Spiritual Window: ‘Obeying the Creator’s command and leaving is the right thing to do, but… I really want to stay by the Creator’s side a little longer. I’m scared. The Creator said he would leave this place. He never knew just how important he is to us. I’m watching him. He takes everything about the city so seriously and responsibly, trying to stop crime before it even begins. But if he’s doing all this just to make sure we can continue to develop normally after he’s gone… then how can I make him understand? Without him, there is no possibility for development at all!’
He Fang stared in a daze. Why wouldn’t there be any possibility for development? What exactly happened?
He Fang vaguely sensed that this NPC might be hiding something very important to itself.
“Uh, Yuan Zhiran,” He Fang suddenly called out to Yuan Zhiran, “Are you heading home or going back to the dorm?”
Yuan Zhiran suddenly turned his head. Spiritual Window: ‘Why is he asking if I’m going home or going to the dorm? Is there some special meaning behind the question? How should I answer? This is such a personal question. I was going to go back to the dorm. It’s more convenient for military training. But… if the Creator suddenly wants to spend time with me, then I’ll choose to go home! Let’s gamble!’
“Home,” Yuan Zhiran replied.
He Fang: “……”
What a richly layered thought process. And yet he gave his answer without even a pause. He Fang had to take ten seconds just to finish reading that whole mind window, and the other party had already replied within one second.
“Hmm…” He Fang had originally just wanted to ask what Yuan Zhiran meant by “no possibility for development”, but saying it outright might startle the NPC. “Can I visit your place today?”
Buy some time first. Maybe he could get the answer through casual conversation.
Spiritual Window: ‘The Creator wants to come home with me. Am I dreaming? My most respected and beloved Creator is willing to come home and meet my parents? I need to send a message to my family right away, tell Mom and Dad to tidy up the house, and buy fresh groceries. Tonight, I’ll cook personally. We must have the most delicious food.’
“Alright, City Lord, thank you very much for coming.” Yuan Zhiran replied with a smile.
He Fang’s expression could only be described as complicated. He had once longed to possess the ability to see through people’s hearts. So that at the very least, when facing others, he could always respond in the most satisfactory way. But now that he truly had the ability to read minds, He Fang realized just how disorienting it was to experience this divide between reality and thought. It was genuinely bewildering to process.
He Fang followed beside Yuan Zhiran. When he looked up, he could see Yuan Zhiran’s beautiful side profile. Right above Yuan Zhiran’s head, the frantic flood of thoughts flashed by.
Spiritual Window: ‘I used to observe the Creator all the time, hoping to understand the Creator’s intentions. But the more I tried to understand, the more I realized my own shallowness and perfunctoriness. Even now, I’m still observing the Creator, expecting and exploring. If what I do brings the Creator happiness, that usually ends up being the best choice for the city as well. Perhaps, the Creator’s joy is the direction for the city’s future development.’
He Fang was speechless. Clearly, the two of them were just taking a walk. Just moments ago, he had been thinking about how if Yuan Zhiran made a really delicious meal, he’d taste the flavor but still not feel full, and how tormenting that would be. Meanwhile, Yuan Zhiran was thinking about something this profound?
He Fang tried hard to shift himself into a contemplative mindset. Yuan Zhiran’s NPC mission had always felt a bit nonsensical, but the trigger condition had been He Fang saying he wanted to leave. At that time, Yuan Zhiran had uncharacteristically reacted with panic and fear. But even then, he hadn’t actually expressed what he truly felt inside.
Now it seemed that Yuan Zhiran was actually a super chatterbox. No, that wasn’t quite right. He was an overthinking NPC. Sensitive-minded, endlessly looping in thought, constantly entangling himself. Everything he did aligned with “justice” and “kindness”. So maybe, in his worldview, no matter what he wanted to do, it had to first pass through layers of thought and judgment before he would act in a way that aligned with those two principles: justice and kindness.
Was this the real Yuan Zhiran?
No wonder He Fang had always felt that Yuan Zhiran forced himself too much. It hadn’t been just an illusion.
He Fang rarely visited NPC homes because of the game features of “Ruins Without Restart”. Nearly every building was freely accessible, and NPCs had their own thoughts, their own families, and very strong moral values. Though as a player, he had the right to enter any room at will, He Fang had always respected the privacy of these NPCs.
So when he went to Yuan Zhiran’s home, He Fang truly felt like he was visiting a friend’s house.
Spiritual Window: ‘I don’t know if Mom and Dad have tidied up… I hope little sister doesn’t cause trouble… Please, please, let everything go well.’
He Fang had originally felt a bit nervous, but when he saw that Yuan Zhiran was even more nervous than he was, he suddenly relaxed.
As He Fang entered Yuan Zhiran’s house, he was met with an entryway so clean and polished it looked freshly renovated—bright, tidy. Standing at the door was a family that seemed straight out of a painting: smiling faces, neat attire, handsome men, beautiful women, and an adorably cute little sister.
He Fang sucked in a breath of cold air.
Good grief. It was like a painting—pure facial features crit-hit.
“City Lord, hello! Thank you for recognizing our Ranran’s talents. It’s truly our great honor to welcome you today. Please, come in,” said the handsome middle-aged gentleman with a gentle smile, politely reaching out a hand to invite him inside.
He Fang couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He immediately turned his head to check Yuan Zhiran’s inner thoughts. Was this family being a bit too much?
But what he saw was—
Spiritual Window: ‘Good. They’re not showing any signs of odd behavior. At least for now, everything seems normal.’
He Fang: “…” Has your family always been this amazing?
At Yuan Zhiran’s home, He Fang truly experienced what it meant to be treated with overwhelming hospitality. The family nearly got into a fight in the kitchen over who would make which specialty dish for him. Even when He Fang couldn’t see Yuan Zhiran in person, he could still view his Spiritual Window. So, He Fang just sat there, wide-eyed, watching from the outside as the people inside actually started arguing over who would do the cooking.
Yuan Zhiran’s little sister was genuinely adorable to the extreme. With a youthful charm and exquisite figure, she fully embodied that classic blend of innocence and allure, like the feeling of a first love. Probably because of He Fang’s City Lord status, she stayed close to him, though she didn’t say much—just quietly watched. Watched and watched, and gradually her cheeks began to blush, her eyes lowered shyly… but after a moment, she couldn’t help herself and looked back up again to keep watching.
He Fang, being looked at like that, also felt his heart racing like a startled deer. Who wouldn’t feel their heart speed up and be affected when being looked at by a girl like this? Later, through Yuan Zhiran’s Spiritual Window, He Fang understood why the girl was only looking at him without speaking. This girl was a classic type: a beautiful girl who didn’t speak. The moment she opened her mouth, all of her elegant aura would vanish. That was her unique personality.
Yuan Zhiran’s family had exceedingly high face value. Not only were their appearances outstanding, but even the furniture in their home seemed to rise in elegance because of it. He Fang felt as if he were watching a movie. Clearly, it wasn’t some kind of super wealthy household, yet it possessed a distinct air of grace, the kind usually found in rich and noble homes.
If he weren’t a player, but a real person, He Fang feared he probably wouldn’t even be able to speak right now.
After finally making it through dinner, they arrived in Yuan Zhiran’s bedroom. Only then did he start to feel like he could breathe again.
“Apologies, City Lord. Because we knew you were coming, my parents were a bit excited. Everyone really admires you, so they were a little overly enthusiastic. I hope it didn’t bring you any pressure,” Yuan Zhiran said with a smile to He Fang.
Spiritual Window: ‘It’s rare to see Mom and Dad so enthusiastic. They looked really happy. My little sister was unusually well-behaved too, acting very ladylike. Her gaze kept falling on the Creator. I can understand how she feels. I used to look at the Creator like that too, constantly trying to watch him, unwilling to look away.’
He Fang was a little baffled as he read this window of the soul. Looking at him?
The more he read, the more He Fang felt that he didn’t understand Yuan Zhiran well enough.
He still didn’t understand why Yuan Zhiran always called him “the Creator” in his heart. Was that some kind of nickname?
He Fang looked around Yuan Zhiran’s bedroom. It wasn’t very big, a standard room for a normal teenage boy. A bed, a desk, a computer, a bookshelf, and a few personal sports items. Very tidy. Not even the slightest bit messy. The only thing missing was the blanket being folded into a perfect military square.
Spiritual Window: ‘I’m really nervous. I don’t know if my room will disappoint the Creator. Did I do a good job? Is anything out of place? All my personal things should be in their proper spots, right? It probably isn’t like Chong Xiao’s room, filled with a bunch of contraband Creator-related merchandise, right?’
He Fang: “……” He’d just stumbled upon some kind of astonishing secret.
“Yuan Zhiran.” He Fang decided to interrupt the other’s runaway thoughts. If this continued, Yuan Zhiran might end up revealing all the other NPCs’ secrets to him. “I truly hope that every one of my cities can develop perfectly in the future. I’ve always been meticulously crafting every detail for the sole purpose of allowing all of you to grow freely, without worry. Do you understand?”
Yuan Zhiran’s previously excited demeanor suddenly fell silent upon hearing He Fang’s words.
Spiritual Window: ‘I understand. Everyone understands the effort City Lord has put in.’
He Fang felt he might have found the way to complete this NPC mission. It wasn’t through action, but through talk therapy. He could see Yuan Zhiran’s true thoughts, and he could give him the answers he needed.
“Today, I said that I might leave. I won’t deny that possibility. But I would never abandon you all without reason. Every one of you—this city—you’re all extremely special to me.” He Fang earnestly explained the thoughts in his heart, then looked up.
Spiritual Window: ‘It’s exactly because of that, that all of us are willing to give everything we have to contribute to the beautiful city the Creator longs for. But if one day, the Creator truly leaves—really leaves—then everyone who has lost their goal will go mad. We each have our own positions, our own ways of thinking, even our own abilities. Once the Creator is gone, all of those restless thoughts that have been suppressed and controlled deep within our hearts… once they erupt, what a terrifying future that would be.’
He Fang was suddenly at a loss for words. Seeing this long and deeply introspective inner monologue, he suddenly realized that things might be more serious than he had imagined.
What did they mean by “erupt”? What was going to erupt?
“Since you know that I don’t truly want to leave, can’t you just be at ease?” He Fang sat down in front of Yuan Zhiran and immediately tried to reassure him. “Maybe you don’t fully understand, but all of you are important to me. You accompanied me through a long stretch of emptiness. I was once deeply lost. It was this place that gave me the chance to find the courage I’d lost. When I look at you all, sometimes I feel like… if… if you were real people…”
If only you were a real person.
He Fang’s expression held a trace of helplessness. He knew that his words would be directly filtered out by the “Ruins Without Restart” Player Management Protocol, and Yuan Zhiran would never know that he was an NPC.
This was something NPCs in “Ruins Without Restart” couldn’t comprehend. They possessed the same way of thinking as real people, and if they ever found out that they were NPCs, the mental breakdown would be unimaginable.
“So, when I said I would leave, I didn’t mean I would abandon you. What I meant was… if something unexpected happened and I was forced to leave, I still hope this city can be preserved forever.”
He Fang’s voice grew smaller and smaller. He felt somewhat helpless. He was actually expressing his thoughts to an NPC.
A game’s lifespan, compared to that of a player, could be very short or very long. Perhaps the game would be shut down permanently and never rerun—then its life would come to an end there. Or maybe it would become so iconic that even a hundred years later, it would still be revived by future generations—that would be a long life.
The game could exist forever. But his own lifespan was limited.
Someday in the future, he might die. It could be an accident, a disease, or simply old age. He Fang couldn’t be sure if he would still like this game in the future. But at this very moment, he hoped that even if he died, everything within “Ruins Without Restart” could continue operating forever.
“I hope you all… will exist forever.” He Fang, unusually, spoke with much more gentleness.
Spiritual Window: ‘Yes… why would I be afraid? The Creator won’t abandon us. It’s exactly because of such a Creator that we’re able to give everything in pursuit, to suppress instinct, suppress darkness, suppress the past, and welcome a beautiful, brand-new life… even if we’re separated by… selfish… time and space……… Divine Lord…………’
Suddenly, the content on the Spiritual Window began to fall into chaos. Double images of overlapping text flickered rapidly, making it difficult to read. Mixed among them were many terms He Fang couldn’t understand. But he felt as if something unknown was revealing itself right in front of his eyes.
Could it be a hidden quest in “Ruins Without Restart”, or perhaps part of the main storyline?
He Fang squinted, trying to read the complex text, but before he could make sense of it, this NPC quest suddenly vanished. Quest completed!
He Fang was stunned. There were still so many things he hadn’t figured out yet. He immediately tried to check the recording playback, but to his shock, he discovered that this particular NPC quest didn’t have recording permissions!
Those words… he had assumed they were all being recorded, so he hadn’t made an effort to remember them. But now, everything was gone!
This… this…
While He Fang was still in shock, he was suddenly pulled into an embrace.
Yuan Zhiran hugged him.
The Spiritual Window had disappeared, so He Fang could no longer read Yuan Zhiran’s inner thoughts. All he could feel was Yuan Zhiran’s long arms wrapping completely around him, carefully yet with a faint possessiveness.
He Fang’s mind gradually quieted. Even though he was full of doubts, at this moment, the NPC seemed to be someone who needed comfort.
He reached out and hugged Yuan Zhiran back.
The moment his hands touched Yuan Zhiran’s back, He Fang vaguely remembered the time in the real world when he hugged the deliveryman. It was a very similar embrace. Even the sensation of touch was almost the same, as if this was how a hug was always meant to feel.
Unconsciously, He Fang tightened his fingers. “Ruins Without Restart” and the real world… they were just too alike.
![The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image_2021-09-11_143139.png "The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao")
awwwwwwww this is such a wholesome moment