Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game

The audience in the studio fell silent.

When they started to watch Xu Beijin's nightmare, and began to pay attention to the various puzzles of this escape puzzle game, they constantly realized that their IQ seemed to be being severely beaten.

This has nothing to do with them, but just because someone knew the answer earlier than them, so they feel extra ashamed.

...But this is not something they can decide!

So the audience resolutely turned to Xu Beijin for help—it would be great if the reasoning master was there. At this time, the reasoning master must be very excited to type his deduction on the public screen, and then other audiences can also pretend to be themselves Already understood.

But Xu Beijin's habit is to keep silent. He is extremely mysterious. As long as the audience doesn't take the initiative to ask, he seldom mentions his analysis and speculation about nightmares and the truth.

So the audience has become accustomed to asking Xu Beijin for help.

After a moment of excitement, Xu Beijin came back to his senses, smiled embarrassedly, and said, "It's actually very simple. Do you know that the feeling of falling can wake people up from a dream?"

"Ah...I know."

"It seems that this method is deliberately used in lucid dreams to escape the dream?"

"Uh, I understand this, but Beibei, what you mean...the so-called falling execution is to escape from the dream? But...isn't this just a nightmare? Can he wake up?"

Xu Bei understood what the audience meant: the so-called "nightmare" of the narrow building, although it is true that the residents in the narrow building fell into a deep sleep and were dreaming, but in fact this is still a "game copy" after all. It is impossible to wake up by falling.

So he said again: "What if we add another clue? Why are the pen and paper in the nightmare written in garbled characters, while other books are also garbled?

"In other nightmares, this kind of situation has never happened. This nightmare is special, but why is it special? Why can't even death make this nightmare restart?"

"I'm in tears... Beibei, please, just reveal the answer directly."

"I decided to admit it, I'm really not a master of reasoning, I can't figure it out..."

Xu Bei couldn't help laughing. He said, "Because this is a dream within a nightmare. This is a dream within a dream."

He didn't care about the crowds of exclamation marks floating across the public screen, and continued to explain: "Actually, the most clear implication is, why do people fall from tall buildings?

"Even if it's a kind of execution, in this kind of doomsday ruins, the use of more straightforward killing methods can have a greater deterrent effect. Why push people off the roof?

"What's even more strange is that as far as the naked eye can see, including the scene behind the fog shown in the previous round of nightmares, there are all ruins. But there is a tall building standing here.

"Indeed, it is crumbling, but this is a game after all. The existence of every scene has its reason."

Xu Beijin paused.

The audience finally realized: "I understand! This is implying that the taskers should also jump off!"

Xu Beijin: "..."

It seems that I can't say that completely... Forget it.

He smiled helplessly: "Almost."

At the same time, not far from the building, Mu Jiashi looked at Fei with piercing eyes: "You were pushed off the roof... How did you feel at that time?"

He also talked about the dream-in-dream guess, but compared to the audience in the live broadcast room who believed in Xu Beijin's speculation, the rest of the taskers were neither indifferent nor cold about his guess.

At the end of the day, they simply can't prove it.

But Mu Jiashi was not in a hurry. He asked Fei this question, which proved that he had some confidence in his heart.

Fei was also startled.

She suddenly discovered that she had even forgotten the fact that she had fallen from the rooftop, but when Mu Jiashi mentioned the feeling of falling from the rooftop...she couldn't help but tremble.

But it wasn't quite fear, or a kind of near-death despair.

That is a kind of...

Fei is undoubtedly a keen person. After thinking for a while, she tried to describe the strange feeling: "I think it is a very... a trance illusion. It's not just the weightlessness of falling from the building, there is also a Kind of...half dreaming and half awake...like waking up from a dream..."

Mu Jia used a precise word to define her feeling: "Is that a feeling of waking up?"

"Wake up..." Fei said hesitantly, "I can't say, but indeed... there is indeed a strange, sudden... I think it might be. Yes... I think your guess has some truth."

"It could be a dream within a dream," she said.

They are actually in a nightmare dream.

They entered a certain nightmare, and the owner of the nightmare was dreaming in the nightmare, so they naturally entered a deeper dream.

But if they want to solve this nightmare, or at least achieve a true ending, they must leave this dream within a dream, go to the outer layer, the real nightmare, and find the owner of that nightmare.

"So what do you think this dream within a dream means?" The collector asked with great interest, "Who is the owner of the nightmare?"

Mu Jiashi hesitated for a moment, and then said: "I can't say that my guess must be correct... I think the owner of the nightmare is the deceased."

"deceased?"

"It's the author of that novel." Some thoughts flashed through Mu Jiashi's mind, "This can explain why the complete version of his novel appeared in the nightmare, and it can also explain why he fell from the roof. His way out of this dream within a dream.

"The reason why both the deceased and the murderer are elusive is also because of the dream in the dream. Maybe after he fell from the roof, he left the dream in the dream and went to the outer nightmare.

"Perhaps, his fall itself was a scene specially arranged by him in order to wake himself up, so the murderer disappeared. The murderer, maybe it was himself...he himself was in this dream An illusory projection in a dream."

What Mu Jiashi said surprised the rest of the taskers, but after careful consideration, they had to admit that what Mu Jiashi said was possible.

"And a dream within a dream..." After thinking for a moment, Mu Jiashi said, "First of all, what happened to the resident of the narrow building may be that he was robbed of food on the ruins of the doomsday, and thus fell into severe hunger.

"So he had a nightmare, dreaming that he returned to the ruins and was robbed of food again. According to the information we have now, the only reason for the nightmare that might make him fear should be this.

"Afterwards, repeating such encounters in nightmares may have made him feel very bored and painful, so he had another dream to comfort himself.

"In the dream, based on the content of the novel he wrote, he made the enemies who robbed him of food repeat the futile process of collecting food day after day.

"Obviously I have enough food, but I keep forgetting and repeating it again and again. I am trapped in such torture and cannot extricate myself. This should be the revenge of this novelist on his enemy.

"The so-called fog is probably a subtle difference between his novel and his dream within a dream.

"In order to maintain suspense in his novel, it should not be revealed directly that the protagonist has lost his memory, and naturally he will not show the warehouse where he keeps the food.

"The fog defines the scope of the plot of the novel, but when we know that this is a novel, or when the plot of the novel comes to an end and the truth is revealed, the fog should naturally dissipate.

"The final plot of the novel should be that the protagonist is starved to death in the torture that he would not want to live. If we don't stop it, this may be a bad ending; if we try to prevent his death, I think it is at most an ordinary ending.

"In the final analysis, the man who was tortured in the dream, the man who walked into the mist was not actually the enemy of the owner of the nightmare. It was the projection of his own psychological shadow.

"That's why, when we mentioned the person who fell from the building in front of the man who walked into the mist, he resisted so much, because he didn't want to know the truth, he just wanted to immerse himself in such a beautiful dream.

"But the problem is, in the outer nightmare, he is still suffering from hunger, at least in the nightmare. So, the desire to survive will make him want to wake up from the deeper dream, even though it is just going back to another dream middle.

"That's why a tall building appeared in his dream. It was a retreat for himself according to his subconscious mind.

"The only use of the tall building is to wake him up. Therefore, other survivors will ignore this shelter from the wind and rain. The reason why the bookstore exists and the book is there is an eye-catching reminder.

"And the group of survivors in the playground who arranged for him to be 'executed' is likely to be some people he encountered in the outer nightmare, or even in reality.

"They may be the real ones in the doomsday, and they had some intersection with the owner of the nightmare, and then they were projected into the nightmare, becoming the same existence as the background board, and taking on the important responsibility of waking him up."

Having said that, Mu Jiashi reviewed his statement, then nodded with satisfaction: "Yes, I think that's it."

After the rest of the taskers were quiet for a while, they all said in unison: "I think this is reasonable."

Fei and Wu Jian were even convinced, because Mu Jiashi even deduced the common ending they knew, that is, to prevent the man who walked into the mist from starving to death.

The Collector questioned inappropriately, although his smile was more like a half-hearted compliment, he asked: "So what's the ending? Although the nightmare has been analyzed, what should the ending be?"

Mu Jiashi had a meal.

Inexplicably, he thought of the last nightmare.He also faced such doubts.

Indeed, what is the point of analyzing nightmares and exploring the truth behind the scenes?Their ultimate goal is to solve this nightmare, not to do reasoning here.

But this time, Mu Jiashi did not act too self-destructively.In the end, the recuperation at the bottom of the narrow building for so many days still has some effect.

Besides, although he has been desperately trying to paddle in this nightmare, he still hopes that he can get some clues in exchange for information about Su Enya.

Mu Jiashi just smiled wryly and said, "I don't know what the ending should be. However, an analysis of the nightmare is still necessary."

In contrast, Fei's question is more practical: "So what should we do now? Just jump off the rooftop and leave this dream within a dream?"

"Wait, I have a question." The bald head said, "The last round of nightmare, why did it restart?"

Mu Jiashi shook his head: "I don't know." He hesitated, "I have some guesses, but I can't confirm them."

The bald head glanced at him, but didn't say anything.

He also agreed with Mu Jiashi's point of view before, so after all, he probably had the same guess as Mu Jiashi.

That is, in the nightmare of the outer layer that they don't know, what may have happened.

In the second layer of dreams, the condition for restarting is the loss of memory-but this is not so much a restart of the nightmare as a restart of the plot of the novel.

They became the fish in the pond, forced to follow the man who walked into the mist, repeating their fate in vain.

But in the first layer of dreams, death may still be a condition for restarting the nightmare.Perhaps in the outer nightmare, someone died, so... that will lead to the restart of the nightmare?

From this perspective, what they are in now is actually the second round of nightmare.

...But it's useless to say these things, and it adds to the confusion in vain.No matter how many rounds of nightmares, they have gained enough information, and at this moment, it seems that they can also try to challenge the true ending.

But Mu Jiashi's heart is full of vigilance.

The more so, the more he worried about whether there would be any special changes in the nightmare, such as... Will the nightmare suddenly collapse?

He was worried, but to no avail.

Fei took the trouble to ask again: "So what are we going to do now?"

Mu Jiashi hesitated a little.Although enough information has been analyzed, he still feels that there are some clues in this dream that have not been clarified.

However, if he chooses to make a decision before acting, he may be forced to usher in a nightmare collapse just like the nightmare he went to before.

He hesitated.

At this time, a man walked in from the door of Xu Beijin's bookstore.It's Dai Wu.

Not long ago, when the taskers were discussing about the dream in the dream, he had quietly left the scope of the taskers, and the latter did not stop him from leaving.

But in this case, the situation seems to be different from the first and second rounds of nightmares.

In the previous two rounds of nightmares, due to various reasons, Dai Wu did not come to the building before the deceased died.And the third round of nightmares, he came instead.

At this special moment, when Xu Beijin saw Dai Wu coming, he stood up and asked him in surprise, "Has the nightmare changed?"

"A little bit." Dai Wu also had a smile on his face. From a certain point of view, he was surprisingly similar to that collector, "However, it just gave me more freedom. That's all. You know, high-level cosplayers can get a higher degree of freedom when the nightmare collapses."

Xu Beijin said, "I know."

He looked at Dai Wu with slight hesitation, wondering if the little hints he heard were real.

Then Dai Wu smiled: "I came here specially to find you."

Xu Beijin remained silent, and then slowly said: "What do you want from me?" He showed a little tired and tired expression, as if he was tired of this kind of topic, "About my nightmare?"

"You don't need to be so vigilant, really, brother." Dai Wu said sincerely, "Actually, we are not..."

"you?"

Dai Wu nodded, showing a relaxed smile: "Of course, we." He said, "Our ranks are quite high, like me as a supporting role. We all have a higher degree of freedom in the nightmare, and Maybe you can also try to improve your level?"

Xu Beijin stared at him for a long time.

Dai Wu didn't particularly care about Xu Beijin's performance. He continued, "Actually, I'm here to invite you to cooperate with us. Do you still remember what I said when I first met you?"

He spoke slowly, as if he had to chew every word carefully and savor the truth in it carefully before he could say it accurately.

What did you say when you first met?

Xu Beijin was slightly taken aback: "Down with... NE?"

Dai Wuyong nodded with an expression that could never be called solemn.

A strong sense of humor and disobedience rose in Xu Beijin's heart.When he heard Dai Wu talk about this matter, he felt heavy pressure and uneasiness in his heart.

Later, Dai Wu told him that it was actually just to practice his "second life" point of view. He just wanted to remember that they were indeed in the "second" life, not the "first life". ".

Xu Beijin also accepted that statement, and in the subsequent communication with Dai Wu, he was almost in a calm and relaxed mood.

He thought that Dai Wu's goal of "defeating NE" as a joke was really just a joke.

"Many taskers want to pursue the truth." Dai Wuyong said in a particularly subtle tone, "Don't the actors don't want to? In a sense, we are closer to the truth than those taskers. At least, they even play They don’t even know of their existence.”

Xu Beijin began to be thankful that he didn't connect the sound source of the live broadcast room to him, otherwise, he might have to face the third live broadcast cut off in this nightmare.

As for Dai Wu's words...

To be honest, Xu Beijin was even a little absent-minded.

The truth...he thought, do they really want to know the truth that much?Even united by it?

Years ago, those missionaries crowded outside his door, having delusions and obsessions about his nightmares, because they were bewitched by false but instigating rumors, and a warm and enveloping atmosphere.

So at that time, Xu Beijin never considered for a moment whether he should open up his nightmare.

But now, Xu Beijin hesitated.Although he still didn't think about letting the quest players enter his own nightmare, he began to think about whether it was really necessary for this group of ignorant quest players and actors to learn the truth.

... I don't know the heights of the sky and the depths of the earth.

Xu Beijin was inexplicably amused by the word he used.

He showed a slight smile, which made Dai Wu pause slightly vigilantly.To this day, he still doesn't know what secrets this man in front of him, this seemingly ordinary bookstore owner, is hiding.

His nightmares, his vague words, his mysterious expression...what do they all symbolize?

From a certain point of view, in this narrow building, there are only Mu Jiashi who discovered that the books in the bookstore are related to nightmares due to various accidents, and Lingo who can enter and leave the bookstore at will. I have a little understanding of the secrets hidden in my body.

Among them, Lin Biao has no interest in Xu Beijin's nightmare, and Mu Jiashi has already been disheartened after experiencing an unprecedented failure.

As the same actor, Dai Wu should be closer to Xu Beijin's identity.However, he knew nothing about Xu Beijin's secret.

He just said: "The reason why I came to you again is because in the first round of nightmares, your performance let me know that you do understand something." He said, "Maybe you learned from your nightmares." ? Just like some of the other cosplayers."

After a moment of silence, Xu Beijin said, "Other actors?" He looked at Dai Wu, "Among you?"

"Yes." Dai Wu said ambiguously, "Maybe you also know about the end of the day."

Xu Beijin remained silent.

Dai Wu said: "Second Life..." He sighed, the pain that Xu Beijin had faintly seen from his body once again flashed in his eyes, "Indeed, the game It provides us with a second life."

Xu Beijin listened quietly, not knowing what to say for a moment.

"But..." Dai Wu said slowly, as if he was weighing his words, "We can piece together some contexts based on the contents of the nightmare. Doomsday... maybe, we have already lost No.1 life?"

Dai Wu wanted to continue to say something, but Xu Beijin said, "I understand what you mean."

Dai Wu looked at him and shrugged pretending to be calm.

Although Xu Beijin's next sentence made his face change drastically.

Xu Beijin said: "In the nightmares of some actors, there are similar doomsday scenes, right?"

Dai Wu looked at Xu Beijin as if he was looking at a monster. He suddenly wanted to know why this cosplayer, who lived in seclusion and hid in his dark bookstore all day long, knew about the nightmares of other cosplayers.

Xu Beijin lowered his eyes, seemingly casually, and absent-mindedly said: "You think the same as those missionaries... You also think that the scenes and stories of this game are adapted from things that actually happened on the earth. yes, is it?

"So, the end is real. Killing, madness, blood, and ruins are all real."

After being silent for a long time, Dai Wu finally nodded.

After nodding, he relaxed a lot, and even smiled: "Dude, you really know a lot. Anyway, this will make our conversation much more convenient..."

Xu Beijin didn't pay much attention to his calm words.He went on to say: "And even if the end of the earth happens, what about us people?"

Dai Wu's words stopped abruptly.

Xu Beijin didn't look at him, as if he was just talking to himself: "Are we dead in the doomsday? Are we just ghosts living in the game? Or, we are the last survivors of earth civilization, and we can only live in lingering in a game, trying to extend your own life?"

Dai Wu opened his mouth, and finally said helplessly, "You've overwhelmed me."

Xu Bei seemed to have come to his senses suddenly, he looked up at Dai Wu, hesitant to speak, but in the end, he just said tiredly and calmly: "Knowing the truth is not a good thing."

"……you know."

Xu Beijin didn't seem to react: "What?"

"You know the truth." Dai Wu stared at Xu Beijin, the relaxed smile on his face disappeared in an instant, "You know the truth, that's why you warned me to give up my search for the truth .

"You even told me before that defeating NE does not necessarily mean that you can escape from the narrow building...Why? What do you know?"

Xu Beijin frowned slightly.

He finally realized why Dai Wu suddenly came to him and said these words.

To put it bluntly, it was because Xu Beijin showed an unexpected initiative in the previous nightmares of meeting Dai Wu.

His curiosity about nightmares, his voluntary departure from the scene he was sticking to, and even the rigid script of the extras... All these kinds of performances make Dai Wu think that Xu Bei is a partner who can be won and won over.

And Xu Beijin also showed in front of him that he was extremely familiar with the truth about Zhailou, NE, etc.

So in this nightmare, after they talked about the topic of "ultimate nightmare", Dai Wu couldn't hold back after all, chose a suitable time, and took the initiative to attack, hoping to force something out of Xu Beijin's mouth.

Or, he may just think that he is still trying to win over Xu Beijin, hoping that Xu Beijin will join him in his "defeat NE".

Behind him, there is a so-called "organization".

organization of actors.

However, Xu Beijin suddenly felt a burning emotion, which made him restless and made him struggle and hesitate.

He thought, do they—these people—really, want to know the truth that much?

As for Dai Wu, he just saw Xu Beijin suddenly show an emotionless smile after a moment of silence.

He just twitched the corners of his mouth calmly, and that deep and repressed aura enveloped the man again.Dai Wu heard the bookstore owner say, "What price can you pay to know the truth?"