The Star-Gazing Insectoids were extinct, and the true Biheze had long since vanished into the annals of history.
Wang Yue was almost certain that the current “Biheze” was a clumsy imitator—a mere pretender. Thinking of it this way, many of the inconsistencies she had noticed began to make sense. For instance, the prayers used to summon Biheze were far too grand for the pathetic creature she had seen in the mural.
‘Ruler of Space, Master of the Tarot Key, Traveler of Void and Dimensions.’
Judging by these titles, Biheze should possess the authority to dominate space itself. Wang Yue compared Biheze to other Outer Gods with similar domains—entities like Mh’ithrha, Yog-Sothoth, or Yibb-Tstll.
Comparing them was like comparing high-end boutiques to a street stall. While Biheze seemed a step below those high-tier Outer Gods in terms of raw authority, the entity was still far beyond the level of a “strange lizard” pinned to a rock wall by a single sword.
She had felt the dissonance from the very beginning. How could a god be impaled by a mundane sword? It wasn’t that gods were invincible, but battles between such entities would never resemble a human brawl. They would be fought on a higher plane, in ways that transcended mortal imagination.
It was like a black hole devouring a star; without scientific instruments and complex calculations, a human wouldn’t even be able to confirm the event, let alone visualize it. Similarly, a battle between the “Lord of Angular Time,” Mh’ithrha, and his archnemesis, the “Ruler of Space-Time,” Yog-Sothoth, would be something utterly inconceivable to a mortal mind.
It might manifest as a cosmic deluge or a single, blinding flash of light—but it certainly wouldn’t involve swinging swords at one another.
“You look like you’ve had quite the epiphany,” White Fish whispered, drifting close to her ear.
“I have. Thank you for your help,” Wang Yue replied with a nod.
In her moment of clarity, a trace of genuine sincerity slipped into her tone. In the realm of the divine, sincerity was the ultimate conduit. A surge of pure, violent faith-power slammed into White Fish’s body.
“Ah… ugh…!”
White Fish’s translucent body twisted and writhed, letting out a strange cry that was a confusing mix of a bashful gasp and an unrestrained moan of ecstasy.
“What’s wrong with you?” Wang Yue asked, staring at her in confusion.
White Fish tumbled through the air for a long moment before finally stabilizing. She floated sideways, her face inches from Wang Yue’s, and spoke in a voice filled with disbelief.
“You… you became my believer?!”
“What are you talking about? I have to go. Bye!” Wang Yue’s heart skipped a beat. She stammered a quick dismissal and turned to flee.
She hadn’t expected that a simple thought of gratitude would tether her to the other girl as a follower. She told herself to be more careful in the future; she couldn’t afford to go around feeling respect for random deities.
White Fish darted in front of her, blocking her path. “It’s true! I can feel it! But… aren’t you a believer of that demon?”
“Aren’t you a demon?” Wang Yue countered, having a sudden flash of inspiration.
“Of course not!”
“Well, there’s the problem! I was worshiping you as a demon. How was I supposed to know the gods in a witch academy weren’t demons? You fraud!”
“I’m sorry…” White Fish looked cowed. She peeked at Wang Yue’s expression and asked tentatively, “Then… in the future… will you… still worship me as a demon?”
“I… suppose.”
“Wonderful! I finally have a believer!”
White Fish flew in excited circles around Wang Yue. As she felt the transmission of faith-power gradually strengthen, her expression shifted from joy to bewilderment.
“Your faith-power… it’s far too potent.”
“What do you mean?” Wang Yue asked.
“I mean the magnitude! A normal person provides one unit of faith. You provide a thousand! You are my Fanatic—the most extreme kind. Do you know what a Fanatic is? They are followers who will follow a god’s command without hesitation, even if it means enduring horrific pain or death. They relish the sacrifice.”
“That sounds terrifying. Are you going to order me to hurt myself?”
“It was just an example! You’re my only believer; I’m going to cherish you, not hurt you.” White Fish did a little loop in the air, looking slightly apologetic. “I’m still too weak to help much in a fight… however, I control all the books in this library. If you need to look up any information, I can find it instantly!”
So, she’s basically the Goddess of Search Engines, Wang Yue thought. “Can you just pour the knowledge directly into my brain?”
“It’s better if I don’t. Some knowledge is far too dangerous. If it enters the mind without being properly digested and adapted to, it can cause madness or even death. One must approach unfamiliar knowledge with extreme caution.”
“Then, if I call for you, can I look up information from a distance?”
“I can do that!”
A translucent Little Hand detached from White Fish’s body. It flew toward Wang Yue and sank into her chest, forming a spiritual tether.
***
Fishmouth Town.
Helen struggled to swallow the last of her decoction. The bitter aftertaste coated her tongue, making her small face scrunch up in a grimace. She quickly crunched on a Chewable Tablet, letting the strong licorice flavor overpower the bitterness.
Under Ed-Bear’s meticulous care, Helen’s fever had broken. Her face had regained a hint of rosy color. Though sadness still lingered in her eyes, her spirits had begun to lift.
“Ed, what are we having for dinner?”
“Ed, I saw the vegetables and ribs!”
“Ed, I’ll help you wash the ginger… oh, you already did it.”
“Ed, I’m all better now. I don’t want any more medicine.”
“Ed, can I pick the starfruit in the yard?”
Helen chattered as she walked through the house, but she couldn’t find Ed-Bear anywhere. “Did he go out…?”
She looked toward the entryway and noticed a letter resting on the shoe cabinet. She walked over and saw three words written on the envelope: To Helen.
“Isn’t that my name?”
She hesitated before picking it up. She pulled out the stationery, walked beneath a wall lamp, and unfolded the paper. Rows of vintage, ornate handwriting were etched into the page.
Little Thing:
Hello.
It is I, Ed-Bear.
I am sorry for the promises I once made. I do not know why I spoke such unrealistic words at the time. But we cannot stay together.
I am writing this to explain my circumstances.
I am a pathetic monster, a manipulated tool, a cluster of a soul that doubts its own existence. I do not belong to myself.
I have no right to dispose of the unique, precious memories I shared with you. Perhaps one day, the person you see who looks like me will no longer be me, but someone else entirely. Perhaps one day, I will be forbidden from existing, and I will vanish.
In that case, what would be the point of the hollow visions you have placed upon me? It would only bring you more sorrow.
I have left some money for you. It is a bag of gemstones hidden inside your small pillow. In a few years, when you turn twelve, remember to go to the Witch Academy. Look for a senior named Wang Yue. She will take care of you.
Originally, I thought of sending you to an almshouse or a family willing to adopt, but after looking into it, I abandoned that idea for reasons I won’t bore you with.
The ribs, corn, ginger, and tomatoes are washed and sliced. Boil them yourself to make soup. Remember to blanch the meat first. Put the first three ingredients in together and boil for an hour and a half, then add the tomatoes and boil for another fifteen minutes.
It should be delicious, though I have never tasted it.
I have to go.
As the song goes: Life is a train bound for a final destination. Many strangers appear during the journey, and countless landscapes flash by. Most people will not accompany you to the end. Please, accept their departures with grace.
Goodbye.
