Free Web NovelChapter 465: Chapter 311: The Legendary Path (Part 2)
The more severe the rejection reaction, the higher the dose of the immunosuppressive drug needed and the more intense the damage to the body.
This process of forcibly controlling advanced prosthetics with medication is also joked by many as "burning life."
It is the only way for ordinary people to temporarily rival geniuses.
The injection site of the immunosuppressant on Shangguan Li’s hand now means that her once-proud talent has reached its limit.
Shangguan Li smiled wryly, "I used to have a whole body of military-grade implants without needing immunosuppressants. I once thought I was a genius."
"Now it seems I’m just slightly better than those mediocre people."
These desolate words left Su Mo feeling a bit uneasy, and he asked concernedly, "Is the rejection reaction severe?"
Shangguan Li replied calmly, "It’s alright, just need a 20cc injection of immunosuppressant every week."
Su Mo relaxed slightly after hearing this and comforted, "That’s good, it’s just the mildest rejection reaction. Having a whole body of Fearless Level implants yet only needing 20cc weekly, your talent has already surpassed most implant receivers."
Shangguan Li chuckled briefly, "Compared to someone from your family, what does my talent count for... can’t help but envy."
Su Mo thought: Dongdong has a BUG-level physique, comparing with her is purely self-defeating...
Su Mo clinked his glass with Shangguan Li and said, "In any case, health is the foundation of everything, take care of yourself. If the immune rejection becomes too severe as you upgrade further, don’t push it."
Shangguan Li drank up the wine, sighed, and said, "It’s easy to say. In the mercenary business, it’s easy to get in, hard to get ahead, and even harder to withdraw once at the top."
"I’ve developed Mo Xue to its current scale, without knowing how many people I’ve offended. I can only forge ahead relentlessly, stepping back is a dead end."
"I don’t seek a long life or a happy ending. If I die someday and am considered one of the legends of New Moon City, I’d be satisfied."
"Legend?" Hearing these two words, Su Mo couldn’t help but laugh, shook his head, and said, "Sometimes I’m quite puzzled, why does everyone want to become a legend?"
Shangguan Li blinked, "What, you don’t want to be a legend?"
Su Mo slowly said, "Of course not. Ever hear that saying — the only place for New Moon City’s legends is the graveyard."
"Being a legend is good, but if the price is your life, what use is this so-called legend? Just a topic for others’ idle chatter."
"As I see it, survival is the foundation of everything, it’s not worth sacrificing for empty fame, nothing is more important than life."
Shangguan Li, supporting her alcohol-tinted blushing face, gazed deeply at Su Mo, "Sometimes when you speak, I feel you don’t seem like you’re from New Moon City, or even... this world."
Su Mo shrugged, jokingly said, "Maybe I came from another world."
Shangguan Li laughed, "Read too many novels, haven’t you?"
Su Mo took a sip of wine, his tone turned serious, "Why do you say I don’t seem like a person of this world?"
Shangguan Li’s eyes became dreamy, thoughtfully said, "Just like you said earlier, nothing is more important than life. In other words, you think living is the most important."
"But speaking of which, isn’t living quite simple? As long as you’re not in the frontier, keep a low profile in everyday life, and don’t get involved in things, with today’s level of technology, starvation is certainly not an issue."
"Living is easy, really easy. What’s hard is living like a person."
Su Mo asked, "Then what do you think it means to live like a person?"
Shangguan Li replied without hesitation, "Being respected."
Su Mo, "What counts as being respected?"
Shangguan Li thought for a moment, then said, "There are many ways, like earning lots and lots of money. As long as you are lavish and generous, others will treat you as an esteemed guest."
"Or having great power, able to determine the fate of countless people, then others have to listen to you, follow your orders."
"Or having formidable strength, eliminate whoever disobeys you; no one dares defy your will, that’s another form of respect." freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Su Mo couldn’t help but chuckle, earnestly said, "Shangguan, your view is narrow. What you described are merely the most superficial forms of respect."
"So what if you squander money? People show respect outwardly, but might secretly curse you as a fool with too much money."
"Blindly obey those in power? They’re not truly respecting the person but their title and position. How many wielding power are glorified during their term, only to be dismissed even by dogs upon retirement."
"The so-called respect from strength, what kind of respect is that? People are simply frightened. Otherwise, by your logic, New Moon City’s most respected department would be the Anti-Violence Fourth Section?"
Shangguan Li gestured for Su Mo to stop, sighed, and said, "I understand all that you’ve said, genuine respect comes from the heart. That’s why everyone wants to become a legend."
"Money, power, strength, those are just the first steps to becoming a legend. This city has no shortage of wealthy people, powerful figures, and strong individuals, but only a few can become legends."
"Why do they say the only place for New Moon City’s legends is the graveyard? Because it’s only after one dies that their evaluation is settled, something the living can never attain."
"A living legend isn’t necessarily a legend. Only if one is still called a legend after death does it count as a true legend."
Su Mo swirled his wine glass, said nothing.
Shangguan Li’s view represents the typical "Dawn Thinking", embodying the dominant mindset among people of this world.
In this world, material desires are rampant, upward mobility is extremely restricted, everyone can only languish in their class level, and even if they strive to climb higher, they’re suppressed by the three corporate giants, eroding numerous dreams and beliefs.
The emptiness on the spiritual level leaves the people with hollow hearts, always wanting to do something to gain recognition, ultimately manifesting as a desire for respect, a wish to stand out.
Su Mo is actually surrounded by quite a few people like this.
For example, Dongdong often keeps saying, "One day, I’ll let the world know my name."
In Dongdong’s view, her life goal is to wield her baseball bat and fight her way up; whoever disobeys her will be dealt with until everyone acknowledges her.
This kind of mindset can’t be said to be wrong, at least in this world; it’s better to bloom briefly than to remain unknown.
But to Su Mo, that brief moment of brilliance is ultimately less valuable than a long-lasting glow.
Su Mo took a light sip of the wine, looked at Shangguan Li, and smiled as he asked, "So, is that why you became a mercenary, to become a legend and stand out? Do you want to replace Zhou Hanyan and become the King of Mercenaries?"
Shangguan Li did not shy away from this, candidly said, "In this Mercenary City, which mercenary doesn’t want to be the King of Mercenaries? Can you say you don’t want to?"
"Of course, I do." Su Mo laughed heartily, raised his glass to Shangguan Li, "I toast to the future King of Mercenaries."
Shangguan Li clinked glasses with him, sourly said, "Come on, stop teasing me. Now who doesn’t know among New Moon City’s leaders, you’re the closest to becoming the King of Mercenaries?"
"In terms of backing, personal potential, the potential of subordinates, you don’t lose to Zhou Hanyan in any aspect, all you lack is seniority."
"As long as you don’t make mistakes and endure for ten or twenty years until Zhou Hanyan steps down, that position will be yours." freeωebnovēl.c૦m
She spoke with a slightly wistful tone, "I really envy you, if I had the chance to be the King of Mercenaries, even if only for one day to experience that respect from everyone, I would die without regrets."
Su Mo swirled his wine glass, revealing a mysterious smile, "Shangguan, there’s one concept you’ve completely misunderstood."
Shangguan Li blinked, "Oh? What concept?"
Su Mo, "It’s not that you become the King of Mercenaries to gain everyone’s respect."
He gazed at the wine reflecting the shimmering lights and slowly said the concluding sentence.
"Rather, it’s by gaining everyone’s respect that you become the King of Mercenaries."
