"You... don't worry about me... you go to school." Lv Shu stammered, feeling like his head was about to split.

"It's okay, I want to help you." The boy took out some spare change: "Let me buy you something to eat. Do you know how to use medical insurance? I can teach you..."

They had already walked into the alley, and those disdainful gazes disappeared.

Lv Shu turned back, his emerald-green eyes hidden among the layers of white hair, and he began to feel lucky—the boy had forgotten him. At least this way, the gentle young man on Taihua Mountain was still alive. If even the boy knew who he was, then the young master of the Lv Family would be completely dead.

"... Stay away from me." Lv Shu said: "Or I will... hit you."

—Stay away from me. Otherwise, those enemies will target you.

The boy showed a puzzled expression, "Ah?" He seemed confused about why his good intentions were met with scolding and threats.

"Quick... quickly go away." Lv Shu said, trembling.

He had met many kind-hearted people before, but this goodwill always disappeared in various forms.

The little child who gave him coats never came back the next day. The old grandma who wanted to take him home soon found her house in disarray. The teacher who wanted to send him to school was quickly told not to interfere. The urban management officer who took him to collect relief funds was replaced the next day.

Brief warmth always disappeared quickly. He returned to the bridge empty-handed, alone again and again. Others' help had made him fearful, and each time he felt warmth, it was as if he was burnt.

"You don't have to be afraid. If you're worried about something, I can take you to seek help..." The boy held his hand.

"Pa!"

The hand was slapped away.

Lv Shu used all his remaining strength to push the boy out of the alley and turned to run inside.

After running for ten seconds, he finally looked back.

—At the alley entrance, there was no boy.

It seemed the boy lost patience. After all, who wouldn't be afraid of a homeless person with mental issues?

His body suddenly lost all strength, and Lv Shu slumped to the ground, his head feeling like it was about to split.

Ha, haha, hahahaha...

Under the wet white hair, he hung his head dejectedly, unsure whether he should cry or laugh.

... This is good, don't get close to him.

He is a huge, friendless blot of mold; anyone who reaches out to help him is targeted by the "virus."

He had already thought of the worst possibility.

If he really couldn't afford medicine and couldn't survive... then take the knife and launch a suicide attack on his enemies. As long as he could take one or two down with him... even one or two would suffice...

That was the last thing he could do.

When he returned to the bridge, he found that there were some old clothes and bread where he lay. Other homeless people said that a boy had brought supplies to all of them.

Lv Shu ate the bread silently, wrapped the old clothes tightly around him, most of which were children's clothes, with some marker scribbles on them.

... The boy didn't give up.

He thought silently.

... Despite being met with cold eyes and insults, he still thought about helping the homeless.

...

[September 26, 2024, Heavy Rain.]

[Today I passed by the bridge and saw some homeless people shivering under newspapers.]

[Gave them some old clothes and bread, hoping their lives would improve.]

[... I'm just an ordinary person, I can only do this much. If I could become someone like my father, maybe I could help them find a new home...]

[But when I see many social issues, the one who is indignant is me, and the one who is powerless is also me...]

...

At the end of the month, Lv Shu's illness became completely uncontrollable.

His memory deteriorated, his reading ability and cognitive skills also had problems, and he spent sixteen hours a day in a state of slumber.

He knew he had reached his limit.

He had already inquired about Uncle Zhao's situation, and heard that Uncle Zhao had adopted another child, a very happy child. That was enough, that family no longer needed him.

He had also learned about the enemy's location and figured out how to take revenge. But when he picked up the knife, his mind suddenly went blank.

... Where am I going?

Pain occupied his brain, as if something was blocking his skull. He barely recalled where the enemy's house was, stumbled forward, and suddenly collapsed, vomiting blood.

He had already lost the ability to walk.

He lay on the street, his white hair merging with the rain, the rain dyed his hair white. In a haze, he faintly heard the sound of Christmas songs, the scent of hotpot wafting by.

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way♪～"

No one cared about a dying homeless person collapsed in the alley.

As it turned out, even for revenge, he had long lost the strength, a child could easily knock him down.

"What joy it is to ride in one-horse open sleigh♪～"

... Grandpa.

Curling up with the knife like an arched worm, his white hair soaking up the filth of the ground, exuding the stench of a corpse.

"Why..."

He lay limply on the ground, unable to get up.

... Turns out, struggling to the end, he was still useless.

"The earth shines silver white, let's enjoy the good times while we're young♪～"

In his hazy consciousness, he seemed to see his past—the carefree life on Taihua Mountain, the steam rising from the tea, that never-ending blaze...

At this moment, faint voices drifted from the dim alley entrance:

"... Ming'an, did you go to the bridge again?"

"... Yes, but that person seems to be gone."

"... What kind of person is he, with white hair, is he old?"

"... I'm not sure, he never let me see his face clearly, maybe his face is injured."

"... Did the urban management drive away the homeless in these few days?"

"... I don't know, we can only go back."

"... Yeah, go back to the dormitory early, edit the video, earn some living expenses, maybe you can help more people."

The two figures walked across the alley entrance without seeing the white-haired homeless man resembling a worm in the dark alley.

... Who was the person who passed by?

Lv Shu couldn't remember; he had forgotten even Uncle Zhao's appearance, as if his memories were cut in half, only his childhood intact.

"With dear friends, we'll sing the sleighing song♪～"

Breathing grew weaker, vision nearly failing.

He realized his life was nearing its end, and his last thoughts surfaced—

...

[—Die in a beautiful place.]

...

Because if he died in an alley, it would trouble the cleaners, his decaying corpse would frighten others.

So, if he died in the wilderness... the body sinking into the soil, at least wouldn't trouble others.

...

"We'll hitch it to the sleigh and dash ahead♪～"

"Dash ahead♪～"

...

September 30, morning.

Under the first rays of dawn, Lv Shu finally had the strength to get up, as if it was a final burst of energy.

Rolling up his bedding, he propped up his body.

Stumbling and trekking for a long time.

When the pain was unbearable, he took painkillers; when he ran out, he lay down and slept.

A "blot of mold" walking in the city, drawing countless disdainful gazes; this time, he didn't even have the strength to bathe, truly deserved to be disliked.

Finally, he left the city.

Standing on the hillside outside the city, clutching his stomach in agony, vomiting blood, his head heavy like a giant stone.

—He saw almost endless butterflies flying toward him.

Were they here to eat his body?

He closed his eyes and smiled.

This was a good place.

The sun shone brightly, the field vast, wildflowers blossoming.

In the distance, the hazy outline of Taihua Mountain appeared, as if bamboo forests rustled, the air filled with the scent of wet soil after the rain.

As if a young man holding a cup of tea stood on the mountain, looking at him.

"The sunshine is wonderful..."

He lay down slowly, for the first time realizing the sunshine was so warm, his dirty, curled white hair piled on his forehead, revealing a pair of green eyes, still clear and bright.

The child's clothes, full of marker doodles, covered his body, while the gentle sunlight bathed him softly.

He took Uncle Zhao's photo out from his pocket, clutching it in his hand, and pressed the address, whose source he couldn't recall, underneath himself.

... Lv Shu never surrendered.

He thought this way.

... Lv Shu died from illness, not from enemies' persecution. He died from his body's disease, not from flames and blades.

No one could take his life.

He considered himself a barren and impoverished person, his short life of just over twenty years had no color, no flowers, and no laughter. Yet, at least in even the most barren soil, a touch of green remained. The young bamboo kept growing until its demise; at least something had changed.

He achieved no significant accomplishments in the end. He lived like a rat in a sewer from beginning to end, unable to strike his enemies even once, becoming nutrients in the mud, devoured by insects, dying in despair and pain.

... But, oh, deity.

Lv Shu opened his eyes full of bloodshots, he was almost blind.

The insects on the grass seemed to smell his death, beginning to gnaw his skin, eating away at the long-decayed flesh. He lay on the ground like a pile of rotten meat, emanating a foul stench.

If gods really exist in this world... I beg of you...

With such an impoverished and barren life, such a failed person,

with a life like this already,

could you let him find a third 'good person' still unpursued? Could you give him a chance to go on living...

He really wanted to live on...

The sky was blue and bright, and hundreds of butterflies surged towards him.

He slowly closed his eyes, and in the acute pain, the last breath faded away.

The tightly clenched black blade,

fell to the ground from his gradually relaxing hand.

"Clang——"

"Rustle——"

The butterflies shrouded his body; from a distance, it looked like a flowing oil painting.

The malicious onlookers from afar finally withdrew their gaze.

The photo blew away in the wind, clothes sank into the mud, his white hair was full of insects and filth. Amid the disappearing vitality, he did not shed a tear until the last beat of his heart faded.

But he had not yet taken his revenge, he truly...

felt unwilling.

...

...

Ding dong.

Ding dong!

...

The World Game... loading.

Player Lv Shu, welcome to the World Game.

...

Oh, deity...

Perhaps gods really exist in this world.

...

[A young man with a green mantis resting on his shoulder appeared at the end of the road.]

[That is a top player in the world, an extremely dangerous presence—Lv Shu from Dragon Country.]

[Yu Ruohuo immediately tensed up.]

[Lv Shu's steps were swift, walking to Su Ming'an and Yu Ruohuo.]

...

"Don't be nervous. Su Ming'an, Number One Player. I'm attracted by your theories and actions."

"So what?"

"—I've decided to follow you. I like people who always look to the future, I like you, and I believe you are worthy of becoming my light."

...

"You're a 'good person,' Su Ming'an."

...

"You're a 'good person,' and 'good people' shouldn't be treated like this... so I want to save you."

...

"No, you're a 'good person', whatever you do is right, I believe in you."

...

"Su Ming'an is a 'good person,' those who kill him deserve death..."

...

"I will remove all obstacles for you, Su Ming'an."

...

On that day, Lv Shu, who stepped into the First World, met the Number One Player Su Ming'an.

A nineteen-year-old black-haired youth, powerful, with immense potential, harboring justice.

Most importantly—the Number One Player looked familiar to Lv Shu.

He—resembled a 'good person'.

The Ancient Martial Families are too vast, by his own power alone, revenge is difficult. Therefore, he wanted to follow the Number One Player, waiting for the right moment, when maybe the Number One Player could help him get revenge—believing such a 'good person' would never reverse black and white, nor disdain justice.

Most importantly, he liked such a person who harbors light, reminding him of the unchosen Uncle Zhao in the World Game and his deceased grandpa. Helping such a person is like repaying Uncle Zhao—he is saving the world.

But gradually, he no longer transferred his feelings for Uncle Zhao and grandpa onto Su Ming'an, he gradually realized... that Su Ming'an himself was also worth helping.

Time and again, Su Ming'an pulled him out of the gloomy, obsessive mire. Even if Su Ming'an said nothing, merely walking forward, Lv Shu could sense [redemption] from Su Ming'an's actions and demeanor.

It was a lamp illuminating the darkness, radiating warmth every moment.

He finally understood his grandpa's words—what it meant to be a "role model," what it meant to be a "leader in life," why he needed a "good person."

A "good person" should be like this.

He was willing to become his sword, pointing towards all the dangers and ugliness of the world. Because he knew that Su Ming'an would surely not disappoint him, nor disappoint humanity.

—Even if he dies in Qiongdi, becoming a decayed Black Beast.

—Even if he dies in the City of Measurement, becoming an invisible electronic ghost, waiting thousands of years until he silently dissipates...

—He was willing to achieve such a "light."

...

"Su Ming'an."

"This game mocks us so. We, as firewood, can only fight against... or adapt to it."

"But you are different from us, you are a torch."

"I have been good at reading people since I was young. I feel... that you have always been the most suitable for this world."

"You are, the best."

"This time, have I helped you..."

Started with interests.

Ended with true heart.

...

[March 29, 4:00 AM]

Su Ming'an suddenly received news from afar—Lv Shu had killed seventeen people from the Ancient Martial Families.

Their deaths were violent: stomachs filled with trash, organs torn, backs burned to rot, bodies gnawed by insects. It was as if Lv Shu was reenacting something.

The players in the Main God World are not allowed to harm each other. Earlier, upon knowing Lv Shu wanted to take revenge, Su Ming'an lent his followers to Lv Shu; this was done under Lv Shu's command.

He put down the memory fragments, gazing into the distance, muttering to himself.

"Lv Shu."

...

Do you feel the redemption now?

This time, I have helped you too.

...

...

[February 7. Su Ming'an said I am important. Noel said he wants to be my forever friend.]

[Very happy.]

[I hope everyone can survive. (smiling doodle)]

...

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