Chapter 182: Sara's Song (VII)

Xiao Lan regrettably gave up on her plan to get her boyfriend to refill his meal.

A good non-human, but unfortunately a picky eater.

He turned to the light of the bishop's burning fire and began to search for the Stone of Absolution that Wang Taidi had mentioned.

Xiao Lan had noticed earlier that there were red glowing stones scattered around the altar, which looked different from the surrounding ones and were probably their target.

From memory, Xiao Lan picks up a stone.

[Name: Stone of Forgiveness of Sins

[Ability: Use in the Forest of Conversion to break away from Sara's Song for a 20% pardon rate (this item only works in Sara's Song)]

[Note: Sara will forgive your sins of trespassing into her territory]

"Twenty percent?" Xiao Lan frowned, "Why is this thing playing with probabilities too."

As a non-celebrity, he protested against this. The last [Emperor's New Clothes Version 2.0] that triggered a 20% effect was still fresh in his mind, but after having it for so long, it only triggered a damage reduction once, which was a fake product.

At this point Luo also approached him and handed him a stone.

Xiao Lan took it and it was also a [Stone of Pardon], but with a 98% pardon rate ......

Well, it turns out that the aura of non-celebrity loomed over his head.

With Luo's lucky dog physique, the pair searched around for a few more reliable [Stones of Absolution].

Xiao Lan put all the stones away and at the same time was a little confused, "Where is the Forest of Conversion again? If it's not in this converted forest, the players won't be able to leave, right?"

"Maybe something here will bring a little clue." Luo pointed to a wall off to the side.

Xiao Lan walked over and found a number of designs painted on this wall, which he had not noticed for a while because of its remote location and the light.

The pattern is painted in deep red.

Only lines have been used to draw and outline a simple picture, not even coloured, so you can see that the drawing has been done very haphazardly.

But even so, this level of painting would have beaten some soul artist.

The first part of the fresco depicts a forest.

A group of ragged people marched through the forest, and if you looked closely you could distinguish that they had as many disabilities and alienated parts on their bodies as the inhabitants of the town.

The men were all walking in the same direction, looking as if they had some sort of goal in mind.

They looked enchanted, as if they had heard some wonderful music.

Xiao Lan said, "Is this their pilgrimage to ......?"

Luo nodded, "It looks like it, look at their faces, do they look like the people in the town who say Sara's songs are wonderful?"

Xiao Lan recalls, "Maybe they heard Sara's call to go somewhere together."

Luo: "I think so."

Further on, the men can also be seen appearing to kneel.

The pose looked as stiff and odd as the crowd Xiao Lan had seen shortly before.

Not only did they kneel and worship, but some sat down on the ground and began to cut their limbs with sharp instruments.

There were even those who simply picked up their weapons and laid hands on their companions beside them.

Blood spurted out, while their faces showed no sign of pain or awe, they remained in a frenzy.

Although the image is only a simple line, with the skill of the artist, this bizarre scene is so vividly depicted that you can smell the blood and the madness that lingers in the crowd just by looking at it.

"......" Xiao Lan frowned and continued on his way.

In the centre is a patch of frescoes that seems to have flaked away due to age and lack of protection, leaving only a bare wall.

The debris on the ground has long since disappeared after years of trampling.

So much so that the only person who would know exactly what was painted in this cut would be the other person who painted it at the time.

To the very end of the fresco.

It shows a wall that is long and curves like a maze.

On the walls are human bodies in various positions, their movements contorted and their limbs struggling as if in pain.

But the look on their faces was indeed one of pleasure, and looking at their exaggerated smiles, that could even be described as ecstasy.

Xiao Lan roughly counted the number of people on the wall, which was significantly smaller than the previous pilgrimage.

Something should have happened on the way to reduce their numbers.

The missing piece of fresco in the middle, which presumably depicts this link, is unfortunately not visible.

Underneath the mural is written in scrawled handwriting -

"Only the pious will be guided through the trials of the Forest of Conversion and receive the glory of being one with Sara at the Wall of Sacrifice."

"We, for one, must not have been pious enough to be rejected by Sara."

"One day, Sara will see our loyalty."

Xiao Lan looked at the mural: "This is the 'one with Sara' that the innkeeper mentioned earlier, isn't it?"

The final destination for these crazy believers in Sara is this wall of sacrifice.

They wanted to offer themselves to Sara as a sacrifice to Him.

Luo propped one hand on his jaw, "I didn't think it was actually literally 'fused together'."

Xiao Lan says: "It's basically a 'martyr' wall ......"

He didn't want to go up there at all.

Judging from the texts left behind, these people at the altar probably belonged to the category of 'unqualified sacrifices'.

Afterwards they returned to the town and decided to perform a bloody ritual to prove their devotion to Sara.

But in the end, Sara does not guide them to the Wall of Sacrifice again, and they are transformed into these undead monsters.

The frescoes recording the sifting of the offerings have flaked away, leaving Xiao Lan with no way of knowing what really happened in the Forest of Conversion.

What criteria were used to judge the eligibility of the offerings are also not recorded in the frescoes.

Xiao Lan always thought that Wang Ke's whereabouts might have something to do with this wall of sacrifice.

For even the [Stone of Pardon], which allows players to leave the playfield, must be used in the Forest of Conversion, and perhaps this is a way to direct players towards the Wall of Sacrifice.

But where exactly is the forest of conversion?

According to the frescoes it takes a devout believer to be guided.

But would Sara really give them guidance when they were not religious at all and even tried to violently beat each other up?

Now that the bishop had almost burnt out, the light became dim once again.

Just then, the same sound that had been heard before was heard again.

Xiao Lan's consciousness was confused for a moment, and many images seemed to flash before his eyes.

Happy Childhood, Xiao Chengyan's Wine Glass, Luo's Throat, Tie Hanhan Nibbling on Vegetable Patch, Michael Father's Ass ......

"......" Xiao Lan covers his head, what's all this nonsense?

However, Sara's songs seem to be having a growing effect on him.

Before it was just a trance for a moment, but now it has a picture, and perhaps at a certain point it will just turn into a vision.

That would be a problem.

Thinking about the crazy player he met earlier, Xiao Lan thought it would be better to leave the playground as soon as possible.

He doesn't want to turn into a madman who loves self-harm.

"Sir?" Luo approached with some concern.

Xiao Lan shook his head, "I'm okay, I've seen about all the clues here, let's get out of here."

Xiao Lan takes two steps forward and realises that Luo is not following him.

Turning back, Luo's brow is still furrowed.

He suddenly laughed, walked over and reached out to touch the other man's face, jokingly saying, "This gentleman, don't be unhappy if you're so handsome."

Luo took his wrist and laughed helplessly, "You know what I'm worried about."

Xiao Lan looked at him, "Don't worry, I'm not going down here because I'm going to turn the Advent world upside down with you. Let's save Wang Ke and get out of here sooner rather than later."

Luo's dark eyes were like deep pools, and he looked at Xiao Lan as if he wanted to burn him into the bottom of his eyes.

Suddenly Luo turned his head and gently kissed Xiao Lan's palm, which had been caught.

The softness of his lips, with their burning warmth, seemed to fall on Xiao Lan's heart like a brand.

Xiao Lan's heart suddenly trembled as she remembered what it felt like to kiss those lips ......

Luo's hands slammed hard, pulling Xiao Lan to his side.

A warm embrace envelops Luo and his arms are strong enough to hold him securely in his arms.

He brought his lips to Xiao Lan's ear, his warm breath sweeping over it, sending a tingle through it: "I'll be there for you too, sir."

Xiao Lan reached back and hugged him, "Then let's say yes."

"Well, say yes." Luo said softly.

When he finished, his lips fell on Xiao Lan's earlobe and he nibbled gently.

It was not a heavy blow, but carried a burning sensation on the lips, accompanied by a slight pain that seemed to reach the heart more than a gentle kiss.

Xiao Lan felt a hot flash of heat coming from her earlobe, which instantly spread across her face in a prairie-like manner.

Xiao Lan's movements faltered.

Luo, however, had let go of him and his tone returned to natural: "Come along, sir."

Xiao Lan took the opportunity to rub his face in an attempt to get rid of the disobedient heat, and was glad that the light was not good at the moment.

What exactly has some non-human who feels he is still too young learned in all this time?

The two walked towards the outside of the altar area, and Luo also removed the black shadow's isolation by hand.

In the next instant, what appeared before the two men was a dense mass of people, almost face to face with them.

It's simply exciting as hell.

As if sensing something, the whole altar was filled with "people".

They just stood there, their faces a numbing stiffness, their vacant eyes staring straight at the two men with a look that sent chills down their spines.

The first thought that crossed Xiao Lan's mind was...

Crap! I can't believe there's so many spectators! It's like a public execution!!!

The overwhelming shock has, in turn, stopped his face from turning red at all.

However, these guys have no idea what is going on in Xiao Lan's mind at the moment.

After all, Luo's dark shadow clearances are still reliable and even if they are indescribable inside they won't be noticed by anyone outside.

Even if they found out, these cult-obsessed sentient townspeople probably wouldn't have much interest in the sour dog food of dog men and boys.

They simply felt the scent of the altar being moved and raised their stiff arms to attack the two men.

There is no way to escape from this situation unless one knows the art of stealth.

Although Xiao Lan does not know the art of stealth, he has mastered the traditional art of physical stealth.

In an instant, Xiao Lan, black blade in hand, rushed with Luo towards the encircling crowd.

--

It is dusk in the small town of Mo Na.

The old priest, John, sat at the door of the abandoned church and prayed that the two strangers who had entered would come out safely.

Suddenly the ground shook as if some monstrous beast was wreaking havoc beneath the earth.

Just as he was uncertain, two figures burst out of the ruins of the church.

Against the light, John saw the figures of two foreigners.

The man who had spoken to himself seemed to be carrying something else.

"I found this down there, maybe you'd like to see it again." Xiao Lan handed John the cross he carried on his shoulder.

This is what he saw in passing in the passage on his way out, the cross falling to the ground, covered with dust and debris, being piled up with the rest of the rubbish.

John's cloudy eyes welled up with tears at the sight of the cross.

He didn't mind at all that it was covered in mud, and carefully pressed his forehead to it in silent sobs.

It had been too long since he had seen anything related to the Lord.

Xiao Lan crouched down in front of him, "If you have the chance, you might as well get out of here, I think God would want his followers to be a little happier."

John was in tears as he looked at the cross in his hands, rubbed it gently with his withered fingers and nodded wordlessly.

There's no telling what he'll end up doing.

--

After bidding farewell to John, Xiao Lan and the two of them returned to the hotel.

On the road, the town was still as shabby as ever and the inhabitants still greeted them with the same courteous and easy-going greeting of how long the strangers would live.

Several people had previously agreed to exchange messages at dusk.

Neither Wang Taidi nor Qi Ning had returned by now, so Xiao Lan and Luo had to wait in the room.

Looking out of the window at the sunset, Xiao Lan can't help but feel in a trance.

The town is full of weirdness and madness, and even the sunset looks a little more hideous against the surrounding mountain fires.

Is this place earth or hell?

It was almost dark when Wang Taidi finally returned.

He did not look well and had a few extra wounds and a little bloodstain, as if he had been in some kind of battle.

"Had a fight with someone?" Xiao Lan asked.

Wang Taidi nodded, "I found the bodies of a few players today, long dead, but by the looks of the marks they should have died from internecine warfare, but unfortunately I didn't find any useful clues on them."

His face was a little heavy: "But I ran into ...... Liang Sian, the traitor from my brother's team, and he came in early. I chased him and moved a few times, but I still lost him, the guy can really hide."

Wang Taidi suppressed her anxiety and anxiety and tried to keep herself calm.

The appearance of this traitor made him feel an overwhelming sense of urgency.

However, he could not find any trace of Wang Ke.

Xiao Lan told him about the clues he had found today.

And speaking of his analysis, "I suspect that Wang Ke may have been chosen as an eligible sacrifice and is over in the Forest of Conversion or the Wall of Sacrifice; after all, an ineligible sacrifice would have been released back into the town, in which case it makes no sense that we wouldn't have found him."

Wang Taidi's fingers clenched nervously: "Offerings ......"

Xiao Lan reassured him, "With your skills, he must not be dead yet."

Wang Taidi nods in silence.

At this point, Xiao Lan brought out the [Stone of Absolution] they had found.

He threw two stones to Wang Taidi: "Take them, yours and your brother's."

Wang Taidi took it with a light smile, "Thank you, I wouldn't have been able to save my brother without you."

Xiao Lan said, "But we still don't know where the Forest of Conviction is."

Several people discussed for a while the possible locations of the Converted Forest, but with no clues, everything could only be speculation.

After a short time, it was already dark.

But the town's sky remains red because of the mountain fires.

Xiao Lan's brow furrowed slightly, " Hasn't Qi Ning returned yet?"

Wang Taidi said, "Something is wrong, he doesn't seem to be unpunctual, is something wrong?"

A sense of unease gripped their hearts.

Several people arrived at Qi Ning's room.

The room is as shabby as the rest, except Qi Ning has changed the bed sheets and duvet cover to white to make it look a little tidier.

There were no signs of a struggle in the room, and no blood was visible, as if he had not returned.

"Look at this." Xiao Lan found a piece of paper at the foot of Qi Ning's bed.

There are many abstract wavy lines painted on it, which seem to have some special meaning.

Wang Taidi also came over: "What is this? A code? A secret message? Qi Ning left us a clue?"

Xiao Lan pondered, "Why did Qi Ning have to use such a complicated technique to leave us a message? How could he be sure we could read the coded text?"

Xiao Lan turns a puzzled look to Wang Taidi, expecting him to understand, only to be met with an equally questioning look.

Wang Taidi says: "hiss ...... shouldn't be ......"

Xiao Lan stared at the note for a while longer and suddenly had a flash of light: "What did you say Qi Ning was for?"

Wang Taidi wonders, "A righteous sidekick, a wanted man most wanted to crowdfund his death, a human dissection enthusiast, a mysterious man with a mosaic all over his face?"

Xiao Lan looked at his overly witty sidekick: "...... No, I mean his profession."

Wang Taidi's realization dawned on him: "Doctor!"

The two men once again returned their attention to the note. Look at the lines that carry life in their abstraction, the speed of writing that seems to race against death, the zest for life and the unyielding spirit in each stroke... isn't that - the doctor's writing!

But then the question arises.

Wang Taidi scratched his little curly hair: "Where are we going to find a doctor to interpret it?"

The two men saw bewilderment in each other's eyes.

There is probably not even a nurse, let alone a doctor, in this shitty little town.

They suspect that if someone here were to fall ill, the townspeople would only aggressively and enthusiastically advise him - "better cut it out".

Superstition harms people!

At this point, Luo spoke up, "Maybe I can try."

Xiao Lan, somewhat puzzled, handed him the note.

Luo looks at it for a moment and then discerns it with his artist's eye.

His fingertips tapped the lines, "It says 'convert to the forest', 'scout' and the scalpel-shaped one at the back is probably a mark."

"I think Qi Ning suddenly found some kind of clue, but couldn't wait for the appointed time, so he went after it alone. At the same time, he was also telling us that he would leave such markings along the way to make it easier for us to find them."

The whole process seems well reasoned and very convincing.

Wang Taidi quietly asked Xiao Lan: "How did he see this?"

Xiao Lan replied, "Probably a heart-to-heart between ...... mind-writers and soul-painters?"