Chapter 60: The Devil’s Sacrifice (10)
In this terrifying and disgusting illusion, Yu Jiao was dizzy and covered in a cold sweat. She held her breath and, facing the enraged warning, said in a deliberately coquettish voice:
“Husband, you’re not jealous, are you?”
[…]
As if disgusted by her, Yu Fenghe’s illusion became unstable. In contrast, her dizziness lessened slightly. Seeing this, Yu Jiao redoubled her efforts. “Husband, say something, husband.”
[…]
The bulging blue veins on the wall of flesh coldly formed a word:
[Heh]
Full of sarcasm, mockery, and disgust.
[I’m warning you for the last time. Stay away from them. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude.]
Yu Fenghe said fiercely.
Of course, Yu Jiao didn’t think that his actions were to protect the other three.
Although she didn’t know his motive, his strong opposition meant that her intimacy with the three of them would have a negative impact on him. And Yu Jiao had always followed the principle of ‘the enemy’s misfortune is my gain’.
He won’t let me get close to them?
—Even if her hands and feet were tied, her mouth could still kiss people. It was terrifying!
Yu Jiao immediately feigned compliance. “Yes, yes, alright, alright. Don’t worry, husband. I will be a virtuous wife from now on and stay far away from these pretty boys. I will only love you forever.”
[…]
[You’d better be.]
Yu Fenghe seemed to be gradually developing a tolerance. He ignored her lewd words and, with great disgust, withdrew the illusion, leaving one last sentence:
[I will be watching you.]
The illusion faded. When Yu Jiao came back to her senses, she heard Fu Sheng’s anxious call in her ear. “Madam, are you alright?”
Yu Jiao shook her head and confirmed that everything around her was normal. The only abnormality was her bloodshot, red eyes.
A blue light flashed, and a mechanical arm handed her a glass of warm water. eleven suggested with concern, “Madam, should we go and see Dr. Helan?”
“No need.”
Yu Jiao was helped to sit down by Fu Sheng. She glanced at the guard, who was standing dutifully to the side. She took a sip of water and said calmly, “It’s time to prepare for the noon holy communion.”
…
At eleven’s suggestion, Yu Jiao changed into a snow-white set of clothes, with simple arm and knee guards and a vest, her long trousers tucked into her long boots.
It was a very practical style. Or rather, a style suitable for combat.
Just as Yu Jiao thought that the so-called ‘holy communion’ meant that these fanatics were going to hold some evil slaughtering ritual, eleven explained, “Chapter one of the Holy Bible says that the true God bestowed a seed of life, which grew into the great Tree of Life in the chaos, covering the sky and the sun, with lush flowers and leaves, and a strange, colorful light. It broke through the filthy sand and the turbid sea, providing a safe haven and a bountiful fruit for the displaced human ancestors, who were threatened by the fallen race.”
“Later generations called this day Wood Sun Day.”
“The next day is Wood Dark Day. Every time it comes, people will put down their work, put on their combat uniforms, and gather together for a holy communion ceremony to celebrate the first shot of the counterattack against the fallen race.”
“This tradition has continued to this day.”
At the end, as if it had just realized, eleven said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Madam. My code includes a downstream command to broadcast blessings during holidays and celebrations. I hope that you, who are used to hearing the stories of the Holy Bible, will not find it boring.”
Of course Yu Jiao wouldn’t. This was all valuable information. She casually praised it for its good storytelling and asked it to tell her about the traditions of the other sun and dark days to relieve her boredom on the way.
Yes, she was going on a long trip this time.
Leaving the vast, complex Apocalypse Cult, taking a flying vehicle, and going to the surface.
After a long, dark tunnel, it suddenly opened up. Her vision was no longer filled with the unchanging white metal, but a boundless city.
Tall buildings were packed tightly together, magnificent advertisements were flashing, and various airships and flying cars were moving in an orderly fashion in the air. The aerial passages crisscrossed, like a coiling group of snakes, making people seem small.
Her sclera reflected the bustling colors, but she could not see the familiar blue sky.
Above her head was a honeycomb-structured, arched metal, creating the illusion of a blue sky and white clouds. A light ball with no heat replaced the sun.
The fake “sky” was visually very close. No matter how large the space was, it felt oppressive.
—This was the world within the earth.
Like from one cage to a larger one.
This was the first time Yu Jiao had seen the true face of this world.
The Divine Descent Federal Republic, or the Divine Kingdom for short. A huge religious country.
While the flying vehicle was waiting for a red light, Yu Jiao saw a familiar person on a huge billboard on the side, which was playing an interview.
Yu Bingci’s long hair was neatly tied in a low ponytail. She was in a formal suit, her expression solemn. She was speaking eloquently in the face of the flashing lights. “Regarding the problem of the filthy sand and the rampant fallen race in the north of the surface, our side has sent a self-defense fleet…”
When it came to the Q&A session, a reporter asked sharply, “Hello, Councilor Yu. Councilor Nie has become one of the most popular candidates for this term’s consul. As his strong political opponent, and as his wife of many years, do you support his election?”
The Apocalypse Cult was the only religion in the country, and even the political parties were divided according to different religious concepts: the Armageddon Faction, the Second Coming Faction, the Evolution Faction, the Reincarnation Faction, the Secular Faction… and so on.
Clearly, Yu Bingci and Nie Hongshen belonged to opposing factions.
On the huge screen, Yu Bingci’s expression did not change.
“Family matters are family matters, and state matters are state matters,” Yu Bingci replied in a cold, clear voice. “I think, in the Divine Descent Federal Republic, we are not the only couple with different religious beliefs.”
“Do I need to launch a nationwide survey on ‘the impact of different religious beliefs on the daily life and work of couples’—and then tell you the statistical results?”
Her cold gaze swept over.
“…”
“Then, Councilor Yu, what are your thoughts on the passing of the 476th cult leader of the Apocalypse Cult, as his direct relative?”
“Secondly, as his aunt, do you think that Mr. Yuan Cang will successfully succeed Mr. Yu Fenghe, who has been summoned to the side of the true God, and become the next bishop of the Apocalypse Cult?”
“Councilor Yu Bingci, hello! The Divine Moon Moth Biotechnology Company has become a commercial giant in just a few years, while the once-dominant Qingyun Technology is now in decline.”
“As the heir of Ms. Yu Qing, will you consider leaving politics for business, following in your mother’s footsteps, and reviving Qingyun?”
“Councilor Yu!”
“Councilor Yu, please answer—”
“…”
Faced with the barrage of attacks, Yu Bingci changed her upright posture and leaned back loosely in her chair, saying coolly, “One moment as a politician, one moment as a wife, one moment as a sister, an aunt, a daughter.”
She paused and raised an eyebrow.
“Can’t I just be myself?”
“…”
The reporters were all taken aback. They had not expected her to respond in this way. “This…”
“As Yu Bingci,” Yu Bingci said, enunciating each word in a cold, clear voice, “I wish them success.”
***
The image froze on Yu Bingci’s indifferent expression.
The camera turned, the music started, and the entertainment gossip show host said with a dramatic tone, “Councilor Yu Bingci perfectly answered all the questions during yesterday’s interview. But is it true, as she said, that she sincerely wishes everyone success?”
“Today, at the holy communion held at the Tree of Life ritual ground, as one of the participants, how will Councilor Yu behave in the face of her husband, Councilor Nie, her late brother’s widow and orphan, and the followers of the Apocalypse Cult?”
“Our entertainment express’s field reporter, Lin, will bring you a live broadcast! Today at noon, don’t miss it!”
The host’s eyebrows were dancing. He made a whispering gesture and said mysteriously, “It is said that the second cult leader’s wife, who has never shown her face in public, will appear.”
“Is she really as beautiful as the rumors say? So beautiful that the bishop was like an old pear blossom, pressing down on a begonia? Or so ugly that she cannot be shown… We shall wait and see!”
Yu Jiao: “…”
Eating melon and finding it’s about myself.
No.
No, no.
Even though she really hated that bastard Yu Fenghe, she couldn’t help but ask: he doesn’t look that old, does he? He’s not so old as to be described as an old pear blossom, pressing down on a begonia, is he?
***
The flying vehicle moved quickly and soon reached the top of the sky.
Many cars were queuing up here. The honeycomb-structured sky wall slowly opened up small holes and ‘swallowed’ the flying vehicles one by one.
The Apocalypse Cult’s car had a golden symbol. It passed the queuing cars. Her vision went dark, and the flying vehicle she was in had already entered a special passage. After the sky wall closed, a gentle thrust brought them upwards.
Through the heavy darkness, her vision suddenly brightened.
—They were on the surface.
This was truly boundless.
As far as the eye could see was a silvery-grey sand, mixed with a few scattered purple dots, like fine eyes. In the distance, a small coastline could be vaguely seen, the dark blue sea as still as dead water.
The gloomy scene seemed to have dyed the pale blue sky a dark color. There was not a single cloud, and the sun was also a hazy grey.
Two words popped into Yu Jiao’s mind.
Filthy sand. Turbid sea.
Though it was such a chaotic, turbid scene, Yu Jiao, who had just come from within the earth, still felt that her breathing was much lighter.
As if it were a worm in her stomach, eleven suddenly said, “Madam, our itinerary today is all under protection. We will not be exposed to pollution. There is no threat to your life. You can rest assured.”
Only then did Yu Jiao notice that a very thick, transparent material formed a series of long, slender tunnels, and the flying vehicles were passing through them one by one.
As the flying vehicle moved at high speed, the sea was like a curtain, being pulled open, and it grew larger in her vision. The deep blue surface of the sea would occasionally flash with a glistening purple light, mysterious and dangerous.
Suddenly, a pile of sand next to the coast sank, and a pair of ferocious claws waved and emerged. Then, a row of long, thin compound eyes was revealed. It stared at the flying vehicle she was in, its scales and wings flapping quickly, and it flew over, baring its claws.
Before Yu Jiao could even take a breath, she saw the calm sea suddenly surge. Something leaped out of the water, like an arrow, and with a single strike, it intercepted the fine-eyed insect and pinned it down.
The unlucky insect let out a pained buzz.
Looking closely, Yu Jiao saw that the predator was actually a strange fish with the talons of an eagle. It fiercely held the insect in its mouth and ran towards the shore. On the way, its feet were gradually covered by the sand. It let out a terrified cry and spat out the insect, but it was too late.
Like a surging wave, a dense swarm of worms, hidden under the sand, swarmed over and drowned it.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
The grey sand and the black sea were calm again.
…So this is the fallen race.
/:.
Yu Jiao took in the entire spectacular scene.
From time to time, a few careless fallen creatures would try to prey on the passing flying vehicles.
With a splash and a sizzle—
With the point of contact as the center, the protective shield glowed an orange-red, symbolizing high temperature. The fallen creatures were immediately burned to a crisp, and they fell to the ground, a pile of roasted insects and fish.
The journey was thrilling but safe.
As Yu Jiao was feeling drowsy, eleven gently reminded her, “Madam? We are about to arrive at the Tree of Life ritual ground.”
Hearing this, Yu Jiao opened her hazy eyes, and the next moment, her eyes widened.
A withered tree came into view. It was like a sleeping giant, standing resolutely and desolately between the grey sand and the black sea.
So, ‘covering the sky and the sun’ was not a figure of speech.
***
[Tree of Life] Ritual Ground
“Three hundred years ago, the Tree of Life gradually stopped bestowing its sweet dew. Two hundred years ago, it stopped bearing fruit. One hundred years ago, it began to lose its leaves. To this day, it is almost dead.”
As the electronic voice spoke, the flying vehicle slowly entered the Tree of Life ritual ground. The closer they got to the Tree of Life, the more shocking it was. For its sacred, great size, for its motherly, broad aura, for the mottled marks on its surface, which were a testament to the passage of time.
“Some claim that it is because the god bestowed countless blessings, but humans could not eliminate the fallen race, so the god abandoned us.”
eleven, as if it had a chatterbox chip installed, began to explain again, “This is the claim of the Armageddon Faction.”
Listening to eleven’s explanation, her ears were also ringing:
【Main Quest: Uncover the secrets hidden by the cult and survive (Progress: 32%)】
“…”
The so-called ritual ground was a series of platforms, built around the Tree of Life with a transparent protective shield, with a total of over a thousand levels.
Because it was a transparent material, one could see everything from top to bottom, from left to right. The higher one was, the more levels and scenery one could see. It was a display of status.
As the wife of the cult leader of the Apocalypse Cult, Yu Jiao naturally came to the top level.
Just as she was about to get out of the car, Fu Sheng suddenly held a hat up to her. This hat was a set with the light, white combat uniform she was wearing. It was a simple, soft version of a combat helmet. It was good-looking, but it would cover her face completely.
But this was the required attire for the cult leader’s wife when she went out.
Yu Jiao skillfully took it and put it on, revealing only a pair of reddish eyes—a side effect of Yu Fenghe’s illusion.
Fu Sheng helped Yu Jiao out of the flying vehicle. She looked around. There were already quite a few people standing on this level, socializing with glasses of wine.
They looked like political and business celebrities, dressed in various flashy, impractical combat uniforms, exuding an air of wealth and arrogance.
The moment she got out of the car, her status as the cult leader’s wife attracted numerous gazes. All along the way, people greeted her politely:
“Mrs. Yu is here.”
“Good day, Madam.”
“Little Mrs. Yu…”
Yu Jiao gave a slight nod, not stopping for long, only leaving the guests with her back, her beautiful lines outlined by the white combat uniform. Her long boots tapped on the protective shield, looking valiant and neat.
Her maids and guards followed her closely, blocking all ill-intentioned probing and closeness. It made her like a cluster of untouchable, crystal snow on the eaves.
“Yu Jiao.”
Hearing this call, Yu Jiao paused and turned around. Her movements were light, slow, and elegant, like falling snow, a quality that was ingrained in her bones.
But no one noticed that when she saw the newcomer, the noble and elegant Mrs. Yu’s pupils constricted, and she froze in place.
“…”
“Good afternoon.”
Yu Bingci gave a slight nod. Her expression was always distant and solemn. At this moment, her brow was slightly relaxed, which was the highest level of friendliness she could express.
But she was a little puzzled: Why is this well-mannered sister-in-law staring at her nominal husband the moment she saw him?
“…”
Before the atmosphere could get any stranger, Yu Jiao tore her gaze away from Nie Hongshen and placed it on Yu Bingci’s reassuring, reliable face. She didn’t dare to look at him again, because—
His handsome, open face, in her eyes, was an extremely bizarre image:
A pile of rotten flesh, sitting in a wheelchair, with a few sharp spikes sticking out, like a shelled old crab, soft, short, and sticky, a thick purple liquid dripping from its pores.
The visual impact was extremely strong, spreading an unspeakable disgust.
Just then, the rotten flesh spoke, its voice deep and pleasant. “Hmm? Why did little sister-in-law look at me like that just now? And why won’t you look at me now? Is there something on my face?”
Yu Jiao: “…No. My eyes were just playing tricks on me.”
Yu Bingci glanced at Nie Hongshen, her tone sarcastic. “Can’t you have a little self-awareness? She’s looking at you because you’re annoying, and she’s not looking at you because you’re annoying.”
The rotten flesh let out a magnetic laugh. The thick purple liquid turned into bubbles and popped.
Yu Jiao: “…”
“Why are you all just standing here?”
A gentle, mellow voice came from behind. “The holy communion is about to begin.”
Yu Jiao turned around as if she had been saved, preparing to wash her eyes with Helan Duo’s exquisite, perfect face—
“…”
Her breathing stopped, and she slowly closed her eyes.
…Can someone tell me who this giant cockroach in a priest’s uniform is?
“…”
The giant cockroach twitched its antennae, sighed, and propped its head on its forelimbs, looking very helpless. “How did that guy Yuan Cang get outside the protective shield? He’s really courting death.”
Yu Jiao looked in the direction the giant cockroach’s antennae were pointing, without much hope, and sure enough, she saw a figure with a huge head, jumping up and down on the branches of the Tree of Life.
As if sensing her gaze, the round, braised-egg-like head turned sharply. Then, like a blooming flower, it exploded from the top, revealing a dense cluster of eyes.
They were rolling around, and they even winked at her playfully.
“…”
Yu Jiao, who had been winked at countless times, couldn’t bear to look and looked away.
“Speaking of which,” Yu Bingci’s slightly puzzled voice came, “I was just about to ask, Yu Jiao, why are your eyes so red?”
“…”
Yu Jiao was taken aback, and finally realized: it wasn’t that she was crazy, nor that these three had suddenly gone mad.
It was Yu Fenghe’s illusion effect, which had become a targeted overlay!
With that thought, a few large words smugly appeared on the rotten flesh, the cockroach, and the braised egg:
[Let’s see how you can stomach this.]
Yu Jiao: “…”
She felt Yu Fenghe’s overwhelming malice.
…How am I supposed to capture them now?!