Chapter 136: Chapter 133- The Truth

The Nian Beast, seeing Sol’s furrowed brows, stared at him with a hint of amusement in its eyes as it said.

“I didn’t kill those kids in Peace Lake Village; they were already dead. I simply took their appearance and pretended to be them, but when the parents found out they spun this fantasy that I’m some hideous creature that was stealing their children in the middle of the night, when in fact their children died from their negligence to keep them away from the nearby forest infested with wild animals.”

“If you’re telling the truth and this isn’t some trick to get me feeling sorry for you, then why did Su Jin go to Peace Lake Village?”

The Nian Beast moved away from Sol’s face and then went back to his chest to lie down.

“I might as well tell you the true story since you don’t have long left to live. Consider it my parting gift as it’s not every day that geniuses like you are born into this world.”

However, as casual as the Nian Beast was, his arms were still holding Sol down.

“You asked why Su Jin went to the village, that’s because he was smart. He’s probably a greater genius than you are brat. He knew those villagers’ stories were fake. He came to the village and told them he would kill me, but instead, he asked me to be his friend. I can still remember the smug look on his face as he told me I should stop living such a sad life. He was extremely arrogant now that I think about it.”

Sol’s thoughts about escaping ceased for the time being and he chose to listen to the Nian Beast’s story.

He found out that the reason why Su Moon made the trip to save Su Jin wasn’t because of the Nian Beast, but because of Su Jin himself.

“Su Jin had a mark called a Holy Crest. It was something one is bestowed with by a God. Those who had the Holy Crest of a God are said to be blessed by the heavens themselves. They would worship this God while creating temples and churches to recruit more followers for that God.”

Sol’s heart rate increased because that sounded exactly like the Church.

The Nian Beast paused when it felt Sol’s heartbeat increase.

“Well, I suppose those fuckers are still capturing children to fill up the numbers in the outside world. I guess things will never change.”

“What do you mean?”

Sol asked but he sort of knew where this was going.

“Brat, have you ever heard about Keres? She is said to be the Goddess of Death and Destruction.”

Sol’s entire body shook, before he nodded his head. He knew because Amon had told him that was the God-like being the Ga-On church worshiped. However, the church left out the fact that it was considered the God of Death and Destruction, but instead said it was the God of Peace and Longevity.

“You seemed to have suffered because of their followers. I guess that relates to you being an orphan?”

Sol’s eyes became misty, and he nodded.

“Then I don’t need to explain how Keres expects her followers to worship her. It was at the village that Su Jin was bestowed that curse mark. It overwhelmed him with the desire to kill, which caused him to go on a rampage and massacre most of the villagers. I can still remember his wails after he recovered and realized what he had done. I’ll never forgive Keres. She’s no Goddess but a Devil. Every single one of those bastards are.”

“What happened next?”

“Su Moon came and took Su Jin away but I went with them. In the palace, Su Moon chose to create a Grand Formation using all his knowledge of Runes and Formations. He wanted to hide his son from the Gods, from the heavens themselves. He succeeded, and the influence Keres had over Su Jin through the Holy Crest vanished, but Su Jin was left trapped inside this place. His mind started to deteriorate having been in isolation for too many years, but even as Su Moon requested, for him to leave the palace, he refused. At that time, Su Moon would rather have his son fall under the influence of the Holy Crest than watch his son suffer. That’s how bad it had become. However, Su Jin was too scarred by what he had done. He would become hysterical when I or his Mother Su Mei tried to get him to leave.”

Sol recalled Su Moon’s notes at the end of the report, as well as Su Mei’s journal.

It all made sense now.

“What else happened?”

The Nian Beast went silent for a moment then said.

“Su Moon was an Immortal Deity, but to create a Grand Formation Array like this was something that should have been impossible for him. However, he sacrificed his near-eternal lifespan to create it. He died after a few decades, and I took over his territory, so it didn’t get swallowed up by another Deity. I am not proud of it but, Su Mei and I fell in love and had a child.”

Sol’s expression became strange when he heard that.

Without opening his eyes, the Nian Beast could tell Sol’s reaction.

“I said I was not proud of it; things just happened. Su Mei was lonely and missed her husband, and I didn’t object to the idea of filling that role. However, Su Jin became more closed off after Su Moon died. He spent months, years, decades, and even centuries in this room. So, I couldn’t have known, or rather, I should have paid closer attention to him. The Grand Formation Array is stronger here so I thought as long as he stayed here, he would be safe, but I was wrong. The Holy Crest was simply too powerful; it got used to the Formation’s suppression and slowly began influencing Su Jin once again.”

Sadness flashed past Sol’s eyes when he heard that. He glanced at the walls that had the word ’Get Out’ carved in blood and a sword. No, now that he looked closer, those were marks of a dagger.

Sol didn’t want to hear anything more, this was too hard to stomach. But he couldn’t tell the Nian Beast to stop.

“I was in Su Moon’s office when I heard the screams. Su Jin then came in covered in blood that wasn’t his own. He also had a particular expression on his face that I can’t get out of my head even to this very day. He had killed his mother and my daughter, his little sister, as well as the two servants from the Peace Lake Village. He was the one who requested the servants of the palace be those from the Peace Lake Village so as to atone for what he did somewhat. But they were brought here only to suffer from the same fate as those of their ancestors. I can only imagine what Su Jin was feeling. But truly I could only imagine, since it was painful enough for him to stand in the middle of the office and slit his own throat. I moved as fast as I could, but he had dispersed his own Immortal Soul before I could stop him.”

The Nian Beast stopped here, and at this point, Sol’s heart was heavy with a mix of emotions.

“Brat, I owe it to Su Jin. He deserved a life that wasn’t as shitty as that one. I was trapped here not having control over the Formation Array fully for centuries, but even after gaining full control I had to stay here to guard the Legacy Rune as I couldn’t move it. But perhaps the Jade Emperor heard my prayers and sent you to me, someone with a Holy Crest.”

“What do you mean?”

The Nian Beast opened its eyes and slowly stood up to stretch.

“Listen brat, the Grand Formation Array was created to suppress a Holy Crest, only someone with one can obtain the Legacy Rune. Well, rather than ’obtaining’ it, you were just ’marked’ by it…”

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