I, Lord of Prayer

"The Genie..."

Lin Ya's first impression of the name was of a genie from fairy tales who could grant three wishes, but the person in question didn't seem to fit the image of a genie at all. ♠♟ ➅9şĤ𝐮ⓧ.𝕔Ｏм 🍩😂

She clutched the hem of her dress, asking nervously, "What do you need me to do? Do you want me to offer my soul to please you?"

Don't mistake me for an evil god, little girl. What on earth is going on in your head...? Zhou Chen placed his arms on the armrests, interlaced his fingers, and chuckled:

"I'm not interested in souls. Ha, only creatures from the abyss would be interested."

"Then...why did you save me?"

"Because you are praying."

Lin Ya froze for a moment, lowered her head, pursed her lips, and hid the emotions in her eyes behind her messy long hair.

"Thank you..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"However, I'm someone who likes equal exchange. I saved your life, so you must pay the corresponding price," Zhou Chen said leisurely.

"I... I can only give you my soul, or... my body... if you need it... take it." Lin Ya lowered her head, her tone full of humility, believing that only in this way could she repay the life-saving grace.

This girl probably has some psychological issues… Zhou Chen frowned inwardly, but outwardly smiled and raised one index finger:

"I think you've misunderstood, Miss Lin Ya. I just want to hear a story."

"A...story?"

"Yes, a story. This story can be one you heard from someone else, or one you experienced yourself; as long as it's interesting."

He snapped his fingers, and the heavy obsidian chair next to Lin Ya automatically pulled out.

"Please have a seat, Miss Lin Ya."

"Yes……"

Lin Ya sat down somewhat awkwardly, looking timid and hesitant. After a long while, she whispered, "Mr. Genie... I haven't heard any interesting stories. May I... tell you about myself?"

"Okay." Zhou Chen nodded.

"Thank you for your understanding."

She paused, then said softly, "I was born into a family that believes in the goddess of life..."

The first thing Zhou Chen said made his eyes twitch. Would snatching a cult member attract the attention of the Goddess of Life?

But soon, Lin Ya's words dispelled his concerns:

"My mother was a devout follower of the goddess, but she died of illness when I was seven years old... Isn't it ridiculous that a follower of the goddess of life would die of illness?"

After my mother passed away, my father's personality changed drastically. He started drinking heavily and became violent, often hitting and verbally abusing me... I had to live at school and was afraid to go home, but I was also bullied at school..."

"Later, my father died too."

  

Lin Ya said without much emotion, "He also died of illness."

Not long after, I also fell seriously ill, feeling as if I were about to die. I prayed to the goddess of life, just like my mother, but it was to no avail. It wasn't until three days later that I recovered on my own.

Since then, I have frequently had high fevers, and sometimes I get so delirious that I even sleepwalk.

Once, I was staying in the hospital, and at night I almost killed the patient in the bed next to mine... That patient said I was as scary as a devil...

"I was sent to a mental hospital, but the doctor said I was perfectly normal, just delirious from a fever, so I was released. But I don't want to go back to school anymore; they always bully me for no reason..."

So I ran away.

"I'm free now. I can make a living by doing temporary work every day. I don't have to be beaten anymore, I don't have to be bullied anymore, and I don't have to be harassed anymore..."

But my illness is getting worse and worse, and many places are afraid to hire me anymore, for fear that their employees will be infected by me.

A week ago, I came to Jinzhu hoping to find a job, but my illness suddenly flared up and lasted for five days. If it weren't for you, I probably would have died. (New 69 Bookstore)

As if recalling the helpless pain of her illness, she clenched her clothes tightly with both hands, her voice trembling slightly: "Every time I had a fever, I felt so miserable I wanted to die. I prayed countless times to the goddess of life to heal my wounds... I prayed to every god, but they never answered, only you..."

"Only you..."

"Only you have lent me a helping hand."

Lin Ya mustered her courage and looked eagerly at the "genie":

"I know my story has nothing interesting about it. If you are not satisfied, you can take my soul at any time. You saved my life, so it belongs to you."

Why get so hung up on the soul?

Zhou Chen sighed softly: "I guess you've heard somewhere that, apart from a few righteous gods, anything that calls itself a 'god' is an evil god?"

Lin Ya nodded, her eyes resolute: "If you are an evil god, I don't care. You can use me as you please."

Even if it means plunging me into the abyss of darkness.

Because you're the only one who reached out to me...

Don't say things that could be misunderstood... Zhou Chen tapped the obsidian round table, his tone slightly solemn:

"Then, Miss Lin Ya, let me emphasize one last time—I am not interested in the soul."

"As for your story, it's barely passable, because there are some things that even you don't know."

"What do you mean?" Lin Ya's eyes were full of confusion.

"The illnesses you and your parents suffer from are actually a curse."

Zhou Chen explained, slightly raising his finger. A black skull, bound by white chains, slowly rose up, emanating a thick aura of dark curse.

Lin Ya looked stunned: "This is...?"

"The culprit behind your illness over the years is an abyssal curse that disguises itself as disease and takes your life."

The moment Zhou Chen pulled Lin Ya into this space, the curse rooted deep in her soul was also brought along. Zhou Chen was startled, but decisively suppressed it with the power of the white mist.

"W-what? A curse?" Lin Ya was somewhat incredulous.

"This curse is so deadly to ordinary people that a single illness can be fatal, but you awakened due to your strong will to survive and became an ascendant, fighting against the curse for so many years."

Zhou Chen expressed his approval: "Your desire for life is admirable."

He had been suffering from the torment of a broken soul for a month. Although he had long since adapted, it was indeed an indescribable ordeal at the beginning, so he could understand the pain that Lin Ya had experienced.

"is that so……"

Lin Ya stared intently at the black skull, seemingly having figured everything out, her eyes gradually becoming empty and cold.

This was the thing that tormented her for years, making her wish she were dead.

This is it...

This is the thing that took her parents away.

It robbed her of the happy life she should have had.

A surge of intense anger welled up within her, and she wanted to smash that skull to pieces!

With a thought, Zhou Chen summoned the sealed abyss spell, which floated in front of Lin Ya and materialized into an iron hammer.

"Thank you for your kindness..."

Lin Ya stood up, her voice trembling as she gripped the hammer.

Then, she furiously hurled the curse at its manifestation, unleashing years of pent-up anger, sorrow, pain, and despair...

She didn't stop until she smashed the manifested curse to pieces, panting heavily, tears streaming down her face.

She finally got her revenge.

But she no longer has a home.

There is no going back.

"Let me be your devout follower," she said.

Zhou Chen shook his head slightly: "No, you don't need to. You have your own life."

"From this day forward, your life will be full of endless possibilities."

He immediately cut off contact and sent the other party away.

"Wait, Mr. Genie, just a minute."

Seemingly realizing that Zhou Chen wanted to take her away, Lin Ya quickly asked, "How can I see you again?"

Zhou Chen simply smiled mysteriously:

"I will always be watching over you."

Immediately afterward, he cut off the connection, and Lin Ya's figure quickly disappeared.

"Phew... finally done. I only wanted to save her life, but I almost created a fanatic. I hope she doesn't actually become an evil god and get wiped out by the Star Society..."

Zhou Chen leaned back, let out a long sigh, and then looked at the wishing bottle, whereupon he froze.

So many stars!

·

Under the bridge.

Lin Ya slowly woke up. She no longer had a fever, no longer felt cold, and no longer shivered. The high fever had miraculously subsided, and even the symptoms of not eating or drinking for a long time had disappeared. She was full of energy.

It was as if a new life had been ushered in.

She got up in a daze, looked around, and only after she was fully awake did she realize that everything she had just experienced was not a hallucination.

From this day forward, your life will be full of endless possibilities.

—I will always be watching over you.

The genie's words echoed in her ears, making her blush and her heart race, and she smiled unconsciously.

"Mr. Genie...will He always be watching over me?"

Mom, I finally found it.

I have found my faith.

I found mine...

Redemption!