Five years later, the black-haired girl controlled the situation, and no one could defy her.

She no longer called herself the "Savior," but adopted a new title – "Deity." She aimed to rule humanity from the level of faith.

People accepted this title, as they indeed regarded the Savior as a deity.

The black-haired girl had once wandered through the vast universe, knowing some coordinates of civilizations. Hence, she chose one civilization as the first one to invade.

Then, she began to take measures – the World of Old Days was filled with black mist, and she extracted destructive factors from it to unleash upon that civilization.

Rescue is difficult, but destruction is easy. Just place your own black mist onto others, that's all it takes.

At the same time, she started to bewitch the people of that civilization from the inside, causing it to begin crumbling.

Those she bewitched, influenced by the black mist, showed symptoms of blood-red eyes. Gradually, they would experience memory disorder, irritation, and confusion between ally and foe.

These symptoms were referred to locally as –

...

[Missing Disease].

...

The people of that civilization realized they were targeted by invaders. They understood it was another civilization attacking them.

Thus, they started calling the World of Old Days –

...

[Ta Wei].

...

As for the girl who bewitched them, they referred to her as –

...

[The Deity of Ta Wei].

...

...

["I've heard a lot about you, Yasa Acto – welcome as our guest; we finally caught you."]

[When Su Ming'an landed, he heard a gentle voice in his ear.]

["As you can see, this world isn't beautiful, no blue sky, no green grass, only endless [black mist]... But it doesn't matter, it won't be long until we own your world." The deity said with a smile.]

...

Another five years passed.

The black-haired girl's means grew increasingly cruel.

Years ago there had been a vote, and 42% of people were unwilling to plunder other civilizations. They staged protests, formed armed groups, and aimed to overthrow the current government.

"—Stop the plunder! Stop the invasion!!"

"—I'd rather die than become an executioner!"

"That black-haired girl isn't the real Savior, we want the true Savior!!"

"Government resign! Replace the leaders!"

Intense conflict erupted. A large number of people adhering to the will of their ancestors formed their own kingdom, refusing to listen to the black-haired girl. Warfare raged between the supporters and the opposition.

The abuse of black mist intensified, and the Missing Disease began spreading in the World of Old Days. When people set greedy eyes on the outside world, it meant they aimed another blade edge at themselves.

At this time, Chang Ge was singing the "Freedom's Chang Ge."

Today he attended a temple fair; the flames of war hadn't spread here yet. He sat on the eaves eating a candied hawthorn.

He had traveled for a long time.

Amber-colored dawn, the earth not yet awakened, villages with white walls and black tiles, moonlight in the night... He and Brother Necklace journeyed across the earth, experiencing the beauties he had never touched before.

They saw the golden waves of wheat rolling under the wind's caress. Brother Necklace said this was the result of farmers' hard work.

They visited a weaving workshop where the older women joyfully chatted about neighbors' gossip.

Discovering that the temple fair actors could change faces. Discovering the malt sugar could create beautiful art. Discovering that candied hawthorn was not a gourd but hawthorn.

Chang Ge gradually realized that 'humanity' possessed such glorious and beautiful things. Under Brother Necklace's gentle companionship, he almost forgot that he had once endured hardships, only his hoarse voice reminded him.

"Chang Ge, we've traveled for so long, have you seen lotus flowers?" On the eaves, Brother Necklace lay in his hand.

"Flowers can bloom in the water?" Chang Ge shook his legs: "But now it's winter; they won't bloom."

Brother Necklace shimmered silently.

Chang Ge inadvertently turned around and suddenly saw...

Wow—

The pool was filled, petals intertwined, all blossoming.

The lotus swayed, pink and white tightly embraced, graceful like an umbrella, charming. The milky white brilliance filled Chang Ge's eyes, taking his breath away.

He smiled. For a moment, he forgot the war cloud lingering over his heart during this period.

"Is it beautiful?" A voice came from behind.

"Very beautiful... Thank you." Chang Ge excitedly turned and suddenly froze.

A young man with black hair and black eyes stood behind him: "I'm back in human form, so I'm gifting you lotus flowers. Thank you for accompanying me for so long."

Chang Ge paused for a moment.

Having interacted for so long, he had long realized, the Savior was as vivacious as his peers. This Savior was so vibrant, not that heavy as portrayed in history books.

But soon, the heaviness surged into his heart.

... Returning to human form meant they were going back.

"Have you thought of a plan?" Chang Ge asked.

"Yes. While you were traveling, I secretly contacted the central government; we are ready for the coup." The young man said.

"It's not feasible now." Chang Ge said. Now isn't an ideal time; the black-haired girl's strength is too formidable.

"If we delay further, that civilization will lose more lives." The young man said: "Chang Ge, these decades I've pondered deeply — am I truly the Savior? I once vowed to you that I am. But upon first seeing the black-haired girl... I can sense, perhaps neither she nor I are."

"What?" Chang Ge froze.

"I possess the majority of that Savior's memories, and share his appearance. But this may not prove... I am he himself." The young man said quietly.

"No." Chang Ge gazed into his eyes, shaking his shoulders: "You are the Savior, Brother Necklace, I only believe in Brother Necklace!"

The young man laughed.

The pool of lotus flowers blossomed again amidst the laughter, revealing a frost-like white.

"Alright. I'll try to be."

...

That night, Chang Ge didn't sleep.

He stared at the necklace box in his hand all night.

The Savior, Lighthouse of Humanity, Leading Figure of Civilization... So many weighty titles rested on that young man's shoulders. But only now Chang Ge realized, the Savior he trusts immensely, was truly young.

He closed his eyes, placing the written music score in his chest. He originally intended to gift it to the young man, but he'd wait until the matter settles... before giving it. It wouldn't be good if it got lost.

The next day, he watched the young man leave. He couldn't go together; otherwise, he'd be a hindrance.

But days later, new news arrived.

—The black-haired girl detected the coup and imprisoned General Qin. She claimed Brother Necklace was an impersonator. Soon after, the news came that people had captured Brother Necklace.

Chang Ge didn't know if this was a trap or real, but he couldn't wait.

He picked up the sword and headed back.

Over these decades, under Brother Necklace's guidance, Chang Ge had developed considerable strength. As he charged toward the central government, few could stop him.

Move forward, draw the sword.

Step through the blood-soaked mud, advancing steadily.

The ignorant believers swung blades at him but were struck down by him.

Under the Blue Moon hanging high, the silence enveloped his ears.

People cursed him as—the betrayer of civilization who summoned the Dieying...

Condemned to reproach from thousands, slashed by thousands.

They called him—an ungrateful traitorous wolf, the dog of an impostor.

—But what had he done.

He repeatedly recorded his voice, attracting a Savior capable of devising thousand-year plans.

He stood atop platforms urging people not to become executioners, getting beaten until his vocal cords were torn.

Throughout these decades, he traversed the earth; due to his appearance, he was reviled, beaten, and expelled. Love and happiness didn't belong to him, but what did that matter.

—He wanted Su Ming'an to receive what he deserved.

Happiness, well-being, glory, respect. Anything was fine. He was a flawed replica, but Su Ming'an was not. Su Ming'an shouldn't bear the blame of reproach from thousands, nor should he become an executioner of civilization; Su Ming'an's ideals were supremely precious, and he sought to protect those ideals.

This world always seems to enjoy breaking the hearts of idealists, bending the proud backbone of heroes, and pointing fingers at the good men—but he refuses to accept this.

This world shouldn't be like this.

Why must inferior coins drive out good coins, why are villains always more satisfied than kind people, and why has "saving the world" become a non-mainstream ideology?

Gradually, he saw familiar faces on the road—people he once ate with in the cafeteria, some of whom had already been imprisoned, some died in coups, and some stood on this road—armed to stop him.

"Don't go any further, Chang Ge. You're trying to stop the chariot with a mantis. Plundering is the essence of civilization." Xia Jiawu shook his head, hoping to make him realize.

But he simply swung his sword, knocking Xia Jiawu aside.

"Chang Ge. It's the trend of the times, please turn back," Su Meimei said timidly.

But he didn't even look.

Those security guards who once beat him into submission were now no match for him.

He moved forward, slashing down statues, the deity's radiance stained with filth.

This road, Chang Ge had walked many times when he was just a tool.

Back then, the sky was still blue, and there were many flowers.

The elderly Cheng Lishan smiled at him from the roadside.

The lively and cheerful Dong Qi hugged his books.

Su Meimei stood at the end.

At that time, the mountains were towering, the rivers flowed freely. There were no deities or execution, no plunder or red-eye syndrome.

The sky was brilliantly bright, flowers and leaves were dense, and Nightingales still sang.

He ran forward, as if returning to more than forty years ago, smelling the familiar tomato and egg aroma in the air, but when he looked up, everyone was gone, and it was only him still running, his legs bleeding profusely.

Until he rushed into the hall, he saw a black-haired girl lying weakly on the ground. Regardless of why she was so weak, Chang Ge rushed forward, piercing her with his sword.

The black-haired girl coughed up blood, and only then did Chang Ge realize—the marks of flesh and skin decay were all over her body.

"Ha! The deficiency illness! It's severe to this extent. It's you who caused the rampant deficiency illness, and now you too have it, truly causality and reincarnation, serves you right!" Chang Ge laughed heartily, feeling unprecedentedly satisfied.

The black-haired girl looked at him without sorrow or joy.

She lifted her hand, seemingly wanting to touch his face, but he dodged instantly. She chuckled, then feebly let her hand fall:

"For the continuation of civilization... what's wrong?"

"Idealism and realism... what's the difference in nobility? It's just that your Brother Necklace believes in the former, and I believe in the latter. What right do you have to ridicule my ideals?"

Chang Ge's smile slightly faded.

He seemed to realize that there wasn't much to be happy about.

It seemed everyone should be the same, just walking different paths.

Even if he hadn't come, she, so severely ill, would have died.

"Brother Ring is the real Savior from a hundred years ago, and you're the fake, right?" He was just eager to verify this answer.

The black-haired girl smiled, her almond eyes slightly closed, her identical facial features still gentle:

"No."

"So far... all the 'Su Ming'an' you've seen, all the 'Su Ming'an' voices you've heard... none of them are him."

"The real him has yet to arrive."

"Both I and your Brother Necklace, are merely..."

She, bloodstained, took out a note from her embrace, then closed her eyes.

Chang Ge pulled out his sword bewilderedly, staring at the black-haired girl lying in the pool of blood.

She fancied herself a deity, above all, commanding the winds and rains, manipulating a civilization at her whim.

But in the end, she was just a corpse.

...Perhaps she anticipated her own inevitable death, no longer able to save civilization, and thus waited here.

This way, at least, after her death, Chang Ge and others could take over the regime, choose another path to continue saving, instead of falling into endless internal conflict.

Chang Ge pursed his lips, with no trace of a smile on his face... Since neither she nor Brother Ring was, what indeed were they? Although they could answer anything concerning Su Ming'an, possessing the same face and voice.

Right.

From the beginning, they all appeared as a necklace; could the necklace hold any clues?

Chang Ge took out the necklace, suppressing his heartache, and for the first time dismantled the necklace he cherished so much, prying it open.

Then, he froze.

He saw... inside the necklace, not pearls and jade, but... a mechanical chip.

Footsteps came from behind, a black-haired black-eyed youth approached.

Four eyes met, Chang Ge's throat choked, voice hoarse:

"...You."

Grief stuck in his throat, wanting to speak but couldn't utter a word.

The black-haired youth lowered his eyes, staring at the chip in Chang Ge's hand, suddenly laughing. He finally understood what he was:

"So that's it, so this is my truth. I am not even a life."

"I've remembered now. I was initially placed in your world for invasion. However, my will overcame my mission... I actually took opposite actions, deciding to help you save the world."

Chang Ge said nothing.

Simply stepped up quietly, gently embracing him, offering comfort.

Meanwhile, the black-haired girl's corpse transformed into Yuan Guang and vanished, revealing her last note—

...

[I and countless "Su Ming'an," including Brother Necklace.]

[We did not possess freedom.]

[We did not possess independent life.]

[We did not possess vibrant, free rights.]

[Because we are... a program.]

[We are... a launched program.]

[Possessing similar looks, voices, abilities, thinking patterns.]

[Our true name is—]

...

Chang Ge closed his eyes, holding Brother Necklace tightly. The other trembled.

"Don't be afraid..." Chang Ge comforted, even though he feared the undeniable answer—

...

...

[——"Su Ming'an bot"]

...

...

["I think passive defense will only lead to civilization's decay." Dawn said, "Find a lower civilization more backward than us and seize its Source of Civilization, only then can we extend the lifespan of the Ruined World."]

["Alright, over these twenty days, I have recorded all Su Ming'an's words, behaviors, temperaments, habits and created a Su Ming'an AI." Xike said, "I can launch Su Ming'an AI into the Universe, it will seek constantly, once lock onto another civilization's location, we can invade the counterpart."]

["Xike, do you believe in ideals or reality?" Dawn shook his head, "Ruined World temporarily doesn't need new Sources of Civilization, we're not in a rush to invade other civilizations. Maybe we can find another method to extend civilization's lifespan."]

["Then no need to launch it yet." Xike gazed into the distance, "I also don't want to walk the path of invasion, although it's realistic, I prefer to believe in ideals; let's search for other solutions."]

[—Believing in reality, we will inevitably walk the path of plunder, it's the destiny of civilization.]

[—Believing in ideals, we will always remain pure white.]

[—Chapter 830 · "OE· SELF-DEVOURER"]

...

And amidst countless "possibilities" —

Always a pair of "Dawn and Xike."

Chose...

...

—To believe in reality rather than ideals.

...

...

[Chang Ge found a necklace in his room: "Whose necklace is this? How did it end up in my room..."]

["You've always been calling me into the Universe, haven't you? I am Su Ming'an." The necklace said.]

...

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