Chapter 6

Chapter 006: Fools Marvel at How Many Kind-Hearted People There Are

"Such kind-hearted people!"

After stepping down from the top trending post, Yan Cang browsed through other popular content and couldn't help but let out this sigh.

He was astonished to find that, aside from the post about the college entrance exam, the list was almost entirely filled with guide posts packed with useful information.

The post pointing out that "staring at an object can reveal information" had undoubtedly helped many unlock a key ability.

Although the trigger condition for this ability was very simple, many people still hadn't realized it in such a short time.

For those unaware, this was a huge help.

And the post reminding everyone to set up nighttime defenses was especially critical on this perilous night.

If it weren't for Yan Cang maintaining his [Fate Protection], he'd have to get up in the dark right now and follow the guide's steps to set up traps and early warning devices.

Even the guy who called himself "Bird Poop Bro," who complained about being covered in bird droppings, was sharing practical tips on identifying edible plants in the wild while recounting his embarrassing experience.

Learning through entertainment, huh?

Hachimi, you guys can actually pull this off?

You're just too eager to help everyone—I'm crying!

Yan Cang felt a warmth in his heart, sensing genuine kindness in the world.

But the education he'd received in the past always taught him, "Society is complex, and one must be wary of others."

This contrast made him fall into deep thought.

Soon, Yan Cang pieced together a complete logical chain.

The conclusion was that being helped a few times doesn't stick in memory, but being harmed once is unforgettable.

Thus leading to this outcome.

So, when will we kind-hearted people finally stand up?

Cold, trembling, furious!

This is no ordinary prejudice; it requires a heavy blow to turn things around.

Just then, a newly posted thread caught his eye, its title directly questioning the motives of the guide post authors:

"The Smart Act, Fools Marvel at How Many Kind-Hearted People There Are—Unveiling the Truth Behind Guide Posts: Kind on the Surface, 'Counting Money' in the Dark."

Seeing the title, Yan Cang was momentarily stunned.

Damn, it feels like I've been called out!

But it's fine, no one knows.

So nothing happened.

The main thing is the title—what does "counting money in the dark" mean?

"Trying to slander us kind-hearted people again?"

Yan Cang eagerly clicked in, ready to see who was "speaking so boldly":

"The Smart Act, Fools Marvel at How Many Kind-Hearted People There Are—Unveiling the Truth Behind Guide Posts: Kind on the Surface, 'Counting Money' in the Dark."

[Are you delighted that the Fate Net Forum is flooded with knowledge posts, where no matter what kind of problem you have, a quick search can probably give you an answer?

Even things you hadn't noticed yourself are proactively pointed out by others, and some people share practical knowledge while telling their own embarrassing stories.

Maybe you're not surprised, because the internet age of the past was full of this spirit of sharing.

Your habitual thinking might have made you overlook the value of this knowledge and the abnormality of the timing.

That is, it's too fast—it's only been half a day since we entered this Civilization Trial.]

You know, anything that gets people vying to outshine each other must have some profit involved.

In the past, "showing off" on the internet was for traffic. So what's the driving force in this Fate Net Forum?

Out of kindness? For the sake of faction victory and patriotic sentiment?

Both of these, naturally, play a part.

But what caused such an explosion of knowledge sharing within just half a day of the trial starting must be rooted in core interests.

I believe many of you already know the answer by this point.

That's right—it's Faction Contribution.

Rule 4: While increasing points for your faction, you will also gain corresponding Faction Contribution. Additionally, helping trialists from the same faction grants extra Faction Contribution.

Key point: Helping trialists from the same faction grants extra Faction Contribution.

The definition of "helping" above is very broad, including but not limited to posting guide posts on the Fate Net and answering others' questions.

I've verified this myself, so there's no need to doubt its authenticity.

I'm revealing this truth not to criticize anything, nor do I have the standing to do so.

On the contrary, I think this is a good thing.

At least the outcome is good.

So I urge you—whether out of kindness, for Faction Contribution, or driven by patriotic sentiment—take action.

With books and the internet lost, the knowledge in everyone's minds has become especially precious. But be careful not to let others monetize your knowledge!

Though I've never thought internal competition was a good thing, if it happens in this area, it would be very, very beneficial.

That's all. I hope our Huaxia faction will be the victor after a hundred days.]

[Attached: Screenshot of Faction Contribution just breaking six digits]

The post wasn't long—could be read in a few minutes.

"So it's for Faction Contribution..." Yan Cang suddenly understood, then felt a bit smug. "But I wasn't misled by conventional thinking."

Though he'd initially thought it was all out of goodwill, he just hadn't thought it through.

Besides, not everyone was purely utilitarian.

Take the poster here, for instance—their original intention in revealing this was out of kindness.

He subconsciously glanced at the poster's info—Anonymous.

"Anonymous?" Yan Cang's curiosity was piqued.

As the creator of the Fate Net, the forum's anonymity feature was meaningless to him.

With a flick of his thought, he saw the poster's true identity—Yu Jing.

"Huh?" Yan Cang paused for a moment before reacting.

"Isn't this... that big sister afraid of the dark?"

"Afraid of the dark, yet not going to bed early, and instead revealing truths here?"

"Something's off! Very off!"

Yan Cang found it contradictory.

If he couldn't figure this out, he probably wouldn't sleep tonight.

After pondering for a bit with no leads, he decisively activated his talent.

The "Great Fate Art" quietly began to operate.

Driven by curiosity, he made his first attempt at peering into someone else's fate.

The process was somewhat different from what he'd imagined.

The things presented in the starry sea weren't simple flashbacks; instead, like a film, they revealed even the inner monologues in meticulous detail.

After just a few minutes of watching a "documentary" with inner monologue, the energy consumption was negligible.

Yan Cang had already figured out the cause and effect of Yu Jing's two posts, her inner calculations, and even her meticulous scheming for faction contribution.

After reading it, he felt conflicted.

The fear of the dark was actually a fabricated setting—he had even thought about intervening to set her supply box for tomorrow as food.

And although Yu Jing's deeper motive for posting was for the Huaxia faction, gaining faction contribution was undoubtedly one of her main goals.

On top of that, she fabricated a persona and deceived people's emotions.

And just now, he had been called a fool.

The more Yan Cang thought about it, the angrier he got. "No, I have to 'get back' at her."

Then he opened the comment section of Yu Jing's reveal post and, with a somewhat abstract mindset, started typing:

【A person can only survive seven days at most without food or water. It hurts me that Sister Jing says it's not ten days... Sister Jing! Sister Jing! Sister Jing! My Sister Jing! /Cry /Cry /Cry】

After venting his madness, Yan Cang felt much better.

"But, how much faction contribution can she actually earn from this?"

Once he calmed down, curiosity struck him again, and he used his talent to peek into Yu Jing's "profit prospects."

The result made him instinctively purse his lips.

"Just two posts, and she directly earned nearly a hundred thousand faction contribution?"

"And if it drags on over time, the total profit could be as much as a million!"

"Is this right?"

He admitted he was jealous.

Earlier, killing a long-tailed rabbit only earned him 1 point—the gap was just too big.

He couldn't help but be jealous.

Being envious just meant he still had ambition.

Yan Cang looked at his own status panel with a sour heart, wanting to use that pitiful 1 point to deepen this sense of ambition.

【Name: Yan Cang】

【Age: 16】

【Talent: Great Fate Art】

【Survival Days: 0 days】

【Faction: Huaxia】

【Faction Contribution: 129,358,848】

That's right, the faction contribution was 1...

His eyes swept over it, but suddenly sensing something wrong, Yan Cang quickly glanced back.

He was stunned.

"Huh?"

"What... what's with this long string of numbers?!"