No one has ever thought that the "natural disaster plan" carried out to resist natural disasters was actually inspired and promoted by natural disasters.
It's a perfect irony.
Natural disasters handed over the road to power to humans, and humans embarked on this path, even if the result was self-destruction.
"How should I put it? It's really a coincidence."
Ludovic sighed: "I just asked a few dying idiots to pursue the way to eternal life that belongs to natural disasters, and they gave me such a big surprise. First, they died without any effort on my part. Many saints, and then turned the hundred-armed giant, the most difficult of all natural disasters, into a test subject... In the end, he actually came up with so many results that even surprised me. What a good show, Ye Qingxuan. I actually knew about the research results of the Holy City earlier than the Pope. Your confidentiality measures are completely transparent to me. I don’t even need to speak, and those people from the Yishin Monk Society can’t wait to dedicate them to me. Ask me to show you the way to eternal life and the future. From that moment on, I couldn’t help but want to participate in this big drama... "
"But, you find that if you want to go on stage, you must first get a human body."
Ye Qingxuan said expressionlessly.
"good."
Ludovic nodded and praised: "As expected of Mr. Holmes, who is famous in Avalon. His reasoning is wonderful. Please continue."
Then, Ye Qingxuan's eyes fell on him, "Ludovic should have died twenty years ago, but through what technology, he was mysteriously resurrected... Is it because of you?"
"No, this is the result of 'Ludovic''s own efforts. Let's call the 'me' from decades ago Ludovic."
The old man stretched out his palm and showed his body to him: "You see, it is feasible to use the flesh and blood of the natural disaster to extend his life, and he has indeed returned to his youth. You see, this body can probably survive for another five hundred years. More than 20 years old, although I look old, my vitality is incredibly strong. Now I can always feel that I have surging energy, endless ambition, and the greed to hold the whole world in my hands. Breakthrough After reaching the limit of cell replication, humans will turn into such terrifying creatures."
Ye Qingxuan's face was expressionless.
"So, when did Ludovic become 'you'?"
As a result, Ludovic's smile became more and more mysterious.
"Ye Qingxuan, I like human philosophers. I appreciate your logic and thinking. Because all thinking and logic are inevitable and will enter the field under my control. I once specially brought several scholars who are seeking knowledge and philosophy Please go into the abyss and invite them to visit my body. Unfortunately, they are all crazy. Now... they have become sages of the abyss? Well, this is a good name. I like it very much. You see, this is human creativity. At the very least, you are good at naming.”
Ye Qingxuan was unmoved and just reminded coldly:
"You're off topic."
"I'm sorry, because the problems they conceived are too fun."
Ludovic talked about it with great interest: "For example, the brain in the vat, the white horse is not a horse, the cat in the box, and some people say that if you take half of a foot long, you will live forever... Of course, these are all details. "
He paused and said meaningfully: "Among them, one of my favorite theories is a story called the Ship of Theseus."
Ye Qingxuan couldn't help but narrowed his eyes.
He finally understood what Ludovic wanted to express.
"If a ship has been continuously repaired since it started sailing, and any broken parts have been replaced. Then, after all the parts have been replaced, is it still the same ship? In the same way, If the personality I created replaces Ludovic's personality part by part, and my ideas cover his ideas bit by bit... then, when will Ludovic cease to be Ludovic? Woolen cloth?"
Ye Qingxuan was silent.
In front of him, the old man smiled happily and spread his hands:
"The answer is Ludovic or Ludovic. But he changed from the ascetic monk Ludovic to the hundred-eyed incarnation Ludovic.
I'm still Ludovic, right? Ye Qingxuan.
From Ye Lanzhou's technology, I gained a personality recognized by humans, and from Ludovic's dedication, I gained a physical body that can walk on the earth.
I am still me, but I am also a person with hundreds of eyes.
I am human, but at the same time I am the incarnation of natural disaster.
No matter how good the musician is, they can't find any loopholes in me, and no matter how sensitive the reviewer is, they can't find any natural disaster or demonic aura in me.
Over the past ten years, I have gradually replaced myself, and bit by bit replaced the core of the Holy City from the inside out. Until now... both me and this city have been completely completed.
I stepped onto the throne of mankind and became your spiritual leader and the shepherd of your souls. And you, willingly put your souls in my hands and let me protect you through the dark canyon.
I am the Pope, Ye Qingxuan, and I am the original Dark Pope Ludovic! "
"No, you're not."
Ye Qingxuan retorted coldly: "Even if you become the Pope, can you learn destiny?"
"So what if I can't learn?"
Ludovic asked back, making Ye Qingxuan stunned.
"Don't be stupid, Ye Qingxuan, the Pope is just an identity, and destiny is just a piece of Pope's clothes, a symbol! The Pope can choose the clothes, but the clothes cannot choose the Pope. A naked Pope, and a wearing clothes Clown, which one do you think the believers will kneel down to worship? Besides... I am also an agent of a god, am I not?"
Ludovic smiled maliciously: "Isn't it a matter of course for God's agent to become the pope? Don't you think I am inferior to your illusory faith and can't show you miracles? No, I can give you You only have more! Things that the popes could do in the past are not worth mentioning to me, and things that they cannot do are easy for me. For example... "
He uttered the words that were enough to drive everyone crazy:
"-'resurrection'!"
At that moment, Ye Qingxuan was engulfed in sudden panic.
He imagined something he had neglected and shuddered at the terrible possibility. But he didn't want to continue imagining it, and forced himself to cut off the horrible thought.
He just glared at Ludovic in front of him.
It's like being able to glimpse the terrifying nature of the evil god within.
"What do you want to do after all your hard work...?"
"Don't let me underestimate you, Ye Qingxuan."
Ludovic shook his head and sighed, pointing to his head: "Use your brain and think. What I value most about you is your ability to think. Think about it, Ye Qingxuan, think about it: for me What is it about human beings who are just like ants that is worthy of my efforts? What kind of thing is it that is willing to become the core of the Holy City and sacrifice so much just to become the emperor among the ants? "
"Holy Blood..."
Ye Qingxuan couldn't help but blurted out. Immediately, the confusion and confusion in his heart seemed to be split open by an axe, and he finally got a glimpse of the truth buried behind layers of clues:
"No, it's not the sacred blood... it's the sacred cauldron?!"
silence.
Only Ludovic whispered with emotion: "Unfortunately, it's still a little short. But it doesn't matter, anyway, for the shallow thinking of humans, it is impossible to understand my purpose."
Ye Qingxuan gritted his teeth: "Aren't you afraid that I will reveal your true identity?"
"Who believes it?"
Ludovic sneered.
He walked to Ye Qingxuan, raised his arm, hooked his shoulder, and pointed to the door behind him: "How about we play a game now? Wait a minute, I will call the guards in, and we will accuse each other of being the incarnation of natural disasters. , who do you think they will believe?"
“…”
Ye Qingxuan stopped talking.
It was like the last of his strength had been drained out of him, and there was nothing he could do.
"Give up, Ye Qingxuan."
Ludovic said: "I know that you have been trying to use the ladder to convey the situation here. I also know that you have been imagining how to kill me violently and kill my incarnation here, even at the expense of yourself. I know You still have the fighting spirit in your heart that has not been extinguished, and you are not even aware of it. It doesn't matter, really, it will make this game more interesting. Even if you are interested, you can pretend to join me. Sacrifice a little bit of your dignity. , how about it? In the long years to come, we can have countless time to continue this game... "
He walked up behind Ye Qingxuan, pressed his shoulders, made him sit on a chair, stretched out his hand and pointed out the window.
Outside the window, the desolate scene turned into a dark red river at some point.
The river is like mist, flowing densely. I don’t know where it comes from and I don’t know where it is going. It is difficult to see its essence, nor to understand the reason for its existence.
That's something that shouldn't be in this world.
"Did you see it, Ye Qingxuan, this is the 'Yellow Spring' I extracted from the great source."
Ludovic whispered in his ear: "You have been secretly thinking about it in your heart for a long time, right? At the expense of resurrecting your mother, you are like my allegiance."
Ye Qingxuan stared blankly at the dark red river.
In his eyes, the river reflected countless broken lights. In his gaze, among the countless flickering reflections, a vague shadow slowly emerged, and in the end, it formed the silhouette that was sealed in memory.
She turned her back to Ye Qingxuan, as if standing in the middle of the water, staring into the distance.
So familiar.
Ye Qingxuan pursed his lips, but could not speak.
"Sure enough, there is a difference between imagination and reality, right?"
Ludovic sighed: "Determination that has never faced desire is just a sandcastle built by children. When truly faced with desire, who has the courage to choose to refuse? Ye Qingxuan, this is not It's your fault, it's the same for everyone, everyone. Now, what you desire is right in front of you. She has been waiting for you for many years, don't let her wait any longer... "
"No."
Ye Qingxuan gritted his teeth and closed his eyes: "That's not her."
"That's her, Ye Qingxuan, don't lie to yourself."
Ludovic's voice turned cold, cruel and cold: "Isn't your mother inferior to false dignity and those trivial persistence? Isn't this what you dream of, Ye Qingxuan? My generosity has been exhausted, child , if you lose this opportunity, you will regret it for the rest of your life!"
"Then I will regret it for the rest of my life."
Ye Qingxuan's voice suddenly calmed down: "Even Dayuan can't reverse time, Ludovic, she is dead, you can't lie to me. There is no heaven or hell in this world... Were you not laughing at the soul just now? 'Is its existence illusory? What's the meaning of the so-called 'underworld'?"
On the young man's shoulders, the old hands tightened.
It was like trying to crush his bones.
Because of Ye Qingxuan's offense, because of Ye Qingxuan's ignorance of good and evil, because of the disobedience and arrogance of mere mortals...
So angry!
But Ye Qingxuan couldn't help laughing, laughing so hard that tears almost came out.
"Ludovic, from the beginning to just now, you have been hitting me, shaking me, and confusing me, just for this moment, right?"
He opened his eyes, stared at the large French window in front of him, and looked at Ludovic's gloomy face projected on the glass: "You want me to surrender to you because of my mother. But your so-called 'resurrection', and The so-called 'Yellow Spring' is nothing but a fake! A scam that is not worth mentioning once exposed!"
Ludovic was silent.
For the first time, there was silence.
"The so-called 'underworld' is just the 'record' you extracted from your great wish, right?"
Ye Qingxuan asked hoarsely: "That river is probably just the memory of the dead left in this world! What you have is at best a library, so how can you control human souls and name it sacred?" Don’t you really feel ashamed to gain the worship of the ants in your mouth by ‘copying books’?”
Ludovic said nothing and lowered his eyes, but he could not hide the gloom and ferocity in his pupils.
But Ye Qingxuan still smiled with great joy.
"What's wrong? Are you angry? Where is your generous expression? Where is your teaching tone? Ludovic, don't you call yourself a noble? Where is your noble elegance?"
Ye Qingxuan asked in a low voice: "You don't want to talk? But I have a lot to say to you. Didn't you just ask me 'what is a human being'? I don't know what a human being is, but I can tell you - The so-called human beings are definitely not this kind of thing! My mother is dead. Even if you use her memory to recreate her, all I will get is a puppet, an illusion driven by you! I don't Admit that my mother is such a superficial fake. Just like I won’t admit that you are human! You are just a monster in human skin! Even becoming the Pope can’t change anything!”
In the dead silence, there was the sound of applause.
Behind Ye Qingxuan, in the shadow that had twisted into blurry darkness, crisp applause sounded.
Ludovic's old face emerged from it again, still elegant and graceful. After hiding his rage and violence in the darkness, he once again restored the grace and nobility of the Pope.
"Very good, Ye Qingxuan, very good."
He patted Ye Qingxuan on the shoulder and sighed sincerely: "You exceeded my expectations. Really, you also successfully resisted the temptation. You did better than I imagined, even better than your father." Even better. But have you ever thought of one thing..."
He bent down, looked at Ye Qingxuan's face, and said word by word: "Even if it is like what you said, she is just a puppet after resurrection. Even so, I will resurrect her as a token of gratitude to you. Reward. The puppet who wears your mother's face, carries your mother's memory, carries your mother's character, and even thinks he is your mother will appear in brothels and prostitutes around the world. She is attracted by those stinky men Playing for free, being wantonly humiliated by those who once admired her, continuing to receive customers even though she was pregnant with a child, turning into a pure slut and bitch, she still remembers you, Ye Qingxuan, she still loves you deeply, just like this day by day What will happen to you when the earth continues to degenerate and finally turns into rotten flesh that even beggars would not care about?"
Ye Qingxuan looked at him indifferently, without anger or madness.
Just stared at him with dark eyes.
"You do not dare."
Ye Qingxuan moved forward, got close to his face, and told him: "Ludovic, your words successfully angered me, but you didn't dare, you didn't even dare to let such a thing happen. Your personality made you understand how Master the weaknesses of mortals, but unfortunately, he did not give you courage. - You, no, dare."
In the silence, Ludovic smiled:
"Why don't I dare?"
"Then why do you pay such a high price to recruit me?"
Ye Qingxuan asked back: "I'm not your biological father, Ludovic. Yes, I am a genius, I am the blood of heaven and man, I am the sword holder of Angel, and I am the youngest half-step in the world. Master. But so what? What can this do? How can I be of such great value that you can promise such a huge price? You must make me surrender at all costs, even if you resort to such despicable means? Ludovic , answer me, why did you spend so much money to recruit me?"
"With your mere mortal mind, can you understand my intention?"
Ludovic looked at him contemptuously: "After all, he is just an ant confined to the mortal body. You can't even imagine what my prototype is."
"Stop using that logic that says you can't understand God."
Ye Qingxuan shook his head in disdain and sneered: "Since mortals cannot understand God and humans have no meaning to God, then why should God appear in the world of mortals? You came to this world at all costs, why do you use such ridiculous logic? To hide your purpose? You might as well just say that you are in a good mood today and want to fulfill the wish of a poor mortal!"
He paused and showed a narrow smile: "However, since you are so secretive, let me guess, using my 'thinking ability' that you value most: the reason why you do not hesitate to The price is to recruit me..."
Ye Qingxuan said:
"—Because Ye Lanzhou is still alive, right?"
"this one?"
Ludovic sneered: "Interesting idea, totally funny."
Although he didn't get any answer, Ye Qingxuan couldn't help but laugh out loud. He was as happy as an old wolf stealing an old hen in front of the butcher, so happy that he burst into tears.
As a result, Ludovic froze, the smile froze on his face, and soon fell apart and became extremely ferocious.
He gritted his teeth and squeezed out a sound from between his teeth:
"You lied to me?"
"Thank you for being the personification, Ludovic."
Ye Qingxuan wiped away the tears from laughter and was almost speechless with joy: "Has anyone ever told you that an excellent telepathic musician will instinctively profile anyone around him, even this one?" Human beings are holy, Your Majesty the Pope? Congratulations, you are very successful in being a 'human', although your biggest failure is that you talk too much! I'm afraid you have been pretending to be a ghost for so long, relying on your ability to read thoughts. , have you never cared about it at all? You regard Ye Lanzhou as the object of gratitude, but how have you ever truly understood him? Analyzing personality through micro-expressions and profiling is his special skill! Okay, now you can yourself You were deceived. In fact, you were defeated by Ye Lanzhou, and it had nothing to do with the ant in front of you. You definitely didn't recruit his son because you were afraid of him, and you wanted a shield... "
He looked at Ludovic's distorted face wantonly, shook his head and sighed: "I'm really curious. What weaknesses and secrets does he have in your possession that make you so defensive?"
"Afraid? Me? Afraid?"
Ludovic's expression squirmed, like a pool of angry sludge, and like he was trying hard to squeeze out expressions of anger, ridicule, ferocity, etc., but these expressions were stewed on his face by the big mouthful. In the pot, it became so disgusting.
This is the god that mortals cannot understand, tilting his fury towards Ye Qingxuan through his personal clone.
"Am I afraid of Ye Lanzhou?!"
"Don't be ridiculous, idiot! You don't understand the difference between me and little things like you! Even if he masters my weakness, so what? Even if he pays all the price, I won't lose a single hair! Big deal It’s just been sleeping for a hundred years!”
"The worst case scenario is sleeping for a hundred years?"
Ye Qingxuan sneered: "You are the one who is not joking, right? You know you can't bear the price of sleeping for a hundred years, otherwise why would you be so cautious?"
Ludovic answered no more.
He didn't even bother to see Ye Qingxuan again.
The squirming face like mud quickly returned to its former appearance, still calm and calm, looking wise and kind.
"I underestimated your arrogance and arrogance, Ye Qingxuan. It seems that this conversation is destined to be unable to continue."
He sighed with pretense of regret, "I want to congratulate you, you won this round. You have wisdom that is rare among mortals. Unfortunately, your wisdom cannot save you, you are still a prisoner. Ye Qingxuan, you have the power to control a person There are many methods. Since you have rejected the best one, there will no longer be such a gentle method waiting for you."
He sat back in his seat and knocked on the table, and all the visions disappeared.
The setting sun, which was about to set on the horizon, reappeared outside the window, casting a dim and ominous light.
The door was pushed open, and two figures emitting dark mist walked in.
"Send him to Samuel."
Ludovic waved.
Samuel.
Hearing this familiar name, Ye Qingxuan frowned.
Soon, he recalled the master who failed to advance the scepter and turned into a monster...
Ludovic smiled coldly and ordered: "Tell Samuel that this is the blood descendant I gave him. I am very much looking forward to it when this promising Mr. Ye is transformed into a monster that cannot live without blood." After that, will he still be as strong-willed as he is now..."
The shackles were tightened again, not allowing Ye Qingxuan to resist at all.
He was violently pulled up from the chair and pulled towards the door, but when he was in front of the door, he stopped in his tracks. Ignoring the black shadow's pull, he just turned around and looked behind the table.
"Hey, Ludovic, or rather, that devil over there."
"Um?"
Ludovic raised his eyes and saw Ye Qingxuan smiling from the bottom of his heart.
He said, "Thank you."
But he didn't say thank you.
Because they know each other well.
Thank you for the suffering you gave me, thank you for telling the truth, thank you for telling me that you were the one who designed all of this... I couldn't tell whether the words were sincere gratitude, or the hatred and murderous intention that was about to condense into substance.
"You're welcome."
Ludovic sneered. But Ye Qingxuan still didn't move, ignoring the pull of the shadow and the bloody marks on his wrists, he just looked at him and asked curiously:
"I wonder what kind of thank you gift you like?"
Ludovic glanced at him one last time and waved impatiently: "If you think you still have a chance..."
"-No matter what you prepare, I'll be waiting."
Ye Qingxuan was pulled out, and the footsteps disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Ludovic stood in front of the window and stared indifferently as he was pushed into the prison car. Immediately afterwards, a priest wearing black clothes and a sword walked into the prison door, drew his sword, and cleaned up everything that was still alive.
The last traces were also annihilated.
"After all, it is unworthy of cultivation..."
Ludovic narrowed his eyes and turned to leave.
A silence was left behind.
Under the remaining sunset, there was no sound in the office behind the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Only the three chairs next to the dining table reflected the last remaining light.
…
…
…
In the evening, someone pushed open the door of the antique store and entered.
Bai Xi was awakened by the sound of the bell on the door.
"anyone there?"
asked an unfamiliar voice.
These days, Bai Xi rarely gets a good night's sleep and is always woken up by nightmares. Now she is lying on the counter in the store, sleeping soundly. When he heard the sound, he burst into anger and impatiently picked up something beside him, weighed it with satisfaction, and then... smashed it over!
"Shut up!"
The heavy sterling silver candlestick burst through the air and let out a shrill scream. It was caught by the visitor in a thrilling manner, and the sharp spike almost poked his eye.
"Uh... I'm sorry, it seems I went to the wrong place."
The visitor put down the candlestick in a sullen voice, smiled awkwardly, and walked out. But after reading the sign again, he carefully opened the door and put his head in:
"Girl, I seem to be on the right track. Excuse me, is Hermes here?"
Bai Xi couldn't sleep after being woken up. She got up from the counter, wiped her saliva, and sat there for a long time before she realized what was happening. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the visitor.
It was a dusty man, wearing a set of dirty clothes that seemed to have not been washed for many years, and the original color could no longer be seen.
His face was covered by a wide felt hat and was clearly hidden away from the light, but people instinctively felt that he should look soft and handsome.
"Who are you?" Bai Xi frowned in confusion.
"Just an old customer."
The guest laughed dryly, threw the tattered backpack on his shoulders on the ground, rubbed his hands, and went to the fireplace to warm himself: "I haven't been here for so long. I didn't expect that the Holy City has become like this. I'm lost. I was really frozen to death for a long time... Ah, by the way, you are Bai Xi, right?"
Bai Xi tilted her head and looked at him:
"you know me?"
The guest smiled, stretched out his dirty hands, and rubbed her hair, as if an elder had seen a cute child, gentle and loving.
"I've heard about you. You're a good girl."
For some reason, Bai Xi didn't feel disgusted, but felt a little happy. Even the depression and depression that had persisted for several days disappeared.
"Is Hermes upstairs?"
The guest asked: "Please tell him that an old friend is here to pick up the stored things."
"what?"
Bai Xi glanced upstairs and curled his lips: "If you ask that guy to come down, he will only talk nonsense to you and then defraud you of a lot of money. He might not even give you anything in the end. Just tell me, If I knew it, I would bring it to you directly.”
"Thank you very much."
The guest smiled sheepishly and gestured with his hands: "It's about this big, and it's in a jar. That thing isn't particularly rare and rare. In fact, it's all over the street, but it's very important to me. Simple In other words, well..."
He paused and said seriously:
"—It's just a head."