In front of the computer, Shen Mufan’s fingers danced swiftly across the keyboard. With a series of rapid operations, the final boss in the online game’s dungeon collapsed pitifully on the screen, dropping a treasure chest that appeared before the assassin character named “Sifan.”
Shen Mufan maneuvered his in-game avatar forward to open the chest. Upon seeing the final reward, he was thoroughly satisfied—his luck was indeed exceptional. Soon after, the system announcement was broadcast:
“Congratulations to the hero [Sifan] for clearing [Dark Underground Cavern] and obtaining the purple-tier ore [Spider Egg]!”
The moment the announcement went out, the world chat exploded with activity. Some players begged to “absorb his luck,” others offered elaborate tributes to the gaming god from every conceivable angle, and still others attempted to buy the Spider Egg at exorbitant prices. The reactions were as varied as they were fervent.
Shen Mufan, however, promptly muted the world chat. With his hard-won (or so he claimed) Spider Egg in hand, he cheerfully guided his character back to his in-game home.
Of course, calling it a “home” was an understatement. As a renowned top-tier player and a whale in the MMORPG *Heroes’ Journey*, Shen Mufan’s residence was a spacious, exquisitely furnished courtyard mansion—complete with high-end decor that left other players drooling with envy.
As a moderately famous and high-level artificer, Shen Mufan gathered several rare materials, including the Spider Egg, and began crafting. These materials were all highly valuable; selling them would fetch a hefty sum, with the Spider Egg being the most prized among them.
Spider Eggs were classified as purple-tier materials—not the rarest, falling short of orange-tier and divine-tier items. The Dark Underground Cavern dungeon wasn’t particularly high-level either. Even mid-tier players in *Heroes’ Journey* could clear it with a decent team. The reason Spider Eggs were so expensive and hard to obtain was simple: their drop rate was abysmally low.
Not only was the drop rate dismal, but Spider Eggs also had additional benefits when used in crafting, such as increasing success rates and occasionally enhancing weapon quality. It was no wonder they were so coveted. Shen Mufan had tried buying one through high-priced bounties but failed, forcing him to grind the dungeon himself.
Fortunately, Shen Mufan’s luck was legendary. After just a few runs, he secured the Spider Egg. Had other players—who had run the dungeon until they were sick of it—known, they might have collectively turned on him in frustration.
Of course, that was just a joke. Shen Mufan wasn’t just a well-known whale; he was also a highly skilled assassin player with a spot on the PvP leaderboard. Most players wouldn’t dare pick a fight with him unless they had a death wish.
After a grueling crafting session, Shen Mufan admired the final product: a pair of orange-tier daggers, one large and one small. Their stats—bonus attack power, agility, and critical hit rate—were perfect for a swift, high-damage assassin like him. These were weapons tailor-made for his playstyle.
Satisfied, he stored his loot, ignored the still-raging world chat, and logged off to get some sleep.
Rising from his desk, Shen Mufan stretched and headed to the bathroom. As he brushed his teeth, he tugged at his bangs in the mirror and muttered, “Ugh, I should get a haircut tomorrow.”
After finishing his nighttime routine, he climbed into bed, pulled the covers over himself, and drifted into a peaceful slumber.
Shen Mufan came from a well-off family. His grandfather had built a modest fortune, and his parents had expanded it through hard work, running a small but thriving company. When his grandfather passed away due to old age, Shen Mufan—the only heir in three generations—was left with doting parents and a life of comfort.
Despite his privileged upbringing, Shen Mufan wasn’t spoiled rotten. His family had instilled good values in him, so while he was a bit pampered and occasionally willful, he wasn’t the type to bully others or cause trouble. His delicate, doll-like features also made his minor quirks endearing rather than annoying.
Life had been perfect—his father was capable, his mother gentle and kind, and Shen Mufan himself was a top student, the pride of his family. But everything changed due to his father’s misplaced trust in the wrong person.
Just as Shen Mufan was about to take his college entrance exams, his father’s secretary betrayed him. Not only did the secretary sell company secrets to a rival firm, but he also fabricated evidence to frame Shen Mufan’s father for tax evasion. While his parents scrambled to clear their names, they were tragically killed in a seemingly random street brawl involving a group of underage delinquents.
Because the perpetrators were minors, justice was hard to come by. Meanwhile, Shen Mufan—who had been kept in the dark about the company’s troubles while focusing on his exams—was blindsided by the news.
The sheltered young man who had lived in an ivory tower suddenly felt as though the sky had fallen.
As Shen Mufan struggled to process his grief, the betrayer—a man named He Ming—continued his schemes, determined to ruin the Shen family completely. Faced with relentless persecution, Shen Mufan stepped up. Fortunately, he had just turned eighteen and was legally capable of handling the mess his father had left behind.
His teachers, aware of his parents’ deaths, offered him counseling, worried that the star student might spiral into despair. But after the initial wave of grief, Shen Mufan surprised everyone with his cold, methodical resolve.
He Ming soon realized he had gravely underestimated the young man. Not only did Shen Mufan swiftly clear the company’s name, but he also exposed He Ming’s crimes—including the sale of trade secrets.
Shen Mufan’s reasoning was simple: *You tried to pin your crimes on the company. Now, take responsibility for what you’ve done.*
The investigation into He Ming also uncovered the truth behind his parents’ deaths—the “random” brawl had been a carefully orchestrated murder plot to eliminate them permanently.
After dealing with He Ming and the company’s legal troubles, Shen Mufan turned his attention to the rival firm that had conspired with the traitor. He extracted a hefty settlement from them, ensuring they’d never dare underestimate him again.
By the time everything was resolved, the college entrance exams were imminent. Exhausted and emotionally drained, Shen Mufan performed poorly. Though he could have retaken the exams the following year, he no longer had the desire to continue his education.
Instead, he sold most of his parents’ company shares, retaining only enough to live comfortably off dividends. Combined with his inheritance and the settlement money, Shen Mufan had more than enough to live a carefree life. He chose to retreat into solitude, becoming a recluse.
Though financially secure, the once-cheerful, pampered young man grew withdrawn and melancholic, isolating himself in a small room. The betrayal by He Ming—a man his family had once trusted—left him unable to trust others. Online games became his only social outlet; the anonymity of the screen provided a sense of safety.
He Ming’s father had been a childhood friend of Shen Mufan’s grandfather. While Shen Mufan’s family prospered, He Ming’s father struggled. Yet, because he was hardworking and honest, Shen Mufan’s grandfather gave him opportunities to improve his life.
He Ming’s father seized those chances, and his family’s fortunes gradually improved. Grateful, he maintained a close bond with the Shen family. But after his death, his son He Ming—who lacked his father’s integrity—proved to be a schemer with a penchant for underhanded tactics.
When He Ming fell for a woman from the red-light district and insisted on marrying her, Shen Mufan’s grandfather objected vehemently. The ensuing argument led to He Ming cutting ties with the family and running off with the woman, severing all connections.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage