"Yaoyao, don't be so willful in the future," Chongming said as he tidied up her hairpin.
"Master, why didn't you stop me just now?"
She clearly knew that there were quite a few flaws in the little cat she conjured. So why did he let her do it?
"I also feel guilty."
Yaohua blinked her eyes. "The old man's granddaughter was chosen as a sacrifice. Master, let's go and help her tomorrow."
The next day, on the outskirts of the city.
"Master, the old man knows Brother Six. So I didn't let him come," Yaohua scratched her head. "We still have no clue about the little flying insects. Sending him out for a stroll will surely do some good."
There was a hint of admiration in Chongming's eyes. "We'll do as you say."
Yaohua immediately broke into a smile. "Master is so kind!"
When they arrived at the old man's house, he was drawing water in the yard.
Yaohua leaned on the fence and stood on tiptoe to shout at the old man, "Uncle, could we have a bowl of water?"
Her voice was as clear as a yellow oriole singing in a mountain stream. From the look in the old man's eyes when he looked over, Yaohua really saw a hint of fondness.
"Where are you two from?"
The old man asked as he opened the fence. A smile bloomed on his wrinkled face. It was hard to imagine that this kind - hearted old man was the one who had chased Mo Qing with a pole and tried to hit him yesterday.
"We're from Hebei Prefecture."
The identity certificate Chongming had shown before stated that they were from Hebei Prefecture. Although Yaohua had only glanced at it, she remembered it clearly.
"Are the crops growing well in Hebei Prefecture?"
"Not bad." Even in simple clothes, Chongming's elegance remained undiminished.
The old woman in the house heard the commotion and brought out two bowls of water. "Our humble abode is simple. Please don't mind."
Two apricot leaves were floating in the clear water. Yaohua thanked her politely. Then she saw Chongming flick his finger, and the water in the bowl changed its appearance.
She held the bowl and took a big sip. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a ghost - like figure flashing in the main room, and she almost spat out the water in her mouth.
This was just like getting a pillow when you're sleepy. She hadn't figured out how to start asking questions yet, and here came the opportunity.
"Is that elder sister trying to hang herself?"
The old woman was stunned. She suddenly got up and rushed towards the main room.
Yaohua followed. She saw the young girl who had been in the old woman's arms before hanging her head on a rope and then kicking away the small stool under her feet.
"My dear girl!" The old woman let out a shrill cry.
Yaohua waved out a spiritual power and cut off the rope on the beam without hesitation.
Fortunately, they had come in time. Otherwise, this elder sister would have died in vain.
The old man outside the house heard the noise and rushed in. Seeing the young girl blushing and gasping for breath, he first let out a sigh of relief, and then a look of sorrow appeared on his face.
"You only have a few more days to live. Doing this will only make your grandma and me sad," the old man said.
"In a few days, it's still a few days. It's better for me to die now!" The young girl sat up, pulled the rope randomly, and tried to put it around her neck.
"You're just trying to make us mad!" The old man turned around. After calming down his emotions for a while, he showed a smile to the master and apprentice again. "Sorry to make you laugh. I won't keep you two any longer."
Yaohua took the opportunity to speak. "Uncle, don't be in a hurry. My master knows a little bit of magic. Maybe he can help you."
The old man was stunned and then smiled bitterly. He waved his hand. "Little girl, we appreciate your kindness. But we can't involve you outsiders in this kind of thing."
"Just now my master and I drank your water. Uncle, please tell us!" Yaohua held his hand and shook it.
The old man sighed. After a long while, he told them the whole story.
Regarding the sacrifice, although they had learned a lot last night, it was not as comprehensive as what the old man said.
To Yaohua's shock, the sacrifice ceremony was held every night. There were many counties in Henan Prefecture, and many people couldn't make it to the parade ground, so they worshiped the statue of the Moon God at home.
In addition, the sacrifices were selected half a month in advance. That is to say, each of the selected people was living their remaining days counting down.
"The selected sacrifices will be taken away by the divine envoys," the old man couldn't help shedding tears. "My dear girl may be taken away today."
So soon!
Yaohua was greatly shocked. She calmed her mind and showed a naive expression appropriately. "But Uncle, isn't it said that the gods will protect the world? Why do they still need to use living people as sacrifices?"
"Originally, it wasn't necessary. But before, there was a shortage of food, and there was nothing to offer to the gods. The gods didn't protect us, and our lives became even more difficult. Someone proposed using people as sacrifices, and then our lives got better," the old man wiped his tears, his face full of bitterness.
"But now the crops outside are growing well. Why do they still continue to use people as sacrifices?" Yaohua was really curious. Didn't these people have the slightest doubt in their hearts?
"Someone also said so before," the old man seemed to recall a very terrifying memory. He closed the door fearfully. "It was the family next to ours. At first, the divine envoys agreed, but after a few days, all the crops withered. Everyone said that the Moon God was angry. In order to appease the god's anger, the whole family was taken away."
Yaohua didn't expect there to be such an episode. So, in order to survive, the people in Henan Prefecture had to offer sacrifices.
The people in Henan Prefecture's feelings towards the Moon God were more of fear than worship.
"Master Immortal," the old man suddenly knelt down in front of Chongming. "I don't ask for anything else. Can you just help me change my appearance with my girl's so that I can be the sacrifice instead of her?"
Yaohua had thought about sending them away. After all, it was relatively easy to eliminate the clues of their departure. Although it was only a temporary solution, it could relieve the urgent situation for a while. But she didn't expect that the old man was willing to take his granddaughter's place.
"Uncle, please get up," Yaohua helped him up. "This god is not right. Why do you have to rely on him to protect you? If he can make the crops grow naturally, other gods can surely do the same." She curved her eyes. "Uncle, do you know the God Chongming?"
Chongming, who was suddenly mentioned by her, couldn't help but raise his eyes. A hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes.
This little rascal had one clever trick after another.
"I know. But how could the God Chongming take care of us here?"
"Of course he can," Yaohua took out a statue from her sleeve like a magician.
Chongming took a look and saw that the statue was exactly his appearance in the temple in the mortal world.
"My master has always worshiped the God Chongming, so our journey has been so smooth," Yaohua said with a lingering fear. "Uncle, you don't know. On our way to Henan Prefecture, we met many bandits. Thanks to the God Chongming showing his spirit, we were able to reach here."
The old man was half - convinced, but he still took the statue from her hand.
"Uncle, you only need to be sincere when worshiping the God Chongming. You don't need anything else, unlike the Moon God, who still demands sacrifices," Yaohua pouted and complained. "Sister is as beautiful as a flower. How could you be willing to let her be a sacrifice?"