Ark Simulator, Don't I Have No Physical Form?

Why is the oracle Blank in Book 18, page 1242?

She hugged her knees, curled up on the low couch, her bright blue eyes still fixed on the "contest" opposite her, the curiosity and inquiry in them almost tangible. She glanced at her sister's profile, gentle yet subtly assertive; at Lady Yela's calm, yet "outrageous" beautiful face; and then at her Su Rui, caught in the middle, looking utterly dejected yet undeniably "appetizing" due to his bodily reactions. The gossip fire within her burned ever brighter, even giving rise to a sense of "this trip was worthwhile." Seeing this scene, even if she were caught sneaking up the mountain and locked up by her brother, it would be worth it! (Of course, this was just a thought.)

In this eerie, tranquil atmosphere, interwoven with beauty and warmth, Ensia Silverash suddenly remembered something. She pulled herself out of her fascination with the "spectacle" before her, coughed lightly, and tried to steer the conversation back on track, or rather, to satisfy her almost exploding curiosity.

"Sister," Ensia Silverash's voice was slightly hoarse from her earlier excitement and suppressed laughter, but it was still clear and melodious. "How have you been doing at the temple lately? Besides taking care of the flowers and plants, what else have you been doing? Are the people of Manjushri Monastery still respectful to you?" Although she wanted to ask more about what was going on between Lady Yela and Su Rui, Ensia Silverash decided to start with the topic of "safety."

Enya's attention was slightly drawn back by her sister's question. Her fingers, which were stroking Su Rui's earlobe, paused slightly. She looked up at Ensia Silverash, her eyes filled with a gentle smile again. However, deep within that smile, there seemed to be a trace of the lingering, satisfied glimmer from before.

"Sister is fine, Ensia, don't worry." Enya's voice was gentle, reassuring. "The temple is very quiet. Apart from daily prayers and necessary rituals, I spend most of my time tending to the flowers and plants. They are very obedient and growing very well." She paused, her gaze seemingly drifting away for a moment, her voice lowering slightly, "The people of Manjushri Monastery ... treat me very respectfully. After all, I am a 'Saintess'." The last two words carried a barely perceptible, faint hint of sarcasm, but she quickly masked it, replacing it with a gentle smile. "But you, Ensia, at the manor, SilverAsh ... really didn't neglect you because he was too busy with official duties? You seem to have lost a little weight since the last time we met."

"No way!" Ensia Silverash immediately shook her head, her blonde hair swaying gently with her movements. "Although my brother is very busy, he makes time to eat with me every day, asks me about my homework, and even has someone bring me the latest storybooks and snacks from Victoria! I haven't lost weight, you're mistaken, sister!" She puffed out her small chest, trying to prove that she was "very healthy," but then, as if she had thought of something, a sly glint flashed in her blue eyes, and she changed the subject, "By the way, sister, the situation down the mountain seems to have calmed down a lot lately!"

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Yela and Su Rui out of the corner of her eye. Sure enough, when the topic of "the situation down the mountain" came up, Lady Yela's usually calm and unwavering golden eyes seemed to subtly turn in her direction. And Su Rui, whose face was still buried between Yela's legs, seemed to stiffen almost imperceptibly for a moment.

"Oh? Is that so?" Enya seemed drawn in by her sister's topic, temporarily stopping her kneading of Su Rui's ears, though her fingertips lingered on the soft, furry tips, gently stroking them. "I'm up here on the mountain, where information is scarce. I only know that there was some turmoil recently. Was it SilverAsh...? Has it been dealt with?"

"It's not just my brother's doing!" Ensia Silverash's tone carried a hint of pride and mystery. She deliberately lowered her voice, as if sharing some incredible secret, "It was Lord Kjeragandr! Lord Kjeragandr sent down a divine decree!"

"An oracle?" Enya paused slightly, her gaze instinctively shifting to Yela. Although she was in the temple and nominally the saint closest to Kjeragandr, she knew less about important matters like "oracles" that directly reflected the will of the gods than those outside, especially oracles concerning specific affairs down in the mountains. Those old fellows at Manjushri Monastery wouldn't tell her everything.

Yela's golden eyes calmly met Enya's gaze, her face still expressionless, as if the "oracle" that Ensia Silverash spoke of that had caused the change in the situation down the mountain had nothing to do with her, "Kjeragandr," herself.

"Yes! It's the oracle!" Ensia Silverash nodded vigorously, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "Just a few days ago, the various families had another disagreement over some old issues concerning the allocation of mineral resources and trade routes. I heard they were arguing fiercely in the council hall, and even my brother was having a headache. Then, at the height of the tension, the elder of Manjushri Monastery appeared with the latest oracle from Lord Kjeragandr!"

Ensia Silverash mimicked the reverent and excited tone of the servant who had delivered the message, vividly recounting, "The contents of that oracle are said to be written on the oldest and most sacred scroll, and read aloud by the Grand Elder himself! But—" She deliberately dragged out her words, creating suspense. Seeing that her sister's attention was completely captivated, and even Lady Yela's gaze seemed to be more focused on her (though still calm), and her Su Rui... although still with his face down, his ears seemed even more perked up? Ensia Silverash chuckled inwardly and continued:

"But the contents of that oracle were very strange! There wasn't a single word on it! It was Blank!"

"Blank?" Enya frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes. A wordless oracle? What did that mean?

"Yes! It was a Blank parchment scroll, with nothing written on it!" Ensia Silverash nodded vigorously, her little face full of disbelief and excitement. "Everyone in the council hall was stunned, including my brother. Nobody knew what Lord Kjeragandr meant. Was the oracle misdelivered? Or... something else?"

She paused, observing her sister and Lady Yela's reactions, before cheerfully revealing the result. "And guess what? Those family representatives who were arguing fiercely, each refusing to back down, all quieted down after seeing the Blank scroll! Then, not long after, they started negotiating on their own, each taking a step back, and quickly reached a new cooperation agreement! Even the Brown and Camlai Family families, who had been arguing the most fiercely, shook hands and made peace! Now, the atmosphere down the mountain, at least on the surface, is much more peaceful; everyone is busy pushing forward with the cooperation!"

Volume 18, Chapter 1243: You still have the nerve to ask?

After finishing speaking, Ensia Silverash looked at Yela with bright blue eyes, her face filled with undisguised curiosity and admiration. "Lord Kjeragandr, you are truly amazing! A Blank edict silenced them all! But... I'm still a little curious, what exactly did that edict, which had no content written on it, mean? Was it a warning against fighting? Or was it an indication that they could decide for themselves?"

This question had also been lingering in Enya's mind. The wordless oracle, this way of being full of symbolism and interpretive space, was indeed very much like Kjeragandr's consistent style of doing things—ancient, mysterious, and full of metaphors. But what it specifically meant, perhaps only the one who sent the oracle knew.

In an instant, everyone's gaze in the bedchamber (except for Su Rui, who was still "pretending to be dead") was focused on Yela.

Yela's golden eyes calmly swept over the curious Ensia Silverash, then over the questioning Enya, and finally landed on the silver-haired boy who still buried his face between her legs, trying to isolate himself from the outside world.

Her gaze lingered for a moment on Su Rui's back, which was slightly stiffened by nervousness (and perhaps other factors). Then, almost imperceptibly, she curved her lips into a slight smile. It was an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible curve, yet it instantly added an indescribable, almost "vivid" quality to her exquisitely beautiful and cold face.

She did not answer Ensia Silverash's question directly.

Instead, he slowly withdrew the hand that had been "mischievously" pausing near Su Rui's tailbone. Just as Su Rui breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief at the disappearance of the annoying touch, thinking the "torture" was temporarily over—

Yela reached out, not to grab anything, nor to make any other gesture. Instead, he gently patted Su Rui's shoulder. The touch was light, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

Su Rui froze, alarm bells ringing in his mind! He had a very bad premonition.

Sure enough, Yela's cold, emotionless voice rang out above him, not in response to Ensia Silverash, but... directed at him.

"Su Rui," Yela's voice was calm and even, as if she were asking about the weather, "What do you think that edict meant?"

Su Rui: "..."

His body stiffened even more. His cheek, buried between Yela's legs, seemed to burn even hotter. What kind of question was this? Why ask him? How could he possibly know what that damned, blank scroll meant?! Was Yela doing this on purpose? Absolutely on purpose! Wasn't he already humiliated enough by being "sandwiched" from both sides? Did she have to drag him out for a "public execution"?!

An unnamed anger, mixed with the shame and embarrassment that had just accumulated, suddenly surged into Su Rui's heart. He abruptly raised his head, pulling himself out of the cool folds of Yela's robe. In his haste, a few strands of silver hair even clung messily to his flushed cheeks and forehead. He opened his dark eyes, which were slightly misty from being closed for so long, and glared at Yela with a hint of annoyance and irritation.

That look seemed to say: How dare you ask?!

However, despite his clearly annoyed glare, Yela's golden eyes remained calm and unwavering; in fact, the almost imperceptible curve of her lips seemed to deepen slightly. She looked at Su Rui's face, which appeared exceptionally vivid (even somewhat "lively") with shame and anger, and at the mixture of tears, shame, and rage in his eyes, as if she were witnessing something amusing.

She didn't speak, but simply looked at him quietly, waiting for his answer.

Enya, standing beside her, was also slightly taken aback by Yela's sudden "question." Looking at Su Rui's embarrassed and annoyed expression, the subtle displeasure she felt seemed to be replaced by a sense of amusement. She was also somewhat curious about how Su Rui would answer.

Ensia Silverash, on the other hand, widened her eyes in excitement, her body involuntarily leaning forward, as if afraid of missing a single word or expression from her Su Rui.

Su Rui felt uneasy under the gaze of the three people (especially Yela's calm yet oppressive stare). He wanted to bury his head in his sand again and become a proper ostrich, but Yela's gentle pat earlier and her calm gaze now seemed to be telling him: escape was futile.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say "How should I know," or simply not answer. But the words caught in his throat. He knew that, given Yela's personality, once she asked, she probably wouldn't let him get away with it so easily. Besides, Enya and Ensia Silverash were watching...

Su Rui took a deep breath, trying to suppress the surging embarrassment and awkwardness within him. He looked away, avoiding Yela's all-seeing golden eyes, Enya's gentle, smiling brown eyes, and Ensia Silverash's gossipy blue eyes. He stared at the leaping flames in the fireplace and said quickly and in a dry, impatient tone:

"It's probably... basically saying they can decide for themselves, a peaceful cooperation, I guess." He paused, then muttered under his breath, so low only he could hear, "... Anyway, you didn't write it down, so they can interpret it however they want."

This answer carried a clear sense of perfunctoriness and a hint of defiance. But it was indeed the most "reasonable" explanation he could think of. Blank scroll meant no specific instructions, which meant no constraints, and at the same time, it was a silent warning and tacit approval—a warning to them to stop while allowing them to negotiate on their own.

Yela hearing Su Rui's answer, a barely perceptible smile, like a ripple on a frozen lake, seemed to flicker in Yera's calm, golden eyes. She offered no comment on Su Rui's answer, neither affirming nor denying it.

But her actions once again surprised everyone.

Just as Su Rui finished speaking and was about to lower his head again, trying to make himself less noticeable, Yela's hand, which had been lightly resting on his shoulder, suddenly moved.

One of her hands remained lightly resting on Su Rui's shoulder, as if it were just casually placed. Her other hand, however, went around Su Rui's armpit and came to his chest.

Then, before Su Rui could even react, or even cry out in surprise—

With a slight, irresistible yet incredibly gentle force, Yela lifted Su Rui, who was lying on her and Enya's laps, gently yet firmly... into her arms.

It wasn't a simple helping hand; rather, it was like picking up a large, soft doll, "pulling" him off Enya's lap, and then adjusting his position so that he... sat facing her on her lap.

Volume 18, Chapter 1244: It's practically a public execution.

Su Rui: "!!!"

He was completely stunned. His mind went Blank from this series of overly "stimulating" changes. One second he was lying on his side on the laps of two women, enduring being "sandwiched" from both sides, and the next second, Yela was holding him face-to-face on her lap in an almost "baby-holding" position?!

He could clearly feel the cool, elastic touch of Yela's legs, pressed against his thighs and buttocks through the thin fabric. He could feel the steady, cool strength of Yela's arms around his waist and back. He could smell the cold, vast, ancient glacier-like aura emanating from Yela, so close, enveloping his entire being.

This position, compared to lying on his side earlier, was more... intimate, and filled with an indescribable sense of control and possession. Moreover, it forced him to face Enya and Ensia Silverash directly!

A wave of overwhelming shame washed over Su Rui like a tsunami. He felt all the blood rush to his head, his cheeks, ears, neck, and even below his collarbone burning hot. He instinctively tried to struggle, to jump off Yela's legs, but Yela's arms around his waist, though seemingly casual, possessed an undeniable, icy, unbreakable strength that made it impossible for him to escape.

"You... let go!" Su Rui finally found his voice, his voice filled with shame and anger, and a barely perceptible tremor, as he growled in a low voice. He tried to push Yela's shoulder with his hand, but his strength was like an ant trying to shake a tree in front of Yela.

Yela seemed oblivious to his struggles and growls. She merely adjusted her grip on him slightly, making him more stable (and harder to break free). Then, she raised her eyes, her golden eyes calmly looking at Enya, who was equally stunned by Yela's sudden action, her expression a mixture of surprise and complexity, and Enya, who was already covering her mouth in astonishment, but whose eyes were wide open, Ensia Silverash with even greater excitement.

It's as if to say: Look, he answered. The answer wasn't great, but it was still somewhat interesting. Now, he's my "prize," or perhaps just a different way to continue the "interrogation"?

Su Rui was being held on Yela's lap in this extremely humiliating position, facing Enya and Ensia Silverash. He felt like a snow leopard with its fur standing on end, placed under a spotlight for everyone to see (even though he was in human form now). He could clearly see the complex expression on Enya's face—a mixture of astonishment, helplessness, and what seemed to be a very subtle... disapproval—and he could also see Ensia Silverash's eyes, practically sparkling with excitement, filled with the thought, "I saw it! I saw everything!"

Overwhelmed by embarrassment and a feeling of having nowhere to escape, he wished he could disappear into the ground or simply pass out on the spot. He lowered his head, avoiding eye contact with Enya and Ensia Silverash, his silver hair falling down to try and hide his cheeks, which were already flushed red.

Yela, however, seemed to think that wasn't enough. She even gently lifted Su Rui's chin with one hand, forcing him to raise his head slightly, although Su Rui still kept his eyes tightly closed and refused to look at them.

Then, Yela's cold voice rang out again, this time addressed to Ensia Silverash, but the content of her words made Su Rui even more ashamed and indignant.

"What he said is pretty much true." Yela's voice was calm and even, as if stating a simple fact. "Blank means infinite possibilities. It also means that the choice is in their own hands. Peace or conflict, cooperation or division, it's all up to them. I only need to provide a ' Blank ' framework."

She paused, her golden eyes lowering slightly to rest on Su Rui's face, which was tightly shut in shame and indignation, her eyelashes trembling violently. Then, in that still calm tone, yet with a hint of almost imperceptible mockery, she added:

"Of course, what if they misunderstand or make the wrong choice..."

She didn't finish her sentence. But the indifferent yet majestic meaning that belonged to an ancient deity made the air in the bedchamber seem to freeze for a moment.

Both Enya and Ensia Silverash were slightly taken aback by the profound meaning hidden beneath Yela's calm words. Blank signifies infinite possibilities, but also... infinite warnings. The gods had presented a scroll of "Blank," seemingly saying nothing, yet in reality, saying everything. Peace and cooperation are one interpretation of "Blank"; if the fighting continues, then "Blank" might take on another meaning—the silence of the gods is sometimes more terrifying than thunderous wrath.

When Su Rui heard Yela's almost "affirmative" response to his perfunctory answer, and the chilling undertone of her unfinished words, his body stiffened almost imperceptibly. His eyes remained closed, but his tightly clenched lower lip betrayed his inner turmoil. What was this? Affirming his answer, and then continuing to treat him like a human-shaped body pillow (facing the audience, no less)?!

Just then, Yela's fingers, which were holding his chin, moved slightly. Her fingertips, with a slightly cool touch, brushed across his tightly bitten lower lip, gently rubbing the part of his lower lip that had turned slightly white from being bitten, with a tone that was almost soothing yet teasing.

"Relax." Yela's voice, almost a whisper, rang in his ear, carrying the scent of ice and snow, yet strangely, it soothed the churning embarrassment and anger in Su Rui's heart. "Your answer wasn't too bad."

Su Rui: "..." He suddenly opened his eyes and glared fiercely at Yela. Was this a compliment?! This was clearly mockery! It was a paltry "charity" after a public execution!

However, his dark eyes, which shone brightly with shame and indignation, and his pale lips, slightly glistening with moisture from being kneaded, fell into Yela's calm, golden eyes at such close range, and stirred up a barely perceptible, almost pleasurable ripple, like a pebble thrown into an icy lake.

Yela subtly curved her lips into a smile again. Then, she removed her fingers from Su Rui's chin and gently rubbed the tips of Su Rui's still red and burning animal ears, which were trembling slightly with anger.

"Now," Yela's gaze returned to Enya and Ensia Silverash, as if the scene filled with "interaction" had never happened, and she said in her still calm tone, "You two can continue talking."

It was as if to say: My "interrogation" and "teasing" have come to a temporary end. Now, I'm returning the "toy" (Su Rui) to you (even though she's still on my lap). You sisters can continue catching up.

Volume 18, page 1245: Is it just about the same?

Held in Yela's arms, Su Rui was forced to face Enya and Ensia Silverash directly. He felt Yela's cool fingers teasing his sensitive earlobe and listened to her calm, almost weather-discussing words. A surge of heat rushed to his head, and he felt so ashamed and angry that he almost exploded on the spot. He closed his eyes tightly, trying again to be a proper ostrich, but this time, he couldn't even bury his face in his hands.

Enya, watching Su Rui, blushing and mortified, held tightly to Yela's lap in an extremely intimate (and controlling) manner, yet powerless to resist, and then looking at Yela's calm, beautiful face, as if everything were perfectly natural, felt a surge of complex emotions welling up within her once more. But seeing Su Rui's pitiful yet adorable appearance, her displeasure seemed to be replaced by a sense of helplessness and amusement.

She sighed softly, her gaze softening again as she looked at her younger sister, Ensia Silverash, whose cheeks were flushed and eyes were shining from the overly "stimulating" scene before her. She tried to steer the conversation back on track. "Ensia, stop talking about what's happening outside. Tell your sister what interesting storybooks you've been reading at the manor lately? Or, is there anything new about gardening you'd like to learn?"

Ensia Silverash was only able to snap out of her daze at the sight of "Lady Yela hugging Su Rui" when her sister asked her a question, but her gaze still couldn't help but drift to Su Rui's flushed face and trembling (from being rubbed) ears. She tried to calm herself down and began to answer her sister's question, but her voice still carried an undisguised excitement and curiosity.

Su Rui, on the other hand, was like a human sculpture (the kind that blushes and trembles), "fixed" to Yela's lap and forced to "participate" in this sisterly reunion. He could only close his eyes tightly, pretending that he didn't exist, while in his heart, he cursed countless times a certain "disrespectful old man" (although Yela didn't look old at all), "capricious," and "enjoying toying with him" "ancient will."

Yela held her face-to-face on her lap in a controlling and possessive manner, almost like "holding a child," forcing her to face Enya and Ensia Silverash directly. She also had to endure Yela's cool fingers slowly and gently kneading the tips of her sensitive animal ears, as if teasing a pet. Su Rui (the one forced to participate in the discussion) felt that her last bit of rationality and patience was being ruthlessly worn away little by little.

Shame, embarrassment, inescapable anger, and a deeper, indescribable sense of humiliation stemming from being "treated" this way, surged within him like molten lava. He could clearly feel the cool, supple touch of Yela's legs, and smell the vast, icy aura emanating from her, like that of an ancient glacier, enveloping and permeating his entire being. He could see the complex (helpless, amused, and perhaps even slightly heartbroken?) gaze of Enya opposite him, and the sparkling blue eyes of Ensia Silverash, almost shimmering with excitement and curiosity.

All of this made him feel extremely uneasy, and he wished he could escape from this terrible, suffocating situation immediately.

However, Yela's arms around his waist, seemingly casual, seemed to carry an invisible, oppressive force originating from her divine status, rendering all his struggles futile and like stones sinking into the sea. He could even feel that with each attempt to exert force, the binding force would increase accordingly, like the most precise shackles, firmly "locking" him to this warm yet shameful "throne" (Yela's legs).

However, Yela continued to "evaluate" his extremely perfunctory answer in a calm and even tone, as if she were discussing what to eat today.

"What he said is almost right. Blank means infinite possibilities. It also means that the choice is in their own hands..." Yela's voice was as cold as ice and snow, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, yet every word was clear, striking the already turbulent lake of Su Rui's heart.

Almost? Just almost? The nameless anger in Su Rui's heart burned even brighter because of Yela's nonchalant "affirmation." What did he mean by "almost"? He was just saying it casually to brush off her questions, and she actually took it so seriously and started "interpreting" it? "Infinite possibilities," "the choice is in their hands"? It was as if that Blank scroll truly contained some profound divine oracle!

In Su Rui's view, that was nothing but a charade! It was a blatant threat and intimidation!

Those powerful families entrenched in Kjerag, wielding authority and harboring their own agendas, were all shrewd and suspicious. When they received a "divine oracle" from the Holy Mountain, from the ancient and mysterious Kjeragandr, yet devoid of any words, what would their first reaction be? Would they ponder the "infinite possibilities" within? Would they reflect on their own "right to choose"?

No! Su Rui was almost certain that their first reaction was one of utter astonishment, unease, and fear! They were worried that their previous actions might have angered the gods, and that the gods were using this "silence" to express their displeasure and issue a warning! They were afraid that behind this "Blank" lay an unbearable divine punishment that could descend at any moment!

Under immense, unknown fear and pressure, those who were already arguing over interests would instinctively choose the "safest" way, the way that could "appease the gods' possible anger"—compromise, back down, and seek peace and cooperation! Because none of them dared to gamble that this "Blank" divine oracle might be the gods' final ultimatum to their fighting.

This is not about "providing a framework" or "giving choices" at all; it is the most direct and effective form of deterrence and intimidation! It uses people's most primal fear of the unknown, especially of the will of the gods, to force them to comply!

A surge of anger mixed with being mocked and disdain for Yela's "feigned divine power" (even though she was indeed a "god") rushed to Su Rui's head. Driven by extreme shame and a certain "go-for-all" mentality, he suddenly opened his eyes again.

This time, he didn't avoid Yela's calm, golden eyes. Instead, he went straight to meet them, his gaze filled with barely suppressed annoyance and mockery.

Then, under the almost imperceptible gaze of Yela's golden eyes, which seemed to flicker slightly because of his "eye contact," and amidst the somewhat astonished looks of Enya and Ensia Silverash—

Su Rui raised his hand, not to push Yela away, nor to struggle. Instead, with a vengeful, annoyed force, he slapped the back of Yela's hand, which was gently kneading the sensitive tip of his ear like dough...

"Smack!"

A crisp sound, neither too loud nor too soft, rang out in the warm bedroom, sounding particularly abrupt.

Volume 18, Chapter 1246: Purely a scare tactic

Yela's hand, which was kneading his ear, paused abruptly at the sudden slap. Her hand, white and delicate like the finest jade, bore faint, quickly fading red marks from Su Rui's touch. Yet, Yela's face remained expressionless; her golden eyes calmly gazed at Su Rui, as if awaiting his next move, or perhaps simply... somewhat "surprised"?

Both Enya and Ensia Silverash were stunned by Su Rui's sudden, utterly "outrageous" act (hitting Kjeragandr?!). Enya even instinctively sat up straight, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but seeing Yela's still calm (or rather, unresponsive) face, she swallowed her words. Ensia Silverash covered her mouth in astonishment, her blue eyes wide with surprise. She looked at Su Rui's annoyed profile, then at Yela's hand, which seemed completely unaffected. Her heart was filled with shock and... an even stronger excitement— Su Rui actually dared to hit Yela's hand?! Even if it was just a slap, it was still too... too brave (or rather, too reckless)!

After swatting Yela's hand away, Su Rui seemed taken aback, as if he hadn't expected to actually do it. But the die was cast. He suppressed the slight guilt that rose within him for "offending a deity" (although he thought this "deity" was rather frivolous), and, meeting Yela's calm gaze, quickly said in a slightly hoarse but unusually clear and impatient tone:

"What infinite possibilities, what choices... I think it's just a scare tactic!"

His voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet bedchamber, it echoed clearly like a pebble thrown into a lake.

"A Blank scroll, with nothing written on it, delivered to those scheming, timid fellows who are afraid of making a mistake all day long," Su Rui's tone was filled with undisguised sarcasm and disdain. "The first thing they'll think of is definitely not 'the gods have given me the freedom to choose'! They'll only think that they've done something wrong, angered the high and mighty gods, and that's why the gods are using this method to warn them that if they continue to cause trouble, divine punishment will befall them!"

He paused, looking into Yela's still calm, unwavering golden eyes, as if listening to an insignificant story. His annoyance intensified, and he simply poured out his thoughts. "Under the pressure of fear and uncertainty, they will naturally choose the most 'safe' way, the way that can best 'appease the god's potential wrath'—stop fighting and seek cooperation. Because no one dares to gamble on whether there are truly unbearable consequences behind this ' Blank.' This is not 'giving them a choice,' this is the most direct intimidation and coercion! Exploiting their fear of the unknown, especially of you, their 'god,' to force them to go in the direction you want!"

Su Rui finished speaking in one breath, his chest heaving slightly with excitement and a strange sense of "exhilaration" (finally, he'd said it!). He stared intently at Yela, awaiting her reaction. Was it fury? Displeasure? Or... something else?

However, Yela's reaction once again surprised everyone.

After Su Rui finished speaking, her words laced with obvious accusation and sarcasm, Yela's calm, golden eyes gazed at him silently for a few seconds. Then, almost imperceptibly... she nodded.

The movements were very subtle, yet exceptionally clear.

It's as if to say: Hmm, what you said makes sense.

Su Rui: "...?"

His prepared response to Yela's "anger" or "rebuttal" caught in his throat because of Yela's sudden, calm "nod." He looked at Yela in bewilderment, not understanding what she meant. Was it an admission? Or... a disdain for rebuttal?