Chapter 10

"Xiaowei, Xiaowei!"

Under the cover of night, Duan Feng softly called out to the fourth-floor window.

Then a girl's head poked out, looking around, and she made a shushing gesture to Duan Feng.

A bedsheet appeared from the window, one end tied to the window frame, the other hanging to the ground. The girl grabbed the sheet, preparing to slide down.

Duan Feng watched anxiously: "Be careful!"

Zhang Wei lifted her head proudly: "Don't worry, I'm going to be a hero. If I can't even do this little thing... Oops..."

By accident, her hand slipped on the bedsheet, and she began to fall.

Duan Feng reached out in shock to catch her, but with his small build, he would only be crushed if he did.

Just as Zhang Wei was about to hit the ground, a strong hand caught her.

Zhang Wei looked up: "Brother!"

Before her was the familiar, stern, and somewhat cold face.

Zhang Chenghu looked at his sister, then glanced down at Duan Feng, who shrank back and took a few steps backward.

Five minutes later.

Zhang Wei and Duan Feng stood in front of Zhang Chenghu, their necks bent like children who had done something wrong.

Zhang Chenghu looked at his sister, then at Duan Feng: "So you've grown up, huh? You can even climb out of windows now?"

Zhang Wei quickly said: "No, it's just that the world has changed. It's an opportunity for all of humanity. I heard you can achieve immortality?"

"Who told you that?"

Duan Feng hurriedly explained: "There are superpowers, and some people have already obtained them. Kill a hundred monsters, and you get one."

"Immortality?"

"Not exactly... just a bit more strength," Zhang Wei said softly.

"So you need to kill a hundred monsters to gain a bit more strength? You could achieve the same by eating more."

Zhang Wei pouted: "Brother, you're really a downer."

Zhang Chenghu sighed: "Do you think I don't understand your little schemes? You think the world has changed, and your opportunity has come? Forget it. Look at history. Even if the world does change, those who rise to the top are often the big shots from the old era."

Duan Feng retorted: "But even so, for people like us at the bottom, it's still an opportunity. Taking risks doesn't guarantee success, but not taking them means you might have nothing."

Zhang Wei added: "Exactly, Brother. It's an opportunity for everyone. Many people are still watching. If we just sit here, we'll miss our chance!"

Zhang Chenghu looked at his sister: "Have you played online games before?"

"Uh-huh." Zhang Wei nodded.

"Have you ever completed a game without dying?"

Zhang Wei shook her head: "How could that be possible?"

Zhang Chenghu: "So how can you be sure you'll complete the game without dying in the gods' game?"

Zhang Wei was speechless.

Duan Feng said: "Maybe we can't complete it without dying, but we don't have to complete it either. Life isn't a game, and we understand the risks. But moving slowly is better than not moving at all. Don't worry, Brother Cheng, I'll take care of Xiaowei."

Despite thinking Duan Feng was unreliable, his words touched Zhang Chenghu at that moment.

He paused for a moment, then sighed: "It seems I can't stop you. But if you ask for my opinion, I'm still worried about you taking such risks."

"Brother!!!" Zhang Wei called out.

Though still a young girl, Zhang Wei had her own adventurous spirit.

The moment the gods appeared and the game rules were announced, Zhang Wei realized that the games she loved could now be played in reality.

There might be danger, but Zhang Wei was willing to try.

Zhang Chenghu always thought it was Duan Feng's influence, but he didn't know that his sister was even more determined.

Seeing Zhang Chenghu slowly stand up, Zhang Wei's heart sank.

After their parents died, the siblings relied on each other. She didn't want to go against her brother's wishes, but she couldn't bear to give up.

Then she saw Zhang Chenghu pick up the two machetes they had prepared and say: "Let's go."

"Huh?" Zhang Wei looked at her brother in surprise.

Zhang Chenghu slowly said: "I can't stop you, so I'll go with you. Who else do I have but you?"

"Brother, you're the best!" Zhang Wei excitedly hugged Zhang Chenghu.

---

Shanglin Alley.

Luo Rou'er walked down the alley with a backpack and a paper box in her hand.

Passing through the dark path, she reached the door and heard the familiar sound of mahjong before she even entered.

Through the window, she could see Luo Tuo and the others playing mahjong enthusiastically, the room filled with smoke and a strong smell of alcohol.

It was hard to believe they still had the heart to play mahjong at such a time, truly unperturbed by the world's collapse.

Luo Rou'er huffed and entered, heading straight to her room.

Luo Tuo, seeing her, slapped the table and shouted: "You brat, why are you so late? Look at the time!"

Luo Rou'er ignored him and closed her door.

"Hey, can't you hear me? Look at this girl, what has she become? No manners at all, how do you raise your children? Eighty thousand."

Li Caifeng, with her feet up high, said: "Go to hell, you blame me for education. Did you teach her? You always blame me. Four sticks."

Luo Tuo's eyes bulged: "Are you women itching for a fight?"

The auntie tried to calm them: "Come on, don't fight. Just play the game. Seven sticks, I'll take it."

"What are you taking? I win." The fat man at the next seat revealed his tiles.

"Damn, you win again. You're a damn fool, always winning." Luo Tuo shouted at his sister.

"Damn you, that's how I play."

"Right, you're a damn fool!"

The arguments and laughter continued, piercing through the door.

In her room, Luo Rou'er was playing with her beloved songbird.

"Xiaomei, I haven't been here all day, you must be hungry, right? Sorry, but what can I do with such a master? Don't worry, after today, you'll be free." Luo Rou'er opened the paper box, which contained several chicks. As she spoke, she took out a small knife from her bag.

Remembering something, Luo Rou'er turned and called out: "No need to cook for me, I've already eaten outside."

Luo Tuo was stunned, thought for a moment, and then seriously discarded a tile, then angrily said: "You brat, you don't eat what's cooked at home but eat outside. Where did you get the money to eat outside?"

The auntie immediately said: "Who else but a handsome guy? These girls, as long as they let someone take advantage, a meal is no big deal. Two cakes!"

"I'll take it."

"Of course, mistresses are always loved." The auntie was unhappy that her tile was taken, her tone becoming harsher.

Li Caifeng was furious: "Luo Rou'er, you're only sixteen, and you're already eating with strange men? Tell me, are you pregnant? And you didn't bring anything back for the family? Seven sticks... no, wait..."

"Chow, put it down." Luo Tuo shouted.

"Put your damn mother, I made a mistake."

"Making a mistake and retracting a tile, are you human?"

"Your daughter goes out with men, a meal and she's in bed, that's not human."

"That's your daughter!"

The couple started a big argument.

In the room, Luo Rou'er held the knife and slit the necks of the chicks one by one. The chicks struggled fiercely but couldn't resist Luo Rou'er. Blood soon stained the paper box.

The songbird jumped around in the cage, clearly terrified by the scene.

"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you, Xiaomei." Luo Rou'er spoke to the bird while continuing her slaughter.

Her movements were slow but steady, not like a beginner at all.

One by one, the chicks became victims, but Luo Rou'er's eyes remained bright.

After killing the last chick, Luo Rou'er frowned: "Why didn't I level up?"

She looked at the sky in confusion.

The Heavenly Palace still hung in the sky.

Luo Rou'er looked at the chicks again and started counting: "One, two... fourteen... twenty-eight, twenty-nine... twenty-nine?"

Luo Rou'er was stunned.

She counted again, and there were indeed only twenty-nine.

The damn merchant must have shortchanged her.

Luo Rou'er was dazed.

It was unrealistic to go buy more now. When she left, the market was almost empty, and it would be hard to find more live animals.

"Just one more..." Luo Rou'er pouted.

She slowly looked up at the songbird.

The bird jumped even more frantically.

Luo Rou'er reached into the cage, and despite the bird's efforts to escape, it couldn't get away.

Luo Rou'er held the bird, stroking its head: "Xiaomei, you've been with me for so long, why are you still afraid of me? Do you think I would hurt you? Am I that kind of person?"

The bird struggled desperately.

Luo Rou'er suddenly frowned: "I am!"

With her left hand, she grabbed the bird's neck and twisted it, breaking it.

The long-awaited sound finally rang in her ears. Luo Rou'er closed her eyes, a blissful expression on her face.

She could feel the power surging through her body.

Bang!

The door was kicked open.

Li Caifeng, hands on her hips, shouted angrily: "I asked you a question, why aren't you answering? Who did you eat with?"

Luo Rou'er slowly turned around.

Li Caifeng, seeing her eyes, involuntarily shivered.

Then she realized, "I'm her mother, why should I be afraid?"

A strong urge to make up for her past actions made her rush forward and slap Luo Rou'er.

But before the slap landed, Luo Rou'er caught her hand.

"You... you dare to hit back?" Li Caifeng was stunned.

Luo Rou'er waved her hand, and Li Caifeng was sent flying, crashing through the door and landing on the street.

The others playing mahjong were stunned, and Luo Tuo watched in shock as his daughter walked out of the room.

Her voice was cold: "From today, I no longer bear the surname Luo. Luo Rou'er is dead. From now on, I am Rouwa."

She left the house and never returned.