Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 574 Secrets and Invitations

"In the tower's nighttime darkness, true tranquility is never something the system bestows."

Instead, they remained silent, understanding each other implicitly.

—The Tower of the End: The Awakener's Handbook, Volume I

The night in the City of Stars is brighter than the day.

The neon light bridge outside the floating hotel shimmered in the wind, and every piece of crystal glass reflected the brilliance of the tower's core.

Players were still walking around on the street, and the low-frequency flow of laughter, music, and data mixed together, like a dream breathing.

Si Ming pushed open the hotel door.

In the lobby, a smiling receptionist handed over three check-in cards.

"Standard rooms cost 200 points per day."

He nodded to pay, and light flashed across the card.

Natasha took her card and yawned lazily, "I'm going to take a shower first. I won't disturb your plot tonight."

With a smile playing on her lips, she waved her hand meaningfully, then turned and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Si Ming watched her retreating figure, sighed softly, and turned to enter his room.

The door closed automatically.

The indoor lighting automatically dimmed, leaving only a single white light.

Through the floating window, you can see the lights of the Star Bridge in the distance; the light is bright and cold, like a dream that will never be extinguished.

A short while later, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Boom, boom, boom."

Si Ming didn't speak, but gently traced a line with his finger.

A streak of light appeared in the air, and the door lock was unlocked.

The door slid open slowly.

Selene peeked in, her silver hair falling beside her face. She whispered, "Are you... there?"

Si Ming smiled slightly: "Come in."

She walked in, her fingers twisting her Star Calamity Card, her eyes somewhat unfocused.

"I want to talk to you about something."

Si Ming raised his hand, "Wait a moment."

He quietly summoned the mysterious card.

"The One with a Thousand Faces".

The air vibrated, and the light in the room instantly blurred.

Countless tiny data lines appeared on the wall, like flowing ink, converging into a semi-transparent phantom—a blurry, faceless, and voiceless human figure.

"Block the signal. Monitor the area outside the gate. Set a radius of ten meters."

The phantom's head tilted slightly, emitting a faint mechanical voice: [Command confirmed. Shielding activated.]

Immediately, a faint ripple spread out, like the moment the surface of water was sealed, and all the sound in the room was sucked away.

The noise from the outside world, the music on the street, all disappeared.

There were only two people breathing.

Selene looked around the room and couldn't help but sigh softly, "...Even the air feels heavier."

“This is a data firewall,” Si Ming explained. “No external listening signals can get in.”

He turned to look at her: "Now you can tell me."

Selene lowered her head.

"My points... aren't enough for three days' stay."

Her voice was soft, and her tone carried a hint of genuine anxiety.

“I’ve tried to calculate it,” she continued, “a meal costs fifty points.”
Accommodation costs 200, and even walking ten steps costs money.

I have to think twice before even taking a breath, wondering if it's worth it.

Si Ming did not answer immediately, but leaned against the table and smiled slightly.

"So you panicked?"

Selene pouted. "I'm not panicking. I'm just... a little scared."

"Afraid of freezing?"

"I'm afraid of living too fast."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Si Ming raised his eyes and his gaze fell on the Star Calamity Card in her hand.

"Have you forgotten the memories Xi gave you?"

Selene was stunned.

After a moment, she whispered, "Oh, right... I almost forgot."

She raised her head, her eyes somewhat dazed. "You... are all the creators of this world."

And I…

Si Ming smiled: "Now, you are too."

He stretched out his hand.

The Thousand Faces in the palm of the hand flipped in the light, causing subtle ripples to spread across the surrounding space.

The light on the wall began to "flow in reverse," as if the entire room had been lifted up by an invisible hand, and all colors were reversed to pale blue data cables.

Selene stared wide-eyed as she watched the lines dance around Siming's fingertips, as if he were plucking strings on a musical instrument.

"The underlying access control of the points system is a program lock. The 'Thousand Faces' can intrude into a part of it—by modifying the code of our own accounts."

He looked up, smiled, and added, "Occasionally transferring a few points doesn't count as cheating."

Selene laughed instinctively: "This is... the money you used to steal the tower?"

"Stealing your own dream," Si Ming replied, his tone light but tinged with self-mockery.

The gray-blue light of the data flowed between the two of them.
Their shadows were projected onto the wall, close to each other yet separated by light.

“However,” Si Ming continued, “we can’t change too much, and we can’t let the system find out.”

He asked in a low voice, "You didn't tell Natasha, did you?"

Celian shook her head: "You said no."

"very good."

Si Ming withdrew his hand, and the Thousand-Faced One slowly transformed back into the card face, and the light in the room warmed up again.

He leaned against the table, his smile returning to its usual calm and rational expression.

"Don't worry," he said softly, "I'll figure out a way to solve the points problem."

Just remember, we will eventually defeat the Primal One, and then wake up from this nightmare.

Selene looked up at him, a flicker of emotion passing through her eyes.

Light flashed through her eyes, like stars bent by the wind.

Selian leaned against the door, glanced at Siming quietly, then lowered her head and let out a soft breath.

The room wasn't big, but it was clean and tidy.

Outside the window, you can see the entire night sky of the City of Stars—countless floating islands shimmering with golden light, like a universe woven from dreams.

She slowly walked to the bedside and sat down.

The light fell on her face, and she stretched out her hand, looking at her palm.

Those were perfect, delicate hands that could easily clench into a fist.

She spread her five fingers,

She smiled slightly—a faint smile, yet tinged with a hint of melancholy.

"Reality... isn't necessarily good either."

She whispered.

The voice was so soft, as if afraid of waking someone.

In my mind, a real scene quietly surfaced.

White walls, a faint smell of alcohol in the air.

The ticking of the monitor was like the heartbeat of time.

Outside the window, the snow in the Alps glittered in the sunlight, pure and eternal, yet silent.

The world was eerily quiet.

wheelchair.

She remembered that she had always been sitting in that wheelchair.

The cold metal armrest brushed against her wrist, her fingers curled up—at that moment she barely had the strength to lift her hand.

Doctor, nurse, father, maid.

Everyone wore the same smile.
"You'll be fine."

"Hold on a little longer."

She smiled and nodded, but she knew in her heart that it was a lie.

Because the wind cannot reach her world.

The windows were tightly shut, and the airflow from the oxygen machine was as calm as ocean waves. She could only see the snow outside, but she couldn't go out.

She understood long ago that reality is a cage, only gilded.

It's different in the dream. In this dream, she can run, fly, and sweat.

Her body was free; blood could flow between her muscles, and her lungs could be filled with breath.

She can laugh.

It can be blown about by the wind and dazzled by the sunlight.

In her dreams, she can become "herself".

Her gaze softened for a moment, then slowly dimmed again.

"Reality... isn't necessarily good either."

She whispered again.

Si Ming's voice rang out from not far away, gentle yet rational: "Hmm? What did you say?"

Selene was startled and turned to look at him.

He remained seated at the table, the Thousand-Faced Card in his hand emitting a faint glow.

He clearly didn't hear me.

"Ah, it's nothing." She shook her head gently, a smile masking the slight sadness in her eyes.

Si Ming glanced at her, assuming she was worried about her points, and softened his tone.

"Don't worry. Once we defeat the Primal One, it will all be over. Then, we will wake up."

wake up.

The two words echoed in her mind, carrying a touch of unfamiliar chill.

She lowered her head, concealing her expression.

"Then...can I still go shopping?"

Siming paused for a moment.
He then chuckled, "Of course. But just don't waste money."

Selene smiled, pursing her lips.

"I'll be frugal." She smiled brightly, but her eyes held a hint of weariness.

As night fell, the lights grew softer.

She leaned against the window, looking at the floating islands outside. The bridges of light, the shadows of dragons, and the canopy of the sky formed a dream that would never end.

In this world, she is no longer the patient who cannot walk and lies in a hospital bed.

She can walk, fight, laugh, and even cry.

This is a dream.

But it felt more like being alive than her reality.

She gently closed her eyes, as if whispering to the wind.

"Some people...don't want to wake up."

The wind blew through the windowsill, and starlight reflected on her profile. Her smile seemed bright, yet it was more fragile than any night.

The night is getting darker.

Outside the floating hotel window, the City of Stars shone as brightly as day.

The streetlights shimmered with light, and the wind swept across the light bridge, carrying echoes of music and machinery.

Si Ming sat at the table, having just deactivated the Thousand Faces' shield.

Normal airflow was restored to the room, and the system signal was reconnected.

A translucent shadow flashed in the doorway.
The Thousand-Faced One's deep voice then came:

External movement detected.

[Target: Natasha, the Gambler of Fate.]

[Distance: Seven meters, close to medium.]

Si Ming raised his eyes,

"Turn off the shielding and withdraw the defenses."

The phantom trembled and slowly dissipated into the air.

The room's lights returned, and the atmosphere became natural again.

Selene was sitting on the edge of the bed, her long hair falling over her shoulders, but before she could speak...

"Knock, knock, knock." The knocking sounded on the door.

Si Ming stood up. "Please come in."

The door opens.

Natasha leaned against the door, a smile playing on her lips, her icy blue eyes flashing with their usual cunning.

“As expected,” she said, raising an eyebrow slightly.

“Selene, you’re here too.”

Selene blinked, looking as if her secret had been discovered, and immediately ran over to hug her arm.

"Natasha~ You also want to chat with Siming?"

"Chatting?" Natasha laughed.
"I do have important business to attend to."

She raised her hand, and a light screen unfolded from her palm, floating in the air.

The union's emblem flashed in the corner of the screen.

"The Mysterious Tricksters Guild just contacted us."

She tapped the screen. "They ordered us to learn Disaster Zone and Unrestricted Strike as soon as possible."

Selene's smile froze.

"Is it going to be fighting and killing again?"

“Oh, no,” Natasha smiled slyly, “this time there’s no need to bleed.”

She tapped the screen, and the city map unfolded.

A massive floating city model rotated, revealing zone labels in the light. Natasha pointed to one of the giant islands: [Celest Arena]

"See that? Entertainment and training are integrated."

"It is said that it is the safest battlefield in the middle level."

You can practice your skills by paying points, and you'll be invincible.

Selene's eyes lit up immediately: "Can we go play too?"

“Of course.” Natasha turned to Siming, her smile growing even sweeter.

"However—provided that our finance officer has to treat us to a meal."

Si Ming sighed.

"As expected, you're all eyeing my wallet."

“Paying for ladies,” Natasha said seriously, “is a gentleman’s basic courtesy.”

Si Ming raised his hand and rubbed his temples.

"If one day I run out of points and turn into a stone statue, could you please wipe off the dust for me when you have time?"

Natasha giggled, "Deal! Once you turn to stone, I'll run off with Selene."

Selene blushed and gently patted her.

The two of them laughed together.

Laughter echoed in the room, like a faint warm light in the night.

Si Ming looked at them, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"Alright, alright, see you at the arena tomorrow?"

Natasha clapped her hands: "It's a deal!"

She took Celian's hand.

"She'll sleep with me tonight. Don't disturb our girls' 'night talk'."

Selene was pulled along by her, and even turned around and made a face at Siming.

See you tomorrow!

Their laughter gradually faded away, and the corridor lights flowed behind them like ripples in a galaxy.

The room returned to quiet.

Si Ming leaned against the window alone.

Looking out at the night.

The entire City of Stars is like a giant machine.

Every lamp is burning points.

Every breath of air has a price.

He gazed at the sea of ​​light.
He muttered to himself:

"...The tower will not let us have peace."

Outside the window, the wind swept across the Star Bridge.

Carrying the distant clamor and laughter,

It was swallowed up again by the silence of the high sky.

Laughter is the gentlest whisper in a dream.

It makes you think you're still alive.

—From *The Tower of the End: Philosophy of Dreams, Volume III, Part 2*

(End of this chapter)