Phantasmal Illusion

The man jumping off the building was named Zhao Mo.

After this incident, Forgiveness Hat felt terrible for a long time, ashamed that he hadn't done anything. He had the chance to save a young man who had a beautiful, bright future ahead of him.

For the entire year, he often dreamed of the young man's bloody, mangled body.

That day, he still delivered the items to the barista woman as Zhao Mo had requested.

Pan Xiaoting was a very beautiful girl with particularly captivating phoenix eyes. On the surface, she seemed quiet and reserved.

After receiving the flowers and gifts, she didn't seem particularly happy, but rather a bit surprised. She dismissively told Forgiveness Hat to just put them on the ground.

Forgiveness Hat handed her the note Zhao Mo wanted her to see and then said, "He jumped off the building. It was at noon."

Pan Xiaoting: "Ah!?"

"Is that true?"

She seemed startled. Then she saw the video Forgiveness Hat had taken and checked the news on her phone to confirm.

"Zhao Mo really jumped?"

After her shock, surprise, and panic, she let out a sigh of relief, as if she had avoided some trouble.

"This is for the best. He won't pester me anymore."

When Forgiveness Hat heard this, he spat on the ground and left.

Later, after investigating and learning more, he understood Zhao Mo's situation.

He and Pan Xiaoting were both university graduates from last year.

Zhao Mo worked at an internet company and often worked overtime until late at night. Furthermore, they didn't live in the same district, so they spent little time together with his girlfriend.

Recently, after Zhao Mo completed a project at work, he expected a promotion and a raise. Instead, his boss stole his credit and kept the bonus for himself. When Zhao Mo reported this to his superiors, they told him that the completed work was rightfully his boss's achievement. Finally, unable to accept this, he got into a huge argument and was fired by the company.

Forgiveness Hat learned that Zhao Mo's boss was actually the boss's brother-in-law.

Zhao Mo was unemployed.

After days of moping at home, he planned to celebrate his birthday with his girlfriend, Pan Xiaoting, but then this happened.

The double blow of unemployment and a breakup led him to jump.

At this moment.

Forgiveness Hat returned to this day and looked at the despairing man on the ground. He decided to do something.

This man needed his help.

He had to persuade him gently and help him out of his despair. He absolutely couldn't provoke him at this moment, or it would have the opposite effect.

'Patience, love, listen.'

Slap!

Forgiveness Hat slapped him.

"Damn it, before I saw you, I really couldn't imagine someone like you existing in reality, you useless bum. You've completely disgraced men. If you're going to jump, hurry up and do it, don't stand here crying like a sissy!"

Zhao Mo: "?"

Zhao Mo, having just been slapped, was stunned.

Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?

He had been internally struggling and confused when he was suddenly slapped. For a moment, he didn't know whether to fight back or continue feeling miserable, and he froze.

"Give it to me!"

"Wh-what?"

"Give me your phone!"

Forgiveness Hat snatched the phone from his hand and started typing to the woman.

Her reply: "Then let's be friends. I wish you happiness."

Forgiveness Hat: "Being friends is great! Can I come too? #blush"

Her reply: "."

Her reply: "There are already three of you, there's no more space."

Forgiveness Hat: "You still have two hands. I'll call one of my delivery brothers too."

Pan Xiaoting seemed shocked. It took her a full five minutes to reply.

Her reply: "Then you guys can come. 6 PM, Shangri-La Hotel, Room 666, the 'Lover's Delight' suite."

The stairwell on the 32nd floor was silent.

Zhao Mo stared blankly at the chat logs.

Forgiveness Hat continued to curse, "Damn it, you want to spend your life with such a cheap woman? What are you after? So you won't lack a hat when you get cold in the future? I really don't know how you could be so blind to fall for a woman who seems quiet but is actually a slut! What attracted you to her?"

Zhao Mo said faintly, "I just like her contrast..."

Forgiveness Hat: "??? "

The amount of information was too overwhelming to process immediately.

Zhao Mo gave a wry smile and said, "She said she only acts like this with me. I should have realized it sooner. Last time I went to her place late at night, intending to get intimate, I found soup in the pot. She claimed it was normal pot secretion, and I believed her."

Forgiveness Hat: "???"

"Brother, if you're talking about the 'Green Prairie,' Inner Mongolia is just for fun. You're the real deal!"

Zhao Mo: (︵`)

Forgiveness Hat: "Don't look like a complete idiot! What's lost is lost. Are you living just for women? Is your brain attached to your crotch?"

Zhao Mo was speechless for a moment, feeling like his head was buzzing from the scolding.

Forgiveness Hat: "If I were you, I'd call the police when the time comes, report a public orgy at the hotel! Get them all locked up to sober up for a few days."

Zhao Mo's eyes lit up; it seemed like a good way to get revenge.

But as soon as he felt a surge of energy, he remembered his own situation and felt dejected again.

"I'm useless. I not only didn't make money, but I also lost my job. I can't even afford a decent place to rent in this city. No one can stand a loser like me. My life is a complete failure."

Forgiveness Hat: "So you're saying you can't live without a girlfriend and a job?"

Zhao Mo remained silent. The harsh words from Forgiveness Hat had sobered him up. The extreme thoughts in his mind dissipated. Jumping off the building was a moment of desperation, and once that feeling passed, he was scared and no longer dared to do it.

Forgiveness Hat pulled him up from the ground.

"Brother! You've got it all wrong!"

"This is a golden opportunity!"

Zhao Mo: "?"

Forgiveness Hat roared, "From this moment on! You haven't just gotten rid of a life burden; you've also gained infinite opportunities!"

Zhao Mo: "Uh, really?"

Forgiveness Hat nodded affirmatively, "Exactly! Your wonderful life is just beginning. If you don't live, how can you witness your future self standing at the forefront of the era, seizing the torrent of the market?"

Zhao Mo: !!!

Zhao Mo felt himself stand up straight. The small, triangular storeroom on the top floor couldn't bend his back because he was... incredibly resilient!

Forgiveness Hat looked at Zhao Mo, who had clearly regained his composure, and nodded with a satisfied pursed lip.

"If only I could have awakened him like this that day. I really hope this isn't a game..."

Crack!

The surrounding scene shattered. Forgiveness Hat opened his eyes again, finding himself back outside Salt Well Town.

A gray mist surrounded him, and multiple fine lines, visible only to players, extended into his body.

[Successfully resisted Phantasmal Illusion, Experience +200]

At this moment, the [Phantasmal Erosion] damage he had been suffering also disappeared.

"So... this instance is an experiential illusion instance. It's not about attack and defense power, nor combat skills, but whether you can see through the illusion and emerge from the final inner demons?"

"What a magical game mechanic."

He looked around, but the Lord was nowhere to be seen. His watch indicated that the Lord had already entered the town.

"Hiss~ This instance isn't over yet! I have to save the Lord!"

He noticed that Xiao Xiao's red dot on his watch had not disappeared.

"Xiao Xiao isn't dead yet. I need to rescue her first."

He took a step forward and almost tripped, then took a sharp breath as he looked closely at his surroundings.

"Hiss~ So many Raiders!"

Dozens of green-skinned Raiders lay on the ground, all dormant.

Simultaneously, Xiao Xiao's red dot suddenly began to move.

Today's 5K update is complete~ Thank you all for your continued reading!