Chapter 9

"Lu Ping'an, didn't you want to know which path is most suitable for you? I can tell you."

The sudden "softening" of the big cat was undoubtedly good news, but Lu Ping'an could sense her unease from it.

Before Lu Ping'an could respond, he was sent home by Xia Qin, who had a sullen face, and was sternly told not to go out and not to open the door.

From Captain Xia's anxious attitude, it seemed that he would not be getting his share of the patrol money anytime soon.

"… Losing that income is a pity."

At this moment, Lu Ping'an returned to his temporary residence, locked the door, and activated his silver key.

"Why are you suddenly so nice? Is that guy here to see you?"

Looking at the blonde woman in front of him, Lu Ping'an, for once, did not act silly.

Her golden hair trailed down to her waist, and the princess bun with spiral curls gave her a subtle air of a young lady. The moon and sun earrings were somewhat exaggerated.

But her beauty was enough to carry it all.

To put it bluntly, in terms of appearance, Chris was the most beautiful woman Lu Ping'an had ever seen.

Her doll-like face, calm and elegant lake-colored eyes, and a smile that exuded compassion and kindness.

The snow-white nun's habit could not hide her perfectly mature figure.

The ancient tree emblem on her chest was classical and full of history. Her hands were crossed in a prayer, and the ever-present compassionate smile made her look like a perfect religious figure, a living saint.

Except for her youth and outstanding appearance, which seemed somewhat unreal compared to her demeanor.

But Lu Ping'an knew that everything was an illusion.

"Stop that fake smile; it makes me feel sick."

The woman laughed, her compassionate smile turning into a mocking one.

"Isn't this what you wanted to see? Isn't this the beauty that your short-lived race admires? I am just a shadow, a concept. What you see now is just my projection in your mind, the great Keldalais."

Keldalais was not human. She had long abandoned her physical form, but humans, when faced with the indescribable, would instinctively "fill in the blanks," transforming it into a form they could understand, something that fit their past concepts.

Like the previous "Great Cat Sacred Beast," like the current "perfect beauty," like the countless statues of deities.

Numerous tentacles writhed under the nun's habit, and her shadow was filled with twisted and evil creatures.

She laughed, and infinite evil and darkness overflowed from her feet, filling the entire world.

If not for the contract's restrictions, if not for the current "life and death together" state, she would have torn apart her "master" long ago.

"Oh, I see. So if I make you do adult films, you could play multiple roles?! Wow, such a profitable idea, and I only thought of it now."

Instantly, the malicious smile froze.

Keldalais could feel that Lu Ping'an was serious!

The innocence in the boy's smile and the bottomless malice beneath it were far more extreme than her own!

"… No, once I was observed by humans, my 'image' was determined. This is my true human form, the most fitting incarnation of my essence."

The sacred beast was intimidated! Really intimidated! If he really did it and the video ended up in her original world, she might as well die a dozen times.

Lu Ping'an laughed, suppressing her spirit. After establishing the master-servant relationship, he did not intend to further humiliate the big cat.

After all, if he was not mistaken, they were now in a cooperative relationship, each with their own needs.

"Was the case at the crossroads for you?"

"……"

Taking a deep breath, Chris closed her eyes, looking calm.

It seemed she did not intend to talk about it.

Lu Ping'an nodded. Silence itself was a form of communication, which could be interpreted as an acknowledgment that the trouble was brought by Keldalais.

"Alright, if I am discovered, will they kill me?"

"Don't underestimate my followers; death is never the end."

Well, they were in the same boat, and there was no way to jump out.

"Will they save you?"

"Ha ha."

A simple, self-deprecating laugh, full of meaning.

"So, you don't want them to find you."

Still silence, but Lu Ping'an understood everything.

Chris's extremely selfish "evolution doctrine" did not seem to cultivate loyal followers, even for a cult.

On the contrary, it was openly "survival of the fittest," and it felt like a system that encouraged the lower ranks to overthrow the upper ranks.

But for Lu Ping'an, this was good news.

They were now on the same side, both not wanting to be found.

From the moment Chris sensed the crime scene and was willing to guide him, Lu Ping'an had guessed that her attitude would change.

The recent bloodbath left the cult's holy symbol, a method to find the "god," and also a test.

"Why didn't you contact us?" "How are you doing?" "Why did you cut off communication?"

If Chris did not respond in time, either she could not respond, or her condition was so fragile that it was best not to be discovered...

"So, how can we avoid being found?"

"Before fate, hiding is meaningless."

Lu Ping'an understood immediately; you can't hide.

"In that case, we must strike first... They have a way to find you?"

"My holy relics carry my soul's vibration. There might be two in this area..."

The two, forced into the same boat, were unusually honest.

It turned out that Chris had left two holy relics, which were the "statues" for her followers to pray to. As long as they were close enough, they would naturally resonate.

To block this resonance, physical distance was not reliable; it was best to be in a different small world.

"Many high-end secret-keeping training institutions are themselves secret realms to ensure safety."

Now, Lu Ping'an fully understood why Chris was being so friendly.

If he entered Ancient City University, he would be entering a secret realm, greatly increasing Chris's safety. She hoped he would pass the entrance exam and was willing to guide him, after all...

"Since we will eventually be exposed, the stronger I am, the safer you are. Helping me is also helping yourself. So, can you guide me now?"

As a fellow Mother Goddess system ability user, only Chris, who knew Lu Ping'an's true nature, could guide him.

Lu Ping'an needed more than just a "no loss" part-time job; he needed the best starting point and main path after a comprehensive overview.

Only a high-ranking being could make such a judgment.

Now that Lu Ping'an's strength and Chris's safety were linked, he felt her opinion was worth listening to.

"… You have no idea what 'life' truly is, or what your ability means. Your use of your ability is foolish and inefficient. You are using a brilliant sun as a match. What I find most unbearable is that you don't even know what you took from me! How precious..."

The bitterness in her words was evident. Thinking of fate's favor towards him, the tower she had built over centuries being toppled by a fate-favored child, and her centuries of accumulation becoming his starting point, she felt a surge of anger.

"Stop the nonsense. Tell me, which path is most suitable for me?"

Lu Ping'an did not want to listen to a cultist's doctrine; he just wanted the tool cat's answer.

As with previous communications, the choked-up Chris exploded.

Her spiral curls stood up, and the sanctity and compassion finally vanished. In the end, she squeezed out a word through her teeth.

"Gardener."

Then, she turned into a black mud and disappeared.

Is that it? Lu Ping'an smiled and returned to the real world.

He opened his materials and took out the book with common paths.

Yes, the book titled "Runner? Guardian? Beast Tamer? Don't always focus on the popular ones; the one that suits you is the best! How to choose the most suitable starting point from fifty-three common paths based on your awakened ability!"

"Fortunately, it's in here. Since it's a common path, I don't need to hesitate."

"Huh, isn't this the weakest path, a logistics path?"