Erin quickly understood what Yu Sheng meant by "Rule System."
"Actually, I'm not too sure either. As I've said, a lot of things are a blur in my memory, including many of the most fundamental pieces of knowledge – the influence of this painting on me is not just simple memory loss; over the lengthy passage of time, it has disassembled my thought process," the person in the painting pointed to their head and slowly said, "Regarding those characteristics of 'Hunger,' many of them are just superficial impressions that I've reorganized based on my own understanding. You better take it as a reference."
"…No matter what, that thing really is hard to deal with," Yu Sheng pondered for a moment and nodded, "Seems we need an alternative plan. If we can't handle that monster, we'll try to get Hu Li out of that valley – by the way, if she leaves that Exotic Realm, she should be able to break free from the influence of 'Hunger,' right?"
"It should be possible. The influence of the Exotic Realm can't spread to reality, but honestly, the difficulty of bringing another person out of the Exotic Realm under the blockade of 'Hunger' is also ridiculously high."
Erin pondered while speaking, then suddenly lifted her head, staring intently at Yu Sheng, "Hey, wait a minute, are you really planning to deal with that thing yourself? ...Never mind how you're going to deal with it for now, how do you know for sure that you can even return to that valley?"
"Didn't you say it? Once you make contact with an Exotic Realm, you can't break free from this connection," Yu Sheng casually said, "I understand it's like falling into quicksand, only sinking deeper and deeper. Even if you manage to get out temporarily, it's just a brief respite during the sinking process..."
Erin glared, "I did say that, but what I meant is that once you've dealt with the Exotic Realm, you would establish a connection with the entire realm 'Beyond reason,' meaning you would have a higher chance of coming into contact with other Exotic Realms or supernatural phenomena. It doesn't mean you would definitely return to the Exotic Realm you initially encountered; this stuff is totally random!"
"But I have a hunch that I will be seeing that monster again soon, along with that valley," Yu Sheng looked seriously into Erin's eyes, "I haven't completely 'broken off' my connection with that place... it... seems like it's still waiting for me to return."
A serious glint flickered through Erin's crimson eyes. She thought for a moment, then asked uncertainly, "...Spiritual Intuition?"
"I don't know if that's what you call Spiritual Intuition," Yu Sheng spread his hands, "But ever since my encounter with that creature, I indeed started to 'feel' some things – very vague, but seemingly accurate."
"…It's rare for ordinary people to develop Spiritual Intuition so quickly after a stimulus, let alone to control and utilize it to some extent," Erin looked Yu Sheng up and down, a bit of wonder in her expression, "You might just be a natural-born investigator with a Sacred Body…"
Yu Sheng opened his mouth, "Ah, is that a good thing?"
Erin thought about it and spoke as frankly as ever, "The death rate among investigators is pretty high."
Yu Sheng: "…"
Before he could say anything else, Erin added another line with her blunt mouth, "But ordinary people who have come into contact with an Exotic Realm without developing Spiritual Intuition have an even higher death rate."
Yu Sheng's mouth twitched for a moment, "Well, that's okay then. It's not a big problem."
Erin was taken aback by the extent of Yu Sheng's easy-going attitude. Yu Sheng merely shook his head and stood up from the dining table.
Immediately, a voice came from the painting, "Hey, where are you going?"
"Kitchen! Slept all day and haven't sorted out dinner yet!" Yu Sheng turned his head and glared at Erin, "Speaking of which, why do you get so nervous every time I move, as if I'm going to abandon you?"
"Bullshit, I have problems even moving by myself now, you know how unsettling that is in my heart – plus, you're the type who could fall into an Exotic Realm the moment you step out the door. How do I know if you might just get up and disappear, never to be seen again..."
Erin's mouth was as unbearably chatty as ever, but Yu Sheng only frowned and then realized that she seemed just to want to show concern for him.
And… he realized the helplessness and anxiousness she felt being trapped in a painting, and the fear of loss after finally finding someone she could talk to.
After thinking for a moment, he got up and picked Erin up from the dining table.
She immediately cried out in surprise, "Hey, what are you doing, I... I was still watching TV, I warn you, don't hang me back in that room on the second floor! I... I'll stop talking, just put me back..."
"Cooking alone is no fun, since you're free anyway, come to the kitchen and chat with me."
Erin paused, stole a glance at Yu Sheng's expression from the edge of the frame, seeming a bit incredulous, but quickly nodded enthusiastically, "Okay, great!"
Yu Sheng curled his lip, carried Erin into the kitchen, casually placed her on the windowsill, then turned to open the fridge to check what ingredients were there for dinner.
However, Hu Li's figure surfaced in his mind – as soon as he saw the food, he couldn't help but recall the demon fox girl crouching in the ruins of the ruined temple, staring at him from afar with a rotten vegetable leaf in her mouth.
She was still hungry.
Yu Sheng pressed his lips together, pushing down the many thoughts in his heart, and took out the stewed meat and two buns left over from the morning.
He decided to heat up the leftovers and have buns for dinner, and maybe cook some porridge.
He placed the buns and stewed meat from the fridge into the microwave, then washed rice to prepare the porridge. Yu Sheng worked silently and started to regret bringing Erin into the kitchen within half a minute –
This Beeper had been non-stop chattering since he opened the fridge!
"Hey, this fridge is pretty big! Do you really need such a big fridge all to yourself?
"That's the meat you stewed this morning, right... Honestly, after being processed, that local product does look quite normal... but tell me, it's not going to suddenly come to life in the bowl, right?
"You're just cooking porridge? Then there isn't much to watch, why don't you carve some carrot flowers, or at least a stamp.
"Why aren't you turning on the exhaust fan... oh, you're not stir-frying.
"Is it getting dark outside, hey? Turn me around, let me see the street... Fine, forget it.
"What's your mother's maiden name?"
Yu Sheng finally couldn't stand it anymore, grabbed Erin and moved toward the pool: "Do you believe I'll dunk you right in now! I'll scrub you with dish soap until you fade, you believe that?!"
Erin instantly shrank her neck and sat back down on the chair with her teddy bear: "Fine, I won't talk..."
Peace finally returned to the world.
Erin went back to sitting by the window, holding her teddy bear, looking at Yu Sheng, who was now leaning against the kitchen stove, lost in thought, neither of them speaking.
After who knows how long, it was Erin who broke the silence: "I still think that going against 'Hunger' all by yourself is dangerous. Though I can't remember how powerful that entity exactly is, it's definitely not something ordinary people can handle. You... you'll die."
"I'll resurrect."
"I'm being serious here!"
"So am I."
Erin glared with her eyes, seemingly a bit angry as she looked at Yu Sheng.
But her anger only lasted a few seconds before she sighed.
"Seriously, think of some other way. Try to get in touch with that group of people in this city who specialize in combating the Exotic Realm. Don't take risks."
"I don't want to take risks, I just feel that 'danger' will find me," Yu Sheng shook his head, "But I get what you mean, I won't just go off to die, and as for those 'professionals' you mentioned, I will find them."
"Oh, that's good then."
Dinner passed in tranquility. Erin was commenting on the tasteless city dramas on TV from time to time, while Yu Sheng ate his food earnestly, occasionally responding to Erin's babbling.
Yu Sheng ate very clean this meal, even wiping the last bit of broth in the bowl with a bun until there was nothing left.
"I'm stepping out for a bit." After tidying up the dining area and kitchen, Yu Sheng changed into his outdoor clothes and casually said to Erin.
Erin, who was watching TV, suddenly looked up upon hearing this, her expression showing a hint of panic: "Where are you going?!"
"Just to the little supermarket at the corner, to buy some food to bring back, it's not far," Yu Sheng said, noticing the expression on Erin's face and couldn't help but feel amused, "Don't be so nervous, it's not like I fall into the Exotic Realm every time I walk out the door... Don't worry, although this house is a bit weird, I make sure to take a look around before I step out each time."
"Uh, okay," Erin scratched her head, a bit perplexed, "But I thought there was still quite a bit left in the refrigerator."
"I'm going to buy some more," Yu Sheng said, "Some that don't need to be stored in the fridge, the ready-to-eat kind."
Erin got it.
"Oh, okay, then be careful when you go out... And remember, after opening the door, don't just go straight out! Take a look outside first!"
Yu Sheng smiled.
It had been a long time since anyone had told him to "be careful when going out," even though this time it was coming from a ventriloquist dummy usually full of trash talk. But it felt pretty good.
He finished changing his clothes, then thought for a moment and stuffed several pieces of bread and biscuits into his jacket pockets before coming to the front door, gripping the handle, and taking a light breath.
Honestly, ever since he had pushed open this door and directly fell into the Exotic Realm last time, he really did have a little... a shadow over this door.
But he couldn't just never leave this house forever because of that.
Yu Sheng gritted his teeth and slowly pushed open the door.
He started with a sliver of an opening, then gradually opened it wider, cautiously observing the situation outside.
After repeatedly checking for a long time, he finally stepped out, relieved.
Fortunately, that door wasn't so evil after all.
It seems that falling into the Exotic Realm after leaving that house isn't a high probability event, maybe it requires specific conditions to trigger some kind of "effect" of that door? Perhaps it's needed to open the door a few times, or at specific times?
Walking in the streets somewhat settled, after a while, Yu Sheng couldn't help but think about various things, but anyway, he truly breathed a sigh of relief.
With a light step, he crossed the nearly empty streets and soon arrived at the little supermarket at the corner, and pushed the door.
As soon as he pushed the door, he felt a shiver rise from the bottom of his heart, and then—
Hot wind hit his face head-on, the scorched earth opposite the door steaming with heat, a crashed flying vehicle in the distance on a hill puffing out billowing smoke, and two fully armed individuals, clad in some black power armor that resembled Alien Battle Armor, grappling with each other, one of them suddenly lifted their hand, a Plasma Sword igniting with a "hiss" from their wrist, and then aimed at the opponent.
After that, the two figures who dressed as if they were Star Realm Mercenaries in their black canned outfits seemed to notice the gaze from the side, abruptly turning their heads to look at Yu Sheng, the dark red monitors on their helmet flickering slightly.
Yu Sheng: "...?"
He hurriedly stepped back and slammed the door shut.