Hearing Xingyue's words, Ergouzi's mother couldn't help but gasp.
She was trembling all over, her voice tinged with fear and doubt as she asked cautiously, "Could you tell me a little more about it, young lady? In our little village, every year people die in that deep pool. Even though everyone remains extremely vigilant, it seems they can't escape this fate."
Xingyue nodded slightly, then continued slowly, "These so-called 'guide fish' are actually sick fish. Their illness makes breathing extremely difficult, so they struggle to swim to shallower waters to get more oxygen."
"However, just when you mistakenly thought it was staying there quietly and that you could easily catch it, it suddenly swam towards the deep water out of a strong desire to survive..."
Having said this, Xingyue paused for a moment, her eyes swept over Ergouzi, who had a pale face and a black forehead, as well as the faint black aura above his head, and she couldn't help but frown.
Xingyue suppressed her inner speculation and paused for a moment before continuing, "Once a person's attention is completely captured by the 'guide fish,' they will unknowingly be led step by step from the shallows into the deep. So, do you still think it's an ordinary fish? It's clearly a death warrant leading people to the underworld!"
As Xingyue finished speaking, everyone present was shocked. Not only Liu Dazhu and his wife, but even the village chief and many villagers couldn't help but feel creepy and broke out in cold sweats.
Village chief Liu An seized the opportunity and quickly spoke up, "My two benefactors, as the wife of the Dazhu family said, this deep pool indeed claims the lives of several villagers every year! Just over ten days ago, an eight-year-old girl met a tragic fate here... Alas!"
At this point, Liu An sighed softly, then continued, "The wizard we invited here asserted that our village is being harassed by evil spirits. Fortunately, within this deep pool lives a man named the King of the Western Underworld. It is said that if we offer him a young woman as a wife on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month every year, the King of the Western Underworld will protect us villagers from harm. I wonder if this method is feasible, my two benefactors?"
Just as Dong Ming frowned and was about to scold harshly for this absurd thing, Xingyue on the side quickly cast a look at him, signaling him to calm down.
Xingyue's face was as gloomy as water, and her icy gaze fell directly on Liu An. Then she slowly asked, "Today is August 13th, so according to the agreement, it should be the day after tomorrow, right? I wonder which girl you have chosen to offer to the King of Ximing as his wife?"
Upon hearing this, Liu An's face was filled with endless sorrow and grief, and tears flowed uncontrollably like a flood. He trembled as he said, "Whose daughter isn't raised with great care and effort by their parents? As the head of the village, how could I bear to push another's daughter to her death?"
Upon hearing this, Xingyue suddenly understood what was going on. She couldn't help but sneer and said sarcastically, "So, you're a man of great righteousness! If that's the case, could it be that you've decided to let your daughter become the wife of that so-called King of Ximing?"
At that moment, a beautiful, graceful, yet slightly frail young woman hurried forward and earnestly explained to Xingyue, "Sister, please don't blame my father. In fact... in fact, I went there willingly."
"Oh?!" Xingyue frowned slightly, her face full of suspicion.
"Sister, my name is Xue'er. I came into this world during the bitterly cold and snowy twelfth lunar month. Ever since I was little, I've been much weaker than others. I've been constantly bombarded with bitter, unpleasant-smelling medicines. Almost every meal involved medicinal soup..."
When she said this, as if to prove what Liu Xueer said was true, she suddenly started coughing violently, and the coughing came one after another, as if she was going to cough her heart and lungs out of her body.
"Sister, for so many years, it's been Xue'er who has caused trouble for Mom and Dad. In order to cure Xue'er's illness, they've even sold all their property just to raise the exorbitant medical expenses. However, Xue'er knows very well in her heart that her illness... I'm afraid there's no cure. The doctor has long since predicted that Xue'er doesn't have much time left, and she might not even make it through August..."
"Ahem...Since things have come to this, why not let Xue'er serve as the wife of the King of Ximing? That way, at least Xue'er can make a small contribution to the people of our village before she dies."
As Liu Xueer finished speaking, all the villagers present at this moment were moved to tears, and the tears could not stop flowing from their eyes.
After learning the ins and outs of the matter, Xingyue was deeply touched by the kind-hearted Liu Xueer, but on the other hand, she felt extremely sad and helpless about the villagers' ignorant behavior.
How could he, a righteous deity, so cruelly take the lives of innocent villagers for his own selfish reasons? The only reasonable explanation is that this guy called "King of the Western Underworld" is not a god at all, but a completely evil creature!
You know, as a highly respected goddess in the Temple of Light, Xingyue had never heard of the existence of such a title as "King of the Western Underworld" in this vast world of gods.
Just then, as the time was approaching noon, Liu Dazhu interjected, "You two benefactors, your life-saving grace to Er Gouzi will be forever etched in our hearts. If there's ever a need for me, Liu Dazhu, in the future, please let me know. I, Liu Dazhu, will do my best to help."
"It's the scorching sun right now, and the heat here is unbearable. If you two benefactors don't mind, why not move to my humble abode and enjoy a simple lunch?"
Xingyue and Dongming, who were originally thinking about how to find a reason to stay, looked at each other after hearing Liu Dazhu's words.
Then, Xingyue and Dongming replied in unison: "Since this gentleman is so hospitable, we two will respectfully obey your orders."
After saying that, Xingyue and Dongming followed Liu Dazhu and others down the mountain and walked towards his home.
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