Chapter 578: Change in Leaderboard

    Life seemed to go on like usual after Shang Hao’s passing.

    In the first few days, discussion about him could be heard in every corner of the campus ground and cafeteria during lunchtime. But after one or two months, he was gradually reduced into ’the guy who fell to his death’. The young man was akin to a droplet of water merging into the sea, leaving only a faint noiseless ripple before vanishing without a trace.

    The most indelible mark left by Shang Hao – aside from the emotional wounds on his loved ones – was probably his dorm room, which had remained vacant ever since.

    Gu Luoxin felt this the most vividly. Somehow, the news that he was the last person who had seen Shang Hao before his death had spread without him noticing, causing him to receive various comforting and sympathetic words from both his classmates and professors alike. But soon, the busy schedule led everyone to toss this matter to the back of their minds.

    Gu Luoxin, too, threw himself into the daily routine, going about his life as usual— or at least, he tried to.

    It was only sometimes when he bought too much food, or when he wanted to share some internal gossip and funny memes, that he realized his good buddy was no longer here.

    He would allow himself a few minutes to cry and grieve— but that’s it. He didn’t want to lose himself in sorrow, and he knew Shang Hao would definitely mock him if he kept moping around all the time.

    As long as they defeated the Nightmare in the end, he could avenge Shang Hao’s death.

    For that, he did not even utter a peep of complaint when Shen Nianzu dragged them into low and mid-level Cycles once a month. It was just like how a gamer’s skill would get rusty after not playing for a prolonged period of time. Although it was a bit inappropriate to liken the Nightmare Cycle to a game, the principle behind it was the same.

    The high-level Cycle was scheduled six months later.

    Six months of peaceful, mundane life in the real world was more than enough to dilute someone’s perception of danger. Only by constantly living on edge, bracing through perilous danger time and time again, could they react swiftly in the face of life-threatening crisis.

    It was for this reason that Shen Nianzu set up this method of practice, which was akin to an exposure therapy. He did not wish his teammates to turn into headless chickens who could only panic and run around blindly when they entered the high-level Cycle later.

    Of course, Gu Luoxin treasured this opportunity to hone his skill card and props and improve his teamplay with his divine prop, Toki. He totally treated the low and mid-level Cycles as training grounds. As for Jin Jiuchi... forget it, the dumb husky was happy as long as he could stick with Shen Nianzu. In fact, he would be fine if he could just restrain himself from shoving anything and everything into his mouth.

    Just like that, months flew by like a breeze flipping the pages of a book, and the bleak winter came to a close.

    In a blink of an eye, it was Noir’s graduation day.

    Once again, the seniors’ sculptures were put on display in the exhibition hall, bringing Gu Luoxin back to the moment when he met Noir outside the Cycle for the very first time. This time, however, the distressing statue with one of its wings torn had been replaced with an awe-inspiring kingkong— or to be more precise, a kingkong with a tiny mouse riding on top of its head.

    Gu Luoxin snuck into the exhibition hall and, after listening to the hushed praises and discussion of the visitors, confirmed that no one had noticed the mouse.

    It couldn’t be helped. The kingkong looked so vivid and imposing that its sheer presence demanded everyone’s attention; who could have guessed there would be a mouse perched on top of it? Somehow, the knowledge sent a sweet sensation bubbling in Gu Luoxin’s chest, and he had to fight back the urge to grin.

    The tiny mouse felt like a secret— one that belonged only to him and Noir.

    When the crowd before him dispersed, Gu Luoxin stepped forward, eager to admire the kingkong up close. If it weren’t because phones and cameras were not allowed inside the hall, he would have strived his best to capture this masterpiece from every angle, printed the pictures out, framed them, and hung them in his room. It was his kingkong, after all. His!

    Still, Gu Luoxin was quite satisfied with being able to appreciate it up close. Knowing that he and his kingkong were the inspiration behind the Great God’s work was already the greatest honor there was.

    Just before leaving, Gu Luoxin glanced at the description plaque in passing, noticing the words written in bold and elegantly cursive script:

    A burst of dazzling light —Noir

    ***

    "Happy graduation, Senior!"

    Gu Luoxin grinned as he presented the gifts he had prepared: a set of apron and working gloves. Nothing over the top, not too expensive to be ostentatious, but instead practical for daily use. It was a gift he had painstakingly ruminated and mulled over for days!

    Even if Noir didn’t like it, there was little chance he would toss it to the trash can. At most, he would just keep it in the bottom of his closet, never seeing the light of the day...

    But that was already enough for Gu Luoxin. At least, his gift was waaay better than the juniors who presented flowers, small teddy bears, love letters and whatnot! Hmph!

    As jealous as he was, Gu Luoxin knew that it couldn’t be helped; his senior was simply too handsome and dazzling. It would be weird if he didn’t garner a bunch of little fans during the four or so years he had been studying here.

    "Thank you," Noir accepted the gift without a change in his expression, as calm and composed as ever.

    Gu Luoxin tried and failed to guess what he was thinking, though he didn’t dwell on it much because he had been used to the man being this way. He hummed a little song and rolled up his sleeves, asking energetically, "Alright, where should I start?"

    The two of them were currently in Noir’s studio. Without the kingkong’s sculpture, the room appeared much emptier and spacious. Various tools and materials were scattered across the floor and tabletops, and the air was thick with lingering scent of clay despite the open windows.

    After visiting the exhibition hall earlier, Gu Luoxin had sent a message to his senior to ask where he was. When Noir replied that he was busy cleaning up his studio, Gu Luoxin, without thinking twice, jumped to offer his help with a touch too much enthusiasm.

    And so, here they were.

    Would Noir accept help from those juniors and let them step foot in his studio? Of course not!

    As Noir sorted his tools into the cardboard box, Gu Luoxin swept and mopped the floor happily like a diligent little assistant, pausing only to shoot a glare at the pile of gift bags in the corner.

    Halfway through, he cleared his throat, calling out sweetly, "Senior..."

    "Hmm?"

    He sidled closer to Noir and fished out a ticket from his pocket. "Here, the ticket for my stage performance..." he gingerly offered the small piece of paper with both hands while peeking at Noir through his lashes. "You will come, won’t you?"

    Noir paused his movements and glanced at the ticket before shifting his gaze to Gu Luoxin, who was blinking his eyes nervously. He let out a small snort, "Haven’t I made a promise?" Saying that, he took the ticket and, under Gu Luoxin’s expectant eyes, slipped it into his wallet.

    Gu Luoxin bit his lower lip but failed to suppress the smile on his face. He ducked his head, giggling softly, "Hehe."

    Would Noir do a pinky promise with those juniors and attend their stage performance? Of course not!

    "Go and finish your job," Noir shooed him away.

    "Aye, aye, Captain!" Gu Luoxin snapped his heels together and saluted with a crisp voice before turning away to continue mopping the floor.

    Silence returned to the studio, yet the atmosphere remained warm and relaxing.

    Just then, Gu Luoxin’s phone vibrated inside the pocket of his hoodie. He made a move to take it out, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Noir was also doing the same.

    "Huh?"

    His confusion was cleared soon after when he glanced at his phone screen.

    It was a notification from the Nightmare App.

    When the ranking in the leaderboard changed, the top 100 players would receive a notification.

    Clang!

    The mop slipped from Gu Luoxin’s hand, hitting the floor with a loud sound. Colors drained from his face as he stared at the screen, his lips trembling ever so slightly. "S-Senior...?"

    W-Was he dreaming right now? How could this be possible... so suddenly?!

    He raised his head and sought Noir’s reaction with near desperation to confirm that his eyes were not playing a trick on him. And when he saw Noir’s furrowed brows and thinly pursed lips, his heart abruptly sank.

    A terrifying chill arose from the soles of Gu Luoxin’s feet. Despite the warm sunlight streaming in through the window, he suddenly felt like he had been transported back to the winter four months ago, when he stood on the rooftop, facing Shang Hao’s bloodshot and terrified eyes.

    The bitter cold gripped his throat, freezing his windpipes and rendering him unable to breathe.

    .

    The leaderboard had changed.

    The legendary player Ying, once ranked fourth, had now risen to the third place. Whereas Grandpa Song was nowhere to be seen. The hearty, vigorous old man’s name had disappeared entirely.

    There was only one reason why a player’s name would be erased from the leaderboard.

    Grandpa Song. Song Yunshi. Nicknamed Grandpa is the Best, with the official title Sword of Heaven, the renowned Legendary player who had occupied the third position for years—

    —had met his demise inside the Cycle.