Apocalyptic Wasteland Simulator

Nightingale didn't understand why Chen Pingchuan suddenly wanted to leave. He seemed to be in a great hurry. If it was because of the Black Demon disaster, they could simply prepare and set off at dawn. But that didn't seem very reasonable. The King of Black Magic and the Black Demon tide were likely closely connected to Chen Pingchuan. She still vaguely remembered the King of Black Magic's bizarre behavior and Chen Pingchuan's final shout: "Stop! We're on the same side!"

That phrase, "on the same side," was incredibly intriguing.

As for leaving out of fear of Li Laoqi, that was even less likely. Without Chen Pingchuan's covert assassinations, that traitor Li Laoqi wouldn't have rebelled so quickly. He would have waited until she returned to the City of No Night. Then again, maybe there was no need to return to the City of No Night at all. She could have her subordinates prepare their weapons right now and launch a preemptive strike. Catching him off guard, they could probably take the mine with ease.

At this thought, Nightingale's eyes lit up. Yes, I have to catch Li Laoqi off guard. That disgusting man… in the memory, he even tried to… A flash of anger from that memory surged through her, stunning her for a moment. The question slipped from her lips before she could stop it.

"Was that a dream?"

She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. She didn't know what to make of that memory in her mind. Most importantly, she wasn't sure if the boy in front of her shared that same memory—if her desperate actions to protect him were something he now remembered as well. Nightingale's face began to turn red.

"It wasn't a dream. It's something that is going to happen on a future timeline. You can think of it as an ability I've awakened, much like your little black sphere. I call this ability 'Shared Future Premonition.' I can share a future experience with someone, and you are the person I have chosen."

Chen Pingchuan's voice was chilly, yet it held a strange, convincing power. What was clearly a bug in the simulator had been masterfully spun into an incredibly rare and special talent.

Nightingale stood silently before Chen Pingchuan, her beautiful eyes wide with shock.

The Great Ming Empire had ruled this world for hundreds of years. Although the current situation was deteriorating, with various factions showing signs of conflict, no one had yet dared to openly oppose the Empire's rule. Within the Great Ming Empire, there was a fairly comprehensive and impartial list of Gene-Empowered individuals, which recorded those who had awakened special genetic abilities and documented their powers.

The talents on that list were impressive enough, but they paled in comparison to a heaven-defying ability like 'Shared Future Premonition.' Furthermore, such an ability was beyond scientific explanation. It sounded more like the mystical, doomsday prophecies of the followers of the Doomsday Holy Sect.

But I really want to be by his side... watching him, accompanying him, getting to know him... The more she thought about it, the more restless her heart became. Finally, after hesitating for a few seconds, she voiced the two questions weighing on her mind.

"Then, are you really some kind of Divine Envoy?"

"No. I am God."

Chen Pingchuan's reply was just as brief. This time, however, Nightingale took it as a joke. After all, how could the person standing before her possibly be a god?

Then, Nightingale asked her second question, a little shyly. "So... how do you see me?"

Nightingale's question caught Chen Pingchuan off guard for a moment. Heh, a mature woman is much more direct than a young girl, he thought with some appreciation. She gets straight to the point. Her question also suddenly reminded him of something. If he was planning to leave, why was he still holding onto those Energy Crystals? He might as well absorb them all before taking off.

However, he couldn't do it alone. An idea immediately formed in his mind, and it involved Nightingale. He took two steps forward, stopping just as he was about to brush against the curves of her chest. The warmth of his breath on her skin made Nightingale's entire body tingle.

"I see people around me in one of two ways. There are those who are useful to me, whom I consider allies. And there are those who get in my way, whom I consider enemies. Which one do you want to be?"

Having lived through the information age of his previous life, Chen Pingchuan knew a thing or two about the subtle dynamics between men and women. The first principle was to avoid the 'compliance trap.' What was the compliance trap? In any emotional interaction, you must never simply follow the other person's lead or requests. Doing so means ceding control. The next step after losing control is losing your independence, which ultimately leads to being manipulated.

The second principle was the 'push-and-pull.' These words held great significance; it was a subtle art. In their exchanges, one must use clever responses and guidance to reverse the roles of pursuer and pursued. This allows one to seize the initiative in the emotional interplay and avoid being led by the other person's questions and rhythm. It was the key to maintaining a balanced and advantageous position in the delicate dance of romance.

Chen Pingchuan prided himself on his diligent study of military strategy. He had memorized the sixteen-character maxim: "When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue." With this philosophy, he believed he was already in an unbeatable position.

What Chen Pingchuan didn't know was that his real self was also being subtly influenced by his divine persona from the simulation. His personality was slowly aligning more and more with that divine self. It was only a matter of time before he became its living embodiment.

Nightingale was indeed stunned by his question for a few seconds. Her brows furrowed as her mind raced, and she quickly gave him her answer.

"I choose the first kind. I want to be someone who is useful to you."

Hearing this, Chen Pingchuan's face lit up with joy. Without waiting to see if she would object, he grabbed her hand and headed toward the Energy Crystal warehouse he remembered from the premonition.

Nightingale felt the warmth from his hand spread through her, and her body began to flush. Weren't we supposed to be leaving? Didn't he give me an hour to make arrangements? Why the sudden change of plans? Though her mind was filled with questions, a strange sweetness overwhelmed her reason, and she had no intention of pulling away or questioning him.

And so, Chen Pingchuan led Nightingale by the hand, quietly making their way to the Energy Crystal warehouse of the Spring City White Crystal Mine.

They cautiously took cover behind a large tree not far from the warehouse, using its thick trunk to conceal themselves. The mining area was vast and open, making it easy to be spotted by guards almost anywhere else. It was only due to the long-term negligence of the mine's security that the two of them were able to sneak this close under the cover of night.