Chapter 203: Coincidence

Chapter 203: Coincidence

She could feel the strong malice laced within their words.

They know Im not a villager. They know Im not from here.

The soft rainfall seemed to gradually turn violent, and the surrounding temperature dropped rapidly. With each breath she exhaled, she was visibly cold.

The snake-like tendrils behind the Old Ladies began to move as the rain poured; the Old Ladies drifted closer and closer, surrounding her and observing her. Their pale and thin faces almost touched her own.

And she could smell the stench emanating from them.

It was terrifyingly cold and strangely quiet. Yibei didnt dare to move a single inch.

Something seemed to itch at the back of her mindsomething dirty, uncleanwas awakening beyond the endless mountains, approaching this village with its evil aura.

Hurry up! What do I do? Do I fight? I can feel it. Somethings coming!

She was frozen, but she knew that if she did nothing, she might herald her own death.

At that moment, the old mans words suddenly flashed in her mind.

Were all equal in their eyes. We are servants to the gods.

Aha, she forced out. H-how could I not go to the ceremony? Celebrating our god, the beacon of this turbulent world, swimming in the rivers and our endless sky, our shakable foundation of stability

She turned around and gestured, As a humble village girl, if I participate in the ceremony without dressing up, it would definitely be blasphemy; I shall put on my ancestral dress and rush to the ceremony!

She was secretly grateful that she was the type of person who couldnt keep their mouth shut. For a moment, she herself believed in the lies that she told the Old Ladies.

The Old Ladies were silent, and she narrowed her eyes slightly, waiting for their response.

Did I fool them? I hope I did. Otherwise, I might not be able to escape from that thing.

One things for sure: she could see that the mountains and the forest far away had been swallowed up in the darkness.

Something gargantuan was making its way over, devouring everything it could.

Could it be the serpent god?

Even though it was a dead god, it still harboured great power.

Immediately, a cold power rose within her heart, forcing her heart to thump out erratically and freezing her. She tried her best to breathe, but she couldnt help but feel suffocated.

The Egg! she trembled. Its stirring its hatching!

The Egg seemed to hatch with the presence of the god approaching. It trembled, it quivered, and it longed.

Affected by the Egg, she could feel her emotions becoming violent with bloodlust, and thousands of strange whispers tickled her ear.

Accept her accept her accept her

No!

Her heart felt as if it had been pierced by countless knives, punishing her thoughts.

Ack!

The pain forced her to her knees, and then

There was nothing.

The darkness beyond the village receded like a tide, and so did the terrifying presence approaching them.

The Old Ladies retreated as they bowed: You are an excellent candidate to become a priest. We hope to see you at the ceremony.

The Old Ladies drifted out of the courtyard with the deformed babies.

Take your time! She croaked out, waving them goodbye.

The light from his body was getting more and more evil, and she gritted her teeth, raised her knife with both hands and stabbed him in the abdomen.

And just like that, she killed her first true believer in less than three minutes.

Gu Qianqian followed the aroma of stew near the village, but before she entered the village, she bumped into a group of people dressed strangely.

In pure black robes, often seen in TV dramas, some donned crimson robes and held scarlet lanterns in their hands. Their necks were stretched as if they were being hung, performing some kind of sacrificial ceremony.

There were about twenty people, with four people carrying red wooden boxes made of unknown materials. The presumed leaders played musical instruments; from an outside perspective, it seemed festive.

However, with a closer look, their expressions were heavy and fearful.

Under the guidance of the system, she followed them furtively as they headed away from the village.

They walked through a small forest and stopped in front of a quaint river.

It was dark and turbulent, and the sound of its surging tides could be heard from afar.

She had been here before with the purpose of drinking, but after taking a single sip, she spat it out, finding that it had a fishy taste to it and burning her tongue.

The villagers put down the box they were carrying and began to recite something over and over again, but Gu Qianqian couldnt hear a single thing they were saying.

Creeping closer after their recitation, they opened the wooden box, and inside, she could see strange, deformed babies covered in strange runes.

They took the babies out and threw them into the river one by one. They struggled for a moment before sinking into the darkness.

System! What what are they doing? Are we just going to do nothing? She cried out in her mind. The metal bat was firm in her hand, and she was about to slaughter all of the villagers before her.

Gu Qianqian, dont make impulsive decisions.

What are you talking about? I thought you said I was the protagonist! If I cant save even a few babies, then I am nothing!

Gu Qianqian, calm down! Those babies are deformed monsters! There is no point in rescuing them!

B-but They didnt even do anything wrong. Theyre just so small, without their mothers or fathers.

The system was stunned for a moment. For some reason, Gu Qianqians words reminded it of the words that the Witch uttered long ago.

And it didnt know whether or not the Witch had a tinge of kindness within its ever-evil heart.

Gu Qianqian, who taught you this?

Myself? she cried out again. This is basic empathy! System, give me my task now! Or I might I might

Gu Qianqian?

The system was fearful. If Gu Qianqian were to betray it right now

I might ignore you for a couple of days!

God damn it, Gu Qianqian.

Suddenly, there was a series of soft thuds from the river. Turning around, they could see that the deformed babies were spat back onto land.

Large pieces of their chest and abdomen were torn off, and the babies wailed in pain before they grew silent.

When the villagers saw this, they were shocked, and all of them began to panic as they ran back to the village.

The sacrifices are contaminated! a villager yelled. Our god is angry. We are going to suffer!

If the river festival fails, then the mountain festival will fail too!

The villagers rushed past their hiding spot, and Gu Qianqian was still crying, burying her face in her arms.

Hey? the system cooed. Gu Qianqian, I promise you, the next time we meet a normal baby, or maybe a baby with a little peculiarity to it, I will give you some side quests to complete. How about that?

The system had its reasons. If those deformed babies were saved, they would only harm others.

Really?

Yes, but you wont be able to receive great rewards since its a side quest. At most, I can give you the title of [Babysitter], so its your choice.

Then, Ill do my best to save them, and system

Yes?

Finally, you are issuing meaningful missions.

Is that so?