With Zanxing’s words, the following murals became much easier to understand.
The subsequent paintings seemed to validate Zanxing’s claims. After the Holy Maiden settled here, more and more people came to trade with her, bringing various things. For example, there was someone who offered a newborn calf from their cow at home in exchange for a bountiful harvest the following year. There were also young daughters who presented precious bracelets to the Snake Shaman herself, praying to marry a suitable husband the next year.
The Snake Shaman seemed to accept all comers, exchanging items ranging from eggs from poor families to gold and silver from the wealthy. Everything was traded on an equal basis, leaving both sides delighted.
Tian Fangfang rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “This Snake Shaman Holy Maiden seems quite capable.”
Zanxing replied, “It may not necessarily be a good thing.”
“What do you mean?” Men Dong asked.
Gu Baiying stared at the murals on the wall and calmly said, “Human greed, through conducting oneself like this, may invite disaster.”
Mu Cengxiao pointed at the paintings in front of them. “Look at what’s happening next.”
After several paintings depicting various trades, the scenes began to change. A wealthy-looking merchant stood before the Snake Shaman, with various precious jewels in a box in front of him. He pointed angrily at another person in the distance, holding a knife in his hand.
“This is…” Meng Ying hesitated. “Is he asking the Snake Shaman to harvest lives for him?”
Zanxing’s heart sank.
Indeed, with equal exchange in the end, there’s always an opportunity for malicious individuals to exploit. It’s inevitable that someone with ill intentions might take advantage. It starts with wanting a family member’s illness cured, wanting better crops, wanting to marry a suitable spouse. But eventually, it may turn into wanting someone’s life, wanting their family to suffer, wanting those better off than them to disappear…
Human nature is both good and evil, and the heart of greed never withstands scrutiny.
“It seems the Snake Shaman refused,” Tian Fangfang said.
Zanxing continued to gaze at the murals. Indeed, in this painting, the Snake Shaman seemed to have denied the man’s request. He returned reluctantly with his gold and silver.
The Snake Shaman didn’t agree to every trade. Some she accepted, others she refused. It seemed she would only deal with the person themselves, like “what can I do.” She paid no attention to trades that required others to change, like “I want him to do this.”
“She seems quite clear in her mind,” Tian Fangfang admired.
Zanxing shook his head. “It’s too late.”
The next murals were hastily drawn, as if completed in a rush. The Snake Shaman appeared weak, sitting on her high seat while someone approached with gold and silver. As she turned, the person lunged from behind and stabbed her in the back with a knife.
Zanxing widened his eyes.
The Snake Shaman fell, and many rushed in, taking her snake staff. The image became so chaotic that it was almost indistinguishable, and then there was nothing more.
After all the murals were viewed, silence fell over everyone.
The story wasn’t hard to guess. The Holy Maiden of the Snake Shaman Clan protected the common people of Wufan City. The people offered fruits and vegetables in worship, and in return, the Snake Shaman protected their safety, helping to drive away evil monsters. The Snake Shaman wielded a snake staff imbued with spiritual power, capable of granting people’s wishes. Over time, however, greed took hold. The common people became dissatisfied with small desires and wanted more and more. Eventually, those whose desires were unfulfilled conspired to kill the Snake Shaman and steal her staff.
“Could this be what happened here before?” Meng Ying pondered for a moment. “But according to the murals, the Snake Shaman died at the hands of the common people of Wufan City long ago. So what about the Holy Maiden we saw earlier?”
“There are two possibilities,” Gu Baiying said, tracing his finger over the murals and lowering his gaze. “Wufan City may have had more than one Holy Maiden. Alternatively, the Snake Shaman from before may have turned into a malevolent force.”
“That’s right!” Tian Fangfang clapped her hands. “If I were that Snake Shaman, killed by the people I protected, I wouldn’t rest either. Maybe she left a curse that turned all of Wufan City into a place where malevolent spirits gather. That’s why the Wufan City we see during the day is different from what we see at night.”
“A place where malevolent spirits gather?” Mu Cengxiao looked puzzled.
Tian Fangfang looked at Zanxing. “Isn’t that similar to the demonic mound Senior Sister encountered in the Xumi Mustard Seed Diagram?”
Zanxing shivered involuntarily. “Why do you have to make it sound so terrifying?”
Before Tian Fangfang could respond, Mimi in the corner suddenly let out a sharp cry. Zanxing jumped, looking over at Mimi who had leapt onto her shoulder. Since the Qiankun Bags couldn’t be opened now, the chubby cat couldn’t have sneaked back inside.
Mu Cengxiao’s face darkened. “Why is there so much sand on the ground?”
The floor of the hall was originally paved with polished stones, intricately carved with patterns. But now, at some point, a fine layer of yellow sand covered it all.
“When we arrived just now, there was no sand,” Men Dong tugged at Gu Baiying’s sleeve. “Could the sand be rising on its own?”
Gu Baiying hesitated, his face suddenly changing. “No, it’s not the sand rising up. It’s this altar sinking down!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall lurched to the left as if the building had turned into a square stone thrown into a dry swamp, slowly sinking in an unstoppable manner.
Meng Ying ran to the hall’s main door and pushed hard. Turning back, he said, “Senior Uncle, the door’s locked! It won’t open!”
They hadn’t sensed anyone’s presence upon entering the hall, nor did they notice anyone approaching. Yet, the doors had silently shut behind them.
“There’s something wrong with this altar,” Gu Baiying said coldly. “It’s sinking faster and faster. Upstairs, now!”
The entire hall seemed on the brink of collapse, sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss. There were stairs leading upwards, the only escape route if they didn’t want to meet an inexplicable end here. Zanxing followed closely behind Gu Baiying, but after running a few steps, she suddenly felt a violent tremor under her feet. With a loud crash, the tall stone pillar in the middle of the hall collapsed, smashing the steps into two pieces.
Meng Ying, Tian Fangfang, Mu Cengxiao, and Men Dong were already on the stairs and swiftly jumped into the corridor upstairs upon seeing this. Zanxing and Gu Baiying were left stranded at the other end of the steps. Climbing up was now impossible.
“Senior Uncle!” Men Dong called out.
“Keep going up, don’t mind me,” Gu Baiying said coldly, then he grabbed Zanxing’s arm. “This way!”