When players realized the girl who'd been asleep for over five centuries was Li Sushang, a new question popped up in everyone's mind—
Why did Sushang go into stasis?
Because the side story "Shenzhou: Record of Broken Swords" hasn't finished yet, people only knew two things: five hundred years ago Otto saved Sushang, and she developed a soft spot for him. What came after was a blank. So her sudden appearance in the main story—waking in the present—naturally stirred suspicion.
Had this bright, innocent girl… been played by Otto?
Elysia and Eden were just as curious.
In-game, Otto's gentle questioning continued:
"By the way… do you know who I am? If you do, try nodding."
[The girl concentrated on remembering how to control her muscles; after several seconds she managed a small nod.]
Good enough—expectations for what came next spiked.
"Very good. No need to rush your limbs; the feeling will return on its own.
Back to the point…
Today is May, 2017 A.D.—ah, forgive me, that form will only confuse you more.
In other words—this is five hundred and twenty years after you fell asleep."
The screen faded to black.
When it returned, free movement was enabled—and to Elysia's surprise, the controllable character was Otto.
Before she could take a step, a line of text stamped across the screen:
[Four months later — Friday, October 13, 2017]
Otto's narration flowed:
"What a day—gloomy and yet radiant.
In five centuries, I've never seen one quite like it."
Ahead stood a slender young woman in flowing, antiquated dress. Different from the side story's outfit, yes—but unmistakable all the same: Li Sushang.
"She'd be the kind to keep a good mood even in weather like this."
A short tutorial popped. Elysia followed the arrow, walked Otto over to Sushang, and a dialog prompt appeared. She didn't click it immediately—she circled Sushang twice, taking in the model.
"Li Sushang is adorable, isn't she, Eden~?"
That offhand comment sent chat spiraling:
[Li Sushang!!]
[This outfit is so airy and elegant]
[Another Shenzhou-style character—she's getting a playable card, right?]
[Pulling on sight.]
[Hotter than the Master. (…in a different category.)]
['Inch-force to the skull' warning!]
[Ahem? Taixu Sect AD Calcium Milk?]
[Otto's a whole head taller—the height gap is killing me]
[You guys noticed? Otto has an HP bar.]
[Wait—he does!]
[Good news: Otto has a health bar. Bad news: the bar is on me. Do I… hit me?]
[Fooled by Dogto again…]
Elysia giggled. "Right—if the HP bar's on me, what do I do?"
Eden couldn't help laughing. "We've been tricked by Mr. Mo Li."
After a little more teasing, Elysia clicked Talk.
"There you are, Sushang~
The view's wonderful—Changguang told me about this spot. I'd never have found it alone, haha…"
Sushang's voice was lively, unguarded—no trace of resentment. Which meant she likely chose stasis herself.
That only made everyone more curious: what happened later in Record of Broken Swords that convinced Sushang to be frozen for five centuries and wake in a world she knew nothing about?
Fu Hua had joined Schicksal for a promise: Otto would "watch over Shenzhou."
But what about Sushang?
Beyond a life debt… was there only love?
"Looks like you've already made friends with everyone. As expected of you—you always exceed expectations."
"Hey, you were the one insisting I be an S-rank Valkyrie, you rascal," Sushang huffed, then cocked her head.
"Seriously though—does your 'final plan' have to be this convoluted?"
Otto chuckled.
"Let's say I'm simply… inclined toward methods that satisfy myself most."
"Self-satisfying? Didn't you say you'll probably die?"
"Mm. True." He waved it off.
"But you know me—I've never cared much for this life of mine."
"…I yield." Sushang sighed. "Fine. But one thing shocks me more—
Did you actually bridge past and present? The whole town's haunted."
"Oh?" Otto blinked. "Changguang told you even that?
For the record—I haven't summoned the past. I've merely projected its information here."
Not much detail—but enough to clarify: they weren't time-traveling to the 1500s. Otto had overlaid projections of that era onto the present.
What followed was a long, lore-rich exchange.
—
In a corner of MiHuYou Studio, Li Sushang and Pardofelis were glued to a monitor, playing Honkai for themselves.
A few days with the game, and Sushang was hooked. Before this, both girls lived the hamster wheel: clock in, overtime, clock out—no time for games. But even then they'd heard MiHuYou's name. Now employed here, they finally had space to explore—and there was no way they'd skip this one. It starred them, after all.
Sushang was watching Record of Broken Swords. There she was—no 3D model yet, just 2D art—a few years younger, but nine-tenths the same face. If she'd had time before, she might've realized sooner that she'd been "put into the game."
No matter. In the main story she did have a model now. Playing felt like watching another-world version of herself—strangely fun.
Pardofelis snickered. "In the side story you're so trusting—barely met Otto and you're already spilling everything."
Sushang shot her a look. "Completely normal. In the game I'm a fifteen-year-old rookie just stepping into the jianghu."
Pardo drawled, teasing, "Face-value enjoyer. Straight-shooter. Honest to a fault…
Wow—sounds exactly like you."
She leaned in, whispering, "Boss Mo Li's easy on the eyes, yeah?"
Sushang nodded before she could stop herself.
"Then… do you like him?"
Sushang puffed her cheeks—she knew Pardo was baiting her. Still, her mind flashed on Mo Li's looks, his temperament, the talent that seemed to overflow from him. Top of the line in every category. Even so, she shook her head.
"Liking faces doesn't mean I fall for every face."
"True," Pardo sang, "but… in the script you seem to like Otto.
Sooo… maybe Boss likes you. Why else write that plot?"
Old Sushang might've been tricked. But after moving in and seeing the gallery of goddesses at the studio, she could only laugh. With this many breathtaking women around, why would he pick her?
"Enough teasing. Let's keep playing."
—
To read 30+ future chapters, head over to Patreon:
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554