"Haaah...."
Slumped over his workbench, Bai Heng let out a huge yawn.
In three days' time, fate would bring a destined encounter.
This was the divination Fu Xuan had left him with, and it left Bai Heng rather puzzled.
The heavens might drop a wife cake from the sky, but they'd never drop an actual wife.
He knew that all too well.
No matter how "destined" this encounter was supposed to be, there still had to be some basic emotional foundation, right?
But here on the Luofu, the only women he had any connection with were Fu Xuan, the Diviner, who'd just left moments ago, and 'General' Qingque, his regular Celestial Jade partner.
Fu Xuan was out of the question—she was the one who'd cast the divination. If she actually had those kinds of feelings for him, the prediction wouldn't be for an encounter three days from now—it'd be happening today.
And the words she'd used when offering him help would probably have been more like:
'If this little shop of yours really goes under, it might be a blessing in disguise. Just come back with me and be my little husband. I can't promise immense wealth, but at the very least, you won't go hungry.'
Alright, that not only sounded like wishful thinking, but it also didn't sound like something that tsundere pink-haired loli would ever say.
As for Qingque...
That was even less likely.
They were the kind of friends who'd seen each other at their absolute worst—the kind of familiarity that left no room for that type of feeling.
'Whatever, whatever~ What's done is done, and the future's too uncertain to worry about. Rather than stressing over this, I'd rather...'
'Simulation—start!'
Stretching lazily, Bai Heng decided to put the whole bothersome matter out of his mind and booted up the simulator.
--+--
[Knifing Simulation has begun.]
[Please select three random talent traits to begin the life simulation.]
[Fortitude (⭐⭐⭐⭐): A focused will can pierce stone. Your resolve is difficult to shake. Spirit +100, Stamina +100.]
[Leadership (⭐⭐⭐): Your words inspire others, your actions set an example. If you wish, you could become someone like that art school reject.]
[Sweet Tooth (⭐): You can reduce your stress by eating sweets.]
[Musical Prodigy (⭐⭐): You possess a talent for music beyond ordinary people. With time, you will surely grow into a master.]
[I Shall Raise a Rebellion (⭐⭐⭐): Rebellion against my elegant father! Calm invites death; rebellion brings new life. You can always see the truth hidden beneath peaceful appearances and say: No!]
--+--
As expected, luck wasn't always on his side.
During his first simulation, he'd gotten the 5-Star trait "The Fair Youth," which granted him the identity of a Star Child and ultimately earned him an S- rating.
But this time, he wasn't so fortunate.
Sighing inwardly, Bai Heng selected Fortitude, Leadership, and Rebellion.
[Fortitude] was straightforward—not only did it boost his stats, it also came with a permanent buff against mental interference, living up to its 4-Star rating.
[Leadership] was also an excellent trait, in Bai Heng's opinion, hardly inferior to the 4-Star Fortitude.
As for [I Shall Raise a Rebellion]... Bai Heng wasn't entirely sure what to make of it yet. He'd chosen it purely because it had the highest star rating among the remaining options.
[Ding, traits selected. Simulation loading....]
[Simulation loaded.....]
As Bai Heng finished selecting his traits, the screen before the live audience gradually brightened.
Almost immediately, a few comments floated past.
--+--
Stelle: 「Here we go, here we go, here we go! What kind of story will it be this time! So excited.JPG」
March 7th: 「How are you still so pumped? If I remember right, you were pretty down for a while after the last one...」
Stelle: 「Don't worry, I've been killing fish in the Simulated Universe for 20 years. My heart is colder than the bat in my hands! Right now, I'm terrifyingly strong!」
Elysia: 「No need to be so pessimistic~ The world isn't only filled with tragedies. Who's to say this story won't be positive, uplifting, and heartwarming?」
Kiana: 「Actually, if the last story hadn't ended the way it did... it would've fit all those descriptions.」
--+--
While everyone was discussing, Bai Heng's consciousness had already sunk into the simulation.
[Year 700 of the City-Building Calendar, Everwinter Monument Belobog. In this final bastion of humanity against the eternal frost, you were born.]
[You were fortunate. Even in this city of harsh conditions and scarce resources, your family was relatively well-off.]
[You lived carefree until the age of 13. At this age where you first began to understand the world, a small accident showed you another side of Belobog.]
[That place was called the Underworld. The residents living there faced bleak prospects, much like the depths they inhabited—never seeing the sky, the clouds, the sun, or... any future.]
[Their fates were sealed, doomed to live in extremely harsh conditions, becoming miners who hammered away at geodes day after day to supply the wealthy upstairs, only to eventually succumb to illness from years of labor and die.]
[This sight left a profound impact on your young mind.]
[From that moment on, you were determined to change it all.]
[You threw yourself entirely into your studies and began training your body. In the end, you achieved your goal: you were accepted into the Silvermane Guard Academy, graduated with outstanding results, and became a clerk in the Qlipoth Fort.]
[The moment the Silvermane Guard medal was pinned to your chest, you began to act.]
[You started repeatedly advising the Supreme Guardian Cocolia, proposing several plans to address the crises facing Belobog.]
[These plans may not have completely solved Belobog's problems, but they would at least have improved the current situation somewhat.]
[But Cocolia ignored your advice. Your colleagues cast mocking glances your way, believing you'd been blinded by delusions of grandeur, audaciously trying to alter a structure that had remained unchanged for centuries.]
[You were isolated by your peers, but you didn't stop. If the ruler had lost the ability to discern right from wrong, then you would rally the people!]
[On stormy, snow-filled nights, you took up your pen with fervor. One inspiring article after another flowed from your hand, published by newspapers you'd arranged in advance, reaching every household in Belobog.]
[Finally, on the Night of Rebirth, a symbol of hope, you stepped onto the plaza's stage before countless watching eyes and began a stirring speech!]
[You spoke to them of Belobog's plight and its unforeseeable future, exposing the corruption and deep-rooted flaws hidden within the city.]
['Before we can welcome hope and tomorrow, we must first reclaim our right to look toward the future!']
[Your firm voice was deeply compelling, the fire in your eyes reaching into the hearts of every citizen of Belobog. Without exception, they were moved by your words.]
[With you leading the way, crowds of people flowed orderly toward the Qlipoth Fort. On this Night of Rebirth, you were determined to shatter the stagnant structure that had encased Belobog for a hundred years!]
[Before the Qlipoth Fort, Supreme Guardian Cocolia coldly demanded of you:]
"Silvermane Guard Clerk Bai Heng, are you rebelling?"
You met the gaze of the woman standing on the steps, holding an icy spear, and spoke with unwavering resolve.
"No, Your Highness, Supreme Guardian Cocolia. This is not a rebellion. This is..."
"Revolution."
Unbeknownst to you, your resolute stance in that moment left a deep impression on a certain young girl standing behind Cocolia.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.