The four stared at Yue Tianlang in disbelief. But it wasn't just shock—they looked more skeptical than anything. After all, judging by how things had just played out, it was hard to believe this guy was some awe-inspiring divine figure.
"Uhh… You're saying you're a god?" Wastesea Ranger asked flatly. "'Cause I gotta say, doesn't really feel like it. Aren't gods supposed to be all-powerful and invincible? But back there you were kind of… not."
"Hah? Who said gods are omnipotent?" Tianlang replied with a wry smile. "Even deities have limits, alright? And if it weren't for this Lightloss Syndrome, those clowns wouldn't have been able to lay a finger on me."
"Really now?" Mo Yan eyed him suspiciously.
"You've mentioned Lightloss Syndrome a few times," Zixuan said, cutting to the point. "But you never actually explained what it is."
Tianlang's face darkened.
"Lightloss Syndrome… as the name suggests, it's a condition where people lose their inner 'light.' They become hollow, like walking corpses. And it all started… about half a month ago."
He explained: Half a month ago, the Holy One's power suddenly weakened. Coincidentally, it was also the night of the Moon Festival, a sacred ritual held each year on the full moon. During this rite, the people would bathe in the light of the moon, channeling the divine energy of the Moon Saint to cleanse their spirits and purify their bodies. It was a deeply rooted tradition, and one that always brought the people a sense of renewal.
But for some unknown reason, the moon failed to rise that night.
"You're saying… the moon just disappeared?" Wastesea Ranger exclaimed.
Tianlang nodded. "Ever since that night, it hasn't appeared again. Every evening since has been buried beneath a blanket of thick clouds. And in the darkness… the light began to drain from people."
"So that's what caused Lightloss Syndrome?" Zixuan asked.
"Yes. You saw it yourselves—those people with dulled eyes and no vitality. If we can't perform the Moon Festival again within another half month, the darkness will completely devour their lives."
The group stared at him, stunned.
"Isn't there any other way to stop it?" Wine in Cup asked.
"Yeah," Wastesea Ranger added. "What about your Holy One? Isn't this kind of their thing?"
"I thought so too," Tianlang said bitterly. "But after the Holy One's power faded, I was told to maintain order and carry on as usual. I think… they're leaving it to me to figure out."
"What?! That's just abandoning you!" Wastesea Ranger snapped.
Zixuan, ever composed, asked, "You said the Holy One's power weakened unexpectedly. Do you know why?"
Tianlang shook his head. "I wish I did. But the Holy One rarely communicates directly with us. Among the eight Guardians, only Raikeos and Rednos have direct channels to him."
"So… basically, we're stuck." Mo Yan sighed.
"That's awful…" Wastesea Ranger murmured. "Can't we do anything to help them?"
"I understand how you feel," Zixuan replied softly. "But this is beyond us."
Wine in Cup nodded. "This is something even a deity can't fix. We're just… ordinary people."
Their words clearly hit Wastesea Ranger hard. She clenched her fists. "So that's it? We're just gonna watch this happen?"
"I hate it too," Mo Yan said, frowning. "But we might not have a choice."
Tianlang looked at her and smiled gently. "Miss, your heart is kind, and your friends are right. There are things in this world even humans with power cannot change. But I appreciate your concern—truly."
A heavy silence fell over the group.
Until Mo Yan suddenly snapped his fingers. "Okay, maybe we can't solve anything… but we can at least stay here for a few days, right?"
Tianlang blinked, then nodded. "Of course. You're guests of Xuan Yue Town now—you're welcome to stay."
At that moment, the others began to pick up on Mo Yan's intention.
Zixuan and Wine in Cup, however, both immediately protested.
"Hold on, I said this isn't something we can help with," Zixuan said, hands on her hips. "You're just dragging us into something hopeless!"
Wine in Cup crossed his arms. "It's not wise. We gain nothing from staying here. It's just a waste of time and energy."
Mo Yan raised his hands. "I get that, I do. But it's not like we have any leads right now anyway. We're stuck. So instead of wandering aimlessly, why not go with the flow? We might discover something."
His logic was hard to refute.
"…I get what you're saying, but I still don't like it," Zixuan grumbled.
"Do we really have another option?" Mo Yan asked quietly.
"Tsk. Whose side are you even on?" Zixuan glared.
"Neutral," Wine in Cup replied simply, arms still folded.
"Thanks, 'SilentLoner'." Wastesea Ranger stepped up beside Mo Yan, smiling in gratitude.
"No need to thank me. But before we go any further, I think we all need to properly introduce ourselves. From here on out, we're a team. Knowing each other is just basic sense."
"Agreed. I'll go first," Wastesea Ranger said cheerfully. "Name's Kaelin. You already know my in-game alias. As for real life? My family runs an auto repair shop."
"Nice to meet you, Kaelin. I'm Zixuan, science major." Zixuan smiled.
"'Wine in Cup'—real name Zhao Heng. Office worker," Zhao Heng said, still calm and unreadable.
"I'm Mo Yan. Did a few temp jobs, but right now… yeah, I'm unemployed."
Tianlang leaned in with a grin. "Great to meet you all. Once again, I'm Yue Tianlang. Just call me Tianlang."
Kaelin squinted at him with a sly smirk. "Uh-huh. Not to be rude, but I don't think anyone here asked for your name, buddy."
"Aw, don't say that. We're friends now, right?"
"Only in your head," Zixuan deadpanned.
"At best… we're temporary allies," Zhao Heng added.
"…Man, what kind of party did I end up with?" Tianlang sighed, utterly defeated.
After a quick rest and regroup, the team returned to Xuan Yue Town under cover of dusk. Tianlang led them quietly through the empty streets and into the castle.
"You've seen the town… Sorry we can't offer better hospitality," he said.
But the moment they stepped inside, the group froze.
The interior of the castle was gorgeous—opulent, grand, like something ripped from a European fantasy epic. Mo Yan and the others were left speechless. Except, of course, for Zhao Heng, who remained stone-faced as ever.
"Damn, you live in a place this fancy?" Kaelin said with mock suspicion. "Come on, fess up—how much loot did you pillage to build this?"
Tianlang chuckled. "Loot? Nah. Everything here was offered—voluntarily. The people gave it to me in prayer, asking for divine protection."
"…So you did embezzle," Kaelin accused.
"Haha, not at all. The castle was constructed under the Holy One's orders, with help from Blood Empress. A lot of the wealth here came from confiscated noble war spoils. Accepting offerings is simply honoring the people's faith. Refusing would be an insult."
"Ohhh, I see… Wait, nope, still sounds like embezzling to me!" Kaelin cried.
Tianlang just laughed it off.
At that moment, a girl dressed in samurai-style armor approached from the far end of the corridor.
"Tianlang-sama, you've returned."
~~------------------------
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