Chapter Five: You Have Begun to Shine!

“This is…”

At this moment, Zhou Liang finally grasped the elusive glimmer he had long sought through the haze, suddenly enlightened:

“This is… a star-making scam?!”

With this realization, the truth became clear at last:

Why did the clerk master have to so roundaboutly hand him a pre-written article of gratitude and insist that he read it aloud in public, creating the effect of eloquence on the spot?

Because the clerk master wanted to mold him into a genius!

“Although the Ming Dynasty is decadent, it must maintain a facade of brilliance, such as educational assistance…”

Since the era of the founding emperor, the Ming Dynasty had established preferential policies for scholars. Under the reign of the Divine Emperor, educational aid had even been formalized as a special system, demanding that local officials at every level focus on promoting culture and education, lavishly rewarding those with outstanding academic achievements!

The Divine Emperor’s original intention was certainly noble, but unfortunately, the implementation by subordinates was flawed…

From Zhou Liang’s over fifty years of life experience, this aid system was practically ineffective because nearly every county and prefectural official was greedily corrupt, frequently fabricating reports of so-called “child prodigies” and “super geniuses” who mastered all arts—music, chess, calligraphy, painting—with precocious talents and fluent eloquence!

Usually, senior prefectural officials did not personally inspect these claims, so once the reports were submitted, the superior would approve educational funds ranging from tens to hundreds of taels of silver.

But these funds rarely reached the “child prodigies” themselves, being skimmed off layer by layer… If the rewarded child could receive even a tenth, the adults would consider it a great favor.

Obviously, the simulated version of himself had unknowingly gone through this entire process.

Zhou Liang twitched the corner of his mouth:

“No wonder the clerk had to put on such an act… But the cut is way too steep. The prefecture initially approved five hundred taels, but by the time it got to me, only thirty remained—less than a tenth…”

“Still, it’s thirty taels found money. The article was given by the clerk, the reputation was spread with the help of the academic officer and the magistrate, and the genius persona was fabricated by them all. I’m not really losing out…”

He glanced again at his title:

“Me and my animal friends, the innate affinity of non-human creatures… Sure enough, it’s true!”

Receiving benefits out of nowhere must be due to favor, and these corrupt officials who deceive superiors and conceal the truth were indeed nothing like humans—merely beasts in robes and crowns!

Compared to King Litang, although Zhou Liang did not possess a lucky all-powerful talisman or a rare snow leopard companion, relying on this group of genuine animal friends, his future didn't seem so bleak…

Yet, alongside this, an important life decision soon confronted Zhou Liang:

[Sensing the light yet weighty silver note in your arms, you find yourself distracted during the next few literacy lessons…]

[You are no fool. Though lacking in specific knowledge of Ming society, your precocious time traveler’s insight quickly unveils the farce behind this charade.]

[This is a scam!]

[Your master intends to cheat the educational reward funds by orchestrating this scheme!]

[You are not a bad person; your ambition this life is simply to drift through officialdom, neither to be a virtuous minister nor to sink into corruption. Hence, faced with this corruption happening right before your eyes, your heart struggles…]

[“Should I pretend to know nothing, or bravely report it?”]

[Your mind stirs with doubt: as a reincarnated youth of justice, you despise parasites most. Despite knowing the Ming officialdom under the Divine Emperor is utterly corrupt, you have always held a bright heart.]

[Now, being forced to join the corrupt ranks, that bright heart feels suffocated. Your faith and conviction urge you to uphold your will! Even if you cannot be the true sun to sweep away darkness, you must be a lone candle burning, maintaining your own light!]

[But reason and reality caution: don’t overestimate yourself. How can a candle burn forever in the night? Eventually, it will be swallowed by darkness.]

[Should you report it, the outcome is unpredictable…]

[Besides, isn’t the thirty taels of found money tempting? Thirty taels! Even with the mysterious devaluation of Ming silver over the past century, thirty taels is several years’ savings for an ordinary family!]

[Moreover, your master said this is only the first time. When your fame grows, he will give you more opportunities… Just behave, and future shares of several hundred taels are possible—that’s hundreds of taels!]

[Thinking of the shining silver awaiting you, your heart trembles: who doesn’t love money? Especially free money. You only need to be a human playback machine; after all, the higher-ups usually don’t audit, so the risk is nearly zero…]

[Yet whenever you reach for this greedy invisible hand toward the silver, an image of a radiant figure standing under the sun appears before you. Compared to the cruel Divine Emperor, he is your lifelong faith, the true sun!]

[He smiles at you and seems to peer into your heart. Under his piercing gaze, you are like a well-behaved student being admonished by the homeroom teacher, unable to summon any evil thoughts…]

[“I must not reach out! I must not…”]

[Suddenly, a spiritual light ignites within you, plunging you into agonizing inner conflict: should you choose reality or faith?]

[You do not know…]

[Ding! Facing the conflict between reality and faith, your heart is torn asunder. Both choices bear irreplaceable meaning to you… You must choose: ( ? )]

[A: Yield to reality. This corpse that is the Ming Dynasty is filled with darkness and corruption. The stench forces everyone to submit. Besides, your humble origins mean that rashly embracing justice will lead to being ruthlessly crushed by vested interests! Then you can change nothing and will only harm those who love you…]

[B: A youth of justice never hides his true self. A heart ablaze with passion is a heart of righteousness. Even if I am but a flickering candle in the night, I will shine with the brilliance of the sun! If I must die, so be it; dying for justice, I have no regrets! Otherwise, how am I different from a walking corpse?]

A life choice?

For the first time encountering such a moment, Zhou Liang was stunned for a long while:

“Is this a system feature too?”

[Yes, host. Whenever a simulated character faces a life-altering choice, the system presents such options. Different choices lead to different destiny branches.]

“I see…”

Staring at the two starkly different options, Zhou Liang fell into deep thought:

Actually, there was little need to ponder; as a cunning veteran who had survived over fifty years in the Ming, he had long learned the ways.

The Pig Butchering Society thrived in the Bashu region for thirty-eight years not by being headstrong but through monetary transactions and social connections!

So, upon seeing the options, his instinct immediately rejected option B:

Pursuing faith and justice in this Ming corpse—isn’t that a fool’s errand?

No matter how passionate a youth, he cannot thaw the corpse’s chill; fervor only cools and fades when cast upon rot.

Better to eat some rotten meat on the corpse—though unpalatable and deadly, at least it fills the belly, and dying full is better.

Moreover, with Ming’s national conditions, temporary compromise does not mean eternal capitulation. Once nourished, he could seek redemption and escape later—isn’t that wiser?

Faith is but illusion; survival is paramount, for the dead can never change reality, only the living can dream of remaking the world!

Compared to the laughable passion of B, A was the practical optimal choice…

“I choose…”

But just as Zhou Liang prepared to speak his decision, he suddenly faltered…

Because observing the psychological struggle of his “other self” stirred an inexplicable sense of immersion:

He seemed to see that childhood self’s face contorted, twisted into a terrifying blue visage with fangs, yet also that of an innocent, kind child.

“Save the child…”

He suddenly recalled Mr. Treeman’s words and murmured softly.

Then, before his eyes, just like the “other self,” a red sunset appeared:

An old man stood beneath the evening glow, looking at him with a gaze both kindly and stern…

In his eyes, the “other Zhou Liang” was a child; but in the old man’s eyes, wasn’t he also a child?

The difference lay in that the old man saved him, but he could not save his own childhood self…

“System!”

Zhou Liang gritted his teeth:

“Can the simulation be restarted?”

[Yes. This system will simulate until you are satisfied; all deaths during the process are inconsequential!]

“Good!”

Zhou Liang’s eyes widened:

“Then I’ll be willful for once!”

“I’ve already died in reality; why fear death in a simulation game?”

“If I die, so be it! Today I will emulate the martyrs and die for faith once!”

“Damn it! I choose B!”

[You choose option B: A youth of justice never hides his true self. A heart ablaze with passion is a heart of righteousness. Even if I am but a flickering candle in the night, I will shine with the brilliance of the sun! If I must die, so be it; dying for justice, I have no regrets! Otherwise, how am I different from a walking corpse?]

[You are shining!]

…