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◎Invoking the Gods◎
Mu and Qing were fine. After resting for a while, they got up after the IV drip was finished.
Jiang Mu was still there, and he didn't seem busy at all.
Of course, Li Shi refused to leave, so Mu and Qing had to let him go first, while they themselves wished they could turn the IV drip speed up to the fastest possible to get through this awkward time.
If Jiang Mu and Li Shi were both looking at her, she would rather pull out the needle than suffer here.
Jiang Mu is a chatterbox. During the time Mu Heqing was receiving IV drips, he had already introduced the cultural landscape, key buildings, and tourist attractions of Qingcheng. Just as Mu Heqing had initially known, there wasn't much to do; it was just a commercial city.
When Mu Heqing got out of bed, she was still wearing that oversized shirt. Jiang Mu's shirt was quite comfortable, but it still gave her goosebumps.
It might be a psychological allergy.
She had never worn anyone else's clothes in her entire life.
Mu and Qing's only thought right now was to find a place to take off the shirt.
"Jiang...Mu." Under Jiang Mu's smile, Mu Heqing swallowed the "General Manager" part of Jiang's name. "Where do you live? I'll wash your clothes and return them to you."
Jiang Mu blinked. These clothes don't need to be washed; they'll just get ruined if you do.
"No need, I'll take you back. If you don't want these clothes, just throw them away."
If Mu and Qing knew she was wearing new clothes, they probably wouldn't feel so burdened. But she didn't know, and could only nod stiffly.
Jiang Mu drove all the way to the Elegant Hotel, which is under the Guihui Group. He opened the car door for Mu Heqing and took out Mu Heqing's original shirt from the storage compartment in the car.
When he tried to find a bag to put the clothes in, he discovered that the shirt in his hand, which should have been stained with blood, was completely dry.
This garment is dry and soft, its fresh light green color showing no signs of pollution, just like the feeling one gets from Mu and Qing.
Jiang Mu was taken aback. When he took the clothes off Mu Heqing, they were clearly covered in bloodstains. He couldn't possibly be so dense as to not be able to distinguish between blood and paint. Besides, even if it were paint, it wouldn't just disappear suddenly.
He recalled Gao Zhou's words: "This is really fucking weird."
Jiang Mu handed the clothes to Mu Heqing without saying a word.
When Mu and Qing took the clothes, they didn't say a word. Only then did she realize that Huanren was dead, which meant he no longer existed.
A person who does not exist, his blood does not exist either.
Huanren did not die immediately; his death required a process, which is why Jiang Mu was able to see the bloodstains at the beginning.
This time, there's really no way to explain it.
When Mu Heqing took the clothes, she felt they were quite heavy. She said, "Jiang Mu, thank you for today. I'll go back to my room now."
Jiang Mu smiled and nodded, then asked, "Was this hotel arranged for you by Guihui? Is your work in Qingcheng related to Guihui?"
The Elegant Hotel is a hotel under the Guihui Group specifically for entertaining guests, so it's not surprising that Jiang Mu could make these connections.
"Yes, I never expected my little company to grow to this extent." Mu Heqing chuckled, saying something he himself didn't believe.
Jiang Mu waved goodbye to Mu and Qing, then got into his car. He placed his hands on the steering wheel but didn't start the engine. After a long while, he chuckled softly.
He Qing, you have so many secrets.
…………
Mu and Qing lay on the luxurious bed in the hotel, seeing their own disheveled bodies reflected in the mirrored ceiling.
She changed her clothes as soon as she got back, but she didn't throw away Jiang Mu's clothes. Instead, she left them aside, unsure of what to do with them.
She sighed helplessly. She knew Jiang Mu must have some suspicions, but his silence made her uneasy.
Forget it, forget it, let’s take it one step at a time.
Aside from initially probing her for information, Jiang Mu didn't do anything else to her.
Mu Heqing shook her head, trying to clear her mind of the jumbled thoughts; she had other things to do next.
He was already dissatisfied with Li Shi leaving, and if he didn't do what he promised, Mu and Qing would also have to pay the price.
Even Rish himself could not fully control the establishment of this deal.
Mu and Qing picked up their phones and started looking at the food delivery options near the hotel.
"That's too expensive," Mu Heqing remarked, swiping the screen and expressing his dismay at the prices in Qingcheng.
The hotel offers 24-hour self-service, but Mu and Qing do not need the hotel's food at this time.
"This roast duck is on sale, 19.9 yuan, not bad."
Mu and Qing placed the order, and soon after, a delivery person brought it to their door.
The man in the black and white waiter's uniform bent down, held up the white plastic bag in his hand, and said, "Dear Miss Mu, your takeout has arrived."
"Thanks."
Mu and Qing closed the room door and found a scented candle in the hotel bathroom.
The label was in a foreign language, so Mu and Qing used a translation app, which translated it as "smelling of sea salt ink."
Mu and Qing couldn't imagine what it tasted like; she guessed it was probably a salty ink smell.
With everything ready, she called Li Shi over.
Li Shi entered Mu Heqing's room with anticipation on his face. He sat obediently on a chair in the room, watching Mu Heqing busy himself.
"Can you stop using that emoji? We didn't do anything else."
Mu Heqing couldn't stand Li Shi's expression, so she found a lighter, lit a scented candle, and a faint, slightly salty smell of ink wafted out.
"What a weird taste! Do rich people like this flavor?"
Mu and Qing were disgusted for a while, but after smelling it for a while, they found it quite intoxicating.
She took the roast duck out of the white plastic bag from the takeout box, and the aroma of the roast duck instantly overpowered the scent of the aromatherapy.
"Find a place to sit down." Mu Heqing held a diffuser in one hand and a roast duck in the other.
Incense and offerings are ready.
She is now about to perform a ritual to invoke the gods.
Mu Heqing didn't know exactly what Li Shi was, but she knew he was a god-like being who could be worshipped and required offerings. He could be a one-time or long-term transaction. It wasn't until she went to the Kyushu Manor that Mu Heqing learned he could also be domesticated.
In short, during the process of asking Li Shi for help in finding Uncle Hai, Mu and Qing reached a one-time deal with him. The sacrifice or price was to establish a close relationship of worship and being worshipped with him for another three months. Of course, she would not be kept as a servant, as she could not accept that.
During these three months, it was as if Mu and Qing had invited Li Shi to their home. She couldn't get rid of him; you could call him a ghost if you wanted, because he could stick to her 24/7.
Li Shi sat down at the table and stretched out his hand, just like he did at the Kyushu Manor, and also like he did many years ago when he was at No. 13 Middle School.
At that time, Mu and Qing had no other choice but to make offerings to Li Shi.
Now, however, she is doing it willingly.
At No. 13 Middle School, she was all alone. Here, she has family, friends, and people she cares about.
Even if it's a neighbor she hasn't seen for years, she's willing to do it just because of the kindness she showed as a child.
Mu and Qing placed the candles and roast duck on either side of Li Shi, took his flawless hand in theirs, and pressed their foreheads against it.
Her warm forehead pressed against Li Shi's cold hand, and suddenly she stammered, unable to speak.
“Speak up, Qing, have you forgotten how to say it?” Li Shi said softly.
Mu Heqing spoke: "From today onwards, I will obey your orders for three months."
“You need to add your own name,” Li Shi nitpicked.
Mu and Qing could only reluctantly add their own names.
“From today onwards, Muheqing will be instructed to act for three months.”
Li Shi lowered his eyes, looking at Mu Heqing who was speaking softly with his head down.
Not enough. Li Shi was still not satisfied. Three months was not enough. Three years, three hundred years. She should dedicate her whole heart and soul, instead of simply saying a few words here.
He had heard more beautiful articles and seen more obsessive offerings.
Some lit candles as numerous as the sea, some offered sacrifices, and some tried to please him by sacrificing the future of hundreds of family members.
He doesn't care.
He only cares about the person in front of him.
But her service was such a luxury, something hard to come by, yet it wasn't her true heart, but rather an exchange he offered.
Mu Heqing held Li Shi's hand for at least three minutes, and she had wanted to let go for a while. According to some unknown set of rules and procedures, she couldn't let go or look up at Li Shi, but she was a little tired now.
The aroma of roast duck filled her nose, her legs were a little numb, and she was also a bit hungry.
Mu and Qing squeezed Li Shi's hand even tighter.
"allow."
As soon as Li Shi spoke, the candle went out instantly.
Mu Heqing immediately shook off Li Shi's hand as if she were throwing away a hot potato; her hands were sweating from holding it for so long.
Li Shi got down from the table, looking rather unhappy. He sat back down and brought the roast duck to him, showing no interest in the dead duck.
"He Qing, here you go." Seeing that Mu He Qing was more interested in the duck than him, Li Shi pushed the roast duck in front of Mu He Qing.
Mu and Qing tilted their heads. According to some unknown set of rules and procedures, Li Shi should have eaten the duck.
"I ate it, is that alright?" Mu Heqing asked, "Will the ritual fail?"
"No." Li Shi shook his head.
Since Li Shi said there was no problem, Mu and Qing suppressed their doubts, put on the disposable gloves that came with the takeout, and stuffed a bite of roast duck into their mouths.
Mu Heqing squinted her eyes happily. For so many days, ever since that buffet that her boss treated her to, she had lost her appetite and it had continued until today.
This roast duck made her feel happy.
The main change was that her mindset shifted from resistance to a "what's the use" attitude. Since they had already met and held a ceremony, things couldn't get any worse.
Mu Heqing, his mouth greasy from eating, asked, "Shi, if I offer this roast duck to you as tribute, what will I receive in return?"
After thinking for a moment, Li Shi said, "You will gain wealth."
"Oh?" Mu Heqing perked up, her eyes sparkling. "How much?"
"Nineteen yuan and ninety cents."
Mu Heqing's smile vanished; she had only spent nineteen yuan and ninety cents on this roast duck.
"What if we didn't hold a ceremony?"
"Ten yuan."
Okay, Mu and Qing understand that not holding a ceremony would result in a loss.
But what she didn't know was that, generally speaking, if someone else offered this as a tribute to Li Shi, he would flip the table.
He only wants living things.
“He Qing, if you want money, we can get you something else. I’ll help you.” Li Shi was eager to try.
If it were Mu and Qing, he could personally hunt for his own tribute.
That would be very interesting.
Mu and Qing shook their heads repeatedly. As soon as Li Shi opened his mouth, she knew what he was thinking. She just wanted to be an ordinary, law-abiding citizen.
“Okay.” Li Shi said disappointedly.
After finishing the roast duck, Mu and Qing wiped their mouths and finally remembered the purpose of their initial trip to the hospital.
"Um, has Consort Si found Yin Yin?"
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