Lu Zhi did not know the crucial point, but Wang Jiu's actions were very much like some kind of ritual. He subtly exchanged glances with Yan Shao and Jiang Yue.
Wang Jiu looked like an ordinary person. Yan Shao and Jiang Yue used some illusionary techniques to mix their blood, which did not belong to them, with the woman's.
Only the chubby Lu Ming did not escape. His blood mixed with the woman's and dripped into the iron utensil.
Wang Jiu took the mixed blood in the iron utensil, mixed it with incense ash from the censer on the altar, and then used a root of incense to dip into the blood in the iron utensil. He wrote on a palm-sized wooden tablet and then turned to hand it to the women.
Lu Zhi glanced at the wooden tablet in Liu Cuiping's hand and saw that it simply read 'Sacrifice. Mother and Child God.'
"That's all. Don't forget the sacrificial day in seven days." Wang Jiu finished, waved his hand, and let the women lead the children they had bought out of the temple.
Wang Jiu gently closed the temple door and led them back the way they came.
Everyone was quiet on the way. Lu Zhi felt a sense of relaxed accomplishment from Liu Cuiping. He held the wooden tablet tightly in his palm, as if holding a lifesaver.
Lu Zhi was led out of Qing Shen Village by Liu Cuiping. The villagers' indifferent gazes watched them as if they were cold objects, following them with their eyes until they left the village.
"It's getting late, and we need to get back to the village before dark, so I won't chat with you anymore." Liu Cuiping seemed to be quite familiar with Zhang Hong, the woman who had bought Shen Qi. After greeting her, she grabbed Lu Zhi's arm and quickened her pace towards the small path leading to her own village.
Qing Shen Village was located as if in the center of all villages. The women were walking in different directions, and the small path under their feet forked into eight paths. There were many paddy fields around, and from a distance, one could see the houses of many villages.
Lu Zhi knew that they were going to be separated and taken back to the women's respective villages. As for what they would experience, no one knew.
Suddenly, a faint buzzing sound reached his ears. Lu Zhi's expression shifted slightly, and he caught sight of a plump bumblebee landing on his shoulder. Then, Lu Zhi heard Shi Yu's voice.
[My supernatural ability is a bit redundant; it's for communication. It's just that the voice is occasionally quiet, and the network is not very smooth. You can just use it as a communication device. I'm number 3, Li Le is number 4. Find clues and contact me directly.]
Lu Zhi did not expect to have such a supernatural ability.
[As long as you use telekinesis on the bumblebee and connect to the desired digital number, you can initiate a call. Each bumblebee's wings have a number. I'm number 3, Li Le is number 4. Find clues and contact me directly.]
Lu Zhi looked closely, and indeed, he had one. His bumblebee was number 2. What about Shen Qi's?
"Hurry up, don't dawdle. We must be back in the village before dark." Liu Cuiping pulled Lu Zhi and walked towards the dike by the fields.
Lu Zhi only managed to see the numbers Yan Shao and Jiang Yue gestured. Yan Shao was 5, and Jiang Yue was 6. Shen Qi was number 1.
In the blink of an eye, everyone was separated. Without Shen Qi by his side, Lu Zhi became even more vigilant.
But everything around was too calm and peaceful.
The approaching villages, the wisps of smoke from the chimneys, were filled with rural life.
"Cui Ping is back."
As soon as they reached the village entrance, Lu Zhi heard the excited cheers of an old man.
Suddenly, many villagers emerged from the village entrance, their eyes filled with hope as they looked at Lu Zhi. This made him feel uncomfortable all over, and a little creepy.
Lu Zhi pretended to be scared and hid behind Liu Cuiping, revealing a pair of timid, large eyes. He subtly observed the expressions of the villagers and noticed another strange thing.
Why were there no children?
"Don't be like that, what if you scare him? It's getting dark, hurry up and finish your work. I'll take him back first." Liu Cuiping said, then pulled Lu Zhi into the village, finally entering a house with a persimmon tree planted in the front yard.
After Liu Cuiping closed the door, she immediately said to Lu Zhi, "From now on, you will be called Liu Zhi. You are my son, Liu Cuiping's son. I am your mother now."
Lu Zhi: ...
Although he had already vaguely guessed it, he couldn't bring himself to call her "Mom."
Liu Cuiping did not force Lu Zhi to change his address. Seeing Lu Zhi's timid and scared appearance, she frowned and told Lu Zhi to stay in the house and not to go out, then went to prepare dinner.
The door was open, but the courtyard gate was tightly closed. Occasionally, he could see neighbors passing by, and the glances peering through the gap in the door were unpleasant.
While Liu Cuiping was away, Lu Zhi half-opened the door and quickly explored the room. He found that the furniture and items were all simple. The only special thing was the 'Painting of All Gods' hanging on the wall.
Suddenly, a black shadow jumped into the house from outside the window, knocking Lu Zhi to the ground.
Lu Zhi had already summoned his mantis, but the next second he froze. He stared with wide eyes at the black cat that pounced on him, which had transformed into a miniature version of Shen Qi, complete with cat ears and a tail!
Lu Zhi was stunned and murmured, "So, so cute..."
Shen Qi's eyes flickered, his black tail swaying gently. He suddenly lowered his head and licked Lu Zhi's eye corner, his voice like a cat's lazy tone, "Do you like it?"