Chapter 42
I followed the direction of the arrows and found a man standing not far away, watching me. His expression was calm, yet somewhat fierce. His hand was on his bow, and before I could sense any danger behind me, he had already shot arrow after arrow, killing all my enemies.
For a moment, I didn't know whether I should care about the monster or the person first.
After thinking for a moment, I tentatively asked Ward, "What is this?"
Ward hesitated for a moment, then explained, "It's a monster that sensed your abilities and wanted to kill you."
I suddenly realized: "This is the consequence you mentioned, the result of me starting to connect with this world, right?"
Ward remained silent for a longer time this time. His tone was reluctant: "Yes, because this world cannot last much longer, and I am not capable of protecting it. These monsters will appear often in your future… They can harm everyone, unlike those small creatures floating around you."
There was also a hint of hidden relief.
I overlooked that.
The biggest difference is that those small creatures would only kill me, while these monsters Ward mentioned would target me first and kill me as well, right?
I looked over suspiciously, then realized I had denied it the chance to reveal itself. I turned to look at the man who was approaching me step by step; he had heard me and was now looking at me.
Ward is gone, and it's just the two of us left. People come and go on the street, but that's only how it appears to me.
He said, “I have already cast a spell here, so you don’t need to worry about this scene being seen by ordinary people.” “This scene” refers to shooting the monster. He introduced himself to me with some awkwardness: “My surname is Mo, the Mo of ‘Don’t worry about being drunk and laughing.’ My given name is Huaizhen, the Huai of ‘humble and open’ and the Zhen of ‘reaching the highest good.’”
Quite a few people have introduced themselves to me lately. I knew he was one of those who couldn't hear my conversation with Ward. I mentally went over his name and said, "Qinghe, the Qinghe of peace and tranquility."
"A good name," he remarked, then politely asked me, "May I ask who you were talking to earlier?" Seeing me staring blankly at him, he quickly explained, "If it involves personal privacy, please forgive me, but demons are rampant these days, and monsters have appeared earlier, so there may be more to the story."
He looked to be under thirty, maybe twenty-seven or twenty-eight at most, but he spoke in a very refined manner. I suddenly realized something I'd overlooked: how did he even get into the space Ward had designated?
What is his stance? He asked me what I should do? Ward just said he wanted to save the world, and now someone capable of slaying monsters has arrived. What is my role in this?
Mo Huaizhen awkwardly took a step back: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you. I just noticed you seemed to be having some trouble, and it just so happens that I have some knowledge in this area. I am an Onmyoji, and judging from your appearance, we are from the same country, or you could call me a demon hunter to make it more natural. My area of expertise is also in this: slaying demons and subduing monsters, not some quack selling you miracle cures... I also have proof..." As he spoke, he was about to pull out his so-called credentials.
I laughed. His manner of speaking was completely at odds with his appearance; in fact, judging by his looks alone, he was the type I would avoid even if I had to take a detour. Simply put, he possessed the seriousness, rigidity, and sharp gaze characteristic of a fierce person.
He looked at me, speechless for a moment. I spoke up: "Sorry, I wasn't mocking you. By the way, what were those demons and monsters you mentioned earlier...? I could see what you just killed. It's not that I don't believe you, I'm just a little surprised. I should thank you for helping me, otherwise I might be head and shoulders away right now."
He snapped out of his reverie and said sincerely, "I was just doing it on a whim. Even without me, you could handle this little thing." He carefully looked at my face. "Since you know they exist, that makes things easier. However, I don't have any relevant information with me right now, and just talking about it might not be convincing. Could we exchange contact information, and when you're resting, we can arrange a time to go to my family's library? I think you possess a unique power, remaining vigilant even when you're relaxed, which might be helpful in this matter."
I readily agreed: "Of course."
After exchanging contact information, I asked him, "Is there anything else hidden in this?"
Mo Huaizhen stood beside me, making a few hand gestures that I thought were incantations, and then said to me, "It's not exactly secret, but it's something that ordinary people wouldn't know. If I hadn't been born into a family, I probably wouldn't understand what's happening now."
“If you have time, we can talk as we walk,” he said. “I haven’t communicated with anyone for a long time. After several years of seclusion, I came out to study ancient books and was unaware that disaster had struck outside.”
We strolled in the sunset, the sunlight softening his features. His sky-blue eyes made him look like a foreigner, and I never expected him to say we were born in the same country.
"Human destiny was recorded as early as the legendary era. At that time, the gods stopped the floods, patched the leaks in the sky, and cleansed the earth of disease, but forgot about the underworld. The angry beings of the underworld cursed the neglected life. They were the descendants of the wizards among the gods, possessing the ability of alchemy. Alchemy allowed non-gods to use the power of words, but at a great cost. With the power of the entire descendant of wizards, the high priest used the power of words to say, 'The world will surely be plunged into chaos, the gods will be unable to descend to earth, each person and god will be trapped in restless souls, each person and god will die in scattered spirits, and the survivors outside my race will have their ghostly fire devoured by the underworld.' However, none of them witnessed the end of the curse."
Mo Huaizhen said calmly, "They didn't even verify whether the curse could work, yet they were willing to spend everyone's life, including the life of the unborn, to reduce the unfounded resentment in their hearts."
Why do you say that?
"At that time, the descendants of the sorcerer believed that their own deity was marginalized among the gods and unable to protect them. They sought other deities, nearly falling into evil ways and becoming possessed. The sorcerer, expending divine power, saved them, allowing them to survive on a mere breath, yet they showed no gratitude. As punishment, the sorcerer banished them underground, forcing them to spend their days and nights with the underworld, promising to return to the land after a hundred years. However, they harbored resentment, refusing even this brief punishment, and began to study magical books and records. During those hundred years, plagues ravaged the land, and the gods exhausted their efforts. Some hid underground, spreading the disease to them, but the gods, due to the consequences of their actions, were unable to detect the life activity beneath the earth and thus failed to provide timely treatment."
"Because their life force is weak, and entering the Yellow Springs requires the soul of 'one person,' the dead are not allowed to enter the Yellow Springs. Their souls remain in their place of residence, unable to reincarnate or be cremated, and some even transform themselves into cocoons in anticipation of their next life. The high priest and others ignored differing opinions and conflated the dead with the living, causing all the souls to scatter and never be found again, greatly injuring the sorcerer."
I listened intently: "Has the curse of this legend come true now? But I've heard that there are no more gods in this world."
Mo Huaizhen recalled: "Actually... sigh. I also had my own selfish thoughts. I privately believed that God was not completely absent, but just unaware that He was God. When I was young, I personally witnessed the delivery of a divine oracle. It was late at night, with shadows of trees, and I was practicing my skills alone in the moonlight-drenched courtyard. God opened a scroll in front of me, on which were written very down-to-earth words: 'I am with you.' The clan elders were all amazed after hearing my description, and our clan still regards it as everyone's motto to this day."
I couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, how old are you this year?"
"Fifty-six." Mo Huaizhen's words were always surprising, but after saying this, he saw my slightly surprised expression and quickly added, "Because my clan's lifespan is different from others, with my level of cultivation, if no accidents happen, I can live to be over two hundred years old. Therefore, I look like an ordinary person in their twenties, not that old."
Just like the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages in cultivation novels where one can increase their age. I nodded understandingly and comforted him, "You're actually quite young."
I had never heard the story he told before, nor had I ever heard of it; the myths available on the market didn't include this part. I decided that whenever he asked me out, I would cancel my plans and go, no matter what, because it was truly special.
And I need to see if there's a conspiracy behind this. Why are so many clues emerging as soon as I get a little closer? And why are they exchanging so-called privacy information as soon as I learn a bit of the truth?
"But we must also maintain another perspective, namely that what humanity is experiencing now is indeed only the tip of the iceberg that we have not yet understood in the process of development." Mo Huaizhen suddenly drew an arrow, raised his hand, and shot several arrows in succession, killing the monster that had appeared out of nowhere. The set of movements was smooth and fluid. "However, no matter what, the mission of the family is to protect ordinary people who cannot protect themselves. As the successor of the family head, I should set an example."
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