End of ten days

Fortunately, Aries' playground is not far from where I was born, about ten minutes' walk to the west.

I went to meet Aries every day. At the beginning, my mood was extremely complicated, and I didn't even know what to think of him.

Is it a partner? A teammate? is teacher?

He is like a very special being. I can learn a lot from him, but he is definitely not my friend.

If I think about it carefully, maybe I am more like a "subordinate".

I am a subordinate who follows orders and reports to my boss every day.

I have actually thought about it... can I become "friends" with Aries?

Aries has really changed a lot, and since I have seen him in the "interview room" many times, I can clearly feel this change now.

He became cold, paranoid...and a little ruthless.

It's a pity that no one can agree with my point of view. I never saw Zhang Qiang, sheep and Shar-Pei again, they seemed to have disappeared from the world.

Every time I come to his game venue, Aries is in a daze without exception.

Every time he raised his head to look at me, it seemed like he took a few seconds to think about who I really was.

"Brother Yang...are you really okay?" I shouted, "You look really different from five years ago..."

"Let's make a pact." Aries said coldly, "In the future, you are prohibited from mentioning what happened five years ago to anyone, including me. You just need to remember that I will become the "zodiac sign" from now on."

"What...?" I didn't understand. "Can you tell me the reason...?"

"No," Aries replied, "I don't think I need to explain everything I do to you."

I stood in front of Aries and quickly ran out of words.

I miss Jiang Ruoxue a little bit.

If she were here... maybe she would get acquainted with Aries right away, right?

Although my personality is a bit more cheerful than it was five years ago, I really don’t know how to deal with people like Aries.

He talks even less than I do, and with random aggression.

But I know that I can't let the situation develop. I want something from Aries. I need him to help me become stronger. Maybe sometimes I need to learn from Jiang Ruoxue...

"What are you thinking about?" I walked over and sat next to Aries and asked.

"What...?" Aries probably didn't expect me to be so proactive, and his eyes were obviously startled.

"I see that you have been in a daze all day long...What are you thinking about in your brain?"

After hearing this, Aries slowly lowered his head, his eyes looking like a wry smile.

"Yeah...what am I thinking?" Aries asked me.

"I don't know." I shook my head, "Would you like to share with me what you are thinking about?"

"Yan Zhichun... What do you think is the motivation for everyone wandering here to escape?" Aries asked again.

"Motive?" I thought about it after hearing this, and felt that this question was a bit interesting. "I don't quite understand the question. Each of us was caught here from the real world. We have to escape from a place like hell. ...Is there any clear motive needed? There is no way anyone would be willing to stay in this place, right?"

"I think this statement is too absolute." Aries sighed, "There must be people who don't want to go out...but it doesn't matter who doesn't want to go out. I just want to know...if someone has to go out, what is the reason to persist to the end? What’s the motive?”

After hearing this, I thought for a while and said, "Pursue advantages and avoid disadvantages." "Memories of General Liang Shang" said that as for pursuing advantages and avoiding disadvantages, fearing death and rejoicing in life, it is also equal. Everyone wants "You don't need a clear motive to escape from a dangerous place."

"It makes sense..." Aries nodded, but quickly shook his head, "But seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages is only the initial motive... What will happen if they find that this place cannot escape for a long time? Woolen cloth?"

I seem to understand Aries' question a little bit. He is not asking about the motivations of ordinary people, but the motivations of the strong.

"Brother Yang, for everyone, as long as they collect 3,600 "Tao" stones, they can escape." I said, "Because they don't know the "truth", even if they really collect them all, they will be washed away. After losing their memory and starting over, the ruler here kept giving them the same motive. This motive stuck everyone and the place. "

Aries nodded after hearing this: "I almost forgot that you are a smart person, and I really gained something from talking to you."

"Is this a compliment to me?"

"Forget it." Aries agreed, "Yan Zhichun, let's discuss another hypothesis. If there is a person who keeps his memory for a long time, and he knows everything about this place, and always finds that he can't escape, then he will follow the "seeking profit" The instinct to avoid harm?"

"That's probably not the case." I said, "The reason why people are strong is, firstly, because they can "seek advantages and avoid disadvantages," and secondly, because they have strong enough "adaptability." When this place is destined to be inescapable, When the time comes, they will find a way to live here safely, just like there are people living in the coldest and hottest places in the world now.”

"So he needs a 'motivation'." Aries said, "What kind of 'motivation' can allow him to resist all external pressure and want to go out wholeheartedly?"

"Even if he knows he can't escape from here... he still wants to get out?"

"That's right..." Aries said.

"But you are much smarter than me." I looked at Aries puzzled, "You should be able to think of a better way, right?"

"It's just because I can't think of it...that's why I need to find someone with a different life path to discuss with me." Aries said, "Sometimes the solution comes not only from wisdom, but also from experience."

I nodded after listening, but I really didn't have any good ideas.

The reason why I advance here is just to "get stronger", so whether I can get out is not the first priority for me.

Even if I go out, I have to make sure that my days in the "Ending Land" are not wasted. Every day I will be stronger than myself yesterday.

So for me... the "motivation to get out" is really a bit abstract, maybe I need a little time to think about the answer.

"I might have to think about it...maybe I'll tell you the answer after a while."

"Okay, the "Memorial to General Liang Shang" you just mentioned reminded me of another thing." Aries said to me, "Yan Zhichun, I remember you are a very knowledgeable person."

"I dare not say that I am knowledgeable." I shook my head. "It's just that my natural wisdom is not strong. I can only rely on the supplement of acquired knowledge to barely be able to keep up with the ideas of some monsters."

"It's interesting." Aries said, "From now on, you can bring me a book every day."

"Book?"

"Yes, I know there is a bookstore nearby. It is right on the way you came to find me. There should be undamaged books in it. You can stop by and pick up books for me every day, just one book a day." explain.

"But why not get a few more books at once?" I asked again, "Wouldn't that be more convenient?"

"I need to reimburse myself and read one book every day." Aries replied, "If I have two books at the same time, I will subconsciously think "I still have two days," which will lead to slacking off."