20demayo Chapter 24 Xiao Wu was stunned. Was this still her unreliable brother?
Chapter 24 Xiao Wu was stunned. Was this still her unreliable brother?
Inside the Divine Child Palace.
The atmosphere became quite awkward.
Ouyang slumped on his enormous bed, which was made from the core wood of the ancient tree of life, his eyes vacant, feeling as if his body had been hollowed out.
In front of him, Xiao Wu was sitting on a small stool.
She was holding a carrot that was bigger than her head.
While taking small bites, she secretly glanced at her brother with an extremely complex and hesitant look in her eyes.
She was not only confused, but her mind was also in complete turmoil.
Ever since that day in the square, when Bibi Dong's words "spirit beasts submit" left me completely bewildered.
She was then taken back to this extremely luxurious palace by Ouyang.
Then she witnessed a scene she had never seen in her 100,000 years of life.
Her Ouyang brother, the one in the Star Dou Great Forest.
A lazy older brother who does nothing but sleep and wake up looking for food.
Here, they live a life comparable to that of immortals.
Everything was wonderful, except... that one who sat high on the papacy.
The woman who might be in a grand hall not far away right now is Bibi Dong.
Xiao Wu slowed down her nibbling on the dragon blood ginseng, a barely perceptible hint of pain and hatred flashing in her eyes.
She wouldn't mistake that aura.
That woman bore the mark of her mother's soul left behind during her final sacrifice.
It was she who ended her mother's life with her own hands.
But... why is Brother Ouyang here?
And he even became her "divine child"?
Enjoying such extraordinary treatment?
"Burp~"
Xiao Wu let out a burp.
The powerful medicinal energy of the dragon blood ginseng couldn't dispel the doubts and subtle dissatisfaction in her heart.
She put down the carrot she had half-eaten.
Finally, unable to hold back any longer, she raised her head and looked directly at Ouyang.
"elder brother."
Her voice wasn't as clear and crisp as usual; it carried a hint of cautious probing.
"This place... is nice. The food is good too. But... that person..."
She didn't say her name, but Ouyang understood instantly.
However, before Xiao Wu could voice her question...
Or rather, before she could fully figure out how to ask the questions.
Ouyang spoke first, sounding "heartbroken and indignant."
Her silence was perfectly "misunderstood".
"Xiao Wu, I know what you want to say!"
Ouyang suddenly sat up straight.
He put on a pained yet struggling expression and began his performance.
"You think I've fallen, don't you? You think I've forgotten the Star Dou Great Forest, forgotten the blood feud between us soul beasts, and only care about enjoying the offerings of humans here, even... even recognizing a thief as my father?"
He pointed to his magnificent robes and then to the ancient tree bed, his tone "excited."
"Look at this! The luxurious clothes and food of humankind! Beds made from the essence of our fellow human beings! I lie on these every day, and my heart bleeds!"
Xiao Wu was taken aback by his sudden "self-analysis".
She temporarily suppressed her specific questions about her mother and followed up on his words by asking:
"Then... then why are you still staying here, brother? And still playing the role of a divine child?"
coming!
Ouyang's spirits lifted, and a complex expression appeared on his face, a mixture of "forbearance," "decisiveness," and "foresight."
He lowered his voice, as if revealing a huge secret:
"Xiao Wu, have you ever heard of...faith?"
"Belief?"
Xiao Wu tilted her head, her rabbit ears twitching in confusion.
"That's right! Faith is a power more profound than soul power, and more fundamental than divine power!"
Ouyang began to ramble on in a serious manner, his eyes gazing "deeply" into the void.
"Why can humans continuously produce powerful beings? Why can they oppress us spirit beasts for tens of thousands of years? Besides cultivation methods, the deeper reason lies in their unifying faith! The Spirit Hall is the largest gathering place of human faith!"
He looked at Xiao Wu again, his tone seductive:
"Why do I stay here, enduring inner torment, playing the role of this revered divine son? It's to get closer to the core of this faith! To absorb it, study it, and master it!"
He clenched his fist, as if making a vow:
"When I've gathered enough faith power, when I've truly grasped the secrets of this power... Xiao Wu, that will be the time for us soul beasts to rise up! At that time, I will tear off this so-called divine child's mask in front of the entire continent!"
"I will let everyone know who they are so devoutly worshipping! The moment of self-disclosure will be earth-shattering, shaking the very foundations of human faith!"
Ouyang was almost convinced of his own words, his emotions running high.
He looked at Xiao Wu with "sincere" and "burning" eyes:
"So, what I'm enjoying now isn't decadence, it's a disguise! It's a strategy! It's for that crucial blow in the future! Do you understand? In my heart, I've never forgotten our identity, never forgotten... those hatreds."
He deliberately obscured the specific target of "those hatreds".
It encompasses the overall conflict between soul beasts and humans, and is also sufficient to cover up the blood debt of Xiao Wu's mother.
He believed that his words of "foresight" and "bearing humiliation" were indeed insightful.
That should definitely win over this simple-minded rabbit.
This also explains why he stayed under Bibi Dong's command—all for the sake of a "grand plan"!
Xiao Wu was stunned.
The power of faith? Collection?
Self-exposure? Shaking the foundation?
She understood every single one of those words.
The words came out of Ouyang's mouth as a whole.
Yet it seemed so... sophisticated and unfathomable!
So it turns out... so it turns out my brother wasn't simply indulging in pleasure, nor was he giving in.
He's playing a long game!
A grand scheme concerning the future fate of soul beasts!
Infiltrate the most dangerous places and gain the enemy's utmost trust.
The goal, however, is to seize the enemy's core strength and deliver a fatal backstab at the most critical moment!
This maneuver...this cunning...this strategic vision...
The confusion and dissatisfaction in Xiao Wu's eyes quickly dissipated.
Instead, there was an even greater sense of awe and worship than before.
There was even a hint of shame—she had almost misunderstood her brother!
My brother must know!
He stayed here, getting close to the murderer, surely so that he could take revenge himself in the future!
I absolutely cannot let a small matter ruin my brother's plan!
"elder brother!"
Xiao Wu suddenly stood up, her little face full of excitement and determination.
"I understand! I understand everything! You...you're amazing! You're not enjoying yourself, you're fighting! Fighting on a different kind of battlefield!"
She rushed over and grabbed Ouyang's hand:
"Don't worry! I absolutely support you! I won't do anything reckless! I'll cover for you! Just relax and... um, collect those faith points! Just tell me if you need anything!"
After saying that, she seemed to have unloaded the biggest burden on her heart and became relaxed again.
He went back, picked up the dragon blood ginseng, and happily took a big bite.
"Hmm, bro, this 'Faith Project' snack stash is really good!"
She gave a vague compliment.
Ouyang: "..."
[Ding! Detected that the host has successfully used a "strategic infiltration + ultimate self-destruction plan" as the core to deeply deceive and appease a 100,000-year-old soul beast harboring a blood feud, making it firmly support the host's "corruption" behavior!]
[Rating: A-! Ideological Imprint - Hatred Transformation Version!]
[Reward: 5000 Faith Points!]
The system notification sounded in Ouyang Kongbai's mind.
Faith points... I actually collected them... in such a completely off-track way!
Ouyang slumped back onto the bed of the Ancient Tree of Life, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Brother, are you still eating carrots? Want me to share some?"
Xiao Wu leaned over and thoughtfully offered him the half-eaten dragon blood ginseng.
His eyes sparkled with a "Brother, you've worked hard, you should replenish yourself" light.
Ouyang: "...Eat."
He took a bite numbly.
Really bitter.