sbdcsierra Chapter 344 How to "correct" the Martian God?
Chapter 344 How to "correct" the Martian God?
A week later.
"Mr. Danheng, what do you think of today's reconstruction meeting?"
"Don't bother me, I won't do it! If you're so capable, go and drag that old bastard Lithost back to work for you!"
Standing inside the abode of the gods, surrounded by several victors of the Ten Arts War, Qiong waved his hands helplessly.
Honestly, he was already starting to regret it. Why did he even consider the possible "cleanup" instead of just running away? Right now, theoretically, besides Leera, he was the one with the most influence on Luo Xing...
On the 30th day, Kitzya and on the 31st day, Luo Xiaoxing, exchanged a glance and smiled helplessly.
"Knight of Danheng—"
“I told you it’s a pseudonym.”
"But it really has to be you, otherwise..."
Qiong scratched his head, about to refuse again, when Chenxue's loud voice came from the entrance of the God's Abode.
"Sister, I've come to see you! Bai Shu, he—"
Qiong took the opportunity to look towards the entrance, where Luo Chenxue was rushing over from a distance, carrying a thermos in her arms.
All eyes turned to Chen Xue, who felt a little intimidated by their stares.
"Um, is he... alright?"
Chen Xue noticed that Qiong's eyes were particularly fervent as he stared intently at her—perhaps it was the thermos she had brought? Indeed, given his recent mental state, he probably hadn't been resting or eating properly.
"Okay, I'm perfectly fine!"
With a smile in his eyes, Qiong slammed his hand heavily on Chen Xue's shoulder. In this almost suffocating atmosphere, some idiot (scratch that) offered him a chance to escape. Even that nagging ghost "Seventh Day" Blunt, who begged him every day, wouldn't be able to bother him with any excuse now!
"You sisters have a good chat, I have something to do, I'm leaving now!"
After saying that, Qiong took off running towards the top of the tower—compared to those treacherous magicians who were trying to get him to work, the now silent Leiera seemed kind and gentle.
Chen Xue stared blankly at Qiong's back: Is he mentally normal or mentally unstable?
"Chenxue, what's in that thermos?"
Chen Xue then realized what was happening.
"Oh, this is a soup made with Bletilla striata, and I'm giving it to Atractylodes macrocephala... Atractylodes macrocephala, stop! And, you really aren't going..."
Qiong stopped helplessly and turned to look at Chenxue, who was rushing over carrying a thermos.
"I think I've made myself clear: 'Rice Cake' is not dead."
"I know you might think she's still here because you saw my sister was still there, but she clearly..."
Chen Xue hesitated, wondering how the rice cake, which had become so transparent and untouchable in front of everyone, could still be alive.
But isn't it a bit too cruel for someone like me, who found my sister and reunited with my family, to convince Sora that Kiana is gone...?
Perhaps Qiong has managed to put on a brave face and appear normal until now by deceiving herself? What would happen if we exposed her?
Let her live on—live on in his heart.
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The Ruimu system started operating again.
The source of the god's shadow was completely blocked at the cost of "Nian Gao sacrificing himself and disappearing". After that, Bai Ji and others shook the lantern organization of Langqiu and almost all of its core members. Thanks to the portal provided by Kiana, even though the transportation system to Ruimu was completely paralyzed due to the Shadow Disaster, people could still enter and leave Ruimu through Langqiu (but Litost could not pass through).
The damage to the buildings from the Shadow Disaster was not severe. Therefore, relying on the bureaucratic system left by Lithost and the reinforcements sent by Baiji, Ruimu should be able to maintain basic operations and slowly recover, barring any unforeseen circumstances—except that Langqiu is the only remaining exit.
Among the first buildings cleared out was an empty dance hall—of course, given the current situation in Ramu, it was impossible for it to have any guests.
However, a young lady from the Nutrisco family still spent a lot of money to buy the ballroom, which now seems to have lost its commercial value, and a young master from the Bai family has already paid to rent it out—in Bai Ji's words, the place would be perfect for holding a memorial service after renovation.
……
Sitting in the chair, Song Que stared blankly at the fragrant delicacies, exquisite wines, and pastries on the long table in front of him.
She didn't understand. Weren't they supposed to hold a memorial service to commemorate Nian Gao? What was this feast all about?
If it weren't for the gray portrait in the center, she wouldn't have known whether it was a banquet or a funeral... Although she thought the food was good, she was still very unhappy—was this what a funeral should be like?!
"Young Master Bai, did you invite us here for a get-together?"
Although there was plenty of food and drink, Song Que was not without principles! She couldn't bear to eat and drink while her friend's body was still warm.
"Master Songque, please believe me, I had absolutely no such intention—"
"This is what I arranged."
Sitting beside Song Que, the white-haired, purple-eyed woman interrupted Bai Ji's explanation.
“Based on your description, she was so lively when she was alive, she certainly wouldn’t want to see you all immersed in grief. Consider these delicious foods and wines as us enjoying them with her.”
The organizer of the memorial service, Serem Nutrisco, pointed to the few empty seats—one was naturally for "Mochi," another was for Sora, who had always claimed that "Mochi is still alive" and had stated that she would never come, and the last one...
"But you don't know him—"
The sparrow wanted to say something more, but Serim pressed her index finger to her lips.
"Little sparrow, be quiet, it's time."
"Little...little sparrow?"
Serim gestured to the other empty seats at the long table: Baiji, Lithost, Shafulai, Serapem, and Ajeta had already taken their seats, each with a solemn expression. Although they were no longer worried about the shadows engulfing them, they were still uneasy, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.
"We gather here today to commemorate the heroes of Luo Xing."
Bai Ji got up and cleared his throat.
"Nian Gao, although she came from afar and was even a non-human being, she gave everything for us. Her courage, kindness and selflessness will be forever engraved in our hearts."
After Bai Ji finished speaking, he slowly sat down. Serim immediately interrupted him.
"I propose a toast to this hero! However—"
Serim raised her wine glass and looked at the silent Lithost.
"Former knight, Mr. Lithost, the Shadow Rider of God, don't you intend to give everyone an explanation?"
Wearing a hood, Litost put down his wine glass and slowly stood up.
"No explanation needed, I am guilty, I am a sinner of Luo Xing... I have committed an irreparable mistake because of my selfishness and my belief that I have found the direction of Luo Xing..."
Litost paused.
"It's my fault that I harmed Luo Xing, I harmed Leiera, and I harmed that Miss Rice Cake..."
"Lithost".
After a moment of silence, Bai Ji broke the stillness.
“I am also at fault. My foolish actions have led to all sorts of bad consequences, and I have unintentionally committed a grave mistake. If there is any accountability, I cannot escape it.”
"Oh? That's strange. Not only are you all not shirking responsibility, but you're also taking it all on yourself... Sigh, if only my clients were even half as bad as you—"
"Ajeta, watch your words!"
Saffra stopped Ajeta from her lament—if it weren't for the significant role her "unorthodox" tools played in the reconstruction of Rimu and the fact that Baiji had specifically invited her, she would never have been here.
Just then, the dance hall door was suddenly pushed open, and Chen Xue walked in looking exhausted.
"Miss Chenxue?"
"I can't persuade them."
Chen Xue walked over to Bai Ji, put the small pendant that Qiong had given her into Bai Ji's hand, and then sat down in the last empty seat.
"He told me to give this to you. He said it's what you should want, and he wants you to try to make a few replicas... Also, he said we don't know anything, that he's perfectly lucid and nothing's wrong with him, and that 'Nian Gao is still alive and well, he'll definitely see him when he gets home...' Anyway, he just won't come. I asked my sister to keep an eye on him, and Nana is there too, so he should be fine, right?"
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent once again.
"Qiong... she must have gone mad from the shock, right?"
Song Que's thoughts drifted back to a week ago.
A week ago, the god on the tower went mad after hearing a few barks from dogs, and a calamity erupted. She, the thief, was thrown off the tower by Nian Gao and landed in front of Bai Ji and his group.
He immediately told everyone that Sora had sacrificed his sanity (referring to his maniacal laughter after awakening some kind of power) and that Mochi had risked his life and given instructions for his final affairs (referring to Sora going back to find a few more wives)—after which, they set foot in the sky to fight against the maddened god...
When Nana, relying on her senses, led the freed-up spellcasters to find them, everyone was stunned: Leera, who was being ridden by Sora, was being punched in the face repeatedly, while Leera screamed and cried out in despair, trying to grab Sora's face and call out "Sennadia"—and Mochi...
He helped by kicking it a couple of times from the side.
If Lithost hadn't suddenly rushed forward and said, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault, come at me," then Sora and Mochi might have fought for even longer...
Just as everyone was frantically separating the numb and weak-legged Sora from the bewildered Leera who was clinging to Sora, suddenly the light on Mochi's body flickered, and it even began to fade...
Songque vaguely remembered that Nian Gao first sighed, then smiled and said to Qiong, who was so frightened that she scrambled to her side, "Goodbye, you dead gray hair. When you go back, your desk will be full of zero-score test papers, and your familiar school life will be gone forever. But don't give up, never give up, turn those familiar zeros into scores you're happy with!"
Qiong was initially panicked, and then after the rice cake completely dissipated, she said something like, "That was you, wasn't it?"
After that, that's how Sora lived.
……
"Perhaps he just doesn't want to accept reality."
Saffra sighed softly. She had a lot to say about this—that damned shadow had also caused her family to be destroyed. She was young then, and she was crazy and not afraid. She was single-mindedly trying to "piece" people back together until she was discovered by terrified passersby.
Qiong now bears a resemblance to her back then...
"But this also shows that he has a deep affection for rice cakes."
Everyone nodded, and the atmosphere became somewhat heavy.
"Actually, why don't you all try to talk some advice to that Qiong brother?"
All eyes turned to Serapem.
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"Nana, do you know how to conduct a 'trial'?"
At the top of the tower, Qiong and Xiaolong Nana stared at the deity whose eyes were lifeless and who could only mutter "Sinadia".
Looking at her pale face, Qiong never put down the baseball bat in his hand—for no other reason than that this god would have intermittent attacks. Before, when he saw her take out the pendant and shout "Give me the Star Ring", he was so frightened that he hit her with the bat and sent her flying... He had no choice but to ask Chenxue to give the pendant, which was suspected to be the Star Ring, to Baiji.
But the problem wasn't solved at all! He didn't know how long Kiana's seal could last... but one thing was certain: the seal would break sooner or later.
Although I'm very reluctant, if possible, I'd like to heal this god and help her accept reality. Once she accepts reality, I won't be afraid of the seal breaking—at least, it shouldn't lead everyone to their deaths, right?