Chapter 44: Qing Shu's Death Note + ULTRA WINTER ARC!!!
Qing Shu's Letter
Fang Zheng stood at Qing Shu's grave, hands full of mud, tears mixing with rain like a bad anime scene.
"Why do good people die..."
Gu Yue Bo: "Here, read Qing Shu's final letter."
Fang Zheng unfolds the parchment with trembling hands. Qing Shu's elegant handwriting stares back—each stroke carrying the weight of a dying man's legacy.
1. The Confession (First Paragraph)
"I once asked the same question you did, Fang Zheng. 'Why do we even live?' For years, it lowkey haunted me. I watched my clansmen take Ls (die)—some epic, some just straight-up cringe. The rizz was nonexistent, and the fanum tax hit hard. The answer never dropped... until now."
Context: Qing Shu admits he was just as lost as Fang Zheng.
Vibe: Mentor finally being vulnerable.
2. The Epiphany (Middle Sections)
"A clan is like a forest. The old trees wither, but their fallen leaves nourish the soil. New saplings grow taller because of them. My death will be the ultimate skibidi boost for the clan's future—just like others' deaths paid the fanum tax for my glow-up."
Metaphor Alert: Trees = Clan members. Soil = Legacy.
Key Realization: Sacrifice isn't about glory; it's about continuity.
3. The Acceptance (Final Paragraph)
"I used to fear death. Now? I welcome it. Not because I want to die, but because I've lived without regrets. Protect them, Fang Zheng. Not for honor, but because their smiles are your sunlight."
Plot Twist: Qing Shu lowkey admits he's at peace.
Fang Zheng's Reaction: Full-on ugly crying.
AFTERMATH (HOW IT HITS DIFFERENT)
Fang Zheng: Goes from "Why do good people die?!" to "I'll become the shield that protects everyone!" (Classic shonen protagonist arc.)
Gu Yue Bo: Wipes a single tear, whispering "He understood in the end."
Bai Ning Bing (Somewhere Else): "What noobs. Death is just death lol." (Sigma grindset intact.)
TWITCH CHAT REACTS
😭 "QING SHU'S LETTER GOT ME SOBBING AT 3 AM"
🌳 "TREE METAPHOR WAS FIRE NGL"
🛡️ "FANG ZHENG'S CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT JUST LEVELED UP"
💀 "BAI NING BING WOULD'VE BURNED THE LETTER LMAO"
WHY TS LETTER IS IMPORTANT AF:
This isn't just a letter—it's the thematic core of the arc:
Clan > Individual: Qing Shu's death fuels Fang Zheng's resolve.
Cycle of Life: Old generations sacrifice so new ones thrive.
Fang Yuan's Contrast: While others weep, he's out here looting Gu worms.
Fang Zheng: Sobs like a shonen protagonist "I'LL PROTECT EVERYONE NOW!" (Power-up unlocked: Resolve™)
BAI NING BING'S SIGMA MONOLOGUE
Bai Ning Bing stared at the ceiling, missing arm throbbing with sigma energy.
"What's the point of living...?"
"Fang Yuan has the answer." (Smirks through existential pain) "We'll meet again."
Fang Yuan's Loot Hall
Fang Yuan sorted his new Gu worms like a gamer organizing inventory:
Water Shield Gu: +100 defense stats
Red Steel Relic Gu: Instant Rank 2 peak stage (EZ clap)
Stone Aperture Gu: "Useless, but shiny."
Bai Clan Reaction:
"HE STOLE OUR LEGENDARY GU WORMS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT?!"
"SOMEONE ARREST THIS MAN—"
Fang Yuan already left the chat. 🚶
WOLF TIDE ESCALATES (WINTER ARC -> ULTRA WINTER ARC)
Bold Lightning Wolves: Now just NPC mobs
Frenzy Lightning Wolf Packs: Main raid bosses
Mortals: Dies off-screen
Gu Masters: "Ts (this) is fine." 🔥
Fang Yuan: Meditating while chaos reigns "Hmm, time to use that Red Steel Relic Gu..."
SCAMMING THE ELDERS
Jiang Ya and Gu Yue Ye pulled up to Fang Yuan's crib to buy vitality leaves
Gu Yue Ye: "Young man, respect your elders! Sell me vitality leaves!"
Fang Yuan: "L + Ratio + No Leaves" (Slams door)
Gu Yue Ye: "BACK IN MY DAY—"
Fang Yuan: "Don't care. Didn't ask. Bye."
Jiang Ya side-eyed Gu Yue Ye's grim face like 🫢 "GYATT DAMN, THIS OLD MAN IS MALDING!"
Bro had been FORCED to bring this boomer to Fang Yuan's crib, and now watching him get humiliated? PURE. COMEDY. GOLD.
Gu Yue Ye's fingers ITCHED to slap Fang Yuan into next week—but those VITALITY LEAVES had him acting civil.
"Junior Fang Yuan, you can't be like this! Human relationships matter! One day you'll need ME!" he wheezed, coping harder than a League player after a 10-loss streak.
Fang Yuan's internal reaction: "LOL. LOL. LOL."
"Unity? Bruh, that's just cope for weaklings."
On Earth? Yeah, maybe. But here? STRENGTH = RIZZ. If you're built different, you TAKE what you want. No need to beg.
But Fang Yuan wasn't about to drop his 500-year-old demonic path manifesto in public. Instead, he hit 'em with:
"Aight, bet. 69 primeval stones per leaf. How many?"
Gu Yue Ye's soul LEFT HIS BODY. "SIXTY-EIGHT?! THAT'S LITERALLY SCAMMING!"
Fang Yuan: "Skill issue. Clan sells 'em too—oh wait, you can't get em cause Yao Ji's gatekeeping. Oops."
Negotiations? More like FANG YUAN'S PRICE INFLATION SPEEDRUN:
First offer: 69 stones
Gu Yue Ye complains? 70 stones.
Keeps yapping? 72 stones. "Every word you say = +2 stones. Keep testing me."
Gu Yue Ye's face cycled through every RGB color before finally screeching:
"FINE. FIVE LEAVES. HERE'S MY LIFE SAVINGS."
Jiang Ya, internally: "LMAOOOOOOO HE TOOK THE L + RATIO."
Few seconds later...
Jiang Ya, sweating bullets: "Lord Fang Yuan… bro… you just SCAMMED a clan elder. He's gonna MALD forever."
Fang Yuan, sipping imaginary tea: "Let him. Old gens like him? Clan's gonna yeet 'em into the wolf tide anyway."
Translation: "The system chews up weaklings and spits 'em out. He's just coping."
Then Fang Yuan hit Jiang Ya with the GLARE OF DOOM.
"From now on? NO unscheduled visits. Break my rules = catch these hands."
Jiang Ya: "…yes, sir." (mentally updating his will)
New Business Plan:
Vitality leaves? Now 70 STONES.
Complaints? "Cope + seethe + touch grass."
Half a month later...
Xiong Jiao Man's squad got AMBUSHED by lightning wolves like they were noobs in a Mythic+ dungeon.
Casualty Report:
Xiong Yuan Zhen (simping till death): "Leader… I… lo—" [dies mid-rizz] 💀
Black Bear Gu: Got DOGWALKED by wolves. F in chat.
Xiong Jiao Man, malding: "WHERE ARE THE REINFORCEMENTS?!"
Then—FANG YUAN APPEARS ON CLIFF (IT'S GIVING MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY).
"Pay up. Bear Enslavement Gu + 700 stones. Or wait for 'reinforcements'… if they come."
Xiong Clan's reaction: "SCAMMER! VILLAIN! ABSOLUTE MENACE!"
Fang Yuan: "Your tears fuel my grindset."
GU YUE VILLAGE (NPC GOSSIP HOUR)
Gu Yue Yao Le (healer prodigy): "Fang Yuan-senpai… why so toxic? 😭"
Xiong Jiao Man: "HE STOLE MY BEAR GU + PRIMEVAL STONES!"
Clan Chat Explodes:
"Bro sells leaves for 80 stones 💀"
"Rejected my friend's group application + called him trash."
"Wasted 2 Red Steel Relic Gus like it was GACHA."
"Fang Zheng better. #JusticeForQingShu"
But why no one claps back?
Silence.
Real Reason: Everyone who tried got COOKED. Fang Yuan's combat rizz = UNMATCHED.
Yao Ji (medicine elder): "This little demon… I'll deal with him myself."
Fang Yuan's Reputation:
✅ Top 10 Rising Star (#1 by force)
✅ Sigma Male Grindset (no friends, all gains)
✅ NPCs seething 24/7