Chapter Thirty-One

"Then do you think we need to hire a few tutors to teach him strategy?"

"Don't worry about that, I'll handle it." Zhou Yanqing waved her hand. "You should be thinking about the Divination Ceremony. If the divination is successful, you'll be the first female shaman in Qin and even the entire Great South. Aren't you going to prepare?"

Si Yanmo has been ill these past few days, and Wei Lishi has been asking about her every day. If something really happened to her, I'm afraid this position would be given directly to Qi Muchen. It's only because Zhou Yanqing has been dragging things out that it hasn't happened yet.

Just now, Zhou Yanqing also sent someone to inform Wei Lishi that preparations could begin for the divination ceremony.

In the Southern Dynasties, the shamanic ceremonies were major events in any country. The people of the South believed in ghosts and gods, and the shamans, as the most powerful diviners in the entire country, were believed to be able to communicate with the gods.

If the local rulers are the leaders of the human race, then the shamans are the communicators between the human race and the gods.

After the human race selects the most capable person as a candidate for shaman through assessment, they must again inquire about the will of the gods through sacrificial rituals and divination at the shamanic ceremony. Only with the gods' consent can they truly become the shaman of this country.

Almost the entire city's population will attend the ceremony.

The status of the shaman was even comparable to that of the monarch. The shaman of the Southern Emperor was called the Xiangbu, and was second only to the emperor, above all others.

Of course, as Zhou Yanqing said before, the monarch still reigns supreme on the battlefield.

The Southern people believe that war is a matter between human races. Unless the gods have a clear will, shamans and diviners can only assist their leaders and must not disobey them.

Si Yanmo and Qi Muchen's assessment results were tied, and they would have to complete the sacrificial ceremony and toss divination sticks at the shamanic ceremonies. Whoever gained the gods' approval would become the shamanic diviner.

"When is the ceremony?" she asked.

"Let's do it the day after tomorrow. We can prepare tomorrow. We've already wasted a lot of time; we can't delay any longer."

"Can I go take a look?" Si Yanmo couldn't help but be curious about the preparations for the ceremony. "I've been lying in bed for so many days, my limbs are practically atrophying. Let's go out for a walk and get some fresh air!"

Zhou Yanqing thought it made sense. She looked pretty good, and going out for a walk would help her recover. "I'll go with you."

He immediately got up, took a cloak and draped it over Si Yanmo, then found a heater before taking her out.

"It can't be that bad!" The girl looked at him, who was wrapped up tightly, and smiled wryly. "I'm really fine."

"As for it!" Zhou Yanqing said sternly, "You said you wouldn't get into any trouble, and you still escaped death! Listen to me, put your clothes on properly. If you get into trouble again, I won't care about you!"

Knowing that the other person was concerned about her, she could only coax them, saying, "Okay, okay, I'll do whatever Master says!"

Zhou Yanqing was flattered by her and, smiling, led the people into the carriage, all the way to the Digu Temple.

The weather in Qin changed quickly. Si Yanmo had only been sick for seven days and hadn't left the house, but it was already showing signs of summer outside.

The surrounding willows are already lush and green, and swallows and sparrows perch on the trees, chirping and chattering, creating a vibrant scene.

On both sides of the gate tower in front of the Digu Temple, there were piles of dark decorations and some divination tools, which were probably going to be moved inside later.

The temple was also full of busy officials and servants, walking back and forth.

The two walked in one after the other. Everyone bowed when they saw Zhou Yanqing, but they didn't react much when they saw Si Yanmo.

After all, no one knows the outcome before the Emperor's decree is issued, so why bother trying to please him?

Si Yanmo was also a little worried, and tugged at his sleeve, "What if I lose the gacha?"

"Then don't be a shaman. I'll find you another job."

Zhou Yanqing seemed indifferent, which made her glare at him and her heart sink.

Seeing that the girl's brows were so furrowed that they could trap a fly, Zhou Yanqing could only comfort her, "Don't worry, Digu has seen all your efforts."

"But I also forged..." Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Yanqing hurriedly covered her mouth.

"Fool, don't say that here!" The man held up a finger, making a "shh" gesture. "It'll be troublesome if the people from the Ritual Department hear us!"

She nodded, still a little shaken, and looked around to make sure no one could have heard their conversation.

Just then, the faint sound of crying could be heard from ahead.

Si Yanmo frowned and looked ahead. The sound seemed to be coming from the backyard.

Could it be...?

She realized something was wrong and hurriedly ran to the backyard, clutching the hand warmer.

"Hey, you..." What's wrong...?

Before Zhou Yanqing could finish speaking, the girl had already darted out, and he had no choice but to follow.

At this time, the backyard of the Digu Temple was not yet fully prepared, and sacrificial items were scattered all over the ground.

When Si Yanmo arrived, she saw a woman in white being dragged by two guards towards a large wooden cage.

The woman's body was covered with wounds from struggling, and her pale yellow clothes were tattered.

She tried to resist, but her hands and feet seemed powerless, and she couldn't push the two men away at all, leaving only her white knuckles.

She was thrown directly into the cage by the two men. She landed with a thud in the corner; it sounded painful.

The woman swayed as she got to her feet, ignoring the splinters that covered the wooden railing, and cried out to the guards standing on either side, "I was wrong! Please, spare me! I don't want to be a sacrifice! I don't want to..."

Upon hearing her words, one of the guards' faces twitched, not with sympathy, but with annoyance and a hint of panic. He immediately stepped forward and knocked the woman unconscious with a single blow.

Si Yanmo had no time to stop her.

She had previously read in the book given to her by Zhou Yanqing that whenever Southerners had important matters to consult the gods, they would bathe and change clothes before casting divination sticks at the Digu Temple.

However, this divination is not as simple as just throwing a divination cup. Before that, one person must be chosen as a sacrifice to be offered to Emperor Gu, and only then will Emperor Gu respond.

This is especially true of the divination and sorcery ceremonies.

The incoming shaman is required to cut out the heart of the offering while the person is still alive, place it on the altar, then burn incense and perform the divination.

The scene before her eyes blurred, and the pain that she could not forget in both lifetimes climbed up Si Yanmo's heart once again, as if it were about to separate her from her master once more.

In her past life, she was locked in a cage that was almost identical to the one in front of her for three days and three nights.

I was scorched by the sun during the day and it was so cold at night that I couldn't sleep at all.

She didn't drink any water or eat any food during those days, and she was almost dying.

On the fourth day, two guards roughly dragged her up and haphazardly poured rice porridge into her mouth, causing her to choke and cough. Before she could react, they dragged her back to the altar.

The so-called fortune teller walked towards her step by step, holding a dagger.

The sun was too bright that day, and she could barely see the man's face, but she could never forget the cold tip of the knife.

Whenever she recalls that scene, she experiences that intense pain all over again.

"Si Yanmo, Si Yanmo..."

The man's slightly worried call pulled her back from her thoughts, and she was startled to realize that she was covered in a cold sweat.

"Are you cold?" Zhou Yanqing pulled her cloak tighter around her. "Why don't we go back first?"

Si Yanmo shook her head, but her gaze remained fixed on the woman not far away.

She would never allow herself to become the kind of person who killed her in her past life.

She grabbed Zhou Yanqing's hand. "Can you do me a favor?"

"What?"

“Make them release that girl,” she pleaded, “Don’t you think it’s cruel to kill someone for a divination ceremony, to rip her heart out while she’s still alive?”

"It is her honor to be sacrificed to Emperor Gu!" Before Zhou Yanqing could reply, an arrogant voice broke in.

Wei Jingzhong walked over, glanced at Si Yanmo with half-raised eyelids, ignored her, but respectfully bowed to Zhou Yanqing, "Your Highness."

"Princess Qin, the rules for human sacrifice at this shamanic ceremony were established thousands of years ago. You are not a shaman yet, how dare you try to break the rules with just a few words?"

Wei Jingzhong crossed his arms and said dismissively, "Besides, human sacrifice is for the purpose of worshipping Heaven. It goes against the natural order. Don't you think what you're saying is ridiculous?"

These past few days, Wei Jingzhong has been busy with Wu Bu's succession and has been frequently visiting Zhou Yanqing.

He had always looked down on a woman competing for the position of shaman, and after learning that Si Yanmo was seriously ill, he was even more determined to push her down and just have Qi Muchen throw the divination.

Unexpectedly, the King of Qin told him that this unknown newcomer to the divination academy was actually the King's consort. He could only obediently wait for her to recover, but secretly he wished she were dead.

He glanced at the woman in the cage, his eyes filled with threat, which immediately silenced her.

"This woman is a witch. She was born to kill her parents, and after marrying into another family, she killed her husband. To be made a sacrifice in the shamanistic ritual is already the greatest forgiveness for her."

He spoke with righteous indignation, as if killing an innocent person was also a form of justice.

Si Yanmo was about to retort when Zhou Yanqing reached out and pulled her behind him, saying, "Wei Li, go ahead and do your work."

Wei Jingzhong flicked his sleeves, arrogantly bowed to Zhou Yanqing again, and then left with the official in charge of etiquette beside him.

Before leaving, he instructed his men to take the "offerings" with them as well.

Si Yanmo was surprised that Zhou Yanqing didn't help her. She looked at him in astonishment and asked, "Why did you just let him leave like that?"

Zhou Yanqing said seriously, "Wei Jingzhong is a vengeful person. You are not a shaman yet, so you can't afford to get too antagonistic with him."

"But I didn't do this to argue with him. I just don't want an innocent person to become a sacrifice. Have you forgotten Ning Qingzi?"

"As Wei Jingzhong just said, this is a rule established thousands of years ago, and it cannot be resolved by your words or by a moment of soft-heartedness."

Zhou Yanqing understood her meaning perfectly well. This was different from Ning Qingzi, who was just one person he could save. But this matter concerned the faith of the entire Qin region, and even the people of the Southern Kingdom.

What everyone agrees on, no one can change.

Si Yanmo didn't understand his words, nor did she want to.

She roared, tears welling in her eyes, "These rules, established over thousands of years, were made by humans! Now it's these people who want to kill, not gods!"

She was completely out of control; memories of her past life flooded back like a tidal wave. She felt utterly heartbroken, and her clenched fists trembled.

She knew better than anyone that the ritual was a lie.