Chapter 181: Lena, Sit Down

"No, how did I get exposed?"

Lena was certain her ability was active, and within the organization, her concealment was second only to Yoyoi's—when activated, it produced almost no fluctuation, and after activation, not the slightest trace of faith energy responded.

Even among fellow organization members, only a tiny few could detect her disguise through minute gestures, and even then, only after prolonged observation.

Yet now, just one glance—and she was seen through?

"Of course! This is my divine domain! If I can't even sense what's happening in my own territory, what kind of deity am I?"

Xiao Lingdang found Lena's reaction utterly baffling; with this reminder, Lena could only awkwardly shake her head and say:

"Sorry, Doctor, I'm not here to return anything."

"That's strange… Oh, right, I'm Feng Xue. May I ask your name?" Feng Xue asked as he handed the equipment to a nurse and stood up.

"Just call me Lena." Lena promptly gave her codename, then canceled her transformation—though even if she'd likely been seen through, she still didn't reveal her true form, merely shifting into a younger female appearance more convenient for social interaction.

"Lena, right?" Feng Xue pulled out a medical file and wrote "Lena" on it; seeing this, Lena immediately realized the misunderstanding and hurried to say:

"No no, I'm not sick—well, uh…"

"Why hesitate? Just say it straight!" Xiao Lingdang sighed and blared inside Lena's mind; Lena wanted to argue that dealing with divine believers always required caution, but the doctor suddenly paused, his brow slightly furrowing:

"Your body's fine, you're not here to return anything—then why did you find this place?"

Feeling a peculiar faith energy transforming into pressure, Lena felt a crushing sense of danger spreading—this feeling was fifty times more terrifying than when she'd once hidden just five meters from a He Xing mech!

"I—I'm here to trace the footsteps of the deity!" Knowing further hesitation might spiral into an uncontrollable situation, she blurted out half the truth.

Hearing this, Feng Xue froze for a moment, then pulled out a chair:

"Lena, right? Have a seat and tell me."

"..." Lena stared at the chair, hesitated, then sat down. Their gazes met; Feng Xue spoke calmly:

"I already told your companion, and I'll say it again: don't tell me who you are, don't lecture me on grand principles—I'm just an ordinary doctor. If you come for treatment, pay and I'll welcome you. Everything else? Skip it."

"An ordinary doctor wouldn't enshrine a deity," Lena thought, but then shifted her thoughts and ventured:

"If we wanted to enshrine the deity you worship, would that be possible?"

The moment Lena spoke, before Feng Xue could reply, she noticed the statue disguised as a night lamp flicker once.

And Xiao Lingdang in her mind spoke up:

"That guy agreed."

Lena's heart leapt with joy, but Feng Xue wore an expression of "Are you serious?"—though it wasn't directed at her. As Lena wondered if the doctor was also communicating with a deity, Feng Xue suddenly sighed, as if resigned:

"Since the deity agrees, I have no grounds to refuse. But unlike your deity, who wanders around recklessly, mine never leaves the divine domain. If you want to enshrine, bring your offerings and incense yourself—take back a statue or spirit tablet."

"Who wanders recklessly!" Xiao Lingdang yelled like a child inside Lena's mind, leaving Lena speechless—but she still nodded and thanked Feng Xue.

The two exchanged further details about enshrining deities, after which Lena rose to leave; but just before stepping out, Feng Xue suddenly called out:

"Next time you come, remember to return the wheelchair and hospital gown!"

"Ah… Oh!"

Lena hadn't expected to be stopped for such a trivial thing—her expression turned peculiar, but she still replied and hurried out of the pharmacy.

It was already 3 a. m.; Lena switched again into a nighttime biker guise and strode with unbothered confidence, preparing to find an internet café to spend the night.

"I'm furious! Why so polite? It's just a rabbit! You never treated me with this much respect! You're my believer!"

Stepping out of the divine domain, Xiao Lingdang—who had been calm until now—suddenly erupted; Lena flinched in surprise:

"Lingdang Goddess, do you know the deity of Jade Rabbit Pharmacy?"

"Of course. You've heard of the Jade Rabbit? The legend from the Western Great Nation—the one crafting the elixir of immortality on the moon. A lower deity of the Moon Goddess, wielding authority over longevity and healing. When this myth reached Nihon, it fused with local lore. But this Jade Rabbit is pure—it likely awakened in the Western Great Nation and is trying to ascend during Nihon's current spiritual vacuum."

Xiao Lingdang's words carried immense information; Lena was stunned for several seconds before processing them, then zeroed in on the most critical point:

"Can deities ascend?"

"Of course. Deities are born from worship. Depending on regional beliefs, they evolve accordingly. For example, Nihon's Seven Lucky Gods—besides Ebisu, who's native, the other six are foreign deities transformed by local faith. Usually, these variants aren't stronger than the originals—but if a deity actively pushes for change, that's another matter. Normally, deities in one region balance each other, preventing others from intruding into their domains; at most, they inch in slowly. But this rabbit? It has clear ambition—it might be aiming for the Creator Deity!"

"I don't understand," Lena said honestly. Xiao Lingdang seemed exasperated but explained:

"You know Digimon, right?"

"I've heard of it, but not well," Lena thought a moment, then shook her head.

"What about Pokémon?"

"I know that one," Lena nodded. The world's top IP still carried weight.

"Think of deities like Pokémon—specific evolution paths, with requirements. Like Pikachu evolving into Raichu with a Thunder Stone, deities gain more authority when they receive specific worship."

"This rabbit already has authority over healing and longevity. If it gains authority from Earth Mother, Fertility, or Yin deities, it might ascend to a Creator Deity—and the peak of that path is the World-creating Deity."

"But in modern society, reaching that level is nearly impossible. I doubt this rabbit will even become Kaguya-hime—that's already impressive. Kaguya-hime? You know, from the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter? She's Nihon's localized evolution of Chang'e's flight to the moon. Imagine a Chang'e deity arriving from the Western Great Nation over a thousand years ago, absorbing local faith and evolving into Kaguya-hime (Note ①)."

"That's already amazing! Even now, Kaguya-hime's fame is huge! And why does your explanation sound so weird?" Lena thought, but another idea surfaced:

"Why does Lingdang Goddess, a newly awakened deity, know so much?"

"Didn't I say? I'm the Guide Goddess, the Awakened Bell. My authority is 'Guidance'—not just for humans, but for deities too. I can show them the optimal path. Got it?"

(End of Chapter)