Chapter 57 Chapter 57 She prefers the great sword.
"No, no," Su Cheng said quickly, "I didn't see his face clearly! I hesitated and didn't say it because the experience was a bit embarrassing."
"...Hmm?" The blond man's expression eased slightly. "Really?"
"Yeah, I just looked at him, um, his body, and he got really angry and started threatening me."
Su Cheng spread his hands. "Besides, his face was in the light, so it was hard to see clearly. I only remember his statue, but there's definitely a difference between that statue and the real person. If I compare his statue to you, you're definitely more beautiful."
The blond man laughed again, "He threatened you?"
This guy's emotions changed so quickly.
Su Cheng silently complained, "Yeah, if I stare at him any longer, my eyes will be in danger, but putting that aside, any ordinary person would stare at a deity, no matter what it looks like, right?"
The blond man looked at her thoughtfully. "...Indeed, is that what makes you feel embarrassed?"
"That's not the case," Su Cheng said with a headache, "I'm not a believer of the Vatican, and neither is my whole family, so I don't know much about the gods there. I didn't know that the horse, ahem, unicorn, is actually the same thing. And when we met, there happened to be a unicorn statue in that place. Of course, as you may know, it's not a coincidence, but a place deliberately chosen by His Highness the God of Sex. Anyway, I think the statue is very beautiful, so I said, don't threaten me, I would rather touch the horse--"
“Haha ...
The blond man on the couch laughed, as if this matter was very funny. "I don't care what that idiot Lukesara did, but you really said that?"
Su Cheng nodded vigorously, "I forgot the exact words, but the meaning is this."
"Ah," he smiled even more broadly, "Then I understand what you mean, but there's no need to be embarrassed, this is normal. The steps of lions and tigers are always more graceful than those of parading nobles, and the scales of butterflies are always more colorful than the most beautiful silk—"
Su Cheng couldn't help but show his approval.
"This is the true nature of existence," he said lazily. "Humanity's appreciation of beauty is influenced by many factors, including culture, group norms, self-awareness, and those foolish identity anxieties. Or perhaps, because of resistance to certain symbolic labels, we deny all associated aesthetic values. Ha, how ridiculous—"
The blond man drawled slightly. "As for animals, or magical beasts, or creatures vastly different from humans, they can break free from these constraints. You'll be better able to focus on existence itself. Their forms are the truth of existence, the manifestation of law in flesh and blood. When these are presented to you without any obstruction, you can experience primitive harmony and unpolished truth. If you ask me, I think the horse is more suitable."
Su Cheng: “…”
Su Cheng suppressed the strange feeling in his heart.
She actually agreed with what the other person said and thought he was very good at summarizing.
At the moment, this guy seems to have a little bit of reason and seems to be able to communicate normally.
but--
She hadn't forgotten the sudden change in his expression just now.
If he were a god, with such an appearance and such a fondness for comparing his looks with others, he could only be the god of jealousy.
Su Cheng felt a headache when he thought about this.
She was washing her hands by the lake before, and suddenly appeared here. It was obvious that the other party did it on purpose.
No.
Use your brain.
Su Cheng carefully recalled the moment he was dragged into the palace, and then tried to mobilize his senses to capture everything around him.
She could indeed "see" the god's beautiful figure like a painting, "hear" his pleasant voice like a heavenly poem, and "smell" the faint sweet fragrance of flowers and fruits.
But the feeling that the God of Lust gave her, from the various delicate touches to the surging pleasure, was just as realistic and vivid, but still fake.
but--
No matter what the current situation is, as long as the other party is the God of Jealousy, you must be careful.
This person is moody and fickle. He can smile at you one moment and kill you the next.
She couldn't be fooled by appearances and really relax, otherwise if she said something wrong, she might be scared to death on the spot.
"...He's still so hypocritical and pretentious."
The blond man sneered softly, "Even the beasts in the mountains and the insects in the swamps have the instinct to reproduce and mate. Humans are just smarter animals—"
Su Cheng came back to his senses and looked at him with some surprise.
The blond man said calmly, "If you can't even tolerate a trace of mortal desire, are you worthy of sitting on the throne of God?"
Su Cheng: “…”
She didn't expect him to mock her from this angle.
"Why," the blond man glanced at her, "you don't agree?"
"Actually," Su Cheng said hesitantly, "I was thinking about myself. If I were walking down the street wearing clothes I like, I'd probably be happy to be seen. But if I fell in the mud and got covered in dirt, and people stared at me, I wouldn't say anything, but I probably wouldn't be very happy in my heart."
The blond man stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly started laughing again, "Hahahahahahaha you're right!"
He seemed pleased again, his expression particularly satisfied. "Only rotten meat is afraid of flies and insects. What he dares not face is exactly what he fears."
Su Cheng blinked, "Well... although I don't know him, but look at you, you don't mind being stared at. You must know that your beauty is unparalleled and no one can look away, and you are very calm about this matter."
Apparently, he was quite happy with it.
She thought silently.
The blond man chuckled softly, seeming satisfied with the explanation. "I'm not the kind of person who harbors filth in his heart. I was once a human, yet I still put on that act."
He said this with disgust in his eyes, not wanting to talk any more on this topic. "Besides, if you were the type of person he hates the most, you would have become Luxara's favored one long ago."
Su Cheng couldn't help but cheer up, wanting to take the opportunity to understand the rules of the God of Filth's selection of people.
Although she felt that she had guessed some of it, that might not be the whole story.
She wasn't really afraid that the God of Jealousy would choose her as his favored one, because she probably didn't have any "qualifications" in that regard.
Su Cheng: "...Are you talking about people who disregard everything else in pursuit of physical pleasure?"
"That's only one aspect," the blond man observed her with interest. "Whether it's physical intercourse or the taste of delicious food, any sensual pleasure shouldn't be the anchor of your existence. Otherwise, you'll just mistake the reflection in the cup for the real moon. While some alcoholics may glimpse lines of poetry while intoxicated and compose them while drunk, most simply drown in the abyss of desire."
Su Cheng: “?”
Is this some kind of paradox of desire from an existentialist perspective?
Su Cheng looked at him puzzledly.
The blond man winked at her, as if giving her some kind of hint.
A moment later, she realized that the other party was answering about God's authority and the selection of his followers. Perhaps due to some rules, he could not answer directly.
Or maybe he just likes telling riddles like this.
Su Cheng pondered his words carefully and seemed to understand something.
She couldn't help but think of the fact that the God of Lust was said to be the weakest of the Seven Gods, and that "she" in the original book didn't seem to have a good relationship with the others.
Of course, none of these seven people are easy to deal with, so their relationship with each other is not harmonious or friendly.
Su Cheng hesitated to speak.
She felt that the god in front of her was full of sensitive points, and she was afraid that if she said something wrong, he would be unhappy.
Su Cheng: "...Is there anyone among your colleagues who really loves to eat? I'm curious, do they enjoy the taste of food, or do they simply enjoy eating? Are they picky eaters who indulge in food once they find something that suits their taste, or are they the type who accepts everything?"
The blond man raised an eyebrow slightly. "I'm also curious why you used the feminine pronoun? 'She'?"
Su Cheng: “…”
It’s all the original work that harmed me.
Su Cheng: "I don't know the gender of that prince before his death, I'm just talking nonsense."
The blond man scoffed nonchalantly. "It doesn't matter. We're not human anymore anyway. Our true forms are already... some kind of concept. Whether it's a human body or some other form, the manifestation is just a manifestation of power and doesn't have much meaning."
He seemed to want to say something, but stopped himself. "Do you know my past?"
Su Cheng really didn't want to face this topic. "I've read some of what the bard wrote, but I don't think it's very real."
"Oh?" The blond man glanced at her lightly. "You don't believe someone could be so vicious as to do such a thing?"
Su Cheng quickly shook his head. "It's not because of that. On the one hand, I know that many similar works are based on the influence of rumors and legends. I always feel that those things are easily spread by word of mouth. On the other hand, seeing you in person, to be honest, I can't think of anyone who can be more beautiful than you, let alone beautiful enough to make you feel uncomfortable——"
This may sound very flattering, and she does mean to compliment the other person to save his life.
But it's also sincere.
Because of his impeccable and stunning face, she couldn't believe that there was any other man in the world who could be jealous of his looks!
The blond man looked at her quietly for a few seconds, then suddenly curled up the corners of his mouth.
“Hahahahahahahahahaha——”
He looked really happy, and for a moment he was laughing so hard that his body was shaking. The pendants on his ears were trembling, and the chains were shaking and colliding with each other, making a slight friction sound.
"Have you ever thought—"
He paused for a moment, slowly turning the ring on his finger. The silver chain wrapped around the back of his hand rustled and vibrated between his clearly undulating bones.
"Maybe I wasn't born like this?"
The blond man said with interest, "Moreover, the vast majority of humans are unable to resist the influence of divinity, whether it's the influence of the power of the gods on their reasoning or the coercive attraction exerted on their cognition. If I weren't a god, you would feel differently when you see me like this."
Su Cheng: "...I really haven't thought about it. My mind is full of how beautiful you are, and I don't have time to think about anything else."
"Really?" He chuckled softly. "Your mind should be full of how not to offend me and how to survive, right?"
Su Cheng: "...That's not true. I'm just a kid under 20 years old. I know you won't bother with an ignorant and childish person like me."
"Really?" the blond man raised his eyebrows slightly. "I've never been known for my generosity. In fact, compared to my colleagues, people think I'm the most stingy one."
Su Cheng shook his head frantically, "No, no, otherwise I would have died last month."
Instead, he was stunned. "Why?"
Su Cheng: “?”
Su Cheng suddenly relaxed a little, "I thought... you were unhappy because Earl Gawler died, so you brought me here."
The blond man looked at her in confusion, "What is that?"
Su Cheng blinked. "There was a noble who was collaborating with an organization claiming to be your followers. I had some disagreements with her son, and then the conflict escalated and she died. Of course, I also had a hand in this ending."
The blond man frowned slightly, seeming impatient to listen to these trivial matters, and did not look interested.
"My followers?" He sneered. "Those people are stupid. I haven't communicated with them in many years."
Su Cheng couldn't help but feel curious. "I heard that they can obtain your power through some means...? Doesn't this require your approval?"
"That's not necessarily true. Certain behaviors and rituals that reproduce the essence of a deity can indeed allow people to directly obtain blessings, without the need for the deity's will."
Although if the gods are not satisfied, they can take it back at any time.
But in his current state, he obviously didn't bother to care.
Su Cheng was silent for a moment. "If it's not because of this, then why did you give me this opportunity to meet you?"
"I just heard some interesting rumors."
The blond man rested one arm on the armrest of the couch, his palm resting on the side of his face, looking at her lazily, "One of my colleagues got beaten up because of you."
Su Cheng: “?”
Is he talking about the God of Lust?
Were they driven back by the God of Purity at that time?
Perhaps in a dimension that he couldn't perceive, the two of them had already fought each other?
There is an obvious difference in the fighting power between the two men. If they fight one-on-one, the God of Lust will definitely lose, so he was beaten?
but--
Judging from the reaction of the person in front of him, he is probably just watching the fun and would never want to stand up for his colleague. He is probably just gloating.
Su Cheng: "Although, it's not because of me. What I mean is, the person who beat him up didn't want to vent his anger on me. That person is quite annoying to me."
The blond man looked at her noncommittally, then suddenly waved to her.
At that moment, the air in the hall seemed to become sticky, and the whole world seemed to slow down.
It's like falling into a slowly flowing dream.
Su Cheng instinctively walked closer until her knees touched the edge of the jade couch. The sudden chill and slight pain woke her up.
"Your Highness?"
Those dark green eyes were like two clusters of eternal phosphorescence, reflecting her confused face.
They are close at hand.
Su Cheng felt his wrist tighten, and he half-knelt on the bed, one hand resting on the other person's ear.
The blond man looked up at her. Her bewitching beauty seemed even more breathtaking as the distance between them suddenly shortened.
His hair meandered among the dark green jade, like countless snakes swimming in the morning light, and a large area of skin was exposed between his spread-out robes.
"When I was human, I looked like this."
He said softly.
Su Cheng nodded vigorously, "I think so too."
"Hmm? You think so too?"
"I've seen it in that poem. The author said, 'Your Excellency, the Grand Master of Ceremonies who serves the darkness, has golden hair like a crown and eyes like malachite...'"
Su Cheng stuttered as he repeated the poem, "Before you were deified, you were all high-ranking members of the Eternal Night Cult, so this refers to the time you spent in the Cult, right?"
He looked at her with an ambiguous expression. "You didn't believe in poetry, did you? Now you believe it? And I don't think the original words of the poem are like this, are they?"
Su Cheng laughed dryly. "Poetry, in order to rhyme, is not filled with all kinds of messy rhetoric? We can remove those modifying clauses and just leave the subject, predicate and object."
The blond man looked at her silently for a few seconds, then suddenly pushed her away.
Su Cheng was caught off guard and fell backwards.
Then she sat down by the lake, pressing her hands into the slippery grass. Ripples spread out on the water, breaking up the silent moonlight.
The dragon eagles on the other side of the lake had drunk their fill of water and were combing each other's feathers, occasionally pecking each other.
It was completely dark and the rest of the figures were not clearly visible in the night.
“…Speaking of which.”
Sasha stood by the tree with his arms folded, looking at the girl on the other side who was waking up from a dream, then turned to look at the leader of the mercenary group.
"Why were you gone for so long? I mean, Mithros."
"Huh?" Kai also retracted his gaze, "I had a fight with that guy."
"...the one in the illusion?" Sasha was a little surprised. "Isn't that just a clone that tests your swordsmanship? Wouldn't it be enough to just throw a few moves?"
"That one is connected to the main body." The black-haired man said casually, "I'm a little curious about his abilities."
"How does it feel?"
"Not bad for a human his age."
…
at the same time.
In a distant and ancient plane——
Floating among the broken mountains in the eternal night, in the palace that hangs high in the void like a floating island, a heavy and oppressive atmosphere flows in the air.
Dark debris swirled like ashes, falling into the obsidian hall that flickered with dim flames.
The furnace in the center is covered with winding patterns like tree rings, and the dark red light surging in the core flickers. Every rise and fall of the heat wave causes ripples in space.
At the opening directly above the furnace, where the flue should have been, was a crack in the void, from which dark energy streams occasionally spurted out.
Someone stood in the majestic and empty hall, staring at the slightly vibrating blast furnace, his tall and slender figure outlined by the flames.
The flickering flames slid across the curls as black as the night, and were soon swallowed up by the pure darkness.
"...Your Majesty."
Another person appeared at the entrance and walked gracefully into the hall.
The man's frosty silver hair fell behind him. When he spoke, his voice was low and beautiful, and his pronunciation had a certain rhythm.
“He has awakened.”
"I sensed it," the man in the hall tilted his head slightly, "He destroyed your projection. Why? Did you anger him?"
"...I simply told him that his companion was quite talented in swordsmanship."
"Um?"
"Then he said that she preferred the greatsword." The silver-haired man said lightly, "I quickly sensed his power."
"You're injured." The person inside said calmly, "...When he fully recovers, it will be more than just this."
The silver-haired man didn't wait for any further instructions and quietly left the hall.
On the steps outside, a man leaned against a pillar and looked at him thoughtfully.
"Oh, Master, this is the first time I've sensed such a bad state in you since you were cursed by that fellow."
The man said with a smile, a hint of a smile appeared on his extremely handsome and gorgeous face, and the golden threads around his pupils slowly rotated.
The silver-haired man gave him a cold look and said, "If I were you, I would be ashamed of myself, Lukesara. The wounds Cesia left on you have not yet healed. After a thousand years, you are still so vulnerable."
"Of course you are not me. After all, you are a noble lord who fought to the very end to protect your territory."
The man raised his lips and said, "And I'm just a fool who was judged from the beginning to have low talent and not worth your time."
"Everything you do now, every hopeless failure, every embarrassing escape—"
The silver-haired man sneered, "All of this proves that my assessment is correct."
"Whatever you say," the man shrugged. "The good student you favor likes me quite a bit."
"She was just deceived by your despicable means."
"Oh, really? Some people don't even dare to leave their names, just playing the role of a poor guy who disappeared into history. Yes, I'm talking about you—"
"you!"
The two of them stopped talking abruptly.
“…Get out of this plane.”
A cold and melancholy voice came from the hall.
Without any hesitation, the two figures outside disappeared instantly.
-
*The story contains a review of the chapters where the characters appear. Those who have forgotten the previous events can read it as a story.
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