"A long time ago, Central Island was not managed by the standardized systems we see today."
"In those days, many Soul Practitioners suffered abuse at the hands of their Star Lords. They had nowhere to voice their grievances; the truth only came to light when they died and their fragments returned to the source."
"But Central Island turned a blind eye to this, and so the pollution continued to spread."
"Finally, one day, a Soul Practitioner who had just been awakened from the annals of history witnessed his brother covered in blood."
"Driven by instinct, he tore through space-time. Ignoring his brother’s harsh warnings to stay away, he fled the island and ended up in a forest within a different dimension, where he began his life as a vagabond."
"Oh~" the young female Star Lord interrupted expressionlessly. "This must be the legendary 'Wanderer.'"
"Indeed."
Yun He did not mind the interruption. He continued reading the text from the book in a gentle, soft voice.
"During his travels, he met his mentor and lover, but they were separated by an unforeseen accident."
"Lost and helpless, he ultimately chose to remain in that forest, stubbornly waiting for that person to return."
"He had been taught to treat humans with kindness, to lend a hand to the weak, and to live in harmony with the creatures of the woods."
"So, even when the humans he rescued met him with vitriol and threw stones at him, he endured it all in silence."
The Star Lord tilted her head. "Wow, what a saint."
"Until one day, he was discovered by the Star Lords."
"The earnest invitations and displays of goodwill from the Star Lords finally made him realize that the tragedy he witnessed upon his birth could be changed. Thus, he accepted Lady Yi Meng’s invitation and even moved the heart of the awakened Sword Immortal. Through their collective efforts, the atrocities of Central Island could no longer be hidden and were finally brought to justice."
"The Wanderer had long grown unaccustomed to life on Penglai Island. Furthermore, his heart belonged elsewhere. Once the matters were settled, he returned to the forest alone."
"When he returned to the woods and helped travelers once more, he unexpectedly received long-awaited kindness and care."
"And most miraculously of all, shortly after this happened, his lover appeared."
The Star Lord blinked hesitantly. "Wow... oh, what a coincidence."
Yun He smiled warmly. "Everything turned out for the better. Perhaps this is what they call destiny?"
"Reunited with his lover, the Wanderer pursued him stubbornly, even when the other hesitated, retreated, or avoided him."
"In the end, the lover yielded to the Wanderer’s pleas. They decided never to part again and to wander the worlds together."
"After that, no Star Lord ever saw the Wanderer again. Presumably, the two of them left together."
"It is a simple, heartwarming love story." Yun He closed the book, but when he looked up, he saw only the young girl’s tense face. He frowned slightly in concern. "What is the matter, Little Highness? Are you feeling unwell?"
The girl’s lips curled downward, and her voice trembled. "This is clearly a... a horror story! QAQ!"
"How could it be? It is clearly a beautiful tale." Yun He was puzzled. He reached out to feel the girl’s forehead. "Is Your Highness feeling sick?"
"No, no, no." The girl shook her head like a rattle. She grabbed Yun He’s hand and spoke earnestly. "Really, if you think about the details of this story, it’s terrifying."
"If you don't believe me, let me ask you some specific questions."
Yun He sat upright. "Please, ask away, Little Highness."
"First, what exactly was the identity of that Wanderer’s lover?"
Yun He pondered for a moment before answering, "There has never been a definitive answer... However, according to the records of the Star Lords at the time, they observed that the animals around the Wanderer were unusually intelligent. They suspected the mysterious lover had projected his consciousness downward to quietly guard the Wanderer. Most Star Lords assumed the lover was a spirit from the forest who entered dreams. At the moment of their reunion, the lover manifested from the body of a white fox that had been by the Wanderer’s side."
The girl shrunk back. "That’s... even scarier!"
What "guarding"? That was clearly cold-blooded surveillance!
"I’ll keep going. You said the attitude of the travelers in the forest changed drastically after the Wanderer returned from the island. Are there detailed records of the ratio? The ratio of travelers who treated the Wanderer with kindness before and after?"
Yun He knit his brows in distress. "That... was never specifically calculated." Remembering something, he added, "However, when the Wanderer first appeared, he was very popular and highly discussed on the forums. The relevant record threads should have logs of the events."
The two of them scoured the forums and finally compiled the data.
Before the Wanderer went to Central Island, the probability of him being insulted or questioned by passersby was 80%. Almost every act of kindness met with negative feedback.
But after he returned from his single trip to the island, that probability plummeted to 10%. In other words, almost no one showed him malice anymore.
This change... was far too abnormal.
Yun He, who had initially disagreed with the Star Lord’s assessment, also noticed the discrepancy upon seeing the data.
How could the people within a single dimension change so rapidly as a whole?
This eerie shift in emotion felt as if it were being manipulated by someone...
"And look at this." The girl pointed at the forum records, analyzing them seriously. "The Wanderer fled Central Island the moment he woke up. Before accepting Sister Yi Meng’s invitation, he had no contact with other Star Lords. Why was he able to accomplish all those things the moment he stepped onto the island?"
"He saw through the island’s darkness, knew the invitation protocols, and understood the basic information regarding Central Island and the Sword Immortal..."
"He was a Soul Practitioner wandering in the woods. Who would have told him all that?"
Yun He’s expression turned grave. "That is true indeed."
The girl continued her output: "I believe there is a high probability that the so-called 'lover' told him. Moreover, it was he who arranged the Wanderer’s subsequent actions."
Go to the island—expose the truth—refuse to stay—return.
"Could it be that the companion was actually being controlled the entire time?" Yun He felt a sudden sense of dread, his expression anxious. "Then, their departure after the island’s affairs were settled...?"
The girl gripped Yun He’s hand tightly, her excitement peaking. "You finally understand! This is the horror story I was talking about!"
"Setting aside how that 'lover' manipulated the emotions of the humans in that world, the mere fact that he never appeared while the Wanderer was being rejected and mistreated time and again—choosing instead to hide inside animals and watch from the shadows—is terrifying enough!!"
What kind of malice was that!
If those travelers were bad people, then teach the Wanderer more! Teach him how to face that malice, teach him how to find people worth helping!
And why hide in animals? Why couldn't they meet? Why only appear when others started showing the Wanderer kindness?
While the Wanderer was being treated coldly, what exactly were you looking at while huddled inside an animal?
"Furthermore, after sensing the Star Lords' acceptance and goodwill toward the Wanderer, he guided the Wanderer to resolve those issues. When everyone thought it was over and let their guard down, he suddenly appeared and took the Wanderer away as if it were the most natural thing in the world!"
The internal strife of the island had consumed most of the Star Lords' energy. The high-ranking Star Lords, led by Yi Meng, were busy throughout the entire process. The sudden improvement in the travelers' attitudes, the sudden appearance of the mysterious lover...
Under the weight of such a massive, rapid-fire combination of events, which Star Lord would have had the time to stop and think!?
The girl lowered her eyes, her tone deep:
"Think about it. When everyone thinks it’s a happy ending, who would care where the Wanderer actually went?"
The Star Lords of that time were all happy that the Wanderer had achieved his heart's desire, yet they failed to notice the loopholes and peculiarities behind that so-called "happiness."
Where did the Wanderer actually go?
Yun He felt a surge of palpitations and a chill down his spine. His voice trembled slightly. "Then, that companion..."
But hundreds of years had passed. Even if they wanted to do something now, they were powerless.
***
In the void, someone opened their eyes.
This was originally a chaotic and disordered world.
Because of this, the God it birthed had long been saturated with malice.
Human suspicion, fear, greed, sin... these emotions polluted the newborn God and, in turn, became the power the God controlled.
He was an anomaly.
A distortion.
A... pitch-black God.
***
Until that day, when a Soul Practitioner from another world arrived, tearing through space-time.
It was a pure, ignorant soul.
The punishment the malice-saturated God devised for this uninvited guest was to face the malice of this world head-on.
The God slipped into the Soul Practitioner’s blank dreams, bringing both light and darkness.
He said: *You shall help others.*
He said: *You shall be kind.*
He said: *You shall keep watch.*
The young Soul Practitioner listened submissively, his white hair falling forward. His fair, slender neck looked like that of a lamb offered for sacrifice.
The God smiled and made a soft promise.
He said: *One day, I shall grant you freedom and happiness.*
The God spoke these false words carelessly, not believing them himself, his heart filled with expanding, splattering malice.
The creatures of the forest were His eyes.
Those hollow, heartless eyes watched the boy at every moment.
He waited.
For the day this clean soul would be stained gray.
***
Another meaningless act of persistence.
Have you not realized yet? The ugliness of this world.
The boy lowered his eyes and picked up the white fox at his feet, burying his face in the fox’s soft, fluffy fur.
For a long time.
He felt a spreading dampness.
The white fox’s originally perked tail drooped unconsciously.
Yes, it is just this cruel.
He thought, with a trace of emotion he did not yet understand.
This world, and this God, are both so nauseating.
***
The matters between them required no interference from outsiders.
Even if that was where the boy truly belonged.
So, let these interruptions end quickly.
Is this "perfect" ending to your satisfaction?
Ah, I almost forgot.
Since there are traces of outsiders, this forest is no longer suitable.
Let us leave together.
***
But there were things even the God did not know.
For instance, the young Soul Practitioner had once seen the God’s distorted, hideous, pitch-black divine form beneath the disguise in a dream.
But he said nothing.
In the dream, he remained as steady as ever, gazing into the God’s deep blue eyes like the most devout of believers.
Upon waking, the young Soul Practitioner lay on the soft green grass and slowly opened his eyes.
*Can everything I am change you?*
He quietly watched the pitch-black night sky.
Even in such a deathly silent night, there were a few stars struggling to shine.
And before long, the sun would illuminate this sky.
Everything can change.
*That black,*
*Distorted,*
*Aching,*
*God who is struggling and crying out for help.*
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
流浪者 | The Wanderer | A legendary Soul Practitioner who lived in a forest.
易梦 | Yi Meng | A high-ranking Star Lord mentioned in the history of Central Island.
剑仙 | Sword Immortal | A powerful entity/Soul Practitioner awakened during the Wanderer's era.
蓬莱岛 | Penglai Island | A location associated with the Star Lords, likely a sub-section of Central Island.
怪异 | Monstrosity / Anomaly | Used to describe the nature of the dark God.
扭曲 | Distortion | Used to describe the nature of the dark God.
