Tighnari's troubles were, of course, completely unknown to Lin Feng, who was still deep in his slumber.
As his divine authority remained active for an extended period, Lin Feng suddenly realized that his spirit was undergoing some kind of metamorphosis.
During this process, he gradually became aware that the consciousness he had linked to the Statue of the Seven was—without him noticing—forming a deep, intrinsic connection with the surrounding natural environment.
The rainforest felt as though it had become an extension of his own will.
Unsure what this change might bring, Lin Feng shifted his attention downward and conducted a brief scan of the area.
The result surprised him.
There seemed to be no negative effects—if anything, the changes were wholly beneficial.
After confirming he wouldn't cause trouble for the rainforest's inhabitants, he calmed down and redirected his focus inward.
Sensing the half-restored divine power within his body, Lin Feng couldn't help but sigh inwardly at how far he still had to go.
Then he sank back into the flow of gathering elemental energy.
Twelve days into Lin Feng's slumber — Gandharva Ville
Knock knock knock.
Tighnari stood outside a simple wooden hut and knocked rhythmically on the door.
After repeating the motion several times and receiving no response, he knew the hut's owner wasn't inside.
Turning away from Haypasia's dwelling, Tighnari prepared to head into the rainforest.
After days of nonstop work, he had finally finished compiling the other witnesses' interview reports.
Even he felt the explanations he'd invented were rather far-fetched—
"Mushroom spores interacting with tree shadows induced a hypnotic effect,"
and
"A temporary shift in ley lines caused passing travelers to hallucinate,"
and other such forced reasoning.
But at the very least, they were technically possible.
As long as he didn't mention that the real cause was a teenager buried underneath a Statue of the Seven, no one would guess the truth.
Only one task remained—
explaining the "god" Haypasia had perceived.
Just thinking about it made his head pound.
Tighnari had been so anxious crafting these convoluted theories that even the fur on his ears had started to fall out.
"Sigh…"
He didn't even know how many times he'd sighed like this over the past few days.
Returning home, he skillfully packed a serving of nutrient food—likely essential for someone who was probably passed out from hunger in the rainforest again.
After making sure he hadn't forgotten anything, he headed out.
Familiar with every inch of the surrounding terrain, Tighnari soon arrived at the cave where Haypasia trained.
The moment he reached the entrance, a faint scent of Fungal Incense drifted to his nose.
Surprised that she hadn't fainted yet, he lightened his steps and quietly entered the cave.
Since Haypasia was still meditating, he didn't disturb her.
He simply sat down and continued refining his report.
Time passed.
Thud.
A dull crash snapped Tighnari's attention back to reality.
—The Haypasia who had been meditating just moments ago had, unsurprisingly, passed out mid-practice from hunger.
Seeing the young scholar collapsed face-first on the ground, Tighnari felt a strange sense of relief—
At least in the matter of "fainting from starvation," Haypasia was still her usual self.
Standing up from the rock, he hurried over and helped her sit upright, opened the special fruit juice he'd prepared, adjusted the angle, and ensured she wouldn't choke before slowly pouring it between her lips.
Soon enough, thanks to her extensive experience in starving herself unconscious, Haypasia revived.
She instinctively reached beside her for the packed meal, and—carefully controlling her appetite—ate it in small bites.
"Phew… I'm alive again."
"I knew you wouldn't let me starve to death, Tighnari."
She finished the meal and looked at him gratefully.
"I really wish you and Farbod would make my life a little easier," Tighnari scolded with zero mercy.
"One of you constantly faints in the wild from hunger, and the other—no matter how many times I teach him—keeps treating poisonous mushrooms as edible ones.
If you two keep this up, I'm going to write your names into the Rainforest Survival Guide as cautionary examples."
"And another thing—"
Tighnari pointed at the clusters of oversized Sumeru roses and sunsettias that had mysteriously sprouted all around the cave.
"There's fruit growing everywhere. How do you still manage to starve yourself?"
"Ah! Those fruits must be gifts bestowed upon me by the god who acknowledged my devotion! How could I possibly eat such sacred offerings?"
Haypasia's expression brimmed with fervor.
Tighnari: "…"
He fell silent, not knowing where to begin.
Haypasia, well-practiced in ignoring Tighnari's exasperation, suddenly leaned closer, eyes shining.
"Forget that for now, Tighnari."
"Hehe… I have to tell you—I caught a glimpse of the god's visage in my consciousness."
"If you give me just a little more time, I'm sure I can achieve perfect communion with the god's mind!"
"R-Really? Congratulations, then."
Although highly skeptical, Tighnari still offered polite congratulations.
"I'm actually here to ask about that 'god' you mentioned. Haypasia, could you describe the deity's appearance in detail?"
Tighnari pulled out his notebook, ready to record.
"Of course!" Haypasia nearly vibrated with excitement.
"That was without question a true god. The instant I glimpsed the deity's visage—it was an unparalleled, transcendent experience…"
"That god, who bore the appearance of a young boy, possessed a heart as boundless as the world itself. His body held the might of heaven and earth.
Even seeing but a corner of His face granted me supreme wisdom!"
"He loves all of creation equally. The forest is His eyes, the land is His body.
The power He displayed—just the tip of the iceberg—was already enough to command reverence from all living beings…"
"…Wait," Tighnari interrupted, ignoring her fervor.
"So aside from knowing the god looked like a young boy, you don't actually know anything else? At all?"
"Ehh… well, that's true for now, but! If you just give me a little more time—just a little—I'm sure I can fully commune with His mind! Believe me!"
"Mm-hm. Yes. I'll definitely believe you," Tighnari replied perfunctorily.
—Excessive hunger combined with the effects of Fungal Incense have induced intense hallucinations. Information deemed invalid.
Snap.
Tighnari closed his notebook, formally ending the investigation.
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