Why is my journey to the world of anime a strange tale of rules?

Maintaining this clone clearly took a toll on Ichiri. Initially, both Ichiri and Takami thought it was because there was some kind of gap between the two different spaces, causing Ichiri to need more power to maintain it. But now it seems that the difference between the two spaces may not be as it appears on the surface, and there may be other reasons for the expenditure of power Ichiri has. We still need to go in and find out for sure.

Maintaining the clone was no longer of much use; it couldn't go far and could only stay around the well. Furthermore, Gao Hai was still somewhat wary of the three players in the "Bald Squad," so he couldn't afford to let Yili, a Red Moon-level player, suffer too much damage. After all, in a real confrontation, Yili, with her powerful guitar, would be a crucial teammate; her presence would minimize casualties.

Unfortunately, there are still no clues about the paper dolls, and there's no way to get into the Water Ghost Lake for the time being, so we can only focus on this one line of investigation for now.

"How is the situation over there?"

Cat Brother noticed the change in Gao Hai's expression and knew that his attention had returned to this side, so he asked him a question.

"It's hard to say exactly what the situation is. Generally speaking, there doesn't seem to be any danger over there, but there are some problems that we don't quite understand and can't solve using only the perspective of a clone. I think we can go down and try to explore. How about each of our three teams sends one person?"

After thinking for a moment, Gao Hai replied, glancing at Jackta who had been waiting beside him.

"Looks like it's finally my turn to go on stage. It's so boring watching from the sidelines."

The man named Jackta reached out and touched his bald head, then rubbed his hands together, a cheerful smile spreading across his face. He seemed quite enthusiastic. His two companions behind him didn't react much, seemingly already used to their teammate's high level of enthusiasm for exploration.

Cat Brother nodded after hearing this, thought for a moment, turned to look at the Taoist priest who was silently clenching his fists, gestured for him to come over with his eyes, and made a rather subtle gesture to Xiao Guo.

"The Taoist's abilities are better suited for providing early warnings when exploring new areas. Xiao Guo and I will stay here and go down into the well to provide support should anything happen. After all, this is only a preliminary exploration operation, so it's best to focus on establishing a temporary safe point or ensuring a stable and safe passage."

Before the operation, Cat Brother earnestly reminded Gao Hai and the others. At this time, the passageways in the entire [Li Family Village] had been basically completed. The various buildings were forcibly connected by crudely made walls and roofs, and underground passages had been built in most areas. It can be said that the original Li Family Village no longer exists and has been completely transformed into a maze with interconnected passageways.

Maki and Kaguya remained on the ground floor of the plaza, accompanying Ichiri, who was unable to move freely due to controlling his clones. Hayasaka continued to observe the situation in the courtyard from the high-rise building next to the courtyard, ready to issue warnings and provide remote support should any problems arise. Chika stayed beside Hayasaka, indoors rather than on the edge of the rooftop. Her main responsibility was to act as the mental link member of the Black Watch, communicating with Maki and Takami at all times, while also guarding against potential attackers emerging from inside the building.

{Traces of the historians' movements have been discovered. They seem to have been chased by some strange creatures, and a battle must have occurred. The historians appear to be at a disadvantage, but all three managed to escape without casualties. Hmm, I've already sent my clones to follow, and several other clones have been dispatched from the surrounding area. Among the strange creatures chasing these three players, there seem to be paper figures.}

Just before they were about to descend into the well, Ichiri finally brought some good news. Gao Hai was secretly delighted; he hadn't expected the paper figure, which they had been unable to locate, to be chasing after the three players. He silently reminded Ichiri not to lose them. Of course, on the surface, however, his expression remained completely unchanged, still serious.

"Then I'll take the lead."

Jack Tower, who was the first to go, jumped straight down and disappeared into the well below.

But in reality, the moment the man entered the well and touched the water, he had already arrived at the bottom of another space beneath the well. He only needed to climb out of the well to reach the space that Goto Ichiri's clone had previously visited. Returning was also easy; he could simply jump back into the well.

Gao Hai followed the bald man and jumped into the well second. The damp and cold air in the well made him feel uncomfortable, and the narrow rock walls around him made him feel even more uneasy. But he managed to suppress his emotions and, as soon as his feet touched the rippling water, he immediately exerted his strength and quickly climbed out of the well.

The next moment, what appeared before him was a peaceful village under the twilight sky.

Wisps of smoke rose from the earthen houses, a flock of birds flew swiftly past beneath the clouds, and a cool evening breeze caressed Gao Hai's cheeks. If he were only talking about his first impression of this place, Gao Hai could only say that he simply couldn't connect this peaceful and serene little village with the treacherous village he had seen before.

However, this is not the most important issue right now.

Gao Hai's gaze swept around.

What about people?

That Jack Tower isn't here.

Jack Tower, who was the first to enter this place and should have been waiting for him nearby, has disappeared.

Something is wrong.

Gao Hai stood by the well and quickly scanned the surroundings.

I didn't see any red lanterns.

The red lantern that had been discovered by the clone earlier was no longer visible to Gao Hai after he entered the area.

Is the space I entered different from the space my clone entered before?

But this doesn't make sense. According to the land deed's perception, this well should only lead to one space, not some multi-dimensional entrance. So, what the previous clone saw, I should also see.

Unless, the time in which you enter has changed.

The time when I entered this space may not be continuous with the time when my clone and Jack Tower entered.

Is this possible?

As Gao Hai pondered, he turned to look at the well behind him, seriously considering whether he should return immediately.

"Hey..."

However, before Gao Hai could make a decision, he first saw a hand reaching out from the well.

It was Li Nianyou, nicknamed "Taoist Priest," who climbed up from the well.

After roughly confirming that this was indeed the person in question, Gao Hai temporarily abandoned his intention to leave, reached out and grabbed the Taoist's hand to pull him up.

After being pulled up, this eccentric fellow didn't say anything to Gao Hai. Instead, he took a few steps, roughly observed his surroundings, and then closed his eyes to begin calculating something. As he calculated, the wrinkles on his face deepened, and he seemed to be in a very bad mood.

"Did you figure anything out? I heard from that Cat Brother that you can predict the future to some extent?"

Gao Hai wondered in his heart why the Taoist priest had entered the same space as him, and asked with some curiosity.

"It's hard to say."

The Taoist priest shook his head, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

"What do you mean it's hard to say?"

Gao Hai didn't quite understand what he meant.

"The calculated result is extremely vague, lacking any specific or clear direction, or even any reference point. I rarely arrive at such a result; this is a very dangerous and troublesome situation. This operation is in serious trouble..."

After calculating twice more, the Taoist priest finally gave Gao Hai a worried answer.

"Is it a bad thing if you can't calculate a clear result? I think it's better than calculating that you're dead."

Gao Hai still couldn't quite understand.

“My ability isn’t like that. Although it does resemble prophecy, it’s not unchangeable. If I predict a bad outcome, I can at least find a way to avoid it. If I predict a good outcome, I can find a way to make it even better. But if I can’t predict anything specific, that’s a big problem. It means either the situation we’re facing is too bizarre and complicated, or something extraordinary is interfering with my ability. In that case, we can only act without knowing any specific information.”

As the Taoist priest explained, his expression grew even more worried.

Gao Hai had no intention of commenting on the other party's negative and pessimistic attitude. He simply checked with the mental link to make sure that there were no problems with Maki Chika, and then turned his attention to the slowly opening main door of the house.

He already knew who would come out.

"Grandpa, slow down, let me help you so you don't fall. Come on, let's walk in this yard... Who are you? Where did you come from? Are you thieves?!"

As soon as Li Ziyong, who was helping the old man, stepped out of the door, he immediately noticed Gao Hai and Li Nianyou standing in the yard. He immediately shouted, his eyes full of vigilance.

His voice was loud and carried a considerable distance, so Gao Hai immediately heard noises coming from several nearby houses, and then from the main building of the Li clan and several other houses next to it.

I did not sense any strange presence.

I didn't sense anything that could be considered a threat.

This new space, reached through the well, seemed completely normal to Gao Hai; it was just an ordinary village.

Of course, appearances may be one thing, but that doesn't mean Gao Hai would actually think that way.

tread!

In the blink of an eye, Gao Hai was in front of Li Ziyong, grabbed him by the throat with one hand and lifted him up.

"W-what are you going to do? Heh...you young man...wow, you've got some strength..."

Li Ziyong, who was being held up in mid-air with his neck being choked, began to turn red in a few breaths. He kicked his legs wildly and even punched Gao Hai's forearm, but the punch was barely more than a tickle.

He had the physical attributes of an ordinary person, without any enhancements. Although he had the strong physique of a farmer, he was still no match for Gao Hai.

Could this space be a slice of time from when [Lijia Village] was still an ordinary village?

Gao Hai pondered, seriously considering whether to break Li Ziyong's neck for further verification. However, before he could take any action, the old man who had been supported by Li Ziyong shouted and swung a cane at Gao Hai. Then, unsurprisingly, Gao Hai was completely unaffected, while the old man himself was knocked out of his hand by the recoil and fell to the ground.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Please save us!"

The old man who had fallen to the ground began to cry out.

"Help...Your Majesty..."

Still held tightly by Gao Hai, Li Ziyong, who was already having difficulty breathing, also began to beg.

Are they calling upon the god they believe in? It seems that although there is something wrong with this Li Family Village, it still has the same faith problem as other villages in other dimensions.

Wait a minute...

What was that nickname those two just used?

"Your Majesty? They're not calling for the Mountain God, but Your Majesty?"

This doesn't make sense. They're clearly from Li Family Village, so why are they calling her "Niangniang" (Goddess)? Does "Niangniang" refer to the Fox Goddess? Could this be Liu Family Village instead of Li Family Village? How could Li Ziyong, a believer in the mountain god, call her "Niangniang"?! This is completely wrong...

Gao Hai was momentarily stunned, not understanding what was going on.

But then he heard a commotion. Turning around, he saw that the gate of the Li Family Compound had been opened, and many people carrying tools such as hoes, kitchen knives, pitchforks, and sickles rushed in.

Chapter 59: Resident Evil 4 Remake - Mercenary Mode

From the moment he entered the village in this strange space, Gao Hai had a feeling that things had become very strange and inexplicable.

Whether it was Li Ziyong, who seemed to have never seen any strange creatures before, or even being frightened by Yili's clone, or Jackta, who inexplicably separated from the others after entering and disappeared without a trace, or the two guys who were now screaming "Your Majesty, save me!" after being terrified by him, or the villagers who surrounded him behind him, who had no trace of strange creatures on them... all of this development made Gao Hai feel extremely strange.

What exactly is the village in this space?

How come these villagers are so different from those treacherous and unruly people from before?

"Where did this outsider come from? Why are their clothes so strange?"

"Who cares who he is, just kill him!"

"Protect the clan leader! We mustn't hurt the clan leader!"

However, no matter what doubts Gao Hai had in his heart, the villagers in front of him would not stop because of this.

A strong sense of malice is spreading.

Through the power of blessing—no, without even needing the power of blessing—Gao Hai could clearly sense the intense malice these villagers harbored towards him. They wanted to kill him. Almost every villager present harbored the intention to kill Gao Hai, and showed no resistance or aversion to the act of murder; many even seemed somewhat expectant and eager to try it.

Even though the villagers clearly didn't recognize Gao Hai and only saw him as an outsider, it seemed that his mere status as an "outsider" was enough for them to unleash a killing spree.

So, in the end, it's all the same.

Even though these villagers may seem different from the people in the Li Family Village we've met before, they are essentially the same people.

Just as the intelligence I've gathered so far suggests, these extremely xenophobic, cruel, and utterly shameless individuals are essentially the same, regardless of their outward appearances. While it's true that ancient farmers lived a hard life and such behavior was understandable, in this village, these people have gone to extremes, reaching a point of complete inhumanity; calling them beasts in human skin wouldn't be an exaggeration.

In that case, it shouldn't be a problem to fight back a little. Hmm, but I'm not sure what would happen if I killed him, so I'll just break his bones.

After making up his mind, Gao Hai casually brushed aside a sickle that was being swung in front of him, and with a light kick, he broke the knee of a villager who was rushing towards him with a "crack" sound.

Take a step forward.