Chapter 4 | The Morning Before Disappearance

Li Xing woke up before dawn.

Not from the cold, but from an inexplicable restlessness.

It was eerily quiet outside.

Even the wind had stopped, as if the whole world was deliberately holding its breath.

He didn't get up immediately, but just stared at the thickest wooden beam above his head.

The numbers in his mind were glaringly clear.

【01:12:41】

More than an hour left.

The half-bag of cornmeal was still there.

He could "feel" it.

It was as if an extra nerve had gently tugged at that shadow.

Li Xing rolled off the kang (heated brick bed), moving extremely quietly.

His parents were still asleep.

He squatted in the stove, started a small fire, and added some water to the pot.

Not to cook.

He just wanted something to do, to stop staring at the time.

Before the water got hot, a sharp pain shot through his head.

It wasn't heavy, but it was sharp.

It felt like someone had gently poked his temple with a needle.

Li Xing's hand trembled, and the pot bumped against the stove with a soft thud.

He frowned.

This wasn't the dizziness he felt last night.

It felt more like… a warning.

[Warning: Replica stability decreased]

[Remaining time: 00:59:58]

His breath hitched.

Less than an hour.

He turned down the fire and went back inside.

The real burlap sack was still leaning against the edge of the kang (heated brick bed).

He stared at it for a few seconds before focusing his consciousness into the space.

In the gray space, the replicated burlap sack sat quietly.

But this time, he immediately noticed something was wrong.

The hemp thread at the sack's opening was gradually weakening.

Like it had been soaked in water and then dried.

He reached out to touch it.

The moment his fingertips touched it, his head jolted.

[Stability 87%]

The numbers were dropping.

Not jumping, but slowly sliding down.

Li Xing's heart sank with them.

He tried to take the bag of cornmeal out.

"Thump."

The sack fell to the ground, the sound softer than last night.

No, it felt emptier.

He untied the sack.

The cornmeal was still cornmeal.

But the color was a little lighter, as if it had been blown by the wind.

He grabbed a small handful and held it in his palm.

It still felt real.

But when he loosened his fingers, fine powder fell, pausing for a moment in mid-air.

Then, it dispersed even faster.

Like ash.

Li Xing slammed his hands together.

His chest tightened.

[00:41:06]

He stuffed the sack back into his spatial storage.

As soon as he went in, that sharp pain returned.

Heavier than before.

He groaned, steadying himself against the wall.

[Frequent removal of the replica will accelerate its disintegration]

This was a warning.

And the answer.

He couldn't touch it anymore.

He could only wait.

Movement gradually came from inside the house.

His mother got up and tiptoed to the kitchen.

"Xingzi?" she called softly.

"I'm here." Li Xing answered quickly.

His mother glanced at him, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately only asked, "Are you steaming pancakes again this morning?"

Li Xing paused.

"A little."

He said, "Just a little."

His mother nodded, asking no further questions.

She was carrying the bag of real cornmeal.

Li Xing stood to the side, watching her scoop it into the basin, spoonful by spoonful.

Each spoonful felt like a blow to his heart.

【00:19:32】

He suddenly realized a problem—

What if someone saw him when his shadow disappeared?

This thought was like a cold thorn.

He subconsciously glanced around the room.

His father was still asleep.

The windows were tightly sealed.

Temporarily safe.

But what about later?

Time continued to pass.

【00:03:11】

【00:03:10】

Li Xing sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), his fingers gripping his knees tightly.

He didn't look at the space anymore.

He dared not look.

“Xingzi, the pancakes are ready.”

His mother brought the pancakes over.

He took them, but didn't touch them.

【00:00:05】

At that moment, he clearly “heard” a very faint cracking sound.

It didn't come from inside the room.

It came from the depths of his consciousness.

Like the sound of fabric being torn.

Then, everything fell silent. He abruptly closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, the bag of cornmeal in the space was gone.

The gray ground was spotless.

As if it had never existed.

Li Xing let out a long breath.

His heart pounded painfully.

There was no explosion.

No strange phenomena.

Only an empty feeling.

[Copy complete]

[Slight mental energy depletion]

He paused, stunned.

It wasn't a failure.

It was just… the end.

His mother looked at him.

"What's wrong?"

"You look terrible."

Li Xing shook his head.

"Nothing."

He picked up the pancake and took a bite.

This time, it tasted the same as last night.

It hadn't disappeared.

He suddenly understood—as long as something was eaten before the countdown ended, it truly became a part of reality.

The shadow would disappear.

But the result wouldn't be erased by the world.

This realization sent a chill down his spine.

It also made him truly understand for the first time—this space wasn't created to save people.

It was simply enforcing the rules.