Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1572: Final - · By the Sea Arc [44] · “For the Past.”
"This array..." Su Ming’an crouched down, quickly recognized this array, and recalled the events of the previous cycle:
...
[After being dragged to a room by the Executioner Hui Bei, Su Ming’an recovered a bit of his vision. He looked around; this room... resembled Su Liujin’s initial room. Oil paintings, carpet, floor-to-ceiling mirror.]
[A blood-red pattern was drawn on the carpet, resembling a sacrificial array, surrounded by incense and candles.]
[Su Ming’an, having lost too much blood, collapsed just as the sacrificial array on the carpet glowed a scarlet light.]
[He saw an endless ocean before him, witnessing Su Liujin standing amidst the sea.]
...
Last time, after my survival time hit zero, I was dragged into an array by the Executioner Hui Bei and then saw the Sea Emperor. The Emperor asked me, "Do you choose to go forward or backward," leading to the Sea Crossing Line and Guardian Shore Line.
So, Wang Xingkong’s body lying here is correct. After all, this is the final end for the "last iteration of myself (controlling Wang Xingkong’s perspective)." However, last time, Xiao Su did not collapse here.
It seems that this time, a series of butterfly effects caused by me led to the "last iteration of myself" and Xiao Su collapsing here together.
"Destroy it," Su Ming’an said.
Qianqin took a deep breath, raised the Holy Sword, and slashed down!
Holy light burst forth, shattering the array into pieces.
The array Li Ziqi couldn’t destroy with all her strength, Qianqin needed only one strike.
"Creeeeak."
At this moment, a candlelight flickered, and a young man with golden hair and blue eyes, dressed in black, wearing an executioner’s mask on the side of his head, appeared carrying a lantern.
"It’s the Executioner!" Fu Wenwen screamed in fright.
Hui Bei’s gaze fixed on the thoroughly destroyed array, a deep look in his eyes. But instead of lashing out, he looked at Su Ming’an and said, "Are you being chased? Follow me."
Time was critical, so Su Ming’an followed Hui Bei, and the rest quickly followed along.
"Number One Player, wise beyond compare, can you deduce what I’m thinking?" Hui Bei seemed to have finally torn off his mask of disguise and revealed his true nature: "I am not like that useless brother, I will not treat you all with tenderness and perfection."
He noticed Li Ziqi, who died and resurrected, and easily guessed that Li Ziqi’s core was now Su Ming’an.
"The array was once damaged by Li Ziqi, and it hasn’t been completed yet, but ’the past me’ already collapsed in the array, and is now seeing the Jellyfish Emperor." Su Ming’an deduced while running: "So, seeing the Jellyfish Emperor is probably just an incidental effect of the array. Its true purpose will be realized only when it is fully completed."
"I only appreciate wise people; can you possibly figure out the true purpose of the array?" Hui Bei said seemingly nonchalantly.
"—Summoning the Lord of Dreams or Pudding, right?" Su Ming’an replied.
Hui Bei glanced sideways, his jade-colored eyes deep and eerie under the lamplight, resembling snake eyes.
"In the instance’s beginning, it was you and Pudding who guided me, acting as my novice instructors. I even thought at the time, she was like a mother, while you were like... cough." Su Ming’an said: "This array, most likely related to that circle."
He was wary of "speak and be known," having been trapped by Dieying more than once, so he used "that circle" to replace the term "Awakeners."
"I am not one of that circle; my good brother Hui Mo insisted on playing with fire, and took your duplicate away." Hui Bei replied: "I am just a scholar, simply pursuing the mysteries of the universe, not wishing to burn myself. I helped Pudding because she could bring me the truth."
"Unfortunately... you don’t appreciate it." Hui Bei’s expression turned somber: "Why choose Lü God and not Pudding?"
"Hmm... because of first come, first served?" Su Ming’an tilted his head.
In reality, Su Ming’an just thought choosing Lü God posed less risk, as Pudding was closely linked to the Lord of Dreams, while Lü God was lonely and thus easier to control. He preferred to put hope in his own hands, even if it meant supporting someone, he would stand in the Regent King’s position.
This reasoning made Hui Bei’s eyes even more profound, and he displayed the gentle smile Su Ming’an knew well, the feigned smile under the light seemed as cold as millennial ice:
"You still have time to change your stance now, or else we will be enemies."
"Is that position really that enticing?" Su Ming’an said: "What if the Lord of Dreams is just toying with you? All the heirs before have disappeared."
"I don’t mind." Hui Bei said straightly: "That is for Pudding to consider—she gives me the truth, and I help her, it’s a fair trade, nothing more."
"For the pursuit of wisdom and truth, you slaughter the innocent, you do all the evil deeds for Pudding, keeping her hands clean of blood, ensuring her ’supporting mortal goodness’ theory always remains bright and just..." Su Ming’an paused, then suddenly whispered with a smile:
"...it’s pretty similar."
"Except a bit taller."
Suddenly, his side was pressed against something cold.
It was a gun muzzle.
The frail scholar held a lamp in one hand, a gun in the other, half mask dim as a ghost, his half face serene as white jade. As he ran, the gun muzzle quietly pressed against Su Ming’an, the wide black robe blocking the view of Qianqin and others behind.
"Give me an answer." Hui Bei said quietly: "Choose me."
"I don’t particularly enjoy standing on the same line as someone who kills innocents." Su Ming’an said.
"Do you know why Pudding uses ’Magic Girl’ as her codename?" Hui Bei wasn’t angry: "Magic Girls help the unfortunate fulfill their wishes. Our chosen sacrifices are all people with limited time, in dire circumstances; Li Ziqi, suffering from a terminal illness, only had a few months to live; I gave her a chance to fulfill her dreams, to become a big star before I killed and took her blood, at least it’s better than her experiencing all the bullying before her death. If she hadn’t resisted, she could’ve left a large fortune for her mom and sister, more than she’d earn in a lifetime."
Hui Bei’s words sounded like a philosophical question—you have three months left to live, would you choose to maintain your current impoverished life until dying painfully of terminal illness, or to give up these three months to realize dreams for a day or two, becoming a world-class star, painter, or esports player, leaving behind a grand legacy before passing away?
Many people might choose the latter.
A short-lived bloom for a day or two or a mundane, painful three months.
However, Li Ziqi was an exception; having seen the light, she believed forming the array would lead to chaos and thus decisively gave up the chance, choosing to sacrifice herself to destroy the array.
Some cocoon into butterflies in blood, others burn themselves out.
"So, do you really believe my actions are utterly heinous? Many people are extremely grateful to me, thankful for the fleeting chance I gave them." Hui Bei said: "Mediocrities will never surpass the heels of geniuses, they beg for such an opportunity until their deaths."
"I’m not judging your actions, I just simply dislike them." Su Ming’an said blandly: "Give me some time to think, next time we meet, I’ll tell you my answer."
"..." Hui Bei was silent for a while, then turned around.
"—Turn around then tell me ’it’s already next time we meet, give the answer,’ that won’t count." Su Ming’an said immediately.
Hui Bei turned back regretfully.
Suddenly, a sound came from behind.
"He’s chasing us," Hui Bei said.
"Who exactly is he?" Su Ming’an asked.
Though Hui Bei’s expression showed something was amiss, she shook her head: "I don’t know. He’s neither a staff member of the Disciple Game nor a player; in countless cycles before, we’ve never seen him."
— Is he really appearing for the first time in the cycle?
Su Ming’an wanted to knock some sense into Hui Bei, possibly increasing her goodwill and revealing the truth. However, the reversal mode is Luowasha mode, which likely only affects the Luowasha people and not those related to the Awakener.
"Ahead is a game level, clearing it will lead you to the third underground level to find what you seek." Hui Bei pointed at the door ahead: "Go forward."
"You..."
"I’ll hold him off for a while, otherwise you won’t even get through the door." Hui Bei picked up the oil lamp, stopped running, and turned around.
"You’ll die." Su Ming’an hadn’t expected Hui Bei to help.
"Yes." Hui Bei glanced sideways, curling her lips: "That’s why I said, ’until we meet again’."
Next time they meet, Su Ming’an will leap to an earlier time point, and at that time, Hui Bei will still be alive.
As for this moment, it doesn’t matter.
— They will meet again, in Hui Bei’s [past], in Su Ming’an’s [future].
"Do you desire the universe’s mysteries so much that you’re willing to die here?" Su Ming’an was skeptical.
"It’s a task Pudding gave me to save you here. As long as I complete it, she’ll reveal some truths to me, and the only way to complete the task is through death," Hui Bei said:
"Even if I die here, you will continue to jump to earlier time points. You can go back to inform that [past] me—"
He curled his lips, the green eyes flickering with light and fire:
"The future me has completed the task, and died for you. Hence, the past me can exchange this with Pudding for truth."
"I crave knowledge, unconstrained by any time, any ’me’. I believe that regardless of the time period, I can see the portal and glimpse the myriad universe through newly acquired knowledge."
"So, for the currently ignorant me to become that ’me who has acquired knowledge’ as a stepping stone, to use this body as the key to unlock the universe’s mysteries, what harm is there?"
"I die here, but can trade wisdom for the [past] me."
"Go ahead."
Hui Bei lifted the oil lamp, and in an instant, the lamp shone like blazing sunlight, and the wooden shaft like a magic wand.
This oil lamp turned out to be his true weapon.
Like the philosopher in the cave, lifting the flame, wading forward. The light source is the best weapon of the Sage, dispelling ignorance in the cavern’s dark night.
Su Ming’an was not expecting Hui Bei to be so resolute... to exchange future death for past wisdom.
"Go ahead, move forward." The blond lamp bearer said.
"Click—"
The heavy door opened, and several people rushed in together.
And the green-eyed youth holding the lamp, his silhouette faded, only the lamp’s light flickering remained.
...
"Ding dong!" The system prompt sounded:
"Welcome participants to the second underground level checkpoint!"
"This level is named— ’Demon King and Hero’! A simulation management game!"
"You can freely form teams, divided into two teams, and only one team will win access to the third underground level!"
Upon hearing the name, Su Ming’an glanced at the ceiling, surprised that the Supreme Lord’s pirated game had become so shameless, even stealing from Su Rin’s.
At this time, two people were waiting inside the hall, having just scattered and fled. The man named Liu Chongping, the old soldier who scolded Qianqin. The girl named Song Ziyi, a wealthy family Miss from the Celestial Clan.
Present are Hui Zi, Su Ming’an, Fu Wenwen, Liu Chongping, Zhou Sheng, Song Ziyi, and the severely injured Qianqin, totaling seven people. It seems one team needs three people, the other four.
Fortunately, after the game begins, the room becomes a sealed space, so no pink-haired ones entered. However, the moment the game ends, they must scatter and flee again.
"Before forming teams, consider one issue, given the game’s cruel nature, the losing team is bound to die." Song Ziyi said arrogantly: "The best way is to have one team with high-class races, and one with low-class races, let the inferior low-class races die."
"Why?" Liu Chongping frowned: "Every life is invaluable, how can it be divided by race?"
"Ha ha..." Song Ziyi sneered: "You’re nothing but a low-class hourglass race, cannon fodder on the battlefield, how can your life compare to the noble Celestial Clan?" She twisted the dust on her fingertips, mocking: "Do you know? The War of Eden was pushed by us Celestial Clan, with just a word, you— can only be cannon fodder on the battlefield. Keep talking back, and after the game, I’ll send your entire hourglass race to the battlefield to die!"
...No wonder Su Liujin wanted to abolish the food chain, people like Song Ziyi, who knows how many are in the Disciple Game.
Before the Disciple Game, high-class and low-class races would never meet in a lifetime, young masters and misses of Sky Island and the leeks in the garden, like heaven and earth. However, the Disciple Game gave them a chance to interact, despairingly realizing the vast chasm between social classes.
Liu Chongping, facing such injustice, remained calm.
He hammered his chest, calmly saying:
"While you race cars and dance every day, we’re at the front eating dry food and digging wild vegetables."
"My wife was killed by armed militants in a suicide attack, the reason was merely to compete for ’slaying civilians’ honor."
"My comrade was hit by a shell, leaving only a pair of hands; these hands once won the national-level piano competition gold prize, but it doesn’t matter, no one cares about his future achievements, because you’ve commanded that no matter how precious the talent, it’s just dust on the battlefield."
"I know you Celestial Clan young masters and misses aren’t unaware of mortal suffering, you know we’re suffering, yet constantly flaunt your extravagant spends for fun. I truly can’t do anything to you, if not for this game, I probably would never see your noble face, a lifetime of serving the kingdom with military pay can’t even compare to your jewelry... But..."
"Thankfully, there’s this game."
His face showing timelessness turned wild:
"I can take you to die together."
"What can you do? If I could attack now, I could easily kill you with a slap!" Song Ziyi pointed at Liu Chongping.
Liu Chongping turned, looking at Su Ming’an: "You form teams. You, Qianqin, Miss Hui Zi, Mr. Zhou Sheng, or Miss Fu Wenwen. You should survive."
"No way! Qianqin must be on my team!" Song Ziyi, who had witnessed Qianqin’s power, quickly shouted.
"..."
Qianqin was silent for a moment. Just before, Liu Chongping had rebuked her, yet at this moment, it seemed as though a silent reconciliation had appeared between them. He didn’t cling to the chance of living but decided to pull Song Ziyi, that heartless member of the Celestial Clan, down with him to die together.
"There are many people like Song Ziyi in this world," Qianqin reminded.
...You can’t kill them all, and you only have one life.
"I know." Liu Chongping looked up: "But she alone can harm countless soldiers. If I sacrifice my life and drag her to lose the game, it’s the only thing I can do as someone from a low-class race."
"Killing her means one less general who disregards human life, and it means saving many poor soldiers."
"Killing to protect life..." He paused: "So that’s what it means, Qianqin Knight. Was this what you were thinking when you killed those dark side soldiers? Kill one to save thousands."
"I won’t justify my sins; killing is still killing in the end," said Qianqin.
Liu Chongping placed a hand over his heart: "So, I won’t justify my sins either. I just think that if you four live on, you can save far more people than me and her."
"So."
"Please, live on and save more, many more people."
He walked toward the left, where the red team’s position was.
After his wife’s death, his life seemed to have an emptiness.
He couldn’t discern why he fought, why he fought for honor. The politicians on the stage shook their glasses and laughed heartily, while he and his comrades walked toward death, carrying pain and heat.
Since his son’s disappearance, he ate alone, drank alone, looked at the framed photos on the wall alone, watched the armed militants on TV alone, as they flaunted their conquest in attacking civilians as a form of glory...
He didn’t know what had happened to this country, this world.
As an ordinary person, he found it difficult to achieve even the smallest happiness. Yet, those towering adults could, with a single sentence, shatter all the plans and future of their families.
Many things in this world have gone sour, but something within him hasn’t changed. As a military man, as a soldier, something has always been deeply rooted at the bottom of his heart.
—Kill the enemy.
Once, the enemies he deeply hated were saintesses like Qianqin.
However, he gradually realized that the true enemies sometimes came from within.
"In the end, in this world, enemies aren’t always ugly. Although Qianqin Knight is the enemy, she showed me the justice in her heart. And although Song Ziyi is on our side, she chills me more than the enemy does..." Liu Chongping thought to himself.
Luckily, in the past, he had been able to protect his country.
Now, he could still protect the last warm place in his heart.
"Choose, is it Zhou Sheng or Fu Wenwen?" Hui Zi looked at Su Ming’an.
Both Qianqin and Hui Zi had high combat power and must be included in the team; for the fourth person, only one could be chosen.
Zhou Sheng held his chest wound, slumped on the ground; he was already hanging by a thread, running further stretched him to the brink of death.
Fu Wenwen was uninjured, with uncommonly good luck and assistance from benefactors along the way.
Both of them looked at Su Ming’an with pleading eyes, the weight of human lives feeling exceptionally heavy at this moment.
But Su Ming’an quickly made a decision.
"Zhou Sheng, is it okay?"
This was not a choice of Zhou Sheng.
This was asking Zhou Sheng if he could accept being abandoned.
Zhou Sheng’s pupils shrank for a moment; one would think a superstar like him would react hysterically, yet he sighed in relief:
"Alright... then it’s me. After all, my internal organs are about to fall out. Without Qianqin Knight’s healing, without your heroism saving me, I’d have already died at the hands of Qi Mon and the others."
"Honestly, I don’t think I can go on any further... consider this my way of repaying you guys. Cough!"
Song Ziyi finally couldn’t hold back. Unable to oppose Su Ming’an’s decision, she turned her ire towards Fu Wenwen, shouting:
"You lowly being of a lesser race! What’s the point of you staying alive! Zhou Sheng is a superstar, how many people would he bring happiness to staying alive. You are just a student who knows nothing! Why don’t you just smash your head against the wall and die here, so that Zhou Sheng can live in your place?"
Fu Wenwen bowed her head in silence.
She understood well that her living value was far less than Zhou Sheng’s. Although Liu Chongping said that human life is priceless, in reality, every person’s value had a clear price tag.
Su Ming’an chose Fu Wenwen purely because he rationally considered that Zhou Sheng’s injuries were too severe to live on without Qianqin’s continuous healing, rather than for any other reason.
"Don’t scold her..." Zhou Sheng painfully spat out a mouthful of blood, taking out a bloodstained paper star from his pocket.
During the game period, the pink-haired player was surely waiting outside, so no one stopped Zhou Sheng from giving his last words.
Zhou Sheng handed the paper star to Su Ming’an:
"Here, I think... you’re the one I trust most here, and I wish to ask you, to help me find someone."
"I joined the game... to find an online friend... Luo Country is so vast, it’s always been mountains and seas keeping us apart, unable to meet... But this online friend told me... she’s well-known in the game. I want... to see her, which is why I joined the game..."
"To become famous... I had to eat super hot chili peppers... wear revealing clothes, and sleep with high-ranking nobles..."
"But only she... would... comfort me... Not knowing that I’m a superstar, just comforting the person I am..."
"The paper star, give it to her."
"She’s gentle, introverted, shy... I don’t know her real name, only that... her eyes are beautiful, like flames..."
Su Ming’an heard these words once more.
Last time, it was before Zhou Sheng died. Covered in blood, he had collapsed in the poison gas, as Tian Ying passed by, casually shooting through his head.
This time, once again, it was before Zhou Sheng died.
The colorful paper carried a line of delicate script: [I’ve always wanted to meet you. Online, your day-and-night chatting comforted my pain. When we meet, I want to give you the most beautiful flower, to tell you, I... like you.]
Su Ming’an took the paper star silently for a moment. He was the only one who knew the truth.
A moment later, he placed the paper star alongside Tian Ying’s tinfoil heart in the same pocket.
The pair of online friends, huddling together for warmth, in fact, neither survived.
If Tian Ying knew that the online friend was Zhou Sheng, facing Zhou Sheng in such agony, she probably wouldn’t dare to acknowledge him. His offline personality was far from the fantasy she imagined.
Zhou Sheng was the same; if he knew that the gentle and introverted online friend was Tian Ying, seeing her in her frenzied slaughter... he probably couldn’t accept it either.
Sometimes, whether knowing the truth or preserving the illusion is the right choice, no one can tell which is better.
Zhou Sheng held onto his shaky body, walking toward the opposite side, as if heading to the gallows.
The game "Demon King and Hero", Su Ming’an was already very familiar with. Even if he was the only one playing, the opponent couldn’t win against him.
He manipulated the largest chess piece to gather resources, timely blocking the opponent’s pieces, balancing the game, and finally dispatched the largest piece to the top...
In just ten minutes, Su Ming’an’s blue side won.
At the moment of declaration, Song Ziyi was still hysterical:
"I’m from the Celestial Clan! I won’t die here! This damned game, it doesn’t dare to kill me! Let me out, I want to call my family over and kill you all!!!"
While Liu Chongping was very quiet, just clenching his wife’s pendant:
"I hope my actions today can protect my missing son from being harmed by the vicious higher-ups... Soldiers should truly protect the country, rather than meaninglessly turning into cannon fodder for power struggles..."
"Hopefully, in the New World, the newly born Rin Clan can become the best World Master, rooting out this deep-seated darkness..."
Zhou Sheng could hardly speak anymore, losing too much blood, on the brink of collapse.
He looked at Su Ming’an:
"I... in Qiluo Country... have a property, it’s the only thing I own..."
"Sell it, and you can donate... to a Blue Sky Orphanage I’ve always supported..."
"Please... you."
Su Ming’an closed his eyes.
A red light flashed by, and the three losing people disappeared from the spot.
The door swung open, indicating the victor could proceed.
"Waft!"
At the same time, a pink and blue scythe blade suddenly flashed across where Su Ming’an was standing!
The game was over, the pink-haired person arrived!
With captivatingly flamboyant long curled hair fluttering, that person wore a flamboyant mask, seeming to pass like a rainbow, mesmerizing.
"He’s here again! Does the Great Emperor really take me for a Jellyfish if I don’t show my power?" War God Dragon Wang Yin roared.
"...I thought you fell asleep." Su Ming’an said as he dodged aside.
"This, this, I was just checking the situation on ’Wang Xingkong’ side." The Great Emperor pointed with his finger: "Anyway, Old An, kill him!"
...
[You can choose "throw a punch," please roll the dice.]
[Required Points: 20 points (Points > 20 points, punch succeeds. Points
[You rolled: 20 points! Great Success!]
...
Just by looking at the point requirements, it’s evident how strong the pink-haired person is, generally unbeatable. Yet unexpectedly, the dice rolled a great success. In the judgment, "Great Success" means ignoring everything to succeed directly, possessing an almost rule-like dominion.
Under the worried and shocked gaze of people, Su Ming’an threw a punch!
"Boom——!"
The figure of the pink-haired person flew out like a cannonball, punched onto the wall, creating a dent!
The wall cracked, spreading countless spiderweb-like fractures!
A dull loud noise echoed around, akin to the sound of a meteor crashing!
In the eyes of many, the slender "girl" who threw the punch seemed powerful, arms robust as if like a wall, possessing a mountain-like physique! A punch capable of opening the heavens, shaking the azure dragon!
Able to slash the heavens, scourge the vile below!
War God! Dragon King!
"Could she actually be the Dragon King in disguise?" Fu Wenwen was captivated by the formidable power, unable to help but exclaim.
"This, this is too exaggerated..." Qianqin pulled people along as she ran, shocked while fleeing.
"Quick, Old An, curl your lips in an evil smirk." The Great Emperor urged.
Su Ming’an didn’t respond, unable to smile, quickly turned, and ran towards the underground.
The Great Emperor was merely lucky, rolling a great success of 20 points, anything less like 19 points, this punch would have no effect. It wasn’t Li Ziqi’s strength that defeated the pink-haired person, but the rule of great success.
Finally, he arrived in an archive room.
Time was urgent; there was no time to search bit by bit. He could only use his skill — "Clue Insight." Once using his skill, there’s a chance to be watched by the High Dimensions. Fortunately, after Su Ming’an used it, there seemed to be no immediate reaction.
Following the direction of the red circle, he found a videotape.
After playing it, with a "crack" sound, a silver-haired youth appeared on the screen.
"We were all wrong, we have all been deceived." The silver-haired youth seemed to be talking to someone:
"Its true authority... isn’t ’Genesis’ at all!!"
"The foundation of Luowasha... is conceptually wrong!"
...
