The figures of his companions disappeared into the shadows of the trees. Shekh chose a difficult shortcut and led Shi Jinzhe through mountains and rivers to the edge of the dense forest, where his eyesight was adjusted enough to see human villages.
Do you know the name of the nearest town?
"I don't know."
The question was a question, and even if I didn't know the answer, I wasn't disappointed. "I'm going to the village. Can you wait for me? It's right here. You don't need to go in."
Shekh held up one finger. "Hurry up."
"I'll go back quickly."
Shi Jinzhe rushed over as fast as he could, first observing the outskirts of the village for a while, then finding two uninhabited houses and sneaking inside, where he saw black statues placed.
"It's easier to talk if we share the same faith."
He shook hands with the black statue and entered the main road of the village, where three or four teenagers were playing hide-and-seek behind a haystack.
Shi Jinzhe caught a boy, about seven or eight years old. Before the boy could call out, he produced a strawberry and said, "Have you ever eaten this? I have a question for you. If you tell me, you can have this."
The child hiccuped in fright, saying, "Mom said I can't eat things given by strangers."
“I’m not a stranger.” Shi Jinzhe held up the statue in his hand. “Do you recognize this?”
"He is the god of war and glory."
Do you admire her?
"Yes!" the child nodded emphatically.
“I can let you see the gods, as long as you’re willing to tell me some things, how about it?” Shi Jinzhe’s gold ring blossomed. “Ordinary people don’t have this ability, you can trust me.”
"Then you have to give me a flower."
“Okay, no problem.” Shi Jinzhe asked the child, “What’s the name of this village? What’s the name of the nearest town? Who’s ruling the country now?”
"The village has no name. The nearest town is called Thornland, but Mom said that not many people live there. It's a city that suddenly appeared a few years ago."
"Appeared suddenly?"
"Yes, the Thorn Land, and High Tooth Mountain. It used to be a forest, connected to the forest behind it. I heard the adults say that one day a white wall suddenly appeared there, and people moved in. Over time, it became a city, but there are very few people there."
When the time is right, they'll use a magic potion to bewitch the child, showering them with flowery praise.
"I didn't expect you to know so much. Is it because someone in your family always tells you these things?"
“My father was a traveling merchant, and he would tell me about things happening outside.”
"You have a good memory. How much do you know about the rulers?"
"I don't know, Dad never talks about the Queen."
Queen?
Shi Jinzhe's eyes darkened. The Queen was already on the throne, so Sheh's shrunken body and confused mind were caused by some kind of change.
A mature god, an innocent princess.
The queen who holds power, the wandering Shekh.
Shekh has two phases in this world. First, she became a god, then something happened that caused her power to regress, and she became what she is now.
This unexpected turn of events is why she gave up on herself.
Shi Jinzhe then took out another apple.
If you want to extract information, you can't do without using your vitality.
"Do any of your friends know anything about the Queen?"
"It's too far from here..."
"What about the rest of the village?"
"...Well, you can go to the Thornlands and ask. I've heard there are many of the Queen's people there."
Shi Jinzhe stuffed strawberries and apples into the child's hands, and gave him a flower. "Two last questions: Has the Queen issued an order prohibiting people from worshipping gods? And do you know what the statue of the god of harvest and rain looks like?"
Upon hearing the name of the god of harvest and rain, the child shut his mouth before answering and threw the fruit back like trash.
"You'd better leave. The person who mentioned that name doesn't deserve to be here!"
"Mom! There's a bad guy!"
"Help! Someone come quick!"
His voice suddenly became shrill, displaying the annoying, noisy energy of a seven or eight-year-old. The other children who had been hiding rushed over, shouting "Beat the bad guy!"
Soon, some adults who had been watching the commotion peeked out and, upon hearing outsiders asking about the gods of harvest and rain, immediately glared angrily, grabbed their hoes, and ran over there.
As the time was up, they plucked the fruit and ran off, not forgetting to snatch back the flowers the child was clutching tightly in his hand.
Gao Lun also said that many common people worship gods of harvest and rain, which are clearly incompatible.
The adults in the village gathered quickly, and soon they were running after him in groups.
As Shi Jinzhe stepped over the dead tree blocking his way, he caught a glimpse of a villager behind him raising a bow and aiming an arrow at him.
The arrowheads were broad and sharp, like those used for hunting wild animals; they were guaranteed to pierce the heart without leaving a survivor.
He drew circles in the air, and just as the formation was about to be activated, a high-speed, swooping arrow corroded him from head to tail.
Shekh pulled his arm and rushed back to the forest at top speed, leaving afterimages in the trees.
The villagers didn't dare to go too far in. Only a few strong men with bows and arrows followed them in, but after following them for a long time, they still lost them.
One of them stuck an arrow into the ground, panting heavily, and said, "Let's go back and report that we found the monster in the woods over here."
"I heard from the hunters in the next village that they give you gold coins as long as you spot it, and if you're lucky, the queen will even question you personally."
"I need to make a mark so I don't lose it later."
"Make more, that way it will seem believable."
“Okay, I’ll tie it to the tree with a red rope.”
Several villagers marked the spot, then left chatting and laughing.
…
Shekh led Shi Jin back into the depths of the dense forest, running a long way before stopping.
Shi Jinzhe's arm ached from being pulled so hard. "You came just in time."
Once the formation is activated, his life force will be depleted again. Yesterday, when Sheh fainted in the ground, a portion of his life force was already taken away without him even realizing it.
Shekh released him. "Why did you ask about God?"
"Because I want to take you away from here."
Where to?
“Go home.” Shi Jinzhe’s human service helped her recall, “There’s your custom-made big bed at home, where you can roll around however you want, and two Burmese pythons that you keep, one original color and one golden yellow, as well as your good friend who lives in the reptile house, and lots of delicious food, countless jewels and clothes, and your favorite high-speed rail and castle.”
High-speed rail?
Sheh felt a strange sense of familiarity with those two words. She straightened her disheveled clothes and asked, "And you?"
"I am your husband, here to serve you."
She tilted her head, puzzled. "I don't understand."
"I know." Shi Jinzhe covered his face with his hands, bent over, and rested his elbows on his knees. "I was just venting."
"Explain it more clearly."
Shi Jin folded one hand, seeing her expression of not understanding anything, and chuckled inwardly, "I said I am the man of God, can you understand that?"
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