Chapter 044: Perhaps the Divine Is Also Human

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Lin Yan rested her hands beneath her head, gazing at the moon. Though she was surprised by Li Gang’s quick thinking, she spoke softly, “Yes, indeed. With the combined effort of the entire planet, humanity finally succeeded in relocating over a hundred thousand people to the moon within ten years.

Those humans living on the moon—do they still count as earthlings? Were they erased as well?”

After voicing her doubt, Lin Yan briefly explained the construction of the lunar base and the Human Seed Project to Li Gang, then fell silent, lost in thought.

Li Gang’s emotions were tangled. He didn’t ask Lin Yan where she had learned such secrets, but instead reflected on the continuation of human civilization—how he had merely been a pawn, discarded along with most others.

Suddenly, he opened the tracking system, expanded the search scope to its maximum—displaying the entire Earth, but not the moon.

With a trace of delight, Li Gang said, “The search doesn’t include the moon. That probably means those who escaped to the moon are all safe.”

If the deity’s erasure included lunar humans, then among those hundred thousand, the probability of a Chosen appearing would be significant, even if not high. If there were a Chosen on the moon, they should appear within the tracking range, yet the moon isn’t included. This suggests the lunar population is likely safe.

Despite feeling no affection for those elite individuals who abandoned ordinary people without warning and fled to the moon, Li Gang was still happy at the prospect that human civilization might survive.

Another reason for his joy: could this be humanity finding a way out in a desperate situation, defeating the deity, if only once?

He thought so.

Lin Yan, unimpressed, replied, “Let’s hope so.”

She had little hope for those on the moon.

After all, Li Gang’s reasoning had too many holes. Compared to Earth’s population of over 8 billion, the chance of a Chosen emerging among a hundred thousand was minuscule. And given the god’s manipulations since the game began, even if lunar humans escaped the initial disaster, the god would hardly let them enjoy freedom.

Yet what Lin Yan could never have imagined was that the god not only spared the lunar humans, but made them the audience for this decade-long deadly hunt, providing them with every convenience for viewing.

The service was nothing if not thorough.

If she knew their conversation was being watched live by hundreds, perhaps thousands, on the moon, who were commenting and discussing it, how would she feel?

Their conversation lapsed into silence.

Li Gang, having learned about the lunar base, was left with mixed feelings, unsure what to say. Should he praise those elites for their cleverness?

Lin Yan remained silent for a long time before breaking it. “Li Gang, what do you think about the god’s identity?”

Page 2

Li Gang had already returned to Lin Yan’s side, breathing in her intoxicating scent. It felt as if this moment was the happiest of his life.

He wished time could stop—wished for nothing more than eternity here, lying beside Lin Yan, watching the stars.

The lunar base, the so-called Human Seed Project, had shocked him at first, but after some thought, it seemed logical, and he accepted it completely.

Lin Yan’s sudden question made him pause. He considered, then said, “A god is a god. What other identity could there be?”

Lin Yan replied, “Have you ever thought the god might actually be human?”

Li Gang asked, “Why do you say that? To me, the god is probably not human. No person could erase nearly eight billion people and leave a thousand to play some deadly hunt. If a human did that, how twisted would they have to be?”

Lin Yan shook her head, holding her own view. “Not necessarily. Didn’t you just say that killing, once begun, becomes easier, and habit breeds numbness?

I have reasons to think the god is human. Do you remember the ten rewards offered to the winner of this decade-long hunt?”

Li Gang nodded. “I remember, though I only glanced at them. Most are fuzzy.”

The one he remembered best was the reward to resurrect all those erased by the god. That was why he truly desired victory.

At first, he never imagined he could win, just hoped to survive as long as possible and avoid early elimination.

Lin Yan said, “I’ve read them many times. For example, reward three: ‘Time rewinds twenty years, everything begins anew.’ The god’s comment: ‘Are you sure you want this? Luck won’t always be yours.’ And reward seven: ‘Take the god’s place, become the new god.’ The god’s comment: ‘Perhaps it’s time for me to retire.’

What if this deadly hunt has been held many times, and the god is just a previous winner? For mortals, the temptation to become a god is irresistible.”

Li Gang thought Lin Yan’s imagination was wild. “Do you want to be a god?”

Lin Yan answered instantly, “Of course. Who wouldn’t?”

Li Gang shook his head. “Not me. If I win, I’ll choose reward one: resurrect everyone erased by the god. What’s the point of being god alone?”

Lin Yan looked at him as if he were an idiot. “You’re silly. Once you’re god, any wish is within your power. Not only can you resurrect those erased, but anyone who ever died. Among those ten rewards, I think the greatest is reward seven: becoming the new god.”

Li Gang was stunned. “Lin Yan has a point. Once I’m god, I can do anything. I really am foolish—not surprising she’s my goddess, so clever.”

He mentally berated himself for missing such an obvious point.

As Li Gang silently called himself a fool, Lin Yan reached out and tousled his hair until it was a mess.

Li Gang tried to smooth it back into place.

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There was nothing he could do. He’d always kept his hair short, trimming it every month since childhood. But since the apocalypse, he’d never cut it, and even the comprehensive healing treatment couldn’t restore his hairstyle—his hair simply grew longer and longer.

“So the comprehensive healing treatment has its limits—it can’t make someone’s hair look good or trim it into a stylish cut,” Li Gang thought wryly.

Lin Yan, seeing his appearance, burst out laughing. “Li Gang, are you realizing you’re a fool and your sister is clever?”

He admitted, “That’s true. Given what you’ve said, the possibility that the god is human is quite high. But if the current god is just the last winner, why keep running this game and announce reward seven? It makes no sense.”

“Who knows? Maybe it’s just a personal obsession—having suffered, wants others to suffer too. There are plenty like that.” Lin Yan shook her head, clearly unwilling to dwell further.

So the two lay there, watching stars, chatting about anything and everything: food, hobbies, favorite clothes.

When Lin Yan asked about their dreams, she was so stunned by Li Gang’s answer she couldn’t speak for a while. At last, she said, “If any girl wants to help you achieve that dream, she must be out of her mind.”

Meanwhile, on the lunar base.

Since Huang Feng’s incident, though many still discussed it and followed him closely, most had temporarily shifted their focus. Someone would always keep an eye on him, and if he caused trouble, word would spread instantly.

Now, everyone returned to watching their favored contestants, or searching for new strong candidates like Huang Feng.

In the bases of China, for instance.

Today, besides Huang Feng, many had noticed Li Gang and Lin Yan.

After all, Lin Yan had led two others to attack Li Gang.

Three against one—such situations were rare among the Chinese contestants, so it drew immediate attention.

Once someone noticed, others followed, and soon everyone who should know did.

People love a spectacle, especially when Li Gang hunted Jia Tianming and encountered Chen Feng, who’d come to help.

Those in the lunar base watching reached a fever pitch, eagerly anticipating Li Gang’s death.

After all, the god never censored scenes of brutal combat.

Yet Lin Yan’s unexpected headshot, followed by her cold finishing blow, stunned not only Li Gang and Jia Tianming, but every viewer in the lunar base who witnessed it live.