Chapter 175: Shepherd Bouillon

Jiang Baimian turned to look at Shang Jianyao and repeated the keywords. Tampered memories?

Guo Zhengs hysterical screams horrified her.

This wasnt only because of the other partys performance and voice, but also because memories were a persons most private and precious possessions. If ones memories were also tampered with, there was no way to distinguish what was real and what was fake.

When the time came, he might have to take the initiative to join the Monks Conclave with the daily recitals of phrases like this world is an illusion,dream, an illusion, a bubble, and a shadow, and everything with form is unreal.

Shang Jianyao didnt show any fear and nodded seriously. All of Fathers abilities are accounted for.

Indeed Jiang Baimian snapped to her senses and exhaled.

From the information they had obtained so far, the true Fathers three Awakened abilities were: Hypnosis, memory tampering, and creating a common illusion.

Compared to the fake Father, his abilities didnt involve physical control or enhanced combat abilities. However, these abilities struck fear in others due to them appearing mysterious and terrifying.

At this moment, the fake Father, Guo Zhengwho had finished shoutingcalmed down. He sat there and panted heavily.

Shang Jianyao looked at him through the screen and suddenly smiled. Then, heres the problem. Since the real Father can tamper with other peoples memories, why not directly make you remember that you are a real Father? In that case, theres no need to worry about the effects of hypnosis being destroyed.

If this had been done, the words that shattered his mental defenses and exposed his false recognition would appear empty.

Guo Zheng fell silent. After more than ten seconds, he said, Maybe its because he doesnt allow a fake Father to become the real Father. It wont do even if its being a real Father in my memories. There can only be one true Father; it can only be him.

When a persons memories involved them being the real Father, they would be a real Father no matter what kind of interrogation they underwent.

Jiang Baimian was just about to say that this train of thought was a little dangerous and crazy when Shang Jianyao agreed. I accept this reason.

Jiang Baimian quietly rolled her eyes. She then asked, Apart from the memories that have been tampered with, can you remember other details related to the real Father? For example, what price did he pay?

Guo Zheng shook his head. The only thing Im sure of is that we should be in the same batch of Awakened.

Jiang Baimian believed that Oudick had likely used the dreamscapes influence to search for an answer to such a question. Since he didnt remind his good brother, Shang Jianyao, about what he should pay attention to, it meant that Guo Zhengs relevant memories either didnt exist or they had problems.

She stopped harping on this matter and began asking other questions. How many Anti-intellectualism Church Elders do you know?

Under the Pope was the Eight-Man Councils Elders.

I only came into contact with one personthe one who presided over our Awakening Ceremony. He was also the one who issued me the orders later. When the topic no longer involved the real Father, Guo Zhengs condition clearly improved. Hes from the Red River. His name is Bouillon, and hes in charge of First Citys greater district. Yes, its not the entirety of the First City faction, but the city and its surrounding suburbs.

The First City factions capital, First City, was recognized as the most prosperous city in the Ashlands. It was also known as the City of Desire.

Jiang Baimians eyes lit up. What does he look like, and what Awakened abilities does he have? The large-scale search of peoples memories should only be an application of one of his abilities.

This was a big fish. Of course, this didnt look like something their Old Task Force could deal with. According to Du Heng, these might be Awakened who had already entered the Mind Corridor. Be it the range of their abilities or the number of targets they could influence, they were sufficiently exaggerated.

Do you think I can remember his face? Guo Zheng laughed self-deprecatingly. His nickname is Shepherd. His voice always made me feel a little uncomfortable; its like a wound in the throat that never heals.

Jiang Baimians thoughts raced as she found a possible problem. Since Shepherd Bouillon is in charge of First Citys greater district, why were you sent to Weed City? Was it just to assassinate Xu Liyan?

Weed City is an area that the religion doesnt cover. Whoever proselytizes first will be in charge, explained Guo Zheng simply. Since were here to assassinate Xu Liyan, we might as well proselytize while were at it.

Jiang Baimian then asked about the priests under Guo Zheng, how many believers he had converted, and where he obtained his usual supplies.

Guo Zheng only smiled. Oudick should already know the corresponding situation through a dream. You can just get the report from Xu Liyan; why do you need me to repeat it?

Its just procedure. It wasnt Jiang Baimian who spoke, but Shang Jianyaowho helped her with a voice-over.

Not bad

Jiang Baimian nodded slightly and silently praised him.

After Guo Zheng finished answering, Shang Jianyao took the opportunity to ask, What do you know about the Mind Corridor? Whats up with the Pope entering the New World? Where is the New World?

Guo Zheng laughed. These are all confidential secrets. Not to mention me, even the real Father might not know. I only have a vague impression of it. Elder Bouillon has some magical trinkets that are apparently gifts from the Kalendaria. Heh heh, Im still facing the fears in my heart in the Sea of Origins. Im still worlds away from the Mind Corridor.

At this point, Guo Zheng suddenly froze and muttered to himself, No wonder No wonder Ive never been able to clear that island People who are hypnotized will never succeed

Jiang Baimian nodded thoughtfully and asked another important question. When did you learn about Lei Yunsong and the others being from Pangu Biology? How did you learn about the price Oudick paid? Was it from Christina, the vice president of the Hunters Guild?

Its not her; its Mute. Heh heh, maybe its the real Father who gave me the information. Guo Zheng shook his head and said, I originally only wanted to find a few helpers who were unrelated to the Church and could be abandoned at any time. Who knew that Mute would directly give me information on such a group of people? Only then did I have a plan to frame another party and incite a dispute.

Was it because Lei Yunsong and the others want to visit Xu Liyan that he specially flipped through their memories and checked their backgrounds? He then set up the time so that they couldnt avoid the fake Father?

Jiang Baimian made further guesses in her heart.

At the end of the interrogation, Shang Jianyao asked excitedly, How does your Anti-intellectualism Church pray and salute?

This was a casual topic.

Guo Zheng exhaled and rubbed his temples. Praying involves shaking your head before eating. The exact number of times doesnt matter; it just means that you dont have to think. The salutation involves covering the eyes with hands from both sides, indicating that you cant see, hear, or notice anything.

The blessing phrase is, May you lose your intelligence too. When its said to the Kalendaria, it is: Please believe in God with all your body and heart. When proselytizing, it mainly involves: suspect everything; there is no truth, thinking is a trap; knowledge is toxic'

Shang Jianyao had taken out a small notebook at some point in time and recorded everything down.

The symbol is a person without facial features? Then, whats Mass like?

Yes, a person without facial features. Guo Zheng leaned back in his chair and said, Our Mass is very simple. First is the sermon about the disadvantages of knowledge and thought. Then, we will shout slogans with the priest. As for what we shout and how loud we do so Thats determined by the existing situation. It can also be replaced by applause.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Baimian curiously asked, How do you proselytize? How did those people truly gain faith in the religion?

Guo Zheng looked at the screen in front of him and said a little listlessly, In the beginning, we used the temptation of food to gain a deeper understanding of the believers difficulties and help resolve a portion of them. Finally, we made them completely rely on us and completely give up on thinking.

The first half is pretty normal, but the second half is Jiang Baimian pursed her lips. I thought that you guys would directly use Hypnosis to proselytize.

Theres no need to do so. Only during Mass will we make some arrangements to enhance the effects. Guo Zhengs smile contained some mixed emotions as he said, For most people in the Ashlands, living is a very arduous task. If we can help them think, help them make arrangements, and give them a relatively stable life, they will deceive themselves and choose to believe us even if they know that theres a problem with the teachings.

Phew

Jiang Baimian exhaled and closed her notebook.

In a damp and dark corridor on the second floor of Ah Fus Gun Shop, Long Yuehong walked toward the staircase with his hands in his pockets.

As he passed by a family, he sniffed and smelled the fragrance of food.

A middle-aged manwho was cooking with a charcoal stove at the doorsaw Long Yuehong and enthusiastically greeted him. Want to try some? Ill cook the rest of the food according to the Hodgepodge recipe you mentioned.

After the battle to protect their home, Long Yuehong had formed a relationship with many people in this courtyard building.

He waved his hand and said, No, its fine. I just ate.

Long Yuehong was too embarrassed to eat this familys food. They had also suffered a disaster and needed to receive help to maintain their lifestyle.

With a smile, he passed the man and entered the stairwell.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A 17-year-old girl ran up from the first floor. She had a pretty face and was wrapped in a shriveled, white cotton coat. She also had a piece of yellow cornbread in her mouth.

Huh? Long Yuehong was a little surprised to see her at this moment.

The girl held her cornbread and smiled as she greeted, Good morning.

She sensed Long Yuehongs puzzling look and casually explained, Theres no business recently, and we can receive aid. Teacher An is also willing to give a discount for a few more lessons. Of course, we have to make the best use of our time!

With that said, she stuffed the cornbread back into her mouth. She then waved her hand with a bright smile and quickly walked upstairs.

Long Yuehong laughed as well. He went down to the first floor and met Auntie Nan at the door leading to the courtyard.

Auntie Nan was leading a seven-year-old girl inside.

Good morning. Long Yuehong took the initiative to greet them before asking curiously, Wheres Xiaodong?

His grandmother and mother are still alive; they took him back. They said that they would sell the shop here and go to First City to make a living after the new year, Auntie Nan said calmly. Thats good too.

She then smiled and stroked the little girls head. In any case, I wont have any children. Its a perfect match.

The little girl cowered a little and hid behind Auntie Nan, her eyes bright.

Long Yuehong sincerely extended his well wishes and entered the courtyard. He then looked up at the winter skywhich was neither bright nor darkand fell into a daze.

Whats on your mind? Bai Chen came over.

Long Yuehong retracted his gaze and smiled. Every time I walk along the corridor upstairs, I feel like Im back in the company. Its always a very closed, sealed environment. I would even encounter familiar faces from time to time and have a few words with them.

He looked at the clouds again and gently said, But here, you can see the sky, see the clouds, and feel the wind as soon as you walk out of the stairwell. Im wondering when we wont have to worry about being attacked. Everyone will live aboveground, exchange greetings, and walk out to see all of this when done chatting