Fifth… Sixth… Seventh… Qin Chuan, this man known only by two sides to Su Yao, is now all his aliases in various industries being exposed one by one by Luo Zi Shang. Su Yao had never imagined that this man she loved, whom she fell for just for one of his personas, Death, had so many other equally significant identities. But… isn’t that enough? Is it really that satisfying to dig up and expose someone like this, to display their bloody truth to the world?!!
Luo Zi Shang continued typing, revealing all the identities he had tracked down about Qin Chuan.
[Local] “Luo Zi Shang”: Now, let me expose this guy’s last disguise. Why has he never shown his face, hiding in the darkness for a whole decade?
[Local] “Luo Zi Shang”: Qin Chuan, born in 1982, of Chinese-American descent, originally from S City, attended S City No.1 High School. His real name in competitions was Qin Chuan, a name well-known to players from that time.
[Local] “Luo Zi Shang”: Here’s the final secret. Qin Chuan, in his senior year summer vacation, killed his classmate, Gu Xuan Yan.
Gu Xuan Yan. Su Yao saw this name for the second time, the word “killed” glaringly stabbing her eyes. She would never believe that her beloved Death could do something like murder. Yet, Luo Zi Shang spoke with such conviction. At the same time, Gu Chao Yan, with the key in his pocket, reached the entrance of the Grass Mud Horse’s Nest. He suddenly felt uneasy, his heart racing for a reason he couldn’t pinpoint.
Of course, he didn’t think it was guilt for stealing; after obtaining the Western artifact, he would return the flute to Wang Shenmu, then sell the artifact. That money would ensure he and those poor children would never want for anything again. Maybe he wouldn’t have to be a swindler anymore. Since Wang Shenmu had given him the flute, it felt increasingly hot in his hands. Could he do the same, stop being a swindler, and persuade those wasteful tycoons with an honest heart? Gu Chao Yan opened the door with the key, walked in, focused solely on his battle. In fact, except for Su Yao and Qin Chuan, no one else saw it, even though the outside world had already turned upside down. Various industries and a vast number of fans unable to accept that their idol was a murderer, especially the largest group of THANATOS fans—this Death who had influenced a generation of young people! Who could accept such a bloody dissection of THANATOS! Yes, they were angry! Angry at Luo Zi Shang’s revelations! But more than anger, what followed was curiosity. Yes, Luo Zi Shang had achieved his goal, and what followed was a new wave of human flesh search, curiosity about the idol, and the digging into the truth of the past.
He would find no peace in life or death, the torment of living being worse than death, waiting for him from now on. Luo Zi Shang laughed coldly as he logged out of the game, shut down his computer, and left the scene. From the moment he started typing until he left, it felt like a century to onlookers, yet it was only a matter of minutes. Su Yao was still in shock, unable to pull herself out of it. When Luo Zi Shang’s last words appeared on the screen, Qin Chuan finally lost control, slamming his keyboard and leaving. As his proud figure brushed past her, Su Yao awoke from her reverie. Qin Chuan, just two machines away from her, strode away. He didn’t even glance at her or say a word as he left. But Su Yao would forever remember that silhouette bringing tears to her eyes every time she thought of it. “Qin Chuan! Qin… Chuan?” Su Yao pushed her chair and chased after him, frantically pressing the elevator button. When the elevator doors opened, she rushed out of the hotel, into the dark night, through the neon lights, into the vast winter night of the north, where reporters had gathered to cover the gossip about Qin Chuan.
” As the thieves, left with only a sliver of health, tried to protect their leader’s immobile character from the fierce attacks of the priests, Ah Cao had already made it downstairs. “Sister Yao? What’s going on with you…” He looked in astonishment at the girl standing at the doorway, frantically pressing her phone in a state of utter despair.
- In the corner of the human world, reporters swarmed from the hotel’s elevator all the way to the front door. People kept arriving throughout the night, driving over in droves. In that moment, Su Yao suddenly understood why Qin Chuan had left abruptly.
THANATOS, the God of Death, had lived his life in obscurity, destined to dwell in the shadows. A computer, a phone line, and his hands were all he needed.
He lived in the most prosperous part of China, yet in the most desolate corners of human existence. He didn’t need sunlight or the bustle of the world. For him, being exposed to the world in all his bloody, raw vulnerability was akin to a torturous execution. The buzzing gossip, the relentless human flesh search, the curiosity that Wang Shenmu despised, the envy and trampling of the strong, all the users and the used… All of this, for the God of Death accustomed to solitude and silence, must have been more unbearable than death itself. And now, with the arrival of the reporters, if he didn’t leave, he might not even be able to die.
Su Yao bit her lip, looking at the bustling hotel lobby filled with cameras, microphones, and flashing lights. She finally understood Qin Chuan’s disgust; a man like him wouldn’t want her to see him in such a disheveled and embarrassed state… God of Death, you really want to leave a whole corpse even in death. But knowing this, why are there still tears in my eyes? The morning embrace, the brief moment of tranquility and happiness, so beautiful it seemed like a mirage. Be happy. Never did she imagine that these would be his last words to her. Qin Chuan, with your departure, how many years will it be before we meet again? All these years, what I loved was just the God of Death, not even a tenth of your soul.
I thought I was chasing you all along, but you fell in love with all the glory and darkness in my life.
Su Yao leaned powerlessly against the doorframe. The ringtone of good days never played from her phone. The sudden happiness from this morning still lingered in her mind… Just then, she felt a pair of hands embrace her from behind.
“Yao Jie.” Turning around, Su Yao faced Ah Cao, whose face was a mix of confusion and urgency.
“Why did you come out?” Su Yao frowned. This kid was usually willful enough, but now, at this critical moment of grabbing the divine artifact, he was still running around causing trouble! Ah, she was already in enough distress, and her hopes of getting the artifact might be ruined. All her hopes rested on this kid!
“Sis, shouldn’t I be asking you that?” Ah Cao didn’t know what was happening in the game. He only noticed that the player he wanted to challenge, the assassin San Chuan, suddenly left his seat, followed by Yao Jie. Their behavior at last night’s banquet had kept him awake all night. Now, the always money-loving Yao Jie was actually ignoring the artifact to chase after him…
Su Yao turned away, not wanting to say more. At this moment, Ah Cao, or rather, Chen Wang, as he preferred to be called, seriously turned Su Yao’s face towards him, looking into her eyes.
For the first time, he saw despair and sorrow in the eyes of the usually spirited Red Medicine Hall’s leader. Had that assassin really hurt her?
“Yao Jie, I only know…” Ah Cao spoke with hesitation, “Some people who don’t care about you… it’s best to forget them… At least if it were me, no matter what happens, even if I died… I wouldn’t leave Yao Jie behind, wouldn’t let you not find me… I still remember the day you made me the guild leader, I was standing under the city of Tianya, looking up at your silhouette… That was when I decided to always stand where you could see me, I… have always been behind you…”