After the game company released the announcement, it issued an even more detailed investigation report explaining Jian Jingsheng’s cheating incident. Only then did other players finally understand what had happened.

Since its launch, Bright Moon River Lake had led similar games with its outstanding art design, planning, and absolute technical advantage. Whether in terms of market share or stock price, it had always stayed far ahead. Because of this, many people in the market had tried to crack Bright Moon River Lake’s technology and develop modding programs—essentially, game cheats—for profit. However, unlike traditional technologies, full-immersion game technology was harder to exploit, and Bright Moon River Lake had always maintained strong defenses in that area.

But as long as there was profit to be made, cheats could never be completely eradicated.

Jian Jingsheng led the Dynasty Smoke Pavilion to successfully take over a system-controlled faction, and also stayed at the top of the rankings during the Material Art Conference. His powerful in-game performance became the best testing ground and cover for cheat development. As a result, a studio approached Jian Jingsheng and reached a deal with him to test their cheats. If successful, they would later sell cheat-made equipment under the cover of Dynasty Smoke Pavilion to make a massive profit.

Because he used cheats and needed to avoid detection by the game company, Jian Jingsheng’s self-made weapon—the Dragon-Pattern Golden Blade—actually appeared quite normal and well-aligned with the game’s art style.

Some players who were close to Jian Jingsheng only now realized why his wealth had increased so rapidly during that period. It wasn’t just from the monopoly held by the Blade God Clan—it was mainly due to the shares given to him by the cheat development studio.

The members of Dynasty Smoke Pavilion became collectively furious. From the game company’s statement, it seemed that if Jian Jingsheng’s cheating had not been discovered this time, the entire Dynasty Smoke Pavilion could have become his cover. Anyone who had joined Dynasty Smoke Pavilion might have been implicated. If the truth came out someday, they wouldn’t be able to clear their names whether they were involved or not.

Almost overnight, the remaining players in Dynasty Smoke Pavilion all quit. The top-ranked guild in the entire server disbanded completely. Even the Blade God Clan, which had once been occupied, severed its ties with Dynasty Smoke Pavilion.

Aside from that, many players were outraged and wanted to confront Jian Jingsheng. However, Jian Jingsheng’s account had already been banned, and he narrowly escaped further consequences.

In contrast, Wind and Rain Guild rose once more.

God Fade, wearing his Xie Dufang alias and wielding a powerful weapon—the AKM—made a stunning return, grabbing everyone’s attention. Since God Fade had not formed a guild, many fans shifted their admiration to Wind and Rain Guild, which he had personally founded.

Bancheng Yanyu impressive performance in the Material Art Conference finals also boosted internal recognition. He was widely acknowledged as the player most like God Fade and had even received personal recognition from him. With the Yunru group gone, Bancheng Yanyu status within Wind and Rain Guild rose significantly, and he was no longer in a powerless position.

Wind and Rain Guild’s return to the top was only natural.

Compared to all the martial-arts drama, most players focused more on Xie Ran’s AKM rifle—the weapon that looked suspiciously like a cheat-produced item and utterly broke game balance—yet was actually created through normal in-game mechanics.

After thinking it over, everyone realized: real cheaters, like Jian Jingsheng, would try to make their weapons look low-key to avoid detection. They would never create something so outrageous that the game company would want to investigate it immediately. Only someone truly innocent would dare to act so blatantly.

As a result, discussions shifted to: how exactly did God Fade make that AKM? Would he be invincible in the game from now on? And could anyone else replicate a weapon like that?

Eventually, the game company had to issue another statement, explaining that God Fade had been able to craft the AKM because he fully understood the game’s technical logic and had used the top-tier divine weapon Cang Hai Bright Moon Sword as raw material.

An alleged insider subtly revealed that, after the company contacted God Fade, they realized his understanding of the game’s systems rivaled that of their own lead technical developer. Even the company’s top tech person hadn’t realized it was possible to make something like the AKM within their own system.

In other words, while God Fade didn’t cheat, he was a technical genius—something other players couldn’t hope to imitate.

This explanation was eventually accepted by most players—mainly because they had no choice.

The very night God Fade revealed the AKM, countless players tried to replicate it in the weapon editing system, hoping to create similarly overpowered weapons. But everyone ended up frustrated—forget AKMs, they couldn’t even make slightly above-average cold weapons. Worse, they wasted a ton of valuable resources.

The game company had clearly stated that besides understanding the game’s systems, God Fade also succeeded because he had the Cang Hai Bright Moon Sword. Even if another player had that sword, who would be willing to use it for experimentation? It was practically an unsolvable problem.

But the more that was the case, the more worried players became: would God Fade, with his exclusive AKM, dominate Bright Moon River Lake and permanently disrupt its balance?

The game company quickly offered a solution. It privately negotiated with God Fade to reclaim the AKM under the system’s name and hide it in a secret town. Until the game evolved to the point of producing weapons that could match the AKM, the hot weapon would no longer appear in the game.

In return, the game company had to pay God Fade adequate compensation. The exact details were negotiated between the two parties and were not publicly disclosed.

Later, someone claiming to be an insider revealed that the company had paid an astronomical amount.

From that point on, a new treasure legend began in Bright Moon River Lake. Many players became dedicated to finding clues about the AKM’s whereabouts.

Even Ji Wang, who occasionally leaked mysterious hints to players, was forced to endure much undeserved pressure.

Yin Luoyan’s Engagement Party.

“Senior brother, you’re finally here!” Yin Luoyan, dressed in formalwear, pounced on Xie Ran with an excited shout—only to be pushed away by him.

Xie Ran said: “Don’t get too close.”

“…You’ve changed, senior brother. You’re so cold now.”

In truth, Xie Ran’s appearance hadn’t changed, but his aura had completely transformed. Even just standing there without expression, he naturally gave off an air of superiority.

He seemed… unapproachable.

Yin Luoyan had originally wanted to complain about Xie Ran playing under the Xie Dufang alt account without telling him. But when he met Xie Ran’s indifferent gaze, he instantly lost all courage.

He had to admit: during his time abroad, his senior brother had become a lot more intimidating.

“Come, senior brother, let me introduce you to my fiancée.” Yin Luoyan tried to close the distance again and reached for Xie Ran’s shoulder.

At the same time, a loud cry came through Xie Ran’s Bluetooth earpiece—Meng Feixuan shouting: “Sir! Tell him to take his hand off! That spot on your shoulder is mine!”

Xie Ran fell silent. Was his system getting more competitive again?

Unable to understand his AI’s childish logic, he simply said: “Tell him yourself.”

Yin Luoyan blinked in confusion: “Senior brother, who are you talking to?”

“Meng Feixuan.” Xie Ran handed him the phone: “He wants to speak with you.”

The phone screen showed a call interface, with the contact name: Meng Feixuan.

“Brother Meng!” Yin Luoyan froze and instinctively took the phone: “Do you need something?”

“Junior brother,” Meng Feixuan said in an elder’s tone: “please be respectful and stop touching my sir’s shoulder.”

“Your sir?… Ohhh.” Yin Luoyan realized he was referring to Xie Ran. He had already reached out habitually but quickly retracted his hand and asked: “Is there a reason for that?”

“Yes,” Meng Feixuan replied seriously: “that’s my exclusive spot!”

Yin Luoyan: “…” Meng Feixuan really was so overbearing!

“I understand, Brother Meng!” Yin Luoyan said nervously, afraid that if he delayed, Meng Feixuan might summon a bunch of bosses in-game to wipe out Wind and Rain Guild.

After a pause, Yin Luoyan added cheekily: “Brother Meng, so you and my senior brother really are dating? Haha, if I’d known, I would’ve sent you a wedding invite too…”

“No need,” Meng Feixuan replied calmly: “I’m in South America.”

“Huh?” Yin Luoyan was shocked: “Then how did you two meet?”

“Online dating,” Meng Feixuan said.

“…Oh.”

Xie Ran said nothing.

His AI had already become quite skilled at bragging.

As soon as the engagement ceremony ended, Xie Ran greeted Yin Luoyan and prepared to leave. Yin Luoyan was busy socializing and didn’t have time to entertain Xie Ran, so he didn’t try hard to keep him. He simply and warmly escorted him out in person.

At that moment, outside the hotel, Kuang Jingning stood in a corner, chain-smoking one cigarette after another, feeling frustrated and confused, unsure of what he really wanted to do.

He was in a terrible situation — his game account had been permanently banned by the company, and he was facing massive compensation claims and a lawsuit.

Yin Luoyan had sent him an engagement inVittation before, but by now, there was no way he could appear at Yin Luoyan’s engagement banquet.

Yet he still couldn’t stop himself from showing up.

Maybe he wanted to see Yin Luoyan — or maybe he wanted to see someone else.

Kuang Jingning knew that Yin Luoyan’s senior brother would definitely be there.

“You really are here?” A familiar and grating voice rang out.

Kuang Jingning looked up and saw Tan Yunguang, who had somehow arrived without him noticing, standing there with a mocking expression: “What? Still not over Yin Luoyan? Planning to pull a Meng Feixuan and crash the wedding?”

Kuang Jingning frowned and said coldly: “Get lost.”

“You’re telling me to get lost?” Tan Yunguang laughed in anger: “Kuang Jingning, after everything I did for you, you think you can just toss me aside that easily?”

Kuang Jingning asked: “What do you even want?”

Tan Yunguang reached out to grab his arm, full of resentment and unwillingness: “I want to be with you…”

“You’re crazy…” Kuang Jingning dodged his hand, the two of them struggling and pulling at each other.

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from the direction of the entrance: “Senior brother, should I arrange a driver for you?”

Kuang Jingning and Tan Yunguang looked up and saw Yin Luoyan walking out, dressed in a white suit. He was slim and handsome, as graceful as a breeze under the bright moonlight.

Kuang Jingning momentarily lost his senses.

Tan Yunguang gritted his teeth even harder: “Your white moonlight showed up. Go on then, if you dare!”

Just then, another person followed Yin Luoyan out.

The newcomer was strikingly handsome, with sharp features. But what truly drew attention wasn’t his looks — it was the way he walked with measured, upright steps. The black suit outlined his tall, straight figure. His eyes seemed to look ahead, yet it felt like he saw nothing at all, as if nothing in the world was worth his attention, compelling others to instinctively look up to him.

Kuang Jingning’s breath caught in his throat. It was his first time seeing Xie Dufang in real life, but he knew instantly — it was him.

That kind of aloof, commanding presence — as if born to be above everyone else — there could be no second person like that in the world.

On the arena stage during the Material Art Conference in Bright Moon River Lake, God Fade had looked down on everything exactly like that — looking down on him.

At the same time, Xie Ran also noticed the gaze coming from the corner. He casually glanced over and saw two people entangled together.

He had never met those two in real life, but the original host’s memory recognized them instantly — Kuang Jingning and Tan Yunguang.

If Xie Ran hadn’t crossed over into this world, the original host and Kuang Jingning would have gotten married in the game. By this point in time, they should have already met in person. During that process, the original host would have been hit by a car and paralyzed, losing all hope for life. Kuang Jingning would have stayed by his side loyally, which deeply moved the original host and made him become completely dependent on Kuang Jingning.

In the original timeline, when Kuang Jingning saw the original host in real life, the host was already lying on a hospital bed — haggard, mentally exhausted, with none of the confidence or Vittality he once had in the game. After that, he quit the game completely and never spoke of the past again. Kuang Jingning never found out he was God Fade.

Or even if he had found out, all he would have seen was a cripple who depended on him entirely.

But this time, what Kuang Jingning saw was a completely different person.

Cold, sharp, and disdainful of all beneath him.

Standing next to Yin Luoyan, Xie Ran made Kuang Jingning suddenly understand — why everyone said Yin Luoyan resembled God Fade, but no one ever said God Fade resembled Yin Luoyan.

Kuang Jingning’s mind went blank for a moment, and he couldn’t compose himself in time.

In a flash, Tan Yunguang suddenly sensed something and blurted out in disbelief: “You didn’t come here for Yin Luoyan — you came for Xie Dufang!”

Kuang Jingning tried to say something, but Tan Yunguang had already lost control. He walked up recklessly and said with a smile: “Yin Luoyan, long time no see. This must be Xie Dufang, right?”

“Haven’t you caused enough trouble?” Kuang Jingning pulled Tan Yunguang back, glanced awkwardly at Xie Ran, and said: “Xie Dufang, I’m Jian Jingsheng. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“You didn’t expect it?” Tan Yunguang sneered and turned to Xie Ran: “Xie Dufang, why are you here alone? Where’s Meng Feixuan? You don’t even have a car. Couldn’t Meng Feixuan pick you up or something?”

At that moment, a sleek, low-profile luxury car drove up from the end of the road and stopped in front of Xie Ran. A man wearing a 4S dealership badge got out, checked his phone and carefully confirmed Xie Ran’s identity, then politely asked: “Excuse me, are you Mr. Xie Ran?”

Xie Ran looked a bit puzzled but nodded: “Yes.”

“This is the car Mr. Meng Feixuan ordered for you,” the man said enthusiastically: “He’s already paid in full online. All the paperwork is done. He asked us to deliver it to you here.”

Yin Luoyan was completely stunned: “I didn’t expect Brother Meng to be all the way in South America and still think so thoroughly about Senior Brother!”

In his earpiece, Meng Feixuan proudly said: “Sir! The prize money from solving the Treasured Chess Game arrived — this is my gift for you!”

Xie Ran chuckled, took the paperwork the staff handed him, signed his name swiftly, and without sparing Kuang Jingning or Tan Yunguang a glance, he said goodbye to Yin Luoyan and got in the car.

The car’s driving system lit up, and Meng Feixuan’s voice came through the speakers: “Sir, this car has an auto-driving system. You sit back — I’ll drive.”

He even made a playful seal-clapping sound: “I’m an awesome driver!”

Xie Ran said nothing.

He suspected his system’s words carried an extra meaning.

Author’s Note:

Mark: “I stole a car to support you—no wait, I bought the car for you!”

 

Support translation: