CHAPTER 966: CHAPTER 963 · "THE RETURNING YOUNG MAN, NAMED SU MING’AN.

Su Ming’an followed Noel’s finger, looking at the fiftieth painting — which was also the last one.

It depicted a student in a uniform. The student stood under the dazzling sunlight, looking up at the tall teaching building. In the intense shadows, the building seemed like a massive dark beast.

The student raised his head, holding a luminous blue glass bottle in his palm. The shadows in the painting were extremely heavy, only revealing the student’s pitch-black silhouette.

...

After Su Lixian died, the Holy Alliance Army labeled her with the crime of "anti-humanity," claiming she destroyed the real special medicine. Since then, no one dared to vindicate her.

The forty-ninth Fire Transmitter, Dr. Su Jihe, worked at the psychological consultation center in Dao Ya City.

Dr. Su had originally prepared for the Holy Alliance Army to come knocking. After all, the first forty-eight had been pursued by the Holy Alliance Army. But — this time, he waited for a long time, yet the Holy Alliance Army surprisingly did not come.

According to Lin Yuzi before she died, if the Holy Alliance Army hadn’t come, it meant Li Mingyue truly wielded a power that rivaled the Deities, protecting Dao Ya City.

"So does this mean... the Fireseed no longer needs to be passed on?"

Dr. Su gazed at the blue moon of the night.

He felt a vast freedom in his heart, as if forty-eight souls were cheering in his heart — this long-enduring transmission of the Fireseed — could finally end.

The Fireseed had reached a safe place, where the Holy Alliance Army could no longer seize it, and where no fiftieth sacrifice would be made.

Under the luminous blue moonlight, he adjusted his glasses and exhaled a long breath.

Now that the side effects of the special medicine had been removed, it could be fully promoted to the public. But he knew this matter shouldn’t be rushed, otherwise, a single Oracle from a Deity would block the special medicine again. He needed to contact Li Mingyue — to reach out to this person reportedly capable of opposing the Deities.

One night, Dr. Su, wearing a white lab coat, entered the church.

The moment he stepped into the church, he almost thought he saw an Angel from ancient mythology. The white-robed Bishop’s eyes were deep and serene, as if reflecting a deep blue full moon.

"Bishop Li, I heard you are someone who can contend with the Deities. I am Dr. Su from the psychological consultation center, also the forty-ninth Fire Transmitter, and I need your help." Dr. Su said directly.

"I cannot contend with the Deities." Li Mingyue replied.

Outside the window, a blue full moon eternally and compassionately watched over them.

"However, I can indeed protect this small city. Congratulations to you forty-nine, for finally passing the Fireseed to the right place. This place is a safe haven." Li Mingyue said.

"So it’s indeed you protecting Dao Ya City, preventing the Deities from interfering here," Dr. Su said.

Li Mingyue silently nodded.

"How do you protect a city with the body of a human? And why did you choose Dao Ya City?" Dr. Su asked in confusion. He had never heard of humans contending with Deities. Moreover, of the many important cities in this world, why did Li Mingyue choose to protect an inconspicuous small city?

Li Mingyue descended from a high platform, and Dr. Su saw that this Bishop was untouched by a speck of dust, pure as white snow.

"Because in this city, there is a child who resembles the most," Li Mingyue said.

"Sorry, I don’t understand." Dr. Su was bewildered. It was his first encounter with a riddler.

Li Mingyue gestured towards a long table, indicating to sit and chat.

On the table was a pot of wine, Dr. Su sniffed, it was a pot of peach blossom brew. Li Mingyue poured him a cup.

Li Mingyue’s voice, cool and leisurely, like streaming luminous blue moonlight:

"I wonder if you’ve ever heard of the concept of ’The Original,’ Dr. Su."

"If you haven’t, it doesn’t matter. What you need to know is that the Deities have always wanted to create an ’Original.’"

"Because the Deities want to bring someone from the Otherworld. For that person to enter this world, there must be an ’Original’ similar to them here."

"But unfortunately, in this vast world, there is no one particularly similar to that Otherworldly individual. The Deities can only try to create an Original."

"Through repeated selection, the Deities discovered that among billions, Su Wensheng from Dao Ya City in the Ubang Nation, is the person most similar to that Otherworldly individual, yet, Su Wensheng still doesn’t meet the ’Original’ standard."

Li Mingyue drank a cup of peach blossom brew after saying this.

Dr. Su was suddenly enlightened and shouted: "I see! So the Deities want to transform this Su Wensheng to resemble that Otherworldly individual, then that person can come over! But you don’t want that Otherworldly individual to come, so you choose to protect Dao Ya City, preventing the Deities from intervening and transforming Su Wensheng into that Otherworldly individual’s ’Original.’"

Their voices echoed in the vast church.

The white porcelain pillars reflected the moon’s fragmented light, soft and tranquil.

Li Mingyue gazed at Dr. Su, her eyes like a clear veil, and Dr. Su was shocked to find it was challenging to struggle free from that gaze, as if something unspeakable gripped him, reminding him of medieval paintings sealed away, the compassionate Archangel carved on stained glass.

"You’re mostly right." Li Mingyue began, "But one thing is wrong — I do want that Otherworldly individual to come, and, I also hope Wensheng can become that individual’s ’Original.’"

Dr. Su was surprised: "I remember you’re Su Wensheng’s Godfather, yet you want him to be transformed into someone untrue to himself?"

Li Mingyue said, "I’m sorry. I became Wensheng’s Godfather for this very purpose. We must let that Otherworldly individual come."

Dr. Su: "Why must they come?"

Li Mingyue: "Salvation."

Dr. Su: "Are you saying the Deities are bringing that Otherworldly individual for salvation too?"

Li Mingyue shook her head: "No. The Deities aim for destruction, I aim for salvation."

Dr. Su: "You and the Deities both want that Otherworldly individual to come, just how capable is he? He can help the Deities destroy the world or help you save it?"

Dr. Su felt his worldview was overturned — can the descent of an Otherworldly individual onto a high school student lead to world destruction or salvation? Who on earth is this otherworldly person, how old are they? How vast is their knowledge and how formidable their power?"

Li Mingyue set down the wine glass, her eyebrows slightly lowered:

"Whether he chooses to save or destroy, it all depends on a single thought from him. It depends on — the conditions he sees in his panel, and the rewards promised."

...

["Do you like this kind of work?" Li Mingyue spoke ahead.]

["Hmm?" Su Ming’an responded.]

...

"So I protect this small city, waiting for his arrival. He would first meet me, the Godfather, rather than the aloof Deities. I would take him to aid residents, let him witness the suffering of this small city, the cruelty of war and the heartlessness of the Deities, let him see the sheep living in dire straits, so that he’d be inclined to choose salvation."

...

["Save the residents of Salvation City, earn their gratitude, let their precarious lives continue, let them hold onto impossible hopes, and survive in this world. Let them pray to Deities who won’t show them mercy," Li Mingyue said, "This is the Church’s work, do you like this kind of work?"]

...

"However, I think even if I don’t let him see these, he would still lean towards being a savior."

"If he doesn’t leave this small city and chooses to take a civil servant exam and get married, I would also respect him. Although I know the possibility of this is infinitely close to zero. But in this small city, he is absolutely safe."

...

[Su Ming’an was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I don’t like it."]

["That’s a pity, I was thinking, if you liked this kind of work, you could take over my job in the future. In that way..." Li Mingyue’s voice paused:]

["Even if you don’t take the college entrance exam, don’t go to North Qing University, don’t engage with the City Guardian Department... you can still avoid doing these things."]

...

"When he leaves the small city, the deity will immediately discover his location, and he will inevitably be swept into the vortex of destiny. This is truly the beginning of everything, the first toll of the destiny clock."

"Everything before leaving the small city is just a prologue."

Dr. Su tightly gripped the wine glass, the porcelain cup making a crisp sound. He struggled to digest Li Mingyue’s words, his heart filled with shock, and he said in a low voice, "Why does the deity... want to destroy us?"

Li Mingyue said, "Because we are all things that waste resources."

Dr. Su was incredulous: "We are the deity’s believers, the source of its power. It gains nothing by destroying us. How can we be said to waste resources?"

Li Mingyue only remained silent.

After a long time, Dr. Su calmed down: "Alright, Bishop Li. Let’s put aside the matter of The Original for now and talk about the main issue I mentioned at the beginning, about the special medicine..."

Li Mingyue said, "What I’ve been talking about has always been the main issue."

Dr. Su’s heartbeat faltered for a moment.

A subconscious, fiery emotion spread from his heart. He was somewhat eager for what Li Mingyue would say next.

Li Mingyue grasped the cross necklace at his neck, moonlight spilling over his distinctly jointed hands, resembling pale human bones unwrapped of flesh:

"—The fiftieth Fire Transmitter must be Su Wensheng."

"Bang!"

A loud sound, as Dr. Su slapped the table and stood up, his entire body trembling.

He felt as if he had long been swept into the current of destiny, like a fallen leaf tossing amidst the frenzied waves, unable to escape no matter what. He seemed to hear a rhythm, the rhythm of destiny, viscous and scalding, as if the sea were flooding every sense he had.

"Why... why..." He knowingly asked, his heart pounding fiercely, a mix of shock, joy, and excitement filling him.

"..."

Li Mingyue was silent for a moment, staring directly into his eyes.

In his expectant gaze, Li Mingyue said:

"You’ve already guessed, haven’t you."

"Because all of you Fire Transmitters — adding Su Wensheng at the end, when pieced together, resemble that Otherworldly person the most."

"Congratulations, you have successfully created a true ’Original’ capable of salvation."

...

At that moment, Dr. Su Jihe seemed to hear nothing.

His vision filled with a kaleidoscope of colors, an ocean of intense emotion surged up, and he saw many things, heard many people’s cries flooding into his mind in that instant. The emotions of the previous forty-eight overwhelmed him, suppressing all his senses.

It was the first gunshot, the first flame, from Tina’s cry of "Save it! Save it!" among the researchers.

It was the politician Lusi singing an old ballad "People will love amidst flames and shouts" before shooting himself.

It was the still-warm thermos of northern soldier Yang Jiayu, the flames sweeping through Dragon City.

It was the pious kiss of Pastor Wyklev, the bloodstained cross.

It was the snowy white wings unfurled behind Tengsaki Nanako, the buried art.

It was the laughter of the Holy Alliance Army emissary Baselomew carved on a glass bottle. It was Shen Yuqing’s unfinished text message, a mother’s wait at the dining table. It was the blinding blade flash when Parrella left the classroom. It was Debbie and her husband’s embrace in the devouring flames. It was the Blue Rose soaked in river water with the fisherman Para, a small boat flowing downstream. It was An Qiluo’s fallen head and the cross on his chest. It was the fervent shout of a university professor in a public lecture, his voice burned to ashes in the flames.

It was the Evil Ghost Mask of the Human Self-Rescue Alliance Hierarch Tang, the millions of graves behind him. It was Su Shize’s handover under the moonlight, repeatedly adjusting his voice against the mirror and cutting his hair, that night of the brightest moonlight and withered white Morning Glory flowers.

It was grandmother Martha, Audis, Lauson, military teacher Micheleia, driver Master Liu. It was the blue rose of Su Lixian and Lin Yuzi, the words [Heart] and [Love] written in their palms.

’The Original’ cannot be artificially created or forcibly modified. It was these people linking the fire time after time, their collective spirit and ideals creating a true ’Original.’

—leading successfully to the arrival of a savior.

In your eyes.

Link the fire.

...

—"They" did not leave without return.

—The returning youth, named Su Ming’an.

...

Dr. Su Jihe stumbled as he left the church. In the following nine years, he continued to discuss the details of salvation with Li Mingyue.

In the psychological counseling center, the exotic species on the chair curiously looked at him: "Dr. Su, you seem distracted today, are you not happy talking with me?"

Dr. Su smiled: "I’ve learned something very happy, the world can be saved."

The exotic species tilted its head: "That’s too deep a topic, more abstract than the dirt on the ground. Dr. Su, did you play with mud when you were little? I think mud is fun..."

They continued discussing the topic of mud until the session ended.

"Dr. Su." At that moment, the exotic species looked up and said: "I have enjoyed talking with you during this time. Even though I’m trapped here, I don’t feel so bored. In my heart, you are like a friend to me."

Dr. Su turned his head to look at it: "Chi..."

Chi smiled, the chains on its body jingling, as if it felt something:

"I really enjoy chatting with you, Dr. Su."

"Tomorrow... can I see you again?"