Only four words crossed Jiang Qiehuo’s mind.
“Is she out of her mind?”
However, Fang Yuan’s grip was truly impossible to break free from. Deflated, Jiang Qiehuo accepted her fate, tucking the Passion Fruit Duo under her arm, holding her bowl of fried noodles, and pulling out her phone with her other hand to call a locksmith.
Ten minutes later, the unhurried locksmith arrived, smoothly opened the door, asked Jiang Qiehuo for twenty yuan, and zipped away on his electric scooter.
From this, it could be deduced that her bad luck only affected herself and wouldn't drag others into it.
It seemed to be a single-target 【Blessing】 rather than an area-of-effect one.
Still a neat gadget—could it be stolen, though?
Pinching her earlobe, Fang Yuan glanced sideways, looking Jiang Qiehuo up and down.
Scanned by her suspiciously malicious gaze, Jiang Qiehuo defensively covered herself and stumbled back several paces.
“I opened the door for you, and I’ve done everything you asked. We’re square now. Don't even think about me helping you again!”
A familiar smile appeared on Fang Yuan’s face.
Jiang Qiehuo felt as if a swarm of ants were crawling up her spine to the back of her head. Holding her fried noodles and clutching her Passion Fruit Duo, she turned around and ran off even faster than when she had encountered Wang Wei.
Watching Jiang Qiehuo flee, Fang Yuan let out a regretful sigh.
With bad luck saddling her right now, she definitely couldn't catch up with her.
She didn't know how long this streak of ill fortune would last, but it certainly wouldn't be permanent.
Just as Meng Ying had said, since they were going to slaughter each other in the 【God Selection】, there definitely couldn't be an absolute, unsolvable 【Blessing】.
Speaking of which, where exactly did a 【Blessing】 reside? Was it in the brain, heart, liver, lungs, or kidneys?
If she gouged it out, would the recipient lose that 【Blessing】?
Forget it, no point overthinking it now. She'd study the issue further once she was inside the 【God Selection】!
Fang Yuan turned sideways and blew a kiss to the crowd that had not yet dispersed, deliberately lowering her voice to sound magnetically charming.
“Go to sleep early, okay? Don't forget to come say goodbye to me tomorrow!”
Amidst a chorus of screams, she entered the house with swagger, shut the door, and slammed her knee right into the corner of the coffee table.
Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!
Clutching her knee, Fang Yuan made to sit down on the sofa, only for her rear end to slip, landing her flat on the floor with a splat.
Clutching her bottom, she shuffled over and flopped onto the sofa.
She definitely had to kill that dead bastard turtle Liang Du first.
At the thought of him surviving that fatal axe strike thanks to gaining the favor of the God of Luck, Fang Yuan silently moved the God of Luck up a notch on her target list.
Very good. Once she, Fang Yuan, became a god, the first one she would kill would be the God of Luck.
She stood up from the sofa, keeping a certain distance from Grandma’s urn.
“Grandma, I’m going to participate in the 【God Selection】 tomorrow.”
“I was tricked by a dead bastard turtle, so I can't get too close to you. I’m afraid of disturbing you.”
“Don't worry about me, Grandma. Fang Yuan will always remember the Fang family ancestral motto.”
“'Fang family motto: Engrave history forever; never forget the heroic martyrs.'”
“Wait for me, Grandma.”
“Your statue, and the statues of the martyrs, will stand once again in Hero Square.”
She bowed deeply to the urn. The straight plume of smoke from the incense offered before the urn suddenly flickered unnaturally, bending into a sharp arc.
Just as she lifted her head with a faint sensation, the wisps of smoke returned to normal, quietly curling upward once more.
Fang Yuan stared fixedly at the memorial photo hanging above. That familiar face, lined with the marks of time, had crinkled eyes and a kindly smile.
Every time she looked at it, those frozen eyes seemed to be smiling back at her, carrying an imperishable warmth and concern.
“Leave it to me with peace of mind, Grandma.”
“In this world, only the wicked live long lives. You don't have to worry about me on that front.”
“I am the wicked one.”
“I will live long.”
“I will become a god.”
She withdrew her gaze and went into the bathroom.
Amidst a flurry of noisy clatter, she finished a quick wash, threw on a set of pajamas, and flopped onto the bed.
CLANG—
The bed collapsed.
Having already anticipated this, Fang Yuan wrapped herself up, huddled in a corner, buried her head, and drifted off to sleep.
A good night's dream.
It must have been a good dream.
There was an old friend in her dream.
She couldn't see the face, but she remembered the warmth and roughness of her hands.
She opened her eyes amidst the tenderness of those hands, greeting the morning of the second day.
Without a trace of daze or reluctance, she deftly swung out of bed, changed her clothes, went through a quick, clattering wash, and finally opened the front door with a slice of bread hanging from her mouth and a backpack slung over her shoulders.
Light spilled through the crack of the door, shining squarely onto the face in that photograph, making her kindly smile look exceptionally clear and warm.
Walking to the doorway, Fang Yuan paused, turning her head to look at the photo.
With her back to the light, she nodded to Grandma, and closed the door to the room she had lived in for nearly twenty years without a single regret.
That sliver of light rapidly narrowed, shifting off the face in the photo, before completely disappearing with the soft click of the closing door.
Standing outside, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Her familiar smile returned to her face.
Bury the past beneath a smile.
You are Fang Yuan, and your purpose in going to the 【God Selection】 is to become a god.
Nothing more.
Never let anyone easily discern your true thoughts.
That is your key to victory.
She stuffed her mouth full of bread with one bite and waved with a smile toward the aunt in the red-brown plaid shirt who was already waiting for her outside next door.
“Fang Yuan! Since your grandma isn't here, let me give you a ride!”
Tears glistened in her eyes as she warmly called out to Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan didn't stand on ceremony either, adeptly mounting the backseat of her electric scooter and taking the steamed bun and soy milk handed to her.
“You're off to participate in the 【God Selection】! How could you not eat a proper breakfast?”
The aunt in the red-brown plaid shirt nagged as she drove her onto the familiar street.
“Why are you carrying a backpack? Does the 【God Selection】 let you bring your own stuff inside? Should I buy some food for you to take with you?”
After nearly choking on the steamed buns and coughing on the soy milk, Fang Yuan finally finished off the two buns in two big bites and answered while sipping her soy milk, “You can only bring specified items. Food isn't allowed!”
“I see... Then remember to eat well in there! No matter what, you're still human right now. Food is the fuel of life—you must eat properly! Otherwise, I'll be worried, and your grandma will be even more worried!”
Having finished her soy milk, Fang Yuan aimed a graceful arc toward the roadside trash can. Perfect... swish, missed by an inch.
She didn't litter on purpose.
Just pretend she didn't see that.
“Okay, I'll eat well.”
“And remember to dress warmly. Don't catch a cold.”
“The people in there with you might not be good people. Remember: never let your guard down against others!”
Fang Yuan could already see Hero Square in the distance. Her eyes curved as she replied, “Okay, I'll remember it all.”
The electric scooter pulled up at the perimeter of Hero Square, which was already swarming with crowds of onlookers.
The aunt in the red-brown plaid shirt stood in front of Fang Yuan, helping her straighten her messy collar.
Her rough hands brushed over her neck and patted her shoulder.
“Only God Candidates are allowed inside. I can only take you this far.”
Fang Yuan gazed into her light brown eyes, the faint grey at her temples, and her faded collar worn pale with time.
“Fang Yuan, this might be the last time I ever see you. There are things I don't understand as well as you young folks do, but remember: when you face trouble or hardship, safety comes first. It doesn't matter if you don't become a god. Just come back, and I'll take care of you.”
Fang Yuan smiled, reaching out to pull this tiny, great woman into her arms.
“Aunt Bai Lingzhi, take good care of yourself, okay? There’s no PIN on this card, so don't hesitate to use it. While I’m away, I’ll have to trouble you to look after Grandma!”
The second half of her sentence choked back the refusal that Bai Lingzhi was about to utter.
Bai Lingzhi patted her back, released her, and accepted the card and keys handed to her.
“Leave it to me with peace of mind, Fang Yuan.”
She brushed her hand over Fang Yuan’s cheek, forcing a smile.
“Go on. It’s getting late.”
Rate on N.U.
