Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 1719: Chapter 1714: Bitter Fruit (8)

One of the core differences between Dreams and reality lies in the latter being more idealistic, making it less reliable to trust appearances.

As the Master of the Dream Realm with experience managing multiple projects, Fu Qian has always had a deep understanding of this.

Thus, the moment he confirmed this place to be possibly unreal, he began considering employing the weapon of conspiracy theory to heighten his vigilance.

Question all causal relationships, negate all surface appearances, assume that every action has hidden motives.

He even recently exchanged views with the expert Lady Cecilia on this matter, benefiting greatly.

Once adopting such a viewpoint, the more logical and reasonable things seem on the surface, the more they contain earth-shattering conspiracies beneath.

Such as the initial summary made — the information given by all shows no contradictions.

If interpreted positively, it means that a group of people is genuinely evading Darkness, and for various reasons, they offered invaluable information to him, an outsider.

But if it follows the path where everyone is evil, their actions take on a completely different interpretation — displaying diverse attitudes and perfect behaviors to induce him to stay in the church to the greatest extent.

This even includes the seemingly contradictory actions of Miss Bride, who shouted for him to come out only to go mad upon refusal, thus acting as a typical role of a reverse example from this perspective.

And the group that has never spoken remains entirely supportive.

The four of them impeccably execute their roles without a trace.

From a logical standpoint, both interpretations are feasible.

However, as the mission objective has still not appeared, it is impossible to use that as a basis for judgment.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to verify — why not fight fire with fire, disguise yourself as a double agent to make the other side guess, thus observing their reaction?

The action of directly sending out the Spiritual Medicine earlier served this purpose.

According to the first interpretation, although Miss Bride seemed perfectly normal, her essence had already gone completely mad under the onslaught of Darkness.

After ruthlessly rejecting a second invitation to ”elope,” her distortion could no longer be hidden, explosively deciding to destroy his survival tool as revenge.

Facing such a scenario, the normal reaction naturally would be to safeguard the item, not allowing her to succeed. However, he chose to hand it over directly.

Under such an abnormal action, Miss Bride will laboriously deduce his true intentions and further choose different treatments for the potions to be observed.

As for which choice she makes, which signifies whether it’s not the first situation, whether the conspiracy theory holds?

There’s no need to determine which one is. As long as she ”guessed,” it’s enough.

Why would a person unable to restrain their madness speculate his actual intention due to a small abnormal action?

Unless her madness is a façade.

...

The only choice Miss Bride can make to keep the situation paradoxically mystifying is to destroy the tool at the moment he passed it.

And although she made amends afterward, even visually striking by directly drinking the potion, the initial behavior deviating from her character cannot be erased.

Even the final choice, seeming insane, but from an observer’s perspective, it is easy to conclude that such behavior nearly brings him the most psychological stress —

Repeatedly showing madness to restore character while naturally drawing out the darker, more terrifying things hidden in the Darkness.

Such as the ”it” tormenting her.

In a nutshell, in Fu Qian’s eyes, this could be described as a behavior that becomes increasingly suspicious the more you describe it.

Moreover, although elusive, the sound is still subtly approaching.

However, within Fu Qian’s straightforward waiting, ”it” never came near enough.

Until a candle flame ignited in the Darkness from nonexistence, suddenly taking over the view, flickering fiercely.

...

Truly interesting.

Once the flame in vision dimmed again, Fu Qian easily realized that it was not truly a candle flame, but a reflection in a pair of water-lustrous eyes, where he could even see his own image.

Most notably, these eyes did not even belong to a living person.

Thick black veils, vibrant red lips.

Similar to Hilary buried in the church basement, but much smaller, it is a doll seated opposite him.

And it wasn’t the only one.

He was presently in a wooden cabin, facing one corner.

Including ”Hilary,” a total of five differently shaped dolls formed a semicircle surrounding him.

The remaining four, Miss Bride, the old lady, the middle-aged person, the crestfallen one, were surprisingly the exact refugees from the church.

All of them, like ”Hilary,” kept their eyes fixed on him, reflecting the flickering flames.

”You need to cooperate with treatment; you’re not going to get better doing this.”

Just then, an unheard voice emerged from behind.

Not young, but ill-intentioned, devoid of any noble character to save lives.

Fortunately, Fu Qian didn’t mind that, focusing only on the information carried within.

So all the previous experiences were an actual treatment process, and the one behind is the real Doctor?

Indeed, seeing the Doctor should be in a clinic; reliance on religious architecture’s feudal superstitions alone won’t work.

Feeling emotional, Fu Qian had already turned around.

It was indeed a place resembling a clinic.

Aside from various bottles and jars, at a glance, he could even see a chair similar for diagnostics, and beds covered in leather on metal frames.

Between their embrace, a small, green-eyed, gray-haired, long-chinned man scrutinized this side with a bizarre expression.

...

”Hey, remember me? Your attending Doctor, Dorian?”

Meeting Fu Qian’s gaze, the latter also proactively continued to speak, even introducing himself.

”Sorry, I don’t remember.”

Unfortunately, Fu Qian didn’t entertain, shaking his head honestly.

”No worries; it’s normal not to remember after taking that potion, or the treatment simply cannot proceed.”

Feeling no displeasure, Dorian expressed understanding while signaling toward Fu Qian’s hand.

So, cooperation with the Forgetfulness Potion was still necessary?

This treatment method truly fears not receiving fees?

Looking at an empty bottle there, Fu Qian internally retorted.

”Though it’s strange, how did you know staying in Darkness long enough, the treatment would end?”

Dorian pondered aloud, genuinely curious.

”I didn’t know, just have heavy contrarian tendencies.”

Unfortunately, Fu Qian remained shockingly candid.

”Everyone didn’t want me to go out, but I just wanted to see what ’it’ was... only didn’t get to in the end.”