MDZS Fanfic

Red Strings of Connections

Chapter 35 The Ritual Begins

Hua Xie's eyes widen, as finally sighted the two young masters walking in distance.

Immediately, the Zhuque Sect's disciple opens the door, welcoming them with wide bright smile, attends everything they needed in rush; from providing hot bath, new set of inner clothes and hot drinks.

Through his observant sight, Hua Xie noticed right away that the awkwardness between them finally gone, as if there's nothing in the first place, which the shidi has thankful of. He just really doesn't know what he should do to lessen that awkwardness between this two; in this kinds of moments Hua Xie wishes that the Head Disciple of Liu's House is present, knowing for sure she could do something. Anyways, all is well that will end well, and that's what important.

Today is the day of the sacrificial ritual, when the two young masters and the disciple are sure Wei Wuxian will be the lamb for their "Divine Beast". Wei Wuxian has prepared his mind and spiritual energy. Their only problem is how will Lan Wangji could enter. In this puzzlement, the disciple raises his hand and with grin gave a suggestion, that soon both have agreed.

The whole day just so happen uneventful, just the two in silence while in lotus posture, meditating, preparing their spiritual energy for the battle later. The disciple prepares, not himself, but food that could boost one's stamina and energy for Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, he wanted to help on anything he could; he even gone so far as preparing sets of inner clothes for them in advance, so when they come home, whatever hour it is, they could soak in warm bath and sleep.

Three hours after they have their early dinner, Wei Wuxian stands at the door, and was about to open the door when...

"Ying-gongzi," it's Hua Xie, who stand behind him, hands clap, and bow to Wei Wuxian when he turns, "this disciple wishes your success and safety." Wei Wuxian smiles, and with thank you, finally left the house. Not even a half hour later, Lan Wangji stride towards the door, and the disciple once again clap his hands and bow, "Lan-gongzi, may success and safety be with you... and please may gongzi and Ying-gongzi comes back together."

Without turning his head, Lan Wangji response in almost inaudible icy voice of his, "mn." This simple response from the Second Young Master Lan assures the anxiety in the disciple even for a little.

It didn't take much time before Lan Wangji spotted the group of men with their Village Chief which leading the way. While four men holds torches, lighting their path; six men carries a sort of portable makeshift shrine out of birch wood, atop of it is someone sleeping peacefully. Lan Wangji may not be able to see who that person is, but he knew that it is none other his Wei Wuxian, dress as a maiden. With him being carried by men of the village, the procession towards the "Divine Beast" cavern begun.

Upon exiting their village, and entering the mountain foot, Lan Wangji who has long black hair, and dress in black robe has successfully sneak in the procession, without breaking a sweat. The procession is quiet, everyone is tense, still they are internally thankful that the mountain is tame and no snowstorm, it is like the "Divine Beast" is welcoming their offering. Wei Wuxian peaks through slit of his eyes to see their current location, when he is sure that they are near to the mountaintop, he pretends that he is shocked and confuse upon waking up, together with shooting up on his shrine, and with high pitch voice ask the normal question a fair maiden in fear and confuse would.

"What's happening?"

"Who are you lot?! Wait—Village Chief?!"

His acting is so flawless that it is convincing.

Lan Wangji who witnessed this have internally approve of his acting.

During the "maiden's panic state" Lan Wangji catches "her" eyes on him but it is for only swift moment on the light from torches. The sight of rarely seen in black robe Lan Clan Young Master relieves Wei Wuxian that he wouldn't be alone in this fight, that who knows how strong and fierce the opponent.

"Please forgive our selfishness, we really be grateful to you after this, and would pray for you every day." the elder chief purposely not to mention the real intention of this procession, that if Wei Wuxian is an ordinary person or a real maiden atop of that, she would either cry or tries to escape, for not knowing what her end will be.

Wei Wuxian should be calm and pretend that "she" realized that it is the start of the ritual to thank the "Divine Beast", but the Village Chief's words and tense atmosphere among the men will made any maiden scare. In addition, these people actually abducted Wei Wuxian during his stroll, and with no warning.

The ritual of giving thanks should be grand, done in daytime, not this kind of ritual like someone is being bringing into their death.

But, since this is indeed a funeral march, no wonder they are like this.

No maiden—either volunteer—wouldn't be not scared on this monarch.

So, Wei Wuxian must choose to act scared to convinced them and won't raise any suspicious, since he cannot go and jump out the shrine, he only covers his face with his hands and sobs, loud enough for the villagers to hear.

Lan Wangji wowed on his acting skills.

The village men all felt pitied on "her", that they started to question themselves if what they are doing is right, but the elder once told them that "If they don't offer a maiden, the "Divine Beast" will leave its nest and destroy their town, and the following places. Every day, every second, the victims will keep increasing." remembering it now out of all times makes this procession really difficult for them.

It is not just for their own sake, it is also for the whole country's sake, it's for the world's sake, that must a young life have to be gone.

Although the rest of their way towards the cavern of Divine beast has been filled with silence, within them had complicated feelings about this sacrificial ritual, but nobody wants to voice this out. This—Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, and Hua Xie understands. Just what they should expect from ordinary people who fear for something greater than their lives, the three cultivators never deem them coward, they just simply has no courage nor power to fight; and people that cultivate into immortality has all of this and are ready to fight—at the very least Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are the only present and moving.

They put down the shrine—they faced Wei Wuxian or they know as Shi Ying and kowtowed at him, then turn and kowtowed to the silent cavern, "Oh, Divine Beast that sleeping within, may this young pure maiden would satisfied your needs." This sounded like the maiden is being offer not as food but as a sex slave in which makes Wei Wuxian shiver, and he blame himself for having such a thought—he silently and secretly sighs thinking how much he deprived from innocent.

The villagers turn back to Wei Wuxian and again kowtow, along with various apologies, although the chief ain't that sincere, the other men are full of sincerity. After their last kowtow, they left Wei Wuxian, with a word of to enter the cave when she's ready, and the chief whisper to him that they will just behind the bushes. It's a warning, a warning to pressure her to never run, that if ever, she will be caught no matter what, worse come to worst they will throw her inside the cave.

Wei Wuxian didn't make a move at first, thinking that if a real maiden is here, she will surely not being able to move in fear. Also, he is waiting for certain movement, thankfully the villagers are hiding behind him, behind the trees, that Wei Wuxian able to at least relax his face.

The Young Master in female robes wonders how long these men could withstand the cold.

His eyes roam inside the dark cave in front of him, his brows knitted as something make his skin crawl. He stands up not even changing his expression nor even removing his gaze on whatever he is sensing. Right away he knows that this must not be prolonged anymore. No more playing pretend, Wei Wuxian finally march towards the cave. Upon entering, the ground tremble, and the next thing Wei Wuxian know is he has no way out.

"It's alive...?" The mountain seems to be alive, Wei Wuxian touched the wall and tries to feel its spiritual flow, but instead of just spiritual flow, his eyes widen then frown again. What he felt is pulse, clearly, like into heartbeat.

Other than the mountain is overflowing with spiritual energy, it turns out that this mountain is alive with pulse, but how?

The isolated old man didn't say anything about the mountain, and they only thought that the mountain is only abundant with spiritual energy, which is why it was used to seal the "Divine Beast".

"What's going on here? Is this really just a mountain with living beast?"

"Wei Ying." The Young Master that was called turns around with expectation, and just as he thought his favorite person has appeared behind him. Smile spread across Wei Wuxian's face,

"His plan worked." Lan Wangji nodded.

The person they are talking about is the House of Zhang's disciple Hua Xie.

Hua Xie's idea of how Lan Wangji will sneak in has proved to be effective that Lan Wangji able to effortlessly and flawlessly executed. This smart idea has been expected from the disciple of House of Zhang, it was known that the people in House of O Doukun are the smartest members of Zhuque Sect.

Wei Wuxian put a note on his head to report this great assistance, once he come home.

"A pulse." Lan Wangji icy cold voice takes Wei Wuxian's attention; Wei Wuxian nodded upon affirmation.

"Weird right. Seems like there's more in this mountain other than that myth."

From the darkest place of the cavern, not too far from where they are standing, something is slowly getting closer. Heavy steps, cold wind and... Yang Qi? Is this Yang Qi of "Divine Beast"? If it is, then this is some shitty thing. The Villagers belief that this thing is their savior—but... what kind of savior it is when its only be satisfied with clean meat?

Wei Wuxian lifted his fireball, to light up more space. From that darkest part of the cavern a beast emerged.

Standing at an impressive seven feet tall, boasted with white feathers all over that look more like orange because of the flame ball, a two feet size beak, while the feet are covered with its feathers. Staring at the two young masters quietly, by the wind coming from its behind its feathers are looks like trembling, letting them to see the size of the biggest feather which is same size as an adult man's hand.

This is the "Divine Beast" that the villagers were worshipping, and the one that taking the maidens' lives for all of this passed five hundred years.