Chapter 21

Chapter 20: Longevity, Dingjun Mountain

“Shizong? You’re not coming back today? Should I save dinner for you?

“What? You’re going to watch an opera? You still have that hobby?”

“Then come back earlier. I think we need to have a meeting.

“I’ve looked at your accounts—you’re managing terribly. If this continues, the inn will run at a loss.

“For example, every two or three days you change the flowers in the restaurant and at the front desk. I think it’s completely unnecessary. Use artificial flowers—the cost will drop immediately. And that, I want to tell you…”

WeChat messages popped up one after another, and Shizong found it curious. He had never encountered someone like Zuo Sanqiu who sent messages so obsessively.

“The drama is about to start. Set your phone to Do Not Disturb.”

Ignoring all of Zuo Sanqiu’s words, Shizong sent this message, activated Do Not Disturb, and put the phone in his pocket.

At 8:20 PM, seat A03 at Jinshui Grand Theater, Shizong arrived on time and watched the performance.

“On the island, the ice wheel first ascends…”

The melodious and clear singing opened the drama.

Yang Yuhuan, played by Li Rongjing, stood on stage, eyes fixed on one side of the stage, gaze slowly rising, as if truly chasing the moon.

Her eyes were naturally charming, and the eye makeup enhanced that effect. Every glance sent ripples of countless emotions.

Modern stage technology added much interest to the performance.

On stage, there was even a realistic moon created with light and shadow effects.

Seeing the moon, Yang Yuhuan seemed a little ashamed.

Her beauty could not compare to the moon—no wonder the emperor went elsewhere…

Thinking this, Yang Yuhuan lifted her fan to half-cover her face in embarrassment. This “half-hidden pipa” pose made her even more alluring, capturing the audience’s full attention.

The next scene was exquisite—

As Yang Yuhuan hid half her face, a shadowed cloud appeared, covering half the moon.

It turned out the imperial consort’s beauty could eclipse the moon and shame the flowers.

Yang Yuhuan smiled, her eyes coquettish with a hint of pride.

Her earlier fragility and embarrassment seemed just a playful tease to the moon.

Li Rongjing was not merely performing; it was as if Yang Yuhuan had traveled through a thousand years into his body.

Each time he executed the three “lying fish” movements, the drama reached new climaxes, applause resounding. Everyone seemed touched by Yang Yuhuan’s emotions—

There was grievance, heartache, and resistance against imperial and male dominance.

Shizong felt little for Yang Yuhuan’s fate. He realized he was probably naturally cold-blooded and lacked empathy.

Still, he watched with keen interest.

The master’s performance and singing, combined with modern stage technology, created a visual feast.

After the show, Shizong was invited backstage.

Li Rongjing emerged without makeup, exuding heroic aura, showing no femininity—vastly different from the enchanting Yang Yuhuan on stage.

He was a man in his early thirties, faint wrinkles at the corners of his eyes adding depth.

Every gesture was full of charm, giving the impression of a man who made one feel spring-like warmth.

Of course, Shizong had seen videos of him losing his temper and scolding a celebrity on set.

When angry, he was clearly another person.

When calm, facing strangers, he appeared cultured.

He invited Shizong to sit, had his assistant pour tea, and smiled, asking, “Boss Shizong, how did you find the opera?”

Shizong nodded. “Pretty good. But I don’t understand much. I can only say it’s ‘good.’”

Li Rongjing smiled. “Care to hear a bit more?”

Shizong nodded again. “Sure.”

Li Rongjing clapped, and a young man in a plain T-shirt walked out.

Shizong recognized him—he was the one who had handed him the ticket outside the detention center.

Compared to Li Rongjing’s unparalleled elegance, this man appeared ordinary: ordinary looks, ordinary aura, even his voice was plain.

Yet when he did the sleeve-shaking motion and sang “On the island, the ice wheel first ascends,” everything changed.

There was no stage technology, no light effects, but the surroundings seemed to fade to black and white, leaving only the singer in color.

After a few lines, he reverted to plain, unremarkable form. Walking into the crowd, he left no impression. The fleeting elegance was like an illusion.

Li Rongjing had everyone else leave and the assistant close the door, then asked Shizong, “This is my disciple, Zhang Qijun. What do you think?”

Shizong spoke his honest thoughts.

Li Rongjing then showed him a video.

It showed Zhang Qijun singing, but in the video, he looked ordinary, his posture ordinary, and his voice coarse and unattractive.

Such a person shouldn’t even get into opera, yet Li Rongjing had accepted him as a disciple.

“This was recorded six months ago when he was still learning. You must be curious how he made such progress in just half a year?”

Li Rongjing glanced at Shizong, continuing, “I’ve obtained four Knight Medals, all in the [Art] category. Because of that, I have extraordinary ability to turn someone with no talent into an opera master.”

Shizong raised an eyebrow. “When did you notice me?”

“Mr. Shizong, ‘notice’ isn’t quite right. I didn’t track you personally. In fact, I didn’t go directly to Mizang Inn for fear you’d feel offended.

“I only guessed you would visit Chen Li, so I had Qijun wait at the detention center. And sure enough, you came.”

Li Rongjing explained, “When Chen Li approached you, I noticed.

“This game has existed quietly for many years. To better share information and maximize profit, players secretly formed guilds in reality. Chen Li belongs to the ‘Fifth Corps.’ He wouldn’t contact you without reason—we suspect it’s to obtain your identity.”

Shizong immediately caught the key point.

“Fifth Corps… Could it be your rival? You have an inside agent? Otherwise, how would you know Chen Li came for me?”

Li Rongjing nodded candidly.

Then he asked, “Did you obtain a Knight Medal this time?”

Shizong replied, “You tell me first, what does a Knight Medal signify? Seems it grants special abilities.”

“Yes,” Li Rongjing nodded. “Our guild’s Knight Medals include [Art], [Wisdom], and [Space].

“Someone with four [Wisdom] medals is a brilliant scientist focusing on brain research.

“Someone with four [Space] medals can teleport almost instantly, but only within 100 meters and not often.”

“Does the ability’s strength depend on the number of medals?” Shizong asked.

“Yes, based on experience. Here, see my example.”

Li Rongjing pulled out his phone and showed Shizong a medical record.

A year ago, Li Rongjing’s vocal cords were severely damaged, nearly unable to sing.

He sighed. “I had no grand ambitions, only could be obsessed with opera. When I got this record, I planned to commit suicide, but entered the game before doing so.

“After obtaining the first Art medal, I gained a deeper understanding of opera. Previously, I mostly imitated predecessors. Innovation was rare.

“After the second, my vocal cords recovered.

“The third made my voice better than before, and my acting more invested. I could fully embody a character, achieving unity with the role.

“By the fourth, I could transfer my understanding to others. Like Zhang Qijun. From someone who couldn’t sing, he became a master.”

He drank tea, continuing: “What happens beyond that, no one knows. Our guild hasn’t surpassed four medals.

“Generally, hidden side quests yield medals. But clues are deeply hidden, relying on luck, timing, and resources.”

“I see. I did obtain a medal this time.”

Shizong, who had obtained the [Night] medal, lied calmly, “Mine is [Light].”

He invented [Light] on the spot.

Recalling Chen Li saying the powerful person would save his brother, he wondered if this medal’s ability related to curing illness.

Could that person be a doctor?

Shizong’s face remained neutral.

After finishing the lie, he studied Li Rongjing’s expression carefully, who seemed to understand and nodded. “Light? Got it. I’ll note it. If you don’t mind, can I share this with the guild? It’s new to everyone.”

“No problem,” Shizong said. “But what ability it grants me, I don’t know.

“I’m just an ordinary inn owner, no artistic talent, no research skills. I probably won’t understand it soon.”

“No matter. You can explore it gradually.”

Li Rongjing smiled. “Next, I’ll explain something important. You must want to know what ‘identity’ is.”

“I’m all ears.”

Unexpectedly, Li Rongjing asked, “Have you read cultivation novels? The protagonists often have a destiny.

“In such novels, many are given missions from birth. For example, to defeat a

According to Li Rongjing’s explanation, there is a king in the game who may appear randomly in different instances.

When he appears, the system warns everyone not to look directly at the king’s face.

Even through a bronze mask, looking at his eyes is forbidden.

Players now speculate that the king is the system’s representative, or perhaps the one who governs the game.

In any case, the king regularly holds a gathering called “The Last Supper,” and only those with certain identities are eligible to attend.

If a player earns the king’s approval at the supper, they pass the ultimate test, gaining an understanding of the world’s essence and receiving incredible rewards.

Of course, they also take on certain missions.

Before entering the game, Li Rongjing was just an opera performer.

After some time, he obtained identity-related information from the instances, discovering that his identity aligned with the supper, which made him even more eager to continue performing.

He felt it was all destiny.

He was born for opera.

Shizong nodded, indicating he understood. “So, basically, the king regularly holds a supper, and the so-called ‘identity’ is the entry ticket. Attending the supper grants great power but also entails missions.

“The scientist you mentioned makes sense—he has a grand mission. As for you, you’re an opera master; your mission could be promoting the art and training successors.

“But what mission could my identity have? I’m just an ordinary inn owner.”

“I don’t know the specific mission for your identity. I’m not even clear on my own mission. Up to now, many things are just speculation.

“But I imagine everyone has their purpose. This world is made up of all kinds of people, so the king needs all sorts of identities.”

Li Rongjing said, “I heard that in the last supper, there was an identity of [Beggar]. What kind of destiny could a mere beggar hold? No one could guess—this is what they call the unpredictability of destiny.

“In short, identity information related to the supper is found within instances. Those without an identity may choose to seize others’; those with lower-tier identities may also seize others’ to gain higher-tier identities.

“As for which identities are high-tier and which are low-tier, there is no fixed rule; it depends on information from the instance. Perhaps a beggar’s identity could be higher than a scientist’s. You can’t judge by common standards. We don’t yet know the king’s criteria.”

Shizong asked, “But what if I don’t want to bear such a destiny?”

Li Rongjing’s expression grew serious. “If you accidentally entered the game and don’t hold an identity in reality, that’s fine; you can just follow the game for rewards. But it seems that the inn owner identity is the supper’s entry ticket.

“In this case, the only way to escape destiny is to shed your identity—but the only way to shed an identity is to die in the instance. This means you would soon die in the real world as well.”

“So… once you have an identity, if you can’t maintain it, death is the only option.

“Boss Shizong, there’s no turning back. At this point, you can only move forward.”

Seeing the tea had cooled, Shizong didn’t take a sip. Li Rongjing called his assistant to replace it with fresh tea and asked, “Don’t like this tea?”

Shizong shook his head, sipped the tea. “I can’t taste it. Doesn’t matter.”

“Through this game, you may have the chance to regain your taste. It’s a game that can bring hope.”

Li Rongjing said, “I invited you here today because I hope you’ll join our guild. You survived playing the character Jiang Wan’er, which shows you’re capable and suitable for this game. We need people like you.

“I should also remind you, our guild likes exploring the game itself, gaining endless benefits from the system, and sharing them with players.

“The Fifth Corps is different; they act as raiders. They prefer to kill other players in the game to collect their identities.

“To get my identity, they will likely come after me soon. As for you, since Chen Li failed, they’ll still act. So we share a common enemy.

“Boss Shizong, the number of players may exceed your imagination. Identity competition will be fierce.

“If others learn that one of the supper identities is ‘Mizang Inn Owner,’ they may target you too. So you need the guild’s protection.

“Our guild can protect you, provide sufficient information, and help you survive. In return, you help our members safely complete their instances.

“How about it? Will you accept?”

Shizong finished his tea, smiled, and asked, “You’ve already told me this much valuable information before asking for anything. Aren’t you worried I’ll refuse?”

“No. You would have learned this information eventually; it’s just a matter of time. Besides, I follow one principle: helping others helps yourself.

“Even if you don’t join, sharing this knowledge is just giving a new player some experience. If you’re capable, you may help me in the future. In any case, I’m not your enemy.”

Hearing this, Shizong smiled. “Mr. Li, you’re a gentleman. With such frankness, I’d be ashamed to act otherwise. One more question?”

“Go ahead.”

“If a player seizes another player’s identity, could they lose their original memories?”

A player killing another with an identity in the real world does not seize their identity.

Seizure can only occur in the game.

So after seizing, if someone completely changes identity, would their fate, along with memory, reset?

Li Rongjing was sharp.

He immediately asked, “Have you lost memories?

“Do you suspect you had another identity before, and you killed the original Mizang Inn Owner to take it?”

Shizong said nothing.

Li Rongjing shook his head. “Probably not. I’ve never heard of someone losing memories from that. Besides, if you can change identity, you must have played the game. You wouldn’t be in the beginner instance ‘Longevity Town.’”

“Last question.”

Shizong looked at him. “You know which detention center Chen Li is in, and that he visited the inn for me… Also, guilds like yours don’t randomly recruit people.

“So… you must have done a background check on me.

“Mr. Li, do you know my past?”

Li Rongjing frowned for a long moment, then shook his head. “I don’t know. Mr. Shizong… I couldn’t find any information on you.

“You give the impression of… suddenly appearing in this world eight months ago.

“We can only use the guild’s real-world connections for basic investigation.”

Shizong’s pupils contracted slightly, then he looked at Li Rongjing. “Thank you for your honesty. I’ll consider joining for two days and give you my answer afterward.

“By the way, what’s your guild called?”

“‘Dingjun Mountain.’ It’s one of my favorite Peking opera pieces.”

After their conversation, Li Rongjing had his assistant call a car for Shizong and saw him off carefully.

Unbeknownst to Shizong, a camera clicked, capturing the scene.

Elsewhere, Meizhu Mansion.

A business club for the wealthy and powerful.

So when a student-looking person in a white T-shirt, jeans, and backpack appeared, he looked out of place.

The club was set in a garden, very private.

Passing a security post, the student followed a guard to the reception desk.

The receptionist, in business attire with refined makeup, did not react oddly to his casual clothing.

She smiled. “Whom are you looking for?”

The student said three words: “Longevity Town.”

His appearance was striking; the staff looked him over before nodding. “Understood. Could I have your name and phone number?”

The student nodded. “I’m He Zhen.”

“Okay. Please wait.” The staff led He Zhen to a lounge with free coffee and snacks.

Half an hour later, the staff returned. “We’ll take you to see the boss shortly. But may we hold your phone temporarily?”

He Zhen handed over his phone without question and followed the staff through winding garden paths, multiple checkpoints, finally entering a waterside pavilion.

Passing a white phoenix embroidered with gold thread, He Zhen was seated.

“Coffee, black tea, or green tea?”

“Mineral water, thanks.”

“Alright. Please wait.”

The staff soon returned with a tall glass of mineral water, garnish with a lemon slice.

These people were Li Ershao’s subordinates.

He seemed particular, even fussy.

The player portraying Li Ershao was Zhou Lü.

Zhou Lü ranked in the top ten nationwide on the rich list, top three in the province.

Born with a silver spoon, he had keen investment insight, growing wealth and owning shares in multiple companies.

The staff said, “Sorry, please wait. The boss is in a video meeting, he’ll be with you shortly.”

He Zhen: “No rush.”

He indeed was unhurried, holding the water by the window, quietly observing.

The view was beautiful: a large artificial lake outside, lights embedded along the shore casting warm yellow light, reflecting the moon on the water.

Youthful presence combined with calmness beyond his years gave him a unique aura.

His face

“Mm. The lake is nice.”

He Zhen said lightly to the night sky, “The moonlight is nice too.”

“Moonlight?”

Zhou Lü, dressed in a well-tailored suit, with firm features and noble bearing, looked up at the moon and recited a poem with full composure: “So bright like the moon, when can it be plucked?”

Hearing this, He Zhen, also gazing at the moon, slightly contracted his pupils, then withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhou Lü.

“Besides me, is anyone else coming?”

“The one playing Li Dashao is coming—surprisingly, it’s a girl. Her name is Zhu Shuangyun; she’s a prosecutor. Quite impressive.”

Zhou Lü continued, “The others haven’t arrived yet. But there are still two days. Let’s wait. In three days, if you come here again, we can all gather for a meeting, how about that?”

He Zhen countered, “You need three days. On one hand, you’re waiting for other players; on the other, you need to complete our background check, right?”

Having spent years in business, Zhou Lü was used to hearing half-truths and flawless polite speech, accustomed to flattery or being flattered.

Unexpectedly, He Zhen’s direct question momentarily stunned the old fox.

He Zhen then said, “It’s fine. I don’t mind. It’s reasonable. We’re forming a guild; we can’t recruit someone of unknown origin, otherwise we might be harmed someday without knowing it.”

He had spoken both harsh and gentle truths alone.

Judging by his appearance, he seemed to still be in university.

Are university students these difficult to deal with nowadays?

Zhou Lü awkwardly scratched his nose. “Ah, okay. So we’ll meet in three days? By the way… I wonder if that Jiang Wan’er will come. This time, you two have really spun me around. I’ve met you, but I don’t know what she looks like…

“Such a beautiful lady—could she have a rough man behind her? Can’t be. I have a hunch she’s going to be a great beauty.”

Part of male nature: gathering to comment on a woman’s appearance and figure.

Zhou Lü also had investments in the entertainment industry; evaluating beauty was commonplace for him and his circle.

To him, the age and experience gap between him and He Zhen was too large to have common topics. He didn’t play the games young people liked, so to quickly bridge the distance, he had to rely on such topics.

Unexpectedly, He Zhen neither engaged nor softened; his brows became colder, his gaze even sharper, making one feel slightly intimidated.

Zhou Lü closed his mouth.

He Zhen stood up. “I’m leaving first. In three days, I’ll come punctually for the meeting.”

The next morning, He Zhen got up at six and drove with his mother, Shen Chuxia, to Xinlong Cemetery.

When they arrived, they saw no one.

It wasn’t a holiday, so that was normal.

Strangely, the staff’s expression clearly showed surprise when they saw He Zhen and Shen Chuxia.

A Taoist priest stood beside the staff, with a dark forehead and a mystical expression. Even the cemetery staff seemed assimilated into the eccentric aura.

The Taoist stepped forward and stopped He Zhen and Shen Chuxia, saying, “I suggest you don’t come here these two days.”

“Why?” Shen Chuxia asked.

She was cold-faced and elegant. Despite the muddy mountain path, she walked in fine heels without issue.

Sensing the person’s not-to-be-messed-with aura, the staff hesitated. “Recently, many visitors reported encountering ghosts. One or two would be fine, but so many… better be safe. For your safety, I suggest you leave. I’ve called a Taoist to perform a ritual; come back after it’s done.”

“I don’t believe in such things. Step aside!”

Shen Chuxia furrowed her brows and directly pulled He Zhen into the cemetery.

The staff didn’t push further. “If anything happens, don’t blame me for not warning you!”

“Take care of yourself.” Shen Chuxia ignored him.

However, just steps after entering, they suddenly heard the Taoist shout, “Strange! Bizarre!!!”

It was dawn, the mountains gray and quiet; the Taoist’s hoarse shout sounded eerie.

“What happened?” the staff quickly asked.

The Taoist said, “As soon as he arrived, everything became quiet.”

“Quiet? What do you mean?”

“No ghosts. They all hid! They’re all afraid of him!”

“Ghosts afraid of whom? You mean…”

Before the staff finished, the Taoist strode straight to He Zhen.

This forced He Zhen and Shen Chuxia to stop.

The Taoist scrutinized He Zhen, seemingly unwilling to miss any expression.

Soon, his eyes widened, as if witnessing something unbelievable.

“You… you… you’re not ordinary… I… I feel… could it be… no, no… has some great immortal been reborn as a mortal? Coming to undergo tribulation? To train?

“No, no, no, I shouldn’t ask!!! Cannot speak… cannot speak!!! Heavenly secrets cannot—”

Unconsciously sensing the oppressive aura He Zhen carried, the Taoist knelt on the ground.

“Who sent you, lunatic?”

Shen Chuxia interrupted him and looked at the staff. “If he says anything strange to my son, I’ll complain to you!”

With that, she pulled He Zhen deeper into the cemetery without looking back.

Twenty minutes later, sunlight broke through the clouds, casting a warm orange over the tombstones, making them less eerie.

He Zhen stopped at a tombstone with a photo of a young man—thin and sharp-featured.

This was He Zhen’s father, He Wei, though their appearances bore little resemblance.

At the tombstone, Shen Chuxia unexpectedly struck He Zhen’s back with a vine.

He Zhen, seemingly accustomed, didn’t flinch and knelt before the tombstone.

“Where did you go last night?”

Shen Chuxia’s voice was harsh. “You were supposed to submit that paper. I asked Teacher Gong, you weren’t there. What were you doing? Are you living up to my efforts raising you? Or your father’s expectations? I’ll teach you right here at your father’s grave!”

He Zhen didn’t respond; Shen Chuxia’s anger grew. “What’s wrong with you? Today we return to the family home; what will you use to compare with the other children? Tell me, what will you use to compete with them?

“Your father and I created every learning condition for you, hoping you surpass those children! Your performance yesterday was too disappointing!”

The He family was a local prominent family.

Modern society doesn’t emphasize clan ties as much, but such families still support each other and share resources, aiming for wealth and legacy.

Internal competition remained fierce.

The current head of the He family was He Yunsheng. He Wei was his illegitimate son.

He Wei’s mother was a model, kept outside by He Yunsheng. By bearing a son, she occasionally returned to the family home, mostly on holidays.

“Illegitimate son” burdened He Wei his whole life. He never gained He Yunsheng’s favor.

He lived repressed and inferior, obsessed with gaining recognition, even control over the He family.

This obsession passed to his wife, Shen Chuxia.

When He Wei finally had the opportunity to enter the family business, he constantly sought major deals to win He Yunsheng’s favor.

Once, after drinking at a social event, He Wei drove recklessly to help a client, resulting in a fatal accident.

After his death, Shen Chuxia grieved deeply.

She then projected her late husband’s unfulfilled wishes onto He Zhen, allowing no missteps.

After receiving three strikes from his mother, He Zhen didn’t flinch.

He kowtowed to his father’s tomb, then stood.

As Shen Chuxia began scolding, he coldly interrupted, “I know what you want. Don’t worry, I will achieve the He family head ‘identity.’”

Leaving Xinlong Cemetery, He Zhen sat in the car to the family home.

On the way, his phone rang—a class group notification:

Next Thursday morning, Hall No. 3 will host the midterm club recruitment event.

His eyes scanned the club list and promotional slogans:

“Go Club”: Become a master? Not a dream, join the Go Club! Enjoy the thrill of black and white battles!

“Magic Club”: Join the Magic Club, learn the secrets of magic, starting with the three principles of magicians…

“Astronomy Club”: Bring your loved one to watch the stars.

…

“Murder Mystery Club”: Ignite your brain! Join us, enjoy role-playing, and the joy of uncovering the truth.

P.S. There’s also a mysterious beautiful boss to flirt with!

He Zhen silently read the screen; the car window reflected his profile, sharper and colder than usual.

The game is on Saturday. On Sunday, Shizong visited Chen Li and Li Rongjing; Zuo Sanqiu stayed at the inn, so he could only visit Meizhu Mansion on Monday.

At the mansion,

Shizong paused mid-page. “He Zhen?”

“Oh, the one playing Li Simei, or rather Ye Yunfeng,” Zuo Sanqiu said.

Shizong lowered his eyes and continued reading. “Did you find out who he is from Zhou Lü?”

“Roughly. Then I checked online, and that gave me more information!”

Zuo Sanqiu said, “He Zhen is only 18, same school as me. Just started university this year, Computer Science, so he’s Wu Gou’s direct junior. I found his photo online—he’s really handsome.

“His surname is He, from the famous He family of this city. A wealthy clan! But his father was the current head’s illegitimate son, never favored, and after death, not even enshrined in the family hall. From what I see, He Zhen’s life must have been tough.”

Seeing Shizong didn’t mind the gossip interrupting his reading, Zuo Sanqiu continued.

“I don’t know if the online reports are true, but they say He Zhen’s mother is terrifying. She was once an actress with a bright future. Later, she married into a wealthy family with dreams of status, but her husband was never acknowledged by the clan!

“Career stopped, dreams of wealth shattered, so she became mentally twisted, placing all her ambitions into her son.

“The traditional family management model couldn’t adapt to the times; He Zhen’s grandfather, the head of the He family, was radically reforming things. He no longer relied on the eldest son tradition—anyone capable could succeed the headship.

“So He Zhen’s mother pressured him in all kinds of ways, extremely ruthless, practically obsessively controlling.

“Thinking about it, He Zhen is rather pitiful. He has to endure the He family’s sarcasm and covert persecution, and be tormented by his mother… no wonder he seems mature in the game.

“When I was 18, besides studying, I just played games. Speaking of which…”

Zuo Sanqiu looked at Shizong curiously. “If you were He Zhen, living in such a horrible family, what would you do?”

Shizong yawned lazily. “Simple. Kill everyone who bullied me.”

Zuo Sanqiu: “…………”

He couldn’t tell which part Shizong was serious about.

Sure enough, Shizong then said lightly, “Just kidding. Murder is illegal.”

Zuo Sanqiu: “Good to know you realize that.”

Shizong turned the page indifferently. “If it were me, I wouldn’t follow my mother’s demands, nor stay in that family. Why shoulder such a burden? Life is freer without attachments. Then you can do whatever you want.”

“Easy to say. But life’s never that simple.”

Zuo Sanqiu thought a moment, then asked, “Right, you lost your memory, but your family didn’t, right? Why hasn’t anyone come looking for you?”

Why no family ever came for him.

Shizong had thought about this long ago.

After those dreams, he couldn’t help but wonder if he really had been a bad person, a cold, emotionless monster in the eyes of his family.

They feared him, so they wouldn’t come.

Shizong said casually, “Who knows. Maybe they’re all dead.”

Zuo Sanqiu: “…………”

Silence fell.

Zuo Sanqiu looked a bit awkward.

Shizong, amused by Zuo Sanqiu’s quietness, read more leisurely.

But Zuo Sanqiu’s silence didn’t last.

Soon he exclaimed while looking at his phone.

“Don’t be so jumpy. Keep calm.”

Shizong didn’t look up. “What now?”

Zuo Sanqiu blinked several times and said, “Before I tell you, can you promise me one thing?”

Shizong glanced at him.

Zuo Sanqiu quickly said, “They’re still just kids. Let them be!”

Shizong: “?”

Zuo Sanqiu swallowed. “Our school has two major club recruitment events, start and midterm.

“To recruit, Wu Gou and the others… posted your photos. They used you as a living advertisement… well…

“I know it’s inappropriate, but… they’re really just kids!”

Shizong expressionless, resumed reading.

“Since it’s already out there, let it be.”

Really? He’s that easygoing?

Zuo Sanqiu sipped water, realizing Shizong had reverted to that gentle, kind boss persona; the in-game manipulative He Zhen felt like a dream.

Zuo Sanqiu didn’t continue the topic, instead telling Shizong about his conversation with Zhou Lü at Meizhu Mansion.

Zhou Lü planned to name the guild “Longevity.”

According to him, as guild founders, they met in Changming Town, so the name had commemorative significance and was considered auspicious.

Shizong didn’t care much.

After all, the people of Changming Town were cursed by Jiang Wan’er to short lives and eventually perished in fire.

He let Zuo Sanqiu continue.

Currently, besides Shizong and the player playing Wang Zhien, everyone else had gone to Meizhu Mansion.

The one playing Li Dashao was a girl named Zhu Shuangyun, a prosecutor, heroic and graceful.

According to Zhou Lü, Zhu Shuangyun and He Zhen also saw the white light when entering the game.

They were alone, so unlikely dragged in by others.

Zuo Sanqiu, clever, didn’t mention Chen Li when introducing himself to Zhou Lü, only said he saw the white light while alone, then entered the game.

“By the way—”

Zuo Sanqiu looked at Shizong, “That police officer named Chen Li is…”

His words further confirmed Shizong’s earlier suspicion.

He explained briefly, “So it seems I was pulled into the game by Chen Li. You were actively selected by the system.”

Zuo Sanqiu, only 19, felt a surge of adolescent excitement.

“So… I’m the chosen one?

“Then what is the system? Aliens? Immortals? Why design this game?

“Testing us? If we pass, can we become gods… hiss…

“Could we be the ones to save the world?”

Shizong glanced at him. “Why gods? What if it’s a devil designing this game?”

Zuo Sanqiu: “Ah this…”

Scratching his head, Zuo Sanqiu coughed lightly. “Never mind. Let’s go see.

“By the way, I’m going to Meizhu Mansion to meet everyone. I’m really looking forward to meeting Zhu Shuangyun and He Zhen! Especially He Zhen—I really want to have a proper chat.

“Boss, aren’t you going? Really not coming? Solo play is tiring.”

“Solo what?”

Shizong smirked, “Aren’t you part of the guild? Any info, you can tell me.”

Zuo Sanqiu seriously refused. “Ah? You wouldn’t have me be a spy, right? No way. I have principles.

“If you’re not one of us, I’ll keep secrets. Even if you’re my boss.”

Shizong glanced at him again, silent.

Zuo Sanqiu chuckled dryly and went to work.

Unable to resist talking while working—

“By the way, I’ve chosen the fake flowers. I’ll pause fresh flower orders.

“And I talked to the chef—we’re changing suppliers; the previous one was a bit unreliable…”

Shizong yawned, continued reading. “You handle it. No need to report. Quiet.

“Not me…

“Fine, I get it. I’ll be quiet.”

Ten minutes later.

Footsteps clattered again.

Zuo Sanqiu ran over.

Shizong frowned, showing clear impatience.

Zuo Sanqiu said, “I won’t nag about inn management. Something serious. Check Weibo trending. It’s seventh, still climbing.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“If I’m not mistaken, that’s you?!”

Zuo Sanqiu handed his phone; Shizong looked.

He found photos of himself and Li Rongjing.

It was the scene of Li Rongjing sending him to the car.

A single photo as a starting point, the rest fabricated.

Various gossip accounts ran wild with headlines—

“Master Li Rongjing indeed male and gay, late-night tryst with long-haired handsome man in suit”

“Li Rongjing refuses backstage flowers after performance—why? For handsome young lover!”

“Shocking! Late-night street romance! Peking Opera master personally sees off lover, steps back thrice, eyes full of emotion”

…

The gossip accounts’ photos were actually quite artistic—

Li Rongjing stood outside the car door, head lowered, speaking to the person inside.

Sitting in the passenger seat was Shizong, who leaned slightly forward to hear Li Rongjing more clearly.

The streetlights in the night cast a hazy, intimate atmosphere.

One inside, one outside, their glance carried an unspoken, almost shy tension.

Li Rongjing stood under the streetlight, his face strikingly charismatic, incomparable.

Shizong’s face was partly hidden in shadow, less distinct, but the side profile captured by the camera was extremely clean and attractive, like a sculptor carving the finest line at the perfect moment.

The person inside the car seemed mysterious and alluring.

A strand of long hair draped casually from his shoulder, outside the car—proof that men could look stunning with long hair, without any trace of femininity.

Online, there was a flood of speculation about his identity.

“Who the hell is this? So handsome, so handsome, so handsome!”

“I told you, our Jingjing must be the submissive! Long-haired beautiful top—yes, yes, yes, totally yes!!!”

…

“Wait, this person looks familiar.”

“Oh right, I know him, he was popular for a while! In that promotional video!”

“Ah, I remember now, he’s the owner of Maze Inn in Huangxia Ancient Town, Jinning City!”

…

Shizong handed the phone back to Zuo Sanqiu. “Close the shop temporarily, hang the sign outside.”

“Eh? Eh! Okay, got it!” Zuo Sanqiu hurried off.

Behind him, Shizong’s eyes flickered with a sharp glint.

Who took that photo? Could it be Li Rongjing orchestrating it himself?

Li Rongjing is the guild master of Dingjun Mountain and a player—how many people know this?

He dared to reveal his identity without knowing me… maybe this is his style, using his fame as a Peking Opera master to attract guild members.

In this case, many players probably know Li Rongjing’s other identity as a Peking Opera actor.

What would they think seeing this photo?

Chen Li approached me to seize Shizong’s identity.

Many players might already know this.

Now they’ve seen the photo of me and Li Rongjing…

Whether or not I agreed to join his guild, they’ll assume I already belong to Dingjun Mountain.

If the photo was staged by Li Rongjing himself…

Then he’s not as honest as he seemed before.

After a while, Zuo Sanqiu came to Shizong.

“The closed sign is up. But what if someone tries to force their way in?

“There’ll be lots of people coming, wanting to photograph you, maybe even interview you. I think… I should stay and help you here.”

Shizong put down his book, as if making a decision.

Then he looked at Zuo Sanqiu with interest. “No. You go to the meeting. And you tell Zhou Lü three things. First, I will join the Longevity Guild.

“Second, I won’t meet them formally for now, nor attend any of your meetings. They don’t need to know my real-world identity. But for major matters, consult me; I must have decision-making power.

“Third, Longevity Guild must remain low-key at this stage. No one can know of its existence.

“As for the king in the game, the final banquet, the knight’s badge, identities, etc., I hold crucial information.

“Zhou Lü must agree to my terms before I share these with other guild members.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Zuo Sanqiu repeated Shizong’s requests in his mind, confirmed he’d memorized them, and asked, “But why? Do I deserve to know?”

Shizong: “Because I’m going undercover in a major guild. Until then, Longevity must stay low-profile.”

Zuo Sanqiu froze. “…Ah, ah? Oh. Oh… okay, got it…

“Spy-boss, you go for it.

“I’ll keep your secret!”

Shizong: “…………”

Thursday morning, Jinhua University.

The second-floor hall of the gymnasium held the midterm club recruitment event.

Each club had a booth with pamphlets and small gifts.

Recruitment events happened twice per semester, start and midterm, and every club tried their best.

Not long after He Zhen entered, he saw a stunning girl surrounded by club members.

“Freshman, want to join our Math Club? Math is actually romantic…”

“Freshman, don’t listen to them, their club’s all guys—you’d be a lamb among tigers! Come Astronomy Club; we’ll show you the stars!”

“Don’t trust men who say they’ll show you stars! Freshman, join the Script Murder Club—we’ll teach reasoning, spotting bad guys! Many activities, many perks!”

The last voice was Wu Gou.

“Freshman, look!”

Wu Gou pushed the crowd aside, presenting a huge poster. “Handsome, right? Beautiful, right? Join us, and Saturday you’ll go to Maze Inn to meet him!”

A life-size poster stood silently, as if the man in it were really there as a living advertisement.

The man had long hair over his shoulders, but no trace of femininity.

His features were delicate, eyes especially beautiful. Facial contours sharp and severe, but his gaze gentle, as if softly returning the look of anyone who saw him.

A man this beautiful, with such a gentle, serious gaze, inevitably gives the impression of deep affection.

Perhaps he looks at ants the same way.

He Zhen paused, through the crowd and noise, locking eyes with the poster briefly, then went to the Script Murder Club booth, asking Wu Gou, “How to join?”

Wu Gou quickly handed him a test sheet. “Some reasoning questions here. Score above 50 to join! We have small gifts too!”

Thirty minutes later, Wu Gou looked at He Zhen, astonished.

—What’s going on? Full marks???

He’d never seen that before.

Wu Gou immediately stopped attending to the pretty freshman, urging He Zhen, “Junior, sure you want to join? You must! This Saturday we have an event!”

He Zhen just glanced at the poster. “The person in the photo is the Maze Inn owner? What’s he like, in your opinion?”

Thinking of Shizong, Wu Gou’s eyes practically sparkled. “The boss is incredibly kind, gentle, and good-hearted. Never complains about our noise or affecting the inn’s business! I’ve never met anyone so good!”

He Zhen turned his head to appraise Wu Gou. “He treats you well?”