As for the next few days, Xu Long didn't focus on playing Valor. Instead, he tried to gather as much information as possible about himself, using all the time he had to spend with his mother. The more time he spent with her, the more he liked her. She was kind and caring, unlike his mother from his previous life.
In his past life, his mother had treated him harshly. She didn't take care of him until he became a huge star in the esports world. That was when she suddenly remembered she had a child to take care of. His mother only used him for her own personal gain. He was pretty sure that she was happy he was dead because she was receiving condolences and money from the public. Not to mention, all the money he had ever gained went to her.
In contrast, his new mother was the embodiment of warmth and love. She would prepare his meals, make sure he was comfortable, and always had a kind word or a smile for him. Her affection felt genuine, something Xu Long had never experienced before. She was proud of him, not for his achievements or potential earnings, but simply for who he was.
Xu Long was pretty happy he got reborn since he got the chance to be this wonderful woman's son. However, something kept weighing on his consciousness: what happened to the original owner of the body he was in? They couldn't have switched bodies since he had already died in his previous body. So, he kept wondering what happened to the boy. Maybe it counted as him dying. He might have gone to heaven or hell; who knew?
This uncertainty gnawed at him. He didn't have any memories of the previous boy's life, only the current reality he was living in. He wondered if the boy had dreams and aspirations. Did he have friends? Was he a good student? Or was he, too, a gamer like Xu Long? The lack of answers left him feeling a strange mix of guilt and responsibility.
Nevertheless, Xu Long decided to focus on the positive. He had been given a second chance, a new life, and he was determined to make the most of it. He would cherish his new family and make this life count. He saw it as an opportunity to correct the mistakes of his past life and to live with a newfound sense of purpose and integrity.
He also started to think about his future. While he enjoyed spending time with his new mother, he knew he couldn't avoid gaming forever. It was in his blood, his passion. He would return to Valor, but this time with a balanced approach. He would play for the love of the game, not just for the accolades or the money. He wanted to honor the life he had now by being a good son and a responsible person.
As days turned into weeks, Xu Long's bond with his new mother grew stronger. He learned about her likes and dislikes, her dreams, and the little quirks that made her unique. In return, he shared bits of his life with her, carefully omitting the parts that would be too unbelievable. They laughed together, shared meals, and slowly but surely, Xu Long felt a deep sense of belonging.
He might never know what happened to the original owner of this body, but he was grateful for the chance he had been given. He would make sure to live a life that honored this new beginning, to be a son his new mother could be proud of, and to find his way back to the top of the esports world on his terms.
And with this resolve, Xu Long felt ready to face whatever challenges the future held. He was determined to make the most of the gift that was given to him.
If he wasn't spending time with his mother, then he would be going down to the internet cafe where Li Ling was. She was quite busy all throughout, so they barely talked, but not like he wanted to though.
In the internet cafe, if you hadn't played Valor before and you wanted to test it out, then you could rent a card from them and play. Most new players that hadn't played Valor before would use this to check if the game was meant for them.
The account he used at that time, Brave Warrior, was actually a rented card and wasn't Li Ling's main account. She didn't even play Valor or have her own account. She just played sometimes when she was bored. She genuinely liked the game but just couldn't find time to play.
She was always busy working and would only pick it up if she had time. But she was up to date on everything in Valor. Whether it be tactics or professional matches, she knew it all. She had a knack for understanding the game's meta and strategies, often giving advice to regulars at the cafe.
She had the experience experts had in the game but never got the chance to fully use it. Her knowledge was almost up to professional level, but Xu Long could only sigh in sadness because it was a waste of talent in his eyes. He often found himself discussing game tactics with her, and he was continually impressed by her insights. She had a natural talent for gaming.
"If you're so interested in the game, why don't you get an account instead of just using rented ones? Not to mention you've been playing accounts with different classes. Are you trying to select from them?" asked Li Ling one day, breaking Xu Long out of his thoughts.
"Nope, just trying to get experience." Xu Long was lying to her. There was another reason, but he didn't want to disclose it to her. He had been using the different classes to better understand the game's mechanics, something that would give him an edge when he returned to competitive play.
"After all, my friend that I use to play on his account said I could borrow one of his," he added, trying to sound nonchalant.
Li Ling looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. "You must really love this game to go through all that trouble," she said. "But you know, having your own account isn't just about the gameplay. It's about building your own reputation and improving consistently."
Xu Long nodded, appreciating her advice but still sticking to his story. "Yeah, I get that. Maybe one day I'll get my own account, but for now, this works for me."
The truth was, Xu Long was cautious. He didn't want to rush into creating a new identity in the gaming world until he fully understood this new life and the people in it. He needed to be sure of his path before making any bold moves.
The next day, Xu Long could be seen in front of a building that had "Rising Wings" written at the top.
"What the hell am I doing here again?" he thought