Chapter 2183: If Your Mind Is Sick, Go Get Treatment
Xu Huo did not enter a second time. Although what he encountered in the Inquiry Hall might have been a carrier of some tangible mental interference force, merely slashing it a few times and setting it on fire did not mean the entity was killed. This was most likely a probe from the other side. Moreover, if this power came from the Goddess, who was very likely the Instance Boss, then her strength might far exceed this level. With his injuries, there was no need to rush into taking risks at this time.
However, he was indeed very curious about objects other than humans that could possess spiritual power. This Instance was actually somewhat similar to the Seventeenth Hospital. The difference was that in the Seventeenth Hospital, only the buildings and space had undergone some mutation—the Instance itself did not possess consciousness. This also aligned with the understanding that spiritual power would quickly disappear once it left its human carrier, since most targeted mental interference items actually interfered through certain frequencies that the brain disliked, rather than through a clash of spiritual forces.
Thus, the Goddess in this Instance was very interesting. She was an existence similar to Little Pink Hat and the curator of the Hundred People Art Museum.
Little Pink Hat was born in human form. Although the museum curator and the Goddess wore human skin, it was merely a disguise—they were fundamentally something else.
Xu Huo also wanted to know what an object purely composed of spiritual power was really like.
Because his eyes had been bleeding intermittently, and since the companion invited by the Yellow-Haired Player had gone to the Inquiry Hall for a second time, they moved to a small shop not far from the temple to wait.
"Your eyes look kind of creepy, man. Maybe you should wrap them up," the Yellow-Haired Player said, suddenly catching sight of Xu Huo's blood-red eyes and rubbing the goosebumps rising on his arms. "Anyone would think you're about to mutate at any moment."
It wasn't that serious—there was just a noticeable line of blood between the whites of his eyes and his lower eyelids.
Still, his suggestion was valid.
Ahai nodded first, then, realizing Xu Huo couldn't see him, added, "It's like when I circled the temple in the Holy Land."
"Alright," Xu Huo interrupted him. "You're not a believer, so why say more?"
"I understand—people strive for higher ground."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You believers all see serving the Goddess as the most important thing in life. You don't even need to eat or drink—just worshipping fills your stomach," the Yellow-Haired Player said dismissively.
Ahai came over to help. While bandaging, he said, "Didn't you ask me what I saw in the Inquiry Hall?"
Most players couldn't understand this kind of religious belief. The Yellow-Haired Player said with a teasing tone, "If you don't get selected, you'll just have to slink back. Might as well try here. If you succeed, the Divine Envoy from the satellite city can recommend you to the Holy Land."
"That's not it..." Ahai couldn't help but retort. "The Holy Land Temple is the closest place to the Goddess. I want to be closer to her."
"You want to be a Holy Maiden?" The Yellow-Haired Player looked Ahai up and down. "So you're intersex?"
"It's a bit different from you. What I saw should have been my own fantasy."
"Really?" the Yellow-Haired Player said. "Aren't intersex people who meet the Holy Maiden standards very rare? Why didn't they take you in as a Holy Maiden? Purple Lake City has Holy Maidens too, right? Why don't you go ask?"
The Yellow-Haired Player shrugged and waved his hand in front of Xu Huo's eyes. "You're more impressive—you call the shots."
"I want to go to the Holy Land," Ahai said, shaking his head.
"To become a Holy Maiden?" Xu Huo said.
Xu Huo accepted.
The conversation drew the attention of those around them. Ahai wasn't afraid of the locals, but he feared the gazes of the outer zone players, so he lowered his voice and said, "What's so strange about being intersex? All the Holy Maidens in the temple are intersex."
Xu Huo pushed his hand away. "If you're going to the next satellite city today, we'll part ways here."
"Don't be like that," the Yellow-Haired Player quickly said. "Look at me—you can tell I'm definitely not a Mental Evolver. I still need you to lead the way."
"Don't count on me." Xu Huo turned his wheelchair and started moving.
The Yellow-Haired Player caught up in a few steps, shoved Ahai aside, and took over pushing the wheelchair. "Don't just flip out like that. I was just joking with Ahai... sister... brother... whatever. Besides, I didn't mean any harm. Look at how many players are in this Instance, and with your mobility issues, isn't it good to have a companion?"
"You want to rest for a night, right? I'm not in a hurry. What about you? Are you in a hurry?"
The last question was directed at another player. That person was taciturn and only nodded in response.
"Your eyes are bad too?" The Yellow-Haired Player was rather speechless.
"I'm not in a hurry," that person finally spoke.
"Since no one's in a hurry, let's just hang out." The Yellow-Haired Player shifted his focus again. "Purple Lake City still has a lot of fun places. It's still early—can't sleep if we go to the hotel. Might as well find somewhere to play."
"Ahai has a travel guide." Xu Huo pointed behind him.
Ahai quickly pulled a notebook out of his backpack. "It's almost noon now. The mutated flower trees in Bottle Lake Park should be blooming. These flowers are very unique—they only bloom when the sun is at its strongest, usually for just over ten minutes. When they wither, they fall like snow, and it's beautiful, with an incredible fragrance."
Xu Huo nodded. "Let's find a hotel first and drop off the luggage. Since you've already paid your respects at the temple, send word that you're safe first."
Ahai nodded blankly and walked ahead to look for a hotel.
"You..." The Yellow-Haired Player thoughtfully watched the tall figure. "You're interested in that kind of thing?"
"If your mind is sick, go get treatment." Xu Huo said with a smile.
The Yellow-Haired Player laughed loudly and pushed the wheelchair to follow.
The rest of the time was relatively relaxed. Not just Ahai, but even the Yellow-Haired Player, who had been to many districts, couldn't help but sincerely exclaim, "So beautiful," before adding with his usual glibness, "Too bad you can't see it."
Xu Huo didn't respond, but the other player said, "A Mental Evolver has more than just a pair of eyes."
Besides, it wasn't like he was truly blind.
The Yellow-Haired Player pretended not to hear and ran under the falling petals to take a selfie.
Something was placed on Xu Huo's head. Ahai's excited voice rang out, "I made a flower crown—for you!"
Before Xu Huo could speak, the Yellow-Haired Player familiarly leaned in and asked Ahai to make one for him too.
Ahai refused, so he immediately reached for the one on Xu Huo's head.
"It's not for you!" Ahai angrily protected the flower crown but eventually agreed to make one for him too.
"I don't want white flowers. Pick some colorful ones..." The Yellow-Haired Player kept chattering.
"Why don't you pick them yourself?" Ahai retorted.
"Why are you glaring at me? You agreed—you're not going to back out, are you?" the Yellow-Haired Player deliberately said.
Ahai kept his mouth shut but still picked some flowers of other colors to weave in, though it was a bit half-hearted. The Yellow-Haired Player wasn't satisfied and ended up buying a big bunch from a nearby flower crown stall. "Come on, come on, one for everyone!"
A stack of flower crowns was plopped onto Xu Huo's head.