Chapter Thirty-Six: What’s Wrong, Are You Asking Me Out?

Is this future catastrophe... referring to Lin Xiaoqin?
Is she not human? Is her true form that of a monster in human guise?
Will she bring about a disaster that leads to the destruction of Donglin City?
But as Cheng Feng calmed himself and carefully recalled all that had happened that day—when he rescued her from the vampires in the suburbs—he began to believe this idea could be overturned.
If Lin Xiaoqin truly were a monster, perhaps he wouldn’t have noticed at the time, but for even Liu Shiyu, the demon-hunting girl who fought monsters daily, not to realize it, seemed far too improbable.
And if she were indeed a monster, those vampires would have had no reason to capture her.
He must have misjudged, right?
“Do you have any other questions, sir?”
“Not for now.”
He had originally wanted to ask about a number of other matters, but his thoughts were in turmoil and he had no mind for anything else. “How much do I owe you?”
The black-robed fortune teller smiled faintly. “No need. Our establishment offers the first divination to all new customers free of charge.”
Cheng Feng nodded silently. As he was about to leave, his gaze was once again drawn, almost involuntarily, to the mysterious mural on the wall.
The fortune teller noticed his expression and asked, “You seem intrigued by this painting?”
“Indeed. Master, would you be willing to tell me what it depicts?” Cheng Feng withdrew his gaze.
The black-robed fortune teller did not answer directly, but instead posed a profound question: “Sir, do you have faith?”
“Faith?”
Cheng Feng suddenly sensed he was about to hear something remarkable.
“Heh. Do you believe that gods exist in this world?”
“I’m sorry, I’m an atheist.” Cheng Feng could already sense something was amiss.
“Is that so? I had hoped to invite you to join our faith.”
The fortune teller rose, walked to the mural, and gently ran his hand across its surface.
From beneath the dark hood, his eyes shone with a certain fanaticism, his tone barely concealing his fervor. “This painting shows the coming end of the world, chaos among all demons, and the followers of truth praying for the arrival of the Supreme God, begging him to save this pitiful world.”
Followers of truth?
Cheng Feng immediately thought of a certain cult. “Master, are you from the Church of Truth?”
He was inwardly alarmed; he’d read a little about the Church of Truth online, whose adherents worshiped a so-called legendary Apocalypse Witch.
What little information was available had likely been censored by the authorities, but Cheng Feng understood enough to know it was a terrifying cult!
Once, Liu Shiyu had mentioned it to him in passing.
The Church of Truth was very active in Donglin City, with a long record of crimes and notorious misdeeds. She’d warned him that if he ever came across their followers, he should stay far away.
Because this cult’s fanatics were all madmen, and though the police mostly handled them, sometimes Association demon hunters had to step in to cleanse the city of their presence.
“You guessed correctly. Pity... so many people fail to understand the greatness of our faith.”
Unaware of Cheng Feng’s thoughts, the fortune teller continued, “The faith of the Church of Truth is to bring ultimate bliss and happiness to humanity. I opened this divination shop to benefit the world as well...”
Cheng Feng said nothing, patiently listening as the fortune teller’s voice took on a note of compassion. “The Church of Truth has deep pity for mankind, for all are stained with original sin.
As long as one has a heart, no one can escape their desires. Like children, no matter how strictly their parents discipline them, they cannot give up their phones or games;
adults, no matter their self-control, cannot resist the temptations of money and desire; the elderly yearn for youth;
the blind long for light, the disabled for the ability to walk, the sick for health. Only by washing away our original sin can we achieve redemption.
If all people would believe in the Church of Truth, worship the Supreme Goddess of Apocalypse, they could be freed from all suffering and attain ultimate bliss and happiness!”
The black-robed fortune teller’s enraptured gaze shifted from the mural to Cheng Feng. “Do you understand, sir?”
Cheng Feng’s eyes remained impassive. “I’m sorry.”
“I see... What a pity.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Cheng Feng lingered no longer. Any further and he feared he’d be brainwashed into the cult. He turned and left the room.
The room fell silent once more.
The fortune teller stared at the closed door, murmuring softly, “How astonishing... This young man is extraordinary, with such a remarkable future ahead of him... We shall meet again.
Moreover, from his past, I’ve uncovered an unexpected bounty: the Cat Maid Café, that manager—heh... the fourth Abyssal Demon, missing for ten years.
The ‘Tyrant’ Black Yasha, once a great demon that struck fear into the hearts of all, now humbles herself to serve humans in such a vulgar place.
Do you really believe that by hiding your fangs, humans and monsters can live in harmony? How naïve. Humanity is cruel... You and your cat demons are facing catastrophe.
The Association’s crusade is about to begin—how many will die this time, I wonder? It’s something to look forward to...”
…
If it weren’t necessary, Cheng Feng would not want to visit the divination shop ever again. Still, this time he’d acquired an important piece of information.
The non-human girl he’d saved, whom the fortune teller spoke of, was his future calamity and a disaster for the city. If that was true, then it was crucial to find her.
In fact, aside from Lin Xiaoqin, the vampire girl Elena was also highly suspicious.
But Elena was in the hands of the fifth Abyssal One, the ‘Bloodthirsty Sovereign’ Dracula, and there was nothing he could do about that.
He could only start investigating Lin Xiaoqin. If she truly was a monster hiding among humans, then her performance would put the Oscars to shame.
Cheng Feng hadn’t been to school in over ten days, but he decided to attend classes tomorrow, mainly to observe Lin Xiaoqin and see if anything was amiss.
…
The next morning, Cheng Feng got up early, slung his bag over his shoulder, and headed to Aoba High School.
As he entered Class One’s classroom, many classmates cast surprised glances his way, as if bewildered that the perpetually absent or truant student had finally shown up.
He’d barely set down his bag when a beautiful girl with a high ponytail walked up to him and asked, “Cheng Feng, you haven’t been to school for days. Do you know why Jiang transferred so suddenly?”
Cheng Feng looked up at the class representative. “She transferred schools?”
Xia Qingyao frowned. “Wasn’t she your girlfriend? You didn’t know?”
Cheng Feng replied indifferently, “We broke up long ago.”
Though he didn’t know the exact reason, apparently Elena had been told by the school to transfer, which suited him just fine to dispel the ‘girlfriend’ rumor.
“You...” Hearing his careless tone, Xia Qingyao looked a bit angry.
“What?”
“Hmph.” In the end, she said nothing more and returned to her seat in a huff.
The bell rang for class. Cheng Feng waited specifically for Lin Xiaoqin, but even after class began, she didn’t appear—her seat remained empty.
He couldn’t help but feel puzzled. This well-behaved girl actually missed school?
When the class ended, Xia Qingyao came over again. “Cheng Feng, do you have time tomorrow? It’s Saturday.”
“Why? Are you asking me out?”
“In your dreams.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Lin Xiaoqin is sick. The homeroom teacher assigned you and me to visit her at home.”