The Empty Nester!
As Wang Yan considered the results derived from his criteria, he found himself at a loss.
Am I really going to bring a bunch of empty-nest elders from Earth to lessen the burden of an aging society?
What does that make me?
The empty nest elder abductor?
The bringer of life to hell?
Wang Yan was conflicted. He needed real talent to help with construction, not a group of elderly people to care for!
But wait!
Suddenly, Wang Yan had an epiphany. From a different perspective, the elderly might not be so useless after all!
Who says the elderly can't contribute to construction?
An old house is a treasure.
Most elderly people have spent their lives working, accumulating a wealth of experience in various fields. Even if it's just farming, their knowledge is vast and invaluable. Plus, they don't need as much supervision!
But what about their health?
Don't forget, I have the power to grant immortality!
By giving them the authority of an immortal body, they could live indefinitely, free from the burden of aging and disease!
No risk of exposure, a wealth of life experience—who could be more suitable for developing another world than the elderly?
The more Wang Yan thought about it, the more excited he became. He couldn't help but snap his fingers. Yes, it's them!
---
Finding an empty nester wasn't difficult. There was one living right in Wang Yan's building, just downstairs.
The old man was in his seventies, his wife had likely passed away, and he lived alone. He wasn't very sociable and rarely spoke to anyone.
Aside from occasional grocery trips, Wang Yan had never seen him interact with others. His children never seemed to visit either.
A lonely old man, indeed.
If this old man were to disappear, no one would notice for days, maybe even weeks!
Wang Yan checked the time. It was just before nine o'clock.
The young couple living next door to the old man likely hadn't returned yet, meaning the old man was alone downstairs.
Perfect timing!
Wang Yan felt a thrill of excitement. He grabbed his coat and headed for the door. Just before leaving, he paused, and found a pair of white gloves to wear.
Can't leave any fingerprints behind.
Taking the stairs down, Wang Yan observed his surroundings, making sure no one was around. He held his breath, suppressing the excitement in his chest as he approached the old man's door.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He knocked three times.
"Who is it?"
A heavy cough, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching the door.
Wang Yan listened carefully, estimating the distance. Just as the old man was about to open the door, Wang Yan swiftly opened a space portal behind the door.
As the portal opened, the footsteps suddenly stopped.
An old man, who had lived on Earth for over seventy years, was now an unsuspecting traveler to another world!
Success!
Wang Yan's heart raced as he closed the portal and hurried back upstairs. Once there, he steadied his nerves, opened another portal, and returned to his world.
---
The old man, now suddenly in a virgin forest, stood there in his blue pajamas and slippers, staring in shock at his surroundings.
He trembled as he reached out to touch the trees, confirming their reality. He squatted down, uprooted a weed, and examined it closely with a frown. "This doesn't belong to any plant family on Earth... Did I travel to another world?"
"The world is full of surprises. I never thought I'd be reunited with my daughter through a supernatural event," the old man chuckled to himself. "Seems like the fortune teller was right. I killed too many people, so I'm destined to be alone forever! Well, at least I won't be a burden to my girl now. It's just a shame I couldn't see her one last time…"
Thud!
Wang Yan, who had been secretly listening, nearly fell to the ground.
He swallowed hard. Weren't you supposed to be a lonely old man?
What's all this about reuniting with your daughter?
And what's this about killing too many people?
Who knew you were such a mysterious figure? You're really something!
"Who's there?" The old man's senses were sharp, and he quickly turned in Wang Yan's direction, shouting with a fierce, commanding presence that belied his age.
For a moment, the old man seemed taller and stronger, his once-cloudy eyes now sharp and terrifying. It was as if he had transformed into a fearsome predator, ready to strike, and Wang Yan felt a chill run down his spine.
This man might really have killed someone… How else could an old man in his seventies have such a presence?
After a brief hesitation, Wang Yan gathered his courage and stepped out, raising a hand in a timid wave. "It's me, old man."
What's done is done.
There's no going back now.
I'll just have to face whatever surprises come my way. This is all my fault—I miscalculated from the start!
"Are you the kid from upstairs?" The old man seemed surprised, looking Wang Yan up and down before scanning the surrounding environment. "Did you bring me here?"
"Uh-huh," Wang Yan nodded awkwardly.
"Why?" the old man asked, his tone demanding.
Wang Yan scratched his head, then decided to be honest. "I thought you lived alone, so even if you disappeared, no one would notice." He smiled bitterly. "If I'd known you had a daughter, I wouldn't have dared to mess with you! But now that it's done, there's no turning back."
"…" The old man looked at Wang Yan, puzzled. "I'm asking you—why did you bring an old man like me to this world?"
Wang Yan sighed. "To help build a planet."
"Build a planet? Interesting!" The old man laughed. "Kid, are you an alien genius?"
Great! Not only does he think I'm an alien, but he's also mocking me!
Wang Yan's face darkened as he prepared to explain.
But before he could speak, the old man continued, "An alien genius! But don't you know that an old man like me can barely walk a few steps without getting tired? And you expect me to help you build a planet? If I were you, I'd grab some young, strong folks…"
"Old man," Wang Yan interrupted, his face serious. "I'm trying to be respectful, but if you keep calling me stupid, I won't be so polite!"
"Go ahead, try being impolite!" The old man wagged a finger, taunting him.
Unbelievable!
Wang Yan was stunned again. This old man had seemed so withdrawn on Earth, yet here he was, acting like a completely different person!
Is he actually enjoying this?
Where's the solemn old man from Earth? Why is he so lively here?
But despite the odd situation, Wang Yan knew he had to explain things. "Look, old man, here's the deal. This is an undeveloped, primitive planet… And I brought you here because I wanted to rely on your life experience to help the primitive people develop civilization."
When Wang Yan finished, the old man nodded thoughtfully. "So that's how it is. I get it now." He glanced at Wang Yan with a serious expression. "Kid, I suggest you go back to Earth and see a psychiatrist."
"Why?" Wang Yan asked, genuinely curious.
"When I was your age, if I had your abilities and resources, I'd have brought a bunch of beauties over here to enjoy myself!" The old man gave Wang Yan a disdainful look. "But you? You bring an old man to help some primitive people build a planet. Don't you think you need to see a shrink?"
Wang Yan was left speechless.
What happened to the lonely old man on Earth?
How did he turn into this in my world?
There's definitely something off with this planet's magnetic field!
In the end, Wang Yan could only draw one conclusion.