299: Chapter 44 Collection of Wishes Sacrifice (5)_2 299: Chapter 44 Collection of Wishes Sacrifice (5)_2 Gongsun Ce rubbed his head and said, “I always carry a bit of self-interest…”
“Judgments are made by deeds, not thoughts.
When have there ever been judgments by thoughts without deeds?” The old smith extended his hand.
“Hand over that short arrow too, what kind of sentiment do you wish to solidify?”
Shiyu Ling frowned and said, “…I want to add the concept of a shadow, can you do it?”
The old smith found an oil lamp among the frames.
“The Shadow Scene Lady’s shadow lamp is perfect for solidifying shadows,” he said with an air of certainty, as if it weren’t a matter of “chance” but of “fate.” “Calamity God, do you have any items you’ve been using for a long time?
Preferably gifts from family or friends.”
Gongsun Ce thought for a moment and took off his glasses.
“These were a birthday present from my dad.
I’ve changed the lenses, but I’ve been using the frame for almost seven years.”
Come back after the festival.”
The old smith took most of the items from the basket, carefully stored the glasses and the short arrow, and turned to go back into the house.
The grey-haired youth narrowed his eyes and called out, “Old sir!
Do you need me to help you check it later?”
“Forget it, I no longer care about what I wanted in the past.”
The one-armed, one-legged smith entered the forging hut.
His sneaky figure, in the eyes of the young man with blurred vision, really did look like an elderly, ordinary craftsman.
The grey-haired youth smiled, shook his head, and squinted as he turned to say, “Miss Shiyu, could you please lead me to the Sea Strange God?
I can’t see the road clearly.”
You’re joking, right?
What about your Netherworld Eyes?”
“…I’m guessing the Netherworld Dragon never considered the problem of nearsightedness.
Alright, stop laughing, there’s nothing funny about this!!”
The Sea Strange God appeared to Gongsun Ce as a creature with long hair, a bird’s beak, and a fish’s body, while in Shiyu Ling’s eyes, he was a thin man wearing a straw hat and covering his face with a thin veil.
This concealed god was sitting cross-legged at a corner of the street, right next to a squid selling octopus balls.
As the two approached, he was chatting idly with the optimistic vendor.
“Sea Strange God, have you heard?
Down south on the street, there’s a very effective Calamity God who’s been helping a lot of old folks fulfill their wishes tonight!”
“If I weren’t too lazy to line up, I’d go have a look myself.
Since it’s less crowded now, why don’t you give it a try?”
“Hey, you’re such a lackluster fellow…
Want some octopus balls?”
Go to Lake Gap Street at 8:30 tomorrow morning, you can find a new grill plate there.”
The squid creature twisted a few tentacles and packed a box of balls for the Sea Strange God.
Shiyu Ling, witnessing the interaction between these two monsters, felt a strong urge to turn around and walk away.
“Are you sure you want to inquire information from this…
“Don’t ask, don’t get.” The Superpower User squinted and approached the stall, “Greetings, Sea Strange God Sir, I’d like to inquire about some information.”
The Sea Strange God continued munching on his balls, two birdlike eyes examining the contents within the white frame.
“These, for two pieces of information you want to know.” He then looked at Gongsun Ce’s hand luggage.
“Your belongings, in exchange for the information you need.”
He pointed upward with his finger.
“Don’t ask about things above, I can’t tell you.
Gongsun Ce first extended the frame: “Who is the strongest combat force under Shiyu Genmi’s command?”
After a brief silence, the Sea Strange God said, “Shiyu Zhongyi, he is stronger than all the Shiyus.”
Shiyu Ling’s brows furrowed as Gongsun Ce pondered for a moment before suddenly asking a strange question.
“Can you introduce me to the situation on Qiongge Island?” “This is a very broad question.” “No matter, say as much as you’re willing to.”
The Sea Strange God put down a rice ball and smacked his lips.
“Qiongge Island, a gathering place for gods.
Among the eight million stealth gods, those who commit crimes and harm the human world have been exiled by ninjas and shrine priests over thousands of years.
There’s no place for them on the islands where humans live, so they went to the treacherous Qiongge Island, taking Ise Peak as their base, ruling over their domain, and calling themselves the Ise Hundred Calamities.”
“The former leader of the Ise Hundred Calamities was the fearsome Ghost God Demon King, Liu Wu.
Thirteen years ago, Liu Wu was vanquished by a current deity.
The exiled Liu Wu fled to Dahe Island and joined the Martial Arts Association, and Ise Peak thus changed hands.
The Hundred Calamities introduced a new leader, who is the most terrifying person on Zero Island…”
The Sea Strange God shivered twice as he spoke.
“I do not wish to speak His name.
He is not on Zero Island at the moment, but could return at any time—let’s leave it at that.”
The superpower user nodded and opened the briefcase: “Take a look, what would you like?”
The Sea Strange God took away all the masks in one breath.
“The day after tomorrow at 5:35 PM, at Dahe Island, the western wilderness of Kuku Jili Town.
Going there will serve your current purpose, not going could avoid a great danger.
Shiyu Ling still had a few masks left; trading this item for information wasn’t too bad of a deal.
The Superpower User closed the briefcase and squinted for a long while, realizing that his partner remained motionless.
“What’s wrong, Miss Shiyu?”
“Damn,’ve you gone dumb wandering the festival?” Shiyu Ling’s tone sounded particularly unfriendly, “The current president of the Martial Arts Association took his position thirteen years ago, and his name is Liu Wu!”
The Ninja Army Leader doubling as a witch, and a Ghost God becoming the Samurai president.
What the hell are local organizations on Zero Island doing!
There should be a limit to organizational chaos!
Gongsun Ce shook his head helplessly, “Then who is the new leader of Ise Divine Peak?”
“A thoroughly bad evil spellcaster.” Dragging him by the sleeve, Shiyu Ling headed towards the stage, “It’s irrelevant to our mission now, so let’s go watch the little witch dance!”
The Sea Strange God was unwilling to even say the name, and with your keen frequency to divulge knowledge, you only provided the gist.
The locals’ aversion to this new leader is really quite strong…
Resolved to inquire more from Miss Linai tomorrow, Gongsun Ce followed Shiyu Ling to the front of the wooden stage.
Even after removing his glasses, impairing his vision, he could see that there were too few spectators at this time, which gave him the uneasy feeling that he was spoiling the event.
A sorrowful gagaku music opened the act, and he faintly saw a witch in a gray robe wearing a golden crown step onto the stage.
Judging by the height and curves, it should be the familiar figure of Chuyun Linai.
Gongsun Ce stared hard, noticing Linai seemed not to have started dancing; she stood in the center of the stage with her arms raised, reciting something.
“Kakaimakumowegi, calamity filth God of Huojin, from Purple Island to Dahe Island, to Qiongge Island’s Ise, in the time of exorcism and purification rites, birth of the eight million stealth gods.”
“The myriad calamities and crimes, by these good charms, are expelled and cleaned, heard and swallowed by the rituals, fearfully, fearfully, mother of purity…”
The witch’s words seemed to be in the language of Zero Island, but they were difficult to understand to outsider ears.
The Superpower User caught a few key terms but didn’t comprehend them fully.
He whispered, “Teach me, Miss Shiyu, learned teacher.”
“Tch.” Shiyu Ling smacked her lips impatiently and explained, “These are the purification words of the Huojin God.
The beginning ‘Kakaimakumowegi’ shows reverence to the revered name about to be uttered, and the rest are myths about Huojin God.
It went from Purple Island to Dahe Island, then to Ise Peak on Qiongge Island, where it purged evil and thus birthed the eight million stealth gods.
What follows are all standard phrases asking for calamity and curse cleansing.”
After Gongsun Ce listened to the interpretation, he continued to wait.
Linai soon finished the purification rites; as the priests played a new piece of gagaku, she picked up the Divine Entertainment Bell, danced slowly, and began singing new verses.
This time, Linai’s words weren’t as obscure as the purification rite; blended with her gestures, Gongsun Ce roughly understood the meaning of this speech.
Linai was retelling an ancient story that happened before the division of Zero Island, long before the priests ruled these lands…
Back then, a witch named Yidou Nengmai married a God to protect the lives of the people.