Chapter Eleven: The Style Doesn't Fit

Chapter Eleven: The Style Doesn't Fit

(PS: I have to go to the hospital for a follow-up appointment for my depression today, the 4th. I'm not sure if I'll be back by noon, so I updated early.)

Lu Yuanming firmly denied that he was the Messiah, or that he had any religious identity whatsoever. His denial went far beyond a subtle hint; he left no room for speculation and flatly rejected it all.

In fact, aside from the middle-aged and elderly man and the woman in her thirties, who were the most fervent and devout, everyone else was full of doubts.

Even though American education was de-intellectualizing people under the guise of "fun learning," and lower- and middle-class citizens were often simply fed whatever nonsense people could get away with—there were even many Americans in the twenty-first century who believed the world was flat—the people here had at least received a basic education. Judging by their clothes, several of them seemed to be the so-called elite. They had all remained skeptical of Lu Yuanming.

Yet Lu Yuanming's sincere and emphatic denial only made them more suspicious.

Lu Yuanming said again and again, "I really am not the Messiah, and I have nothing to do with any so-called gods. I'm also a materialist, and absolutely don't believe in any gods. If I have to believe in something, I believe in my ancestors. That's about it."

The middle-aged and elderly man seemed to have automatically assumed the role of a devout believer. He made the sign of the cross and said, "Jesus Christ called the Lord his Father, and when the Spirit entered mortal flesh, he never called down fire from Heaven to burn away the world. Perhaps you simply haven't understood your mission yet, but there's no doubt that you are the Messiah, the Savior who will rescue humanity at the end of days."

Lu Yuanming didn't even change his expression. He couldn't be bothered to argue any further. Then a man in his twenties, wearing glasses and a suit, who looked like a member of the social elite, suddenly spoke up from the crowd. "Mr. Lu, could you explain in detail where this hope came from?"

"Faith!" the middle-aged and elderly man immediately shouted.

"Fine. Calling it faith isn't wrong." Lu Yuanming spread his hands. "What I'm about to say may sound unbelievable, but I'm speaking to you all in complete sincerity. Everything I say is true. First, I came from five years in the past—the 2023 timeline. I'm Chinese, not an American of Chinese descent, but someone who actually lived in China. Then, for some unknown reason, I ended up in your timeline. After that, I died in a supernatural incident, something like a curse, and came to this world after death. Then I discovered I could return to the Mortal World..."

The crowd immediately erupted. Many people asked how they could return to the Living World. Only the bespectacled man and Ang remained quietly thoughtful.

The bespectacled man suddenly said, "Mr. Lu, my name is Cthulhu Aespite. I'm a psychologist. Is everything you've told us definitely true, and not just something you've imagined?"

Lu Yuanming answered at once, "Yes, I'm certain. But my body in the Mortal World is in a vegetative state. When I return there, I'm plunged into absolute darkness. I can't feel my body and can only faintly hear sounds around me. As for this ho—this Faith Power, I brought it from the Mortal World. I don't know how much you know about China. We burn joss paper money to pay respects to our ancestors and to express our hopes for the future and our longing for a better life. We usually burn it during major holidays and during Qingming, when we specifically honor our ancestors. My body in the Mortal World happened to be there during the Spring Festival. I suspect that when my family burned joss paper money, their hopes and wishes for me turned into this power, which I can use in the world after death."

Most of the people listened, stunned. The Tall Thin Man immediately said, "That's right, burning joss paper money! I've burned it too. It came over from China a few years ago. I thought it was really cool. Oh, Lord, my name is Tom Theodore. I'll serve you faithfully."

"Call me by my name!" Lu Yuanming wasn't about to be polite to Tom. Whether it was Tom abandoning his child earlier or acting as if he would betray them the moment he entered the vault, Lu Yuanming had every reason to be wary of him.

"Yes, Lord—no, Mr. Lu." Tom seemed capable of swallowing his pride when he had to. Ignoring Lu Yuanming's coldness, he immediately replied with respect.

Then the elite woman in her thirties, the second person to kneel, said, "Mr. Lu, I'm Martha Julian, a Noble Family Tutor. I know that many myths and religions include the worship of gods and the dead. China's custom of burning joss paper money must be similar. We used to think of such things as mere religious rituals, but now that we're all in the world after death, could it be that these rituals awakened your divinity?"

"I'm not a god, and I have no divinity!"

Lu Yuanming emphasized firmly, "We have to believe in science!"

Everyone wore strange expressions. Then the psychologist, Cthulhu, suddenly asked, "Mr. Lu, can you use this power without limit?"

Lu Yuanming shook his head. "It can't be unlimited. We all know the Law of Conservation of Mass and the Law of Conservation of Energy. My family burned joss paper money and made wishes, producing this... Faith Power. Then I gained this power in the world after death. There must be some kind of conversion formula involved. To be honest, I can still conjure food and Fresh Water three more times. After that, I won't be able to conjure any more."

Most of them immediately looked disappointed, if not despairing. The middle-aged and elderly man bowed to Lu Yuanming at once. "Lord, please don't despair. You travel between the underworld and the Mortal World—that alone is a sign of divinity. You simply lack followers for now. We're already dead, so the dead probably can't provide you with faith, but the living can. You can return to the Mortal World and build a following. Tell them the end is near and Judgment Day has arrived. Preach your way and have the people walk it, so that Your Kingdom may stand upon the earth. Their faith will also reach this underworld."

"That's right, you can go back and get more people to burn joss paper money!" Tom exclaimed eagerly.

The others all chimed in with similar suggestions.

Almost everything Lu Yuanming had said was true. He remembered that sincerity was the most powerful weapon, but he hadn't told them the whole truth. For example, he could absorb White Light Particles after killing monsters and use them to grow stronger. He'd kept that to himself.

Though he had only just graduated from university, he had already been stabbed in the back once. After seeing the darkness of human nature, he had spent these past days thinking through a lot of things.

People didn't fear having too little; they feared others having more. That was wisdom handed down by their ancestors.

He could show off his unusual abilities. As long as no one else could see or use the Colorless Light Particles, he would be unique. He could bring food and weapons, which gave him the qualifications to lead.

But if he was the only one who could grow stronger by killing monsters, and others found out, that would be a huge threat.

It was one thing for them all to be ants together. But if one of them could transform into a butterfly, what would the rest think?

So Lu Yuanming didn't tell them that killing monsters could gradually bring him out of his vegetative state. Instead, he smiled and said, "Yes, I do plan to try that. But my body in the Mortal World is in a vegetative state. It can recover slowly, and there are already signs of progress, but it will take time. I also want to find out whether, besides burning joss paper money, my family, my friends, or even more people simply saying my name and caring about me might also produce Faith Power. I can try all that later."

Everyone smiled. Although Lu Yuanming had said he could conjure food only three more times, there was no doubt that he represented hope. At that moment, they really were witnessing a miracle.

Then the middle-aged and elderly man spoke with utter seriousness and reverence. "Lord, I'm Edward James, a preacher at St. John's Cathedral. Please tell us your way, so we may live by it and be saved."

Lu Yuanming was confused, but everyone around him turned solemn. Even Tom, who had acted like a thug the whole time, did the same. They gathered around Lu Yuanming. Even those who still had doubts couldn't help holding their breath and acting as though they were listening intently.

(Are Westerners really this devout? But I really don't know anything about this religious stuff, let alone Christianity or things like that.)

Lu Yuanming honestly had no idea what to say.

He didn't realize that, given the abilities he had displayed and the food he had provided amid their despair, he was the only lifeline these people had. Most Westerners, at their core, weren't atheists in the true sense; they had all been influenced to some extent by Christianity, the Bible, Jesus Christ, and the like.

Even those who still doubted him approached Lu Yuanming with the attitude that it was better to believe than to dismiss the possibility.

What if?

What if Lu Yuanming really was the Messiah, but simply didn't know who he was?

And when the Messiah first preached, they were basically the Twelve Disciples, just like Jesus's own followers back then!

Seeing the expectant expressions on their faces, Lu Yuanming could only cough awkwardly. Then, with the conviction that sincerity was the most powerful weapon, he began, "My way is..."

"Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, Rule of Law, patriotism, dedication, integrity, and kindness!"

"We must be serious yet lively, united and friendly, hardworking and brave!"

"We must use our own hands to realize our dreams and build our future!"

"We must not fear hardship or sacrifice. We must use humanity's strength to overcome every obstacle!"

"There is no Savior in this world. Neither monarchs nor God can save us. We must save ourselves, find more people, unite them, and form a community. Together, we'll open up this world after death and wipe out all the Demons and Ghosts!"

Lu Yuanming addressed the dumbfounded crowd with sincerity. "That's my way. I hope you'll live by it."