Starting to Practice Swordsmanship from the Rural Area of the Second Dimension (1-323).

Summary

In this chapter, General Cheng contemplates the limitations of human consciousness and the potential for using inorganic bodies to preserve awareness. Meanwhile, a town experiences a sudden torrential downpour after a drought, leading to flooding and the washing away of a prison holding individuals deemed insane. As the townsfolk gather to discuss the crisis, they discover that the mad individuals have mysteriously become adept swimmers and are drawn to the sea, where a mermaid is sighted. This revelation sparks fear and speculation among the townspeople about the mermaid's influence on their community. Despite their apprehension, they realize they cannot abandon their town due to the ongoing food crisis and the necessity of fishing. The mayor suggests a lottery system for fishing duties, and the townspeople come to accept that those who go mad and disappear may be offerings to the mermaids, leading to a grim acceptance of their new reality.

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