Chapter 58 Hunting Trial - You wouldn't guess he's a masochist...
There are still some things to take care of after I return.
For example, shooting a second advertisement.
Judging from the monthly dividends alone, perfume sales have remained consistently high.
Screw Gum didn't even release any limited-edition merchandise, but people have continued to buy it.
One is that the perfume is really good, and the other is that the free gift looks pleasing to the eye.
It's a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.
But no matter what, the sales figures for the perfume in just one month after its launch were quite staggering.
He Yuan went out to fight for three years, and when he returned, he was caught and photographed relentlessly.
Three designs were photographed this time, and they will be released gradually over the next few days. They are peony, osmanthus, and daffodil.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Crane Kite.” Screw Gum bowed slightly, expressing his joy and apology. “The time scale of the Immortal Ship people is too long for most creatures, so we have no other choice.”
According to the plan, one model should be released every year.
However, judging from the current situation, if the Immortal Boat Alliance were to fight a few more battles, it would probably take decades to come to an end.
So they had no choice but to seize this opportunity and try to take as many photos as possible.
He Yuan understood and, after a week of using energy potions, finally got it done.
Afterwards, Screw Gum extended a warm invitation, hoping to have a meal with him.
He Yuan glanced at his favorability rating.
[Screwgoom's affection level towards you: 100]
……Um?
He Yuan remembers that he didn't try to win over the other person.
How did it get full?
He Yuan answered decisively, "No, I'm in a hurry to go home."
There's a vinegar jar in the house, so please don't disturb.
He changed his clothes and bought a milk tea at a nearby beverage shop while waiting for Yingxing.
Screw Gum watched his departing figure with regret.
"[This is normal, don't be upset.]" Master Boshi comforted him gently.
He Yuan is a very moral person.
At least on the surface, he will remain faithful to his current partner.
But whether there are other people involved behind the scenes... is hard to say.
After all, he still possessed a strong residual power of [Abundance] and [Hunting], a power so strong that it was impossible for the Wise One to ignore, and even drove him mad with jealousy.
Excessive rationality would make Him hesitate.
Screw Gum wisely refrained from exposing the intermittent electric current of the erudite scholar.
Those favored by God will not die easily.
Just like omnics, as long as the core and logic code exist, it's just a matter of changing their body.
Screw Gum said, "The shareholders' meeting has approved the next series of proposals."
No one ever complains about having too much money.
For Yu Heyuan, shooting commercials is just a fun little game, and she can easily earn a considerable income.
He won't refuse.
Master Boshi: [You are very intelligent.]
With such a deep partnership, they will be the best partners.
*
After dealing with a series of matters, Yingxing was busy preparing for the marriage proposal, while Heyuan began to think about which trial to start first.
[Memory] has just ended, and the next time it will probably be a major camera upgrade.
[Joy] activated the mask after obtaining it, but He Yuan now feels disgusted by everything related to [Joy]'s fate and doesn't want to activate it.
As for [Hunting]... Lan didn't have a very good impression of him, but the [Abundance] icon was off and couldn't be turned on.
He Yuan speculated that it would probably take making significant achievements in rescue and treatment to begin this life's journey.
That means it can only be [hunting].
Crane Kite still remembers the tricks the Masked Fool played on her.
If he wants to improve his attributes, besides daily grinding, he can only try his luck in these trials.
Crane Kite pondered, opened the panel, and clicked on the branch belonging to the Hunting.
An endless darkness enveloped him.
When the light returned, He Yuan stood on the street of Yao Qing Immortal Boat.
There was no task, no prompting him to finish reading, and he simply stood on the street, which clearly featured an ancient architectural style.
He Yuan looked at the electronic clock in the shop next door, which read "December 20, 1699" in the navigation calendar.
There was such a question in one of the quiz games he played when he was in school.
[The approximate birth year of the Emperor Bow Master is ___?]
The answer is around 1700.
If the Emperor Bow Master who just met him wasn't lying, then the [Hunting] trial and the normal game timeline... might be a circular phenomenon.
It's unclear whether he met Lan first, leading to the subsequent developments, or whether Lan met him in the future, which resulted in the memories of the past.
Crane Kite pondered as she strolled slowly down the street.
His attire wasn't too outrageous, at most a bit simpler than the current Xianzhou people, and the color scheme looked like the style of the Industrial Construction Bureau.
In the past, the Bureau of Works' system was not very secure, and He Yuan easily infiltrated it, fabricating an identity for herself.
The current Immortal Boat Alliance—or perhaps not even an alliance yet—has not yet received the blessing of the [Abundance] Star God, and everything built upon the [Abundance] miracle does not exist. He Yuan easily arranged a legitimate identity for herself.
He pretended to be a craftsman who had just awakened from his slumber, and after figuring out the machines here, he immediately displayed his talent for craftsmanship.
With Baiye's guidance and Heyuan's dedication, he had already leveled up his professional experience to the professional level before entering the trial. His various stats looked quite good, and he quickly became famous, attracting many admirers.
Among these flood of orders, one family caught Crane Kite's attention.
Lan.
It is said to be the name of the [Hunting] Star God before his ascension.
His parents said in the order that the child was very likely to be born in the next few days and wanted to have a small sword made for his first birthday celebration.
Lan's parents were both recently retired soldiers, and both were forwards.
They thought, surely two strikers wouldn't produce any other offspring?
Crane Kite picked up the order and mixed it with the other orders, making it inconspicuous.
*
Upon learning that their order had been accepted by the genius craftsman He Yuan, Lan's parents were naturally overjoyed.
They had seen that remarkable weapon in the hands of their colleagues long before.
If we can control the situation, our performance on the front lines will definitely be much better.
Adhering to the "tiger parenting" mentality, they set a high bar for their unborn child early on, just waiting to start training him after birth.
Given the current situation of Xianzhou, it will be very difficult for the new generation to stand out.
They believed that if this child received a sword forged by a genius craftsman, his future achievements would surely be extraordinary.
That's what the fortune teller said too.
"This child...has unlimited potential!"
If He Yuan heard this, she would surely agree, saying, "They've all become gods, so of course their potential is limitless."
*
Arashi was born at midnight on January 1, 1700, which was both the end of the past year and the beginning of the new year.
All of this seemed to be foreshadowing his future fate.
He Yuan did not attend the other party's full moon celebration, but only made a brief visit when the other party turned one year old.
At this time, he was already a highly sought-after craftsman on the Yaoqing Immortal Ship. It was a great honor for him to attend the first birthday banquet of a child who did not show any achievements and whose parents were not particularly outstanding.
During the half hour he was left, countless people came to him with wine glasses. He simply nodded in response, and after watching the child with only a thin layer of hair grab the sword, he turned and left.
He completely ignored the child's attempt to grab his hand.
He Yuan looked at the surviving photos of Lan's embarrassing past and gave a mysterious smile.
If he does that again, disregarding his wishes, he will expose these things everywhere, spreading the baby photos of the [Hunter] Star God to every corner of the world.
Before adulthood, there were no new or interesting events in the story, so He Yuan chose to speed up the flow of time, skipping through each month one by one.
At the age of ten, Lan passed the examination and joined the army.
When He Yuan was five years old, he left the Bureau of Works and became an instructor.
In the other route I played before, after accepting the love of Yingxing, Danfeng and Jingyuan, there was no trace of the Star God anymore. All the trials were shrouded in gray, as if they were blocked by something.
Only the masked fool who called himself the messenger had ever appeared before him.
Crane Kite would occasionally ponder the key to it, but she could never find the answer.
But looking at it another way, if life is filled with three people, there's definitely no time or inclination to do things like having an affair.
When he went to the battlefield in the last playthrough, he had people around him all day long, so the pharmacist couldn't find any opportunity to have an affair with him.
He Yuan didn't think much of it, assuming it was just a command the game made to maintain novelty.
He stood in front of Lan, who was only up to his chest, and gave her an evil smile.
I'll let you take me away in front of everyone!
I'll train you to death!
After countless times being trained to the point of collapse and being carried back to the dorm by his roommates, the person on the opposite bed looked at Lan with a deep gaze and asked a question.
"Did you offend Instructor He Yuan?"
Everyone was very happy when he was assigned to the job.
It's not for any other reason than that the reputation of previous sessions has been that Professor He Yuan is very dedicated and will even tailor-make a weapon for the best student in each session.
Many people are drawn to him because of the latter; they are determined to train under him.
The reputation of the genius craftsman is well-deserved. Anyone who has ever used or even just seen a weapon will willingly offer their money for it.
Lan gritted her teeth in resentment and shook her head.
All he knew was that before he came to the military camp, his parents had repeatedly told him to study and train hard so that he could get first place and win a weapon.
From childhood to adulthood, my parents always said the same thing:
"Your first weapon when you were a child was forged by Mr. Heyuan! Now that it's under his command, you can't let him down."
Children of this age are somewhat rebellious, and Lan not only did not admire He Yuan, but also felt that the other party was all talk and no action.
It's a feeling unique to young guys: "I'm the only one who's sober while everyone else is drunk."
"I don't know," he replied curtly.
Your roommate didn't ask any further questions, and even joked, "Maybe the instructor thinks highly of you, so he's being a little strict with you?"
Lan: "..."
He thought it was unlikely.
"Think about it, how much have you improved after each time he mentors you? I bet you'll get first place in the next assessment, right?"
Lan thought about it carefully.
Oh no! That makes sense!
He felt that he had indeed made a lot of progress.
Does the other party really think highly of him?
Everything seemed to have a reason now.
When Lan was born, her parents were just ordinary retired soldiers. How did they manage to "luckily" get on the order and receive a small sword for training?
When Lan turned one year old, his parents' careers hadn't made much progress, so why did He Yuan come to his first birthday party?
So, the other person, like that fortune teller,... has a good opinion of themselves?
Thinking about it this way, the other party has more and more evidence to support their opinion of me, and there's really nothing to refute.
Otherwise, explain why he obtained that sword and why he received so much attention.
Yes, Lan has already treated the training that He Yuan has put on him as extra training.
He looked at his roommate and blurted out "thank you" out of the blue.
Roommate: "???"
After Lan "figured it out," she immediately had a lot of energy to wash up and go to bed early to prepare for the upcoming training.
Then, He Yuan discovered that Lan had transformed from a half-dead creature into a tireless husky.
No matter how much extra training he received, the other person would no longer look at him with that "resentful" gaze, but instead would have an expression that said "I understand you".
Crane Kite: "..."
He suspected that the child's brain was damaged.
However, since this method didn't work, there was no need for him to continue.
After all, he wanted to discipline people and had no interest in being a babysitter.
When Lan's parents found him and thanked him for his care, He Yuan knew he couldn't continue.
At first, everything seemed normal for He Yuan, but Lan was not used to it.
He didn't understand why the other party was so fickle. They had clearly taken a liking to him, but then suddenly treated everyone the same.
One day, after receiving the phone, his parents asked him how He Yuan treated him.
Lan keenly sensed something was wrong and said calmly, "The instructor seems to be busy lately. He leaves right after class, and he treats all of us the same way."
"How can they be the same!"
The father's shrill voice almost pierced the screen, "If it's the same, what will you do in the future?"
Lan didn't understand why they looked like the sky was falling.
He's already number one, and if he keeps this up, his achievements will definitely surpass his parents' level.
"No, it shouldn't be like this..." came the mother's murmured voice from the other end of the phone.
They had lost all interest in listening to what Lan had to say and were busy searching for ways to remedy the situation.
Lan told them, "The instructors are just treating us normally, what's wrong with that?"
This is a huge problem!
Unfortunately, Lan was just a child in his early teens, and his parents were unwilling to say anything more to him, so they hung up the phone.
His intuition told him that he needed to go find He Yuan right now.
His parents were not ordinary people, but when they got serious...
With that in mind, Lan took advantage of the curfew not yet starting and went to the door of He Yuan's room.
After knocking, a voice from inside said, "Come in."
His voice carried a hint of weariness.
Lan walked in and found He Yuan writing a self-criticism, with these words in large characters on it—
[A profound reflection on accepting bribes]
bribe?
Does Crane Kite need to accept bribes?
Lan remembered that during the years He Yuan worked as a craftsman, he had already earned more money than many people could earn in ten lifetimes.
When He Yuan saw it was him, she subconsciously covered the paper in her hand and asked casually, "What are you doing here?"
It's a bit embarrassing for a child to see me writing a self-criticism.
At this time, the [Hunter] Star God was just a young boy, exuding a youthful and naive aura, making it impossible for He Yuan to associate him with the human who would later carry him around and do things with him.
Looking at that face, just thinking about it is a crime.
Lan took a breath or two, then asked somewhat awkwardly, "Did my parents cause you trouble?"
He Yuan shook her head. "No, that's not it."
"What are you writing?"
He Yuan generously spread out his hands, on which were written a bunch of names.
Lan didn't know any of them.
“These people all hope I can take good care of their children,” He Yuan said casually.
It's hard to imagine that the Immortal Ship, which was only mentioned briefly in history during the era of solitary voyages, actually has so many... interesting things to it?
It should be understood that the current Immortal Ship has not yet mastered the Cave Heaven technology, nor is it the great collective that will resound throughout the universe in the future. They are merely a speck of stardust in the universe, and they need to deal with external dangers at any time.
But even in such a crisis, there is a sordid side.
He Yuan never expected that the game could even recreate so many real-world situations in this aspect.
In his experience, the more closed off a group is and the more external enemies it faces, the more likely it is to experience internal strife.
However, this was his first time experiencing a game and his first time being involved in it.
“But I didn’t accept any of them, and then they conspired to say that I did, and they even made up some impressive evidence,” He Yuan chuckled. “Unfortunately, they didn’t know how much wealth I had, nor how amazing the technology I possessed was…”
So it's just a self-criticism.
This was the first time Lan had ever seen a crane-shaped kite like this.
The cranes on the training field are like the sun, dazzling in their light, yet scorching like the intense sunlight, almost melting people.
The crane and kite before me are like the bright moon hanging high in the sky, illuminating the way ahead. They are pure and noble, serene, yet they hold unfathomable thoughts.
He was still bewildered, at a loss for what to do with his suddenly racing heart, and could only stammer, "...I see."
"Alright, tell me why you've come."
He Yuan lit the lighter and watched the small flame flicker in her hand.
Lan looked into his eyes: "I want to ask, why are you ignoring me again?"
As soon as she said it, Lan realized something was wrong.
His tone was like that of a discarded concubine in the cold palace, questioning the emperor why he no longer loved her.
This analogy is absurd.
He Yuan was also taken aback by his words, then smiled and said, "What are you saying? Isn't it good that I'm lenient with you?"
Lan turned her head awkwardly: "...I don't think you're being strict."
The training was increased within his capacity, pushing him to his limits time and time again, not deliberately trying to punish him.
On the contrary, it benefited him greatly.
As for the rumors and attention that followed, Lan, still known as "Little Brother," didn't care.
He is still at the stage of "being ostracized is the fate of heroes" and accepts it well.
He Yuan raised an eyebrow and looked Lan up and down. "You like me to give you extra training?"
You wouldn't guess he's a masochist.
Lan nodded listlessly, "Mm."
He felt this was a bit strange, and added, "I know you mean well."
He Yuan was momentarily stunned, but immediately straightened her expression and adopted a mysterious demeanor.
"Tell me how good I've been to you?"
Lan immediately launched into a long, detailed explanation.
From the fortune teller's predictions about his future when he was a child, to He Yuan forging weapons for him, and most recently, the "care" he received.
“I know I have good talent, so you hope I will not waste this talent and reach a higher position.”
He Yuan burst out laughing.
"Do you think you're very talented?"
Lan nodded hesitantly, but said confidently, "I think I'm better than most people."
He Yuan shoved the paper into the drawer, stood up, and beckoned to Chao Lan.
"I'll give you one hand to hit me."
Lan was at a loss and remained silent for a long time.
He Yuan urged him impatiently, "Hurry up, I still want to sleep."
Lan had no choice but to use less force, and He Yuan easily pinned her down.
“Your talent is nothing to brag about, Lan,” He Yuan said calmly. “At your age, I was far more outstanding than you.”
Players who pursue the ultimate stats will be much stronger than Lan at the same starting line.
Later, we suffered from the loss of time.
Lan struggled and fought back, but couldn't even touch a single hair on his head.
"..."
The little boy looked somewhat heartbroken.
He Yuan thought for a moment and then added, "But you are indeed much more outstanding than others, just not as good as me."
Lan gave a sullen "hmm" and walked away dejectedly.
After returning to his dormitory, he kept thinking about He Yuan's words, when suddenly a thought flashed through his mind—
Instructor He Yuan still thinks highly of him!
Otherwise, why would he add that last sentence when he could have easily defeated him, mocked him, and then told him to get lost?
Or you could just tell him to leave right away, instead of having to work up a sweat and practice with him late at night.
so--
Instructor He Yuan still had high hopes for him!
Lan slept soundly and looked at He Yuan with admiring and yearning eyes during the subsequent training.
They practically wanted to sing "You are the sky, you are the light, you are the only myth."
He Yuan didn't quite understand his thought process, but then she thought about how Lan would be the same way many years later...
Yes, he understands.
He Yuan ignored Lan's gaze, focused on teaching impartially, and left as soon as get out of class was over.
The two spent several months together like this.
Lan wasn't in a hurry.
He felt that he was not good enough, or that he had not met He Yuan's expectations during the extra training, which was why he turned out this way.
Now, he challenges his limits every day, gradually widening the gap between himself and others.
But his parents were very worried.
Every time they talked, he would ask about He Yuan's attitude, even though he didn't care that Lan had won first place several times in a row.
His parents seemed to be caught up in something.
If the situation continues to develop, it could endanger those around them.
After a phone call ended, Lan went to He Yuan's office.
The instructor, who still looks young after more than a decade, stands by the bed, gazing at the sparse stars in the sky, as if he is reminiscing about someone.
Lan walked up behind him. "Instructor, are you missing someone?"
He Yuan paused for a moment, then mumbled, "It's nothing, just a little..."
alone.
Even if he accelerated the passage of time, he still couldn't get used to being alone.
He missed the life he shared with Yingxing, eating and living together, never leaving her side for a moment.
Those were times that made him feel warm, bright, and fulfilled.
For some reason, Lan felt a little like hugging him.
The young man's figure appeared even thinner against the backdrop of the large window, like a fragile piece of paper that could be blown away at any moment.
This made Lan feel inexplicably uneasy.
He didn't want the teacher to leave.
He Yuan snapped out of her reverie, sat back in her chair, and tapped her fingertips on the table. "What brings you here?"
Lan: "I want to talk to you about my parents. I'm afraid they might do something foolish."
He Yuan said directly, "Don't worry about that."
He has already made arrangements for Lan.
He Yuan had seen countless geniuses whose potential was thwarted by their families, so when he noticed that Lan's parents were acting strangely, he had someone suppress it.
In any case, the Immortal Boat has not yet achieved immortality, and Lan's parents are not qualified to enter the cryogenic hibernation pod; they will soon die naturally.
Lan was confused, but she heard He Yuan say, "Focus on your studies. Family matters are not something a child like you should be concerned about."
He pushed Lan back to the dormitory so that the boy could get some rest.
After the lights went out, He Yuan returned to her office and pondered as she wrote a letter.
The envelope was addressed to: [To the General]
Some things need to be accelerated.
He didn't know how much longer he would stay here, but historically speaking, there were three key moments in Lan's life.
He became famous in his youth for the Battle of Suiyang, and later shot an arrow at Jianmu to show his determination to refuse the blessing of [abundance]. Finally, he was awakened when the immortal ship was in danger of dying, made a deal with Suiyang Suihuang, saved the immortal ship from fire and water, and finally ascended to godhood.
It's obviously unlikely that you can get through all three stages in one go.
Putting aside the time span, He Yuan's own situation alone is not good enough.
The immortal boat has not yet achieved immortality, so he can still use the excuse of being well-preserved for now. But what about in the future?
He Yuan thought that it would be about time after passing the first node.
Therefore, it is especially important to leave something for Lan, to give him some more secure political capital.
-----------------------
Author's note: Xiao Yuan is passionate about holding an umbrella for others.
Something unpleasant happened today; I'm late.
Although I wrote three thousand drafts that were discarded, I still managed to get full attendance this month!
I'll be sending out red envelopes to everyone tomorrow morning! [kissing emojis]
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