Rules-related weird stories: 4016

"Perhaps... perhaps he has some unspeakable difficulties?" Lin Yi weakly guessed.

"Who knows?" The convenience store owner - 003 shrugged. "He's the type to occasionally screw things up, usually very steady, but when he does mess up, it's a big one..."

Speaking of which, a cloud of gloom lingered between the convenience store owner - 003's brows, impossible to dispel.

"It's useless telling you so much, you're leaving soon anyway. Just do what you need to do."

He sighed softly and patted Lin Yi's shoulder.

Lin Yi opened his mouth, but he didn't feel right butting in on high-level personnel's complaints. Asking about the situation was already the limit; saying more would seem presumptuous.

But speaking of the art building, Lin Yi couldn't help but ask, "By the way, the open areas inside the art building don't seem to be that many. Why not just tear down the signs? And the paint job isn't even thorough."

The convenience store owner - 003 glanced at him, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Such a simple question, why don't you think about it some more?"

« Hmm...? » Lin Yi paused, considering it in the convenience store owner - 003's tone. "The reason for not tearing them down is because they're still guiding people... Painting them over is because they don't want people to go there, but not painting them cleanly is to allow people to see them clearly..."

He suddenly had a flash of insight: "For 'screening'? !"

The convenience store owner - 003 smiled.

"You've realized it."

But Lin Yi's heart couldn't calm down for a long time: "Denying something vehemently... is it to encourage exploration? The partial regulations on the rules are also like that, right?!"

"Using people's curiosity to achieve the purpose of screening?!"

The convenience store owner - 003 said calmly, "You've finally thought of this link."

Lin Yi gasped. So, the Student Handbook inherently has a guiding effect...? !

For those restless explorers who want to explore the secrets of the campus, it is a code of conduct!

Having nothing, is having something!

Don't do something, is being able to do something!

And the means to cover the bottom line for this is the last article of the rules—

[Please pay attention to your physical health. If you experience symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, or nausea during your time on campus, please find the dormitory administrator or homeroom teacher before nightfall. They will take you to the infirmary, and the school doctor will take you to the school gate. After seeing the blue school bus (note that it is a blue school bus, please ignore other colors), get on the bus immediately, and the driver will take you out of the campus and end your experience.]

Once problems arise during exploration, the screening process begins immediately. Those who can switch to physical education will switch to physical education, those who can switch to art will switch to art, and those who are hopeless but can be saved will be arranged to leave the campus on the blue bus, while those who cannot be saved can only accept their fate.

This is why the homeroom teacher can make decisions for the physical education students, but the rules still arrange for a school doctor!

Because the school doctor gives the final judgment!

And there are many types of experiential learners themselves. For those who are dead set on living a numb life, the rules are the rules in the literal sense. But for those who are restless, the rules are a guide to action plus a bottom-line solution—of course, even with a bottom-line solution, it won't help those who overestimate their capabilities.

But no matter what, this achieves the purpose of "screening."

Why is it that even at this time, so much interpretation can still be made from the Student Handbook itself?

No wonder there are so many rules on campus. I didn't expect the official layout to be so detailed, and the gold content of many details is constantly rising.

Lin Yi pondered, "You mean... I can go to the observatory?"

The convenience store owner - 003 said like a swindler, acting like an old fortune teller, "When you feel you can go, you can go."

He pointed to Lin Yi's chest, "Whether to go or not, listen to your heart."

"Ah? Listen to my heart... Don't listen to the rules?" Lin Yi was stunned.

"If you are determined to go, the rules can't stop you," the convenience store owner - 003 said. "Moreover, the rules themselves are not a shackle, but a protection. But when you are outside the scope of protection that the rules can provide, blindly following them becomes foolish."

"Whether the rules apply depends on your own... 'position'."

"Moreover, the rules are like textbooks. For some people, like you, you should use the rules to understand the laws of the campus itself..."

The convenience store owner - 003 suddenly paused, bringing the topic to an abrupt end.

This hasty pause gave Lin Yi a strange feeling, similar to the factors mentioned when discussing with Tian Bufan. Could the convenience store owner - 003 also be a part of that plan that "he" doesn't know about?

But who could communicate with the convenience store owner?

No one has been to the convenience store...

Could it be... Liangzi?

Apart from Liangzi, no one in the entire dormitory has been to the convenience store, and Liangzi came during the last enrollment.

In Wei Liang's description of the "last two days spent drowsily in the dormitory," he seemed to have made quite a stir...

Lin Yi originally thought that so many pseudo-Wei Liangs were already invincible, but what kind of underworld operation is messing up the convenience store?

The most annoying thing is that the convenience store owner - 003 hasn't caught Wei Liang yet...

The corner of the convenience store owner - 003's eye twitched unconsciously, seemingly realizing that his tone seemed too "familiar," not the way it should be for a first meeting. So, he coughed dryly and said, "Is there anything else you want to ask... It's best not to ask about the situation on the art building side."

Lin Yi pursed his lips. He originally wanted to ask more details about the art building, but seeing the convenience store owner - 003 directly cut him off, he had to grit his teeth and ask bravely, "Can I ask one more question related to the art building...?"

"Ask away."

"Since you can infiltrate the layers to the art building, doesn't that mean you can participate in the battle over there at any time? Then, since you can bring a small part of the 'angel' back to the convenience store, why didn't you bring back Lao Mo's heart yourself and make me go through all that trouble?"

"Is that one question?" The convenience store owner - 003 glanced at him sideways. "I haven't answered one, and I have to give one away, right?"

Lin Yi shrank his head sheepishly. "It can be said in one sentence, just treat it as one..."

"Considering your thirst for knowledge, I'll reluctantly tell you," the convenience store owner said. "First, I can't easily and accurately infiltrate. I left secret patterns on Lao Mo's heart and bag. Combining them at a critical moment can give me real-time coordinate positioning."

"And that kind of secret pattern is not a kind that can exist permanently. Even if it is engraved in advance, it will not be effective after a long time. In addition, the location of the clock tower is affected by the 'angel's' domain, and the layer interference is extremely serious, so it is impossible to infiltrate easily... so I can't leave secret patterns on the clock tower side either."

"Even the 'first apostles' only a few possess the ability to inscribe permanent secret patterns."

“Otherwise, the top combat power could rely on secret纹 to infiltrate at will, and the safety level of the campus would be improved by many levels.”

“You're being too naive about the battlefield.”

Lin Yi pursed his lips, but also felt ashamed for bringing up this question: “So, the only way to support the Arts Building is for the main body to go there?”

“That's right, and that's exactly what the sports students are doing.”

“The principal has already gone there, so I must stay in the campus to prevent accidents.”

“What about the security guards? Aren't they enough to protect the campus?” Lin Yi asked.

The convenience store owner-003 shook his head slightly: “On a battlefield, it's not enough to have generals charging into battle; there must be a commander-in-chief guarding the rear. Besides, you don't think protecting the campus is just like security guards patrolling, do you?”

“Uh…” Lin Yi was speechless.

The convenience store owner-003 shook his head helplessly: “Stabilizing the layers is the most important thing. You think the battle is only on the physical level, but battles at my level also involve the layer level. You… you might understand later.”

“As for Lao Mo's heart, it can't be compared to the 'Angel's' body. I can't get it back, so I'll give it to you. At the same time, your aura can nourish it.”

“Oh… I see…” Lin Yi said thoughtfully, but nodded.

As he walked, the shopping terminal appeared in front of Lin Yi, and the exit of the convenience store was already in sight.

“Oh, right, I actually have another question about the Arts Building…”

“…” The convenience store owner-003 was suddenly speechless, but Lin Yi went ahead and lifted the sleeve of his left arm, showing the convenience store owner-003 the forearm that had been branded with secret纹 by the Law-Making Master.

“Boss, my hand… seems to have been engraved with some kind of secret纹 by the 'Law-Making Master'.” Lin Yi said weakly.

The convenience store owner-003 had mentioned the 'First Apostle' several times, so Lin Yi didn't hesitate to say the name. Besides, with the convenience store owner-003's level, he should be able to talk about it freely, right?

The convenience store owner-003: “…”

The most ⊥ new ⊥ small ⊥ say ⊥ in ⊥ six ⊥ 9 ⊥⊥ book ⊥⊥ bar ⊥⊥ first ⊥ hair!

His usually calm face showed a slight, almost imperceptible, tension: “When was it engraved?”

He didn't know about this.

Lin Yi observed his expression and realized that something was wrong: “When I left the gallery.”

“The gallery…” The convenience store owner-003 pondered, “The layer location of the 'Quartermaster' overlaps with the gallery… but the 'Law-Making Master' was 'exiled by time'. How did she target you?”

“It doesn't make sense…”

Lin Yi frowned. Hearing the words “It doesn't make sense” from the convenience store owner-003 was like having a stroke on the book of life…

“Tell me in detail about the situation at that time, don't miss any details.” The convenience store owner-003 pulled Lin Yi to a stop at the shopping terminal and asked carefully.

Lin Yi immediately realized the seriousness of the matter and quickly described the encounter in detail: “The situation at the time was like this…”

After listening, the convenience store owner-003 couldn't help but stroke his chin and think.

“It seems that the 'Ouroboros Ring' has strengthened your dream-building ability, allowing you to receive the Law-Making Master's scattered 'signals' in the chaotic dimension of time like an enhanced signal receiver… In simple terms, you found an unpopular channel, and then the information stream rushed towards you, drawn by your scent…”

“This secret纹… from your tone, it sounds like the Law-Making Master's saw was branded on you? So that's where that saw came from…”

He remembered the scene of Lin Yi using a hacksaw to break through the encirclement of deformed angels on the stone bridge, but he didn't pay much attention to it at the time. Only now, when Lin Yi mentioned it, did it click.

Lin Yi nodded and said, “Yes…”

The convenience store owner-003 thought for a while and said, “It's best to use this secret纹 as little as possible. The Law-Making Master's things are too evil. Just treat it as a trump card that can only be used when there is no other choice.”

“Okay.” Lin Yi was very willing to listen to advice.

Then, under the watchful eyes of the convenience store owner-003, he stood still for a while.

“Why… aren't you checking out?” The convenience store owner-003 pointed to the shopping terminal.

“Hehe…” Lin Yi smiled embarrassedly, “Didn't we just finish talking about the Arts Building? I still have some campus…”

The convenience store owner-003's face darkened: “You're already at the exit, and you haven't finished asking?”

“I'm eager to learn…”

“Eager to learn my foot. I'll give you one more question, and then get out of here.” The convenience store owner-003 pulled a long face and said seriously.

Lin Yi quickly said, “Okay, okay… I just want to ask, what is the campus like after 0:00?”

“The campus after 0:00…?” The convenience store owner-003 was a little surprised, “Why are you asking this?”

Lin Yi said, “I'm a little curious. I mainly want to know… will the dormitory buildings be turned upside down?”

The convenience store owner-003 narrowed his eyes, as if thinking about something. Finally, he shook his head: “They won't be turned upside down.”

“They won't… Oh, okay.” Lin Yi seemed a little disappointed, so it seemed that there was another explanation for the upside-down dormitory buildings.

“However…” The convenience store owner-003 added, “You can't just look at the surface of things. I can only tell you that the layers of the campus fluctuate violently after 0:00, and the physical rules… may not be absolutely effective.”

“You'll have to feel the rest for yourself.”

“Oh… I understand.” Lin Yi said in a low voice.

He actually didn't understand shit.

He just looked at the convenience store owner-003's dark face and felt more and more like a sinner who had ruined the beautiful time for him to watch movies and appreciate art before going to bed. He felt that if he kept nagging, the convenience store owner-003 would really throw him out.

So he quickly took out three rolls of biscuits and started checking out.

While checking out, he showed the expression of Tie Niu “Ah! I got it!” and slapped his head and said, “Right!”

“…” The corner of the convenience store owner-003's eyes twitched slightly, but seeing that Lin Yi was taking out his student ID to swipe his card, he restrained himself.

Lin Yi quickly said, “Deep in the Green Forest Zone, there is a 'Matrix'. The 'Matrix' can create Furious Angels. Many fanatics are fiddling with something there, which seems to be related to their so-called 'Glorious Evolution'…”

“I know.” The convenience store owner-003 said.

“Ah? Oh… I see…” Lin Yi was a little surprised at first, but he immediately reacted. The convenience store owner-003 was guarding the campus, so how could anything escape his eyes?

So… the convenience store owner-003 completely acquiesced to the fanatics doing things?