"Realm of No Restraint?"
"A forbidden domain capable of isolating the inside from the outside, a sanctuary preventing our battles from affecting ordinary people. Each city's Night Watchmen are equipped with three plaques capable of casting the 'Realm of No Restraint,' each held by an individual. Since we generally don't directly engage in combat, people like us are also referred to as 'Guardians.'"
Lin Qiye raised an eyebrow, "So, you're essentially a messenger."
"...If you're not going to speak properly, just keep quiet." Zhao Kongcheng rolled his eyes.
"You mentioned three methods to obtain the forbidden domain; what about the last one?"
"The last one is bestowed by deities, like in your case." Zhao Kongcheng's expression turned serious. "Certain deities grant a portion of their power to selected humans, making them their agents in the mortal realm. These domains, bestowed by deities, are known as 'God Realms.' However, along with the power comes directives from the deity, which could range from causing destruction in human society to protecting it or even aiding the deity in a quest for something. Typically, a deity has only one agent, representing the will of the deity. Currently, those dozen or so deity agents born into this world are mostly evil gods, attempting to disrupt the new order of humanity. They have formed an organization called the Ancient God Cult. There are also agents of benevolent deities, but they are scarce. As for the agents of neutral gods, we have no information."
Standing up, Zhao Kongcheng walked over to Lin Qiye, staring into his eyes as he spoke deliberately, "Lin Qiye, what instructions did Michael give you? To which faction do you belong?"
Lin Qiye's eyes were filled with confusion, "I don't know; He didn't say anything."
Lin Qiye spoke the absolute truth; Michael had merely glanced at him from the moon, and he fainted. Michael didn't say a word!
Frowning, Zhao Kongcheng asked, "He didn't say anything? You never heard His voice in your mind?"
"No, really!"
Skeptically, Zhao Kongcheng scrutinized Lin Qiye for signs of deceit, but after a while, he averted his gaze and sat back down.
"As per our speculation, Michael likely belongs to the neutral or benevolent faction. Otherwise, we would have killed you already. However... if Michael granted you the God Realm, why didn't He say anything? What does He intend to do?"
Lin Qiye furrowed his brow slightly, "I don't know what He wants, but even if He gave me instructions, I wouldn't follow them. I don't want to get involved in this mess. At most, I'll return these eyes to Him."
Saying this, he stood up and headed for the door without waiting for Zhao Kongcheng's response.
"No! Wait!!" Zhao Kongcheng suddenly stood up, blocking the door, and stared into Lin Qiye's eyes, "You're leaving after asking your questions? What about me?"
"You? You can have a passionate monologue by yourself." Lin Qiye earnestly replied.
"No, what I mean is... aren't you curious about me? Who am I?" Zhao Kongcheng felt talking to this kid was exhausting.
"What does your identity have to do with me?" Lin Qiye continued to open the door.
Zhao Kongcheng grabbed the doorknob, "Why do I know so much? What kind of organization is behind me? What are we doing... aren't you curious?"
"Not curious."
"Why?"
"According to the logic in movies and novels, once I know about your existence, I only have two choices. Either join you or forever keep the secret, like getting killed, imprisoned, brainwashed..."
"...Stop watching so much TV! Besides, you don't understand us. How do you know joining us isn't a good choice?"
Lin Qiye raised an eyebrow, "So, even if I know about your affairs and choose not to join, I won't be in danger?"
"Of course not! We are like soldiers. At most, we'll have you sign a confidentiality agreement. What you said is just nonsense!"
"In that case, I might as well listen." Lin Qiye, hearing this, sat back down.
Zhao Kongcheng sighed, feeling that talking to this kid for a few minutes was more tiring than spending a day in surveillance outside.
"In 1922, after our reconnaissance team discovered the first mythological creature, the Chaotic Dragon Leviathan, the higher-ups urgently established a military organization to be prepared for mythological creature invasions, called the 139 Special Creature Response Unit.
At that time, our technology was relatively backward, and we knew nothing about the world in front of us. So, the so-called Special Creature Response Unit was just for show and practically useless.
As time passed, we observed more and more mythological creatures, attempted to establish contact with a few, and discovered the secret of the forbidden domains. We began training special combat talents.
As we discovered more and more forbidden domain owners, we realized that due to the randomness of their appearances, we couldn't include everyone in the military. Therefore, the 139 Special Creature Response Unit gradually transformed into a unique organization that is half-military and half-civilian.
Now, we call this special organization the 'Night Watchmen.'"
Lin Qiye pondered, "So, your existence is to protect Daxia from the intrusion of those evil deities?"
More accurately, it is against all mythological creatures."
"Is there a difference?"
"Of course, as I mentioned before, the appearance of mythological creatures is random and unrelated to their strength. Therefore, the mythological creatures that descend are not just the well-known powerful deities but also some weak creatures that only exist in rural legends or small tales. The creature you encountered last night, the ghost-faced man, is one type of creature from rural horror stories.
These creatures don't possess world-ending powers, but they can have an impact on human society. We collectively refer to these creatures as 'mysteries.'"
"I see." Lin Qiye nodded; no wonder the thing he encountered last night seemed somewhat familiar. It turned out to be born from rural stories.
"So, we are soldiers, defenders of our homeland! Our existence is to prevent the people of Daxia from suffering. Isn't this noble and heroic? Doesn't it sound cool?!" Zhao Kongcheng earnestly persuaded.
"Very noble, very cool. I truly respect you." Lin Qiye's expression became serious. He wasn't joking; a genuine sense of respect was evident in his eyes.
A smile gradually appeared on Zhao Kongcheng's face, "Then you..."
"I won't join."
"..." Zhao Kongcheng's smile froze instantly. "Why?!"
"I can't leave. I have a lot of things to do..."
"What could be more important than protecting your homeland?!"
"I have an aunt and a cousin." Lin Qiye looked out the window with a calm expression. "My aunt is not that old, but she works day and night in the factory for Ah Jin and me, tirelessly working for ten years. Now, her body is almost giving up...
She's a stubborn person, rubbing her neck on the living room chair, tears streaming down, yet she insists she's doing yoga for health...
I sit opposite her; she thinks I can't
see.
She lives too cautiously, too tired.
My cousin is smart and filial, but he's still too young to shoulder the burden of this family.
I have a lot of things to do.
I want to earn money to support my family, buy a big house for my aunt and cousin. I want to ensure my aunt doesn't have to go back to that dark factory and suffer!
I want to put my cousin through college and let him and my aunt have a good life together!
For ten years, they never gave up on me, this burden. Now that I'm finally better, how can I abandon them?
You are noble, you are great. Perhaps, if conditions allow, I might consider joining you...
But for now, I just want to stay by their side...
Guarding this home."
"Realm of No Restraint?"
"A forbidden domain capable of isolating the inside from the outside, a sanctuary preventing our battles from affecting ordinary people. Each city's Night Watchmen are equipped with three plaques capable of casting the 'Realm of No Restraint,' each held by an individual. Since we generally don't directly engage in combat, people like us are also referred to as 'Guardians.'"
Lin Qiye raised an eyebrow, "So, you're essentially a messenger."
"...If you're not going to speak properly, just keep quiet." Zhao Kongcheng rolled his eyes.
"You mentioned three methods to obtain the forbidden domain; what about the last one?"
"The last one is bestowed by deities, like in your case." Zhao Kongcheng's expression turned serious. "Certain deities grant a portion of their power to selected humans, making them their agents in the mortal realm. These domains, bestowed by deities, are known as 'God Realms.' However, along with the power comes directives from the deity, which could range from causing destruction in human society to protecting it or even aiding the deity in a quest for something. Typically, a deity has only one agent, representing the will of the deity. Currently, those dozen or so deity agents born into this world are mostly evil gods, attempting to disrupt the new order of humanity. They have formed an organization called the Ancient God Cult. There are also agents of benevolent deities, but they are scarce. As for the agents of neutral gods, we have no information."
Standing up, Zhao Kongcheng walked over to Lin Qiye, staring into his eyes as he spoke deliberately, "Lin Qiye, what instructions did Michael give you? To which faction do you belong?"
Lin Qiye's eyes were filled with confusion, "I don't know; He didn't say anything."
Lin Qiye spoke the absolute truth; Michael had merely glanced at him from the moon, and he fainted. Michael didn't say a word!
Frowning, Zhao Kongcheng asked, "He didn't say anything? You never heard His voice in your mind?"
"No, really!"
Skeptically, Zhao Kongcheng scrutinized Lin Qiye for signs of deceit, but after a while, he averted his gaze and sat back down.
"As per our speculation, Michael likely belongs to the neutral or benevolent faction. Otherwise, we would have killed you already. However... if Michael granted you the God Realm, why didn't He say anything? What does He intend to do?"
Lin Qiye furrowed his brow slightly, "I don't know what He wants, but even if He gave me instructions, I wouldn't follow them. I don't want to get involved in this mess. At most, I'll return these eyes to Him."
Saying this, he stood up and headed for the door without waiting for Zhao Kongcheng's response.
"No! Wait!!" Zhao Kongcheng suddenly stood up, blocking the door, and stared into Lin Qiye's eyes, "You're leaving after asking your questions? What about me?"
"You? You can have a passionate monologue by yourself." Lin Qiye earnestly replied.
"No, what I mean is... aren't you curious about me? Who am I?" Zhao Kongcheng felt talking to this kid was exhausting.
"What does your identity have to do with me?" Lin Qiye continued to open the door.
Zhao Kongcheng grabbed the doorknob, "Why do I know so much? What kind of organization is behind me? What are we doing... aren't you curious?"
"Not curious."
"Why?"
"According to the logic in movies and novels, once I know about your existence, I only have two choices. Either join you or forever keep the secret, like getting killed, imprisoned, brainwashed..."
"...Stop watching so much TV! Besides, you don't understand us. How do you know joining us isn't a good choice?"
Lin Qiye raised an eyebrow, "So, even if I know about your affairs and choose not to join, I won't be in danger?"
"Of course not! We are like soldiers. At most, we'll have you sign a confidentiality agreement. What you said is just nonsense!"
"In that case, I might as well listen." Lin Qiye, hearing this, sat back down.
Zhao Kongcheng sighed, feeling that talking to this kid for a few minutes was more tiring than spending a day in surveillance outside.
"In 1922, after our reconnaissance team discovered the first mythological creature, the Chaotic Dragon Leviathan, the higher-ups urgently established a military organization to be prepared for mythological creature invasions, called the 139 Special Creature Response Unit.
At that time, our technology was relatively backward, and we knew nothing about the world in front of us. So, the so-called Special Creature Response Unit was just for show and practically useless.
As time passed, we observed more and more mythological creatures, attempted to establish contact with a few, and discovered the secret of the forbidden domains. We began training special combat talents.
As we discovered more and more forbidden domain owners, we realized that due to the randomness of their appearances, we couldn't include everyone in the military. Therefore, the 139 Special Creature Response Unit gradually transformed into a unique organization that is half-military and half-civilian.
Now, we call this special organization the 'Night Watchmen.'"
Lin Qiye pondered, "So, your existence is to protect Daxia from the intrusion of those evil deities?"
More accurately, it is against all mythological creatures."
"Is there a difference?"
"Of course, as I mentioned before, the appearance of mythological creatures is random and unrelated to their strength. Therefore, the mythological creatures that descend are not just the well-known powerful deities but also some weak creatures that only exist in rural legends or small tales. The creature you encountered last night, the ghost-faced man, is one type of creature from rural horror stories.
These creatures don't possess world-ending powers, but they can have an impact on human society. We collectively refer to these creatures as 'mysteries.'"
"I see." Lin Qiye nodded; no wonder the thing he encountered last night seemed somewhat familiar. It turned out to be born from rural stories.
"So, we are soldiers, defenders of our homeland! Our existence is to prevent the people of Daxia from suffering. Isn't this noble and heroic? Doesn't it sound cool?!" Zhao Kongcheng earnestly persuaded.
"Very noble, very cool. I truly respect you." Lin Qiye's expression became serious. He wasn't joking; a genuine sense of respect was evident in his eyes.
A smile gradually appeared on Zhao Kongcheng's face, "Then you..."
"I won't join."
"..." Zhao Kongcheng's smile froze instantly. "Why?!"
"I can't leave. I have a lot of things to do..."
"What could be more important than protecting your homeland?!"
"I have an aunt and a cousin." Lin Qiye looked out the window with a calm expression. "My aunt is not that old, but she works day and night in the factory for Ah Jin and me, tirelessly working for ten years. Now, her body is almost giving up...
She's a stubborn person, rubbing her neck on the living room chair, tears streaming down, yet she insists she's doing yoga for health...
I sit opposite her; she thinks I can't
see.
She lives too cautiously, too tired.
My cousin is smart and filial, but he's still too young to shoulder the burden of this family.
I have a lot of things to do.
I want to earn money to support my family, buy a big house for my aunt and cousin. I want to ensure my aunt doesn't have to go back to that dark factory and suffer!
I want to put my cousin through college and let him and my aunt have a good life together!
For ten years, they never gave up on me, this burden. Now that I'm finally better, how can I abandon them?
You are noble, you are great. Perhaps, if conditions allow, I might consider joining you...
But for now, I just want to stay by their side...
Guarding this home."
