Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2209: Chapter 2204: A Hometown That Cannot Be Returned To

The Doll Workshop should have been successfully relocated to its new address.

For Fu Qian, it was still easy to determine that the previous freeze-frame wasn’t due to the teleportation.

That fragile and ancient place has already taken on a new form of existence.

Even a form that might be closer to its essence, thereby possessing a more stable nature.

And what it relies on is a chaotic creation representing the concept of ”self-binding.”

It’s hard not to say, there’s a certain Zen quality to it.

From the continuity of the workshop over the years till now, the Witch’s attitude towards this place is clear; she has no intention of heavily interfering with its fate.

Neither introducing instability nor taking deliberate maintenance measures.

The reason for this operation now is fundamentally due to the presence of the Interlocutor element.

One can only say fate is like dominoes; His Excellency Alarakir’s suspected infiltration of the workshop instead propelled it towards a more stable state.

Of course, this brings a problem in tow—a certain extent, through this ”Covenant Book,” His Excellency Alarakir successfully established some form of connection with the Guardian Angel.

No matter how weak or limited, there is now another conceptual channel for intrusion.

”This is more convenient.”

The Witch wasn’t in a hurry to leave this time, glancing over at Fu Qian after pulling her gaze from the pool before her.

”I also think this is more convenient.”

A somewhat abrupt statement, yet Fu Qian understood completely.

With such an obvious hidden danger, how could the Witch not foresee it before handling it?

But as she said, it makes things significantly more convenient.

The Covenant Book is directly in her hands, no matter what plans the prisoners in the Nightmare Corridor have, the known solitary channel is under constant surveillance.

Clearly, before undertaking such a task, the Witch had the realization to shoulder this trouble.

However, the question remains—what exactly is this trouble?

Whoosh.

The Witch, as expected, acted swiftly, not only choosing not to leave Rielertin but in the next moment, she directly opened the Covenant Book to read alongside the Knight.

At a glance, it was very close to previous speculation; the gaps originally outlined between the grooves were now completely filled.

The only issue, the content filling the gaps was similarly abstract patterns.

...

So a decoding task is needed first?

Last time I did this was when I was just starting my job.

After some effort, there was finally a breakthrough, although to understand exactly what has been gained seemed to require further characterization.

It wasn’t particularly smooth, but after all, it was just a minor episode, Fu Qian remained confident in the Witch.

Though it seems apparent a change of venue might be in order.

Fu Qian glanced at the three people beside him.

Indeed, the three giants of the Fallen Star were still present, once again locked in time.

And judging from their expressions, the fierce dispute had not culminated in a more tragic outcome.

Even the most aggressive among them, the female giant, showed a rather subdued demeanor.

Unwilling at heart, yet ultimately deterred by fear.

As for Frankie and Xia, their faces visibly pale, they seemed to harbor a sense of oppression.

The Witch had explained that this current handling method wasn’t true temporal authority but merely a forced freeze accomplished through control over nightmares.

Both its scope and duration were limited.

And that’s why it’s considered feasible to switch locations.

Even after hearing Xia’s story and engaging in intense brainstorming, the mood of the three giants at present, when faced with the sudden appearance of the Dark Moon Cult Leader and the Temple Knight in the Holy Land, may or may not harbor much hostility and defense.

But decoding work has always required a quiet environment. Once the nightmare freeze’s time is up, whether they rush up angrily to fight or cry and shout for help, it seems a bit noisy?

”Strange.”

However, the Witch appeared completely unconcerned about this, her gaze fixed on the book page, exhibiting uncharacteristic surprise in the next moment.

...

Oh?

Naturally, Fu Qian didn’t think the Witch was slow to react, only now realizing there was more work to be done.

On the contrary, her response made him instantly realize an alternative interpretation of the current situation.

”It’s possibly due to Inspiration; logically, your connection to this book isn’t weaker than mine.”

Sure enough, the Witch looked over in the next moment, explaining.

It truly was the case.

”Can you directly sense the content within?”

At that moment, Fu Qian sighed inwardly.

Indeed, the reason for the Witch’s surprise was not an aversion to the decoding task but rather the content within.

He and she both participated in the process of forming this book.

According to this, if not for a failure of Inspiration, he could directly confirm the content within as well.

Of course, this raised a significant issue: what exactly within could surprise even the Witch?

”I can.”

Indeed, the Witch nodded in the next moment, affirming that people differ.

”It’s exactly as we guessed earlier, a simple story, the kind told to children, featuring the characters we’ve seen.

”And while one aspect doesn’t appear as distorted as the images we’ve seen, it indeed features what we sought, including a character I wasn’t previously aware of.”

With her hand on the book page, the Witch frowned, her gaze not on it.

Not only could she understand it effortlessly, but she also didn’t need to flip through to read, starkly contrasted with certain Mechanical Ascendants.

”It even seems that in this story, he is a vital character, necessary for completeness.

”And beyond resembling the head-with-insect-body person we saw, even the name is the Interlocutor.”

As the Witch continued to provide information, it grew remarkably consistent.

So, even in his ”hometown,” the Interlocutor ultimately didn’t restore his original appearance?

The erosion by Divine Beings is indeed not just talk.

At that moment, Fu Qian couldn’t help but lament for his old friend, yet it wasn’t excessively surprising.

It’s easy to surmise this consistency likely didn’t signify the Interlocutor’s resilience.

Originally appearing as he does, then maintaining self-control through years entrenched in the Nightmare Corridor.

On the contrary, it represents the situation he discussed with the Witch earlier, suspected infiltration by Alarakir and others.

A certain character in the story has already been transformed into the form they imposed.

”No other name?”

In his reflection, Fu Qian continued to ask.

The described scenario, albeit unique, seemingly didn’t justify the Witch’s reaction.

”No other name, including Alarakir, but there’s an intriguing line in the description of the Interlocutor—”

The Witch shook her head.

”Ugly as he is, he walked and walked, finally leaving the Other Shore and returning home... yet one day, upon waking, he suddenly found himself still on the Other Shore.”