Manual for Survival in a Strange World

The lifeless magpie tumbled straight from the branch of the pomelo tree, transforming mid-air into a man in a suit and tie, landing with a loud thud on the ground.

It was none other than Zhang Yangxu.

Ning Zhe’s consciousness faltered momentarily before clarity returned, and he understood what had just transpired.

The ghost had killed the magpie.

But wasn’t the world where Hejia Village existed already shattered with the death of the Snake God? Even if it hadn’t shattered, why was the magpie still alive?

The dead cannot die twice. If that were possible, Ning Zhe would have taken on Zhang Yangxu’s identity directly.

Yet the magpie had died in his place. Did that mean… it was still alive?

“Run.”

The fleeting confusion dissolved as Ning Zhe swiftly abandoned further thought—there was no time to waste pondering the inexplicable when he still had a living identity to sacrifice.

His body reverted into the form of the already dead bird. Gliding through the shaded grove, he flew into a lush garden blooming with hydrangeas.

The ghost roaming Bihu Bay Manor was far more ruthless than Ning Zhe had anticipated. Unlike Taiyi, who had no capacity for murder, or the Snake God Zhao You, who avoided conflict, this ghost killed indiscriminately. Simply being near it had already cost Ning Zhe one of his lives.

Fortunately, after killing the magpie, the ghost didn’t pursue him further. Its sharp, shrill wails echoed from a distance—it seemed to have set its sights on other, closer targets.

“Does the ghost’s killing depend on proximity? A direct relationship or an indirect one?”

Ning Zhe didn’t linger on the thought. Reverting to his original form, he returned to the pavilion and grabbed Feng Yushu’s hand. “We’re leaving. Now.”

The ghost in the manor was too dangerous. Even getting close to it had cost Ning Zhe a life. He wasn’t reckless—he would only gamble his life when cornered or absolutely confident, and this was clearly neither.

With Taiyi’s rules in play, he had plenty of ways out.

“There’s no need for me to risk it all against this ghost here. If I must uncover its rules, the more sensible approach is to return to Gubei Town first, gather enough living identities as substitute sacrifices, and then experiment without worry.”

Ning Zhe’s thoughts were clear. He knew exactly what to do.

But Feng Yushu was far from rational.

The manor blazed with light, but the screams and cries had faded into the distance, leaving behind a scene of corpses sprawled in disarray. Feng Yushu bit her lip, her eyes red-rimmed. “My… my daughter is still in there. I can’t leave.”

“What can you possibly do if you stay?” Ning Zhe released her hand. “Become the ghost’s next victim?”

“…You’re right, Ning Zhe. I’m cowardly and useless. Even if I stay, I can’t do anything.” Feng Yushu’s legs gave out as she collapsed to her knees in front of him, her trembling hands clutching at his clothes. “But you can, right? Ning Zhe, you must have a way. Please… help me. Save Ah Zhi. I’ll do anything you ask. Anything I have, I’ll give to you. I can’t lose her…”

Not a word about your husband, huh?

Ning Zhe pried her fingers off his clothes and let out a breath. “Once upon a time, you might’ve been able to tempt me with money, but I’ve lost interest in that now.”

To him now, money was nothing but numbers.

As Feng Yushu shakily reached toward her chest, he added, “That includes you.”

With that, Ning Zhe said no more. His youthful form transformed back into a magpie, leaving the pavilion and flying toward the manor’s outer wall.

He wouldn’t risk himself again until he secured enough living identities.

Watching Ning Zhe’s figure disappear into the night, Feng Yushu buried her face in her hands, collapsing in despair as tears streamed down her face. After her sobbing subsided, she forced herself upright by clinging to the pavilion’s column. Wiping her tears, she stumbled back toward the manor.

She had to find her daughter, no matter the cost, even if it meant dying along the way.

But after only a few steps, a lithe figure descended from the sky, landing beside her.

“Ning Zhe?!” Feng Yushu’s despair turned to elation. “You’ve come back to help me?”

“Sort of. I can’t leave,” Ning Zhe replied nonchalantly. “The manor is sealed off.”

When he had flown to the wall in magpie form, he’d collided with an invisible barrier. It was like a massive dome had been placed over Bihu Bay Manor, enclosing it completely.

“I tried flying past the wall but didn’t see the Peach River outside the manor. Instead, I saw a brightly lit European-style castle in front of me—as if I were just arriving here again.” Ning Zhe explained softly, “It’s some sort of spatial anomaly. This manor is now inescapable.”

He took a step toward the Peach River outside the gate, only to find himself facing the manor’s welcoming avenue instead. The manor’s spatial boundaries had folded in on themselves, redirecting any outward movement inward.

“Let’s go find your daughter. If she could dream of Hejia Village without ever visiting Gubei Town, she might know something about our current situation.” Ning Zhe’s form shifted back into a magpie, settling on Feng Yushu’s shoulder. “Move.”

“…Alright.” Feng Yushu nodded quickly.

She was fully aware that Ning Zhe saw her as little more than a scout, using her life to test for dangers. Yet, she accepted his cold, ruthless pragmatism.

If it increased the chance of saving her daughter, she would do anything Ning Zhe asked—just as she had back in Hejia Village.

Bihu Bay Manor spanned approximately one hectare. Despite its size, it housed few residents: the Bai family, a handful of executives from New Homeland Group, and some staff for maintenance and cleaning.

Most of these people, terrified by the ghostly killings and the sight of corpses, had scattered in panic. The majority fled to the other side of the manor, where the ghost seemed to have followed the crowd.

“Go now. Before the ghost kills everyone else—your time is limited,” Ning Zhe reminded her.

“Understood.” Feng Yushu steadied the magpie on her shoulder with one hand and ran along the wall, heading toward the manor’s central European-style castle.

“Don’t hold me. I’m stable on my own,” Ning Zhe said again.

“Understood!” Feng Yushu quickly let go, slipping off her high heels and carrying them in her hand as she ran barefoot toward the castle.