Deep in the valley lay a hidden paradise.

From outside, it appeared to be desolate mountain wilderness, but inside stood a small yet fully equipped military fortress. Houses were arranged tastefully, farmland neatly planned, and a small iron smelter emitted blue smoke. Hundreds of strong men and some women and children lived here. When they saw Sun Chuanting return, they stopped their work, bowed respectfully, and addressed him as "Sir."


This place was Sun Chuanting's private domain—the last ember he preserved in these chaotic times.

He led us to a sturdy blue stone house in the valley's center.

"Your Majesty, please wait here," Sun Chuanting bowed to Chongzhen, then turned to me. "Mr. Li, please come with me."


I nodded, giving Chongzhen a look that said "be patient." He remained expressionless, simply finding a rock to sit on—a statue completely out of place with the surroundings. Wang Chengen was led away by a soldier to rest.

I followed Sun Chuanting into the stone house.


The interior was simply furnished—besides a campaign bed and desk, the rest was... maps covering three entire walls.

From complete maps of the Ming Empire to the nine border military garrisons to detailed topographical maps of areas surrounding the capital—everything was there. The maps were marked with dense symbols and arrows in vermilion and black ink.

This was a true strategic command center.

"Mr. Li, please sit." Sun Chuanting pointed to the chair before the desk, while he stood before the maps with hands clasped behind his back.

"Now, we can speak frankly." He got straight to the point, his voice carrying a hint of fatigue. "That person outside... what exactly is happening? I sense the dragon aura on him, incredibly pure, truly bearing a sovereign's dignity. But that... cold, deathly, despair-inducing aura is absolutely not the demeanor of a human ruler. Is he... truly His Majesty, or some... demon that has possessed His Majesty's dragon body?"

This was the most crucial—and most dangerous—question.

I knew my answer would directly determine Sun Chuanting's attitude and the survival of our fragile alliance.

I remained silent momentarily, organizing my thoughts. I couldn't reveal the whole truth—that would only frighten him away. But I needed to reveal enough to gain his trust.

"He is both His Majesty and not His Majesty," I began slowly, choosing an ambiguous yet dialectical answer worthy of a philosophical treatise.

Sun Chuanting frowned deeply, clearly dissatisfied with my response.

I continued: "Sir, you must realize the chaos in the capital wasn't simply caused by bandits and rebels. The heavenly order has changed—deities have descended to the mortal realm. This is a transformation unseen for a thousand years. His Majesty... or rather, the 'dragon essence of national fortune' of the Great Ming Dynasty, was targeted by the corrupting power of the 'new gods' when the capital fell."

"His Majesty refused humiliation and attempted to hang himself on Coal Hill, sacrificing himself for the country. His unyielding act preserved the last trace of purity in the dragon essence. However, this overwhelming 'resentment' and 'unwillingness' caused him to resonate with a certain... more ancient and profound 'existence'."

I cleverly reframed "corruption by evil gods" as "resonance with an ancient existence."

"So, the 'him' outside now is Emperor Chongzhen's 'obsession'—a... symbiote formed after combining with that ancient power." I looked at Sun Chuanting and emphasized each word: "He possesses His Majesty's memories and will, but acts according to that power's... absolute rationality and absolute cruelty."

"Think of him as... a vengeful, self-aware divine sword. Born from the Ming Dynasty's destruction, his sole purpose is to destroy all enemies that led to Ming's downfall."

[Deception Check: Critical Success]

[Your "theoretical packaging" has successfully transformed the concept of a "Cthulhu Elder God" into an "ascended immortal" or "vengeful spirit" model comprehensible in an "Eastern fantasy" context]

Sun Chuanting's expression shifted unpredictably. He was clearly overwhelmed by my explanation. Though bizarre, my theory perfectly explained Chongzhen's contradictory qualities—possessing both sovereign authority and inhuman power.

"Then... what is that ancient power?" he pressed.

"I call it 'The Finality,'" I said, inventing an impressive-sounding term on the spot. "It represents the end and extinction of all things. It is neither evil nor good—merely a fundamental law of the universe. His Majesty has become... the agent of this law in the mortal realm."

Sun Chuanting remained silent for a long time, staring at the map, digesting this shocking information.

"Sir," I seized the moment to turn the tables, "now it's your turn. Why are you here? By rights, you should be commanding troops in Shaanxi. And you don't seem surprised by talk of 'deities' and 'demons.' What exactly are you waiting for?"

Sun Chuanting sighed deeply, turned and retrieved an ancient bamboo scroll wrapped in yellow silk from a secret compartment in his desk.

He unrolled the scroll on the table.

On it were drawings resembling star charts and runes I couldn't comprehend.

"This is the secret scroll passed down through generations of my Sun family," he said, pointing at the bamboo slips. "Since the Han Dynasty, a branch of my ancestors entered the path of cultivation and joined the 'Path of Humanity.'"

"'Path of Humanity'?" I was startled—this concept didn't exist in the game.

"That's right." A complex light flashed in Sun Chuanting's eyes. "We don't cultivate immortality or question the gods—we cultivate the 'fate and fortune of humanity.' Our duty is to protect the flame of Chinese humanity at key historical junctures, preventing its extinguishment by 'foreign demons.'"

"We know of Their existence. For thousands of years, They have coveted this land without cease. Behind every chaotic era, Their shadows lurk. And this time..."

His voice grew incredibly heavy.

"...is an unprecedented catastrophe. Demons run rampant, and the divine land sinks. According to our ancestral prophecy, when 'the emperor is in disgrace and the dragon's aura is obscured,' that is the most perilous moment for the 'human way.'"

"I was originally preparing for war in Shaanxi, but three months ago, I received the highest secret order from 'Human Path,' commanding me to abandon all military authority, secretly establish this 'Fire Seed' stronghold, and wait for..."

He raised his head, his eyes blazing as he looked at me—or rather, at Emperor Chongzhen outside the stone house.

"...wait for the arrival of the 'Game Changer.'"

I finally understood.

Sun Chuanting wasn't the Sun Chuanting from history. He was a member of the hidden "Human Path" organization. He was here not to support the emperor or to escape, but to carry out a grand mission that had continued for a thousand years.

And we—this strange combination of contaminated emperor and time traveler—were the "Game Changers" of their prophecy.

This chess game was far bigger than I had imagined.

"So, that phrase 'the sovereign is in distress, evil stars obscure the sun'—is it a code phrase for your 'Human Path'?" I asked.

"Yes." Sun Chuanting nodded. "'Evil Star' refers to the 'New God' behind Li Zicheng. And 'Sovereign Father'..." He glanced outside, "refers to... him."

"Then what is your plan?"

"I don't know." Sun Chuanting shook his head, a bitter smile crossing his face. "The secret order only instructed us to wait, without explaining what comes after. Perhaps the arrival of the 'Game Changer' itself is the greatest variable. We must... decide our next move based on your capabilities and objectives."

I understood immediately.

This was... a two-way interview.

We wanted to utilize his men and strongholds, while he wanted to utilize our "intelligence" and "power."

"I understand." I stood and extended my hand. "Then, Mr. Sun, for our common goal—protecting this land from being devoured by evil forces—I propose we form... a temporary alliance."

Sun Chuanting looked at my outstretched hand, puzzled.

I suddenly realized handshaking wasn't customary in this era.

I awkwardly withdrew my hand and bowed instead.

Sun Chuanting pondered briefly, then solemnly returned my bow.

"Agreed," he said, "but between us, it is not an alliance."

He paused, and said deliberately:

"It is... a relationship between ruler and subject."

His gaze passed through me toward the silent statue outside that represented "the end of the Ming Dynasty."

In his heart, no matter what Chongzhen had become, the ruler remained the ruler. And a subject remained a subject.

This foolish loyalty, in this Cthulhu-like apocalypse, seemed so absurd, yet also... so... awe-inspiring.