“If you wake up one day to find that the fate of half your academy has rotted away, how would you respond?” — Yi Fengchu
After the conclusion of the Whale Bone Aquarium instance, Yi Fengchu borrowed the “Heart of Pandora” from Luo Shengle and went on to live a period of peaceful, comfortable days.
By day, he attended classes and studied. By night, he contacted Gods’ Amusement Park. Occasionally, he would check on the psychological state of the “Heart of Pandora,” watching the dark gray glass sphere tremble and withdraw into itself before his eyes. Time slipped by unnoticed.
During this period, Yi Fengchu also gradually grew accustomed to the chaotic, intertwined fate lines flying everywhere.
At first, he would occasionally lose focus, his gaze drifting to places like the wrists where others’ fate threads were tied.
Later on, he became completely used to it, learning to ignore these threads naturally. Even when moving through dense, web like clusters of lines, he could remain calm and composed.
Until this very day.
Yawning, Yi Fengchu walked into the classroom, then suddenly froze.
With a single glance, he saw that the fate lines on every single classmate were covered in mottled black spots, as if mold had grown upon destiny itself, rotting away in a damp, shadowy environment… exuding an ominous aura.
“Xiao Yi?”
The instructor for this class was familiar with Yi Fengchu. Seeing him pause absentmindedly at the doorway, she asked in confusion, “Is something wrong?”
Yi Fengchu quickly glanced at the teacher. The erosion of her fate lines was the most severe of all, what had once been silver threads were now almost entirely covered in black, making him think of the fuzzy, jet black legs extending from beneath a spider’s body.
“Good morning, Professor Ju” Yi Fengchu greeted politely. “I’m just a bit tired.”
Hearing this, Professor Ju studied him for a moment, the smile lines at the corners of her eyes deepening. “You do look a bit worn out. Go find a seat and rest. Don’t let your mind wander once class begins.”
Of course he wasn’t energetic, because it was painfully obvious that his peaceful life was about to come to an end…
Yi Fengchu sighed quietly.
He was enrolled in the newly established College of Religion and Philosophy at University A. The specialization was so obscure that the entire college, from top to bottom, had only thirty or forty people in total. Now, most of them were gathered in this classroom, preparing to attend the lecture, few enough to count at a glance.
, Just what kind of situation could cause nearly half the academy to be wiped out?
Yi Fengchu walked to a seat near the podium. As he set down his backpack, he discreetly continued to observe those unusual fate lines.
Yi Fengchu had previously made a special trip to the hospital, so he was absolutely certain of one thing: when people died naturally or by accident, the fate lines on their bodies would only gradually snap apart, breaking into thin, fragmented strands, until they completely disappeared.
In short, it was impossible for them to look like this… as if they had been contaminated by some unknown bacteria and grown mold.
Harboring these doubts, Yi Fengchu listened absentmindedly through two full class periods. When the bell signaling the break rang, a registration form was passed from the front row to his desk.
“This is…?”
Yi Fengchu had barely absorbed any of the lecture content; the teacher’s words had drifted past his ears like the wind. So now, faced with a form that already bore several classmates’ signatures, he could not help but show a puzzled expression.
The student in front pinched the form between their fingers and teased him, “You can tell at a glance that you weren’t listening to the teacher properly. Professor Ju already explained it just now…”
“Isn’t there a short holiday coming up soon? A very knowledgeable professor whom our teacher knows has been conducting field research recently in Fengyi Village, Linhe County, in the southwestern region. He said the local folk culture there is unique, the residents are warm and hospitable and the scenery is beautiful, so he called to invite our teacher to take us there for a two day experience.”
“First, we can observe and learn a professional professor’s workflow on site. Second, Professor Ju said she’ll cover all expenses for the entire trip, so it’s basically a free vacation for us!”
As they spoke, the student’s eyes shone brightly, their tone light and cheerful, clearly filled with anticipation for the upcoming field study and trip.
“The teacher said that any students who are willing to join the group and whose families are informed and consent, can sign the form. Do you want to go?”
Several pairs of curious eyes turned toward Yi Fengchu.
“…” Great. Case solved.
Yi Fengchu thought that he could more or less guess the source of the erosion affecting these people’s fate lines, it had to be related to that Fengyi Village.
Reaching out to take the form, Yi Fengchu was still hesitating over how to handle the situation when Professor Ju had already walked up beside him, her tone gentle and warm. “Xiao Yi, don’t you want to participate?”
Just as he was about to come up with a polite excuse to decline, Yi Fengchu suddenly sensed something faintly and instinctively raised his head to look around.
Within his field of vision, in an instant, all the black spots on the fate lines began to spread rapidly, as though some pathogen were accelerating its growth.
And the nearly pitch black lines on Professor Ju’s body even began to sprout layers of inky black fuzz, causing the originally slender fate lines to thicken and shorten, becoming more and more like spider legs, crossing and spreading out behind her.
Surrounded by these “spider legs” Professor Ju’s usual gentle smile now carried a hint of gloom and danger, casting a shadow over Yi Fengchu.
What did this mean?
Yi Fengchu maintained a calm exterior but inside his mind churned violently as he began to analyze the implications behind the abnormal changes in the fate lines.
He had just been about to refuse to go on the field study with his classmates and their fate lines had immediately become more severely eroded…
So did this imply that his presence could help alleviate or even resolve, this bizarre “erosion”?
“Please give me a moment,” Yi Fengchu thought it over, then explained to Professor Ju. “I’d like to call home and ask my elders what they think.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the progression of erosion on the fate lines in the classroom came to a halt. No more black fuzz grew behind Professor Ju’s back and the atmosphere seemed to lighten abruptly.
Professor Ju nodded in understanding. “All right. I’ll go ask the other students.”
Yi Fengchu grabbed his phone and quickly walked out of the classroom. The cool early autumn air rushed toward him, filling his lungs and clearing his head a little.
Finding a secluded corner with no one around, Yi Fengchu shook his phone vigorously and asked, “What was that just now?”
The phone seemed to be shaken into impatience. The screen lit up, a bright glare shining onto Yi Fengchu’s face and making him squint slightly.
【Haven’t you already guessed? Fengyi Village, there’s something wrong with that place.】
“When I entered the classroom, the other students’ fate lines were already abnormal,” Yi Fengchu pondered. “Does that mean all of them are destined to go there?”
“Can I change that premise? For example, use some reason to persuade them not to sign, not to leave University A…”
【Under normal circumstances, that would be possible. If their fate lines were simply beginning to break collectively, say, if they were all going to die in a car accident during the trip, then changing the premise of ‘travel’ wouldn’t be difficult… after all, that would be your will.】
【But this kind of erosion is different, I prefer to call it ‘pollution.’ It represents a high level existence beyond human comprehension that has ‘reserved’ them in advance, like dishes pre ordered at a restaurant. It’s not something that can be easily changed.】
【That’s why you’ll notice that even though nothing has happened yet, their fate lines already show abnormal signs, this pollution spreads from the future toward the present. The closer it gets to a certain point in the future, the more severe the pollution becomes.】
【They’ve already been targeted. Naturally, there’s nowhere for them to escape.】
“Even if I break their legs, they’ll still arrive there at the appointed time?”
When he voiced this hypothesis, Yi Fengchu’s expression was serious and intent, as though he would immediately find a way to put it into action if it proved feasible.
【…Calm down,】the phone seemed both exasperated and impressed by his daring, decisive mindset and tried its best to dissuade him. 【Even if you break their legs and lock them up, they’ll still make their way there through various means or ‘accidents.’】
【For example, crawling with both hands to the roadside, only to be picked up by a kind hearted vehicle heading toward Fengyi Village; or your violent actions being discovered by the police, after which they head for Fengyi Village once they regain their freedom…】
【Even if they break their own bodies and stuff themselves into sewer pipes, they’ll still struggle onward toward Fengyi Village.】
【Of course, they might coincidentally die on the way but that kind of ‘rescue’ would go against your original intent.】
“Sigh.”
Yi Fengchu let out a long breath, gazing into the distance with weary, helpless eyes. “If there are too few people left in the department, if I end up being the only one, the academy will be dissolved.”
“No, we’re classmates. I still need to find a way to save everyone… I want to graduate properly, too.”
Yi Fengchu pictured his graduation certificate for a moment, steeled himself and returned to the classroom.
Without waiting for Professor Ju to ask anything further, he walked straight up to a classmate who was bent over signing their name.
When the other person finished, Yi Fengchu casually asked, “Sorry, could I borrow your pen?”
In the blink of an eye, there was an extra person beside them. The classmate looked blank for a moment, then mechanically handed over the pen.
Yi Fengchu swiftly wrote a neat, flowing line of information at the end of the registration form, his name, student ID, contact number and more.
“Your family agreed too, Xiao Yi?” Professor Ju leaned over with a cluster of long, black fuzzy lines behind her, smiling warmly.
“Mm, yes.”
Answering offhandedly, Yi Fengchu glanced around again and discovered that the moment he signed his name, the black spots on all the fate lines receded noticeably, revealing far more silvery white beneath.
The black fuzz behind Professor Ju’s back also thinned out, no longer resembling exaggerated, hair covered spider legs that inspired visceral dread.
It seemed that his choice truly could bring a significant positive impact to these people’s fates.
Thinking this, Yi Fengchu even began to feel genuinely curious about this so called Fengyi Village. When he handed in the form, he showed Professor Ju a sincere smile.
“I’m really looking forward to the journey ahead.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Nycreth
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
A wild translator appears! Their weakness: coffee. ☕
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Mysterious letterChapter 2 · Divine MessagesChapter 3 · Gamer ForumChapter 4 · Invitation from GodChapter 5 · JudgeChapter 6 · TerminalChapter 7 · Destruction of recordsChapter 8 · Whale Bone Aquarium (1)Chapter 9 · Whale Bone Aquarium (2)Chapter 10 · Whale Bone Aquarium (3)Chapter 11 · Whale Bone Aquarium (4)Chapter 12 · Whale Bone Aquarium (5)Chapter 13 · Whale Bone Aquarium (6)Chapter 14 · Whale Bone Aquarium (7)Chapter 15 · Whale Bone Aquarium (8)Chapter 16 · Whale Bone Aquarium (9)Chapter 17 · Whale Bone Aquarium (10)Chapter 18 · Whale Bone Aquarium (11)Chapter 19 Part 1 · Whale Bone Aquarium (12)Chapter 19 Part 2 · Whale Bone Aquarium (12)Chapter 20 · Interlude: His ApostlesChapter 21 · Echoes in the pupa (1)Chapter 22 · Echoes in the pupa (2)Chapter 23 · Echoes in the Pupa (3)Chapter 24 · Echoes in the Pupa (4)Chapter 25 · Echoes in the Pupa (5)Chapter 26 · Echoes in the Pupa (6)Chapter 27 · Echoes in the Pupa (7)Chapter 28 · Echoes in the Pupa (8)Chapter 29 · Echoes in the Pupa (9)Chapter 30 · Echoes in the Pupa (10)Chapter 31 · Echoes in the Pupa (11)Chapter 32 · Echoes in the Pupa (12)Chapter 33 · Echoes in the Pupa (13)Chapter 34 · Interlude: Investigation by the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs (1)Chapter 35 · Interlude: Investigation by the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs (2)Chapter 36 · Interlude: Investigation by the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs (3)Chapter 37 · Small World: God’s Chessboard (1)Chapter 38 · Small World: God’s Chessboard (2)Chapter 39 · Small World: God’s Chessboard (3)Chapter 40 · Small World: God’s Chessboard (4)Chapter 41 · Advertisement Coming Soon (1)Chapter 42 · Advertisement Coming Soon (2)Chapter 43 · Advertisement Coming Soon (3)Chapter 44 · Advertisement Coming Soon (4)Chapter 45 · Advertisement Coming Soon (5)Chapter 46 · Advertisement Coming Soon (6)Chapter 47 · Advertisement Coming Soon (7)Chapter 48 · Advertisement Coming Soon (8)Chapter 49 · Advertisement Coming Soon (9)Chapter 50 · Advertisement Coming Soon (10)Chapter 51 · Advertisement Coming Soon (11)Chapter 52 · Advertisement Coming Soon (12)Chapter 53 · Advertisement Coming Soon to EndChapter 54 · Interlude – Tonight No One Sleeps (1)Chapter 55 · Interlude – Tonight No One Sleeps (2)Chapter 56 · Interlude – Tonight No One Sleeps (3)Chapter 57 · Interlude – Tonight No One Sleeps (4)Chapter 58 · Childhood Ghost Stories (1)Chapter 59 · Childhood Ghost Stories (2)Chapter 60 · Childhood Ghost Stories (3)Chapter 61 · Childhood Ghost Stories (4)Chapter 62 · Childhood Ghost Stories (5)Chapter 63 · Childhood Ghost Stories (6)Chapter 64 · Childhood Ghost Stories (7)Chapter 65 · Childhood Ghost Stories (8)Chapter 66 · Childhood Ghost Stories (9)Chapter 67 · Childhood Ghost Stories (10)Chapter 68 · Childhood Ghost Stories (11)Chapter 69 · Childhood Ghost Stories (12)Chapter 70 · Childhood Ghost Stories (13)Chapter 71 · Childhood Ghost Stories (14)Chapter 72 · Childhood Ghost Stories (15)Chapter 73 · Childhood Ghost Stories (16)Chapter 74 · Childhood Ghost Stories (17)Chapter 75 · Childhood Ghost Stories (18)Chapter 76 · Childhood Ghost Stories (19)Chapter 77 · Childhood Ghost Stories (20)Chapter 78 · Childhood Ghost Stories (Complete)Chapter 79 · Interlude: His Kingdom (1)Chapter 80 · Interlude: His Kingdom (2)Chapter 81 · Interlude: An Epic of Faith (1)Chapter 82 · Interlude: An Epic of Faith (2)Chapter 83 · Interlude: An Epic of Faith (3)Chapter 84 · Interlude: An Epic of Faith (4)Chapter 85 · Interlude: An Epic of Faith (5)Chapter 86 · Interlude: An Epic of Faith (Complete)Chapter 87 · Fate casually rolls the dice (1)Chapter 88 · Fate Casually rolls the dice (2)Chapter 89 · Fate Casually rolls the dice (3)Chapter 90 · Fate Casually rolls the dice (4)Chapter 91 · Fate casually tosses the dice (5)Chapter 92 · Fate casually tosses the dice (6)Chapter 93 · Fate casually tosses the dice (7)Chapter 94 · Fate casually tosses the dice (8)Chapter 95 · Fate casually tosses the dice (9)Chapter 96 · Fate casually tosses the dice (10)Chapter 97 · Fate Casually tosses the dice (11)Chapter 98 · Fate casually tosses the dice (12)Chapter 99 · Fate casually tosses the dice (13)Chapter 100 · Fate casually tosses the dice (14)Chapter 101 · Fate casually tosses the dice (15)Chapter 102 · Fate casually tosses the dice (16)Chapter 103 · Fate casually tosses the dice (17)Chapter 104 · Fate casually tosses the dice (18)Chapter 105 · Fate casually tosses the dice (19)Chapter 106 · Fate casually tosses the dice (20)Chapter 107 · Fate casually tosses the dice (21)Chapter 108 · Fate casually tosses the dice (The End)Chapter 109 · Interlude