[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-facing-an-ancient-god-for-a-year":3,"chapter-facing-an-ancient-god-for-a-year-facing-an-ancient-god-for-a-year-chapter-1314":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Facing an Ancient God for a Year",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},969240,1268,"Chapter 1312: 1310: The Herder's First Lesson","facing-an-ancient-god-for-a-year-chapter-1314",1314,"\u003Cp>Chapter 1312: Chapter 1310: The Herder’s First Lesson\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could we have taken the wrong path… It’s so hard to tell direction in here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could tell Amila wanted to veil the reality of the scene before her, though confusion lingered in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Makes sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Fu Qian was clearly unwilling to let her stay in her comfort zone. After listening intently to her explanation, he nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It does seem like we’ve taken a wrong turn, because it appears our path has vanished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Fu Qian’s agreement reached them, both reflexively glanced down at the ground—then fell into an utterly speechless silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath their feet lay something akin to fog, its haze as chaotic and indistinct as a dream. Gone was even the slightest trace of a road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha… That Lord Praut—is he truly someone who’s remained in this small town all along, like on the day the thick fog emerged about a month ago?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the tolerant smile of a Herder, Fu Qian refrained from pressing the two lambs too harshly and decided to pose a different question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, not really.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, it was Amila who finally responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From what I know, at that time Lord Praut happened to return to Leytin due to certain reasons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That explanation made much more sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering Amila’s character, there was little chance she’d lie about this, and Fu Qian nodded in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But he later tried to return here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Lord Praut was among the first to explore the fog.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amila seemed to hold considerable respect for the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t feel tense. And what was the result of his exploration? What is the town’s true form?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian waved his hand dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his query left the two contenders exchanging uneasy glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you, relax. Do you think the truth of the scenes we just witnessed is of major importance to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t, of course; after all, you were someone who walked the “Nightmare,” a Herder by nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian’s reassurances were so expertly crafted that even Amila couldn’t help but inwardly grumble, yet they did ease her tension somewhat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The thick fog has shrouded everything, and just like the ruined houses we saw earlier, it seems to have been this way for many years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed deeply in the next breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for The Sect’s perspective, it’s the same as what I deduced from the weapons I found.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As promised, Fu Qian remained impressively composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the people inside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amila didn’t reply—but her expression conveyed everything clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ve been discovered quite some time ago, haven’t they? Yet it seems The Sect is unwilling to publicize their findings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it had been a treacherous journey to this point, Fu Qian couldn’t believe that Coordinating Law Sanctuary, brimming with Saints, lacked the capability to make it through to here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that such a powerful team was assigned the mission even suggested significant preparedness for the dangers involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The public might not be ready to accept it… In truth, even I haven’t known for long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amila murmured softly, disregarding Reginald’s warning glance as she lowered her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could tell her knowledge was indeed recent, considering she’d hardly had time to build up her psychological defenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It doesn’t matter—being survivors will help them reconcile with it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian gestured for her not to assume people were so fragile and, with a calm demeanor, refrained from dragging out such trivialities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, shall we continue discussing matters within the church? Perhaps you might even try finding a way out of here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you suggesting we move forward?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently worried Amila might have said too much, Reginald finally couldn’t hold back and chimed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Provided you can identify which way ‘forward’ even is when the time comes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian smiled faintly, gesturing toward their fog-enveloped surroundings with his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Otherwise?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reginald went silent for a moment, then drew a deep breath and stiffly countered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paths they’d passed before, barren though they were, had still served their purpose as guides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, surrounded on all sides by dense fog, determining any direction away from the “small town” was nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Otherwise? You could try seeking the Stars Association for assistance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing even Amila respond with confusion, Fu Qian sighed deeply, offering the two lambs a thread of guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suggestion clearly took them by surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong? Considering your frequent night patrols over the last month, I doubt you’d be without precautions in this regard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian gazed at them, his smile tinged with an enigmatic air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or is it that you haven’t thought of trying this route just yet? Perhaps you’ve taken it for granted as an infallible contingency?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Fine, I admit the scene we just witnessed probably wasn’t real. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what’s happening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to hold Fu Qian’s gaze, Amila finally confronted their shared predicament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I had assumed the task was to escort you to the abandoned church, but now everything appears unsettlingly strange. We need to confirm what’s really happening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Additionally, we do have a way to escape—once it’s certain we’re amidst a nightmare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Theoretically speaking, your mission has already ended long ago. Though I’d like to know how you personally define a ‘nightmare.'”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian seemed pleased by the increasingly candid exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Six minutes and fifty-four seconds—that was what I calculated based on my own heartbeat earlier. Or is it that your definition requires locating the source of contamination to count as complete?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed… Any dream lasting more than a minute defies Star Law, whether in the dream world or real-time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amila’s confusion over Fu Qian’s intentions was plain from her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But we need further clarity… Why are you so insistent on us leaving? In this regard, I align with Sir Simon—starting now, I won’t interfere with your actions. You’re free to make any attempts to leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would I leave? This place is a flawless classroom for enlightenment. My advice to attempt departure? That’s your first lesson.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian regarded her oddly before contorting his expression into one of rapture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, while I understand your sense of duty, wouldn’t it make more sense to have someone split off and report back to The Sect? Surely you’d find that a more rational solution?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian’s final retort carried a powerful logic, instantly deflating the lambs’ rebellious confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go find Simon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging glances with Amila, Reginald offered the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He may lack interest in hearing it—you’re better off going on your own.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dealing with a temperamental Hunter, Amila clearly appeared exasperated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You couldn’t handle him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reginald didn’t outright decline but leveled his gaze at Fu Qian in warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nor could I handle what’s out there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amila, however, was resolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be mindful of your limits. If the risk proves too overwhelming, retreat and attempt reentry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her suggestion was undeniably reasonable. After brief contemplation, Reginald ultimately consented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make certain you understand your position.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, he didn’t forget to cast Fu Qian a chilling glare, his tone laced with warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your blessings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, as fate would have it, the other party interpreted his gesture entirely in reverse, expressing sincere gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>",1195,"2026-06-03T07:51:05.259Z","2026-06-03T07:51:08.635Z",1,"novelbin.me","d012ffdb8729a9cf177568b5be6adc61c4eb2b5718bfcdaa381286298868081c","facing-an-ancient-god-for-a-year-chapter-1315","facing-an-ancient-god-for-a-year-chapter-1313",2389,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffacing-an-ancient-god-for-a-year-cover.jpg"]