The gray ceiling stared back at Qin Shuo as he opened his eyes. Dim light cut through the darkness above him, but the harsh glare didn't make him squint. Nothing seemed to register properly.
His body felt weird.
"Where... am I?"
The words came out as barely a whisper. This wasn't his palace. These weren't his silk sheets or golden walls. The air smelled of rust and dampness.
'Am I dead?'
The thought hit him like a punch to the gut. Images flashed through his mind—the final battle, his trusted general's sword piercing his chest, the taste of blood in his mouth as his empire crumbled around him.
But if he was dead, why did everything hurt so much?
"Brother? Are you finally awake?"
That voice.
Qin Shuo's heart stopped for a split second. Sweet like silver bells, gentle like spring rain—a voice he hadn't heard in over eight years. A voice that haunted his dreams every single night.
'No. It can't be.'
He shot up from the bed, his eyes searching frantically until they found her. There, in the doorway, sat a girl in a wheelchair. Her face was pale, too thin, but her smile could light up the darkest room.
Qin Qing. His little sister.
But she was supposed to be dead.
"I... I've traveled back in time?"
The words tumbled out before he could stop them. His sister's eyes widened with worry as she rolled her wheelchair closer. The squeak of the old wheels on the concrete floor made his chest tight.
"Brother, what's wrong? You're scaring me."
Qin Shuo grabbed her shoulders, his hands shaking. "Sister, what year is it? Tell me—has 'World Conqueror' been released yet?"
Qin Qing blinked in confusion. "It's 2599. And that new game everyone's talking about? It launches tomorrow. Why are you—"
"Tomorrow!"
The excitement hit him like lightning. Ten years. He was back exactly ten years before his death. Before everything went wrong. Before he lost the only person who ever mattered.
In his past life, he'd missed the game's launch by six months. By then, all the best opportunities were gone. But now...
"Brother, you're acting really weird today."
Qin Shuo looked down at his sister—really looked at her. She was so young, so alive. In his memories, she'd wasted away while he spent every waking moment in the game, chasing power and glory. He'd been too busy building his virtual empire to notice his real sister dying in the real world.
But not this time.
"It's nothing, Qing-er." He gently ruffled her hair, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. "Just had a strange dream."
"Don't mess up my hair! I'm not getting any taller as it is."
She pouted and smoothed down her black hair, but Qin Shuo could see the love in her eyes. She'd always forgiven him for everything, even when he didn't deserve it.
'This time will be different.'
He touched the jade pendant hanging from his neck. The dragon carving felt warm against his fingers, and dark stains still marked its edges.
This mysterious artifact had somehow followed him back through time. Maybe it was the key to everything.
Qin Shuo checked his optical brain—the 26th century version of a smartphone. The numbers made him wince. One hundred thousand dollars. Just enough for the cheapest game helmet.
In this world, that wasn't much money at all.
Their tiny underground apartment reminded him just how far they'd fallen. The walls sweated moisture, the air recyclers hummed constantly, and everything smelled like rust and recycled air.
Most of China's 3 billion people lived down here in the depths while the wealthy families enjoyed the surface world.
But Qin Shuo knew something none of them did. 'World Conqueror' wasn't just a game. It was the beginning of humanity's next evolution. And he was going to be ready this time.
He pulled up the game's website on his optical brain and placed an order for the basic helmet. The blue loading screen showed his purchase going through.
One hundred thousand dollars for the cheapest model, but it would have to do.
"I'm going to order some real food for dinner," he told Qing-er, transferring the last of their credits. "No more nutrition packets."
"Brother, we can't afford—"
"We can afford it." His voice carried a confidence that made her pause. "Trust me."
Within an hour, a delivery robot knocked on their door. The package was surprisingly heavy, and when Qin Shuo opened it, a sky-blue helmet emerged.
Four elegant characters were carved into the forehead: "World Conqueror." Below them, in smaller text: "Tianchen Group."
Even in his past life, no one knew much about Tianchen Group. The company appeared from nowhere, created the most revolutionary game in human history, then faded back into mystery.
But Qin Shuo remembered rumors. Tales about alien technology, about games that were more than games, about players who never logged out because they'd found something incredible inside.
"Sister, use my optical brain for entertainment today. I'm going to test this game."
Qin Qing caught the device he tossed to her. "How long will you be playing?"
"The game runs at half-time speed," he explained. "A few hours in the real world equals a full day inside. I should be back by evening."
What he didn't tell her was that some players in his past life had spent weeks inside without logging out. The game world felt more real than reality itself.
He lifted the helmet, feeling its weight in his hands. In his past life, this game had made him an emperor. It had also cost him everything that truly mattered.
'But I know its secrets now.'
Qin Shuo took a deep breath and placed the helmet on his head. The interface came alive with soft blue light, and a gentle voice welcomed him to a new world.
This time, he wouldn't just play to win. He'd play to save the one person who'd never stopped believing in him.
The game world materialized around him, and Qin Shuo smiled.
"Let's see if ten years of experience can change fate itself."