Chapter 40: Poetry Cannot Change the Status Quo!

Open your eyes, the afterglow of dusk flickers on the face.

Lu Ming sits up, feeling a wave of fatigue; controlling shadows also drains mental energy.

【Finally awake?】

【Awesome, slept a lot.】

【S Player tired? (worried. jpg)】

【All other players are looking for clues, is the S Player's lax attitude really okay?】

【S Player, sleeping is definitely a theory; claiming the Family Head never actually slept, only controlled shadows.】

【Yes! Seems we can see from the shadow's perspective.】

【What bad thing did the S Player do? (evil grin. jpg)】

【………】

Some players have already begun to notice the shadows; after all, in this sub‑instance, the shadow's almost perverse regeneration ability is startling.

If the shadow frequently exposes the player's line of sight, the weakness can easily be discovered.

Shadows are indeed strong, yet their weakness is rather trivial.

"Dong dong dong…" A crisp knocking sound rang.

"Family Head, are you awake?" Chang Qinglan's voice.

"Come in." Lu Ming said directly.

Chang Qinglan pushed the door open, holding a glass of water.

To provoke suspicion, Lu Ming asked again, "How long did you sleep?"

"It's already half." Chang Qinglan swapped the other glass on the table and asked, "Family Head, have you been tired lately?"

"Fine."

【The loli is taking careful care of the S Player. (evil grin. jpg)】

【To prove it, always the Live Broadcast Room. (evil grin. jpg)】

【Just knocking and bringing water, what's so strange?】

【After delivering the water, waited a long time before hearing the door close; what were they doing in the meantime? (evil grin. jpg)】

【Sitting by the bedside, patting the head…】

【Lou Yan's reasoning.】

【Lou Yan's reasoning.】

【…………】

"Family Head, we received a notice at noon; tonight there is a banquet at Noah Manor." The loli stood nearby holding a tray, like a proper maid: "If you wish, we can decline."

"Just decline, then." Lu Ming said.

The loli's eyes lifted in obvious surprise, realizing the Family Head has no interest at all in such high‑level banquets.

"Prepare." The loli gave a slight bow and left the room.

After the door closed, the room fell silent.

Lu Ming remembered the Original Owner's habit of reading, perhaps some clues about the Noah ship could be found; he walked from the bed to the bookshelf.

The game was set from the start to automatically comprehend the world's language and script, so reading posed no obstacle.

He flipped through a few books at random, many of them poetry and prose collections.

【Obtained: Yellowed paper poetry (praising the brave deeds of adventurers)】

………………………

【Conflict stems from extreme differences.】

【Monopolizing resources keeps the elite forever elite, the refugees forever refugees.】

【For a long time, as long as life on land continues, equality has always existed; the oppressed will choose to rise up in rebellion.】

【The elite attempt to control the masses' thoughts.】

【They should awaken; when the lower strata fully accept the status quo, it will be terrifying.】

【Poetry cannot change the status quo.】

【So, will read it again later…】

【Character line: 35%】

………………

Poetry can change the status quo, can change the state of equality.

Lu Ming thought of that girl; even though she lives a hard life, she still dares to make the elite pay the price.

There are no clues about the Noah ship, but still rely on it.

The knocking sound rang again.

"Family Head, the car is ready, shall we depart now?"

Lu Ming gave a hum, and put the book back in its place.

Now entering the second instance.

Yan Cheng wandered aimlessly through the bustling market street, entered the game; a high‑school student preparing for the college entrance exam, whose pile of assignments almost crushed him, until the Main God Space descended, making him the second batch of players to enter the game.

After a run through the instance, he felt helpless about his abilities; his skill was only simple thermal sensing, and when activated, his vision turned into a thermal image, a swirl of red and blue.

The first instance ended abruptly; Yan Cheng only survived three minutes, the tearing sensation nearly broke him, and he instantly decided that even if eliminated, he would still want another round.

The lingering pain, in spectator mode he accessed the live stream, loved watching streams, dreamed of becoming a Streamer himself, chose the most popular Live Broadcast Room, and saw the S Player's declaration.

"Enjoy life, enjoy the game."

That scene also sparked the idea of continuing the instance, so I began trying entertainment live streaming, and it actually had some effect; the vibe was fairly high.

, look up, look up, S Player!】

【Lucky indeed, S Players Grouped Together, quickly hug your legs.】

【Don't, even watching the S Player alone is already enough to be annoying.】

【......】

The atmosphere in the Live Broadcast Room inexplicably rose, Yan Cheng watched the flashing bullet comments and gradually understood.

The S Player actually queued themselves into the same instance!

Yan Cheng looked up, there were many people, and the players' appearances had also changed; even a passing brush was noticeable.

He began asking the audience for help, and after identification, spotted a vehicle slowly moving by the road, squeezing through the crowd.

Watching the vehicle drift farther away, he felt a wave of helplessness.

"S Player!"

The voices rose in a chorus, thinking of a way, at least to attract the S Player's attention; it succeeded, and indeed drew the surrounding attention.

The surrounding crowd all looked with a "looking at a fool" gaze.

But without meaning, they kept shouting: "Decided to continue! That's the goal!"

Chang Qinglan frowned: "Some doubt, does it need to be dealt with?"

He also noticed that the shouting one was looking at the side.

"Use it." Lu Ming replied.

After ten minutes, the vehicle smoothly stopped at an estate, and Lu Ming, guided by the receptionist, walked into the estate.

The estate was vast; along the way, Lu Ming deliberately observed the state of Dongsheng City.

The deeper into the inner city, the more magnificent the architecture, especially Noah Estate, situated at the heart of the inner city, considered the most luxurious.

Lu Ming deliberately avoided many areas, and himself, together with the real Chang Zhou, meeting familiar people could easily expose them.

Secondly, the player Lu Ming feared most, Ai Meili Ya, got the best lesson.

Joining the attraction, perhaps the numbers had already been handed over to Lu Ming, perhaps the next instance would target more players; although Lu Ming was scared, it still seemed troublesome.

"Family Head, the banquet is still a little time away, shall I take you for a walk nearby?" Chang Qinglan whispered beside.

Lu Ming stared at the bustling high‑rise in the distant plaza for a long while.

"Alright, let's walk through the less crowded places."

Far from the noisy road, secluded, only the street lamps emitted orange‑yellow light.

"A few times, this counts as a very quiet place." Chang Qinglan rarely walked openly with Lu Ming.

She was truly delicate; without the Original Owner's memory boost, Lu Ming might also have thought the loli was just a decorative vase.

"Sister Qinglan." Lu Ming glanced at the nearby street lamp: "Noah Estate… the name of Noah is quite similar."

Chang Qinglan joined the sect early together with the Original Owner's parents, perhaps she knows clues about the Noah.

Chang Qinglan paused, turned her head, her gaze at Lu Ming showed some surprise, but quickly returned to calm.

"Family Head, Noah Estate is named after the Noah, intended to give hope to those without it." Chang Qinglan gave an official explanation.

In fact it was just a false hope; Lu Ming knew but didn't say.

"The upcoming banquet is also to celebrate adventurers returning from overseas," Chang Qinglan said, "Remember, you love listening to adventurers tell stories, right?"

"Hmm…"

Clearly imprisoning oneself, yet still sending out adventurers—what's the point?

As Lu Ming was about to ask a few more questions, footsteps suddenly sounded behind.

"Chang Zhou?" a slightly deep male voice, a young man in formal attire walked toward the side, accompanied by a girl in lavish dress.

"Why the banquet?" the man asked puzzled.

It seemed he had met someone familiar.

"Family Head likes quiet, so I'll accompany you for a walk." Chang Qinglan said as she moved beside Lu Ming.

"Indeed…" the man was stunned, then laughed: "Xu Yan the girl insists she saw it, forced to take a look, really can't help… hahaha."

The girl beside the man waved at Lu Ming: "Brother Chang Zhou, where are you? I've been looking for you."

She walked over, naturally clasped Lu Ming's hand: "Since it's a rare banquet, there are many fun spots; I'll definitely take you to see them."

"Xu Yan!" the girl's father whispered scoldingly: "A girl, mind your image!"

"Alright, alright…" Xu Yan said, still looking at Lu Ming: "Brother Chang Zhou, shall we play now?"

Interrupted abruptly, Lu Ming was already annoyed and even less interested.

"Fine." Lu Ming agreed.

"Then… Sister Qinglan?" Xu Yan looked at the loli beside Lu Ming, offering a slightly apologetic smile; the meaning was clear.

Chang Qinglan's gaze remained calm: "A farther place is waiting."

"…well, Family Head wants Brother Chang Zhou to have some alone time…" Xu Yan smiled helplessly.

"Xu Yan, stop fooling around, play as you will, but you must keep Chang Qinglan with you." Xu Father said in a dismissive tone.

He also knew that Chang Zhou was being watched; heard that yesterday he even faced an assassination.

Since his daughter liked Chang Zhou a lot, persuasion was useless, so she had to protect him; with Chang Qinglan following, he felt much more at ease.

"Fine…" Xu Yan agreed plaintively.