Chapter 109: Those Who Do Not Believe in Gods, But Believe in Fate

Village guardian.

This is the title that Uncle Anpu and Kantisi, after discussing it several times, bestowed upon Luo De.

Actually, when he first learned of this title,

Luo De instinctively wanted to resist it.

There was nothing else.

In his previous life, there was also the saying of a village guardian.

However, in his previous life the term 'village guardian' usually referred to those in the village who had intellectual deficiencies; such people were typically considered by the villagers to have warded off disaster and solved problems for the village, protecting the peace of one village, and thus ended up with such a foolish fate.

Luo De did not see himself as a fool, nor as a muddle‑headed mad scholar, nor as someone who sacrificed himself to guard A Ru Cun.

Naturally, he was not very willing to have such a title imposed on him.

However, on Tiwatedalu there is no such concept of a village guardian.

In the words of Kantisi and Uncle Anpu, they felt that Luo De's contributions to the village were so great that they were almost indistinguishable from those of a guardian, which is why they thought of calling him a village guardian, a title similar to guardian.

As for the emblem in his hand,

This is the Red King emblem passed down through generations of the guardians of A Ru Cun, symbolizing the status of a descendant recognized by the Red King.

Possessing this emblem,

it also means that anyone who is an enemy of Luo De in the desert is thereby an enemy of A Ru Cun and of the Red King's bloodline.

This is not only a symbol of identity, but also a powerful talisman.

After hearing these words,

Saitalei was completely bewildered.

She could hardly imagine what Luo De had done to make A Ru Cun willing to swear such an oath, and even to bestow upon him the village's most important emblem.

"As for the Vitalist School, besides the knowledge I gained from self‑studied books, I also have a scholar exiled to A Ru Cun who teaches me."

"Those things in your hand."

"They are what I and my teacher jointly researched and derived."

Then Luo De continued: "As for my knowledge of the Materialist School,"

He said,

He shook the emblem in his hand: "Because I have listened to the Red King's teachings, I am able to possess such erudition in the Materialist School."

As soon as he said that,

Nadixa, who had been listening silently, hurriedly said: "Hey, for now don't mention the Red King!"

She had previously told Luo De,

The conflict between the Red King's followers and the Dendro Archon's followers is very severe.

To recklessly reveal the identity of the Red King's divine envoy would, in Xu Mi Cheng, especially at the Academy—the place closest to the Dendro Archon—bring oneself many unnecessary troubles.

Regarding that,

Luo De had his own reasons.

"I never said I am the Red King's divine envoy; I said I have listened to the Red King's teachings."

"You also said that, didn't you?"

"Saitalei deep down feels guilty about the desert."

"If we don't take advantage of the moment when she sees my achievements in the desert and feels moved, and wait until her emotions calm down later, it will be awkward to bring up matters concerning the Red King."

"Moreover."

"Saitalei is not someone who believes in deities."

"For her, whether the Red King can still issue divine edicts to his people cannot make her abandon her inner convictions and turn back to the desert camp out of guilt."

"What I am doing now is merely planting a nail in her heart, letting her know that the Red King still exists, so that when we later need to use her, we can persuade her more effectively."

Saitalei's reaction also bore out Luo De's words.

When she first heard the name Red King, she was momentarily stunned.

In the blink of an eye,

"Are you saying that the Red King has come back to life and personally taught you, granting you enough knowledge to earn the respect of Sage Jules?"

"Hey, don't talk nonsense."

"I never said the Red King came back to life."

"I said that while helping A Ru Cun rebuild, I fortunately received the Red King's teachings."

"Perhaps his spirit in heaven, seeing my willingness to aid his people, out of gratitude gave me some reward."

Upon saying this, Luo De paused, then let out a strange laugh and said: "Saitalei senior, you say that the Red King's knowledge is divine knowledge, and the Dendro Archon's knowledge is also divine knowledge; does that mean that as long as one is willing to help build the desert, the Red King will generously bestow his divine knowledge as a reward?"

"Divine knowledge"

At first, Saitalei's reaction to Luo De's words was indeed a snort of contempt; to her, any talk of the Red King's teachings was pure nonsense, and Luo De must have obtained his Materialist School knowledge through some other means, while his Vitalist School knowledge certainly did not come from canned knowledge—perhaps it was the Materialist School knowledge that came from canned knowledge instead.

But upon hearing the four words 'divine knowledge',

Saitalei's smile vanished instantly.

In its place,

was utter astonishment.

Divine knowledge.

This is the knowledge that the Academy has long sought to obtain but has never been able to acquire.

This knowledge is clearly within reach.

It lies within the World Tree.

Yet no one can bring this knowledge out, and anyone who comes into contact with divine knowledge will fall into a strange madness.

The sages' explanation of this.

If scholars, lacking sufficient ability, forcibly attempt to touch the divine knowledge within the World Tree, their minds cannot withstand it.

In other words.

That means the Academy currently has no way, through normal means, to obtain divine knowledge; it can only guard the treasure mountain in vain.

But Luo De now tells her that as long as she is willing to help build the desert, she has a chance to obtain the divine knowledge freely given by the Red King.

"This is impossible."

When Saitalei was struck by this news and murmured in a daze.

Luo De, feeling pleased, said to Nadixa: "Look, it's taking effect, right?"

No further explanation needed.

Just seeing Saitalei's current state of losing her composure, Nadixa understood Luo De's intention in those words and why he had to mention the Red King.

Helping the desert gives a chance for a desert dweller with no foundation to obtain divine knowledge worthy of the sages' attention.

This is the point he has been drilling into Saitalei.

Apart from the temptation of divine knowledge, these words also played on Saitalei's guilt toward the desert.

Nadixa said so.

Over the years, Saitalei has been avoiding anything related to the desert, such as devoting her body and mind to helping the sages suppress the desert, ignoring letters from her hometown children, and deliberately skipping any desert-related information in the void.

But the more she does this, the deeper her guilt accumulates.

Usually she cannot talk about these things with others.

Such one-sided repression will infinitely amplify her sensitivity to these emotions.

Once ignited, the effect is superb.

What Luo De is doing now is to completely detonate Saitalei's guilt toward the desert, so she can no longer ignore the desert as before.

"Sigh—"

"That's too cruel for her."

Nadixa's face showed a reluctant expression.

"Having become Azhaer's accomplice, you must steel yourself for this."

"Do you think this is cruel to her?"

"Then have you considered that this scholar of desert origin, who helps the Academy mercilessly oppress her own homeland, whether such behavior counts as cruel to the desert's people?"

"You've seen the situation of A Ru Cun."

"You've also heard Grandma Li Shi Di's words."

"Twenty years ago, A Ru Cun, acclaimed as a pure land of the desert, didn't even have this kind of life; the huge village had few literate people, couldn't withstand sandstorms, and if someone fell ill they could only wait to die on the spot—do you dare believe this is a life humans can live?"

"Not to mention the tribes deep in the desert who can't even get enough to eat."

"Do you still remember the tribespeople I told you about, who dig up corpses in the sand and gnaw on them raw?"

"Indeed, the desert's current state is not caused solely by Saitalei, but do you think her helping the Academy as an accomplice will make the desert's situation worsen day by day?"

Luo De's words were very blunt.

Long ago.

He had wanted to say these words.

Nadixa is a deity with an extremely soft and gentle temperament.

Her love for humanity has reached the point where she can sacrifice herself at any time.

But that's not good.

Not good at all.

Such a nature makes Nadixa's thoughts pure and kind to an excessive degree.

Given Luo De's personality.

Toward enemies, toward those unfriendly to him, he wishes he could rush over the network to beat them up.

But what about Nadixa?

When she beats someone, she hesitates, wondering if she'll hit too hard and hurt them.

Please.

They are already in a hostile state.

Not considering killing them, but rather wondering if she's hitting too hard.

Such behavior.

Luo De finds it hard to judge, and cannot judge.

So he can only continue to verbally rebuke Nadixa.

At least now, with him around, most of the time whatever they do is led by him; even if Nadixa feels reluctant, it doesn't affect Luo De.

If he's gone in the future, who else will advise Nadixa on this point?

After being lectured by him like that.

Nadixa fell silent.

On the other side.

Saitalei, sunk in deep self-doubt, also didn't make a sound.

For a moment.

Only the sound of Luo De slurping tea remained in the dormitory.

After a while.

Only then did Saitalei, her voice hoarse, ask: "Are you a follower of the Red King?"

No, I'm just like you, without faith.

Luo De glanced at her and replied lightly.

Oh?

You also don't believe in gods, right?

But the gods have bestowed their reward upon you.

I have to say.

This is also a kind of fate.

Setalei sighed, her expression extremely complex.

The sages of the Academy can all be called loyal followers of the Dendro Archon, yet not a single one could obtain the divine knowledge laid before them.

Yet Luo De, a person who does not believe in gods, easily received the gods' teachings because of his own actions.

Yeah, I've always believed in fate.

As long as fate arrives, no matter how difficult things are now, one will surely be able to escape the current situation.

You're right, aren't you?

Senior Setalei.

Looking at the contemplative Setalei, Luo De chuckled.

If I remember correctly.

Setalei, too, is someone who believes in fate.

(End of chapter)