Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2096: Chapter 2091: Unveiling Heroes Over the Lid

It seems to have felt the aura of art.

Fu Qian had also appreciated some curious handcrafted artifacts, like a real blanket woven with eyeballs.

However, compared to what was in front of him, the sense of depth was far inferior.

Although the overall arrangement was so evenly laid out, the movement of each eyeball was quite nimble, making for a particularly intriguing visual contrast.

Moreover, the various colors Fu Qian mentioned were not exaggerated: blue, green, brown, black, and even red... These eyes clearly came from different individuals, truly embodying what it means to be eye-catching.

Clang—

Unfortunately, time to appreciate art was ultimately limited. Facing Fu Qian’s response, Zhao Ran let out a cold chuckle and had already put the heavy lid back in place.

Fu Qian did not think he was too stingy, unwilling to show it a bit longer.

As mentioned earlier, the eyeball blanket was clearly very lively, but even in a moment’s gaze, it had already begun to squirm, trying to crawl out.

"Believe me, I was just as surprised the first time I saw it...

"So according to your previous implication, could it be that these people, after failing to find a way out, not only carved their names as failures but also, due to excessive remorse, gouged out their eyes and threw them inside?"

As Fu Qian turned his head to look over, Zhao Ran coldly chuckled and continued, immediately emphasizing his empathy abilities.

"Indeed an interesting sight, but considering you’ve been here for so long, you should be somewhat familiar with the rules of this place. Is it possible that these eyeballs, like those fingers and bones, automatically aggregated here?"

Fu Qian wasn’t so easily convinced and casually showcased his understanding of the place.

"Of course, that’s possible... After all, I haven’t seen a similar aggregate elsewhere, but isn’t it too much of a coincidence?"

At that moment, Zhao Ran had a subtle sense of newfound respect, as the shock brought by Fu Qian seemed to deepen further.

Without forcefully denying Fu Qian’s possibility, he chose to raise doubts from another angle.

"Are the names carved right where the eyeballs gather? This does seem a bit too coincidental.

"So you still tend to believe that the eyeball serves as a kind of symbol, like ears or scalps cut from failures, and then the name is carved on this symbol?"

Fu Qian nodded slightly, engaging in a friendly and honest discussion.

"Correct, I think this isn’t purely a coincidence; there must be some reason these two are together."

Zhao Ran’s gaze finally firmed up, allowing no dissent.

...

I think so too, most coincidences must have their reasons, even if some seemingly plausible reasons may just be coincidences.

"But then there’s still a small problem; if, according to your account, the eyeballs are symbols of failure, don’t the number of names and eyeballs mismatched a bit?"

Observing the assassin brother who seemed more inclined to think, Fu Qian this time did not directly refute but instead posed a minor doubt.

"Isn’t that simple, most people aren’t even qualified to become failures. Only those strong enough, after falling here, have the right for their names to be recorded — like you, like me."

Trapped for seemingly that long, Zhao Ran had also pondered over this matter.

With a seamless logic flow, he even casually discussed heroes over wine.

"Thanks for the recognition, so what do you want me to do?"

Fu Qian responded with calm acceptance and temporarily accepted the arena’s interpretation, thus ascertaining the other’s intention.

"Very simple, find them, kill them... I don’t care what it actually is, whether for pure amusement or with some hardship, they must pay for what they’ve done."

Zhao Ran’s response was determined, even his eyes showing a touch of madness, seemingly forgetting he had just advised Fu Qian not to be discovered by "them".

"I thought you wanted me to tell you how to get out."

Fu Qian couldn’t hide his surprise at this reaction.

"Hehe... If it were just a short while ago, that might have been my only goal, but now, as you can see, I don’t even want to ask."

Zhao Ran’s smile was already clearly menacing.

"Just like I don’t want to ask why you voluntarily came in... The two of us work together, and all the future gains are yours."

Thud—

As he spoke, he even jabbed the ground with the long halberd in his hand.

"Including this, which I found not far from here."

...

"Oh? This isn’t your weapon?"

The assassin brother was so generous yet Fu Qian seemed doubtful, his surprised tone as if observing the long halberd for the first time.

"Don’t play dumb, if you really came in for the second time, then I suspect there’s a high chance you’ve seen it."

Likewise, Zhao Ran also chose a stance of "uncertainty about Fu Qian’s second visit".

"I did see it, and it was I who stuck it there."

Finally revealing a hint of a pleased smile as if the other had passed a test, Fu Qian soon admitted with ease.

"You stuck it there? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated—"

Though skeptical of the mentioned content, Zhao Ran squinted for a moment in disbelief.

"Beside a stone pedestal."

Fu Qian provided another piece of information with an unchanged expression.

...

"It appears it doesn’t mean much to you indeed."

After a moment of silence, when Zhao Ran spoke again, he had clearly accepted certain things.

"No problem, I’m still quite interested in the ’they’ you mentioned, now tell me your plan."

Fu Qian’s enigmatic image stood firm, subtly indicating the other needn’t mind with a low laugh.

"Very simple, the state of ’they’ within this place is obviously different from ours; what’s certain now is that it’s likely related to that peculiar mark... And since you know the stone pedestal, you definitely also know there’s a comparatively much larger symbol there."

A bit suspicious of such generosity, yet Zhao Ran quickly presented his plan.

"Considering the symbol is centered on the stone pedestal, I believe sitting on it might cause something interesting to happen, like sensing where ’they’ are actually hiding."

As he spoke, he gestured to the side, and by Fu Qian’s sense of direction, he even knew Zhao Ran was indeed pointing to the chapel where Mr. Feng Sr. had stayed.

This small gesture alone seemed to further prove long-term plotting.

Regarding the large symbol Zhao Ran mentioned, Fu Qian certainly remembered — the four-hand insignia formed by numerous fragments inside the chapel.

"But there’s a problem here; considering the original owner of this weapon vanished without a trace, I worry it might be some kind of trap, where sitting there would trigger an unresolvable situation, so someone needs to be watching from the side."

Finally, Zhao Ran explained the division of labor.