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Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The familiar sight of shelves stocked with goods and the young shopkeeper behind the counter greeted him. Relief washed over Yu Sheng, but a sliver of doubt lingered. What if this wasn’t his usual supermarket? His mind conjured wild images: shelves lined with jars containing eyeballs floating in formaldehyde, the shopkeeper transforming into a monstrous figure wielding a chainsaw…

“Get a grip,” Yu Sheng muttered under his breath, shaking off the absurd thoughts. He needed to focus.

Confirming that everything seemed normal, he approached the counter and nodded to the shopkeeper. “I’m here to buy some things. Do you have boxes of instant noodles and compressed biscuits?”

The shopkeeper looked up, raising an eyebrow at Yu Sheng’s slightly disheveled appearance. “Instant noodles, sure. Unopened boxes are stacked under the stairs to the second floor. Help yourself.” He gestured toward the iron staircase. “As for compressed biscuits, we don’t have any boxes left. They’re on the middle shelf to your left. Not many folks buy them, so I don’t stock much.”

“Thanks. I’ll take all the biscuits you have, please. I’ll grab a box of noodles myself.” Yu Sheng paused. “Oh, and could you add two packs of the large sausages?”

“Sure thing.” The shopkeeper grabbed a large shopping bag and began packing the biscuits. As he worked, he glanced up. “Stocking up, are we? Eating just instant noodles and biscuits isn’t exactly a balanced diet. My wife gives me an earful whenever I try.”

Yu Sheng offered a faint smile. “Just preparing, that’s all.”

The shopkeeper shrugged, returning to his task. He didn’t press further.

As Yu Sheng made his way toward the stairs to fetch the noodles, the glass door of the supermarket swung open again. Both doors moved, but one emitted a grating squeak that set everyone’s teeth on edge.

The shopkeeper winced, looking up sharply. “Hey! That door’s broken. There’s a sign on it!”

“Oh, sorry! Didn’t see it,” the newcomer said sheepishly. He was a young man with tousled black hair and casual attire, his face unremarkable but friendly enough. He glanced back at the misbehaving door before stepping fully inside. “Do you have boxes of instant noodles?”

Now returning with his own box, Yu Sheng glanced briefly at the young man before averting his gaze.

“Same as his?” The shopkeeper nodded toward Yu Sheng.

“Yeah, that’ll be perfect,” the young man replied, pointing at the box in Yu Sheng’s arms. “I’ll take one of those.”

“Under the stairs on the right. Grab it yourself,” the shopkeeper instructed. “I’ll ring you up in a minute.”

Yu Sheng and the newcomer passed each other in the aisle. For a fleeting moment, Yu Sheng felt a strange sense of familiarity, but he brushed it off. He headed to the counter, paid for his items, and hefted the shopping bag and noodle box. The sky outside was deepening into twilight as he stepped out.

Meanwhile, Agent Li Lin found the stack of instant noodle boxes under the stairs. As he bent to pick one up, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Balancing the box on his knee, he fished out the device and read the message from his team leader.

“Settled in yet?”

Li Lin quickly typed back, “Yes, just grabbing some supplies.”

Almost immediately, another message appeared. “Any unusual activity?”

“Nothing so far,” Li Lin replied. “I’ll start canvassing the area tomorrow and get to know the locals.”

He hesitated before sending another text. “When is the Deep Diver arriving? Who’s coming?”

There was a pause before the response came through. “Xu Jiali. He’ll be with you tomorrow.”

Li Lin’s eyebrows shot up. Xu Jiali? He began to type a question when another message arrived.

“He just got back from Alamein-IX. Unexpected situation there, mission cut short. He’s debriefing now, then heading your way.”

“Just finished a mission and being sent out again?” Li Lin typed, frowning. “No downtime?”

“Xu Jiali insisted. He’s experiencing some aftereffects from the deep dive. Needs to wear a stabilizer for a while. Figured he’d take his leave next week instead. Your area should be quiet, so he can rest while assisting you. Discuss details when you meet.”

Li Lin sighed, sliding his phone back into his pocket. “Always something,” he muttered.

He approached the counter, setting the box down. The shopkeeper gave him a knowing look.

“Instant noodles, huh? Let me guess—stocking up?”

Li Lin chuckled. “Something like that.”

“Not the healthiest choice. My wife nags me every time I bring these home.”

“Well, maybe I should leave them, then,” Li Lin teased.

The shopkeeper laughed. “Too late now. That’ll be twenty bucks.”

Back at home, Irene sensed movement at the front door. From her place within the ornate frame hanging on the wall, she leaned forward, peering into the hallway. There was no sign of Yu Sheng.

Moments later, his head appeared around the doorframe, eyes darting cautiously around the room. Satisfied, he slipped inside, moving stealthily as if avoiding detection. He set down his load of groceries before quietly closing the door behind him.

Irene raised an eyebrow. “Yu Sheng, what are you doing? Why are you sneaking around like a cat burglar?”

He sighed heavily, slipping off his shoes. “You wouldn’t understand. I’ve developed a… let’s call it a healthy respect for doors lately. Can’t be too careful.”

“Doors?” Irene echoed, bemused. “Care to elaborate?”

He waved a hand dismissively. “Long story.”

Her gaze drifted to the pile of supplies he’d brought in. “You’ve been shopping, I see. Quite the haul. You know, a trolley might’ve been helpful.”

Yu Sheng looked at the assortment of instant noodles, sausages, and compressed biscuits. A troubled expression crossed his face. “I should’ve bought some liquid food,” he murmured. “She hasn’t eaten in ages. Solid food might be too much…”

Irene watched as he began pacing. “Maybe I should go back out, get some eight-treasure porridge…”

“At this hour?” Irene interjected. “The shops might be closing.”

He paused, one foot already back in his shoe. “But she’s hungry…”

Irene’s tone softened. “Even if you get it now, do you have a way to get it to her immediately?”

Yu Sheng hesitated, the weight of her words sinking in.

“And honestly,” she continued, “even if you could, it would only be a temporary fix. The real issue isn’t just her hunger—it’s that entity, ‘Hunger’ itself.”

He nodded slowly, slipping off his shoe again. “You’re right. Feeding her is just a stopgap. The main problem is ‘Hunger.\'”

He moved to the dining table, sinking into a chair opposite Irene’s frame. His eyes were distant, deep in thought.

Irene studied him carefully. “Have you… made some progress? Found a way to reach her?”

“Not exactly a way to reach the valley,” he replied, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. “But perhaps a way to connect.”

Before she could ask, Yu Sheng raised his hand, fingers curling as if grasping an invisible object.

To Irene’s astonishment, a door materialized in the air before them. Its edges shimmered, the surface rippling like water. Yu Sheng grasped the handle that only now became visible and pulled.

The door swung open, revealing a scene unlike any Irene had ever seen.

An elven woman stood on the other side, her appearance a blend of the organic and mechanical. Mechanical limbs and appendages extended from her back, and her lower body was an intricate assembly of gears and wheels. Despite the machinery, her face was ethereal, framed by silver hair, and she wore a flowing robe that contrasted with her mechanical components.

She stood before a vast machine that pulsed with otherworldly light. The mechanical limbs behind her adjusted dials and levers with precision. Upon seeing Yu Sheng, her eyes widened in shock.

“Who are you?” she demanded, her voice echoing through the space between them.

Yu Sheng blinked, taken aback. “Uh… sorry, wrong door.”

He quickly shut the door, the portal disappearing as swiftly as it had appeared.

Irene was speechless for a moment. Then, finding her voice, she exclaimed, “What in the world was that?!”

“As you saw,” Yu Sheng said calmly, “a door.”

She glared at him. “Don’t play coy with me! Where did that door lead? Who was that woman? And how did you even do that?!”

He smiled faintly. “I’m still figuring it out myself. But it seems I can… connect to certain places. Maybe even control where the door leads.”

Irene shook her head in disbelief. “This is beyond anything I’ve seen, and that’s saying something.”

Yu Sheng leaned back, his mind racing. “If I can replicate this, perhaps I can find a way to reach her—to reach the valley.”

Irene’s expression softened. “Just… be careful, okay? We don’t know what’s out there.”

He met her gaze. “I will. And thank you.”

She offered a small smile. “That’s what I’m here for.”