CHAPTER 1024: CHAPTER 1021: "SECOND REENACTMENT.

[Chao Yan’s Notes:]

[Game Day: Fourth day, night.]

[Inner Note: Tonight, I will find his clone, the clone seems to be called "Shadow."]

...

The roulette fell to the ground, and the Shadow lay unconscious at the edge of the village.

Chao Yan calmly approached him.

"Demon Hunt Order... This is a policy I’ve never seen before." Chao Yan murmured to herself, "Is the deity’s minor adjustment this playthrough the addition of the ’Demon Hunt Order’? Then, Su Ming’an will send the clone to save Yamada Machiichi. The clone will die after being heavily injured, thus he won’t join the City Guardian Department, making it difficult for Su Ming’an to access the Ark Project. So that’s the guidance."

She felt as if she were playing a game called "Butterfly Effect." Whenever the deity made minor adjustments, she had to do her best to twist the plot back to its original position.

"So— to let Su Ming’an access the Ark Project, I must save the Shadow."

She squatted down and parted the Shadow’s hair. The Shadow was severely injured, covered in sharp sword wounds,

"Looks exactly like Su Ming’an himself..." She squinted her eyes: "But not a single causal line on his body is related to Su Ming’an..."

She picked up the Shadow and placed him in a room for healing. Afterward, she went to the City Guardian Department and spread the word that "the first Dream Patrol Family is here."

Soon, the people of the City Guardian Department came upon hearing the news, while she hid behind the house, watching the Shadow being taken away by them.

In this way— Su Ming’an would be able to access the Ark Project.

The girl’s face was hidden in the shadows, with a quiet smile.

...

[Chao Yan’s Notes:]

[Game Day: Fifth day, dawn.]

[Inner Note: This dawn, Su Ming’an will expose his Exotic Species identity due to the college entrance exam and escape into the Black Mist with Xia Jiawen, joining the Old Day Church. This is also his first encounter with Xiao Jingsan. I have watched this scene a full ten times.]

[No... Can’t call him Xiao Jingsan during the night, he should be called "Xiao Ying." Xiao Jingsan is two different people during the day and night.]

...

Chao Yan traveled overnight, arriving at the Old Day Church at dawn.

"Looking for me?" Xiao Jingsan was still teasing a child, and upon seeing Chao Yan, immediately stood up: "Something up?"

"It’s just as gloomy and cold as ever here. Just staying a while makes me feel suffocated." Chao Yan surveyed the surroundings, glancing at the Black Mist all around. This place was filled with people who couldn’t be accepted by society.

Xiao Jingsan chuckled lightly: "Do you have issues with the ’Paradise’ I’ve built? We’re not well-acquainted."

Chao Yan remained expressionless.

Indeed— in fact, she and Xiao Jingsan weren’t familiar. They hadn’t even met many times. She was a free agent, while he was the Vice Sect Hierarch of the Old Day Church.

"I’m not familiar with you, but I’m very familiar with the one at night." Chao Yan said: "Can you summon him now? I need to talk to him."

Xiao Jingsan’s expression changed instantly.

"Why?"

"Because he is your ’causality.’" Chao Yan said.

She could see the causal line, and she could see many things in this world— everyone had indistinct shadows on them. To put it plainly: everyone harbored their "previous lives" within them.

But calling them previous lives wasn’t entirely accurate. If you consider each person as a computer host, they all stored a "USB drive" from the past. Who inserted this "USB drive" remained unknown for now.

When the "USB drive" is inserted, people seem "possessed by a ghost," recalling memories and emotions from the "USB drive," as if they become their previous lives. When the "USB drive" is withdrawn, people reverted to their original selves.

Like Xiao Jingsan, during the day he is Xiao Jingsan, an extreme idealist yearning to build a paradise. But at night, he automatically "inserts the USB drive," becoming a completely different person who calls himself "Xiao Ying."

Chao Yan had communicated with Xiao Ying once, knowing he came from a very, very long time ago, possibly a millennium ago. The deity’s urgency to erase history— perhaps largely to annihilate these "USB drives" entirely.

These "USB drives" seemed like memory images people fought desperately to preserve a thousand years ago or the preservation of their personas from that era. Maybe, it’s the starfire they desperately struggled to preserve back then, or perhaps, it’s merely the electronic tombstones they erected in their final moments.

—To this day, Chao Yan still didn’t know what kind of era it was a thousand years ago.

Was it like the steampunk era of three hundred years ago in Alice’s time, or like the Louyue Nation era from even further back, or perhaps...

She only knew— it was a time when people desperately wanted to preserve the Old Gods, yet were annihilated by the deity. Maybe countless revolutionaries existed back then, but even their names were wiped away in the end. Modern days have merely preserved a brief history of just a dozen years.

"When Xiao Ying appears, I am asleep." Xiao Jingsan said lightly.

Though his expression seemed placid, Chao Yan saw the jealousy in his eyes— so vivid, like dark flames burning in his pupils. This emotion entertained her.

Xiao Jingsan always harbored a sense of resistance towards Xiao Ying.

The reason was simple: Xiao Ying had been helping him all along. Otherwise, how could Xiao Jingsan, an orphan from the slums, have established such a vast Old Day Church?

—It was all thanks to Xiao Ying from a thousand years ago assisting him. Although their names were quite similar and their temperaments almost identical, causing no differentiation, it truly felt like a past and future life.

But Xiao Jingsan didn’t want someone to dominate his body, preferring to complete everything on his own, slowly. Many of Xiao Ying’s methods were detestable to him, yet he couldn’t stop them.

...

[Xiao Jingsan said: "The past sins of the Old Day Church were not committed by me."]

["Hmm?" Su Ming’an looked up.]

["Previously, there was a former sect hierarch; all those sins of slaughtering civilians were committed by him. I am merely his successor, able to take over the Old Day Church only when he disappears." Xiao Jingsan said in a low voice: "Now, I just want to shape this place into a paradise, without committing any crimes."]

["Disappear?" Su Ming’an said.]

["Yes, the former sect hierarch would always vanish suddenly, and I would take over the Old Day Church during his disappearances." Xiao Jingsan said.]

...

When Xiao Jingsan mentioned the "former sect hierarch" at that time— he was referring to Xiao Ying.

Indeed, the sins of slaughtering civilians were committed by Xiao Ying, and only when Xiao Ying didn’t dominate the body, could Xiao Jingsan take over the Old Day Church. That’s what Xiao Jingsan referred to as "disappear for a period."

The aerial attack that Su Ming’an faced on the second day of the instance, which resulted in the destruction of Su Luoluo’s home, was orchestrated by Xiao Ying. He killed so many people to collect negative emotions, to build a shield that could isolate the deities— [The Republic].

However, when Xiao Jingsan discovered that Xiao Ying had launched an aerial attack, he immediately grabbed scissors and cut his lips until they bled, and even used an iron rod to break his leg bones. When Xiao Ying dominated his body the next time, what he inherited was a body that struggled to speak and had immobile legs.

"...who told him to act without consulting me. I never engage in senseless slaughter." Xiao Jingsan said coldly: "If he dares to do such nonsensical things again, I’ll destroy myself completely, making him disappear too. After all, something from a thousand years ago shouldn’t exist now."

Chao Yan said nothing.

"...But you must have serious business with him." Xiao Jingsan said: "I’ll go to sleep, you wait."

Xiao Jingsan entered the room, lay on the bed.

When he reopened his eyes, they were an extraordinarily calm pair of eyes. He was Xiao Ying from a thousand years ago. Yet he never mentioned what happened a thousand years ago, as if it were some forbidden subject.

"Xiao Ying." Chao Yan stepped forward: "Tonight, Su Ming’an will secretly go to the church. I want to stage a play in front of him. He’s very alert, and if we tell him information directly, he won’t believe it. We have to act a play to indirectly inform him, guiding him to conceive the idea of becoming a god."

"How do you know he’ll go to the church tonight?" Xiao Ying asked.

"Because I’m a clever prophet," Chao Yan said.

...

[Exiting ’Girl’s Dream Project,’ Su Ming’an plans to find the Prophecy Stele in the main quest.]

[He steps into the church, suddenly hearing footsteps at the entrance.]

[A figure appears at the church’s entrance—it’s Xiao Jingsan. Why would Xiao Jingsan come to the church at night?]

[Su Ming’an immediately hides behind the wide pillar.]

...

When Xiao Ying walks into the church, he immediately sees Su Ming’an hiding behind the pillar.

"...A feeble attempt at concealment," Xiao Ying thought to himself.

This hiding technique is rather insulting to him, yet he still has to pretend he hasn’t seen it.

Xiao Ying looks at the prophecy stone wall inside the church—no one knows that this is merely a fake prophecy stone wall. The real one is actually located in the Holy City, the one that would cause the world’s major rollback.

This fake prophecy stone wall is solely to guide Su Ming’an. As long as Xiao Ying writes his fabricated prophecy, it will guide Su Ming’an.

Xiao Ying places his hand on the fake stone wall, and a line of text slowly appears on the wall:

[On February 8, 827 of the Old Days, Su Wensheng personally killed the first of the Dream Patrol Family.]

"...Hmm?" Surprise flashes in Xiao Ying’s eyes.

—This isn’t right!

The text he and Chao Yan agreed on was clearly [On February 8, 827 of the Old Days, Su Ming’an walked up to the prophecy stone wall, fell into an irrecoverable death]. Only such a fake prophecy would cause Su Ming’an to resist the prophecy stone wall. But—why did this text appear?

Did a deity secretly alter their written fake prophecy?

Xiao Ying looked upward, trying to see where the deity might be, but how could he possibly track the deity’s trace?

He felt something ominous in his heart—now, this fake stone wall is completely useless.

At that moment, Chao Yan walked into the church.

Her gaze covertly sweeps past the pillar hiding Su Ming’an, her heart pounding heavily.

—This time, it’s their first real-life encounter here. Though she has watched him from afar countless times, countless times.

...

[Su Ming’an, through the pillar, discreetly peeks at the church entrance, his heart instantly filled with shock.]

[—Isn’t this the solitary village girl Chao Yan from ’Louyue Nation’? She’s actually appearing in reality.]

...

Chao Yan’s gaze meets Xiao Ying’s, both knowing there’s a Su Ming’an hiding behind the nearby pillar, yet pretending not to know.

She knows this time it’s crucial to convey information to Su Ming’an as much as possible. This form of dialogue has been proven by her through ten rounds to be the most suitable approach. He’s just too sensitive; even a slight deviation would make him distrust. He only believes the information he personally investigates, just like now.

Chao Yan and Xiao Ying start their conversation.

...

[Chao Yan opens: "Xiao Ying. Has it started this time?"]

—Informing Su Ming’an of the concept of "this time," making him think "perhaps it’s not just once."

...

[Xiao Jingsan says: "It has begun, I have brought her by my side."]

—Chao Yan doesn’t know what Xiao Ying’s phrase means; perhaps Xiao Ying used the wrong pronoun.

...

[Chao Yan: "The prophecy of the ancient angel was left long ago, informing us of what should be done. Now a thousand years have passed, I hope you do not forget your responsibilities."]

—Informing Su Ming’an that this Xiao Jingsan was a character from a thousand years ago, guiding Su Ming’an to explore the history of a thousand years ago.

...

[Xiao Jingsan: "I am about to awaken. By then, human emotions will merely be my strength, human memories my life, and human faith my divinity."]

—Informing Su Ming’an of three major pieces of information. First, there is an enemy about to awaken. Second, the condition for awakening is ’emotions.’ Third, its life source is human ’knowledge’ and ’faith’ about it.

Chao Yan had already indirectly informed Su Ming’an of these key pieces of information. This was all about the Exotic Species King, without any reservation.

...

[Xiao Jingsan said: "The Old God has fallen, the Supreme God shines brightly. I will gather the three elements—Sword of Destiny, Eye of the Old Days, and Immortal’s Talisman, to achieve new godhood."]

—Informing Su Ming’an about the Old God and Supreme God affairs. Telling Su Ming’an what the three elements are to become a god.

...

[Chao Yan shook her head: Confused! If humans wish to become gods—they must gather the three elements, while also surpassing others who have already gathered the elements in positional rank.]

—Chao Yan noticed Xiao Ying did not fully state the conditions for godhood. She promptly added "surpassing others who have already gathered the elements in positional rank" to prevent Su Ming’an from neglecting it.

...

[Xiao Jingsan furrowed his brow: "Why say such things?"]

[Chao Yan said: "There is a seal on Su Wensheng. As the first relic has been discovered by humans, the first layer of the seal on Su Wensheng has already been undone. If more layers are undone, you will have no chance of winning."]

—Informing Su Ming’an about the seal and the need to quickly break it.

...

At that time, Su Ming’an’s perspective was still focused on the Old Day Church; deities had not yet posed a threat.

Thus, in her prompting, Chao Yan set up Xiao Jingsan as the biggest boss in Su Ming’an’s eyes, using the threat of "Xiao Jingsan wanting to become a god" to induce Su Ming’an’s idea of "quickly becoming a god."

Indeed, she understood Su Ming’an far better than most.

She knew how to speak to induce a sense of crisis in him.

She knew how to speak to maximize the information he received.

She knew what method to use to make him trust this information.