Another spring has passed.
When she regained consciousness, Xia Meng found herself once again strapped back onto the frame by Lin Xue’er.
But unlike before, this time her body was covered with numerous white Sticker Patches.
Each white Sticker Patch had a wire attached, all linked to a rather large Iron Box set on the floor.
What… what is this?
She didn’t know what this thing was, but anything that Lin Xue’er could confidently put on her definitely wasn’t something good.
As expected, the moment Lin Xue’er noticed she was awake, she gave her a devilish grin.
“You’re awake, little pest. Look, I’ve finally found something that can deal with your stubbornness.”
While speaking, Lin Xue’er lightly touched the white Sticker Patches on Xia Meng’s body, then displayed a machine that looked much like a Remote Controller in front of her eyes.
“Heh, cut the nonsense. Whatever trick you have, just bring it on. I’m not afraid of you!”
“Oh ho? Really, little pest? But, you know, this Electric Stimulation Device might really break you for good. Are you sure you don’t want to consider surrendering to me?”
Electric… Electric Stimulation Device? No matter how you look at this thing, it doesn’t seem like something good!
Xia Meng cursed inwardly, but on the surface, she kept a defiant expression as she looked at the person before her.
“Just you try, you won’t be able to break me, hmph.”
“Alright, then I really want to see, little pest, if that annoying mouth of yours can hold up under this Electric Stimulation Device.”
Lin Xue’er let out a soft chuckle, then casually pressed one of the buttons on the Remote Controller with her finger.
In that instant, Xia Meng’s entire body tensed up.
Electric buzz—
Damn it!
Electric Stimulation Device? This is clearly a torture device!!!
She felt her body convulse uncontrollably, and Xia Meng was completely at a loss.
What made it even more unbearable was that this unfamiliar sensation made it hard for her to keep her mind clear. As time went on, she started to feel a terrifying blankness, as if her mind was going numb.
Lin Xue’er… you’re a monster!
“So, little pest? How does this feel… comfortable?”
Comf… Your… sister!
Lin Xue’er’s expression was calm, and when she pressed the button again, Xia Meng immediately felt that torturous sensation all over again.
“Tsk tsk, little pest, as a girl, you really shouldn’t talk so rudely all the time.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Xia Meng felt the electric current in her body stop. With all her strength, she lifted her head and glared at Lin Xue’er. “You… crazy… demon!”
“I already told you, right? Be polite. Why are you still mouthing off, little pest?”
Electric buzz (off)
“I… I just… you… ugh!”
Electric buzz (on)
“So, you just can’t help it, eh? In that case, every time you talk back, I’ll turn it on again.”
Electric buzz (off)
I’m going to die, this electric current rushing through my whole body is unbearable!
Xia Meng glared at Lin Xue’er, feeling that the more she resisted, the prouder Lin Xue’er became. She poured out all her frustration inside.
But what Lin Xue’er said next made her heart sink.
“You know, little pest, just now I only turned it to Level One. This Remote Controller has twenty Levels in total. That means, what you just felt was only the beginning.”
What the hell? Twenty Levels? That feeling just now can get even stronger?
Xia Meng’s eyes went wide, staring in disbelief at the device in Lin Xue’er’s hand. She was so terrified that she couldn’t help swallowing hard, and a mix of fear and frustration left her extremely uneasy.
But as bad as this felt, nothing could compare to the shock of Lin Xue’er’s words. Until now, she thought she was already enduring at least a medium level of punishment.
“Relax, little pest, don’t be too scared. Normally, a person’s maximum tolerance is Level Nine—any higher and you could end up brain dead. As for you… heh, you might last till Level Six at best. Any higher and you’ll really break.”
It’s over, it’s really over this time!
Xia Meng absolutely believed that Lin Xue’er, if she wanted, could definitely turn her brain into mush. After all, this was completely different from those previous little pranks—it was genuine torture.
Never mind whether she could use the Return Ability. If her brain was really fried, even if she went back, would she still be able to live a normal life?
[No way, little maiden, the Return Ability doesn’t just take your soul back to the time node—it takes your body with you!]
Seeing the words that suddenly appeared in midair, Xia Meng was stunned.
Return… takes the body back? What if she dies by accident, would she just… die for real?
[Yes, exactly.]
Damn it!
So this is what’s called One-Life Clear.
It’s really just one life!!
God! God! My dearest, most loving, most merciful God, please! I beg you, save your most loyal follower!
Knowing she only had one life, Xia Meng no longer dared to provoke Lin Xue’er. If she turned into a vegetable, what use would returning be?
So in desperation, she even started praying to God, hoping that this existence would grant her a bit of hope.
But…
[No can do, beautiful maiden. You already have a powerful Golden Finger. If you try to cheat even more, it wouldn’t be fair to the Target of Strategy.]
So… am I really doomed?
[But, since your willpower is so strong, here, I’ll give you a hint.]
Thank goodness! God hasn’t abandoned me!
[It is…]
What? What is it?
[Endure.]
…Huh?
Staring at the words floating in the air, Xia Meng was stunned again.
[That’s it! Endure. Endurance is victory! So listen, maiden, you must hang in there!]
As the floating words disappeared, Xia Meng felt a surge of despair. But when another wave of electric current hit her, she was instantly jolted awake.
“Oh? How disappointing, your eyes are still so clear. I thought you’d already been broken, little pest.”
Faced with Lin Xue’er’s mocking words, Xia Meng opened her mouth, but couldn’t say a word.
Now, her journey had a whole new, unavoidable problem added, leaving her completely unsure if she should continue provoking her opponent.
But the problem was, Lin Xue’er was intent on breaking her spirit, so whether she resisted or not, Lin Xue’er would still punish her.
Electric buzz (on)
Plunged into a hopeless situation, Xia Meng could only pin all her hopes on the two words God had said: Endure.
Endure… is victory?
For now, all she could do was grit her teeth and endure.
“Looks like Level One is already too much for you, little pest. In that case, let’s try Level Two. Get ready!”
Electric buzz (on)
“Ah!”
Endure? This… this is too much!