Chapter 66 Chapter 66 What should I give at this time...
What should I do at this time?
Li Yi calmed down for a moment, racking his brains to come up with words of comfort, which was really troublesome, but in the end he just pretended he didn't hear anything.
She looked at the piles of wood, because Cheng Qiu's expression became depressed when he looked at them just now.
She rarely saw Cheng Qiu, who was so cheerful, showing such a melancholy expression.
"The High Priest will personally preside over the ceremony. Your planning will make it a most memorable one."
She finally spoke words of comfort.
The ceremony was something Cheng Qiu had always taken very seriously, and he had devoted considerable effort to its preparation. According to Qi Yang, months in advance, Cheng Qiu had already chosen the location and date through astrology, procured the sacrificial flowers, designed and sculpted the massive statue, recruited and trained volunteers to maintain order, and meticulously refined every detail... He had even rehearsed the sacrificial text and sword dance he would perform on the altar several times.
Even today, she has seen him many times reading a book and reading the funeral oration.
Although he can no longer preside over the ceremony.
But no matter what, he still deserves the greatest credit.
Li Yian's sincere comfort made Cheng Qiu smile, his eyebrows and eyes sparkling.
"Your comfort is good. I feel much better."
Although she didn't comfort him enough.
Li Yian's apparent relief made Cheng Qiu laugh. The night breeze was cool, and he draped his coat over her.
She flinched slightly, but he put it on with a little force.
"Today I saw you carry that thick log with one hand. Even if there were ten of me, I wouldn't be able to move it even a bit. There's nothing I can do to help you. It's a cold night. If you put on your clothes, it would keep you warm and help me feel less guilty."
“…”
"It's really late. Let me take you home." He said in a gentle voice.
Apart from his childhood friend Qi Yang, Li Yian has almost no experience in spending long periods of time chatting with others in his life.
Her personality is so introverted that when faced with other people's embarrassing advances, her first thought is trouble, and her second is to keep them at a distance.
At this moment, I wanted to leave quickly and return to the comfortable state of solitude.
But for some unknown reason, she nodded and said stiffly, "Okay."
Then he looked unnatural and walked ahead with stiff steps.
Cheng Qiu looked at her back with a gentle expression. Even though his heart was filled with tenderness, he did not dare to disturb this shy girl.
If he hadn't been attacked by the evil that night, and he had a vibrant life and a healthy body, how wonderful it would be. Then he could at least show his affection to her generously...
He lowered his eyes and stared at his hands.
His soul was in a daze, sometimes appearing and disappearing. Although he didn't know the exact reason, he had a vague guess.
However, he had decided to carry out the festival plan, no matter what the outcome.
"Chengqiu."
She looked back at him from far ahead, her cold voice echoing in the empty street, as if wondering why he didn't leave.
Cheng Qiu smiled at her gently and walked forward quickly.
The two walked side by side under the moonlight.
Li Yian just walked in silence.
Cheng Qiu knew that she was introverted. He had observed how she interacted with her classmates in the martial arts academy, and even with Qi Yang, she didn't talk much.
She wasn't targeting him, which was a bit comforting.
He took the initiative to talk to her about his past.
Cheng Qiu told her about how when he was a child he was punished by his father for playing too much and not studying. He was made to stand outside the house late at night, and the moon was so bright that night.
When he was a child, he was extremely naughty. He skipped classes every day and went up the mountain with his friends to dig out bird nests, went to the river to catch fish, and poked a hornet's nest in a tree and got stung so much that his face was swollen for several days.
Li Yi listened quietly.
Until the end, she responded to his words, "You are very different from when you were a child. If you don't like studying, why did you end up in the theological society?"
The Theological Society is the most rigorous institution of learning in the entire kingdom. Everyone here studies very hard, especially the Faculty of Arts. It is said that there is a small test every three days and a big test every five days. The books on the table are taller than them.
Even when Mu Yang went out, including going to the palace to do business, he didn't have to bring clothes or food, but he would pack a whole carriage with books.
In such an environment, Cheng Qiu not only excelled in his studies, but also took over most of the priest's chores, managed the students, and was responsible for the preparations for three or four grand events every year.
Although he is not mentioned much in the novel, in fact, his prestige in the Academy of Literature is no less than Mu Yang's.
"Ten years ago, there was a plague. My father, who was an official in charge of disaster relief, took me to that place. It was truly miserable. The people there, within a hundred miles, had their doors shut. Corpses wrapped in straw mats were everywhere, coffins were everywhere, and there was crying."
"There I met the high priest who came to purify the plague."
"I saw him use his magic to save people from death, and saw the entire town come alive because of his arrival."
"I hope to be a person like him. To bring good fortune to those who are suffering and struggling in the world."
He looked up at the moon, his thoughts drifting away for a while, his emotions mixed. "Li Yian, don't worry. No matter what happens, I will help you."
"This festival will be the end."
"I will pray for you."
Li Yian was stunned and looked up at him.
His gentle and handsome face now had a complex and determined expression.
He had never taken his eyes off Li Yian, but when Li Yian looked at him,
He avoided Li Yian's gaze, as if he was afraid that she would notice the emotions in his eyes.
He had a clear idea of the upcoming festival and the tragedy that might follow.
He wouldn't tell her about this, he just wanted to make her feel at ease.
"Cheng Qiu." Li Yian said hesitantly, "Thank you. I don't want anyone to be involved in my affairs. I don't want others to suffer because of me."
Cheng Qiu looked at her helplessly.
Doesn't she always take on the role of protecting others, but never let others protect her?
Li Yian lowered his head, his brows tightly furrowed.
Perhaps Cheng Qiu noticed something in the illusion that night.
Maybe he wanted to help her with something.
But she has to face this war with the demon god Youtian alone.
Back when they were at the Mu family, Youtian had his first confrontation with her.
He completely isolated her from the outside world and dragged her into one illusion after another, seducing her and forcing her, hoping that she would sacrifice her body to him.
She withstood the test and broke his spell, but that was just luck, as Youtian was not strong enough at that time.
Now, after this period of recuperation and healing, and with the evil filth constantly harming people bringing him a large amount of dark power, his power may have grown to a terrifying level.
Otherwise, why couldn't even the humanoid weapon Li Xuan defeat him in the novel?
Perhaps he would use more powerful means to create a more terrifying illusion and dig out the deepest darkness in her heart.
All of this must happen without anyone noticing.
So they can't help her and may even suffer for being involved in these things.
so:
"Cheng Qiu, if you want to help me, there is one thing I can do for you." She said softly.
"If you find anything wrong with me, kill me immediately. The center of my forehead is my weak spot."
Her voice was soft, but it hit Cheng Qiu's chest like a huge hammer.
The evening breeze blew her long hair, and she half-closed her eyes, looking down at the shadows on the ground stretched by the moonlight.
The two of them didn't speak for a long time.
Li Yian was the first to raise her head. She glanced at the gate of the Mu family in front of her and saw two guards on patrol.
She didn't want the guards to see her, so she wanted to jump over the wall and go in through the backyard as she had done before.
She handed her coat back to Cheng Qiu, "We still have to prepare for the festival tomorrow, I'm going back first..."
But before she could finish her words, the tall figure put his arms around her and held her tightly in his arms.
The cold body hugged her tightly, and she heard Cheng Qiu's suppressed whisper, "Li Yian, you make my heart ache."
Li Yian froze.
"With your strength, you can easily break free from me, and it's possible that you can even shatter my soul and body."
"But I'm so sad, so sad that I can no longer bear to keep my distance from you."
His voice was very suppressed and his body was trembling slightly.
Why does she always carry everything on her own?
"Li Yian, I hope you can rely on me a little. I will pray for you, and you will be fine."
“I’m good at praying.”
He said sadly, "Don't look at me as weak, I'm actually very strong."
His tone was relaxed, as if he wanted to make the atmosphere better, but the intermittent suppressed breath betrayed his thoughts.
"Cheng Qiu...I..." Li Yian was at a loss, not knowing what to do.
She didn't expect that Cheng Qiu would suddenly be so sad after she casually revealed her feelings. She couldn't bear to push him away, and she didn't know what to say.
She could only reach out stiffly and pat his back.
He was tall and slender, and with just his arms, he held the petite Li Yian tightly in his arms, with her head pressed against his collarbone.
"I..." Cheng Qiu still wanted to say something, but his hands suddenly became illusory, and his entire soul passed through Li Yian's body.
He stumbled a few steps and looked down at his translucent hands.
Li Yian didn't react. Just as she was about to say something, a patrolling guard came over and said, "Miss Yian..."
This air hug made Li Yian blush and she quickly jumped onto the wall.
Without bothering to say anything to Cheng Qiu, she turned around, jumped off the wall, and ran towards her own yard.
She didn't breathe a sigh of relief until she ran back to her room.
Cheng Qiu watched the candlelight in the room go out, then he lowered his head, turned around and disappeared into the moonlight.
----------------
The next morning, Li Yian came to the Theological Society and found that there were many more people there.
Before the fog had dissipated and the sun had risen, many students from the College of Arts had already brought flowers and silk and spread them on the temple.
The students from the martial arts academy were busy carrying wood to build the altar.
As soon as Li Yian stepped into the martial arts academy, Qi Yang pulled her arm and walked aside, taking out a telescope with a serious face.
"……what."
Qi Yang set up the telescope in the old place, the hidden spot of the rockery in Hibiscus Garden. "Yuan Yin is back."
He pulled Li Yian in front of the camera and said, "I haven't seen her for a while. Because of the obscene things, all the students were sent out to handle the work. Unfortunately, I stayed behind to guard the Theological Society."
Li Yian was speechless. At this critical moment, he didn't go to work but ran here to peek.
She only glanced at the beauty in the camera, without even seeing her face clearly, and was about to leave, but Qi Yang grabbed her arm tightly, "She's here!"
Li Yian was helpless, "If you like her, go tell her."
He peeks in the dark all day long and doesn't dare to appear in front of the goddess. How could Qi Yang, with such a carefree personality, have such a contrasting side?
There were soft footsteps coming from not far away, followed by a burst of fragrance.
Qi Yang had already put away the telescope and hid inside the rockery.
Seeing this, Li Yian quickly hid himself and pushed Qi Yang deeper into the rockery.
Soon, an extremely beautiful woman appeared in front of them. She was dressed in a white college uniform, with a delicate figure, delicate features, a pair of beautiful, expressive eyes, long, curled eyelashes, a high nose, a small mouth, and a well-proportioned figure.
She walked in front of the rockery, picked up the telescope that had fallen on the ground, and then stood where Li Yian was hiding.
"Li Yian." She called out Li Yian's name in a serious tone.
Li Yian's face froze for a moment.
At this moment, Qi Yang behind her had already slipped away. She also wanted to slip away, but she saw Cheng Qiu behind the beauty.
At this moment, Cheng Qiu covered his mouth with the back of his hand, obviously trying to hide his smile.
Li Yian's face flushed, and he felt extremely embarrassed. He said hesitantly, "That telescope is not mine."
Trying to keep a calm expression on her face, she slowly walked out.
Yuanyin didn't seem to care much. She asked, "Do you remember the agreement we made that day?"
"...What agreement?"
Yuanyin looked a little annoyed, with her eyebrows furrowed, but she didn't lose her temper in the end.
She threw the telescope back to Li Yian and turned to leave. As she left, she said calmly, "Well, now is not the time to drink."
Speaking of drinking, Li Yian remembered that when she was in the God of Wind's habitat, a beautiful lady from the Academy of Literature had indeed made an agreement with her.
It’s just that she doesn’t like making friends and doesn’t take it to heart.
After Yuanyin left, Qi Yang appeared out of nowhere and asked Li Yian how he knew Yuanyin and had an appointment with her.
Li Yian had no choice but to give a few casual explanations.
After this embarrassing episode, she and Qi Yang continued to do hard labor in the temple.
There is strength in numbers, and with the efforts of several students from the martial arts academy, the altar was soon completed.
The thick hemp ropes tied the neatly arranged thick wood tightly.
From the lowest outer part of the altar to the highest inner part, the hemp ropes are wrapped in layers.
Nine towering stone pillars were erected around the altar, each with a hemp rope wrapped around it and a huge bronze bell tied to it.
Li Yian stood in the center of the altar, smashing the overly protruding wood with a machete, and he could always see Cheng Qiu out of the corner of his eye.
He was holding a book in his hands, reading something and muttering something to himself.
Since the high priest was presiding over the ceremony, why was Cheng Qiu always reading the sacrificial text?
Even though she was confused, she didn't think much about it and just thought that Cheng Qiu was trying to relieve his boredom. After all, only she could see him, and no one else could see him.
She was daydreaming when she suddenly heard a commotion and the students below gathered in one direction.
"Mu Yang! You're back!"
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