Proof of Being Alive (Part 2)

Zheng Zha closed his eyes and voiced every doubt in his heart. After waiting for a moment, that voice finally answered, "She was created by you. Her memories come from your memories of her, her personality comes from your memories of her, and her body and appearance also come from your memories of her. She is the person in your memories."

Zheng Zha fell silent for a moment, then continued, "I don't understand what you mean, Main God. I don't care whether she is the person in my memories. I only want to ask whether she is truly a real person!"

"Her words, her actions, her expressions, her tears... are all those things real? They aren't some program you made, aren't based on some kind of commands. I only want to know whether she is truly a real human being!"

That voice said, "Yes. Once a created life form has taken shape, unless its creator dies or the life form is killed, she is a living life form."

Zheng Zha more or less understood what had happened. The Main God had completely replicated Loli from his memories, so she really was Loli—just a replicated Loli. The real Loli had still died at sixteen, which was why this replicated Loli only looked fifteen, nearly sixteen. In his memories, she had been most beautiful at that age.

"One last question, Main God. When I save up fifty thousand Reward Points and can return, will she return with me?"

That voice said, "Those who exchange for Return to the Origin may retain the following: first, exchanged items; second, attribute enhancement points; third, created life forms; fourth, summoned life forms; fifth, all bodily enhancements and mutations. Once exchanged, these five categories shall forever belong to the exchanger. Even upon Return to the Origin, these attributes shall be retained forever."

Zheng Zha's heart gradually settled. He had already lost her once. Back then, he could only watch helplessly as she died, powerless to do anything. But now, he had the ability to change everything. As long as he could survive—survive through countless Horror Movies, earn Reward Points, and bring her back to the real world—then he would never lose her again!

Zhang Jie and the other two stood outside his door, staring at him in confusion. Zheng Zha gave them an apologetic smile, then led them inside. According to Zhang Jie, all Zheng Zha had to do was want them to enter; otherwise, they would be unable to enter his house.

After everyone entered the living room, Zheng Zha thought for a moment and said, "Everyone, sit down for a bit. I... I'll be right back." With that, he walked straight into his bedroom and shut the door tightly behind him.

Loli cautiously poked her little head out from beneath the blanket. She asked timidly, "How did it go? How did it go? Uncle and Auntie didn't say anything, did they?"

Zheng Zha walked to the bed and lovingly stroked her soft hair. Then he said seriously, "Loli, there are some things I need to tell you. Before I do, promise me that no matter what, you'll stay calm. Can you do that?"

Loli's watery black eyes widened, gradually filling with tears. Lowering her head, she said, "Are you going to tell me we're breaking up? Just like they said... once a man gets a girl's body, he becomes heartless. I thought you would always stay with me and love me... If you're going to say we're breaking up, then don't. I don't want to hear those words from your mouth."

Zheng Zha pulled Loli into his arms and shouted, "It's not what you think! What I need to tell you is something serious, and I've always loved you, always... even though you've already been dead for ten years! I've always loved you!"

Then Zheng Zha told her about how she had died from illness ten years ago, before slowly recounting this strange experience. Of course, he left out his decadent life over the past ten years and only told her what the Main God had said.

"Loli, you are Loli herself! Yes, ten years ago, I could only watch helplessly as death took you away. But now, I can protect you with my own hands! Loli, believe me. I'll definitely earn enough Reward Points and take us back to the real world!"

Zheng Zha kept talking, but he realized that Loli had remained quietly silent in his arms. A terrible feeling rose in his heart, so he hurriedly looked down at her. The girl was staring blankly ahead while continuously pinching her own arm.

Zheng Zha grabbed her little hand. "What are you doing? Loli, if you have something to say, say it. I know it's hard for you to accept that your original self is already dead and that you are a created duplicate. I know it's hard to accept, but no matter what, don't hurt yourself. If you feel bad, tell me, okay?"

But Loli burst into giggles. Sitting upright in Zheng Zha's arms, she tugged at his face with her little hands. "No wonder! I was wondering why you seemed so much more mature, and why you had so much hair on your... Um, good girls aren't supposed to say dirty things. Anyway, that's how it is. Isn't it wonderful to be alive again? Why would I have trouble accepting it? You, you big jerk, scared me half to death just now. I thought you were going to say we were breaking up. My heart hurt so much then... If you ever say something so unclear and frightening again, I'll tear that mouth of yours apart."

Zheng Zha stared blankly for a long while before finally smiling in relief. Yes, this was the Loli in his memories—the strong, muddleheaded girl, the woman he had always loved.

What came next was easy enough. According to Zhang Jie, everything in the room could be changed according to the user's will. As Zheng Zha's creation, Loli could also alter the room's size, environment, decorations, and all kinds of other things. Once she learned this, Loli immediately cheered and rushed toward the wardrobe. She began pulling out one dazzlingly beautiful outfit and dress after another, then shoved Zheng Zha out of the bedroom.

In the living room, Zhang Jie and the other two all wore stiff expressions, but Zheng Zha could clearly see their mouths twitching nonstop. Scratching his head, he said, "If you want to laugh, then laugh. Don't hold it in until you look so ugly, like someone punched you in the face."

Zhang Jie and the other two immediately burst into laughter. Only Zhan Lan laughed with some restraint.

Still laughing, Zhang Jie said, "How strange. I never thought you would like a girl with that kind of personality. She seems pretty feisty."

Sitting on the sofa, Zheng Zha explained Loli's origins with a bitter smile. After telling them everything, he said, "I didn't expect this either. I only wanted to create a woman who looked and acted somewhat like her. Who knew I would end up replicating her herself?"

Zhang Jie and the other two were all stunned. Zhang Jie said, "That's unbelievable. So the Main God can replicate people from your memories? I've already survived four Horror Movies, but I still didn't know about something like that. Who knows how many secrets this place is hiding? It seems we only know the barest surface."

Zheng Zha nodded. "Exactly. No one has ever mentioned a place like this before. It throws us into Horror Movies, lets us interact with the characters in the story, even alter the plot, and we might die in the Horror Movies too. And beyond that, the exchanged items are even more unbelievable. The guns are one thing, but there are all kinds of enhancements too. Do you think something like this could exist in reality?"

Zhang Jie and the other two all fell silent. Zheng Zha let out a long breath and said, "I don't care whether this place is the domain of gods or a game of demons. I only want to live. I want to stay alive, earn enough Reward Points, and bring her back to the real world. I'm sure none of you want to die in Horror Movies either, right? So I think the four of us should work together. None of us knows what the next Horror Movie will be. One person's strength is limited in the end. We should form a team and help each other through future trials. What do you all think?"

Hearing that, the three of them fell into thought. Zhan Lan smiled in surprise. "Oh? You've changed so much in just one night. Even Li Xiaoyi, who just lost his virginity, can't compare to you. That girl must be very important to you, huh?"

Li Xiaoyi's face instantly turned red, and he fidgeted awkwardly. Zhang Jie, on the other hand, laughed loudly. "What are you embarrassed about? Becoming a real man is something to be embarrassed about? You're pretty impressive too, kid. You directly created a blonde Persian cat. Haha, you'd better watch out or she'll squeeze you dry someday."

Li Xiaoyi's face turned almost liver-colored. Only then did Zhang Jie turn to Zheng Zha and say, "I think you're right. One person's strength is limited, after all. Before we enhance ourselves into superhumans, we don't have the strength to face most Horror Movies alone. And I've gone through three Horror Movies, so I understand the importance of internal unity very well. Besides the monsters in the Horror Movies, the companions around you can be just as dangerous. From now on, we share information and give each other appropriate help in Horror Movies. If any newcomers try to undermine the team's unity, then I suggest we kill them."

Zhan Lan asked in surprise, "Didn't you say killing newcomers deducts one thousand Reward Points?"

Zhang Jie sneered. "Yes, one thousand Reward Points would be deducted. But did I personally kill him? No. I only broke his arms and legs, or pushed him toward various monsters. As long as I didn't kill him with my own hands, my Reward Points can't be deducted. Do you have any more questions?"

Zhan Lan and Li Xiaoyi both shuddered. Zheng Zha, however, nodded. "That's right. I won't deliberately hurt newcomers, but if they drag us down and get us all killed, I won't mind taking action to remove the pests. I have to survive. I have to live until I return to the real world! So now I have some information to tell everyone."

"I think I roughly know how those Horror Movie Side Stories are triggered and completed."

Zheng Zha said seriously, "They probably involve reversing certain parts of a Horror Movie's plot. For example, saving supporting characters who were supposed to die, killing monsters that are still alive in the Horror Movie, or completely overturning the plot of the Horror Movie. I think Horror Movie Side Stories are completed through things like that."

Then Zheng Zha told them about his experience. When the three heard that he had saved the Black mercenary captain and received one B-Class Side Story along with five thousand Reward Points, they could only stare with their mouths hanging open. They no longer knew what to say.

Zhan Lan asked carefully, "Then how many Reward Points do you have?"

Zheng Zha answered, "Six thousand five hundred and two points, plus one B-Class Side Story."

The three immediately looked at him with envy and jealousy. Zhang Jie said with a bitter smile, "I fought desperately and nearly died several times just to get a little over four thousand Reward Points. Yet you got 6,502 points in your very first Horror Movie, and even a B-Class Side Story... Damn it, comparing people really is infuriating. Looks like your brother here will have to follow you from now on."

Zheng Zha smiled. "What do you mean, follow me? If you hadn't stayed behind with us in the Fire Queen's main control room last time, then all these Reward Points would have been useless. I might have died in a zombie's mouth or under a Licker's claws long ago. I should be thanking you."

Zhan Lan giggled. "But this is great now. We all know how Side Stories can be completed. The difficulty may be high, but it's still better than knowing nothing. And it seems completing Side Stories can earn extra Reward Points too. I knew it—needing fifty thousand Reward Points to return to the real world, there was no way we could slowly earn that much one Horror Movie at a time. Now we at least have a goal, right?"

Zhang Jie also put aside his jealousy. He knew Zheng Zha was already being a true friend by sharing this information, so he smiled and said, "All right. Then I'll introduce everyone to attribute enhancements and exchangeable items. We still have nine days and nine nights to rest, so everyone can slowly choose their own enhancement paths and exchanged items. For the next Horror Movie!"

"No, for survival!"

Zheng Zha silently said to himself. His gaze drifted toward the bedroom door, and the look in his eyes became incomparably gentle.