He Fang brought someone to the conference hall established in Hope City. He remembered this person’s appearance; back when they were learning about Angel City’s situation, they had a brief exchange.
At that time, he had promised to help relocate this person’s family to Hope City. At that moment, there wasn’t any mention of a purple mission, so why does one suddenly exist now?
In “Ruins Without Restart”, purple missions rank as the second-highest quality. They are quite rare and precious. As an open-world game, it wouldn’t specifically assign tasks based on quality the way typical online games use colors to represent experience points. Instead, the colors in “Ruins Without Restart” indicate the impact of a mission. Purple signifies a high level of impact.
“Shen Houyun,” He Fang reviewed the information on Shen Houyun’s attribute panel and asked, “Did you come looking for me for a specific reason?”
For an NPC to actively approach someone to issue a task, it generally suggests a high likelihood of being a main or side mission. However, this only applies when main or side missions exist as a concept.
“Ruins Without Restart” has no main storyline, let alone side quests.
“City Lord, you once agreed to let me bring my family to this city,” Shen Houyun said nervously, his hands tightening slightly.
“Yes, of course. Anytime. Since I made that promise, I’ll ensure a green channel is opened for you, allowing your family to become residents of Hope City before others,” He Fang replied. After all, He Fang was a man of his word. Since the other party had fulfilled their conditions, he wasn’t going to let them down.
“But what if my family is… a lot?” Shen Houyun asked cautiously.
He Fang was a bit stunned and asked, “A lot? How many?”
Standing beside He Fang was Wei Qixuan, who also frowned slightly and said, “If it’s in the hundreds, Hope City can currently accept them easily.”
For a family in this era to have a clan with hundreds or even close to a thousand members was already considered quite powerful.
“Three hundred thousand,” Shen Houyun said.
“…” He Fang was speechless. If he didn’t realize that Shen Houyun was trying to take advantage, he would have to be foolish. He Fang rubbed his temples and quipped, “Three hundred thousand? Is your family that prolific? Do your parents know?”
Issuing the mission directly would have been more straightforward. Why beat around the bush with such odd remarks?
From the background information He Fang had previously gathered on Shen Houyun, it was evident that Shen was a deeply family-oriented person—someone He Fang didn’t dislike.
Wei Qixuan, on the other hand, seemed visibly perplexed. Three hundred thousand people were already the population of a medium-sized mobile city. “Do you want the city lord to accept an entire city?” he questioned.
Surprisingly, Shen Houyun fell silent at this moment. Though he had taken the initiative to seek help, he now hesitated to respond.
“Which city is your family in?” He Fang asked, using the system panel to summon Guo Miaofeng and have them pull up city archive records for reference.
Shen Houyun glanced into the distance, his gaze shifting slightly. After a long pause, he quietly replied, “Arrival City.”
“Arrival City?” He Fang thought the name sounded beautiful and searched for information about Arrival City on his system control panel. Sure enough, the archives contained relevant details, proving these mercenaries were indeed knowledgeable. Even during their imprisonment, they had managed to obtain some valuable information.
Arrival City… Arrival City…
As He Fang delved deeper into the information about Arrival City, his expression grew increasingly peculiar. He repeatedly reviewed the details in the archive and then fixed his gaze on the person before him.
“Which Arrival City are you referring to?” He Fang probed cautiously, his gaze tinged with curiosity as he stared at Shen Houyun.
“There’s only one Arrival City. Not even homophones exist,” Shen Houyun said, his eyes lowered. Clearly, he was reluctant to disclose too much.
However, He Fang fell silent.
“City Lord?” Wei Qixuan asked, puzzled by He Fang’s sudden reticence.
“Xuanxuan, leave the room,” He Fang instructed Wei Qixuan, who had been standing beside him.
“City Lord, is something inconvenient for you? Should I call someone else to come in?” Wei Qixuan clearly didn’t understand what was happening and appeared confused.
“Uh… well, yes, it’s somewhat inconvenient,” He Fang replied, his expression subtly nuanced.
Although perplexed, Wei Qixuan chose to obey He Fang’s command. After some thought, he said, “I’ll be right outside the door, City Lord. If you need me, just call out, and I’ll respond immediately.”
“You should go study.” He Fang gave Wei Qixuan a complicated look. “Why are you always following me around? Go and study!”
He Fang was puzzled by Wei Qixuan’s persistence. Could Wei Qixuan be a participant in this purple mission? However, seeing that Wei Qixuan reluctantly left in the end, He Fang breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that this mission was unrelated to Wei Qixuan.
Well, it shouldn’t have been related in the first place.
Not suitable for minors. Definitely not suitable for minors.
With an indescribable expression, He Fang moved a bit closer to Shen Houyun and began observing him carefully. Shen Houyun was quite young, only nineteen, just at the age of adulthood. However, to qualify for the Black Flag Mercenary Team’s selection process, one had to have been a leader of another mercenary squad.
Min Zizhou, for instance, had only managed to gather a full set of equipment and become a team leader in his thirties. Yet this boy had achieved the same feat at the age of nineteen. In a world like this, accomplishing such a thing meant he must have worked incredibly hard.
This time, He Fang seriously studied Shen Houyun. The boy was still at the transitional phase from youth to adulthood, carrying a sense of immaturity that had yet to fade. His skin, unnaturally pale from years spent encased in armor, gave him a fragile appearance. However, upon closer inspection, one could see the faint lines of muscle covering his body. His eyes were calm, lacking the vigor and liveliness typical of someone his age.
“City Lord, I have personally experienced your city.” Perhaps because He Fang hadn’t initiated the conversation, Shen Houyun spoke up on his own. He seemed completely at ease under He Fang’s gaze. “Your city is truly remarkable, and I deeply admire it. I imagine I don’t need to say too much for you to understand how much I look forward to being here.”
“Uh… yeah…” He Fang awkwardly nodded. Compared to Arrival City, it was indeed better.
“Your city’s residents are very free, and you even freely offer mercenary jobs to those planning to enter Hope City. Can I assume that your city respects personal opinions?” Shen Houyun asked.
“Yes, I hope everyone can develop freely,” He Fang affirmed again, noting that it was much freer than Arrival City.
“Does the promise you made to me still hold?”
He Fang noticed something unusual in Shen Houyun’s expression. Filled with compassion, he nodded obediently. “Yes.”
“At the time, we didn’t specify the number of ‘family members’, did we?” Shen Houyun continued to exploit the loophole in He Fang’s previous promise.
“…” He Fang thought that future negotiations should definitely involve Zhu Yan instead. He realized he wasn’t well-suited for discussions like this. “Perhaps… maybe… yes…”
“In that case, I hope you will take in my 300,000 family members from Arrival City!”
He Fang gasped audibly. Although he had suspected something, he hadn’t expected Shen Houyun to be so direct.
He quickly tried to placate Shen Houyun. “Three hundred thousand family members—that’s an entire city. Asking me to take in a whole city out of nowhere isn’t something that can be done easily.”
Shen Houyun shook his head. “Arrival City isn’t just 300,000 people—it’s 350,000 people.”
He Fang froze. “?”
“I hope you’ll take in 300,000 women and children from Arrival City,” Shen Houyun strongly stated his request.
“Impossible.” At that moment, Zhu Yan’s voice suddenly appeared at the door. The man in the white long coat retained his aloof and indifferent demeanor, his expression cold. “The information you provided us about Angel City is far from sufficient to justify Hope City making sacrifices to meet your demands.”
He Fang understood Zhu Yan’s logic. The reasoning was sound. Whether to take on the mission or not was up to the player. As a player, one often doesn’t know what rewards a mission might bring before accepting it. Many missions might simply be part of the process, and players usually choose to undertake them. Clearly, as an NPC, Zhu Yan didn’t operate under such concepts.
Shen Houyun fell silent. His gaze, once fixed on He Fang, dropped. His lack of response suggested that he, too, recognized that his request was excessive.
Instead, He Fang turned back to Zhu Yan and asked, “Did you review the information on Arrival City?”
“I did,” Zhu Yan replied.
“Seriously?” He Fang’s face reflected a mix of complexity and disbelief.
“It seems genuine,” Zhu Yan affirmed He Fang’s doubts as his gaze flicked toward the now silent Shen Houyun.
Arrival City had nearly twice the population of Hope City, yet it was only considered a medium-to-small-sized city due to its uniqueness.
Within Arrival City, the majority were women, specifically those who met the condition of being “women capable of giving birth”.
The meaning of “Arrival” referred to the arrival of life; new births require women.
In the harsh post-apocalyptic environment, the imbalance between men and women had long been established. The weaker physical constitution of women made survival much more difficult in such dire conditions.
Each mobile city has its own childbirth encouragement and support programs. Generally, after a child is born, the city provides assistance in raising them until they’re capable of working. Meanwhile, the parents raising the child can temporarily take on lighter duties.
Even now, maintaining a stable population is crucial, but in this era of more men than women, birth rates continue to decline.
Arrival City, however, has a large number of women whose primary value to the city lies in childbirth.
Arrival City uses the children born from these women in exchanges with other cities. Simply put, it is essentially human trafficking. They sell male children to cities in need of labor while keeping the girls, creating a cyclical system. Within Arrival City, any woman capable of childbirth inherits this “duty”.
Moreover, to ensure the highest quality genes and increase the chances of conception, they never refuse new arrivals.
“There’s actually such a place,” He Fang couldn’t help but remark in amazement.
“Many living organisms will automatically stop reproducing during resource shortages. Humans are no exception,” Zhu Yan explained to He Fang. “In harsh environments, birth rates gradually decrease. The emergence of a place like this isn’t surprising.”
So, this was why it was a purple-level mission.
He Fang realized that for such a city to survive, it must rely heavily on aid from other cities.
If Shen Houyun was from Arrival City, then it made sense that he wanted to rescue his mother, who was trapped there. After seeing the strength of Hope City, he was pinning his hopes on them to change Arrival City’s fate.
However, the fact that Arrival City has managed to exist for so long in the post-apocalypse proves that it serves a purpose. If it’s indeed needed, then accepting this mission and ultimately taking over Arrival City would essentially be interfering with others’ interests, disrupting the delicate balance and creating trouble.
Is that why it’s a purple-level mission?
The scope of the issue seems quite vast.
“City Lord, your city is one of freedom. Can someone who yearns for freedom, like you, really turn a blind eye to a city like this?” Shen Houyun’s tone rose and fell, as if trying to stir He Fang’s anger.
“This kind of emotional manipulation won’t sway Hope City,” Zhu Yan interjected, standing partially in front of He Fang. “If you truly have thoughts of change, why not figure out a way on your own?”
Shen Houyun bit his lower lip. Though reluctant, he had to show a sense of helplessness in front of others. “We don’t have a choice. With so many women, other cities already refuse to accept them in large numbers. And in the post-apocalypse, resistance is impossible. Knowledge and weapons are all controlled by a select few. In this age where weapons dictate power, mere flesh and blood can achieve nothing.”
Meanwhile, Hope City still had plenty of room.
Not only the room, but even food supplies remained abundant.
“Not putting in effort yourself and directly pinning your hopes on others, isn’t that laughable?” Zhu Yan spoke mercilessly.
Shen Houyun knew he was being rejected, but he maintained his composure and said, “If Arrival City were absorbed, it would provide a larger labor force. Women, compared to men, are more patient, meticulous, and ultimately more useful.”
“But if Arrival City were absorbed, we’d have to face a significant number of enemies who support Arrival City. Don’t tell me you haven’t considered that,” Zhu Yan coldly refuted Shen Houyun’s statement.
Shen Houyun narrowed his eyes slightly. He seemed to have mentally prepared himself for rejection, as his expression showed little sign of disappointment.
Meanwhile, He Fang pondered what this mission could bring him at the present moment.
Just as golden-level missions could be missed without much consequence, skipping a purple-level mission might not be a big loss either. If he truly followed Shen Houyun’s idea and absorbed Arrival City, would the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, or would the opposite be true?
But He Fang still didn’t have a clear answer. Although they understood Arrival City’s operating model and population size, they had no idea how many mobile cities relied on Arrival City as a population incubator.
“You don’t agree, do you?” Shen Houyun asked.
Zhu Yan glanced back at He Fang, who remained silent. After all, he had just decided to build a peaceful city. This mission would force them into war. Was it going to disrupt his plans for steady development?
Without receiving a response from He Fang, Shen Houyun stood up. His demeanor remained calm, as if he hadn’t held much hope from the beginning.
“I apologize for wasting your time, City Lord,” Shen Houyun said, bowing deeply to He Fang, who was still seated. Then he straightened up, turned around, and left without a trace of hesitation.
He Fang sighed, “Let’s not even talk about whether it’s possible to take this on. Even if it is, there’s no telling where Arrival City is. This mission is unworkable.”
“Not taking it is the right decision.” After being alone with He Fang, Zhu Yan’s previously cold tone had softened considerably. He knelt on one knee in front of He Fang, raising his head to meet He Fang’s gaze as he said, “The mess left behind after taking over Angel City hasn’t been cleaned up yet. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working hard, and the government is drafting a treaty concerning information confidentiality for Angel City. Everyone is busy right now.”
He Fang didn’t know why, but as he looked at Zhu Yan, now shorter than him because he was kneeling, he reached out and patted Zhu Yan’s forehead. “I know. You’ve all been working so hard.”
Zhu Yan appeared somewhat surprised by He Fang’s gesture. His usually pale cheeks faintly flushed, like a proud cat subtly tilting its head, as if encouraging He Fang to keep patting.
He Fang felt a bit hesitant, though. When Shen Houyun had turned his back and walked away, He Fang could still see the large, purple exclamation mark hovering above Shen Houyun’s head.
Could this actually be an important mission?
But the thought of Arrival City made He Fang feel uneasy.
Even though He Fang hadn’t directly accepted Shen Houyun’s purple mission, for some reason, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. He kept opening the map to check, finding that Shen Houyun hadn’t left yet and seemed to be wandering aimlessly around the city.
At just 19 years old, Shen Houyun already had experience as a team captain and had joined Black Flag Squad, earning some recognition as a mercenary. But a mercenary is still a mercenary. Challenging an entire city’s power seemed almost impossible.
Since Arrival City is a small-to-medium-sized city with such a composition, mainly women and children, it definitely wouldn’t have any mechs, meaning its combat strength is very low. If He Fang were to actually descend upon Arrival City, there would be no way for it to resist.
Even if there were a fight, there’d be no reason for it. To provoke another city for no apparent reason would go against the current vision of his own city. If actions that contradicted the city’s values were taken now, it would certainly damage Hope City’s reputation.
Moreover, up to this point, no one had come to Hope City seeking refuge.
All the things He Fang had said earlier didn’t seem to have drawn much attention—or perhaps people were just wary of them.
He Fang walked along the ridge between the fields. The sky had darkened completely. As he glanced at the now-maturing vegetable plots, he suddenly caught sight of the illuminated night market in the distance.
To enrich Hope City’s nightlife, a special night market had been set up. Many people had stalls there, and because Angel City wasn’t far away, people from Angel City would sometimes rent cars to come and enjoy it. The market was fairly lively.
But He Fang’s attention was actually focused on one particular stall, which was selling nothing but small merchandise related to the Divine Lord.
He Fang’s eyes flickered with a sudden light.
Suddenly, he heard movement behind him. When he turned around, that glaring purple exclamation mark reappeared in his line of sight.
“Shen Houyun?” Even though it was night and he couldn’t see clearly, that icon alone was enough for He Fang to recognize him. “You…”
He Fang noticed the other person getting closer and closer; his heart inexplicably skipped a beat. He unconsciously took a step back.
However, Shen Houyun noticed He Fang’s retreat and quickly stepped forward. In his hand, there was a sharp dagger, which reflected the gentle light from afar, a flash of cold white.
He Fang’s reaction was a bit slow. Before he could sense the danger, a sudden gust of wind swept past him, directly piercing Shen Houyun’s waist and abdomen. The immense force of the projectile caused Shen Houyun’s body to flip to the side.
Shen Houyun’s painful cries were all caught in his throat, only faintly letting out a fierce gasp. Yet, he turned over and got up again, the dagger in his hand still firmly held, as he steadied himself and lunged at He Fang once more.
This time, just like before, he was directly struck in the shoulder, causing his entire body to lean backward. But this time, He Fang saw a figure—a shadowy silhouette standing in front of him, pitch black, as if it could be swallowed by the night.
In He Fang’s eyes, a black long blade severed the sharp dagger and mercilessly pierced into Shen Houyun’s palm.
Shen Houyun lay on the ground, his wounds far more severe than what He Fang could see. The injuries to his waist, abdomen, and shoulder were bleeding profusely. Shen Houyun lay helplessly in the vegetable field, his eyes fixed on He Fang, his face gradually turning pale. Yet, he smiled.
Under the emerging moonlight, that smile was eerily strange. He heard Shen Houyun say, “Die, you filthy dog.”
Those words ignited the anger of the shadowy figure.
The black long blade sliced through Shen Houyun’s palm, forearm, and upper arm as effortlessly as cutting tofu, severing his arm completely. Shen Houyun was in such pain that he couldn’t make a sound. After the blade reached his shoulder, its tip, reflecting the moonlight, pointed directly at Shen Houyun’s neck.
“Wait, Chong Xiao,” He Fang intervened at this moment. He frowned and glanced back at the brightly lit night market, where it was clear someone had noticed the commotion. Considering the laws of his city, he couldn’t let Chong Xiao commit murder in plain view. “Call a doctor.”
Chong Xiao halted his blade and turned slightly, his pitch-black pupils blending into the night. Yet, He Fang faintly sensed an intense, fiery anger emanating from the calm gaze.
Shen Houyun was rushed into the operating room. He Fang asked the doctor preparing to enter, “Can his injuries be treated?”
The doctor’s expression was grim, as were the faces of all the medical staff. They were tasked with saving the life of someone they considered the most vile and despicable human—a being who had attempted to harm the Creator. Despite their anger, they concealed their emotions and reluctantly responded.
“He can be treated. The wounds on his shoulder and abdomen may leave scars, but the arm should be completely amputated. Although the cut on his arm is clean, the bone marrow is fully exposed and contaminated, making full recovery unlikely,” the doctor explained.
“Just save his life,” He Fang replied.
The doctor, though unwilling, nodded in agreement. They would carry out the Creator’s orders.
He Fang turned back to the silent Chong brothers. He knew it was Chong Ying who had inflicted the wounds on Shen Houyun’s shoulder and abdomen, while Chong Xiao had used his eerie methods to destroy Shen Houyun’s arm and shoulder.
He Fang vaguely felt that the mood of the two people was not good. He unconsciously swallowed hard, shifted his gaze, and decided not to talk to them for the time being.
Just as He Fang turned his head, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind him.
The next moment, he was embraced tightly from behind by Chong Ying.
Chong Ying said nothing, but He Fang could feel him trembling. This fearless young man, who was usually unafraid of anything, now showed an intense fear; his usual chatter was reduced to complete silence.
Feeling a bit awkward, He Fang patted Chong Ying’s hand and said, “I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. You don’t need to be afraid.”
However, Chong Ying didn’t listen. Instead, he held He Fang even tighter, burying his head in He Fang’s neck.
“Uh…” He Fang felt a bit ticklish but didn’t struggle. He comforted the trembling young man, saying, “I don’t think he intended to kill me. It seemed like he was trying to end his own life.”
He Fang recalled seeing Shen Houyun’s eyes at that moment.
He didn’t feel like he was about to die, nor did he feel any lingering fear. After all, it was just a character model. If the city wasn’t destroyed, he could create another character.
Why would Shen Houyun attempt suicide? Had he lost hope and wanted to drag someone down with him?
He Fang couldn’t figure it out, so until he understood, he didn’t plan to let Shen Houyun die just like that.
He Fang felt that he really needed Zhu Yan right now. Zhu Yan was quick-witted.
Chong Ying’s strength must have been significant, but He Fang noticed that even during emotional agitation, Chong Ying restrained himself and softened his grip. It was tight, but not uncomfortable.
In that moment, He Fang suddenly realized that even if they were just data, even if they were only intelligent simulations, his NPC truly loved him.
As someone who had always been emotionally invested in the NPCs within the game, He Fang now felt a profound sense of warmth: “I’m fine, don’t be afraid, Chong Ying. There’s nothing to fear now.”
This kind of warmth, something he could never truly experience in reality, was so intoxicating to him within the game.
He Fang raised his head slightly and saw Chong Xiao standing silently in front of him as usual. The black-clad Chong Xiao stood out starkly against the white hospital backdrop. He Fang didn’t know where Chong Xiao had been during the attack, but he remembered that when Chong Xiao suddenly appeared in front of him, a strong wind had whipped around him.
That wind had been so intense that it felt like it could knock He Fang down. Now he understood—it might have been proof of Chong Xiao rushing to his side at great speed.
He had made his NPC worry.
For a long time, He Fang hadn’t dared to get too close to Chong Xiao, but he faintly felt that, despite being stuck at a loyalty level of 598, Chong Xiao had always remained serious about him.
He Fang extended his hand, quietly grasping Chong Xiao’s clothing. Chong Xiao noticed it, as though this man, resembling black flint, had been struck and faint sparks had emerged, showing a hint of reaction.
He Fang saw him lower his head, looking at his hand.
He Fang instinctively wanted to let go when those deep, dark eyes focused on him, but suddenly, his hand was held firmly.
Chong Xiao gripped his hand, lifting it back up and gently exerting some force to let his hand better grasp the hem of Chong Xiao’s clothes.
At that moment, He Fang’s eyes gradually widened.
It was the first time he felt the will of this NPC, who had always been so silent as if mute.
Chong Xiao’s hand was large, practically enveloping He Fang’s entirely. It wasn’t particularly warm—in fact, it was a bit cool—but strangely, it gave He Fang a strong sense of security.
He Fang finally realized that Chong Xiao genuinely didn’t dislike him at all.
Feeling both joy and gratitude, He Fang looked up. This time, he didn’t shy away from those deep, dark eyes and smiled.
As always, Chong Xiao showed no expression. He simply turned his head, facing away from He Fang, and stopped looking.
He Fang felt a little awkward. Did he dislike seeing He Fang smile? Did his smile look bad?
Chong Ying’s trembling gradually calmed with time, eventually disappearing completely. During this time, He Fang hadn’t resisted or struggled at all. He suddenly thought that he really needed to cherish his in-game life because otherwise, the NPCs might feel sad.
“That annoying guy, why was he so mean to you, City Lord?” Finally, He Fang heard Chong Ying’s signature youthful tone again—no longer silent but a mix of whining and complaining, turning into a tone of grievance. “When I saw it, I was so scared! Seriously, I was scared to death!”
“You reacted quickly. Didn’t you manage to stop it?” He Fang raised his hand and patted Chong Ying’s shoulder, a gesture filled with reassurance.
“But he actually dared to attack you in your city, City Lord, right in front of us! That’s outright disrespect. It’s punishable by death!” Chong Ying growled while burying his head near He Fang’s neck, almost as if he were sniffing something.
“It’s fine, really. I’m completely okay.” He Fang could only keep comforting Chong Ying, like soothing a child.
“I’m seriously so angry, incredibly angry!” Chong Ying complained while whining, “That guy, I remember, is part of the Black Flag Squad, isn’t he? I want to go beat up everyone in the Black Flag Squad for having the audacity to raise someone like that. How outrageous!”
He Fang knew Chong Ying was furious, but couldn’t help feeling amused: “He acted alone. Why implicate the Black Flag? Besides, Uncle Gu is still part of Black Flag. Are you going to beat up Uncle Gu, too?”
“Yes, I will. Everyone shares the blame!” Chong Ying replied with firm conviction. “If I can’t beat Sai Gu, then I’ll get my brother to do it. Who told Sai Gu to still be part of the Black Flag Squad?”
He Fang was both amused and slightly exasperated, but as he thought about it, his expression turned more contemplative.
From Chong Ying’s words, He Fang seemed to vaguely grasp something.
There wasn’t any real enmity between him and Shen Houyun; He Fang hadn’t even refused his request. Yet Shen Houyun acted like that—it didn’t seem as though he truly wanted to harm He Fang.
Previously, He Fang thought Shen Houyun was attempting suicide. Now, the meaning behind his attempt at self-destruction suddenly became clear.
Was Shen Houyun trying to use his attack to create a justification for Hope City to invade Arrival City?
As someone from Arrival City, Shen Houyun attempted to assassinate the City Lord of Hope City. However, the assassination failed, and his identity was exposed. This would ultimately lead to Hope City retaliating. Everything would appear justified and inevitable.
Moreover, when Shen Houyun insulted Chong Xiao to his face, was it to provoke Chong Xiao and others into anger, so that their fury could eventually be directed toward Arrival City?
If that were truly the case…
Wasn’t it an all-or-nothing gamble?
He Fang suddenly felt a pang in his heart. Even though in his eyes, these cities might just represent tasks, to these NPCs, they were their real, tangible cities.
Scratching his head, He Fang thought that maybe, possibly, just perhaps, he had a way to complete this task.
—
Shen Houyun felt immense pain.
Amidst his dizziness, he found that his mind could still think.
He knew very clearly that this time he had acted too impulsively, without proper planning.
But he didn’t regret it.
Hope City, of all the cities he had seen, was just as its name suggested. It was a city that could give him hope.
Here, he saw the world that his family in Arrival City longed for the most:
Tranquility, peace, and freedom.
He had come to understand that even if a mercenary became the strongest in the world, they couldn’t single-handedly overthrow cities or rules. There was nothing he could achieve.
Even so, he wanted to gamble.
He wanted to take a chance on this possibility, even if it meant losing his life for it.
Shen Houyun never thought he’d wake up again. He was in a hospital, the spacious air filled with the scent of disinfectant. Around him, everything was pure, pristine white—like paradise.
Shen Houyun felt pain all over his body. Looking down, he saw that his arm had been amputated—an empty void—yet it still felt as though his arm was there.
He was still alive, not barely clinging to life, but genuinely saved.
Even now, he clearly remembered the terrifying moment when that formidable man used an excessively sharp blade to pierce through his bones and flesh bit by bit. That person was overwhelmingly powerful. Even in hindsight, the memory sent chills down his spine, making him forget the pain.
“Oh, you’re awake?” Shen Houyun saw a nurse enter at that moment, her face cold as she looked at him. Even though she wore a mask, the fierce light in her eyes could not be concealed. “Honestly, with the doctor’s skills so exceptional, even someone trying to die couldn’t succeed. What a stroke of luck for you.”
Shen Houyun remained silent—or rather, even if he wanted to speak, he couldn’t. His mouth was dry and parched. Yet, he didn’t dare to utter a word about wanting water.
“Does it hurt?” The nurse, seemingly deliberate, pressed lightly on his wound to the extent that wouldn’t hinder its healing, making him feel the pain. Seeing his pained expression, the nurse finally revealed a slightly pleased smile. “It should hurt. There’s no way we’d give you painkillers after you dared to attempt assassinating the City Lord.”
Shen Houyun didn’t dare to resist. He understood that, to those loyal to the City Lord, he was just a mere assassin—someone whose death wouldn’t even be worth mourning. Any treatment he received, no matter how harsh, seemed entirely justified.
And yet, despite causing him pain and discomfort, these people were still earnestly treating him. It was, reportedly, due to the City Lord’s orders.
Shen Houyun felt a moment of disorientation.
What kind of vast, magnanimous heart could a City Lord have to forgive even someone who attempted to assassinate them?
He was just a young City Lord, likely full of ambition. How could he possess such composure and grace?
Once, when Shen Houyun woke up from a painful and sweat-drenched haze, he heard the voice of that person—someone he still couldn’t fathom or comprehend.
“Increase his dose of painkillers. He looks like he’s in so much pain.”
For the first time, he was given painkillers. And for the first time, Shen Houyun realized just how effective they were. The gradual sense of relief felt incredibly precious.
“Truly pitiful.”
The voice of the young City Lord sounded again. Shen Houyun slowly opened his eyes and saw that face, perhaps ordinary compared to other strikingly exceptional features, but to him, it felt as though he were gazing upon a deity.
“Shen Houyun, do you regret it?” the young City Lord asked.
Regret?
Shen Houyun shook his head without hesitation. He did not regret it.
“Well, alright then. Actually, I wanted to say that the matter you wished to entrust to me, there’s still room for discussion.”
At that moment, Shen Houyun could hear the increasingly intense thumping of his own heartbeat.
“Although I can’t directly attack Arrival City, I have other ways. You could listen and see.”
This time, the voice of the young City Lord brought Shen Houyun the dawn of hope.
