Chapter 854: Gilgamesh’s Ailment

“Is that so…”

After hearing the story, Lin Qiye let out a long sigh.

He turned to look at the courtyard and saw Gilgamesh silently standing alone in the shade of a tree, the dappled light falling on his gray robe. He gazed up at the distant sky, lost in thought.

“Thank you.” Lin Qiye turned back and smiled faintly at Merlin.

Merlin waved his hand dismissively, “I merely told a story; what comes next depends on His Excellency the Director.”

Lin Qiye glanced down at the fragment in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and then walked directly toward Gilgamesh in the shade.

Having learned about Gilgamesh’s past and considering his condition, Lin Qiye could basically deduce that his inner turmoil was related to the destruction of the Kingdom of Uruk. What he needed to do next was to probe Gilgamesh and see from which angle to begin the treatment.

Noticing Lin Qiye’s approach, Gilgamesh squinted his eyes and spoke from a position of superiority:

“If you seek to have this king confess his sins, it is too late. You will sooner or later be nailed to the pillar of shame for all to see for nine days.”

“…” Lin Qiye was momentarily speechless but eventually spoke up, “I came to show you something.”

“Mm?” Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow, “Present it to me, let this king see.”

Lin Qiye extended his hand, offering the fragment in his palm to Gilgamesh. As the latter lowered his head to see the shard, his pupils suddenly constricted.

He stood frozen like a stone statue.

Just as Lin Qiye was about to say something, Gilgamesh abruptly lifted his head, fixing his gaze on Lin Qiye’s eyes, and spoke slowly:

“You… shattered the Tablet of Destinies?”

Lin Qiye was taken aback.

In an instant, a terrifying divine power erupted from Gilgamesh, sweeping through the entire mental hospital. A violent wind rustled his gray robe, and an unprecedented killing intent surged forth.

Sun Wukong, who had just returned to the ward, suddenly halted, his brow furrowing tightly.

He turned to look toward the courtyard, a flash of anger crossing his eyes.

“Seeking death?”

His figure flickered, transforming into a blur as he rushed toward Gilgamesh in the courtyard, reaching for his ear, the raging divine power stirring once more.

At that moment, a hand landed on his shoulder.

Sun Wukong, moving at high speed, paused in surprise and turned to look back.

He saw that Merlin had calmly appeared behind him, smiling as he said, “Don’t worry, he won’t come to harm.”

…

In the courtyard.

Gilgamesh’s aura was rising steadily. One hand gripped the fragment, trembling slightly, while the other hand grasped the air, summoning the golden sword of kingship, its tip aimed directly at Lin Qiye, exuding a murderous intent!

“The Tablet of Destinies is the symbol of Uruk. Anyone who destroys it… shall be mercilessly slain!”

Amidst the swirling divine power, Lin Qiye stood calmly, “It was not I who shattered it, but the ancient wars and the endless passage of time.”

Gilgamesh spoke coldly, “Uruk will never be extinguished by ridiculous wars and time. It is the most powerful kingdom in the world, the kingdom that this king created!”

Upon hearing this, Lin Qiye helplessly closed his eyes.

He had roughly grasped the nature of Gilgamesh’s affliction…

This tyrant, who had single-handedly created the glory of Uruk yet foresaw its destruction and felt powerless to change it, buried his memories deep within his heart in a mix of unwillingness and anger, thus creating another set of memories rooted in his consciousness.

This was quite similar to Lin Qiye’s own experience years ago.

After the Great Calamity of Cangnan, Lin Qiye’s soul had been severely depleted. Coupled with the heavy blow of losing family and friends, he subconsciously escaped reality, immersing himself in the false illusions created by the Mortal Realm, sinking into it for a long time.

If it weren’t for the lingering power left by the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, and the treatment at the Yangguang Mental Hospital, he didn’t know how long it would take to emerge from that state.

Gilgamesh had also created a set of memories, a false memory where Uruk had not perished and still thrived in the world, and he himself had not aged and died but had sought eternal life, continuing to rule over this grand and powerful kingdom.

Yet, in some respects, his affliction was far worse than Lin Qiye’s back then.

In Gilgamesh’s eyes, even though this mental hospital clearly did not exist in Uruk, and the attendants walking within did not resemble his subjects, he still subconsciously modified his perception, forcibly twisting everything back to the false memory trajectory, desperately maintaining the status quo.

In his mind, this place was still his Uruk, and the people living here were naturally his subjects.

He could not attain the eternal life he sought, nor could he save his city-state and people. The feelings of helplessness and guilt shattered his proud self-esteem, leaving him to compensate for the regrets that existed within his heart through these false memories.

Lin Qiye opened his eyes, gazing into Gilgamesh’s furious eyes, a hint of sympathy surfacing in his own.

“I’m sorry.” Lin Qiye spoke slowly, “Your kingdom has long since perished…”

“Nonsense!!” Gilgamesh roared, his gray robe flashing as the golden sword in his hand struck at Lin Qiye’s neck, but it felt as if it had struck against stone, unable to inflict even a scratch. “Uruk… will not fall!”

A glimmer flashed in Lin Qiye’s eyes. He suddenly raised his hand, gripping the golden sword of kingship with his bare hands, moving it away from his neck. At the same time, he seized Gilgamesh by the collar, pulling him close.

With a thought, the fluctuations of Gilgamesh’s divine power vanished entirely, and the terrifying aura that had rampaged through the hospital dissipated without a trace.

“Gilgamesh, what is your relationship with Uruk?” Lin Qiye asked, pulling on his collar, speaking each word deliberately.

Gilgamesh glared at Lin Qiye, responding as if it were obvious, “This king is the king of Uruk!”

“You are the king of Uruk.” Lin Qiye repeated, “When you were alive, you had the courage to lead Uruk to sweep across the lands, the courage to confront two deities as a demigod, the courage to pursue the eternal life of mortals…

Now, look at yourself!”

Lin Qiye tightened his grip on Gilgamesh’s collar, forcefully pushing him back a half-step. “You are the oldest and most renowned king in history! But now, do you lack even the courage to face history?

Your country has turned to dust, your people have returned to the earth, your glory has been shattered by the divine realm!

Were you not a tyrant? Were you not the Hero King?

Now you have a new opportunity; you have returned, but what are you doing?

Hiding in your own delusions, muddled and dazed, only daring to act arrogantly toward others… do you still deserve to be called a king?”