Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Just then, a rustling came from the grass.

I opened my eyes and looked over. From behind a large rock nearby, an unspeakably ugly girl limped out.

The girl dropped to her knees with a thud and kowtowed again and again. “I-I’m not from Meng Family Village. I was only passing through and begging for a sip of water. Please spare me!”

The Supreme God frowned. “What did you see?”

The girl trembled like a leaf. After thinking for a moment, she suddenly lifted her head and said, “I saw a terrifying beast slaughter the village. The Fairy Maiden wanted to save everyone, but she was gravely wounded.”

The Supreme God smiled faintly. “What is your name?”

Her voice was as thin as a mosquito’s buzz. “Ah… Ah Ku.”

The Supreme God’s hand gently settled on the girl’s head.

In an instant, a faint glow rose from her body. All the festering sores on her face healed, and she seemed reborn, transformed into a delicate, pretty girl.

“From this day on, you are a disciple of White Jade Capital.”

Overjoyed, the girl kowtowed and thanked him profusely for his divine grace.

The Supreme God paid her no mind. Instead, he turned to Fairy Si Lan beside him. “Wretch. From now on, you are forbidden to drink yourself senseless again. When we return, you will seclude yourself and reflect on your mistakes. Copy the Rebirth Mantra for the dead villagers, and properly contemplate your sins!”

Silian lowered her head and pouted like a little girl who had done something wrong. “I know.”

All of a sudden, Silian let out a drunken hiccup. She stuck out her tongue and smiled with innocent charm. “I knew Master loved me the most. I won’t drink anymore.”

A hint of indulgence flashed through the Supreme God’s eyes, but he quickly returned to his usual icy sternness. “We’re leaving!”

With that, he took Silian, the girl, and the half-dead Qiongqi, and flew away on his sword.

…

I despaired. In the end, the god had abandoned his believers.

…

Before the Supreme God left, he set a barrier around Meng Family Village to prevent the ghostly fire from spreading.

The flames burned half the sky red, and the searing heat melted stone into lava.

I knew I would not live much longer, but even if I was going to die, I would die together with Grandfather.

I did not know whether the blood on me belonged to the villagers or to Qiongqi. I only knew that my hair had been burned away, my throat had been smoked hoarse, and the scalding earth had melted my ten fingers down to white bone.

Everything had burned away. Only the black stone statue in the center of the village still stood intact.

With great difficulty, I raised my head and looked toward it by the light of the fire.

It was a statue of the Supreme God carved by the common people from their imaginations. For thousands of years, generation after generation of Meng Family Village had burned incense and knelt before it in devout worship.

I let out a cold laugh and spat a mouthful of bloody saliva at the stone statue.

Pah. As if you deserve it.