Chapter 1294: Humans Are Creatures of Great Endurance
"We can't control other districts, but we will take charge of Fresh Flower City," the strong man said. "Fresh Flower City wasn't built by the Han Clan or a few companies. Yes, your Han Clan has power and wealth—so what? That doesn't mean you can dominate everything. If ordinary people in Zone 001 don't even have the right to live decently, then what are we players fighting for in the game?"
"If we just wanted a place to live freely, wouldn't it be easier to go to other districts or other cities?"
"Because this is our homeland, and we will never allow someone like you to trample it at will!"
The strong man's resounding words earned admiration, but also regret, because even outsiders who had only been in Fresh Flower City for two or three days could see the situation—there was no room left for ordinary people to speak.
"So you're still foolish." Han Yi laid it out bluntly. "Maybe the people of Fresh Flower City don't even want the kind of life you're dreaming of?"
"By following just a few small rules, they can live their entire lives without working—who wouldn't want that?"
"You think you're saving Fresh Flower City from misery, but others think you've broken their windows. And without spending a single coin, plenty of people would sell you out to the Han Clan, because more of them understand that you people can't hold things together. Without us, Fresh Flower City would eventually become someone else's target."
"A good life right in front of them versus an uncertain future—what do you think they'll choose?"
Han Yi was eloquent and seemed to make sense on every point. For a moment, the strong man and his two companions couldn't find a rebuttal. Having risked their lives in the game, they knew all too well that prioritizing human rights over survival and basic needs went against human nature.
After a pause, the strong man finally said, "People are still people. If they're no different from caged pets, how can they be called human..."
"You think ideals are more important, but you don't have to look down on those who value a stable life." Han Yi's voice softened slightly. "Coming to assassinate me again and again is useless. I want to live, so you have to die. And even if you kill me, how many are left in the Han Clan? How many in other families? Can you kill them all?"
"Think it over." He signaled his player subordinates to attack.
In the end, the strong man and his two companions didn't choose death to prove their resolve. When Han Yi's players charged, they fled into the station.
Watching them disappear, a faint smile flickered across Han Yi's face. Then, surrounded by his players, he left. One of his close players announced publicly: "All damaged property will be compensated by the Han Clan. Sorry for ruining everyone's fun—tonight's expenses are on Young Master Han."
Sparse cheers came from different directions. The Han Clan didn't mind. They quickly cleaned up the battlefield and took away their fallen comrades. As for the attackers' bodies, cleaning robots came to dispose of them.
It didn't take long before the bloodstains and some scattered remains on the street were no longer visible. Apart from a few damaged buildings, there was no sign that a bloody battle had just taken place. And given Fresh Flower City's speed, it would probably be restored to its original state in a few days.
"Han Yi's methods are pretty slick, aren't they?" Chen Chou had also watched that "verbal battle." "It's all twisted logic, but you have to admit he's right."
"The reason people in Fresh Flower City put up with their current life is that they have no way to live better. If you want to live safely, you have to make sacrifices. You can't have all the good things."
"He's just dodging the real issue." Xu Huo said flatly. "He's just finding a reasonable excuse for killing people for fun."
It was a simple truth: if he truly believed his actions were without fault, he wouldn't have wasted his breath. The reason he did was that he understood trampling on others' lives was against normal human values, and more and more people would keep coming after him for it.
Trying to rationalize it ultimately showed a lack of confidence. It was also a way to curry favor with more people and show that he and the Han Clan weren't just using power to kill indiscriminately.
He was a B-rank player, but different from those B-rank players who constantly risked their lives in instances. And the game world's changes were hard to predict—maybe one day a powerful A-rank player or Super Player would come and turn Fresh Flower City upside down. People's thinking could influence many things.
Take the attackers' stance just now: they themselves weren't sure if they could make Fresh Flower City better or guarantee a bright future. They just knew that in the process of moving toward that light, countless ordinary people might be sacrificed. And grieving for their fellow citizens, they couldn't help but waver.
Similarly, those outsider players, when they learned about the fireworks incident in the city center, might want to skin Han Yi alive. But in the broader context of Fresh Flower City and the game itself, what were his evils? How many districts were in constant turmoil, with deaths far outnumbering births? At least most people in Fresh Flower City were still living carefree, right? And the city government was very strict about cracking down on crime. Even most players living here didn't dare cause trouble or kill people casually.
Humans are creatures of great endurance. No matter how the environment changes, as long as they can survive, they gradually adapt.
"People—just living, having a meal, that's enough." Chen Chou laughed bitterly. "Look at me, beaten like this and still crawled out of the maze. To stay alive, losing limbs, getting beaten, being spat on—those are small things."
"Everyone has different thoughts. There's no high or low—it's just factions competing." Xu Huo turned to look at him. "Until one day, when forces like the Han Clan are eliminated, then the 'right' side will be another group."
"Like you—even you look down on your own groveling. Maybe somewhere else, someone would praise you for your perseverance."
Chen Chou couldn't tell if he was praising or mocking him. He moved his only functional arm and forced a reply: "Thanks, I guess."
"Time's about up." Xu Huo walked toward the private room.
Brother Le and his group weren't from wealthy families. They couldn't afford high-level players. Occasionally, they had two or three people with them, but only as ordinary bodyguards, and not every day. The best they could do was have their families pull strings to get a Gray Player identity, allowing them to hold items without having to enter instances.
About eighty percent of the people in the room were high. Xu Huo closed the door, pulled up a chair, and sat down across from them. He toyed with a lighter carved with a skull, flipping the lid open and snapping it shut.
Amid the *ding, ding, ding* sounds, Brother Le, who was in a daze, gradually sobered up a bit. He opened his eyes and looked at Xu Huo, then suddenly asked, "Where is this place?"
(Chapter End)