Chapter 110 Testing the boundaries of death
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The assassination attempt failed, and the deity remained alive. People didn’t even have time to feel happy before facing his outpouring anger.
The video of Zhuang Lao’s furious rant in front of the TV spread to various websites. Then, he sternly threatened, demanding that the government hand over the person who had attacked him within a specific time. If not, all previous requests would be canceled, and he wouldn’t grant anyone’s wishes anymore.
This threat tightly held everyone’s fate. Although most of the fusion zones had disappeared, the possibility of a comeback remained. Therefore, fulfilling the deity’s demands became necessary.
“He’s a deity, why does he need us to catch the culprit?” someone questioned.
“Can’t the divinity fulfill his own wishes?”
“It seems like it. If he can’t fulfill his own wishes, doesn’t it make him vulnerable?”
It seemed like a whole new world had been discovered from this incident. Suddenly, everyone realized that the divinity wasn’t all-powerful, otherwise, he wouldn’t have made such outrageous demands.
A deity who could only grant other people’s wishes would be utterly useless. Some people began to entertain scary thoughts…
“What if we capture him and force him to fulfill our wishes… it seems like we wouldn’t have to pay anything in return…” It was as if a new idea had emerged. Freed from the initial fear of the divinity’s arrival, they started considering other approaches.
Zhuang Lao, having miraculously escaped death, got extremely angry. His mansion was completely burnt to ashes, and he was currently staying in a hotel arranged by the government.
“Do you think they’ll harm you?” Lin Zhaohe glanced at Zhuang Lao, who was busy cracking chestnuts.
The chestnuts were freshly roasted, with a touch of honey, soft and warm, sweet and sticky. Zhuang Lao peeled one and handed it to Lin Zhaohe, smiling. “It’s not impossible.”
Lin Zhaohe: “What should we do then?”
Zhuang Lao: “Let them make a move. I’m not as soft-hearted as Xiao He.”
Lin Zhaohe mumbled with a mouthful of chestnuts, “Did they want to harm me back then too?”
Zhuang Lao: “They couldn’t bear to harm you.”
Unlike him, Lin Zhaohe had been eagerly awaited since his arrival in the world. He was the perfect result of the God Creation Plan, created by his own hands, displaying the utmost perfection. With his attractive appearance and gentle attitude, he was like a warm spring flowing through the freezing winter, revitalizing the frozen land.
Compared to the current deity, Lin Zhaohe was cherished by the people, a wish-granting machine without any cost. Who would be willing to see him harmed? Naturally, he should be tightly protected, away from the turmoil and dangers of the world.
“If they couldn’t bear to harm me, what role did you have in that world?” Lin Zhaohe asked Zhuang Lao.
Zhuang Lao blinked his eyes. “Of course, I was the author who brought Xiao He to life with my own pen.”
Lin Zhaohe was taken aback.
The world in his memories was quite different from the present, as there was no deranged Lin Yan, and thus, the creation of 2D works was not prohibited. Although subsequent creations were strictly required to promote positivity, some works could still be produced.
In that world, Zhuang Lao occupied the position of Lin Zhaohe. However, he wasn’t a professional writer. But when he created Lin Zhaohe, he poured all his emotions into it.
The beloved deity descended into the world, and Zhuang Lao thought they were ushering in a redemption. Little did he know that after redemption, even deeper darkness would follow.
The kind deity couldn’t save humanity.
In the final moments, with Lin Zhaohe in his arms, his expression vacant and most of his consciousness lost, Zhuang Lao made his last wish. He hoped to go back in time and replace Lin Zhaohe, bearing all the burdens himself. Meanwhile, Lin Zhaohe would truly enjoy the beauty of the world he had once experienced, rather than being trapped in this small room, becoming a machine to satisfy people’s wishes.
In a world turned back in time, the tearful deity fulfilled the wish of his beloved.
In this world, Zhuang Lao shouldered the weight that originally belonged to Lin Zhaohe. He appeared out of thin air in the world when the fusion began. The chaotic memories made him believe he was a certain two-dimensional character who had lost his memories, after all, no three-dimensional person could possess such immense power.
The deity was all-powerful, the flames in their hands consuming all impurities.
Like a story abruptly cut off at its ending, the plot of the story shattered, and the identities of the two intertwined. They experienced the stories that each of them had once gone through.
However, this time, Lin Zhaohe became the writer, penning the story of the deity and turning into them.
However, the events that had occurred in the future still left traces on the track of time. Before Lin Zhaohe even had a chance to pick up the pen, books about the deity had already appeared in the game that recorded everything. It was the impending future, and Zhuang Lao had to bring the story to a complete conclusion before the tragedy unfolded.
Lin Zhaohe asked Zhuang Lao if his parents were the same as Zhuang Lao’s parents.
Zhuang Lao gently touched Lin Zhaohe’s head, shaking his head, and said his parents had passed away early. He grew up in an orphanage. Perhaps out of some selfishness, he couldn’t bear to let Lin Zhaohe experience such hardships. He would rather have Lin Zhaohe with both parents, a harmonious family. At least, before the fusion, he could have lived a happy life.
Lin Zhaohe asked if Zhuang Lao still had memories from before the fusion.
Zhuang Lao shook his head, saying that he appeared during the fusion, and before that, his memories were a blank slate. If it weren’t for later recollections, he would have felt as if he had suddenly parachuted into this world.
Lin Zhaohe: “Then how do you have time to run a company?”
Zhuang Lao: “Well, one must earn money. Even deities need to make a living.”
Lin Zhaohe: “…You make a lot of sense. It seems that the wicked capitalists are more suited to be deities. They can thrive in this world, relying on their intuition and instinct.”
As time went on, Zhuang Lao also discovered his uniqueness. However, at that time, he believed he was just an ordinary character from 2D world. Although he hadn’t found the original work yet, it didn’t bother him much. He lived like that for a while until fate eventually brought the two of them together.
Holding an umbrella, Zhuang Lao spotted Lin Zhaohe sitting by the street in a miserable state.
At that moment, Zhuang Lao felt immediate sympathy for Lin Zhaohe, who was still a stranger to him. His intuition compelled him to bring this pitiful-looking youngster home. Holding the umbrella, he walked over to Lin Zhaohe and shielded him from the rain pouring down from above.
After listening to Zhuang Lao’s words, Lin Zhaohe murmured, “Why is it that no matter the circumstances, you always fare better than me?”
Zhuang Lao patted his head, comforting him, “Because I understand what goes on in the minds of humans better than Xiao He does.”
For instance, at this very moment, Zhuang Lao, as the deity he manifested, had no concept of moderation. After people realized that he wasn’t as powerful as they had thought, he continued to make a fuss, demanding that the government find the culprits who attacked him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t grant any wishes in the future.
The government, whose lifeline was in Zhuang Lao’s grasp, actually mobilized a large number of police forces and apprehended the group of people who attacked him. After the trial, those individuals were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Only then was Zhuang Lao satisfied. He said, since you have shown such a good attitude, I’ll make a concession. You can slightly adjust the boundaries of the land I’ve designated, but not too much. He liked that beautiful inland lake, and he wanted the newly built villa to have a lake view.
Hearing Zhuang Lao’s request, Lin Zhaohe couldn’t help but wonder, “Is it appropriate to be so arrogant?”
Zhuang Lao: “What’s inappropriate about it?”
Lin Zhaohe: “It’s dangerous to be so arrogant without the corresponding strength to back it up.”
Zhuang Lao: “It’s fine. They still need something from me, so they won’t lay a hand on me.”
Lin Zhaohe nodded. “That’s true.”
Zhuang Lao: “But when they no longer need anything from me…”
Lin Zhaohe and Zhuang Lao exchanged a glance, seeing understanding in each other’s eyes.
“When they no longer need anything from me, everything can come to an end.”
The deity occupied a large part of the capital, and the local residents were all expelled from their original dwellings.
The existing buildings were demolished and turned into flat ground. It was said that in a few days, an extravagantly shaped luxurious mansion would be erected as the deity’s residence.
Areas near the deity’s residence were fenced off with wire mesh, supposedly to prevent further attacks on the deity.
Just when people had barely survived one disaster, their anger and despair still unresolved, they were about to face an even greater catastrophe. Everyone found it difficult to accept this situation. During interviews conducted by journalists, several children stood in place, crying loudly, expressing their refusal to leave. This place was their home. They had endured through the worst of the fusion, only to make way for a greedy deity. It dealt a heavy blow to the collective spirit of humanity.
These actions fueled people’s disgust towards the deity, and even the remaining voice of reason was scarce. With Zhuang Lao’s determined efforts, in just over a month, those who had once believed in the deity had all switched sides and joined the opposition.
Even the notorious Lin Yan managed to improve his reputation to some extent. It was said that Lin Yan’s madness back then was to prevent the creation of such a monstrosity. And now, look, they’ve given away half of the capital city. What’s even more terrifying is that this fellow seems unsatisfied.
After the deal was made, several videos surfaced online showing negotiations with the deity. It seemed to be that beautiful young man trying to persuade the deity to fulfill their agreed-upon wishes.
But no matter how hard the young man tried, the deity refused and insisted that the house be built first. The young man’s face turned pale, clearly worried about what might happen if the deity broke his promise and caused trouble.
However, the deity remained stubborn, and there was nothing they could do. After these videos were released, there were a few attempts to assassinate Zhuang Lao, but none of them managed to breach the defenses. It was evident that these attackers were only using methods from the three-dimensional world. Otherwise, Zhuang Lao might have already been in trouble.
The assassinations didn’t faze the deity, who showed no grace or dignity. Instead, they lashed out at the security personnel, berating them for their incompetence and accusing them of being useless freeloaders. They even threatened to hold them accountable for the slightest mishap.
“His behavior is truly appalling.” Zhuang Lao, sitting on the sofa, enjoying an ice cream with Lin Zhaohe, commented as he watched the television coverage of the deity. “I can’t stand it anymore.”
Lin Zhaohe nodded in agreement and praised, “You make a valid point.”
“I hope someone takes justice into their own hands,” Zhuang Lao laughed as he finished his ice cream with two bites and swallowed it. “Let’s get rid of him sooner.”
Lin Zhaohe had no words to reply and turned to look at Zhuang Lao. Although he knew the ultimate purpose behind Zhuang Lao’s actions, seeing him pass judgment like an ordinary bystander was still somewhat amusing. He sighed, then sighed again. “I think it’s almost time.”
Everyone’s patience had its limits, and when the time came that they were sure they no longer needed to rely on Zhuang Lao as a deity, he would likely be dealt with directly. As for the methods of dealing with him, there were certainly countless possibilities.
Zhuang Lao finished reading the online insults directed at him and, satisfied, took the last bite of his ice cream. He then answered someone’s phone call. It was unclear what was said on the other end, but Zhuang Lao responded with vague sounds for a while before finally saying, “Let’s see how it goes. We shouldn’t burn bridges.”
Lin Zhaohe: “Whose call was it?”
Zhuang Lao: “The higher-ups can’t bear it anymore. They want me to take action.”
Lin Zhaohe was dumbfounded. “Why would you take action?”
Zhuang Lao, with a wicked laugh, replied, “Of course, to take care of myself—” His prowess in combat was well-known in the industry, and he never dragged his feet when it came to getting things done. It wasn’t surprising that people sought him out.
Lin Zhaohe looked at Zhuang Lao, who was gleefully excited, and couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated. Why would Zhuang Lao be so happy about the idea of taking himself out?
[A/N]:
Lin Zhaohe: What do you plan to do after this is over?
Zhuang Lao: Start an entertainment company?
Lin Zhaohe: ?
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