Chapter 24 Apprentice of the Future

　　Wei Zhengdao didn’t get angry. Instead, he said, “Alright, I still have some matters to attend to, so I’ll leave first. You can start reading on your own—remember to read with all your heart, as I’ll test you when I get back! The device is voice-controlled. After you choose your residence, you can take it there to use, but the book must not leave this room. This room has been specially designed to preserve the book from corrosion. There are no classes for the next two days. Spend more time on this course-ware, and feel free to wander around the Chivalry Hero Pavilion. It’s best not to go out—your identity is special now, and the fewer people who know about it, the better.

　　We’ll discuss everything else when classes start next Monday. If you need anything, you can ask my robot butler. Basic daily necessities are all available here, and the robot butler will take care of your meals—just tell them what you want to eat.

　　By the way, give me your ID card!” Wei Zhengdao said to the boy.

　　Gu Moxun quickly handed over his ID card. Wei Zhengdao pressed a few buttons on a watch-like device on his wrist, swiped the ID card against it with a beep, then handed it back to Gu Moxun and said, “Here you go. I’ve imported a key into your ID card—this key allows you to unlock any building here. Choose one to move into later!” There were only the two of them in the Pavilion of Chivalry, and all the residences inside were empty—he could occupy an entire building.

　　"Yes, Master," Gu Moxun replied.

　　The elder turned around, walked out slowly, and closed the door gently, leaving the boy alone in the study. From Wei Zhengdao’s words, it seemed he was going on a long trip…

　　Seeing the elder leave, Gu Moxun let out a silent sigh of relief. He hurried to sit at the desk, carefully picked up the notebook with both hands, and placed it gently on the table. The desk lamp above sensed his movement and turned on automatically, casting a soft light that fell perfectly on the book…

　　He flipped open the pages gently, fearing that even the slightest force would further damage the already tattered notebook. In his heart, he still cherished the expectation of seeing the Chu Mufan from his dreams—surrounded by a halo, a tall, heroic, and extraordinary saviour! He wondered what kind of vigorous yet elegant handwriting he would have. What kind of earth-shaking, soul-stirring, and magnificent story would he pen down?

　　As he thought, he turned the page softly, arriving at the first one…

　　There, on the first page of the notebook, were the three elegant characters "Chu Mufan." In the center was a drawing of a woman. Due to the passage of time and the gap that had destroyed her face, her features were indistinguishable. Below the portrait were a few lines of poetry, filled with longing and sorrow:

　　Ten years of life and death, a vast void—

　　Though I try not to think, memories linger unforgotten.

　　A lonely grave a thousand miles away, nowhere to pour out my grief…

　　A dense wave of sorrow emanated from the verses. Even after a hundred years, that profound sadness had not faded in the slightest. An indescribable sense of melancholy welled up in Gu Moxun’s heart…

　　Turning to the next page, he found it filled with Chu Mufan’s dense handwriting…

　　The writing was frivolous, intermittent, and faint—not at all like the wear and tear of time. Instead, it seemed to have been written by someone weak as a kitten, or so ill that they could barely hold a brush steady. It seemed to have been written by someone too weak to lift a chicken, or so ill that they could barely hold a brush steady.

　　The handwriting made Gu Moxun’s scalp tingle and his eyes blur. He rubbed his eyes vigorously, recalling his master’s words. Closing his eyes, he muttered repeatedly: “Focus, focus, focus on reading… I must focus.” Opening his eyes again, he examined each character carefully. The distorted, frivolous handwriting in the notebook seemed to read:

　　“October 16, 2026. Sunny. I woke up in a survivor camp in Shennongjia, Hubei. China. I only know the date because of Youyou, the girl taking care of me. But in my memory, I vaguely recall… only things before 2023…

　　What happened between 2023 and 2026? I have completely forgotten… What on earth happened to the world in those three years? What happened to me? Everything is like a mass of fog, lingering and confusing me…” As Gu Moxun read the diary aloud softly, the room’s lights gradually dimmed. The spherical device in the center of the ceiling projected countless virtual images in all directions! The small room was transformed into a vast forest—a place Gu Moxun had never seen before!

　　“Where is it?” Stunned by the sudden bizarre scene around him, Gu Moxun blurted out the question!

　　“Humans on Earth used to call this primeval forest Shennongjia!” Wei Zhengdao’s voice suddenly echoed through the room, now transformed into a primeval forest by the virtual projections! Gu Moxun was so startled that he jumped up from his seat, stammering: “M-master… M-master?”

　　“I am AI Intelligence No. 2, set up by Master Wei specifically to narrate the Chosen One’s course-ware. My narrative style will also change according to the user’s situation. Is there anything I can assist you with?” Upon hearing the AI’s words, Gu Moxun let out a sigh of relief. He thought to himself that his master really loved using his own image to set up AIs everywhere…

　　Looking at the transformed surroundings, he recalled Wei Zhengdao saying the device was voice-controlled—and finally understood how it worked. However, the virtual images looked somewhat monotonous and blurry to the naked eye; could it be due to being extracted from memories?

　　A thought crossed the boy’s mind, and he glanced at the helmet-like device (which looked both like an eye mask and headphones) on the central seat. He quickly ran to the seat with the notebook in hand, carefully placing it aside before putting the device on his head in one swift motion!

　　In an instant, the images in the room became crystal clear. Around him, he heard sounds he had never heard before—wind rustling, birds chirping, flowers and trees swaying in the breeze…

　　Sitting on the seat, he listened to those unfamiliar sounds through the headphones. They were so moving that they sent goosebumps down his spine, as if they were etched into human DNA…

　　These were the wonderful sounds of his hometown, Earth! A wave of tingling comfort washed over his entire body. He picked up the notebook again. The scribbled, faint handwriting on the pages seemed to sharpen, then slowly lifted off the paper, floating upward bit by bit…

　　It was like watching ink dance in the air! The Chinese characters in the notebook came to life, drifting upward and gently entering the helmet device on Gu Moxun’s head…

　　The swollen bump on his forehead (from the elder’s flick) no longer hurt. Instead, a cool, slightly tingling sensation emanated from it, keeping him alert and clearing his mind. It felt as if he could now see many things more clearly!

　　Gu Moxun touched the swollen spot on his forehead, wondering in surprise if this was some kind of magical acupoint. When he pressed it lightly, his mind felt even clearer…

　　“Ouch!” He accidentally pressed too hard, causing a sharp pain. Gu Moxun grimaced in agony and didn’t dare touch his forehead again. Instead, he turned his attention back to the unfolding scene…

　　In the dimly lit room, the boy wore a full-coverage helmet and held a blood-stained notebook. The spherical device above his head continuously projected holograms in all directions, telling the recorded stories from the most authentic perspective...

　　letting him experience that legendary era through a third-person lens. Chu Mufan’s extraordinary life unfolded before the boy who would soon shoulder the fate of humanity’s future. It would be the best teacher for this teenager...

　　The protagonist of this story was Chu Mufan! He was a legendary figure revered by billions like a god in the Space Era! He was a saviour to all survivors living in space! And he was also a universally acknowledged deity!

　　He saved the entire human world, purified the mother planet Earth, and freed human civilization from the threats of viruses, wars, and zombies. He defeated the evil forces secretly manipulating the Apocalypse, and ultimately led humanity to the stars, building a new home in space. Through the images from Chu Mufan’s memories, the boy witnessed a bizarre, chaotic yet magnificent world—the Apocalypse era! He experienced a story that shook him to his core: cruel yet warm, sorrowful yet inspiring!

　　An Apocalyptic war for "Star Core" technology was imminent! Heroes rose in turbulent times, conspiracies abounded, and ambitious warlords dominated! How to choose between technology and martial arts, machines and humans?

　　Where will chivalry-hero go?

　　Slowly, the boy continuously learned, grew, and gained insights from the Destined One’s memories… Like a young sapling thriving with constant watering and fertilizing, he was destined to grow into a towering tree one day…

　　This must have been Wei Zhengdao’s heartfelt intention. Of course, these are stories for the next instalment—we’ll set them aside for now. Instead, let’s follow the memory images sketched by the hologram and listen to the clear, resonant narration that carries a hint of Wei Zhengdao’s accent…

　　Follow the narration, which shifts its style with the plot, to experience the legendary journey of the protagonist—the Destined One Chu Mufan—in the volatile Apocalypse…

　　Witness the Swordsman, this great hero, Of the Apocalypse!

　　......