Chapter 2: The Pardon Arrives

In the dimly lit prison corridor, Huang Wei strode briskly, phone in hand, his face weary. “Based on Ren Ye’s rank before the incident, how much would his full compensation be?” he asked.

“Ren Ye agreed?” came the voice of a man on the other end.

“Yes, he agreed.”

The man paused briefly before replying, “According to his previous department’s standards, the compensation is calculated as twenty times the average annual disposable income from the previous year, plus forty months of his rank’s salary. If he had any personal honors, an additional amount would be added. Roughly speaking, it should be over a million yuan.”

“Start drafting the paperwork now. The exact figure needs to be precise, and I want it approved by tomorrow morning,” Huang Wei instructed decisively. “This needs to be finalized before he leaves.”

“Is this something he requested?”

“No, he hasn’t asked for anything. I just think we owe him this much. Whether he succeeds or not, he deserves it,” Huang Wei replied matter-of-factly.

“Understood, I’ll handle it,” the man agreed without hesitation. “Still, I’m curious—how did you convince him to take the deal?”

A faint smile appeared on Huang Wei’s face, though his tone remained calm. “Simple. Personal charm.”

…

By noon the next day, Ren Ye was pulled away from his usual sewing duties and escorted out of the prison block. He was placed into a nondescript van. Strangely enough, no paperwork was signed, and no formal release procedures were conducted.

From a legal standpoint, Ren Ye was still serving his sentence in Qingfu Prison. Officially, it was as if he didn’t exist in the outside world.

This alone revealed just how powerful Huang Wei and the department backing him were.

Inside the van, besides Huang Wei, there was a young female driver who looked to be in her early twenties. She had a delicate face, lively eyes, and strikingly long legs that would rival those of a supermodel, even while seated.

She stood at least 1.72 meters tall and wore formal attire. The slightly open collar of her shirt only emphasized her well-endowed figure, adding a sense of allure.

Resting her left hand casually on the steering wheel, she held a phone in her right hand, listening to a voice chat in a group conversation.

“Hey, Nian Nian, I heard you guys picked up a potential recruit from prison—a guy named Ren Ye. Is that true?”

“Yeah, I heard the same thing. What’s going on over there? Recruiting from prisons now? That’s a new low.”

“Isn’t that Ren Ye a murderer? How can someone like that be recruited? Ridiculous!”

“Has his profession been confirmed yet?”

Listening to the chatter, the driver—dubbed Nian Nian—cleared her throat dramatically and replied with feigned indignation, “Where do you guys even get this stuff? All rumors! Stop tagging me; I’m in training, waiting for my next assignment!”

With that, she casually slipped her phone into the narrow pocket of her pants.

Hearing his name mentioned, Ren Ye shot a puzzled look at Huang Wei.

“Just a bunch of nobodies. Ignore them,” Huang Wei muttered dismissively. Sitting in the passenger seat, he turned to the driver. “Nian Nian, let’s go.”

This vague response only deepened Ren Ye’s confusion. He hadn’t even stepped out of the prison yet, so how did these strangers already know about him? Why had the driver lied about her situation?

Still pondering, Ren Ye watched the van pull away from the prison parking lot. The scenery outside whizzed by, unfamiliar yet liberating.

The weather was perfect—a clear, sunny day. Warm sunlight touched his skin, making him look even paler, almost translucent.

It had been so long since he had seen the world beyond those high prison walls. This taste of freedom was intoxicating.

At 88 Lianhu Road, a two-story building awaited them.

“I’ll leave you two to it. I have work to do,” Nian Nian said casually before disappearing into the main hall.

Ren Ye glanced around, noticing how eerily quiet the so-called “special unit” was. Not a single person was in sight—not even a guard at the entrance.

“Your place is pretty deserted,” Ren Ye remarked.

Huang Wei chuckled mysteriously. “They’re probably off observing something extraordinary.”

Without further explanation, he led Ren Ye up a staircase to the B2 level. The decor here was just as unassuming—bland and outdated, like an ordinary government office, perhaps even shabbier.

They stopped outside a door with a plaque that read “Red-Eyed Berserker”.

Is this Huang Wei’s nickname? Ren Ye mused, cringing internally. So juvenile—like something out of a bad action movie.

Swiping a key card, Huang Wei opened the door and gestured for Ren Ye to enter.

“Come in.”

Ren Ye followed, closing the door behind him.

“Take a seat,” Huang Wei said, casually picking at his nose while pouring two glasses of water.

Ren Ye scanned the room before sitting down across the desk. He remained silent, observing.

“I need to be honest with you. Before this conversation begins, you still have the chance to back out. Walk out of this building, hail a taxi, and head back to the prison. You can continue your routine there, sewing away on your machine,” Huang Wei said, sliding a glass of water toward him. He leaned back in his chair, studying Ren Ye. “But once we start talking, there’s no turning back. It’s a one-way ticket.”

Ren Ye smirked. “I hate people like you. You drag me out here, then put on this show of magnanimity, acting like you’re giving me a choice. What’s the point?”

“Agreed.” Huang Wei shrugged. “But it makes me seem democratic.”

Ren Ye scoffed, unimpressed, clearly unbothered by the theatrics.

“Alright,” Huang Wei said, his expression turning serious. He extended his hand across the desk. “Let me formally introduce myself. Huang Wei, Stargate Player, Second-Tier Star Envoy, Phase Title: Blood-Eyed Monk, bearer of a warrior-class legacy.”

“What? Stargate? Player? Star Envoy? What on earth are you talking about…” Ren Ye stared at him, bewildered.

Before Ren Ye could fully process what he had heard, the man sitting across the desk, Huang Wei, maintained his outstretched hand, but his gaze suddenly transformed dramatically.

In an instant, his pupils turned blood-red, emitting a faint aura, as if he were a vengeful ghost shedding tears of blood.

More strikingly, Huang Wei’s facial features grew more defined, exuding an inexplicable aura of menace. The oppressive energy radiating from him made Ren Ye instinctively recoil, pressing his back firmly against the chair.

What’s wrong with his eyes? Did he just catch his neighbor sneaking into his bedroom or something?

Even though Ren Ye had mentally prepared himself before coming here—knowing he might encounter people or organizations that would completely upend his worldview, and that the events he would get involved in could be shocking and bizarre—he still froze, his body trembling uncontrollably for a moment.

“I told you, from the moment you nodded, the gears of fate began to turn. You now have the opportunity to embrace a dazzling and extraordinary life,” Huang Wei said, still holding out his hand.

Sweating profusely, Ren Ye reluctantly reached out for a quick handshake. “W-what… what exactly do you mean by all that?”

Huang Wei seemed satisfied with Ren Ye’s reaction, convinced that his abrupt display of flair had been effective. This guy wasn’t ordinary; his mental resilience was strong. To shatter his mindset instantly, a sensory shock was essential.

After allowing Ren Ye some time to calm down, Huang Wei spoke again in a magnetic tone, “There exist Star Gates in this world, and those who pass through them ascend to godhood.”

“This is a phrase widely circulated among Star Gate players, and it’s fairly easy to understand. Simply put, scattered throughout the universe—no, across all dimensions—there exist countless spatial fragments, like stars scattered across the sky. Ordinary people can’t perceive them. These Stellar Scar Gates* contain boundless spaces, some vast and uncharted, others small, perhaps the size of a single tomb. Yet, within them lie the mystical legacies of countless civilizations.” [*This is the title btw.]

“Those randomly invited to enter these gates—we call them players. Once inside, they must complete numerous bizarre and often dangerous tasks. Successful completion grants them godlike abilities, mystical artifacts, or other extraordinary rewards.”

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

Ren Ye, still stunned, took a deep breath and summarized tentatively, “So… like a multiverse? Infinite dungeon worlds?”

“I don’t read web novels. They’re vulgar,” Huang Wei replied bluntly, though he quickly added, “But I’ve heard those terms. The concepts are somewhat similar but fundamentally different.”

“Your red-eye condition, is that something you got from entering one of these gates?” Ren Ye asked skeptically.

“Correction: it’s not a condition. I’m a handsome warrior,” Huang Wei declared.

Ren Ye scrutinized the visible crust in Huang Wei’s bloodshot eyes and nodded silently.

“In essence, the godlike abilities granted by Star Gates can be classified into two types,” Huang Wei continued. “The first is called Ordered Legacies. These have a structured progression path, akin to having a dedicated master guiding you. The second type is Chaotic Legacies. These have a more fragmented progression, relying heavily on personal talent and insight at each stage. Comparatively, chaotic legacies tend to be weaker in the early stages.”

Huang Wei deliberately slowed his pace before adding, “In summary, the rarer and more specialized an ordered legacy, the more powerful it is. Another key distinction is this: Ordered Legacy holders are recognized by the Star Gate and become permanently bound to it.”

“Bound to it? What does that mean?” Ren Ye asked, intrigued.

“It means,” Huang Wei explained, “once a Star Gate recognizes you as its holder, it becomes your personal property. You’ll also gain a unique Gate Spirit, as well as the authority to open or close the gate at will. As your rank increases, you can even alter the internal rules of its world and become its absolute ruler.”

Ren Ye sat in stunned silence for a long moment before asking eagerly, “Hypothetically! Let’s say a Star Gate’s internal world is as big as Earth. Once I own it, that Earth is mine, right? I could even invite a bunch of, uh, paid companions to live there and indulge myself without breaking any laws?”

“Theoretically, yes,” Huang Wei replied with a nod.

Ren Ye immediately envisioned this scenario. “Now that’s what I call a colorful life…”

“Summarize what I’ve just explained to you in one sentence,” Huang Wei said, scrutinizing him with a sharp gaze.

Ren Ye frowned, carefully choosing his words. “The universe is full of fragmented spaces. Those who enter and complete tasks gain supernatural legacies. These legacies are divided into two types: ordered and chaotic. Ordered is stronger, and the rarer it is, the better.”

“Good. Now let’s talk about why you’re here.”

Huang Wei, satisfied with Ren Ye’s grasp of the basics, got up and paced the room with his hands behind his back. “A month ago, one of our players finished a Star Gate task but unexpectedly gained entry rights to another Star Gate. This time, they were allowed to invite three additional players to join them.”

“A chain mission?” Ren Ye guessed.

“Smart!” Huang Wei’s eyes lit up. “In other words, the tasks this player previously completed were merely a prelude. The ultimate reward was actually the entry to this new Star Gate. It’s incredibly rare for one independent Star Gate to serve as a stepping stone for another. This led us to speculate that the new Star Gate holds an extremely high rank and contains a legacy system of unparalleled rarity!”

In the final half of his sentence, Huang Wei’s tone grew heavy, clearly reminding Ren Ye of the importance of the entry qualification.

“For any region, any nation, rare resources must be fought for,” Huang Wei, a man of strong principles, said with a high level of awareness. “So, I selected three elite players to enter the Stellar Scar Gate together.”

“Did the three chosen people get compensated?” Ren Ye asked, being very practical.

“Of course,” Huang Wei nodded seriously. “But…!”

“But what?” Ren Ye pressed.

“After those four entered the Star Gate, they completely lost contact,” Huang Wei said, turning to look at Ren Ye. “We haven’t heard anything from them in over twenty days…!”

Ren Ye’s heart suddenly tensed with unease upon hearing this.

Huang Wei stopped walking and looked at Ren Ye with a sorrowful expression. “Until three days ago, one player returned with an item, and it turned out to be the key to opening the final Star Gate.”

“The chain mission isn’t over? And… what about the other three?” Ren Ye asked.

“The person who returned… didn’t say a word,” Huang Wei lowered his head, his eyes reddening.

“Didn’t say? What does that mean?!”

Huang Wei sighed, his face filled with sadness. “The person who came back was covered in sores, his eyes vacant, and he collapsed right in front of the Star Gate. We treated him immediately, but the doctor diagnosed… he had died three days ago.”

“What?!” Ren Ye stood up in disbelief. “You… you mean, a body that had been dead for three days came back with an item?”

“Yes,” Huang Wei nodded. “We suspect the other three also died—inside the Star Gate. That’s why we came to find you.”

“Find… find me?” Ren Ye stammered. “Why? After four people died during a continuous mission, why would you come to me? Is it because I’m good with my sewing machine?”

Huang Wei suppressed his sadness and looked up at Ren Ye with a confused expression.

Ren Ye started to feel uneasy under his gaze. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Be prepared, the things you’re about to see may be too strange,” Huang Wei kindly reminded him.

Ren Ye didn’t feel anything at first, but hearing this made him feel an unsettling chill.

“Password, 7933-2,” Huang Wei suddenly called out.

“Verification successful~”

An electronic voice echoed.

“Clink!”

The middle section of the bookshelf slid open, revealing a slowly opening safe inside.

Ren Ye furrowed his brows and looked toward the safe. Inside, he saw a brush holder with a beautifully crafted brush, made of rare and exquisite materials.

“This brush is the item the last player brought back. Go ahead and pick it up,” Huang Wei instructed as he stood with his hands behind his back.

Ren Ye hesitated for a moment but eventually followed his instructions and walked up to the bookshelf, slowly picking up the brush.

It felt cool to the touch, with a good texture, and the brush handle had a faint reflection. It clearly wasn’t an ordinary item—it was at least a cultural relic.

“There’s something written on the handle. Can you see it?” Huang Wei took several steps back and stood by the door, turning off the lights.

Ren Ye carefully examined the brush handle and found two lines of small golden text that faintly glowed. “I can see it.”

“Stand in the middle of the room, face the open space, and trace the two lines of text, while softly reading them aloud.”

“Just… read them aloud? No background music or anything? These lines feel a bit dramatic.” Ren Ye attempted to lighten the mood to mask his growing tension. “It’s honestly… kind of embarrassing.”

Huang Wei watched him without responding.

“Huff~!”

Ren Ye took a deep breath, trying to calm his nervous emotions. He stepped into the center of the room, raised his arm, and grasped the brush.

He had no idea what would happen next, and his whole arm was trembling.

But now that he was here, he decided not to back down.

Ren Ye focused ahead, his arm starting to trace the characters, the brush slowly moving through the air.

“With a stroke of the brush, I craft a legacy for millennia; on the stage of history, I paint mountains and rivers.*” [Mountains and rivers is a direct translation. Depending on the context this can also mean a nation.]

With those words, he stopped.

“Whoosh~!”

Suddenly, the air trembled, a burst of dazzling starlight appeared, and in an instant, it spread across the room like ink splashed on white paper.

In just a few seconds, a twisted and irregular “black hole” appeared. It resembled a door, oval-shaped, about the height of a person, with colorful starlight flashing around its edges, making it painfully bright.

Ren Ye stared at the sudden “black hole” passage, his scalp tingling, his right hand unconsciously gripping the brush, too afraid to move.

His eyes widened, as if gazing into an abyss, completely unable to guess what he might encounter if he stepped inside.

“This is the Stellar Scar Gate. One step inside, and it will change your life,” Huang Wei said softly, standing by the pitch-black door.

“But why…?” Ren Ye suddenly looked at him, wanting to ask more questions.

At that moment, an eerie voice echoed from within the dark passage.

“Year of the Water Snake!”

“Month of the Water Dog!”

“Day of the Earth Monkey!”

“Hour of the Water Dog!”

“Heavenly Pardoned One—Ren Ye!”

“Please, enter the door!!!”

Hmm? What does that mean?! Ren Ye listened to the call, suddenly feeling a strange sense of familiarity. After thinking about it for a moment, his scalp went numb.

This… isn’t this… my birth year, month, day, and time?! Who… who is calling me?

As he listened to the ethereal voice, his mind exploded, and his entire body stiffened as if electrocuted.

“No one knows why it called for you, but this is the reason we brought you here.”

Huang Wei’s voice echoed.