“Forget it, I’m really not the type to swallow my pride and beg.” He regained his cold demeanor, lightly tapping the big wooden crate and said, “Old Bin, are there any other monster nests around here?”
“罢了，我果然不是拉下脸求人的人。”他恢复冷酷神情，轻巧的敲了敲大木箱，“老宾，这里有没有其它怪物巢穴？”
Possessing treasures with no way to use them.
空有宝物而不能使用。
Yang Zicang deeply felt the pinch of insufficient resources, unsure how much Sequence he would need to spend to extend his time. If only he had more extra lifespan, he could immediately enter the unknown dream world and acquire new abilities.
杨子藏深刻体会到了捉襟见肘的感觉，不知道那里面要花多少时序去延长时间。要是更多额外寿命，自己马上就可以去到未知的梦境世界获得新能力了。
“Pfft~” Luo Bin shot him a disdainful glance: “Ha, if you’d asked me half a day ago, I’d have said there was nothing suitable for you. But now, my model has just discovered a C-level Staggered Ground.”
“噗~”洛宾白了他一眼：“呵，换做半天前，我会告诉你没有适合你的。不过现在，我模型刚好发现个C级交错地。”
C-level Staggered Ground, also known as the Crescent level.
C级交错地，也叫做新月级。
“Your model has that ability too.”
“你模型还有这本事。”
“Of course. Let’s go.”
“那是当然，走吧。”
A few of them packed up their things and set off. The rift of this C-level Staggered Ground was still relatively hidden, tucked inside a wardrobe in a room on a residential building floor.
几人收拾了下东西就出发了。这处C级交错地的裂缝依旧比较隐秘，它在一处居民楼上的房间衣柜里。
Without a frequency crystal, Luo Bin might still have some trouble locating a hidden A-level intersecting zone, but for a C-level one, spotting nearby zones is a piece of cake.
洛宾在没有频晶的情况下，想要找到隐秘的A级交错地可能依旧有点麻烦，但对于C级交错地来说，轻易就能发现附近的。
This left Liang Xi, who only had a blunt angle, feeling utterly envious.
这可把只有个钝角的梁喜羡慕得不行。
“Are you sure I’m okay to go in with you?”
“我跟着进去真的没关系吗？”
The frequency crystal spawner for this level was just a two-line human like the boy—but without a frequency crystal, he’d be in serious danger.
这个等级对应的频晶孕育者，便属于少年这种仅两条线的人，可他没有频晶还是比较危险。
Luo Bin said:
洛宾道：
“Free intel. If there are two or more Triangle-ranked individuals, they can stabilize parts of a C-class Cross Zone without using a Frequency Crystal.”
“免费情报。如果是两名以上三角形人员，可以不借用频晶就能稳定C级空间的部分区域显现。”
Liang Xi followed the other two into the wardrobe nervously.
梁喜忐忑的跟着两人进入衣柜。
Everywhere inside were flickering energy fields and swirling mists.
这里面到处都是闪动的各种能量场与烟雾。
Overlapping chaotic images filled the space, with only a few meters underfoot showing a relatively stable image. The grassland ahead glided under wave-like trails of energy, then changed into a sandy shoal.
重叠的各种混乱影像弥漫，只有脚下数米范围显现比较稳定的画面。前方的草地在水波般的能量滑过后，又变成了砂砾浅滩。
[Luo Bin wants to invest in me.]
[洛宾想为我进行投资。]
[Luo Bin invested 200N in me.]
[洛宾为我投资了200N.]
“Roar~”
“吼~”
“Howl~”
“呜嗷~”
The space rumbled faintly as different scenes revealed the figures of all kinds of beasts, all staring their way. Those monsters, blocked by other zones, couldn’t cross over.
空间隐隐震动，不同的场景内出现各不相同的野兽们的身影，它们朝这边看来。那些怪物们只要被其它区域挡住，就无法跨越。
Both Liang Xi and Yang Zicang had entered such a place for the first time, feeling immediately fascinated.
梁喜和杨子藏都是第一次进入这儿，霎时觉得特别新鲜。
“This is the ‘Cross Zone,’ where various terrains overlap.”
“这就是各种地形重叠的‘交错地’了。”
Luo Bin pointed at a mutated beast, grinning.
洛宾笑呵呵指着变异的野兽。
“Don’t worry, they can’t get out. There are multiple terrain scenes here—all we need to do is stabilize them into one.”
“放心，它们出不来。这里有多个地形场景，我们要做的就是将它们稳定成一种。”
Within a couple of minutes, some images transformed into a completely different scene as energy waves spread.
没两分钟，一些影像就会在能量波动扩散后，变成了另外的环境模样。
“How do we stabilize it?”
“怎么稳定？”
“We pick the same scene, clear out the creatures living in it, and after a while, that scene will solidify.”
“我们需要选择走同样的场景，清理里面的生物，待一段时间场景就会固定下来。”
Luo Bin explained: “Since forest scenes are more common here, to save time waiting for a refresh, let’s go with forest.”
洛宾介绍道：“这里森林景象比较多，为节约刷新的等待时间，我们就选择森林好了。”
The three of them walked into the three-dimensional world that resembled a holographic curtain on the left, stepping into what felt like a forest stage. Inside this dimly lit forest, four lean old wolves cautiously snarled at them.
三人走向左侧如同全息幕布的三维世界，如同走入一个森林舞台。那是光线昏暗的森林，其中四只瘦弱的老狼正谨慎冲着他们低吼。
Pfft!
噗！
Yang Zicang swung his silver spear, piercing the head of a thin old wolf that lunged at him in a single strike.
杨子藏挥动银枪，一枪就戳穿了扑上来的那只体型瘦小的老狼头颅。
[I gained 7.1Y.]
[我收获了7.1Y。]
Seven months—their lifespan was so short.
七个月，它们的寿命好短。
Accustomed to lifespans often measured in decades, Yang Zicang muttered a slight complaint, then looked at the few gray wolves scattering around in panic.
习惯了动辄几十年寿命的杨子藏略微吐槽了句，看向了另外几只吓得到处乱窜的灰狼。
This manifested gray wolf arena was only the size of two ordinary living rooms, and they couldn’t escape since the space had been temporarily stabilized.
这片显现的灰狼场地仅仅两个普通客厅大小，被暂时稳定空间的它们根本跑不出去。
With a throw of his spear, another wolf was pinned to the ground, wailing incessantly.
一枪掷出，又一头狼被钉在地面，不断哀嚎。
“What a fine spear! And your aim is spot on, tsk tsk.”
“真是好枪啊！而且你投得又准，啧啧。”
“You guys deal with this one.”
“这头狼你们解决吧。”
Yang Zicang said, referring to the wolf still alive and pinned down by his long spear.
杨子藏对着被长枪订住未死的狼道。
Luo Bin laughed heartily, gave him a thumbs up, and jerked his chin to signal Liang Xi to step in. Liang Xi tightened his grip on the steel rod—fitted with a wooden handle and a sharpened tip—walked over, and thrust it into the gray wolf’s heart.
洛宾笑哈哈的给他竖了个大拇指，努嘴示意梁喜上。梁喜紧了紧手上这把加装了木手把、打磨过尖端的钢条，走上前将它戳进了灰狼的心脏。
“Wow, we scored several months of lifespan so easily!”
“好轻松就得到了几个月寿命诶！”
Liang Xi almost cried from emotion—he’d never had it this easy before.
梁喜差点感动到哭，从来没这么轻松过。
After finishing off these ordinary beasts and waiting two more minutes, the area suddenly expanded by about two meters.
解决完这几头普通的野兽，又待了两分钟，这片区域突地延展了两米左右。
“Stabilization complete.”
“稳定完毕。”
Luo Bin looked at Yang Zicang and praised.
洛宾看着杨子藏夸道：
“Alright, it won’t turn into another world for a few days now. Fast, only two minutes. Using a C-grade frequency crystal to stabilize the terrain would take at least ten minutes. The quadrilateral model is truly amazing.”
“好了，这几天内它不会变成别的世界了。真快啊，才两分钟，用C级频晶来稳固地貌，都差不多要十分钟才行。四边形真厉害噢。”
This sarcastic guy was clearly praising himself. Yang Zicang gave him an exasperated look.
这阴阳怪气的家伙明显是在夸自己，杨子藏无语看了他一眼。
“If we just keep waiting for other scenes to turn into forests and clear them, we’ll end up with a forest in the end?”
“只要继续等其它场景变成森林进行清理，最后就真有片森林？”
“Exactly. Also, these areas are called Staggered Stage Views.”
“没错。另外，这些区域叫做交错幕景。”
Yang Zicang nodded. It really did look like small scenes under a curtain. Seeing is believing; he finally understood the rules here.
杨子藏点头，这的确像一道道帷幕下的小场景。百闻不如一见，他总算明白这里的规则了。
The forest scenes appeared and disappeared intermittently. Though numerous, some were separated by stage-like landscapes such as dense thickets, fields, and riverbanks.
森林场景时而出现，时而消失。它们虽然数量多，但有些被一个个舞台般的密草丛、田地、河滩等地貌所隔断。
The terrain kept shifting. In just a few minutes, a patch of wasteland nearby vanished, replaced by another forest right next to it.
地貌不断变换着。没几分钟，身旁一处荒地消失，出现了另一片紧挨着的森林。
Gun shadows flickered.
枪影闪动。
Once again, a few gaunt gray wolves fell at the hands of the trio. After clearing this area, which was the size of two stages, Luo Bin picked a sturdy-looking wolf, skinned and carved its meat, chipped off some wooden branches from a nearby tree, and started a fire.
又是数只瘦弱的灰狼倒在三人手下。这片两个舞台大的地貌清理完毕后，洛宾选了头体格比较拽实的狼将它剥皮切肉，从旁边树上凿来木条升了堆火。
“Kid, I’ll teach you how to roast meat.”
“小子，我教你烤肉。”
Liang Xi nodded.
梁喜点点头。
Luo Bin was skilled in his movements and had brought seasoning packs before coming. Right there, he put on a real show for the two of them. Since everyone hadn’t eaten much, Luo Bin was basically taking them out to see the world and have a picnic combined.
洛宾的动作熟练，而且他来之前备好了调味包，在这儿给两人好好的露了手。反正大伙儿们都没怎么吃饭，洛宾这算是带两人来见世面顺便野炊了。
About halfway through the roasting, the small patch of barren land nearby slowly transformed into a new forest scene.
烤到一半，附近的小片荒地缓慢变动成新的森林幕景。
There seemed to be a faintly visible wooden cabin within it.
里面似乎有个若隐若现的小木屋。
“Looks like someone lives there?”
“像是有人居住？”
“No, there can’t be anyone in there. If it’s a humanoid creature, then we need to be careful.”
“不，这里面不会有人。如果是人形生物，那么就要小心了。”
Luo Bin glanced at it and gestured for Liang Xi to take over the skewered wolf meat. He wiped his hands, picked up the steel rod, and headed toward it.
洛宾看了眼，示意梁喜接手自己串的狼肉。他擦擦手拎起钢条往那里面走去。
Yang Zicang followed.
杨子藏跟上。
“Woo-ow~”
“呜嗷~”
Swarms of shadows rushed out from the surrounding darkness.
密密麻麻的身影自周围黑暗中冲出。
“So many?” Luo Bin was startled.
“这么多？”洛宾吓了跳。
[Liang Xi wants to make an active investment in me.]
[梁喜想要为我进行主动投资。]
[Liang Xi invested 50N in me.]
[梁喜为我投资了50N。]
This vista had expanded significantly in size.
这个暮景的面积变大了许多。
“We’ve already stabilized two forest zones—this is the third. The more we stabilize the same type of terrain, the faster other undisclosed forest zones will appear.”
“我们已经稳定了两片森林区域，这是第三处。随着相同地貌稳定越来越多，其它未显现的森林区域会更快显现。”
A golden phantom aura shimmered around the steel rod in Luo Bin’s hand. Although he hadn’t bothered with physical training, someone who had struggled and survived here for three years was clearly no waste.
洛宾掌中钢条金色虚影流转，虽然他并没有进行身材管理，但能在此摸爬滚打三年的人显然不是废材。
“After all, this is just a C-level zone, and it’s not that big. It only took clearing two to trigger terrain convergence.”
“这里毕竟只是C级区域，面积并不大，才清理两个就已经出现地貌聚合现象了。”
In the face of the gray wolves that pounced suddenly, his movements were agile, fast and precise. In almost a flash, he accurately ended the lives of two nearby vicious wolves.
面对猛然扑袭而来的灰狼，他身形灵动，出手既快且准，几乎在电光火石间便精准地终结了近身两匹恶狼的性命。
Thud! Thud!
噗、噗！
Yang Zicang swung his spear like a child fighting, but it moved strangely fast, carrying a semblance of convincing power.
杨子藏手上长枪舞动得虽如同小孩打架，却速度奇怪，看上去倒也有几分像模像样的威势。
[I gained a total of 2.11N.]
[我共计收获了2.11N。]
Two wolves fell to the ground.
两只狼倒地。
Counting the two smaller landform areas from earlier, this trip has already netted nearly five years of temporal sequence.
算上之前的两小块地貌区域，这一趟已经收获了接近五年的时序。
This is the source of temporal sequence for most people around here.
这就是这里大多数人的时序来源。
It might seem decent, but they only have half a month to accumulate them, with three hundred years left to hold back for the end of the month—the pressure is palpable.
看上去似乎不错，却只有半个月的时间来累积它们，而且还要给月末留下三百年。这压力可想而知。
“Too many. I’ll go alone.”
“太多了，我一个人去好了。”
[Investor Luo Bin wishes to make an active investment for me.]
[投资人洛宾想为我进行主动投资。]
[Luo Bin invests 100N for me.]
[洛宾为我投资100N。]
Protected by a quadruple amplification, Yang Zicang grabbed his spear and charged into an area over ten meters away.
进行四倍增幅保护后，杨子藏拎着枪冲入十几米外区域。
The wolf pack had been waiting for a while, and several vicious figures sprang at him.
狼群早已等待多时，数道凶恶的身影扑了上来。
Spear shadows flickered; though many wolves were there, up close with Yang Zicang, they scratched narrowly past him without landing a blow on the young man.
枪影闪动，这些狼虽然数量多，但面对近在咫尺的杨子藏，它们的爪子却总是从他身旁惊险划过，落不到年轻人身上。
Thump! Grunt! One gray wolf after another collapsed into pools of blood, staining the ground crimson. They seemed to rush right onto the spear tips.
噗嘭！一具接一具的灰狼躯体倒在血泊中，鲜血染红了地面。它们就像主动撞到枪尖上。
Behind him, Luo Bin stood dumbfounded.
洛宾在后方看得一愣一愣的。
After cleaning up, Yang Zicang reached for the wooden door but couldn’t help thinking of that rusty iron door from before.
清理完的杨子藏手触摸到木门时，不由自主想到了之前那扇生锈铁门。
“Shouldn’t be that unlucky.”
“应该没这么倒霉吧。”
Still uneasy, he circled the wooden cabin and found a gap—from a rain-preserved warped plank due to leakage—to peer inside.
他还是有点不放心，于是围着木屋转了圈，从一角因为漏雨发霉变形的木板处，找到了个能看清里面的缝隙。
He peered through the gap to find the interior had been abandoned for a long time. It only contained some supplies left by hunters—ropes, an axe, nails—along with withered wolf skins hanging on the wall and a sturdy bow.
凑眼看去，屋内是荒废许久的模样，里面只有些猎人准备的物资，绳索、斧头与钉子，以及挂在墙上的干瘪狼皮和一张硬弓。