An Incomplete Truth

RPG Game...

Chen Xiyao was completely taken aback by Feng Xue's sudden question, but she still nodded and said:

"I've played them, but which type are you referring to? Online or offline? Action or strategy?"

"Oh, it seems you play quite a few games, but it doesn't matter..." Feng Xue's tone became relaxed again, as if discussing favorite games with a friend:

"In many RPG Game, characters are divided into classes, right? The so-called promotion is simply the process of changing from a commoner to a specific class. However, just like changing classes in a game requires a quest, there are specific conditions for us to promote."

Upon hearing Feng Xue's answer, the Exchange Group room immediately sprang into action. Lin Wenxue, acting as the intermediary, began writing down questions on a piece of paper. However, before she could finish, Chen Xiyao had already asked the question everyone wanted to know—

"You spread martial arts, other supernatural Weird Tale and crimes, and those people who disappear and are then tortured—is it all because of this condition?"

"That's right." Feng Xue answered without hesitation, "Compared to the three or four, or even more than a dozen, classes in the game, our advancement paths are practically endless. But to sum it up, it all boils down to one sentence—how to prove you can handle this class."

At this point, Feng Xue didn't give Chen Xiyao a chance to ask the audience for help, and directly asked in return:

"What do you think it takes to prove you're qualified for a certain profession? For example, if you want to become a chef, what kind of task would you need to complete?"

After Feng Xue asked the question, the answer immediately came to Chen Xiyao's mind:

"Make delicious dishes."

But her intuition told her that the answer was not so simple.

Not only Chen Xiyao started to think, but the entire Exchange Group in the conference room also began to think.

Actually, everyone's first reaction to this question is similar to Chen Xiyao's, but if you connect this chef with Weird Tale, you have to think about the specific meaning behind the question.

According to current research, after completing the transformation, the Weird Tale will directly gain some special abilities.

If we use the analogy of job advancement in a game, this ability is similar to a professional skill. In other words, regardless of whether you can cook or not, you will gain the professional skill of cooking after job advancement.

So, setting aside the fact that you can cook well, what exactly proves that you can truly be a chef?

Or, to take it a step further, if the person codenamed [Instructor] wants to become the source of martial arts, then his act of giving away martial arts techniques should fulfill this mission.

Even if... he didn't create these martial arts techniques.

The instant this thought arose, Old Wang suddenly felt that everything became clear—

"Popularity!"

These three short words instantly resolved many of the mysteries that the Supernatural Tale Countermeasures Bureau had accumulated over the decades. When these three words were conveyed to Chen Xiyao as a response, Feng Xue also smiled.

Although not entirely accurate, he didn't intend to correct it. Instead, he blurred the lines between Tag and Supernatural Tale Entry, giving an affirmative answer:

"That's right, fame. Take [Scandal Boyfriend] as an example. If enough people think I'm your Scandal Boyfriend, then I'm qualified to be 'your Scandal Boyfriend,' and then I'll become Weird Tale like 'Chen Xiyao's Scandal Boyfriend'!"

"How could such Weird Tale exist!" Chen Xiyao muttered, her face flushed. But before she could continue to feel shy, she felt a faint touch on her calf. She looked up abruptly and saw Lin Wenxue pointing at the cardboard sign that had been erected with exaggerated gestures.

"Phew..." Chen Xiyao let out a breath, trying to compose herself, and then asked the question on the cardboard, "According to you, you should have already completed the transformation, so why are you still sending out secret manuals?"

"Oh, so they asked you to ask this question, right?" Feng Xue's words immediately made Chen Xiyao and the entire Countermeasures Bureau's Exchange Group tense up. However, a slightly amused voice then came from the phone:

"Actually, it's quite simple. The transformation happens more than once. For example, someone who has killed many people can transform into a [Murderer] and then specifically target tea masters on foggy nights to dissect them, potentially transforming into a [Ripper]. Or, after killing someone, one can cleave the victim open with a samurai sword and become a [Man-Slayer]. Right now, I'm just an ordinary [Instructor]. Becoming Martial Grandmaster, or even the Source of Martial Arts, is still a long way off!"

"He even knows his own code name is [Instructor]?" The people in the meeting room looked at each other in bewilderment. If it weren't for the previous Scandal Boyfriend, they might have even suspected that the information had been leaked from within.

Not receiving any new messages immediately, Lin Wenxue picked up the questions she had prepared earlier and reminded Chen Xiyao to speak.

At this moment, Chen Xiyao felt like a messenger between two people who were arguing and didn't want to talk. She was clearly unnecessary to them, yet they couldn't do without her.

However, Feng Xue seemed to be well aware of this matter as well, and she could only resign herself to her fate.

"You only answered half of that question before; you didn't mention spreading martial arts, or the impact of your continued advancement."

After the question was raised, Chen Xiyao clearly felt that the atmosphere had changed. Even though Feng Xue hadn't spoken yet, she instinctively felt that the person on the other end of the phone had changed. It was as if the conversation had suddenly turned from a lighthearted chat about TV programs and gossip into a serious topic about the death of an elder and parents losing their jobs.

Just as Chen Xiyao began to wonder if she had stepped on a landmine by remaining silent, Feng Xue spoke up again—

Did you know that Weird Tale actually have a lifespan?

Her tone was so heavy it was almost frightening, so much so that Chen Xiyao was momentarily speechless, but Feng Xue didn't seem to mind and continued:

"The higher the fame and the wider the spread, the longer the lifespan of Weird Tale. However, as the Weird Tale are forgotten, their lifespan will also come to an end. For those that are not famous to begin with, it is no exaggeration to say that they live only a day and die at dusk."

"So that's why you..." Chen Xiyao suddenly looked enlightened. Only now did she understand why Feng Xue had told her not to forget him, and why the promise she made when she left that world was...

Chen Xiyao felt his mind was in complete disarray, but then he heard Feng Xue suddenly throw out a question—

"To what extent do you think we need to feel truly at ease about Weird Tale that could disappear at any time due to being forgotten?"

Chen Xiyao's previously confused mind Cooldown down instantly, but Feng Xue's somewhat tired voice came from the other end of the receiver—

"That's enough for today, I need to get back to work. You're welcome to chat anytime if you want. If they still have questions, let's spread the word about these two martial arts techniques first... Hmm, expanding the range of the Golden Bell Shield a bit would be fine too."

"Wait..." Chen Xiyao wanted to say something more, but the person on the other end of the phone didn't hang up. Instead, as if suddenly remembering something, they added:

"A profession is both a strength and a constraint. Once you understand this, the authorities won't worry that I have any ulterior motives."

"Click, beep beep beep--"

As the phone went dead, Chen Xiyao felt as if she had just completed an extreme exercise, completely drained of energy. Meanwhile, on the other end, the discussion within the Exchange Group of the Supernatural Tale Countermeasures Bureau was just beginning...

I really didn't expect that anyone would think it's more comfortable to go to Colombia than to argue with the Chinese government...

Good grief, you really think capitalists are honest and trustworthy? Are you that naive?

Haven't you heard of DuPont blowing up a competitor with a bomb?

The protagonist's wrangling with the Yan Kingdom officials could at least push things forward little by little, but what about finding Colombia...? Colombia is a federation! Do you even know what a federation is? It's not unified; it's essentially just a bunch of small countries' interest groups, and each state even has different laws. So, who exactly are you planning to cooperate with?

A rubber-stamp president? A governor of some state? Or some conglomerate?

Since you mentioned capitalists, I'll assume you're looking for conglomerates. So, which conglomerate is better? Arms dealers, security companies, pharmaceutical companies, or light industry? And which brand or family-owned company should you choose?

Even if you choose a capitalist who's at least somewhat ethical (let's assume capitalists do have that), and you successfully persuade them, what happens next? Are you sure your information won't be leaked to other conglomerates? Are you sure those conglomerates won't simply kill you to prevent them from getting their hands on your information?

They're unwilling to even haggle over the phone with Yan Guo; where does their confidence come from that they can negotiate cooperation with a group of ruthless capitalists?

And you're even talking to capitalists about being more comfortable... You might just be making yourself sick with comfort!