Chapter 5

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Chapter 5: "The Preacher"

To prevent the beast tide from trampling everything, the outer perimeter of Hope City is surrounded by concrete walls that stand dozens of meters high. Because of this, the people in the outer city may never have the chance to see the rising sun on the horizon in their entire lives.

By the time Wang Xiao finished cleaning his home, the sky had turned into a blend of light and dark blue, and it was already five o’clock in the morning.

While his appearance hadn’t changed much, his body shape had transformed from noticeably overweight to a standard inverted triangle. His high metabolism during this time even made his hair grow longer, and the recently dyed dark brown color had gradually faded away during the detox process.

In the past few hours, aside from cleaning his bedding, Wang Xiao had also done many things he never dared to imagine before.

From making small cuts on his hand to stabbing a fruit knife through his palm, he even gritted his teeth to simulate a scene of being injured by someone. Aside from the pain, nothing else went wrong.

Each time, his wounds healed at an observable speed, and the punctures made by the thin blade left only lightly visible scars as soon as the weapon was withdrawn.

With his rudimentary medical knowledge, he understood that his current condition could only be explained by superpowers. But where did his superpowers come from?

The majority of superpowered individuals awaken their abilities during puberty, and if he had to say it, Wang Xiao felt he had caught the tail end of a lucky opportunity.

But things couldn’t be thought of that way; every human in Hope City had undergone countless tests since childhood, and each test showed that Wang Xiao was simply an ordinary person, with his awakening probability practically zero.

He had merely experienced a mysterious baptism before becoming what he was now…

Was further explanation even necessary?

Wang Xiao felt mixed emotions in his heart, unexpectedly feeling a sense of joy for surviving disaster and confusion about the future. After eating a little, he started to ponder where his future path might lead.

After thinking it over for the entire morning, Wang Xiao convinced himself that he shouldn’t give up on his desire for revenge for his father just because he had gained superpowers. On the contrary, he saw this ability as the best weapon to help avenge his father, a gift from the divine.

He would go to the battlefield!

But before that…

—

"Knock knock knock!"

The door of the mental health clinic was knocked on urgently, and Lin Qingliu, with a toothbrush in his mouth, opened the door and looked at the visitor outside.

The person was well-built with clear facial features, and his neatly trimmed hair fell back. It was Wang Xiao, embracing his new life.

Having just gained his ability, Lin Qingliu was very inaccurate in his melatonin dosage. In his drowsy state, he didn’t want to leave the comfort of his blankets, so he hadn’t used his powers to force himself awake. By the time he opened his eyes, it was already noon.

Seeing Wang Xiao’s serious face at the door, Lin Qingliu pointed to the "Resting" sign at the entrance, indicating the lack of necessary courtesy on Wang Xiao’s part.

Wang Xiao pointed to the LED sign outside the shop that stated "Business Hours: 8:00-22:00," indicating that he had arrived at just the right time.

Ignoring the foam slowly dripping from the corner of his mouth, Lin Qingliu quickly grabbed a marker and crossed out the "8" to change it to "12."

Now, Wang Xiao had nothing to say. However, after some back-and-forth, Lin Qingliu regained his spirits. He quickly tidied himself up, put on a still-new white coat, and welcomed Wang Xiao into the clinic.

"I…"

"You’ve awakened your superpower."

Lin Qingliu interrupted.

"You…"

"How would I know? It’s obviously a revelation from the gods, just like the images you saw in your dreams. Divine enlightenment is a manifestation of their grace."

Lin Qingliu interrupted again.

"This…"

“This ability is undoubtedly a gift from the gods.”

Lin Qingliu interjected eagerly.

“You…”

“How dare I assert such a thing? Your ability is rapid regeneration, isn’t it? I told you it’s the divine power of the gods—how could I deceive you?”

Wang Xiao had questions, but Lin Qingliu answered them all before he could even speak, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words.

After a brief pause, he continued:

“So, who exactly are you?”

“Me? I am a follower of the gods, and I am their agent in this world…”

Lin Qingliu hesitated, almost revealing that he was the creator of the gods, but quickly added, “…one of them. You may call me ‘Father’ or ‘Preacher.’”

Wang Xiao nodded in understanding, then asked:

“Why me?”

“Because you’re a sucker willing to pay that two thousand.”

Lin Qingliu stifled a laugh and replied, “I don’t know; it’s all part of His plan.”

“May I ask what I can do for… Him?”

Though his doubts had been addressed, Wang Xiao still felt uneasy about the blessing he had received, sensing that nothing in the world comes without a price.

At this question, Lin Qingliu’s expression turned serious:

“First, you must not pray to the gods in any form, including worshipping physical idols—that would be a grave blasphemy. The gods need only to be praised in your heart.”

Since both the pathways and divine enlightenment are limited, Lin Qingliu had to ensure his followers were capable and exceptional individuals. Someone like Wang Xiao, willing to pay, was an ideal candidate.

“Second, the gods have returned to this world to save humanity from the apocalypse. Your desire to join the army, which you mentioned yesterday, is the right choice. Fighting against the beast tide is fulfilling His will.”

Because abilities gained through the pathway of “flesh and blood” can only be understood and developed by constantly teetering between life and death, Lin Qingliu had no patience for passive individuals.

“Also, you must not reveal the existence of the gods to anyone. Remember, He did not manifest in this world to be praised. If you encounter any problems, you may come here to pray and confess, but once you leave, I’m just an ordinary psychologist.”

As a traveler seeking a stable life, Lin Qingliu had no desire to attract undue attention.

“Finally…”

Lin Qingliu rose from his chair and approached Wang Xiao, his tone now commanding:

“As His new follower, please sincerely praise Him once. Afterward, you may continue to silently recite in your heart.”

Lin Qingliu slowly raised his right hand, gently pressing it against Wang Xiao’s forehead as he continued:

“Repeat after me.”

Wang Xiao nodded reverently and closed his eyes.

“Praise You, Creator of the World.

“You are the beginning of all things and the end of all things.

“You shall once again save humanity from the apocalypse, as You have countless times before.

“Under Your watchful gaze, sincere followers will walk in Your footsteps until the end of this journey.

“All glory and authority belong to You; may mercy and devotion endure.”

Wang Xiao carefully repeated the words after Lin Qingliu, and when he finished, he suddenly realized that every phrase he had spoken seemed etched into the halls of his memory, effortlessly resurfacing in his mind.

He no longer harbored any doubt; no superhero could achieve such a feat. It was indeed a true divine blessing that had been bestowed upon him…

He… is real!

Having come to this realization, Wang Xiao bid farewell to Lin Qingliu and made his way to the recruitment medical examination site, his steps resolute.

Meanwhile, Lin Qingliu had tossed the sign displaying clear business hours into the trash, but after a moment’s thought, he retrieved it and placed it back in its original spot.

He then set the clinic’s status to “Resting,” gathered a few information coins, and headed to the nearby market to purchase cement for repairs.

(The reserve) The life of a divine being is simple, unadorned, and rather dull.