Chapter 258: The Spark of Stars
Ji Ma sniffed, sensing an unusual atmosphere.
The aura of entertainment.
Clicking into trending questions, the top responses were long and well-illustrated, detailing the background and results.
She randomly clicked on a few responses, browsing them in a minute or two, too lazy to even read the news articles, and exited the answers to scroll down for more entertainment.
Sure enough, she found responses that highlighted gender opposition.
Statements like “Diplomacy and women’s issues matter a lot” and “Feeble men don’t react that strongly when pulled to work in a small coal mine.”
Or declarations like “Being close to men leads to unhappiness.”
The exchanges became fierce, punches thrown back and forth, and it was quite lively.
In this boxing match, the rational observers stood up in the audience, shouting for unity, not to get caught up in the gender conflict, claiming that everyone was a proletariat. Immediately, someone retorted, “I’m not buying this grand narrative…”
“What white knight? You speak for them, but last time a boy fell, a crowd cheered…”
Ji Ma found the lively atmosphere quite enjoyable. She didn’t care about the news itself; even if the news link was in the question description, who has the leisure to read the question description on Zhihu? At least Ji Ma didn’t want to waste her precious energy on such matters.
She wrote a response @ing a few of the participants, saying:
“As the saying goes, words are powerless, but fists have strength. How about this, I’ll set up a gladiatorial arena, give everyone a butcher’s knife, and directly drag you into the subspace for a duel. The winner gets three million dollars, and we’ll livestream it for everyone’s amusement. For fairness, I’ll refer to the medieval duel court, and the men can stay in a hole with their lower halves.”
Now, Zhihu was in decline, yet Ji Ma had become its backbone. Once this response was posted, various metrics shot up rapidly.
The comment section was filled with comments squealing like fans. Opponents, for the most part, didn’t dare to be sarcastic or insult directly; instead, they countered in a serious tone: “Duels won’t bring fairness; you’re just satisfying your bloody desires.”
Ji Ma responded with a single word: “Correct.”
In just a few minutes, the tagged answerers were quickly declining in the comments.
“So boring, talking about how, when there’s no hope, people go out and grab children to kill. Given the chance, they don’t even move a finger; no one’s dying anyway, and still, they don’t dare; humans are so weak.”
Daring to be angry but not able to speak up was the typical reaction from Ji Ma’s opponents. But now, her opposition was getting smaller and smaller; once when she went online, people would glance at her. But years had passed, and no fleets from America had appeared on the coasts of China.
Once, a group had sworn that Ji Ma would dominate the world; after being relentlessly ridiculed for a year or two, people didn’t even bother to bring it up anymore.
Now, more people were spamming the chat, repeating memes to express their admiration for Ji Ma.
Statements like “I can’t live without you, take me with you,” and similar sentiments.
To which Ji Ma replied, “You people are truly disgusting.”
Many were sending juvenile messages below, desperately trying to get Ji Ma’s attention.
“Dark Lord, Dark Lord, I know that there’s a secret organization in China targeting you, called Dragon Group…”
“Someone is developing secret biochemical weapons, trying to kill you, for real!”
“Ji Ma, Ji Ma, my Ji Ma, come look at me!”
Ji Ma frowned, muttering to herself, “How boring.”
A bunch of people wanted her attention, hoping for a blessing, and had nearly lost their minds over becoming extraordinary.
Many of her female followers were active on the screen, flaunting their beauty and wealth, including a young woman who had once served as her maid, always eager to boast about her past experiences.
“Humans are so weak it gives me no sense of accomplishment,” Ji Ma wrote in her response: “I remember that there were thousands in this nation who used their bodies to block my curses, annoying me all the way to America. You once called those who insulted and opposed me, and ended up paralyzed, heroes, collectively shedding tears and spamming the bullet screen.
“But now, just twelve years, and they all seem to have gone crazy, coming over to fawn on me. Each time I log on, I encounter hundreds of believers; why doesn’t China manage this cult? It’s so annoying; they chant my name all day.
“However, this was to be expected; after all, no one can deal with me.”
The comment section exploded again, with everyone praising Ji Ma’s insults, declaring their happiness, and Ji Ma randomly selected a few for divination, wondering if they were being sarcastic, only to find out they were genuine.
There were also some pleading for her to lift their curses.
“Please, lift the curse for me; my little finger really can’t take it anymore, and I’ve never insulted you; I must have been collateral damage.”
Rarely in the mood, Ji Ma winked and replied through her divination:
“Because you made a big flag out of my tiger skin and went around scaring others using my name, stirring up trouble everywhere, it’s your own fault. Keep it up and you won’t save your other thumb either.”
After replying, Ji Ma didn’t bother watching the bustling comments. She wanted to check a few private messages, so she shouted, “Xiao Li! Xiao Li! Have you sifted the private messages yet?”
“Done, sending them to you now.”
A few links came through, and the private messages were categorized into several major types. Ji Ma saw one large category for opponents, and there was a link stating: “Latest counter to your response, the answerer has always been your staunch opponent, with a well-structured argument, rational and without malice.”
Ji Ma clicked on the link and saw the answerer, whose avatar was a medieval bucket helmet, and the ID GGDE, seemingly a random name, with a signature that read: “A person trudging along the path of justice.”
Ji Ma curled her lips; it was probably just another delusional person. Didn’t he realize how juvenile that sounded?
The content of the answer was to refute Ji Ma and her supporters’ remarks:
“Everyone hasn’t forgotten your heinous acts; it just takes some stimulation to reminisce. As soon as there’s hope of defeating the Dark Lord, everyone will surely unite.
“To expect everyone to maintain twelve years of hatred against an invincible enemy is an unrealistic and excessive demand.
“…on one hand, you call us cowards who talk big and send others to their deaths, while on the other, you crowd around the Dark Lord. Essentially, you are like the goblins in Western fantasy works, surrounding some evil green dragon, getting close to her, as if you too could gain her power…
“However, generally speaking, while many yield to the Dark Lord, some still have some dignity; compared to her, she fundamentally lacks human moral values.
“What surprises me most is the fact that some people actually argue that the Dark Lord settling in America reflects America’s advancement and inclusiveness, while Chinese society is not that free. Of course, I don’t deny the richness of America, but for America itself, this is a disaster, yet you actually believe it’s a blessing….
“Driving out the Dark Lord should be honor.”
Ji Ma clicked her tongue and liked the comment.
Instantly, GGDE’s comments exploded. Ji Ma felt like she saw a thousand pigs charging at this poor fellow.
“Congratulations on your successful traffic generation (laughs).”
“Oh oh oh, yet another relative or friend of the cursed righteous person.”
“What a loser! Working hard at 996 for such risks; the salary must be good.”
“China is so miserable that even the Dark Lord can’t stay there; I’m dying of laughter.”
“Hello, Jiji” (laugh).
Initially, Ji Ma just wanted to tease this answerer, but when she refreshed, she found GGDE, with the bucket helmet avatar, receiving one reply after another, all trying to reason with him.
He seriously responded: “The Dark Lord spreads panic, causing the most widespread extraordinary events in human history; China has the duty to protect its people and drive the Dark Lord away…”
“A country that writes ‘born equal’ in its constitution yet acknowledges the Dark Lord as superior to everyone is itself a terrible disaster…”
Some sarcastically remarked:
“Ha ha, as if you’re saying America is on the verge of collapse; don’t rich people still want to flee to America? If America is in such a dire state, no one would want to immigrate there.”
“Good days are still coming.”
What was rare was that GGDE didn’t resort to insults or sarcasm, nor did he put on airs like the elites on Zhihu; he simply answered with point after point.
He seemed so out of place on the internet.
Out of curiosity, Ji Ma peered into the thoughts of this mortal.
She saw a young man with a square face sitting on a plain computer chair, focused, typing away with both hands, and his name appeared: Fu Guotao.
“Yes, you are correct.”
Ji Ma left a comment, finding his style of expression quite refreshing; she clicked to follow him before leaving to find more entertainment.
A special message came in from the American military.
“…Dear Dark Lord, regarding your infantry anti-armor projectiles, we have a new upgrade plan; as long as you’re willing to divinate for us once more, our experienced design team will provide you…”
Ji Ma replied, “No, I don’t have the time.”
A few years ago, she had imagined what to do if George came to Earth. At that time, she got excited and devised numerous weapons, armed the bald man, and even learned about gun mechanics.
But a year later, the novelty wore off, and Ji Ma found it all tedious.
Especially the “infantry anti-armor projectiles,” which had numerous issues—it wasn’t as great as it appeared, requiring repeated adjustments that necessitated her presence, greatly hindering her enjoyment.
After finally getting the bald man equipped with the “infantry anti-armor projectiles” and managing to use them smoothly.
Ji Ma felt relieved.
Now, that set of “infantry anti-armor projectiles” was locked away in a nitrogen-filled basement, just like many of Ji Ma’s whimsical toys.
Once, every month, she’d run back to China to check on the traps she designed.
But after many years, without a trace of George, Ji Ma grew lazy, occasionally taking out a glass ball to look at fragments of the future.
“Let’s go mountain climbing,” Ji Ma had a sudden whim, as she scrolled past pictures of snowy mountains, “The feeling of hugging beautiful girls for warmth on a cold snowy mountain must be delightful. Xiao Li! Xiao Li! Get ready; I’m going to climb Mount Everest! Oh, and prepare my summer outfit; I want to take photos up there.”
“Understood, Master.”
Meanwhile.
“I think you can vent your dissatisfaction with life without resorting to bullying the strong and distorting the truth…”
The room echoed with standard Mandarin.
Square-faced Fu Guotao sat on his computer chair, his forehead beaded with cold sweat, listening to the Mandarin, typing rapidly on the keyboard.
Beside him sat George, and Xiao Ji, dressed in white tights, with her legs crossed, slowly opened her eyes, saying, “Her divination just came in.”
“Just as I imagined,” George said. “She currently cannot divinate me directly.”
“But if she uses rituals to enhance her divination abilities, she may be able to tune in—it’s possible, brother.”
GGDE was George’s account; the ID was typed out by him. The reason for using English was China’s official request, fearing it would raise Ji Ma’s suspicions.
George nodded and said, “Now I have time to interact with her online without worry.”
There was a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
“Comrade George, the plan has been finalized; it’s called ‘Spark.’ Please depart immediately.”
“Understood.”
