-haired boy said: "Or a deity?"

"Super Jellyfish." Su Ming'an said.

The blue-haired boy laughed: "I remember you. Though you squatted in the corner during the wait, your appearance was quite noticeable. You saved me, what do you want?"

Su Ming'an shook his head: "Saved you, so I don't need anything."

The blue-haired boy paused, laughed, and said: "Even if you say that, it won't increase my reward. So, what do you want?"

Su Ming'an said calmly: "You're overthinking. Saving you was just out of convenience, you don't need to repay me."

After all, it was his matters that involved the blue-haired boy. If it weren't for Xi Ge, the blue-haired boy wouldn't have been killed.

The blue-haired boy's gaze shifted.

He couldn't believe in aid without reward; since the other party kept refusing, maybe they had a bigger agenda. Yet he truly had nothing to offer.

"Do you want me to follow you?" the blue-haired boy said.

"If you want to be my friend, then of course that's good." Su Ming'an said.

...Ah, so that's it.

The blue-haired boy wasn't surprised; after all, that's what he wanted, his following. It was expected, given that Su Ming'an saved his life.

"Understood." The blue-haired boy smiled, kneeling on one knee towards Su Ming'an, his earring swaying: "Wu Yi pledges allegiance to you...I will follow you until the life-saving debt is repaid."

Su Ming'an glanced at the boy; was his meaning still unclear? Why was this boy pledging allegiance on his own? It might be that the Luo Washa people's worldview is different, that being saved requires pledging repayment... They indeed have a knight's spirit.

"Really don't need that, we can be friends." Su Ming'an least needed humble followers; he appreciated equal friends more.

"Alright, friend." The blue-haired boy stood up, seemingly unsure if he heard properly: "Still don't know your name, friend."

"Lin Yin." Su Ming'an said.

"Lin Yin..." Wu Yi chuckled: "You better treat the wound on your neck, for a race like mine at the top of the food chain, the scent is quite noticeable."

Su Ming'an touched his neck, finding the wound still hadn't healed. This should be the influence of the Disciple Game's rules, where injuries require bandages, band-aids, health potions, etc., to recover, fitting the concept of a life-and-death game. All these items need to be scavenged within the levels.

Though these restrictions didn't affect him, he took out the already prepared "Immortal Talisman·New," and silently recited "medical items."

Soon, a bottle of red potion appeared in his palm, and he used a cotton swab to apply it to the edge of the wound, which healed quickly.

Wu Yi observed Su Ming'an, surprised by Su Ming'an's miraculous talisman. But he remained silent, not asking.

"So the angel who could bring me back from the dead was actually a jellyfish. Truly amazing." Wu Yi discerned Su Ming'an's race.

Su Ming'an certainly wouldn't reveal Kasadia's existence: "Even jellyfish have a Jellyfish Emperor."

"White hair and golden eyes...these traits resemble the recently famous Lighthouse Jellyfish, Su Liujin." Wu Yi chuckled: "But you say you're Lin Yin, so I guess there's no relation."

Su Ming'an instinctively felt Wu Yi was feigning ignorance.

"Still, you indeed saved the right person; I know many interesting things." Wu Yi squinted his eyes: "Among six people, you chose Xi Li. Too bad, actually my storyline is more interesting than hers; you should have picked me."

"...Hmm?" Su Ming'an was puzzled; how did Wu Yi know he had six choices?

Wu Yi chuckled, pointed to his own ear.

"My ability is [Hear the Heart]. During the wait, amidst a cacophony of voices, I couldn't hear your heart's voice, only a passionate narration...that's why you caught my attention."

...The War God Dragon King Narration was actually heard.

Su Ming'an felt slightly embarrassed.

"Although you chose Xi Li initially, you've now saved me." Wu Yi stroked his chin and suddenly suggested: "Why not change your choice, abandon Xi Li, and choose me."

"I want them all." Su Ming'an refused to choose. During the wait, he found it strange; why did he have to pick one of six people? Couldn't all six walk with him? Since Wu Yi became his friend, he could be with Xi Li too.

Wu Yi circled around him: "In following a single-character storyline, how could you simultaneously involve others? Since you chose Xi Li, you can only experience the storyline with her."

"In literary works or reality, only when the protagonist and a supporting role are alone can the supporting role's storyline be maximized. If the protagonist involves many supporting roles at once, they will miss out on each role's deepest storyline."

Su Ming'an understood Wu Yi's words.

Compared to reality, it's like if he stayed with Lv Shu, Yuanyuan, and Noel all the time, he wouldn't likely learn about Lv Shu's tragic family history or hear Noel's childhood story, Yuanyuan would also remain silent in front of everyone, not sharing her childhood memories with Su Ming'an.

So, that's why one had to choose among six.

"...I'm someone who finishes what they start; choosing Xi Li means I won't easily change." Su Ming'an said: "Unless you give me a little spoiler about yourself."

He only chose Xi Li because the World Tree favored white-haired people, but if the other five had more informative and valuable storylines, it wouldn't be impossible to switch early. Wu Yi clearly knew a lot, even vaguely guessed Su Ming'an was the [Protagonist], hence always considering himself a "supporting role."

This reminded Su Ming'an of what Pudding once said—

...

[You are the protagonist of Luo Washa.]

[Everyone will revolve around you, whether they want to be your true friend or your enemy.]

[They either humble themselves to stay by your side as the righteous faction, seeking more opportunities to appear, or they go the opposite way, deliberately becoming a villain to gain plot through opposition with you.]

...

What people want is merely to occupy a place in the story written by the [Protagonist]... Even if it's just a few lines, the group of fanatics will do anything.

Su Ming'an didn't know why they wanted screen time so much; probably to be favored by the World Tree.

"Alright." Wu Yi shook his finger: "I know who is invading the civilization of Luo Washa... How about it? Interested?"

Su Ming'an felt slightly surprised. This was indeed valuable information.

"How is it?" Wu Yi spread his hands: "As long as you choose me as a supporting role in your story, I'll tell you these."

"How much favorability?" Su Ming'an suddenly said.

"Ah?" Wu Yi was slightly stunned.

"Since you've compared Luowasha to a text-oriented story game, how much favorability is needed for you to reveal these secrets?" Su Ming'an said.

He had already discovered that he couldn't use conventional thinking to approach the Eleventh World. Due to the domination of the World Tree, Luowasha's worldview had become quite literary and gamified, necessitating a breakthrough from traditional thought processes. This was a distinctly different pattern from all previous instances.

"Oh, oh! You understand quickly!" Wu Yi spread his hands, beaming: "Well... I'd probably need 90 favorability points. Don't worry, just bring me along to participate in the upcoming Luowasha main storyline, witness the revival of the Rin Clan... and my plot will be mostly wrapped up."

"90 points, huh." Su Ming'an shook his head, waved his hand, and turned around: "Too high, I'll go play chess first."

The system prompt sounded.

...

"Ding dong!"

[NPC (Wu Yi) Favorability: 70 points + 5 points!]

...

"Consider it, really consider it," Wu Yi caught up: "Having me as a supporting role really adds points, the World Tree doesn't like seeing white hair now."

"I'll consider it carefully."

"Yes, yes, consider it carefully..."

The light source on the second floor of the hospital was inadequate, Su Ming'an opened his wristwatch with Du as a flashlight, projecting Yuanyuan's light forward.

"Tap, tap, tap."

Suddenly, he heard a series of footsteps ahead.

Encountering others here wasn't surprising; perhaps other participants were around. Su Ming'an raised the flashlight, and the other person also had a flashlight, their Yuanyuan lights converging, the footsteps drawing closer—

The next moment, Su Ming'an froze.

He opened his eyes wide, lips trembling, as if he had seen an unbelievably incredible person, even his voice was stuck in his throat.

—A black-haired boy with arms suspended walked in with a flashlight, their gazes met.

The black-haired boy's empty sleeve dangled, eyes filled with vigilance and alertness, carrying a bloodstained steel rod on his back.

Su Ming'an hazily met those almond-shaped eyes; the black-haired boy stared back at him. In that instant, it seemed as though an invisible torrent of time surged and buzzed between them, stirring a strong echo.

"White hair... are you Lv Shu from Dragon Country?" the black-haired boy gazed at him lightly, his eyes indifferent and all-encompassing.

Su Ming'an didn't speak. He knew who the black-haired boy was.

"Myself."

Or, to put it another way,

—It's [2021's version of Su Ming'an].

At this moment, to disguise the intent of a Perfect Pass, he was camouflaging himself as an edgy adolescent, spouting Lighthouse theories with great fervor.

A thought burgeoned within him... If he were to kill his 2021 self here... would it trigger a rollback?

Even though he guessed that this version of himself was likely simulated by the Disciple Game, if it truly had a built-in rollback mechanism, would it mean the Disciple Game was aware of his authority?

"Excuse me." The black-haired boy, seeing he didn't speak, brushed past him.

"The third floor is over there, it's essential for a Perfect Pass," Su Ming'an pointed at the stairs.

"Thanks for the reminder." The black-haired boy tilted his chin. Although his voice was still immature, it faintly revealed the future Su Ming'an's budding form: "I'm alone now, unsuitable to explore dangers, I'm planning to find some allies."

"I want to ask... which instance is this?" Su Ming'an said.

The black-haired boy gave him a glance, then responded: "The first, why?"

"Aren't you curious why, even though the World Game has just begun, there are so many strong individuals in the instance? Even the Dragon and Beast Clans." Su Ming'an said.

The black-haired boy said: "Aren't they just NPCs in the instance? I don't mind, as long as I discover the secret of the apocalypse burst, and achieve a Perfect Pass."

Su Ming'an rubbed his forehead, slightly helpless. This really was his original self.

"You must be Lv Shu from Dragon Country, with white hair and a pure Dragon Country accent." The black-haired boy suddenly stopped, spreading his hands: "It's more fitting to team up with you than to find strangers. Are you interested in Perfect Pass? Or..."

He lowered his gaze slightly, then flashed a smile that Su Ming'an knew all too well, a strategy-style grin: "...would you like to hear about my Lighthouse?"

Su Ming'an was shocked.

He felt as if the world had come full circle. As if the bullet he fired in his youth had finally returned to strike him in the forehead.

"You want to talk to me... about the Lighthouse?" Su Ming'an pointed at himself incredulously, unable to smile.

Smiles don't disappear; they just shift.

The black-haired boy's grin deepened, gazing at Su Ming'an: "Seems like you're interested, alright then..."

He opened his mouth, ready to speak at length.

"Stop, stop." Su Ming'an gestured "stop" with his hand, not wanting to hear his early, immature Lighthouse theory, and quickly reversed the situation: "How about listening to my understanding first?"

The black-haired boy showed a surprised expression, his smile became friendlier, quite different from his earlier indifference: "Sure."

Su Ming'an couldn't help but think if this "self" was truly simulated by the Disciple Game, then the Disciple Game had definitely grasped the essence...

"I think..." Su Ming'an began to explain.

Ten minutes later, the boy shared a deep connection with Su Ming'an, as if he'd encountered a rare kindred spirit.

"You really are an impressive Lighthouse, I acknowledge you. I permit you to carry forward my spirit," the black-haired boy said with satisfaction, patting Su Ming'an on the shoulder like he was treating a qualified heir.

Su Ming'an's face showed an indescribable expression.

"I've never met someone who could understand me like you do, who would've thought there are kindred spirits everywhere in life," the black-haired boy mused.

"Uh, yeah..." Su Ming'an said.

...No one understands you more than I do.

At the same time, he felt a slight discordance; his original self didn't seem so...

"Let's go, we'll head to the third floor together." The black-haired boy invited him, patting his shoulder warmly.

They walked forward together, Wu Yi rubbed his chin, quietly following behind.

But at that moment.

A clear, cold voice came from behind:

"...Olivius."

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