Now I'm an NPC in an Apocalyptic Cultivation World

Yun Chen was crying.

For the first time, after 26 years of life, he allowed himself to cry for real.

Not pretending, not doing it in silence, not hiding.

He cried like a small child in the dark.

He didn't cry when he found out about his condition, nor at night because he never had a moment of true privacy nor in the game because there were other users scattered everywhere.

Because he didn't want to worry others, because he wanted to appear strong, because he didn't want to become a defenseless victim, because yes.

But sadness overwhelmed him and flooded him inside, which is why it was easy to fall into madness and act like he didn't know anything.

He pretended he didn't know his finances and that he had forgotten the amount he had to pay for breaching his contract.

He was ashamed and regretful.

No one was lenient about his accident because the contract specified that he couldn't engage in activities that would endanger his life, health, or public image, along with a bunch of other restrictions.

The lawyers didn't feel sympathy or pity for him and took everything they could.

His family risked their entire fortune in mortgages to pay for his surgeries, medical equipment, and any other support that would help improve his quality of life.

His friends donated, and his girlfriend too, because the interest was almost a scam.

That's why, when they offered his family to be part of the experiment, he persuaded his mother, the most sensitive one in the family, using all kinds of tactics, from openly expressing that he wanted to try it, to showing his pathetic mental state from being paralyzed in a bed and emotionally manipulating her, blackmailing her, and pushing her to the limit of her moral sense.

She didn't want her son to be an experiment and suffer.

But he was already suffering.

Yun Chen knew the reward was great and would be enough to pay the debts, along with other benefits that would buy his silence.

And even more so if side effects were seen or their lives were in danger, although this was a 5% probability, according to scientists.

That's why he acted, abandoned himself, and let madness govern him.

But he always reminded his mother how happy he was.

He told everyone so they wouldn't have burdens in their hearts.

He was eternally grateful, and that's why he wanted them to be happy too.

Besides, he had life insurance. The amount wasn't extravagant, but it would be enough for his loved ones to live a dignified life without having to work.

No one knew, except him, and thanks to that, he was also able to bribe his nurse to keep an eye on family news.

So he was eager to die, even if it broke the hearts of his loved ones.

And now, he could finally be truly "free."

Yun Chen lay on the floor. He didn't know how long he had been there, but there was nothing. He could see his body, but the rest was dark. It reminded him of those areas in the game that hadn't been unlocked yet—always covered with dark mist, like an impenetrable wall.

Was this death?

Would he stay here forever?

He sighed, nothing hurt, but he felt lethargic as if he was sinking into the floor.

Maybe that was true death.

He let himself go, completely at peace.

Until a "Ding!" pulled him out of his deep meditation.

He opened his eyes and found himself in "the player's room," where all new players arrived to create their avatars.

Expectation, confusion, and fear filled Yun Chen's mind.

"Huh? Is this real?"

"Did that experiment really work!? Impossible! I'm sure those bastards didn't do any of what they promised… wait, is this another side effect? Will players' consciousnesses stay trapped after death? Really????"

Yun Chen had no way to prove any of his conspiracy theories, and his wild, unfettered imagination was coming to more conclusions by the second, so it took him some time to regain his senses and calm down.

He checked his player panel, but the customization options for his character were disabled, as well as the save and exit buttons.

No, they didn't even exist.

There was only one option available:

Username.

He hesitated.

Maybe… just maybe, could he recover his previous game progress?

He didn't want to start over from scratch in an apocalyptic world…

It was fun, but he didn't want to suffer. Plus, could he revive? It seemed impossible considering he was already dead… or maybe because he was dead, was it possible?

He didn't want to risk it if he had already won this opportunity.

He had to be grateful, yes, that sounded good.

So in the end, he entered: "Feng Rui"

The powerful cultivator from the sinister Xiao Clan.

However, a completely different text appeared on the screen:

[Congratulations, player #15012025]

[Preparing scenario…]

[Loading memory 7%…]

[Loading…]

[ERROR 404]

[Memory is sealed]

[A new role has been assigned]

[Updating information]

[When Feng Rui opens his eyes again, he discovers that he has awakened in the body of a young man despised as "trash" in the prestigious General House lineage. His cultivation is ruined, his guardian spirit is a plant, his engagement to the First Princess has been annulled, and now he must marry the Third Princess, known for her disability.

The contempt of others doesn't matter to him. With the memories of his past life, his experience as a supreme cultivator in the game, and a physical body that defends the heavens, Feng Rui is ready to claim humanity's lost glory.

No one will suspect that this "useless young man" is the strategist with a black belly full of dirty tricks, the warrior who will challenge the heavens, and the cultivator who will shake the world!

And he's definitely not applying strategies learned from popular zombie games! Nor is he playing at being a shadow master! And certainly not deceiving everyone with his "broken" character!]

[Accept] [Reject]

"What is this cliché crap?"

He pressed reject without hesitation and didn't realize that his body was disappearing.

[Updating, NPC route chosen]

"What!? Wait!?"

He tried to reach the screen, but before he could move, he disappeared and a new player replaced him, though the screen now had its usual functions.

[Welcome to the VRMMORPG! Cultivators VS Zombies: Challenge the heavens, defeat death]