Chapter 360 Believers
“But as you can see, I am recovering well now,” I said.
My room in the sanatorium looked like a fairly spacious bedroom, with a big bed, a large TV, potted plants and a fish tank, decorated like a cozy home.
I just woke up and am sitting on the bed. Lu Chan just arrived, and Ma Zao is here too.
“I’ve heard that the realm of spiritual manifestation is related to the self-proving of one’s true spirit. I’d only ever read about such legends in books before, but seeing your current condition, perhaps those legends are true. If it has nothing to do with the true spirit, how can you explain this extraordinary speed of recovery?” Lu Chan sighed.
“I think it’s not fast enough,” I said.
“Compared to your usual efficiency in healing any injury in an instant, this state of only scabbing after three days is indeed not considered very fast,” Lu Chan agreed. “At this stage, your treatment is simply rest and recuperation, keeping your mood as stable and positive as possible, while waiting for the true spirit to recover naturally…”
After thinking for a moment, he said, "So, if we just put in more effort in this direction, the recovery speed can also be faster? At least from what I see, you don't seem particularly cheerful right now; you can only be considered stable at best, which means there's still room for improvement."
"How exactly do I do it?" I asked, curious.
"How about having the girl you like cook for you?" Lu Chan said seriously.
As he spoke, he also glanced at Ma Zao, who was sitting obediently beside the bed and hadn't joined the conversation.
Because Lu Chan had attempted to kidnap Ma Zao during Lu Youxun's reign, Ma Zao was clearly wary and scrutinized him with the eyes of someone looking at a suspicious person.
However, she seemed to be listening attentively to what the other person was saying. Upon hearing this, she adopted a serious expression, lowered her head in thought, and muttered to herself, "The girl Zhuang Cheng likes..."
“To be specific, it’s you,” Lu Chan added.
"Huh, me?"
Ma Zao first looked to her left and right, and when she saw Lu Chan raise his hand and point at her, she also pointed at herself in confusion. Then she suddenly realized what was going on and her face turned red. She also became awkward and uneasy while sitting on the stool.
Lu Chan put down his hand and earnestly urged, "Do you know how to cook anything? The chef here should lend you the kitchen, and all the ingredients and seasonings are readily available."
Mazao raised her hands and rubbed her face vigorously, seemingly trying to restore the bloodshotness to normal. Then, her mood seemed to become very positive. She jumped off the stool, her voice unconsciously becoming a little loud, and shouted, "I...I'll go ask!"
She dashed out of the room.
I couldn't help but wonder if it was really okay to let Asa use the kitchen. Since I had never seen Asa cook before, and considering that she probably had very little contact with modern kitchen utensils in the post-apocalyptic era, I was honestly a little worried that she might make some inedible things.
But then I thought, since she had previous experience surviving in ruins, she should have some basic knowledge of how to cook food with a fire. At most, the food she made wouldn't be highly rated in terms of taste and texture, but it wouldn't be anything completely inedible. Even if she accidentally broke some kitchen tools, as long as she had the power of rebirth, there was no need to worry too much.
"So... did you send Ma Zao away because you have something important to tell me?" I asked Lu Chan.
"No, I didn't send her away just to have a private conversation with you. What I said earlier was the truth; having her make you something to eat might actually help your recovery."
As Lu Chan spoke, he took out a document. "However, there is something I need to report to you. Consider it a work report for the past three days."
"Although I guess you don't care much about this kind of thing, since I am your loyal subordinate, I have to fulfill my responsibilities."
The phrase "loyal subordinate" really made me uncomfortable. If he hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten that he had sworn allegiance to me not long ago. However, I didn't intend to ask him to correct it; after all, we weren't exactly close friends, and if we lost that bond, I really wouldn't know how to get along.
I glanced at the documents he submitted.
The main content concerns Mr. Zhu recruiting soldiers in Luoshan in my name.
Mr. Zhu had informed me about this matter and had my authorization. It seems he really intends to establish some kind of "Zhuangcheng Force" in Luoshan, while Fazheng's forces appear to be helping behind the scenes by providing advice and initial resources. The activities are similar to other hegemonic forces, mainly dealing with the increasingly frequent strange events in various places, rewarding members based on their contributions, and punishing those who fail or slack off.
In other words, this is exactly what the Luoshan organization has been doing all along. Although the task targets and rewards/punishments given by each faction are different, I don't really understand why they have to create these different factions.
From my perspective as someone who is unpredictable and fickle, the fact that many people are joining the faction established in my name means that my connection with the supernatural world is deepening, which is very beneficial to me. But what about from the perspective of those who join? Witchers who are already doing their jobs well should just continue doing their work as always. Is it necessary for them to join this dubious "Zhuangcheng faction"?
I shared my doubts with Lu Chan, and he looked as if he had expected it, and began to explain to me.
"Are you familiar with the 'Mindful Believers,' one of the three major problems plaguing Luoshan?"
For some reason, Lu Chan brought this up first.
I'll go along with him for now: "I've heard about it a few times. It's said that Xuanming has many followers in Luoshan, and even after he betrayed Luoshan, these followers still exist within Luoshan, becoming the 'internal trouble' among the internal and external troubles."
“Yes. The three major threats to Luoshan each have their own troubles, but in the final analysis, the troubles still come from the Great Impermanence behind the three major threats.” Lu Chan said, “Among them, the Humanity Division is the most special. Although the Humanity Division does not have the Great Impermanence, if they achieve an impossible miracle in the future and master the method of creating the Great Impermanence with technical power, they will become the greatest enemy in Luoshan’s history. Therefore, even though they are still very weak now, they are listed as a threat by Luoshan.”
"The leader of the Taoyuan Township organization is himself a ruthless and vicious person. It is easy to understand why Luo Shan regards this organization as a major threat."
"The last remaining followers of Xuanming are a force secretly united and gathered, centered around the remnants of Xuanming's former followers left behind in Luoshan. They all regard Xuanming as a deity and have a very strong sense of cohesion. Among them are many fanatical believers who are willing to give their lives for Xuanming at any time. Xuanming will not hesitate to use this power when necessary..."
"But have you noticed something's not right?"
Based on the direction of the previous conversation, I asked, "Are you referring to the reasons why the believers of Xuanming have a strong sense of unity?"
Xuanming suddenly went mad, indiscriminately slaughtering his own people, and defected from Luoshan, disappearing without a trace. Although his fanatical followers might find reasons to continue regarding Xuanming as their guiding light, most people have their own lives and stances. If it were to choose between upholding Xuanming's faith and turning against the entire Luoshan community, most would likely hesitate.
Especially when Xuanming reappeared, he was already a Void Apostle, a vanguard of the Lord of the Divine Seal, upholding the ideology of world destruction. Although I knew it was just an act Xuanming put on in front of everyone to frame the Lord of the Divine Seal, most people couldn't possibly know that. Having both the intention to destroy the world and his role as a subordinate of an unknown figure, how could Xuanming maintain the cohesion of his followers after doing such things?
After listening to my thoughts, Lu Chan corrected me: "I need to make a correction. Xuanming becoming the so-called subordinate of the Lord of the Divine Seal might not have damaged the impression of Xuanming's followers as much. Because after the Fantian Incident, the Demon Hunter community realized that there exists a power in this world that surpasses the Great Impermanence, and there is likely an unknown entity that manipulates this power to influence the world. In some rumors, this unknown entity is even regarded as a god above gods."
"The faith of Xuanming's followers is not like that of monotheistic religions. In Chinese mythology, there are Kitchen Gods, Yama, and even historical figures like Guan Yu, and they all have many believers among the people. These objects of worship are not supreme figures in their respective mythological systems, but are all subordinate to the Jade Emperor."
"Furthermore, Xuanming wasn't always a supreme deity. Legend has it that when he was still Ziqi, he was subordinate to Emperor Yao and was appointed as the Minister of Works, in charge of fire. The demon hunter community's understanding of deities differs from that of ordinary society. They can accept the existence of gods more powerful than their own, accept that their gods were once weak humans, and accept that gods also have emotions and desires, and sometimes even need their help..."
"If there really is a figure in this world who manipulates the power of the divine seal and controls the world, then it is undoubtedly a god like the Heavenly Emperor. Xuanming being under him will not make Xuanming's followers feel disillusioned. On the contrary, it can be interpreted as Xuanming's current position being the orthodox one."
Huh? The Void Realm Apostles are the true orthodox ones? There's even this kind of interpretation? I really didn't expect that.
However, I quickly noticed the vulnerability.
"If that's the case, why don't they just worship the Lord of the Divine Seal?" I said. "Some people worship the Kitchen God, Yama, and Guan Yu, instead of offering sacrifices to the Heavenly Emperor for everything. Often it's because they believe that these deities who hold corresponding divine positions can bring them corresponding blessings, but Xuanming can't... uh, wait, could it be that..."
Lu Chan nodded and said, "Sincere faith in the Great Impermanence...can really bring you strength."
(End of this chapter)
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