Chapter 120 - 101: Crimson Scythe (Part 2)

"Join us... Join us..." the monster’s seven heads spoke in unison, creating a cacophony that grated on the nerves.

After a fierce struggle, Lin Ya found her moment and sliced off the seven heads one by one. As the last head separated from the monster’s body, the stitched-together creature instantly lost all power, collapsing to the ground in a pool of gushing blood.

"Mr. Lamp God... How did I do?" Lin Ya panted heavily, her face flushed from the exertion, as she anxiously awaited his response.

"Excellent," the Lamp God said, pleased. "You’ve found your courage and learned to fight back."

’Courage... Does Mr. Lamp God know I’m a coward, so he’s deliberately training me?’ Lin Ya lowered her head and bit her lip. ’Mr. Lamp God is so kind.’

A dozen or so seconds later, figures sped toward them. It was the Operators from the Special Operations Team. They stared in astonishment at the lifeless, mutated monster, and at the unarmed, seemingly frail and delicate girl standing beside it.

"Hello, my name is Lin Ya. I’m an employee at the Sunshine Welfare Institute. I was out buying daily necessities tonight..." Lin Ya mustered her courage and gave them her information, along with the full story of how she encountered the monster. She knew this would reduce unnecessary trouble.

Afterward, Lin Ya was taken to the Star Association for further investigation, and the mutated monster’s corpse was also taken back by the Star Association for research.

In the Round Table Hall, Zhou Chen withdrew his consciousness, feeling a slight headache. Conversing with a Wisher seemed to be an even greater drain on his Spiritual Power. Fortunately, Lin Ya was safe, and she had provided him with a considerable amount of wish value—two Stars in total.

One was for her hope that her call for help would be answered and she’d be saved, and the other was for her hope of seeing "Mr. Lamp God" again.

’Just wanting to see me again became such a strong wish... It feels like I’m manipulating her...’ Zhou Chen ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

Still, Lin Ya’s performance was certainly surprising. He had originally intended for her to just hold out until the Special Operations Team Operators arrived, and if things got serious, he would help her via a wish. But he never expected Lin Ya to actually solo-kill the stitched monster—which was inextricably linked to her Extraordinary Abilities.

’Lin Ya was taken away by the Star Association, but she definitely won’t expose me. Besides, she hasn’t done anything wrong, so they won’t scan her memories. It shouldn’t be a big problem... I’ll pull her up for a chat again after some time. It’s about time to form a secret gathering...’

Zhou Chen’s Spiritual Power was increasingly depleted, so he decisively returned to reality and entered a state of Meditation to recover.

·

·

Father Daun walked into the Star Association headquarters and politely asked the receptionist on duty, "Excuse me, where is the holding cell? I’m here to pick up a young lady named Lin Ya."

"Follow me," a voice tinged with a smile came from the side.

The speaker was the notoriously elusive President of the Jinzhu City Star Association.

"It’s been a while, Daun." The President came to stand before Father Daun, extending a hand with the smile of an old friend.

Father Daun seemed somewhat surprised. He reached out for a brief handshake. "I thought the leader of the Special Operations Team would be the one to greet me."

"She’s busy with other matters," the President said with a smile. "You must have received the news. Jinzhu has entered a state of first-level combat readiness. Young people really are full of drive, aren’t they? So much more decisive than old fogeys like us. They declare first-level readiness just like that... Aren’t you curious what we’re planning to do?"

Father Daun shook his head. "I am just the director of a welfare institute now. Whatever you plan to do has nothing to do with me."

The President fell silent, then sighed. "After all these years, you still haven’t moved on?

"One of the former Seven Great Bishops of the Dawn Church, a rare and prodigious talent... Your retirement was a loss for the entire World. You had the potential to become the next Sun..."

"I am not qualified," Father Daun said calmly. "I am not worthy of becoming the Sun, and no one else is worthy either."

"There are so many people in the world with light in their hearts. Are none of them qualified?" the President retorted.

"You know what I mean." Father Daun’s tone remained placid. "To become the Sun requires more than just a shining character. It requires many other things."

The President sighed softly and changed the subject. "If we need your help in the coming operation, will you act?"

"I will not."

Father Daun lowered his gaze, repeating his earlier words. "I am now just the director of a welfare institute."

"What if you could have your revenge?" the President asked, looking at him. "Against Fallen Paradise, against the Eternal Fire. During the Night of the Sun’s Fall, all of them made a move. The Eternal Fire was especially vicious... The King of Chaos feared the appearance of the Sun so much that he was willing to perform a Divine Descent himself... Don’t you want to avenge all of that?"

Father Daun fell silent.

Revenge?

Of course. Of course he wanted revenge.

For the past decade or more, he had thought of nothing else, day and night. He constantly yearned for revenge, to tear those heretics apart, to subject them to death by a thousand cuts and burn them to ashes.

But he was old now, and he had a whole welfare institute full of children to raise. If something happened to him, what would become of those children?

But...

Father Daun hesitated.

’A hatred etched into my very bones isn’t so easily forgotten...’

After a long silence, Father Daun asked, "How many preparations have you made?"

"Many," the President said, his tone grave. "A great many. If necessary, we will even use an S-Level Forbidden Object."

Father Daun looked at the President in surprise, as if the situation was beyond his imagination. "What exactly are you plotting?"

"It’s top secret. What I’ve told you is already the limit."

"..." Father Daun fell into deep thought. After a long while, he nodded. "When necessary, I will act."

"That’s wonderful. Ah, we’re here. Your new employee is inside."

The two of them had arrived in front of the holding cell.

"I’ve reviewed her file. A poor girl with a tragic past. Her parents’ strange illness might be related to a Curse, but it’s been too long. Finding any clues now would be difficult. The Life Church couldn’t find any useful information either," the President said.

Father Daun nodded. "I heard she single-handedly killed a Corrupter?"

"Yes, and she wasn’t seriously injured. Her talent is quite good. Her Extraordinary Ability is to condense Essence into a sharp scythe that also has a Blood Attribute. The research department has named it ’Crimson Scythe’. If cultivated, her future will be limitless."

"Perhaps due to her past experiences, she’s timid and introverted. Joining the Star Association wouldn’t do her much good. Let’s just make her a peripheral member," Father Daun said.

"No problem. The psychological counselor said she’s very strong on the inside. Although she feared the monster, she wasn’t overcome by her Fear. Instead, she burst forth with extraordinary calmness under extreme pressure. Give her some time, and she might gradually change her personality."

"I will try." Father Daun pushed open the door to the holding cell and saw Lin Ya sitting timidly in a chair, traces of tears still on her face.

"Father..." Lin Ya froze, stunned. She never expected Father Daun to appear here.

"Let’s go. Xiao Jiu and the others are still waiting for the jelly you bought," Father Daun said with a kind smile.

·

「The next morning.」

Zhou Chen took the modified Advanced Secret Ceremony plan he had created and went to find Jiang Che.

"Replacing it with a Blazing White Sunflower? And these supplementary materials..." Jiang Che finished looking through the document and said calmly, "I can see you already have a decent understanding of Alchemy, but the changes to your plan are based only on your own knowledge. If you don’t trust me, you can take this plan to the Minister of Alchemy."

’I already went to see him before I came here. He said it was a downgrade...’ Zhou Chen gave an awkward laugh. "Don’t be angry. It’s not that I don’t trust you, I just wanted to try it myself."

Jiang Che didn’t seem to mind much. This sort of thing was actually quite normal. "So, are you sure you want to choose this plan? If you’re certain, I’ll contact Duke Elizabeth and have him prepare the materials as soon as possible."

"This is the one." Zhou Chen nodded. He had already made up his mind.

If he mastered the "Flame Shuttling" Ability, he would be able to kite enemies more easily, and it would be more convenient to escape if he couldn’t win a fight.

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhou Chen asked in a low voice, "...Do you know about Erin?"