“It certainly is a closed loop, including my previous experiences.”
Xia De nodded, looking at the silent black-robed deity across the table:
“May I ask some questions before you officially declare the end of the game?”
He tried to make his attitude more respectful, but the deity still did not speak, so Xia De could only try to ask directly:
“Regarding the all things are impermanent…”
“They come from the beginning, that very beginning, the origin of everything, and they will also go to the end of everything.”
The black-robed deity at the table seemed to only say “yes,” and this passage was spoken by the corpses on the wall, which were in various states of decay.
“The beginning?”
Xia De surveyed the corpses on the wall one by one, while Mr. Riddle asked curiously:
“What beginning?”
“Can’t you hear it? Oh, well then.”
Since the deity did not want Mr. Riddle to hear it, he did not explain.
“future man, have you ever thought?”
The skeleton asked, with a rusted single-handed sword beside it, having lain there for who knows how many years.
“Why is it that the rules for the all things are impermanent card you saw were based on comparing points?”
This question came from the highly decomposed female corpse, whose jewelry had all corroded, except for a gem brooch on her chest that seemed to be merging with her flesh.
“Why?”
“The events of the sixth epoch haven’t happened yet, so I don’t know.”
The male corpse, wearing a yellow soft hat, looking as if he had just died, said.
Xia De looked at its closed eyes again. He was certain that the deity must know the reason. The Innocent Creator had also said that he did not know future events, but in reality, everything was still proceeding according to his arrangements long after he left.
“Could it be that the rules for the all things are impermanent card are based on comparing points, and this only happens in the sixth epoch? In more ancient times, the rules on the all things are impermanent card were not the rhode cards rules at all? But rather rules such as ‘the field becomes night when entering’?”
He received no answer, but this silence itself was an attitude.
“But why is this? What is the meaning of these cards, these games?”
He wondered, but still couldn't get an answer.
The twenty minutes were nearing their end. Seeing that the deity was unwilling to offer more clues, Xia De could only give up asking. The Innocent Creator's friendliness stemmed from Xia De's help and his status as a “child.” The yaobian gate's friendliness came from Xia De's connection with the Father of Infinite Trees.
Not every deity would be happy to offer help; Xia De had understood this long ago. The only pity was that he had actually thought, if he had enough time, he could play a game of rhode cards with the deity, which would surely be very interesting, but time was running out.
No sooner had the thought of “playing rhode cards with a deity” crossed his mind than the black robe opposite Mr. Riddle suddenly moved. The hand in the sleeve seemed to shake, and the only unbroken card on the table, the future man, flew to the deity's front.
Then, some light particles floated out from the other sixteen cards, collectively forming two new cards: one with a Witch on its face, and one with a full-body portrait of Mr. Riddle. The three cards were arranged side by side, face down. A sweep of the black robe’s sleeve transformed the blank card backs into the holy emblem of this deity of gambling.
They changed positions rapidly at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, then suddenly stopped. At this point, even Mr. Riddle knew that the deity was having Xia De guess which card was the future man.
“Quick, give it a try.”
Knowing that he could finally go home and feeling no burden, Mr. Riddle urged with anticipation.
“Which one is it?”
Xia De asked in his mind.
“I don’t know, that’s not a normal position swap. All you can rely on is your luck.”
He hesitated, his gaze lingering over the three cards:
“The first one on the right.”
He pointed to the right, then he and Mr. Riddle almost simultaneously leaned in to look. The first card on the right flipped open, revealing it to be the future man card.
“It seems your luck is really good.”
Mr. Riddle praised with a smile.
The two unchosen cards transformed into light and flew towards Xia De. Xia De did not stop them, allowing them to enter his body through his forehead.
First was the card with the “Witch” on its face:
“Outsider, you have felt a Miracle.”
“You have received a blessing.”
“One instance of luck: the next time you engage in a gambling-related activity, you will definitely receive the highest luck.”
Those Witches who appeared in the “Game of Life” should all have believed in this deity. This blessing represented the deity’s assistance to Xia De.
Then came the card with “Mr. Riddle” on its face:
“Outsider, you have felt a Miracle.”
“You have received a blessing.”
“Mortal’s Luck: From this moment on, in any gambling game, you will exhibit extraordinary luck.”
Mr. Riddle could indeed be said to be the luckiest mortal Xia De knew. This trait would probably make Doctor Schneider, who was very unlucky, extremely envious.
“However, does ‘this moment’ refer to now?”
Xia De pointed to himself.
“Or now?”
Xia De then pointed to the ground.
“This is a reward for your courage.”
The voice came from across the table. Xia De looked up in disbelief. This time it was He speaking, and He was using the delarion common language of the sixth epoch.
To be honest, Xia De had suspected that the one playing the “Game of Life” with them was actually just a robe, but this sentence undoubtedly showed that “He” had truly been there all along. The power when the voice appeared made space and time seem to condense at that moment.
The one across the table had always been a deity; He truly participated in this gamble.
“If you were in the same era as me, I would be very willing to make you my Divine Favored.”
He said softly, as if stating a fact. Mr. Riddle still couldn't hear this, and thus was very puzzled by Xia De's expression changing several times within half a minute.
“Then the all things are impermanent…”
“This is the deepest secret of the Ancient Gods, even more important than the world itself. It concerns everything. Go and collect them, Unexpected One. When you obtain all thirteen all things are impermanent cards, even when, at the very end, you face the most terrifying outcome, at least it can give you final solace.”
“But…”
“The Game of Life is over!”
The corpses by the wall, in a dramatic, operatic tone, jointly declared loudly:
“Slitch Riddell has won!”
The 16 broken cards on the gambling table transformed into specks of light and permeated into Mr. Riddle’s body. He seemed unable to see these lights, but Xia De could feel that this was the purest Ling.
If it were a Witch or a Ring術士, they could use these powers to increase their upper limit for Ling and elemental assimilation without obtaining Ling Runes. Ordinary people could also rely on this purest power to purify their bodies, extend their lifespan, expel curses, and clear their souls in the instant the Ling entered their bodies.
This was the reward for winning against a deity in the gamble; all the influences here on Mr. Riddle would surely fade away because of this.
As for the only unbroken card, the future man, which represented Xia De and Mr. Riddle's encounter, it flew from the deity's front towards Xia De.
Xia De reached out and pinched it, finding that although this card was the same size as a Rhode Card, it was made of a very light, peculiar metal. Upon closer inspection, the metal card possessed no extraordinary power; though exquisite, it was merely an ordinary object.
“A souvenir. You both played quite well.”
The deity under the black robe said. Xia De smiled and tucked the metal card into his pocket. Although this souvenir was not as useful as Miss Felianna’s notes, it was, after all, a gift from a deity.
At the same time, an unknown light replaced the oil lamp and candelabra on the table, completely illuminating the room. The oppressive atmosphere vanished, signifying the complete end of the gamble.
In the corner behind the deity, which had been dark, opposite the door Xia De entered through, another door appeared. This door should be the passage for Mr. Riddle to leave Terror Castle.
And the formal end of the gamble meant that Xia De would have to bid farewell to this era forever. He felt a pulling sensation from behind him; white mist was seeping out from his back.
“Mr. Riddle, may Mr. Huan and the Father of Infinite Trees bless you and me.”
Xia De again grasped the ancient Prophet’s hand and shook it gently. The latter asked in surprise:
“What are you going to do?”
He could tell that Xia De seemed to be saying goodbye:
“Are you leaving too?”
“I am going to face fear.”
Xia De looked at the door he came through, a smile on his face:
“I still have one thing to resolve, Mr. Riddle. Please leave here. I’m not sure if what’s behind the door will affect you after I open it.”
Although the darkness box was not in his hand, Xia De still wanted to try to face that extreme fear; perhaps it would be useful.
“Alright, I’m truly glad to have met you, sir. I wish you all the best in your era, and may the deity bless us.”
He embraced Xia De, and the two finally nodded to each other. Mr. Riddle hurriedly walked around the stone table and came to the other side of the room.
Xia De also turned and ran towards the door, as the pulling sensation from the white mist behind him grew stronger and stronger.
The light in the room gradually diminished, centered around the ancient stone table with twenty grooves. The candles and oil lamps extinguished simultaneously, and the deity silently disappeared into the darkness. As darkness spread from the center of the room outwards, the area by the walls remained the brightest.
Xia De and Mr. Riddle approached the doors on their respective sides of the room, and at the last moment, they turned back to look at the friend they had spent an hour with:
“Farewell, Mr. Riddle.”
“I wish you a lifetime of good fortune.”
Before the darkness encroached upon the edges of the room, they exchanged their final goodbyes, then pushed open the doors in front of them. Behind Mr. Riddle’s door was a burst of white light; he rushed in without hesitation. Xia De vaguely heard the sound of wind rustling through treetops, water hitting rocks, and birds softly chirping.
This gentleman had finally concluded another important adventure in his life. Over the next two decades, he would experience many more stories.
As for Xia De, who rushed out of the other door, he was faced with the old, long corridor where candlelight flickered. In the last moment before the white mist behind him completely swallowed him, he finally saw what was patrolling the corridor, guarding Terror Castle.
