PDLP Chapter 5: Attempting to exploit bugs
Chapter 5: Attempting to exploit bugs
"Tranquility leads to far-reaching vision" (Li Bowen): "Xiao Jiang's thoughtfulness is commendable. Knowing the facts is important, but it is also necessary to consider the reasons behind them in order to be prudent."
Although I'm feeling exhausted, I'll try my best to jot down some thoughts. Everyone should take care of their health, act within their limits, and not push themselves too hard. Everything in excess is harmful.
Su Fan: "Yes, everyone's points are valid. Keep an eye on things, stay in touch, and safety first. I'll also keep an eye out for any similar ancient records; maybe we can find some clues. As for next time... let's leave it to fate. What's meant to happen will happen."
Bai Ze's most loyal servant (Chen Yang): "Oh, right! There's one more extremely important thing!"
Chen Yang seemed to suddenly remember something, and his tone became serious—or at least he tried to be serious:
Bai Ze's most loyal servant (Chen Yang): "This whole thing is too bizarre! The more I think about it, the more I feel we absolutely cannot tell anyone! Not to our parents, friends, colleagues, or even our closest relatives! At least until we figure things out ourselves, we must keep it a secret!"
He listed his reasons, his fingers flying across the screen:
Bai Ze's most loyal servant (Chen Yang): "First of all, who would believe it if we told others? Most people would think we've all gone hysterical, or that we're just making up stories out of boredom."
Secondly, what if... I mean, what if there are some rules or taboos behind this that we don't yet know about? Would leaking them have negative consequences? Or would they cause unnecessary trouble?
Third, this is a unique adventure and secret just for the five of us! Like…like a small group in a novel who accidentally finds a secret manual, keeping it quiet is the key! Sharing secrets will make our group even closer, right?
Su Fan shook his head after looking at it; it really was just chuunibyou (a Japanese term for someone with delusions of grandeur).
Wang Ge (Wang Jianguo) from the construction site: "Xiao Chen is right. I also think this is too far-fetched. If we told others, no one would believe us. They would probably think we've gone crazy."
Ning Jing Zhi Yuan (Li Bowen): "Xiao Chen's consideration is thorough. This matter is extraordinary, and rashly publicizing it may indeed attract unnecessary attention, questioning, or even interference, which would be of no benefit to either oneself or others."
Jiang Yuhe (Jiang He): "I agree to the suggestion of confidentiality. Everyone can rest assured that when I consulted friends in related fields, I never revealed any specific details of my experience."
Our narratives risk falling into a predicament of being neither verifiable nor falsifiable. In the absence of verifiable objective anchors, it is indeed a more prudent approach to cautiously explore such anomalies, which heavily rely on subjective experience, within the context of those who directly experienced them.
Su Fan: "Everyone has thought things through very well. Indeed, no one would believe this if we told others, and it would only cause trouble. Let's just keep it to ourselves, stay in touch, and see how things go. Consider the confidentiality agreement verbally agreed upon."
Bai Ze's most loyal servant (Chen Yang): "Great! Everyone agrees! It's a pinky promise then, a hundred years from now! Whoever leaks it will... will miss their next dream! Pshaw, good luck! Anyway, the five of us are now the 'Bai Ze Group,' sharing a top-secret experience!"
After the chat group conversation ended, Su Fan's mind began to work.
What is the purpose of this thing?
A dream world that can be shared by up to five people and controlled by him. Sounds cool, and the experience was indeed breathtaking. But then what? Besides satisfying a momentary sense of novelty and a certain secret thrill of "creation," what is its actual value?
To make money? Even creating mountains of gold and silver in a dream won't bring it back to reality. To acquire knowledge? He'd tried; the Bai Ze he created couldn't provide information he didn't know, and the dream itself probably couldn't push the boundaries of his understanding. To enjoy himself? Doing whatever he wanted in a dream was indeed appealing, but the three days of mental exhaustion and the permanent loss of lifespan made this kind of "enjoyment" seem rather low in cost-effectiveness.
Used for social interaction? It can indeed draw others into a dream world, but it's just interacting in a fake environment that you have complete control over. What kind of social interaction is that?
Su Fan frowned. He had verified the existence of the strange object and that the rules were roughly as described in the text. However, its "use" was currently somewhat unclear.
Secure transmission of information? Can sensitive conversations that are monitored in reality take place in a dream where he has absolute control? But it seems unnecessary; he's not some big shot whose every word and action is being watched, so why would he need to transmit information in a dream?
A dream library or training ground? A completely safe, reconfigurable dream world where you can practice complex real-world operations, handle extreme situations, and learn new skills?
Su Fan's fingers tapped unconsciously on his knees as his thoughts raced, several options colliding in his mind:
Option A: A charlatan's deception.
Maintaining the narrative of "Bai Ze - Fate - Serendipity" has the advantage of safety; one remains hidden among "equally confused participants," minimizing pressure. One can indirectly guide the exploration using "Bai Ze," satisfying one's curiosity while observing others' reactions. The disadvantage is that the lie needs to be maintained, and as interactions deepen, loopholes may appear. Increasingly sophisticated "divine revelation" or "accidents" may be needed to smooth things over. Furthermore, the current cost of the "Shared Dream Pillow" doesn't seem... quite pleasant.
Option B: Treat each other with sincerity.
Revealing part of the truth while still concealing his role as the forger and administrator, implying or admitting that he may have had contact with artifacts or possessed a special constitution for some unknown reason, becoming the "anchor" or "hub" of this "dream connection," thus gaining greater perception and control? This might lead the group towards a more constructive collaborative exploration—led by him. However, the risk lies in becoming the center of attention and responsibility once his special identity is acknowledged. How will others perceive him? Will they depend on him? Question him? Make demands of him?
Option C: Play dead
The best approach is to downplay it completely, let it run its course, and treat it as an inexplicable collective anomaly. Let it cool down slowly; perhaps over time, the connection will naturally weaken or even disappear. The advantage is that it's worry-free and effortless; there's no need to bother with concealment or guidance, and life returns to "normal." But the downside is, wouldn't sacrificing a year of lifespan seem like a waste? Moreover, would the other four, especially Chen Yang and Jiang He, be content to let it remain merely an "anomaly"? They might act on their own, allowing the situation to slip outside their limited perspective.
As night deepened, Su Fan lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. All day long, thoughts about how to deal with the strange object and that small group swirled like a ball of yarn, the more he tried to unravel them, the more frustrated he became. No option was perfect; each carried its own risks and costs, both overt and covert.
He decided to put all that aside for the time being. His attention unconsciously returned to the most fundamental question—the cost.
He gained a superpower: to modify objects at the cost of his lifespan.
An almost absurd idea suddenly popped up without warning, carrying a gambler's burning passion:
Since consuming lifespan can forge or alter artifacts... then, can it be the other way around? Can we forge an artifact that can "increase lifespan"?
Since the price is lifespan, then let's imagine something like the ginseng fruit from mythology: just smelling it makes you live for 360 years; eating one makes you live for 47,000 years.
Left foot steps on right foot, instantly ascending to heaven? Is this a bug?
Once the idea took hold, it grew wildly, instantly overwhelming all other considerations. If successful, it wouldn't just be breaking even; it would be a sure-fire way to make a profit! Using a small amount of lifespan to forge a wondrous object that could generate a vast amount of lifespan, and then endlessly repeating the cycle… His breathing quickened, and all sleepiness vanished.
He knew it was likely wishful thinking, but the impulse was hard to suppress. What if? What if there was a loophole to exploit?
His gaze first fell on the ordinary stainless steel fruit knife lying on the table, which was used to peel fruit.
It's simple enough that it seems completely unrelated to the concepts of "life" and "life extension"—but that's precisely what makes it a good subject for experimentation. If even it can be given the property of "extending lifespan," it means the rules are very lenient, greatly increasing the possibility of exploiting bugs.
Su Fan picked up the fruit knife; the cold touch calmed him slightly. He took a deep breath, focused his mind, and gripped the handle with both hands.
Conceptual feature: Eating it increases lifespan. A simple, direct, and almost absurd instruction. He imagined that eating this knife would increase his lifespan.
Gather. Wait.
There was no response. No price indicator appeared in his mind; it was as if his thoughts had sunk without a trace, and his abilities offered no response.
"No response?" Su Fan was taken aback, then his heart tightened. "The ability... has disappeared?"
A wave of panic mixed with disappointment washed over him. He quickly looked at the [Shared Dream Pillow] on the bedside table. After three seconds of focused attention, the familiar dark blue text reappeared: [Rare Item: Shared Dream Pillow]... Characteristics, rules, costs—the text remained clear as ever.
The ability remains, and the pillow is still a marvel.
"Then why isn't it reacting to the fruit knife?" Su Fan frowned. "Is the feature concept too outrageous? Is the item and the feature completely incompatible? Or... is the feature 'increased lifespan' itself prohibited by the rules or requires special conditions?"
He gripped the fruit knife again, abandoning his previous unrealistic fantasies.
Conceptual characteristics: Sharpness, armor-piercing. He envisioned the knife becoming exceptionally sharp, capable of easily cutting through any tough object.
He focused his mind. Su Fan sensed that the price of this special ability was six months of lifespan.
If the ability exists, then perhaps the "increased lifespan" characteristic failed because it's unrelated to a "fruit knife"? What if we replaced it with something that's inherently associated with the concept of "longevity"?
Apples themselves symbolize "peace" and "health," and theoretically, eating apples is good for the body. Therefore, using them to test "life-extending" properties is logically much closer to the truth than using a fruit knife.
He picked up the apple and focused his mind.
Conceptual feature: Consuming it can extend lifespan by one year.