Chapter Four: Attribute Panel

"Let's go!"

Zhou Yi strode forward, taking the lead into the wind tunnel. Song Hai trailed behind, glancing around left and right before following him in.

The whistling wind blew relentlessly past their ears. Immersed in its midst, Zhou Yi found it impossible to discern the difference between the so-called Blade Wind and an ordinary gale—it simply felt like normal wind, nothing extraordinary at all.

Perhaps it was because they'd only just entered, and the wind's force was still bearable. After walking for a while, Zhou Yi's thoughts began to drift away.

...

Zhou Yi was a transmigrator, and like many others of his kind, he possessed a cheat, in fact, not just one, but two.

The first was a talent.

From his own explorations so far, Zhou Yi believed this talent matched the sort one might imagine—photographic memory, sharp intellect—put simply, a prodigious, almost monstrous aptitude.

The second was a status panel.

Compared to his first cheat, the second seemed rather unimpressive; it merely presented his physical attributes and any other aspects he wished to know in the form of data, allowing him a clearer understanding of himself.

For now, this talent seemed of little practical use.

Still, Zhou Yi had a hunch that this status panel's utility would one day far exceed his current imagination, even if he had no idea how to make use of it yet.

...

Zhou Yi and Song Hai walked in a line, the former lost in his own world, seemingly oblivious to the howling Blade Wind swirling about him.

And it wasn't just Zhou Yi—even Song Hai, following close behind, found his gaze growing peculiar as he glanced at the wind around them. A suspicion crept into his mind: Was this truly the legendary Wind Tunnel, or was it a sham?

Wasn't it said that crossing the Wind Tunnel was like ascending a mountain of blades?

If passing a mountain of blades were so easy, then everything would be simple.

The two walked on, unconsciously covering some distance, until just a few paces ahead, a vivid red line was carved across the rock walls on either side.

Zhou Yi, in front, nearly stepped over the red line.

"You—" Song Hai, behind, wore a strange expression. He was about to call out to Zhou Yi when—

"Ahhh—!" Without thinking, Zhou Yi stepped over the line. In an instant, his face twisted in agony; his body doubled over, dropping to one knee as he let out a howl that echoed to the heavens.

The moment he crossed the red line, the wind around them seemed unchanged, but the sensation on his body was utterly different. It was as if countless blunt blades were hacking at him—clumsy, tearing blows, relentless and merciless.

Struck unprepared, Zhou Yi felt the world's malice keenly as agony flooded his senses.

So this really was the Blade Wind.

He believed it now, especially as the excruciating pain continued to convulse his face and twitch his eyelids. What reason did he have not to believe?

"What happened to you?" Song Hai, startled by Zhou Yi's sudden collapse and agonized screams, hurried closer with concern.

"Don't come any closer!" Catching sight of Song Hai's advancing feet, Zhou Yi's expression contorted further. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he raised a hand and shouted, "Stay back!"

"Ah?" Song Hai froze, rooted to the spot, staring blankly at Zhou Yi, confused.

Seeing his friend halt, Zhou Yi breathed a sigh of relief despite the agony. Forcing himself to steady his breath, he turned to Song Hai and explained, "You were right—the wind inside the tunnel isn't ordinary, it's the Blade Wind. I believe you now!"

"This is really the Blade Wind!" Zhou Yi wanted to cry. The pain was so intense he could barely move, as if every ounce of strength was being carved away by invisible blades. Speaking alone became a struggle, but he had to warn this fool—if Song Hai stepped over, they'd both be in trouble.

"Listen..." Zhou Yi mustered his will to speak, when his gaze caught the vivid red line on the rock walls. A thought flashed through his mind: Serves you right for not watching your step!

The red line was a clear marker—this section was nothing like the one before. How could I be so careless?

"Xiao Yi... are you alright? Should I come over and take a look?" Song Hai called out with concern.

"Don't move!" Zhou Yi reacted as if scalded, shouting, "Listen to me... the wind here is different from yours. This is the true Blade Wind—each gust cuts like a blade. It's just like crossing a mountain of knives!"

"What?" Song Hai was stunned, but then comprehension dawned and he urged anxiously, "Then hurry back! We don't have to go through the tunnel—come on, let's turn back!"

Seeing Zhou Yi's twisted face, the sweat pouring down his brow, Song Hai was terrified. Could it really be so painful?

"No... I... I can't retreat." Zhou Yi gritted his teeth through the agony, steadying his breath, drawing energy from the air to sustain his strength and endure just a little longer.

"Since I came here and made my decision, I can't turn back. To retreat... would mean defeat. I won't lose!" After a while, he forced out the words, slow but resolute.

"Why are you so stubborn?" Song Hai stamped his feet in frustration, watching the sweat on Zhou Yi's face pour from a drizzle to a torrent, then to a veritable downpour.

"It's... it's nothing... I'll hold on. Don't worry about me... go ahead, you can leave first. When I get through this, I'll come find you... Trust me, I'll be fine," Zhou Yi said haltingly, lifting his head with great effort.

With a thud, Zhou Yi closed his eyes and collapsed onto the ground, conserving what little strength he had left to help his body adapt to the onslaught of the Blade Wind.

"You... you..." The sound of Zhou Yi falling made Song Hai's heart skip a beat. For a moment, he feared the worst, but seeing Zhou Yi's chest still rising and falling, he relaxed. He glared at Zhou Yi, helpless.

In all the days they'd known each other, he'd never been able to out-stubborn him.

Casting one last deep look at his friend, Song Hai shook his head, resigned, and turned back the way they'd come.

On the ground, Zhou Yi's ears twitched, but he had no strength left to open his eyes. The pain engulfed him entirely; there was no room left for anything else.