Wanjie Game Hall, I sent Kiana to Silent Hill

Bronya took this opportunity to change the subject.

"Manager, Bronya wants to know why your house has moved from the second floor to the third floor."

"Some time ago, we had enough points, so we expanded the building by one floor." Wang Xuanqiao explained to her while skewering meat. "We're planning to open a comprehensive internet cafe on the second floor, providing computer games, entertainment reading, and audio-visual projection services."

"But the equipment isn't in place yet. I'll set it up when I have time. If you're interested, you can be the first member to experience the new floor."

After the expansion of the floors, the points were still a bit stretched, but the Silent Hill dance party in the train group directly recharged the points.

"As for entertainment reading, Bronya does have some interest. If it's comics from the manager's world, it would be a whole new world for Bronya."

"But new things also mean taking risks in exploration." Wang Xuanqiao saw that Bronya was a little too expectant, so he reminded her.

Although there are indeed countless classics in the world of comic novels, they seem to have begun to develop towards abstraction in recent years. There is a kind of attempt at innovation but without real ideas, so only abstract beauty remains.

Even the gaming industry is actually similar. When Wang Xuanqiao was browsing gaming news, he found that game manufacturers in Europe and the United States have been more or less distorted by the messy culture, and works of normal quality like Black Myth have become more precious.

In this environment where manufacturers and players are out of touch, it is natural that Black Myth can set off a Journey to the West craze around the world.

In a sense, Yulandel can also be considered a part of this trend.

And now, she is also in the midst of the 'heat'.

Looking out from the Flaming Mountain, all that's visible is lava and heat waves. Amidst this barren landscape, an old ox sits withered and dejected. He seems to be lamenting the loss of his own plot of farmland, his expression drawn and his body emaciated.

Just from this picture, it's hard to associate him with the Bull Demon King in Journey to the West. But throughout the entire journey to the West, there was only this Bull King in the Flaming Mountain.

When Youlandel saw the Bull Demon King, she could hardly believe that this demon king, who was as famous as the Monkey King, had fallen into such a miserable state.

Who harmed him like this?

"Brother Niu, save your energy. We still have to fight our way up to the heavens and capture that old Jade Emperor!"

Was it the Monkey King who dragged him into openly challenging the Heavenly Court, fighting against the heavenly soldiers and generals, but was ultimately defeated miserably?

"I know you're reluctant, but I was also forced to do it. They forced me to drink the water from the Zimu River and gave birth to that child."

Is it Princess Iron Fan who gave birth to a child of unknown origin, leaving him in a dilemma and forcing him to swallow the bitter fruit himself?

"Old scoundrel! You knew my past, so why were you still willing to be their dog? I don't want to sever ties with you. If you still have any ties of kinship, you should hand that thing over to me and let me go back to avenge my people!"

Was it Red Boy who, after learning of all the causes and consequences, vowed revenge, forcing him to imprison him, thus causing the father and son to turn against each other?

"I've taught your brother a lesson; I've given your son away; and today, I'm also going to take possession of your wife's fan. Acknowledge a master and cultivate the true fruit. This is the only path left for us to take. Don't you understand, elder brother?"

Is it the Sun Wukong who, after being defeated by the Heavenly Court, obeyed their orders and started beating his former brothers with sticks?

still......

"I always thought that if I accumulated merit and became an immortal, they would let me go, and you too... It turns out that for someone like me, living alone would be a sin."

He himself has never seen the truth of this world, and is like an old cow who refuses to raise his head or open his eyes?

But what was wrong with what he did?

Fighting for his brother in heaven was his duty to him; enduring his wife giving birth to an outsider was his love for her; locking up his child and refusing revenge was his love for her. And then there was the rage that erupted over the death of his beloved concubine, and finally the pain he felt for participating in the siege of his brother. All of this...

It’s not that he made the wrong choice, but that he had no choice at all.

When the oxen are tied with ropes and when people's hearts are bound, the question that seems to have a choice actually only has one answer.

Live for brothers, for wife, for children, for lover, for the future, for...

The old ox toiled in the fields for others, leaving only some weeds to feed its hunger. He watched his wife, forever a wife, beg on her knees to save their child's life, offering treasures and devaluing herself. Then he watched the child he had raised refuse to yield, angrily denouncing everything and then committing suicide in a final act of defiance.

The old ox, who wanted to keep something but ultimately failed to keep anything, could no longer hold its head high. It could only lean against the barren mountain and lament softly...

Now, Youlan Daier had gathered all five root tools. As long as she returned to Huaguo Mountain and found the old monkey, the day of the Monkey King's resurrection would come. But she chose not to continue, instead opting to temporarily withdraw from the game.

After taking off the helmet, the system gave the reward to Yulandel.

[Unbounded Mouth] and [Formless Body] have both arrived, but the last one, [Boundless Heart], has not yet arrived. It is obvious that it is waiting for her in the last chapter. Unfortunately, Youlan Daier is not in the mood to read these now. She just silently recalls the story of the Bull Demon King.

There is a kind of tragedy in this world, which is that you have done nothing wrong, but everything is wrong.

Yulandel was not a sentimental person, but the sadness of the Bull Demon King was particularly clear to her, just because the old bull reminded Yulandel of something.

When the Monkey King returns again, when someone raises the banner of rebellion against the Heavenly Court again, will there be... a new Bull Demon King who hangs his head and weeps silently at the end of the story?

How strong does a person need to be in order to truly protect the beauty in this world?

Can the Monkey King do it without the golden hoop to restrain him?

After collecting all five sets, can I do it?

Yulandel didn't know the answer to this question, although she knew in her heart that the answer might not need to be answered now, but she just couldn't help but think about it, want to find that answer, to find her own future.

At this moment, Yulandel heard a message pop up on the terminal.

It was a message from Wang Xuanqiao. He said he was ready to eat and asked Youlan Daier to go upstairs.

This time the meal was not on the third floor but on the rooftop, but lunch was not barbecue but home-cooked meals. One reason was that what Youlandel was eating was actually breakfast, and the other was that grilling in the evening would create a better atmosphere.

In fact, there is a third hidden reason... because Kiana has not woken up.

Yulandel came to the rooftop and found that Raiden Mei and Bronya were there. She was a little surprised for a moment, thinking that Wang Xuanqiao's method of attracting people had failed twice in a row.

Of course, Wang Xuanqiao understood her misunderstanding and explained that he did not use that method.

So, Kiana slept soundly in the room alone, and the four of them started eating around the mushroom table.

"Just now, after Mei and the others talked, I realized that I asked you to work overtime today. I'm sorry."

At the dinner table, Wang Xuanqiao found an opportunity to speak to Bianca.

"It's okay. It's common to be on a mission day or night. I'm used to it." Bianca shook her head. "I think being able to come to the manager's place is a reward for even the most ordinary missions."

"That's true. The Honkai Impact is over, and the missions assigned by Satori every day are basically trivial matters." Bronya nodded in agreement. "Although I can't say they are unimportant, sometimes it's like being at work for too long, and you can't help but feel mentally exhausted."

"Relax, there will only be less and less cleanup work to do," Wang Xuanqiao consoled with a smile. "Besides, Anti-Entropy has now been reintegrated into Destiny, the Fire Moth has been rebuilt, and the nations of the world are recovering and developing. A new era will soon arrive."

"I remember the principal asked us what we would choose to do if we didn't become Valkyries."

Mei Raiden suddenly spoke up, bringing up this past question again.

——The author has something to say——

Many people say that the Bull Demon King played by Heimalo looks like a middle-aged man.

Carrying the burdens of family, debt, and the future of the rest of their lives, all these burdens weigh on them, and they can only work hard like an ox, pulling the plow with their heads down. Sometimes, when they are tired and want to stop and rest for a while, they will be whipped and forced to keep working.

I feel that this is indeed the most defensive part of Chapter 5. When a person has too many ties, he is like a cow tied with a rope. When someone whips him, he cannot resist and can only endure it. He has to wait until late at night when he is alone before he can shed a few tears silently.

Even sadder still, some people can't even shed a tear. They've become completely accustomed to it, taking it for granted. The burden of life has reshaped them, turning them into numb oxen working the fields, unable to raise their heads.

so--

May you leave half your life and return as a teenager.

Volume 212: : Bianca's Intensity Anxiety

Swords and guns are put into storage, and horses are released into the mountains. This is the dream scene for soldiers who yearn for peace.

The words that Mei Raiden said unintentionally made Bianca feel a little hazy, as if she saw the sunset many years ago again. The woman named Himeko Muryota was clearly crying, but she forced a smile and said -

If you truly care about that person, agree with her ideas, and respect her from the bottom of your heart, then you should fulfill her dreams.

[After all—this world recognizes real struggle, not empty words.]

The lilies she planted bloomed season after season, and today they no longer need anyone to protect and care for them.

Although Theresa didn't say it explicitly, Bianca, who often visited the headquarters of the Mandate of Heaven, knew that the Archbishop was working on the placement of the Valkyries. The relaxation of the retirement system during the Otto era, along with improved resettlement benefits, attracted a considerable number of Valkyries.

In fact, many people began to think about retiring after surviving the Final Battle. The future of the world is just like the dawn, and their hearts that pursue a new future also began to awaken as the light pierced through the darkness.

So, did that person’s dream come true?

While Mei Raiden and Bronya were enthusiastically discussing the future, Bianca was quietly distracted.

Wang Xuanqiao noticed her absent-mindedness, and his first thought was that the all-nighter was taking its toll. After all, even Kiana, a Herrscher of the End, could be so sleepy she could fall asleep right after an all-nighter. Although that might have had a lot to do with the effort she put into catching up on homework.

"Bianca?" he called softly. "If you feel sleepy, you can find an empty room here to rest."

"Huh? Ah, no," Bianca seemed to come back to her senses in an instant and shook her head quickly, "I'm not sleepy, I'm just thinking about something."

"Oh? Could it be that even Yulandel is planning her own retirement?" Bronya immediately became interested.

"No, I haven't thought about quitting the Valkyrie Order yet." Bianca shook her head again. "Although it is indeed much more peaceful now than before, Destiny still has the mission to protect the world, and I want to continue fighting for it."

"As expected of Yulandel." Bronya nodded gently, "Although Bronya feels that this sentence is more suitable to be heard at work. It's a bit strange to hear it from the store manager."

After all, you are now slacking off with pay.

Although we are also...

The meal was quickly finished with some casual conversation. While cleaning up, Wang Xuanqiao quickly noticed that Bianca was looking at him quite frequently, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

He gave the dishwashing task to Mei Raiden and Bronya, and stayed on the rooftop waiting for Bianca to speak.

Because of this, Mei Raiden's eyes became a little strange again, and even Bronya's eyes began to be wrong, and were obviously a little irritating.

But what can you do if others think the wrong thing? Explaining at this time is unnecessary.

So Wang Xuanqiao wasn't panicking at all; he just focused on handling the important matter. As for gossip, was it really necessary to take it seriously?

As soon as Mei Raiden and Bronya retreated, Bianca quickly spoke up. She wasn't stupid, so she understood why Wang Xuanqiao stayed alone.

"Manager, I have a question for you." Bianca walked up to Wang Xuanqiao and said to him.

"How strong do I have to be to protect everything I want to protect?"

Oh, is this the intensity anxiety caused by Black Myth?

Wang Xuanqiao's expression suddenly became subtle, because he really couldn't describe the answer to this question at the moment.

"How should I put it?" Wang Xuanqiao touched his chin. "If it's pure power, it should be enough after you get the Black Myth suit. You can't imagine a non-existent enemy and infinitely inflate its power. That will only torture yourself."

"But what if we hadn't encountered the store manager, but a being like the gods and Buddhas in Black Mythology? What would we have done then?"

Bianca's response was exactly what Wang Xuanqiao had expected. Perhaps it was the anxiety she felt about the intensity of those powerful beings who treated life as worthless yet possessed supernatural powers.

This is normal. A qualified soldier will not wait until the enemy hits him in the face before starting to practice martial arts.

But... Wang Xuanqiao had a vague feeling that things weren't that simple. As he'd just said, one shouldn't imagine an enemy that doesn't exist, and then design this imaginary enemy to be the type that even if one tries their best, they can't defeat it. That's self-torture.

Bianca's question must have contained some deeper thoughts, but she concealed them or simply ignored them.

It seemed like we needed to have a deeper chat. Wang Xuanqiao sat back in the mushroom chair and motioned for Bianca to join him.

After Bianca sat down, Wang Xuanqiao asked her a question.

"Do you think the Monkey King can sweep away all the gods in heaven?"

"This..." Bianca wanted to say yes, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. Never mind the Golden Hoop's encumbrance. Sun Wukong didn't have the Golden Hoop on his head when he wreaked havoc in Heaven, yet he still lost to the gods and was forced to join the pilgrimage.

Even he himself said that this is to recognize a master and achieve the truth, which is the only way out for these monsters like them.

"Let's not discuss the circumstances surrounding Black Mythology, but simply discuss interpretations of Journey to the West. Some believe the Monkey King was able to enter the Heavenly Court simply because the gods predicted this was his fate and allowed him to wreak havoc. Others believe the Heavenly Court deliberately allowed the Monkey King to cause trouble as part of their plan to infiltrate Lingshan Mountain, luring Tathagata to intervene and then arrange for him to obtain the scriptures."

"Some people also believe that the Monkey King was simply deceived by Tathagata, and that he was careless at the time, allowing Tathagata to suppress him at the huge cost of sacrificing one of his hands. If they really fought hard, Tathagata might not be able to do anything to the Monkey King."

At this point, Wang Xuanqiao suddenly remembered what another account-settling master said, and couldn't help but smile.

"So, only one of the three interpretations thinks the Monkey King has the power to defeat Heaven?" Bianca looked unconvinced, just like those children who firmly believed that the Monkey King must be the strongest, and finally saw him being crushed under the Five Finger Mountain.

"Actually, the third interpretation simply means Tathagata can't do anything to him." Wang Xuanqiao shrugged. "But what if Erlang Shen from Heaven is also involved? Or perhaps the generals guarding the other heavenly gates are summoned? What kind of trouble can the Monkey King cause then?"

"Is the Monkey King bound to lose?" Bianca frowned subconsciously.

"Yes, in fact, the Havoc in Heaven was a losing game," Wang Xuanqiao nodded slightly.

"But......"

"But the Monkey King isn't just concerned with winning or losing this one battle." Wang Xuanqiao gently shook his head at Bianca, who hesitated to speak, and said with a smile, "Sun Wukong is very clever. His losses are definitely for the sake of winning more."

"He lost the Havoc in Heaven, but what price did he pay? He only stayed under the Five Finger Mountain for five hundred years. Don't forget that he is also an immortal. Five hundred years is nothing to an immortal. And after coming out of the Five Finger Mountain, he is even the Great Sage Equaling Heaven."

"So what about the Monkey King in Black Myth?"

Faced with Wang Xuanqiao's question, Bianca pondered for a moment and recalled the scene she saw when she got the body book.

I always thought that if I accumulated merit and became a celestial being, they would let me go, and they would let you go too...

"He... wanted to protect his brothers and fellow citizens of Huaguo Mountain," Bianca replied.

"So, his rampage in the Heavenly Palace was probably a token of his allegiance to the Heavenly Court. With this leverage in their hands, they could easily recruit him as one of their own. And this identity is what the Monkey King truly desires."