Faith is something that is both concrete and mellifluous. Gao Ming thought that as long as he didn’t touch these dirty thoughts, he could pass by this memory safely. However, he soon discovered a problem. These things didn’t belong to the God of the Future but to the living who were tortured by fate. For these fates that couldn’t be changed, faith and God became their sanctuary. This was not an excuse but a self-salvation at the end of the rope.
The more he united with those thoughts, the greater the desire of the living. Gao Ming’s gaze was no longer limited to the haunted house. The eyes of every disciple were his eyes.
At that moment, Gao Ming realised that he was not in the real world. This was a village constructed in the deepest part of the shadow. Other than the spaces around the village, negative emotions sedimented from the real world were everywhere. Strange monsters were born in them. The land was consumed by a fog that refused to disperse.
Decrepit buildings were everywhere. There was no sun or moon in the sky. Only a giant ruin and a galaxy temple that radiated great pressure. During the noon of the hottest day of the month, the villagers could have a glimpse at the sun. It was the real world reflected on the other side of the sky. The place was warm and bright. It was glowing even at night. The world was permeated by kindness. The darkest despair had fallen into the shadow. The villagers desired to reach the world on the other side of the sky, but that was an unapproachable dream. It was more realistic to pray to survive another day.
“The God of the Future is born in a village of a living situated in the shadow world?!”
The mud figurine on the table smiled. It had gathered many bad thoughts. It controlled the disciples to fulfil their wishes using its own methods.
Gao Ming didn’t choose to fight the figurine head-on. When he saw the shadow world that was rife with despair, his heart trembled greatly. He was pondering a great problem, ‘What is a great idea pulling the world on the other side of the sky into the shadow world? Is that going to solve anything?’
When he fought the other mud figurines, Gao Ming saw that there were nine blood cities in the shadow world. Each city had an owner. Each owner had their unique goals and plans.
Some of them wanted to combine the shadow world with the real world so that they could share the despair and pain. Others wanted to ensure the safety and individuality of the real world. The extremists among them planned to shove all the despair and negative emotions into the real world and turn everything upside-down.
As for this little village sheltered by the God of the Future, it didn’t even have the right to speak. The living gathered there were lucky if they could survive.
“The living in the shadow world…”
In the shadow world, there would be a new ghost born every day. Helpless people were everywhere. This was Gao Ming’s first time witnessing the shadow world from this perspective. This was a dying patient who had lost his mind due to despairing torture. However, his instinct compelled him to keep on surviving. This world was like the living humans who occupied its land.
However, at least the living had faith to rely on. The God of the Future was the hope that sustained the survival of humans living in this small village. Their hope for the future became the power source of the God of the Future.
Gao Ming discovered that as well. The more wishes he fulfilled, the stronger he’d become. It became easier for him to change fate.
Gao Ming and the God of the Future’s consciousness appeared within the haunted house at the same time. The way they fulfilled the disciple’s wishes was completely different. Gao Ming didn’t use brutal murders and curses to end hatred because that would only initiate a new cycle. He used his consciousness to drain the pain and hatred from his disciples so that they could slowly adjust to the tragedy and shadows.
Gao Ming’s disciples didn’t fight for the limited space of blessing within the village. He evoked courage and intelligence within the human hearts. Using death and sickness as payment, he successfully branded the ghost tattoo on some of his disciples.
Gao Ming, who understood the divine persona and humanity, did not have his disciples expand the village. Instead, he had them focus on strengthening themselves. After they were powerful enough, they had the right to persuade the unruly travellers.
The disciples within the village gradually split into two parties. Gao Ming’s disciples were lower in number but were extremely clever and determined. Even though they still retained their humanity… since they had taken on the brand of the ghost tattoo, their appearance mutated with varying degrees of horror.
The other side was the God of the Future’s disciples. They were the majority. They prayed to God daily and sacrificed their faith to trade for hope for tomorrow.
The conflict between the two deepened. Eventually, it led to a collision. An attack occurred within the haunted house. A lot of disciples died. In the end, Gao Ming’s disciples took over the village. The disciples of the God of the Future carried the mud figurine and escaped.
Without the interruption from the God of the Future, things were more relaxed for Gao Ming. He took on the role of the divine easily. He expanded the village, attracted the wanderers and even accepted ghosts and monsters. Soon, the village became a unique location in the shadow world.
The humans carried ghost tattoos, and the ghosts found human nature in their hearts. Gao Ming was not the owner of a blood city but the village was slowly developing under his will.
Gao Ming couldn’t change the nature of the whole world. He merely wished that he could be a shine of hope. Perhaps that would attract more people with hope in their hearts. That was the purpose behind a divine existence.
The population increased rapidly. The wounds on Gao Ming’s soul increased. Holes appeared on his will. To his consternation, he sensed the God of the Future’s consciousness growing at the deeper part of the shadow. It fed on the faith to empower itself. Its presence was about as strong as the God of the Future in Prosperity Neighbourhood!
Life was an endless song. Gao Ming’s village became a small city. Even though it was not as impressive as a blood city, it was an accepted sanctuary in the shadow world. The citizens even constructed a fire source that blazed like the sun in the city.
Hope bloomed in the shadow world. Gao Ming’s will was tattered and broken after absorbing too many curses and pain. The sharp will was worn out over time. He hadn’t opened his eyes for a long time already.
The river of memory flowed by until it met another gushing river. The God of the Future’s consciousness started to appear around the city. Over the years, its wound healed, and it gathered a lot more disciples.
“It’s about time for this dream to end…”