Chapter 4: The Child-Granting Guanyin

The Child-Granting Guanyin

Everyone was stunned.

It is widely known that you can pick a wrong name, but you can’t miscall a nickname.

“The Child-Granting Guanyin” is a player slang term for the “Progeny Priest” class; [Fertility] priests, when blessing or healing companions, often have a chance to cause their allies to “conceive,” hence the name.

This side effect of divine blessing does not result in true pregnancy; the organ involved is not limited to the uterus, and what is gestated is not any legitimate lifeform—combinations of kingdom, phylum, class, and order are random, and the appearances are wildly varied and endless.

The will of [Fertility] reveres reproduction, which is why using divine power sometimes produces all sorts of absurd, laughable “passive conception” predicaments.

But do not underestimate this accidental “conception”—for every “new life” gestated within the healed, their healing effect increases by three-tenths.

Thus, Progeny Priests are exceptionally potent healers.

Song Yawen stared in shock, waving his hands frantically, shaking his head like a fan.

“Brother, please, don’t heal me—I’d rather be treated by a priest of an opposing faith than endure you swelling my belly!”

How could I possibly show my face if I got healed by you?

Should I tell others I once carried a male teammate’s “child”?

Nangong was also stunned. She deeply appreciated Cheng Shi’s gesture of revealing his faith to help her gain acceptance, but under the uncertainty of the other two’s beliefs, she still dared not reveal her own.

After all, [Drowning] path players are heavily criticized.

Even though she and Cheng Shi are not opposed.

Xia Wan stood nearby, observing Nangong’s hesitation; this made her realize the woman was not a sworn enemy of [Fertility]. Suddenly relieved, she still coldly said:

“I am a Creator Hunter.”

A Creator Hunter is a hunter who follows [Fertility].

“?”

Everyone was astonished that such a cold person had chosen to follow [Fertility]; only Song Yawen’s expression turned grim.

He also realized Nangong was not an enemy of [Fertility], but since each path—[Life] and [Drowning]—has only three deities, that meant the woman had a 50% chance of being his enemy.

Just as he struggled over whether to confess his faith, Chen Chong waved his hand, interrupting the conversation.

“Path divisions aren’t our doing, nor should we bear excessive pressure. Since the two priests aren’t opposed, just divide the healing duties.”

He pointed to Nangong, then to himself and Cao San Sui:

“Nangong handles me and the mage. As for the [Life] faithful, you handle yourselves.”

Then he turned to Xia Wan:

“Since you’re His follower, I assume you won’t object to Cheng Shi?”

Xia Wan glanced casually at this decent-looking Progeny Priest, expression unchanged, and gave a slight nod.

“...”

The Hunter’s icy face showed no embarrassment, but Cheng Shi’s expression turned strangely uneasy.

Even more awkward was Song Yawen.

It seemed he had no choice but to accept treatment from The Child-Granting Guanyin.

Chen Chong naturally assumed leadership of the team. Seeing no objections, he continued:

“No more idle talk. The trial has a preparation phase; we don’t yet understand the cause of this war, so we dare not leave the descent site prematurely. During preparation, everyone should strive to complete their [Decree] as soon as possible, then seek a suitable defensive position.”

[Decree] refers to the ritual by which players petition their chosen deities for blessings.

After choosing a deity, the player receives an initial [Faith Talent], i.e., a game skill, and unlocks higher-tier talents and increased talent caps upon reaching different tiers.

These talents greatly enhance combat ability and form the foundation of each player’s unique class build.

Of course, talents are divided into active and passive; to use an active talent in a trial, one must first perform the deity’s [Decree] at the trial’s outset.

For example, [Fertility]’s [Decree] is: “Embrace reproduction, create new life.”

In plain terms: have sex.

Want to grow stronger? First, have sex.

[Fertility], as the first deity of the [Life] path, is both the prelude to life and the origin of all things; He unites yin and yang, revering reproduction.

To petition His blessing, one must lead by example.

But since trials are randomly matched and everyone is a stranger, no one would awkwardly overcome shame to help a [Fertility] follower just because they “need to have sex.”

Thus, this [Decree] is hard to fulfill perfectly.

But humans are creative beings.

When something cannot be solved normally, people invent all sorts of roundabout, clever workarounds.

For sex, there are many actions that mimic its essence—such as...

Masturbation.

This great invention saved countless reclusive [Fertility] followers, yet also provoked discontent among some players.

Someone once denounced the player who invented this solution in the [Fertility] faith channel, calling it a desecration of the deity.

But this accusation was rebutted by a group of slick-tongued “heretics” with an utterly unique perspective.

They claimed:

When performing [Fertility]’s [Decree], if one’s mind is fixed on [Him], it is not desecration—it is an offering.

As for what exactly is being offered...

Cough cough, those who understand, understand.

No one can say for sure whether He likes it, but no one dares say He dislikes it—after all, He reveres reproduction.

But today’s situation was different.

There were two [Fertility] followers present.

A man and a woman.

Everyone took it in stride, the unspoken understanding faded, and they began preparing their own [Decrees].

Only Cheng Shi and Xia Wan remained standing, motionless, neither speaking.

Embarrassment—the kind that makes your toes curl into cramps.

Cheng Shi smiled, but his face was stiff.

He never imagined this cold Hunter girl was a [Fertility] follower. Had he known, he’d have revealed his true faith sooner.

This is a nightmare!

Fortunately, Xia Wan felt no embarrassment. Her expression remained icy. Seeing Cheng Shi silent for so long, she spoke first:

“Together, or separately?”

To be honest, Xia Wan was quite attractive.

Short hair, neat and sharp; cold, striking features. Since the girl didn’t object, why not...

“Separately. I like men.”

Cheng Shi fidgeted, rubbing his hands, and said this.

“?”

For the first time, Xia Wan’s icy expression changed. She scanned Cheng Shi up and down with a puzzled gaze, then gave a strange “hmm” and turned away.

Only when she left did Cheng Shi quietly exhale.

Damn, I almost talked myself into a corner.

If I’d truly agreed, and then received no blessing from [Fertility] after the [Decree], wouldn’t my lie have been for nothing?

Getting caught in a lie is secondary—pretending to be a [Fertility] follower to complete the [Decree]...

It looks exactly like cheating on the gods.

He wiped sweat from his forehead, ready to begin his own [Decree], when he suddenly frowned and turned toward a corner, speaking softly:

“Enjoying the show?”

“...”

Song Yawen, hiding in the shadows, never expected Cheng Shi had noticed him. He recoiled like he’d seen a ghost, shaking his head:

“Sorry, professional habit. Not good-looking, no no no—I’m not good-looking, you are! Brother, I like women, really! We’re not compatible. Forced melons aren’t sweet. I’m leaving—I haven’t finished my [Decree]. Goodbye!”

Song Yawen scrambled away in panic. Cheng Shi frowned at the spot where he’d hidden—a triangular shadow formed by an intact wall base.

He walked over thoughtfully, kicked aside the rubble beneath the shadow, and found a freshly dead white mouse.

“A [Death] follower. Interesting.”

The minor incident didn’t disturb Cheng Shi much. He glanced around, confirmed no one was watching, then slowly opened his right hand.

In an instant, a six-sided die appeared out of nowhere in his palm.

The die’s faces were pale as bone, its pips glowing golden bright.

Cheng Shi’s lips curled into a wry smile as he devoutly prayed to the die:

“Lies of yesterday, mockery of today.

Yesterday I deceived a [Fertility] follower, so today...

I am a [Fertility] follower.”

The moment he finished, an invisible, ethereal ripple spread from the die, gradually enveloping Cheng Shi’s entire body.

A flash of brilliance lit Cheng Shi’s eyes; the glow of [Fertility] surged within them.

[Decree] complete. Blessing granted.

Today, Cheng Shi is a [Fertility] follower. A Progeny Priest.