Chen Mo, a retired firefighter, joins a reality show where people experience dangerous professions. The whole internet accuses him of riding on the coattails of his martyred grandfather and father.
Then the [Hall of Chinese Heroes] descends. The whole world is watching, and the livestream cannot be turned off.
The System announces coldly:
"National destiny has fallen below the warning threshold. Defense protocol forcibly activated."
"Participant Chen Mo, choose the heroic spirit you wish to inherit."
"Warning: Inheriting a heroic spirit means sharing all their memories from before their sacrifice and experiencing 100% of their pain. Including death."
As an emergency-room doctor, he breaks the rules by opening an operating room despite the patient's unpaid bill. The patient survives, and Chen Mo gets disciplined.
As a police officer, he disarms a knife-wielding assailant with his bare hands. Even when the blade pierces his abdomen, he refuses to let go.
As a border guard, he stands alone with arms spread wide before an enemy force many times his size. Behind him, the shadow of a fallen heroic spirit stands at his side.
As an anti-drug officer, he is tortured to death by drug dealers. With his final breath, he wipes every contact for his family from his phone.
Every time he says, "Please come online," national destiny teeters on the brink of death.
Every time the audience goes from mockery to silence, then to tears, national destiny inches back up.
Then the System displays the ultimate mission:
"Sacrifice yourself to light the final beacon of national destiny."
Chen Mo smiles.
"Grandpa, Dad, your soldier has come to report."
"This time, I won't ask a heroic spirit to take my place."
"I am the heroic spirit."
