Chapter Forty-Five: Setting Out for the Next World

The next morning, yawning, Xie Jing came out of his room to find that Huang Ling had already bought steamed buns, bread, and porridge, setting them out on the table. She had an important class today and couldn’t keep him company, which frankly left Xie Jing feeling rather delighted and at ease.

After handing over the items last night, Xie Jing had not lingered and had gone straight home. The rest of the matter, promotion and research, would have to be handled by those in higher positions—he had no way to intervene. What he didn’t know was that, on that very night, many experts from research institutes were jolted out of bed by urgent phone calls. They were then shown a range of astonishing, otherworldly technological wonders they had never even dreamed of. Although some were uneasy about why all the descriptions were in Japanese, their scientific expertise remained solid. After a night of research, they reached a clear conclusion: the contents of the hard drive could, in fact, be manufactured.

The importance of this hard drive instantly shot up several levels.

There were things Xie Jing preferred not to know, and he was happy to maintain this relaxed and carefree existence. Idleness is a truly wonderful thing—provided you have enough money. Otherwise, it quickly becomes unemployment. Leisurely, Xie Jing took the dog food from the corner and filled King Singer’s little bowl, not caring if the pup would eat. After watching an episode of Animal World the previous night about birds with broken hearts, King Singer still looked listless, and Xie Jing wondered whether the dog had understood it or not.

Then, Xie Jing turned on his computer and launched into an intense binge-watching marathon—not just anime, but horror films, action flicks, science fiction, and even rewatched all the various Ultraman series. The system’s unpredictability compelled him to cast the widest net possible, preparing for the chance he might end up in another world with no idea what was going on.

His days passed in such a tranquil, ordinary way. The grand fantasies he’d once had about showing off and slapping faces simply had no place in this harmonious society—no secret organizations, no unruly teens, no troublemakers harassing Huang Ling… This was just regular, unremarkable life: simple and plain.

Twenty-four hours a day, aside from going out for meals or the occasional stroll, Xie Jing spent all his time at home watching television. From Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf to Evangelion, from rustic romances to The Grudge—he watched everything, scribbling notes as he went.

But what others didn’t know was that, at certain times, Xie Jing would return to another world through the key of Diga’s world, where he’d spend sweet moments with a girl.

Time slipped by swiftly. In the span of a month, only about ten percent of the data Xie Jing had brought to China on the hard drive was decrypted. Yet, thanks to laboratory research, they had successfully manufactured the unique high-strength, lightweight material from the Feiyan aircraft—a major breakthrough in modern materials science, enabling all of China’s fighter jets to reduce weight by thirty percent and increase durability by fifty percent.

But materials weren’t the only focus. Research on the engines continued, since to make an aircraft like the Feiyan—which utterly defied aerodynamic conventions—fly so freely, the engines needed to be extremely powerful. As for the laser weapon, the top-secret lab had only just initiated the project when domestic laser experts began to verge on madness. There were many other jaw-dropping inventions as well—these bald-headed geniuses, clutching blueprints, simply couldn’t fathom how such technologies, so far ahead of their time, had come into being.

In just a month, subtle changes began to ripple through society. Television quietly introduced more wilderness survival programs, as well as science documentaries about aliens. Knowledge about air-raid shelters, rarely mentioned before, was now being widely broadcast. On the Internet’s many forums—especially the most popular ones—there was every kind of speculation. But the “keyboard warriors” pontificated merely for amusement; anyone taking them seriously would lose from the start. The forums buzzed with a lively, cheerful atmosphere.

Still, none of this caused much of a stir—after all, it was just the publication of air-raid shelter locations. Perhaps the TV stations had run out of programming and were just filling the gaps. People were unbothered; they treated it as a learning opportunity.

Xie Jing, knowing the truth, appreciated this approach—quietly instilling knowledge without causing unnecessary alarm. Humanity’s curiosity is boundless. Films about aliens and monsters always rake in huge box office numbers, proving the human urge to explore the unknown. Yet, people are like the proverbial Lord Ye who professed to love dragons but would flee in terror if one appeared; monsters on screen are fine, but should any appear in real life, it would surely frighten many to death.

Whether the government’s current preparations would prove useful, Xie Jing did not know. But having an extra skill for self-defense was always better than being clueless when the time came to run. Outside matters couldn’t touch Xie Jing’s life. As the only superhuman on the planet, he was confident in his ability to protect himself and his family, even at the cost of his own life if necessary.

As for Huang Ling, even if there was no love between them, she was like a sister to him. He owed her parents a great debt for raising him—he owed his very life to their kindness.

Xie Jing was not a heartless wastrel. His idling in Diga’s world was simply because he hadn’t yet found anyone worth protecting. Later, when Akane Kamidera was deceived, it had made him truly furious.

The days of leisure soon drew to a close. In this time, Xie Jing accompanied Huang Ling, played with King Singer, watched television, and enjoyed himself immensely. But no amount of binge-watching could get him through the mountain of shows and movies to catch up on—decades’ worth of content was almost enough to finish him off. Now, he only hoped that the next world would be one he was familiar with.

What must come will come; no one can escape it. Now, Xie Jing stood in his room and opened the system screen. In front of him, a red warning box flashed incessantly, occupying almost his entire field of vision.

[Only one minute until your next world crossing! Please prepare yourself!]

Taking a deep breath, Xie Jing felt a trace of anticipation, waiting for the crossing to arrive. After so much ordinary life, the prospect of an unknown journey had become unaccountably alluring, surprising even Xie Jing, who had always been the laziest soul. Besides, finding the Original Light was impossible on Blue Star—it would have to be sought in another world.

[5]
[4]
[3]
[2]
[1]
[Begin crossing]

The light around him twisted and warped. That wave of dizziness swept over him again—even with the power of Light, Xie Jing’s vision went dark and he lost consciousness.

When he awoke—

Before him stretched an endless green plain, lush with grass.

“Where… where have I crossed to this time?”

He looked down at the armor on his body and the horsewhip at his waist, completely bewildered.

“No way… did I end up on the Green Grasslands?”