The second believer

Hearing Yin Yunze's blunt retort, Widow Sun was at a loss for words.

Once she calmed down and thought it over, Widow Sun realized that things really were as Yin Yunze had said.

The ones who had committed the violence and done evil were the villagers led by Spirit Medium Wang.

As for Yin Yunze, the fox immortal, aside from a few rumors, she had never actually seen him do anything bad.

And many of those rumors had only come about because Spirit Medium Wang had gone around frightening the villagers to fleece them.

It was just that she believed those who were not of her kind were bound to harbor different intentions.

So when Yin Yunze, a fox immortal, had actually appeared, Widow Sun had instinctively put all the blame on him rather than on Spirit Medium Wang and the people led by the village chief.

But throughout the whole affair, Spirit Medium Wang had started it, while the village chief and the villagers had helped her.

Yin Yunze, on the other hand, had stopped the tragedy at the last moment and even brought them very precious food today.

For a moment, Widow Sun was at a loss.

"Some people wear human skin, but does that really make them human? Just because I..."

Seeing the confusion on Widow Sun's face, Yin Yunze was about to press his advantage when he heard a man's voice beside him.

"Sorry, handsome, you ordered steamed buns and soy milk, right? Sorry for the wait. I'll bring them right over!"

The speaker was a waiter at the breakfast shop, though not the one who had served Yin Yunze earlier.

Seeing that Yin Yunze's table was completely empty, the waiter instinctively assumed they had forgotten to serve him.

The waiter's words made Yin Yunze realize that he had gotten a little too absorbed.

He had not only forgotten that he was still in a breakfast shop in the real world, but had also spent a little too long dealing with things in that other world.

He turned his attention back to the breakfast shop and glanced at the table.

Sure enough, aside from a pair of disposable chopsticks whose wrapper had been opened, the table was completely bare. It did look as though they had accidentally forgotten to serve him breakfast.

A disposable cup could be thrown in the trash, but surely the whole steamer basket couldn't have disappeared too!

Realizing this, Yin Yunze suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

Fortunately, it was the breakfast shop's busiest time of the morning, and all three waiters were rushed off their feet. The other customers were occupied with their own meals and had paid no attention to Yin Yunze in the corner.

Besides, sending the buns to that world had happened in an instant, so ordinary people really wouldn't have noticed anything amiss.

Otherwise, someone might really have discovered that Yin Yunze could make even a steamer basket vanish into thin air.

Well, maybe, probably, it wouldn't have attracted too much attention anyway?

"Ah, no, I've already been served." Taking this as a warning to himself, Yin Yunze scanned the breakfast shop as he continued, "I've finished eating. I just thought of something and got held up for a bit."

After looking around, Yin Yunze breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the breakfast shop hadn't installed surveillance cameras, possibly to save money.

Not wanting to take advantage of the offer and potentially draw attention, Yin Yunze accepted the breakfast and added, "Oh, and could you pack another two baskets of buns and two cups of soy milk for me, please?"

It wasn't that Yin Yunze didn't want to pay for the steamer basket. Actually bringing it up might cause trouble, so he simply paid for three breakfasts.

With no time to worry about what was happening in the other world, Yin Yunze focused on reality for the moment. As soon as the thought arose, both the sights and sounds of that world seemed to be separated from him by a thick barrier, no longer affecting him in the real world.

Silently praising how user-friendly it was, Yin Yunze carried the buns and soy milk back to his residence at a brisk pace.

He put the breakfast on the table and, as he sat down, popped a bun into his mouth before turning his gaze back to the other side.

By now, the scene in the dilapidated temple had changed again.

Widow Sun, who had been leaning against the wall, was now kneeling before Yin Yunze with Xiao Wan'er's support.

Because Widow Sun had her head lowered, Yin Yunze couldn't see her true thoughts.

Xiao Wan'er knelt beside her, holding her up as she pleaded earnestly, "Lord Fox Immortal, please forgive my mother!"

Perhaps because Xiao Wan'er had simply been speaking this time rather than making a request, Yin Yunze hadn't heard her voice on the way back.

Making a mental note of this, Yin Yunze glanced at the ground.

The mother and daughter were honest enough; they really hadn't touched the buns and soy milk, which were no longer steaming.

Then again, that was only natural. People in ancient times had a greater sense of reverence than modern people.

That glance also made Yin Yunze realize that his field of vision seemed to be restricted. He could only see the area within roughly 180 degrees in front of him.

He couldn't turn to look above or behind himself.

But now was not the time to investigate his field of vision.

Turning his attention back to Widow Sun, Yin Yunze wasn't surprised that she had backed down.

After all, what had troubled Widow Sun was her belief that the fox immortal wanted to eat Xiao Wan'er. That was why she had called him a wild fox every time she opened her mouth.

Now that the misunderstanding had been cleared up, Widow Sun naturally had no reason to keep opposing Yin Yunze.

As for whether Widow Sun truly believed him, Yin Yunze thought she was more willing to believe it was true.

After all, she had already fallen out with the villagers. If she fell out with Yin Yunze, the fox immortal, too, she and her daughter probably wouldn't survive this year of disaster.

Even setting such practical considerations aside, now that there was no conflict between them,

Widow Sun, an ordinary person, would still feel some reverence for a fox immortal capable of manifesting divine power.

Widow Sun's attitude had changed, but Yin Yunze still couldn't sense any Incense of Faith from her.

"For your daughter's sake, since you have admitted your mistake, I forgive you!"

Since Widow Sun had backed down, Yin Yunze wasn't about to keep pressing the matter and let it go.

Admitting a mistake and offering one's faith weren't the same thing.

"That's wonderful! Thank you, Lord Fox Immortal!"

Xiao Wan'er was the happiest of all. She picked up a bun and was about to press it into Widow Sun's hand. "Mother, hurry and..."

"Wait." Once again, however, Yin Yunze stopped her. "I only forgave your mother for insulting me. I never said she could eat the food I gave you!"

"How can you do that? Lord Fox Immortal..." Hearing Yin Yunze say this, Xiao Wan'er looked so aggrieved that she seemed ready to cry.

"I said it before: those who do not believe may not eat!" Hardening his heart and refusing to look at Xiao Wan'er, Yin Yunze said to Widow Sun, "Lady Sun, for your daughter's sake, I'll give you one more chance. Are you willing to believe in me?"

As Xiao Wan'er's mother, Widow Sun was someone Yin Yunze intended to accept as a believer too.

After all, in ancient times, parents had a great influence on their children.

If he couldn't win Widow Sun over now, there was no telling what trouble might crop up later.

Besides, as an adult, Widow Sun was obviously more useful than Xiao Wan'er.

If he really can protect my daughter and me, what harm is there in believing in this fox immortal?

Suddenly, Widow Sun's voice rang in Yin Yunze's ears.

After a moment of surprise, Yin Yunze realized that this was probably Widow Sun's inner voice.

Some wishes silently made in one's heart could also be received by the deity to whom one prayed.

Along with that thought, a wisp of purple Incense of Faith came from Widow Sun.

"Lord Fox Immortal, please grant my daughter and me food!"

As Widow Sun spoke, Yin Yunze once again felt the same sensation he had when Xiao Wan'er prayed earlier.

"Granted."

When Yin Yunze agreed, Widow Sun saw several buns suddenly appear before her, wrapped in a mass of white, translucent material. There was also an unopened cup of soy milk, just like Xiao Wan'er's.

"This, this is..."

Widow Sun was stunned. She had assumed Yin Yunze would tell Xiao Wan'er to share some with her.

"Those who believe in me may enjoy peace and safety."

Widow Sun was stunned again. Then she silently opened the plastic bag, took out a bun, and put it in her mouth.

"So fragrant, so soft."

Then Widow Sun copied what Xiao Wan'er had done earlier, inserting the straw into the soy milk and taking a small sip.

"So fragrant, so sweet..."

Suddenly, Widow Sun put the bun and soy milk on the ground and kowtowed deeply to Yin Yunze.

"Lord Fox Immortal, please forgive this ignorant village woman for having eyes but failing to see! I, Sun Qin, am willing to worship you for the rest of my life. I ask only that you protect my daughter Zhao Wan and grant her a life free from worry!"

With those words, Yin Yunze felt Incense of Faith pour from Sun Qin, far stronger than Zhao Wan's.

Yin Yunze wasn't surprised by this.

If he were in her place and truly encountered a deity who could provide practical help, he could be just as devout a believer.

However, although the Incense of Faith Widow Sun provided was considerable in quantity,

compared with Xiao Wan'er's, Yin Yunze couldn't shake the impression that it was slightly dimmer.

Seeing Sun Qin do this, Zhao Wan hurriedly knelt as well. "Lord Fox Immortal, Wan'er is willing to offer everything..."

"Silence!" Zhao Wan had barely begun when Sun Qin snapped, "Zhao Wan, if you still consider me your mother, shut your mouth this instant!"

Rebuked by Sun Qin, Zhao Wan didn't dare say another word and lowered her head deeply.

Even so, Yin Yunze heard Zhao Wan's inner voice. Lord Fox Immortal, don't agree to Mother's request! Wan'er is willing to offer everything. I only ask that Lord Fox Immortal bless Mother with a life free from worry!

With this wish, even more Incense of Faith flowed from Zhao Wan.

Faced with the mother and daughter, each thinking of the other, Yin Yunze could only sigh silently.

"A life free from worry? Even I can't grant a life free from worry! That request is too much!"

Hearing Yin Yunze say this, Sun Qin and Zhao Wan's expressions changed at once. But immediately afterward, they heard him continue, "However, although I can't grant you lives free from worry, I can ensure that you never lack food or clothing."

Although Yin Yunze didn't know exactly how much Incense of Faith Sun Qin and Zhao Wan provided, they were his first and second believers, so he naturally intended to give them preferential treatment.

And given the living conditions in an ancient village, using modern supplies to ensure the mother and daughter never lacked food or clothing would only cost him a few hundred yuan more a month.

These were two living, breathing people!

In some games, drawing just two characters would probably cost more than a few hundred yuan a month!

At Yin Yunze's change of course, Sun Qin and Zhao Wan were overjoyed. One spoke aloud, while the other prayed silently.

"Lord Fox Immortal, please ensure Wan'er never lacks food or clothing!"

Lord Fox Immortal, please ensure Mother never lacks food or clothing!

Hearing their prayers, Yin Yunze answered softly:

"Granted."

What followed were two even denser clouds of Incense of Faith.