Dongcheng was a sprawling metropolis, and Xu Zhi, along with his companion, spent hours wandering its busy streets.
They ventured into a bustling shopping mall, where Xu Zhi splurged on an array of household items—a washing machine, microwave, refrigerator, and more. His plan was to transform his old, dilapidated house into a modern home. The shopkeeper, delighted with such a generous customer in an age where online shopping had taken over, promised immediate delivery of the items.
In truth, Xu Zhi preferred online shopping, where product performance was standardized, and he only cared about the aesthetics—how the appliances would look together, and how to arrange them in a clutter-free space.
Next, he had Chen Xi lead him to other stores, where he stocked up on various tools: a high-pressure water gun, an electric drill, a chainsaw, water sprinklers, and other modern farming equipment.
"Pack it all up! We'll deliver it for free!" the shopkeeper exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. Xu Zhi's purchases had cost several thousand yuan, and by the time he was done, he had spent about seventy to eighty thousand yuan. With only eleven thousand left in his account, he wasn't concerned about budgeting for the moment—he felt too lazy to worry.
On the ride back, Xu Zhi sat in the front seat of a scooter, with Chen Xi perched behind him. Unable to resist, she reached out and tugged on a strand of his thick black hair. Xu Zhi winced in pain, his face contorting as if he were about to cry.
"What are you doing? Control your hands!" he protested.
"Wow!" Chen Xi gasped, shocked by the force it took to pull the hair out. She quickly tossed it away, wide-eyed. "Such strong hair! I had to pull so hard! What did you do to it?"
Xu Zhi, grumbling, rubbed his scalp, feeling a headache coming on. Why is she so obsessed with my hair? Am I not allowed to grow it out?
He sighed and finally responded, voice laced with irritation, "I told you already, it's from chemotherapy. I've recovered from the side effects. I wasn't born bald!"
"Really?" Chen Xi stared at him in disbelief.
"Really."
Xu Zhi spoke with unyielding seriousness.
"But it's still... so much," she said, still visibly stunned.
She'd been bringing him meals for days now, and the changes in him were undeniable. His hair had grown back, his body had visibly improved, and his once-pale face now radiated health. Could this all truly be the result of nothing more than rest and exercise?
Something didn't feel right to her.
"You're overthinking it. I'm not going to bother explaining further," Xu Zhi muttered as he maneuvered the scooter through the countryside road, the occasional pile of cow dung hardly bothering him—after all, the scooter wasn't his.
The fields on either side were neatly arranged, and elderly villagers waved at them as they passed.
"Oh? Did you two go into town?" one of the women called out.
"You young people should get out more!" another added.
"Our village is full of old folks. Everyone's busy working or studying. You two are the only young ones left!"
Xu Zhi waved back with a smile. "Hello, Mrs. Li, Mr. Zhang. I just took Chen Xi on a shopping trip to pick up some household items."
The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the landscape. It was already past six, and the stars began to twinkle in the sky. The difference between this rural night and the city's polluted skyline was stark—the countryside's night sky was utterly clear, full of stars.
Xu Zhi couldn't help but reflect. Even within the miniature sandbox world, despite its fifty-year-long nights, one could still look up and see bright stars, a full moon, and the infinite possibilities of the universe.
"How small is our world? To them, two hundred years and five generations of labor have passed. For me, it's only been two days and a quick shopping trip."
He chuckled and waved goodbye to Chen Xi as they reached the yard. Xu Zhi was about to check on the sandbox when the Hive Mind's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Gilgamesh is about to die of old age."
"Tonight? It's happening that soon?" Xu Zhi muttered to himself, disbelief creeping into his voice.
In the yard, he paused for a moment, taking out a knife and peeling an orange. The peel unwound in a continuous strip, but then the knife faltered and broke.
"Too bad I couldn't pull it off," Xu Zhi sighed. He scratched his head and stood up.
The tiny Bugape he had created, who once could only scream "Baldy!" "Baldy!" had come so far. In the end, it had written an epic with its own life. Xu Zhi marveled at the progress.
He had only given them basic tools, yet somehow, one of them had advanced enough to become a great king. Gilgamesh, though harsh and ruthless, had proven himself a worthy monarch.
"The Bugapes have flourished," Xu Zhi mused. "But they've also brought destruction. If I don't step in soon, they'll ruin everything."
He paused, considering the decision. It's only right that I visit an old acquaintance, even if I can't change his fate. But these Bugapes... they're a problem. They've already decimated ecosystems, waged war, and conquered everything in their path. If I don't intervene, they'll be the only ones left in the sandbox.
He set the orange aside, then gave his command. "Slow down their time flow and return it to normal."
With that, he donned his blue boot covers and stepped into the sandbox.
Step. Step. Step.
The ground trembled under each stride. Mountains, rivers, and forests quaked as Xu Zhi's massive footsteps left valleys in their wake. Beasts of the forest scattered in panic.
"What's happening?"
"Will the city collapse?"
Soon, the royal city of Uruk began to tremble, its foundations shuddering beneath Xu Zhi's weight. The streets, walls, and buildings shook. The tiny people below, their faces filled with worry, looked up in fear.
Gilgamesh, now an old man, led his court, kneeling as he recognized the presence before him. A childlike joy lit up his weathered face. "After two hundred years, the sentient titan I met in my youth has returned! The Wise Beast who gave me the Three Treasures of Civilization is finally back!"
Xu Zhi's gaze swept over the city. To him, Uruk—this vast city housing millions—was little more than a small disc, barely larger than a dinner plate. Despite its impressive architecture, it was fragile.
"Their civilization is still primitive," Xu Zhi thought, surveying the city's fragile stonework. "They lack the understanding of cement, so the foundations are weak."
He strode toward the ancient temple, towering over it as he approached. There, beneath the vast shadow of his presence, stood a pale, handsome old man, clutching the Sword of Damocles. His face was wet with tears as he looked up, awaiting his old friend's return.