Having obtained the Goddess’s favor, you’re still not satisfied. This is the Babylon Temple, since we’re already here, we should thoroughly explore before leaving." After a sly chuckle, Number Zero spoke seriously about the matter, including what Ziyu had mentioned to her earlier.
"This is wading into murky waters," Yijie was reluctant to stay in this place full of gloom.
"It is wading into profitable waters," Number Zero knew that inside the temple, it was impossible to find the so-called documents. She patted the ten thousand military coins in her army bag, and seeing Yijie dared not to accept Apoli’s reward money, she unabashedly pocketed the money herself.
"Go find it yourself, I won’t stay here," Yijie walked out.
Number Zero wasn’t in a hurry but shook out the pack of hemostatic herb from her army bag.
The hemostatic herb was obviously simpler than the God Revitalizing Pill; they seemed to be just some processed, hopeless-looking dry flowers. She had noticed this kind of dry flower scattered throughout the temple and thought that by simply picking some, washing, and drying them, they could be made into the herb. As for making the Concentration Pills, that probably required some experimentation.
Number Zero’s knowledge of medicine was limited to that of plants. To truly distinguish if a herb was medicinal or poisonous, it seemed that it couldn’t be accomplished in a short time.
"I’m back." Number Zero calmly watched as Yijie turned around and came back.
She didn’t believe that someone as directionally challenged as Yijie could find his way out of the temple. The Maid, who had previously led the way, suggested several residences, all of which were turned down by Number Zero. After who knows how many detours and corridors, she chose this lodging at the deepest part of the temple, seeming to have foreseen that he would disagree with this mission.
"In the next few days, we’ll both be busy," Number Zero yawned and gestured as if to send off a guest.
Having no other choice, Yijie returned to his lodging.
The next morning, just as Yijie had gotten up, he heard Number Zero next door stealthily knocking on his door.
So early in the morning, she looked somewhat weary, "The rest is up to you to handle." Number Zero stepped aside, revealing a dark basalt behind her.
"Up to me?" Yijie still didn’t understand what Number Zero meant when he found himself holding a chisel.
"It is said the complete Hammurabi Code is inscribed on a basalt pillar. Since you won’t leave anyway, spend the next few days inscribing the law code based on the text here." Number Zero had thought it through; the original text of the law code was on Ziyu, and even if they turned the temple inside out these few days, they wouldn’t find the law code. However, they had to report back, so after Yijie left, she rushed down the Military Road and, within one night, found the oldest copy of the Hammurabi Code currently on display in the British Museum.
Since photocopies from reality cannot be brought into the Military Road, she simply memorized the awkward cuneiform script overnight.
"..." Speechless, Yijie had no choice but to move the basalt into his room. Compared to facing pointers from others outside, he indeed preferred to toil in his room.
For the next few days, Number Zero mingled with the Maids in the temple. After that night, Apoli did not bother Yijie again, and the spiritual healing in the temple was temporarily halted, it was said that Apoli went to the inner city.
Number Zero was at ease, she quickly became familiar with the other Maids in the temple through her friendship with the new maid.
After getting to know them better, Number Zero discovered that most of the Maids in the temple were new, the new maid said they were all selected and sent here a month ago. The Goddess’s name was Apoli, and none among them knew a person named "Ziyu."
In the temple, besides the numerous sanctuaries, the springs and plants were also densely distributed. Listening to the new maids, Number Zero knew that to understand the temple’s secrets, one had to hear it from the old Maids.
"Fuli is the oldest Maid in the temple, it is said she watched the Goddess Apoli grow up," the new maid carelessly let slip.
"What are you all gossiping about? Taking the chance while Aphrodisia is not around, each of you looking for opportunities to slack off. Anyone who slacks off again, watch me not take the rattan and whip you," just after the new maid finished speaking, the old maid Fuli appeared, hands on hips.
Number Zero also remembered this old Maid, but the old Maid didn’t seem to remember her. To the old Maid Fuli, aside from the Goddess, everyone else looked the same.
"It’s not their fault, Fuli Maid, I’ve been wandering around the temple for a good while and have not found the documents mentioned by the Goddess. I think this might be due to my unsettled mind, so I want to make a wish in front of a statue of the God, perhaps that way I can find the documents," Number Zero indeed walked around the temple, but she did not see any statue, that’s why she stopped the new maid.
How could such a grand temple not have a statue for worship? Number Zero also asked the Maids and they said they had never seen a statue in the temple. A temple without a god’s statue was too unusual indeed.
"How could a stranger like you understand the true essence of temple worship and the true meaning of a god’s statue," the old maid Fuli still spoke with disdain; she had opposed the Goddess keeping these people with unclear origins in the temple, "In the Babylon Temple, we never worship redundant statues, that’s only the vulgar practice of common temples. What the Goddess and we worship is the Living God, if one’s heart is pious enough, the God will automatically enter dreams and heart." (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)