A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Even now, fans still flocked to the character’s super topic, lamenting daily.

Shaking his head, Su Bei exited the building, unhesitatingly clicking into the thread speculating about his source of information.

“What is Su Bei’s source of information? How does he know the establishment time of this alternate space?”

[Jiang Lan Wu No.0: Rbt, I see everyone is captivated by the information released at the start of this chapter, but there’s another crucial piece of information that hasn’t been discussed much, so I’ll share it for us to ponder together.

While everyone was discussing the desert alternate space, Su Bei accurately stated the time of its establishment, clearly having anticipated it. Yet, from Jiang Jiang and Si Zhao Hua’s reactions, it’s evident they had no knowledge of this information.

Jiang Jiang’s own internal journey reflects this, and he feels Su Bei didn’t learn this through the “Wheel of Fate,” but through other channels. I believe Jiang Jiang’s analysis is correct, and if he were wrong, the old thief wouldn’t need to write it into the comic.

—

So the question arises, what is this other channel? How could Su Bei, in a mere moment, grasp the fundamental truths of this otherworldly space, while everyone else remained blissfully unaware of its destination?

No.1: After each comic update, I check the forums, and there’s always a post that makes me say: So many words…

No.2: So many words…

No.3: So many words…

No.4: So many words…

No.5: So many words…

…

No.26: Su Bei has always been shrouded in mystery; honestly, if he suddenly revealed where “the closure” is, I wouldn’t be surprised.

No.27: From my analysis, after Meng Huai and the others brought the people out, Su Bei was right under everyone’s noses, with no chance to gather intel. Thus, this information must have been acquired while they were still training in Class S.

In other words, during Meng Huai’s preparations, Su Bei must have learned through some channel that they intended to take them to the desert’s otherworld, and he conducted his own investigation.

No.28: The point made by the one above is valid, but it only deepens the mystery. I’d rather believe that Su Bei found someone to probe for information after arriving here.

No.29: Indeed, Su Bei had at least one person following him the entire time; he had no opportunity to seek out others for intel.

I think the guess from No.27 is more plausible.

No.30: Following the reasoning of No.27, to know where they were headed at that time, Su Bei must have had a source of information within the academy.

Speaking of which, this aligns with the earlier speculation on the forums when Su Bei was held by Sun Ming! Back then, everyone thought Su Bei had a channel to monitor the school.

No.31: You all are saying this, but those who know claim it’s Wu Jin with the backing; those who don’t think it’s Su Bei with the backing!

No.32 replies to No.31:

Su Bei might indeed have some backing; if he had none at the school, how could he wield such formidable powers to enter Class F? It can’t be the same situation as Jiang Jiang, can it? Look at Feng Lan; he also came in through the back door, and he seems just like Su Bei.

No.33 replies to No.32:

It’s true! Either he can fool the academy’s testing machines, or if that’s the case, it’s quite terrifying.

—

【……】

【No.34: Stop guessing; it’s pointless. Su Bei has too many secrets hidden away. Didn’t Meng Huai say that his powers might not have awakened at fifteen?】

【No.35 replies to No.34:

Damn riddle-maker!】

In the end, they hadn’t really discussed much in this building, but the content from the thirty-fourth floor left Su Bei momentarily stunned.

In that comic panel, Meng Huai had indeed mentioned this, echoing what Teacher Ye Lin and the others had said. Within his advanced psyche, Meng Huai felt that he hadn’t awakened his powers during that summer before school started, but rather much earlier.

Initially, Su Bei didn’t think much of this speculation; he merely chuckled it off. But upon seeing the content of this floor, he suddenly felt that perhaps he could plan something out.

If he deceived the readers, claiming his powers had awakened much earlier, what benefits could he gain?

It seemed there was indeed one—

“Is it possible for me to return to the past?” Su Bei suddenly asked the “Comic Consciousness.”

The question was rather abrupt, and after a moment of silence, the “Comic Consciousness” replied, “Why do you ask? Are you looking for a power-user who can rewind time?”

“No.” Su Bei shook his head. “I want to know, if I change something from the past, for instance, if I say in the comic that I’ve met Jiang Tianming before, will they believe that I could go back to meet him? Or will the comic simply fabricate such a memory for Jiang Tianming?”

“Well… if the readers believe Jiang Tianming remembers this, then you would indeed return to the past. But if the readers only know you met Jiang Tianming back then, and Jiang Tianming has never seen you, then you wouldn’t need to go back.” After a moment of contemplation, the “Comic Consciousness” answered.

Though it sounded simple, it was a subtle distinction, one that required careful consideration to grasp its essence.

Understanding his intent, Su Bei pressed further: “Can you be more specific? Under what circumstances can I return to the past?”

The “Comic Consciousness” pondered for a moment, not withholding information: “I can think of three possibilities for now. The first is that there could indeed be changes that add memories to the minds of the characters, which might give you a chance to return to the past to make those changes. Some memories cannot simply be added by the comic.

The second is that when the comic is willing to depict that past moment, you can also return to fill in that storyline.

The third is that if you truly gain some tangible benefits through this change, your own strength can directly adjust the comic, but tangible items cannot.”

The explanation was thorough, and Su Bei understood it well. Thus, his previous conjecture could indeed be validated.

If he could convince the forum that he had awakened his powers earlier, and use that as a reason to tell them he had gained considerable benefits from his abilities, just like the Feng Lan family had done, then he could indeed return to the past and personally reap those rewards.

—

To know that this action brings not just a sliver of profit, but also connections. The more people one knows, the more paths can be paved for the future!

() ↑Return to Top↑

Early the next morning, Meng Huai indeed brought several contracts, one for each person. The contents were not deceitful; they merely demanded that during the trials, life and death were to be borne by oneself. A few short lines, yet they bore a heavy weight. Without the teachers’ covert protection, the outside world was perilous for these students who had always lived in their ivory tower, especially in a realm where survival required fierce combat.

Yet, despite this, not a single person chose to refuse signing the contract. The pride of Class S forbade them from surrendering. Of course, in truth, Su Bei wished to refuse; when it came to matters of life and safety, he held no such lofty pride. Moreover, given his character in the comic, not signing the contract wouldn’t be a significant issue—after all, he was just a source of amusement.

But there was no need for that. Su Bei understood well that despite the teachers’ serious demeanor in having them sign the contracts, they would surely follow along. So, signing now was of no consequence, to avoid anyone mocking him for being cowardly. Indeed, he did not see cowardice as a flaw, but as a character in a comic, it was best to steer clear of any plot points that could be ridiculed.

Once everyone had signed the agreement, Meng Huai finally announced the day’s trial content: “It’s been over a month since you’ve encountered Nightmare Beasts, and all you’ve met are the lower-tier ones. Today, we’ll engage with some mid-tier ones.”

Lower-tier Nightmare Beasts included creatures like Nightmare Snakes, Nightmare Rabbits, and Nightmare Tigers, which could be considered super-powered animals in a sense.

Mid-tier Nightmare Beasts, however, transcended mere animal forms, appearing in a variety of shapes, the only commonality being their black coloration. With their diverse abilities came greater threats.

As for the high-tier Nightmare Beasts, they had yet to be discussed, but it was said they took on human forms and possessed intelligence equivalent to that of humans—truly formidable.

Upon hearing they would encounter mid-tier Nightmare Beasts, excitement flickered across the faces of the crowd. They were genuinely eager to witness other types of Nightmare Beasts, especially the high-tier ones, which everyone yearned to see. Yet, such creatures were elusive, and it was unlikely they would be presented with one just yet.

Among those present, the relatively composed ones were the students from several established families of ability users. Although their families kept them from engaging too deeply with the ability world before successfully awakening their skills, they had nonetheless encountered Nightmare Beasts during the occasional surprise attacks in areas where ability users gathered.

“Teacher, teacher, how will we get to see them? Are there mid-tier Nightmare Beasts in this desert space?” The first to lose composure was, unsurprisingly, Mo Xiaotian, who raised his hand excitedly to ask.

“There are indeed mid-tier Nightmare Beasts in this space. Do you think I’d let you wander around aimlessly until the next lunar year?” Meng Huai scoffed lightly, not bothering to build suspense. “There are two tasks here; you’ll decide among yourselves which group will take which task based on yesterday’s divisions.”

With that, he casually tossed out some items. Jiang Tianming caught them steadily, looking down to find two file folders and fifteen task execution certificates issued by the ability government.

After assigning the tasks, Meng Huai prepared to leave. The time, location, and objectives on the task documents were clearly stated; they were not children of eleven or twelve, so there was no need for further elaboration.

Zhao Xiaoyu timely expressed her concern: “Teacher Meng, what about the other two teachers? Why haven’t they come out?”

Meng Huai glanced back at her, then continued walking as he replied, “They have other tasks. You should focus on your own matters for now.”

Once he departed, everyone picked up their execution certificates and began to review the general details of the tasks in the two file folders. The specific contents could wait until after the tasks were divided, saving them time.

—

Without a doubt, both tasks concern mid-level Nightmares, yet their contents diverge.

Task One: A mid-level Nightmare has escaped and requires capture by a psychic. This creature is well-acquainted with the terrain and possesses considerable offensive power; many psychic teams have already failed in their attempts to subdue it.

The silver lining, however, is that due to the numerous psychics who have previously taken on this task, a rough understanding of the Nightmare’s characteristics has emerged, preventing them from being completely in the dark during the pursuit.

Task Two: A household is plagued by an unseen affliction; the residents of this house are gradually weakening. After moving out, their health did not improve, and they now teeter on the brink of collapse. The new tenants, lured by the bargain, have begun to exhibit similar symptoms.

Detection reveals psychic fluctuations within the house, likely the work of a mid-level Nightmare.

Yet, since entering the house triggers this condition, no psychic teams have dared to accept the task thus far.

After all, if the issue cannot be resolved, it would require a hefty sum to find a healer capable of dispelling the affliction, and such healers are not always easy to locate. The risks do not seem to justify the potential rewards; it is a losing proposition.

But Su Bei and his companions clearly need not worry about such matters. With Ye Lin as a master healer, resolving this kind of issue should pose little challenge. Moreover, they are backed by the Psychic Academy, where few abilities can truly confound them.

“Speak up, which task do you wish to undertake?” Si Zhao Hua asked directly, cutting to the chase.

This time, he refrained from making the decision for them. Though he had his preferences, it was better to gauge the group’s willingness regarding the task.

Their team consisted of seven members: Wu Jin, Su Bei, Li Shu, Si Zhao Hua, Zhao Xiao Yu, Lan Su Bing, and Wu Ming Bai. While they were not particularly chatty, they were far from shy, and soon each had made up their mind.

Su Bei, Li Shu, Zhao Xiao Yu, Lan Su Bing, and Wu Jin all opted for Task Two. The distinction between the two tasks was quite clear; they believed themselves more adept at mental labor than physical, naturally gravitating towards Task Two.

From noble mtl dot com

The majority ruled; although Si Zhao Hua and Wu Ming Bai were more inclined towards the thrill of a real chase, the allure of uncovering the mystery of the residence was also enticing. Thus, no conflict arose in their task selection.

As they reached their decision, the other group had also made theirs, and in a twist of fate, they chose to pursue Task One.

With no conflicts in task assignments, everyone gathered the necessary materials for their respective groups before dispersing.

Si Zhao Hua led the others to his room, a modest twin that comfortably accommodated seven.

A few of them huddled together, listening as Si Zhao Hua read aloud the details of the task, the specifics of Task Two meticulously recorded on the sheets of paper before them.

It began with a family of five residing in the villa: a father, a mother, a sixteen-year-old brother, an eight-year-old sister, and a grandfather.

The troubles first emerged a year ago when the grandfather began to feel weak, dizzy, and noticed dark spots appearing on his skin. Medical examinations yielded no discernible symptoms.

Initially, they suspected allergies or some other ailment, but soon the grandfather’s condition…

The situation grew increasingly dire, soon reaching a point where he could no longer rise from his bed. The spots on his skin gradually darkened to a deep, bruised hue, resembling the marks left by a corpse.

In less than two months, he was gone, and the family began to prepare for mourning. Shortly after, the youngest daughter exhibited the same troubling symptoms. Fearing it might be a contagious illness, the family rushed to the hospital, yet no diagnosis emerged.

Fortunately, the father worked for the government and had some connections, which led them to an ability user. This user suspected that a Night Beast was at play, advising them to relocate while the ability government took over the matter.

After moving out, the youngest daughter’s symptoms indeed lessened significantly; she no longer weakened at a rapid pace day by day, but her condition remained precarious, merely holding steady.

Having discussed the first household, let us turn to the second. Although the ability government had taken control of the house, they did not prevent the first family from selling it. They merely required that if the house were sold, the true circumstances must be disclosed.

Since no one from the ability government had addressed the issue, the first family, eager to recoup their losses, sold the villa. Despite their honest disclosure, there were always those who scoffed at the warnings, drawn in by the allure of a bargain.

The second family was a couple who moved in together. By the third month, they found themselves afflicted by the same fate as the first family.

They were broke; purchasing the house had drained their entire savings. With no options left, they endured the situation for two months. Perhaps the resilience of adults surpassed that of the elderly and children, for they did not perish, but they were left utterly weakened.

Previously, the ability government had attempted to intervene, urging them to vacate or to commission other ability users to resolve the issue. However, the couple refused; if the house’s problems were resolved, they would have nowhere to go.

From noble mtl dot com

Now, we must return to the first family, who were quite cunning. Their sales contract explicitly stated that if the ability government declared the issue resolved, the house would revert to its original price. If they could cover the original amount, the sale would be finalized; if not, they would have to take their money and leave.

But how could this couple possibly come up with that kind of money? If they had funds, they would never have bought such a house in the first place.

Now, they were at a dead end; persisting in their stubbornness might truly lead to death, so they had no choice but to let the ability government intervene.

After hearing the entire ordeal, Wu Mingbai, with a tone both bright and sardonic, remarked, “They want us to find the Night Beast but haven’t provided us with any tools. Are they hoping we’ll lure it out with our own flesh?”

For ordinary people, residing in that house would keep the Night Beast at bay. But for ability users, it was a different story; to the Night Beast, they were like the flesh of a Tang Seng.

In this sardonic exchange, Li Shu and Wu Mingbai were clearly in sync. He spoke softly, “What a clever strategy; it’s no wonder it’s a plan from the government.”

Their banter left Si Zhaohua with a headache. As the team leader, he cleared his throat forcefully: “Ahem! If you’re willing to pay, you could rent a Night Beast detector from the ability government.”

This was no lie; to facilitate the tasks of ability users, the government did provide many tools, though they all required payment.

Don’t think them stingy; many of these tools were unavailable for purchase elsewhere, so their provision was quite generous.

However, for now, no one seemed inclined to rely on the government’s tools. Wu Jin raised his hand, though his expression remained grim: “I might be able to sense where the Night Beast is.”

Upon hearing his words, the crowd fell silent for a moment. Su Bei’s mind stirred, and a thought flickered to life. Hadn’t he mentioned before that he was sensitive to emotions? Could it be that he could also sense the feelings of the Nightmare Beasts?

Yet Wu Jin offered no further explanation; after uttering that line, he returned to his corner, sulking like a mushroom.

After a moment’s contemplation, Si Zhao Hua declared with certainty, “In any case, there’s no need to worry. The Nightmare Beast will surely come out on its own.”

At first glance, it seemed he had taken Wu Jin’s words to heart, but Su Bei’s thoughts shifted again. If memory served, Si Zhao Hua’s “Angel” had a tremendous allure for the Nightmare Beasts.

Su Bei felt that this was the reason behind his unwavering confidence.

“Shall we set out now?” Zhao Xiao Yu inquired. “Since this task has no specific time frame, we can go whenever we like.”

Unlike the task next door, which required a nighttime venture, for the Nightmare Beast only roamed under the cover of darkness, hiding away during the day.

Clearly, no one wished to waste time; the sooner they completed this task, the sooner they could rest. If they could finish faster than the neighboring group, they would have even more time to recuperate. Of course, for Su Bei, it was about rest; for others, it might be about honor.

The group quickly reached a consensus and prepared to head to their destination. The first question arose—Wu Ming Bai raised his hand and asked, “Taxi or bus?”

At this, Si Zhao Hua shot him a haughty glance and replied with two words: “Take a car.”

With that, he stepped aside to make a call.

During this expedition, Meng Huai had not forbidden family assistance, but generally, everyone refrained from seeking help, lest they lose the opportunity for growth.

However, for something as trivial as calling a car, there was no need for such reservations; comfort took precedence. The young master Si Zhao Hua certainly wouldn’t deprive himself of ease.

Beside him, Lan Su Bing was unsurprised; she had intended to summon her own driver as well. But seeing Si Zhao Hua take the lead, she was relieved to avoid the spotlight.

Su Bei chimed in, “Choose a car with more space; otherwise, we’ll need to call a few more.”

It wouldn’t be an issue on the way there, but returning would surely be exhausting. A bit more room would make resting on the journey easier.

As Si Zhao Hua dialed the driver arranged specifically for him, he flashed Su Bei an “OK” gesture.

Before long, Si Zhao Hua received a message and led the group outside. Upon stepping out, they were greeted by a low-key yet luxurious business vehicle waiting at the entrance.

A man clad in a black suit emerged from the car, bowing slightly to Si Zhaohua. “Young Master Si, how may I serve you?”

“…So cliché,” Lan Subing couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, retreating behind Wu Mingbai. The sudden appearance of a stranger left her feeling quite unsettled.

Hearing her words, Su Bei raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Isn’t that how it is in your family?”

Though he too found the display rather exaggerated, he wasn’t shocked. After being inundated by dramas for so long, Su Bei had come to believe that wealthy families were all like this.

“Of course not!” Lan Subing shook her head vigorously, her expression one of indignation, as if to say, “You cannot insult me like this.” “My family has a regular old driver!”

If her family’s driver acted like that, she would have been socially dead by the time she reached school, thank you very much. She couldn’t fathom how Si Zhaohua maintained his composure in the face of such absurdity.

In truth, she had more to criticize, including but not limited to the driver’s suit, the bow he had just performed, and the words he had spoken. But considering it was rude to gossip behind someone’s back, she prudently kept her mouth shut.

Yet Wu Mingbai clearly wouldn’t let this opportunity for mockery slip by. With a grin, he said, “As expected of a young master, you certainly have your standards.”

Perhaps it was due to spending too much time with Wu Mingbai, but Li Shu also began to show a hint of his true nature. Though still gentle, his tone had taken on a more sarcastic edge.

“Don’t say that. After all, the car was called for him. Don’t stoop to Wu Mingbai’s level, Young Master Si.”

Upon hearing that last title, everyone suddenly understood. Lan Subing stifled a laugh, retorting, “You didn’t spare him either.”

They climbed into the car, which then sped toward their destination. Along the way, Zhao Xiaoyu called the current owners of the house, the couple in question, to gather information. Among them, she was the most emotionally intelligent.

Though the couple was willing to let the ability government intervene for their safety, they likely wouldn’t be very cooperative. After all, these were people who would risk their lives for a chance at gain; they were simply out of options now.

The call was answered by a woman, her voice sounding frail. “Hello? Who is this?”

“Hello, I’m here to help you with your troubles.” Zhao Xiaoyu cleverly refrained from directly stating that she was sent by the ability government.

In the minds of the couple, once the government’s people resolved their issues, they would have to return any advantages they had gained, which would surely be unwelcome. Not mentioning the term “ability government” wouldn’t erase their identity, but it could lessen the other party’s resistance.

The woman paused for a moment, quickly regaining her composure. “Oh! You’re the… ability users, right? I thought your voice sounded so young!”