Chapter Forty-Two: A Mountain of the Times

“Old Li… let me go in and take a look.”

Chen Nian struggled to speak, then plunged headfirst into the manor.

The scene before him overlapped endlessly with the images in his memory.

He began to recall that painful past, unable to control himself.

…

“Did you remember?”

A voice echoed in his mind.

Chen Nian did not reply.

The voice continued, “I know you prepared yourself mentally before coming here, but it’s far from enough, because reality is more brutal than you could ever imagine!

Even now, you haven’t fully grasped the gravity of the situation!

Let me tell you, the mountain pressing down on us, making it impossible to breathe, is the era itself!

Do you understand?

Because of countless assassination attempts, I hardly interacted with outsiders after I was born, living like a shut-in every day!

But that was only the beginning of the nightmare.

After he died, my real nightmare began!

A top scientist, a once-in-a-century genius?

Ha…

Everyone in the world assumed that such a genius scientist would surely use the best genetic serum on his only son, maybe even the A02 serum that would never reach the market.

After all, who wouldn’t give their own child the best?

That’s human nature.

So, after he died, countless people went to extravagant lengths to find me.

They wanted me dead, wanted to slice me into pieces, to study every cell of mine!

And as time passed, their numbers didn’t dwindle—they grew.

Because the A01 serum was their limit; they tried every method, but couldn’t make anything better.

So they pinned their hopes on me…”

“Ha, the irony is, I’m not some superhuman at all—I’m just a failed experiment.

Some of the top geneticists in Huaxia have already proven this, but no one believes it.

They want me dead, want to cut me up and study me until they feel secure—ridiculous, isn’t it?”

“Chen Nian, tell me, what did we do wrong to deserve this?

From the moment I was born, countless people wanted me dead.

My only support used me for genetic experiments.

After he died, people used my suffering to misunderstand me, to kill me, to dissect me.

Even now, there are still countless people who won’t leave me alone!

Do you believe, if you walked onto the street and shouted the name ‘Chen Ze,’ someone would soon try to kill you?

Ha…

Tell me, what did we do wrong?”

What did we do wrong?

Tears rolled uncontrollably down Chen Nian’s face, and a wave of indescribable rage surged within him.

“Ha, they want to open up my belly to see how many bowls of noodles I ate?

They want to verify if I’m really a superhuman?

Impossible!

Never!

I won’t let anyone succeed!

I know very well!

Besides wanting to kill me and dissect me, they fear me!

As long as I live, those who see me as a superhuman will fear me!

They’re afraid I’ll one day grow into a more terrifying Chen Jianghe.

They even fear I’ll someday come for revenge!

That’s what keeps me alive!

For every day I live, they live in fear!

Chen Nian, weren’t you curious about my obsession?

I’ll tell you now!

My obsession… is to destroy this world that is nothing but hell to me!”

You want to help me resolve my obsession?

Then let’s join forces!

That psychologist was right!

The reason I revived is because I saw hope for resolving my obsession.

I used to be too weak—how could I fight the whole world?

But since the emergence of the Virtual Realm, everything changed, hope bloomed.

Honestly, just the Virtual Realm alone isn’t enough.

My greatest surprise is you; quietly, you’ve influenced so many people, and if you wished, you could raise your voice and build an immense army there.

No need to force it—just step forward at the right moment, and everything will fall into place.

Trust me, together, we could truly have our revenge!

This is a gift from fate!

Come, Chen Nian!

Let’s destroy those who want us dead, destroy those who want to study us, destroy every malicious intent in this world!

Let this world feel our fury!”

…

“No… no…”

Chen Nian instinctively shook his head in refusal.

At that moment, images of the carnage before Mechanical City flashed in his mind, followed by the memory of his friends from the advance squad sending him off.

On one side, mountains of corpses and seas of blood; on the other, his only attachment in this world.

He could not reconcile these two visions.

“I knew it… I knew it!

Chen Nian!

You’re such a coward!

You truly disappoint me!

For a general’s triumph, countless bones must lie beneath—how could you fight the world without casualties?

What use are those people to this world?

Aren’t they just stepping stones?

It’s been this way throughout history!”

“I refuse!”

Chen Nian growled hoarsely.

“Fine!

Since you won’t cooperate, then this imagined persona has no right to control this body!

Remember what I told you?

The world you see is filtered!

You might not understand, so let me explain again!

My original name was Chen Ze; the authorities in Huaxia changed it to Chen Nian to protect my life and sent me to an orphanage…

Ha, everyone thought a superhuman like me would be secretly raised by Huaxia, but no one imagined I’d be sent to an orphanage.

And because of that, I was actually safe.

But how could they possibly let Chen Jianghe’s only child struggle and grow up in an orphanage?

No matter what, the A01 serum created enormous profit for the nation.

So they gave me—no, gave you—a fabricated world.

Do you understand?

You think you went to that orphanage by chance?

No. They investigated the director down to his underwear; only after confirming he was utterly decent did they send you there!

Then you met a top psychologist who made you forget your past.

After leaving the orphanage, you encountered one good teacher after another, good friends—you lived in a world full of love.

You think it’s all coincidence?

Maybe those good people didn’t know your identity, but they were all hand-picked by the controlling hand behind the scenes. With a slight nudge, you were destined to meet them.

Even Old Li outside is probably one of theirs—otherwise, how could you have arrived here so easily?

You, this imagined persona, have always lived in a beautiful illusion!”

Hearing this, Chen Nian’s eyes widened.

Those vivid figures in his memory—the director, the teachers, the classmates—now turned to ephemeral dreams, riddled with cracks, ready to shatter at any moment.

“How ironic…

Everything you encountered in reality was illusion, but what you found in illusion was real.

Are you thinking of your friends, believing they’re genuine?

Yes, they are real, and they truly see you as their elder brother…”

At this point, the voice suddenly became ferocious.

“But don’t forget!

Who is responsible for countless young people losing hope, lying flat in the virtual world?

Don’t forget your identity!

How many ordinary people hate genetic serums—isn’t that clear to you?

Look at the guilds—which one has a superhuman as president?

You used to say, if people could achieve something in reality, who would want to lose themselves in the virtual world?

Do you think, once they learn your true identity, they’ll still see you, the enemy’s son, as their elder brother?

That would be the greatest mockery to them!

You are enemies by birth!

So Chen Nian, you have nothing in this world!

Your existence means nothing!”

…

Bang…

All illusions shattered, everything returned to darkness.

…

Who knows how long passed before Chen Nian emerged from the manor.

Compared to when he entered, he was much calmer.

“Did you resolve what you wanted to?” Old Li asked tentatively.

Chen Nian smiled wistfully.

“I did… fortunately, with the Virtual Realm, the conflicts he created seem trivial now.

I can start over.”

“It’s good that you think so. Let’s go,” Old Li said, relieved.

“Mm.”

Chen Nian nodded, glanced at the manor once more, then followed Old Li.

Soon, the two boarded the military vehicle again.

…

“Behind me is Revival Square!

The renowned young scientist Lin Fengqi is delivering a speech, urging everyone to enlist and defend Huaxia!

From the scene, over ten thousand people are attending, not counting the one hundred twenty million viewers online!”

Bang bang bang!

Suddenly, shots rang out; Lin Fengqi’s body jerked violently on screen, then collapsed.

In an instant, Revival Square descended into chaos. The news anchor froze in place.

Screams, groans, and shouts filled the air…

Among the cacophony, angry voices rang out:

“Lin Fengqi is the son of the devil!

His death is the will of the God of Equality!”

“Long live the Church of Equality!”

…

In the military vehicle, Chen Nian watched the chaos unfold through the onboard projection system.

Only after the livestream was cut did he turn and open the window.

A cool breeze drifted in.

He carefully stretched his hand outside, and on his face, uncontrollably…

A smile appeared.

(The end of this volume)