The Earth is Online Chapter 100-101

Chapter 100

An Chu and Lu Xing had high strength and they both passed through the black tower’s first floor. They came to Xiao Jitong and naturally joined the newly reborn Nanjing Group, becoming members. Xiao Jitong’s words were reasonable and Fu Wensheng couldn’t refute them, so he decided to leave Nanjing with Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo.

Thus, the new Nanjing Group had more than 30 members.

The members of the Nanjing Group didn’t react as much as Fu Wensheng imagined when they found out Fu Wenduo’s identity. They smiled at the youngest teammate who was able to leave but it was hard to cover up the exhaustion behind their smiles.

The sudden big escape game drained all their energies.

“Are stowaways bad people?” Xiao Jitong smiled at his cousin and pointed to the woman in black standing next to him. “Ningning is a stowaway but she didn’t become one because she liked killing. She isn’t a bad person. But your words… Mr. Fu and Mr. Tang fought against you? I’d like to hear what happened.”

Xiao Jitong said good things about Fu Wenduo only to later dig a hole for Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo. He smiled at Tang Mo. Tang Mo raised an eyebrow and talked about the Strange Circus. He had wanted to talk about it before and now he had a chance.

An Chu and Lu Xing realized after hearing Tang Mo’s explanation.

Lu Xing said, “There is something like this? Placing the players against each other?” Does the black tower lack all morality?”

Xiao Jitong was more concerned about something else. “The black tower can make players a boss that fights other players. There were 21 first floor players and two second floor black tower players. At first glance, the two of you were at a disadvantage. However, Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo got the monster cage from the beginning and the other players didn’t know what the monster was. There is also the Strange Circus and the mysterious leader behind them. They could borrow the power of the black tower world…”

Tang Mo gazed at Xiao Jitong.

Smart people saw things differently from others. At the end of the circus game, Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo had discussed it privately. If their plan was unsuccessfully, they would contact the circus for help. They would use the power of the circus to protect the earthworm and finish the game.

Once the misunderstanding was dismissed, Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo took Fu Wensheng to leave. An Chu and Lu Xing joined the Nanjing Group and listened to Xiao Jitong’s next plan. This misunderstanding might’ve been resolved by Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo had been pitted against the An Chu duo in the Strange Circus game. Lu Xing looked very awkward as he looked back and forth between Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo, inwardly feeling very depressed. An Chu’s eyes were focused on Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo’s hands.

It wasn’t one minute.

Was it five minutes?

…No, it was half an hour!

More than 30 players stood together closely. If a person didn’t pay attention, it was hard to discover that Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo were holding hands. It would just look like they were standing closely together. However, An Chu found out. It was like finding a grain of brown rice among white rice. At first glance, it couldn’t be seen at all but once it was found, An Chu’s gaze couldn’t be removed from the grain.

Two girls holding hands might be good feelings but two men holding hands… this was beyond a good friendship!

They were holding hands for so long that it didn’t seem like a joke.

An Chu’s mind was full of strange ideas and she finally looked meaningfully at Tang Mo.

Tang Mo sensed her gaze and looked back strangely.

Anchu: …Gender isn’t a problem.

Tang Mo: Are you still angry about the circus thing?

The two people smiled and nodded. They thought that the other side understood their meaning.

Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo would leave tomorrow so they went back to Fu Wensheng’s room for him to collect his things. He didn’t have many things to bring, just some props and daily necessities. Tang Mo saw a few bottles of Nongfu mineral water in his water, the same as the ones Xiao Jitong often used. Last night, at Chai Rong and Ningning’s strong request, Xiao Jitong used the mineral water to treat the wound on his face. Ningning felt it was too unsightly and looked awkward. Chai Rong didn’t want Xiao Jitong’s face to scar, always reminding him of the garbage cleaning game.

Originally, Xiao Jitong wanted to leave it for a few days but the Nanjing members unanimously opposed it. He could only listen to the majority and heal the injury.

Tang Mo looked at the bottles of Nongfu mineral water and asked, “The Nanjing Group has a lot of these mineral water bottles?”

Fu Wensheng said, “Yes, there are quite a lot. They should have more than 100 bottles left. The Nanjing players can use props or intelligence to gain it.”

Tang Mo wondered, “Can we also use the information to exchange it?”

The earthworm’s tear was more practical but there was only one more chance to use it. From the moment the earth went online to the present, Tang Mo relied on his physical ability to heal his wounds. The Nongfu water could speed up the rate of recovery. It was less effective than the earthworm’s tears but it was still a good prop.

The child made a strange expression at his words. Fu Wensheng looked at Tang Mo and said after a long time, “Why would you exchange intelligence for this?”

Tang Mo replied, “We don’t have any healing props.” Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo had gone through their props a few days ago and had mostly killing type weapons. There were few auxiliary props. Then Fu Wensheng’s meaning…

Tang Mo asked, “You can directly take a few bottles?” They had a relationship with Xiao Jitong and Fu Wensheng was a member of the Nanjing Group. It was reasonable for him to directly take a few bottles.

Who would’ve expected Fu Wensheng to say in the next second, “This is my ability.”

Tang Mo said, “This is originally your ability then we can really take…” His voice stopped and Tang Mo stared at the child with a startled expression. “Your ability?”

Fu Wensheng nodded. The child raised his right hand. He took a plastic basin from under the bed and placed his right hand over the plastic basin. A clear stream of water gushed from his palm. It continued to flow and soon filled the whole basin. Then Fu Wensheng took out a large funnel and several Nongfu mineral water bottles from under his bed. He filled five bottles in the blink of an eye.

He handed it to Tang Mo. “Yes, this is my ability.”

Tang Mo, “…”

It was his ability!

Fu Wenduo let out a low laugh.

Tang Mo and Fu Wensheng turned to look at him.

Fu Wenduo let out a faint sigh. “It is slightly useful.”

Fu Wensheng wanted to ask how it was slightly useful. It was obviously very useful! Captain Xiao said his ability was very powerful. If it could be upgraded like Captain Chai and Ningning, maybe the mineral water could produce human bones in the future. However, he saw his older brother’s restrained smile and closed his mouth.

While feeling angry, a little joy and smugness emerged in the heart of the child. This was the first time that his eldest brother had praised him.

Fu Wensheng packed up his things and laid mattresses and blankets on the ground for Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo. The three of them would leave tomorrow and would stay in Nanjing for one more night. Tang Mo didn’t let a child make the bed for himself. He went forward and wanted to help. He barely moved when Fu Wenduo released his hand and spoke to Fu Wensheng in a calm mood. “Sell more of the mineral water before we go.”

Fu Wensheng couldn’t respond for a moment before exclaiming, “Ah?”

“Sell them to Chai Rong and Xiao Jitong.” Fu Wenduo paused before lying on one side of the mattress. “How much mineral water did you give them before?”

Fu Wensheng answered honestly. “Hundreds of bottles? It is probably a few hundred of these Nongfu mineral water bottles.”

“Oh, it is child labor.”

Fu Wensheng cautiously reminded, “Big Brother, they are my teammates.”

Fu Wenduo said, “They aren’t teammates now. Make new ones and sell them in exchange for information.”

‘I want to be teammates with Captain Chai instead of you!’ Fu Wensheng didn’t dare speak. His eyes were depressed but he obediently made new bottles of mineral water.

Tang Mo couldn’t help smiling when he saw this scene. His right hand moved slightly.

…A hot temperature seemed to remain between his fingers.

Fu Wenduo let go very suddenly and decisively but Tang Mo wasn’t surprised. In the dim light, the tall man moved to lay a blanket over the mattress, smoothly every corner neatly. He was very fast, as if he had done similar things in the past.

In fact, Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo’s physical fitness meant they didn’t need to sleep tonight. However, the child was different so Fu Wenduo didn’t object. This was kindness to the child.

In some ways, Fu Wenduo was a good brother and a good man.

Tang Mo’s words about ‘Fu Wenduo being a good man’ to Xiao Jitong wasn’t entirely perfunctory. He also realized this fact. Regardless of morality, outlook on life or attitude towards life and death, Tang  Mo felt that Fu Wenduo was a good person. He might be even better than Tang Mo. At the very least, Fu Wenduo wouldn’t be tempted to go to the black tower to angrily kick it.

As he thought this, Tang Mo remembered that he would pass by Xinjiekou when leaving Nanjing tomorrow.

Should he kick the black tower when passing by it?

Tang Mo felt that his temper actually wasn’t very good at all.

“Are you going to sleep?” A low voice was heard.

Tang Mo’s spirit suddenly recovered. He saw that Fu Wenduo was squatting beside the mattress, his dark eyes steadily gazing at Tang Mo.

Tang Mo found that the other person was staring at him for a long time. Fu Wenduo’s face was very calm. He shook his head, “It doesn’t matter if I don’t sleep for a few nights. We had been holding hands for a few hours and I still couldn’t find out your ability. There are two reasons. First, I gained someone else’s ability and the effect is poorer, so the limit is more than the original. It might take more time to get another person’s ability. Second, your ability is so powerful that I need more time.”

Fu Wenduo said, “It isn’t urgent. It will take three days to get to Beijing so we can keep making physical contact on the road.”

Tang Mo thought, ‘You don’t know that touching more intimate parts has a better effect.’ Outwardly, he sighed and said, “Okay.”

“Do an experiment with Fu Wensheng tomorrow.”

The child making mineral water in the next room suddenly heard his name and became frightened. “Big Brother, experiment? What experiment?”

Fu Wenduo didn’t blink. “An experiment to sell you.”

Fu Wensheng, “…”

The number of mineral water that the child could produce was limited. In one night, he only made 30 bottles. Fu Wensheng laid in bed and soon slept. It was after a brutal escape game so Tang Mo felt a big sleepy. He closed his eyes while Fu Wenduo slept not far from him.

The sound of the clock ticking was the only thing heard in the silent room.

A long time passed before Fu Wenduo whispered, “It is better to change our names. My name is known to all Chinese players. Your name isn’t well-known but ‘Momo’ is famous among the best players.”

Tang Mo hadn’t fallen asleep. He opened his eyes and thought for a moment. “Yes, it makes sense. Will your name be Fu Wenxian?” Tang Mo laughed while saying the name.

This was even worse than Fu Wenduo. The members of the Nanjing Group knew Fu Wensheng first, which was how they could accept someone called Fu Wenxian.

“The new name should be something similar that is easier to accept. Your name is Tang Ji. Fu Wensheng’s name should be changed. He will be called…” Fu Wenduo stopped to think before saying solemnly, “His name is Da Qiao. My name will be Victor.”

Time suddenly stilled as Tang Mo’s heart jumped. He couldn’t help raising his head and looking at the man next to him. In the darkness, he could only see a shadow. He stared at Fu Wenduo while his heart beat loudly.

…Why Victor?

Tang Mo was about to open his mouth. At this moment, a clear voice was heard from the bed. “Brother, why am I called Da Qiao? What is this name?”

The child felt extremely wronged and couldn’t restrain himself.

Fu Wenduo asked, “You aren’t asleep?”

Fu Wensheng didn’t let him change the topic. “Brother, why am I called this name. It is a girl’s name.” It seemed like he hadn’t seen Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

“Isn’t your good friend called Xiao Qiao?” (Qiao is a surname. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, there were two famous Qiao sisters called Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao. Da Qiao basically means Big Qiao while Xiao Qiao is Small Qiao)

Fu Wensheng was surprised. Then he soon recovered. “He is George Edward!” Xiao Qiao is the nickname that Captain Xiao gave him. Xiao Qiao didn’t understand anything and didn’t know it was the name of a girl. He agreed to Captain Xiao’s suggestion. If he knew then he wouldn’t let everyone call him that.”

“Oh, then you don’t call him that.”

“…” The silent Fu Wensheng was dumbfounded.

Fu Wenduo wondered, “If I remember correctly, your home is on Beijing’s Third Ring Road called the Bronze Sparrow Terrace?”

The bronze sparrows are also called ‘Qiao.’

“…” Fu Wensheng felt it was convincing.

The amused Tang Mo finally laughed.

Fu Wenduo and Fu Wensheng turned their heads when they heard his laugh. Tang Mo wondered, “My name is Tang Ji because it is a bit similar. Then why are you called Victor?” Tang Mo felt his nerves shake the moment he heard this name.

It seemed like an extremely long time since the earth went online but it was only a few months.

In these months, some people were hidden deep in his memories, making them hard to remember. When he thought about it, his emotions were like a tide.

Tang Mo couldn’t tell why he liked Victor in the first place. They were clearly separated by a computer. Tang Mo didn’t know the other person’s age, looks, occupation or even where he lived. But Tang Mo liked this strange yet familiar person. Whenever they played bridge together, Tang Mo trusted him unconditionally. Their spirits collided and it was like the scent of a seductive woman, making Tang Mo gradually addicted and unable to extricate himself.

However, these feelings seemed very tiny compared to the brutal black tower games of the past few months. Rather than looking for someone whose location was unknown, Tang Mo was more concerned about his own survival. Tang Mo’s heart became heavier.

…Victor might be dead or alive, but Tang Mo would continue to live.

“Isn’t it similar?”

Tang Mo’s thoughts were interrupted. “Eh?”

In the darkness, Fu Wenduo looked quietly at him. “Wenduo, Victor, isn’t it similar when read quickly?” (TL: Characters for Victor are Wei-ke-duo, which is why he says it is similar)

Tang Mo was stunned and felt that the thoughts that just flashed through his mind were a bit funny. He mouthed it several times before saying, “It is similar.”

Fu Wensheng lying in bed heard their conversation and originally wanted to say, “Brother, that is your English name.” However, he had just been bullied by Fu Wenduo and was too depressed to talk. He just closed his eyes and continued to speak.

Tang Mo no longer worried about this problem. He didn’t know that Fu Wenduo silently watched him for a long time. Without waiting for Tang Mo’s words, Fu Wenduo frowned and looked up at the ceiling.

It was a sleepless night.

The next morning, the Tang Mo trio left. Before leaving, Fu Wenduo told Fu Wensheng to go and sell the 30 bottles of Nongfu mineral waters for useful information. The child ran with the mineral water. Once he returned, Fu Wenduo looked at him with raised eyebrows, “What information did you get?”

Fu Wensheng talked quickly.

Tang Mo looked at the two brothers and couldn’t help smiling.

Compared to him, his teammate might have a better temper and was gentler.

As they passed the black tower, Tang Mo thought of his intention to smash the black tower. However, Fu Wenduo and Fu Wensheng were there. He hesitated before deciding to maintain his image. He had to pay attention to his image in front of Fu Wenduo’s younger relative. Tang Mo strode away from the black tower but Fu Wenduo stopped, looking up at the huge tower. His vision moved and Fu Wenduo saw the young woman standing in the distance, gazing at the black tower.

Tang Mo also noticed the other person. He looked at Ningning in the distance and nodded lightly.

Ningning greeted the Tang Mo trio but didn’t say anything else. She sat on a dusty stone, holding her silver bow as she quietly looked up at the black tower. She tirelessly looked at the black tower. No one knew how long she had been watching and how many times she had seen it.

Tang Mo looked at this strange female stowaway before leaving Nanjing.

They found a jeep and headed onto the highway. The car drove for a while, Fu Wensheng sitting in the backseat and staring at the scenery outside the window with curious eyes. He had stayed in Nanjing after the earth went online and never left. This time, he felt somewhat scared and excited.

The car drove for a long time before finally seeing the black tower of the next city.

Tang Mo looked at the map. “That should be the black tower of Yangzhou.” He paused and turned to the child. “Does Ningning always like to watch the black tower?”

Fu Wensheng nodded but then shook his head. “Not always. It was since the Christmas Even instance a few months ago that Ningning often went to look at it. At that time, Sister Xiao Tian didn’t pass the game and Sister Ningning often went to observe the black tower. She probably felt that Sister Xiao Tian was just taking part of a long tower attack game and would return. In addition, Sister Ningning’s feelings towards the black tower are very complex since it saved her life.”

Tang Mo was surprised. “Saved her life?”

Fu Wenduo also looked at Fu Wensheng with interest through the rearview mirror.

Fu Wensheng replied, “Yes. Sister Ningning is a stowaway. Stowaways are those who killed someone in the three days of selection. Brother is a soldier so he should’ve killed someone on a mission. I guessed this as soon as I heard Brother’s identity. However, Sister Ningning isn’t the same. She didn’t kill anyone.”

Tang Mo asked, “Then how can she be a stowaway?”

Fu Wensheng explained, “She really didn’t kill anyone but technically, she did. In those three days… she killed herself.”

The author has something to say:

Tang Tang?: Every time we play bridge, I feel like I’m being seduced √

Old Fu: Every time we play bridge, I feel like I’m being seduced +1√

Chapter 101

“What do you mean she killed herself?”

“In fact, in the beginning, Ningning was a member of our Nanjing Group. She has a powerful ability but she doesn’t like to talk much. I heard that she grew up together with Captain Xiao and Sister Xiao Tian and they were classmates.” Fu Wensheng opened the rear window, letting the cool spring breeze into the car. The child held his backpack and looked at Tang Mo. “After Sister Xiao Tian died… after she went missing, Sister Ningning joined the Strategy Group.”

Fu Wenduo got to the point. “She committed suicide?”

Fu Wensheng nodded. There were a pause before he realized. “Brother, Brother Tang, you have misunderstood. In the three days from November 15th to the 18th, a player who kills a person will become a stowaway. Players who committed suicide, they might’ve killed someone but they are dead, so they can’t become stowaways.”

“Then what did you just say?”

“Ningning really committed suicide and she died. However, her heart only stopped for a few minutes before she was found by Sister Xiao Tian.” Fu Wensheng continued, “Sister Xiao Tian… was an official player. Of the four main people, Captain Chai and Captain Xiao were reserves, Sister Ningning is a stowaway and only Sister Xiao Tian was an official player. Brother Tang, you are also an official player. What did you get after participating in the black tower game?”

Tang Mo already had an answer in his heart. “A weapon, the giant match.”

“Yes. Sister Xiao Tian got a prop. As long as the other person died within five minutes, she could save them. She only had that prop and Captain said that before the earth went online, Sister Ningning and Sister Xiao Tian were roommates. In those three days, on the first day, Ningning’s mother suddenly died. Her mother was in good health and there wasn’t a car accident. She just suddenly died at home. There was blood all over the place and she was killed, but the surveillance cameras didn’t show any murderer.

Once a person died, it didn’t mean that all their cells had died. The more oxygen that the cells consumed, the faster they died. In general, brain cells were the fastest to die. They would all die in around 3~4 minutes, followed by the heart cells.

With the magic effect of a black tower prop, it was truly possible to save a person who died five minutes ago.

Fu Wenduo asked, “Her mother entered the black tower game?”

The child nodded. “According to Captain Xiao’s speculation, this is likely the case. It is a pity that Ningning’s mother failed to survive the black tower game. Sister Ningning came from a single parent family. She lived with her mother from childhood and then this type of thing happened. She simply couldn’t accept it. She was going home to see her mother. But something else was happening at this time…”

Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo turned to look at Fu Wensheng.

The child put his bag aside and looked seriously at his older brother and Tang MO. Tang Mo understood that Fu Wensheng spoke so much because of what he was going to say next.

Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo had no relationship with the things that happened to Ningning. Perhaps she personally didn’t mind that her past was known by others. Therefore, all members of the Nanjing Group knew her experience. However, the reason why Ningning became a stowaway had nothing to do with Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo, who had left Nanjing.

Yet Fu Wensheng still said it.

Fu Wensheng wasn’t Chai Rong. Since he was saying this, he must have a reason.

Tang Mo looked at this child’s serious appearance and thought there was more to this naive child afraid of his older brother. He asked, “Then what are you trying to say?”  

Fu Wensheng knew his mind couldn’t be hidden from Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo but he hadn’t expected to be found so soon. He didn’t play dumb and said it directly. “Previously, Captain Xiao told me that along with Ningning and Captain Chai, the two of you were likely to experience the heartbeat acceleration phenomenon before the earth went online.”

“Heartbeat acceleration?” Tang Mo’s eyes narrowed. “Ningning and Chai Rong’s heartbeats accelerated?”

“Yes. Captain Chai’s heartbeat reached a maximum of 210 while Ningning was higher at 308. Her heart was too fast and her mood was irritable. She even had a slight fever. Therefore, after the accident with Ningning’s mother, she couldn’t go to her hometown and had to stay at home. Sister Xiaotian wanted to accompany her but Ningning told her to go to work. Later, Ningning killed herself.” Fu Wensheng kept speaking, “Captain Xiao told me this matter but I don’t think Ningning is such a vulnerable person.”

Some people might seem mighty and could never be defeated when in fact, they were missing their most important thing.

Fu Wensheng was very precocious. According to Fu Wenduo, the child could’ve directly skipped to middle school but his parents didn’t want him to be out of touch with his peers and kept him in primary school. However, he was still a child. For him, he lost his parents after the earth went online but he survived. Therefore, he believed that Ningning, who was stronger than him, should be able to survive the difficulties of losing her mother.

Fu Wensheng wasn’t able to experience her emotions. No one knew what was going on in her heart at the time. It was like how everyone’s degree of pain tolerance wasn’t the same. Tang Mo was actually very afraid of pain. He grew up afraid of needles from an early age. He would cry whenever his parents took him to the hospital for a shot. This didn’t mean that he was weak. Everyone just had different degrees of pain perception.

The sting of an ant might be pain in another person’s heart.

Tang Mo tried to think of something that could destroy himself. He thought for a moment and couldn’t find the answer. Now he had experienced the deaths of his parents and his close friends. Nothing could destroy him anymore. He just wanted to live.

Tang Mo put aside this topic that wasn’t suitable for a child and asked, “In the Nanjing Group, Chai Rong and Ningning were the only ones whose heartbeat accelerated?”

Fu Wensheng nodded. “Captain Xiao told me this before I left and told me to tell you. He guessed that you might’ve experienced something like this and asked me to remind you that the heartbeat acceleration phenomenon doesn’t determine whether a player’s ability is strong or not. Still, there is no doubt that for every player who experienced this, as long as they are alive, they seem to be a top player.”

Xiao Jitong didn’t take the initiative to talk about this with Tang Mo so he was likely to be hiding some information. His access to information was limited so he likely knew less than Luo Fengcheng. Tang Mo remained silent as he started to think about all the players he knew who experienced the heartbeat acceleration phenomenon.

So far, it was him, Fu Wenduo, Chai Rong, Ningning and Nie Fei from the Attack organization. Five people experienced the heartbeat acceleration. Luo Fengcheng had named it the ‘black tower selection.’

Both official players and stowaways must have abilities but people who experienced the heartbeat acceleration would be more than ordinary official players and stowaways. Chai Rong was a reserve but he also experienced it.

“There is no direct relationship between the black tower selection and the black tower players.” Tang Mo analyzed. “Luo Fengcheng also said that among the four people selected by the black tower, not one of them survived. None of them became players. But those who survive will likely be the most powerful players.”

Fu Wenduo speculated, “The abilities might have nothing to do with the black tower. Perhaps the black tower is just a catalyst. Everyone’s abilities are different and this might come from the humans’ themselves. So… it is possible that the black tower selection isn’t the will of the black tower. Perhaps there is something special about those people?”

Tang Mo’s eyes were bright. “You mean, the ability or heartbeat acceleration has nothing to do with the black tower. Is it something we already have?”

“It is just a possibility.” Fu Wenduo looked at Tang Mo. “Then what are the similarities between all of us? This is the most important key.”

Tang Mo had an interest in this idea.

Long ago, he studied with Luo Fengcheng about why official players, stowaways or reserves have an ability. The reserves had no ability but after the clearing a black tower floor, the reserve players would gain an ability and become an official player. Therefore, did every human have an ability or was it something that the black tower gave humanity?

If so, how did the black tower choose what to give humans? Tang Mo’s cheap book, Fu Wenduo’s ability to transform his body into metal and Fu Wensheng’s mineral water. Was it because Tang Mo was a librarian who loved to read books, Fu Wenduo loved to watch Iron Man and Fu Wensheng loved water?

Tang Mo shook off this strange idea.

…Well, he wouldn’t ask Fu Wenduo if he liked Iron Man.

That certainly wouldn’t be the reason.

Most likely, the ability was hidden in every human but it was evoked due to the catalyst of the black tower.

Then the heartbeat acceleration phenomenon might not be directly related to the black tower.

Tang Mo thought about it. “First of all, we must rule out the most basic point. Ningning is a woman so that common point is gone. Secondly, in terms of intelligence, Fu Wenduo and I should cross the line and Nie Fei is also very rational. Ningning meets the standards but Chai Rong… he doesn’t meet it.”

Fu Wensheng agreed. “The captain is really stupid.”

Tang Mo and Fu Wensheng listed many similarities between the five people but they were all rejected. Among the five people, there was always one that didn’t meet a certain requirement. As the sky gradually darkened, Tang Mo sat in the backseat and asked Fu Wensheng more questions about Ningning and Chai Rong to find a common ground.

A loud horn sounded and the two of them looked at the front seat.

Fu Wenduo raised an eyebrow. “We are at a service station. Do you want to take a break?”

Tang Mo looked out the window and found that the sky had long turned dark and the crescent moon was high in the sky.

The trio got out of the car and rested at the deserted service station.

Fu Wensheng was very afraid of his older brother, probably because he was bullied as a child. Then Fu Wenduo joined the army and got a high reputation, so Fu Wensheng didn’t dare get close to Fu Wenduo. Fu Wenduo looked at him and the child immediately sat down with Tang Mo. Tang Mo secretly thought, ‘Am I not terrible?’

Fu Wensheng looked at him. “Brother Tang, it doesn’t matter if you don’t sleep all day. I’m curious about you and Brother’s… the Strange Circus incident.” Once Fu Wenduo stared at him, Fu Wensheng whispered, “The two of you and the 21 black tower players were pitted against each other. What is going on? Then there was the tower attack game in the Queen of Heart’s Gem Corridor. That strange person who always laughed, how was he beaten? I thought about it for a long time and never figured it out. So can you tell me?”

Tang Mo, “…”

He didn’t dare disturb his brother but came to Tang Mo?

Tang Mo’s eyes narrowed. However, he wasn’t going to sleep tonight so it wasn’t bad to talk to the child. They would be teammates in the future and Tang Mo couldn’t let it go. Of course, before he spoke…

Tang Mo smiled. “Put out your hand. We will shake hands.”

Fu Wensheng was surprised. …“Eh?”

Tang Mo didn’t explain all his abilities to Fu Wensheng, only telling him a small part. The child reached out his hand. Tang Mo grabbed it and started talking about the Gem Corridor. There was no need to tell the story of the turkey egg. Tang Mo just made up a reason to fool the child.

Once Tang Mo finished talking about the Strange Circus, he saw that Fu Wenduo was at the counter of the breakfast store, quietly looking down at them. The moonlight shone through the window onto the handsome man whose expression was unable to be seen.

Tang Mo asked, “You aren’t going to sleep?”

Fu Wenduo gazed at the hands of the two people and he changed the topic. “Did you see the ability?”

“Not yet…” Tang Mo’s voice stopped. He released Fu Wensheng’s hand and said, “I have it.”

The next moment, Tang Mo pressed a hand on the ground and a blue light sphere appeared on the palm of his other hand. This blue ball was the size of half a head. It quickly escaped from Tang Mo’s hand but Tang Mo caught it really quickly. The sphere of light was caught and Tang Mo crushed it.

Five seconds later, Tang Mo’s face became rosy.

Fu Wenduo saw his expression and smiled with a meaningful look. Fu Wensheng  heard that Tang Mo knew his ability and also felt curious. “Brother Tang, what is my ability? All I know is that I can produce a certain amount of water every day and it has a relatively powerful healing effect. Is there any other role?”

Clear water flowed from Tang Mo’s palm.

‘Don’t try to hide a dime’. In addition to knowing the effect of other people’s abilities, it allowed him to copy the ability. Of course, the effect was greatly reduced. After seeing Tang Mo use this ability, Fu Wenduo took a dagger out of his pocket and didn’t hesitate to slash his own palm.

Tang Mo was stunned but quickly reacted, placing his hand over the injury.

Some of the spring water fell on the wound on Fu Wenduo’s palm. The wound healed at a rate visible to the naked eye.

“I can help small injuries and the healing speed is probably 20% faster.”

Tang Mo nodded. “The effect of my ability after using it once is only 10%.”

Fu Wensheng asked, “Brother Tang, what is my ability?”

Tang Mo stared blankly at Fu Wensheng for a long time before saying in a calm voice, “Your ability can produce a lot of water with a healing effect and it can be upgraded. However, the ability isn’t as effective after I copied it. I only know part of your abilities and your ability is currently level 3. Abilities can be upgraded and I’ve seen people with level 5 abilities.”

Fu Wensheng noticed Tang Mo’s strange expression but didn’t ask. He thought there might be something wrong with Tang Mo’s own abilities. If there was something wrong with Fu Wensheng’s own ability, Tang Mo wouldn’t hide it from him.

Tang Mo sighed with relief when he saw the child didn’t ask again. He looked up and saw that Fu Wenduo was looking at him with raised eyebrows.

Fu Wenduo: What’s wrong?

Tang Mo: …Your brother’s ability is very interesting.

Fu Wenduo: How?

Tang Mo: Let’s go for a walk and I’ll tell you.

The two people left the service station through a tacit agreement and Tang Mo finally said what he saw from the light sphere.

[Ability: Aristocratic 100 year Baisui Mountain Water]

[Owner: Unknown]

[Type: Unknown]

[Function: Produces mineral water with a healing effect.]

[Level: 3]

[Restrictions: Unknown]

[Note: Unknown… Your sister! I am the aristocratic 100 year Baisui Mountain water!]  

Tang Mo’s expression didn’t change when he said these words. He had long been accustomed to the abilities book but he didn’t expect a similar effect when using this ‘Don’t try to hide a dime’ to view other people’s abilities. Tang Mo calmly said, “This ability can really see other people’s abilities and also use them. But the information shown isn’t complete. Fu Wensheng’s ability is a blue sphere so it should be a genotypes, dimensional or atomic type.”

Due to the concealed information, Tang Mo couldn’t determine what type of ability the blue represented. He said, “If there is a chance in the next few days, I will keep copying his ability to determine if the information changes and to try and find out his real limitations and ability type.”

“Okay.”

Tang Mo asked, “When we will arrive in Beijing?”

“The earliest is two days and the latest is four days as long as there is nothing unexpected.”  

This timing was acceptable. Tang Mo started to recall his friend’s home address. Before the earth went online, he had only been to Beijing once. Now his memory had improved so perhaps he could remember the location of his friend’s house. The problem was that Beijing was so big. Tang Mo thought for a while before turning to enter the service station.

Then a low voice was heard behind him.

“Does everyone’s abilities have such an interesting name and… note?”

Tang Mo’s footsteps stopped as a bad feeling rushed into his heart. He turned his head and saw Fu Wenduo looking at him with a smile. “Your ability, does it also have such notes and names when collecting other people’s abilities.”

Tang Mo looked calmly at Fu Wenduo while Fu Wenduo smiled back at him. The eyes of the two people met in the air and no one spoke.

As long as Tang Mo didn’t say it, no one would know what was written in the abilities book. He believed that even Chen Shanshan wouldn’t be able to guess that the serious Tang Mo had an ability like this.

Tang Mo calmly said, “Of course not.”

Fu Wenduo opened his mouth in preparation to speak again. The next second, there was a loud sound above their heads. Tang Mo and Fu Wenduo raised their heads at the same time, warily staring into the distance.

At almost the same time, in the base of the Nanjing Group, Xiao Jitong paused while planning his next strategy with Ningning. In the underground parking lot of a mall in Shanghai, Luo Fengcheng and Chen Shanshan stopped their actions and looked at each other.

The loud sound was heard in every part of China and the black towers gave off a colourful glow. Countless players went out into the open and looked up at the mysterious black tower with astonishment. Once everything was over, it calmed down. It was just like three months ago at Christmas. All players had sighed with relief when the black tower sent a surprise gift to players all over the world.

Now, at this moment, countless childlike voices shouted in unison.

“Ding dong! A version update notification. March 15th, 2018, the Black Tower’s version 3.0 will come online.”

Chapter end