After waiting for a long time, there was no response at all.

Concie Village held no danger, nor any sudden incidents.

But it felt like hearing only one boot drop…

Yang Zicang and He Yishu had waited without daring to blink, until at last they were certain there were truly no other disturbances here.

“Brother Yang, ” He Yishu said, “where did you hear such gossip? Surely not from a Crossing Person? “

“I… ” Yang Zicang frowned, “I’m not sure. “

He Yishu gazed at Yang Zicang with a puzzled expression as he looked toward the distant village.

He expanded his “Musing Night. ” Though it was deep in the night, there were still batches of passersby coming and going, along with villagers who took advantage of the darkness to sift through trash, tend to the sick, and so on.

……

The next day.

Under sunlight, as Doctor Valentin, who had stayed up all night, trudged out of the clinic with droopy eyelids, Yang Zicang quickly pressed him with a serious question:

“What happened to that vanishing person last night? “

“I was about to ask you the same. “

Valentin glanced at Yang Zicang and He Yishu, as if wanting to say something.

“If you have something to say, just say it. “

“From now on, around here—some people who could have avoided becoming Crossing People may no longer be able to escape their fate. “

This meant that thing was completely gone.

He Yishu asked him gravely, “What exactly was that thing on the bed? “

“Alas, decades ago, there was a man whose power rivaled a deity’s. With a single palm strike, he could flatten an entire building; with one foot, he could send a horse-drawn carriage flying dozens or even hundreds of meters away. No one could stand against him. “

That must be a fairly powerful bloodline wielder,Yang Zicang thought to himself.

“And then what happened? “

“I heard this from some Fogfolk. They suspect that a string of disappearances decades ago were tied to this ‘Divine Spirit,’ but they couldn’t find proof. After the rumor spread, many locals believed that those people were taken by the ‘god’ to his own realm. “

“Hmph, why would they think that? “

“Because those who vanished all disappeared in an instant, without a trace. “

Valentin sighed and continued:

“Some of them were talking to their families just a second earlier. The people around might have only turned to grab a bowl, fetch a plate, or bent down to pick up something—and then they were gone forever. “

He Yishu was standing on the hard-packed dirt ground as he heard this. He glanced at Yang Zicang. “An ether field? “

Making the connection with Valentin’s shocked exclamation of “Awake? ” last night, Yang Zicang keenly sensed that the “Divine Spirit’s ” state was likely far from normal.

He nodded slightly to He Yishu in return and then fixed his gaze on the doctor.

“Is there anything else you know? Like his abilities, more details from back then, or his name? “

If we have his name, maybe we can track down information about this person in some government files.

But Valentin just shook his head.

“Besides hearing that this ‘God-Spirit’ also possesses the ability to vanish and reappear at will, and cannot be contained by most secret rooms, there’s only what the Fogfolk who later constructed those rooms told us: we could use his spirit to help cure patients suffering from ‘Real Delusions’.“

Yang Zicang was already certain—this person possessed an Ether Business Card and was unafraid of the danger of losing their way at any moment within the “Sub-Ether Force Field.“

So, had this person been attacked in the Ether World?

Yang Zicang pondered earnestly.

By noon, when Esper and the others had woken up and bought lunch to eat, everyone went to check last night’s empty room once more. It truly was just like an ordinary little house.

Lina’s father dared not linger there any longer, urging them several times to hit the road.

The coachman, who had been sleeping in the carriage, led the horse-drawn cart to the roadside nearby. The group followed the revitalized Lina toward the road.

Yang Zicang turned back to look at the dense cluster of village houses built around this small hillside.

Was it already over?

Was that person’s prophecy about himself merely a scam from the start, or had it simply failed?

What exactly was his true purpose?

Yang Zicang walked along, his mind swirling with little clarity.

……

In the afternoon.

Joshua, dressed in a slim-fitting long robe—unlike Joshua’s plain attire—more akin to a classical, elegant white coat from another era, sat on a chair.

A long wooden staff was cradled in his right arm, and he held an open book in his hands, reading in a main hall built from ancient brick masonry.

Urgent footsteps approached. A man dressed as a boatman rushed through the door, breathless.

“My lord. “

“Any news? “

“I asked around. As of now, Concie Village has reported nothing unusual, all as before. And moreover… they’ve already left. “

Joshua’s breath eased slightly, and he said…

“They’ve left… Did you visit that clinic?“

“Yes, just as you prophesied, the ether in the Sub-Ether Space has shifted. Truly a fearsome ability.” The man, dressed like a boatman, appeared deeply respectful.

Joshua nodded, “It seems Yang Zicang, staying consistent with that ‘Possibility,’ has eradicated the threat that lurked within the clinic, always ready to awaken through the villagers’ souls.“

A flicker of joy crossed the boatman’s face.

“It seems his Trait regarding the ‘Sub-Ether Force Field’ will, like that ‘Possibility,’ grow more and more pronounced.“

“Indeed.“

The sharply-featured man stood up with a faint smile, closing the book in his hand with one hand.

“They say similar magnetic fields attract one another. Once the choice begins, he can’t blame others for the encounters that keep arising.“

“It’s a pity my proclamation must align with the predicted future. Otherwise, I could use this to drag him deeper into ‘Fate Correction,’ letting the Track of Fate backlash against him more severely.“

“Is this man really that troublesome?“

“Still, our past two failures have made the era perceive him as troublesome…” Joshua glanced at the boatman and said solemnly, “But in truth, he isn’t.“

“It’s just that this is a new world, so the protection here for the Radiance Walkers is still relatively strong. “

The boatman thought for a moment and said,

“But this is, after all, only a beginning. Even if the opponent is a four-ring pinnacle, it shouldn’t cause fate to ripple so many similar traits for him. Do we need to create another opportunity for him to let this trait intensify? “

“That’s a delicate matter. After all, this kind of thing lies outside the bounds of ‘possibility.’ I’m afraid it can only be accumulated through time. “

Joshua continued,

“Besides, he already possesses a trait. With enough time, within the Ether Space, the ‘trait’ will inevitably arrange for him experiences he enjoys, causing him to immerse himself in it. “

“But this man has already altered the region’s Track of Fate on a large scale twice. Isn’t relying solely on time to let his trait evolve too slow? “

The boatman who had replied thought for a moment and then continued,

“If we discreetly push some recognized strong individuals to seek combat with him, that kind of ripples should be too slight to cause us any trouble, right? “

Joshua pondered for a moment.

“You make a valid point. After all, we are not like those brothers who stubbornly cling to dogma. Hmm… but we can’t act rashly. One misstep and we’d simply be delivering a whetstone to his trait. Let me read the newly released story of his first, and then plan it out in detail with the ‘possibilities.’ “

After the boatman left, Joshua turned and stepped into a small room.

As he traced a magical pattern in his mind, the sealed room was instantly surrounded by black mist of energy that expanded outward.

When he opened his eyes again, the small room had transformed into a dreamlike, ethereal space. In the center was a tangled black knot of vines, like a serpent coiled upon itself, biting its own tail in a death grip.

{You’re here again. You’ve already come many times this month. }

“I want to read Yang Bu’s latest story.“

{You are interfering with the protagonist of the story. }

Joshua’ s double-lidded eyes narrowed slightly. Damn it… he had only met the guy once and exchanged a few words, and now he was already being watched.

But if he didn’t do it himself, those members who would happily cast anyone who dared to alter the fate track into hell would never help him with this task.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t intend to manipulate the protagonist through reading. Besides, the advice I gave him after our meeting didn’t come from what I read here, did it?“

{You are right. I am merely giving you a warning. }

A polite, elegant smile graced Joshua’s face as he said calmly, “In that case, please allow me to read his latest story.“

{Your reading price will be doubled, and there will be no new reading permits for the rest of the month. Starting next month, you will have only three reading sessions in total. Therefore, the current price for this reading is two ‘Radiances of Glory.’ }

From the sphere-like energy knot of triskelion form, a piece of paper bearing twisted characters drifted out.

For an issuer who sells by the reading session, this flimsy piece of paper holds the same value as an entire volume of memoirs.

At the moment of pinching, the paper materialized the thought sound of the model.

｛I need to pay two “Glory Radiance ” to read.｝

｛I have completed the payment.｝

The words on the paper began to become legible.

Joshua’s faint smile gradually froze on his face.

—… Yang Bu watched in bewilderment as the energy door suddenly vanished, revealing nothing but emptiness inside…

He started reading from the beginning again, frowning intently, to make sure he hadn’t misread or missed anything.

—… Appearing again from the unknowable place, Yang Bu swiftly moved towards the inland coast through what the world calls the “Sub-Ether ” force field. His friend, Sihuo, found the strange notification “Preference for Sub-Aether Travel ” emanating from him somewhat odd, but thought himself no expert in that field, so he bit back the urge to raise the matter.

The book contained few daily details, only showing crucial plot points, so Joshua’s gaze swiftly slid down to the excerpt about “Concie Village. “

— Yang Bu, driven by curiosity, finally arrived at “Noctambule Township ” on an ox-drawn cart. “Is this the place that mysterious figure told me I must come? “

“No… “

—… Our protagonist reflected that he had even specifically taken on this escort mission and traveled all this way for that mysterious stranger of unknown origin. Partly, this was to confirm if there really existed such eerie, fate-anchored misfortune similar to what his old friend had encountered. And partly, he truly feared the possibility of some devastating calamity actually happening here.

——…Since I can change the tragedy in that place through the prophecy, then with my current strength—however much or little I may have—I should be able to do it again, right…

——Unless the “Mysterious Person ” wants me to change my own future, turning something that “could have succeeded ” into a “failure. “

“No, no! “

The man, whose figure and skin had become abnormal, looked at the back of the paper. Everything up to entering the clinic had developed according to the “possibility ” he knew, but… in that one room, he was just standing by, watching!

He did nothing!

The trajectory of fate had been changed!!!

“Damn it! “

Joshua suddenly tore the paper apart, staring in terror and fury as it shattered into pieces and fell, only for them to twist and reassemble themselves, flying into a dim, spinning energy nexus.

“My prophecy… failed?! “

{What a truly good story. }

The man lifted his alien, grim-faced visage, staring fixedly at the dark nexus.

{Even the one who orchestrates schemes finds himself burdened by them. You should know this, hmm. I won’t say more; after all, my role is merely to distribute, not to participate in your “entanglements. ” That last remark will serve as a complimentary parting word for the price hike today. }

{Farewell. }

The shadows in the room swiftly dissipated. Joshua, with his face restored to a human visage, stumbled backward against the wall.

“Who’s setting me up?… Who dares to tamper with… the fate circuit. “

……

As dusk approached, Ebiser’s two carriages caught up with another carriage of similar make. It was Caden, who had set off early that morning.

Yang Zicang cast a scrutinizing gaze and assessed the other party. Caden also had a fair amount of luggage, but none as large as the big chest among Mr. Ebiser’s belongings. Apart from two ordinary leather suitcases that his Musing Night could not glean, all other chests contained normal items.

As for those two suitcases, the man was a fellow countryman from Earth; having muddled through for decades here, he was bound to have his own secrets.

“Why are you traveling so slowly? ” the coachman asked, a little puzzled.

Caden, who was driving his own carriage, turned his head with a smile. “Do you think you’re me, with all that driving experience? “

The coachman forced an awkward fake smile.

“Dad! ” Shirley poked her head out in displeasure. The carriage beside them, driven by Caden, let out a hearty laugh.

“Sorry about that, I meant no offense. It’s just that, you see, tonight’s lodging isn’t far from Concie Village. You know, that place isn’t exactly a normal village; the village ahead is where ordinary folks would want to put up. “

“Hmm, indeed. ” Ebiser glanced at the map. “Hydrapower City is still two days away. If we don’t stop at Yellowfish Village tonight, we’ll have to camp out in the wilderness. “

“Two days to get to Hydrapower City, and there’s really only Yellowfish Village for a rest ahead, ” Caden echoed.

Yang Zicang also studied the map in his hand. Ahead lay the Yellow Fish Village, right before their eyes, and further beyond was a small town called “New Sail, ” past which it would take barely a day’s travel to reach “Hydrapower City. “

He snorted and let out a breath, then turned his head to look at the carriage and the group of people laden with luggage around him. Yang Zicang couldn’t help but feel like the Monkey King Sun Wukong facing the Tang Monk.

With a flick of the flying carpet, it should have been as effortless as one of the Monkey King’s somersaults, yet he still had to tag along with them on these winding, bumpy roads.

He Yishu leaned out of the carriage window and said, “Hey, Mr. Carden, how about we… “

He suddenly cut himself off and looked toward the little girl in the front carriage, who kept poking her head out to peer around.

Carden waved his hand and said meaningfully, “Here, we’re just regular folks. Let’s not flaunt those common things from the old continent, shall we? Hmm?“