Lord of Prayer - Chapter 90 - 80: You Are Praying

Chapter 90: Chapter 80: You Are Praying

“Lamp God…”

When Lin Ya heard the name, her first thought was of the magical lamp god from fairy tales who could grant three wishes. But the person before her didn’t fit that image.

She clutched the hem of her clothes and asked nervously, “What do you need me to do? Must I offer my soul to please you?”

’Don’t treat me like an Evil God. What on earth is going through this girl’s mind…’ Zhou Chen rested his arms on the armrests, interlaced his fingers, and chuckled.

“I have no interest in souls. Heh, only those creatures in the Abyss would like them.”

“Then… why did you save me?”

“Because you were praying.”

Lin Ya froze. She lowered her head, pursed her lips, and hid the emotion in her eyes behind her messy hair.

“Thank you…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“However, I am a firm believer in equivalent exchange. I saved your life, so you must pay a corresponding price,” Zhou Chen said leisurely.

“I… I only have my soul to give you. Or… my body… If you need it… just take it.” Lin Ya kept her head bowed, her tone utterly humble. In her mind, this was the only way she could repay the debt of her life being saved.

’This girl’s got to have some psychological issues…’ Zhou Chen thought, frowning to himself. On the surface, however, he smiled and raised an index finger.

“I think you’ve misunderstood, Miss Lin Ya. I only want to hear a story.”

“A… story?”

“Correct, a story. It can be one you heard from someone else, or one from your own personal experience. In short, as long as it’s interesting, it will do.”

He snapped his fingers. Beside Lin Ya, a heavy Obsidian Throne pulled out on its own.

“Please, have a seat, Miss Lin Ya.”

“Yes…”

Lin Ya sat down stiffly, looking timid and withdrawn. After a long moment, she finally said in a small voice, “Mr. Lamp God… I haven’t heard any interesting stories. I… can I tell you about myself?”

“You may,” Zhou Chen nodded.

“Thank you for your generosity.”

She paused, then said softly, “I was born into a family that believed in the Goddess of Life…”

Her very first sentence made Zhou Chen’s eye twitch. ’Poaching a believer won’t attract the attention of the Goddess of Life, will it?’

But Lin Ya’s next words quickly dispelled his concerns.

“My mother was a devout believer in the Goddess, but she died of an illness when I was seven… It’s ironic, isn’t it? A believer in the Goddess of Life dying from an illness.

After my mother passed away, my father’s personality changed completely. He started drinking heavily and became violent, often beating and yelling at me… I had no choice but to live at school, too afraid to go home. But I was bullied at school, too…”

“Later, my father died, too.”

Lin Ya said, her voice devoid of emotion, “He also died from an illness.”

“Not long after, I also came down with a serious illness. It was so painful I felt like I was dying. I prayed to the Goddess of Life, just as my mother had, but it was useless. Then, three days later, I recovered on my own.

From then on, I started getting frequent high fevers. Sometimes, the fever would make me so delirious that I would even sleepwalk.

Once, while staying in the hospital, I almost killed the patient in the next bed one night… That patient said I was as terrifying as a Demon…”

“I was sent to a psychiatric hospital, but the doctors said I was perfectly normal, just delirious from the fever, so they released me. But I didn’t want to go back to school. The other girls always bullied me for no reason…”

“So, I ran away.”

“I was free. Working temp jobs every day was enough to get by. No more beatings, no more bullying, no more being tormented…

But my illness grew progressively worse. Many places were afraid to hire me, scared I would infect their other employees.

A week ago, I came to Jinzhu, intending to find a job, but my illness suddenly flared up. This time, it lasted for five whole days. If not for you, I’m afraid I would be dead now.”

As if recalling the helpless agony of her illness, she clutched her clothes, her voice trembling. “Every time the fever hit, the pain was so bad I wanted to die. I prayed countless times for the Goddess of Life to heal my afflictions… I prayed to every God I could, but They never answered. Only you…”

“Only you…”

“Only you offered me aid.”

Lin Ya mustered her courage and looked at “Mr. Lamp God” with a fervent gaze.

“I know my story has nothing exciting in it. If you aren’t satisfied, you can take my soul at any time. You saved my life, so it belongs to you.”

“Why are you so fixated on your soul?”

Zhou Chen sighed softly. “Let me guess. You’ve heard somewhere that apart from the few True Gods, any being that calls itself a ’God’ is an Evil God?”

Lin Ya nodded, her eyes resolute. “If you are an Evil God, I don’t care. You can use me as you please.”

’Even if it means I must fall into the dark Abyss.’

’Because you are the only one who ever reached out a hand to me…’

’Could you please not say things that are so easily misunderstood…’ Zhou Chen thought, rapping his knuckles on the Obsidian Round Table. His tone grew slightly stern.

“Then, Miss Lin Ya, allow me to state for the final time—I have no interest in souls.”

“As for your story, it barely passes. Because there are some things about it that even you do not know.”

“What do you mean?” Lin Ya’s eyes filled with confusion.

“The illness you and your parents suffered from was, in fact, a curse.”

Zhou Chen explained, raising a finger slightly. A black skull, bound by white chains, slowly rose into the air, emanating the thick aura of a dark curse.

Lin Ya looked stunned. “This is…”

“The culprit behind your illness all these years. An Abyssal Curse Technique that masquerades as a disease to deprive its victims of their lives.”

The moment he pulled Lin Ya into this space, the curse rooted deep within her soul was brought along with her. Startled, Zhou Chen had decisively used the power of the white mist to mercilessly suppress it.

“W-What? A curse?” Lin Ya couldn’t quite believe it.

“Once an ordinary person is afflicted with this curse, a single onset of the illness is enough to be fatal. But you, driven by your powerful will to survive, awakened and became an Ascender, fighting against this curse for so many years.”

Zhou Chen expressed his admiration. “Your will to live is admirable.”

He himself had been enduring the torment of a fragmented soul for a month. Though he had long since adapted, it had been an indescribable agony at the beginning, so he could truly empathize with the pain Lin Ya had experienced.

“Is… that how it was…”

Lin Ya stared fixedly at the black skull, as if everything was finally clicking into place. Her eyes gradually grew vacant and cold.

This was the thing that had tormented her for years, making her life a living hell.

This thing…

This was the thing that had taken her parents.

That had stolen the happy life she should have had.

An intense rage surged from the depths of her heart. She wanted to smash that skull to smithereens!

With a thought, Zhou Chen sent the sealed Abyssal Curse Technique floating before Lin Ya. He then timely materialized a sledgehammer.

“Thank you for your gift…”

Lin Ya rose, her hand trembling as she gripped the sledgehammer.

Then, she began smashing it like a madwoman, unleashing years of pent-up anger, grief, pain, and despair…

She didn’t stop until the manifestation of the curse was smashed to pieces. Panting heavily, her face was already streaked with tears.

She had finally gotten her revenge.

But she no longer had a home.

Nothing could ever go back.

“Let me become your devout follower,” she said.

Zhou Chen shook his head slightly. “No, there is no need. You have your own life to live.”

“From this day forward, your life will hold infinite possibilities.”

He was about to cut the connection and send her away.

“Wait, Mr. Lamp God, wait a moment!”

Seeming to realize that Zhou Chen was about to send her away, Lin Ya hurriedly asked, “How can I see you again?”

Zhou Chen simply smiled mysteriously.

“I will always be watching over you.”

Then, he severed the connection, and Lin Ya’s figure rapidly dissipated.

’Phew… finally done. I only meant to save her life, how did I almost end up with a Fanatic? I’d better not actually become an Evil God and get wiped out by the Star Association…’

Zhou Chen leaned back and let out a long sigh. He then glanced at the Wish Bottle and froze.

So many Stars!

·

「Under the bridge.」

Lin Ya slowly awoke. She was no longer feverish, no longer chilled, no longer shivering. The high fever had miraculously vanished. Even the symptoms of having gone without food and water for so long had disappeared. She felt full of life.

It was as if she had been reborn.

She sat up, dazed, and looked around. Only when her mind was completely clear did she confirm that what she had just experienced was no illusion.

—From this day forward, your life will hold infinite possibilities.

—I will always be watching over you.

Mr. Lamp God’s words echoed in her ears, making her blush and her heart race. An unconscious smile spread across her face.

“Mr. Lamp God… Will He always be watching over me?”

’Mama, I’ve finally found it.’

’I’ve found my faith.’

’I’ve found my…’

’Salvation!’