Chapter Two: Heaven’s Pardon Bestowed Upon Fate

Page (1/3)
In the dim corridor of the prison, Huang Wei walked briskly while holding a phone, his face fatigued as he asked, “Based on Ren Ye’s rank before the incident, how much is his full compensation?”
“Ren Ye agreed?” a man’s voice came through the phone.
“Yes, he agreed.”
“...” The man was silent for a moment. “The compensation standard at his former unit is twenty times the previous year’s per capita disposable income plus forty months’ salary corresponding to his rank. If he has any personal honors, there would be additional compensation. Roughly calculated, it’s over a million.”
“Prepare the documents now. The figures must be precise. I’ll apply for it first thing tomorrow morning,” Huang Wei ordered decisively. “This money must be approved before he goes in.”
“Is this his condition?”
“No, he hasn’t asked for it. I just want to give it. Whether he succeeds or not, he will get it.” Huang Wei replied bluntly.
“Alright, I’ll prepare the materials.” The man agreed immediately. “But boss, I’m really curious—how did you convince him to come in?”
Huang Wei smiled faintly, his tone indifferent. “Ha, just personal charm.”

...

At noon the next day, Ren Ye had just finished using the sewing machine when the staff escorted him out of the prison area and into an ordinary business vehicle. During this process, he did not sign any paperwork or complete any formal release procedures.
Legally speaking, he was still serving his sentence in Qingfu Prison; society outside simply did not recognize his existence.
This showed that Huang Wei and the department behind him were indeed formidable...

In the business vehicle, besides Huang Wei, there was a young female driver, about in her twenties, with a beautiful face and lively eyes. Even sitting in the driver’s seat, her supermodel-like long legs were impossible to overlook.
She was at least about 1.72 meters tall, dressed formally with the collar of her shirt slightly open, revealing a chest so prominent it could rest on a table, making a striking impression.
Her left hand rested naturally on the steering wheel while her right hand held a phone, opening a voice message in a group chat.

“Nian Nian, I heard you found a potential asset in the prison named Ren Ye—is that true?”
“Yes, I heard that too. What’s going on? Now you’re recruiting people from prison? That’s really low.”
“I heard Ren Ye is a murderer. How could you accept someone like that? Ridiculous!”
“Has that guy’s occupation been confirmed?”

Listening to the noisy messages in the group, the woman with long legs cleared her throat deliberately and said with a slight stutter, “No, none of that is true. It’s all rumors and unreliable. Don’t tag me anymore—I’m preparing for training and waiting for the gate to open.”
After speaking, she slipped the phone into the narrow pocket of her pants.

Ren Ye, having overheard his name, looked at Huang Wei in confusion.
“Just a bunch of small-time troublemakers, don’t mind them,” Huang Wei said vaguely, then sat in the front passenger seat and ordered, “Nian Nian, drive.”
His ambiguous reply only deepened Ren Ye’s puzzlement. He hadn’t even been released yet, so how were people outside already discussing him? They seemed to know something about him, and why would the long-legged woman lie?

With his mind full of questions, Ren Ye watched the streets rush past as the vehicle left the prison parking lot.
The weather was fine, the sky clear and blue, and warm sunlight bathed his skin, making it appear even paler, almost translucent.
He hadn’t seen sunlight beyond the prison walls for a long time—this was the scent of freedom.

...

At No. 88 Lianhu Road, inside a two-story building.
“You two chat; I’m going to work,” Nian Nian said to the others before disappearing into the lobby.

Ren Ye looked around and saw that this so-called special unit was deserted—not a single person in sight, not even a guard at the door.
“This place is pretty quiet,” he remarked.
Huang Wei smiled mysteriously. “They’ve probably gone off to observe some kind of extraordinary phenomenon.”
Ren Ye nodded and followed him.

The two walked down the lobby stairs to the B2 level. The decoration and furnishings were still very ordinary, resembling a typical bureaucratic office, even a bit outdated.
After a moment, they arrived at the door of an office. Ren Ye immediately noticed a plaque on the wall bearing the words “Blood-Eyed Berserker.”
Was this Huang Wei’s nickname? How childish and dramatic—like one of those 996 work-culture style monikers.

Huang Wei swiped his card to enter and called Ren Ye in, “Come in.”
“Oh.”
They entered one after the other and closed the door behind them.
“Sit down.”

Huang Wei habitually picked at his nose, then lazily poured two glasses of water.
Ren Ye observed the room and sat down by the desk without speaking.

“I have to be honest with you: before this conversation starts, you still have a chance to back out. Leave this building, catch a taxi at the gate, and go back to the prison—you can happily keep using the sewing machine,” Huang Wei said, placing a glass before Ren Ye and sitting across from him. “But once this talk starts, you’re committed all the way.”

Ren Ye smiled. “I hate leaders like you most. You’re the one who called me here, but now you’re pretending to be righteous, trying to dissuade me. What’s the point?”
“I hate it too,” Huang Wei shrugged. “But it makes it look democratic.”
“Heh.”

Page (2/3)
Ren Ye sneered, showing no sign of the aware anti-fraud agent he was supposed to be.

“Alright,” Huang Wei’s expression turned serious as he extended his hand. “Let me formally introduce myself again. I’m Huang Wei, a Stargate player, a second-tier Star Envoy, currently titled Blood-Eyed Monk, inheritor of the warrior lineage.”

“What? Player? Star Envoy? What are you talking about...”

Before Ren Ye could finish, Huang Wei, still holding out his hand, suddenly changed his expression.

“Swish!”

Instantly, his eyes turned blood red, emitting a faint glow, like a vengeful ghost weeping tears of blood.
Most notably, the lines on his cheeks sharpened, and he exuded an inexplicable aura of deadly menace. The overwhelming pressure made Ren Ye instinctively lean back, his entire back pressed hard against the chair.

What... what’s wrong with his eyes? Damn, did he just see Old Wang from next door entering his bedroom?

Although Ren Ye had mentally prepared himself before coming, knowing the person or organization he was dealing with might upend his worldview, and that the upcoming events might be filled with horror and strangeness, he was still stunned. His body trembled uncontrollably twice.

“I told you, once you nod, the wheel of fate will begin to turn. You have a chance to embrace an incredibly brilliant life,” Huang Wei said, still holding out his hand.

Sweating on his forehead, Ren Ye shook Huang Wei’s hand perfunctorily. “...What do you mean by all that just now?”

Huang Wei was pleased with Ren Ye’s reaction and felt his sudden display of bravado was justified. This guy wasn’t ordinary; he had strong mental fortitude. To break his mindset instantly, a sensory shock was necessary.

After waiting for Ren Ye to calm down, Huang Wei’s voice turned magnetic. “There are Stargates in this world; those who enter become gods.”

“That’s a phrase among Stargate players. It’s easy to understand. Simply put, in the universe as we know it—no, in the entire cosmos—there are many spatial fragments scattered like stars, invisible to ordinary people. The inside of a Star Scar Gate varies; some are vast and boundless, with no discoverable edges; some are very small, perhaps only the size of a grave. But all contain divine legacies left by countless civilizations.”

“Those randomly invited to enter a Star Scar Gate—we call them players. After entering, they must complete numerous bizarre tasks. Upon success, they receive godlike inheritance powers or mystical artifacts.”

At this point, Huang Wei patiently asked, “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Ren Ye was dumbfounded but forced himself to summarize: “Multiple worlds? Infinite dungeon-like game worlds?”

“I don’t read online novels; that’s lowbrow,” Huang Wei paused, “but I’ve heard those terms. There are similarities but also fundamental differences.”

“Your bloodshot eyes—are they from entering this gate?”

“Correction: I’m not bloodshot,” Huang Wei emphasized. “I am a handsome warrior.”

“...!” Ren Ye glanced at the dirt in Huang Wei’s eyes and nodded silently.

“Simply put, the godlike inheritance powers from Stargates fall into two categories. One is ordered inheritance, with a complete progression path, like having a personal mentor. The other is unordered inheritance, with a chaotic progression path; every advancement depends on personal talent and insight. Generally, unordered inheritors have weaker abilities early on.” Huang Wei deliberately slowed down. “In short, the more special the ordered inheritance, the higher its value and rarity. The biggest difference is that ordered inheritors receive recognition from the corresponding Star Scar Gate and become completely bound to it.”

“What does ‘bound’ mean?” Ren Ye asked curiously.

“It means... once you gain the Star Scar Gate’s recognition through ordered inheritance, the gate becomes yours personally. You will have an exclusive gate spirit, with the authority to open or close it at will. As your rank rises, you can alter the internal world’s rules and become its ruler,” Huang Wei explained succinctly.

Stunned and speechless for a long moment, Ren Ye finally hurriedly summarized, “Hypothetically—say a Star Gate is as big as Earth. If I gain its recognition, Earth becomes mine? I could even invite a bunch of paid companions inside, living a life of indulgence without breaking any laws?”

“Theoretically, yes,” Huang Wei nodded.

Ren Ye immediately imagined the scene. “Truly a dazzling life...”

“Summarize what I just told you in one sentence,” Huang Wei demanded, staring at him.

Ren Ye frowned, then carefully organized his words: “There are countless spatial fragments in the universe. Those who enter complete tasks to gain superpower inheritances. There are two types: ordered and unordered. The former is stronger and rarer.”

“Very good. Now, the reason we called you here.”

Huang Wei nodded in satisfaction, stood, and paced the room. “A month ago, one of our players completed a Stargate mission but found he had gained entry qualifications to another Stargate and could invite three additional players to enter with him.”

“A consecutive mission?” Ren Ye asked uncertainly.

“Smart!” Huang Wei’s eyes shone. “This means the player’s previous missions were merely a prelude. The ultimate special reward was entry to this Stargate. This kind of layered mission is rare, so we deduce that this Stargate is very high-ranking, and its inheritance system is extremely rare!”

His tone became heavier as he emphasized the significance of the entry qualification.

“For a region or a nation, every rare resource must be fought for,” Huang Wei said with a strong sense of justice and high awareness. “So I selected three elite players to enter this Star Scar Gate together.”

“Did those three get compensation?” Ren Ye asked pragmatically.

“Of course,” Huang Wei nodded solemnly. “But...!”

“But what?” Ren Ye pressed.

“After entering, all four lost contact,” Huang Wei said, hands behind his back, looking at Ren Ye. “No news for over twenty days...!”

Ren Ye felt a sudden unease.

Huang Wei stopped pacing and looked at Ren Ye with sorrowful eyes. “Three days ago, one player returned with an artifact that was the key to the final Stargate.”

“Still a consecutive mission? And... what about the other three?” Ren Ye asked urgently.

“The one who came out... said nothing,” Huang Wei’s eyes reddened as he bowed his head.

“Didn’t say? What do you mean?!”

Huang Wei sighed, his face full of pity. “That player was covered in decay, eyes lifeless, and collapsed before the Stargate. We treated him immediately, but the doctor said... he had died three days ago.”

“What?!” Ren Ye stood in disbelief. “You mean a corpse dead for three days came out with an artifact?”

“Yes,” Huang Wei nodded. “We suspect the other three died inside the gate. That’s why... we found you.”

Page (3/3)
“Found... found me?” Ren Ye stammered. “Why? Why would a consecutive mission, where four people died, end up coming to me? Is it because I’m good at using the sewing machine?”

Huang Wei forced away his sadness and looked at Ren Ye with an equally puzzled expression.

Ren Ye felt uneasy under that gaze. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Prepare yourself. What you’re about to see may be too strange,” Huang Wei kindly warned.

Ren Ye was unperturbed at first, but the warning sent a chill down his spine.

“Password, 7933—2.” Huang Wei suddenly shouted.

“Verification successful~”

An electronic voice echoed.

“Whirr!”

A hidden panel in the middle of the bookshelf slowly rose, revealing a safe that opened wide.

Ren Ye frowned and saw in the center of the safe a brush stand holding an elegantly crafted brush, made of what seemed a rare material.

“This brush is the artifact that last player brought out. Walk over and pick it up,” Huang Wei instructed, hands behind his back.

After careful consideration, Ren Ye obeyed and walked to the bookshelf, slowly taking up the brush.

It was cold to the touch, of fine quality, with a slightly reflective shaft—clearly not an ordinary item, at least an artifact-grade piece.

“Are there words on the shaft? Can you see them?” Huang Wei stepped back several paces, standing by the door and switching off the lights.

Ren Ye examined the shaft carefully and indeed saw two lines of golden small characters glowing faintly. “I can see them.”

“Stand inside the desk area, facing an empty space, and copy those two lines aloud.”

“Just read them plainly? No background music or anything? These two lines are a bit awkward,” Ren Ye joked to ease his own tension. “Makes me feel a little embarrassed...”

Huang Wei stared silently at him.

“Hoo~!”

Ren Ye exhaled deeply, trying to calm his nerves. He stepped to the center of the office, raised the brush, and gripped it tightly.

He truly could not guess what would happen next; his whole arm trembled.

He had come this far—no turning back.

Facing forward, his arm began to trace the characters, the brush tip slowly moving through the air.

“With brush in hand, I carve a legacy of a thousand years; I ascend the stage to paint mountains and rivers!”

With those words, he stopped.

“Bwo~!”

Suddenly, the air shifted, and a brilliant starry light flickered into existence, spreading like ink on white paper, vertically across the room.

Within seconds, a warped and irregular “black hole” appeared. It resembled a door, elliptical and over a person’s height, its edges flickering with dazzling multicolored starlight.

Ren Ye stared wide-eyed at the abrupt “black hole” portal, his scalp tingling, his right hand gripping the brush tightly, unable to move.

His eyes were wide open, as if gazing into the abyss, unable to guess what awaited him inside.

“This is the Star Scar Gate. One step inside, and your life changes,” Huang Wei softly reminded him, standing at the dark threshold.

“But why...?” Ren Ye turned sharply to ask.

At that moment, a faint call echoed from the abyss-like portal.

“Year of Gui Si!”
“Month of Ren Xu!”
“Day of Wu Shen!”
“Hour of Ren Xu!”
“Heaven’s pardon falls upon—Ren Ye!”
“Please enter the gate!!!”

Huh? What does this mean?! Ren Ye shivered as the ethereal voice called out, suddenly realizing with a chill that it was his own birth year, month, day, and hour—the Four Pillars of Destiny. Who was calling him?

As he listened to the haunting summons, his mind thundered, and his body stiffened as if electrified.

“No one knows why it calls you, but that’s why we invited you,” Huang Wei’s voice sounded.