Chapter 47: Her Request

Wang Tingwan kept feeling that she must have done something wrong, yet she worried about Yang Xin in her heart. Although she knew this was a game world, she still couldn't bear to see her old friend turn against each other in the game, driving the other to death. She recalled the day Feng Yan had been shot straight through the heart, and shook her head.

Feng Yan couldn't speak, standing there motionless, as if turned to stone. Wang Tingwan stood before him, hesitating for a long time, finally making up her mind and saying: "I hope you admit defeat to Yang Xin."

Feng Yan imagined in his mind the scene of meeting Wang Tingwan again, thinking they would have much to say, but now, no matter how much he wanted to say, he couldn't utter a word, which made him feel insulted—more painful than being removed from class and losing exam eligibility. Feng Yan felt utterly lost and sorrowful; this reunion was merely for a request, and such a request at that. He could barely endure it, yet he lowered his voice and said: "This is a game—whoever dies returns to reality—so stop interfering with us. My struggle with him, do you think it's just because of you?"

The wind blew through Wang Tingwan's hair; she crossed her hands over her chest and then spoke in a pleading tone: "Weren't you friends before? Why have you become like this? I remember you were the best of friends! Even for the sake of past affection, show some mercy."

Feng Yan darkened his face and coldly said: "Finished speaking? If so, please leave."

What else did Wang Tingwan want to say? She knew her weight in Feng Yan's heart, but as for her, she didn't want their request to be ruined because of her. She asked her friends, begging for a perfect solution; they gave her such a lie, yet that lie gave Feng Yan hope, letting him regain courage to face himself. Thinking of this, she said to Feng Yan: "I know I've caused you great harm; I'm sorry. This is something I and Yang Xin ought to have told you long ago. Then I'm leaving."

After Wang Tingwan finished speaking, she turned and left. Feng Yan watched her retreating figure, recalling those once-beautiful memories, and murmured dreamily: "That was the age of youthful ignorance; none of us understood what love meant. Even now I still can't comprehend it, but that tender, naive memory remains vivid in my mind. Perhaps this is that beauty—how should I put it? This is the budding of love."

Chen Hao placed a hand on Feng Yan's shoulder, comforting him: "Never mind the girlfriend—what's a girlfriend compared to the game? We need to get ready to start our next plan!"

Feng Yan nodded and said: "Almost ready; shall we prepare to see the king?"

Chen Hao nodded, waved his hand, and called over a soldier, asking: "A few days ago I went to request an audience with His Majesty the King—has His Majesty replied yet?"

The soldier replied respectfully: "As for adventurers, His Majesty the King will receive you two tomorrow, and will also receive two other adventurers at the same time."

Early that morning, Yang Xin discovered Wang Tingwan had vanished. He asked the soldiers and learned that she had left early. Upon hearing the soldier's answer, Yang Xin immediately knew whom she had gone to see, and his face darkened instantly.

In the early morning, the sun rose slowly, slowly shining on Xin's face. Wang Tingwan walked slowly toward that place, her heart heavy. She understood that Xin knew where she was headed, but she did not want to see the two become enemies again, even though that had been the case all along; still, she decided to try once more.

She gathered her courage, preparing to speak to Xin, but he directly cut her off, saying: "I know what you want to say, but I tell you, it's impossible! He and I can no longer forgive each other."

Wang Tingwan sighed, feeling both loss and regret, then walked past Xin's side and said: "I truly feel sorrow for you. It turns out your solution has shattered Feng Yan's heart; it seems you are not worthy to be his friend—you are too calculating."

Watching Wang Tingwan walk past him, Xin knew all he had done—had he ever not regretted it? Two best friends, turned against each other over a girl, while Feng Yan even wrote a doggerel to insult him—how ironic, and how could he not be in pain? At this moment he said: "Then let us give it our all, Feng Yan, my old friend, now my greatest threat—let's see who will prevail in this world."

Feng Yan and Chen Hao came to the Golden Paulownia Forest, where they saw a low earthen mound, knowing it was the grave of the black-clad masked man he had killed. He scooped up loam with both hands and slowly filled it before the mound, hoping to ease his guilt.

Chen Hao summoned the dwarves, who lined up one after another, waiting for Feng Yan to speak.

Feng Yan looked at them, feeling somewhat moved, and said: "Since you lost the gods' protection, you know what kind of treatment you've been getting; you are fully aware of it. Before you lie only two paths: either you continue to serve them, enduring their torment while knowing you lose all value, or you join us in rebellion, gain this country, overturn your status to become masters, no longer subject to the so-called patrons' oppression—unite your strength!"

The dwarves stood together, silent; Feng Yan felt extremely embarrassed, and then said nothing.

After a long while, a voice finally sounded: "Will people die?"

Chen Hao hurriedly replied: "Yes, but if you want independence, it must be built with blood and sweat—and you are precisely those pioneers of independence!"

Applause rose from below, and Chen Hao continued: "What do we want to do? To bring equality to future generations, to set an example for them, to fear neither hardship nor death—we are all mortal flesh, we will bleed and die; we will be afraid, but can we flee? No, we have lost our homeland, which the enemy has occupied—could we not take it back? They have subjected us to all kinds of experiments; can we not take revenge? Must we remain slaves? Must we live only in their glorious backlight? No, we must resist, we must strive, we must leave a fine tale for our own descendants, so they can be proud, so that a hundred years from now they will stand outside our tombstones, recalling our brave battles on the field, recalling our valiant figures in combat—this way our coming into this world will not have been in vain."

After Chen Hao finished speaking, Feng Yan said: "Think it over; once you've decided, have Jin Meng come find us."

Having said that, they departed, heading back to the Wanggong.