Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 839: Chapter 837: Ignition (11) Chapter 839: Chapter 837: Ignition (11) “Your transformation is really something!”

Blood trickled from his cheek down to the carriage, yet Clown didn’t rush to answer Fu Qian’s question, instead expressing his own thoughts.

“Now I believe that you don’t wear a mask out of cowardice, because you seem indifferent to other people’s disdain.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

If someone else had said this, Fu Qian might have thought it was sarcasm, but it was obvious that the person before him meant it as genuine praise.

“So you haven’t answered my question yet, why do you dislike carriages?”

“It’s simple, because it’s the most tedious of all things, representing the dullest aspect of this place.”

Clown gestured with both hands, mimicking a rotating motion.

“Smooth, stable, never-ending; every time I see it, it’s like in a movie theater when you’re watching an exciting scene and suddenly turn around to find a spool of film, reminding you that everything has already been predetermined.”

“I see, I thought it was an issue with the design.”

Fu Qian nodded.

Clearly, this individual, though low in Ranking, had sharp perceptions and even seemed to touch upon some fundamental truths about how this world operates.

“Wouldn’t say you’re the lucky one today, for in a little while, you should see a carriage that’s outside of the film reel.”

“Now that’s something I’m truly looking forward to!”

The excitement in Clown’s voice sounded quite genuine.

“What else do you want to know?”

What a pleasant conversation, eh!

Fu Qian was very satisfied with the reaction of the other party and was equally frank.

“Do you know where I might find flames?”

“Flames?”

Clown seemed taken aback at first, but then, as if he’d heard something amusing, he laughed heartily.

He got so excited that a flash of cold light appeared in his hand, and he flung the Dagger out.

A scream arose; the victim was a young man, shirtless in a side alley, who had been squatting there, violently ripping bloodsoaked skin from an animal.

However, in the blink of an eye, he was stabbed through the neck and nailed to the wall behind him.

Ah—

This man, who had a bloodthirsty look and wild eyes just a moment ago, screamed eerily as he tried to pull himself off the wall, but after several attempts, he didn’t budge.

The wound, made more torrential by his struggling, along with his desperate screams, enticed a few hungry dogs that had been lurking nearby to slowly gather their strength and approach.

…

“There isn’t any, trust me, my friend.”

Among the denser screams, Clown closed his eyes, seeming to rather enjoy the melody.

“In this place, there are no flames, only ashes.”

“Cold and damp, like the corner of a wall that can never be swept clean, utterly tedious.”

“Of course, do you know the greatest advantage of ashes?”

“What’s that?”

Fu Qian asked cooperatively.

“Flames die out, but ashes are forever ashes.”

Clown still kept his eyes shut.

“You’ve gained Eternity, no kind of devastation can change your essence.”

“So, even if you die, you’ll be reborn, right?”

Fu Qian nodded.

“Yes, at an unknowable time, in inconceivable ways, you will reappear.”

“For a long time, this has been my greatest pleasure, and even outsiders can enjoy this privilege.”

Clown confirmed Fu Qian’s speculation.

“Of course, after that, you’re no longer an outsider, haha…”

…

So, this philosopher from prison doesn’t know either?

After listening carefully to the Clown’s response, Fu Qian felt a sense of contemplation.

Given his style, there was almost no reason for him to deceive himself, but obviously, he had no special understanding of the concept of flame.

However, it was not a complete loss. At least it proved the speculation about rebirth, adding a bit more to his understanding of this world.

“Thank you for the answer, also, this is your stop.”

The next moment, Fu Qian spoke and casually brought the carriage to a halt.

“Right around here? There indeed seems to be a bustling air.”

The Clown finally opened his eyes, sizing up the long street ahead, deep in thought.

Honestly, this remark was somewhat eerie.

Because at this moment, there was not a soul to be seen on the street.

“Of course, two Demigods just died.”

Fu Qian, however, completely agreed with his sentiment and explained why.

Oh?

This chilling piece of news didn’t instill any fear in the Clown; on the contrary, he seemed excited.

“Is Ballard dead?”

“No.”

Fu Qian shook his head.

It’s no surprise that the Clown dislikes the Mirror Knight so much.

Such staunch followers of Order wouldn’t be to this one’s taste.

“That’s disappointing.”

It was clear this statement was full of emotion, and although his face was just a mask, the Clown even managed to make it frown.

“Any other advice?”

“No more, after all, I’m just using you.”

Fu Qian’s candor was beyond imagination.

“Enjoy yourself.”

Ha ha…

Caught off guard for a moment, the Clown looked quite delighted and leaped off the carriage.

…

As it turned out, though his Ranking wasn’t high, the Clown certainly had a Talent for finding amusement.

A few minutes later, Fu Qian walked into a building underneath neon lights.

Compared to the outside, this obviously aged bar showed a stark contrast in liveliness, filled, at a glance, with flamboyant men and women.

The air was laced with the peculiar scent of alcohol fermented in human bodies, each person’s differing from the next, whirling and pulsating with deafening music.

And now, among this muddled air, lingered the stench of blood.

Inside the crowd, the Clown, who had entered earlier, was seriously dancing to the music.

And the uniquely crafted leather mask on his face attracted quite a few admirers—until someone realized it was not a mask.

Ah—

A woman who had approached to kiss the mask screamed sharply as she recognized the extraordinary material and frantically retreated.

“Don’t be nervous, be happy.”

However, the Clown didn’t give her a chance to escape, and not only pulled her back but the next moment ripped off the face skin and slapped it onto the woman’s face.

“I am best at making people laugh.”

With the smiling mask on, the woman’s shrieks nearly tore through the roof.

Unfortunately, no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t even remove the layer of skin.

“Indeed, an interesting mask.”

Amidst the chaos, a voice finally rose.

A lady who had stood up from a corner of the bar silently approached the side.

And with that casual remark, the woman struggling in the Clown’s hands was taken by her, and she effortlessly tore off the face.

Miraculously, in her hands, the blood-dripping face skin shrank instantly, indeed turning into a red and white mask.

Weighing it in her hand for a few moments, she tossed the mask back to the Clown and wiped the blood from her hands.

“But next time it’d be better if you cleaned it up a bit. Otherwise, it might disgust the ladies.”