Chapter 020: Redemption

In the end, Tasia followed the young man. It wasn’t because he had some kind of charming aura or anything; rather, Tasia noticed that, for some reason, the refugees wearing single-layer clothes in the vicinity had started staring at her with greedy eyes. She had no doubt about what would happen to her if she were left alone.
Although she naturally despised nobles, she still got on Du Fan’s carriage. It was an extremely ordinary carriage. Even though it was winter, the inside was unnaturally clean, with only a few cold benches and a square table.
The young man, shivering, looked at Tasia and said, “Why… do you think my carriage is so vulgar?”
“No…”, Tasia shook her head slightly before saying, “I just think… you seem very poor… It’s better to return this clothes to you.”
The young man laughed heartily. “Poor! Haha, someone actually thinks I’m poor! But that’s fine… at least no one will keep trying to take advantage of me… Since I’ve given you these clothes, they belong to you now… By the way… there’s something else I can give you…”
With that, he rummaged in his bosom for a moment before pulling out a piece of cheese still warm from his body and handing it to Tasia. “Take this. People in your world probably like eating this kind of thing. But I, as a young master, have no interest in such overly sweet stuff. Please eat it for me.”
Tasia hesitated for a moment but still grabbed the cheese and ate it eagerly.
The young man watched her finish eating with a smile before suddenly asking, “By the way… what’s your name?”
Tasia shook her head slightly and said, “My name is… Tasia.”
“Tasia… what a tricky name to pronounce.” The young man giggled and pointed at himself. “I’m Du Fan. I’m a minor noble with no fame, and I’m about to become a priest. So if we meet again… you can call me by my name. By then, maybe I’ll pray for you.”
Tasia’s eyes flickered briefly before she said indifferently, “What’s the use of praying? If prayer really worked, could it bring redemption?”

Du Fan was momentarily stunned, then smiled gently after a while. “This… miss… redemption isn’t obtained through prayer, nor can it be given by anyone else. Only you yourself can bring about your own redemption. In this world, no one is anyone else’s savior. No matter who you are or what you desire, you must pay an equal price. Even if you seek divine redemption, you still need to sacrifice your faith… right?”

As he spoke, Du Fan glanced outside the carriage at the vast crowd of refugees and suddenly smiled bitterly. “Take those people for example—who can bring them redemption? And at a time like this, they probably don’t even believe in themselves, so how could they have faith?”

Tasia was briefly stunned and didn’t know how to respond. Although she seemed a few years older than Du Fan, in terms of experience, how could she compare to Du Fan, who had lived two lives?

Seeing her expression, Du Fan smiled again. “Tasia, our meeting today is also a matter of fate. Since I’ve helped you, it’s as if destiny has brought us together. There’s a saying in the distant Eastern Continent: ‘Help someone to the end, even if it means sending them to the other side.’ If you’re willing to sacrifice your faith… even if I were to grant you redemption, what then? The key is… are you willing?”

Tasia thought for a moment before suddenly saying, “If… you can give me an answer, I’m willing to be your slave, even if it means sacrificing my faith.”

Du Fan smiled gently. He looked at Tasia’s dark face and after a while, asked softly, “What do you need an answer to? Go ahead and ask. I, Du Fan, am not a scholar or a philosopher. I’m just the most useless noble young master. If you think someone like me can give you an answer, why not ask?”

Tasia stared at the boy before her, feeling confused. He seemed only ten years old. His smile was pure, but still carried a hint of childishness. Though he appeared confident, there was not a trace of maturity in him. But could such a person really give her an answer?

Tasia didn’t know. Her gaze became somewhat lost, and she was momentarily speechless.

Seeing her state, Du Fan nodded thoughtfully and said after a while, “Tasia, where are you from…?”

“…The North…” Tasia replied after a pause. “I’ve been traveling for over half a month to reach the capital. I heard that food can be found here, so… I came…”

“The North…” Du Fan frowned. If he remembered correctly, the situation in the North should have improved by now. Yet he felt interested in this Tasia. Staring at her, he asked, “Why did you come here? If I’m not mistaken, it’s the provinces around the capital that were most affected by the snow disaster. The provinces in the North… don’t seem to have been greatly impacted at all.”
“Does one have to be affected by a snow disaster to become a refugee?” Tasia’s voice sounded hoarse. “If you’re willing… could you listen to my story?”
Du Fan smiled faintly. “Why not?”
Tasia paused for a moment before saying, “I was born in a small town in the North. Although we were constantly surrounded by snow and wind, my family lived a very happy life. But three years ago, after that man arrived in town, our lives changed.
Originally, everyone in our town lived a prosperous life, and the noble lord there treated us well. But after that lord died, another person took his place. This new lord was completely different from the previous one. Not only did he demand heavy taxes from us, but he was also greedy and lustful. Two years ago, he took a liking to my mother and sent people to abduct her. My father went to argue with him but returned broken and unable to walk. A year ago, my father died, and then he took a liking to my sister, who was also taken away by him…
Three days later, my sister’s body was hung outside his castle… Only later did I find out that she had killed herself by hitting her head against the wall rather than endure his humiliation. My mother had died two years earlier…
After that, his eyes turned to me… If it weren’t for the townspeople who protected me… I would have fallen into his hands long ago, living a life worse than death… At that time… I don’t know how many times I prayed to the great Light God, begging for someone to save me. But… was there anyone?… Was there anyone?… So tell me… in such a situation, what should I believe? How can I find faith?”
Tasia’s voice was dry and hoarse, her eyes filled with an indescribable hatred and sorrow, making it impossible for Du Fan to meet her gaze.

After a long while, Du Fan finally sighed and said, “I’m sorry. I can’t give you an answer, nor can I save you. But… I can help you with one thing… Could you tell me… what that nobleman’s name is, and where your town is?”
Tasia was stunned for a moment before quickly answering, “Cort Province, Black Mountain Town, Viscount Brock.”
Clearly, she had repeated these words countless times in her mind, which allowed her to speak them so smoothly.
“Cort Province?” Du Fan nodded slightly before suddenly shouting, “Grandpa Mark…”
The carriage came to a sudden stop. Mark lifted the curtain and glanced back at Du Fan, asking, “Third young master, what’s wrong now?”
Du Fan smiled faintly and said, “Grandpa Mark, if I’m not mistaken, Father once said you were a sixth-level knight, right?”
Mark nodded and said, “Yes…”
“Then, Grandpa Mark,” Du Fan continued, “what is the spirit of a knight?”
Mark was momentarily stunned before answering, “Humility, honor, sacrifice, bravery, compassion, spirit, honesty, justice…”
Du Fan nodded and said, “I see. Then as a knight, Grandpa Mark, can I ask you to do something for me?”
Mark bowed slightly and said, “Of course, my young master…”
Du Fan smiled gently and said, “Then… help me kill someone… His name is Brock, a viscount. He should be in Black Mountain Town, Cort Province. After killing him, bring his head to Miss Tasia as well. Is that okay, Grandpa Mark?”
“Yes… young master…” Mark gave Du Fan a deep look before lowering the curtain again.
Du Fan smiled faintly. She turned to look at Tasia and said, “What do you think? Does this count as an answer for you, or as salvation?”
Tasia was stunned and couldn’t speak for a moment.
Du Fan didn’t look at her again but said, “See? Even if I give you salvation now, would you still believe in the gods?”
Book 6: The Origin of Gods