[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-becoming-a-god-through-horror":3,"chapter-becoming-a-god-through-horror-becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-170":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Becoming a God Through Horror",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2273713,4441,"Chapter 170: Choice: Afanwu Town","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-170",170,"\u003Cp>These were all of Louis’s gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overall, the trip was well worth it—helping Haley solve her troubles brought ample rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at these items, Louis’s eyes nearly closed in a smile; perhaps due to his past life, he now greatly enjoyed collecting things, and gazing at them filled him with satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, next, I’ll deal with the lingering threats here and head home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pity I didn’t encounter a suitable candidate from Simen on this trip.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis had originally hoped to find the leader of Simen during this journey, but to this day, the golden page remained silent—he still didn’t know what conditions were needed to meet its requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Never mind, take it slow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley stood there helplessly, beside her a middle-aged man who looked refined and exuded the aura of the Shangliushe Society.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s face was flushed with anger, regarding Louis as if he were trash scattered on the street, while David beside him looked helplessly resigned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, I think there may be some misunderstanding between us,” Louis said as he came downstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope so. I came because my daughter said she wanted to transfer schools—in truth, I’m glad she’s leaving that public school to study properly, but I never expected she wanted to go to Fuluolidazhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is unacceptable!” he declared firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But she refuses to back down—I know her, there must be a reason. So I found out: my daughter wants to go so far away because of one person.” His sharp gaze locked onto Louis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis no longer showed his earlier demeanor; he simply regarded the man calmly, unflinching, expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man sized Louis up, then turned to David. “So here I am.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David understood the man’s intent perfectly—but what could he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being Louis’s uncle was exhausting—not only did he have to act as bait, now he had to take the blame… Fine, I’ll endure it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David forced a smile, about to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haley, you should stay here—you’re probably not suited for transferring schools,” Louis said to Haley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t something to force. It wasn’t as if he’d begged her to go; if she could go, fine; if not, then not—no need for drama.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley froze, fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was intelligent; she knew Louis was now displeased—with her inability to even handle this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, it was time to decide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley suddenly turned to her father. “Dad, come here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stepped outside. Moments later, loud arguing erupted, then stopped—with a bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of a car starting and driving away echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley opened the door and walked in. “Sorry for the unpleasantness just now—I can transfer now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David frowned. “Haley, you should communicate better with your father. Transferring so far away isn’t appropriate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley shook her head. “Everyone must become independent—I believe my choice is right;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any moment that changes fate demands a price; merely leaving home is nothing. Miss this opportunity, and there may never be another. As for my father, I understand his love—but I have my own choices and considerations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When the new version of me appears, Father will understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Haley was remarkably calm. Somehow, David saw a shadow of his daughter Yulunka in her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same calmness. The same eloquence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, Louis is my old friend—I trust him,” Haley suddenly smiled at Louis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis nodded, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since she’d decided, there was no point in hesitating. “We leave tomorrow. Pack your things. If you can’t go back, stay here—have the front desk book you a room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked upstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley bowed politely to David, then headed to the front desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David was left bewildered—had he fallen behind the times? Why were today’s kids all so unusual?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait—Haley’s words just now seemed to carry deeper meaning…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David recalled Louis’s special ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden realization dawned. “So that’s it—this truly is an opportunity not to be missed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haley sees clearly—and she can make decisions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today’s kids—they’re far stronger than we were…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upstairs, Louis took out a map and began studying Afanwu Town. For this return home, he planned to drive—he simply couldn’t bear to fly. Air travel had too low a survival rate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Driving back was a bit far, so he intended to take a train once he reached the central states—it would be much faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, before leaving by car, he needed to eliminate the lingering threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, Afanwu Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn Miner Sect and demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was very vengeful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, Louis found the location on the map. “Hey, it’s right along the way back—convenient.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis’s lips curled slightly upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After purchasing a stretched limousine locally, the group packed their luggage and set off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Driving along the highway, feeling the cool breeze blowing through the window, Louis closed his eyes in enjoyment—each time he hit the road, the wind, the air, the scenery always pleased him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David, however, was uncomfortable. His attention was fully focused, constantly scanning the ground, as if afraid of spotting human bone shurikens or something similar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the three in the back seat—Jiali, Haley, and Bess—the situation was peculiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley was polite but usually cold and quiet; Jiali, too, was cold-hearted, especially after seeing Haley appeared to be Louis’s old acquaintance—she treated her even more coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Bess—well, Louis had ordered her to remain silent. Though she desperately wanted to interact with these two females close to her master, even to please them, she could only obediently stay quiet, sitting between them as a cooling agent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two on either side said not a word, staring blankly out the windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the car was filled only with Michael Jackson’s new song—and the conversation between Louis and David up front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle David, how’s business lately?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. This deal should bring in a fortune. After Mao Xiong collapsed, many things changed—business suddenly became easier, taxes dropped, but some businesses went bankrupt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Especially those Momingqimiao  taxes—commercial taxes decreased, but medical, housing, and insurance taxes rose, and welfare benefits shrank. Aren’t we paying a lot in taxes every year?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet despite the increased pressure on ordinary people, society seems more prosperous than ever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t understand. I really don’t. I lack the business mind—I’ll never become a true capitalist in this lifetime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David kept his eyes fixed straight ahead as he drove, yet spoke with deep reflection to Louis—two tasks at once, both handled with full seriousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis’s eyes widened slightly—could Uncle David have some innate talent for multitasking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for what Uncle David mentioned—hah, this was normal. The previous high-welfare state had been abnormal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, since Mao Xiong collapsed, many things have surfaced. I heard Erma is even selling nuclear bombs—nuclear bombs! They actually dare to sell them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David exclaimed in amazement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For people of their generation, the awe-inspiring reputation of nuclear bombs had been ingrained since childhood—destructive power, scarcity, state secrets—deeply embedded in their bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when he heard nuclear bombs could be bought and sold, his first thought was: they’re insane. If terrorist groups or Xie Jiao could buy them too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But sadly, the world was this surreal—nuclear bombs truly could be bought and sold. Most of Mao Xiong’s nukes were inherited by Da Mao after the split, but Erma had the most—and Erma really had nukes to sell!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the world’s major powers forbade Erma from selling nuclear weapons—otherwise, who knew what the world would become.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—Erma can’t sell them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David nodded in agreement, then looked puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What will America’s future be like…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only heaven knows,” Louis replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Only heaven knows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, Louis, I want to sincerely worship the Zao Shen. How do you usually do it?” David suddenly asked—this wasn’t a joke, nor a passing whim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, Zao Shen is the household guardian, god of fire, god of the kitchen, god of moral judgment, god of fortune and fate—many duties, but mostly revered as god of fire and kitchen. So whenever you light a fire and cook, that’s already a prayer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, bringing Zao Shen back—simpler versions involve hanging a painting; more elaborate ones require a shrine or statue for better worship,” Louis explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David nodded knowingly—he’d clearly listened, though it was unclear how he interpreted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, when I get home, I’ll give it a try.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed David truly intended to worship Zao Shen. After all he’d experienced, believing in gods wasn’t surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But God had never manifested—and with Louis as an example—was there any real need to hesitate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed slowly amid their casual chatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky gradually turned to midday, the sun growing scorching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the outline of a town appeared ahead on the highway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The car sped past—the sign reading Afanwu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afanwu Town looked like an ordinary little town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis and the others stopped here, preparing to eat something, replenish their strength, and rest before continuing their journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Louis had come here for a purpose; during the meal, he parted ways with David and the others, taking only Jiali with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1502,"2026-06-19T23:34:28.869Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","525842cfe863ea62a4584cfd56061addec5aa9cd29bb9070208113c77029988a","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-171","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-169",253,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecoming-a-god-through-horror-cover.jpg"]