"So you also think I might be an Incarnation of Causality planted by that woman Genggu Wuming?"
Compared to Da Xing the Mad Monk's terror, Gu Qingfeng appeared quite calm. Apart from an initial feeling of his scalp tingling, he felt nothing else, let alone any fear.
"Kid Gu!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk wore an extremely solemn expression as he stared intently at Gu Qingfeng, speaking with great seriousness. "This Old Monk cannot confirm whether you are truly an Incarnation of Causality or not, but if... if you really are an Incarnation of Causality planted by someone else, then that someone else can only be Genggu Wuming. There is no second person in all of Heaven and Earth capable of such a feat."
Though Gu Qingfeng didn't want to admit it, he couldn't deny that what Da Xing said was true.
If one asked who in all of Heaven and Earth most desired to utterly eradicate the Original Sin Source, the answer was definite: Genggu Wuming, hailed as the Incarnation of Causality and the Emissary of Fate.
If one asked who in all of Heaven and Earth could plant an Incarnation of Causality that was also an Original Sin Anomaly, the answer was equally definite: only Genggu Wuming, proclaimed as the Incarnation of Causality.
"If I really am an Incarnation of Causality planted by that woman Genggu Wuming..." Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin thoughtfully, muttering to himself. "That would mean she first laid out the scheme for the Present-Ancient Era's Original Sin Cataclysm, then planted an Incarnation of Causality like me, then built up my momentum, pushing me onto the position of True Lord of Original Sin, then she would step forward to devour me, replace me as the True Lord of Original Sin, dominate the Original Sin Source, and then destroy the Original Sin Source?
If that's really the case, then this woman is playing quite the intricate game."
"That's exactly why Genggu Wuming is such a treacherous and sinister woman! These kinds of methods are something only she could pull off!"
"However..." Gu Qingfeng furrowed his brow and asked, "Is she that confident she can devour me?
Even if she's confident about devouring me, what about Bihuang Huangquan, the Evil Asura, and the Blood Glutton?
And what about Mohe from beyond the Great Dao, and the True Awareness of Original Sin? Is she confident about devouring them all too?"
"That's hard to say."
Da Xing the Mad Monk replied, "This Old Monk reckons that since Genggu Wuming planted an Incarnation of Causality like you, who is an Original Sin Anomaly, she should be confident about devouring you. It's even possible she's confident about devouring the True Awareness of Original Sin as well."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "Don't forget, Genggu Wuming is the Incarnation of Causality. If she wishes, she can arrange any and all Karma. If she knows your weaknesses and lays out a Karmic scheme based on them, it's no exaggeration to say that when the time comes, you might not even have a chance to struggle."
Gu Qingfeng nodded; he thought the same.
It had to be said that Karma was an absolutely terrifying thing. Sometimes, the life you think you're living might actually be a Karmic scheme arranged by someone else. Sometimes, the people you care about might just be Karmic chess pieces placed by others.
Once Karma is planted, it influences you for a lifetime, and it does so silently, seamlessly, and rationally. You might not even realize you're trapped in a Karmic scheme.
If you want to make someone collapse, just set up a Karmic scheme and wipe out their entire family right before their eyes. That person would find it nearly impossible not to collapse.
If you want to make someone grateful to you, just set up a Karmic scheme. When they suffer betrayal, feel utterly alone, and are driven into a desperate corner, you step forward to help them. They will be grateful to you for a lifetime.
Just as Da Xing the Mad Monk said, if Genggu Wuming wanted to deal with someone, it would be far too easy. She is the Incarnation of Causality; she can arrange any and all Karma. If she wishes, all beings in Heaven and Earth could become chess pieces in her hands. If she wants you happy, you'll be happy. If she wants you to suffer, you'll suffer.
Similarly, if Gu Qingfeng ascended to become the True Lord of Original Sin and Genggu Wuming wanted to devour him, perhaps Gu Qingfeng wouldn't refuse at all. Not only would he not refuse, he might even actively allow Genggu Wuming to devour him.
Exaggerated?
Not in the slightest.
Though it sounds bizarre, that is the reality.
And Gu Qingfeng also believed that Genggu Wuming could absolutely accomplish this.
However.
No matter how much Gu Qingfeng pondered, he couldn't figure it out. If Genggu Wuming had long ago arranged Karma in order to devour him, what kind of Karma would she have arranged?
And what kind of Karma could make him abandon his life and willingly throw himself into Genggu Wuming's embrace to be devoured?
He didn't know.
Gu Qingfeng truly couldn't think of anything.
At that moment.
Da Xing the Mad Monk spoke again. "If Genggu Wuming is confident about devouring you, then she must also be confident about devouring the True Awareness of Original Sin. She can arrange Karma to devour you, and she can certainly arrange Karma to devour the True Awareness of Original Sin."
"The only thing uncertain now is whether the True Awarenesses of the three Sons of Original Sin residing within you are within Genggu Wuming's expectations or beyond them. Most importantly, whether Mohe from beyond the Great Dao is within her expectations. If they are all within Genggu Wuming's expectations, then their fates will likely also be devoured. If they are beyond her expectations, perhaps variables will occur."
Suddenly.
Da Xing the Mad Monk seemed to remember something and said, "Kid Gu, do you remember This Old Monk saying that Genggu Wuming also seems prepared to place a bet on you, right?"
"What about it?"
"Before, This Old Monk could never figure out what exactly Genggu Wuming was betting on by placing her stake on you. Now, This Old Monk seems to understand a little more."
"How so?"
"If This Old Monk's speculation is correct, perhaps what Genggu Wuming is betting on is precisely how many unforeseen existences will ultimately reside within you. The more unforeseen existences within you, the smaller her chance of winning. Conversely, the fewer unforeseen existences within you, the greater her chance of winning."
"So that means I'm doomed this time? Nine times out of ten, I'll just become a memory for Genggu Wuming? Maybe not even a memory?"
As he spoke, Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but laugh, a laugh tinged more with self-mockery. "So you're telling me I've lived most of my life not for myself, but for someone else? And damn it, for a woman?"
To be honest.
Gu Qingfeng wasn't afraid of death.
He hadn't been afraid since he was a child. To this day, he even felt that living wasn't all that interesting. Dying could bring a clean end, and there was nothing he couldn't bear to part with.
But if his end wasn't death, but having his consciousness devoured by someone else... that way of dying was too pathetic. Anyway, Gu Qingfeng couldn't accept it. He'd rather self-destruct and die than have his consciousness devoured, allowing someone else to occupy his physical body.
Especially living to the end only to realize that he'd lived most of his life for someone else—this was even more unacceptable to Gu Qingfeng. Although he was someone who only enjoyed the process of life and didn't care about the cause or the result, he still couldn't accept living to the end only to become a memory for someone else.
It would be like working hard for most of his life, spending everything he had to marry a wife, only to have someone else step into the bridal chamber in his place. No one would be willing to accept that.
Gu Qingfeng had lived life with earth-shattering vigor; he would absolutely not die in a cowardly manner.