Chapter 33033 Immortal Meat
When we arrived at the Hexian Temple, we didn't see Nezha. The entire Hexian Temple was silent and in an unnatural calm.
"Should we go in?" Gazing at the Ha Tien Temple, barely visible in silhouette in the darkness, my heart began to beat. I might say I'm going to uncover the truth about the bride, but if I encounter obvious danger along the way, I'll inevitably retreat. It's biological instinct. That's exactly what happened at Ha Tien Temple right now!
"Of course. Think about it, Nezha is in there after all." Lian Zha stated the fact in a calm tone.
I paused and said to Lian Zha, "You have completely convinced me." Then I pushed the door open without hesitation, and a faint light came out from the gap in the door.
The Hexian Temple had changed. The air was filled with the scent of incense, candles, and dust, along with an indescribable, stale smell—a scent that lingered even after cleaning. The statue of the Goddess of Clouds and Waters had been meticulously polished, but its hollow eyes were irreplaceable. Several eternal lamps had burned for some time, unrefueled, their oil long gone, emitting a faint glow. The fruits on the altar looked fresh, yet for some reason, they exuded a sweet, overripe aroma. Where the tablet of the Goddess of Clouds and Waters had once stood, a new, empty tablet had been placed, awaiting the completion of the ceremony and the addition of a new name. Several cushions lay scattered on the floor, one with a noticeable dent, as if someone had knelt there in prayer one moment and then vanished the next. The newly hung curtains hung motionless, lifeless.
"Where has everyone gone?"
I looked up at the statue of Yunshui Niangniang, as if asking her a question. But she wouldn't respond.
"Maybe there is some mechanism inside..." Lian Zha guessed.
Mechanism... I fixed my sight on the cushion with the depression in the middle, and took a gamble that the last person kneeling here was Nezha.
I nodded secretly, hugged the lotus tightly, and carefully knelt on the cushion. However, as soon as I knelt, my head started buzzing, as if many people were talking in my head. The noise was so loud that it felt like my head was about to explode...
"Ayu! Ayu..." Lian Zha's voice gradually faded away.
…
[Mom…I’m in so much pain…Where’s my brother? Where did my brother go?]
[Your brother has already... my son... my son... bear with it a little longer. Once the medicine comes, the pain will go away...]
[Mom, will I be like my younger brother...?]
[No... No... Lady Yunshui's medicine is very effective. You'll be fine after taking it...]
So noisy...
…
[Yunshui Village has finally made it through! ]
[Isn't it true? Throughout history, how many people have survived epidemics? Very few!]
I heard a high-ranking official from the capital has come to learn about a cure for the epidemic! If they offer that recipe to Yunshui Village, it will be a boon!
[Alas, there is no such thing as a recipe. This is the blessing of the gods of our Yunshui River! ]
[How can this be explained? Are there immortals in this Yunshui River?]
It’s really noisy…
Lianzha, Lianzha...
I groggily called out Lien-zha's name, but no one responded. I half-awake, my eyes fluttered open, the sudden brightness of the sky making me flinch. Tears welled up in my eyes, dripping onto the cushion beneath my knees, leaving a smudge of water stains.
Is this... Ha Tien Temple? Is it dawn?
I raised my hand to block the slightly dazzling light and did not see the shadows of Lian Zha and Nezha.
I racked my brains to recall what happened last night. The residents of Yunshui Town who were cleaning the Hexian Temple had disappeared. So we suspected some kind of trap within the temple. My brother—I was beginning to suspect he was the other creature that had taken over the crane's body. It was very likely he was hiding the residents of Yunshui Town. That's why I knelt on the futon, trying to trigger some kind of trap.
The mechanism was triggered, but not in the right way.
Come on, is it really daytime now?
He supported himself with his hands and slowly stood up, his head still feeling heavy. He walked towards the temple door and was about to push it open when he found that the door of Ha Tien Temple was locked from the outside.
Wait, what am I wearing?
He looked down at the clothes on his body, and suddenly his vision went dark.
The bride is actually me!
Taking a deep breath, I turned around and looked at the statue behind the altar.
Well, it is indeed Lady Yunshui, and it’s the version with eyeballs.
Sure enough, although this is the Hexian Temple, it is no longer the Hexian Temple of the past. If my guess is correct, this should be some kind of illusion? Or someone's memory? In short, it must not exist now! My current situation should be that I have become the bride of the River God at some point in Yunshui Town.
It's simple. I've seen this kind of plot so many times that I can always guess right.
On the bright side, becoming a participant might allow one to personally witness the ritual of marrying a river god. Perhaps after experiencing a cult ritual firsthand, one could even publish a book to promote anti-fraud and reach the pinnacle of life. After all, cults rely on brainwashing and mind control, and while most people are initially deceived into joining, by the end, they have no control over themselves. Suddenly, this cheesy ritual was given a glorious purpose!
I'm not afraid. It's all virtual anyway, so I'm not afraid at all!
This courage boost was actually quite useful. At least I was less afraid of what was going to happen next.
It's really ironic. The emergence of a belief must be due to the grace of a deity. Yunshui Town believes in Yunshui Niangniang, so it must be that Yunshui Niangniang helped Yunshui Town, so they built a temple, right? As a result, the Hexian Temple dedicated to Yunshui Niangniang is so dilapidated that it is almost deserted. It's really ridiculous!
Although I don't have any religious beliefs, if a deity had helped me, I would certainly respect it and offer incense to it daily. Unfortunately, I've prayed for a long time at the God of Wealth Temple, but I haven't seen any fortune... Besides, our local deities, unlike those across the sea, don't die from lack of incense and offerings. So, I suspect the only possibility is that Goddess of Clouds and Water died before the temple fell into disrepair. But I have a question: how does one kill a deity?
I had never thought about this question before.
Well, let’s just assume that there is strength in numbers, and there may be people from outside the world joining in. However, if humans kill gods, won’t there be any divine punishment?
The people in Yunshui Town are still alive and well, and they still have the opportunity to choose a bride, marry a bride and become the new Yunshui Goddess. It's scary!
Before my fate was decided, my brain was so active it felt like I had taken a stimulant, with countless questions flooding in. Maintaining that excitement was a good thing; at least it meant I wouldn't be too anxious about what was going to happen next.
At the same time, I began to look for the collection of books. Although I thought that the county annals recording the past of Yunshui River might have been destroyed, the time now should be earlier, and even the statue of Yunshui Niangniang is intact, so maybe there are some left.
Sure enough, after searching the entire hall, I actually found a book, but it was not the county annals of Yunshui Town. I flipped through a few pages and it looked more like a diary.
I:……
Anyone else keeping a diary?
I sat down cross-legged and read the diary written by an unknown person by the light of the eternal lamp.
[Year of Renyin, May 5th, sunny to cloudy
The weather was strange today. A pale, pale sun still shone at noon, but just after noon, the sky felt like it was covered in a filthy, gray cloth, stifling the breath. I woke up early to fetch water from the alley entrance and ran into Aunt Zhang next door, leaning against the doorframe and coughing repeatedly, her face a smothered mess. Her child pried through the crack of the door, his eyes wide with fear. I quickly moved away, then heard Sister Liu, washing clothes at the well, whisper in a low voice, "The peddler Li's house to the west... is gone. He was fine the day before yesterday, but last night he vomited black water and passed away." Her hands were red as she rubbed clothes, her knuckles white. "I wonder if the God of Plague... is really here?" Her voice lingered in the dead air, making my heart pound.
[Year of Renyin, May 10th, rain
The rain has been frightening us all day, leaving the house soaking wet and carrying a strange smell—not earthy or grassy, but more like rotting wood. I've also caught the plague... I'm coughing my lungs out, and my bones ache all over. The medicine from Wang's pharmacy isn't helping. Not even the dogs on the street have barked these past few days. From afar, wisps of smoke from the Hexian Temple at Dongtou rise into the sky. I wonder what's burning...
[Year of the Tiger, May 18th, cloudy wind
I’m almost dying, my bones hurt so much…]
The handwriting here is illegible. The person who recorded it obviously couldn't hold the pen anymore. I can't recognize the words at the end.
So I turned another page.
[Year of the Year of the Tiger, May 20th, Sunny
I actually survived. The Queen's medicine is truly effective. I must go to the temple to pray more. I heard that the Queen's medicine severely damaged my vitality. I must bring a good tribute with me...
[Year of Renyin, June 20th, rain
I heard that a high-ranking official had come to the capital, and he must have heard about the Empress's gift of medicine. However, the Empress's medicine had already run out.
[Year of the Tiger, June 27th, heavy rain
There was a commotion in the Yunshui River. I wanted to go check it out, but the guard immediately drew his sword. Too frightened to go any further, I didn't dare to watch. Back home, I heard from Sister Liu that the high-ranking official from the capital had come to seek medicine for her elderly father. I asked, "Did the official's father also suffer from the plague?" Sister Liu lowered her voice and said, "It's not a plague, it's a wish for longevity. Someone out there said the flesh of the Goddess of Yunshui could grant immortality!" I was horrified, afraid to listen any further, and hurried back home.
[Year of the Renyin, June 28th, light rain
The noise in Yunshui River has died down, but I don’t dare to go and see what’s going on…]
[Year of Renyin, June 30th, cloudy wind
All the fish in Yunshui River died, and the head of the river summoned the villagers to the River Fairy Temple for a meeting. They said the fish were dying because the Goddess of Yunshui was gone... I couldn't believe it. The Goddess of Yunshui was a deity, how could she be gone? Was it that high-ranking official from the capital? The head of the river pulled out a brocade box and said only a piece of flesh remained of the Goddess of Yunshui...
[Year of Renyin, July 1st, cloudy wind
We can’t lose Lady Yunshui...]
This is all that is recorded in the diary. Some of the handwriting is blurred and cannot be recognized, but this is enough.
Oh, so that's how Goddess Yunshui is. If her vitality is severely damaged, it's possible that someone will take advantage of her. I wonder what will happen to the official's father who ate the immortal meat.
The nameless anger in my chest seemed to be about to burst out, and it was only when my fingers unconsciously clenched the paper that I managed to calm down.
After that, I put the book back in its place and continued to sit cross-legged on the cushion, my eyes fixed on the temple door. As soon as the lock on the door clicked, I would be ready.
I don’t know how long I waited, but when I was about to fall asleep, the lock on the door finally moved.
"Ding ding dang dang..." The cold sound seemed to pull at my scalp.
With a creak, the door was pushed open. It was pitch black outside, and only the dim light from the eternal lamp in the hall illuminated the small space.
An old woman came in, her face full of wrinkles and her back hunched. When she saw me, she forced a smile that was not really a smile, as if it was just for the sake of making a "smile".
She walked towards me, her skinny hands, with the slight trembling and coldness unique to old age, caressed my cheek with unusual gentleness, as if she were wiping a piece of precious porcelain. Her fingertips were rough, and the scratching of my skin brought a subtle tingling sensation.
"What a good child..." Her voice was hoarse, like the rubbing of two dry leaves. Then she concentrated on straightening my bright red wedding dress, smoothing out every wrinkle. "Don't be afraid, dear girl, it will be fine in a while..."
I asked her, "I'm scared. Why should I die? If I die, my resentment will surely destroy the entire Yunshui Village."
She looked at me in surprise, but ultimately suppressed the complex emotions in her eyes.
"Alright...Alright..."
She walked to the statue, knelt reverently on the mat, kowtowed three times, and then in this dead silent hall—
"Kaala..."
A faint, yet incredibly clear sound came from deep within the masonry in front of her. Then came the slow, tooth-grinding sound of "crunch, crunch."
I suddenly looked in front of the old woman. Just three steps away, directly in front of where she had kowtowed, the bluestone floor tiles, once tightly fitted and covered in a thick layer of dust, suddenly cracked open. Two huge, heavy stone slabs were slowly sliding apart along the straight crack.
As the stone slabs parted, a dark square hole suddenly appeared! The hole was bottomless, revealing a darkness even thicker than that of the Hexian Temple.
There really is a mechanism in the temple!
Could it be that Nezha really entered this secret passage? !
The old woman stood up, took down a long-burning lantern, and then took my hand. I struggled to break free, but my hands felt like they were welded together and I couldn't get away. My whole body, uncontrollably, followed her into the dark passage.
…
The thin air in the tunnel made my head feel even more groggy, as if I could pass out at any moment. A sticky, earthy smell lingered in my nose, and the sound of running water filled my ears. Was it the Yunshui River? Isn't there only one Yunshui River in Yunshui Town?
It suddenly dawned on me that the Yunshui River was right under the Hexian Temple. It didn't seem that difficult to understand, and it even made sense logically.
Descending the last staircase, I arrived at a place resembling an underground palace. A small path led directly to the altar, below which lay the Yunshui River, flanked by kneeling villagers. But building an underground palace beneath the Hexian Temple... With such determination, what else could I do?
The old woman led me to the path that led to the Yunshui River, which was the path leading to the altar. Everyone on both sides of the altar looked up at me, each with a frantic look of hope on their face. They knelt and chanted:
"Save us, Lady Yunshui..."
"Save us, Lady Yunshui..."
“Save us…”
The waves of prayer came one after another, but even if I wanted to resist, it was like a predetermined fate, and I was destined to walk towards that river.
After we reached the square altar, the old woman let go of my hand. A surge of joy washed over me, a sense of finally being able to control my body. But before I could hold onto the joy, I saw the old woman, with her withered hands, bring something close to my mouth. It was soft and dark in color, with sticky liquid dripping from the edges, giving off a sickeningly sweet, fishy smell.
"Eat it, my dear daughter," she said in a hoarse voice, filled with irresistible temptation. "Eat it, and you will be the new Goddess of Yunshui! Eat it, save us, save the Yunshui River, and save this town!"
When I realized what it was, I backed away frantically.
"Eat, eat, eat! Eat your shovel!"
Instead of eating this weird thing, I might as well jump into the river and drown!
Before I could jump into the river, however, several people rushed up from both sides and held my limbs tightly. I struggled, but the old woman dug her nails into my jaw, forcing my teeth open. The cold, slippery piece of meat was stuffed in. A strong, fishy smell instantly filled my mouth and nose, reaching all the way to the top of my head. My stomach churned, and I desperately wanted to vomit, but my throat was tightly clamped. The slippery, strangely tough piece of meat slid down my esophagus...
"Sister! Sister!"
I heard my brother's voice, but before I could answer, I was pushed into the river.
"Sister! Let me go, sister!"
Icy river water rushed into my mouth and nose, and my brother's voice faded away. My body sank into the inky water, the water pressure squeezing my chest from all directions. The cheers from the shore came through the thick curtain of water, distorted and deformed, but still clearly reached my eardrums:
"She ate it! She ate it!"
"It's done! The new Lady Yunshui is here!"
"Goddess Yunshui, please bless us! Our village is saved!"
"Great, there's a new medicine!"
My consciousness was enveloped by the icy water, my heart pounding wildly. Waves of ecstasy surged from the shore, mingled with my brother's screams, like countless icy needles piercing the icy water and piercing deep into my consciousness.
So this is the ritual of human sacrifice?
The so-called human sacrifice is nothing more than transforming humans into gods. But is the newly transformed god really a god?
The river water wrapped around me as I sank, and the biting cold gradually became docile, as if it had become a part of my body.
The riverbed was dark, and the water plants swayed silently like long, dark green hair, entwining my new fishtail. The water plants brushed against my wrist, bringing a slightly itchy touch, as if cheering.
I could almost hear the faint heartbeats of the countless tiny creatures trapped in the mud, and their subtlest perceptions of the water flow merged clearly into my perception like countless delicate threads.
I became a part of this river, and its pulse was my breath.
At that moment, I clearly realized that I was actually the Goddess of Clouds and Waters...
Little Lotus...
…
Lord Plague is like an invisible sickle, harvesting the remaining life.
Coughs rose and fell, heart-wrenching, echoing along the silent riverbank. Someone collapsed, dragged away silently. Despair spread like a plague, deeper than the Cloud River itself.
Finally, they gathered at the riverbank again. Paper boats lit with candles, and curls of smoke mingled with a thicker odor of sickness and decay. Sallow, swollen faces, like floating corpses, knelt deeply before the murky waters. Their sobs merged into a tide of despair.
"Goddess Yunshui... Merciful Goddess Yunshui..." An old man, his hair almost completely gone, banged his forehead hard on the cold river mud. His voice was hoarse and cracked, like a worn-out bellows. "Please... show your power! Save us! Give us... give us the magic medicine!"
"Give us medicine, save us!" More voices joined in, merging into a sea of wailing. There was no reverence for the gods in those voices, only the naked instinct of those driven to despair by illness and death. They knelt there, their cloudy eyes fixed on the water.
The water flow at the bottom of the river seemed to stagnate for a moment.
Silvery scales shattered like shattered fragments, one by one, detaching from the body. It was a pain beyond the comprehension of flesh and blood, accompanied by a strange, liberating sense of relief that instantly swept through the body. It was as if a heavy shackle deep within the soul had been forcibly severed.
As if it was not enough to vent my anger, my sharp nails dug out a piece of flesh from under my ribs. The moment the flesh was separated from my body, the burning pain under my ribs strangely disappeared, replaced by an empty coldness, as if there should have been a hole there.
The piece of meat floated in the water for a moment, pulsating slightly as if it had life, and then was gently lifted up by an invisible undercurrent and slowly floated upwards.
When it broke through the water, the dead silence on the shore was instantly ignited, and chaos erupted. Then countless pieces of flesh floated to the surface...
I felt very happy watching them fighting for food.
"Eat...eat more..."
Let's die together...
——
"Ayu! Little carp!"
Little Lotus's voice suddenly pulled my consciousness back from its trance. Just like that?
I opened my eyes, and the pain in my body seemed to still remain in my consciousness.
"It hurts so much... Little Lotus, it really hurts when the flesh is cut... How did you endure it back then?"
"Ayu, you..." Little Lotus looked at me in surprise, "It's okay, it's okay now..."
The lotus stem wrapped me gently, and I was so addicted to this tenderness that I didn't want to get up at all.
"Little Lotus, I'm sorry, I forgot about you..."
I'm sorry for forgetting you, my friend...
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The author has something to say: Ah, miscalculation!
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