It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

But Bai Lin looked at these small toys and snacks, which were almost meant to entertain children, and he couldn't muster the slightest desire. Although the atmosphere here was quite cheerful, like an amusement park, and the staff were very lovely, Bai Lin, as a traveler, just wanted to relax, not indulge.

It wasn't that she didn't like these snacks, but she didn't really want to accept Wu Lu's favor, nor did she want to relax too much. A delicious meal and a comfortable place to stay were what Bai Lin needed most.

Since arriving in this world, Bai Lin had lost a lot of her entertainment. Singing to herself might count as one, right? Then again, occasionally sleeping with Katie probably counted as one, too. She'd grown accustomed to a life without entertainment, and suddenly being immersed in this atmosphere wasn't going to make her feel comfortable.

"Hmm? Then feel free to ask me. I'll answer everything truthfully. But I hope you'll be truly happy after asking."

The eyes on the balloon ghost's face suddenly widened for a moment, as if alive, and then the smile on the ghost's face became even brighter. The vivid appearance undoubtedly added a bit of humor. Facing this scene, Bai Lin's dark expression did not change, but he first extended a finger and asked,

"First, how do you know I'm a woman? You can't tell what my voice is like through this cloak and armor, and you can't tell anything about my figure, right? This time, you have to answer properly."

Bai Lin's eyes narrowed slightly, and a dangerous aura slowly emanated from behind her shoulders, as if she was going to attack if the answer was not good. The balloon ghost was a little embarrassed and quickly replied.

"Well... please calm down, we don't want to fight. This is a special ability of us Happy Ghosts. We can distinguish the race and specific body shape of the opponent through obstructions. But your appearance seems to have been cast with some kind of magic... It's a little hard for me to see clearly, so I can only tell that you are a woman."

Bai Lin pondered for a moment after hearing this answer, while Mi Yu beside her asked with some disappointment,

"Hey, isn't it magic?"

Obviously, when Bai Lin asked this question for the first time, Balloon Ghost used this child-like answer. But now it seems that he dare not talk nonsense anymore. Bai Lin reluctantly agreed with this statement and raised a finger again.

"Secondly, what's the point of you going to such great lengths to amuse us? There has to be a purpose."

"You're right. Well, there is. In fact, we, the Happy Ghost Clan, feed on the energy generated by the emotional fluctuations of others. So even though we don't need to eat, we still open restaurants and other places in this city that never sleeps, so that guests of all races can get along happily."

Listening to the Balloon Ghost's words, Bai Lin nodded thoughtfully, while Miyu's expression became increasingly disappointed. The Balloon Ghost also smiled awkwardly, and then said,

"I've already told you everything I can. Sincere hospitality is our way of doing things. If you have any other needs, please let me know. Regardless, we hope that you and your children will enjoy your stay in this city in every way possible."

"Then I do...she is not my child."

Bai Lin first pointed out the Balloon Ghost's grammatical errors in a rather harsh tone, and then continued,

"I do need some money, but even if I'm happy just stuffing it into my pocket, I doubt it'll be as effective as giving snacks to this little guy. So I won't bother you. Let me wander around your city. If I see something interesting, I'll be happy."

Adventure and travel have always been inseparable. When you arrive in a seemingly safe place, you certainly can't let your guard down, but enjoying the scenery along the way is also a joyful experience. Since the Balloon Ghost had so honestly told her everything she wanted to know, Bai Lin naturally expressed her feelings honestly as well, so that the Balloon Ghost wouldn't have to worry about her anymore.

"That's fine. Since that's your request, please feel free to wander around. Aside from the main hall at the top of the cliff, most of the mansions are open to guests. Almost every household in Huan Gui has something interesting prepared for travelers like you."

Huan Gui said this to Bai Lin with a smile, and Bai Lin nodded perfunctorily, thanked Huan Gui for his kindness, and then walked out with Mi Yu. But after taking a few steps, she stopped herself and looked back at Huan Gui who was following closely behind her, and asked,

"Why are you still following us?"

"This is our custom. Although you may not need a guide and would prefer to explore our city freely, I should still follow you. This will make it easier to deal with any conflicts that may arise. If you find me an eyesore, I can transform into a bird and follow you."

Listening to Huan Gui's extremely thoughtful and polite words, Bai Lin couldn't help but sigh. This really brought the spirit of the service industry to its extreme. It seems that it is not so easy for their race to make a living. Just when Bai Lin was about to agree, Mi Yu suddenly shouted,

"Brother Ghost, you're so tall and strong, yet you look so weak. Can you carry me on your back?"

Seeing the longing light flashing in her eyes, the Balloon Ghost leaned over without any hesitation, stretched out his short hand to Miyuki, and said with a mysterious smile,

"Hold on tight, it's time to take off!"

In the blink of an eye, Mi Yu was carried on the back of the balloon ghost. From her starry eyes, it seemed that the little guy was really enjoying the feeling of sitting on the balloon ghost.

...Does she really like sitting in high places? Bai Lin was a little confused, but when he thought about how he was like this when he was a child, he understood a lot. This was probably just the innocence of a child.

I'm sure I'll be a tough nut to crack for the Huanguis. Since Miyuki is already sitting there, I'll just consider her as payment for the snacks and information I just gave her. I won't separate them. Besides, there's nothing wrong with taking a local guide around this place.

Thinking of this, Bai Lin ignored the two of them and took his own steps.

Chapter 494: Indeed Cricket

"Although we named this city the City That Never Sleeps, it's also known outside by a more resounding nickname: the Jade City That Never Sleeps. If you're interested, you can also come to us to purchase some related peripherals..."

"Don't you make a living from the energy generated by emotions? Why do you still want to make money?"

"It still costs money to maintain this city. After all, we don't know how to farm, hahahaha."

Huan Gui was chatting with Bai Lin while she was casually strolling around. However, she naturally had no interest in these so-called peripherals, and even Mi Yu was not very interested. However, they still had a common goal... that was food.

Who wouldn't want to eat some carefully prepared delicacies if they had the conditions? On their usual adventures in the wild, Bai Lin had neither the skills nor the means to cook, so he and Miyu had to eat whatever they had on hand, which was barely palatable. Arriving in a town like this, it was naturally time to restock their supplies.

Because this was a city that travelers would pass through, there were plenty of resource stores selling rations and water. However, the prices were a bit higher than in other towns she'd passed through before, which made Bai Lin's eyebrows jump. After all, she had no means of making money; she'd saved up almost all of it bit by bit, so it was inevitable that she'd feel a bit distressed when faced with this situation.

But even though he felt bad, making money was the way to make a living. But Bai Lin still felt a little regretful. If he had known earlier, he would not have been so honest and just been a simple hero. He would have used the banner of the Son of God to attract sponsorship from others. Why would he frown over eating?

Of course, this is just a thought. There are many things involved in those matters. Bai Lin believes that just taking ordinary adventures has already consumed a lot of her energy, and she does not have much energy to intrigue with those in power.

Besides... her support seems quite good already. Much of the help she provides is irreplaceable by money. And money is the most reliable thing to spend when you earn it yourself.

Since she had just arrived in a world inhabited by alien races, Bai Lin didn't have much money to spend, but with her little money, she still had the courage to go out to eat. Fortunately, the prices here were not too outrageous, but the dishes looked a bit strange, almost like "hodgepodge" was written on the menu.

There were dishes like grilled meat on top of a vegetable salad, or fried eggs on top of seafood and meat. There were so many of them, and they all looked pretty good. But compared to these, Bai Lin still preferred the cheap and human-friendly dishes in Kamitra.

After all, it is a tourist area, and Bai Lin is already satisfied with this level.

After taking Miyu to dinner, Bai Lin wandered around again, and at the wolf girl's request, he visited some of the strange-looking shops. They were mostly small games, like archery and target shooting, and balloon popping. Compared to the street vendors at night markets, they were a bit more interesting. After all, this was another world, so the cost of moving targets was quite low.

With her own hard work, Bai Lin also made a small profit of snacks and small prizes. Regardless of the number of prizes she won, the stall owner never expressed any dissatisfaction with Bai Lin, and Bai Lin didn't think they had done anything tricky, so she still had a relatively happy time.

The only downside was that these prizes weren't very useful. Bai Lin hadn't planned on playing these mini-games for long; she'd just brought Miyuki along to have a look. Her main job was to be an adventurer, not a tourist.

After walking for a long time, Bai Lin came across a place somewhere on the street that looked like a temple with a very tall stone plaque. A solemn atmosphere emanated from the outside of the temple, without any sense of entertainment. The appearance of such a solemn building in such a joyful place actually piqued Bai Lin's interest. She immediately asked the happy ghost who was following them,

"What is this offering?"

"She is the deity worshipped by some of us Happy Ghosts, the God of Wilderness. Hundreds of years ago, we became her followers. However, over a hundred years ago, she truly reached the realm of a god and returned to the world. Therefore, our relationship with her has changed from followers to believers."

"Can I go in and take a look?" Bai Lin asked tentatively. The idea of ​​a god who once existed in the human world was still quite new to Bai Lin. Although the saints of Camelan had their own deeds, they were ultimately only worshipped as messengers of the gods. This was the first time she had seen a god like the Desolate God.

However, for the happy ghosts, this kind of belief should still be very important. She still has to ask first whether she can watch it. Otherwise, if it really angers the entire group of believers, it will definitely not be a good thing.

"Of course, if you're interested, I can also tell you about the history of our clan's encounter with the God of the Wilderness... But you're not allowed to make loud noises in the temple, or take out weapons, or cause damage to the temple."

The Balloon Ghost's tone seemed to be reminding Bai Lin, and Bai Lin replied dissatisfiedly,

"Do I look like a vandal?"

"That's not what I meant. I was just giving you a friendly reminder."

The slightly playful tone of voice left Bai Lin somewhat bewildered. After all, in the few short minutes since arriving in the City That Never Sleeps, Bai Lin had already threatened the balloon ghost with violence more than three times. But she didn't care about the balloon ghost's teasing and simply stepped into the temple.

Upon entering the temple's threshold, the balloon ghost's massive form suddenly shrank before Bai Lin's eyes. Its long, coiled hair flowed down elegantly, giving it a rather handsome appearance. Its outer garments also lost their flamboyant charm, transforming into loose, loose robes. Its Prajna-like ghost mask gradually transformed into a proper ghost mask, appearing completely different from its appearance.

Seeing the changes in the balloon ghost, Bai Lin couldn't help but say in surprise,

"Is this some kind of transformation spell?"

"To be precise, this is the ability of our Huan Gui. In fact, you can think of this as my true self."

"Well, it looks pretty good from this perspective, a bit handsome." Bai Lin also commented on the ghost-faced man with long hair and a mighty figure.

Chapter 495 You're Being Targeted

"...As long as you like it."

Huan Gui seemed to be talking a little less, probably because he was no longer as active as he was outside the temple. However, Bai Lin didn't care and walked inside.

Like many temples, this one, dedicated to the God of Desolation, also had a front yard of sweeping monks, though perhaps they weren't actually monks. Their clothing appeared to be rather dark, but there were golden patterns on the sleeves and hems, likely inscribed with religious symbols, though Bai Lin couldn't quite make them out.

The ghosts in these temples were also very solemn. When they saw Bai Lin coming, they just performed a small courtesy as if to say hello. Bai Lin also responded very naturally.

The front yard was primarily paved with stone slabs, a firm and reassuring sight. Numerous pine-like trees, lush and leafy, bore a strange, purple hue. The light filtering through the trees' shade seemed to take on a hazy purple hue, and a faint scent drifted across the courtyard, accompanied by the wafts of infusion.

If we say that this product of nature, that is, the big tree, is a symbol of life... I'm afraid it is a bit boring. We can't feel the vitality of life from the purple tree with its leaves constantly falling, but we also don't feel that the falling leaves are a sign of decline. It seems that this is just a very ordinary thing.

But there was no doubt that both the falling leaves and the tree's purple branches were a beautiful sight. The presence of these captivating trees before the dark hall, arousing the eye and a sense of lightness, added a touch of joy to the atmosphere.

The main hall was extremely tall, but the main entrance was very short. From the outside, there wasn't a hint of multi-story architecture, which might have made one wonder what secrets lay hidden within its height. But when Bai Lin stepped into the main hall, her doubts were instantly swept away, replaced by... shock.

A towering statue of a human—no, a deity—stood dozens of meters long and carved primarily from wood. At first glance, the wooden statue lacked the vividness of a human figure, perhaps appearing a bit too rigid. But as soon as Bai Lin entered the temple, he could sense a lingering gaze. Familiar with sensing the presence of others, Bai Lin understood that this was emanating from the deity.

Bai Lin looked up and studied the tall wooden statue, which was very close to a human in appearance, but with a bit more spirit: whether it was the fallen hair or the slightly misty feeling on the wide robe, the details had reached the extreme of wood craftsmanship that humans could understand.

Surprisingly, this deity, known as the God of Wilderness, not only resembled a human in appearance, but even appeared slightly younger than Bai Lin. Yet, the subtle charm in the statue's eyes, the half-open folding fan gently held in one hand, and the gentle smile on her lips all revealed her dignified demeanor. There was no chance of her being a young lady.

One hand rested casually at her side. Although facing forward, she seemed to be surveying the entire hall. Her casual gesture revealed awe-inspiring aura.

The style of the robe was familiar to Bai Lin, and it was very similar to Qian Hong's clothing. She wore a pair of short wooden boots. Everything about her made her look too human, with only the demon mask hanging on her forehead giving her a similar allure to the ghosts.

Behind the wood carving is a relief of the universe surrounding her, as if the deity both stands above all things and exists among them. This also makes people feel as if they are in the embrace of the deity.

This wasn't the first time Bai Lin had seen such a large statue. But compared to the completely compassionate saint and the deeply mysterious deity in Camitran, this statue was vastly different. In the Aragami, Bai Lin saw a similar feeling to Sora: a sense of trust, yet a certain distance. And compared to Sora, the Aragami even gave her a greater sense of intimacy, a feeling of closeness, a human feeling towards another being even more human.

A distant bell rang, its peaceful and sacred sound startling some birds. Creatures resembling white doves leaped from the sunlight, finally landing on the statue's shoulder. The desolate god, ensconced within the gloomy hall, was like the light of the world, attracting the frightened birds and beasts to her for support.

Such craftsmanship is indeed very shocking... But besides being shocked, what Bai Lin cares about most is the vague gaze that is paying attention to her. She is very clear that this gaze comes from the statue, which makes Bai Lin ask softly with some doubt,

"Why do I always feel that the statue of the God of Wilderness is looking at me?"

"Yes, Lady Aragami is watching you. From another realm of gods unknown to us, she is using her gaze to sweep over the beauty of all things in this world and protect them as best she can."

"Sweep? Why do I feel like it's more like staring?"

After Bai Lin said this, Huan Gui was stunned for a moment, and then continued,

"Generally speaking, the gaze of the God of Wilderness doesn't linger on the same person. Even for us believers, we don't receive much care from her. What the God of Wilderness does is more of a guidance. Even before she ascended to deity, her gifts came at a price. She won't give you any preferential treatment just because you are pious."

That's really a practical guy, sounds pretty good. Bai Lin thought so in his heart and gave a good evaluation of the God of Wilderness.

"If she's been staring at you, it means you and the Goddess of the Wilderness have a strong connection. It's said that she's been quite unpredictable since a long time ago. Not only us believers, but even the Happy Ghosts of her time can't understand her actions and thoughts."

"Ahem, I have my own beliefs, and I can't change them."

From what Huan Gui said, it seemed like he was being targeted by this wild god, but his girlfriend was a god of Camelan. This kind of thing was very troublesome no matter how he thought about it. Although Bai Lin would not really regard his girlfriend as a faith, she definitely had to express her attitude.

Chapter 496 Past Stories

"It doesn't necessarily mean you have to become her believer. Generally speaking, this is not a bad thing."

The Balloon Ghost's voice was very gentle, but his face remained stern. After hearing what he said, Bai Lin stopped dwelling on the gaze of the so-called "wild god" and instead began to observe the reliefs carved into the walls, which resembled lithographs.

Since the wooden statues of the God of Wilderness are all so lifelike, the ones on the wall are naturally not inferior. In this environment where the light seems a little deep, it is also somewhat thought-provoking. Bai Lin couldn't help but ask curiously,

"Didn't you say you wanted to tell me about your encounter with the Wild God? Come on, tell me. Since I've got her on my radar, I'd like to know more about what kind of god she is."

If she wanted to communicate with me, it would be a good thing to understand her personality. But if she wanted to hunt me down... more information would also be a good thing. Bai Lin thought so.

Huan Gui glanced at Bai Lin, then nodded and continued to tell the story.

Many years ago, the Happy Ghosts were a race similar to today's, willing to serve all things in the world and bring them happiness and enjoyment. However, back then, they were weak and insignificant, not only unable to receive customers, but often oppressed by some other races, who used them as slaves.

At this time, the desolate god, then still an ordinary person, encountered the Happy Ghosts. She admired their desire to bring joy to the world, which was consistent with her own thoughts. She used her tyrannical strength to drive away the evildoers and guided the Happy Ghosts on their current path.

"……Gone?"

The story came to an abrupt end, making Bai Lin wonder. Looking at Huan Gui's affirmative answer, Bai Lin frowned repeatedly. After thinking about it, he quickly understood and said with a sigh,

"This is so unbelievable, isn't it? It's so short! From my feelings and impressions of the God of Wilderness, she is indeed as you said, a person who loves all things. But in your city of happy ghosts, I didn't feel that. Aren't you serving the prosperity of your own race?"

"Could it be that the Wild God is helping you just for this statue and this temple? I think that's clearly unrealistic. Even if she was just an ordinary person at the time and acted casually, saving you on a whim, you should find a way to help this benefactor instead of worshipping her as a deity."

Judging from the subtle expression on Huan Gui's face, Bai Lin's guess was completely correct. The former nodded slowly and praised him.

"As expected, you are the one chosen by the Lord of the Wilderness. Coincidentally, there are not many outsiders in the temple, so I will tell you the true history directly."

In reality, before meeting the God of Desolation, the "Happy Ghosts" were a profoundly mysterious race, unnamed in common language. Legend has it that they could overturn the heavens and earth with a wave of their hands, dwelling within the abysses and chasms, casting their shadows across the continent. If they were angered, a storm of catastrophe would inevitably blow across the world.

They are a race that feeds on fear, the very essence of the stories parents tell their children not to go out at night. They are dark, evil, powerful, and unfathomable. Not only is the specific appearance of these Happy Ghosts unknown, but even their location is completely unknown. Some even speculate that they reside in a higher plane, only occasionally appearing in individual avatars in this world.

But in reality, they were just like the current Happy Ghosts, not particularly powerful. They simply relied on their racial abilities and marketing tactics to create this "gloom over the entire continent." Until... a young girl in a black robe, who was just casually strolling around the streets, happened to run into a Wild Ghost.

The Happy Ghost was about a hundred feet tall. Standing tall, it was as tall as the mountain. With a wave of its hand, it could block out the sun. Its movements stirred up a gloomy storm, frightening all nearby creatures thousands of miles away. Except for the young Wild God, who was a young girl at the time. She was simply enjoying the sun while traveling when the sunlight was suddenly blocked by the Happy Ghost. She jumped in front of the behemoth and politely asked,

"Could you please move aside? I'd rather see the bright sunshine on such an afternoon."

Imagine a fair-skinned, beautiful girl standing before a monster whose appearance is difficult to describe, asking such a question—how unrealistic that would be. Yet, the God of Wilderness did just that. The Huan Gui, naturally, would not yield. If it retreated, it would risk changing the impression of the Huan Gui clan in the eyes of others. Thus, the two engaged in a fight.

The result was simple. The God of Wilderness easily defeated the opponent. After she defeated the opponent, she found that Huan Gui's body had strangely changed to the same size as her. In the bright sunshine, her active curiosity was immediately aroused. She quickly asked,

"Hey, you're so small, why do you dress like that and scare people?"

"...To make a living. This is how our tribe survives."

The ghost-loving young man rolled his eyes at the God of Desolation. Seeing that he had no intention of killing him, he did not struggle any more and let him sit on his prone body casually. After receiving the young man's reply, the God of Desolation thought for a moment and replied,

"Can't we just not scare people? How about trying... making people happy? I think this is a bit more difficult than scaring people, and it would probably give you a lot of energy, right?"

"Eh……?"

In this way, the God of Wilderness opened up a new path for the Happy Ghosts, or perhaps a new job. Of course, there were also many old guys with a lot of say among the Happy Ghosts who disagreed with this. They were a long-lived species, and naturally there were many powerful ones, but -

All of them were dealt with by the God of Wilderness, without exception.

"And so, the young man whom the God of Wilderness first met became our new clan leader. The name Huan Gui was also chosen by the God of Wilderness. As you might imagine, the God of Wilderness is a very spontaneous person. She has never sought anything in return from us. But precisely because of this, even today when she has almost ceased to appear, we still respect her greatly."

"It's not a very strict religion. Those who come to this temple are just a group of people who respect it."