Chapter 1

In the dimly lit street, in a corner rarely visited by people.

Ding Shengyue stood in front of the prostrate Qin Zou, patted his face, and said arrogantly, "So what if you're excellent? My father is the deputy mayor. In G City, it's not just breaking your leg; even if we make you a paraplegic, the police won't dare to say a word. This isn't your fault, but who made you have a bad father? Considering we are classmates, I'll give you a piece of advice: stay away from Xiaoxue. You don't deserve her." After saying this, he left with his two henchmen, but the disdain in his eyes, as if he were crushing an ant, deeply wounded Qin Zou. The humiliation even surpassed the physical pain.

The scene shifted to a hospital.

An old expert with glasses, holding a medical opinion, said to Qin Zou, who was lying half-reclined on the bed, "After our thorough diagnosis, your right leg is fractured, but the situation is manageable. However, your left leg is very serious. The tibia is broken into two pieces, with a slight fracture at the break. The fibula is broken into three pieces, one of which is severely cracked, making it very dangerous. We recommend a bone replacement. If the surgery goes well, you should be able to walk like a normal person, though you won't be able to bear heavy loads. The cost is around 100,000 yuan. The second option is to do nothing, but if we don't replace the bone, even if the surgery is successful, you might end up with a limp, which is what we call a cripple—"

Qin Zou's body suddenly trembled. The word "cripple" deeply affected him. He hadn't expected his injuries to be so severe that he might become a cripple. He was only 22 years old, with a bright future and great dreams. He didn't want to be a cripple. A sudden fear surged in his heart, and he let out a horrified scream.

"Ah———"

Qin Zou suddenly woke up from his nightmare, drenched in sweat. He rubbed his forehead and said, "It was just a dream."

The moonlight shone through the window, revealing a neatly arranged room with cartoon pictures on the walls. A fist-sized coffee cat hung from the head of the bed, giving it a feminine touch. Qin Zou's body suddenly stiffened as his gaze fixed on the bed. A corner of the pink blanket was flipped up, revealing a leg still wrapped in white bandages. His stiff hand raised for a long time before falling weakly onto the bed. This wasn't a dream; it was all real.

If it weren't for Teacher Wang Ruo, who unexpectedly met him in the hospital and paid the outstanding examination fees, he would have been kicked out and left on the streets. In the end, Qin Zou didn't sign the medical opinion. He didn't want the first option, and even if he did, he couldn't afford it. The second option was even more unacceptable. Finally, an old Chinese medicine practitioner passing by mentioned that he had seen a similar patient over 20 years ago who didn't undergo surgery or bone replacement. The patient recovered by taking Chinese medicine, becoming even healthier than a normal person, though the treatment took over three years and involved a lot of medicine. The patient himself wasn't sure which herb was effective, so Qin Zou would have to figure it out himself.

Thus, Qin Zou placed his hope in Chinese medicine.

Seeing his leg, he couldn't help but think of Xue'er, a girl as pure as a fairy. In such a restless and realistic society, finding such a pure girl was a miracle to Qin Zou.

From the first moment he saw her, Qin Zou had a thought: this life, he would choose her. In the vast sea of people, as a student at G City's top university, Qin Zou, who was not particularly outstanding, became the first person to enter Zhao Xue's heart. This was a surprising turn of events, but many things in life can't be explained logically. Without grand vows or shocking actions, everything happened naturally, and they were together.

Those days were the happiest for Qin Zou. But...

Qin Zou's heart ached. It was all in the past, and it couldn't be brought back.

Qin Zou forced himself not to think about those messy things but found he couldn't fall asleep. He sighed, turned on the desk lamp, and noticed a poetry collection on the table. He picked it up and started reading—

"Looking out at the eastern hills in the evening,

Wandering, I know not where to rest.

Every tree is tinged with autumn,

Every mountain crowned with the setting sun.

Shepherds drive their calves home,

Hunters return with their game.

We look at each other, strangers all,

And sing of the wild herbs we gather."

Qin Zou's heart was deeply moved, and he burst into tears. This poem, "Wild Gaze" by the poet Wang Ji from the late Sui and early Tang dynasties, described the tranquil autumn scenery of a secluded place, with a touch of wandering, loneliness, and melancholy. While the poem was about Wang Ji, Qin Zou saw his own reflection in it.

The ancients did not see the moon of today, but the moon of today has shone upon the ancients.

He had read this poem before but didn't find it particularly remarkable. Now, however, it struck him with a profound impact, especially the line "Wandering, I know not where to rest," which vividly portrayed the feeling of aimlessness and the lack of support, just like his current state of mind.

Qin Zou was not Wang Ji. He couldn't determine whether Wang Ji's aimlessness was for himself or for the country, but the title "Wild Gaze" suggested it was more about the country. "Wild Gaze" implied that no matter how消极 and decadent a person might be, there was always a hidden ambition and a beautiful hope, whether for oneself or for the country, or both.

Qin Zou was just a small figure, and at this moment, he was only thinking about himself. A消极 person would eventually be forgotten in an unknown corner. He didn't want to be that person. He wanted to succeed, to climb, to be at the top of the pyramid, especially in his current situation, where his desire became even stronger.

The two characters "Wild Gaze" had thoroughly ignited his ambition.

However, a huge obstacle lay ahead. He couldn't go anywhere now. How could he realize his ambition? Qin Zou thought for three hours but found no answers. He had countless ideas, but none of them suited him. The slight pain from pulling out a few strands of hair brought him back to his senses. He knew that such problems couldn't be solved in a day or two. He couldn't rush it, or it would backfire. He turned on the TV to keep his mind calm.

"———The world's top ten game companies have jointly developed a super game called 'Wild Gaze,' which is about to enter our lives. This is an unprecedented impact on our lives. It's hard to imagine the shock this game will bring, but it will definitely be unprecedented and unparalleled. As everyone knows, three years ago, the game 'Warcraft' developed by BX Company became a global sensation, influencing 80% of players worldwide. Many players praised it as a masterpiece.

However, I can clearly tell everyone that after 'Wild Gaze' was released, the CEO of BX Company admitted that compared to 'Wild Gaze,' 'Warcraft' is like a child's toy. This statement shows the height 'Wild Gaze' has reached. Now, let me introduce some features of this game. It is controlled directly by brain waves, meaning anyone, even a paralyzed person, can play as long as they have brain waves. The realism reaches an astonishing 100%———"

Qin Zou didn't hear the rest of the introduction. The words "Wild Gaze," "paralyzed," and "can play" deeply affected him. He slapped his thigh, but the pain from the wound spread throughout his body, causing him to break out in a cold sweat and contort his face. Despite the pain, he laughed with joy, "I found it, I finally found it. The game, the game is my path, the way to realize my ambition. 'Wild Gaze,' I'm coming for you."

Earning money through games was no longer a secret. As long as you were skilled, making money wasn't a problem. The high prize money in e-sports tournaments, often reaching millions, had greatly attracted Qin Zou when he first encountered games. However, he didn't act then, but this time, he was serious.

It seemed that an invisible hand was guiding the course of history. No one knew that on this ordinary night, the two appearances of "Wild Gaze" would change the life of a small figure, and this small figure would change the world.

After making up his mind, Qin Zou carefully browsed through all the news and information about "Wild Gaze," not missing any details, hoping it would help him in the future. The release of "Wild Gaze" was indeed a sensation, unlike anything before. Not only did major media outlets bombard the public, but even military channels were paying attention, which was extremely rare in history. There was a lot of information, and the descriptions were very detailed, making it easy for Qin Zou to find what he needed.

"———The game's public beta test will start at 20:09 on September 20, ** year———"

Qin Zou checked the time. September 20 was tomorrow evening. Before he could get excited, he remembered a problem: the game helmet. The cheapest one cost 8,888 yuan, and the more expensive ones were out of the question. Even the cheapest helmet was beyond his means. His net worth was negative, and he still owed Teacher Wang over 3,000 yuan. Although Teacher Wang said he didn't have to pay it back, could he bear to not repay it?

If it weren't for the incident that led to his expulsion from school, he could have borrowed from his classmates, piecing together enough money. But now, that was impossible. After thinking for a long time, Qin Zou gritted his teeth and made a decision. If there was no other way, he would have to ask Teacher Wang for a loan, even though he had already borrowed from her once.

He fell asleep without realizing it. When he opened his eyes, it was already bright outside. The door knocked, and Qin Zou quickly responded, "Is it Teacher Wang? Please come in."

The door opened, and a young woman, about 25 or 26, with a beautiful face, fair skin, and a slender waist, entered. She wore a gray suit that revealed her long, slender, and white legs, making her look extremely attractive. She was Qin Zou's teacher from his first year, Wang Ruo.

Wang Ruo, with a Ph.D. in both history and management from the prestigious B University, came to G University to teach. Within half a month, she had won the hearts of half the male students and teachers with her elegant demeanor, beautiful appearance, and kind heart. She received so many love letters that they could be measured by weight, and her classes were always packed.

Fortunately, Wang Ruo was Qin Zou's advisor in his first year, and they had a good relationship. As the student from the poorest family in the class, Wang Ruo had always been concerned about him. That's why she recognized him in the hospital after so many years and kindly took him in, even giving up her own room.

Wang Ruo placed the breakfast on the table and carefully helped Qin Zou brush his teeth and wash his face. Afterward, she reminded him, "Remember to take your medicine after breakfast."

"Thank you, Teacher. I will," Qin Zou said, his face slightly blushing. Although it wasn't the first time, being treated like a child always made him feel embarrassed.

"I've already said you don't need to be so formal. Well, it's getting late. I have to go to class now. I'll come back to cook lunch for you. Be good at home, okay?" Wang Ruo ignored Qin Zou's embarrassment, waved, and left.

"Goodbye, Teacher." Qin Zou opened his mouth, feeling frustrated. He was too shy to ask for a loan.

What should he do? If he waited another day, it would be too late. Qin Zou was anxious and determined to ask for the loan at lunchtime, no matter what. He had to. Come on!

The morning passed quietly.

At noon, Wang Ruo returned home on time, carrying a large cardboard box. Qin Zou asked curiously, "Teacher Wang is back. What's this?"

Wang Ruo said, "It's the game helmet for 'Wild Gaze.' My friend sent it from abroad. She waited in line for a long time and couldn't come back yet, so she sent the helmet first, saying it would be safer at home."

'Wild Gaze' game helmet?! Qin Zou's heart raced, and an inexplicable excitement surged within him. An idea flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, can I use this helmet to play the game?"

"Well..." Wang Ruo hesitated, but seeing Qin Zou's eager expression, she couldn't bear to refuse. She nodded and said, "Okay, you must be bored at home. But remember, the game is just a game. Your main task is to recover. Understand?"

"Thank you, Teacher. I will be careful," Qin Zou suppressed his excitement, but his voice betrayed his joy. Wang Ruo didn't notice and went to cook.

"Here I come, 'Wild Gaze'!" Qin Zou looked up and shouted into the empty room.