Feng Yao didn't get enough sleep.

Chapter 685 - 682: "You’re too naive.

Chapter 685: Chapter 682: "You’re too naive.


[Main God World]


Snowflakes fluttered all around, dressed in white as far as the eye could see between heaven and earth.


Perhaps to match the New Year, the weather system had been producing snow for the past few days. Roads and buildings were coated with a layer of white frost.


Lin Yin walked on the streets, wearing a demon fox mask to cover her face. The streets were crowded with people, with children leaping high to snap the icicles off the eaves.


In the eyes of the children, a world without parental control, where snacks could be eaten at will, was simply paradise. They didn’t even want to let this "game" end.


Even many adults, who slaved away every day under the modern 996 work schedule, working night after night for mortgages and car loans, didn’t want the "game" to end.


"Mom, I took you to Mount Huang a few days ago. Tomorrow I’ll take you to the island for fun. You’re in good health now, you have a good appetite, and you don’t even feel tired when climbing or swimming. Tomorrow I’ll teach you how to catch crabs!" On a bench by the road, a young man held his mother’s hand.


His mother, who appeared to be only in her twenties or thirties, smiled cheerily. Once here, she was no longer a woman over sixty but a vibrant young woman.


Their family used to live in a fifty-square-meter urban village. This elderly mother even had to share a room with her son and grandson, all day bothered by the grandson’s crying and expensive maternity and baby products. However, once the World Game started, she and her son moved into a large mansion, enjoying delicacies without a worry. Her son even took her to various scenic architecture systems to play every day.


Had it not been for this game, she would have been trapped all her life in the sunless urban village, tortured by illness to a point worse than death, let alone traveling the world as she could now.


They were not unaware that the high-dimensional beings harbored no good intentions, but life was too blissful, the spiritual environment too rich, too easily seducing people to indulge.


Lin Yin walked through the thick snow, the cold wind whisking her hair. She looked up to see that the Spring Festival Gala on the screen was nearing its final hour.


"——Wash away the journey of the year, don the festive attire. Play the joyous music, bask in the auspiciousness of the New Year. Next, we present the dance ’Auspicious Ode to the New Year’ to everyone here and the audience in front of the live screen. Wishing you all a peaceful and fortunate spring, everything as you wish!"


As the host announced, the performers ascended the stage with red flowers in their hair and the sound of their skirts swishing, like blooming bright red peonies. Golden chrysanthemum, roses, peonies... All kinds of flowers bloomed under the projections, opening and closing like waves, akin to an ocean of happiness.


Through the moving camera, Lin Yin saw some familiar faces. There were members of the organizations and well-known players, as well as Yu Ruohuo, Su Ming’an, Xiao Xiao, Wang Zhenzhen, Xu Changying, Yang Changxu, and others... Anyone who had even the slightest connection with the Number One Player, even ordinary players like Xiao Xiao and Wang Zhenzhen, had risen many steps in status.


They enjoyed the blessings brought by the Number One Player, yet those blessings did not include the Number One Player himself. The Number One Player was now in the snow, covered in blood.


And the people sitting in bright red seats, warming themselves with heating, their cheeks reddened by the festive colors, seemed as if all things were so beautiful at this moment as if everyone could smile joyfully, praising a bright future that might not exist.


Lin Yin understood the homesickness of the people of Dragon Country. The threat of the san in the Sixth World always kept people on edge. But a Spring Festival Gala had brought their collective spirit together. It was a cultural atmosphere, a tradition, or perhaps a spiritual healing, that let people rekindle hope during the celebration. Humans are not entirely simpletons who only know optimism; this was more a method employed by the higher-ups to pacify public sentiment.


However, Lin Yin felt a tinge of irony, as if humanity had been forcibly divided into two races. One frozen and fighting on the snowy battlefield, covered in blood; the other laughing heartily in the warm safety of an air-conditioned room, clinking glasses with one another.


As for Blair Dion, who had broadcast to the entire server two days ago, then had his memory erased by the organizers, it was as if he never existed in the people’s memories.


...


[——All players who complete a Perfect Pass can make a wish at the moment the game ends. This wish must be granted by the organizers. Whether it is domination of a planet, killing all people, or becoming the emperor of the New World.]


...


Those were the words Blair Dion had said at the time.


After the live broadcast, the United Group issued only a death notice stating, "The incident is still under investigation," and never mentioned the matter again. However, many players from other countries insisted they must know the wishes of each person who achieved a Perfect Pass.


Of course, this viewpoint was not adopted. People couldn’t grasp the fully successful players, and the gap between individuals had become a chasm.


Lin Yin walked over the thick snow. As she passed by a park, she saw a rough-looking middle-aged man eating his New Year’s Eve dinner, loudly boasting to his drinking buddies about something.


"——See that? On the screen, that’s my daughter! My Ruohuo is obedient and performs well, all thanks to my care and education, raising her to be talented. And now she can even be on the Spring Festival Gala!" The middle-aged man raised his bottle high, his voice booming as if he wanted the entire park to hear his bragging.


"Congratulations, Old Yu, your daughter Ruohuo truly brings glory to the family!" A drinking buddy immediately offered his congratulations.


"Old Yu, do you have any parenting tips? Share them with us, so I can teach my own brat as well!"


"Old Yu has really made a great contribution, raising such an outstanding daughter. The Yangtze River system should give you an award, like those... ’Most Beautiful Mother’ or ’Most Beautiful Father’ awards. It’s all thanks to you that Ruohuo was raised so well."


"It was your daughter who helped Su Ming’an in the First World, right? That’s really glorious, how could an ordinary person possibly have that kind of ability?"


Immediately, a flurry of praises followed, and under the glow of the live broadcast screen, the alcohol shimmered with a bright sheen, making everyone appear radiant and spirited.


"Oh, what parenting advice can I have? Just pay attention to her growth, care about her psychological state, talk to her more, encourage her to go out and not stay cooped up in her room. Only when her mindset is right can a person grow up healthy..." Old Yu said with a proud face.


Lin Yin passed by them.


She turned on the live broadcast screen. The young man with blood on his windbreaker stood silently in front of the nuclear control console, his arms twisted, his expression as still as dead water. Frost climbed his cheeks and fingertips.


When he moved, it even made a rustling sound, and some red ice shards fell from his clothes beside the wheelchair, like shattered stars.


The crimson alarm lights flashed atop the rooftop, the countdown ticking down, the fate of two worlds hanging on this young man, who could barely stand steady.


His pale face, contrasted with the rosy-cheeked people on the screen, made it seem like they were in two different worlds.


In fact, they indeed were in "two different worlds."


"As the saying goes—The whole year’s work depends on a good start in spring! Spring always fills people with anticipation and desire!" The host beamed with excitement, "Next, we bring you a stage play performance—’Spring Has Come’!"


Lin Yin closed her eyes.


Spring, such a beautiful word.


And yet, so many people would never see spring.


...


"Swish!"


In front of the control console, Su Ming’an opened up the Deity faction’s army map. He found that the legion targeting Yuanyuan and the others did not come from the strategic arrangement of the City of Gods, but was rather controlled by players of the Deity faction.


Last loop, Su Ming’an already knew that players like Edward were involved. It seemed that remote intervention from the City of Gods was not going to work.


He heard the sound of footsteps on snow, Lin Guang standing not less than ten meters from him.


—Their positions were almost identical to where they stood in the last loop.


Only this time, the person controlling the central console was Su Ming’an.


"You’ve paused the nuclear explosion?" Lin Guang glanced at the control console: "So, the next step is to kill me, the administrator?"


Su Ming’an looked at Lin Guang as if looking into a mirror. They were both covered in blood, the exposed skin raw and torn.


"..."


"Lewis, the nuclear explosion must be initiated." Lin Guang said, "I will clear all obstacles for you."


"Then please tell me the reason for starting the nuclear explosion." Su Ming’an said.


"You are not meant to know."


"Sometimes I really want to kill you riddlers," Su Ming’an said.


Lin Guang didn’t speak but just kept approaching step by step, a crimson hose rising from the ground, about to connect to Lin Guang’s body.


Su Ming’an’s wheelchair inched backward, moving further and further away from the control console as if he had given up control.


Just as Lin Guang stepped into the shadows—


"Whoosh!"


A long sword suddenly thrust out, piercing through him in an instant.


Cloning Ming stepped out from the shadows, his body flickering with the cross light of spatial displacement. Lin Guang’s steps halted, and he stared blankly at the long sword in his chest as blood drizzled down like rain.


At the same moment, Su Ming’an propelled his wheelchair into a leap, racing toward the night. As long as Cloning Ming’s sword hit Lin Guang, the nuclear explosion was certain to be halted.


What mattered most to him now was to rescue Yuanyuan. Having looked at the map of the Deity faction’s army distribution, his act of rescue wasn’t so much prophetic.


He had the Blood Seal Pocket Watch, which could transport him instantaneously to Yuanyuan’s side. But if he drew one-third more of his fresh blood, he would be delivering death, not rescue.


In the moment he rushed into the night, he heard Lin Guang’s voice.


"Lewis," said Lin Guang, his head turned sideways as the blade pierced him, "you can’t change anything."


...


"—I’ve listened to you, please spare my comrades."


The night was thick, the snow drifting, and the world became increasingly blurred.


On the landscape, blood-red like lava, Great Commander Che Kylstia set down the electronic disintegration weapon in his hand.


After the war broke out, the army he led joined the battle, responsible for wiping out the support troops of the Deity faction. However, a betrayal had landed them in an encirclement by the enemy forces, and the traitor was none other than their member, Han.


Ten meters in front of him, the gray shadows of the Deity’s army lengthened under the firelight, their numbers reaching over a thousand.


Han, with her blue hair, stood quietly by the Deity army. She had betrayed military information and, with the help of poison gas, had dissolved the battalion, leaving only Che and a few elites still combat capable.


She wanted to switch factions to gain the ’Source,’ to exchange for a chance to learn advanced knowledge in Central City, and to achieve a class leap. Without entering Central City to learn, she would never be able to avenge her mother of an inferior persona.


She was not wrong.


She sought to avenge her mother, to kill Yasa Acto, the oppressor of the inferior personas. She could betray the battalion.


"—Great Commander Kylstia, put down your weapon," General Zhu En of the Deity army threatened.


Che only hesitated for a moment before he saw the pained expressions of his comrades.


"I’ve listened to you, please let my comrades go," Che immediately retreated, raising his hands: "We can become prisoners, as long as you don’t kill them."


He gave up the chance to fight back, hoping none of his members would die.


Bald Beiji, handsome Wells, rebellious Ray Xiao, and Mo Li with her jet-black hair... These were his companions from childhood, with whom he had drunk in taverns in The Fringe, lived, chatted, and laughed heartily... Their lives were far more important than a Kaius Tower. His sole intention was to keep everyone alive.


However, the very next moment after Che laid down his weapons.


He saw the cruel smile on the faces of the Deity army.


...


"Tap."


At eleven forty-five in the early hours, Su Ming’an arrived at the battlefield to the southeast.


The battlefield was pitted and strewn with corpses lying in a river of blood, spilling into a dark red sea, indicating a terribly fierce battle had taken place.


Su Ming’an recognized bodies from the Deity army, the Freedom Alliance, and even members of the battalion. Their corpses were mostly broken, their innards spilled out, the smell of blood almost materializing.


Without finding any clues, Su Ming’an continued to drive southeast but saw a figure moving among the corpses.


He was the only living person.


The man leaned against piles of bodies, his hair disheveled, his expression vacant.


"You’re too naive and too sentimental, thinking that everyone can live. With you in charge, everyone will sooner or later be killed, Great Commander..." The man murmured to himself, cradling one corpse after another before bursting into maddened laughter:


"No, no, that’s wrong, nobody died, I didn’t kill everyone. Doris, happy Fuyuan Festival. Beiji, happy Fuyuan Festival..."


"What happened?" Su Ming’an picked up the man.


"Lewis... Lewis..." Che’s cloudy eyes finally found light when he saw him.


Che suddenly burst into tears:


"I got everyone killed, City Lord Lewis... I gave up the chance to fight back, and they were all killed... a sentimental leader simply cannot do anything, I got them all killed..."


"What about Luo?" Su Ming’an pressed.


"She deliberately led away part of the army, on a truck..." Che said.


...There’s still time.


Su Ming’an looked up toward the direction where the truck had left marks.


...


Edward glanced back, the cold wind lifting his splendid blonde hair.


He had dominated the ’Key’ faction of the Deity army and even intercepted a team from the battalion, reaping a large number of faction contribution points. In a situation where the whole world was an enemy, he had done his utmost.


Now on the Caius Tower faction leaderboard, Su Ming’an topped the list with a total of 49,000 contribution points, while he was in fourth place with 14,000. Even Lu, in second place, and Violet in third were ahead of him.


Luckily, he had seized the opportunity this time.


"Great Commander, we have successfully driven the Freedom Alliance’s troops into the ’Red Hot Zone,’" reported a subordinate wearing a military cap.


Edward looked up to see in the thick snowfall, some sparse figures falling into deep red pools. These were the part of the army led by Luo Kylstia in retreat.


These pools, like lava, were extremely hot, the product of the harsh environment outside. Once people fell in and stayed too long, survival was nearly impossible. He could even hear the "sizzling" sound of their flesh scorching.


"We’ll take a detour, go to the opposite bank and wait. If they do manage to come out alive, keep the cannons trained on them," Edward said coldly.