Chapter 64: Are You Not Even Pretending Anymore?

"It's just a pity..."
"For the sake of my child, I have no choice but to put you through this."
Liu Renfu's eyes were filled with gentle kindness as he lightly stroked Song Qi's head.
Yet he could still sense that a murderous intent was spreading in the air.
Song Qi was dumbfounded.
Huh?
Wait, sir, what you're doing is enough to get you executed.
You're not even pretending?
You just reveal everything so directly?
I haven't said anything yet, I haven't even taken out the ring, let alone started probing for information, and you've already confessed?
This script feels wrong.
Aren't you worried about my teammates?
Shouldn't it be that I enter your house, and you cautiously ask how much I know about the matter, whether I've told anyone else?
Then I feign ignorance, casually mention I have a few teammates, making you hesitant.
After a few rounds of back-and-forth, either you expose my identity, or I uncover your secret.
But you, right from the start, just reveal your greatest secret?
No defenses at all?
Or perhaps... you never intended to let me leave alive?
So you can't be bothered to waste words with me?
"Are you... also a member of the Demon Cult?"
Song Qi forced himself to ask under pressure.
"It seems you really do know quite a bit."
Liu Renfu showed little surprise at Song Qi's question.
"I haven't joined the Demon Cult; it's more accurate to say we cooperate. To be precise... it's my son who joined them."
Song Qi grew even more curious at this.
The information given by the city lord indeed mentioned the man had a son, with considerable talent.
Good talent, a wealthy family background thanks to his father—
His upbringing was smooth and untroubled.
But perhaps because it was too smooth, as soon as he reached level fifty, he couldn't wait to enter the Endless Snowfields to make his mark.
The result: he died mysteriously in the wild.
To uncover the true cause of his son's death,
Liu Renfu, a rare senior Whisperer, volunteered to guard the wilderness and took charge of this gathering point.
"Your son?"
"But rumor has it your son passed away twenty years ago..."
"My son isn't dead!"
Liu Renfu suddenly became agitated, cutting Song Qi off.
"My son's body vanished! His flesh rotted in the wild, but his soul still exists!"
"His soul was captured by those Demon Cult members!"
"They promised me that if I help them, they can create a perfectly matched body, allowing my son to be resurrected!"
"He could return to this world once more!"

Song Qi shook his head.
"But, Elder Liu..."
"Even elementary school children know that the so-called resurrection promised by the Demon Cult is just a trick to lure people into joining."
Bang!
Liu Renfu slammed the table fiercely.
His eyes were bloodshot, his neck flushed red.
His expression betrayed a hint of endless madness and desperation,
Like a gambler who has lost everything.
"What do you know!? What do you know!? What do you know!?"
"I saw my son with my own eyes!"
"He could even recall precisely the amusement park I took him to when he was five!"
"He remembered clearly the calligraphy practice I made him do when he turned eight!"
"He could perfectly recite the unique training methods I taught him!"
"In the hands of the Demon Cult, he cried to me, saying he doesn't want to die!"
"He doesn't want to die! He said he still wants to hug his father!"
Liu Renfu had completely lost control, his eyes reddened, scalding tears falling silently.
Song Qi tried several times to interrupt, but Liu Renfu was deaf to any other sound,
Lost in his own world, ranting at the top of his lungs.
Song Qi sighed.
He could see it: rationally, Liu Renfu must know he's probably been deceived by the Demon Cult.
Yet his longing for his son was so overwhelming that, even the tiniest hope, he couldn't let go.
A drowning man will clutch at even a straw,
Even knowing it can't bear his weight.
Precisely because he knows he's likely been tricked,
He keeps brainwashing himself, refusing any rational conversation.
After a long while, Liu Renfu finally regained a measure of composure.
He looked at Song Qi, his gaze softening from madness, eventually showing a hint of regret and affection.
"You remind me of my son..."
"Young and promising, just like him."
"I believe your father must be proud of you."
"If I weren't forced to, I'd never want to use you as a bargaining chip..."
Song Qi feigned appropriate fear.
"Even if you capture me, it's useless. The ring isn't with me—I gave it to another teammate before I came."
"That's alright."
Liu Renfu shook his head, taking out a vial of potion.
"For the Demon Cult, who holds it doesn't matter. As long as they know who has it."
"Child, take my advice: if you're willing to drink this Veracity Potion, I promise you'll die painlessly at the hands of the cultists."
Song Qi sighed deeply, as if resigned, taking the potion and hesitating at his lips before asking,
"If possible, could you at least let me die knowing the truth?"
"What is hidden in that ring? What is the Demon Cult's true purpose?"

Liu Renfu looked torn, but nodded.
"Remember the reward for the bounty mission? The location of a legendary artifact."
"There's a piece of parchment inside the ring, a relic passed down by the Demon Cult's Saintess."
"The parchment marks the hiding place of the legendary artifact, and also serves as the key to unlock that location."
"As for their ultimate goal, I don't know."
"After all, I'm merely a collaborator."
Song Qi nodded thoughtfully.
"So the parchment isn't just a map, but also a key to the hidden place."
"By the way, Elder Liu, you mentioned cultists would be coming soon, right?"
"Do you have any special signals for meeting them?"
Liu Renfu frowned, growing impatient.
Why does this young man have so many questions?
Is he deliberately stalling, reluctant to drink, unwilling to die?
Well, it's understandable...
So young, who could accept dying so easily?
His own son must have felt the same unwillingness back then.
Thinking this, Liu Renfu softened again.
"No signals; they'll come directly."
"And... child, keep your dignity—don't struggle anymore."
"I guarantee you'll die without pain."
"This is my promise to you—Liu Renfu's promise!"
Song Qi scratched his head.
What's with this person?
Telling him to die, yet speaking as if it's for his own good.
He thought for a moment and asked,
"Elder Liu, did you know? I'm actually a Summoner."
"A Summoner? That is indeed a rare class. So?"
Liu Renfu asked patiently.
"So... don't you want to see my summoned beast?"
"Summoned beast? Ha... planning to resist?"
"Alright."
He nodded calmly, with unparalleled confidence.
Here, he was in his domain!
This house was not just his residence, but a fortress he'd poured his heart into.
He was a Whisperer, one who wielded the power of words and language!
This house had long been reinforced by his abilities, transformed into an impregnable stronghold!
His confidence in challenging the Demon Cult's leaders stemmed from this.
He was certain—unless a city lord-level powerhouse personally arrived, he would remain undefeated here.