Chapter 1724: Chapter 68: Go, Move Forward
He lifted his eyes and saw the dense uniforms of soldiers, as far as the eye could see... As the world leader, the death of every soldier was his responsibility.
"Captain..."
"Big Brother."
"Su Ming’an..."
"Traveler."
"Visitor from the Otherworld."
"Classmate Su."
"Brother Ming’an!"
"Lighthouse Sect Leader."
"Prophet."
"Your Highness..."
"Holy Master."
"Father."
"Ming An’an."
"Yang Xia..."
"Despicable One."
"Captain!"
"Lord Bai Shen!"
"Heretic..."
"Doctor."
"Master!"
"City Lord."
"My Friend."
"Su Ming’an (￣︶￣)"
"Lord Angel."
"The only real Su Ming’an."
"Little Cloud..."
"Detective!"
"Da Su!"
"Demon Lord."
"Olivius."
"Lord."
"Lighthouse Emperor!"
"Number One Player..."
In an instant, various titles blossomed like flowers.
Su Ming’an seemed to suddenly don countless vests, only to have them torn off just as quickly. He gazed at the vast ocean-like crowd.
So many already, so far...
He waved his hand and shouted:
"Quiet—quiet!!"
His voice carried an echo, and people gradually quieted down.
"Everyone knows the situation, please press the button in front of you and make your choice." As he finished speaking, his words were echoing, and if not for his incredible divine sense, he wouldn’t have been able to hear.
"Got it! Don’t worry, Number One Player!"
"Okay, I’ll press it."
"You’ve come so far... it’s really reassuring."
"Little Cloud! Miss Demon King will rally votes for you!"
"Su Ming’an, did you see Xiber? I couldn’t find her, luckily she’s not here."
"Lord Angel... I finally... see you again..."
"City Lord, I didn’t expect we’d meet again today. You look well, great."
"Holy Master, there are so many people here! Has your Talent Bloodline Awakening Formation already covered other worlds? Did you meet Your Majesty?"
"Father, we will all [support] you in moving forward."
"Captain, have you seen our former captain? We want to assure him that we’re safe... cough cough, though being here means it’s not quite safe."
"Doctor, it’s so nice to see you."
"Captain..."
Su Ming’an was bombarded with various remarks, lively like an old friends’ gathering, like a big pot of steaming porridge. He saw many familiar faces, even some he couldn’t possibly see again... He thought of stopping to reminisce, to talk about the past and the future, but he quickly recovered his clarity.
—Because among the crowd, he discovered with his divine sense an absolutely impossible person.
White hair like snow, gazing silently.
Godfather.
Though it was impossible to determine if such a resolute disappearance could be considered death... But upon seeing the Godfather, Su Ming’an regained his clarity; he could not stop for the scene before him... These were all false simulations.
Streaks of green light rose, and he saw a progress bar in the sky.
...
[Supporters: 23%]
[Opponents: 4%]
[Non-voters: 73%]
...
This represents the voting situation of the people.
...There are some who oppose.
Meanwhile, certain voices flowed into his ears:
"He is the possessor of Yasa Acto who destroyed our civilization, Su Ming’an. I heard God talking about him. We almost succeeded."
"The Maritime Banquet was a game between him and Su Rin. Many of us died meaninglessly..."
"It was to capture this man that the nobles’ army passed through my village, and my father, my wife, my children all died because of him!"
"For the implementation of that Talent Bloodline Awakening Formation, nearly everyone in our village is dead!"
"The war under his leadership caused our entire family to perish in the conflict..."
"He killed the gods in Luowasha, and the enraged nobles took out their anger on us, forcing my sister and me to become sacrifices for the deity’s resurrection..."
"He killed me. I want him to pay for his life!"
As support increases, opposition also begins to rise.
...
[Supporters: 27%]
[Opponents: 9%]
[Abstainers: 64%]
...
Here are people who he directly or indirectly caused the death of. Besides acquaintances, strangers cannot harbor no resentment in their hearts.
Su Ming’an listens to the praise and listens to the denigration; listens to confessions and listens to curses; listens to desires and listens to hatred.
He did not say any extra words, no coercion, no enticement, no persuasion, and no deceit. He stood above in the sky, waiting for people to make their own choices.
He admits to all these sins.
This long road of salvation will always have people getting off. During the most chaotic period in the Ruined World, to ensure the continuation of civilization, those who sacrificed were even more than those who survived.
He cannot force those who died because of him to hold compassion and tolerance. He accepts all the guilt and listens to all the evil.
He stands still, hearing the soldiers of the Ruined World shout "Long live the City Lord," hearing the Ta Wei refugees declare him "The Butcher of Civilization"; seeing the Soul Hunters of Pulaya salute him, calling him "Captain Su Ming’an," and seeing the fishermen who lost their relatives to the Sea Monster disaster glaring at him, calling him "despicable"; feeling the fervent faith of Ming Hui’s Revolutionary Army, honoring him as "Holy Master," also seeing the cold gaze of the nobles of the old days, despising him as "The Betrayer of Class"; hearing the thanks of countless comrades who once fought alongside him, and also seeing countless souls of strangers whose homes were broken because of his decisions.
"Keep moving forward, Number One Player!"
"You shouldn’t live on, why couldn’t you save us!"
"Savior of civilization, you deserve gratitude and admiration!"
"You Executioner of civilization, you damned butcher!"
"City Lord! From the day we followed you out of Central City, our lives are yours! As long as the fireseed of civilization doesn’t extinguish, we lay here in peace! Vote [Support]! Damn it, all of you vote [Support] for me!"
"Why... why must my Ah Bao die? He said he would follow the City Lord to change the world...so young, so obedient...City Lord, you saved so many, why... why couldn’t you bring back my Ah Bao too?"
"You and Lord Su Rin ended the Reincarnation, allowing the Pulaya people to finally grow old under the sunlight. My life should have ended sixty years ago on the battlefield; every extra day is a gain!"
"Maritime Banquet? Haha, what a banquet indeed! My father was just an ordinary sailor, he knew nothing about the Soul Clan or games of strategy! Just because you wanted to set up, that entire ship became a sacrifice! What a bullshit savior, executioner!"
"Holy Master! It was you who ignited the first flame! We didn’t die in vain! Seeing now that everyone can awaken their talents, children no longer need to be fuel. It was worth it! Long live the revolution!"
"Rebels! Usurpers! My family’s millennia of glory, serving the gods, following ancient rituals—what have we done wrong? Just because of the distorted beliefs you brought, my whole family got hung by mud-covered peasants at the city gate! You destroyed my world!"
"Lord Angel! It was you who cut down the god enslaving us! Although I lost my family in the chaos, at least my children, and my children’s children, are born no longer as livestock! This freedom is because of you, I support you...!"
"Executioner, you killed gods, fine! But why do we have to suffer the nobles’ wrath? Simply because my bloodline is looked down upon? Where were you when my sister and I were selected as sacrifices? Hypocrite!"
"I just want a full meal... Your great person’s wars trampled over our crops... I didn’t mean to stand in anyone’s way..."
"Holy Master... it hurts so much... I just want to live... I want to awaken to powerful talents as you said..."
"I’ve lived here all my life, abiding by my duties, diligent and conscientious... Why does it have to be my city? Why did grenades fall on my hometown?"
"I’ve been working overtime day and night, preparing to marry and buy a house, I did nothing. One day, the deities suddenly told us we failed, and we’re all going to die..."
In the corner, a child once killed by a stray bullet cries helplessly, unclear about what’s happening now, not seeing his mother, only knowing to wail.
Support, oppose, abstain.
Love, hate, numbness, understanding, confusion, letting go, never forgiving...
All the emotions, all the stances, all the lives that ended because of him, dissolved into simple [Support] and [Oppose], merging into the torrent deciding his fate.
A black-haired youth stands in the center of a tempest composed of billions of deaths and billions of voices, akin to a silent monument.
He closes his eyes, the ring on his fingertip glowing. Compared to the dozens of names in the Ring of Time, the people here are as numerous as the sands.
Below him are the breathing, the heartbeats of trillions of corpses.
Though he said to record lost ones into the grave of civilization in his heart... but what he can truly remember is no more than a fraction.
More are those who disappeared silently, unheard and unspeakable.
At this moment, they materialize in front of him—so grand, so shocking, so vast, no less than witnessing a tsunami engulfing oneself.
Nothing weighs more than his heart at this moment.
...
[Supporters: 30%]
[Opponents: 12%]
[Abstainers: 58%]
...
Supporters understand his path, willing to pave the future with sacrifice.
Opponents cannot let go, having lost everything, with home razed, only able to repay with anger and hatred.
Su Ming’an didn’t try to persuade opponents with impassioned speeches, nor did he tempt supporters with grand plans. He stood there like an empty valley accommodating all voices.
This is beyond legal accountability, nor is it about moral rights and wrongs.
To prevent the Ruined World from invasion, he destroyed Ta Wei’s civilization. To defeat Ta Wei, countless soldiers marched forward. To fend against High Dimensions, how many unsatisfied lives have millennia taken away? In Luowasha, he beheaded a deity, yet the resulting turbulence affected countless mortals, becoming sacrifices to the nobles’ wrath.
In the blood and flesh-covered thorns, he wields a knife to clear a path, the thorns inevitably cutting both himself and others.
He saved countless lives, which is a fact.
He indirectly caused millions of deaths, which is also a fact.
The light and shadow are intertwined, forming his standing position at this moment, forming "Su Ming’an."
Supporters see the Light Side, opponents see the Dark Side. Like a mirror, reflecting the young man’s vastly different face.
Su Ming’an’s gaze swept over the crowd and saw the silently standing figure with white hair—the Godfather.
The white-haired man nodded, like a snow lotus blossoming, an iceberg melting, slowly forming a comforting smile.
At this moment, Su Ming’an spoke:
"I do not defend myself."
"I will not say that your sacrifices were worthwhile because it is not for me, the one who caused the sacrifices, to judge their worth."
"Nor will I ask for your forgiveness because forgiveness is the right of the victims. I only stand here, to let you see."
"I admit to the blood on my hands, I acknowledge all the deaths caused by me, directly or indirectly, no matter the noble purpose, for the departed individuals, it is an end."
"If you believe that ending my path will bring peace to your pain... then press [Oppose]. That is your right."
"If you believe that what you cherish... the future of your homeland, the continuation of ideals, that future individuals will not experience the same tragedy, remains because of me. Then, please press [Support]."
"And if you are still hesitating... then follow your most genuine feelings at this moment. Do not be swept by the bigger picture, do not be held hostage by sacrifice. Here there is no right or wrong."
"I accept it all."
Accept the starlight, and accept the night.
At this moment, he is no longer just the ’Savior,’ the ’City Lord,’ the ’Traveler,’ or any other. He stands at the crossroads paved by countless lives and deaths, clearly seeing the sin and responsibility, blood and hope beneath his feet.
...
[Supporters: 37%]
[Opponents: 14%]
[Non-voters: 49%]
...
Some felt respected by his defense, some calmed their anger by his candid admission, and some still could not let go.
The figure of the young man, against the backdrop of the vast sea of humanity, appeared exceptionally lonely, like a reef in a storm that neither dodges nor breaks, silently greeting the tides.
...
[Supporters: 41%]
[Opponents: 16%]
[Non-voters: 43%]
...
In the Soul Hunt team of Pulaya, an old soul hunter with white hair slowly stepped out.
Behind him, many young soul hunters followed silently.
...
[Supporters: 43%]
[Opponents: 18%]
[Non-voters: 39%]
...
The child who had been crying loudly for his mother slowly quieted down. He looked around at the complex expressions on the adults’ faces, at the lonely and sad-looking black-haired brother in the sky above. The child did not understand civilization, sacrifice, right and wrong; he only felt a great sadness enveloping that person.
A girl’s soul, who had also died young, floated over, held his hand, and whispered: "Don’t cry... my mom said that brother is trying hard to make everyone stop crying... though he seems like he’s about to cry himself."
Children possess the most genuine perception.
The child sobbed. He did not understand support and opposition, but vaguely felt that if that lonely brother could continue on, maybe afterward, there wouldn’t be so many children unable to find their mothers.
...
[Supporters: 45%]
[Opponents: 20%]
[Non-voters: 35%]
...
An old farmer, who had previously cursed the most fiercely, trembled his lips, holding his head, squatted down, and cried: "I... I’m just heartbroken for my child... I know someone has to fight the wars... but why was it my child..."
Beside him, a young soul with a red revolutionary armband on his arm said: "Luckily, the whips of the nobility did not strike generation after generation."
The old farmer quivered his lips and let out a long sigh.
...
[Supporters: 47%]
[Opponents: 22%]
[Non-voters: 31%]
...
Beside the boy who died in pain from the Talent Awakening Formation, stood an elder of Ming Hui.
The elder stroked the boy’s head and asked, "Child, does it hurt?"
The boy nodded: "It hurts a lot, I died because of the pain."
The elder asked, "And then?"
The boy said, "Afterwards, I heard my brother succeeded, he awakened a really powerful talent, he can fly... the village no longer has to send people as sacrifices."
...
[Supporters: 48%]
[Opponents: 23%]
[Non-voters: 29%]
...
Hatred and understanding were at a stalemate. On the edge of the clamor, a voice clear and crisp as melting snow water drifted over the noise.
"Ladies and gentlemen."
In the crowd, the man with hair like a waterfall of snow raised his gaze, like an eternal glacier. His voice was amplified, overpowering many intense voices. His eyes swept over one face of anger, grief, and bewilderment after another:
"I would like to ask—what you truly wish to judge, is it a person, or a choice?"
"As each of your civilizations teeter on the brink of collapse, who can provide a solution that allows everyone to survive?"
"You died because of the causality he is associated with, that is a fact, indisputable. But please consider another possibility: without his involvement, you and all you held dear—the culture, memories, and bloodline continuity behind you... might have been extinguished in darkness much earlier. You might not even have the qualification to stand here expressing opposition."
"If you see two people drowning and reach out to save one, does that mean you have doomed the other? Conversely, if you stand by and let both drown, does that become a more noble choice? Without him, this place would be as empty as a grave, with not even an echo of accusation."
His words left many silent.
Gradually, the voices grew more chaotic:
"My brother died in the war, but his son and grandson can grow up under the sun. This is a future that several generations couldn’t change, I don’t think it’s bad."
"Sir... I don’t understand revolution or nobility. I only know that my village used to give the lord the best grain and daughters every year, and now we don’t need to anymore. Although many died during the war... but, but at least there’s a different kind of hope now. I... I believe in what you said back then."
"I hate this fickle life. But in the end, without that banquet, Pulaya would have been overrun by sea monsters long ago. Hating someone is too tiring, especially hating someone who actually bears everything; it’s repaying kindness with hatred."
"Although I don’t understand what you’re talking about... he seems to be a good man, my daughter said that good people shouldn’t have guns pointed at them. I trust my daughter."
"How could I hate him? He doesn’t have to care about our civilization. How can we blame him for the sacrifices! Without him, there would be endless sacrifices!"
"The bad ones are the invaders, not the ones who save us. I’m thankful he came to our world."
...
[Supporters: 62%]
[Opponents: 24%]
[Non-voters: 14%]
...
The time is up, the voting has ended.
Su Ming’an opened his eyes.
He saw the images of countless souls slowly begin to emit a soft glow and become transparent as the choice was determined.
He passed this round of the game, and their existence would also vanish. Those who have died cannot see the sun of tomorrow.
The corner of his eye caught sight of several unforgettable familiar figures, looking at him as if they had much to say, but he couldn’t get closer. He knew these deceased were fictional creations. The deceased were ultimately gone; how could he seek their traces of existence in the game and become soft?
A spectacle formed by hundreds of billions of deaths, choices, and emotions.
He would forever be a gap, standing between the saved collective and the sacrificed individuals, unable to satisfy everyone, nor seeking everyone’s forgiveness.
He bore all the consequences of his choice, including both light and shadow... including the love and hatred that comes with it.
He walked forward, toward the exit shrouded in white light. Behind him, the words of farewell turned into countless strands, lingering in his ears.
The boundless "ocean of people" gradually faded, turned transparent, and transformed into countless scattered streams of light, dispersing in all directions. Familiar figures stared at him, gradually dissipating, like sand slipping through the fingers.
"I am the vendor you saved on the streets of Pulaya Locas... although in the end, I still died in the subsequent turmoil, thank you for your outstretched hand at that time."
"I’m the passerby who pointed the way for you in the World of Old Days..."
"I’m the vagrant who brushed past you in the Ruined World... in the end, I didn’t make it, but you seem to have done something we didn’t dare to imagine. Impressive."
"Big Brother, that day you bought the last wilting flower from me, giving me enough for a day’s meal... later there was war in the alley, I didn’t escape... but that day, I was very happy. The flower, I’ll give it to you."
"Holy Master, is the place you are going far? Is it beautiful? Mom said good places are full of colors... I’ve never seen them. Can you go see them for me?"
"Great hero! I did not die under your orders, I only feel proud and honored! Don’t be sad, move forward!"
"City Lord, go on, move forward."
"We will forever remain in the past, never reaching tomorrow, please go see it for us!"
"Losing to you is not unjust. My war is over, yours isn’t. Don’t lose to those behind, or it would make it seem I have poor judgment."
"As this body disperses, only a breeze remains, sending you off a journey, wishing you take care."
"Ming An’an! Just charge forward! When you win, remember to tell us the final story!"
His eyes filled with a clarity washed of dust.
He watched the scattering dots of light, as if shedding all the vests and clothes, facing them with the identity of "Su Ming’an" to say goodbye.
He extended his hand, lightly touching the scattering points of light, as if catching the blessings within.
The final blessings, gathering into an immense tide.
"Go."
"Forward."
"Don’t look back."
"Carry our share."
"Go see the spring we cannot see."
"Go build the city we didn’t have time to build."
"Go love the people we didn’t get to love enough."
"Go become the future we cannot be."
"I love you."
"I hate you."
"You are the savior of civilization."
"You are the executioner of civilization."
"You lifted everyone."
"You let everyone down."
"You saved everyone."
"You killed everyone."
"Thank you for walking through our world."
"Goodbye, Su Ming’an."
He turned around.
Took a step.
Walked toward the path to tomorrow, paved by the souls of billions of the deceased.
...
"... I will move forward."
...
