Into the Dream

The Big Cat was very fast; even when traversing mountains, it arrived earlier than the Dragon King on the Surface.

The two men placed Chenosli and his two companions by the river and waited quietly. They had already spotted Li Jingming on the mountain, and he would be in front of them in half a minute at most.

Just then, stimulated by various intense activities, Chenosli and his teacher Laquis, who were the First punished by the chains of [Order], slowly awoke. When they saw that they were no longer in the dungeon and that the familiar Prologue Mountain was in the distance, a slight look of surprise flashed in their eyes.

But after this initial shock, the two reacted very differently.

Chenosli's eyes were filled with madness as he stared intently in Kato Court's direction, furious yet powerless.

"Running away is the choice of a coward. I am not a coward. Let me go back!"

I am First Adjudicator Chenosli, a student of Lord Laquis, the greatest Grand Justicar in history, and I cannot allow the Grand Inquisition to lose its Justice!

These parasites that gnaw at the foundation of [Order] must be eliminated. Factional infighting and political struggles may exist, but they must be within the rules of [Order]!

They broke the Order!

They betrayed the Order!

He betrayed me!

Why did he betray me!

Chenosli had not yet realized the real problem; he was still influenced by unknown forces and believed that everything was happening because of a problem within the Grand Inquisition.

Laquis seemed not to hear his student's words. He stared at the sky with his cloudy old eyes, his tone full of Despair and sorrow at the shattering of his piety.

Why... must this world... lose its Order?

"Supreme Order, why do you...?"

Seeing this, Cheng Shi sneered.

He had no pity in his heart. God does not need Mortals to pity him for his mistakes. He was not mocking the piety of the Grand Justicar, but mocking the Order upheld by the Grand Inquisition.

Hong Lin raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "What are you laughing at?"

Cheng Shi shrugged. "Laughing Grand Inquisition."

How so?

Despite its problems, the Grand Inquisition, as far as I know, is still far better than other countries in the age of Civilization Era. At least there is Order here, and ordinary people can experience a limited but cherished sense of justice and fairness.

Cheng Shi shook his head and asked in return, "What kind of Order do you think the Grand Inquisition maintains?"

Hong Lin frowned and pondered, "The lives and freedoms of citizens, the progress and stability of society?"

No, far from it.

Strength protects life, and power brings freedom; these things are related to citizens, but they cannot be decided by the people.

I have visited many cities with Grand Inquisition and explored many local prisons, carefully observing law enforcement officers and criminals, and have come to a conclusion that is somewhat personal:

The Grand Inquisition has taken the wrong path.

They protect the people and Believer not because they advocate the rule of law, but to ensure that these people have the right to be tried!

He ensures that His Believer, when facing His judgment, will willingly confess their sins and submit to punishment, so that the radiance of "Order" may be spread without hindrance.

What they care about is never the lower levels, but the upper levels. The Order they want to maintain is not the Order that ordinary people rely on for survival, but the Order that the one on the Divine Throne needs.

Hong Lin, you're right. The Grand Inquisition is indeed much better than those in other countries, but this is not because the rulers are benevolent and effective in governing the country. Rather, it's because the people here are fortunate to have encountered a deity whose will is not so negative and dark!

Based on my observation and understanding of the gods of "Civilization," "Order" may have truly upheld Order, but He did not correct the deviations of His Believer, which caused the entire Grand Inquisition to go off track.

Fortunately, even if the will to uphold Order deviates slightly, it is still more conducive to the development of Civilization than the will to promote chaos and destruction.

However, the seeds of this problem had already been sown, so when this "deity" encountered problems, Order was completely Order.

Because the ruler of the Grand Inquisition upholds His Will, what meaning does Order have when He no longer maintains Order?

Look, the most absurd thing that this Change has caused is that the Chief Judge has imprisoned the Grand Justicar.

"What a brilliant theory of Order! I imagine you and Mo Li will have a lot in common."

When Li Jingming arrived, he heard what Cheng Shi said and a look of admiration flashed in his eyes.

Cheng Shi looked up at him, rolled his eyes, and pouted, saying, "He's already gone to find [war], what common language do we have left?"

Furthermore, I am a traveler of "Nothingness," my thoughts, actions, and words are all meaningless, and I have nothing in common with the retinue of "Civilization."

Li Jingming was stunned and looked at Hong Lin in surprise.

"There are no secrets between you two."

Information gathered should be shared with friends. If you keep it all to yourself, how are you any different from Folly Believer?

Hong Lin smiled casually and waved her hand as if to say hello again.

Cheng Shi didn't waste much time. He took out the sliver of the Dream-Peeking Candle and pointed it at Chenosli, saying:

"Hurry up, Dragon King Majesty, the Trials is about to end."

Li Jingming nodded in agreement, ignoring what Chenosli and Laquis were still saying, and drew a few symbols before putting them to sleep.

Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow at this move and said enviously:

"This is much more effective than the hypnotic talent of [Deception]. But Li Dragon King, you use this trick so skillfully, it seems you've slept with quite a few people, haven't you?"

Tsk, they've really got a knack for using "Memory" in ingenuity.

"..."

Li Jingming automatically ignored Chen Shi's remarks, sat cross-legged on the ground, took out a wooden bird from his personal space, placed it on the ground, and explained:

"The little thing called 'Time' will sing a song to wake us up before the Trials ends. When we hear the hymn praising 'Time' in our dreams, we should find a chance to exit the dream."

The other two nodded and also sat cross-legged on the ground.

The momentum for cooperation is now irresistible, and accelerating coordination to buy time is the most pragmatic approach.

Cheng Shi, looking at the motionless little wooden bird on the ground, still asked with some interest, "Disposable?"

"..." Li Jingming looked at Cheng Shi with an extremely complicated expression, sighed and said, "It's just a B-rank item, I can give it to you."

Cheng Shi was delighted and rubbed his hands together. "I can't accept that."

Although he said that, he still shifted his position and sat a little closer to the bird.

"..."

Seeing this, Li Jingming simply closed his eyes in silence, deciding to avoid the disturbance.

Hong Lin chuckled softly, pointed to the little bird on the ground, then to herself, and silently said:

"It's beautiful, give it to me."

"?"

Cheng Shi's face darkened. He wanted to refuse, but when he thought about how difficult it was for the Big Cat to come with him, he sighed and moved his seat a little further away with a hint of disgust.

Once the three were fully prepared, the Dream-Peeking Candle was quietly lit. While the other two closed their eyes, Cheng Shi secretly gave himself a suggestion, dispelling the psychological trap that he couldn't dream.

And so, a sweet dream quietly descended upon me.