77: Chapter 77: The Festival of Sacrifice (Twenty-Two)

Qian Ye returned to the village from the southern back mountain and happened to run into the Trench Coat Boss, who was looking around at that moment.

The Trench Coat Boss happened to see Qian Ye coming from a distance.

He headed straight for Qian Ye, "Have you seen Zhang Yan? She said she went to look for you."

Qian Ye shrugged.

She pointed behind her; not far behind her was the southern back mountain, the place she had just come out of.

"Perhaps if you go there now, you might still be able to see her corpse." Qian Ye curled her lips, her whole body exuding malice.

The Trench Coat Boss's expression changed, "What did you do to her?"

Qian Ye blinked, "That's truly unfair."

"It was clearly she who wanted to make a move."

"Don't you think so, Baby~" Qian Ye pulled on Shang Ye's arm.

Outside, he had returned to the appearance of a marionette.

He didn't even answer when asked.

As soon as Qian Ye took out the hong ling umbrella, Shang Ye nodded, "That's right."

Qian Ye raised an eyebrow, looking at the red singer in her hand; this umbrella was truly a treasure.

"Who is he?" The Trench Coat Boss stared vigilantly at the person beside Qian Ye.

He had never seen this person before.

"Does it have anything to do with you?"

Qian Ye tugged at the corner of her mouth and pulled Shang Ye away.

The Trench Coat Boss stared deeply at her departing figure, then headed in the direction of the back mountain.

On her way back, Qian Ye saw those villagers by the river, washing something.

She was a bit surprised; this time, they weren't repeating yesterday's behavior.

With an attitude of friendly exchange, Qian Ye walked to the riverbank with cheerful steps.

"Ma'am, what are we doing here?"

On the steps by the river, various types of porcelain were laid out, washed spotlessly clean.

The woman turned around. Upon seeing her, the originally expressionless face immediately broke into a smile, "Oh, it's almost time for the Sacrificial Festival, isn't it? These items needed for the sacrifice must be prepared properly."

After speaking, the woman stared at Qian Ye, a flash of confusion passing through her eyes.

Qian Ye stared closely at her eyes and could see a trace of red hidden in the depths of them.

Qian Ye curled her lips, thinking that the little pill was quite useful; it was indeed obedient.

She didn't expect it to still be effective even when placed in such a large body of spring water.

Really not bad.

She liked it.

Shang Ye, on the side, saw this situation and stared at Qian Ye with a scrutinizing gaze.

Why?

Qian Ye didn't notice his gaze; her attention was entirely on the woman in front of her.

"When is the Sacrificial Festival held?"

"April 4th."

"Then what date is it today?"

"The 3rd."

"..."

"..."

The two exchanged questions and answers; the woman was very cooperative with Qian Ye, answering whatever she asked.

Shang Ye's eyes, when looking at Qian Ye again, were full of intensity.

This girl is not ordinary.

Qian Ye felt the intense gaze and turned her head to see the boy staring fixedly at her.

"Baby? What's wrong?" Did he think of something? His eyes looked so determined.

Shang Ye looked at her and, imitating her, curled his lips, "I — like — you."

Upon hearing this, Qian Ye's eyes lit up, "Hehe, I like you the most too~"

Watching her smile, the smile on Shang Ye's lips also widened. Like—he would keep this food to eat slowly.

Qian Ye took Shang Ye wandering around the village, checking every place until dusk, when the sky grew dim, before returning.

Just as they reached the door, they heard a scream.

"Don't, don't, don't be like this, is she really not here?"

"Who isn't here?"

Qian Ye's sudden voice instantly made Tai You's eyes light up.

"Help, you've finally returned!"

"What's wrong..."

With a "swish," a mass of black mist surged in front of Qian Ye.

"Help me~"

"Help me~"

"..."

Qian Ye listened for a long time, hearing only that one phrase "help me," and had black lines on her forehead.

"Why don't you tell me what you want me to help you with?"

"My daughter, my daughter is gone."

"Your daughter?"

Qian Ye thought of that little one; she wasn't human either, so how could she go missing?

"I, I forgot..."

"It is already April now."

"The Sacrificial Festival is about to be held."

"My daughter must have been tricked into going to the mountain."

The black mist thought of something, became agitated, and the black mist all over its body surged continuously.

The little flower pot raised its body, trying hard to get close to the black mist in front of it, secretly absorbing its power.

Qian Ye saw this scene out of the corner of her eye, and the corner of her mouth twitched.

Can you not be embarrassing?

Not even letting go of this bit of energy.

She grabbed its body and pulled it back.

The little flower pot was so angry it kept shaking there!

Qian Ye had black lines on her face.

Immediately after, Qian Ye turned her gaze to the mass of black mist in front of her.

"Then what do you think I can help you with?"

She didn't think she could do anything.

"Go and help me trade, trade my daughter back, will you?"

Qian Ye raised an eyebrow.

"My daughter is still young, how could they! How could they have the heart!"

"She's still so young, yet she's treated as a sacrifice. I only have this one daughter, can't they just let us go?"

"Why!"

"Why do they have to force us all to die!"

"Why now?"

"Why won't they let us go even after we're dead!"

"They all deserve to die!"

"All deserve to die!"

"It's all because of them that Changsheng Village has become like this now."

"It's all a curse! It's all a curse!"

"Lord Mountain Spirit has already abandoned them, hahahaha..."

"Serves them right! Serves them right!"

Qian Ye listened to his incoherent roar, piecing together fragments from his words.

Her daughter was treated as a sacrifice, likely given to the Lord Mountain Spirit he mentioned during previous Sacrificial Festivals.

The connection to her confusion grew more and more.

So what does the Lord Mountain Spirit he mentioned refer to?

Does a Mountain Spirit really exist in this village?

The Mountain Spirit's curse?

What does it have to do with the Mountain Spirit's blessing from before?

This made Qian Ye think of that spring water.

She was very curious about what exactly was in the depths of that spring water.

Why did these villagers wander in that forest at night?

Why did they all jump into that spring water?

What exactly is the function of the Fountain of Longevity they mentioned?

Qian Ye shifted her confused gaze to the boyfriend beside her.

What exactly is he?

Finally, the crazed black mist returned to normal and slowly transformed into a human shape.

Qian Ye looked at him, "Are you the village chief of this village?"

The man nodded.

The human form Qian Ye saw him manifest was about thirty-something years old; she didn't expect him to be able to suppress a group of old men and women to become the village chief.

He seemed to see Qian Ye's confusion.

The man slowly explained.

"My name is Changchun."

"The previous generation's village chief was named Changcun, and the one before that was named Changsheng."

"As you can tell, we all share the same surname."

"The two are my father and grandfather."

"Further up are my ancestors."

"The village chief of Changsheng Village is not elected, but chosen by Lord Mountain Spirit."

"It is our generations who have guarded Changsheng Village."

"At the beginning, Changsheng Village didn't have so many residents."

"Those who sincerely believed in the Mountain Spirit would receive the Mountain Spirit's blessing, having smooth sailing. Gradually, more and more people came to Changsheng Village, especially those with illnesses and disasters."

"At first, they sincerely believed in the Mountain Spirit and received the Mountain Spirit's blessing, but unexpectedly, it all became fake later on."

"Except for our first batch of Changsheng Village villagers, fewer and fewer people truly believe in the Mountain Spirit."