Gao Zhenli looked around at her companions trapped in display cases. The clothes they wore were the ones she was most familiar with, all her previous award-winning designs, yet each had ended in failure.
Now, she knew exactly what this challenge demanded of her. She had just promised everyone she would pass, but the fear in her heart couldn't be suppressed.
Gao Zhenli’s hand trembled as she held the paintbrush. How to make her past failures succeed, one by one, was a question she had pondered sleeplessly. For so many nights, she had found no solution, and now, what chance of success did she have?
Yet, she understood better than anyone that past failures could be redone. A failure now wouldn't just cost her her own life, but the lives of her companions as well. She could not, and dared not, fail.
Gao Zhenli bit her lip hard and pinched herself fiercely with her free hand, forcing herself to stay clear and calm. The drawing board before her was no ordinary one; it was an electronic board with a scoring system. She had only one chance. As soon as she completed the final stroke, the score would appear. Win or lose, it would determine the life or death of the person wearing the garment.
Yumi and the others saw the scene of the challenge and had already guessed Gao Zhenli's task. However, Gao Zhenli's expression seemed to convey terrible news. But they could understand; the simpler something appeared, the more difficult it could be. The instance wouldn't let any player pass easily. It could probe the heart and attack at a player's most vulnerable point, unless that person had no weakness, or was strong enough to ignore minor flaws.
Yumi, positioned directly opposite Gao Zhenli, felt as if the clothes she wore were laced with thorns, every inch of her skin pricking and burning like insect bites. Moreover, being fixed in the glass display case, unable to move or speak, she could only endure in silence.
Gao Zhenli couldn't hear her teammates’ voices. The entire environment of the challenge was eerily silent. But she could clearly see the tormented expression on Yumi’s face, her eyes reflecting a sense of impending death.
She had to start quickly, no more hesitation. Gao Zhenli bit her lip until it bled, letting the pain motivate her. Finally, she began to paint, starting with the garment on Yumi opposite her. Stroke by stroke, her heart raced, but her brushstrokes were cautious, daring not to make the slightest mistake. Large beads of sweat rolled from her forehead, falling onto the drawing board and sliding down the electronic screen, leaving a faint water trail.
Seeing the water trail, Gao Zhenli’s hand suddenly trembled. She felt she finally knew how to increase her chances of success. It made sense. She remembered that Yumi’s garment was from a design competition called "Elevation," where one had to do more than simple effort to elevate from ordinary to extraordinary. With this knowledge, Gao Zhenli dared not be distracted, lowering her head and focusing entirely on her drawing.
Soon, Yumi’s clothes returned to their original state, and she could move again. However, the glass display case remained, indicating she was still confined, awaiting the final results. Even if she could speak, Yumi dared not, for fear of distracting Gao Zhenli.
With renewed inspiration, Gao Zhenli’s creation became smoother. Although she was still nervous, she was no longer as terrified as she was at the beginning. She believed that with dedication, success was possible.
One after another, Gao Zhenli didn't lift her head, her entire attention focused on the drawing board before her. She didn't need to look at her teammates' clothes; she had them all firmly etched in her memory. After successfully freeing Yumi, Ke Wuwen, and Gu Chenhui, a look of pain suddenly crossed Gao Zhenli’s face.
Indeed, this challenge wouldn't let her off easily. The paintbrush in her hand, though small, felt heavier with the passing of time. And as she went on, each subsequent stroke sent an inexplicable stinging sensation through her fingers. Ten fingers connected to the heart, this stinging pain made even breathing excruciatingly difficult.
How could this be? She had only succeeded with three garments, with four left. If the pain continued like this, how could she continue creating? Pain consumed her brain, controlling her thoughts. What could she do?
"Remember this scene." Gong Liang's voice suddenly flashed in her mind. That was it. Back in Gu Chenhui's challenge, she hadn't understood how he could continue fighting when he was clearly unable to move. She felt that Gu Chenhui at that moment wasn't like a human. A normal human, injured so badly, wouldn't even be able to stand. Yet Gu Chenhui not only stood but defeated so many enemies who seemed far more formidable than him.
"Remember this scene." Yes, even though she didn't understand Gong Liang’s words then, she had clearly remembered that scene. Gu Chenhui wasn't a superman; he was an ordinary person like them. So, why couldn't she do what Gu Chenhui could?
Pain was nothing. As long as it wasn't instantly fatal, any other torment was insignificant! Her firm conviction gave Gao Zhenli the courage to overcome the pain. No matter how heavy the brush felt, as long as she could hold it, she would not stop. No matter how intense the stinging, as long as her heart didn't stop beating, her brain had to be used where it was needed! If one hand couldn't hold it, she’d use two. Stroke by stroke, she would bring her creation to its most perfect state.
Finally, just before Gao Zhenli completely broke down, she successfully made the last stroke. All the clothes on everyone were restored to their original state. After the last person, the glass display cases vanished, and the space shifted again.
Returning to the familiar snow-mountain environment, Yumi rushed to Gao Zhenli’s side at top speed, catching her as she was about to collapse. It was then that Yumi truly saw what Gao Zhenli had endured. Hao Yu stepped forward to help Yumi support Gao Zhenli. Both of them clearly saw Gao Zhenli’s hands covered in bright red blood. Her hands bore countless tiny wounds, a shocking sight, from which the blood flowed. It was unimaginable under what painful torment Gao Zhenli had completed those artworks.
Yumi opened the medical kit and carefully began to treat the wounds on Gao Zhenli's hands. However, there wasn't much medicine left in the kit. As she searched meticulously, Chi Hao walked over and handed her a small bottle.
"Special effect medicine. Not much. Use it for her."
Yumi was stunned for a moment before taking the bottle. Before Chi Hao turned to leave, she said to him, "Thank you."
Ever since Jing Minghe disappeared, Chi Hao had become even more silent and cold than when they first met.
"Gong Liang is missing," Gu Chenhui suddenly said.