Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1400 - 51: If There Were No Wind in the World—Evil’s Desire (3)

Chapter 1400: Chapter 51: If There Were No Wind in the World—Evil’s Desire (3)

"Haha, the story recently released by Mr. Kalcha, I’ve read it. It’s a very good story! Positive, uplifting, full of sunshine and health... This is the kind of story we need!"

"Mr. Romov, you’re flattering me too much... Speaking of which, this is my beloved student, Xiao Ye. She’s a hardworking young person... Young people lack experience and rely on you for guidance. As for the application for creative funding, we’ll make sure to follow up closely."

"Ah, hahaha... Xiao Ye, she seems like a young person with immense potential. Two generations in one family are outstanding creators; truly, the father is a tiger, and the daughter is no bad dog! Cooperation and such... it’s all good! We all progress together, serving the World Tree!"

Glasses clinked and exchanged amid the shimmer of the lights.

Smiling faces held up their glasses, conversations filled with "collaboration," "interaction," "investment" but barely any discussion on the content of creation.

Those with high status command followers. Those with low status become followers.

Su Ming’an watched all this with cold eyes, until someone came to his table.

A bald, square-faced middle-aged man with thick black-framed glasses, accompanied by a gloomy girl with thick bangs and glasses. Most eyes in the banquet hall were focused on them.

"This must be the recently popular newcomer dark horse in the Royal City, Mai Zique." The middle-aged man spoke, his voice deep.

Suddenly being addressed by his pen name, Su Ming’an felt an embarrassing sense of exposure.

"Sique, let me introduce." Seeing Su Ming’an ignore them, Yongchun hurriedly mediated: "This is Mr. Kalcha, the Vice President of the Genesis Association’s Red Tower Branch. Next to him is the President’s daughter, Ye Shurong. On the right is Mr. Romov, a parliamentarian from All Living Beings United. They are all significant figures stationed at the Red Tower, their stories were well-known decades ago."

In theory, a newcomer should stand up to toast at this time, but Su Ming’an remained indulged in his mango mousse.

"Sique... you’re still young, you don’t know these seniors. I’ll take you around the tables, toast each one, say hello, and you’ll get acquainted." Yongchun hurriedly mediated, already seeing hints of displeasure from Kalcha and the others.

If not Su Ming’an but a newcomer entering the workplace sat here, they would stand up with a forced smile to toast around even if reluctant.

This is the bloody reality.

But the one sitting here happened to be Su Ming’an.

Yongchun grasped Su Ming’an’s wrist, whispered: "...I know you’re proud, bro, but offering a toast now is more effective than burying your head in writing tens of thousands of words! If you align yourself with these big names, people will lend you a hand when you face some difficulties. Don’t think this is bowing to reality, this is reality! If you don’t want a narrowed path, learn the unspoken rules!"

Princess Aisudani’s gaze remained fixed on Su Ming’an’s face, silent, waiting for his reaction.

"...Ha." Finally, Su Ming’an raised a glass.

Seeing him raise the glass, everyone felt a sense of relief.

In truth, did Kalcha and the others really care for a single drink? What they cared about was a kind of established unspoken rule, having immersed themselves in such rules for too long. All newcomers must adhere to this rule, or it’s seen as challenging their authority.

Once the social environment is confined to the table, drinking becomes the only measure of one’s sincerity; otherwise, it seems there’s no other way – if you don’t drink, you’re disrespectful. The more you drink, the more sincere your heart appears. If you drink till you’re wasted, it shows you’re loyal to us.

Back when starting university clubs, Su Ming’an experienced such table culture. Seniors and juniors encouraged the younger ones to drink while he remained untouched, even when explaining he couldn’t drink, leading to isolation and contempt. The next day, he quit the club.

Students still have the courage to walk away, but many in society can no longer refuse.

And now, Su Ming’an continued with his stubbornness, politely declining: "I don’t drink."

"..."

Kalcha and the others turned from blue to white but soon regained their smiles: "It seems this young man isn’t interested in knowing us. Xiao Ye, let’s go over there. There are some young dark horses over there too..." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

They quickly left, no difficulty, no blame. Truly mature people won’t jump and rage like villains; instead, they silently blacklist Su Ming’an from their connections, while outwardly retaining friendliness.

If Sique releases new stories later, the Genesis Association probably won’t show him much kindness. Perhaps soon news will spread, "Mai Zique is being a diva," "Mai Zique has books but no character," "Young dark horse looks down on seniors, suspected to be swollen with fame."

People’s attention shifted away, Su Ming’an continued indulging in desserts until Ye Shurong came before him.

The girl was around sixteen or seventeen, a medal flashing with "World Tree Story Rank: No.129" hanging on her chest. Her discerning eyes swept over Su Ming’an’s face as she softly spoke:

"...Your story is merely grand and touching, filled with self-imagination and unrealistic idealism. Honestly, my story is more exciting than yours. Why isn’t my story the one storming the Royal City?"

She briefly recounted her story, the structure, plot, character design... then stared at Su Ming’an.

Though she came to provoke, Su Ming’an appreciated her more than those seniors who only talked capital; at least she’s here to discuss creation genuinely.

Admittedly, Sique, at 14, showed signs of being green, his story had many abrupt elements, not significantly more exciting than Ye Shurong’s, yet the popularity disparity was vast, despite almost comparable story quality.

"What’s that on your chest?" Su Ming’an pointed at the badge.

Ye Shurong paused, head held high with pride: "The concept of Genesis emerged in recent years. The World Tree listed a ranking, selecting a thousand stories it likes most. My story ranks 129, while I doubt you even made it on the list?"

Su Ming’an glanced at the panel; indeed, Sique’s story completed too late, the World Tree hadn’t updated the ranking again.

"My advice is not to be too proud." Ye Shurong crossed her arms: "Though young, I’ve seen many eyes eagerly seeking my father, either wanting to publish physical books or seeking senior backing."

"It’s like researchers and their mentors, you have a good mentor, state your name while doing things, and others immediately respond politely... It’s all human relations."

"Mai Zique, your talent isn’t enough to support you against the world."

Su Ming’an smiled, saying nothing.

At this moment, several aristocrats stepped forward, offering Su Ming’an a toast.

Su Ming’an politely declined.

At 14, Sique’s age was truly astounding; even after the initial few faced a disregard, others came, wave after wave. Some creators sought experience discussions, some aristocrats wished to connect, and some girls simply sought stars, Su Ming’an responded to them all with Mai juice.

Until he felt a weight in his hand, liquid splashing into his glass from above.

Raising his head, a red-haired female aristocrat was pouring him a drink, her hands adorned with sparkling gemstones.

"...Little Magpie, I’m Marquis Norman, accompany me for a drink." She leaned in, her pigeon blood gemstones swayed on her chest.

Su Ming’an saw through her intentions in an instant and said calmly, "To lay hands on a 14-year-old, truly inhuman."

Marquis Norman smiled and said, "I just want to make a consensual transaction with you. You can oppose the world as much as you want, ignore anyone, and I’ll take care of everything afterward. I’ll even help you promote your second story. Compared to those gloomy older folks, isn’t it more pleasant to share a drink with me? You should have some support."

She moved a bit closer, her words nearly a threat:

"...I think you wouldn’t want Qiao to lose his job as a Royal Engineer, would you?"

"You’re so free now only because Qiao supports you to buy paper and pens. But without money, trapped by life’s necessities, do you think you can still write anything good? Your heart will be occupied by life’s trivialities, and you’ll no longer be able to freely imagine. Look at those children scavenging garbage in slums every day; they can’t write interesting stories."

Su Ming’an saw the dark side of Luowasha.

At this moment, Princess Aisudani, who had been sitting silently masked, suddenly stood up, snatched the wine glass from Su Ming’an’s hand, and directly splashed it onto Norman’s face.

Norman covered his face, filled with anger, about to erupt. Princess Aisudani directly tore off her veil, revealing a delicate and proud face.

Instantly, the banquet hall fell into a dead silence.

People hadn’t expected that the host of the banquet had been sitting next to Su Ming’an, masked, all along.

"Princess." Marquis Norman felt an ill premonition, struggling to explain, "Mai Zique is just a newcomer. Normally, those with a low Genesis Level should defer to those with a higher Genesis Level. But he gives many seniors the cold shoulder, acting arrogant..."

"What ’normally speaking’?" Aisudani stepped forward, shielding Su Ming’an behind her, sneering, "The concept of Genesis only appeared years ago? Now we have a ’Genesis circle’, ’Genesis unspoken rules’? Looking only at seniority, not skill, any circle rots because of these evaluation standards!"

She wanted to say more, but Su Ming’an gestured to interrupt her, speaking lightly, "Princess, no need to explain. Since everyone wants to see my Genesis Level, let them see."

He opened the interface, turning it towards the crowd.

...

The things that followed, you don’t wish to recall.

The absurd and shocked expressions of the people didn’t give you any satisfaction, rather, a deep sense of sadness.

"Oh my! He’s a C-level Creator!" Romov’s expression cracked.

"The headquarters president’s level is currently the highest, but only a D-level! At this rate, this kid could become the president..." Kalcha gaped, clutching his chest.

"He... How could he... He’s clearly two years younger than me... Yet he’s more formidable than Dad..." Ye Shurong lost all pride, looking pale.

"Impossible! Why, why is this rating, does the World Tree favor him so!?" Norman’s eyes almost burst, his wine glass dropping to the floor.

"Greet the first Creator!! This is the true first Creator!! My god, I actually saw the entire Luowasha’s first Creator at Red Tower!" People whispered, some hurriedly took out cameras to capture the moment.

"Pay homage to the Dragon King!" Yongchun bowed deeply.

——Should you be happy?

——Should you secretly rejoice?

This moment where everyone in the banquet hall bows to you, this exhilarating face-slapping moment, enough to make anyone’s blood surge with excitement.

However, you didn’t feel a single bit of joy.

The core of any comedy is a tragedy.

Behind what appears to be a feel-good drama is people’s resolute defense and adherence to "unspoken rules."

They’re bowing to not you, but the cold letter in front of you.

They’re flattering not you, but the World Tree that loves your stories.

Ye Shurong’s story isn’t much different from yours, why is it you who gets everything? It’s just the World Tree’s preference, just the windward.

Their faces quickly turned to flattery, even those like Kalcha who initially walked away coldly, now approached with smiles, toasting you—how amusing, earlier you needed to toast them, now, the roles reversed, you became the beneficiary of this unspoken rule.

But you don’t wish to become "Kalcha."

"Senior, let me offer you a drink..." Kalcha grinned, approaching you. Like a chameleon transforming completely.

You couldn’t watch any longer, set down the barley juice and left, the wine fumes in the hall making you want to vomit. Before leaving, you glanced at Kalcha’s expression—his bald, middle-aged face was blood red, reeking of alcohol, as if he were about to throw up. He probably didn’t want to drink either, but couldn’t help it. Perhaps for life and family, he has to integrate with these unspoken rules, becoming part of the order. And his children might, years later, find themselves in this strange loop, starting as newcomers on the wine table.

You’re just a bit luckier, able to escape this endless cycle.

Leaving the banquet hall, the cold wind brushed past the corridor pillars, lifting your green long hair, immediately bringing a refreshing feeling, as if you had briefly escaped the decaying world.

You walked aimlessly; the Imperial Palace’s garden was large, adorned everywhere with vibrant flowers. Suddenly, you felt a pain in your chest.

...

...Poisoned?

Su Ming’an remembered many people had approached him recently, Sique’s body was still small, not much resistance to toxins.

He turned back, but his vision was dizzy and blurry, not knowing where he was heading. Upon reaching the corridor, he heard Marquis Norman’s voice:

"...He must be nearby, I heard footsteps. Managed to divert the guards, need to seize this chance."

She was holding a big burlap sack, searching for Su Ming’an.

Su Ming’an walked into the corridor, doors tightly shut on both sides. Norman seemed to hear a sound, rapidly heading his way.

Just then, a hand stretched from a nearby door, pulling Su Ming’an inside.