While the internet was in an uproar, in a quiet apartnt unknown to most people, Li Zhe sat pale-faced in front of his computer. His fingers trembled as he moved the mouse, his eyes fixed on the dense stream of comnts flooding the screen.
Accusations of plagiarism appeared again and again. Several tis, he wanted to argue back, to type out a rebuttal, but the mont he rembered that he had no evidence capable of refuting Lone Sword at the World’s Edge, he forcibly suppressed the urge.
Along with anger ca fear, guilt, and a deep sense of unease.
No one understood better than he did that he had indeed used Lone Sword at the World’s Edge’s work.
He had originally believed that, since the story had not yet been published and he himself had been reborn, he could take it without restraint. If he released it first, then it would naturally beco his.
Even the original authors would never know that the story had belonged to them, after all, no one could predict what they would write in the future.
But who could have imagined that Lone Sword at the World’s Edge had already begun conceiving this story?
If Li Zhe had known things would turn out like this, he would have been far more cautious. He would have chosen a work that would only beco popular three to five years after his rebirth.
This ti, he had truly made a fatal mistake!
What should he do now?
His palms were slick with sweat as he gripped the mouse. Watching the comnts grow more heated by the second, he felt his limbs stiffen, and a chill crawl down his spine.
He had finally been given a second chance at life, but was his writing career really going to end like this?
Choosing the wrong book had led directly to disaster.
No. He couldn’t fail here.
If this novel collapsed, he could abandon it. He could change his pen na, move to a different website, and start over.
Yes, that was it.
Books from three to five years in the future were safer anyway. Their concepts were more mature, their styles more refined. Publishing them early would still allow him to rise again.
Why had he been so foolish before? Why choose a book that would be published in only six months, exposing himself to such obvious danger?
What caught him completely off guard was not just how early Lone Sword at the World’s Edge’s outline appeared, but the screenshots of the writing software tistamps.
Li Zhe had briefly considered following the argunts of so of his readers, insisting that the screenshots were photoshopped. But just as the thought ford, he snapped back to his senses.
He knew the truth.
The outline was real.
The screenshots were real.
Even if he managed to manipulate public opinion for a short ti, it would never withstand scrutiny. Once Lone Sword at the World’s Edge pressed the issue, he would still be unable to produce any convincing evidence.
Rather than dragging things out, it would be better to grit his teeth, abandon this book, disappear completely, change his identity, and start writing again elsewhere.
Facing Lone Sword at the World’s Edge head-on was simply too risky. The other party might have evidence or legitimate sources of inspiration, while he had none.
In the end, Li Zhe slamd his laptop shut and took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down. In his heart, he had already decided to give up the novel.
Ding!
His phone suddenly rang.
The notification sound startled him.
Li Zhe’s fingers trembled as he unlocked the screen. When he saw the sender’s na, his heart sank, it was his editor.
Despite his anxiety, he opened the ssage.
But no matter how anxious he was, he still opened the ssage.
"Are you online? What’s going on with Lone Sword at the World’s Edge accusing you of plagiarizing his unpublished work? Explain imdiately! If it’s not plagiarism, co out and clarify. If it is... I can’t protect you."
Li Zhe’s face turned ashen.
His first instinct was to deny it, but realizing he had no basis to do so, he chose to pretend he hadn’t seen the ssage. If necessary, he would abandon everything and disappear under a new alias. His life had only just begun, he couldn’t afford to be ruined like this.
But avoidance didn’t make the problem go away.
When he failed to reply and the situation online continued to escalate, his phone rang again. This ti, it was a call.
He had no choice but to answer.
"Hello, editor..."
The editor’s voice was cold and sharp. "Did you see my ssage? Don’t tell you know nothing. Tell clearly, did you plagiarize Lone Sword at the World’s Edge? If you didn’t, I’ll protect you, even if he’s a big na. But if you did, I won’t help you."
Li Zhe clenched his teeth.
"I... I acted on impulse..." He admitted at last. "I accidentally saw his outline. I didn’t know it was his, I thought it was reference material. I only used it as inspiration. The writing itself was all mine."
Since denial was impossible, he tried to minimize the damage.
He had already prepared this explanation: that he had purchased writing material, stumbled upon it by accident, and unknowingly used soone else’s unpublished outline as a reference.
As for whether Lone Sword at the World’s Edge would question him, Li Zhe knew full well that the other party had no way of discovering how the outline had been leaked. After all, rebirth was nothing more than a fantasy.
"You really plagiarized?!"
The editor’s voice hardened. "Then I can’t protect you anymore. Not only that, I might be dragged down with you. Whether Lone Sword at the World’s Edge exposes you, tears you apart online, or sues you, you’d better be prepared."
Before Li Zhe could say anything else, the call ended.
He stared blankly at the darkened screen.
Sue.
That single word echoed in his mind.
Only then did Li Zhe finally understand, this was not sothing he could escape simply by disappearing and changing his pen na.
Everything now depended on whether Lone Sword at the World’s Edge was willing to let him go.
He could ignore the online condemnation, hide away, but if the other party really chose to sue...
A bone-deep chill washed over him, as if cold water had been poured from head to toe, freezing him in place.
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