CHAPTER 84: CHAPTER 83: CHANGE! UNEXPECTED SITUATION

Vivian felt utterly wronged. It was clearly this boy in front of her who had seduced her first, even promising that she could ask for anything.

But now, Chen Pingchuan had an attitude of zipping up his pants and pretending nothing had happened, which she found hard to accept. She pouted, her face filled with disappointment, and said, "But you were the one who said I could ask for anything..."

"I said, within my capabilities."

"So, you’re not capable?"

"..."

Chen Pingchuan was completely speechless, his heart filled with helplessness. I always feel like the people here think differently from normal people. But on second thought... could it be my thinking that’s strange?

At this moment, seeing tears already welling up in the eyes on Vivian’s delicate face, Chen Pingchuan’s heart finally softened. He asked tentatively, "Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on here, and I’ll help you figure something out. Judging by the look on your face, you’re clearly troubled. But don’t worry. With my IQ of 180, I just have to lift a finger, and the word ’opponent’ will cease to have meaning."

Chen Pingchuan’s boast was so grand that his confident expression infected Vivian. As a result, the innocent girl actually told him everything, from beginning to end.

In fact, Chen Pingchuan didn’t realize that ever since he had acquired the "Friend of Women" talent, every woman he came into contact with was unconsciously influenced by this rule-type skill.

This was precisely why he felt that every woman seemed bewitched and wanted to befriend him, and it was the fundamental reason why his male classmates resented him to the bone.

This included his classmates, teachers, the City Lord, and was true even in the real-life simulations.

Of course, he was still in a state of confusion at this moment, his brain racing to analyze the information in Vivian’s words.

"A few days ago at Green Light Square, Archbishop Monica probably already introduced you. Our sect is called Nature."

"The Naturalist Sect believes that all things possess a spirit, convinced that every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain, and every stone has spirituality. As a part of nature, we advocate for harmonious coexistence, without plundering or destroying, respecting nature’s rhythm and laws."

"In the cycle of the four seasons, we experience the renewal and continuation of life, pursue the purity of the soul, cast off worldly desires and conflicts, and distance ourselves from the clamor of bustling cities to return to the tranquility of nature. This is our way of Nature."

At this point, Vivian paused. Chen Pingchuan, who had been listening with great interest, saw her stop and urged, "Keep going, I’m listening."

Vivian’s gaze grew complicated, a mixture of respect and awe filling her heart. She said in a low voice, "Actually, our Natural Church has existed for many years, for thousands of years at least. But everything changed starting on that day, three years ago."

"Come on, if you have something to say, just say it. Don’t leave me hanging!"

"That day..."

Just as Vivian was about to reveal the secrets of the Naturalist Sect, a piercing alarm rang out continuously. Upon hearing it, Vivian’s expression changed. She could no longer continue talking to Chen Pingchuan. She quickly straightened her clothes and hair and started for the door.

Chen Pingchuan could also tell that this alarm held some extraordinary significance for them, so he didn’t hold Vivian back to continue her story. Still, the feeling of being left in the middle of a story was genuinely frustrating.

"Think carefully about my proposal. Rest assured, I won’t harm you."

"Also, be careful of the radicals. They’re all lunatics."

As Chen Pingchuan watched Vivian’s departing figure, his brows furrowed like a chain of mountains, drawing tighter and tighter. On the surface, it was hard to tell this so-called Naturalist Sect apart from any other group of ordinary nature lovers. You had to listen and think carefully to see otherwise.

However, Chen Pingchuan knew deep down that this was impossible. After all, since arriving here, he had been subjected to a series of brainwashing procedures. The process had no regard for humanity and consisted entirely of suppression, obedience, brainwashing, and deification.

Huh, what does deification mean?

Before Chen Pingchuan could figure it out, the door to his room was thrown open violently. A burly man rushed in and shouted at him, "Quick, with the main group! The Mechanical Legion is attacking! If you’re too slow, you won’t make it out!"

Before Chen Pingchuan could ask what the man meant, or what exactly the "Mechanical Legion" was, why they were here, and why "we" had to run, it was too late. Unfortunately, at this moment, no one had the time to answer his questions.

Chen Pingchuan unhurriedly opened the door. The scene before him was just as tense as the messenger had said. Both the local church members and the wanderers who had come with him wore expressions of terror and panic, their feet moving so fast they seemed to fly as they surged down the stairs with the dense crowd.

He noticed that all the holographic screens that displayed text were now black, but judging by the lights on the ceiling, it clearly wasn’t a power outage.

Seeing the wanderers looking like refugees all over again, repeating the same chaotic escape, Chen Pingchuan simply returned to his room, closed the door, and lay down on the bed. Although the door didn’t have a lock on the inside, it was obvious no one would be coming to disturb him now.

My plan was simple, Chen Pingchuan thought. I was going to escape anyway, but now it looks like I don’t have to. With even the guards fleeing, that’s as good as me having escaped, right?

After about half an hour, the once-chaotic floor fell silent. Chen Pingchuan cautiously peeked his head out the door.

Suddenly, two figures descended from the stairwell above. Chen Pingchuan quickly ducked back inside, unseen.

He thought the two would leave quickly, but unexpectedly, they started arguing loudly halfway down. While not deafening, their voices were certainly not quiet.

Relying on his enhanced physical attributes from the simulation, and since his room was conveniently located near the stairwell, Chen Pingchuan could vaguely make out their argument.

"Captain Lin, I’ve told you many times! These followers are the future of our Naturalist Sect. We shouldn’t abandon them. You and the radicals you represent just need to protect them. The rest is none of your concern!"

"Hahaha, how amusing. Just because people respectfully call you ’Archbishop,’ you really think you’re the number one person in the Church, don’t you?"

"What do you mean?"

Although Chen Pingchuan couldn’t see their expressions, it was clear from their tones that this arrogant man from the radical faction held a higher status than the woman.

"What do I mean? My dear Archbishop, don’t tell me all this power has made you stupid. You’re nothing but a whore who’d spread her legs for anyone. If it weren’t for sheer luck, you’d never have clawed your way to where you are now."

"Markel, are you looking to die?"

"Go on, kill me! Or have your lover, the Evil God, kill me! Let me tell you, I should have died years ago. If I hadn’t... if I hadn’t..." Markel’s voice dropped, as if he were about to say something shameful.

"Hahaha, if you won’t say it, I will! If you hadn’t been such a coward, so afraid of dying that you groveled for your life and handed over the one you loved, you wouldn’t be alive today, would you?"

The woman’s words dripped with ridicule, instantly infuriating Markel.

"You bitch! You’re asking for it!"

"Go on, kill me! Here’s the knife! Do it, kill me! I’m ready to meet my god right now!"

The woman’s voice turned hysterical, clearly pushed over the edge by the man’s words. This whiplash-inducing reversal left Chen Pingchuan numb.

What in the world were those two outside even fighting about?