Chapter 376: Fortune Hound

Chapter 376: Fortune Hound

"How come you've changed so much since we last met?"

Pushing aside Lu Ke’s hand, Kline followed him into the room, eyeing his friend’s figure while muttering under his breath.

"You seem taller and more muscular, and even a bit more handsome. We only saw each other a month ago... Did you advance to Sequence 7?"

He had picked up some knowledge about mysticism from Lord Cresstey, knowing that many Sequences involved some degree of physical and mental transformation.

"Yep, I did."

Lu Ke headed straight to his room, kicked off his shoes, and flopped onto the bed, answering casually.

But this advancement wasn't quite what Kline had in mind.

"That's great."

Kline felt a bit envious. Although theoretically, mastering the method of role-playing and successfully executing it could take one to three months or even longer to fully digest a Sequence 9 potion, his progress had been quite fast. However, seeing how far ahead his friend was, he couldn't help but feel a bit awkward.

It seemed he couldn't bear to see his friend suffer, and even less so to see him living the high life.

He glanced jealously at his relaxed friend lying on the bed, who didn't seem particularly hardworking.

Was Lu Ke a naturally gifted type who couldn’t be beaten no matter how hard he tried, or was he just a slacker who secretly worked hard?

"How’s your time in Backlund been?"

"Pretty eventful."

Lu Ke smacked his lips and counted on his fingers, "Legal lolis, lazy big sisters, noble maidens, doglike big sisters..."

"Oh, and a wealthy matron with a queen-like demeanor. Her fashion sense was a bit off, but she was quite beautiful. She just ran too fast."

"I wanted to try the taste of vengeful spirits, but the timing wasn’t right, and I didn’t encounter any..."

Kline listened with wide eyes, taking a while to react. His lips twitched, and he gritted his teeth, forcing out four words.

"Damn womanizer!"

Who asked about that? He wanted to know about the local culture and specialties. To have so many romantic encounters in just half a month was something that made him feel... well, envious... cough, disgusted!

He was right not to set him up with Melissa.

Kline looked at his friend with a mix of frustration and concern.

"Be careful, you know. What if you get someone pregnant?"

"Extraordinary beings can sense when a new life is conceived."

Lu Ke’s tone was calm as he waved his hand, "Besides, I can afford to raise a child. I’ll ensure they have a worry-free life full of food, fun, and play."

"That’s not the issue, though. Raising a child is a lot of hard work."

Kline ran a hand through his hair, his tone serious.

"If we have a child here, with such strong ties, how will we ever go back?"

Lu Ke rubbed his chin, "Is that why you’ve stayed a virgin?"

Kline covered his face, a mix of anger and embarrassment, "That’s not the point, Lu Ke. You’re not seriously thinking about giving up on going back, are you?"

"Um, actually, I do think it’s not too bad here."

Lu Ke offered a sincere suggestion, "Why don’t you try living here? You’re a member of the Nocturne Squad, essentially a civil servant, with plenty of opportunities for advancement. Benson and Melissa are great family members..."

Hearing Benson and Melissa’s names, Kline’s lips pressed together, his expression softening. He sighed.

"Yes, they are good. Benson is a caring older brother, and Melissa is obedient and well-behaved. I feel very comfortable and at ease with them."

He sat down on the edge of Lu Ke’s bed, tugging at his hair in frustration.

"But that’s not my home. It’s the place where I’ve lived for over twenty years."

"My parents’ health has been declining, and they need my care. My sister, though not as well-behaved as Melissa, is lively and we can talk about anything."

"And there are my caring relatives, childhood friends, and all my friends..."

In front of his fellow countryman, Kline seemed to revert to being “Zhou Mingrui,” pouring out his feelings about his homeland.

He rubbed his forehead, a bitter smile on his face, "I don’t dislike life here; in fact, I’ve adapted quite well."

"It’s not just Benson and Melissa; there are many other people here."

"Captain Dunn, who is reliable in the Nocturne Squad, Old Neill, who teaches me mysticism and handles reimbursements, Leonard, who often looks out for me, Frye, who is cold but kind-hearted, Roxana, who gossips and chats with me, the gentle Mrs. Orian, and Mr. Azik, who is like an elder... there are many more."

“I get along well with them, and I’m glad to have these friends. But the more I enjoy their company, the more I worry about the consequences of leaving them in the future.”

“How am I supposed to go back? Just my soul, or my soul and body together? If it’s just my soul, what about the original owner of this body, Kline Moretti, who already committed suicide? Will he come back? Will he have my memories? Will he remember this time…?”

“And if it’s my soul and body together, how do I help those who lost their loved ones and friends feel better? How do I make my original family accept my new identity?”

As Kline spoke, his eyes gradually grew wistful, and he turned to Lu Ke, seeking some advice and help.

Then he saw Lu Ke hand him… two soft tissues.

What’s this supposed to mean?

Kline looked bewildered.

Lu Ke shrugged, “For all your sentimental feelings, my advice is—go to the bathroom and take care of yourself. By the time you enter the sage mode, you won’t have so many chaotic thoughts in your head.”

Damn, is the bathroom supposed to be used for that?

Well, yes!

Kline was momentarily speechless, his lips twitching, feeling a genuine sense of disappointment.

Lu Ke said frankly, “You’re just a Sequence 9 weakling, yet you’re already worrying about the consequences of crossing over. It’s like a student who scored 200 on the college entrance exam worrying about whether to go to Tsinghua or Peking University. Roselle didn’t manage to go back, so what makes you think you can?”

The Earth of the past has been destroyed for too long, even the Spirit World has been destroyed once. Apart from the highly unstable Primordial God, who is in a state of division and fusion, it would likely require at least two of the Three Pillars to work together to recreate that era.

The best process would be for the Lord of Secrets, the Master of the Spirit World, to provide all the information from that time. Then, the Primordial God, the Creator of All, would imagine Earth back into existence. Finally, the Fallen Mother Goddess, the Mother of All, would bring true “new life” and resurrect the old inhabitants buried in history.

Either the Lord of Secrets or the Primordial God would suffice for the physical creation—both “Wishing” and “Imagining” can achieve this. For the informational connection, either the Omniscient One or the Lord of the Spirit World would work.

One provides more precise information, while the other offers more precise creation.

The only one truly irreplaceable is the Fallen Mother Goddess.

Only this Mother, who gives birth to all life, can truly resurrect dead souls.

Kline, who was still hopeful despite not knowing the true difficulty, pouted.

“Is it the same? Roselle got married, has a son and a daughter. Maybe he could go back, but he just doesn’t want to.”

Lu Ke glanced at him, half sitting up, and shook his head with a comforting tone:

“Alright, don’t overthink it. Humans are creatures that get lost, make mistakes, and hesitate. A tough decision, no matter how firmly you make it at first, can still change.”

“When you truly face the choice, you’ll know your true thoughts.”

“Are you copying Itachi Uchiha’s lines…?”

Kline fell silent for a moment, his gaze shifting, clearly taking in the words.

He slowly exhaled, gradually returning to his usual self, and forced a somewhat bitter smile.

“I’m glad you’re here; otherwise, I’d be too lonely in a strange world. In that sense, we’re a bit luckier than Roselle.”

Lu Ke made a face of disgust, waving his hand, “Don’t say things that can be misunderstood. I’m only interested in proper women.”

“Screw you! My preferences are normal too!”

Recalling his emotional outburst, Kline awkwardly coughed and got up from the bed, waving goodbye.

“Heading back. We’ll chat later.”

Halfway to the door, he seemed to remember something and turned to warn:

“By the way, no moves on Melissa!”

Lu Ke, lying on the bed, rolled his eyes, “You’re so uptight. You’re unhappy if I’m interested in your sister, and if I’m not, you think I have a problem with my tastes.”

“This means you need to learn to control yourself. Don’t hit on every girl you see. Roxana has already asked me several times when you’re coming back.”

Kline sighed, muttering, “Being good-looking really does have its perks.”

Lu Ke chuckled, “The Fortune Teller’s Sequence 6 is called the Faceless Man. From the name, you can guess what extraordinary abilities he has. When the time comes, you can shape yourself into any form you want.”

“Can it make me taller?”

“Six feet should be no problem.”

Kline rubbed his head. "I’ve almost saved up enough to pay you back. I’ll be able to settle the debt next payday."

"Alright, noted."

Lu Ke nodded, watching Kline leave and close the door behind him.

After a brief silence, he got up from the bed, raised a finger, and the air began to flow silently, gathering at his fingertip.

Spiritual Energy surged, forming a wall. Lu Ke flicked his finger, dispersing the gathered energy, and recited in ancient Hermes:

"I, myself;"

"By my name I summon;"

"Spirits that wander the cracks of history, friendly beings for communication, the Fortune Hound that guards the Source Fort."

A strong wind blew, and a slender figure abruptly appeared in the air.

It resembled a hunting dog, covered in jet-black fur, with dark red flames burning in its eye sockets. Its mouth stretched back to its ears, giving it a surreal, almost ethereal presence.

A Fortune Hound!

Although Kline was far from being the master of the Source Fort, he was the current Spokesperson, having spent countless years there, thoroughly immersed in its essence.

His aura was still attractive enough to the Fortune Hound, known as the "Guardian of the Source Fort."

The newly appeared Fortune Hound looked at Lu Ke with wary eyes, curious yet fearful, making a low growling sound.

Its body was ethereal, with parts still lingering in the Spirit Realm.

Lu Ke couldn’t help but smile as he squatted down and stroked the Fortune Hound’s fur under its watchful gaze.

...

Ten minutes later.

The dog, tongue lolling out, closed its eyes in enjoyment, even exposing its belly. Its entire ethereal body had left the Spirit Realm, and its tail swished back and forth like a broom.

Lu Ke scratched the chin of the dog, which seemed monstrous to outsiders, and withdrew his hand with satisfaction.

The texture was quite good, the fur smooth and silky.

The Fortune Hound, now more relaxed, gradually regained its senses, got up, and looked at Lu Ke before licking his palm submissively.

A message was transmitted.

It was willing to become Lu Ke’s "messenger", helping him deliver messages and occasionally aiding in battles, but at a cost.

Lu Ke patted the Fortune Hound’s head, his smile widening.

"Actually, I’m not looking for a messenger. I mainly want your eyes."

The Fortune Hound’s body stiffened, its eyes darting in disbelief at the man who had just been petting it. Its already ethereal form became even more transparent as it tried to return to the Spirit Realm, to the cracks of history.

Lu Ke stood there calmly, his voice taking on a commanding tone, resonant and layered:

"No teleportation allowed here!"

An "imperative" he had "mimicked."

The Fortune Hound’s partially transparent body reversed, returning to its initial ethereal state, and was grabbed by the scruff of its neck by Lu Ke’s left hand.

"Awooo~"

The Fortune Hound, tongue still out, wore a human-like expression of smugness and cunning. In the next moment, its body began to fade again, about to disappear.

The dog had not fully left the Spirit Realm, and the projection it had responded to could be canceled at any time!

Lu Ke gave the Fortune Hound an approving look and whispered in praise.

"Smart, you really live up to being a Fortune Hound of the Fortune Teller pathway. You’re much better than Master Luo."

In the next instant, the Fortune Hound’s expression froze as a force of "convergence" acted upon it, rapidly pulling the "projection" and the "true form" together.

A flicker of light passed through Lu Ke’s eyes, as if he were observing from a higher dimension.

He suddenly extended his hand, which plunged into the Spirit Realm, and grabbed the Fortune Hound’s true form, precisely pinching the scruff of its neck.

The Fortune Hound: (-﹏-`；)

It was over!

...

Barkeland, Zhaowu District.

In a hidden, slightly cramped apartment where the three residents had already left, the bedroom was simple and spotlessly clean, filled with books on legal statutes and criminal case files.

A full-length mirror stood beside the bed, reflecting everything in the room, but with a reversed image.

Suddenly, a subtle ripple appeared on the mirror's surface, and an additional figure appeared in the reflected scene.

It was a woman, wearing a dress made of bone.

She slowly bent down, out of sight of the full-length mirror, and examined a pile of shattered mirror fragments on the ground. She extended her ivory-like fingers, picked up a portion, and tasted it carefully.

Then, the woman emitted a soft, gentle voice that could make any man fall into a trance, uttering two words.

"Pleasure."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end