Guiji: Wait, He's Cheating β

"The knowledge of Pathstrider '," Murata Ryusuke without hesitation. "The kind of knowledge no one can teach you. I can tell you've never really understood the so-called 'Path,' have you? At most, you've only read the general discussions you can find online."

"Okay," Jingxing asked, "How much time do you plan to give me?"

"The sooner the better," Murata Ryusuke said. "Spend a few days exploring this place, then leave. You'll be the unknown savior of Dual-Phase Paradise. I think everyone will thank you."

Jingxing remained silent for a long time. He wanted to tell Zhenzhu that this matter was too big for him to bear alone. But then Jingxing thought, even if Zhenzhu knew, what could she do?

The Interastral Peace Corporation either lets her handle it herself, or its approach to this kind of thing is to put it under control.

"Okay." He nodded. "I promise you."

"Deal." Murata Ryusuke raised his cup and ceremoniously offered it to Jingxing, gesturing for them to clink glasses. "Now, you may begin asking questions. As for the knowledge of the Pathstrider, whatever you wish to know, as long as I know it, ask away."

Jingxing didn't rush to speak. He went through the questions he couldn't understand in his mind, and finally chose the most basic one. "Must everything Pathstrider does follow the direction of the Aeon?"

"You're asking like a model student." Murata Ryusuke raised an eyebrow, not showing any disdain. "Listen, Path isn't an employee handbook issued by the Aeon. Just like the way you step into Path, it's up to your own judgment."

"As long as you don't stray from your heart and firmly believe that what you're doing right now is fulfilling your Path, then Path will approve of your actions. Even when you've gone far enough down this path, venturing onto trails no one has walked before, the Aeon will seize the opportunity to incorporate the concepts represented by those trails into your own Path."

"The Aeon certainly holds the ultimate authority to interpret Path, but those Pathstrider, and those influenced by Path, can gradually influence the direction of the Aeon —if we must give an example, the fall of 'Order' is inextricably linked to this."

Jingxing pondered for a moment, "Since everything is based on subjective judgment, does that mean there are absolutely no directional restrictions on how we use the Path Energy?"

"How could there not be?" Murata Ryusuke shook his head. "Even the God of Destruction, who destroys everything, cannot lift the bouquet from Adlivun, and the God of Amusement, who mocks all living beings, can only force a smile in the face of a curse. If the Aeon at the pinnacle of Path is like this, how can the Pathstrider following behind be exempt?"

Jingxing seemed thoughtful, then pressed on, "What if a person's chosen path happens to be the exact opposite of the Aeon's path?"

"Then you're not on that Path," Murata Ryusuke said. "And the Aeon will punish those who betray."

"Punishment...?" Jingxing repeated, noticing that Murata Ryusuke's expression seemed somewhat sad.

He noted this down and then asked, "How does one determine the strength of a Pathstrider?"

"We'll know once we fight," Murata Ryusuke replied crisply. "Besides that, there's only speculation. No one can read their true extent on their Path on their face. However—" he changed the subject, "the Emanator is an exception. The Emanator is someone whose authority has been personally bestowed by the Aeon. When an ordinary Pathstrider encounters Emanator, the outcome is naturally a foregone conclusion."

"In other words, the Emanator's authority over Path is far greater than that of others," Jingxing concluded.

"Smart." Murata Ryusuke nodded. "That's the answer to that question. Next."

Jingxing thought for a moment and asked the question he most wanted to ask, even though it had nothing to do with his Path: "I want the name 'Painter Jingxing' to be widely known throughout the galaxy. The premise is that it should be in a positive way. What are some ways to do this?"

"The simplest way: sign a contract with the Interastral Peace Corporation and have them promote you." Murata Ryusuke spread his hands. "The company has a knack for promoting people. Credits pave the way, advertising paves the way; they can turn a pig into a galactic superstar. Besides, your drawing skills are actually quite good."

"I don't want to sign a contract of servitude," Jingxing said.

Murata Ryusuke glanced at him but didn't press for an explanation. "Then there aren't many options left. Either get involved in major cosmic events—wars, catastrophes, miracles—and let the news make you famous. A painter may not necessarily make it into history books, but someone involved in a major galactic event certainly will. Or, get someone influential in the art world to speak for you; a single comment is worth ten years of hard work painting in silence."

He leaned back, his tone light and casual. "Actually, you have a ready-made title— Idrila's retinue. It's a pity that considering those madmen from the Mirror Holders, you don't dare to make it public, do you?"

"Indeed," Jingxing admitted.

"Let's get back to the main topic. Have you ever attended 'Interstellar Art Criticism'?" Murata Ryusuke suddenly asked.

Jingxing was caught off guard by this, and paused for a moment before replying, "It was featured, but only in a tiny corner of the page."

Murata Ryusuke picked up his cup. "The editor-in-chief of that issue of the magazine, do you know your name?"

"I understand." Jingxing knew that he might have to ask his mentor for help to find a solution.

"I have no more questions." He stood up and placed the now-cold coffee cup back on the table. "Thank you for your guidance, Dean."

"If you must express your gratitude, I hope you will leave tonight." Murata Ryusuke stood up. "For the sake of Dual-Phase Paradise."

Jingxing walked out of the office. Sampo was leaning against the wall in the corridor. Seeing him come out, he looked him up and down and said, "Oh, you're out? How did the chat go? You don't look like you had a great time talking about art."

"The Dean's profound knowledge is like a towering mountain to me," Jingxing replied with a wry smile. "Right now, my mind is a complete mess."

"Come on, I'll take you to the best restaurant around here. Let the food help clear your mind." Sampo patted his shoulder and led him away.

After the silence outside the office subsided, Murata Ryusuke raised his hand and slowly rubbed his temples.

The skin beneath his fingertips suddenly seemed to seep into the fabric like paint soaked in water, spreading between his fingers. His red hair vanished inch by inch. His features disappeared layer by layer, like paint being scraped off a canvas. When he lowered his hand, only a purple hand remained on his shirt collar, holding a multifaceted die.

If Jingxing were still here, he would definitely recognize him as one of the few Destruction Emanator who had been photographed, the Lord Ravager, Guiji.

"The possibility of manipulating him is impossible..." A voice came from the dice. It was the same voice, only now the headless figure was uttering the exact same sound, which sounded particularly eerie. "Just how many blessings did Idrila bestow upon him, that even the Knights of Beauty cannot share in his glory?"

The dice on Guiji's head spun around. "I need to get this guy out of here quickly, lest he ruin my plans."