Chapter 591.1: Mist Is Here

It was about a year ago, when the settlement had just built the church, that Zhao Yinyin began to hear the voice of an old man in her mind from time to time.

At first she thought it was just her imagination, but later she realized it wasn’t. He not only answered her doubts, but sometimes even taught her things she had never known.

When she was very young, her grandfather had passed away. Sometimes she felt that the old man was like her grandfather, always gentle and kind.

Later, the old man told her that he was the chosen one, the god enshrined in that church.

Yinyin never doubted his words. In fact, she had long suspected that his identity might be that of the chosen one.

After all, who other than a true deity could be everywhere, all-powerful, and speak to her directly in her mind?

From then on, she began to confide all her worries in him.

A god would never lie, nor spread a mortal’s worries around.

There was no one more suitable to talk to...

As usual, Yinyin curled up in a vacant room on the second floor of the villa, telling him all her troubles. The quarrel with her best friend, the grief of her broken family, the uncertainty of a future with no one to rely on.

Wiping her tears, Yinyin muttered softly, "... Sorry, I’ve been talking about myself for so long. You must find it boring."

After a long silence, the gentle voice drifted into her mind. "How could I, my child."

Though it was only a simple comfort, Yinyin’s face showed a weak but firm smile, and she gathered a little courage.

Moments later, she seemed to make up her mind, staring straight ahead. "I think I should apologize to Xiaoyang after all..."

Watching the girl from an unseen place, Luo Qian gave a faint smile.

So she is still a child.

Even trivial matters could trouble her so much, while he would never hesitate. The second he made his decision, he acted.

"If you don’t want to, you don’t actually have to do it."

Yinyin tilted her head. "Why?"

Luo Qian wanted to tell her that none of it mattered anymore. Everyone in the settlement would soon be dead, so what difference did it make whether she did such things or not?

But after a moment’s thought, he didn’t say it.

Even livestock in a pen had the right to live their last moments happily. He was not killing for the sake of killing.

So instead, he chose gentler words.

"Time is a good medicine. It heals all wounds equally. If you wait patiently, everything will be fine."

Yinyin hugged her knees, burying her chin, and whispered, "As long as I wait long enough, everything will be fine?"

"Yes."

The god watching over her nodded gently. Though she couldn’t see him, she was sure he had made that gesture.

Yinyin trusted him deeply.

However, that was something she couldn’t accept.

She remembered clearly. When she worried about helping Yang Xiaoyang escape, he had personally told her something else.

After a moment’s hesitation, she said softly, "But... didn’t you tell me that many things can’t wait, that if you leave them to time, the answer will always be regret?"

... Hmm?

Did I really say that?

Facing the innocent girl, Luo Qian was momentarily lost in thought.

Among all the pawns he had chosen, the girl was the youngest, and the most unusual.

Not because he had special feelings for her, but because unlike the others, she told him every trivial detail of her life.

Most believers looked to the divine with awe, feeling honored by the privilege of being able to commune directly with God.

Even Zhao Tiangan, this girl’s father, who never truly believed in the Torch Church’s faith, spoke to him humbly and reverently, weighing every word in his mind twice.

He had naturally used the man’s reverence, taking on the face of the chosen one to converse with the believers who didn’t know any better.

Sometimes he even issued commands through them.

Though the chips were in their brains, he couldn’t seize their bodies at will.

Only when they entered the state of Divine Trance could he fully take control.

However, this girl treated him like a confidant.

She naively believed that God would never spread a mortal’s secrets, so she told him everything.

Luo Qian tolerated it.

A few words cost him little processing power, and in key moments, the pawn might even prove useful.

That was why, the day before, he had coaxed her into the basement under the excuse of knowing a wonderful hiding place.

If she went mad with the others, she wouldn’t have been truly safe. The manor still held special guests.

But staying in the empty basement was absolutely safe.

As it turned out, he had done something unnecessary. To keep a pawn alive a little longer, he had put the entire plan at needless risk.

If she hadn’t gone to the basement, the New Alliance might have taken longer to discover the laboratory hidden there.

And as useful as she was, the experiments here were already complete. Survival might not even be merciful for her.

To die in the dream was painless. To fall into the hands of Mutant Humans... That was a fate worse than death.

Thinking about it, Luo Qian sighed lightly.

Indeed... His cultivation was still lacking.

But what really troubled him was why had he spoken those words about time only bringing regret?

Regret?

Such a thing should never apply to him.

They had already paid dearly on their path, and in the end, gave everything for their ideal.

There was no turning back.

"I just think that avoiding things isn’t good... Lord Chosen One?" Yinyin’s nervous voice called when the silence dragged too long.

She had lost everything. If even the chosen one abandoned her, she would truly despair.

"Hmm, I’m here... I was only thinking, when did I ever say that. Sorry to keep you waiting," Luo Qian answered.

Yinyin smiled in relief. "It’s okay... You must respond to so many prayers every day. Even if you reply to me late, it’s fine. As long as you’re still there, it’s fine."

Seeing her worry for him, Luo Qian couldn’t help but chuckle softly. If she knew he was the one who had controlled her father, driving him to his death before New Alliance soldiers... would she still smile like that?

"The work of a god is not as busy as you imagine."

Yinyin tilted her head. "But aren’t there many who pray to you?"

He spoke gently. "My child, most people don’t really ask God’s will. Before they pray, they already have their own answer. What they need is just a push from behind. Children like you, who leave everything to me, are rare."

Her face flushed. She murmured shyly, "Sorry for troubling you..."

"It’s no trouble. On the contrary, I’m glad to see you grow. Before, you always asked for my opinion. Today, you decided on your own to reconcile with your friend. You already have your own judgment. That’s a good thing."

Yinyin asked in puzzlement, "Doesn’t God want people to obey?"

"If everyone left every decision to God, I’ll have to work to death!"

He had said it half-jokingly, but when he realized it, Luo Qian clicked his tongue lightly.

In the end, he had contradicted himself.

Of course, he knew the truth. The Pathfinders were not gods, and the chosen Apostle was even less so. They only wore that mask to do what ordinary men could not.

Though he appreciated that the settlement obeyed his will, as a mentor, he wanted to teach the child something more precious.

Obedience was good, but without independent thought she would always be a child. He wanted her to have her own judgment, even if it contradicted his faith.

Perhaps the contradiction was that deep down, he didn’t want her to die.

Even if one watered a potted plant often, they wouldn’t want them to die.

Aside from the Apostles, that was the most he had spoken to a mortal since entering the Sanctuary.

After a moment’s thought, Luo Qian chose a compromise.

He would let this special lamb go free.

A few fewer pawns meant little to him. The New Alliance wouldn’t crack everything with a single sample.

"If you trust me, I can show you a path."

Yinyin nodded earnestly. "Yes! Please tell me!"

Luo Qian said slowly, "Abandon everything here. Seek shelter with the New Alliance. Leave this place of strife. Since you’re still a child, I believe they will consider it."

Yinyin stared ahead, eyes wide with disbelief. "But... Aren’t the New Alliance bad guys? They killed my father! And I heard they want to tear down your church!"

Hearing the girl insist those people were villains, Luo Qian suddenly laughed out loud, almost to tears.

Too bad he no longer had them.

Only when her eyes turned from shock to confusion did he continue calmly, "Listen. You’re too young to understand now, but when you grow, you’ll see... The things you mention aren’t important."

Yinyin’s eyes widened. "How can they not be..."

Ignoring her protest, Luo Qian’s voice turned serious. "This settlement is caught between two giants, as are all on this land. Whatever choice they make, the ending will not be good. If you want to live, the only way is to get far away."

Biting her lip, Yinyin whispered, "But why join the New Alliance... Can’t you take me away?"

Luo Qian froze. After a long silence, he replied vaguely, "We still need some time..."

To drive her into another pen would mean nothing. Even if the other Pathfinders cared for her on his account, the experiments would still proceed.

Her eyes filled with confusion. "Time?"

Luo Qian nodded patiently. "Yes... It’s a vast undertaking. New humanity, a new society, all will take a long time to build. We will make that utopia as perfect as possible. For that, we need lives, courage, and resolve. I know the future will be heaven, the whole world will, but not yet... Can you give me some time?"

He didn’t know why he was asking the child for permission, and in such a gentle tone at that.

He didn’t need to. Everything was already decided. Even if she refused, the settlement’s fate would not change.

And yet, he still asked.

Perhaps... He was only trying to convince himself.