Author: 木尺素 / Mu Chisu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 43

The gentle breeze rustled, causing the tree shadows to sway.

After noticing Zhou Qian remaining still for a long while, Qi Liuxing played with his phone for a bit, then asked him, “By the way, I accompanied you to meet someone at noon. Will you accompany me to meet someone tonight?”

“Who?” asked Zhou Qian.

“The one who is in my group,” Qi Liuxing replied. “His name is Ke Yuxiao.”

“Which ‘Yu’?” Zhou Qian questioned.

Qi Liuxing responded, “The ‘Yu’ from the universe*.”

*Clarity: [Yu] (宇) from universe [Yuzhou] (宇宙).

Zhou Qian pondered for a moment and said, “Hmm. Nice name. ‘The heavens and earth were mysterious and yellow, and the universe was vast and primitive.'”

“You memorized the ‘Thousand Character Classic*’?” Qi Liuxing asked. “So, will you meet him? I want to introduce you to him. If you think it’s fine, we three can team up for the next instance. He’s a really good person. When you guys were looking for me for the [Tick Tock Clock], I was almost beaten to unconsciousness by a monster. If he hadn’t risked his life to save me, I’d have died!”

*A Chinese poem that has been used as a primer for teaching Chinese characters to children from the sixth century onward. It contains exactly one thousand characters, each used only once, arranged into 250 lines of four characters apiece and grouped into four line rhyming stanzas to make it easy to memorize. || What Zhou Qian said is the first two lines from it.

“Alright, I’ll meet him. But—” Seeing the person in the room in Zone X not moving and not receiving any system notifications, Zhou Qian jumped off the tree, squinted, and stepped closer, locking eyes with Qi Liuxing. “Why do I feel like you’ve turned so quickly? You miss one instance, and you’re already swayed by someone else?”

Qi Liuxing: “……”

Zhou Qian continued, “If I go to one instance and him to another, who would you team up with in the end?”

Qi Liuxing paused for a moment, then retorted, “You’re so childish. Why not ask, if Ke Yuxiao and you both fell into the water at the same time, who would I save?”

“Oh. So if both of us fell into the water at the same time, who would you save?” Zhou Qian pressed on.

Qi Liuxing blinked several times and finally responded sternly, “Boring!”

That afternoon, Zhou Qian and Qi Liuxing didn’t manage to leave the hospital.

Ke Yuxiao came to visit them, posing as a visitor, and brought a bouquet of fresh flowers.

He also brought a lot of exquisite snacks.

These treats were from a famous local handmade pastry shop known for their limited daily inventory and high prices. Recognizing the quality of the treats, Zhou Qian looked at Ke Yuxiao with a pleasant expression.

Ke Yuxiao looked about 25, much older than Qi Liuxing.

Ke Yuxiao’s flute was for long-range attacks. According to Qi Liuxing, one was melee and the other ranged—a perfect combination.

Moreover, Ke Yuxiao’s skills were very unique, having a buffing effect. For instance, if Qi Liuxing’s sword move could only scratch, Ke Yuxiao’s flute could enhance its power, causing real damage.

Ke Yuxiao had a gentle demeanor, appearing very approachable, radiating a homely vibe.

But he was definitely not weak; he seemed innately strong. He gave off the impression of someone who might cook meals and water plants in his daily life, but when the situation called for it, he’d immediately take up arms and head into battle.

While Zhou Qian was snacking, Ke Yuxiao and Qi Liuxing chatted on a bench.

Zhou Qian noticed that Qi Liuxing, who always acted cool in front of him, was talkative around Ke Yuxiao. In contrast, Ke Yuxiao seemed like an older brother, always ready to listen.

Overhearing their conversation, Zhou Qian chimed in, “Ke Yuxiao, so you’re a veteran player? Do you have mental health issues?”

“Yes, I was discharged not long ago. I was a bit depressed due to family and work issues,” Ke Yuxiao replied.

“How long have you been playing?” Zhou Qian inquired.

Ke Yuxiao said, ” Two months. But I’ve not been to many instances, and my achievements are average. I focus on instances that can enhance skill values. I’ve never been to the ones with hidden achievements like you guys.”

“Oh, then you can join me next time. I’ve unlocked an instance with hidden achievements. As long as you team up with me, you can enter. Also, you mentioned earlier—” Zhou Qian looked at him, “the Rank God player? What’s that about?”

“There are two types of players in this game: Rank God players and regular players. Their training methods are completely different,” Ke Yuxiao explained. “We, the regular players, might end up as shepherds in the end.”

“I know that. But you mentioned that Rank God players… can become NPCs? How does that work?” Zhou Qian inquired.

“Players below Rank S typically engage in regular instances with difficulty levels around four or below. Rank God players can’t just become NPCs in any instance; they can only make guest appearances in instances of level four or below by channeling their consciousness into an NPC,” Ke Yuxiao explained. “Moreover, once they’re in an NPC, they can’t betray the NPC’s established character or reduce the instance’s difficulty. Often, they might even increase the game’s challenge, as they aim to select and guide players.”

After a short pause, he continued, “However, I’ve heard that few Rank God players do this. Firstly, it takes time away from their own progression and leveling in the game. Secondly, many NPCs have quite challenging roles. Why would they put themselves through that? The game instances are already designed by the system, so it’s better to let the system screen the players directly.”

Zhou Qian’s eyes lit up. “So… if a Rank God player becomes an NPC, we can’t contact them in the system. Meaning, they would be in an [offline] state?”

Ke Yuxiao replied, “Perhaps. But I’ve never witnessed it. Most of what I know about it is from hearsay.”

Every time [137] “came online” was when Jiang Yuqing was conscious.

[137] says that due to the rules, he couldn’t disclose anything.

So… the so-called [offline] was when their consciousness entered an NPC?

Moreover…

When the dragon appeared, Jiang Yuqing “fainted”. In He Xiaowei’s words, he looked as if he had died. In a way, could it be interpreted that Jiang Yuqing’s spirit left his body? Something similar to astral projection?

And also, why did the dragon appear?

Or to rephrase, why was there a creature, clearly not in line with the instance’s supposed difficulty and design logic, made up of S Army corpses?

After leaving “Last Wish”, Zhou Qian naturally contacted He Xiaowei to ask about what happened after he fainted. According to him, Situ Qing uncharacteristically charged at the creature, which only angered it more…

At this moment, Qi Liuxing continued chatting with Ke Yuxiao.

Zhou Qian stepped out onto the balcony and contacted Situ Qing. “What do you know about that creature?”

“I can only speculate,” Situ Qing replied. “My brother Mu Sheng mentioned he could adjust the difficulty of the instances. He once joked…”

Situ Qing chuckled wryly, “He told me to confidently attempt any instance and if I ran into a section I couldn’t pass, he’d use a rare item to directly change the settings and lower the difficulty. Now it seems he never spoke a truthful word.”

“Where is your brother now?” Zhou Qian inquired. “Can you talk about it?”

“I don’t know. He left the game. When I returned to the rental, he was gone,” Situ Qing said. “Maybe… seeing everything in the game, he thought I betrayed him. He might think I’ve sided with you.”

Zhou Qian caught on to something. “Rental? You weren’t hospitalized? You don’t have a mental illness?”

“No, I… wait.” Situ Qing shook her head. “Maybe I do. Why else would Mu Sheng have brainwashed me? You’ve reminded me. I might get it checked.”

“Did you notice… a lot of players in this game are from mental hospitals?” Zhou Qian asked.

“Yes,” Situ Qing replied. “But I thought it was normal. They’ve experienced trauma, which drove them mad. Why did they suffer trauma? Probably because they underwent major life changes, giving them desires and wishes to fulfill. Hence, the game found them. It seemed logical. As for me…”

“I was lured into the game by Mu Sheng. However, I don’t know how he initially came into contact with the game. He’s a gambler, not a player.”

What Situ Qing said sounded plausible at first glance.

However, Zhou Qian didn’t entirely agree with her.

After all, many people become mentally ill not due to external events but because of inherent neurological issues, which are pathological damages.

But Zhou Qian gleaned a lot from Situ Qing’s words.

Now, his understanding of the game has fundamentally shifted.

First, the game had come to this world a long time ago.

Second, while most players were chosen from mental hospitals, some didn’t belong there, like the employee from his father’s company and Situ Qing. Also, Ke Yuxiao, who was currently chatting with Qi Liuxing in his room, was quite special. He was fully cured and left the mental hospital, but he was still a player.

When he thought of this, Zhou Qian heard a sigh from Situ Qing on the phone.

“Influenced by Mu Sheng, I entered this game, originally to help him get a new leg. However, as soon as I started the first mission, the game imposed a deadline for our next entry. If we exceed the time and don’t enter the mission… I will die. So even though I am no longer bound by Mu Sheng, I have to keep playing.”

“In fact, I have no wishes now. I just want to live a peaceful life. But obviously, I can’t. No, wait, I do have a wish. If possible, I want to make amends.”

“Zhou Qian, I don’t know… if you would trust me. I… I want to make it up to you, to Yun Xiangrong, and to Gao Shan. Trading for a life is not easy. The system might demand a fortune. But count me in.”

“I hope we can team up for the next mission. I promise you, whatever gold coins I earn, I don’t want anything. I just want to use them to bring back Gao Shan’s life.”

A minute later, Zhou Qian hung up the phone.

Many players were willing to join the game because they had wishes. However, once they joined, whether or not their wishes could be fulfilled, they couldn’t leave. Because once they did, they would die.

Players entered the game, cultivated, and gained more and more powerful strength… trying to approach the gods, asking the gods for power to fulfill their wishes.

But could they really get what they want?

Was the story of Epoh in Apple Paradise some kind of… highly suggestive metaphor?

……

Thus, three more days passed.

During these three days, Zhou Qian hadn’t received any messages from [137]. He also couldn’t contact [Hidden Blade].

In the end, Zhou Qian simply decided to ignore it.

Preparing for the next mission, Zhou Qian considered his teammates: himself, He Xiaowei, Qi Liuxing, Ke Yuxiao, and Situ Qing, making five in total. The next mission was for seven people, and he wondered what kind of two teammates they would be paired with.

Additionally, now that Yu Xian was dead, would the system assign him another gambler?

Zhou Qian didn’t know the answer for now.

Four more days passed.

In the early morning, Zhou Qian and Qi Liuxing welcomed Dr. Li Xuehai for a round of checks.

After a detailed progress check on their conditions and adjusting the medication, Li Xuehai packed up his notes, looking like he was about to leave.

Zhou Qian looked at him, noticing his scholarly appearance, and couldn’t help but say, “Hey, your tie is crooked!”

Li Xuehai, always expressionless, simply said, “In an hour, come to my office. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”

“Oh?” Zhou Qian was slightly surprised but nodded, “Alright.”

An hour later, Zhou Qian indeed went to Li Xuehai’s office.

Currently, there were no other doctors present.

It seemed he arranged his schedule to ensure that their conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

So, upon entering the office, Zhou Qian naturally closed the door.

Sitting down in front of Li Xuehai, he asked, “Dr. Li, what’s the matter?”

Li Xuehai, although having a refined demeanor, was usually very serious.

His expression now was even more so, making him look sterner.

Looking at Zhou Qian, he said, “It’s strange… I saw you playing some game.”

Hearing this, the smile on Zhou Qian’s face also disappeared.

In a flash, he realized something.

Indeed, he heard Li Xuehai say, “Now… it seems I’ve become your gambler.”

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 木尺素 / Mu Chisu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 42

Zhou Qian and Chen Yangzhou arranged to have lunch together at noon and, incidentally, discussed various questions Zhou Qian wanted to ask.

At 11, Chen Yangzhou drove over, picked up Zhou Qian and Qi Liuxing, and left. Of course, he also returned the urn to Zhou Qian.

Spring Hill Mental Asylum implemented zone management. Both Zone 2 and Zone X had a prison-like nature, and the patients inside were under strict supervision. Especially in Zone X, entry and exit were strictly prohibited for anyone other than medical staff.

However, the management of Zone 1 was much more relaxed.

For someone with mild symptoms like Zhou Qian, with the doctor’s evaluation and the occasional leniency of the nurse, he could apply for the chance to leave.

This time the police came to take him away, making things even easier.

On the way to the restaurant, inside an SUV.

Zhou Qian and Qi Liuxing sat side by side in the back seat. Zhou Qian held an urn, occasionally glancing inside. The scene seemed eerily familiar.

The only difference was that this time, the driver wasn’t a rideshare driver, but the policeman Chen Yangzhou.

Before Zhou Qian could ask Chen Yangzhou in detail, he received a call.

He answered and heard the voice of Yun Xiangrong.

Guessing what news Yun Xiangrong might bring, Zhou Qian fell silent, frowning.

Yun Xiangrong said directly, “[Tick Tock Clock], I’ve returned it to Qi Liuxing. Also… Gao Shan passed away not long after last night. Car accident. He didn’t make it.”

Without responding, Yun Xiangrong continued, “I’m just letting you know. I know you’re not the type to genuinely console others. I didn’t expect you to say anything comforting.”

She then became more serious. “A man named ‘Priest’ came to see me, asking me to join the ‘Peach Blossom Legion’. Perhaps he’s the mastermind behind Gao Shan’s death.”

Zhou Qian’s tone also became serious. “Yun Xiangrong, I need to remind you. When we were in the instance, I didn’t have time to chat with you. Moreover, with the gambler watching, it wasn’t convenient. But now I have time, and I can tell you that I don’t agree with your choice. Do you know what you’re facing? Do you think they’d rashly trust you and really sever ties with me?”

Yun Xiangrong replied calmly, “But this is the only way I can get closer to them faster.”

Zhou Qian frowned. “Actually, Situ Qing isn’t inherently wicked. The reason she would kill…”

Glancing at Chen Yangzhou in front of him, Zhou Qian continued, “She killed that young boy in the game because she feared the group behind her. She’s afraid of terrible punishment. She’s terrified of revealing secrets about that group. A group that could force someone as inherently not bad as her to commit such acts—”

“Given this, [Priest] coming to you and even revealing the group’s name… What do you think his intentions are?”

“I know. He wants to use me. Maybe they think I’ve betrayed you and see me as someone malleable, someone they can use against you using my resentment for you.”

“But of course, there’s also the possibility that they guess I’m pretending, that I haven’t truly betrayed you. In this case, they can still use me. Use the fact that I can still contact you, use me against you. But regardless…”

Yun Xiangrong smirked. “I can use them back. I will get close to them. Whatever happens afterward, we’ll just adapt.”

“Before Shan Ge closed his eyes, he told me he wished you wouldn’t seek revenge,” Zhou Qian said. “I told him I couldn’t persuade you.”

Hearing this, Yun Xiangrong didn’t say anything. After a moment of silence, she hung up.

Zhou Qian slowly lowered the phone, watching it lock itself, but didn’t do anything else.

At that moment, sensing something, he looked forward and saw, through the rearview mirror, Chen Yangzhou’s questioning gaze.

Zhou Qian quickly adjusted his expression, then patted Qi Liuxing on the shoulder, gesturing for both of them to give Chen Yangzhou a goofy, rich-kid smile.

Then he said to the driver, “Officer Chen, don’t mind us. We were just talking about a game!”

“Well, your game sounds quite adolescent and seems pretty dramatic. What’s it called?”

Chen Yangzhou, nearing forty, seemed to have a grasp on younger generation lingo from the way he asked.

“Ugh, staying in the ward every day is so boring. Just playing around for fun.” Zhou Qian asked him, “What do you plan to treat us to?”

“We’re almost there. How about a roast duck restaurant?” Chen Yangzhou asked.

Zhou Qian’s face immediately showed distaste. “It better not be one of those fly-infested little diners. I won’t go.”

Chen Yangzhou shrugged. “I don’t earn much. Don’t expect me to live up to the lifestyle standards you’re used to.”

“We can treat you then!” Zhou Qian offered.

“I’m much older than you both. You could practically call me ‘uncle’,” Chen Yangzhou said, pressing on the accelerator. “Why would kids like you pay for the meal?”

“Uncle? Well, that might be a stretch.” Zhou Qian laughed. “You’re not even 40 yet.”

“Still, I’m sort of friends with your father. We are of the same generation.” Chen Yangzhou glanced at Zhou Qian through the rearview mirror. “What game were you guys talking about earlier?”

“Just some online games, mostly about cultivation and stuff. Why?” Zhou Qian inquired.

Chen Yangzhou shook his head, speaking with a hint of nostalgia. “It’s just that… I remember your dad being quite addicted to games. He would often hide with his phone for hours.”

“I’ve always wondered if his bankruptcy had anything to do with gaming. I hope he wasn’t involved in gambling games. Zhou Qian, learn from his mistakes. Don’t gamble.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qian was genuinely surprised. His expression grew stern, and his eyes became deep and thoughtful.

After a while, Zhou Qian interrupted Chen Yangzhou’s words of caution, “How did you get to know my dad?”

Chen Yangzhou signaled a turn and drove to another lane. “An employee at your dad’s company committed suicide. It didn’t seem like the guy had any reason to kill himself. I was suspicious and often visited your dad’s company to interview the employees. This is how I got close to your father.”

“Your dad is a good person, very cooperative, and he didn’t blame me for interrupting his work. Later on… he would occasionally invite me for meals and such. We’re not very close, but you could say we’re friends. So, treating you to a meal is really the least I can do. Hmm, let me think… Oh right, we were talking about games—”

“Didn’t your dad frequently invite me for meals? But I noticed that many times he would take his phone and lock himself in the bathroom, staying in there for several hours without coming out. When I asked him what was going on, he said he was playing a game… See, games can be harmful. One shouldn’t get addicted!”

In Zhou Qian’s view, the people his father associated with weren’t trustworthy. He had never taken an interest in his father’s social circle, let alone knowing his connection with Chen Yangzhou.

From Chen Yangzhou’s words, Zhou Qian started to have strong suspicions. Could it be possible that his father, Zhou Chongshan, was involved in this game?

Chen Yangzhou mentioned his dad hiding in the restroom with his phone. It seemed that if Zhou Chongshan was really connected to this game, he was more of a gambler than a player.

At least from what Chen Yangzhou had observed, Zhou Chongshan seemed to take on the role of a gambler.

If Zhou Chongshan indeed had deep ties to the game, then his association with a police officer like Chen Yangzhou makes sense.

Police investigate cases, and players who lose in the game die in real life. If Zhou Chongshan was close to Chen Yangzhou, he could glean a lot of information.

Zhou Qian didn’t doubt that the so-called “suicidal” employee from Zhou Chongshan’s company might have had ties to the game and possibly even to Zhou Chongshan himself. Zhou Chongshan’s motive for getting close to Chen Yangzhou now seemed apparent—he was afraid Chen Yangzhou would uncover the true secret behind the employee’s death.

Externally, Zhou Qian kept his composure, just holding the urn tighter and looking down at it. Every day, many people die. But which of these deaths were natural and which involved some supernatural force?

Now, Zhou Qian realized that his father’s death might not have been so simple.

A certain intuition, whose origin even he was unaware of, could it be true?

After all, if there was someone in this world who would help him unconditionally…

In Zhou Qian’s view, that person could only be Bai Zhou.

“What’s wrong?” Chen Yangzhou asked, noticing Zhou Qian’s silence. “Are you okay?”

Zhou Qian shook his head and continued, “So, what was the final verdict on that suicidal employee?”

“No choice. All evidence pointed to suicide. At the time of the incident, he was locked inside his own house with windows shut tight. Elevator surveillance even showed no one visited his floor when it happened.” Chen Yangzhou sighed. “I had to close the case as a suicide.”

“So… did he have a mental illness?” Zhou Qian asked.

Chen Yangzhou countered, “Why do you ask?”

Zhou Qian replied, “Based on what you just said, he must have committed suicide. Could he possibly have had depression or something similar?”

“He doesn’t have depression. As far as I know, he doesn’t have any other mental health issues either,” Chen Yangzhou said. “That’s why I said he shouldn’t have any possibility of committing suicide. But the fact is… all the evidence points to suicide. Haa, who knows what really happened.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qian exchanged a glance with Qi Liuxing, both of them falling into a brief silence. What Zhou Qian was pondering was: his father was likely a gambler, and the employee who “committed suicide” was probably a player who failed to clear a level in a game and consequently died in real life. From the information Zhou Qian had gathered, whether genuinely ill or not, players seem to have some association with mental hospitals.

So why did this particular employee have no mental issues?

To avoid arousing Chen Yangzhou’s suspicions, Zhou Qian didn’t probe further but used his phone to search for more information about Yu Xian.

Yu Xian was murdered in the presidential suite of a five-star hotel, and the killer was Zhu Qiang.

Yu Xian and Zhu Qiang, Zhou Qian had just met them both through the game interface not long ago. By game time, this incident took place three days ago, but in real-time, it happened yesterday. In such a short span…

Yu Xian was indeed killed by Zhu Qiang. It seemed he didn’t heed Zhou Qian’s warning to flee.

But what awaited Zhu Qiang?

Would he be simply arrested as the murderer… or did he have a way to escape?

Zhou Qian’s gaze temporarily left his phone, taking a brief glance ahead. Despite a murder occurring yesterday, Chen Yangzhou could still dine with him, indicating that the incident probably wasn’t within his jurisdiction.

Thus, Zhou Qian decided not to ask further.

If the game involved supernatural entities and if Zhou Chongshan and his employee died because of it, then the game’s arrival in this world was earlier than Zhou Qian had imagined.

After all these years, the game’s secrets had remained hidden. Thus, the system behind the game, or its designers, likely didn’t want humans to uncover its truths.

Given Chen Yangzhou’s sensitive position, he might be a target closely monitored by the game system.

He was a decent man, and Zhou Qian didn’t want to cause him unwarranted trouble. So, he decided not to bring up the subject again.

Aside from inquiring about Bai Zhou, Zhou Qian resolved not to ask Chen Yangzhou anything further. It wasn’t necessary to involve him.

……

On the way to the restaurant, Zhou Qian managed to glean some unexpected information from Chen Yangzhou. As for Bai Zhou, he’d have to wait until they were seated to properly inquire.

Zhou Qian realized the place Chen Yangzhou brought him to was quite shabby. The restaurant was tiny, with only five tables. Cleanliness and ambiance would score zero, and even the furniture appeared greasy.

But Qi Liuxing, who wasn’t on the same page as Zhou Qian, commented upon entering, “The aroma of the roast duck is wonderful! I’d love to taste how good it is.”

“Yes,” Chen Yangzhou agreed. “These ducks are free-range from the countryside and have absolutely no hormones. The chef here has excellent technique. There’s no other place like this in our city. Ah, my wife…”

“Ahem, she never lets me eat this. Today is finally a chance to feast on duck.”

Considering Chen Yangzhou’s statements, Zhou Qian, although uneasy, sat down. With a requesting demeanor, he looked earnestly at Chen Yangzhou. “So, Officer Chen—”

Before Zhou Qian could finish, Qi Liuxing interrupted. “Are you sure… you want to eat while holding an urn?”

Zhou Qian’s fierce gaze darted over. “My friend has been lying underground for years. Can’t I let him experience the… the unique aroma of this city’s roast duck?”

The restaurant owner, serving appetizers, paused upon hearing this, then pretending not to hear, quickly placed the dishes and scurried away.

However, Chen Yangzhou, being an experienced detective, had weathered many storms over the years. Given that he knew about Zhou Qian’s mental issues, his expression remained unchanged, and he was extremely calm, showing not a hint of surprise.

When Zhou Qian turned his head back to look at Chen Yangzhou, his face immediately softened. “So, what exactly is going on with my classmate, Bai Zhou?”

Chen Yangzhou was worried about triggering Zhou Qian’s emotions, so he said in a very gentle tone, “Based on some bone residues that were not completely burned, it seems they are human bones for sure, but other details can’t be discerned. After all, DNA is organic, and once it’s burnt, it’s impossible to conduct further tests.”

Zhou Qian frowned.

Chen Yangzhou then asked him, “Why do you think these aren’t Bai Zhou’s ashes?”

“He appeared in my dream, telling me he wasn’t dead.” Zhou Qian’s gaze was pure and innocent. At this moment, his expression clearly indicated one thing: he’s asking these questions because he suffers from a mental disorder.

So, Chen Yangzhou just sighed deeply.

Zhou Qian quickly asked, “Did you find out anything else for me? Like how he died?”

“Oh. I did ask around for you. He died of illness,” said Chen Yangzhou.

“Illness?” Zhou Qian’s brows furrowed. “What illness?”

“ALS*,” Chen Yangzhou replied. “You might have heard of it, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neuron disease.”

*Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a rare neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. Motor neuron loss continues until the abilities to eat, speak, move, or, lastly, breathe are lost. There is no known cure.

“I’ve heard of it. Stephen Hawking had it, right?” Zhou Qian was momentarily stunned.

Chen Yangzhou continued, “Yes. It’s said that the disease often strikes those older than 30. For your classmate to get it at 16 or 17 is quite rare.”

Zhou Qian, slightly taken aback, didn’t respond.

He immediately pulled out his phone to search for the symptoms of the disease.

From what Zhou Qian found, those with the disease initially feel easily fatigued, experience sudden weakness, or have uncoordinated movements. But in its later stages, the whole body’s muscles atrophy, swallowing becomes difficult… until they die in endless pain.

At that moment, the restaurant’s owner brought over the roast duck, loudly announcing something about giving them some duck liver as a treat.

Qi Liuxing seemed to notice something was amiss and gently called Zhou Qian’s name.

Chen Yangzhou began to elaborate on how to eat different parts of the duck…

Voices overlapped, and the clear sound of chopping from the kitchen echoed. But Zhou Qian paid no attention. Before his eyes, the memory of a high school ping pong match emerged.

During the finals, surrounded by cheering classmates, Zhou Qian gripped his paddle, looking intently at Bai Zhou across the table. This match meant a lot to him. He felt he had to best Bai Zhou in some way.

It was Bai Zhou’s turn to serve. His serving technique was always impeccable, making it extremely difficult to return. But that time, as Bai Zhou tossed the ball with his left hand, preparing to hit it with his right, his right hand suddenly dropped, missing the ball… a service error.

Then, Zhou Qian slammed the ball, and Bai Zhou had to return it with a backhand. Zhou Qian’s shot was a bit off, not landing in a tricky position. Bai Zhou should’ve been able to hit it, but Zhou Qian clearly saw Bai Zhou’s hand tremble, and the ball missed the table and fell to the ground.

Zhou Qian couldn’t hear the cheers or questions from the surrounding students. All he heard was the diminishing “thump, thump” of the ball hitting the ground. And what he missed at that time but recalled now was Bai Zhou’s momentary daze and lost expression while holding the paddle.

The scene changed, taking Zhou Qian to a pathway on the way home from school. Yellow leaves were falling, and the sound of the ping pong ball echoed.

Zhou Qian saw himself gripping Bai Zhou’s collar, asking fiercely, “Why did you let me win on purpose?”

In that moment, was Bai Zhou’s gaze as calm as Zhou Qian thought? In the dim light, in the corners not lit by streetlights… Did his eyes reveal something Zhou Qian missed?

“Zhou Qian, are you okay?!”

Following that loud shout, Zhou Qian felt two strong pats on his shoulders.

He looked up to see two worried faces—Qi Liuxing and Chen Yangzhou.

“I’m fine.” Zhou Qian’s voice was slightly dry. He asked Chen Yangzhou, “Bai Zhou fell ill. And then?”

“Oh… Bai Zhou…” Chen Yangzhou took a few more looks at Zhou Qian. After sitting down again, he picked up a duck leg and began to gnaw on it, continuing, “Bai Zhou was in the Municipal People’s Hospital at the time. My cousin is a doctor there. He said he remembered Bai Zhou. Because the kid was exceptionally handsome and reportedly excelled both in character and learning. My cousin still feels it’s such a pity; he remembers him vividly. He said Bai Zhou did die, although…”

Zhou Qian picked up on something. “Although what? Tell me the exact words of the doctor.”

Chen Yangzhou replied, “Although his condition worsened faster than expected, he indeed died in the end.”

……

That afternoon. Spring Hill Mental Asylum, Zone 1, Public Rest Area.

Qi Liuxing began his lookout duties again.

Because Zhou Qian was sitting in a tree with the ashes in one hand and binoculars in the other.

“Aren’t we supposed to go and bury him? Why are you still holding onto his ashes?” Qi Liuxing, sitting under the tree, couldn’t help but ask. “I paid for that tombstone too! We can’t waste it!”

Zhou Qian just looked at the opposite Zone X and said lightly, “I thought about it. There’s no need to bury. The graveyard management is so messy.”

Qi Liuxing: “So…?”

Zhou Qian: “Just keep it in our ward. You won’t mind, right?”

Qi Liuxing: “How do you know I won’t mind?”

Zhou Qian: “Your brother is staying with us, and I don’t mind.”

Qi Liuxing: “…………”

“So, what are you doing now? Where are we going next?”

“I’m waiting… for [137] to take me as a disciple.”

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Author: 木尺素 / Mu Chisu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 41

In the narrow and gloomy environment, even the oxygen seemed to be gradually disappearing. As Zhou Qian felt difficulty in breathing, an overwhelming intent to kill suddenly attacked him head-on.

Just in the nick of time, Zhou Qian pinched a pill between his fingers and said to the person in front of him, “Dalang, it’s medicine time.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yuqing’s actions were abruptly halted. Then, with a blank expression, he took the pill from Zhou Qian’s palm and swallowed it.

Instantly, Jiang Yuqing was immobilized in his place. Zhou Qian then took out two things from his bag: one was the celadon bottle given to him by Jiang Yuqing in the photo illusion; the other was the box of osmanthus cake he had taken from the receptionist.

Upon opening the box, only one piece of osmanthus cake was left.

Zhou Qian stared at it for a while, then opened the celadon bottle and sprinkled its contents over the cake. A blood-red powder swiftly covered the cake, seeped into its surface, and then vanished.

The agitated, irrational Jiang Yuqing could always be pacified by osmanthus cake. Probably because every time Bei He made him angry in the past, he would placate him with osmanthus cake.

Jiang Yuqing originally didn’t like sweets, but because of Bei He, he grew fond of osmanthus cakes. To this day, even if he slowly forgot everything else, the fact that osmanthus cake pacified his anger seemed to have become an instinct.

So, just when the effects of the paralyzing pill were about to wear off, Jiang Yuqing was about to attack Zhou Qian. But upon seeing the osmanthus cake offered by Zhou Qian, all his restlessness and murderous intent were immediately soothed.

Jiang Yuqing then took the cake from Zhou Qian and lovingly started to eat it.

Little by little, slowly, he ate the osmanthus cake with a look of delight on his face. Blood then seeped from the corner of his mouth, and he collapsed.

Jiang Yuqing was the master of the consciousness world. He could become immensely powerful and create countless deadly weapons or scenarios, such as the 12 gunmen in “Checks and Balance” or the vast S Army in “West Pier”.

No one could kill him in this world except himself.

The poison in the celadon bottle was a creation of his own, capable of ending his life.

In this instance, all player skills would be ineffective against the aged Jiang Yuqing. Only the poison he created could end his life.

That was the solution. The challenge for the player was to find the poison through the photo illusion and then coax Jiang Yuqing into consuming it under such perilous circumstances.

Notably, observing the transformation from [Irritable Jiang Yuqing] to [Jiang Yuqing with Dementia] using osmanthus cake and managing to save a piece of [Wang’s Osmanthus Cake] was the key to passing this level.

Before the aged body hit the ground, Zhou Qian stepped forward to catch him. Then, Zhou Qian half-squatted and let Jiang Yuqing lie in his arms.

With his last breath, Jiang Yuqing opened his eyes in Zhou Qian’s embrace, and at that moment, his cloudy eyes regained clarity.

The elderly Jiang Yuqing in the consciousness world symbolized disease, representing its embodiment.

Now that the embodiment was dead, the disease was gone, and this narrow conscious space would no longer shrink and consume everything. Bei He managed to survive here. And countless versions of young, middle-aged… Jiang Yuqing from different times overlapped at this moment.

The ground shook violently.

This conscious space was about to collapse completely with the approach of death.

In the final moment, Jiang Yuqing lay in Zhou Qian’s arms, holding his hand. His eyes were clear and his smile bright, just like when he was young.

“Bei He… You didn’t lie to me. You really came to pick me up. Thank you.”

“Thank you for taking me away before the disease and old age could kill me, just as I was starting to remember everything, and just before the disease wanted me to forget it all again.”

“Now I die with my memories intact.”

“Thank you. I have no regrets.”

[Jiang Yuqing passed away by Bei He’s side. “Night Rain Addressed to the North” Completion: 100%.]

[Player Zhou Qian achieved the ultimate hidden achievement. Rewards will be redeemed after the end credits plays…]

……

The ground trembled endlessly as countless rocks rained down. The surroundings began to spin, distort, separate, and crumble, and then everything fell into silence.

Zhou Qian opened his eyes and found himself wearing a special device on his head, dressed in a blue uniform, sitting in some workspace.

Beside him on a hospital bed, an old man had closed his eyes forever. A nurse came over to cover him with a white cloth and pushed him away from the room that was almost submerged in countless flowers and gifts.

In the corridor outside the room, many people were holding obituary banners. As they approached, wiping their tears, most of the banners read “In Memory of Dr. Jiang” and so on.

Zhou Qian touched his forehead, and a doctor walked up to him, extending one hand. “Thank you. Your task is now complete. You can leave.”

Zhou Qian noticed the badge on his clothes, which read: [Past Times Nursing Home, Memory Department, Director Li Huai.]

Zhou Qian asked him, “So, my consciousness, under external influence, entered the world of Jiang Yuqing’s consciousness. In his world, I transformed into Bei He. So the Bei He in his consciousness isn’t a figment of his imagination. In a way…”

“Yes. In a way, Jiang Yuqing died next to Bei He. In the last moments of his life, he finally lived for himself. In his eyes, Bei He came to take him to the underworld. He passed away peacefully and contentedly. Thank you.”

The display on his watch lit up with a message:

[Player Zhou Qian’s Rank: D → B]

[HP: 2000 → 8000]

[MP: 2000 → 8000]

[Skill Points: 200]

[Unlock “Rib of God” Feature: Cultivate Bone Spirits; Bone Spirits can become a powerful ally in the future.]

After closing the system panel, Zhou Qian was escorted by Dr. Li Huai to the entrance of the nursing home.

Outside, the sun was shining brilliantly with flowers in full bloom. Just by stepping out there, Zhou Qian could return to his real world. But before that, Dr. Li handed him an item: an empty bottle.

The last hidden achievement reward was a matchbox, whose purpose remains unknown. This time, the hidden reward was equally mysterious.

Receiving the empty bottle from Dr. Li, Zhou Qian asked, “It’s empty?”

Li Huai shook his head. “It’s full.”

Zhou Qian: “?”

Li Huai: “It contains air.”

Zhou Qian: “…”

Li Huai, with a mysterious tone, said, “God said, ‘Let there be air to separate the waters’, and thus the world had [air].”

Zhou Qian narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the man before him. Tall and stern, with a somewhat icy demeanor, he wore a mask that obscured his face; only his eyes were bright and inscrutable.

“The way you said that…” Zhou Qian raised an eyebrow. “Reminds me of Epoh. Do you know him? This kind of miraculous nursing home, perhaps, isn’t a technology that should exist in this world?”

The doctor named Li Huai didn’t answer but turned away. Then, the surroundings started to fade, except for two treasure chests that fell down, which Zhou Qian caught. One was a regular reward, the other was for an ultimate achievement.

Before the nursing home disappeared completely, Zhou Qian finally left the hall and stepped into the sunlight. The next moment, he opened his eyes and found himself back in Zone 1 of Spring Hill Mental Asylum.

At that moment, Zhou Qian received another notification.

[Player Zhou Qian, please wait for your gambler’s evaluation; your gambler can award you a title based on your performance.]

[Unfortunately, due to the unexpected death of your gambler, you have temporarily not received a title or evaluation.]

His gambler was dead?

Zhou Qian frowned, took out the phone from the bedside table, looked up some information, and tried to make a call. However, realizing it was already midnight, he withdrew his hand.

……

In Room 302, inside the shower room, Qi Liuxing had just finished showering. Hearing some noise outside and guessing that Zhou Qian had returned, he hurriedly dried himself and put on some clothes.

When Qi Liuxing returned to the ward, he saw Zhou Qian pouring himself a glass of water. Zhou Qian then sat on the bed, engrossed on his phone.

Qi Liuxing ran over, clearly worried and eager to ask Zhou Qian something, like if he had encountered any danger. But at the last moment, he restrained himself and walked over calmly, whispering, “Ah, you’re back.”

Zhou Qian lifted his eyes and glanced at him, unceremoniously saying, “You’re trying too hard with that act.”

Qi Liuxing: “…”

“There’s no need for that, Xiao Qi. Act your age. You trying to seem all mature makes you look out of place!” Zhou Qian yawned, continuing to look at his phone.

Unable to resist, Qi Liuxing approached him and asked, “What are you reading?”

Zhou Qian: “The Old Testament*.”

*Consists of many distinct books by various authors produced over a period of centuries. There are 39 books common to essentially all Christian canons.

Qi Liuxing: “What happened during that instance? Are you becoming religious?”

“Of course not.” Zhou Qian asked Qi Liuxing, “Do you remember the [Seed of Fire] we got from the last instance?”

Qi Liuxing sat back on his bed. “I remember. Why?”

“God said let there be light, and there was light. He separated the waters and created the air,” Zhou Qian said. “I visited two instances with hidden achievements and obtained the Seed of Fire that brings light and air… I vaguely remembered hearing something similar somewhere, so I searched online.”

“So you found the Old Testament?” Qi Liuxing asked.

“Yes,” Zhou Qian nodded. “It records the story of Jehovah creating the world in seven days. In five days, He created light, air, land, stars, and animals. On the sixth day, He created man. On the seventh day, He rested.”

“So… if we collect all the hidden achievements in the instances, we could acquire seven treasures related to creation?” Qi Liuxing pondered, looking thoughtful.

“Exactly,” Zhou Qian confirmed.

“But what does this mean? Can we, like God, create a world?” Qi Liuxing wondered aloud. “If it’s about creation, it can’t be in reality. So maybe we can create a world inside the game?”

Zhou Qian mused, “I’m not sure. Whether it’s Eastern or Western mythology… stories about ancient creation and creator deities have similarities. So…”

Seeing Zhou Qian hesitate, Qi Liuxing hesitantly asked, “Do you think there’s really a God in this world?”

Zhou Qian looked surprised. “Don’t you see ghosts? I thought you weren’t a materialist.”

“I’ve told you, it’s not a ghost. I don’t know… I don’t know what my brother really is. But he’s not a ghost.”

Qi Liuxing confidently nodded, then, looking mature beyond his years, said, “As for the existence of God, I can’t say.”

Zhou Qian added, “The term ‘God’ is just a title. From a scientific standpoint, it’s entirely possible that extraterrestrial beings visited Earth in ancient times, sharing technology with humans. Their appearance and power made humans consider them ‘gods’.”

“That sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel,” Qi Liuxing scoffed.

“People always say this game is related to God, right? Whether or not He exists, we’ll know as we progress. I’m genuinely curious about what will happen when I become a Rank S player,” Zhou Qian said. “At this rate, I should reach Rank S after the next instance.”

Hearing this, Qi Liuxing couldn’t help but exclaim, “You’re progressing so fast! I’m still at Rank B. But I…”

He seemed saddened by something, but his sadness soon turned to admiration.

Zhou Qian glanced at him, seemingly having an idea. “Oh, didn’t you want to find members for the ‘Sword and Heart’ group? I found someone for you—”

He was cut off by Qi Liuxing.

He said, “Zhou Qian, I want to introduce you to someone! He’s an excellent teammate I met recently. His weapon is a flute! We decided to form the ‘Sword and Heart’ combo!”

After a brief pause, Zhou Qian sincerely replied, “As long as you’re happy.”

……

The next morning, as soon as Zhou Qian woke up, he contacted someone—Chen Yangzhou.

Chen Yangzhou was the police officer investigating his parents’ death and was also the one Zhou Qian asked to help investigate Bai Zhou’s body.

Zhou Qian had clear objectives this time: first, inquire about Bai Zhou’s skeletal remains; second, ask if someone named Yu Xian died and how he died; third, check if someone named Gao Shan died.

Moreover, as the game encompassed more, it would stand to reason that more people would die in reality. Had these incidents caught the police’s attention?

Elsewhere, outside a hospital emergency room, Yun Xiangrong sat quietly on a bench, her face pale under the hospital lights. A man in white, resembling a doctor, approached and handed her a black note.

Yun Xiangrong looked up and saw the words “Pass” written on it. At the bottom right, there was a bright red peach blossom.

“What’s this?” Yun Xiangrong looked up into the face of a refined-looking man.

“A pass. I think you might want to join the Peach Blossom Legion, right?” The man smiled. “Hello, my name is Priest.”

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