Great, now we are dead!

"of course!"

Sasha is quite confident in her skills.

"Where are we going? Is it a trip to the moon? Wow, that sounds so romantic!"

"No, I don't think it's the moon. He's very tight-lipped, and it might even require smuggling to get there... Honestly, I can't think of it."

"Could it be the rooftop garden of Arasaka?!"

"If only it were that simple..."

Lucy had a feeling that the mysterious place that made Ye Shoudu look so serious must be an extremely secluded location.

Could it be that there really is an undiscovered paradise in this world?

In this Earth, which is constantly under satellite surveillance?!

……

A few days later, Ye Shou finished the Night City instance and went to the agreed place to pick up Lucy, hiding her in the same way he had saved Sasha.

Of course, Lucy was treated much better. Instead of an ordinary suitcase, she was given an expensive life support capsule, the size of which was exactly the limit that Ye Shou could carry.

Lucy didn't see any means of transportation, only this completely enclosed life support pod. Lying inside meant handing her life and death over to someone else... If the other party wasn't Ye Shou, she would never have accepted this method of "smuggling".

However, precisely because it was Ye Shou, she had no hesitation or doubt and went straight in.

"Have a sweet dream."

Ye Shou smiled and closed the cabin door, escorting him into his private space.

Then, after setting up shielding equipment around the area and confirming there are no witnesses or surveillance cameras, close your eyes and enter a meditative state.

A silver pocket watch emerged from the darkness, its three hands, symbolizing the flow of time, nearly overlapping. At that moment, they suddenly turned grayish-white and gradually disappeared into the dark void.

Then, a flash of golden light appeared, and the magnificent hourglass began to flow again. Ye Shou was also enveloped by the flowing, illusory sand, and his entire figure gradually dissipated...

—Opening his eyes, Ye Shou was slightly dazed by the bright sunlight.

The air no longer had that cloying sweetness, and the concrete underfoot had been replaced with handmade tatami mats. The incense sticks in the incense burner had long since burned out, but even after a day, a very faint fragrance still lingered in the room.

came back!

[Ghost Back], [Ghost Brain], [Ghost]!

Immediately, Ye Shou summoned the system card phantom and exchanged all three skills before the time limit. The eighteen Destiny Coins disappeared after a crisp collision.

There's no need to hesitate any longer. Although the upper limit of [Ghost Back] is not as high as those heaven-defying physiques, Ye Shou can't just sit around waiting for a windfall. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. There's no harm in taking something that can directly enhance one's physique.

Even if you get something better later, which dilutes the effect of [Ghost Back], there's nothing to regret!

"Liu Li!"

Ye Shou shouted loudly.

"I am here, Lord Ye Shou."

Liuli, who had been waiting there at the appointed time, responded immediately.

Although only twenty-four hours had passed in her eyes, she still felt that it had been a long time since she had heard Ye Shou's gentle yet dignified voice, and she was a little excited for a moment.

Would you like me to arrange a meal for you?

"Being not."

Ye Shou walked out of the room, and Liu Li, who was kneeling to the side, immediately bowed and then stood up.

"Congratulations on the completion of your meditation retreat... Your spiritual realm must have reached a new level."

This wasn't flattery; as one of the people who knew Ye Shou best, Liuli could genuinely see something different about him, even though he had changed his clothes beforehand. Women are all natural detectives, especially when it comes to the man they've been longing for.

Lord Ye Shou...have you grown a little taller? By...about five millimeters?

Ye Shou, however, paid no attention to Liuli's reaction. He closed his eyes, sensed the situation in his private space, and said cheerfully, "Arrange a helicopter for me to go to Villa No. 3. I'm going to climb Mount Fuji today!"

Chapter 45 Welcome to 2022!

The flight from this hotel to Kuse Bessou at the foot of Mount Fuji is less than 100 kilometers, and you can get there in just a short nap on the helicopter.

Ye Shou fastened his seatbelt and leaned against the window, gazing at the scenery below, while the maid would steal glances at him from time to time.

Hmm... my hair is shorter now, and it's a fresh cut. My skin seems to have gotten worse; it's a bit paler than usual, but it doesn't look very healthy.

Liuli immediately took out her phone and instructed the kitchen at home to prepare a medicinal diet for Ye Shou.

Actually, Ye Shou always undergoes a comprehensive and in-depth physical examination after each "meditation" session, so Liuli doesn't need to worry so much.

She had always enjoyed observing Ye Shou. Perhaps she was too attentive and focused, but over time she developed a strange feeling that she could detect any subtle changes in Ye Shou.

For example, right now, the homeowner doesn't seem like they've "spent a day in the room" at all; it's more like they've spent ten days or half a month in some third-world country with a less-than-ideal environment.

His clothes remained the same, but they exuded an air of decadence and cheapness, completely out of place with Ye Shou's own demeanor...

But Liuli felt neither curious nor afraid. Instead, she was delighted to discover another special trait of Ye Shou, a "secret shared with his master."

Even the master and mistress wouldn't understand the young master like she does!

"Lord Ye, we've arrived."

"Yes, thank you all for your hard work."

The helicopter landed on the flat grass. Ye Shouli landed and rolled off, turning back to extend his hand to Liuli, making the maid feel flattered and her cheeks flush slightly.

"I'm going to Mei Xueting to take care of some things. Tell everyone to stay outside."

"understood."

Ye Shou shook off the staff left behind in the villa and walked straight to the backyard.

The so-called Baixueting is actually a viewpoint with a prominent altitude, slightly higher than the surrounding mountain ridges, and a wide view, facing Kusushidake, one of the eight peaks of Mount Fuji.

Looking out from here, you can see a line of verdant Aokigahara forest, and slightly upwards, the mountains echo the blue sky, appearing faintly dark and transparent. When the summer and autumn fog rises, Mount Fuji seems to float in the air.

At the very top is a snow-white crater, its peak shrouded in swirling clouds. The clearer the weather, the more breathtaking the scenery. Even the younger generation, who may not appreciate natural beauty, cannot help but yearn for it.

This villa is the ancestral property of the Jiu family. The style has changed almost every generation, but Meixueting is the only one that has not undergone major changes, only reinforcement and renovation.

Because Ye Shou's attack was sudden, the gardeners hadn't had time to clean and prune, so the flowers and plants, though thriving, appeared somewhat messy. A small pavilion with red pillars stood out prominently in the courtyard, and two lines of Hanshan poetry written by a famous calligrapher were mounted on its pillars:

A secluded, cold mountain path; a desolate, chilly stream bank.

Birds chirp often, but there's no one else around.

Hanshan was a monk and poet of the Tang Dynasty. Although he never came to Japan, the Japanese Tendai sect, founded by Master Jianzhen, regarded him as the "ancestral teacher," and his poems and prose have always been loved by Japanese literati.

Inside the pavilion were low tables and cushions, which were not dusty, indicating that they were frequently wiped clean.

Unlike the elders of the Jiushi family who were pretentious and disregarded the futon and wine table, Ye Shou chose a suitable spot and unzipped the "zipper," carefully placing the life support capsule vertically on the ground.

First, press the "start" button, and a faint light immediately illuminates the chamber, gradually dissipating the isolation effect to allow sound to pass through. Everything is smooth and orderly, giving the user enough buffer time to avoid being stimulated when exposed to the outside world.

—That's the best thing about the cyberpunk world: as long as you have the money, you can enjoy the best service.

laugh!

A odorless gas with a slight calming effect was expelled, and the hatch slowly opened. Lucy inside instinctively covered her eyes, but finding no discomfort, she boldly looked out—

I held my breath instantly!

Mount Fugaku, standing at an altitude of 3,500 meters, stretches between heaven and earth. While it may not be considered the most majestic among famous mountains, its solitary peak rises abruptly, and nothing in the vast expanse of heaven and earth can compare to it. Its hazy beauty is full of a subtle yet proud oriental temperament, and it has an indescribable sense of majesty and sanctity.

Lucy herself is of Japanese and Polish descent, and she has an innate sensitivity to the beauty of the East, so it's fair to say that she was instantly attracted to her.

"Is this... a new Mewtwo?"

"No, you are living in reality without a doubt."

A familiar voice came from behind. The prosthetic girl turned around and saw Ye Shou, dressed in casual clothes, looking out of place in the ancient-style pavilion.

She was in a daze, vaguely guessing something but not daring to be sure: "In the world of 2075, there are no such beautiful forests and Mount Fuji... Where am I?"

Ye Shou gave a graceful bow, like a gentleman butler: "Welcome to Earth in 2022, Miss Lucy."

"2022 years..."

Lucy pursed her lips, trying to calm herself, then suddenly turned around and looked at the azure sky that seemed to melt into her with every step she took, and couldn't help but take a deep breath.

Suddenly, a mix of emotions—grievance, joy, confusion, excitement—surged into her heart, leaving her overwhelmed and speechless.

"What kind of expression should I wear in a situation like this?"

"perhaps,"

Ye Shou said softly, "Just smile."

……

Lucy felt uneasy, not because she had come to an unfamiliar place, but because she was surrounded by real green mountains and clear waters, enveloped by the vitality of nature. She inexplicably felt a sense of inferiority about her prosthetic body.

This set of equipment would be a reliable companion in Night City or other cyber cities, improving survivability, but here it stood out conspicuously. Lucy had never missed the part of her body she had lost as much as she did now, and even felt a faint phantom pain.

She only just realized that Ye Shouzhen was a "native human" and had not undergone any cybernetic modifications!

I initially thought it was just a minor modification, but I was wrong...

After she calmed down, Ye Shou explained the situation to her, which made her even more uneasy.

There is no concept of "cyborgs" here!

The vast majority of people are natural human beings like Ye Shou. Only a small number of disabled people are fitted with prosthetics, but in Lucy's opinion, those don't even count as prosthetics... This is so shocking, completely contrary to her preconceived notions!

It's confirmed. Ye Shou took her on a journey through parallel worlds, not back to the past!

(Cyberpunk began to deviate from the norm in the 1990s, and by 2022, cyborgs were everywhere.)

"Is it really okay for me to stay here?"

Lucy crossed her arms. She had been looking forward to escaping Night City, but now she felt a little scared.

"I don't think I belong here..."

She began to understand why so many people couldn't leave Night City, and why some even returned after leaving. It wasn't that Night City was magical, but rather that they had been unknowingly tamed by their environment, like tropical fish that could only live in a small, warm fish tank.

Another form of prison inmate...

She was very grateful to Ye Shou. Although she didn't know how he did it, he gave her such a precious opportunity, which she herself might not be able to seize... which made her hesitate even more.

"You're overthinking it. No one is more suited to this place than you, or rather, the people of this world need you."

Ye Shou clutched his chest: "For example, me."

"...Are sweet words a specialty of this world?"

Lucy smiled, and much of her anxiety dissipated.

“I’m a man who gets straight to the point. Believe me, you can play an irreplaceable role in this world—and you can definitely bring smiles to many people’s faces.”

Ye Shou extended his hand to her: "Don't ask anything. Can you come with me to a place? You'll understand everything then."

"I have no reason to refuse you."

Lucy rarely showed her gentle side, taking Ye Shou's right hand in hers, the warmth emanating from it calming her down.

She obediently followed Ye Shou out of Meixueting. Liuli, who had been waiting outside, immediately came to greet her. Just as she was about to speak, she saw the silver-haired girl walking out from behind Ye Shou. She opened her mouth slightly, clearly very surprised.

"There are other people here... How do you do things? Why are there outsiders in the courtroom?"

Liuli's first thought was that her subordinates had made a mistake, but Ye Shou's words dispelled that idea.

"Don't be surprised. I invited Lucy to be my guest. With her abilities, infiltrating this place would be a piece of cake. No wonder they..."

Ye Shou smiled nonchalantly: "Besides, she's not an outsider."

"..."

Liuli blinked. As expected of someone with professional training, she reacted instantly to this unexpected situation, placing her hands on her lower abdomen and bowing to Lucy.

"Hello, we are clearly friends of Lord Ye Shou, but we have failed to fulfill our duty as hosts. Please forgive us for our poor hospitality."

"No... no need for formalities."

Lucy scratched her cheek, feeling very uncomfortable with this way of speaking.

No one in Night City is this polite—except for Ye Shou next to her.

Seriously, how come he has so many subordinates, and each of them looks very professional, quite different from street gangsters... Is Ye Shou a high-ranking figure?

As Liuli lowered her head, she quickly glanced at Lucy's clothes, and no one noticed the deep furrow in her brow: