Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1620 - 72: Saints and Sinners (5)
...Someone just called me Your Highness?
Su Ming’an immediately turned around and saw a beautiful and enchanting demon woman.
"Bishop Hui Chi has been praying day and night, and unexpectedly, it worked... A corpse truly can come back to life." The demon woman blew on her nails and smiled with emotion.
Su Ming’an had already realized who he was.
——Su Wenli.
Because he killed the World Master and eliminated the World Master’s karma, he ultimately had to fill in this karma himself. The person "Su Wenli" originally did not exist; he existed upon his arrival and was automatically given the background of "Bishop Hui Chi revived the World Master’s heir through a ritual."
Moreover, due to the automatic completion of karma, the story before he turned into a corpse had also been automatically completed. In his mind, the image of "himself" as the World Master’s heir, being picked up by Bishop Hui Chi from a young age, raised in the palace, and later dying from an accident, was sealed in an ice coffin, persistently revived by Hui Chi...
This is not someone else’s story, but everything Su Ming’an as the "World Master’s heir" would experience, a form of his own IF line.
Now, he had awakened.
He was possessed by Chen Yuhang, yet Su Wenli was originally himself. So, he simultaneously held two identities. The method to switch identities was death, and wouldn’t that death rebound...
"Who are you?" Su Ming’an asked.
The demon kissed the back of his hand: "I am your loyal servant, the Deceit Demon Evelyn."
——The Deceit Demon, a Third-level God, was once killed by Su Ming’an, and yet is merely a servant.
Evelyn said: "Please wait here for a moment, Your Grace. Once the bishop arrives, I’ll take you out."
This made Su Ming’an’s brows crease; did he need to seek Hui Chi’s consent to leave? Was this bishop sincere in assisting the heir, or did he merely want him as a mascot?
...
"Ding dong!"
["Peeping Mode" has been triggered!]
[(You can see Qi Zhou’s movements.)]
...
A pattern of an eye suddenly appeared on the back of Su Ming’an’s hand.
Previously, Qi Zhou had led Hui Zi away, uncertain of the current situation. Su Ming’an feigned sitting down to rest, but in truth, he began "peeping" at Qi Zhou.
...
"I and Su Wenli are half-siblings from different mothers!"
"Years ago, the World Master and a close friend ’brought’ us into this world. I am the World Master’s biological child, whereas Su Wenli is the child of the World Master’s friend. Due to a twist of fate, we were switched; he was taken back as the World Master’s son, and I was taken back by the World Master’s friend..."
"My adoptive father has passed away, and I’ve come to seek my biological father, the World Master, only to find the World Master gone as well. My only relative in this world is my brother Su Wenli; although not brethren, we are closer than any brethren!"
Qi Zhou was passionately explaining to Hui Zi, movingly persuasive.
Initially, Hui Zi did not believe such nonsense, however, Qi Zhou was indeed the World Master’s child, and would not be exposed by any method of identification.
Bairan had already wept, leaning in the embrace of an Evil God, tears falling: "I never expected such a thing, switched at birth... regardless of false heirs... these years, you must have suffered much... everyone seems foolish, wearing a cat cap..."
Qi Zhou felt his teeth grind in frustration.
They arrived at the Central State, reaching the World Master’s palace.
Seeing the resplendent architecture before him, Qi Zhou suddenly felt disoriented—he should have been here more than once, but for what purpose? To see whom?
The mind was left with a haze of white, and the once-despised figure had vanished.
Suddenly, he came to a halt.
The barren and desolate grounds had disappeared, along with the impoverished, emaciated people, the apartment buildings destroyed by artillery fire had disappeared.
All that met the eye was dazzling sunlight.
The domed ceiling inlaid with glaze shed molten gold shadows, the air suffused with exotic fragrance, wafting from the mouths of gilded bronze beasts at the corners of the hall. Gold entwined like serpents around gigantic malachite columns, the saintly faces on holy carpets became obscure and distant in the swirling smoke. The sweet scent of fragrant incense pervaded richly.
On the throne, a person stood silently to the side, golden hair bathed in radiant light, crimson eyes quietly observing the prostrate believers, a smile of compassion traced on their lips. The intricate stained glass of the dome above depicted deities descending, angels encircling, various miraculous deeds, all captured in his deep, pigeon blood ruby eyes.
"God loves the world as a shepherd hugs a wayward lamb."
His voice resonated in the extravagantly splendid holy temple, pure white bishop robes adorned with intricate, ancient gold thread along the collar and hem.
The believers prostrated themselves even more devoutly, as if following holy light.
Qi Zhou raised his head, gazing toward the idol the person leaned against——the idol of the Radiant Mother God. Qi Zhou suddenly realized that deities were merely tools of power for this individual, regardless of whom they worshipped, this individual remained unchanged.
The Hui Chi in Qi Zhou’s impression was merely an ordinary bishop, but after the World Master’s disappearance, this bishop... was so dazzling as to be intimidating.
Suddenly, those profound eyes gazed over, overshadowing all other sounds: "...Who is this?"
"This is the true heir of the World Master, switched at birth," Hui Zi introduced Qi Zhou’s identity.
"Oh." Hui Chi stepped forward, the white robe trailing over the smooth tiles, strands of molten gold spilled into his flowing golden hair.
"Heir."
He spoke with a smile, enunciating as if precious gems were dropping, resounding clearly.
Qi Zhou instinctively felt guilty, hearing Su Ming’an’s voice soon after: "Don’t be afraid."
Qi Zhou immediately straightened his spine.
"Bishop, I sincerely invite you to join my camp..." At this moment, Hui Zi seized the chance to recruit Hui Chi.
To ordinary people, the eight protagonists stood high above. Yet to the World Master, the eight protagonists sought to attach themselves to the World Master instead.
——Su Wenli, the heir of the World Master, the current head of the Rin Clan, and the eldest of the Three Lives Children, inherited the governing power of the former World Master. Compared to his younger brother and sister, he had a significant advantage. To gain his favor was to greatly increase the protagonist’s chances.
"You have indeed returned the World Master’s heir to me." The bishop smiled, "Very well, the dark elves of the Western Union shall serve you."
Hui Zi was immediately overjoyed; although they were siblings, she never dared to be presumptuous.
"So this is your true self, Hui Chi." Qi Zhou whispered.
Hui Chi acted as if he hadn’t heard, maintaining his smile while retreating to the inner hall.
What met the eyes was still the warm fragrance of gold and pink, the teasing smoke leisurely meandering within the golden cage. Seated atop was a violet-haired woman, with an aesthetically pleasing appearance, leisurely picking at the grapes peeled by her maid, lazily casting a glance at a white-haired girl below the stage.
Music softly played on both sides, the white-haired girl knelt before a low table.
"I’ve heard that Xi Li is the Flower God of poetry in legends; is it too much to ask you to compose poetry for me?" the violet-haired woman snorted.
"My poetry is not for royalty or nobility." The white-haired girl replied calmly, "Commoners can hear, the Red Mansion can hear, the magpies by the roadside can hear, but you cannot."
Everyone envied the Rin Clan for being favored by the world, yet they overlooked the cruelty faced by the Three Lives Children. Under Su Wenli’s near-certain victory, the fates of the two other Rin Clan members seemed predestined.
"——I honored you by asking for poetry!" The violet-haired woman stood up abruptly, throwing grape wine at Xi Li. With a "splash," Xi Li’s white hair was soaked with grape juice. "You, who are nothing but nourishment destined to be consumed by my brother, are only alive now thanks to his mercy!"
"This is Wenli’s adopted sister, Princess Chenghua," Bishop Hui Chi timely introduced.
As soon as he spoke, everyone saw both Bishop Hui Chi and Qi Zhou. The musician stopped playing, the dancers bowed their heads and knelt, leaving only the proud Princess Chenghua.
The white-haired girl still straightened her back. Her thin clothes soaked in wine; she trembled slightly, yet remained silent.
"...Even if it means death, does it not matter?" Hui Chi spoke softly.
He did not call any names, but everyone present knew who he was addressing.
Everyone held their breath lightly, fearing they might interrupt his question, as if he were the true ruler here.
Xi Li calmly said, "I do not write a single word for lavish dreams, not for beautiful façades, nor for those who feast at empty seats."
"Pretentious!" Princess Chenghua snorted coldly.
"By the way," Hui Chi suddenly looked at Princess Chenghua, "Who allowed you... to break Xi Li’s knee?"
Princess Chenghua’s face turned slightly pale.
"Bang!"
Su Ming’an heard a piercing gunshot, not just from Qi Zhou’s perspective, but also from his own.
In that luxurious hall, someone had fired a gun.
—The beautiful, regal, high-and-mighty Princess Chenghua fell into a pool of blood, and the golden-haired, red-eyed bishop blew the smoke from the gun’s muzzle.
"The naughty fawn has been spoiled," the bishop took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the gun muzzle, "The princely heir valued you, so you were a princess. Once he tires of you... you’re nothing but weeds."
Dozens of servants came from nowhere, expertly dragging away the corpse, replaced by a more beautiful girl, sitting on the high platform in her luxurious attire.
"What’s your name?" Hui Chi tilted his head and asked.
"I am Wen Hua," the girl said softly.
"From now on, you are Princess Wen Hua," Hui Chi said indifferently, "When Wenli wakes up, you can go play with him."
"Yes." The girl lifted her skirt and curtsied.
Qi Zhou silently watched all of this. He had seen such a scene before when the World Master held the ’Flower Gathering Conference’ to choose playmates for his daughter, those playmates often vanished... it was the same after all.
"Wenli has no friends, I will choose friends for him," Hui Chi holstered the gun, "but the overly pampered fawn cannot be his friend; once the line is crossed, there must be a replacement."
"You have never asked for his opinion," Qi Zhou said.
"I have the obligation to protect his purity," Hui Chi placed a hand to his chest, "He only needs purity, kindness, and happiness. Imperial Master Hui Bei and I will eradicate all ugliness for him. His friends will always be the most wonderful... He doesn’t need to ponder heavy and tedious philosophy, for kindness and simplicity are his true colors."
"Are they his true colors," Qi Zhou said, "...or ’the artificially labeled colors’?"
"Take His Highness Qi Zhou back to his room," Hui Chi turned his head.
Immediately, a group of guards came, grabbing Qi Zhou’s arms.
On the other side, Su Ming’an noticed the correlation—Hui Bei and Hui Chi’s positioning were much like Su Liujin’s Little King of the Candy Kingdom, the one he briefly visited for two hours during the Holy Grail War.
Which one is real, and which is an imitation? Or are both of them real?
He opened his eyes, and saw the enchanting and beautiful Evelyn right before him, gazing at him deeply.
"What do you want?" Su Ming’an asked.
"Do you remember your promise?" Evelyn said gently, "You said you would become a demon..."
Su Ming’an had no recollection of this in his mind, probably just an offhand promise made by Su Wenli to brush off the demon.
"Wait a little longer," Su Ming’an brushed it off, adjusting to the body. His limbs were stiff just waking up, and he tried to mobilize some divine power...
His body froze.
Evelyn cupped his face, lowered her eyelids, and whispered, "But I can’t wait any longer, Your Highness, how can you refuse me..."
Crack—crack—
Her hands glowed blue, and the body that hadn’t warmed up froze again; his heartbeat instantly stopped, his breathing halted.
The last image was Evelyn gently placing him back into the ice coffin, closing his eyes.
"After all, Lord Bishop doesn’t know you’re awake..."
...Su Ming’an suddenly opened his eyes.
...What kind of family environment is this with Su Wenli, it’s too dangerous!
He found himself in a theater, where dancers performed the fan dance on stage.
...Who did he possess this time?
With his vision not yet clear and without control over the body, suddenly a sharp knife came at him, stabbing into his neck.
He clutched his neck as blood spurted out, hearing the screams of soldiers around him.
He suddenly remembered where he was—it’s that theater before it was destroyed, where dancer Chen Fang assassinated the officer—he had possessed that officer!
A thought flashed in his mind, a trap...
Could it be that the Radiant Mother God had already discovered him, so purposefully arranged for these characters with quick deaths, forcing him to keep jumping back and forth between deaths, with the trigger conditions of ’Death Rebound’ unknown...
The next moment, he fell from blood loss and opened his eyes again, finding himself lying in the ice coffin once more. Indeed, death is the mechanism for switching between ’ordinary person’ and ’World Master’s Heir.’
He cautiously observed his surroundings. Sitting by the ice coffin was not the enchanting Evelyn, but a tall man with demon horns, red hair falling down, who was drinking liquor heartily.
"...Awake?" The red-haired man turned his head, "Didn’t expect that rascal Hui Chi tampering with a corpse actually brought you to life."
...These words sounded familiar, Evelyn had said something similar a moment ago.
"Who are you?" Su Ming’an asked.
The red-haired man put down the wine jug, saying indifferently, "I am your servant, Disaster Demon Perlo."
—Disaster Demon, Third Level God.
A World Master’s Heir could have two third-level gods as servants? Even secretly having faith in the Demon Mother Goddess.
"Did Evelyn do something when she was here just now?" Perlo took a large swig of alcohol, his voice hoarse.
"She killed me," Su Ming’an replied cautiously.
"That woman... getting more and more unruly," Perlo frowned, "A purple-haired man in the front hall claimed to be the true son of the World Master, you need not mind, an impostor can’t compare to the real thing."
Su Ming’an stood up, moving and adjusting his body, mobilizing a thread of divine power to warm it.
Suddenly, from behind came Perlo’s nonchalant voice, "When do you plan to leave with me?"
