Chapter 153: The Birth of 'Faint Light'

Every time Tian Dao revealed his true face, he used his own 'Delete Permission'.

So even though he had appeared in person several times during Season 2,

to the Dimensional Audience, Tian Dao had never truly appeared in that season.

But by the middle to later stages of Season 2, certain fragments—those he hadn’t deleted—would surface as memories.

And then, the audience would suddenly realize:

The kind, protective older brother from Season 1…

had quietly become the greatest puppet master behind Season 2.

Tian Dao’s schemes weren’t just aimed at Chen Kong and the others.

He had also been manipulating the three high-ranking members of the Hidden Star Society.

---

[Steam Capital, a secluded villa inside the Steam Capital district]

"Alright, I’ve said everything I needed to. You’re free to go now."

"I don’t mind, but if someone caught Fifth Squad’s captain meeting secretly with three mysterious figures at this hour, I’d still have a headache."

The three members of the Hidden Star Society exchanged glances, then nodded in unison.

Just as Tian Xie Zuo·Leidon turned to leave, Tian Dao suddenly called out:

"Leidon, wait a moment."

Hearing his name, Leidon paused.

To the other two, Tian Dao gave a sharp glance—"Get out."

Though curious about why Tian Dao had stopped Leidon, Xian Nv Zuo and Chang She Zuo left without protest.

Tian Dao stood, activating his 'All-Forms Concealment', ensuring their conversation wouldn’t be overheard by Dannika nearby.

"Leidon," he said, "even though I just told you that Yu Chen’s knowledge of our Society’s secrets likely came from an informant planted within us..."

"...it wasn’t just me who saw through that. Yufemia and Chang She·Tarn knew it was just a cover-up too. The real issue lies with the three of you."

He leaned forward slightly, a faint glint of amusement flickering in his eyes.

"Because the only people who knew I joined the Hidden Star Society, besides a few high-ranking members, were you three."

"Leidon… guess what I found after digging into it?"

Leidon’s heart sank.

But for some reason—perhaps pride, perhaps desperation—he forced a look of innocent confusion.

"What did you find?"

Tian Dao smiled, half-amused, half-sardonic.

"Some things aren’t secrets you can keep, no matter how hard you try."

"You think even I—someone who’s only been in Steam Capital for a short while—could uncover this?

Do you really believe Yufemia, the Saintess of the Steam Church, or Tarn, the CEO of that logistics empire, wouldn’t have found out?"

Despite the cold logic, Leidon remained stiff, his brow furrowed, feigning ignorance.

Tian Dao sighed, tossing a stack of files onto the table.

"Leidon… you really don’t learn until you see the coffin."

Leidon picked up the files, his hands trembling slightly.

Inside were only a few photos and brief notes.

But that was enough.

His blood turned to ice.

The photos showed his daughter—walking hand-in-hand with Yu Chen down a golden-hued street at dusk.

They were laughing, talking, their silhouettes bathed in the warm light of sunset—too perfect, too tender, too painful.

Seeing Leidon’s reaction, Tian Dao reclined back into the sofa, one leg crossed over the other.

"Leidon… now that you’ve seen the truth, are you ready to talk?"

His voice was calm.

But Leidon’s pulse spiked.

For a being of the Stellar Beast Intelligent Species, this level of panic was rare—almost unnatural.

He snapped his head up, voice strained.

"Tian Dao, I swear—my daughter didn’t leak anything!"

"Of course not," Tian Dao replied, casually tossing a soda bottle—Blue Melody Mountain City—toward him.

"She was just tricked into talking. She doesn’t even know your real identity."

"Relax. If I’d wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have kept you here."

"Besides, do you really think I’d let just one person stand in my way?"

The cold weight of the soda in his palm, the faint amusement in Tian Dao’s tone—

Leidon finally exhaled.

His body relaxed.

He knew, deep down, that Tian Dao was right.

Yes, he’d joined the Hidden Star Society before Tian Dao.

Yes, he was the strongest of the three leaders in Steam Capital.

But compared to Tian Dao—someone favored by the higher-ups—his power, his connections, his influence…

they meant nothing.

He opened his mouth to explain, to plead for mercy—for his daughter’s sake.

But Tian Dao raised a single finger.

"Tian Dao, I—"

"Shh."

Tian Dao silenced him, revealing his true reason for keeping him.

"Leidon… among the three of you, I’ve always had the highest regard for you."

"The other two? One pretends to be gentle—yet her heart is colder than steel.

The other plays the diplomat, but every word is a trap, every smile a lie."

"But you… you’re honest. From the inside out."

Leidon stared, bewildered.

Why was Tian Dao shifting the conversation like this?

"I’ll be leaving Steam Capital soon," Tian Dao continued.

"I need someone trustworthy to manage things here in my absence."

"Sure, I could handle everything alone. But if I had allies—people who could act on my behalf—it’d save me time."

"And honestly, there are many things I’ll need help with—things only members of the Hidden Star Society can assist with."

He paused, eyes locking onto Leidon’s.

"You’re the one I’ve chosen."

Leidon’s throat tightened.

His voice cracked.

"Why me?"

Tian Dao smiled.

"Because you’re the most human. And… only you have a weakness."

"Is that so…"

Leidon looked down, lost in thought.

Then Tian Dao dropped the final truth.

"You’re currently one of the Twelve Brass Nobles of Steam Capital.

And once I’ve cleansed this city of its 'Rust'… you’ll be the perfect candidate to rule it."

"From that moment on, you’ll answer to only me. Do you understand?"

Leidon’s breath caught.

That was it—the confirmation he’d feared.

Tian Dao…

was planning to break with the Hidden Star Society.

And no one knew the power of that organization better than Leidon.

Yes, he was currently following Tian Dao’s orders.

But only because Tian Dao was still a member.

What if he left?

What if he betrayed the Society?

A promise of loyalty to a single person—no matter how powerful—was like walking onto a burning platform.

Tian Dao seemed to read his mind.

He chuckled softly, then delivered the final blow.

"Leidon… do you really want your wife and daughter to know you killed their husband and father… and took his place?"

Silence.

Long, heavy silence.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, Leidon lifted his bloodshot eyes.

Voice broken.

"Do I have a choice?"

Tian Dao smiled.

"No. You don’t."

"Because if you say no… you won’t even make it out of this villa."

"I can’t risk anyone else hearing what I’ve just said."

Though Tian Dao was smiling, Leidon felt the unmistakable chill of death in his gaze.

It was clear—

if his answer wasn’t what Tian Dao wanted…

this enigmatic, unpredictable monster would devour him without hesitation.

And Leidon…

didn’t want to die.

Not after he’d finally tasted what real happiness felt like.

Without hesitation, he spoke.

"Tian Dao, I am at your command."

Tian Dao’s smile widened—bright, radiant, triumphant.

Because at last, Doctor’s vision—'Faint Light'—had taken its first true form.

After all, until now, 'Faint Light' had only ever had one member:

Tian Dao himself.

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PS: First update of the day. Two more chapters coming at 6 PM. Can’t push any further—my body’s giving out. Seriously, I’m already feeling dizzy. No joke. I need to fix my sleep schedule. Two days of marathon updates ruined my rest. If I keep this up, I’ll actually die. Gotta get a check-up by the end of the month.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end