Chapter 95: The Anchor Point

The sky was gray, and a fine, silken drizzle fell softly upon the streets. Rainwater gathered in rivulets on the ground, reflecting the brilliant lights of surrounding buildings and adding a touch of mystery and romance to the air.

Along the sloped streets, rows of stilt houses stood with an antique charm. Traditional archways were inlaid with golden light strips, and lanterns hanging from the upturned eaves cast a captivating and dazzling radiance, even on such a gloomy, rainy day.

Most of the passersby had black hair and yellow skin. Some even wore ancient-style robes with wide sleeves and carried oil-paper umbrellas, yet the smart glasses and floating headsets they wore infused this rich, traditional aesthetic with a high-tech edge. The fusion of ancient style and advanced technology felt surprisingly harmonious.

The City of Redemption was under the jurisdiction of Gospel Biotechnology, but the Chinatown within its high-precision district always evoked memories of cities under the rule of "Lingxi Energy," permeated with a mysterious and ancient Eastern atmosphere.

Li Nanke, holding an umbrella, stepped into a shop filled with the cozy scent of hearth and home. As he entered, a small drone carrying a thermal container buzzed overhead and dived into the misty rain.

The lighting inside was soft, and the antique furnishings felt like a return to a world almost forgotten. Several ink wash paintings hung on the walls, and a variety of traditional tea sets were arranged behind the counter. Steam rose in graceful curls from bamboo steamers, and the tempting aroma of food filled the air.

The shop was busy. Some customers sat on wooden chairs, savoring various types of dim sum; others stood at the counter, picking out freshly baked pastries. Android servers, dressed in Tang suits, moved among the guests with smiles, delivering piping hot dishes.

Li Nanke found a seat by the window. Outside, the rain continued to fall in a dense, fine curtain, but inside, an old-fashioned heater kept the room as warm as spring. He ordered a pot of jasmine tea, along with baskets of shrimp dumplings, siu mai, and chicken feet. He blew gently on the steaming tea and took a sip; the delicate fragrance of jasmine bloomed in his mouth.

After last night’s psychological treatment by Lina, the imbalance of reason caused by his beastly nature had been largely smoothed out. As long as he did not rashly enhance his bestial power, there would be no risk of losing himself. Regarding how to navigate the next Forbidden Dream, Li Nanke considered a two-pronged approach.

First, to enhance his human traits, "Flame Breath" and "Flame Fall," and to dig for a non-bestial secondary trait to balance his overly prominent beastly nature.

Second, to follow Lina’s advice: find a suitable anchor to provide direction and prevent himself from becoming lost—a method commonly used by transcendent beings in reality.

"An anchor... I’m an outsider, with no emotional attachments, no one I truly care about. Where would I find an anchor?"

"The only thing I love is good food."

He picked up a pair of bamboo chopsticks and lifted a translucent shrimp dumpling.

The dumpling skin was as thin as a cicada's wing, revealing the pink, tender shrimp inside. With a gentle bite, the shrimp meat was fresh and juicy, the skin smooth and tender, and the layers of texture danced on his tongue.

In the small steamer beside it, the siu mai had slightly transparent wrappers, with the pork and shiitake mushrooms blended to perfection, emitting an enticing fragrance. The wrappers were soft and glutinous, the filling savory and aromatic, making it impossible to stop at just one.

The chicken feet, served on a small, porcelain-white dish, had been braised until soft and flavorful. A gentle nibble was all it took for the meat to melt in his mouth, the freshness of the flesh perfectly combined with the gelatinous quality of the skin, rich in savory sauce yet not greasy.

In this strange city, the familiar sensation on his taste buds allowed him to momentarily forget the wind and rain outside and the turmoil within his heart.

Li Nanke closed his eyes contentedly and thought to himself, "It seems good food really can restore SAN value..."

After finishing his meal, he sipped his tea slowly, staring blankly at the rain curtain outside the window.

After completing his new project, Director Frank had waved his hand and granted the team a full week of vacation. Jiang Lei had secretly told him that his promotion application had been submitted to the Research and Personnel Departments, and an official notice should arrive soon.

The new position would likely be "Assistant Researcher," promoting him from an F-rank to an E-rank. Because he was part of Frank's core team, his status actually carried a bonus, making him an E+ personnel. Not only would his salary increase by 50%, but he would also receive a series of benefits, the most notable being the ability to "choose his own housing."

At that moment, his communicator suddenly rang. Li Nanke raised an eyebrow and answered it, hearing the voice of his childhood friend, Bai Yuefeng, sounding anxious and surprised.

"Old Li, I went to your shop today and saw a 'Shop for Rent' sign on the door. What’s going on?"

"Why were you at my shop?"

"What do you think? Looking for some 'love-action' dreams, of course... Don't change the subject. Tell me the truth, are you in some kind of trouble? Don't try to brush me off; I could tell when you asked me to buy that android face last time."

Li Nanke remained silent for a long time, offering no answer.

Finally, Bai Yuefeng said, "If you're in trouble, just say it. I won't bat an eye if I can help, and even if I can't, Old Zhu definitely has a way. If you're too embarrassed to ask, I'll go beg him myself."

Is this what an anchor is?

Li Nanke mused, "It’s hard to explain over the communicator. Let’s meet at our usual spot."

"Alright!"

...

Neon lights cast colorful reflections on the rainy street, and the air was thick with damp mist.

The restaurant was located in a narrow alley. Its sign flickered with broken, glowing letters, and through the window, one could see the bustling, noisy crowd inside. Although the place was humble, it had a good reputation in Development District D and was a favorite gathering spot for many residents of the slums.

The private room was simply decorated, with old posters on the walls and an antique stereo in the corner playing a melodic tune. Several plates of hot dishes were already on the table, their fragrance mouth-watering.

Before long, the door to the room pushed open, and two young men walked in.

Bai Yuefeng, with his multi-colored hair, loose floral shirt, and flip-flops, still looked as untethered as ever. Behind him was a slightly chubby man in a suit and tie, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, showing no trace of his past as an outcast from the Safety Zone. He glanced at the dingy environment of the room, his expression unchanged, though his brow furrowed slightly.

Li Nanke raised an eyebrow. "Old Zhu, you came too."

The man, named Zhu Zhengyu, acknowledged him, pulled out a chair to sit, and took out two napkins to wipe down the bowls and chopsticks. "Xiao Bai said you were in a tight spot and asked me to help."

The three were old friends, all outcasts who had fled from the disaster-stricken Safety Zones. However, Li Nanke and Bai Yuefeng had struggled, each doing odd, illicit jobs, while Zhu Zhengyu had, by chance, become an employee at Gospel Biotechnology. Although he was only an ordinary staff member, he no longer had to live in slums like Development District D. Once their social classes diverged, Zhu Zhengyu had drifted away from his two old friends, and they hadn't been in touch for quite some time.

Bai Yuefeng quickly opened a bottle of liquor, filled a glass, and handed it to Zhu Zhengyu. "Old Li is really in trouble this time, even having to sell his shop. Let's see if the two of us can help."

Zhu Zhengyu took the glass but didn't drink. Instead, he poured the liquor into a bowl to rinse the utensils, dumped it into the trash, and poured himself a fresh glass. Ignoring Bai Yuefeng’s slightly embarrassed expression, he said bluntly:

"Tell me, Xiao Li, what kind of trouble are you in?"