Chapter 125

Chapter 125: Chapter 123: "I am a Light Pursuer, Su Shi" (Helmsman Added)...As expected, she had been led astray. She should never have agreed to let her daughter adventure. Her daughter was becoming increasingly estranged, no longer the obedient and sensible child she used to be.

"...Fine, you’re grown up, you’re independent, but even if you like something you need to know your limits. Don’t become more and more introverted each day, refusing to even go down and socialize...Mom can’t control you, and won’t stop you from chasing after stars..."

"Mom, he’s not a star." Su Ming’an looked at her mother, who also seemed somewhat unfamiliar, "...He’s a hero."

"—— Boss, a dozen beers!"

A customer’s shout came from below.

"Coming!"

Su’s mother turned her head and shouted downstairs, casting a glance at her daughter with a look of disappointment, then helplessly sighed and clanked downstairs with the beers the customer had ordered.

Su Ming’an withdrew her gaze.

She looked at the screen below with tired eyes, where the "work of art" she had held in high regard was displayed.

As the strongest player in Dragon Country, and the world, it was only fitting that his live stream would be played on such an occasion.

The barrage of comments, although shrunk to a small block in the upper right corner, was updating relentlessly, like a tide.

Downstairs, people crunched on seeds and peanuts, sipping their drinks, laughing and watching as he struggled for victory in a level on the screen.

The "work of art" was now standing in a plaza, appearing to say something to Lv Shu beside him.

Su Ming’an heard his voice, amplified by the speakers, as he was watched like a character in a movie.

But she had once seen the vast ocean in his heart.

Her gaze flicked to her pocket, and then, she clenched her left hand around something within, akin to a piece of rope.

"Just wait a bit longer, just wait a bit longer..." she murmured to herself for no apparent reason.

She felt stiff from sitting for so long, but she turned around nonetheless, listening to his voice that came from across worlds, and picked up her pen.

On the screen before her, an unfinished painting.

"...Why does this Lv Shu always listen to Su Ming’an? He seems way too indecisive." Voices of discussion floated up from downstairs.

Such discussions were a common occurrence, ever-present.

"He’s probably too dumb to think for himself. I remember you, Xiao Wang, being just as subservient in university."

"nm, bro, keep it down, don’t let everyone know about your love history!"

"Damn, Edward got eliminated just like that, I had my money on him, such a loss, damn!"

"Hehe, good thing I had the sense to bet on Su Ming’an. Looks like it’s a sure win, I’m making a killing here, learn from me, you see?"

Downstairs, the clinking of beer bottles continued incessantly.

It was like a night festival, peaceful and joyous.

Su Ming’an couldn’t help but shift her gaze to the screen below, where the cross still bore traces of blood.

The young man slumped in the chair, his golden hair gleaming with luminescence under the sunlight. The remnants of cannon fire left distinct scars on the ground, chairs scattered messily, both sides of the conflict in dire crisis.

Another wave of laughter erupted; the crowd seemed tipsy, drunkenly oblivious to the outside world.

Su Ming’an’s vision blurred as she added a shining lighthouse behind the figure of the "work of art" in her painting; she touched her face, finding it wet with glistening tears.

She bent her head low, gripping the pen tightly, and began to sob within the warmth of the indoor heater.

Laughter erupted from below, as if someone’s risqué joke had hit the mark, or as if someone had remembered their salad days. In the moment when tears soaked her sleeve, surrounded by laughter, Su Ming’an felt like she suddenly became an isolated island, cast adrift in the vast sea, with only the distant, unreachable sunlight still existing.

As if a sealed valley suddenly burst open, the unreserved laughter from below surged in like a ceaseless gale. Facing the wind, she opened her eyes only to see a world blurred by tears.

...Absurdity overflowed in reality, constantly threading through the theme of life; the human world was inherently chaotic enough.

Travelers gazed at each other across ships, their lights piercing through the fog while people on the shore enjoyed their leisure, taking pride in their safe circumstances.

Su Ming’an flipped open her diary and wrote down a passage.

Her mind was clearer than it had ever been. Amidst the festive atmosphere, she threw down her pen and suddenly spread her arms wide, tightly embracing herself as if embracing another non-existent person, as though trying to convey her own emotions outward.

Her tears fell uncontrollably, like a breached dam, yet her mouth was turning upward, unable to contain the laughter of freedom that was bursting forth.

It was as though the laughter was squeezed from her throat, her voice choked up a bit with sobs, and the laughter carried a hoarse tailing sound as if it were wet.

Her laughter was loud, reaching all the way down to the first floor, drowning out the people’s guffaws. The people looked up in confusion, and Su’s mother came running up the stairs "thump, thump, thump," upon seeing her daughter in such a frenzy, she hastily tried to take her to find a psychiatrist.

"Su Ming’an! What’s the matter with you... stop laughing, stop it! Don’t let outsiders mock us! Don’t worry, Mom will take you to the doctor, there’s a private clinic next door, just a short walk... "

Her mother’s words were very clear, ringing clearly by her ears, and the force of her mother’s pull was strong, with an undeniable intent.

But she wasn’t sick. Su Ming’an knew this clearly.

...It was the world that was sick.

Incurable, riddled with endless holes, those who fought valiantly had instead become the spectacles.

"The world is becoming more and more laughable, the lectures and calls for action on the forum are meaningless, the Main God Space lacks laws, institutions, proper rules..." Su Ming’an murmured to herself.

Her mother pulled her forcefully, wanting to quickly drag her inexplicably laughing daughter out of people’s sight.

"...People off-track, overstepping, who don’t understand respect... why don’t they receive the punishment they deserve?"

Suddenly, she pushed her mother away, unable to contain her emotions any longer.

"Su Ming’an was right, I must learn to ’Grading’!"

She began to laugh, her laughter blooming like fireworks. Finding a steadfast faith, she ran to the top of the stairs. Faced with the puzzled looks of everyone, a bright red fuse appeared in her hand, instantly changing all the faces below.

"Su Ming’an—what are you doing!"

Her mother shouted, her voice panicked.

"I don’t want to do anything." She said with a smile, her tone calm, as though making a holy oath, "Those who are not worthy of being saved should not remain in this world. I’m going to help rid us of these ’abandoned goods’."

"——Have you gone mad too? Were you led astray by that Su Ming’an fellow? Mom should have forbidden you from looking at his stuff long ago! Now be good... obey, come back quickly, put down what you have in your hands..." Su’s mother immediately tried to rush over. She thought her daughter was threatening her, just like those children who claimed they would starve themselves just to get their parents to agree to their demands. She regretted not heeding the advice from the forum, forbidding her daughter from reading all those strange opinions, which seemed to have messed up her mind.

...But then, she suddenly saw.

Upon her own daughter’s hand, a sudden burst of flame appeared, vibrant and glaring.

...This was real.

"Crazy, this is absolutely insane..." Su’s mother’s legs gave out in an instant, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.

Everyone’s expressions changed in a flash, and they lunged forward like madmen, attempting to stop the girl who seemed to have lost her mind all of a sudden.

"I’m not crazy, you are the ones who are crazy, I am the most lucid person here. I follow in his footsteps, and he is always right."

Su spread her arms wide, her brows and eyes curving upward.

"Now, remember my name."

Her laugh was like a blaze, reflecting off the fire of the fuse in her hand.

"—I am a Light Pursuer, Su."

"Now, it’s time for you to repay your debt, Guard."

The young girl in front of her was looking down, gripping the hem of her skirt tightly.

"Starting from now, every single person you protect is of utmost importance." Su Ming’an said, "I need to know the information of the people you’ve been guarding for the past two nights to arrange your work. Report to me."

"I, I..." Yamada Machiichi raised her head, and Su Ming’an saw a dull light in the depths of her eyes.

"The first night... I guarded myself, the second night I guarded Lv Shu..."

After a moment of thought, Su Ming’an said, "Then tonight you go guard Eni, do you understand?"

"Yes, yes..." The girl nodded obediently, as if she couldn’t conceive of defiance.

As Su Ming’an was assigning tasks, he suddenly saw the barrage of comments flying like a fierce storm.

Although he’d grown accustomed to turning a blind eye, his high Mentality Points always allowed him to catch some of the rapidly passing texts.

... Similar words kept flashing by, fluttering through his field of vision like snowflakes.

Su Ming’an looked at the barrage.

Su Ming’an was aware of the United Group in the Main God World, and organizations like the action team.

During the progression of the previous World Replicas, humanity was in chaos, the friend function was restricted, social systems akin to QQ groups were not fully explored, and with the capture rate of one-in-seven limiting the numbers of humans, forming any team organizations required time.

But as time passed, some new and old organizations began to be assembled.

Because the foundation of this World Replica was completely different from the original world, and to uphold the purpose of maintaining human survival, some people started to form new organizations through communication, among which the United Group was the largest and most authoritative one.

But in fact, in a new "mini-World" like the Main God World, where people have personal spaces, all interests are shuffled, and traditional positions of power rapidly decay, what brings these people together again is more the advocacy of personal relationships—the United Group does not wield real power. Its declarations and initiatives lack coerciveness; it’s merely a symbolic presence, its influence built on endorsement and consent.

It has an official account on the world forum and often publishes strategies and statements of practical reference.

—For a considerable number of ordinary people, it’s a lifeline.

Su Ming’an had long since closed off direct messaging from non-friends and hadn’t received invitations from such organizations, but he had already heard about these organizations after the end of the Third World...and their invitations to top-tier players.

Edron, the middle-aged man by Edward’s side, appeared to be a figure within the United Group.

...Only it remained unknown if Edron’s series of actions were acknowledged.

"Su Ming’an." Lv Shu walked over, "Did you hear the news?"

Su Ming’an had roughly gathered what had happened from the various voices in the barrage.

And... if he wasn’t mistaken.

This could be an act of imitation akin to a "child who watched a violent cartoon and then started a fire."

And this wrongly imitated "cartoon"... might just involve himself.

"Let’s not worry about that now," Su Ming’an said.

He knew that if he opened his messages, he would be bombarded with a myriad of invites, much like those guild invitations.

He never paid attention to them before, and even after returning to the Main God Space, he gathered information in his personal space.

His intent was not to get involved in the petty squabbles among humans, nor did he wish to join any faction and negotiate with political and business leaders... He was just a college student who had just completed his university entrance exams, ignorant of these intricacies, unaware of the entanglements of interests back in Zhai Xing, and couldn’t even match faces to the presidents and prime ministers of countries. In terms of global dynamics, he only knew about the nearby nations; in terms of economy, only about the Fortune 500...

His horizons were limited, unable to discern whether what was extended to him was an olive branch or poison. He didn’t want to become someone’s pawn, like Edward.

...But now he felt a hindrance and a sense of urgency.

...The urgency of fighting a lone battle.

"You plan to..." Lv Shu looked over with a touch of concern.

"I’m planning to go to the Mayor’s house and find someone," Su Ming’an responded, sidestepping the question.

...But he was currently in a World Replica.

Engaged in a task that could make one a "Ruler," a crucial mission that gradually pulled away from the chaos.

He was walking away from these people.

In his eyes now.

—Only Moli, whose wickedness was about to be revealed, remained.