Chapter 2: Yao Jinghan’s Death
1191 Words
Lin Ziluo didn’t answer.
He simply walked toward the woman who had haunted his hatred for ten long years.
Yao Jinghan frowned, her voice edged with irritation.
“What’s that supposed to mean? If you’re not going to talk, I’m leaving.”
She rose from her chair.
By then, Lin Ziluo was already standing right before her. His hand shot out, clamping hard around her throat.
Yao Jinghan froze, stunned. The man who had once obeyed her every word now stared at her with eyes colder than steel.
She thrashed desperately, but it was useless. Lin Ziluo’s strength, honed by survival, far surpassed that of a pampered liar like her.
“Year 478, March 16. Super Modern Hotel, Modu. Total cost: 53,239 credits.”
His voice was low, steady. She blinked, confused, until her gaze dropped—
And caught the glint of the dagger in his other hand.
⸻
“March 29. Kedi Hotel, Modu. Total cost: 109,984 credits.”
Her breath hitched. Now she understood. These were the records—the nights she had spent with Li Haobo.
She opened her mouth to beg, to explain, but no words came.
“April 13. Confusion Bar. 409,999 credits.”
Her eyes flooded with despair.
“April 25. Super Modern Hotel, Modu. 84,320 credits. April 29…”
Lin Ziluo recited each date, each bill, every sin carved into his memory.
He shoved her backward into the chair.
Yao Jinghan collapsed onto it, eyes wide—filled with despair, regret, confusion, and venom all at once.
Lin Ziluo bent down, retrieving the phone she had dropped. With her fingerprint, he unlocked it easily.
The screen lit up with a chat window.
Yao: “Hehe, I can’t wait to see you.”
Li: “Did you tell Lin Ziluo? If not, it won’t be as fun.”
Yao: “I told him. He thinks I’m really going out to tutor some kid.”
Li: “And the birthday present I told you to prepare for him?”
Yao: “Relax, it’s ready. Don’t forget that bag I wanted.”
The chat ended with a video.
Lin Ziluo tapped it open, turning the screen toward her.
Yao Jinghan’s own image filled the display. She looked into the camera, smirking.
“Lin Ziluo, happy birthday.”
“Did you really think the campus goddess of Modu University would ever fall for a penniless orphan like you? Aside from your face, you have nothing.”
“If Young Master Li hadn’t told me to, I wouldn’t have even glanced your way.”
“But still, I should thank you. Without you, I never would’ve caught Li’s attention—or made this much money.”
⸻
The Yao Jinghan in the chair went rigid, her eyes bulging in disbelief. That video had been recorded barely an hour ago. How could he be reciting it word for word?
Lin Ziluo threw his head back and laughed.
“HAHAHAHA!”
The dagger fell, swift and merciless.
A head rolled.
Lin Ziluo collapsed onto the ground, chest heaving.
Finally. I’ve done it.
Ten years.
Ten years of torment.
But it wasn’t enough.
Not yet. Not until Li Haobo was dead in his manor. Not until the Li family in Kyoto was ashes.
And then—
A mechanical, synthesized voice rang in his ear.
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have successfully returned ten years into the past. The [Apocalypse Game Goldfinger System] has been activated.
Lin Ziluo pulled out his phone.
The screen read: 6:00 PM.
Impossible.
The Apocalypse Game wasn’t supposed to descend until seven. That was when the entire world would be digitized, transformed into a survival game. That was when the system should have appeared.
And this… “cheat system”…?
Why had he never heard of it before?
⸻
Ding!
[Apocalypse Game Goldfinger System]
This system is capable of cracking the data of the Apocalypse Game, providing the Host with an enhanced gameplay experience.
[System has bound to Host. Please draw your first Super Cheat.]
⸻
Lin Ziluo’s mind raced.
Rebirth… and a system?
Could it be that this power came to him because of his rebirth?
And it claimed it could crack the very code of the Apocalypse Game?
That sounded absurd—even to him. Yet…
He drew a steady breath and tried anyway.
“Draw my first Super Cheat.”
⸻
Ding!
[Drawing first Super Cheat…]
Ding!
[Congratulations, Host! You have obtained: Absolute Drop Rate!]
[Absolute Drop Rate: All loot drop chances from killing zombies are increased from 1% → 100%. Every kill guarantees loot.]
Lin Ziluo’s heart pounded as the words appeared before his eyes.
Absolute Drop Rate.
Every zombie he killed would drop loot—guaranteed.
In his past life, he had clawed his way up with blood and pain, often going weeks without finding a single useful item. Meanwhile, others had soared ahead after just one lucky drop. Luck had always been cruel, always stacked against him.
But now… luck no longer mattered.
A slow grin spread across his face.
“This time, I’ll take everything.”
⸻
He clenched the dagger in his hand, feeling its crude weight. A rusty blade dug up from a roommate’s junk—yet with Absolute Drop Rate, even a blade like this could open the door to endless treasures.
A shiver of excitement raced through him. For the first time since his rebirth, he felt not just relief, but power.
Ding!
[Reminder: Apocalypse Game will officially descend at 19:00. Time remaining: 59 minutes.]
An hour. One last quiet hour before the world turned into hell.
Lin Ziluo shoved the dagger back under his shirt and tightened his backpack straps. His eyes burned as he walked out of the warehouse, leaving Yao Jinghan’s lifeless body behind him. For ten years, he had carried that hatred like chains. Now the chains were broken.
But this was only the beginning.
Li Haobo. The Li family. The so-called Three Great Clans.
In his last life, they had crushed him, mocked him, toyed with him like prey. This time, he would carve a path through them, step by step, until the Dragon Nation trembled under his name.
⸻
As he crossed the campus, students were still laughing beneath the crimson sky. Some took photos, some streamed live, joking about the “five-thousand-year phenomenon.”
Lin Ziluo’s expression stayed calm, but in his chest burned cold fury. None of them had any idea what awaited. In less than an hour, this laughter would turn into screams.
And he would be ready.
Ding!
[System Prompt: Host may draw one additional Super Cheat every time a milestone condition is met. Current milestone: Survive the first night.]
Lin Ziluo’s steps slowed. Survive the first night?
A harsh memory slammed into him. In his past life, that very night had been a bloodbath. Entire dorm buildings wiped out. Hundreds dead within the first hour.
But this time…
This time he had the Absolute Drop Rate.
And he had already killed his first enemy.
His eyes narrowed, a cold smile tugging at his lips.
“Come then. Apocalypse or not—I’m ready for you.”
- Writer
