This time I chose Paladin.

Chapter 303 Seeking Rest
In the end, Nie Weiyang did not say anything more.

He knew that at this moment, any words would seem pale and powerless in the face of these souls exposed to the cruel reality.

The establishment and collapse of faith is not something that happens overnight; they can only gradually figure out the future themselves.

All he could do was never respond to that adoration while he was the second administrator.

Nie Weiyang nodded silently to them as a farewell, then turned and walked towards the outskirts of Kushui Town, preparing to continue searching for Bai Yu's whereabouts.

Today, Kushui Town is no longer the chaotic temporary camp it once was.

Thanks to the efforts of grassroots officials dispatched by China and Albert, Lin Shouheng, and others, order has been established. Simple but functional sheds have replaced the haphazardly built shacks, and even small plots of field ridges have been cleared in an attempt to restore cultivation.

The air was no longer filled only with despair and bloodshed; there was also a hint of smoke from cooking fires and the vitality of people working. The population had swelled to nearly 100,000.

It must be said that some local officials are far too experienced in the basic management of large populations...

Nie Weiyang walked across the dirt road that was gradually taking shape as a street, a gentle smile on his face, nodding to those who recognized him.

Some cast grateful glances at him, some bowed respectfully from afar, and others, like Gloria and the others, harbored a more complex fervor in their eyes. He accepted them all calmly, but his steps never faltered.

Just as he was about to step out of the fragile borders of this civilization born from chaos—

An unfamiliar thought, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, suddenly entered his field of perception.

This feeling is still far away, but it is rapidly approaching the direction of Kushui Town.

It caught Nie Weiyang's attention instantly not because of its strength, but because of its origin.

That way of thinking, that unique frequency of mental fluctuations, that deep-seated reverence and dedication to the ocean and the primal cycle of life...

The Mother Goddess Cult.

Nie Weiyang paused slightly, the gentle smile on his face fading as his usual calm returned. He tilted his head slightly, as if listening to the message carried by the wind, a cold consideration flashing deep in his red eyes.

At this time, why would members of the Mother Goddess Cult actively approach Bitterwater Town?
Is it because they finally couldn't contain themselves and came to investigate the changes in Kushui Town? Or... do they have other motives?
However, the aura of this mental fluctuation seemed somewhat familiar.

Nie Weiyang temporarily changed his mind. He beckoned to a member of the self-defense force who was on guard nearby and whispered a few instructions to him.

Before long, Albert arrived, carrying his signature two-handed sword and brimming with the frustration accumulated from his chores.

"What's wrong?" Albert asked succinctly, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

"We have guests." Nie Weiyang tilted his head towards the outside of Kushui Town, his tone flat: "The Mother Goddess Cult seems to be in charge. Let's greet them."

Albert instantly understood Nie Weiyang's intention.

The two said no more and leaned against the simple wooden fence gate of Kushui Town.

Before long, a group of seven people appeared at the end of the road and headed straight for Kushui Town.

The leader was none other than the Tide Diver. She wore the iconic dark blue robe of the Mother Goddess Cult, with silver patterns of waves and vines embroidered on the sleeves and hem, giving her a solemn and mysterious air.

Behind her followed six attendants, all of whom were capable and shrewd, with steady eyes and synchronized steps, clearly not ordinary believers.

When the Tide Diver's gaze fell upon the two figures at the town's entrance, her steps faltered almost imperceptibly.

Albert's gaze was like a tiger scrutinizing its prey, making her feel a slight pressure and a subtle chill run down her spine, but she felt no fear whatsoever. However, when her eyes met Nie Weiyang's calm, unwavering red eyes, a primal sense of dread made her heart clench.

The gaze wasn't fierce, yet it made her instinctively want to look away. She quickly put on a perfectly timed smile and spoke first, her voice like waves crashing against rocks, carrying a unique rhythm: "May the breath of the ocean soothe the dust."

"I am a Tide Diver, representing the Cult of Mother Goddess, and extend my greetings to all those who have established order and protected living beings in this place."

Nie Weiyang then realized why the other person seemed so familiar. His usual gentle smile appeared on his face, as if the chilling gaze from before was just an illusion: "Guests from afar are welcome. Bitterwater Town welcomes all friends with good intentions."

"I am Nie Weiyang, and this is Albert."

He couldn't very well say something like, "Oh, it was you! You were quite a swimmer when I killed you last time..." So he just remained polite.

Moreover, the other party did indeed come with important information.

Albert merely snorted as a greeting, his sharp gaze still sweeping over the followers behind the Tidediver.

The Tide Diver's smile remained unchanged, but her mind raced. She sensed an invisible threat, but her purpose was paramount and she couldn't avoid it.

“Recently, the energy here has been surging and strange phenomena have been appearing. I am concerned about the balance between the creatures here and the natural cycle, so I have come to visit and hope to have a word with the person in charge.”

"No problem." But where did he learn such strange wording?

Nie Weiyang maintained his smile, stepped aside to make way, and gestured for them to pass.

"To avoid disturbing the town's residents, it may be inconvenient for all of your entourage to enter," he said with a polite smile.

The Tide Diver's eyes flickered slightly as it instantly weighed the pros and cons.

She wanted to refuse, but seeing the paladin's polite words and warm smile, she still gestured to the person behind her with her eyes.

Immediately, the four attendants silently retreated several steps and stood solemnly outside the town gate, like four reefs.

The other two, who looked the most capable, followed closely behind the Tidediver.

“That’s how it should be.” The Tide Diver nodded with a smile, as if he didn’t mind at all.

Anyway, since she didn't say anything, no one knew that cold sweat was trickling down her back.

Nie Weiyang smiled and turned to lead the way, with Albert following beside them. All three wore impeccable fake smiles, as if the silent confrontation had never occurred.

But the subtle atmosphere in the air foreshadowed that this meeting would not be as calm as it appeared on the surface.

The messengers of the Mother Goddess Cult stepped into the largest shed in the center and were given the opportunity to interact with the management of Bitterwater Town.

She stared at the group of Chinese people and gave them a knowing smile.

Then, she blurted out a sentence:

"The Mother Goddess Cult and the entity behind us wish to honor the Second Administrator as the King of Gods."

"As long as He gives us the opportunity to seek rest."

(End of this chapter)