The wind and snow grew stronger, with the blizzard stopping and starting intermittently, occasionally accompanied by the crackling of hail.

More often than not, the wind howled and pounded against the doors and windows, the sound of which was just like the wailing of a baby, making the people inside shiver.

Now it is the second month of social isolation. Humans are gradually realizing the importance of social interaction. Doors are blocked by wind and snow, covered with a layer of ice, making them impossible to open from the inside. Windows are also covered by wind and snow, making it impossible for people to even open them to shout out.

Even conversations spoken face-to-face indoors are sometimes drowned out by the wind and snow, and more and more people are losing the desire to communicate.

In normal society, people can tolerate loneliness partly because they subconsciously know that they can do it anytime, anywhere, whether they go out or go online.

But now, everyone is completely sealed inside a square box, as if it were their coffin. They don't know when communication will be restored. The three months of food provided by the authorities may have become their only goal and motivation.

Perhaps in three months, it will all be over.

Three months later, the gale did not stop. People waited for three more days before finally hearing the sound of ice being chiseled outside their doors.

Soldiers chipped away the ice on the door to deliver supplies to everyone, but there weren't many supplies. When asked when the snowstorm would end, the soldiers remained silent, only saying that they trusted the country.

Without the internet, people were unable to communicate with the outside world, and fear and anxiety enveloped everyone.

Low mood, depression, and bipolar disorder have become the norm. Even though many people download various videos available online as spiritual nourishment, they don't know why these spiritual sustenances are becoming increasingly irritating and unwatchable.

The faint sound of a pipa could be heard from time to time, but when people listened more closely, the sound would disappear into the wind and snow.

"The mood isn't quite right today either." Two people were talking to each other by a small flower bed in Milica.

“Master, I really don’t know how to continue to improve.” Ji Chuan scratched his head, feeling aggrieved but not daring to complain: “I’ve watched all kinds of tearjerker dramas, comedies, and horror movies. I’ve even tried to get into character and act with them, as you suggested. My roommates all think I’m crazy.”

Ji Chuan wanted to cry but had no tears.

His special ability is emotions. To evoke emotions, one must experience joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. It's difficult to simply watch tearjerkers or comedies and cry or laugh.

Agaray's suggestion was to become an actor, to immerse oneself completely in the plays, and to experience their sorrows and joys as intensely as possible.

Ji Chuan tried it, and sometimes, through the glass of the training room, while others were diligently researching their superpowers or training their physical abilities, Ji Chuan would act out a scene in the air.

God knows how those people spread rumors about him; in other people's mouths, he's supposedly gone through countless tumultuous love stories, even experiencing life-and-death situations.

“Silly, do you even know what the essence is? The essence of emotion is empathy and imagination.” Agarai couldn’t help but tap Ji Chuan on the head: “You have to be able to imagine pain and then transform it into your own.”

"Even though I know that..." Ji Chuan muttered softly.

“And what’s the point of just watching those shows? How many of them are really painful?” Agarai said. “You should focus your attention on Tokine.”

"Sister Yin doesn't seem to have any emotions." Ji Chuan said helplessly, "Sister Yin seems to be very stable. Her core is incredibly strong, so she doesn't have any strong emotions at all."

Ji Chuan was just saying it casually, but to his surprise, Agaray remained silent and did not respond.

"By the way, Master, how come you can sense such strong emotions?" Ji Chuan asked curiously, "Is Master particularly good at empathy?"

"Of course, I am an artist. I am not only good at empathy, but I also have a rich emotional life. Otherwise, how could I write good works?" Agaré said proudly.

He wasn't wrong about that. Before the apocalypse, he was already a renowned international artist who had written everything from songs to concertos, and had received high praise internationally.

Ji Chuan had heard Agatha Christie's "The Four Seasons" and "Dawn," which were very intense, like rich coffee, bittersweet.

"But, although I can hear the emotions in Master's music, it doesn't feel very intense." Ji Chuan was completely puzzled.

His superpower has been stuck at C+ for a long time and he just can't level it up. His crystal core has absorbed a lot of superpower value and is rising, but his comprehension just won't go up.

“Music is just a medium for me to express my emotions. After all, it would be too unpleasant to shout it out directly. It’s a ritual, not a reflection of my actual emotions at the time.” Agare said innocently, “When I use music to release my emotional powers, I’m thinking about other things.”

"Huh? What are you thinking about?" Ji Chuan asked curiously.

"When will it end?" Agareth asked honestly.

Ji Chuan: "...That's it?"

Ji Chuan was surprised that Agaray's thoughts were so simple and unpretentious. How could such a reason release such strong emotions?

“It’s that simple. You’re overcomplicating things. Superpowers and wishes sound complicated and sophisticated, but they’re actually very simple.” Agarai sighed heavily. “All greatness is built on the individual, and the most important thing is yourself.”

Ji Chuan: "Hmm..."

That's too profound, I don't understand.

"To put it another way, do you know the common characteristic of people with superpowers?" Agarai patted Ji Chuan on the shoulder: "That is, they're miserable."

"Huh?" Ji Chuan rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

Is that true?

"What happened to Master?" Ji Chuan pondered, "I don't know much about them either."

Agaray: "..."

Who told you to get to know them?

"Buzzing—"

The badges on Ji Chuan and Agarai's chests suddenly vibrated twice. The two paused slightly and looked at their chests. The gauge representing zombie detection jumped.

"Huh? Zombies?" Ji Chuan tapped the badge, which had returned to calm. "Would monsters still come out in this kind of weather?"

They'll probably freeze to death if they come out for even a short while.

The reason he and Agaray were able to train outside was because the pinhole thermostat kept them from freezing to death.

They also manipulated their emotions to numb their senses, making themselves unable to feel the cold.

But this is just a self-numbing effect; it will take a long time to adapt and recover after returning.

"Ji Chuan, let's go." A small silver door appeared beside them, and Shi Yin jumped out from it: "Doomsday Beacon said it was going to hold a banquet to reward everyone, and asked me to pick you up."

"Oh, okay." Ji Chuan quickly ran over: "Sister Yin, we just sensed the zombie aura."

"Zombies?" Shi Yin frowned. "In this kind of weather, even if a giant gate were to come, its strength would be reduced by more than half."

“That makes sense…” Agarai stroked the badge on his chest, wondering if it was just his imagination.

"Buzz—"

This time, all three badges vibrated slightly together, indicating an ability user detection.

The three of them fell silent. Agaray and Jichuan stood behind Shiyin, looking in a distant direction.