Chapter 13: The First Law of Occultism

Wu Chang's vision went black; when he regained his senses, two kerosene lamps were nearly pressed against his face, their brightness blinding him.

He covered one eye with the back of his hand, adjusting to the sudden light, muttering under his breath:

"This woman is too impatient."

He had only been at the Moonlight Sanatorium for two days—still far from Zhu Li's deadline—and he'd planned to gather more information before approaching the director, but Zhu Li had said "it's too late" and shoved him through a door.

After a brief adjustment, he followed the light forward, walked down a short corridor, and entered a spacious office.

Compared to the bright corridor, the office was far dimmer, like other wards, lit only by a single dim kerosene lamp.

In the faint glow, he saw a massive shadow crouched over the desk.

The moment he stepped into the room, the shadow shuddered like a beast awakened, rising to its feet.

As the shadow stood, Wu Chang's gaze shifted from eye level to looking up.

Director Randy stood over three meters tall, his shoulders as broad as a wall, his upper arms thick as an adult man's waist, paired with golden hair that made him resemble a standing lion.

Leaving aside Randy's absurd height, no ordinary person, even if they ate steroids and testosterone like meals, could build a physique like this.

Randy's fitness regimen must've stolen from Arnold's secret stash.

Wu Chang really wanted to go out and ask Zhu Li: was she certain Randy's ancestors were mages, and not some berserker?

Randy walked to two meters in front of Wu Chang, sizing up the intruder; feeling the oppressive pressure bearing down, Wu Chang swallowed hard, unable to think of where to begin.

Perhaps sensing Wu Chang's predicament, Randy gave him a topic.

Randy pulled from behind him a massive two-meter-long smoothbore musket, pressing its muzzle directly against Wu Chang's forehead, murmuring: "The condition's worsened—hallucinations now take the form of strangers."

"Director, don't shoot! It's me!" Now Wu Chang knew how to speak.

"Who are you?"

"I am the royal envoy from Wang Cheng. Your Majesty sent me to deliver a message to you."

Worried Randy wouldn't believe him, Wu Chang quickly held out the king's seal clutched in his hand.

Randy had originally intended to cut short this hallucination and return to work, but the moment his eyes fell on the king's seal, they locked onto it, frozen.

This object, representing the pinnacle of human magic and craftsmanship, possessed unparalleled grandeur; though made solely of metal, it never lost its brilliance beside even the most dazzling jewels.

It required no anti-counterfeiting measures—just seeing it was enough to know it was the king's seal.

Randy had great confidence in his own taste; this was not something he could have imagined.

It was real.

Having confirmed Wu Chang's identity, Randy's expression softened; reluctantly, he returned the seal, asking: "Why has the envoy come? Does His Majesty still believe in the myth of Cursed Gold?"

Wu Chang shook his head, adopting the envoy's bearing as he paced the director's office: "No. I've come for Bai Shi Town. Our preliminary investigation suggests the Quiet Church is behind the strange events occurring there."

Upon hearing the words "Quiet Church," Randy instinctively frowned.

Seeing Randy wavering, and with his royal envoy status backing him, Wu Chang prepared to persuade Randy—to make him face reality and awaken the power within his bloodline.

"Director Randy, do you believe in the existence of occultism?"

Randy answered firmly: "No."

Wu Chang was about to deliver his prepared speech, but when he looked up, his words were choked off.

He squinted at the golden crossbow hanging on the wall; beside it lay three silver bolts, each crafted like art pieces. The one in the center emitted a deep crimson malice.

Perhaps due to the passage of time, the visions within the malice had faded, leaving only a single ordinary last words, and one bloodstained last words.

"The First Law of Occultism: Human cognition is one of the sources of occultism's existence—the more people believe in it, the stronger its power becomes. The best seal is not strict defense, but complete forgetting."

【Eliminate or permanently seal the lingering soul of the demon god Leyman.】

The First Law of Occultism? "Well, isn't it beautiful?"

Randy's voice came from behind, pulling Wu Chang from his thoughts.

"This golden crossbow was won by my ancestors through ceaseless warfare, in blood and fire—the proof of the Anderson family's former glory. Though inferior to the king's seal, it remains a rare work of art; even in our most destitute times, the family never considered selling it."

"Its presence has always reminded me: to stay grounded, to revive the family with my own hands, like my ancestors, not to rely on myths or legends."

Wu Chang clenched his lips, swallowing his prepared speech whole: "Sorry. It truly is beautiful—beautiful enough to mesmerize me. Where was I?"

"You asked whether I believe in the existence of occultism," Randy replied.

"And your answer is?"

"No."

Wu Chang nodded in agreement: "I don't believe either."

"Huh?" Randy was taken aback by Wu Chang's response.

Wu Chang pulled out the Silver Dawn, his face earnest: "Beyond my role as royal envoy, I am a scientist and an engineer. This gun is my creation. I firmly believe humanity's future lies in machinery and science."

Randy glanced at it once, astonished by the pistol's compactness and precision—even during his medical studies in the capital, he'd never seen such a finely crafted firearm.

Realizing Wu Chang was also from the scientific school, Randy's gaze instantly grew friendlier.

Wu Chang continued: "After my investigation, I suspect the Quiet Church is manufacturing some kind of hallucinogenic drug."

"Hallucinogenic drug?"

"Yes. The drug induces addiction while corroding the user's mind, destabilizing their sanity and blurring the boundary between reality and hallucination. Everything seen in the hallucinations becomes, in the Quiet Church's words, a miracle."

Randy thought for a moment, returned to his desk, picked up a pen, and said with a solemn expression:

"As you see, the situation in Bai Shi Town has spiraled out of control. One person alone cannot reverse it. I'll give you a physician's pass—carry it, and you may move freely within the sanatorium and Bai Shi Town. Leave at once and report your findings to His Majesty."

Hearing the word "pass," Wu Chang's face lit up—he hadn't expected it to come so easily.

Wait… is this too easy?

He stared at the king's seal in his hand, squinting, thinking carefully.

Could Zhu Li's goal have been the pass all along?

The woman who watched so many players die isn't soft-hearted—if an escape route appeared, she'd absolutely stab her newly acquired ally in the back.

Wu Chang strode quickly to Randy's side and declared with righteous conviction:

"No. Precisely because the situation is so urgent right now, I cannot leave. The capital is a long journey away—nearly a month round trip. By the time I returned, I'm afraid everything would already be too late."

"Even if it means death, I must disrupt the Tranquil Church's evil plans. I cannot sit by and let such a tragedy unfold!"

Moved by Wu Chang's resolve, Landi said at once, "Bai Shi Town is my domain—how could I let an envoy like you risk your life alone? You must count me in. Whatever you need, any request at all, I will do my utmost to fulfill."

"There is actually one thing I need your help with, Headmaster," Wu Chang seized the moment to say.

"The Tranquil Church chose Bai Shi Town as the site for their experiment. I suspect that beyond revenge, they also have reservations about the Anderson family. I suspect the Arcane Knight Order of those days possessed a method to cure the delusional disorder."

"Is there any place here like an underground storage room that holds records about the Arcane Knight Order?"

Landi raised an eyebrow and said, "There actually is one underground chamber, storing old books left behind by our ancestors. Though I think the odds are slim, you can go try your luck."

"There's one more thing."

Wu Chang's gaze fell on the crossbow bolts on the wall, and he said, "As an engineer and craftsman, I'd like to borrow one silver crossbow bolt to study its crafting technique—would that be all right?"

Landi shrugged and said, "No need to borrow. Take whichever one catches your eye. Your courage is more than worthy of it."

(End of chapter)