Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 321 - 300 choose one

Chapter 321: 300 choose one

Supernatural events had long ceased to be a secret, even before the nuclear explosion incident caused by Yinyue, numerous people online claimed to have personally experienced such events, but they were not taken seriously by the public. I must admit, I was also dubious, mostly leaning towards disbelief. After all, every time I followed similar clues, I ended up with nothing.

After the nuclear explosion incident, especially after the government openly acknowledged the existence of soul loss and supernatural events, information related to these events flooded the internet. Numerous netizens who had firsthand experiences were eager to share, and it was hard to tell which were true and which were just for attention. The government ceased any control over the information, letting it freely spread online.

Even so, I suppose most people would still be skeptical. Supernatural events generally occur in the shadows, and rampant cases like soul loss are, after all, a minority. As far as I know, this current supernatural phenomenon enveloping both the mountains and the town simultaneously is the first since the government’s acknowledgment.

With this in mind, the audience believing in supernatural phenomena is bound to increase significantly.

From what I gather in conversations around me, this fog spans at least a hundred kilometers in diameter. No one from the inside can get out, nor has anyone from outside come in. Government officials involved must be frantic. It seems wise that they had acknowledged these supernatural incidents beforehand. If they had waited to acknowledge them after this event took place, public reactions might have been different, increasing distrust towards the government.

Fortunately, this incident did not occur in a major city but in a struggling tourist town like Moon Concealing Mountain. If there’s only a brief period when information and traffic cannot be exchanged with the outside world, it’s not a big problem, especially with Gua Tianshi present, which prevents Yinyue from massacring the town’s population through Fatian Xiangdi.

Another concern is that unprincipled villains might take advantage of this chaos to cause trouble. That may have to rely on local law enforcement.

Being unable to exchange information or travel isn’t very convenient for me and Mazao either. I had planned to contact the Zhu family after descending the mountain, using Little Bowl’s photo to inquire about related matters. Little Bowl might indeed be a relative of Zhu Shi or Mr. Zhu, or a lost kin, etc.– it would be clear with a simple question.

If they see the photo, they might ask where it came from. I’ll just refrain from answering them. However, I can tell Zhu Shi more because he already knows many of mine and Mazao’s secrets. But at this moment, contact is impossible.

It wouldn’t be impossible to temporarily leave the range of Yinyue’s Fatian Xiangdi. Mazao can even navigate through the fog on the mountain freely, let alone near the outskirts of Moon Concealing Mountain.

Not sure if it’s because Gua Tianshi restricted some effects of Yinyue’s Fatian Xiangdi, this extremely thin fog seems not to have caused any temporal confusion, at least that’s how I feel. Thus, going out and then coming back should be feasible. However, after discussing with Mazao, we decided to focus on more immediate matters first.

I retrieved the Fake Water Moon from Mazao, planning to use it later to invade Yinyue’s Spirit World.

"Zhuang Cheng, are you confident?" Mazao asked.

Though I didn’t want to admit it to her, I had to honestly confess that I wasn’t sure.

Let alone the possibility of invading Yinyue’s Spirit World, barely one in ten thousand chance exists, and currently, we can’t even see Yinyue, who is hiding deep within the mountain fog. Even Gua Tianshi subtly suggested I might not succeed.

He clearly stated that "saving Changan’s spirit" and "obtaining the Spirit Pill from Water Navy Xuanwu" were a choice of either one. On the other hand, his words subtly imply that Yinyue and I are fated to destroy each other in the end. It’s challenging to interpret from his tone any potential implication that only a part of Yinyue might be eradicated within Changan’s spirit.

Yet, because of this, I’m even more driven to challenge it.

Including Gua Tianshi’s prophecy, I felt an urge to defy it. Choosing between the two options? Either way, it still fulfills his prophecy. I must admit I have a rebellious streak when told I can’t do something or can only do so much; I want to exceed those expectations. Like now, what if I want "both"?

Breaking a prophet’s prophecy with one’s wisdom or courage is also a part of prophetic stories. Although such stories usually end with "attempts to break a prophecy only fulfill it eventually," as someone potentially becoming Impermanence soon, there’s no reason why I can’t break Gua Tianshi’s prophecy.

"I think... it’s safer," Mazao cautiously commented.

"Safer—do you mean?" I asked.

"Since between ’Changan’s soul’ and ’Xuanwu’s Spirit Pill,’ we have to choose one in the end, it would be better to decide which one we want to achieve and then give our all towards that goal," she suggested.

I understood her implied meaning.

"Do you want me to give up on Xuanwu’s side?"

"Yes." She nods, "My soul injury is not such an urgent issue. Even if left untreated, I would only be unable to recover fully, but no greater problems would emerge. However, Zhu Changan’s situation cannot be delayed; it would be better to handle it properly soon."

"I understand what you mean, but it’s not just about giving up one side to secure the absolute accomplishment of the other. Both sides require a full effort to attain, and even with full effort, it’s uncertain whether they can be obtained. Should we not try to maximize our efforts in both directions?" I still want to challenge Gua Tianshi’s prophecy.

She points out: "Even if we strive with all our might and still fail to obtain it—that’s correct, but what if, after we’ve tried our best, we managed to secure one side first?"

At her words, I quickly comprehend.

"I see. I’m meeting Xuanwu in an hour. If he, knowing I am a flame superpower user, is still willing to give me the Spirit Pill beforehand, it signifies that according to the prophecy, I would no longer be able to save Changan’s soul afterwards," I say.

This is a very simple logic. Giving up one side doesn’t guarantee the fulfillment of the other, but achieving one side means the failure of the other.

Eager to challenge Gua Tianshi’s prophecy, I didn’t even see such a simple rationale beforehand; instead, it was Mazao who first realized the problem. Although not exactly foolishly blinded by desire, it is indeed shaped by my own nature.

Of course if I first get the Spirit Pill from Water Navy Xuanwu, I could say it conveniently gives me the opportunity to challenge Gua Tianshi’s prophecy on "saving Changan’s soul", but would I really want to stake the life and death of a friend on my gratifying adventurous challenge?

I could distance myself from a friend for my desires, could sever some connection and contact with a friend, but I can’t prioritize my one-sided adventure over a companion’s safety. No matter how much I want to challenge Gua Tianshi’s prophecy, I can’t disregard the life of my friend.

Reflecting upon this, a sense of weariness begins to emerge in my heart.

If only everything could be destroyed. Society, relationships, and all else. Hoping for Doomsday, that everything is annihilated in disaster. The remaining world would be dangerous, fascinating, and free. How wonderful that world would be—this thought flashes through my mind.

I am well aware that this is forbidden territory that I shouldn’t delve into too deeply.

"Zhuang Cheng, you should save your friend."

Mazao’s voice brings back my attention, her eyes earnestly fixed on mine.

"Don’t meet Xuanwu. Give up the request for the Spirit Pill," she says, "I’ll be fine. There will surely be other chances to heal the soul. I don’t want to see you, in the future, often regretting not having saved your friend..."

Perhaps she too had experienced such nights.

Before knowing Little Bowl had not died from the Catastrophe Demon’s fire or other Doomsday disasters, she surely often regretted not having saved Little Bowl, tossing and turning at night with regret. Knowing how uncomfortable that is, she wouldn’t want me to go through the same torment.

However, my situation is slightly different from Mazao’s. Eventually, we are different personalities. Because I understand myself very well, I am clear about what I would become after giving up on saving a friend.

By then, I’m likely not going to regret it, nor linger in those memories. Because I am simply too prone to letting things go. To put it positively, it’s a mentality embraced with broad-minded healing; negatively, it means I easily forgive my own faults and mistakes, even rationalizing them as part of my personality, then comfortably accepting myself.

Once I truly watch a friend die, I would quickly transform into a more "evil" person—one who thinks it’s okay for friends to die, even though such a change is hard for the current me to accept.

"I’ve understood," I say.

Mazao’s expression softens.

And then I continue, "Let’s go meet Xuanwu first."

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