# 203
Chapter 203: Bearer
“By the way.” Lin Qiye suddenly remembered something. “Will the original body know what happens to this projection?”
“No. Though they share one soul, they don’t communicate. Only if the projection dies will the original sense it’s gone, but not what occurred.”
“That’s good.” Lin Qiye nodded. “Then I’ll trouble Sir Merlin.”
“Small matter.” Merlin smiled.
He pressed his hand into the air; a deep-red magic circle flashed into being before him. A terrifying pressure—cold and alien—descended on the room, as though some distant gaze had turned this way.
“D abyssal sorcery is forbidden; it targets the soul. Step outside first; the power might harm you by mistake.” Merlin spoke while guiding the ritual.
Lin Qiye nodded, exited, and walked down to the courtyard. Li Yifei was there, today’s medicine tray in hand, beside Nyx.
Seeing him, Li Yifei asked curiously, “What happened?”
“Nothing. A rat sneaked into the asylum; Merlin’s teaching it manners.” Lin Qiye waved.
“Oh…” Li Yifei sounded disappointed. “A Zhu said you tricked another kid—cough, orderly—over. Thought my workload would drop. That boy’s brain is mush; he can’t even play mahjong. Next time pick a smarter one to kill, okay?”
Lin Qiye: …
Li Yifei leaned closer, whispering, “I broke through to River Realm the other day.”
Lin Qiye blinked. “Breakthrough? What did you do?”
Li Yifei spread his hands innocently. “Nothing. I don’t cultivate or exercise—got fatter these months. It just happened. Didn’t even know till the snake demon told me.”
Lin Qiye stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Three “River”-realm thugs now. Wonder what change the Nāga demon’s Forbidden Ruins underwent…
He shook his head; now wasn’t the time. Turning to Nyx, he smiled wryly:
“Mother, I may really need you to act soon.”
Though Yiyu had walked into the trap and was dancing in his palm, he hadn’t forgotten the Flame-Vein Earth Dragon outside and that Sea-realm expert. Two whole realms above him—summoning orderlies would be useless.
Nyx smiled and nodded. “Thanatos, let me remind you: my divine status is incomplete. Fighting in your world as a soul, victory isn’t certain.”
Lin Qiye froze.
“So I have a better idea,” she continued. “Pour my soul-force into your godhead.”
“Godhead? I don’t have one.”
“You do.” Nyx stepped forward, fingertip touching his chest. Familiar darkness bloomed behind them, resonating.
Lin Qiye looked at the night spreading beneath his feet and understood.
“Umbral God’s Ruins?”
He remembered the label when he’d drawn it: “Godhead Ability.”
“Yes, a fragment of my godhead. I don’t know why you possess it, but since you do, you can bear my soul…”
“What happens if I do?”
“A god is made of godhead, body, and soul. I have only soul and a broken godhead; no flesh. Each strike in your world would burn my soul-source—weak and dangerous. But if my soul enters your godhead, joined to your body, you’ll wield a portion of Night’s authority—far stronger, and safer for me.”
“I’d become a sort of Night Goddess?”
“Temporarily. My soul is too vast; your godhead and body too frail. Each use will overdraw your soul. Don’t resort to it unless you must.”
Lin Qiye’s eyes lit. “Understood…”
Just then the second-floor door opened. Merlin, in long robes, strolled out leading a Pekingese.
Lin Qiye blinked. “Sir Merlin, done?”
“Done. I stuffed the other-plane soul into the original’s mind.”
“The projection—dissipated?”
“Nope. Right here.” Merlin squatted, patting the dog’s head; it hung low, eyes full of terror.
Lin Qiye gaped. “You turned him… into a dog?”
“Yep.” Merlin shrugged. “His soul was wounded; mind’s a bit addled. Was going to scatter it, but the asylum needed some life, so—transformation spell. Something to tease.”
He scratched the dog’s chin. The hound stared blankly, then opened its mouth…
“Meow?”
Lin Qiye: …
Li Yifei: …
Merlin: …
“Just a tiny mental issue,” Merlin said innocently.
Li Yifei squatted, gestured downward, and commanded solemnly, “Sit!”
The dog pondered, then lay prone and began writhing its hindquarters against the dirt in an odd motion.
Li Yifei grinned at Merlin. “Uncle, your dog’s kinda lewd.”
Merlin studied the sky, deaf.
Lin Qiye gave the bewildered Pekingese a sympathetic glance. “As long as you’re happy… I’m off. They’ve waited long enough—time for a surprise.”
His eyes narrowed.