Wrathful Image
Do not look directly at the gods, and still less should you speak ill of them.
Fear had always been an indispensable part of faith.
To Fu Qian, Greedy Worm and his people made for exceptionally rare test subjects.
First, he knew their true nature: they were Tool Persons bound by the Death Master's oath.
As a genuine group, they also shared information quite effectively thanks to the ties between them.
They were also among the few who knew their Honored Name.
And most importantly, they had no idea what they truly were. The only one who knew the truth, A'wei, had already been sent by Fu Qian to Unseen Hill.
Under these circumstances, they were truly suited to testing matters related to faith—even faith in the Old Ones—
such as the Death Master's current state, and what exactly had happened to Him.
So despite his busy schedule, Fu Qian had never forgotten his plan to guide the group.
After showing them hope yesterday, punishment was essential when they showed doubt or even gave offense.
When he told Wen Li she could come back to work today, he hadn't meant that she would just be selling books.
Still, even with her help spreading fear, something seemed to be missing.
Fu Qian had been wondering since yesterday what form the punishment should take.
And sure enough, hard work paid off. The reward he'd received after his morning workout not long ago seemed particularly well suited.
The shadow of death, feared by all, and a description that pierced through everything—both seemed to fit their tenuous connection rather well.
And compared with Calamity Authority, it seemed he wouldn't need to worry about physical harm.
After all, if he misjudged the force of the former, he might blow someone's head clean off.