She looked at me and suddenly smiled, "But I won't protect anyone or save anyone like those before. Whether I succeed in my tribulation this time depends on you."
I found it strange. Why would an immortal need to undergo tribulation? I asked her, "You are a descendant of Nuwa, aren't you already an immortal? Why do you still need to face tribulation?"
She gave a cold smile and replied, "This is another realm, different from the human world. Everyone living here has their own destined tribulation, and each person's tribulation is different. However, it's certain that one must experience a nine-death-one-life ordeal to live for a thousand years, much like how humans inevitably face illness and disaster as they age."
I was curious about how she planned to use me. "Then how do you plan to use me for your tribulation?"
She suddenly touched her forehead, chuckled, and changed the subject, softly saying, "Naturally, by eating you."
"What!" Cold sweat broke out on my back. I remembered the mountain god who also wanted to eat me, and now she did too. Why did everyone want to eat me?
Filled with indignation, I protested, "I'm really not tasty, nor can I grant immortality. If you eat me, it'll just be a meal of meat at most."
She ignored me, only saying, "Tomorrow, a grand sacrificial ceremony will be held here. You'll have to endure it then." With that, she smiled slightly and turned to leave, returning to the Tai Shen Palace.
Before I could recover, I was abandoned in the pavilion.
At night, a cool breeze blew. Only the firelight before the altar, like a red sun, burned in the boiler, emitting a fiery glow. It was then that I realized how eerily quiet it was all around. I was the only one left here.
My mood instantly turned somewhat melancholic. Reflecting on my life thus far, I had achieved nothing. In the end, I had become mere sustenance for others.
Sighing softly, I asked the heavens with reluctance, "Is this my fate?"
Despite my unwillingness, there was nothing I could do. I simply lowered my head and fell into a deep sleep. Even if I were to die, I might as well have a good sleep first.
As soon as I fell asleep, a dark shadow quietly landed before me. He patted my face and gently called out, "Wake up, wake up."
I wearily opened my eyes and saw a dark figure before me. Thinking it was a ghost, I screamed in terror, "Ah!!!"
He quickly covered my mouth and threatened, "Don't make a sound, or I'll kill you."
I nodded slightly, my emotions calming down. I cautiously asked him, "Are you here to save me?"
He chuckled, released his hand, and declared with great righteousness and pride, "That's right, I'm here to save you. I am the one who has charmed countless maidens and loves to uphold justice. People usually call me Brother Hero."
As he spoke, he added a turn and a moon-pointing pose. I was speechless but still overjoyed to have someone come to save me. So, I praised him, "Wow, that's amazing! Brother Hero, save me quickly."
Brother Hero retracted his pose, drew his sword from his waist, and placed it on my shoulder. His tone suddenly turned cold and ruthless, "Robbery!"
I blinked slightly, not quite understanding what he said. Seeing my lack of reaction, he repeated, "Robbery!"
After a moment, I finally reacted and said disdainfully, "Brother, have you made a mistake? Look, I'm tied to this pillar. Where could I possibly have money for you?"
He, however, imagined, "Anyone who enters the Tai Shen Palace must be of noble birth or wealth. You may be dressed plainly, but you look like a wealthy person."
I was utterly speechless. To be robbed in such a dark place was truly remarkable. I decided to try and trick him into saving me.
"Brother Hero, you have keen eyesight to find me. That's right, I am wealthy. If you save me, I'll take you to get the money. What do you say?"
He withdrew his sword and asked, "How much money do you have on you?"
"Not much."
"Not much means some. I'll take it then."
Saying that, he reached out to touch my clothes. I hurriedly yelled at him, "Hey! What are you doing! Don't touch me!"
This person ignored me and kept fumbling around. To protect my virtue, I had no choice but to lift my foot and kick him where it hurt.
"Ouch!" He cried out in pain, immediately retreated three steps, clutching his lower body, and angrily asked, "You wretched woman, do you want me to be unable to have children?"
"If you save me, I'll take you to get the money."
"Ouch, spare me. Who believes you have money?"
"But you just said I was wealthy."
"I was just saying."
With that, he limped back to me and said, "Can you stop kicking me?"
"If you save me, I won't kick you."
"Oh, it's not impossible for me to save you. After I save you, I'll sell you to the biggest establishment in Beishen City."
Establishment? Was it a brothel?
"What!" I was stunned. Going to such a place would be worse than staying here to die. I hurriedly refused him, "Alright, alright, I don't need your help anymore. You can leave."
He, however, looked wronged and leaned towards me, "Leave? I took that kick for nothing."
"Then what do you want?"
"Money."
He extended a dark hand towards me, demanding money. "Ptooey!" I spat water at him. He quickly retracted his hand, narrowly avoiding it.
Then, he grabbed my neck, his eyes wide with anger, "You woman are truly incorrigible. I think I need to teach you how to behave."
"What do you want!"
"You're quite attractive. I wonder what it would be like to kiss you?" He then couldn't help but laugh heartily, "Hahaha."
I became a little flustered, afraid he might do something to me. I hurriedly appeased him, "Don't do anything rash. I have money, I'll give you money."
He didn't listen, slowly leaning his face closer, saying fiercely, "It's too late. I want to see what kind of goods you are."
Saying that, he puckered his lips to kiss me. I raised my foot to kick him again. This time, he had learned his lesson and immediately lifted his leg to block mine.
Then, he moved his face closer and closer. I was so scared that my legs went weak, and I begged him, "Good brother, handsome brother, please let me go. I really can't. I have infectious diseases, tuberculosis, and AIDS. I'm already in the late stages of liver cancer. I'm dying soon. For your future happiness, you should find another girl, or you'll lose your life too."
Hearing me say that, he stopped and asked in confusion, "What is late-stage liver cancer?"
I explained, "It's a disease that can't be cured. Actually, I'm also a pitiable person, suffering from a terminal illness and being captured to be made into medicine. Wuwuwu, my life is so bitter."
"Alas," he sighed slightly. Hearing my pitiful words, he actually felt some sympathy. He raised his hand to tidy my clothes and said, "I was just scaring you. I am a gentleman and would never do such despicable things."
I was overjoyed, "That's great! Fortunately, it was just a scare."
After tidying up, he tossed the gold coins in his hand into the air and caught them again before my eyes. "It seems you really don't have any money. I'll take these few gold coins."
I quickly nodded, "Yes, yes, take them all."
He grinned and said, "That's more like it. Alright, I'm leaving."
"Yes, yes, go quickly. Take care on the road, have a safe journey, and be careful."
"I will. Goodbye."
"Not goodbye."
With that, he leaped into the night and disappeared. After he left, I finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to myself, "This world is too strange. Either people are eating people or robbing them. There are even people in the wilderness. Fortunately, I'm clever."
Feeling slightly at ease, a wave of fatigue washed over me. I leaned against the wooden pillar, tilted my head, and fell asleep.
Before dawn the next day, I was awakened by deafening drumbeats, like thunderous roars. I stirred from my dream and looked around in confusion.
I saw a circle of people gathered before the altar. Eight burly men, wearing loincloths made of sacrificial cloth and masks of fierce demons with fangs, stood bare-chested. A red silk scarf was tied to each of their left arms. Four on each side, they stood to the left and right of the altar, aligned with the flagpole. In front of each man was a large drum. Holding drumsticks, they fiercely beat the drum surfaces, producing thunderous "dong dong" sounds.
At that moment, I suddenly heard cheers from afar. I turned my head and saw a group of people dressed in black robes, walking, dancing, and cheering. One person, dressed in vibrant attire, walked at the forefront of the crowd.
Without a doubt, the person at the front was Zi Yu. As they approached, I could see Zi Yu's attire.
She wore a phoenix coronet adorned with two long, flowing pheasant feathers. Her face was covered by a golden filigree mask. She was dressed in purple, as beautiful and captivating as her noble and elegant name. Gold cymbals and bells adorned both her hands, making a crisp sound with every step. Her feet were bare, like a celestial being descended from a painting into the mortal realm.
I was mesmerized by this unprecedented spectacle. I stared for a long time, still dazed. At this moment, I had no idea of the danger I was about to face.
Suddenly, two people who seemed to have appeared from nowhere rushed into the pavilion, untied me, and dragged me out. They pushed me to the altar and tied me to a pillar in front of it. Directly opposite me were Zi Yu and the entire entourage.
Beside me, someone carefully brought over a tray containing a dagger and a bowl, and stood half-bowed by my side.
At this moment, a white-bearded old man in a Taoist robe slowly walked from the crowd. He held a whisk, his face kind, giving him the appearance of an immortal hermit.
He walked to Zi Yu's side and said, "Madam, the auspicious hour is still a little while away. We must wait a bit longer. This old Taoist will perform a ritual for blessings first."
Zi Yu nodded.
The old Taoist then approached me, placed one hand straight on his chest, flicked his whisk, and began chanting, "Heavenly gods, earthly paths, souls to the departed, restless spirits of the dead."
Saying that, he struck my head with his whisk, then circled around me. Afterward, he reached out and grabbed at the air, tossing it onto me. Watching these comical actions, I couldn't help but laugh, thinking, "He's performing a shamanistic dance, hahaha."
After completing these actions, someone handed him a bell.
He shook the bell near my head, which annoyed me greatly. Then, someone handed him a bottle of wine. He took a sip, held it in his mouth, and spat it towards me.
I immediately cried out, "Ah! How disgusting!"
The old Taoist conjured a talisman from thin air, held it between two fingers, and with a slight flick, it ignited. He then threw it towards the sky and, with another casual grab, obtained another talisman, which he placed on my forehead.
I was utterly speechless. I wasn't a zombie, so why the talisman?
Afterward, he said to Zi Yu, "Madam, the ritual is complete. The hour of noon has not yet arrived. Let's wait a little longer."
"Alright."
So, everyone waited there for the hour of noon to arrive.
However, I didn't expect that their "little while" would last a full three hours. Soon, the cool, dim shadows receded, and the scorching sun peeked through the white clouds. I exhaled, feeling as if I were in a sea of fire, sweating profusely, as if my skin had been peeled off. Annoyed, I grumbled inwardly, "If you want to eat me, just eat me. Why all this trouble?"
The old Taoist calculated the time with his fingers. The hour was just right. He stepped forward again and whispered to Zi Yu, "Madam, the auspicious hour has arrived. It is time to perform the sky-worshipping ceremony."
Zi Yu nodded slightly.
At this moment, someone beside them presented a peach wood sword. The old Taoist took the sword and walked onto the altar, brandishing it in the center. He danced left and right, then pointed one sword at the sun and another at the moon. Afterward, with a swing of his sword, three flags inexplicably appeared from the altar.
Then, the eight burly men below began drumming again, shaking their heads from side to side as they drummed. The scene was quite unique.
Subsequently, the old Taoist pointed another sword at the sky, placed two fingers on the sword, and chanted, "Sudden winds and torrential rain, life and death calamities, a thousand-year gate of life, thunderous opening, Wind, come!"
As he shouted, a strong gale immediately blew across the entire open space, carrying dust and rushing towards people, blinding them.
The strong wind also blew away the talisman on my face. After the wind subsided, the sky was suddenly covered with dark clouds, and rumbling thunder flickered within the clouds.
After performing the ritual, the old Taoist came down and bowed to Zi Yu, saying, "Madam, the sky-worshipping ceremony is complete. The lightning and thunder will arrive soon."
Zi Yu waved her hand, "Good. You may all go."
"Yes."
Zi Yu took the tray. The old Taoist dismissed everyone, leaving only me and Zi Yu. After the crowd dispersed, she picked up the dagger and bowl, placed the tray on the ground, and slowly walked towards me. With the dagger touching my face, she asked, "Are you scared?"
I was terrified and couldn't care about anything else. Since she asked, I pleaded with her, "Just let me bleed. I don't have much meat, so I'm not tasty."
Seeing me like this, she couldn't help but purse her lips and smile. Then she asked, "How is the human world now?"
I found it strange. Shouldn't she have eaten me first? Although I felt confused, I still answered her honestly, "In today's human world, everyone lives very happily. Humans have developed technology, and every household has electricity. People no longer have to farm laboriously; they use machines for cultivation. Thanks to the discovery of hybrid rice, food production has increased, and everyone can eat their fill. Children who cannot afford to go to school can receive state subsidies and help from kind-hearted people to change their destiny through education."
Listening to my words, a hint of relief appeared in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. What might be going on in her heart at this moment?
Zi Yu withdrew the dagger and turned her back to me, asking again, "Do people in the human world still worship Nuwa?"
"Of course. Everyone has built temples for Nuwa for future generations to worship. It is said that many people visit Nuwa temples for worship every year. I also intended to go, but I ended up here."
Zi Yu was very pleased to hear my words. She sighed slightly and said, "I didn't expect that after a thousand years, the human world still remembers the Nuwa clan. It was not in vain for the Nuwa clan's contributions to humanity."
"Nuwa is so powerful and loves the people so dearly. It is said that she created humans, so humans are her children. Of course, we will not forget this deity who made such outstanding contributions."
She nodded slightly, turned around, removed her mask, revealing her peerless beauty. She smiled slightly and asked me, "Would you like to hear about my experiences?"
I looked up at the sky, feeling a little worried. Zi Yu said, "Don't worry, this thunder and lightning won't come down for a while."
Hearing her words, I felt relieved and said, "I would be happy to listen."
"Then I will tell you."
And so, she began to tell me about her past.