Chapter Four: Staying True to the Original Aspirations

Chen Nian lifted his head and gazed at Lu Yixiu, his expression somewhat dazed. Lu Yixiu wasn’t especially handsome, but his attire was immaculate and his bearing scholarly and refined. He gave off the impression of a government official at first glance. In fact, he truly was a man of utmost propriety.

Eight years earlier, Chen Nian had first encountered the metaverse game "Cultivation." After discovering a hidden technique within the game, he became the player with the highest cultivation level. Back then, he acted with reckless abandon, often slaughtering other players and becoming something of a scourge in the game.

Later, he met a boy who always tried to persuade him that, as someone powerful, he should spread positive energy—that the game was called "Cultivation," not "Demonhood," and so on. In the end, Chen Nian killed him countless times. Yet through those countless battles, a bond was forged. That boy became his first friend in this world.

That boy was Lu Yixiu.

Now, Lu Yixiu was a graduate student at the School of International Relations of Imperial Capital University, a model student in every sense.

...

"I’ll go too!" Another voice rose in the meeting room as Xinghe’s guild leader, Xia Xiyun, stood up. At that moment, Ye Guangyu, seated at the head of the table, spoke: "That concludes our meeting. Those willing to go, email me—a direct message with the address will be sent to each of you. Registration closes at midnight tonight. If you have suggestions, you can email me as well."

With that, the meeting room abruptly dimmed.

...

After stepping out of the metaverse pod, Chen Nian took out his phone and dialed Lu Yixiu’s number.

"Hello..."

"Chen Nian, why are you calling me? Let me tell you, if you’re about to persuade me not to go, you’d better give up right now. I’ll argue with anyone who tries to talk me out of this, and you’re no exception!"

"Yixiu, let me go instead. You stay put."

"What did you say?"

"I said, let me go. Yixiu, don’t try to pull this on me. I know your tricks too well."

"Wait, why would you go? I’m from the School of International Relations. I joined the organization long ago—at a time like this, it’s people like me who should be at the forefront! What’s this got to do with you?"

Chen Nian couldn’t help but laugh at that.

"You know my health... you’re the only one I’ve told in the guild. For something this risky, if someone has to go, who better than someone like me—someone with a terminal illness?"

"Chen Nian, you’re thinking about this all wrong. Precisely because you’re terminally ill, you’re the last person who should go! Have you considered that this incident could lead to a huge leap in human technological progress? You still have at least a year—if you can get through this difficult beginning, maybe a terminal illness won’t be terminal anymore! You could not only survive, you could even find a girlfriend with peace of mind. Xu Jing isn’t bad at all—everyone in the guild knows she has a crush on you. To be precise, so long as you don’t pretend otherwise, it’s not even a secret crush anymore. You could get married, have kids, build a family... wouldn’t that be wonderful? Family—that’s what you’ve always longed for, isn’t it? Now there’s hope, so why throw it away? With your personality, at such a critical time, you should be seeking stability! I shouldn’t have to tell you that, should I?"

"Enough!" Chen Nian’s tone turned impatient.

"Lu Yixiu, what about you? If you die, what about your parents? What about your little girlfriend? Besides, don’t you realize what kind of people the authorities are looking for? You’re already part of the organization—who do you really represent? And Xia Xiyun—she’s the child of high-ranking officials, someone with profound connections. She’s nothing like us ordinary folk; how could she ever resonate with common people? As for Yuan Zhendong, he started a guild just to make money—would he risk his life? No chance. Then there’s that streamer, constantly embroiled in scandals with his female fans—what good would he do? The rest have even less influence. Lu Yixiu, don’t you see that, out of everyone in that meeting room, I’m the one who should go?"

"Chen Nian..."

"Listen to me: anyone can play games. The rich can play, the laborers can play, the new generation can play, and so can ordinary people... But only I can represent the group the authorities most want to unite. Because I am an ordinary person. I have nothing in real life, yet I have enormous influence and can resonate deeply with many. I even think the reason the authorities invited a group of players was precisely to get me to go."

"Stop..." On the other end, Lu Yixiu’s voice broke.

He was a student of international relations, clever enough to understand the subtle machinations at play.

"Yixiu, listen. Not only do I want to go, but if I survive, I want to accomplish something. Have you ever considered, in any future conflict or upheaval, who will be abandoned first? It’s the ordinary people, the ones who want nothing, who try to stay out of things. We have many like that in our guild. You know I grew up in an orphanage, with no family. But many in the guild call me 'big brother.' To me, the guild is my family. As their leader, I must protect them. I’ll do my utmost in this incident to show the authorities the value of ordinary people. That way, they won’t be so readily cast aside in the future. Do you understand?"

"I understand..." Lu Yixiu replied with difficulty.

Hearing this, Chen Nian breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good. Yixiu, if I never return, tell everyone in the guild that, if the world plunges into chaos, those without value will find it hard to survive... That’s all. I’m going to sign up now."

He hung up without hesitation and immediately sent his application to the email address in the private message.

...

Not long after, a call came in.

"Hello, is this Mr. Chen Nian?"

"This is he," Chen Nian replied calmly.

"We have received your application and approved it. Someone will pick you up at your home tomorrow morning at eight and take you to the Space Forces Base One. If you have any unfinished business, please take care of it as soon as possible."

"Understood."

"Thank you for your contribution."

"You’re welcome."

...

After hanging up, Chen Nian sat quietly on the sofa.

Was there anything left to take care of?

He had no parents to say goodbye to. With the metaverse functions suspended, most of his assets were frozen; there was no need to make arrangements. As for his real-life property, he had long since made plans, for he had always lived with the awareness that death could come at any time.

The only things tying him down now were his friends in the guild. Yet, for the moment, he did not wish to tell them anything.

So, there was nothing left to do.

Lost in thought, Chen Nian rose and walked to the display shelf, gently touching the figurines and souvenirs he had collected over the years. Each one represented a glorious chapter of his metaverse gaming history.

It seemed these were the things he was most reluctant to part with.

As he gazed at them, his eyes fell on a stack of dusty certificates in the corner. The top one, in bold letters, read "Outstanding Student."

Seeing those certificates, Chen Nian smiled.

Who among us wasn’t once a good student?

He gently wiped the dust from the certificates, and the memory of receiving that award eight years ago resurfaced in his mind...

"Chen Nian, this certificate is for you. You did very well in your high school entrance exams—your scores are high enough to attend the best metaverse high school in the country! Of course, you could also choose a top provincial high school in the real world, but I think the metaverse high school is better."

"Teacher... I’m not planning on going to high school."

"What? Why not?"

"I never told you... but I have a terminal illness. I don’t have many years left. Continuing my studies seems pointless... I’m sorry to disappoint you."

"Oh, how can that be? Chen Nian, you..."

"Teacher, you don’t have to be sad for me. My life may be short, but I’ll find a way to make it more meaningful. That’s why I don’t want to keep studying."

...

"I’ll find a way to make my short life more meaningful..."

Recalling those words he’d spoken to his teacher eight years ago, Chen Nian was overwhelmed by a surge of emotion.

"So then..."

"What is there left to regret?"