Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1627 - 79: The Supreme Sun Mermaid and the Unforgiven Assembly (12)

Chapter 1627: Chapter 79: The Supreme Sun Mermaid and the Unforgiven Assembly (12)

The colorful planet outside the porthole is within reach, yet people don’t know where the path lies.

According to history, people indeed did not move towards happiness; Kasadia’s betrayal turned the future into Hell, and many died in despair under the suppression of the food chain, becoming food for other races.

They can’t wait for the sunshine, nor for tomorrow.

"Look! There’s a celebration over there!" Suddenly, Su Liujin pointed in one direction.

This is the public square on the 28th floor, where celebrations are occasionally held. Huge holographic projections display virtual fireworks, filled with the atmosphere of pyrotechnics. People improvise their dances to the music, their faces beaming with temporary happiness.

The young man with golden eyes looked at the dancing crowd, a hint of curiosity and longing flashing through.

"Do you want to give it a try?" Su Ming’an suddenly asked softly.

Su Liujin looked up at him in surprise.

"Perhaps if you’re happy enough, you’ll awaken," Su Ming’an said.

This world owes the Jellyfish Emperor too much; at least let him be happy in his dreams.

Su Liujin hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

There were no glamorous outfits, no melodious bands, only rough work clothes and noisy electronic music. In a corner, they mimicked others’ movements and clumsily moved their feet. Initially, Su Liujin staggered a bit but soon found the rhythm, his movements exuding a natural elegance, as if dancing a lonely and noble dance, like a born Little King even in a simple setting.

"Sect Hierarch." Su Liujin suddenly asked softly, "If... the Ark is destined not to reach the new home, or... the new home doesn’t exist, does what we’re doing now still have meaning?"

Su Ming’an looked at him. The young man’s golden eyes reflected the pale light, but deep down, flames were burning.

"I don’t know." Su Ming’an answered very honestly, "But as long as we’re still alive and still searching, perhaps the meaning will appear by itself. Just like the dance we’ve found."

Su Liujin was stunned for a moment, then an extremely faint yet genuine smile blossomed at the corner of his lips. Compared to the fearless emperor in dreams, the weak and awakened Su Liujin was more vulnerable, yet more real.

"Hmm." He nodded gently, "The sweetness is real."

Su Ming’an led Su Liujin, walking down layer by layer. They sneaked into a dance party to eat cake, such good things that people below ordinarily can’t eat; the Ark has been so festive these days because of celebrations.

Su Liujin ate with utmost seriousness, even carefully licking off the cream that got on his fingertips.

"Does it taste good?" Su Ming’an asked softly.

"It doesn’t taste good." Su Liujin smacked his lips, "The cream is poor quality, not as tasty as those in the Royal Palace."

...Of course, it’s not as good as the imperial cakes the emperor used to eat.

But Su Liujin continued eating bite after bite, as if it were something precious.

They sneaked into the library; Su Liujin liked stories of the Brave and the Evil Dragon, Little Red Riding Hood in the forest, but he wouldn’t take these books with him. He said, "These books should be left for the children to read; the Great Emperor shouldn’t compete with kids." They sneaked into the World Game memorial hall, where photos of Su Ming’an and others hung on the wall; Su Liujin lingered for a long while, murmuring, "So this is what you look like; I must remember you." They sneaked into the school, Su Liujin listened to the scholarly sounds in the classroom while Su Ming’an narrated what the world outside was like. They sneaked into the hospital; Su Ming’an said there isn’t only the happy Kingdom; there are countless pains and deaths in the world, and the emperor finally heard the deepest cries beneath the pale walls...

Su Liujin particularly liked the rarely trodden paths; in his words, this was "a necessary journey for the Great Emperor to overcome obstacles." Even though he panted after a while of climbing, the light in his eyes was bright.

"The maximum dose of Vitality Agent has been administered; when can you recover..." Su Ming’an checked Su Liujin’s forehead.

Su Liujin gasped with a pale face, smiling: "Don’t worry, my friend! The Great Emperor will live to a far future; we will meet again. So, be patient, the Great Emperor will also strive to recover." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Suddenly, an unusual commotion came from afar.

Su Ming’an quickly pulled Su Liujin into a corner and opened the Light Brain: "It’s not a search... a high-authority life signal is approaching this area, recognition code is..." Surprise flashed through his eyes, "...Antetolia."

The high-ranking twelve seats of the Ark, why has she come to the lower level?

Antetolia only brought two low-key attendants, dressed in a plain-colored gown. As soon as she arrived here, a group of children cheered and gathered around her.

"Sister Ante! You’re here again!" a little girl with pigtails shouted, handing over a small flower made from a crooked piece of scrap metal.

"Sister Ante, we’ve been waiting to hear you play the violin!" another boy said eagerly.

Antetolia smiled, accepting the simple gifts one by one, gently stroking the children’s heads. Her smile was completely different from the dignified smile she had worn before, it was a genuine smile from the heart.

She picked up a violin and pulled the strings, letting the smooth and beautiful music flow out. The children gathered around, humming along, their little hands clapping to the rhythm.

Su Ming’an and Su Liujin hid in the shadows, holding their breath as they watched the scene. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the planting shed roof, falling on Antetolia’s golden hair, her profile as she played the violin was as beautiful as a painting that shouldn’t exist in this cold steel world.

After playing the violin, she magically produced some materials, and together with the children, made simple baked goods, the aroma of flour and frosting overpowering the smell of rusted metal here for the first time. She also pruned a few resilient plants in the corner, which were blooming with bright yellow flowers.

"This flower’s original name is hard to remember," she gently touched the bright yellow petals, playfully winking, "So for convenience, we all call it ’Smiley Face Flower’. Remember, after the night, comes a new spring."

A young boy who seemed like the leader of the children squeezed beside her, shouting, "Sister Ante, tell us another story! What happened in the star exploration story that Brother Hui Bai told us last time?"

Antetolia giggled, poking the boy’s forehead, "Hui Bai always tells half a story, leaving half untold. I often say he can’t continue." Her smile faded slightly, her gaze sweeping over the children, looking toward the distant gray metal barriers, her voice carrying an emotion too complex for children their age to understand, "Later, I realized... the story is meant to be left for many people, to slowly finish together."

In the shadows, Su Ming’an’s heart suddenly stirred. He recalled the snippets he had learned about this period in history—the celebrated great departure, the long wanderings in the universe, one hundred million great pioneers... was it truly as glorious and great as the propaganda said? What he saw were the hardships of the lower class, the cruel fate of the experimental subjects, the undercurrents beneath the decisions of the administrators, the children in tattered clothes.

History has never been just brilliant and glorious; more often, it consists of silent, sorrowful, subtle sobs. Yet, all the sadness is buried under the phrase "they were great pioneers."

"Lighthouse Sect Leader." Su Liujin suddenly spoke.

Su Ming’an turned his head and saw the glistening water in the eyes of the white-haired boy.

"I want to learn to play an instrument." Su Liujin gazed at the blissful scene, "When I was in the palace, any act of ’learning’ was forbidden, they said the Little King didn’t need to learn anything. But I’ve always wanted to learn an instrument. I heard that instruments can express emotions that language can’t convey."

To awaken the Jellyfish Emperor, the Lighthouse Sect Leader did not refuse and sneaked the Jellyfish Emperor into a music room.

In the lower levels there were no expensive pianos; they went to the 87th floor where Su Ming’an indicated for Su Liujin to sit down, teaching him the introductory song for piano hand in hand.

"’Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’..." Su Liujin placed his hands on the black and white keys.

He pressed the keys, stumbling through the melody.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are..."

"Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky..."

Su Liujin suddenly stopped, his gaze drifting far, murmuring, "What could be on the stars? Maybe each star has a sleeping king, waiting for someone to awaken."

"Maybe not a king, but a brave." Su Ming’an responded, "After the brave defeats the Evil Dragon, they are trapped at the top of the tallest tower."

"Then we’ll go rescue him!" Su Liujin suddenly laughed, his golden eyes bright, "The Emperor and Sect Leader form a rescue team, driving the Ark to the top of the tower to save the brave!"

"What dangers might we encounter along the way?" Su Ming’an prompted this impromptu fairy tale.

"We’ll encounter... singing cannibal flowers!" Su Liujin’s eyes lit up, "They lure travelers with their beautiful singing, then—swallow them whole!"

His expression suddenly darkened momentarily, touching his own arm.

"You know, Lighthouse Sect Leader, every time I’m about to wake up, someone comes to inject me with drugs, and then I remember nothing."

"Those bloody and dismembered discarded bodies are not completely destroyed but have parts of successful persona data extracted and implanted within me... because I am currently the most successful body."

"In other words, I devoured them to have the vibrant me of today."

Su Ming’an’s pupils suddenly widened in shock as he stared at Su Liujin, suddenly recalling the essence of the Rin Clan. The Rin Clan, too, is a Ship of Theseus sewn together from countless races.

As for Su Liujin, he is an emperor stitched together from countless "selves"—those "extracted" and "stored" personas implanted in him.

"I’m so confused." Su Liujin looked up, "What exactly am I, created in such a manner? This isn’t how I naturally grew to be; it’s a forcibly molded image. Including my ’Little King’ appearance, it’s all implanted dreams. Humanity wishes for me to become this way, so I am this way."

He paused for a moment, then said, "What if I weren’t called ’Su Liujin’? What if I didn’t have white hair and golden eyes? What if I weren’t a jellyfish with boisterous charm? What if I weren’t set to be simple, innocent, kind, righteous... What if I were allowed to grow freely, if I weren’t raised in a Candy House, if I were permitted to think and learn deeper things, what would I be like?"

He showed a somewhat lonely smile: "Hierarch, I truly want to know."

Beneath the white hair, faintly, was a pair of eyes slightly red around the rims.

Su Ming’an opened his mouth, but Su Liujin lifted his head high and suddenly laughed:

"But since the emperor has arrived! The Lighthouse Sect Leader has already led me to freedom, so I will no longer dwell on these matters with no answers!"

"The emperor is the emperor! The emperor is right here!"

"Oh, Hierarch, let’s set our sights on the future! After all, the past cannot be changed, and I’m already like this. Nobody can dominate me anymore in the future, so let me truly be free!"

Su Ming’an’s eyes flickered, shaken by the white-haired youth of merely sixteen before him.

He had always underestimated the emperor. Although he addressed him as "emperor," it was out of respect for Su Liujin. Now he truly realized why "emperor" was "emperor."

The emperor had his pride, his freedom, his resolute and distinct haughtiness.

"Hierarch! Don’t belittle yourself. In my eyes, you’re an extraordinary person too!" Su Liujin’s fingers danced across the keyboard: "Let’s continue our fairy tale from earlier. Don’t fear those cannibal flowers. We’ll defeat them with music! Because our song possesses something they don’t!"

"Love," Su Ming’an affirmed.

"Yes, love," Su Liujin nodded vigorously, "Our song contains love. It’s the love left to me by those before me. Even if they’re gone, I can still feel it."

He closed his eyes, his fingers gently pressed on the keys:

"When I’m scared, there’s a hand gently patting my back, that’s 024’s gentleness.

"When I’m confused, clear analysis comes to mind, that’s 287’s wisdom.

"When I’m in pain, an inexplicable courage surges within, that’s 312’s resilience.

"When I’m lonely, I hear someone singing from afar, that’s 523’s singing..."

"They are all me, yet not me. I carry their death, as well as their love. I’ve become the future, complete, definitive, flesh-grown, unique—Emperor Su Liujin."

"The cannibal flowers were defeated by our song. Never had they heard music so complex. There were sorrowful bass and joyful treble, lonely chords and warm melodies."

"And then?" Su Ming’an guided the beautiful fairy tale.

"Then the Lighthouse Sect Leader and Jellyfish Emperor moved forward, encountering the sleeping kings—they all slept in crystal coffins, each with white hair like mine, each with a dazzling star on their chest." Su Liujin’s voice softened, "I can’t awaken them, because once they awake, they’ll vanish, but I can collect their starlight..."

The young man’s fingers lightly moved over the keys.

"I put 001’s courage in my left pocket, 009’s humor in my right, 018’s kindness in my heart... I keep moving forward because I must witness the story’s end in their place."

"This is the emperor’s mission—to live a life brilliant enough that no star has come in vain!"

"Wherever the emperor reaches, nothing can stand in the way!"

—What is this young man?

He is a tool white stone raised under the weight of endless malice and the world’s morality, the first champion of the Disciple Game in pursuit of truth who was ultimately killed, the lonely youth waiting in the sea with a wooden box, the cheerful voice of the War God Dragon King Narration in his ears, the Observer who walked the world devoid of emotion and desire, and the Little King raised surrounded by countless love.

He’s been sliced, with various personas cultivated in different bodies, retrieved upon their death, and stitched back into him. Should this be seen as part of him, merely cut out, cultivated, and sewn back? Or should they be considered independent entities?

His misfortune was built on the death of other white-haired youths, while his fortune was built on their love. He continues their love to experientially savor the sweetness and aroma of honey but also lived his life—the emperor.

He is the continuation of all those who have passed.

He is the inheritor of all unfulfilled dreams.

"But, if that’s the case, there should only be one Su Liujin left. Yet, I’ve met so many Su Liujins afterward..." Su Ming’an was puzzled.

Though puzzled, he still pulled a small cake from behind him.

"Happy Birthday, Su Liujin. Even though I don’t know your real birthday, every day you’re born anew is worth celebrating. This is my birthday gift for you, hoping you wake soon. Today, it’s just the two of us, and it will always be just us. Make a wish, Emperor."

Su Liujin clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and the long white eyelashes cast shadows on his cheeks. He was silent for a long time before slowly making a wish:

I hope...

All those who helped me secretly, all the innocent people... may they be happy.

I hope...

To break all that’s cruel, dark, painful.

I hope...

That the Lighthouse Sect Leader and I can both achieve our ideals and find happiness.

They divided the small cake, and Su Liujin ate it especially carefully, his eyelids slowly drooping. Maybe he was too tired; the emperor was exhausted.

Su Liujin barely kept his eyes open, yawning: "So sleepy... So this is what happiness feels like... like being lightly embraced by countless hands... Mother... so warm..."

His voice gradually faded, and his head gently rested on Su Ming’an’s shoulder, his breathing becoming steady and deep.

Su Ming’an remained still, looking out the window—the virtual screen displayed the image of the Colorful Planet, vibrant colors flickering in the darkness like countless distant stars, like countless watching eyes.

In his ear, as if a voice softly sang.

"Twinkle twinkle little star, all the sky is a little star,

"Sleep, sleep, Little King, your dreams will be full of candy and fairytales,

"All of you gather into a river of stars, all love will return home,

"By the time you wake up one day, you won’t be afraid of anything..."

"Su Liujin, I need to make a trip to that planet, it may take some time." Su Ming’an gazed out the porthole at the Colorful Planet, "Wait for me here, take your medicine on time, inject the agent timely, I’ll be back for you soon."

He stayed here, not just to awaken Su Liujin, but to uncover more details of the past.

"Mm..." Su Liujin slept soundly, seemingly dreaming of gathering starlight.

...

The outside world.

Lu Shu and the people were collectively releasing paper cranes.

Wang Xingkong walked over to Lin Yin, handing her a box.