My Home

"Boundless Void Domain?"

"It's a Forbidden Zone that can isolate the inside from the outside, preventing our battles with enemies from affecting ordinary people. Each city's Night Watchmen are equipped with three signboards capable of casting the [Boundless Void Domain], managed by one person. Since they don't typically engage in direct combat, people like us are also called 'Watchers'."

Lin Qiye raised an eyebrow. "So, you're just a lookout."

"...If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." Zhao Kongcheng rolled his eyes.

"You mentioned there are three ways to obtain a Forbidden Zone. What's the last one?"

"The last method is bestowment by a deity, which is your situation." Zhao Kongcheng's expression turned serious. "Some deities grant a portion of their power to chosen humans, allowing them to become their agents on Earth. These deity-bestowed Forbidden Zones are also called 'Divine Forbidden Zones'.

However, in return for gaining power, the agents also receive instructions from the deity. Some are ordered to destroy human society, some to protect it, and some to help the deity find something... In general, a deity usually has only one agent, who represents the deity's will.

Most of the dozen or so deity agents who have appeared so far are agents of evil gods attempting to destroy the new human order and return the world to chaos. They've formed an organization called the Ancient God Church.

There are also agents of benevolent gods, but they are extremely few in number. As for how many agents of neutral gods there are, we have no idea."

Zhao Kongcheng stood up, walked in front of Lin Qiye, and stared into his eyes, speaking word by word:

"Lin Qiye, what instructions did Michael give you? Which side do you... belong to?"

Lin Qiye's eyes were filled with confusion. "I don't know. He didn't say."

Lin Qiye was telling the absolute truth. Michael had merely glanced at him from the moon, and then he had fainted. The deity hadn't said a single word!

Zhao Kongcheng frowned. "He didn't say anything? You haven't heard his voice in your mind either?"

"No, really not!"

Zhao Kongcheng scrutinized Lin Qiye with suspicion for a long time, as if trying to detect any signs of lying. After a while, he finally looked away and slowly sat down.

"According to our estimations, Michael belongs to the neutral or benevolent faction. Otherwise, we would have killed you by now. But... if he gave you the Divine Forbidden Zone, why didn't he say anything?

What is he trying to do?"

Lin Qiye's brow furrowed slightly. "I don't know what he wants to do, but even if he gave me instructions, I wouldn't follow them. I don't want to get involved in this messy business. At worst, I'll just give these eyes back to him."

Saying that, he stood up. "If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

Before Zhao Kongcheng could speak, he turned to open the door.

"Hey! Wait a minute!!" Zhao Kongcheng shot up, blocking the doorway, and stared into Lin Qiye's eyes. "You ask your questions and then you leave? What about me?"

"You? You can have your passionate moment here alone." Lin Qiye replied earnestly.

"No, I mean... aren't you going to ask me anything? Who am I?" Zhao Kongcheng felt it was really tiring to talk to this kid.

"Who you are has nothing to do with me." Lin Qiye continued to try and open the door.

Zhao Kongcheng grabbed the doorknob. "Why do I know so much? What kind of organization is behind me? What are we doing... Aren't you curious about any of this?"

"Not curious."

"Why?"

"According to the logic of movies and novels, once I know about your existence, I only have two choices." Lin Qiye held up two fingers. "Either I join, or I become someone who can never reveal your secret, like being killed, imprisoned, or brainwashed..."

"...You watch too much TV!" Zhao Kongcheng was speechless. "Besides, you don't even know us. How do you know joining us isn't a good choice?"

Lin Qiye raised an eyebrow. "So, even if I know about you and choose not to join, I won't be in danger?"

"Of course not! We're like soldiers. At most, we'll have you sign a non-disclosure agreement. What you're saying is pure nonsense!"

"Then I can listen." Hearing this, Lin Qiye sat back down.

Zhao Kongcheng sighed. Talking to this kid for a few minutes felt more exhausting than staking out outside for an entire day!

"In 1922, after our reconnaissance team discovered the first mythical creature, the Dragon of Chaos, Leviathan, the high command of Great Xia urgently established a military organization to be constantly prepared for invasions by mythical creatures, known as the 139 Special Biological Response Team.

At that time, our technology was relatively backward, and we knew nothing about the world before our eyes, so the so-called Special Biological Response Team was just a facade, not very useful.

Later, as we observed more and more mythical creatures, we attempted to establish contact with some of them and also discovered the secret of Forbidden Zones, beginning to train special combat talents.

As we discovered more and more Forbidden Zone possessors, we realized that due to the randomness of their appearance, we couldn't bring everyone under military jurisdiction. Therefore, the 139 Special Biological Response Team gradually transformed into a semi-military, semi-civilian special entity.

Now, we call this special organization... 'Night Watchmen'."

Lin Qiye mused, "So, your existence is to protect Great Xia from the invasion of those evil gods?"

"More accurately, all mythical creatures."

"Is there a difference?"

"Of course. As I said before, the appearance of mythical creatures is random and not related to their strength. Therefore, the mythical creatures that descend are not only the powerful deities familiar to everyone, but also some weaker beings that only exist in folk tales or minor legends. The Ghost-faced Man you encountered last night is a type of folk horror legend.

These mythical creatures, which do not possess world-ending power but can affect human society, we collectively call 'Mysteries'."

"I see." Lin Qiye nodded. No wonder the creature he encountered last night looked somewhat familiar; it was born from folk tales.

"So, we are also soldiers, soldiers protecting our homeland! Our existence is to prevent the people of Great Xia from suffering. Isn't that noble? Isn't that cool?!" Zhao Kongcheng tried to persuade him earnestly.

"It's very noble, very cool, and I deeply respect you, truly." Lin Qiye's expression became serious. He wasn't joking; genuine respect could be seen in his eyes.

A smile gradually appeared on Zhao Kongcheng's face. "Then you..."

"I'm not going."

"..." Zhao Kongcheng's smile instantly froze. "Why?!"

"I can't leave," Lin Qiye's eyes were full of sincerity. "I still have many things to do..."

"What could possibly be more important than protecting our home and country?!"

"I have an aunt and a cousin," Lin Qiye said, gazing out the window with a calm expression. "My aunt isn't old, but she's worked day and night in the factory for ten years, without complaint, for Ah Jin and me, this good-for-nothing. Now, her health is failing...

She's a stubborn woman. Even when she was in the living room, rubbing her neck so hard tears were streaming down her face, she'd still insist she was just doing yoga, that it was good for her health...

I was sitting right across from her, and she thought I couldn't see.

She's lived too cautiously, and she's too tired.

My cousin is very smart and filial, but unfortunately... he's still too young to bear the burden of this family.

I have many things to do.

I need to earn money to support my family. I need to buy my aunt and cousin a big house. I need to make sure my aunt never has to suffer in that dark factory again!

I need to pay for my cousin's college education, and I want them both to live good lives!

For the past ten years, they never gave up on me, this burden. Now that I'm finally better, how can I abandon them?

You are noble and great. If circumstances allow, I might join you...

But for now, I just want to stay by their side, grounded...

And protect this home."