NABC Chapter 44 Cinderella 3
Chapter 44 Cinderella 3
That gaze, like an icicle piercing through the false warmth of Sweet Dream Town's sugary coating, was murky and bloodshot, bearing the weariness and pain of countless years. Yet, deep within those bloodshot veins, a tiny, yet incredibly stubborn flame burned—a clarity that had not yet been completely extinguished, the last vestige of defiance against this sweet hell.
The source of the gaze was hidden in the darkness behind the crack in the door, making it impossible to see the whole picture. But from that fleeting glimpse of a look, and from the aura of pain and resentment emanating from the wooden house that was so out of place with the surrounding "happy" energy field, Wang Lin instantly knew that this was the "anomaly" they were looking for.
However, just as the three (Wang Lin, Chu Xuan, and Zhan Lan) stopped, preparing to quickly exchange countermeasures within the matrix and maintain the standard "friendly visitor" smiles on their faces, a rhythmic, crisp sound, like wooden clogs tapping on cobblestones, suddenly came from the end of the street.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
It was neither too fast nor too slow, as precise as a metronome.
A figure appeared at the street corner. He wore a crisp black uniform, white gloves, and carried a gleaming black cane. His face bore the same standard, perfectly curved smile, but his eyes were devoid of warmth, like two cold glass beads, indifferently scanning the street. He also wore a silver badge on his chest, but the emblem on it was a crossed key and lock.
A rule-follower! And at this sensitive moment, in this sensitive place!
The eyes behind the crack in the door receded abruptly the moment the Ruler appeared, and the crack closed silently, as if it had never been opened. The faint, unusual mental fluctuations, like a startled snail, quickly retreated into the depths of the cabin, becoming almost imperceptible.
The Ruler strode towards them with precise steps. His gaze first swept over the dilapidated wooden house, his eyes devoid of emotion, only displaying a cold assessment. Then, his gaze shifted to Wang Lin and his two companions, his smile widening slightly, yet becoming even more chilling.
"Good afternoon, guests who have traveled from afar." The Ruler's voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable, metallic quality. "The afternoon in Sweet Dream Town is so beautiful, perfect for a stroll. But please be careful not to go near those... less-than-'tidy' areas, lest it spoil your mood. The Fairy Godmother wishes every guest to enjoy the purest pleasure."
His words were less a reminder and more a warning. His cold eyes seemed to see through the probing beneath the smiles they maintained.
"Of course, thank you for reminding me." Chu Xuan's smile was flawless, his tone carrying just the right amount of gratitude and a hint of lingering fear. "We were just attracted by these beautiful houses and unknowingly ended up here. This house does look... somewhat different. Did something happen?"
The rule-maker's smile remained unchanged: "They're just some... corners that refused to embrace happiness, ultimately forgotten by it. It doesn't matter. Guests, please focus on the upcoming ball; that's the real excitement to look forward to. Would you like me to escort you all back to the Marigold House?"
"No need to trouble yourself, we can go back on our own. Thank you again for the reminder." Wang Lin smiled and sent a warning message to Zheng Zha's team and the remaining personnel through the mental matrix, and shared the image and energy readings of the Guardian.
The guard bowed slightly, then ignored them and continued walking along the street with his precise steps, as if it were just a routine patrol. But as he left, his gaze seemed to linger on the dilapidated wooden house for half a second.
Only when the footsteps of the rule-follower completely disappeared at the other end of the street did the three of them slowly breathe a sigh of relief, but their vigilance was at its highest.
"His timing was too perfect," Zhan Lan whispered in the matrix, her back already soaked with cold sweat. "It's like he's monitoring us, or rather, 'protecting' that cabin from being touched."
"The people in the cabin, according to the 'Law of Happiness,' are 'lesions' or 'warnings' that must be isolated and monitored, but cannot be completely eliminated (or temporarily) for some reason," Chu Xuan quickly analyzed. "The energy readings of the Ruler indicate that he is not a living person, but a highly regulated energy construct, a tool for executing the 'Law.' His combat power is unknown, but it is not advisable to easily clash with him before mastering the rules."
"Let's go back first and discuss this further. Has Zheng Zha found anything?" Wang Lin asked. The three of them turned around and walked back in a relaxed manner.
"We've found something, very strange." Zheng Zha's voice echoed in the matrix, accompanied by the faint sound of wind and a faint sobbing from the distant forest. "We didn't dare get too close to the edge of the forest, but we observed it with binoculars and a high-powered scope. The trees in the forest... are alive, but not plant-like. The trunks are twisted like tormented human bodies, and there are faint patterns resembling human faces on the bark. On the ground at the edge of the forest, there are drag marks, and... some scattered pieces that look like fragments of clothing and... dried dark red stains. The energy readings are chaotic and violent, clashing fiercely with the 'beautiful' force field in the town. Also, on a dead tree at the edge of the forest, we found a tattered rag doll hanging with a rope. The doll was torn to shreds, and a crying expression was drawn on its face with blood (?). It feels very bad."
"A rag doll...it might be a mark, or a remnant of some kind of ritual," Chu Xuan pondered. "Overlord, what about your side?"
"The house is spotless, almost too spotless." The tyrant's voice was irritated. "There isn't even a single book with writing on it. All the furniture is new, without any signs of use. But in the ashes of the fireplace (the ashes of a fake fire), I found a small, unburnt piece of paper with a blurry pattern on it, like... a mouse? Or some other small animal? I can't make it out."
A mouse? In fairy tales, mice are Cinderella's friends...
"Let's gather the information first. Let's go back to the cabin," Wang Lin said.
Everyone returned to the "Calendula House." They closed the door and activated the weak but effective barrier set up by Zhan Lan to block ordinary external spiritual prying eyes. Inside the wooden house, the cloying floral fragrance and false warmth now only created a sense of oppression.
Chu Xuan quickly input the collected information into the terminal and began modeling and analysis. Wang Lin, on the other hand, focused his mind, attempting to use his psionic vision and mental matrix to perceive the wooden house more deeply. Since the exterior was a "stage setting," could this house, which had been assigned to them, also hide something?
His mental energy flowed like water, seeping into the walls, floors, and furniture. Most areas only retained the viscous, pinkish residue of his mental energy field. However, when he focused his senses on the back of the wallpaper in an empty bedroom on the second floor, his movements suddenly froze.
"There's something here," he whispered.
Everyone immediately followed him upstairs. The wallpaper in that bedroom was a small pink floral pattern, consistent with the sweet style of the whole house. Wang Lin gestured to Lingdian and Li Shuaixi, and they carefully used tools to peel back a corner of the wallpaper without damaging it (to avoid triggering the rules).
Beneath the wallpaper, where the wooden paneling should have been, words were scribbled! They weren't carved with tools; it looked more like they were dug out, repeatedly and deeply, with a fingernail or some other sharp object. The handwriting was crooked, trembling, and filled with despair and madness:
"It's all fake! The laughter is fake! The flowers are fake! The happiness is fake!"
"Don't go to the dance! Don't get chosen!"
"They...all went to the castle...and never came back..."
"Mouse...pumpkin...shoes...help..."
"My godmother...is watching..."
"Forest...only forest..."
The writing stopped abruptly there, the last few characters almost illegible, the strokes deeply embedded in the wood, with dried, dark brown stains, like...bloodstains.
"These were left by the 'guests' who previously stayed here." Chu Xuan stared at the writing, his eyes sharp. "'They all went to the castle and never came back,' confirming that the ball's selection process was essentially a sacrifice or devouring. 'Mice, pumpkins, and shoes' are elements of the Cinderella story, but here they're a distress signal? 'The godmother's eyes are watching,' indicating that the fairy godmother's surveillance is omnipresent. 'Only the forest'... The forest might be the only way out, or perhaps, another form of death trap."
"What happened to the person who left that message?" Zhan Lan asked, her face pale.
"Either they were 'dealt with,' or... they became 'rule-breakers,' or they went into the forest," Zheng Zha said in a deep voice.
"The message mentioned rats." Wang Lin looked at the charred piece of paper in Chu Xuan's hand. "And the piece of paper we found... rats are one of the key clues. Cinderella's friend is a rat. In this twisted world, rats could represent 'rebels,' 'helpers,' or... 'those in the know.'"
"We need to find the 'rat,'" Chu Xuan concluded, "whether symbolic or real. Clues might point to that dilapidated wooden hut, or they might be hidden elsewhere in town. But directly contacting the hut is too risky; it's being monitored by the Guardians."
"Perhaps... we can start with the story of Cinderella itself," Wang Lin pondered. "The mayor and the law both define Cinderella as a negative example. But in the original story, she was abused by her stepmother and stepsisters. In this distorted version, what about the 'stepmother' and 'stepsisters'? Are they still living 'happily' in this town? If we find them, we might be able to get some information out of them. Moreover, they might not be under close surveillance like the people in the dilapidated wooden house. After all, they are 'positive examples' of 'obeying the law to achieve happiness.'"
"That makes sense." Chu Xuan nodded. "According to fairy tale logic, Cinderella's 'home' should still be in town. We can try to find out which 'happy and fulfilling' families are in town, especially those with 'two proud daughters,' without mentioning Cinderella. This fits our identity as 'curious outsiders.'"
The plan was adjusted again. The next day, everyone split up. Wang Lin, Chu Xuan, and Zhan Lan continued to play the role of curious guests, "accidentally" meeting several elderly townspeople who seemed to have lived there for a long time, subtly inquiring about the town's "enviable families" through casual conversation. Zheng Zha's group continued to remotely monitor the edge of the forest and the dilapidated wooden house. Ba Wang and the others stayed behind, trying to find clues from other details of the house.
The process was not smooth. The townspeople responded enthusiastically to the topic of "family happiness," but their comments were all the same, full of praise for the "fairy godmother's blessings" and the "prince's benevolence," while specific family details remained vague. That is, until they "chancely encountered" an old man who called himself "Old Gardener Hans" and was slowly pruning the ever-perfect flower branches in the park.
Hans looked older than the other townspeople. His smile was still the same, but there seemed to be a hint of gloom and weariness in the depths of his eyes, unlike the pure emptiness of the other townspeople. When Wang Lin "unintentionally" praised the beauty of the town and mentioned that "I heard some families are particularly enviable, such as those with beautiful and well-behaved daughters," Hans paused almost imperceptibly for half a second while pruning the flower branches.
"Oh, you mean Mrs. Trent and her family?" Hans's voice was slow and slurred, typical of an old man. "Their two daughters, Dusura and Antasia, are indeed the most outstanding girls in town, always the center of attention at every ball. Their house is on the corner of White Lily Street, the biggest one with the blue shutters. Mrs. Trent is also a kind lady, ever since her husband… well, anyway, the fairy godmother has been watching over them."
He referred to "Mrs. Trent" instead of "stepmother." He mentioned "husband," with a subtle, almost imperceptible change in his tone. Moreover, he gave a specific address.
"Thank you, Mr. Hans. Hearing you say that makes me really admire it." Wang Lin thanked him with a smile, exchanging a glance with Chu Xuan.
A large house with blue shutters at the corner of White Lily Street. This is very likely the home of Cinderella's "stepmother".
"Go and pay a visit to this 'kind lady'," Chu Xuan said in the matrix. "Prepare a gift that matches her status as a 'guest looking forward to the ball.' Be careful, as they are beneficiaries of the 'Law of Happiness,' so be extra cautious in your conversation."
With their remaining silver coins, they bought a basket of more expensive and exquisite (but equally distorted) candies and a bottle of fruit wine labeled "Special Supply for the Fairy Godmother" as gifts from the town's always well-stocked general store, where the shopkeeper always had a standard smile.
Arriving at the corner of White Lily Street, the three-story building with its striking sky-blue shutters and beautiful little garden is indeed more impressive than the other houses in town, and the flowers in the garden are larger and more vibrant. However, that excessive perfection is consistent with the style of the entire town.
The doorbell rang, and a moment later, the door opened. A middle-aged woman appeared in the doorway, dressed in an expensive but old-fashioned long dress, her hair meticulously combed, her face stern, and her eyes sharp. She wore a smile, but it seemed measured by a ruler, filled with scrutiny and a condescending sense of superiority. It was "Mrs. Trent."
"Good afternoon, Madam. We are guests who have come to Sweet Dream Town for the ball. We have long admired your and the two young ladies' reputations and have come to pay our respects. This is just a small gift, nothing more." Chu Xuan stepped forward, his tone respectful but not obsequious, and handed over the gift.
Mrs. Trent's gaze swept over them, lingering for a moment on Zhan Lan before settling on the gifts. Her smile seemed a little more genuine (or perhaps it was just an illusion). "Oh, guests from afar, please come in. The Fairy Godmother is always so generous, guiding kind people to meet."
The living room was lavishly decorated, yet it possessed a cold, showroom-like sophistication. Above the fireplace hung a large portrait of Mrs. Trent and two young women, all three sporting standard smiles and dressed in opulent attire, with a corner of the castle in the background. The two young women were strikingly beautiful, but their eyes were vacant, indistinguishable from the rest of the town, except for their more extravagant clothing and jewelry.
“These are my daughters, Dusura and Antasia,” Mrs. Trent introduced, her tone brimming with undisguised pride. “They are the pride of Sweet Dreams, regulars at His Highness’s balls, and his strongest contenders.” She glanced at Zhan Lan, adding meaningfully, “Balconies are a time to display ladylike manners and win glory. Some arrogant and presumptuous lowly people who try to climb the social ladder will only bring shame upon themselves, just like… that long-forgotten name.”
She did indeed bring up "Cinderella," though she replaced it with "the forgotten name," but the contempt and disgust were almost palpable.
"Madam is right," Wang Lin echoed, a look of "learned understanding" on his face. "True happiness belongs only to those who deserve it. We are new here and not very familiar with the ball's traditions. We wonder if there were any special interesting stories or rules at the balls in previous years? We can prepare in advance to avoid being impolite."
Mrs. Trent seemed to enjoy this "guidance," picking up the brightly colored tea (which exuded a sweet, floral aroma) brought by a servant, and said slowly and deliberately, "At balls, the most important things are manners, talent, and devotion to His Highness the Prince and to His Fairy Godmother. Your attire must be magnificent, your smile sweet, and your heart pure. Those who harbor resentment, behave rudely, or… try to attract attention through improper means," she paused again meaningfully, "will be asked to leave by the ruleskeepers, and even punished. Last year, there was a girl who didn't know the rules, who made a huge fuss over a stain on her dress, crying and making a scene, and as a result… well, she never appeared at another ball again. So remember, maintain perfection, maintain a smile, that's the most important rule."
Her words reaffirmed the cruel selection process inherent in the ball. "Punishment" and "disappearance" were the main themes hidden beneath the glamorous music.
"I heard that there used to be another... member in Madam's household?" Chu Xuan suddenly spoke, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather. "I seem to recall the old gardener Hans mentioning that this house used to be more lively?"
Mrs. Trent's hand, holding the teacup, suddenly froze. The standard smile on her face instantly turned to ice, her eyes becoming extremely sharp, even carrying a hint of offended anger, but she quickly suppressed it and put her perfect mask back on.
"Hans? That senile old man." Her voice turned cold. "It's best if guests don't listen to the gossip of irrelevant people. This house has always belonged to just me and my two daughters. Our fairy godmother has witnessed our family's happiness and harmony. Mentioning those non-existent or unfounded people and things will only tarnish this beauty. If guests have no further questions about the ball, I have some household chores to attend to."
This is a blatant order to leave. Moreover, her reaction was so intense, even tinged with fear (fear of mentioning "non-existent people"), which precisely demonstrates that "Cinderella" is real, and that she is a scar they are desperately trying to cover up, or perhaps even a result of their involvement in the persecution.
"Of course, I apologize for bringing up such an unpleasant topic. Thank you for your hospitality and guidance, Madam." Chu Xuan readily rose to take his leave. Wang Lin and Zhan Lan followed immediately.
Leaving the house with blue shutters and walking on the still "beautiful" street, the three of them quickly communicated within the mental matrix.
"She was afraid. Not afraid of Cinderella herself, but afraid of the possible consequences of 'mentioning this matter'," Zhan Lan analyzed. "This suggests that concealing Cinderella's existence is likely part of the 'law of happiness,' or the will of the fairy godmother. Mrs. Trent's family are accomplices, and also the ones being monitored."
"Old gardener Hans seems to know a bit more than the average town resident, and he's not quite... 'standard'," Wang Lin said. "He might be the next breakthrough point. But we need to be more cautious."
"The ball will begin in a day and a half," Chu Xuan calculated the time. "Our current clues are: the dilapidated cabin (possibly connected to Cinderella or someone in the know), the forest (a possible escape route or place of exile), the rats (a key symbol or entity), and the unusual reaction of Mrs. Trent's family. But all of these are closely monitored by those who follow the rules and regulations. Directly breaking through is extremely risky."
"Perhaps... we can use the rules themselves?" A thought suddenly flashed through Wang Lin's mind. "The 'Law of Happiness' requires maintaining a smile, having good intentions, and following the rules. But what if the 'role' we play is one of genuine, 'goodwill,' wanting to 'help' someone who 'seems unhappy'? For example, could we approach Mrs. Trent's daughters under the pretense of 'potentially becoming dance partners and wanting to get to know each other better and build friendship'? Or, could we approach the old gardener Hans under the pretense of 'appreciating gardening and wanting to ask for his advice'? Without directly mentioning taboo topics, perhaps we could extract more information, or even... find a reasonable excuse to approach the dilapidated cabin?"
"Using the surface logic of the rules to achieve the real purpose..." Data streams flickered in Chu Xuan's eyes. "Feasible. But it requires extremely precise performance and rhetoric, without the slightest hint of 'questioning' or 'negative' emotion. Moreover, the choice of target is crucial. Mrs. Trent's daughters are closely watched and may be completely brainwashed. Old gardener Hans is older, so the mind control may be somewhat loosened, and the nature of his work gives him more opportunities for 'solitude' and observation, making the risk relatively lower and the potential reward higher."
"Let's start with Hans. Tomorrow, the day before the ball, is our last chance," Wang Lin decided.
However, plans can't keep up with changes.
That very night, just as darkness fell (night comes exceptionally early in Sweet Dream Town, as if an invisible hand has drawn a curtain), everyone gathered in the living room on the first floor of the "Marigold House" to share the limited discoveries of their respective groups during the day and discuss plans for the next day, when a sudden, muffled bell rang out from the direction of the town center.
Clang—clang—clang—
The bell wasn't loud, but it had a peculiar penetrating power, as if striking directly at the soul, instantly suppressing the cloying fragrance of flowers and the false tranquility outside the window.
"It's the clock tower in the town center square!" Evelyn exclaimed, impressed by the fairytale-like architecture of the town.
"There's no clock there during the day," Zero said coldly.
The bell struck nine times and then stopped.
Immediately afterwards, a grand, gentle, yet undeniably authoritative female voice resounded directly in everyone's hearts, even piercing through the faint mental barrier erected by Zhan Lan:
"Children of Sweet Dream Town, may you sleep peacefully tonight and have sweet dreams."
"When the sunset fades tomorrow, His Highness's ball will begin in grand style at the castle."
"All ladies who have received this invitation, please dress up and attend with the best of hopes."
"The Fairy Godmother will personally witness the arrival of happiness and glory."
May smiles last forever, and may beauty endure.
It's the voice of the "Fairy Godmother"! This voice seems to have a magical power, making those who hear it feel drowsy and relaxed, as if all worries and vigilance are unnecessary.
However, with the support of their mental connection and Wang Lin's mental matrix, the members of the Central Continent Team instantly became alert and resisted the hypnotic voice.
"The ball time is set for tomorrow night," Zheng Zha said in a deep voice.
"The Fairy Godmother directly transmitted her voice throughout the town... This is the final announcement, as well as the final 'appeasement' and 'urging'," Chu Xuan analyzed. "Tomorrow during the day will be the final preparation time, and it may also be... the time when the rules are most strictly monitored, or the time when certain 'rituals' are prepared to begin."
As soon as he finished speaking, at the edge of the mental matrix, Wang Lin suddenly sensed an extremely strong and chaotic mental fluctuation erupting! The direction was—that dilapidated wooden house!
Immediately following was a woman's scream, suppressed to the extreme yet still heart-wrenching, filled with endless pain and despair, coming from the direction of the wooden house! Although it lasted only a moment before being forcibly cut off by an invisible force, the horrific sound contained within it was enough to send chills down the spines of anyone who heard it.
"It's a dilapidated wooden hut!" Wang Lin suddenly stood up.
Almost simultaneously, the precise, cold footsteps of the Guardians, as if they had been waiting for a long time, quickly rose from the street not far away, converging towards the dilapidated wooden house! Not just one! At least four or five!
"Something's happened!" Zhan Lan's face turned deathly pale.
"Is it part of a ritual? Or... a 'cleansing'?" Li Shuaixi gripped the knife tightly.
"Wang Lin, can you sense the specific situation?" Zheng Zha asked urgently.
Wang Lin focused all his psionic vision and mental matrix perception on the direction of the dilapidated wooden hut. There, the hut was tightly bound and sealed by several pink, solid, chain-like mental energy fields! The hut's own gray-black energy field of pain was fluctuating violently, resisting, but steadily retreating. Inside the hut, the faint, unyielding spark of spirit flickered wildly like a candle in the wind, as if it might be extinguished at any moment. Even more chilling was a powerful, cold will filled with greedy assessment—of the same origin as the "eyes" from the direction of the castle, but clearer—descending upon the hut through those pink chains, as if scrutinizing, as if...tasting that pain and despair.
"The people inside the wooden house... are being forcibly suppressed by the power of 'Laws,' and they might be taken away!" Wang Lin hissed. "The will of that 'Fairy Godmother' is watching this place!"
"Shall we go?" Ba Wang asked, looking at Zheng Zha and Wang Lin.
Going means potentially clashing directly with the will of the "Ruler" and the "Fairy Godmother," and the risks are immeasurable without a full understanding of the rules. Not going means that the person who might be Cinderella or the only key person in the know could disappear, and the trail could be completely cut off.
Chu Xuan's eyes flashed with a frantic calculation of data. The next second, he abruptly looked up: "Go! But not force your way in! Wang Lin, use the mental matrix to simulate the collective mental fluctuations of 'guests disturbed by the Fairy Godmother's telepathic message and the screams from the wooden house, curiously venturing out to investigate.' They must display a moderate level of 'worry' and 'confusion,' but it must be 'consistent with their status as well-intentioned guests! Zheng Zha, you, me, Wang Lin, and Zhan Lan—the four of us 'representatives' will go out to investigate. The rest of you stay inside, ready to provide support and prepare for battle! Remember, our 'purpose' is 'out of goodwill, out of concern for our neighbors, and to investigate the anomaly.' Absolutely do not show any aggression or intent to uncover the truth! Wear 'concern' and 'following the rules' on your sleeves!"
This is dancing on a knife's edge! It's using the rules' superficial recognition of "goodwill" and "following the rules" to cross the line into forbidden areas!
There was no time to hesitate. Wang Lin immediately activated his mental matrix, enveloping the mental fluctuations of himself, Zheng Zha, Chu Xuan, and Zhan Lan in a shell of "well-meaning guests concerned for their neighbors," while simultaneously suppressing his true vigilance and killing intent. The four quickly pushed open the wooden hut door, their faces displaying just the right amount of surprise, worry, and a hint of drowsiness from being "awakened," and hurried towards the dilapidated hut.
On the streets, a few townspeople had already been awakened (or rather, forcibly awakened). They stood at their doorsteps, their faces still bearing the standard smiles, but those smiles appeared particularly eerie and numb under the cover of night and the faint energy fluctuations in the distance. They watched the four members of the Central Continent Team run past, their eyes empty, neither asking questions nor stopping them.
The scene in front of the dilapidated wooden house was chilling.
Four expressionless guardians in black uniforms stood at the four corners of the cabin, their short black staffs planted in the ground, the tips emitting a pink glow that connected to form a net of light, completely sealing off the cabin. The cabin's doors and windows were tightly shut, but from inside came violent crashing sounds, the cracking of objects, and a guttural growl, like that of a wild beast being choked.
The dark gray energy field of pain emanating from the wooden cabin, suppressed by the pink light net, churned violently like boiling oil, yet could not break through. That cold, greedy will, like invisible tentacles, lingered outside the light net, as if enjoying the dying struggle of its prey.
"Oh dear, what happened?" Chu Xuan was the first to arrive, his face showing "concern" and "confusion." He loudly asked the nearest rule-follower, his tone befitting a "helpful guest alarmed by something unusual," "We heard screams and strange noises, and we were worried something had happened, so we came to check. Do you need any help? May the Fairy Godmother protect us, and hopefully no one is hurt."
The rule-follower's cold, glassy eyes turned to Chu Xuan, his standard smile unchanged: "Unrelated guest, please leave. There is a violator resisting 'Happiness Guidance' here, and the rule-follower is performing a purification procedure. To ensure everyone's mood is not affected, please return to your residence immediately. Going out at night violates Article 3 of the 'Happiness Law'."
His voice was icy, carrying an undeniable air of expulsion. At the same time, the other three guardians turned their heads slightly, their cold gazes locking onto the group. The pink light seemed to intensify, and the sounds of impact and groans inside the wooden house suddenly increased, filled with extreme pain.
Wang Lin could sense that the faint spark of spiritual energy inside the wooden house was fading at an alarming rate! No! If this dragged on any longer, there would be nothing left!
He took a sudden step forward, his face displaying an even more "anxious" and "kind" expression. He even activated his mental matrix, amplifying a trace of "sincere concern" and conveying it through his words: "But...we hear they seem to be in great pain inside! The Fairy Godmother teaches us to be kind! Even those who break the rules should receive...shouldn't they receive the help and guidance they deserve? We're very worried. Could you...let us know if the people inside are safe? Or, could you help us persuade them? We are all devout followers of the Fairy Godmother and just want to help!"
He deliberately piled up positive words that conform to the "law of happiness," such as "kindness," "help," "persuasion," and "believer," in an attempt to gain a chance of contact within the cracks of the rules.
The leader of the rule-followers seemed to pause for a moment, taken aback by the "sincere" goodwill in Wang Lin's words (albeit simulated) and the rule-compliant wording. His cold, glassy eyes lingered on Wang Lin's face for a few seconds, as if judging the authenticity of this "goodwill."
Just as the stalemate reached its climax, and the flame of life within the wooden cabin was about to be extinguished—
Suddenly, from the inside, an overwhelming force slammed open the crooked wooden door of the cabin, creating an even larger gap!
A withered, dirty arm, covered with old and new scars and stains, suddenly stretched out from the crack in the door, its five fingers gripping the door frame tightly! The fingernails cracked from the force, oozing dark red blood.
Then, half a figure struggled to squeeze through the crack in the door. It was a woman, perhaps once young, but now ravaged by suffering beyond recognition. Her hair was dry and tangled, obscuring most of her face, the exposed skin a sickly pale, covered in grime and tear stains. She wore a tattered, almost unrecognizable coarse cloth dress, and was barefoot, her feet covered in mud and… a dark red substance that looked like dried blood.
But what was most unsettling were her eyes. The same eyes that had been behind the crack in the door during the day, now, in the throes of extreme pain and a desperate, almost final burst of light, shone with an astonishing brilliance. She stared intently, using her last ounce of strength, at Wang Lin and his companions not far away, her gaze especially fixed on Wang Lin—perhaps because of his earlier "kind" words, or perhaps because of the more "real" mental fluctuations emanating from his mental matrix, so different from the surrounding pink field.
Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but only broken breaths came from her throat.
Then, her gaze abruptly shifted to her bloodied hand, which was gripping the doorframe. With her last ounce of strength, she pressed her thumb hard against an inconspicuous, slightly darker grain of the wood on the doorframe!
hum!
A faint, yet remarkably clear, grayish-black light flashed and disappeared from where her thumb had pressed! At the same time, a tiny, cold object, rusty and faintly bloody, was propelled by an invisible force, tracing an inconspicuous arc, passing through a tiny gap in the Guardian's light net (because her struggle and self-harm caused the light net to fluctuate momentarily), and landing precisely on the cobblestone ground less than half a meter in front of Wang Lin's feet.
It was a... rusty, antique-looking brass key? No, it was more like a... small, mouse-shaped metal pendant, only the size of a fingernail, crudely made, but with two extremely tiny, dull red crystal fragments embedded in the mouse's eyes.
Having done all this, the indomitable flame in the woman's eyes, like a candle that had burned out, suddenly went out. Her entire aura instantly weakened, her arms fell limply to her sides, and her body was abruptly pulled back by an invisible force from inside the door, which slammed shut with a bang.
The pink light net instantly closed, completely sealing off the wooden house. The sounds of impact and struggle inside abruptly ceased. That cold, greedy will, seemingly having "savored" enough, slowly receded with a lingering sense of satisfaction (?).
The four Guardians seemed to have completed their mission, simultaneously retrieving their black short staffs. The pink light net disappeared. The leading Guardian turned back to Wang Lin and his companions, his face still bearing the standard smile, as if the breathtaking scene from just moments ago had never occurred.
"The violators have been purified and will soon undergo deep 'happiness guidance.' The crisis is over. Please return to your accommodations immediately and do not linger. Thank you again for your 'kindness.'" His tone was flat, but the word "kindness" seemed to be emphasized slightly.
Wang Lin's heart was pounding, but he forced himself to control his expression, his face showing a complex mix of relief and regret for the rule-breaker. He nodded: "That's good... I hope she can wake up soon and find happiness again. We'll head back now."
He bent down, as if casually brushing the dust off his shoes, his fingers gliding effortlessly across the ground, and grasped the small, cold mouse pendant in his palm. The movement was natural and fluid, attracting no attention from the rule-follower.
The four turned around and, under the cold "gaze" of the rule-maker and the indifferent gazes of the townspeople with their standard smiles, quickly returned to the "House of Marigolds".
He closed the door and activated the barrier. Wang Lin opened his palm, and there lay the small, rusty metal pendant with the dim red glow of a rat's eyes, its surface cold to the touch, yet seemingly carrying the last warmth and resolute determination of that nameless woman.
Within the mental matrix, there was a deathly silence. Everyone stared at the small pendant.
"She...gambled her last hope on us." Zhan Lan's voice was choked with sobs.
"A rat pendant..." Chu Xuan's eyes were sharp as knives. "This is the clue. Cinderella's 'friend.' And also the 'key' she left us."
Wang Lin gripped the pendant tightly, feeling the faint yet tenacious fluctuations within it, which shared the same source of pain energy as the wooden house, and slowly raised his head:
"The ball starts tomorrow night. We don't have much time. We need to figure out what this 'key' can unlock."