e-booksonline Chapter 109 Sacrifice
Chapter 109 Sacrifice
The surrounding area was quiet, and the area around the Niangniang Temple was shrouded in gloom.
If it weren't for someone in the escort team holding up a torch, it would be impossible to even see the corridor clearly.
However, unlike the quiet Wugu Town, the Niangniang Temple was brightly lit, with flickering flames visible every few steps.
The Goddess of Fertility, who is kind and compassionate during the day, has a gloomy face here, making people's scalps tingle and their hair stand on end.
Even the boys and girls accompanying them seemed strangely different, their previous liveliness and shyness completely gone.
Clang
The palanquin was gently placed on the ground. The monks, strongmen, and children who had paraded through the streets had all vanished, leaving only a few dozen believers holding swords standing in place. Li Zhixu, his face swollen, stepped out from the crowd.
He first looked at the endless darkness behind him, then his gaze swept over the huddled boys and girls.
"Since he hasn't taken the bait, let's begin."
Two muscular, menacing men stepped forward and forcibly lifted the child who was screaming and wailing.
Li Zhixu walked towards the altar and activated the mechanism out of everyone's sight. With a click, the statues of the boy and girl around the Goddess of Fertility suddenly fell in two, revealing the shriveled corpses hidden inside.
They were two small, thin corpses, almost as if human skin were clinging to the bones. If one did not look closely, one would think they were corpses that had been dried out for months.
These dozens of people were already familiar with the sacrificial procedure. Before Li Zhixu could give the order, the two burly men dragged the children out of the gruesome corpse and forcefully stuffed the two children inside.
In an instant, cries and screams erupted from the rapidly closing statue. However, those present remained unmoved, simply waiting quietly for the mechanism to activate.
With a whoosh, the irritating crying abruptly stopped. The hazy light first swirled around the statues of the boy and girl, then converged entirely into the statue of the Goddess of Fertility.
In the shadows, unseen by anyone, the flowing blood was pouring down the secret passage into the half-sculpture inside the body of the Goddess of Fertility.
...
The alluring Goddess of Fertility descended from the void, exuding boundless charm with every gesture. Those present felt an unbearable burning desire within them, as if they needed to find a place to release it. Before anyone could react, the Goddess of Fertility plucked a willow branch from her vase and swung it towards Li Zhixu's head.
The glistening raindrops silently seeped into Li Zhixu's head, and wisps of yin energy also drifted into his body along the banner.
"Thank you for your blessing, Your Majesty..."
Surrounded by a hazy, dark light, Li Zhixu felt an inexhaustible supply of energy, and even his body, usually weakened by wine and women, seemed to have received some nourishment. His swollen and pale face even regained a touch of color.
"The sacrifice is over, but there's still no sign of that demon-slaying captain... I wonder if Fang Hongxuan isn't coming..."
The burly man cautiously inquired, not out of a sense of unease, but because Li Zhixu, a master of drinking, gambling, and womanizing, was capable of violently beating his followers when in a bad mood. If Li Zhixu hadn't specifically instructed him to warn him, the burly man would never have dared to provoke Li Zhixu.
"Hmph, it's best if he doesn't come; that way, he can at least survive for a little while longer. If he does come..."
"If you come... what will you do then..."
The crisp sound echoed in the empty temple, startling everyone who looked around. However, no matter how they looked, they could not find Fang Hongxuan.
"What kind of skill is this, pretending to be a ghost?! I was careless today, that's why I was no match for you... If you're so capable, come out and fight me a few rounds? Do you have the guts?!"
"What is there to be afraid of!"
Fang Hongxuan appeared behind the crowd, his arms around Cuo Jin, staring coldly at the somewhat smug Li Zhixu.
"Things are different now. Her Majesty is watching from above. We have no danger to our lives. Let's stall for time and wait until Her Majesty has consumed the offerings before she makes her move. At that time, taking down this arrogant brat will be a piece of cake, won't it?"
"Get them!"
At Li Zhixu's command, the crowd gripped their weapons tightly, quickly surrounding Fang Hongxuan completely.
The already eerie atmosphere of the temple was suddenly filled with a fierce wind, causing the banners and curtains to flutter loudly. Even the incense and candles in the censer burned rapidly.
A sudden flash of cold light
With a clang, the sword, radiating a faint light, was suddenly drawn from its sheath.
Three heads shot into the sky, and lukewarm blood gushed from their necks, splashing three feet high and splattering the faces of the surrounding believers.
The other believers, who were just about to step forward to help, were stunned by the swift and decisive flash of the blade.
No one could help but feel terrified, no one could help but be filled with dread!
Even the arrogant and domineering Li Zhixu was shocked. His swollen face first turned pale and bloodless, and then his face turned red with unspeakable anger.
"Blood must not be seen within the temple of the goddess... How dare you... How dare you do this!"
"These people haven't completely transformed into that half-dead, half-alive state yet..."
A slight ripple stirred in Fang Hongxuan's heart, but it quickly vanished.
Having made his choice, he would not turn back. Daring to associate with evil spirits meant accepting certain death.
"Your Majesty! Help me!"
Filled with shock and anger, Li Zhixu shouted loudly as he retreated, and in a series of quick movements, he had already quietly moved behind the altar.
Then, amidst shouts, they withdrew from the temple, leaving everyone else dumbfounded.
Some of the more alert believers had already dropped their swords, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed, begging for mercy.
Even Fang Hongxuan, who was about to swing his knife again, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow upon seeing this.
He sighed softly, then wiped away the sizzling blood from the tip of his blade before quietly sheathing it.
"You may leave..."
The remaining six people were moved to tears and kowtowed repeatedly in gratitude.
In just a short while, Fang Hongxuan was left alone in the eerie temple filled with chilling winds.
"How long are you going to hide... Come out and face your death!"
Beneath the altar, there is a very cramped dark room, barely big enough for one person to hide in.
Zhang Desheng, who had lost an arm, was covered in cold sweat. He tried his best to keep his head down and not raise it, and tried to calm himself down as much as possible.
He naturally dared not look at Fang Hongxuan, as that would attract his attention.
"Impossible... How could he know I was hiding here! Is he trying to trick me into coming out?!"
Just as Zhang Desheng was hesitating whether to suddenly launch a fierce attack, Fang Hongxuan's words brought his violently beating heart back down into his stomach.
"Zhang Desheng, I've already seen you. How long are you going to hide...?"