[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ring-of-fate":3,"chapter-the-ring-of-fate-the-ring-of-fate-chapter-32":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ring of Fate",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2298001,4496,"Chapter 32: Anomaly","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-32",32,"\u003Cp>The blood-splattered cloth, jars, eggs, and the pungent stench filling the air did not alter the expression of Father Guillaume Béné; he turned his body, gazing toward a corner of the church, his blue eyes reflecting Lu Mi’s sprinting figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The priest’s iris color immediately lightened, fading as if transparent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his vision, one after another mercury-colored complex symbol appeared around Lu Mi, intertwining like streams of their own, while Lu Mi himself ran through a phantom river composed of these symbols, shimmering faintly, ahead of him lay ever more blurred tributaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guillaume Béné extended his right hand and reached through the air toward one of the mercury-colored symbols surrounding his target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi pressed his right foot hard against the ground, preparing to launch his body toward the stained-glass window and smash straight through the church.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, his foot slipped, failing to generate full force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body flew upward in a clumsy posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a crash, a splash, and a crack, Lu Mi shattered the stained-glass depicting Saint Cys, yet failed to break through—it stopped inside the church.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Multiple gashes appeared on his body from the broken glass, and bright red blood gushed out rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the shepherd Pierre Béry, who had just severed Ava’s head with an axe, locked onto Lu Mi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face still wore a gentle smile, but his blue eyes brimmed with viciousness, as if some seal within him had been abruptly undone, revealing his hidden true self.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre Béry gripped the axe and charged toward Lu Mi with long strides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With each step he took, his body seemed to grow taller and bulkier—though in reality it remained unchanged, he now radiated the aura of a giant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi, with his back to this cruel shepherd, leaned against the shattered stained-glass window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just escaped the agony of his fall and stab wounds, preparing to push off with both hands and roll violently out of the church, when he sensed an extreme danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone behind him… Lu Mi’s thought flashed—he kept gripping the window frame littered with broken glass, ignoring the sting of wounds and the flow of blood, feigning a roll outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This movement was merely a ruse; he swiftly retracted his body, retreating instead of advancing, falling backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An axe smashed horizontally against the shattered window frame, splitting it from the wall and hurling it out of the church.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi, falling backward and rolling, narrowly escaped past Pierre Béry’s foot, dodging this ferocious strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt no relief or joy, for he had been fully driven back into the church, and the fastest escape route was now completely blocked by the visibly mutated shepherd, Pierre Béry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Lu Mi had read many novels, he never held the childish belief that continuous rolling would keep him safe; the instant he passed Pierre Béry, he shoved off with his elbow, twisted his waist, and sprang upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept quickly—he found that, aside from young Guillaume and a few others, the remaining youths seemed affected by something, all having lost their sanity and become madmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They ignored Ava’s headless corpse and the blood splattered around them, cheering joyfully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send the ‘Spring Spirit’ away!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send the ‘Spring Spirit’ away!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Guillaume and the few others were utterly stunned, frozen in place, staring at Ava’s wide-open eyes, slightly smiling, motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their faces were filled with terror, panic, and disbelief, as if trapped in an inescapable nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Pierre Béry remained the same height, Lu Mi felt an illusion that he was nearly as tall as the dome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shepherd, having missed his strike, swiftly withdrew his axe, turned his body, and swung again toward Lu Mi nearby; Lu Mi, still unsteady on his feet, dashed forward and narrowly evaded the blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump-thump-thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi fully utilized his hunter’s speed and agility, sprinting in a curved path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Target: Father Guillaume Béné!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His experience told him that in such moments, he must seize the leader among enemies—no matter how others attacked him, he would focus solely on him, adopting a ruthless stance: either let him go, or both would die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only thus could he create a miracle under dire circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre Béry did not chase Lu Mi; instead, he stood before the wall now missing its window frame, holding his blood-caked axe, and extended his left hand toward the fleeing figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire church plunged into darkness, and the area around Lu Mi grew especially deep, a profound gloom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gloom seemed to gain its own life, gently swaying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It appeared no more than a curtain, behind which lay countless pale, black, and strange arms, about to reach out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the nearly transparent eyes of Father Guillaume Béné, Lu Mi’s figure still sank within the phantom river of mercury-colored complex symbols, shimmering faintly, ahead lay similar but more illusory streams, seemingly symbolizing the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After prolonged effort, Guillaume Béné’s right hand finally grasped the key pattern composed of multiple symbols.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he reversed it, all of Lu Mi’s efforts would become meaningless, and his future fate would be rewritten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the priest’s gaze froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahhh!!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He screamed aloud, clamping his eyes shut, as bright red blood and turbid tears streamed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the shriek echoing through the church, Guillaume Béné’s body swelled, as if filled with vast quantities of gas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssssss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His white robe edged with gold thread could not withstand the strain and tore apart rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His skin stretched nearly transparent, revealing the strange marks previously concealed beneath clothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were one after another black marks resembling seals, connected to indescribable worlds, radiating an utterly terrifying aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This aura instantly filled the church; the youths still cheering “Send the Spring Spirit away” fell into paralyzing terror, some running around the offering, others kneeling or crawling on the ground, too frightened to lift their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Guillaume and the few already stunned youths fainted outright, their lower bodies wet, emitting a foul odor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre Béry, who had been about to perform a secret rite to seize Lu Mi, now dropped his axe, knelt on one knee, bowed his head, and ceased all movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only one unaffected in the entire church was Lu Mi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had indeed been affected—his head throbbed painfully—but compared to the mysterious voice that could have sent him into near-death, this aura still fell far short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, he felt a burning sensation in his chest, suspecting the black thorn-chain symbol had surfaced, perhaps along with the bluish-black symbols resembling eyes and insects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi paid no attention to his physical state or why he had suddenly gained the upper hand—he continued sprinting toward Father Guillaume Béné.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If an opportunity arose, he must not let it slip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the distance narrowed, he clearly saw those seal-like black marks:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They appeared composed of unique characters and strange symbols.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his gaze darted rapidly, Lu Mi spotted something familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the left chest of Father Guillaume Béné, a thorn-like black symbol had erupted from within, curling toward his back!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It matched exactly the one on Lu Mi’s own chest, though much fainter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He has it too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi’s heart jolted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this the root of the village’s anomaly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do I have it? When did I get it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thought after another surged through Lu Mi’s mind, yet did not slow his motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached Guillaume Béné’s front, extended his right arm, and wrapped it around the enemy’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, without hesitation, he twisted around behind the priest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack! Guillaume Béné’s head “turned” in the opposite direction, now facing his own spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh… Lu Mi, seeing this, quietly exhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The greatest threat was gone—he must hurry home, escape with his sister, and leave the rest to those three outsiders!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Guillaume Béné, who should have been dead, opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils were entirely crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi’s head felt as if cleaved in half by an axe—a searing pain that robbed him of even the ability to scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything before his eyes shattered instantly, turning utterly black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lost consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pain!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much pain!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi bolted upright, opened his eyes, and rubbed his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately saw the wooden table by the window, the slanted chair, and the wardrobes and small bookshelves on either side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew all of this well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did my sister rescue me? How long was I unconscious? What happened to the church?” Lu Mi didn’t pause to think—he recalled what had happened and immediately rolled out of bed, clutching his head, rushing out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, he found Aurora in the kitchen downstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora wore a light blue long dress, carefully preparing dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aurora! Sister, run!” Lu Mi shouted loudly, “Father Guillaume and many villagers have gone mad—they killed Ava at the end of the festival!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t sure whether his sister knew what had truly occurred—rescue could take many forms, and didn’t necessarily require being present—so he cut straight to the point to avoid wasting time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora turned around, puzzled, and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Festival?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Lenten festival?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.” Lu Mi nodded firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That story you just made up was quite good—two sentences painted a strange event vividly, making one instinctively fearful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But next time, please do some research—Lent is still several days away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\", Lu Mi froze in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1556,"2026-06-20T06:22:34.374Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b162a3016fd0e7eb8ce57ff77d8e4c33143550e762d10b34fbfee5969020471f","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-33","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-31",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ring-of-fate-cover.jpg"]