"As you want to do your duty as a local, that's easy to do. You can look at the view up there for us," Yu Sifeng was angry and made that boy go more up in the sky. That person screamed: "Deity! Deity!" "This...Sifeng. Why are you so angry. Isn't he being kind?" Xuanji asked. "I am only paying his kindness back by allowing him to see so far," Sifeng mood was better now and he smiled.
"But just now he said that he had the Bahuang mirror," Xuanji was bewildered. "How could a mortal have the item of a deity? He tricked you," Sifeng said lightly. "He tricked me? Tricking other is not nice," Xuanji was angry now. "In the future do not speak to strange men, understand?" Sifeng told her. Xuanji nodded obediently: "Ok."
Xuanji and Sifeng joined the crowd in front of the Gao's Goddess's temple. A purple light appeared and started to twist around the Gao's Goddess's statue. Everyone kneeled down but Sifeng and Xuanji stood at the far back.
"Great, let's see how see make an appearance," Sifeng said hoping that the goddess would make an appearance. Suddenly, a piece of paper dropped on the ground. The priestess picked it up and read: "Her excellency will make an appearance. The fortunate people her excellency will take in is here. In a bit I will send someone to them from their homes. Hurry and bow your head and thank her for protecting Zhonglin from the storms and to bring peace and stability to the people here."
Everyone bowed and said: "Thank you Goddess! Thank you Goddess!"
"Open the temple," the priestess ordered to young woman to open the temple. All of the people got up from the ground and ran into the temple immediately. "Turns out, this is how deities make an appearance?" Xuanji was disappointed. "The appearance of this deity was simply passing a message using an enchantment. The invisible barrier was not lifted. We can't go in. So let's go back," Sifeng and Xuanji went back to the city.
They walked to a tea-house and sat down on a table. "You said during the ceremony, you saw a purple demonic aura? Also that demon one of the demons who captured Elder Lingshi," Sifeng poured some tea into a cup. "Yes, I won't mistake her into someone else....," Xuanji was interrupted by the same boy who tried to touch her followed by four more young lads.
"Save me deity! Save us deity!" he kneeled down. Yu Sifeng put the kettle down and said: "Why is it you?" "Deity, I live within Zhonglin City too. I upset you before so please can you forgive me and save me!" the three young boys behind him also kneeled down.
"That Goddess wishes to kill us! Deity hurry and save us!" they pleaded and bowed.
Xuanji got up from her chair and said: "Get up first. Talk after you get up. Stop kneeling, stand up." "What's going on?" Sifeng was a bit annoyed so he got up. "That goddess would ask for 4 men to enter the temple to serve her. This year she picked us four. We have to go in tomorrow. We'll lose our lives! We have no other choice. I noticed you can fly and teleport yourself so I know you must be powerful. You must be from one of the cultivating sects that saves the mortal from danger! That's why deity please save us! I am begging you! Besides that goddess is not a deity, she's a demon!" that boy was very scared.
"How do you know?" Xuanji asked. That boy was nervous like he was hiding some kind of secret. "Well, I was once curious about her looks so followed the bridal escort into the mountain to take a look. That goddess Gao is no saint. The other townsmen think of her as a goddess so they don't believe whatever I say. I wanted to find out what went on after the bridegrooms returned. Who knew that none of bridegrooms chosen ever returned in the past few years! They didn't even send a letter! They must have been killed by it!" this boy was honest now.
"Then how those bridegrooms enter the mountain with the barrier?" Yu Sifeng asked. "Every year the chosen men will wait outside the mountain. When it's the right time the goddess will send someone to escort them in. Deity! Save us Deity!" he said still bowing.
"Fine. Tomorrow. I, Minyan, Rouyu will pretend to be the bridegrooms and go in their stead and can also look for the thing we want. Kill two birds with one stone," Sifeng looked at Xuanji and smiled. "Thank you Deity! Thank you!" the thanked Yu Sifeng.
"Wait. There is only three of you then don't we need to find another young man to make up the numbers?" Xuanji looked at that boy.
"I can't do this."
"I faint when I am sacred, I can't do this either!"
"I will throw up!" the all three said trembling with fear.
"These people are too cowardly. They'll ruin our plans. Why don't I ask Yanran or Linglong? They can disguise themselves as a man and pretend to be one," Yu Sifeng gently said to Xuanji. "As that is the case then let me go with you," Xuanji wanted to go with them. "No. It's to dangerous for you," Sifeng didn't want her to go with them because if something happens to her, he wouldn't able to bear it. "It's fine. I know enchantments. I have some confidence. I can handle those demons. Don't worry," Xuanji said.
"Ok. I will protect you," Sifeng agreed. Xuanji nodded and smiled.