Chapter 1494: Bud

His heart shuddered.

For some reason, although Lin An's voice was calm, to An Ge Si's ears at this moment it seemed to have magic, and two smiling faces flashed before his eyes.

Li Sha...

He stiffened on the spot.

Even though he had become a scavenger, years of military life kept An Ge Si's back ramrod straight.

But at this moment, he slowly hunched over.

There was no surprise at all.

Watching An Ge Si suddenly fall silent, his breathing growing ragged, Lin An simply waited patiently for him to speak.

Unable to display miracles himself or subdue these people by force, Lin An could think of—or rather, wanted to test—the way to obtain Faith Power, which in practice meant referring to conventional missionary work.

Mysterious and magnificent, able to shock the soul and the external world.

Deafening and awakening, like a choir for the soul.

In line with human morality, the mercy and redemption that people long for.

These three points are key factors in the spread of religion.

Magnificent churches bear the effect of miracles, making humanity feel insignificant.

Pure children's voices and music make humanity resonate, forgetting the self.

Doctrines and religious tenets are similar to rules' products, giving people a sense of identity and self‑dedication.

But the most crucial thing is...

Pour out suffering!

For humanity, the most painful thing in this world is having no one to confide in, no one to help! Self‑blame and regret are higher emotions that set humans apart from other animals.

But before the divine, pouring out suffering can give people immense satisfaction and a sense of safety! Moreover, as they confess and repent, they become bound to the listener—just as if, at the moment they speak their pain, that pain is split in two.

Put simply, it's like a woman who always loves to complain to her husband and the ones she loves. If the other shows willingness to listen, she might even fall for them because of it.

"It's quite a strange thing."

"In a sense, fanatics are actually in love with God..."

"For God, they are willing to die."

While waiting patiently, Lin An didn't mind expending a little extra patience for this test.

He could tell that this soldier, at his core, craved power even more than the old Pu Te.

It is obvious that his experiences must have been agonizing, to the point that he cannot even bear to recall them.

"My daughter actually did not turn into a zombie when the Apocalypse broke out."

"My wife, either."

His voice was hoarse.

An Ge Si's eyes were bloodshot; as he spoke this time, he seemed not to look at Lin An, but stared fixedly at the black tire representing Ling An.

"When the Apocalypse broke out, I had a gun."

"I am a soldier; I can protect many people, and of course my wife and children."

"That day, the streets were filled with murderous zombies."

"Although the National Guard didn't task us with protecting everyone when the Apocalypse broke out, seeing people die and hearing civilians cry out for help, how could I turn a blind eye?"

"The day after the Apocalypse broke out, I sent a teammate rushing back to Li Sha's neighborhood to have my best brother protect my family."

"And I, I protected everyone."

"I thought, maybe I only needed to drive the students on the bus to the nearest base to fulfill my duty. After all, I also have family, and people I want to protect."

"I calculated the route; round trip would take at most two days, Li Sha and the others could stay home with enough food."

"Moreover, where we live is sparsely populated, and we have guns at home."

"Li Sha is smart, and Ai Li Si is smart too."

"I've taken her to the shooting range since she was little—she knows how to fire a gun."

Like talking to himself, An Ge Si kept saying that where they lived was safe, and that his wife was also a professional athlete.

He believed it would be fine, repeating it to himself like brainwashing.

Listening to An Ge Si suddenly fall into a self‑loop, Lin An fell slightly silent, knowing that this soldier, while recounting his past pain, had automatically entered a protective state of mind.

He dared not continue speaking.

"But they still died."

He spoke softly to interrupt, Lin An, like a narrator guiding, mercilessly shoved An Ge Si.

In an instant, An Ge Si shuddered all over, his sturdy body beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

"Dead... yes... Li Sha died! Ai Li Si died!"

"Why! Why did they die when I went back!? Why!?"

"They could obviously protect themselves!"

He suddenly lifted his head, An Ge Si's face full of beard, like a vagrant's, filled with hysterical madness.

"No! It's my fault! I shouldn't have thought Han Ke could protect them! I shouldn't have gone back on duty!"

"Sir, do you know!?"

"I went again and again to rescue survivors! I wasted a whole month! The number of people I saved reaches into the thousands!"

His words were incoherent.

An Ge Si clutched his chest with both hands in pain, as if trying to grasp something, his whole body trembling.

Seeing An Ge Si before him, pain at its peak, obviously at his limit, Lin An sighed inwardly but still chose to continue.

"So... was it Han Ke who harmed your family?"

In the following month, did something happen that shouldn't have?

He spoke softly.

At that question, it was as if a huge hammer smashed heavily into An Ge Si.

However, contrary to Lin An's expectations, this soldier, once full of justice and high spirits, suddenly stared at Lin An with eyes full of hatred.

Han Ke!!

No!!

How could my best brother harm my family!

Sir! Do you know? Do you know!! When I returned home a month later, I saw Han Ke's corpse hanging at the door! I saw his scalp being peeled off alive!

My daughter, she was tied to the bed, her whole body ripped open down the middle!

She's only seven years old!! They even shoved her favorite doll into her **!!

Li Sha... was kneeling at the bedside! I can't imagine how much humiliation she endured begging those beasts to stop!!

Under the near‑mad questioning, An Ge Si rubbed his knees hard and crawled to Lin An's feet.

Perhaps it was because his emotions had collapsed to the extreme; after gasping heavily for a few seconds, he suddenly calmed down and then began to chuckle softly.

Sir.

Those beasts are actually the first batch of students I rescued.

I was so stupid... To encourage them to stay strong, I always liked to show them my wife and children, telling them they must survive, for the sake of those they love.

So, after some of them became Awakened Ones, they immediately chose to 'visit' my family.

He raised his head, An Ge Si gave a bitter laugh, and big drops of tears slid down his dirt‑streaked face, leaving clean tracks.

Later I found out, they were just curious—whether someone like me could stay optimistic after losing the ones they love, just as I taught them.

Later still, I wanted to take revenge on them, but I couldn't beat them; no matter what, I couldn't kill them.

They seemed to want to see me, like a waste, repeatedly go to them for revenge.

I was chased away by them like a dog, and mocked.

Later, that student became an even more powerful Awakened One and became the hero of this Safe Zone.

And I, An Ge Si, became a dog.

So.

An Ge Si paused for a moment, then looked seriously at Lin An:

Sir.

Are you deceiving me?

There are no gods in this world.

There were none before, there are none now, and there will be none in the future.

No matter what, no matter who you are. As long as you can give me power, I can do anything.

Even if it means selling my soul.

A long silence.

Lin An watched as An Ge Si, who had gone to extremes and given up everything, remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

Perhaps.

There will be.