"No problem," one villager said gratefully. "We all know, we all thought you went...gone!"

"Me? Gone?" Although I didn't react immediately, it was not difficult to see from their expressions that they must have thought I was dead.

When I looked up at the sky again, it was already bright, and the haze over the Capital in the distance was gradually dissipating.

Oh my god...it's all over, what do I still need to do?! I regretted my reckless action and ended up choosing a strange copy.

The game hadn't even started yet, and it had already come to an end. What kind of experience was this?

I walked out of the ruins with difficulty, took a deep breath, and actually felt that I was still alive!

What a special experience...

However, the world is a little different from before. I unexpectedly came to a timeline I have never experienced before. Although I obtained some of the settings and background of this world, I still know very little about it.

Ye Juxi, this is my name in this world, and my companion...uh, can the system give me a clue?

Unconsciously, I have completely turned this place into a game of deep stealth! Of course, even if it really is a game, I still believe that I shouldn't linger in a newbie village like this, so as not to encounter more trouble.

Since regaining consciousness until now, I can clearly feel that my alertness to the surroundings is gradually increasing.

Looking at those so-called villagers, at first, I thought they were friendly, but after a while, I suddenly felt that their expressions were so horrifying.

The high completion AI created by the virtual system is by no means a simple thing, let alone the fact that I still don't know where I am right now. I shouldn't trigger any battles randomly.

"If only the damn pain mechanism could be modified..."

It's not that I'm afraid of death, but mainly because the pain feels the same as in the real world. I remember there seemed to be a hint on the book's cover, excessive stimulation can cause mental abnormalities!

Hehe, it sounds terrifying, so I better be careful.

Pushing through the crowd surrounding me, I cautiously escaped to the vicinity of the stable, and found a horse that could still move somewhat, and mounted it sideways, fleeing from this place of chaos and conflict.

Shortly after I left, there came a dense sound of gunfire and explosions from behind!

The battle in the Capital has already begun...

But the Witch Queen is already dead. I should leave here as soon as possible instead of staying any longer.

With that in mind, I rode the horse for a day and night!

In the end, near an inn, the horse I was riding on was exhausted to death.

There was no other way. I hadn't rested for dozens of hours continuously, and with the chaos on the way and fleeing soldiers and civilians everywhere, I could only mix among them and come to a place where I could rest.

"Excuse me...innkeeper, give me some water and some food from here," I said hoarsely.

"I apologize," just then, an old man with white hair suddenly walked out and said, "everyone has already fled south. This place is not far from the Capital, and I am the only innkeeper here."

"Oh, then I..."

Just as I was about to pay, the old man waved his hand and said, "Forget it, it's no use having these things now. Consider this meal my treat!"

After speaking, he suddenly produced a large number of meat and vegetables, as well as a jug of wine.

Looking at the table full of food, I suddenly felt an unprecedented hunger. But I hadn't forgotten my manners; I couldn't let myself lose sight of the benefits just because of this food.

So, I forced myself to suppress my saliva and thanked the old man sincerely, while also exchanging pleasantries.

"Well... my... my friend (actually, I wanted to say old man), I don't think I can eat so much..."

"Don't be so polite with me, my brother! Finally, someone to eat with me. Let's enjoy this meal!"

"Um... alright then, let's do as you say."

Without waiting for me to say anything else, the old man chugged the wine in his bowl in one gulp.

"Hahaha, you're truly a warrior with a sharp sword! You exude a heroic spirit, and with those swords you carry! Let me guess... you must be one of the Boxers, right?"

The old man firmly believed that I was one of the Boxers, mistaking me for a hero resisting foreign aggression.

But I am not that kind of person after all, so I didn't attempt to hide it and instead voluntarily explained my experience.

"In fact, I have always been in the Capital and haven't had any conflicts with those invaders..."

"Ah? So... does that make you a lackey of the Qing Dynasty soldiers? I can't believe that. You're not wearing their clothes!"

"Well, of course not!"

"Then what are you?"

"I am just an ordinary wanderer. Although I have done some good deeds along the way, I am not as great as you imagine."

"Oh? It doesn't matter, tell me about it. It's not a waste for me to treat you to this meal then."

"Well... it's actually quite simple. I've been traveling around the world for many years, always in the West..."

As I continued speaking, I don't know if it was due to the effect of alcohol or something else, but I ended up recounting my experiences in an orderly manner.

"Hahaha, it's extremely interesting! Look at me, we are both old fellows, but you have traveled all over the world in this lifetime, while I... hehe, had great ambitions! Unfortunately, the court is incompetent. Otherwise, I would have liked to fight on the battlefield against those bandits too!"

The more the old man spoke, the more excited he became, and in the end, he started drinking directly from the bottle!

After a night of revelry, when I woke up again, the shop was in total disarray.

Looking at the old man, I didn't expect that maybe due to getting sick from drinking last night or due to his old age, his body had already become cold and stiff.

Sigh... I listlessly wrapped the old man in my coat, made a makeshift tombstone using a fence, and gave him a simple burial like that.

There was nothing else I could do for him.

Looking at the vast wasteland, I couldn't quite figure out where exactly I was, but from the dark clouds in the sky, I knew that things had changed.

After who knows how long, when the alcohol had completely worn off, I took the innkeeper's horse and rode away. I didn't consider it stealing; after all, he had already left, and the horse had no use anymore. It was better to leave it for the surviving humans to use, and let it have a new owner to continue taking care of it.

Ahem ahem ahem!

It's no wonder that I'm getting older. I haven't gone far, but I already feel a bit weak.

As for being unluckier than the old man, it is mainly because of the difference in physical strength and alcohol tolerance.

I don't have as good of an alcohol tolerance as him... so I have to stay a bit longer.

As the sunset gradually falls, my spirit began to weaken, and there are times when my eyes almost shut completely.

To be honest, I'm already too tired... too tired.

If I can't find an inn soon, I might really collapse halfway.

Thinking about it, I gradually slowed down the horse's pace and then jumped off the horse myself, because of the old man's body, I couldn't find my footing and almost fell to the ground with the horse.

"God, that was a close call!"

I took a deep breath and then led the horse to a place where there was obviously a fire pit built by someone, and burned some of the remaining firewood.

"Cough cough cough!!!"

The coughing became more severe, I covered my mouth with my hand and there were bloodstains on my palm!

Also, my body really couldn't take it anymore. If things continue like this, I might not be able to make it back to Heavenly Dao Academy.

So, I simply laid myself down so that I could lie comfortably on the ground and enjoy my last moments.

Ah...

In my dream, my head was resting on a familiar thigh, that feeling of being with a beloved woman, it was the only comfort for a man.

Melancholy... unfortunately, I will never have the chance to feel that again.

When I woke up, my head was still resting on the cold tree trunk, as if the previous scene had never happened.

However, this time, I couldn't wake up anymore. Even though my spirit was pushing me hard to get up, my body was already beyond repair, and there was no way to save it.

I understood clearly that if I had some more time, I hoped the system could give me a little more time to see the person I wanted to see! And also... also...

Also to let me know the story I've always wanted to know.

Yes, I don't want to know any damn truth! Because I've already discovered that there is no truth in this damn world, so we are all actors. As for value, whether it is riches or poverty, our value is no higher than a piece of stone.

Thinking about it, I suddenly regained my thinking, with an attitude to continue the story... no, at least to finish the performance.

At this moment, I felt that my face was a bit moist, as if something was... was...

"Damn beast, your saliva stinks!"

I quickly got up and washed my face by the river, cleaning off the saliva on my face.

But I still felt a strange odor, so I even carefully smelled it, and after confirming that there was no weird smell, I returned to the horse's side and slapped its butt.

"Hey, if you lick my face again next time, be careful I'll eat you!"

When I said this, the horse neighed as if it could understand my words.

But it's fine, as long as it doesn't do that again... well, I have to admit, its saliva saved my wretched life.