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Chapter 1562 Final Chapter - Guarding the Shore [36] - "If it weren't for his unwavering determination..."

"Holy crap! Su Ming'an has been reincarnated as a cat!" An untimely voice rang out.

The sound drew angry stares from the crowd, and the speaker immediately lowered his head in embarrassment.

The black cat raised its front paw, pointed its claws towards the door, then went to the white-haired old lady in the wheelchair, bit her hem, and tugged at it.

"Why were animals let in?" Andrew from the joint mission frowned.

"This, this is Black Flame!" Suddenly, Meyani screamed, covering her mouth. This black cat, isn't that Su Ming'an's pet?
Mizushima Kawaii frowned deeply. She could tell that... the cat had no contractual relationship with her and was currently ownerless.

The meeting was quickly paused, and Black Cat led the elderly woman in the wheelchair and several players from the Peak Alliance to a room. The others wanted to follow, but Black Cat meowed and roared back.

People pushed open the door and entered.

—In the morning light, the masked youth looked like a jade sculpture. He wore a plain white robe, like a blooming white magnolia petal.

He turned his head slightly, solemn and silent.

Then, cries of "Dad, Mom!" erupted.

"You're alive!" Yamada Machiichi shouted, pounding the wall. "You should have said so earlier! I've been heartbroken for hours! My heart is burning! I've almost torn the notebook to shreds!"

“He said when he faked his death in the tenth instance of the Holy Sword that every departure was for a better return, so he did not break his promise.” Isabella looked up.

“You…” Lu Shu stared blankly.

The young man wearing a mask tilted his head slightly.

He gently repeated what he was about to do.

"...I'm just trekking backwards. The first time jump won't be very far, and I'll be back soon," Su Ming'an said calmly.

"Are you sure there's no problem? Then why are you wearing a mask?" Aini asked bluntly, pointing out the suspicious point directly.

"Eating the godhood of the demon Lezi will have some impact, but this is just an avatar, so you don't need to worry too much." Su Ming'an smiled and said, "If you really miss me, go and see that tree on Mount Taihua."

Yamada took two steps forward, seemingly wanting to grab Su Ming'an's arm and yell a few words, but for some reason, he stopped the moment his toes touched the bright yellow sunlight on the ground.

A slightly hoarse voice escaped from his throat:
"...Don't forget the trip we agreed on. I even made a map of the grain store."

“Hmm.” Su Ming’an nodded: “Bei Wang left behind some props, so I was able to revive him quickly. Once the situation stabilizes, I will revive Lin Yin from Soul Ferry… As for Boris.”

His voice paused for a moment:
"I'm sorry, I don't know where he went, and I didn't remember what he looked like last..."

The atmosphere became somewhat stagnant.

Just then, the sound of a wheelchair rolling came from the group of young people. The only elderly woman with white hair and a frail face among them slowly approached and gently hugged Su Ming'an.

“You have done your best,” the old lady said softly. “Even today, it still feels like a dream.”

“If it’s all a beautiful dream… then I’m happy for everyone’s happiness.” Su Ming’an looked at her pale hair, still remembering her youthful appearance: “You’ve worked hard, Luna.”

The aged face revealed the same smile as before.

Before parting, Su Ming'an said to Lü Shu:
“I have broken the contract with the Black Flame White Bomb, and now they are stray cats.”

“I will raise them, and we will raise them together,” Lu Shu said.

"Feed the white dumpling less; it's too fat and makes my chest hurt."

"When I have some free time, I'll use it to lose weight."

“Lu, if anyone causes trouble after I leave, I’ll have to ask you and the gods of Cloud City for help.” Su Ming’an’s gaze shifted slightly.

"Yes, don't worry." Lu's smile was gentle.

“You and I have seen the dream left by Noel together and learned about those things. When the time is right, I want to jump through time with you,” Su Ming’an said.

A hint of surprise appeared on Lu's face, it was hard to tell whether it was genuine or feigned. He placed his hand on his chest and said softly, "I am honored."

Su Ming'an glanced at Lü Shu discreetly.

Lu Shu nodded silently.

Today, some things are changing.

The world's stability rests on god-like power, and Su Ming'an and his thirty-odd familiar companions form the elite force protecting it. But one problem is clear—

They come from different backgrounds, are of different ages, from different countries, have different personalities, and have different ideals.

They've shared life and death, their bond is unbreakable, but reality isn't child's play. They can't just play together on Mount Taihua, in anime districts, or in lavender fields without any problems. If Luna's country is invading Zhao Yuan's country, would Zhao Yuan betray the alliance for his own nation's interests? Furthermore, is Isabella's research institute consuming too many resources due to its achievements in the World Game? Would other researchers gradually become dissatisfied?

In fairy tales, the princess marries the prince and lives happily ever after, but the rest is never mentioned. Did the prince change his mind? Did their kingdom prosper?

In esports dramas, the story usually comes to an end after the main team wins the world championship, because that's their peak. As they get older and their performance declines, they're just going downhill from the top, and onlookers rarely think about what comes after the peak.

Just like during the World Game, everyone thought all day long, "We must successfully end the World Game..." as if the moment the World Game ended, everything would inevitably be happy and perfect.

But this must be taken into account.

Considering the situation after the "salvation".

After the peak, everything goes downhill.

Only with a beginning and an end can something be considered true.

Su Ming'an knew that most of his companions were not innocent lambs; they had killed people on the road, and Isabella had also done dark research. Because only madmen were most suitable for the World Game, they had come together hand in hand. In reality, none of them were the ideal fairytale heroes who were "perfect," "resolute," and "just."

As before, Lu's image has always been that of a "gentle and considerate teammate." However, once the layer of his identity as a "teammate" belonging to the World Game is stripped away, his true identity is that of a "mafia member who drowns people in rivers."

To this day, Su Ming'an cannot guarantee that every teammate will always be good. He doesn't want to doubt his comrades-in-arms, but he has to take this into account.

Reality is not a fairy tale.

We didn't just walk hand in hand, laughing and joking; everyone here is perfect.

So Su Ming'an gave Lu Hou his instructions and glanced at Lü Shu. As a third-level god, Lü Shu could restrain the chaos.

Thinking of this, Su Ming'an couldn't help but smile bitterly—was he experiencing what it was like to be an emperor in ancient times?
Just as he now trusts Lü Shu more, this is a manifestation of the bias of those in power—everyone has their own biases, so rule by man will inevitably lead to bias.

Su Ming'an didn't say a formal farewell, because he would be back soon, so why make it seem like a life-or-death separation?

"Then I'll head back." Su Ming'an looked out the window, where a ginkgo tree was shedding its golden leaves. "First, let everyone know that I'm still alive."

The word "first" has raised questions among people.

"Aren't you going to attend any honors ceremonies or anything? You have no idea how many people are crazy about you right now," Isabella joked. "If you really went back to school, the whole school would probably be chasing after you. You're the nation's heartthrob."

...He really is a male "god".

"Later," Su Ming'an smiled. "Wait for me to come back."

For some reason, everyone had a sense of déjà vu at that moment.

Similar scenarios have occurred more than once.

When Su Ming'an turned around, his companions all looked at him.

He pushed open the window, and as a morning breeze blew by, people's pupils were momentarily dazzled by the dappled sunlight filtering through the swaying shadows of the trees. Then, his figure was no longer there beneath the window.

"he's gone?"

"Well, let's go."

"He walked very fast and very far."

“We will guard this place for him.”

"Do not."

“We will protect this place for us. For him, for us, for humanity.”

……

Su Ming'an went to see Su Bread.

She looked much older, her hair all white, and she sat in a wheelchair, tightly holding his hand.

“Father God… I never thought you were still alive,” Su Bread murmured, his voice growing weaker. “I was prepared to die.”

"I'm here, don't be afraid." Su Ming'an looked at her in the wheelchair: "Is there anything special I need to be careful about?"

“Hmm, after everyone came in, I did a quick scan of the population and found some discrepancies.” Su Bread perked up: “It seems there are a few extra.”

"More?"

"Perhaps some of the Rovasa people followed them here."

Are there any exceptionally talented people among them?

“This one.” Su Bread pulled up the information, and on the screen was a young man wearing an oil-painted shirt: “This person is named Locke, and he has the ability to spend money and create money at the same time. This ability is quite special, as it touches on the law of conservation of energy, so I made a note of it.”

"And this one too." Su Bread added another woman with a round face: "Her name is Su Qianqian, and she has a total of 108 children... and she brought them all in, which shocked me. Because Zhai Xing's household registration was incomplete to begin with, I couldn't find out her original identity."

She listed several more, all of whom were highly capable and whose household registrations were questionable. Some were suspicious, some were not.

"In other words, they might be illegal immigrants," Su Ming'an said. "Keep an eye on them."

"Well, with the gods of Cloud City and the Sea Emperor around, there shouldn't be any problems," Su Bread said.

"Where are Su Qing and Su Jingtang?" Su Ming'an asked.

Su Bread paused for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "They escaped."

"Ran away?"

"They escaped during the most chaotic time, and I don't know where they went."

“I’ll go look in the future,” Su Ming’an said.

Before parting, Su Mianbao loosely grasped Su Ming'an's hand.

“Father God… if I am no longer here when you return next time…” Su Bread lowered her head, her forehead lightly touching Su Ming’an’s wrist, and murmured.

"I'll be back soon, don't worry." Su Ming'an did feel guilty towards this dutiful acting world lord.

"...Please bury me at the foot of Mount Taihua." She finished speaking.

It doesn't even require being on the mountain, just at the foot of the mountain.

Su Ming'an nodded silently.

After Su Ming'an left, Su Mianbao stared at the spot where he had just stood.

She bent down, gently took out a wooden box, swept the dust he had left into it, held it in her arms, and gave it a devout, virtual kiss from afar.

"Love born from lies, and lies born from love..."

……

At that time, Siber was eating a sweet potato at a machinery shop on the street.

She squatted by the manhole cover, watching the people on the street.

"...Mom, are we going to go into those metal boxes?"

"...We just got back and need to verify our identities. Just answer whatever the adults ask you. Don't be nervous."

"...I died in the last dungeon, I should be compensated in some way! I worked hard on ten dungeons, I certainly can't be less meritorious than those casual players who just loaf around!"

"...Who are you calling a lazy bum who's just waiting to die? I've wielded more hammers than you've wet your pants in fear!"

"Smack, smack..." Siber ate the delicious sweet potato. Many facilities in the small world are highly automated, and these can all be produced automatically. However, to prevent idle labor, positions will be gradually released.

The thought of seven billion people suddenly flooding in is enough to make any project incredibly difficult.

Suddenly, the girl stopped chewing.

"Shall we go?" she said to the air.

From the shadows behind, a young man in a white robe nodded.

They entered a room where Li Mingyue and his group were already standing.

"Let's begin," Su Ming'an said, looking at everyone.

Ten minutes later, amidst a dazzling display of light, a radiant ruby ​​lay in Su Ming'an's palm.

Just as he was gazing at the gem, Shan Shuang suddenly said, "I have to go back, Su Ming'an. Minghui has lost Shengqi and needs my strength to keep things under control."

“Father, I must go back too,” Arterev said, bowing his head.

“Me too,” the witch Serena nodded.

They still have their own worlds to live in; having helped them for a while, they still have to go back. Serena and Arterev don't possess the ability to traverse the universe; they were brought here by Dan Shuang's help.

"...I look forward to meeting you all again." Su Ming'an's fingers tightened slightly, and he smiled.

"Hey, don't look so miserable." Shan Shuang patted Su Ming'an's shoulder casually: "If you can come once, you can come again. With this on, I can sense your location and come find you to play again next time!"

She hung a red scale around Su Ming'an's neck.

“Father, this is a gift from the people of Playa.” Arterev presented a yellow paper: “I was afraid it would affect your mood before, but now I can finally give it to you.”

Su Ming'an thought it was some kind of treasure, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be an authentic recipe for Teni Tea.

Yes, the simple and honest sea people know that the gods lack nothing, and the local specialties are the most simple yet precious gifts they can give.

"This is a personal gift from me." Serena gave Su Ming'an two formulas, one for the witch's antidote and the other for her poison.

It is said that the antidote can heal flesh and bone, while the poison can kill silently; the extent of its effects is unknown. The town of Triri itself is like an independent little world, and Serena knows very little about it, only saying that it was probably created casually by some higher-dimensional being who enjoyed playing Werewolf.

Li Mingyue, Zhaoyan, and Siber stayed behind for the time being.

Su Ming'an accepted the gifts and thanked them softly.

He looked at them and slowly opened the book.

"Wow---"

The sound was like the ocean tide.

The sound of pages opening and closing.

Time travel is not arbitrary, just as there are limitations to rewinding after death.

Time is the most mysterious and complex concept in the universe. Even with the power to infiltrate, Su Ming'an can only choose the weakest point in time and space and risks getting lost in the turbulence. This is something he hides from his companions.

For his first jump, to ensure he could return in time, he conservatively chose the nearest possible time.

In a daze, he recalled the last look in Noel's eyes before he left, beneath the World Tree.

It was a silent and painful look in his eyes.

……