Chapter 165

Chapter 165

"Shouldn't the Seed of Desire not move around on its own?"

Lin asked, though he remembered reading this in his textbook, what if he had misremembered?

Hui Cui didn't know why he was asking this, tilting her head slightly, her snow-white short hair falling to her shoulders, and replied with equal confusion: "I don't think so...?"

Even if the Illusory Tree of Desire that grew in Shuye Azari's heart was killed with a single shot, Hui Cui still didn't know what the Seed of Desire looked like before it was planted in someone's heart.

This abhorrent thing is called the 'Seed of Divine Grant' by the Aberrant Cult. It is said that it takes years of continuous sacrifice, using the lives of living, desiring individuals, to bestow such power to an ordinary seed.

The key point of this sacrifice is that it cannot be interrupted for even a day.

It is very difficult to persist until the seed gains power, and even if one can persist, it is also possible that during the sacrifices, the seed might sprout or die.

From this, it can be seen how difficult it is for the Aberrant Cult to obtain the Seed of Desire, which is why they immediately use any Seed of Desire they successfully create, and this is understandable.

Furthermore, due to their uncontrollable desires, even the Inquisition, which has been at odds with the Aberrant Cult for over a thousand years, has never confiscated a complete Seed of Desire from them.

Even the textbooks at the Inquisitor School only describe the container used to preserve the Seed of Desire—outside of the textbooks, this description often appears in multiple-choice questions and true/false questions—there isn't even a hand-drawn picture of the seed.

Ultimately, this leads to the inquisitors, who have suffered through countless exercises, reflexively thinking of the Seed of Desire when they see a wooden box containing soil.

As for whether the seed can move around on its own... the textbook says it has no activity before being planted, so it shouldn't move around, right?

Hui Cui wasn't sure either.

Especially, she found it strange why Lin would ask such a question.

Lin noticed Hui Cui's puzzled gaze.

"..." Under this gaze, Lin remained silent.

Inferring the trail of the demon and providing some evidence was one thing. Inferring that the demon hadn't opened the wooden box and making up a story out of thin air would be too absurd.

Moreover, he was likely another victim of the Seed of Desire, and saying the box had never been opened would seem like he was trying to exonerate himself in others' eyes.

But the wooden box had indeed never been opened, not once, even when it was in the hands of the dead demon.

Lin suspected that there was nothing inside the box, and worrying about it would be a waste of both emotion and manpower.

"Yes, don't worry," Hui Cui, who was very anxious, reassured him when Lin didn't speak, "This matter won't be reported to anyone else. Currently, only I and Director Ming know about it. As for the archaeologists responsible for the autopsy, their memories have been sealed."

But you've already said it in this public place... Feeling somewhat frustrated, Lin frowned, pondering how to expose this empty city strategy. Then he noticed something.

Apart from Hui Cui and him, all other sounds in this space had disappeared.

Lin looked at Director Ming, whose face was mostly covered by bandages, and she nodded at him.

He then looked to the side, where Lingfei Ge's team, along with the Holy Light Knight and Elemental Mage assigned to his protection, had already captured the five Shadowwalkers. They were talking while waiting for their colleagues to come and take the prisoners away.

But Lin couldn't hear their voices.

Director Ming, as a Sealer, had isolated the surrounding sounds.

Realizing what this meant, Lin looked back at Hui Cui.

"I will escort you home on your leave," Hui Cui explained, "After I leave, two teams will take turns to prevent the Aberrant Cult from attacking you. Even the substation behind your house has received orders to pay more attention to your home. Not to mention, starting Monday, the self-moving battlefield assistance terminal, the 'Gift,' will be stationed at your house. This is protection, but everyone understands that it is also surveillance.

"Your life is under the Inquisition's watch twenty-four hours a day. The Seed of Desire cannot penetrate these layers of defense to reach you; I am certain of this."

Hui Cui's expression was serious.

He added earnestly, "Accusing you under these circumstances would only damage morale. So I believe that the information about the Seed of Desire should remain between me, Director Ming, and you."

Even if other subordinates were threatened by the Seed of Desire, Hui Cui would handle it the same way.

The Seed of Desire currently has no way to reach Lin, and Lin remains trustworthy. Therefore, as the Chief Inquisitor, he doesn't need a divided Inquisition due to differing opinions on handling the situation.

And Lin could see that he truly believed this.

At this moment, he treated Lin just like anyone else who might be threatened by the Seed of Desire, without giving him special treatment. If Lin were an ordinary target, he might argue with Hui Cui over this lack of special treatment.

But Hui Cui Dover was someone willing to trust many people, and Lin had always known this.

Because of this, in Lin's eyes, he became—

The feeling of frustration vanished, and the corners of Lin's mouth curled up slightly, but he said, "Everyone will find out eventually.

"Even if you seal the information," he explained, "the Aberrant Cult will spread the news about the Seed of Desire far and wide. Otherwise, why would they send this wooden box to Spire City?

"They hired the Shadowblade to attack me and create chaos around me. They might also hire the Plague Seminar and the Resurrection Society. So it's only a matter of time before the four major evil cults unite to attack me, leading to a situation neither you nor I can explain."

Hui Cui wanted to say, "I—"

"You can protect me, I know," Lin interrupted, "but I can protect myself too."

Of course, Hui Cui knew this, but—

Lin's smile widened, and he said, "First, I remember that the amplification of desire and the gradual corruption of the heart by the Seed of Desire doesn't always succeed, right?"

Hui Cui knew who Lin was referring to, "The Saint Qiaofan of the Church of the Mother of Blood?"

Yes, although the effects of the Seed of Desire are terrifying, even in the brief history of this world, there have been cases where individuals, after being implanted with the Seed of Desire, relied on their willpower to suppress it and successfully resisted it throughout their lives.

He was canonized after his death and is the only recorded person to have defeated the Seed of Desire.

"Since there is a precedent," Lin stated firmly, "it means that others can do it too."

"But..." Director Ming couldn't help but interject.

"Once the Aberrant Cult's operation succeeds and rumors spread throughout the city, if inexplicable changes occur in me, just assume I have indeed been implanted with the Seed of Desire," Lin interrupted Director Ming, his tone softening slightly, "Announce that I have been invaded by the Seed of Desire, explaining my resolve to emulate Saint Qiufan, while the Inquisition must also be on guard against me. This way, it won't put you or the Inquisition in an awkward position."

"But! If that happens!" Hui Cui's voice was already filled with urgency, "All the consequences of the rumors and being scrutinized by everyone will fall solely on you!"

"If I am truly implanted with the Seed of Desire, what's wrong with me bearing it?" Lin said calmly, "Besides, I won't bear it alone. If you continue to trust me, aren't you sharing the burden with me?"

He pulled off the bandage covering his eyes, revealing a pair of dark eyes that glowed with the golden light of the ritual array, meeting Hui Cui's gaze.

"My treatment is much better than Saint Qiufan's back then, because there will be an apostle vouching for me," Lin said, "This apostle has keen perception; even the slightest change in my personality due to the Seed of Desire would certainly be noticed."

It was the truth. Recalling the perilous experience in the Mother of Sourceblood cathedral a few days ago, he felt cold sweat breaking out just thinking about it.

But after the cold sweat, he actually found this acceptable.

What is the Seed of Desire? He was a malevolent deity who sprouted from pollution.

The Seed of Desire might silently corrode the heart, but compared to the pollution that forcibly strips away humanity and memories in a violent upheaval, it was nothing.

He had persisted even in the midst of pollution, and he hoped to persist forever.

However...

No one can predict the future, not even the gods.

Perhaps he would fail, perhaps he would forget his way home in the eternal vibration, forget his parents, forget Snow Claws, Short Tail, Blue Phosphorus Gray, Little Black Spot, Luo An, forget Moses, forget Hui Cui, and treat the believers who now sincerely believe in him as mere toys or pawns made of flesh and blood...

Perhaps, he would become unrecognizable; perhaps, he would become a standard malevolent deity.

"If you really notice any changes in me."

Lin said, reaching out to grasp the fiery red revolver hanging at Hui Cui's side.

He held the barrel, and with his other hand, he lifted Hui Cui's hand, placing the gun handle in Hui Cui's palm.

At that moment, the dark eyes that gazed into Hui Cui's shone brighter than the golden magic light of the ritual array.

"At that time."

Lin smiled, raising the muzzle to point at his own heart.

"Chief Judge, kill me."

But if he could hold on...

He wanted to be the first person to rise from an Inquisitor to a Pillar God, infuriating the one who set up the trap with the Seed of Desire!

Lin clenched his teeth in his mind.

In the next second, he felt the hand he had lifted to Hui Cui's grip tighten.

Hui Cui's grip was so strong that Lin had never imagined that one day Hui Cui would lose control of the superhuman strength he possessed as an apostle.

Oh no, Lin realized a bit late.

For a pursuer, hearing such words from the pursued must be quite unpleasant?

And Hui Cui had already taken on so much responsibility; how could he add more to his burden?

Drawing a sharp breath, Lin hurriedly thought about what to say to ease Hui Cui's tension, but before he could think of anything, Hui Cui, who was still locked in his gaze, spoke in a deep voice.

He said, "Alright."

From the side, Director Ming: "Chief Judge...!"

Although the other world lacked the culture of flag-planting, this didn't stop Director Ming from feeling that the young couple's words were too ominous.

As Lin's non-direct superior, even though she had witnessed Lin sacrificing his heart last week, she only had a general understanding of him. But today, she truly recognized how excellent yet crazy Lin was.

Indeed, there was a reason why the Chief Judge loved him.

But these words were still very ominous!

Director Ming tried to say something to make their vows sound better.

But Hui Cui moved faster, the red light flickering as both revolvers disappeared.

Having put away the dangerous items that made him tremble, he did his best to smile at Lin.

"If we're going to do this, let's start by helping you control your desires?"

"Huh?" Lin suddenly had a bad feeling.

With his mindset adjusted, Hui Cui's smile became genuine.

He said, "The demon we killed this time didn't have a corresponding bounty, so there's no reward."

What?! Lin was shocked.

"No way!"