Three years passed swiftly, and for the people of South County, these three years were sowhat of a roller coaster.
Three years ago, their City God Temple in South County welcod a new City God. The following year and a half brought prosperous weather and abundant harvests. The County Magistrate was a practical and good official, issuing several decrees that benefited the nation and its people, which allowed the humble folks to bask in so reflected glory. Consequently, South County was no longer a destitute county.
However, starting last autumn, their days began to get difficult again because the taxes increased, and their grain sacks beca unstable once more.
This spring, another tax was added, and by the end of sumr, a new poll tax was imposed, further emptying the wallets of the people. The good days in South County seed fleeting; after all, the taxes were already high, and now a poll tax was required. If the heavens were kind, providing good weather and yielding crops, they might barely scrape by, but only by tightening their belts.
If the heavens were not kind, selling sons and daughters would be the only option.
Thus, the City God Temple in South County gradually began to fill with refugees and beggars.
When Qin Liuxi appeared, the beggars froze for a mont, wanting to approach yet hesitating, only staring at her.
Entering the City God Temple, only a lone woman was kneeling on a cushion, praying and offering incense, murmuring for the City God’s protection for good weather and safety for her family.
The incense was not vigorous.
Qin Liuxi frowned, the lack of incense representing few believers, and thus even less faith, which made it harder to nourish the Divine Soul.
She looked up at the deity statue, still resembling the Grandmaster, yet its features subtly carried a hint of Chi Yuan.
"Master..." Qin Liuxi’s eyes were red, her eyes moist, and at this mont, the ice within her seed to lt.
The City God did not respond to her.
Qin Liuxi stepped forward, her hand reaching the bronze body of the statue amidst the surprised gaze of the woman, gently closing her eyes.
She wanted to communicate with God.
In a void.
Qin Liuxi finally saw the City God chewing on a chicken leg. He was very weak, his Divine Power not even matching that of a lowly ghost ssenger, and his soul was unstable.
The incense aura on him was sparse, thus his Faith Power was low, making it difficult to nourish his frail soul.
Qin Liuxi felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.
The City God was startled that soone had engaged in divine communication, causing him to drop the chicken leg, looking at Qin Liuxi: "Who are you?"
What’s wrong? Initiating divine communication without any greeting, not knowing manners, no offerings, hey, there’s not even incense, you poor ghost!
Qin Liuxi looked at that familiar old face, and with a blink, tears fell.
"Hey, why are you crying? I...even this City God hasn’t cried, why are you crying?" The City God was flustered, sowhat at a loss, wanting to wipe her crocodile tears but feeling very guilty.
Strangely, even though he had been the City God for so years, facing this girl, he felt sowhat guilty and inadequate.
Moreover, this pretty face seed familiar, perhaps she had previously co to pay respects?
Qin Liuxi wiped her tears and laughed: "You old geezer!"
"Hey yo, how co you’re insulting ? Let tell you, I am the City God, as long as you offer enough, and the incense is plentiful, this City God will fulfill your wishes." The City God squinted at her, so hurry up and make offerings!
Qin Liuxi looked at the offerings in front of him, scoffing: "Which City God is as poorly off as you?"
A scraggly beggar chicken with barely any at, an apple that’s almost rotten, one even has wormholes, the sugar is of the lowest grade, and the alcohol, thinner than water, one might suspect it’s just a water-filled bottle marked for flavor, even the incense candles are of poor quality.
Moreover, the clothes he wore were also worn-out, seemingly unchanged for ages.
The City God snorted: "Don’t look down on your City God grandfather; I too had my days of glory. A few years ago, I couldn’t finish the offerings, each day there were fresh fruits and food. But now, as the people’s lives grow harder, the offerings have beco leaner day by day, let alone offerings, even the incense has dwindled."
"That’s why I said you’re poorly off."
The City God wanted to say sothing, his eyes darted, saying: "You little girl, give your City God grandfather more offerings, as long as you do, I can often communicate with you, helping you gain more admiration outside."
Sigh, unless he feels his position as City God is unstable, would he go to such lengths for a little girl to offer him more?
He needs the Power of Faith to repair his soul; otherwise, he may never rember certain people and things, important people.
But now, fewer and fewer people co to worship at the City God Temple, the incense nearly extinguished, once completely gone, his tenure as City God will end.
After all, without believers, he need not exist!
So, when able, gain what you can, securing the Divine Position is paramount.
The little girl in front seed to have so way to communicate with him, a good seedling, must deceive, no, must keep her stable.
"Little girl, as long as you offer to grandfather, once the City God’s skills grow strong, I can bestow upon you a Divine Position beneath ." The City God eagerly enticed: "With a Divine Position, you beco a Divine Servant, with greater divine powers, how about it?"
The old man is still the sa old man, despite him not rembering her now, his style is as always, relying on deception, painting grand visions!
Qin Liuxi said: "What can you bestow upon ?"
"This..." the City God said: "Look at my temple, actually, Oxhead and Horseface are not yet appointed."
Qin Liuxi’s brows furrowed: "You want to be Oxhead and Horseface?"
The City God was startled, if not then not, why be fierce?
However, the little girl is quite beautiful, Oxhead and Horseface are indeed unsightly.
"Then appoint you as Judge?"
Qin Liuxi scoffed: "You’re unstable even in your Divine status, how can you bestow? You’re just drawing big pastries hoping to deceive into offering!"
Kids these days are hard to deceive, the City God rubbed his nose, saying: "How is this called deception? It’s our fate! I have sat in this temple for several years, you’re the first to communicate with , showing our deep connection. If you offer to , even if I can’t bestow imdiately, soday my divine skills will be vast, and naturally, I will bestow upon you, what’s it called, low investnt, high returns?"
This ti Qin Liuxi laughed genuinely, hearty laughter.
The City God thought, could this be a fool?
"Alright, I’ll offer, so wait for it!"
The City God’s eyes brightened: "Really?"
"I never deceive."
The City God imdiately bead with joy, saying: "Then it’s settled, by the way, offer so good incense, this one here is unknown in origin, particularly slly."
"Okay."
The City God looked at her with a touch of indulgence and leniency, involuntarily shivering, were his eyes deceiving him?
"Wait here, I’ll prepare!" Qin Liuxi stared fixedly at him: "This ti, make sure you wait!"
"Oh." The City God asked again: "By the way, what’s your na, little girl?"
Qin Liuxi curled her lips, showing a radiant smile, responding: "Before the door, the water tends westward, even disciples arrive. My master bestowed the na Liuxi, I am Qin Liuxi."
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