[{"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-2173":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},971100,1268,"Chapter 2171 - 2166: Confinement (40)","facing-an-ancient-god-for-a-year-chapter-2173",2173,"\u003Cp>\"Huh? Drive the car?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden request clearly disrupted Rachel’s train of thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, she ultimately complied, only daring to drive straight as instructed while cautiously asking a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his gaze still fixed on her face, Fu Qian denied this guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking more confused than ever, yet under such scrutiny, Rachel finally lacked the courage to continue asking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, it felt like the hairs on her face were standing on end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, even though he clearly noticed this, Fu Qian was still not kind enough to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the discomfort of feeling like needles on the back, the prison soon appeared in sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll wait for you here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the car smoothly drove through the gate, Rachel finally showed a hint of backbone, not attempting to ask further questions, and not even preparing to get out of the car, directly indicating for Fu Qian to be quick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given everything that’s happened up to this point, this reaction was considered polite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian, who always had self-awareness, was not displeased by this tone and directly opened the car door and stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not entering the Inner World.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a glance, it could be seen that more than one person was active, the most vibrant area of the entire town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the returning pink car seemed to attract more attention than when it had left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more so because the driver didn’t get out, the looks directed at them were more playful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Rachel appeared very calm, seemingly long accustomed to such gazes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where are you going?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this composure seemed to waver upon realizing the direction Fu Qian was heading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, he didn’t go to drive, nor did he wander around randomly; instead, his route looked very clear, precisely the path she had guided him through before...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your studio is over there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Fu Qian’s response confirmed Rachel’s suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"... What are you going there to do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel was baffled, never expecting the other person intended to head there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looking for something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian uncharacteristically kept it vague.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t remember you leaving anything there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel was clearly dissatisfied with this answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she hadn’t locked the door when leaving, such irrational intrusion still felt uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hey—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Fu Qian didn’t respond and continued to walk away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension lasted barely more than two seconds before Rachel directly opened the door and hurriedly chased after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t touch my paintings; take your time with everything else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two barely passed each other upon entering, not even both getting out of the car beforehand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Rachel seemed not to care about all the curious glances, urgently chasing him into the room and emphasizing not to disturb her artwork while others were free to explore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although at a glance, there was nothing extra to be found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Makes sense; these things aren’t yours, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian showed no objection, slightly nodding, and gesturing toward a pile of junk in the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not, I was merely tidying up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel unconsciously shook her head, unexpectedly realizing he came to collect junk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian didn’t say more, directly walking up, eyeing a wooden cabinet placed outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not too secure; even the lock was rusted and made one doubt if it could still be opened — it could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a soft sound, Fu Qian had already swung the cabinet open with fluidity as though it was his own home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cabinet had two levels, the top panel was already somewhat distorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, despite such commotion, there was no response from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did you open it—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel’s shock continued, but it was quickly interrupted by Fu Qian’s actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Casually pulling up the panel, Fu Qian looked at a frail figure curled up underneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dennis... really was here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Trash... you have no idea what you’ve done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost simultaneously, a vicious voice echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it wasn’t Fu Qian rudely swearing — he was the one being cursed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professionals always achieve multiple gains; leaving the car here was mainly to get a free ride with a married woman driver and detector, besides the married woman itself was key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the coin in the hospital, apart from tossing it to the potentially lurking Old Hunter, was also for this involved person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly from what was done, he was seen as a source of trouble, yet from the start of the task till now, Rachel’s performance was instead the most normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had a pursuit of ideals, a sense of family responsibility, and compromises with violence... In any situation, she played the role of a slightly frustrated young woman, leaving no flaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how does the saying go, having no flaw is the biggest flaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a decaying and twisted place, being young, strong-willed, emotionally unsuccessful, even with a hint of artistic flair, and near the source of distortion for not a short time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a character, facing stimuli again and again, what capital to maintain such normalcy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Human will is as fragile as flesh, regardless of the surface, most people’s mental depth in this place should be somewhat manic, like her husband Ed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, ever since Rachel’s appearance, her overly proper responses piqued Fu Qian’s interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not enough to conclude something, it clearly inclined him to keep her around, developing value while observing in tandem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, her responses remained so proper, even potentially watching over a pile of corpses or when personal secrets might be exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right until the moment of completely opening the box, not a flaw found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, only a paranoid can portray ultimate peace?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian turned his gaze, looking at that face with a sort of devouring menace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly still exquisite, yet seemingly unable to contain a beast lurking beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know, didn’t I open it very cautiously?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian’s expression remained gentle, pointing to the scene inside the cabinet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Rachel’s creation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though relatively abstract, Fu Qian could still understand this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy inside the box was alive, at this moment even his eyeballs slowly turning, though his facial expression conveyed what a true living dead meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the interior of the cabinet was painted in unsettling red and black, depicting a small windowless room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, his previous posture seemed curled in a maternal womb, an unborn fetus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absolute safety, having no need to regard the outside world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian felt he could still grasp what the creation intended to convey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So did he find you, asking for your help?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qian truly didn’t rush to disturb the \"infant\", instead continuing to look at Rachel and ask.\u003C\u002Fp>",1102,"2026-06-03T07:51:33.057Z","2026-06-03T07:51:39.527Z",1,"novelbin.me","d0b77598c89275268e33f048dcc599878e73fbc6c4c11dc0b10cb5b3be684837","facing-an-ancient-god-for-a-year-chapter-2174","facing-an-ancient-god-for-a-year-chapter-2172",2389,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffacing-an-ancient-god-for-a-year-cover.jpg"]