The sun was setting in the west.

Golden-red rays scattered over the layered mountain ranges.

The high and clear horizon, like an inverted ocean, was also tinged with that gentle golden-red glow.

The crimson afterglow rippled like waves, softly staining, quietly drifting onto the face of a girl filled with anticipation and a mischievous, cute expression.

At this moment, time seemed to freeze, leaving only the distant Yarlung Tsangpo River flowing relentlessly.

In the silent gaze between them,

Gu Sheng stood up, slung his guitar over his shoulder, adjusted the strings, and slowly plucked.

The melodious guitar sound rang out, and the brief prelude perfectly matched the song’s name.

Freedom, impulsive, fleeting yet passionate—

We pay the price for this beautiful dream

Leaving love to the most sincere girl beside me

You sing with me, you wander with me

Together we suffer wounds

Only now do I suddenly realize

What I’ve been dreaming of is true love and freedom...

This song required no special technique.

Besides, Gu Sheng was no professional singer, so there was no real technique involved.

His broad and straightforward voice floated toward the sky, facing the setting sun, echoing the rushing Yarlung Tsangpo River.

At this moment!

The girl’s gemstone-like eyes flickered, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, as her gentle gaze, like the lake water stirred by a soft night breeze under the peaceful moonlight, looked calmly and resolutely at the tall boy beside her.

She looked at his handsome and refined profile, his slightly squinting eyes, his sharply defined jawline, and the comfortable, warm camel-colored adventure scarf wrapped around his neck in circles.

And in the next second, the girl’s expectation floated into the sky with the boy’s singing:

I want to run away with you—

To the farthest town!

I want to run away with you—

To be the happiest people!

Like the brilliant and passionate smile of the Gesang Meiduo flower, it could no longer be held back, brightly blooming on the girl’s face.

Her big eyes curved like a crescent moon rippling on the Ningye lake water.

Taking advantage of Gu Sheng’s distraction, Shen Miaomiao placed her milk tea aside and untied Gu Sheng’s scarf, wrapping half of it around her own neck.

Her small body, dressed in a thick windbreaker, leaned closer to Gu Sheng.

Her small hand passed through his arm and then retreated into her sleeve, like a lock tightly fastening her boy.

And in the next moment,

Gu Sheng slightly turned his body, lowered his shoulder a bit, allowing her head to rest more comfortably.

The sound of the guitar softened.

Their voices floated gently in this highest and grandest altitude’s only gentle valley—

In the city of desires, you are my last faith

Pure as a joyful beam of light that illuminates my heart

Don’t be sad anymore, I have seen hope

Do you still have the courage to leave with me?

I want to run away with you

To be the happiest people...

Amid the lingering echoes of the guitar, Shen Miaomiao scooted a little closer to Gu Sheng: “Old Gu.”

“Hm?” Gu Sheng slightly turned his head, resting his profile gently on top of Shen Miaomiao’s head.

Then Shen Miaomiao asked, “Who do you think I am?”

Gu Sheng was momentarily stunned: “What do you mean, who are you?”

“Am I Mi Cai? Le Yao? Or Jian Wei?”

Shen Miaomiao asked.

She always remembered everything.

She knew Old Gu could sing “Run Away,” and she also remembered Old Gu could sing this song because of a novel.

After a moment of silence, Gu Sheng shook his head slightly and said:

“...Mi Cai is too tired, Le Yao is too bitter, Jian Wei is too painful.”

Hearing this,

Shen Miaomiao lifted her head, blinking at Gu Sheng: “So?”

“So you are Shen Miaomiao,”

Gu Sheng smiled, pulled Little Nezha’s head back onto his shoulder, and spoke softly like a gentle April breeze:

“Happy Shen Miaomiao, simple Shen Miaomiao, carefree Shen Miaomiao,”

“Life doesn’t have that many loves, hates, life and death farewells,”

“You just need to be a happily smiling Shen Miaomiao...”

The last beam of sunlight shyly disappeared behind the distant mountain peak.

But it did not take away the blush on the girl’s face.

A quiet and rustling breeze swept over the grasslands, harmonizing with the rushing sound of the river.

After a moment,

A click sounded.

Shen Miaomiao turned toward the sound.

She saw a photo developing from the Polaroid in Gu Sheng’s hand.

Two people leaning on each other, quietly and harmoniously sitting on a bench.

Shen Miaomiao smiled sweetly yet shyly, gently tapping Gu Sheng’s shoulder with her head: “Did you secretly take a photo of me?”

Gu Sheng’s reply was just like the night he helped her paint her nails:

“Because you’re beautiful.”

So, he remembered everything just like she did.

Then Shen Miaomiao carefully took the photo and slipped it into the innermost pocket of her clothes, pulling the zipper tightly.

From the front yard came the innkeeper’s voice, with a snowy region accent, honest and rustic:

“Bosses! Dinner time! Hotpot is ready!”

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

Tonight’s dinner was yak meat hotpot, and Shen Miaomiao was about to jump up to eat.

However, Gu Sheng quickly caught her hand!

Then carefully took the scarf off her neck and wrapped it back around his own neck:

“Be careful, don’t tear it.”

“I...”

Shen Miaomiao rolled her eyes, speechless:

“Cheapskate! I gave it to you, you know!”

“Yeah,”

Gu Sheng tied the scarf firmly, confidently:

“But now it’s mine. What if you break it?”

“I’ll buy you another one...”

Before she finished!

Shen Miaomiao stiffened her neck:

“I’ll just buy you another one...”

“This one’s better.”

Gu Sheng gave a mysterious smile as if hiding some secret, with a teasing tone.

Gurgle—

The steaming yak meat hotpot was boiling.

Although the inn wasn’t big, they weren’t the only guests staying.

Dinner was shared by tourists from all over, sitting around the small courtyard, chatting and laughing, making it lively.

After dinner, the innkeeper lit a small bonfire in the backyard and taught everyone the local dance.

The joyful laughter mingled with the endlessly rushing Yarlung Tsangpo River’s roar.

The firelight painted Shen Miaomiao’s smiling face red and illuminated Gu Sheng’s hearty laughter.

Amid the festive noise and singing, two hands held tightly together...

...

“Okay, today is still a day where nothing happened.”

United States, Pew’s livestream room.

Since Golden Wind “disappeared” a week ago, Pew’s livestream had started an abstract event—

Every day a 24-hour guessing market opened, guessing whether Golden Wind or Gu Sheng would post a message.

And now!

The event had lasted almost a month!

The bets on [No Message] kept increasing daily, and today’s odds had dropped to a historic low.

Conversely, bets on [Message Posted] were decreasing, and their odds naturally soared to a scary height.

As the clock neared midnight, the chat barrage viewers joked and debated—

‘Wooohooo—another day of free winnings’

‘Don’t understand why anyone still bets on [Message Posted]’

‘You don’t get it, it’s like football. Have you ever heard of buying a villa by the sea because of reverse football bets?’

‘Mainly because the longer it goes, the more likely GW will post something.’

‘True, after all they’re just silent on official social media, not bankrupt.’

‘But it’s so strange, it’s been over a month without any news, right?’

‘Even if they’re developing a new project, they should at least tease a little.’

‘Who knows...’

‘Maybe they’re making another unprecedented game.’

‘Huh? After Sekiro? I don’t think so...’

‘Yeah, I really can’t think of any innovation GW could still have.’

‘Unless they make a racing or sports game.’

‘Sports games are ruined. Although their motion assist system fits sports games, their choice to apply it on Sekiro shows GW’s stance.’

‘Sigh, almost midnight. Looks like today’s two cents bet will be wasted.’

‘Hahaha, really betting, bro? I always thought those bets were bots...’

‘......’

Amid the jokes,

Pew shrugged, ready to close the webpage to settle bets and start a new day’s guessing at midnight.

However!

Just as Pew’s hand was about to click the red X in the upper right corner,

A notification suddenly appeared in the browser’s lower right corner!

[Ding dong! Your special follow "Golden Wind V" posted a video tweet]

Pew jolted!

Wait! What did I just see?

Golden Wind... posted a video tweet?

“Thump thump thump! Ward posted... Ward posted, no mistake?”

You must know!

Waiting for Golden Wind’s tweets had become a daily event in Pew’s livestream.

From eager anticipation to fading excitement to now being routine.

To everyone!

“Golden Wind is silent as usual” was the normal state!

So now!

The sudden news of Golden Wind posting a video tweet

Made the livestream viewers, including Pew, stunned and in disbelief!

Pew was completely dumbfounded!

And the chat barrage was silent for five full seconds.

Then, an explosion of excitement—

‘Ohhhhhhhhhh—Ward! Posted!’

‘Wait! Wait! 15x odds? WTF 15x odds!’

‘What day is it today, damn!’

‘This... this can’t be a browser glitch, right...’

‘Quick, check it out! Check it out!’

‘Thanks a lot, this is too sudden, I can’t believe it...’

‘Stop hesitating, Pew! Check what GW posted!’

‘Quick, quick!’

‘......’

“Oh! Oh oh oh! Yes yes...”

The flood of comments woke Pew up like a dream!

He hurriedly clicked the link to the social platform.

There, Golden Wind’s official account suddenly updated a video message, just posted!

However,

Unlike before, this message contained only a video, not a single extra word.

The goal seemed clear: to focus everyone’s attention entirely on the video.

What could it be?

For a moment,

Pew and the livestream viewers’ curiosity peaked.

A whole month of silence!

During this mute period, Golden Wind was like a silent submarine.

And now, the massive submarine was slowly surfacing, finally revealing itself.

What news had they brought?

Thinking this,

Pew took a deep breath.

Made the video fullscreen, then slowly pressed play—

Rustling sounds played.

The screen shifted from dark to light.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...

A clock on the wall ticked rhythmically in the quiet.

A golden-haired man lay in bed, one hand hanging beside the bed.

Around the hand stood rows and rows of empty liquor bottles.

He looked like a beaten and decadent man.

With the ticking clock, a ray of sunlight gradually filtered through the curtains, shining on a poster in the room.

On the poster was an extreme sports athlete dressed in a wingsuit, wearing a helmet and full gear, flying through clouds.

At this moment!

Suddenly!

A sharp alarm-like sound rang out!

With a gradually intensifying drumbeat, the gloomy scene suddenly gained urgency and restlessness!

When the prelude started!

There was a loud clatter in the livestream room!

Pew screamed like he saw a ghost: “What—What—What???”

Then he incredulously hugged his head, grabbing his hair hard!

This prelude... he seemed to... have heard it before...

No, not heard it before!

He was too familiar with it!

This eerie alarm string and the rhythmically pounding rock drums!

“NO—NONONO—Is impossible—WTF!!!”

However!

The wild, elaborate font words that appeared in the next second loudly told him—Nothing Is Impossible!

[Golden Wind x Linkin Park]

[Peak Kingdom]

[BGM: Faint]

Linkin Park!

The first foreign promotional video for Peak Kingdom dropped a bomb!

As one of the most influential rock bands in the world, anyone who listens to rock cannot ignore Linkin Park!

And now!

Thanks to Moriya Tetsuya’s connections and Gu Sheng’s ties with Warner,

One of Linkin Park’s iconic tracks, “Faint,” became one of Peak Kingdom’s trailer’s vanguard!

[I am a little bit of loneliness]

[A little bit of disregard]

[Handful of complaints]

[But I help the fact]

As the prelude played,

The athlete’s equipment on the poster started to tremble, then suddenly flew out of the frame!

At the same time, the decadent man lying in bed began to float in a strange way!

In the brilliant CG, the helmet, liner, wingsuit, and safety buckles assembled onto the man’s body like Iron Man’s armor, finally adding a GoPro and a colorful smoke canister!

As the music grew more intense,

The small plane’s cabin door opened, and the fully geared man, dressed in fiery wingsuit, leaped out boldly.

Then, like spreading wings, the flight suit suddenly opened!

At this moment, Chester Bennington’s rock roar rose with the song’s climax!

[I can't feel the way I did before!]

[Don't turn your back on me!]

[I won't be ignored!]

Exploding drums, wild bass, ripping screams!

Above the sky, the crazy man challenged the heavens, growing wings, attempting to conquer the boundless sky!

When the fiery red wingsuit unfolded,

The fire of freedom was ignited.

The pursuit of life’s extreme limits began.

And in the next second,

The chat barrage in Pew’s livestream erupted in a sensational uproar!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com