Chapter 64: The Devil’s Sacrifice (14)
Wood Dark Day – 24:07
Divine Descent Federal Republic
Yaoguang City
Above the dome, the fake sphere of light was as dazzling as a red sun.
Yu Jiao squinted.
Yu Jiao’s distant gaze swept over the singing and dancing crowd, her thoughts wandering.
Unlike the serious, rigid atmosphere of the central city where the Apocalypse Cult was headquartered—[Tianshu]—the overall temperament of [Yaoguang] was loose and romantic. It was a city dedicated to pleasure.
Gambling games, virtual dreams, restaurants, song and dance performances—all kinds of entertainment facilities were available, so it was also called the City of Joy.
Even the temperature setting was much higher than the other six cities. The pedestrians on the street, wearing veils, were dressed in light, vibrant clothes, generously showing off their bodies.
They deliberately chose not to take flying vehicles, but to walk in the crowded streets, enjoying the hot and cheerful atmosphere. If they made eye contact with someone who passed by, they could just slip into a love hotel for a fleeting affair.
Yaoguang City had always been a good place for chance encounters.
In just a short time, Yu Jiao had already witnessed several pairs of strangers exchange flowers and then walk hand in hand into a hotel on the street.
It was mainly because there were too many restless men and women gathered here. Under the pretext of the festival, they were shoulder to shoulder, breaking the normal social distance, and so, dry wood met a raging fire.
Almost every sun hour, there was a float parade, bringing wave after wave of people.
At this moment, a complex and magnificent float, with loud and cheerful music, was performing a good show of “The Human Hero Fights the Holy Fallen Race.”
The actor playing the hero was bare-chested. Because he had been oiled, his muscular, bronze upper body was shining. His face was handsome, and his whole being was filled with male hormones.
Many young girls were giggling and throwing flowers at him.
In this scene, the actor was holding the ferocious and terrifying [Holy Fallen Race] in his strong arms.
Yu Jiao was watching intently. Suddenly, a sarcastic, sour remark sounded in her ear. “Yo~ Madam’s eyes are almost glued to him? Hmph, what? Is the Apocalypse Cult keeping you in abstinence?”
“…”
Yu Jiao turned her head and shot Chow Chow a speechless look.
Chow Chow had also changed out of that eye-catching saintess mask and, like Yu Jiao, was wearing a special veil to cover his face—which was in line with the tradition of Yaoguang City: to temporarily cast off one’s worldly identity for the sake of pleasure.
Yu Jiao had been quite curious about Chow Chow’s true face under the mask, curious about the true identity of the elusive leader of the Resistance.
Until, before the official operation, Chow Chow had given her a magical pill that could change her appearance. Yu Jiao had then dismissed her curiosity—this person was so cautious. She figured that under Chow Chow’s veil at this moment was probably not his real face.
Of course, at this moment, without seeing his real face, Yu Jiao could still feel the sarcasm from that annoying face.
Yu Jiao said angrily, “Don’t you dare judge a gentleman by your own petty standards! I’m watching the plot!”
Chow Chow: “Yo yo yo, the plot.”
Yu Jiao: “…”
Yu Jiao was so angry she stomped on his foot.
God knows, Yu Jiao was indeed not attracted by the man’s beauty. After all, in two worlds combined, she had seen all kinds of stunningly handsome men.
In comparison, this float actor was still too “plain.”
Yu Jiao had been seriously watching the plot, to see what the difference was between the so-called [Holy Fallen Race] and the ordinary fallen race.
But with Chow Chow’s interruption, that scene had already ended. The actors were taking their bows, preparing for the next act.
Just as Yu Jiao was feeling regretful, she saw the “plain” man on the float staring at her.
His eyes were even brighter than his bare upper body. Seeing Yu Jiao look over, the actor shyly yet boldly threw a flower to her.
—The Faceless Flower.
Because it was somewhat similar to the flower of the Tree of Life, it was hailed as the holy flower of the Divine Kingdom, symbolizing a pure and flawless love.
In Yaoguang City at this moment, the subtext of giving a flower was equivalent to: ‘Are you willing to spend a spring night with me?’
“…”
“Huh?”
Yu Jiao caught the flower, stunned.
A few girls around her first sighed with regret, then playfully patted Yu Jiao’s shoulder. “What good luck, little girl! This guy is the top star of the Wind and Moon Pavilion, Zhao Zhao. This is the first time I’ve seen him be so proactive.”
Just as Yu Jiao was holding the flower, embarrassed, an arrogant hand suddenly reached out. It was wearing a fingerless glove, revealing thick, long, mechanical fingers with a cold, hard light. They closed, one by one, and ruthlessly crushed the fresh, vibrant “flower of love.”
Amidst the scattered, falling flower corpses, Chow Chow and the Zhao Zhao gentleman met each other’s gaze.
“Oh yo oh yo!”
The girls around them covered their mouths and giggled, their eyes darting between Yu Jiao and Chow Chow. “So she’s already taken.”
The Zhao Zhao gentleman was worthy of being the top star of the Wind and Moon Pavilion. Even after losing face, he was not annoyed at all. In front of Chow Chow, Zhao Zhao blew Yu Jiao a kiss and then gracefully left.
Chow Chow was so disgusted by the blown kiss that he turned his head and smiled. “Madam, I didn’t expect that even with the appearance-changing pill and the veil, you still can’t hide your charm. You’ve attracted quite a few bees and butterflies.”
Before Yu Jiao could retort, Chow Chow wrapped his arm around her waist and leaped onto the next float. “Don’t listen, don’t listen, alright, alright, it’s time to start work.”
Their figures disappeared into the backstage of the float. Seeing this, the onlookers discussed, “So they’re the lucky ones who were chosen to participate in the Wind and Moon Pavilion’s float parade.”
***
Yes, the resourceful Resistance had hacked into the Wind and Moon Pavilion’s system and tampered with the list of winners.
At this moment, Yu Jiao was sitting backstage on the float, being hastily made up by a serving girl.
“Why are you so late!? Didn’t I tell you to report to the Wind and Moon Pavilion two sun hours in advance? You’re killing me! We were about to replace you.”
The serving girl grumbled as she applied the powder.
“Do you know how many people would kill for this opportunity? Now, we’re the only ones who can perform plays related to the saintess.”
“After all, the law stipulates that ordinary people are not allowed to dress up as the saintess.”
At this, the serving girl lifted her chin with pride.
“It’s because Lady Hongyue once performed ‘The Saintess Blesses the Holy Hero’ at our Wind and Moon Pavilion eleven years ago that we have this special honor.”
—That’s right. That’s why Nie Hongshen comes to your pavilion every festival day.
To reminisce about his white moonlight.
“Performing plays about the saintess on festival days has long since become a tradition at our Wind and Moon Pavilion.”
The serving girl had opened the floodgates. Regardless of whether Yu Jiao responded, she said excitedly, “And! Let me tell you, I’ve seen Lady Hongyue. She even praised me for being beautiful—”
Yu Jiao dodged her waving eyeshadow brush and looked at her cute, round eyes, which were shining brightly. She is quite beautiful, Yu Jiao thought.
“…Lady Hongyue was like a fairy in person! That day… wow! You don’t know… anyway! Lady Hongyue was so amazing!”
Gradually, the little fangirl ran out of words. She stared at Yu Jiao’s face for a long time, then suddenly muttered in a low voice:
“I didn’t expect you to have a slight resemblance to the saintess.”
“…”
Yu Jiao had never seen a picture of Jiao Hongyue or a portrait of the saintess in the Holy Bible. These were top secrets. Yu Jiao only knew that the saintess showed herself with white hair and red eyes.
Speaking of which, even if the Wind and Moon Pavilion had a special exception, the actors in the float parade could not wear white wigs and red contacts, in case they looked too similar and desecrated the saintess. They could only use white crystal hair accessories and red crystal face decorations to make a point.
This round-eyed serving girl seemed to have gotten serious. She no longer spoke, but with a serious expression, she applied Yu Jiao’s makeup.
However, from her rambling just now, Yu Jiao had learned a lot.
For example, the unit of time.
Yu Jiao had always felt that the time in this world was not normal. Though she had only been in this instance for a day and a night, it felt like a century had passed.
So it wasn’t that Yu Jiao had been repeatedly passing out and didn’t know the time, but that the days and nights in this world were very long. A single day was about as long as several days and nights in her original world.
Sun Day, Sun Night.
Dark Day, Dark Night.
Alternating.
The day was measured in [Sun Hours], and the night was measured in [Dark Hours].
At this moment, it was 24:30 on Wood Dark Sun Day.
The time of transition between Sun Day and Dark Day was not regular. People could only guess based on the change in the pollution level—the pollution level was generally lower on Sun Day and higher on Dark Day.
Some romantic fanatics claimed that Sun Day was when the god opened his eyes, and Dark Day was when he closed them.
When Jiao Hongyue was alive, the Sun Day was exceptionally long, and the Dark Day was exceptionally short.
—”The god was so reluctant to blink, just to look at her.”
The saintess’s fanatics firmly believed this.
Strangely, on the day Jiao Hongyue died, the once-bright Sun World had, without any warning, transitioned from Sun Day to Dark Day, and had fallen into a very long, eternal night.
As if the god were mourning for her.
This only added to Jiao Hongyue’s legendary status.
…
“It’s done…” the round-eyed serving girl murmured.
The serving girl was like a pilgrim, her eyes unblinking, staring at Yu Jiao blankly, an entranced expression on her face.
Yu Jiao looked at the mirror with a puzzled expression.
…It doesn’t seem that special?
The fine, white crystal headpiece hung down, like frozen snow, complementing her loose black hair.
A string of bright red crystal beads, like a face scarf, hung down from her eyebrows, making her eyes look red. It had a ‘half-hidden’ quality.
Yu Jiao looked left and right, but she couldn’t see anything special. If she had to say—
After taking the appearance-changing pill, only her eyes and eyebrows had not changed. Now, with the makeup, Yu Jiao had a four or five-tenths resemblance to her original appearance.
Just as Yu Jiao was thinking this, she heard the round-faced serving girl murmur:
“My god… I’ve done so many faces, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone who looks so much like Lady Hongyue.”
As the serving girl spoke, her eyes even filled with tears. Before the teardrops could fall, she was interrupted: a serving girl rushed in and lifted the curtain.
“Are you done yet!? We’re running out of time! We’re about to go on stage!!”
***
Yu Jiao was pushed to the front of the stage by them.
Yu Jiao passed through layers of magnificent curtains, and her vision suddenly brightened—
The cheers of the crowd were like exploding fireworks, and they, along with the lights, ribbons, and flowers, all rushed towards Yu Jiao.
Amidst the clamor and excitement, the man’s back was a little quiet.
Chow Chow had already changed his costume and was standing with his arms crossed in front of the float’s railing.
This round was to perform the twelfth chapter of the Holy Bible: “The Saintess Blesses the Holy Hero.” At this moment, Chow Chow was bare-chested, his perfect physique like the masterpiece of a god, poured with all his heart.
Chow Chow was wearing golden accessories on his arms and neck, and a strange, gorgeous totem was painted on his broad back. Under the magnificent, ornate pattern were crisscrossing old scars. A strong, murderous aura broke through the decadent aura, and he truly looked like an ancient warrior, with an extremely aggressive presence.
Hearing the commotion, Chow Chow turned around—
A real expression appeared on his fake face.
Chow Chow looked at Yu Jiao with a slight shock.
“…”
“…”
The audience knew that this round was for amateur actors and had already set their expectations low. They had not expected the two actors’ appearances to be so surprising.
In an instant, the screams almost overturned the dome of Yaoguang City.
***
In this joyous, hot, and grand scene, the news broadcast on the huge screen between the tall buildings was a buzzkill and was therefore ignored.
“It is reported that the bishop’s wife has been kidnapped by a villain and has been missing for over ten sun hours,” the host said with a heavy heart on the screen.
In the Divine Kingdom, ‘Resistance’ and ‘God-Slaying Cult’ were forbidden words, a ‘you-know-who’ that could not be spoken of openly. They had always been portrayed as villains who did all kinds of evil.
Especially the leader, Chow Chow, who was a devil in the Divine Kingdom, capable of stopping a child’s crying at night.
The host sighed. “In the hands of these vicious villains, our beloved Madam is most likely doomed…”
The mournful news was drowned out by the screams. The ‘doomed Madam’ was on a float, passing leisurely under the serious-looking big screen.
Yu Jiao’s ears were enveloped by a hot breath.
“Look.”
Chow Chow was leaning on the railing, almost completely enclosing Yu Jiao in his arms.
“Look at these noble upper-class people. They’re going crazy for you.”
Chow Chow let out a derisive laugh, his gaze cool. “While the people on the surface are exposed to pollution and could aberrate and die at any moment, these people are occupying a large amount of resources, living in the moment.”
Yu Jiao paused.
Yu Jiao leaned back, her bare back against Chow Chow’s equally bare chest. His body temperature was very high, like a raging fire, and it warmly accepted her.
Yu Jiao looked back and smiled faintly, then suggested lightly, “Then let’s blow up the dome and blow away this clear boundary. How about it?”
Chow Chow lowered his head and looked at her.
The deafening drumbeat and music seemed to be resonating with both their chests. Chow Chow smiled:
“Alright.”
…
The float parade soon ended. One by one, the exquisite floats, with the crowd they had attracted, drove back to their respective shops.
The crowd following Yu Jiao’s float was the largest. Of course, the Wind and Moon Pavilion’s float was already the most popular.
The elegant and beautiful main building of the Wind and Moon Pavilion appeared before them. It was truly a work of art.
Dozens of vehicles drove into the building one by one and parked neatly in the jade-paved, carved-railing hall.
Yu Jiao and Chow Chow were standing in front of the float. They also saw the top star of the Wind and Moon Pavilion they had met before. The Zhao Zhao gentleman’s eyes lit up, and he looked at Yu Jiao with a look of amazement, waving happily in their direction.
Chow Chow let out a soft hum and, with a possessive air, wrapped his arm around Yu Jiao, beginning his childish declaration of ownership.
“…”
Yu Jiao was speechless and tried to break free from his embrace. Yu Jiao didn’t notice that the once-noisy Wind and Moon Pavilion was gradually falling into a strange, well-behaved silence.
Noticing that something was wrong, Chow Chow’s expression darkened, and he stopped his playing.
Over there, Yu Jiao had finally broken free from his bear hug, but her foot slipped. Yu Jiao quickly grabbed the railing, but she didn’t expect to knock off a few of the Faceless Flowers that the audience had thrown.
The fragrant, tender flower buds gracefully drifted down from the high float.
And just like that, they lightly fell into a person’s arms.
“…”
The already quiet and elegant Wind and Moon Pavilion was instantly plunged into a dead silence.
“Hmm?”
A deep voice sounded, like a deep-toned cello.
“One, two, three, four… five.”
Nie Hongshen looked up and said with a half-smile, “This young lady—”
“—Do you want to spend five spring nights with me?”