Chapter 58: Reclaiming the Dignity of China

Ding!
[Character fusion initialization binding successful. Player has successfully entered the game. Initial fusion smoothness: 100%.]

Ding!
[Please complete this game earnestly. The system will evaluate your progress and results.]

Li Xin smiled lightly. After this version upgrade, fusion smoothness was no longer defined by levels, but directly by percentage, which was much more intuitive.

That night, after an exhilarating fifty consecutive wins in Happy Landlord, he'd fallen asleep. He hadn't played games since then, but as soon as "King of Games" appeared, the previous mission automatically popped up.

[Congratulations on completing the Landlord mission. You have received an S-class task reward: 2000 experience, 1 additional attribute point, 1 point of luck.]

[Skill "Stealth" charge value: 50%.]

Ding!
You have leveled up. You have leveled up. You have leveled up.

Li Xin's "King of Games" shot up to level 5, needing only 100 experience to reach level 6.

The basic data for "King of Games" hadn't changed much, but one thing nearly made Li Xin burst with excitement: this upgrade granted him another fifty attribute points. Combined with what he'd saved and earned, he now had 151 attribute points.

How should he distribute them?

Without hesitation, he allocated 20 points each to Strength, Command, Agility, and Mental Power, and 40 points to Speed. As the saying goes, of all martial arts, speed is the key. No matter the fighting style, only with enough speed can one shatter the opponent's defenses in an instant.

With 31 points left, Li Xin decided not to rush and kept them in reserve. Then, he officially began "Journey."

At this moment, he was dressed in dark green camouflage combat gear, standing at the designated spawn point within the military camp. All around, armed patrols and soldiers moved about, some training. Among them were NPCs and players alike.

Recently, there had been no conflicts on the Moroski Plains, so the soldiers focused mainly on training. Player soldiers completed various minor quests—some went into town for supplies, some helped villagers drive away wild beasts, others mined coal underground.

These were all trivial tasks, lacking much excitement, but this was the ingenious setting of "Journey." War could erupt at any moment, and individual combat strength was determined by these minor tasks.

If you don't complete them? Fine, but your combat power will remain low, and you'll always be an ordinary soldier.

A hundred meters ahead, a row of tables was lined up, behind which sat several officers. In front stood long columns of soldiers—new players, there to report, register, and receive their uniforms and equipment.

The Black Lion Legion was primarily infantry, their weapons standard issue: assault rifles, machine guns, or automatic rifles, plus a Beretta pistol, a set of various throwing weapons, and a military knife.

Uniforms were self-explanatory; the Black Violence Corps wore earth-gray camouflage, while the Angel Legion wore dark green camouflage.

Li Xin’s sudden appearance attracted a lot of attention. A patrol squad, guns raised, quickly surrounded him. The clicking of safeties echoed, cold black muzzles aimed squarely at him.

The squad leader stared at Li Xin and barked sternly, "How dare you trespass into the Black Lion Legion, scoundrel? Surrender now!"

His shout drew even more onlookers, a crowd gathering as they watched Li Xin with grave expressions.

What was going on?

Li Xin looked down and suddenly realized—he was still wearing the dark green combat uniform transferred from Wang Huan’s account, belonging to the Angel Legion. But this was the Black Lion Legion; wasn't he courting death?

"Uh, let me explain..." Li Xin instinctively raised his hands, showing he meant no harm.

"Explain? What's there to explain?" The squad leader cut him off sharply.

Li Xin glanced at him. The squad leader was a player, game ID: kill. Broad-shouldered, blond, blue-eyed—a foreigner.

"Journey" operated simultaneously across four countries, all on a massive main server, mixed together. As for language, the game software automatically translated everything; in real life, everyone spoke their own language.

For example, players from Huaxia saw Chinese characters on their screens; German players saw German.

"Come on, listen to my explanation. I'm..." Li Xin said with a bitter smile.

Again he was interrupted.

"Don't move. Speak again and you'll be executed on the spot." Kill snapped coldly, gesturing for the soldiers to capture Li Xin. Capturing an enemy infiltrator was considered a merit, earning commendation points.

Immediately, several player soldiers rushed forward to seize Li Xin, alloy handcuffs gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.

Li Xin grew angry. Had anyone ever seen an undercover agent daring to wear their own uniform in enemy territory? Even as a real prisoner, he had the right to speak.

"On what grounds are you arresting me?"

"Simple—you're an infiltrator," kill sneered.

"And besides, you're from Huaxia. I’ve always disliked Huaxia people," kill added.

The crowd erupted. This was blatant racial discrimination. Because players from four countries were mixed together, there were many Huaxia players in the barracks, and they were understandably upset. Koreans and Americans exchanged subtle glances, sharing the Germans’ disdain for Huaxia.

They were all from developed nations, proud of their status, feeling superior, and typically held little affection for developing countries. Moreover, in recent years, many Huaxia people with poor manners had repeatedly embarrassed their nation with disgraceful behavior, tarnishing their national image. This was a main reason foreigners generally disliked Huaxia.

Kill’s squad was entirely foreign. So far, no Huaxia player in the Black Lion Legion had risen to squad leader; the highest was vice squad leader. Military discipline was strict—defying superiors was a grave offense. In-game, anyone violating discipline would be dealt with harshly by NPC monitors.

Mild cases resulted in deduction of merit and battle records; severe cases meant character deletion and blacklisting of personal information.

Who would dare resist?

Especially now, with three nations simultaneously showing contempt for Huaxia. If a fight broke out, Huaxia players would surely lose.

As the handcuffs were about to snap onto Li Xin’s wrists, a Huaxia player finally couldn't bear it—he shouted and rushed forward to help, only to be shot in the leg by a nearby NPC monitor, collapsing in agony.

That shot stunned all the Huaxia players; they exchanged nervous glances, not daring to move. The foreigners sneered, their contempt even more pronounced, as if they could already see the bloody execution of the Huaxia infiltrator. Things impossible to experience in real life could be witnessed here, adding to the thrill.

Li Xin’s fury blazed within him. It was only a game, yet Huaxia people could be so thoroughly despised. Where was the dignity of a great nation? Where was their honor?

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. In the next instant, every muscle in his body erupted with power—he shook off the four soldiers trying to restrain him, became a gust of wind, and appeared before kill.

"You... what are you..." kill stammered in panic; everyone else was equally shocked, none having seen how Li Xin moved.

"I have come to reclaim Huaxia’s honor!" Li Xin sneered, striking with a swift slash!