Eldritch Horror Theatre

If he were pulled over for a breathalyzer test right now, a single breath would probably yield a terrifying reading.

As he savored the taste, Fu Qian didn't forget to consider his safety.

After all, theoretically speaking, this exact same liquid was now flowing through his body.

It was richer and smoother than the Crimson Fine Wine he had drunk before. The exquisite taste made the disposable paper cup feel entirely inadequate.

Though, to be fair, this transformation was exactly what triggering the paper cup's effect entailed.

Blood and Wine and Blood. Pouring in more than half a cup of either blood or wine would activate it, causing all blood and wine within a certain radius to share concepts, existing in a superimposed state of both.

If Salma had had access to these cups while managing the drinks at that All Fools' Day Party, the festive atmosphere would undoubtedly have been much stronger, and no one would have been able to tell the difference—

"Excellent. The fallacy has become even more pronounced."

Not even the figure standing right in front of him could tell.

As he spoke, he even raised a finger, casually bit it open, and took a deep gulp of his own blood.

However, he didn't seem to care much for alcohol. He quickly frowned at the taste and made no effort to conceal the slight sting of the small wound.

Far from making him look weak, these micro-expressions only amplified his oppressive presence.

"Furthermore, your attitude confirms it. I certainly didn't choose the wrong person."

Master Yuhun completely grasped the subtext behind Fu Qian's actions—that he was entirely unyielding, his dao heart like iron, tuning out whatever extravagant claims were thrown his way.

After all, there was a very obvious indicator sitting right there.

Ever since Master Yuhun had appeared, the two of them had been locked in a constant tug-of-war.

Yet, up to this very moment, Fu Qian's inner demon index had barely budged, settling right back down to its original baseline.

"I would actually be disappointed if you became an error simply because you hadn't seen enough.

"Question me. Refute me. Show me more... Even knowing the beautiful scenery waiting at the finish line, we still have a long road ahead."

Master Yuhun's tone wasn't just gratified; it brimmed with absolute hope.

...

Understandable. But theoretically speaking, shouldn't it be courtesy before force?

Fu Qian could feel the firmness of the other party's clash with his inner demons. While mentally applauding this enterprising spirit, he couldn't help but inwardly critique the approach.

Those earlier killing moves hadn't been pulled in the slightest. Any other opponent would have been shattered to pieces several times over by now; they never would have survived to reach this invisible struggle.

Could it be that anyone unable to withstand those physical methods would have their psychological fortitude dismissed as mere talk, completely disqualifying them from even opening this match?

"I hope I didn't choose incorrectly, either."

Attempting to empathize, Fu Qian voiced his own optimistic expectation.

"Of course you haven't. I have received your determination, though I cannot guarantee our success..."

Still taking the form of Melia, Master Yuhun hadn't made a single physical move since appearing. Despite the stubborn resistance of the inner demons, he still showed no intention of standing up.

Instead, even though the wind hadn't picked up, the snow tree leaf in his hand struggled for a moment before flying out of his grasp.

The soaking sunlight still hadn't suffered from color loss, making the dancing leaf look as if it were transforming into a green star.

Yet its tumbling trajectory carried the melancholic air of a closing act, much like the legendary story of the last leaf. It took away the stable world's final Anchor Point—and it truly took it away.

At first glance, it was a poignant and beautiful scene, but one shouldn't forget the double pupils currently residing in a certain eye socket.

Through the shared perspective provided by Master Yuhun, incredible changes were clearly taking place with every tumble of the leaf.

Those overlapping scenes—transcending time, space, right, and wrong—looked as though someone had jammed a stick into them and vigorously stirred.

Amid the ensuing chaotic tremors, something new faintly emerged.

Completely unlike everything else, it felt like a deeper layer of the world.

Yet it was also distinct from the Mind World he had previously experienced.

Even compared to his fleeting glimpse of the Mind World's deathly silence during the apocalypse, this place felt far more desolate—even though a fire appeared to be burning within it.

"Do you see it?"

Master Yuhun asked at precisely the right moment as they observed the phenomenon.

"I see it."

Fu Qian nodded.

...

"I have seen it and felt it more than once, but I have never been able to enter that place... that Land of Self-Abandonment..."

Appearing entirely unsurprised by Fu Qian's answer, Master Yuhun narrowed his single eye, his gaze growing profound.

"And your performance thus far only deepens my belief in the extent of this error, and that selecting you as the starting point for this world was the right choice... The Flame of Ill Omen. You intentionally showed it to me, didn't you?"

Looking straight ahead, he suddenly brought up the past. He was clearly referring to the moment during the "apocalypse" when Fu Qian had ignited the Mind World.

"Yes, I am very curious."

Despite this sudden reference to the past and the malicious speculation accompanying it, Fu Qian didn't show a hint of surprise or negative emotion. Instead, he simply continued to nod.

"You have always been curious... and unlike Stoss and the rest, your connection to that flame runs much deeper. The ancient Divine Entity you briefly incarnated as seems to have originally been its master, though it appears to have long since lost this claim."

"But I still believe that this is exactly why I could never forge a connection with that place. Because you are the conduit."

With a soft chuckle, Master Yuhun casually displayed his own terrifying insight.

It was glaringly obvious that he had grasped many of Fu Qian's various efforts to track down the Flame of Frenzy.

Of course, remaining true to his foundation of idealism, he attributed his ongoing inability to enter the Land of Self-Abandonment to it falling under the purview of his inner demons.

He had to admit, people with good imaginations were practically invincible.

At the same time, Master Yuhun's claims regarding the master of the Flame of Frenzy sounded a bit intriguing.

Had that originally been the authority of the King of the Abandoned Prison?

Fu Qian naturally recalled the experience of being whipped, which had subsequently drawn out the golden flame as a manifestation of his inner potential.

Furthermore, the Miracle Nepheli had used was called Tyrant's Boon, which also seemed to support this theory.

But at the same time, the Tyrant had lost control over this authority?

That seemed to check out as well. As someone clearly walking an entirely different Transcendent Tier path, Old Man Stoss had mastered this ability immediately upon advancing to Tier 2.

Had it been shattered into too many fragments back then? Or was it the result of frantic scrambling after the authority went vacant, just like the Fruit and Sugar Theory suggested?

"You realized I was using various forces to destroy you, so you intentionally displayed that flame to make a proposition. You wanted me to help you find that place.

"You didn't even bother to hide it, because you knew I couldn't possibly refuse—just like you couldn't possibly refuse that eye..."

Master Yuhun continued to unravel what he believed to be Fu Qian's true intentions. A moment later, he raised his hand in front of Fu Qian.

"Since that is the case, as you wish."

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