Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 1236: Chapter 1234: Celestial Sphere Sect

Impressive!

Although the information provided by Raphaide did not detail the old lady landlord’s character and habits, from the brief interaction just now, it’s clear she possesses an efficiency that belies her age.

Even with the endorsement of The Sect’s carriage, it was obvious that this mysterious missing person would not be easy to deceive.

The other party didn’t even consider postponing the discussion to another day, but waited for him downstairs instead.

Fu Qian was naturally very satisfied with this, as he was in need of such an astute and capable elder to guide him through the confusion.

“Thank you.”

Without any refusal, he directly moved forward to sit down.

“What exactly happened? You seemed to still be wearing your work clothes earlier, have you been at the art gallery this whole time?”

The old lady lived up to expectations with her observational skills and curiosity.

She didn’t even wait for Fu Qian to take a sip of tea before she directly asked her questions.

“It appears so, at least when they found me, I was still admiring artworks.”

Gazing at the clear tea soup, Fu Qian spoke in a self-deprecating tone.

The tea smelled good, but was obviously a bit strong—fitting for the shrewd temperament of the old lady.

And with Fu Qian’s sense of smell, he could naturally identify that it was blended from several types of tea leaves.

Such a refined beverage would, in theory, only be found in a well-functioning world.

In fact, everything he encountered today testified to this… a point completely contrary to his expectations.

“What kind of artwork?”

Mrs. Harper’s gaze sharpened on Fu Qian’s face, as if digging deep for answers.

“A painting that hasn’t been preserved very well.”

Fu Qian answered truthfully.

“And in that Nightmare, I even saw the things depicted in the painting.”

“Your will has been trapped in a Nightmare these days?”

Mrs. Harper’s expression slightly furrowed upon hearing this.

“Is that what you told the people from the Celestial Sphere Sect as well?”

That name…

This was the first time Fu Qian had heard the full name of The Sect, and he naturally associated it with the strange starry sky behind the stained glass.

Are they actually a group of astrologers?

That’s quite different from the source of power behind the Evil Omens.

“Yes, of course, there are many things that I can’t figure out, such as why I wasn’t discovered at the art gallery over these five days… But they didn’t mind, they even advised me not to think too much.”

After taking a sip of tea, Fu Qian gradually regained his spirits, appearing contemplative.

“They even told me not to worry about the police.”

“Because of today’s explosion incident? It seems like they found you at a very coincidental time.”

Mrs. Harper surprisingly knew well-informed, sounding very connected.

“That should be the case, in fact, the police did suspect me… Actually, maybe they’re not wrong, maybe I am indeed connected to that explosion, are there any findings from the investigation?”

Fu Qian displayed a casual demeanor, unbothered by casting himself as a suspect.

“No, it’s said not to be an actual tunnel, and after ruling out theft, they can’t understand why someone would blow a hole in the ground.”

While Fu Qian didn’t actively defend himself, Mrs. Harper wore a somewhat eerie expression, sharing the news she knew.

“Indeed hard to understand, but I think it’s not something to be concerned about for me anymore.”

This change did not escape Fu Qian’s notice, he immediately acknowledged her point of view and… didn’t mind.

“If it weren’t for Amila’s help, I might not even be clear about whether I am Anke or not…”

“It sounds like you’ve really been through a difficult time, you can take a good rest now.”

And it seemed that Mrs. Harper finally acknowledged the tenant’s innocence, her tone softened, and after a moment of contemplation, her eyes narrowed slightly.

“Have you ever thought about it, Anke… why do you work in an art gallery and get such a high salary?”

“Is there any special reason for that? Everyone loves art.”

Fu Qian raised his head, seemingly astonished by the question.

“Why do they love it?”

“… It resonates with something deep within?”

“Resonates, huh… Deep inside, it’s not only beauty but also filled with unease and fear. Haven’t you been having nightmares?”

The serious landlady showed a smile for the first time.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Actually, I don’t understand either, but when you came to rent from me, my life experience told me that there seems to be something secretive about your job.”

Mrs. Harper still sounded sincere.

“From your description earlier, it seems like the people from The Sect know something.”

Not disappointing, the elderly lady indeed had an observant eye for the things around her.

Fu Qian commended internally, sensing the time was right.

“Do you know a couple named the Reysens? It’s said that they live around here.”

“Reysen… What about them?”

Mrs. Harper frowned slightly, her tone laced with distinct surprise.

She knew of the Reysens but was unaware that they too were victims of nightmares.

Fu Qian made a quick judgment.

That was good news.

Apart from obtaining an address, it also seemed to suggest something else—that Mrs. Harper’s suspicions were not merely due to salary issues, but that other matters had made her doubtful.

Meaning, the Reysens were not an isolated case; in this city, there might be many victims of nightmares.

Of course, it was still the best option to meet with the Reysens for now.

Even with a friendly demeanor, Fu Qian did not expect the people from The Sect not to monitor his actions.

It seemed much more natural to seek out the contact of patients they had revealed.

“People from The Sect suggested that I walk around a bit, which might help to break free from the influence of the nightmares.”

Fu Qian chose the explanation that was most prone to be misunderstood.

“Do you know where they live?”

…

It should be right here.

As it turned out, Amila and her group hadn’t been talking nonsense.

Confronted with Fu Qian’s explanation, Mrs. Harper, while appearing pensive, indeed provided an address.

And to Fu Qian’s relief, the distance was so short that he could easily reach the destination with a natural stroll before nightfall.

What was more satisfying was that it seemed his intended visit was timely as both of the individuals were at home.

Even more so, the similarly aged couple were sitting on the terrace, romantically drinking tea face to face.

The only problem… Frowning at the two faces, Fu Qian did not hurry upstairs but quickly searched through that sense of familiarity.

These two looked somewhat familiar, especially Mrs. Reysen, who seemed more notable—was she the lady who flirted with him with her eyes when he was present in the World Within the Painting as a member of Dragon Feast?

Both were present on that occasion, but Mrs. Reysen seemed more familiar because she had appeared again in the last exchange with the Pontiff, a scene of her converted devotion.

After this third encounter, it was finally clear who they were.

Now one could fully believe that these two were indeed victims of nightmares.