Zong Yan bowed his head as he sent the message. While waiting for a reply, he was distracted by a sudden commotion.
It was like the scene of a battle. The entire airport was suddenly crowded with people. In the lead was a gaggle of media carrying extra-large cameras and microphones, followed by a throng of shouting people. It was so noisy that it felt like some kind of weird, flash mob performance scene.
The man being chased by these people had blond hair and sunglasses. He was wearing a black shirt and slim-fitting black pants that outlined his lean waist and the unbelievable proportions of his long legs. On his feet were a pair of spiked Martin boots of the same color.
“Lord Shub, we love you!!”
“Ahhhhhh, the Lord just looked at me! He looked at me!”
“Mr. Niggurath!!”
The shouting of the fans was deafening. They almost blocked off the entire airport exit. The media carrying cameras were even more excited, but they didn’t dare come forward.
Who was Shub-Niggurath? He was Hollywood’s biggest international star, the darling of the screen, the dream lover of countless women.
Unfortunately, in the past two years he hadn’t acted in many movies. Instead he went to Wall Street to amuse himself as a venture capitalist. He occasionally directed films, recorded albums, and appeared in high fashion shows around the world. Wherever he appeared he was the absolute focus of the crowd.
Shub-Niggurath’s adoring fans didn’t care what he did. Even if he didn’t act much anymore, his flawless face was followed by people all over the world. A top French fashion designer once said that Mr. Niggurath’s face was a miracle from the gods. He was like Narcissus from ancient Greek mythology, possessing a beauty that transcended gender, race, and everything else.
Of course, as the center of everyone’s attention, Shub-Niggurath was by no means a perfect superstar.
He was cruel. He was cold. He was arrogant. But that was nothing unusual in the eyes of his fanatical followers.
AD
It was scary to see the cult-like enthusiasm and devotion of this superstar’s fan base. It was said that a while ago, some members of his core fans jumped from a building more than a hundred meters high in order to get a glance from him. Maybe such a degree of adoration really deserved to be called a cult.
Zong Yan had his cell phone in one hand and was dragging his suitcase in the other. He took a casual look around and suddenly got a bad feeling.
Did they just say Nicholas? Or Niggurath?
It wasn’t a good name. Of the two people Zong Yan was thinking of, one was a proto-god and the other was an important elder at MU. No matter who it was, they were both powerhouses.
He gulped and bowed his head.
He’d just posted his location in the group chat. Edward and Wang KeMing said they were on their way. Zong Yan hesitated for a moment, wanting to switch to a less crowded exit.
But when he tried to turn around and started dragging his suitcase, the screams at the door suddenly got louder and louder.
The blond-haired evil god with his hands in his pockets suddenly stepped away and walked straight towards Zong Yan.
He put his hand on the frame of his sunglasses and took them off, revealing his flawless face.
Zong Yan: “…”
So it was this guy?!
“The first thing you did when you saw me was turn around and leave. How sad.”
AD
Shub suddenly opened his arms. With the advantage of his superior height he pulled the black-haired teen into his arms, smiling dangerously the entire time.
Zong Yan went stiff.
He wanted to duck away but didn’t have time. He was forced into the evil god’s arms like a timid little bird.
‘Who’s that with Lord Shub?’
‘Ahhhhh, dammit, I want Mr. Niggurath to do that to me!’
‘God, it’s the first time I’ve seen Mr. Niggurath so enthusiastic about anyone.’
The airport fell silent in an instant. Everyone’s eyes were like sharp blades stabbing into Zong Yan.
It was well known that Shub-Niggurath was famous for his face as well as his terrible temper.
This innate sense of contempt was reflected in all parts of the superstar’s life. He basically never looked people in the eye, let alone got close. Anyone who made it within a meter of him was in for some embarrassment.
Zong Yan felt like he was going numb under the camera flashes and countless staring eyes.
How did it feel to be greeted by an international superstar?
Maybe this was how it felt.
AD
“What are you doing here?”
The moment Zong Yan was able to regain his balance, he broke away from the embrace. His black eyes were full of vigilance, and his other hand reached into his pocket and quietly held an Elder God persona card.
“I’m the host of New York. Something so big happened and the Father God came here in person. Why shouldn’t I come?” Shub lazily combed back the hair on his forehead with his fingers.
The people at the airport made so much noise that the evil god began to feel impatient.
A moment later, the shadow that extended from the back of his Martin shoes suddenly expanded.
The clear marble floor of the airport was instantly covered with a sticky, black tar-like substance, just like freshly extracted petroleum. It gave off an indescribable stench.
Countless shadows and indistinct behemoths swam slowly within the darkness, and in the fragmented space, a million eyes opened in a million narrow crevices, gazing back with eyes full of malice.
The people in the airport seemed oblivious to the changes around them. They walked through the sticky darkness, and the black in the center of their eyes expanded more and more, taking over the white, a horrifying thing to see.
Zong Yan silently tightened his fingers. When he was about to crush the card of the Sun God, the blond-haired evil god beside him said carelessly, “They’re fine. It’s just that they won’t make any noise for the time being.”
When he heard those words, the black-haired teen immediately scanned his surroundings.
Indeed, the media who were carrying their cameras were now standing in a daze. It took a while before they remembered what they’d been doing, so they hurriedly put away their equipment and left. The ordinary people who’d arrived with the media also seemed to return to their senses. The ink-black color in their eyes surged and they dispersed like marionettes on a string.
The airport exit, which had been brimming with people a moment ago, returned to normal in a flash.
AD
Zong Yan’s gut tightened.
Of the three evil gods, Shub-Niggurath was the one Zong Yan was the most wary of.
Nyarlathotep liked to stir up trouble. He preferred to see human beings destroy themselves, struggling in the mire of despair and darkness, instead of doing it himself. As for Yog-Sothoth, it wasn’t that he was indifferent, really; his attitude was more like condescending contempt. He disdained to have any dealings with human beings. In a sense, he was the safest.
While Nyarla wandered the border between human light and darkness, Shub-Niggurath created his own human identity, then used the power of an evil god to perfect this identity and erase the slightest flaws.
Why did he do it? To enjoy the admiration of tiny ants? To gather followers?
Zong Yan couldn’t figure out the evil god’s intention at all. Maybe he just found it interesting.
But the way he did it, the means he used, the trampling on human beings, was disturbing.
“I just came here to remind you about that warning.”
The blond-haired evil god suddenly bent down. His scarlet eyes stared at Zong Yan unblinkingly.
Yog had once said to Zong Yan—don’t look directly in an evil god’s eyes, or you’ll likely lose yourself in the vast, indescribable nature of their existence.
Within those malicious scarlet eyes, Zong Yan saw countless black shapes entangled together like a swarm of black clouds, a myriad of unidentifiable flailing tentacles, festering fangs dripping with mucus, goats’ hooves that were twisted and curved or straight or random, and the horns of the Black Goat described in the Bible. It was ugly and terrible, and with just one glance Zong Yan felt sticky sweat on his forehead.
Who would have imagined that such a being could put on human skin, and that it would become so beautiful it surpassed any concept of gender, enchanting everyone who saw it?
“Don’t ever use that card.”
The Black Goat with a Thousand Young reached out and gently cupped the black-haired teen’s face. His long and slender fingertips moved suggestively over Zong Yan’s skin. “Even if Ghroth comes. Even if the Earth is destroyed.
“Of course, if you do use that card, you won’t change anything for the better. His Majesty Azathoth is more powerful than you can imagine. As a stream of consciousness, you’ll be completely annihilated. You won’t even remember to tell Ghroth to get lost.”
That was true. The last time Zong Yan used the Azathoth card, his entire being had become like someone else. If it weren’t for the strength of his obsession, he wouldn’t have remembered to reverse the timeline of Jiangzhou. He would have become lost in the vast and variegated dream world of the Lord of the Universe.
“When the Harbinger of Doom arrives, I can give you the status of a family member of the Black Goat. If I do that, the destruction of this tiny planet won’t cost your life.”
The evil god gave a low laugh. His voice was treacherous and compelling, “As long as you’re obedient.
“Only good children can be rewarded.”
…
It seemed that Shub had come here just to remind Zong Yan about his warning. After saying these words, the blond-haired evil god abruptly disappeared.
The floor and ceiling of the airport hall returned to normal. People came and went. They didn’t seem to realize that an international superstar had just been here.
“Yan Ge—! Yan Ge! Over here!”
While Zong Yan was thinking about this conversation, a familiar voice shouted from afar.
When he looked up, he saw Wang KeMing puffing and running over. Edward wasn’t that much slower. Wearing sunglasses and a mask, he followed with his hands in his pockets.
Zong Yan: “…”
When he saw Edward’s blond hair, mask, and sunglasses configuration, he felt like he was about to suffer from blond-haired sunglasses PTSD.
“Yan Ge, when did you sign up? So cold! You came to Boston secretly without telling your own brothers. If we didn’t come here with a mentor for our investigation practice class, we might not have even seen each other.”
After a semester’s absence, Wang KeMing’s figure had visibly shrunk. He’d unexpectedly changed from having a completely round face to one with a faint trace of a jawline, which left Zong Yan amazed.
“Ugh, I don’t want to talk about it. This semester isn’t fit for humans! If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was repeating senior year of high school. No, even senior three wasn’t this exhausting.” Wang KeMing’s face was sorrowful. “Senior year of high school just means studying books. I can’t believe that going to MU means I have to be beaten up by alien creatures.
“By the way, who was that man just now?”
Zong Yan was startled. “Who?”
“The guy with sunglasses. It looked like he had a good body and a good temperament, like a movie star…”
“You’re seeing things,” Zong Yan denied it. “I’ve been waiting for you alone.”
“Oh, okay.”
Wang KeMing didn’t examine it any further. He helped Zong Yan with his luggage and the three of them walked out of the airport together.
Zong Yan bowed his head as he sent the message. While waiting for a reply, he was distracted by a sudden commotion.
It was like the scene of a battle. The entire airport was suddenly crowded with people. In the lead was a gaggle of media carrying extra-large cameras and microphones, followed by a throng of shouting people. It was so noisy that it felt like some kind of weird, flash mob performance scene.
The man being chased by these people had blond hair and sunglasses. He was wearing a black shirt and slim-fitting black pants that outlined his lean waist and the unbelievable proportions of his long legs. On his feet were a pair of spiked Martin boots of the same color.
“Lord Shub, we love you!!”
“Ahhhhhh, the Lord just looked at me! He looked at me!”
“Mr. Niggurath!!”
The shouting of the fans was deafening. They almost blocked off the entire airport exit. The media carrying cameras were even more excited, but they didn’t dare come forward.
Who was Shub-Niggurath? He was Hollywood’s biggest international star, the darling of the screen, the dream lover of countless women.
Unfortunately, in the past two years he hadn’t acted in many movies. Instead he went to Wall Street to amuse himself as a venture capitalist. He occasionally directed films, recorded albums, and appeared in high fashion shows around the world. Wherever he appeared he was the absolute focus of the crowd.
Shub-Niggurath’s adoring fans didn’t care what he did. Even if he didn’t act much anymore, his flawless face was followed by people all over the world. A top French fashion designer once said that Mr. Niggurath’s face was a miracle from the gods. He was like Narcissus from ancient Greek mythology, possessing a beauty that transcended gender, race, and everything else.
Of course, as the center of everyone’s attention, Shub-Niggurath was by no means a perfect superstar.
He was cruel. He was cold. He was arrogant. But that was nothing unusual in the eyes of his fanatical followers.
AD
It was scary to see the cult-like enthusiasm and devotion of this superstar’s fan base. It was said that a while ago, some members of his core fans jumped from a building more than a hundred meters high in order to get a glance from him. Maybe such a degree of adoration really deserved to be called a cult.
Zong Yan had his cell phone in one hand and was dragging his suitcase in the other. He took a casual look around and suddenly got a bad feeling.
Did they just say Nicholas? Or Niggurath?
It wasn’t a good name. Of the two people Zong Yan was thinking of, one was a proto-god and the other was an important elder at MU. No matter who it was, they were both powerhouses.
He gulped and bowed his head.
He’d just posted his location in the group chat. Edward and Wang KeMing said they were on their way. Zong Yan hesitated for a moment, wanting to switch to a less crowded exit.
But when he tried to turn around and started dragging his suitcase, the screams at the door suddenly got louder and louder.
The blond-haired evil god with his hands in his pockets suddenly stepped away and walked straight towards Zong Yan.
He put his hand on the frame of his sunglasses and took them off, revealing his flawless face.
Zong Yan: “…”
So it was this guy?!
“The first thing you did when you saw me was turn around and leave. How sad.”
AD
Shub suddenly opened his arms. With the advantage of his superior height he pulled the black-haired teen into his arms, smiling dangerously the entire time.
Zong Yan went stiff.
He wanted to duck away but didn’t have time. He was forced into the evil god’s arms like a timid little bird.
‘Who’s that with Lord Shub?’
‘Ahhhhh, dammit, I want Mr. Niggurath to do that to me!’
‘God, it’s the first time I’ve seen Mr. Niggurath so enthusiastic about anyone.’
The airport fell silent in an instant. Everyone’s eyes were like sharp blades stabbing into Zong Yan.
It was well known that Shub-Niggurath was famous for his face as well as his terrible temper.
This innate sense of contempt was reflected in all parts of the superstar’s life. He basically never looked people in the eye, let alone got close. Anyone who made it within a meter of him was in for some embarrassment.
Zong Yan felt like he was going numb under the camera flashes and countless staring eyes.
How did it feel to be greeted by an international superstar?
Maybe this was how it felt.
AD
“What are you doing here?”
The moment Zong Yan was able to regain his balance, he broke away from the embrace. His black eyes were full of vigilance, and his other hand reached into his pocket and quietly held an Elder God persona card.
“I’m the host of New York. Something so big happened and the Father God came here in person. Why shouldn’t I come?” Shub lazily combed back the hair on his forehead with his fingers.
The people at the airport made so much noise that the evil god began to feel impatient.
A moment later, the shadow that extended from the back of his Martin shoes suddenly expanded.
The clear marble floor of the airport was instantly covered with a sticky, black tar-like substance, just like freshly extracted petroleum. It gave off an indescribable stench.
Countless shadows and indistinct behemoths swam slowly within the darkness, and in the fragmented space, a million eyes opened in a million narrow crevices, gazing back with eyes full of malice.
The people in the airport seemed oblivious to the changes around them. They walked through the sticky darkness, and the black in the center of their eyes expanded more and more, taking over the white, a horrifying thing to see.
Zong Yan silently tightened his fingers. When he was about to crush the card of the Sun God, the blond-haired evil god beside him said carelessly, “They’re fine. It’s just that they won’t make any noise for the time being.”
When he heard those words, the black-haired teen immediately scanned his surroundings.
Indeed, the media who were carrying their cameras were now standing in a daze. It took a while before they remembered what they’d been doing, so they hurriedly put away their equipment and left. The ordinary people who’d arrived with the media also seemed to return to their senses. The ink-black color in their eyes surged and they dispersed like marionettes on a string.
The airport exit, which had been brimming with people a moment ago, returned to normal in a flash.
AD
Zong Yan’s gut tightened.
Of the three evil gods, Shub-Niggurath was the one Zong Yan was the most wary of.
Nyarlathotep liked to stir up trouble. He preferred to see human beings destroy themselves, struggling in the mire of despair and darkness, instead of doing it himself. As for Yog-Sothoth, it wasn’t that he was indifferent, really; his attitude was more like condescending contempt. He disdained to have any dealings with human beings. In a sense, he was the safest.
While Nyarla wandered the border between human light and darkness, Shub-Niggurath created his own human identity, then used the power of an evil god to perfect this identity and erase the slightest flaws.
Why did he do it? To enjoy the admiration of tiny ants? To gather followers?
Zong Yan couldn’t figure out the evil god’s intention at all. Maybe he just found it interesting.
But the way he did it, the means he used, the trampling on human beings, was disturbing.
“I just came here to remind you about that warning.”
The blond-haired evil god suddenly bent down. His scarlet eyes stared at Zong Yan unblinkingly.
Yog had once said to Zong Yan—don’t look directly in an evil god’s eyes, or you’ll likely lose yourself in the vast, indescribable nature of their existence.
Within those malicious scarlet eyes, Zong Yan saw countless black shapes entangled together like a swarm of black clouds, a myriad of unidentifiable flailing tentacles, festering fangs dripping with mucus, goats’ hooves that were twisted and curved or straight or random, and the horns of the Black Goat described in the Bible. It was ugly and terrible, and with just one glance Zong Yan felt sticky sweat on his forehead.
Who would have imagined that such a being could put on human skin, and that it would become so beautiful it surpassed any concept of gender, enchanting everyone who saw it?
“Don’t ever use that card.”
The Black Goat with a Thousand Young reached out and gently cupped the black-haired teen’s face. His long and slender fingertips moved suggestively over Zong Yan’s skin. “Even if Ghroth comes. Even if the Earth is destroyed.
“Of course, if you do use that card, you won’t change anything for the better. His Majesty Azathoth is more powerful than you can imagine. As a stream of consciousness, you’ll be completely annihilated. You won’t even remember to tell Ghroth to get lost.”
That was true. The last time Zong Yan used the Azathoth card, his entire being had become like someone else. If it weren’t for the strength of his obsession, he wouldn’t have remembered to reverse the timeline of Jiangzhou. He would have become lost in the vast and variegated dream world of the Lord of the Universe.
“When the Harbinger of Doom arrives, I can give you the status of a family member of the Black Goat. If I do that, the destruction of this tiny planet won’t cost your life.”
The evil god gave a low laugh. His voice was treacherous and compelling, “As long as you’re obedient.
“Only good children can be rewarded.”
…
It seemed that Shub had come here just to remind Zong Yan about his warning. After saying these words, the blond-haired evil god abruptly disappeared.
The floor and ceiling of the airport hall returned to normal. People came and went. They didn’t seem to realize that an international superstar had just been here.
“Yan Ge—! Yan Ge! Over here!”
While Zong Yan was thinking about this conversation, a familiar voice shouted from afar.
When he looked up, he saw Wang KeMing puffing and running over. Edward wasn’t that much slower. Wearing sunglasses and a mask, he followed with his hands in his pockets.
Zong Yan: “…”
When he saw Edward’s blond hair, mask, and sunglasses configuration, he felt like he was about to suffer from blond-haired sunglasses PTSD.
“Yan Ge, when did you sign up? So cold! You came to Boston secretly without telling your own brothers. If we didn’t come here with a mentor for our investigation practice class, we might not have even seen each other.”
After a semester’s absence, Wang KeMing’s figure had visibly shrunk. He’d unexpectedly changed from having a completely round face to one with a faint trace of a jawline, which left Zong Yan amazed.
“Ugh, I don’t want to talk about it. This semester isn’t fit for humans! If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was repeating senior year of high school. No, even senior three wasn’t this exhausting.” Wang KeMing’s face was sorrowful. “Senior year of high school just means studying books. I can’t believe that going to MU means I have to be beaten up by alien creatures.
“By the way, who was that man just now?”
Zong Yan was startled. “Who?”
“The guy with sunglasses. It looked like he had a good body and a good temperament, like a movie star…”
“You’re seeing things,” Zong Yan denied it. “I’ve been waiting for you alone.”
“Oh, okay.”
Wang KeMing didn’t examine it any further. He helped Zong Yan with his luggage and the three of them walked out of the airport together.
