Funeral Hymn

"Matches completed so far:"

"Road to Survival and the Revival Match I Had to Fight Because a Sword Pinned Me Down During My Transmigration and I Couldn't Come Back to Life."

"Difficulty: Easy."

"Time coordinate: Three hours ago."

"Objective: Repel the kidnappers."

"Match won."

"You escaped the danger of being kidnapped."

"From this moment on, you are the real Xu Yuan!"

"Your shop has officially become the 'Apprentice Qi Refiner's Battle Prep Room.'"

"You have received a beginner's gift pack. It will be delivered shortly!"

Xu Yuan let out a long breath of relief.

At last, he had an identity on the books—a proper place in this world.

And a beginner's gift pack!

Beautiful youth, here I come!

The soft body in his arms suddenly stirred.

Xu Yuan's thoughts snapped back. He lowered his head and asked:

"You're awake?"

"Mm... What just happened?" The girl sounded bewildered.

"When I got here, I saw you faint. I helped you up, and we sat here." Xu Yuan smiled.

He took the girl back to the gymnasium.

It was mealtime, and hardly anyone was around, so there was no trouble explaining things.

The girl froze for several seconds, seemingly trying to work out what had happened.

She had fair skin, a tall figure, straight bangs, and bright eyes as captivating as rippling water.

"I fainted..."

The girl repeated the words softly.

"Maybe your blood sugar was low. You should take better care of yourself," Xu Yuan made up on the spot.

"I'm a Qi Refining cultivator. I don't get low blood sugar." The girl gave him a smack.

He could only smile.

Reaching the Qi Refining stage was a prerequisite for university.

But the strength of someone at the first or second level was admittedly limited.

Just a little stronger than an ordinary person. They can't even stop bullets or grenades.

What?

I'm not even at the Qi Refining stage?

That's a problem...

Seeing his expression shift again and again, the girl seemed to remember something. She said:

"Here, take this back."

"Huh?" Xu Yuan was a little surprised.

She pressed a letter into his hand, then stood and headed for the gymnasium exit.

"I can't accept this right now. I hope you'll study hard. At least awaken your sense of qi, become a Qi Refining cultivator, and get into university first."

"You can do it."

With those words of encouragement, the girl hurried away.

The fragrant breeze had gone with the beauty.

Xu Yuan stood there, stunned.

What?

You can't accept—

This letter?

He opened the envelope, pulled out the letter, and skimmed it.

It was a love letter written by the original Xu Yuan!

You were about to be nailed to a river bridge, and you still had time to write a girl a love letter?

Not only did she turn you down, but you've also left me extra work!

Wait.

Xu Yuan frowned.

According to the original owner's memories, he had never written any love letter.

So someone else had written it?

Xu Yuan crumpled the letter and tossed it into a trash can.

The next second.

Every light on the gymnasium ceiling suddenly went out.

In the darkness.

A line of shimmering text appeared:

"A new match has been activated—"

"Road to Survival and the Revival Match I Had to Fight Because a Sword Pinned Me Down During My Transmigration and I Couldn't Come Back to Life (First Half)."

"Difficulty: Hard."

"Enter the match now?"

"When you are ready, say 'Ready.'"

Xu Yuan's face was a picture of confusion.

Hadn't the match already ended?

Why was there another one?

Several new lines of text appeared:

"Unknown."

"I am merely a manifestation of your own ability, projected into reality according to how you understand combat."

"You must investigate the unknown yourself and turn it into intelligence."

Xu Yuan fell silent for a moment.

How I understand combat...

The match difficulty had jumped from "Easy" to "Hard."

If I go by my own understanding, that means—

There's more behind the original Xu Yuan being pinned to that bridge by a sword than one fight could settle.

True.

He had driven off an enemy once.

But next.

The enemy's counterattack would be fiercer.

The fight would be harder!

As Xu Yuan thought this, an unpleasant feeling suddenly crept over him—

as though a pack of female creeps had fixed their hungry eyes on him.

It happened all the time.

As a world esports champion and most valuable player, he was a walking gold mine.

Who knew how many people wanted to latch on to him?

Even riding his coattails was enough: they could post livestreams and updates, draw traffic, and turn it into money.

Innocent boys usually had no idea how to handle that.

Good thing I, Xu Yuan, have experience.

Xu Yuan instinctively puffed out his chest and looked up.

A long rope hung from the gymnasium ceiling.

A six-armed humanoid hung upside down from it, cold eyes fixed on him.

Their eyes met.

Silence fell.

"No photos or autographs today."

Xu Yuan stubbornly finished reciting his line for fending off female creeps.

The air seemed to grow colder.

The six-armed figure held back for a moment before finally speaking:

"A deranged high schooler... I never thought I'd have to deal with you personally."

"You want a man-to-man showdown?" Xu Yuan ventured.

"Why not?" said the six-armed figure.

Xu Yuan suddenly relaxed.

The guy was a little strange—

he had six arms, and calling him "Six-Arms" would be way too badass, since it sounded like "super awesome"—

but at least he didn't have the unsavory intentions of a female fan.

We're bros, then.

Want me to launch your career?

Xu Yuan reached behind his back, ready to whip out his sniper rifle and try a shot.

But the camouflage bag was gone.

Only then did he remember—

his shop no longer had guns!

It had officially become the "Apprentice Qi Refiner's Battle Prep Room"!

Was there anything in it he could use?

His gaze flicked toward the shop floating in the air.

"Please wait."

"Items will be stocked after the beginner's gift pack is delivered."

Come on!

Then give me the gift pack!

Am I supposed to fight this monster bare-handed?

In a panic, Xu Yuan shouted:

"Who are you? What do you want?"

"Doesn't matter who I am. I'm here to kill you," said the six-armed monster.

"You're awful!" Xu Yuan said, sounding aggrieved.

The six-armed monster's mouth twitched.

Fuck. I've killed so many people, and this is the first time anyone's said "You're awful" right before dying.

"Enough. You're nothing but an utterly ordinary student. You don't deserve any of what you've been given."

So said the six-armed monster.

"Bullshit! I haven't been given anything!" Xu Yuan sounded even more aggrieved.

I fought so hard to win that match—

and now I'm going to die here without even a weapon?

Then what the hell was the point of any of it?

The figure sprang lightly from the ceiling and landed without a sound opposite Xu Yuan.

"Why bother learning so much? You're about to die anyway."

He said it as casually as could be.

A blade, sword, spear, axe, shield, and hammer appeared in his six hands.

Six weapons in all!

Powerful energy rippled around every weapon, each giving off a faint spiritual glow.

"Draw your weapon. I'll give you a clean death," the six-armed monster said flatly.

A weapon—

Xu Yuan looked down at himself.

Two hands.

One dick.

What kind of bullshit is this?!

The next instant.

Shimmering text flashed rapidly before him:

"A new match is about to begin. Its name is:"

"Funeral Hymn (Cage Match)."

"Difficulty: Nightmare."

"Choose—"

"Begin this Nightmare-difficulty combat match, or begin the Hard-difficulty exploration match 'Road to Survival and the Revival Match I Had to Fight Because a Sword Pinned Me Down During My Transmigration and I Couldn't Come Back to Life (First Half).'"

Was that even a choice?!

I'm unarmed, I don't even have a move list, and my health bar is several times shorter than yours—

Who'd get into a cage fight with you?!

"Really? I don't even get to know why I have to die?"

Xu Yuan asked.

The strange man said, "That's always been the fate of the weak. I suggest you hurry up and say your last words."

Xu Yuan fell silent.

Seeing this, the strange man gave a slight nod. "Looks like you've accepted your fate. Let's get this over with."

"How fascinating," Xu Yuan suddenly said.

"What?" The strange man thought he had misheard.

He looked across at Xu Yuan, who was gazing intently at him as though admiring a work of art.

The strange man froze, then couldn't help asking:

"What's fascinating?"

"You," Xu Yuan said.

A world where people could "refine qi," and where strange life-forms like this existed.

Its stage was ten thousand times broader than the esports arena.

If I could cultivate—

If I had time to get myself weapons and skills, grow stronger, and throw myself into battles this extraordinary, how much fun would that be!

As for winning, losing, living, and dying—

I'm an esports champion who competed for Earth. I'm not scared one bit!

If I die, I won't blame anyone. Screw it!

"Die!"

The strange man roared and leaped high into the air, bringing the weapons in his hands down on Xu Yuan.

In that instant.

Xu Yuan's face grew calm again, and he spoke three words:

"I'm ready."

Before he finished speaking.

A long progress bar appeared!

Tiny flashing words burst forth, forming line after line of prompts across his vision:

"Ability activated successfully."

"Now entering match:"

"Road to Survival and the Resurrection Match I Had to Enter Because a Sword Got Stuck in Me While I Was Crossing Worlds and I Couldn't Come Back to Life (First Half)."

"Difficulty: Hard."

"Time coordinate: Three days ago."

"Objective: Discover why Xu Yuan was killed."

"Description: Something happened during those three days that the original Xu Yuan overlooked. It determined Xu Yuan's fate."

"Failure will result in death: a flying sword will strike and pin you in place."

"Success will earn a reward and qualify you to enter the second half of the match."

"Begin!"