Alternate Dimension Game: Happiness is all that matters!
Chapter 282 - 251 "Paradise" - Prologue (5000 words)_2

Chapter 282: Chapter 251 "Paradise" - Prologue (5000 words)_2

"Just seeking some peace of mind," Wang Hao had heard that there were two fallen places in this world. One was space, the other was the underground.

"Why isn’t the master affected by this fallen land?" The old monk sighed, "When the heart is ash, desire wanes strong. Sometimes, being alive is worse than being dead."

Wang Hao fell silent for a moment; this old monk must know something...

"Has the master already reached the state of no desire?" "Not at all, not at all," the old monk said, "I just have conflicting desires, therefore, it is hard for me to be affected."

Conflicting desires? Wang Hao did not quite understand. He was not sure about the effectiveness of Buddha’s teachings.

But it was certain that this alert monk before him might be some kind of hint before the "Game" officially began. Isn’t that what a prologue is?

"Can you tell me who the master’s old friend is?" "The old friend’s last name is Xiang, with the given name Hao. Over twenty years ago, harboring great aspirations, he entered this cave and has not returned since."

"People are but a clump of earth, arriving with a thread of innate energy, departing as a wisp of blue smoke, what a pity. Mr. Xiang Hao, a man capable of great things indeed."

Xiang Hao? Wang Hao was very familiar with this name. It turned out to be the "little boy" he encountered in the Etheric Abyss, codenamed Lanjin.

Did he tamper with something in this cave? "If the benefactor really wants to know certain things, allow me to explain slowly."

The old monk placed the Buddha Beads on the table, his eyelids drooping as he said, "Forty-five years ago, before the catastrophe had occurred, my family were billionaires, wealthy yet with sparse family branches, passed down from one generation to the next."

"My father arranged a marriage for me, saying it was to strengthen our family line first before establishing my career." "Initially reluctant, wanting to enjoy life more as I had just graduated from university, who would want to marry and have children?"

"But unexpectedly, the girl was quite wealthy and was also a famous beauty locally, our families were well-matched, and when we met, it was love at first sight, both talented and beautiful. Back then, I was on cloud nine, everything going my way."

Wang Hao listened quietly, silently thinking that nowadays, entertainments that provide emotional value cheaply are increasing, making the allure of dating less appealing, thus the increase in singles.

But a nice and rich beauty, what man wouldn’t like that? Of course, his own, Wang’s requirements for girls aren’t high, mainly looking for someone interesting, creative... yes, an interesting soul is very important. Since he has face blindness, it doesn’t matter much as long as she’s not too ugly, someone like the slightly pretty Xiao Yue, barely passing, isn’t that a low standard?

"...However, fortune and misfortune come by turns, the moon waxes and wanes." The old monk paused, his expression blank as he continued, "A month before the wedding, we planned to hike a distant mountain. It was a barren mountain, thick with jungles and overgrown with weeds, very much in its primitive state, a famous influencer spot here."

"At that naive and reckless age, ignorant of world affairs, who knew the danger of the wilderness? Thus, we camped in the wilderness. At a river bend, there were even wild fish and shrimp, and lush wild vegetables."

"But then, a heavy rain poured down, causing a landslide; a huge rock rolled down and struck my fiancée on the head, killing her instantly."

Wang Hao restrained his smile, seriously saying, "Master, please accept my condolences." He was pondering what the old monk was trying to convey with this story.

Could it possibly combat the "Delusion"? "No matter, they are but fleeting clouds; that was forty years ago."

The old monk sighed, "At that time, I was there too. Several falling rocks happened to prop up a tripod, which protected me underneath. My fiancée was killed instantly, but I survived, only to be trapped unable to escape."

"Beyond the boulder was a torrent of mud, with only a tiny gap sparingly letting in some fresh air." "I called out a few times, realizing she did not respond."

"My fiancée had died, her body as stiff as iron, and my heart was ash." "The world had no meaning for me anymore; I might as well die along with her."

Wang Hao frowned, a heart of ash, is that how one combats the power of "Delusion"? Isn’t it that simple? That’s the Demon God!

The old monk continued, "...After some shifting around, in the tiny crack, I found the luggage lying by my feet." "Inside were a flashlight, a dagger, and some freshly cut wild vegetables, but no water."

"Silence all around."

"Only the ’thump thump’ of a heartbeat." "I was trapped here, with my cold fiancée for company, despair growing ever thicker... ’Stab into the heart, let’s go to the underworld together,’ as if my fiancée was whispering in the dark."

"I turned on the flashlight, picked up the dagger, and saw her finger buried beneath the boulder." "She really was dead."

"That finger, which was once as fair and fresh as white jade, now felt cold to the touch, and its skin had lost its luster. The most beautiful star of the night sky had fallen; I was left all alone, what was the point of living?"

The old monk paused again: "Suddenly, I wanted to see her one more time!" "I began to dig through the mud with my hands, shovel with the dagger, and dig with my shoes. I did everything I could to unearth her, even though my own safety was at risk. Just one last look at her, then I would follow her in death..."