"Realm of No Restraint?"
"A forbidden domain that can isolate the inside from the outside, preventing the battles between us and enemies from affecting ordinary people. Each city's night watchman is equipped with three signs that can activate the 'Realm of No Restraint,' controlled by one person. Because we generally don't directly engage in combat, people like us are also called 'Guardians.'"
Lin Qiye raised an eyebrow, "So, you're basically a messenger."
"... If you can't speak, just keep quiet," Zhao Kongcheng rolled his eyes.
"You mentioned three ways to obtain forbidden domains, what about the last one?"
"The last one is bestowed by the gods, just like your situation," Zhao Kongcheng's expression turned serious. "Some gods will grant a portion of their power to the human they choose, making them their representatives in the mortal world. Such forbidden domains granted by gods are also known as 'God's Domain.'
However, in return, the representative receives commands from the god, which could be to destroy human society, protect it, or search for something on behalf of the god. In general, a god's representative is unique and represents the will of the god. The currently emerging representatives of those dozen or so gods are mostly agents of malevolent gods attempting to destroy the new order of humanity. They have formed an organization called the Ancient God Church."
"There are also representatives of benevolent gods, but they are very few in number. As for the representatives of neutral gods, we do not know how many there are."
Standing up, Zhao Kongcheng walked to Lin Qiye, staring into his eyes and speaking slowly:
"Lin Qiye, what command did Michael give you? Which side do you belong to?"
Lin Qiye's eyes were full of confusion, "I don't know, He didn't say anything."
This was a truthful statement. Michael had just glanced at him from the moon, and then he fainted. The god didn't say a word!
Zhao Kongcheng's brows furrowed, "He didn't say anything? You never heard His voice in your mind?"
"No, really not!"
Zhao Kongcheng skeptically examined Lin Qiye for a long time, as if trying to find signs of lying. After a while, he averted his gaze and sat down slowly.
"According to our speculation, Michael should belong to the neutral or benevolent faction. Otherwise, we would have killed you already. However... since He gave you the God's Domain, why didn't He say anything?"
"What does He want to do?"
Lin Qiye's brows slightly furrowed, "I don't know what He wants, but even if He gave me orders, I wouldn't follow them. I don't want to get involved in this mess. I can just return these eyes to Him."
Saying that, he stood up, "If there's nothing else, I'll leave."
Before Zhao Kongcheng could say anything, he turned and opened the door.
"No! Wait!!" Zhao Kongcheng suddenly stood up, blocking the doorway and staring into Lin Qiye's eyes. "You're leaving after asking your questions? What about me?"
"You? You can have passionate monologues by yourself." Lin Qiye replied seriously.
"No, what I mean is... aren't you curious about me? Who am I? What kind of organization is behind me? What are we doing... aren't you curious?"
"I'm not curious."
"Why not?"
"According to the logic of movies and novels, once I know about your existence, I only have two choices. Either join you or forever keep the secret, like getting killed, imprisoned, brainwashed..."
"... Have you watched too little TV?" Zhao Kongcheng was speechless. "Besides, you don't know anything about us. How do you know that joining us isn't a good choice?"
Lin Qiye raised an eyebrow, "So, even if I know about your affairs and choose not to join, I won't be in danger?"
"Of course not! We're like soldiers. At most, we'll make you sign a confidentiality agreement. What you said is just nonsense!"
"In that case, I might as well listen." Lin Qiye, upon hearing this, sat back down.
Zhao Kongcheng sighed, feeling that chatting with this guy for a few minutes was more exhausting than a whole day of surveillance outside.
"In 1922, after our reconnaissance team discovered the first mythical creature, the Leviathan of Chaos, the high-level officials of Great Xia urgently formed a military organization to be prepared for the invasion of mythical creatures. It was called the 139 Special Biological Response Unit."
At that time, our technology was relatively backward, and we knew nothing about the world before us. So, the so-called Special Biological Response Unit was just a facade, practically useless.
As time passed, we observed more and more mythical creatures, tried to establish contact with some of them, and discovered the secrets of forbidden domains. We began training special combat talents.
As we discovered more owners of forbidden domains, we found that due to the randomness of their appearance, we couldn't include everyone in the military. Thus, the 139 Special Biological Response Unit gradually transformed into a special organization with both military and civilian characteristics.
Now, we call this special organization the 'Guardians.'"
Lin Qiye pondered, "So, your existence is to protect Great Xia from the influence of those evil gods?"
"More accurately, it's protection from all mythical creatures."
"Is there any difference?"
"Of course, as I mentioned earlier, the appearance of mythical creatures is random and unrelated to their strength. So, the arriving mythical creatures are not just the powerful gods people are familiar with, but also some weak creatures only found in local legends or small stories. The ghost-faced person you encountered last night is one such creature from rural horror legends.
These creatures, which do not possess world-destroying power but can still affect human society, are collectively referred to as 'Mystical.'"
"I see." Lin Qiye nodded. No wonder he felt familiar with the thing he encountered last night; it was born from rural stories.
"So, we're soldiers too, defending our homeland! Our existence is to prevent the people of Great Xia from suffering. Isn't that noble? Isn't that handsome?!" Zhao Kongcheng earnestly persuaded.
"Very noble, very handsome. I respect you a lot, really." Lin Qiye's expression turned serious. He wasn't joking; from his eyes, there was indeed a deep sense of respect.
A smile gradually appeared on Zhao Kongcheng's face, "So, you..."
"I won't join."
"... Why?!"
"I can't leave. I have many things to do..."
"What could be more important than protecting your homeland?!"
"I have an aunt and a younger cousin." Lin Qiye looked out the window with a calm expression. "My aunt is not old, but she has been working day and night in the factory for ten years for Ah Jin and me. Her health is almost at its limit now...
She's a stubborn person. Even though tears roll down her cheeks while massaging her neck on the living room chair, she insists on saying she's doing yoga, claiming it's good for her health...
I sit across from her, and she thinks I can't see.
She lives too cautiously, and she's too tired.
My younger cousin is smart and filial, but... he's still too young to bear the burden of this family
.
I have a lot to do.
I need to earn money to support the family. I want to buy a big house for my aunt and cousin. I want my aunt to never have to go back to that dark factory and suffer!
I want to send my cousin to college, and I want him and my aunt to live a good life together!
For these ten years, they haven't given up on me, this burden. Now that I'm finally better, how can I abandon them?
You are noble and great. If the conditions allow, I might join you...
But right now, I just want to stay by their side...
Guarding this home."