Foolish play of the gods

Chapter 4: Seeking Sons from Guanyin · Everyone was stunned. · As the saying goes, a name might be wrong, but a nickname never is. · In the [Faith Game], the base population of male players choosing to become Priests isn't large, and even fewer choose to follow the path of [Nurturing]. · When these two rare choices are combined and dropped right in front of you, the odds are practically like hitting the lottery. · "Fertility Guanyin" was the players' nickname for a "Progeny Priest." The reason for the title was simple: when a Priest of [Nurturing] blesses or heals a companion, there is often a chance the companion will end up "pregnant." · This side effect, originating from the deity's [Divine Decree Rite], doesn't cause a literal pregnancy. The "gestation" isn't limited to a uterus, and the thing being nurtured isn't necessarily a standard life form. It could be any random combination of biological classifications, and the appearances were diverse and bizarre. · Because the will of [Nurturing] reveres procreation, using divine power can lead to various "passive conception" dilemmas that leave victims caught between laughter and tears. · However, one shouldn't underestimate this accidental "conception." For every "new life" gestating inside the healed person, the healing effectiveness increases by thirty percent. · Consequently, a Progeny Priest is a "healer" with an incredibly high output. · Song Yawen waved his hands in shock, his head shaking as fast as a desk fan. · "Brother, I’m begging you, don't heal me. I’d rather take my chances with a Priest from an opposing faith than tolerate you knocking up my stomach!" · To him, accepting a heal from a male Progeny Priest was worse than death. · If he got hit with a heal, how could he show his face again? · What was he supposed to tell people—that he’d carried his male teammate’s "child"? · Ugh— · Nangong was also shocked. As a Priest herself, she knew exactly how rare "male Progeny Priests" were within their community. · To encounter such a lottery-level rarity left her a bit amused, but mostly, she felt grateful toward Cheng Shi. · She knew he was trying to persuade the teammates to accept her. She appreciated the gesture, but since the faiths of the other two were still unknown, she didn't dare expose her own. · After all, players on the path of [Submergence] were often subject to heavy criticism. · Even if she and Cheng Shi weren't on opposing sides. · Xia Wan stood to the side and saw Nangong's hesitation. It was this very hesitation that made her realize Nangong wasn't a mortal enemy of [Nurturing]. She suddenly felt a sense of relief, though her face remained cold. · "I am a Creation Hunter." · A Creation Hunter—a Hunter who followed [Nurturing]. · "?" · Another [Nurturing] follower. · Everyone was surprised that someone as icy as Xia Wan would choose to follow [Nurturing], but Song Yawen’s expression was the one that truly soured. · He, too, had realized that Nangong wasn't an enemy of [Nurturing]. However, the paths of [Life] and [Submergence] each only had three deities. That meant there was a fifty percent chance she was his enemy. · Just as he was debating whether to hide his faith, Chen Chong waved a hand, interrupting the exchange. · "We didn't cause the path divergence, and there's no need for us to carry too much stress over it. Since the two Priests aren't opposites, we'll just split the healing duties." · He pointed at Nangong, then at himself and Cao Sansui. · "Nangong will handle the Mage and me. As for the followers of [Life], you guys handle yourselves." · Turning to Xia Wan, he added, "Since you’re a follower of the same path, I assume you won't reject Cheng Shi?" · Xia Wan gave the decent-looking Progeny Priest a casual glance. Her expression didn't change as she gave a slight nod. · "..." · Xia Wan’s cold demeanor hid any awkwardness, but Cheng Shi’s expression became quite subtle. · Even more subtle was Song Yawen. · "I..." · Truthfully, Song Yawen wanted to refuse, but he knew better. · They had wasted enough time at the start. Since everyone else had agreed to the arrangement, it would be tactless to keep complaining. · A team couldn't afford a massive rift right at the beginning. · If all else failed, he’d just have to make sure he didn't get hurt. · Accepting treatment from a male "Fertility Guanyin"? He simply couldn't do it! · Chen Chong effortlessly took command of the group. Seeing no further objections, he addressed them again. · "Enough talk. The trial gives us thirty minutes to an hour of prep time. We don't know the cause of this War yet, so we won't leave the Spawn Point rashly. During this time, everyone should complete their [Divine Decree Rite] as quickly as possible and then find a position to hold." · The [Divine Decree Rite] was the ritual where players prayed for blessings from their respective deities. · Once a player chose a deity, they were granted an initial [Faith Talent]. After clearing a [Talent Trial], they would be granted additional, varied [Faith Talents]. · Depending on their score on the [Road to Divinity], each player could carry a different number of talents. · These talents greatly enhanced a player's combat capability and served as the cornerstones for different class builds. · Of course, talents were divided into active and passive. To use an active talent in a trial, one had to first practice the deity's [Divine Decree Rite] at the start of each session. · For example, the [Divine Decree Rite] for [Nurturing] was "Embrace procreation, create new life." · In plain English: mating. · If you want to get stronger, get busy. · As the primary deity of the [Life] path, [Nurturing] was both the prelude to life and the origin of all things. It harmonized Yin and Yang and worshipped multiplication. · Therefore, to pray for its blessing, one had to lead by example. · But since trials used random matchmaking and everyone started as strangers, no one was going to overcome their embarrassment and shame to "help out" just because a [Nurturing] follower "really needed to mate." · Thus, this [Divine Decree Rite] was very difficult to achieve perfectly. · However, humans are creative creatures. · When a problem can't be solved through normal means, people often invent "shady" workarounds to reach the same goal. · Regarding the act of mating, there were many methods that were similar in form and spirit, such as... · Self-gratification. · This great invention saved countless introverted [Nurturing] followers, though it also drew the ire of certain players. · Someone had once denounced the players who invented this solution on the [Nurturing] faith channel, furiously claiming it was a desecration of the deity. · But this accusation was refuted from a very specific angle by a group of silver-tongued "heretics." · They claimed: · As long as they were thinking of Them while performing the [Divine Decree Rite], it wasn't desecration—it was an offering. · As for what was being offered... · Well, if you know, you know. · No one could say for sure if the deity liked it, but the point was, no one dared to say the deity didn't like it. After all, [Nurturing] worshipped procreation. · However... today was different. · There were two followers of [Nurturing] on-site. · A man and a woman. · Everyone knew there was usually no danger during the initial grace period, so they dispersed with a silent understanding to begin their respective [Divine Decree Rites]. · Only Cheng Shi and Xia Wan remained standing where they were, motionless and silent. · Awkward. The kind of awkwardness that makes your toes curl until they cramp. · Although Cheng Shi kept a smile on his face, it was practically frozen. · He never expected this icy Hunter girl to be a follower of [Nurturing]. If he’d known, he would have just told them his real faith. · This was a nightmare. · Fortunately, Xia Wan didn't seem to feel the awkwardness. Her expression remained as cold as ever. Seeing that Cheng Shi hadn't moved for a while, she was the one to speak first. · Her tone, however, remained frigid. · "Together, or separate?" · Honestly, Xia Wan was good-looking. · Her short hair was sharp and clean, her features cool and stylish, and most importantly, those long legs... · Tsk. · Since the girl wasn't objecting, maybe... · "Separate. I like men." · Cheng Shi rubbed his hands nervously as he squeezed the words out. · "?" · For the first time, Xia Wan’s cold expression shifted. Her suspicious gaze swept up and down Cheng Shi for a long moment. Then, she let out a strange "Mm" and turned to leave. · Only after she was gone did Cheng Shi let out a quiet sigh of relief. · Good grief, he almost trapped himself. · If he had actually agreed, and then failed to receive the blessing of [Nurturing] after the [Divine Decree Rite], wouldn't all his lies have been for nothing? · Being caught in a lie was one thing, but pretending to be a follower of [Nurturing] to pull that off... · That would have been a whole different kind of fraud. · He wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed. Just as he was about to start his actual [Divine Decree Rite], he frowned, turned around, and spoke into a nearby corner. · "Enjoying the show?" · "..." · Hidden in the shadows, Song Yawen hadn't expected Cheng Shi to find him. Looking like he’d seen a ghost, he backed away while shaking his head. · "Sorry, professional habit! I wasn't enjoying it! No, no, no, I'm not good-looking, you're good-looking! Brother, I like women, really! We aren't a match! You can't force these things! I’m leaving! I haven't finished my [Divine Decree Rite] yet! Goodbye!" · Song Yawen scrambled away. Cheng Shi frowned at the spot where he’d been hiding—a triangular shadow created by an uncollapsed wall foundation. · He walked over thoughtfully and kicked aside the rubble in the shadows, revealing a freshly dead white mouse beneath the ruins. · "A follower of [Death]. Interesting." · The little interlude didn't affect Cheng Shi too much. He looked around to ensure no one was near and slowly opened his right hand. · In the blink of an eye, a six-sided die appeared out of thin air in his palm. · The faces of the die were pale as bone, but the pips glowed with a golden brilliance. · A playful smirk curled on Cheng Shi's lips as he prayed devoutly to the die: · "A lie yesterday, a mockery today. · Yesterday I deceived a follower of [Nurturing], so today... · I am a follower of [Nurturing]." · As soon as the words left his mouth, an invisible ripple of nothingness shimmered out from the die, gradually enveloping Cheng Shi's entire body. · A sharp glint flashed in Cheng Shi's eyes as they surged with the radiance of [Nurturing]. · The [Divine Decree Rite] was over; the blessing was complete. · Today, Cheng Shi was a follower of [Nurturing], a Progeny Priest. · [END]