The Art Style is Wrong

Chapter 11: The Art Style is Wrong

(PS: I have to go to the hospital for a follow-up appointment for depression on the 4th. I don't know if I can make it back by noon, so I'm updating early.)

Lu Yuanming adamantly denied being the Messiah or having any religious identity. His denial was so strong that it went beyond mere suggestion, leaving no room for speculation and directly refuting everything.

In fact, apart from the middle-aged and elderly man and the thirty-year-old woman who were the most fanatical and devout, the rest of the people were filled with doubt.

Even though American education was dumbed down, with its so-called "happy education," the lower and middle classes were easily fooled. Even in the 21st century, many Americans still believed the Earth was flat.

However, the people present had at least received a basic education, and judging by their attire, there were quite a few so-called elites among them. They had always harbored doubts about Lu Yuanming's existence.

But Lu Yuanming's sincere and firm denial, ironically, made them doubt him even more.

Lu Yuanming repeatedly said, "I'm really not the Messiah, nor am I related to any so-called deities. Furthermore, I am a materialist and do not believe in any gods. If I have to believe in anything, then 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 follower. He made the sign of the cross and said, "Jesus Christ only called the Lord Father. When his spirit entered mortal flesh, he did not call down fire from heaven to burn away the mundane. You may simply not have understood your mission yet, but you are undoubtedly the Messiah, the savior who will save humanity at the end of days."

Lu Yuanming didn't even change his expression, too lazy to argue further. At this moment, a man in his twenties wearing glasses and a suit, who looked like a social elite, suddenly spoke from the crowd, "Mr. Lu, can you explain in detail how this hope came about?"

"It's faith!" the middle-aged and elderly man immediately shouted sternly.

"Alright, calling it faith isn't wrong either," Lu Yuanming spread his hands. "What I'm about to say might sound unbelievable, but I'm negotiating with you all with the utmost sincerity. Everything I say is true. Firstly, I am from five years ago, that is, the timeline of 2023. I am Chinese, not Chinese American, just a genuine Chinese. Then, for reasons unknown, I came to your timeline and died in a supernatural event, something like a curse. After that, I came to this afterlife, and then I discovered I could return to the mortal world..."

The crowd immediately erupted in a clamor, with many asking how to return to the world of the living. Only the bespectacled elite and Ang remained in silent contemplation.

The bespectacled elite suddenly said, "Mr. Lu, my name is Cthulhu Espirit. I am a psychologist. Are all these things you've said confirmed to be true? And not just your imagination?"

Lu Yuanming immediately replied, "Yes, I am very sure. However, my body in the mortal world is in a vegetative state. When I return to the mortal world, I fall into an endless darkness, unable to feel my body, only able to vaguely hear the sounds around me. And this hope... this faith is what I brought from the mortal world. I don't know how much you know about China. We burn joss paper money to worship our ancestors and also to express our prayers for the future and our hopes for a better life. We usually burn joss paper money on major festivals and during Qingming, a special time for ancestor worship. My physical body in the mortal world was in a vegetative state during the Spring Festival. I estimate that when my family burned joss paper money, they had hopes and wishes for me, which transformed into this power that can be used in the afterlife."

Most people were stunned. The tall thin man immediately said, "Yes, burning joss paper money. I've burned joss paper money too. That stuff came from China a few years ago. I thought it was really cool. By the way, Lord, my name is Tom Theodore, and I will serve you devoutly."

"Call me by my name!" Lu Yuanming didn't have a good tone for Tom. Whether it was Tom's previous act of abandoning his child or his immediate actions resembling betrayal upon entering the vault, Lu Yuanming was very wary of him.

"Yes, Lord, no, Mr. Lu," Tom seemed to be able to bend and stretch. He ignored Lu Yuanming's distance and immediately said respectfully.

At this moment, the thirty-year-old elite woman who had knelt to worship earlier said, "Mr. Lu, I am Martha Julian, a Noble Family Tutor. I know that in many myths and religions, there is the concept of sacrificing to deities and the deceased. Chinese burning of joss paper money should be similar. Before, we only thought of it as a religious ritual, but now that we are in the afterlife, could it be that these rituals caused you to awaken Divinity?"

"I am not a god, nor do I have Divinity!"

Lu Yuanming emphasized very firmly, "We must talk about science!"

Everyone wore strange expressions. The psychologist Cthulhu suddenly asked, "Mr. Lu, can this power of yours be used infinitely?"

Lu Yuanming shook his head. "It's impossible to use it infinitely. We all know about the Law of Conservation of Mass and the Law of Conservation of Energy. My relatives burned joss paper money and made wishes, obtaining this... power of faith. Then I obtained this power in the afterlife. But there must be some conversion formula. To be honest, I can still conjure food and fresh water three more times, and then I won't be able to do it anymore."

Most people immediately showed expressions of disappointment or even despair. The middle-aged and elderly man immediately bowed to Lu Yuanming. "My Lord, please do not be so discouraged. Your passage between the Underworld and the Mortal World is itself a symbol of Divinity. Now, you are simply lacking believers. We are dead, and the dead probably cannot provide you with faith, but the living can. You can return to the Mortal World and develop believers. Tell them the end is near, Judgment Day has arrived. You can preach your doctrine, guide the world onto your path, and establish your nation upon the earth. This faith will also come to the Underworld."

"Yes, yes, you can go back and find more people to burn joss paper money," Tom said urgently.

The others also said so.

Lu Yuanming's words were basically all true. He remembered that sincerity was the greatest weapon, but he didn't reveal everything. For example, he didn't mention that after killing monsters, he could absorb colorless light particles and become stronger by relying on them.

Even though the young man had just graduated from university, he had already experienced betrayal and witnessed dark human nature. He had thought about many things during these days.

"It's not poverty that is feared, but inequality." This was the teaching of the ancestors.

He could show his uniqueness. As long as others couldn't see the colorless light particles or use them, he would be one of a kind, capable of providing food and weapons, which would qualify him as a leader.

However, if only he could become stronger after killing monsters, and others found out, it would be a huge hidden danger.

It's okay if everyone is an ant, but if you can transform into a butterfly alone, how would others feel?

Therefore, Lu Yuanming did not mention that he could gradually recover from his vegetative state just by killing monsters. He smiled and said, "Yes, I have this plan. However, my mortal body is in a vegetative state. Although I can recover slowly, and there are already signs of it, it will take time. Also, I want to try something else. Besides burning Joss Paper Money, if my family, my friends, or more people chant my name and care about me, will this bring about faith? I can try these things later."

Everyone smiled. Although Lu Yuanming said he could only conjure food three more times, it was undoubtedly hope, and they were witnessing a miracle at this moment.

At this time, the Middle-aged and Elderly Man said very seriously and respectfully, "Our Lord, I am Edward James, a Preacher from St. John's Cathedral. Please tell us your way, so that we may practice your way and be saved."

Lu Yuanming was somewhat bewildered, but the people around him all had serious expressions. Even Tom, who had always acted like a hooligan, was the same. They stood around Lu Yuanming. Even those who were still skeptical couldn't help but hold their breath and appear to be listening attentively.

(...Are Europeans and Americans this devout? But I really don't understand any of this superstitious nonsense, nor do I understand Christianity, or things like Christianity.)

Lu Yuanming really didn't know what to say.

He didn't know that because of the abilities he displayed and the rescue of food he brought in this despair, it was the only lifeline for these people. The vast majority of Europeans and Americans were not atheists. They were all more or less influenced by Christianity, the Bible, Jesus Christ, and so on.

Even those who were still skeptical treated Lu Yuanming with a "better safe than sorry" attitude.

What if?

What if Lu Yuanming was really the Messiah? What if he just didn't know his own identity?

And when the Messiah preached for the first time, they were essentially like Jesus' Twelve Disciples!

Lu Yuanming looked at everyone's expectant expressions. He could only cough helplessly, and then, with the mindset that sincerity was the greatest weapon, he began to speak, "My way is..."

"Prosperity, Democracy, Civility, Harmony, Freedom, Equality, Justice, Rule of Law, Patriotism, Dedication, Integrity, Friendliness!"

"We must be serious and lively, united and friendly!"

"We must use our hands to achieve our dreams and our future!"

"We must not fear hardship or sacrifice, and use the power of humanity to fight against all difficulties and obstacles!"

"There is no savior in this world. Monarchs and God cannot save us. We must save ourselves, find more humans, unite them, and then form a collective to use the collective's strength to explore this Afterlife and eliminate all Demons and Ghosts!"

Lu Yuanming said sincerely to the stunned crowd, "This is my way. I hope everyone can practice it."