Chapter Three: The Impossible Wish

“Speak, what do you want, and what will you offer me in exchange?” After everything that happened today, Gu Xi was utterly exhausted in both body and mind.

“I noticed you were just wearing a piece of equipment from Floating Island Academy. This device is crucial for the island—it’s the first edition from the lab. Wearing it incorrectly could damage your nervous system. We can provide you with an upgraded version for free later,” Su Chen explained.

Gu Xi looked at the man before her—tall, about 1.85 meters, wearing glasses and a white lab coat. Could what he said really be true?

“Free? I don’t even know if I’ll live to see that day. Let’s be realistic,” Gu Xi said, trying to trip the man up, thinking to propose an impossible exchange.

Su Chen adjusted his glasses. “But speak freely. Most of the realistic requests here at Floating Island Academy can be fulfilled.”

Gu Xi folded her arms and said without hesitation, “If you can bring my parents back to life, then I’ll repay you.”

Su Chen rubbed his forehead. This woman seemed capable and confident, even somewhat imposing, but her request… was rather naive.

“Reviving your parents requires caution. It’s not that Floating Island can’t do it. If you want to make that your condition, I can fulfill your wish.”

He considered it for a moment—other lab devices could create an illusion for her.

[System Notification: Complete the “Resurrected Parents” task to activate the talent: Robust Physique (Beginner). Note: Talent missions enter a scene where every 24 hours equates to 1 minute of real time. Please manage your time carefully.]

[This talent requires no time to train. Defeating another with the Robust Physique talent allows you to directly upgrade it to the highest level.]

The blue system prompt flashing before Gu Xi gave her goosebumps.

It seemed that “same kind” meant capable, while “different kind” meant resources.

If everyone’s already been reborn, why act so saintly?

Besides, her parents couldn’t really be revived, and this device seemed to have already bonded with her.

She wanted to see what kind of trick this Su Chen was selling.

“Deal.” Gu Xi extended her hand. Su Chen did the same, a multicolored glow shimmering from the earring on his ear.

The moment their hands touched, the scene before her began to change drastically.

It’s starting already?

No system notification at all...

She muttered in complaint.

Gu Xi stood on a grassy bank surrounded by a pool of water. The grass smelled richly of earth, as if it had just rained.

“Gu Xi... Gu Xi...” A childish boy and girl’s voices came from afar. She looked up and saw three children running toward her.

Leaning forward, she saw the reflection in the pool—it was her childhood self.

---

Gu Xi didn’t recognize them.

“Come on, it’s time for class,” said one of the girls.

Could this game mission be about going to school with children?

“Oh, okay. Let’s go,” Gu Xi said calmly, deciding to observe how this game would unfold. After all, 24 hours inside only passed one minute outside.

“You didn’t call us when you skipped class to play in the back mountain! The adults said this place is forbidden. Only those who become mentors at Floating Island Academy can come here!” the girl scolded.

The two boys glanced back at the pool behind Gu Xi and quickened their pace.

“It’s okay to skip class sometimes,” Gu Xi said.

“I don’t want to get called home. I’m about to graduate from Awakening Power. Unlike your parents, who treat you so well,” the girl said.

What? Awakening Power is part of this game mission too?

As they walked back, Gu Xi observed the surroundings.

A feeling both familiar and strange washed over her.

They chatted about schoolwork and gossiped about classmates.

Unfortunately, Gu Xi didn’t recognize a single one.

“You’re awfully quiet today. Not like you,” said one of the boys.

“Yeah, I didn’t sleep well last night. A little distracted,” Gu Xi pretended to rub her eyes.

Her words surprised them all.

“The curfew from the Defense Department kept you up? Are you secretly practicing Awakening Power?” the girl teased.

Curfew? What era still had curfews?

Something was off.

In her memories, she had been absolutely free as a child!

“Since we’re skipping class, let’s sneak in through the back door,” Gu Xi suggested.

Everyone froze.

“No, I don’t dare,” the girl said.

Gu Xi was puzzled.

“Did you forget? The back door is full of graves... graveyard...” the girl said.

“Just graves. Haven’t you seen dead people before?” Gu Xi asked, not understanding their fear.

“No, sister, don’t joke with us. You told us whose graves those are,” the girl said, panic in her eyes.

“Enough, stop talking. The more you say, the scarier it gets. Three boys from the next class who didn’t graduate were buried there just last month.”

“Shh... Let’s just follow Gu Xi and sneak in through the back door. Otherwise, she’ll scare us again.”

Gu Xi took it all in.

The game’s setting was complicated. With these hints, she had no idea what was coming next.

And what exactly was this wish she made—to “resurrect her parents”?

After sneaking in through the back door, they just made it in time for afternoon class.

Since it was raining today, most of the lesson was reading.

Reading spells from the Awakening Power series.

Gu Xi didn’t understand a word and just muddled through.

“All right, class dismissed! Remember to take this waiver home for your parents to sign tonight,” the mentor said from the podium, emphasizing the importance of the form.

Gu Xi’s mind was elsewhere; she just wanted class to end. Since she could remember, she had never seen her parents.

She had been mocked by classmates as a child.

She didn’t know if her parents were kind or strict.

“Gu Xi, walk home with me,” the mentor called out as she drifted off.

“Huh? Oh...” Better to say less in moments like this.

The mentor actually wanted to walk home with her—she had no idea why.

Holding her bag, she cautiously followed behind him.

He looked about ten years older, still quite young.

“You’re unusually quiet today,” Gu Cheng said. Usually, she was lively and would pester him after class to teach her more about Awakening Power.

His cousin was acting strangely.

“Yeah, didn’t sleep well,” Gu Xi kept her story consistent.

“Let’s go. Get in the car. Tell your aunt to let you eat less tonight—I think you just overate meat last night.”

Gu Cheng got into the driver’s seat, signaling for Gu Xi to get in.