Rabbit Must Die
Chapter 366 - 361: It Seems to Have Gone Off Track_1

Chapter 366: Chapter 361: It Seems to Have Gone Off Track_1

"Fire the cannons nine times, play the music!"

Boom, boom, boom...

Nine cannon blasts resounded, shaking heaven and earth!

At the same time, desolate sounds of horns began to rise, filling the space between heaven and earth with an air of solemnity and slaughter, as if time had suddenly reverted to an era of war, with the sky full of sand, life-taking roars, visible swords, and blood stained across the landscape...

"Beat the drums nine times!"

The sounds of battle grew louder, the color of the sky changed, dark clouds tumbled, thunder suddenly flashed, and within the clouds, it seemed as though countless human armies were fighting an indistinct shape of creatures, the battle was exceedingly fierce! No matter how many died, even more would recklessly charge to their deaths...

The billowing clouds rolled as if a great army was advancing.

"Strike the Mingjin Drum nine times!"

Dang!

As the sound of the Mingjin Drum rang out, the sounds of the battle drums and horns came to an abrupt halt, the clouds in the sky stopped rolling, and dissipated as if the armies were retreating or celebrating, and finally, sunshine illuminated the land, bringing a wave of relief to everyone’s hearts.

"Present the tribute, the sacrifice of three animals!"

A procession approached, dragging three huge trays, upon which lay the heads of three pigs, bulls, and sheep!

Curiously, Yishui asked, "Why not use a dragon’s head?"

Upon these words, a few descendants of the Dragon Clan within the crowd immediately turned back, glaring angrily at the little girl.

But the little girl was not afraid, she looked up, made a throat-cutting gesture toward the dragons, and muttered, "I can say whatever I like!"

Seeing this, the Dragon Clan youths felt a mix of amusement and frustration, shaking their heads and deciding not to stoop to the little girl’s level.

Qin Shou, on the other hand, silently wiped away a cold sweat, realizing that these Dragon Clan descendants were definitely not of the same ilk as the Dragon King of the East Sea, but likely not from Dragon Mountain either, which meant they had to be True Dragons who had submitted to the Heavenly Court. These dragons might not be well-known, but their strength was certainly not inferior to that of the Four Seas Dragon King.

Provoking these individuals could indeed pose a danger to the little girl.

Fortunately, everyone was employed by the Heavenly Court, and immortals there had one particular trait, a lack of temper.

At that moment, Dog Xiaotian said, "The sacrifice of three animals is a grand human ceremonial offering. Using something else just wouldn’t carry the same human essence. After all, it’s for honoring the moral progenitors of humanity; naturally, the offering must include these three animals."

Hearing this, Qin Shou also nodded... He had learned something new.

"Now present the five grains!"

Five beautiful women dressed in clean white garments came forward, pulling five trays, each laden with rice, millet, panic seeds, wheat, and beans.

The five grains were placed below the three animal sacrifices, and then the five women retreated.

Yishui, once again barely containing her curiosity, stirred. Dog Xiaotian, wary of another odd question from the girl, explained, "In that era, those were the staple foods. Mankind survived and thrived thanks to these, so after offering the three animals, it’s time to present the five grains."

The little girl rolled her eyes at him, saying, "I wasn’t going to ask about that."

Dog Xiaotian: "..."

"Offer the white silk three times!"

Three young people came forward, each carrying a stack of white silk as their offering.

Dog Xiaotian opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, chose to remain silent.

Yet Yishui asked, "Some things should not be said, yet they are spoken incessantly..."

Dog Xiaotian’s face turned dark...

Yishan cleared his throat and said, "In those days, there was constant warfare, and humans had no time to think about clothing and adornment. All the silk produced was white, as there was no time to dye it before it was made into clothes and handed to the warriors, who would then set off to battle right away... There was a saying back then, ’White silk armors worn, red garments return to home. If the soul doesn’t return, the blood-stained silk becomes the burial clothes.’

In that era, blood-dyed white garments were the badge of courage. If one died abroad, the blood-stained silk became the best funeral attire..."

Upon hearing this, Yishui respectfully bowed to the deity effigy in front.

Qin Shou thought of the tumbling scenes in the sky, and then of the young men leaving in white, their garments stained with blood, their souls returning home while their families gazed with longing but no reunion. His heart soured a little, and he couldn’t help but mutter, "What peaceful times? They only exist because others bear the burdens and forge ahead..."

Hearing these words, many around turned to look.

Qin Shou had no interest in arguing with them and sighed softly, silencing himself.

The people nodded slightly and turned their attention back.

Yishui gave a thumbs up to Dog Xiaotian and said, "See? That is what it means to be cultured, unlike you, who just blabbers incessantly."

Dog Xiaotian, an innocent casualty, wore an innocent expression, but ultimately said nothing.

"Wash hands!"

Women carried a bronze basin above, in which Taibai Star Monarch meticulously washed his hands clean.

"Offer incense!"

Taibai Star Monarch took three sticks of incense, bowed respectfully to the statue of Emperor Shun, then stepped into the hall to place the incense and respectfully exited after.

"Play the ’Autumn Moon over the Han Palace’ music!"

The sound of strings and bells started in unison, with music dignified and refined, soothing the hearts of all from their earlier oppression.

"Graciously read the sacrificial text!"

Taibai Star Monarch picked up the golden silk manuscript, began to recite the sacrificial text:

Under the virtuous governance, Yu was renowned. Establishing humaneness, the years stretched long and far.

Natural virtue and intellect, brotherly, kind, and filial. Heard among the sages, received the mandate from Tang Yao.

The officials began their duties, with the five classics guiding the way. Summoned Yu as minister, to carve out Dragon Gate...

...

One must say, though Taibai Star Monarch is usually mild-tempered, like a friendly old neighbor, when he assumed an air of solemnity, the sacrificial text he read out loud was incredibly grand. With a voice so solemn and majestic, it commanded such respect that one dared not act frivolously.

After the sacrificial text was read, came the final step: burning the silk scriptures.

At this point, Yishan or Dog Xiaotian did not need to explain, as Yishui began to explain on her own: "I get it, what was just read out loud for us to hear is now being ’shown off’ to Emperor Shun right?"

Qin Shou and Dog Xiaotian simultaneously gave her a thumbs up, then quickly distanced themselves from her... such a "show off", too flirtatious!

Yishui realized the problem and stubbornly corrected: "The ’shown off’ I meant wasn’t flirty!"

Qin Shou and Dog Xiaotian stood even further away.

In desperation, Yishui cried, "I meant ’shown off’ as in ’explain’!"

The surrounding people collectively took a step back...

Seeing this, Yishui was about to cry.

The crowd finally held back their smiles and stopped teasing the little girl...

As the silk scriptures were ignited, the heavenly sacrifice came to an end.

Watching the crowd starting to disperse, Qin Shou couldn’t help but exclaim, "The Jade Emperor sure knows how to command his troops. Look at the people below, they’re all hustle and bustle, getting things done without dragging their feet. So many leaders are here, and not one of them went up to make a speech..."

At this thought, Qin Shou couldn’t help but recall his school days when, no matter the size of the meeting, the leaders always had to say a few words.

And once they started talking, it would usually consume an hour or two.

Eventually, Qin Shou would leave early whenever he heard a leader say, "Just a few words."...

Thus, he was also one of the individuals least favored by the leaders. Of course, being disliked once was enough because the next day Qin Shou was kicked out.

Shaking his head, he pulled himself out of the memories.

"Where are you two planning to go next?" Qin Shou asked.

Yishui looked up and said, "I want to go see the Soogong Stone."

Yishan said, "The Shungong Stone."

Qin Shou said, "Doesn’t that require Blood Bamboo... I mean, Lady Xiang Bamboo to be seen?"

Yishan said, "There are only a few mountains here, if we keep wandering, we’ll stumble upon it eventually."

Although Qin Shou was also interested in the Shungong Stone, he had been out for several days and it wouldn’t be good to dawdle any longer, so he said his farewells to the two.

Watching the two figures, one tall and one short, re-enter Lingling Ancient City, Qin Shou silently wished them well and returned to the Heavenly Court with Dog Xiaotian.

On the way back, Yang Jian did not leave on his own but instead joined Qin Shou in his carriage.

Sitting face to face with Yang Jian for the first time, Qin Shou was all kinds of excited, occasionally touching Yang Jian and chanting excitedly in his heart: "Steal Heaven, steal Earth, your underwear..."

"The Jade Emperor has entered seclusion."

After sitting silently for two hours, Yang Jian suddenly spoke.

Qin Shou was startled and said, "He’s secluded himself, so what?"

Yang Jian said, "He has been cultivating for so many years, and this is his first time going into seclusion."

Qin Shou was taken aback, the first time? So he’d never secluded himself before? Then there was definitely a problem...

Yang Jian continued, "Before he went into seclusion, there was a loud noise in the Lingxiao Hall."

Qin Shou scratched his head and whined, "Immortal Master, can you be a bit more coherent? Don’t jump around like popping beans, okay? I’m having a hard time keeping up with you."

Yang Jian closed his eyes and said nothing more.

Dog Xiaotian on the side said, "Idiot! There’s definitely a problem with the Jade Emperor’s seclusion this time. What the Second Master means to say is that there is trouble in the Heavenly Court. What is the Heavenly Court? It’s the rightful order of Heaven and Earth! It can be said that, whether it’s the Earthly Immortal Realm or the Immortal Realm, their peace is all due to the strong suppression by the Jade Emperor and the gods of the Heavenly Court. Otherwise, after the great war of Divine Enthronement, with the new establishment of the Heavenly Court, chaos reigned... only under strict measures in times of chaos could today’s era of peace ensue.

That being said, there’s a flip side to everything. After enjoying peace for so many years, our Second Master has been worried. Now that the Jade Emperor has suddenly sequestered himself, with the Heavenly Court left leaderless, trouble is likely brewing."

Qin Shou said, "Can’t they just do their respective duties and that’ll be the end of it?"

Yang Jian stated flatly, "During the last war, most of the Interpretation Religion joined Buddhism, with a small portion joining the Heavenly Court and another small portion scattered around the world. The Jie Cult is all in the Heavenly Court, but they are True Spirits locked onto the Investiture of the Gods, under the Jade Emperor’s control of everyone’s life and death in a single thought. Therefore, no one dares to cause trouble.

But now, with the Jade Emperor in seclusion, nobody’s in charge of the Investiture of the Gods."

Qin Shou’s heart sank... He cursed inwardly, "Damn you, old Jade Emperor, why seclude yourself for no good reason? Don’t you worry that once you come out, there might be no throne left for you? Hey? Wait a minute! The Monkey has already been born, the storyline shouldn’t be like this!"

Qin Shou thought of the plot in "Journey to the West," yet apart from the Monkey being born from a Stone and becoming a disciple at the Bodhi Patriarch’s Three Stars Cave, there were no other similarities. Could it be that this world had truly gone astray?

However, Qin Shou wasn’t the type to worry needlessly. In his words, if the sky falls, there will be a tall one to bear it – what’s it to a Rabbit like him?

So, Qin Shou sat there carefree, eating and drinking, not frowning in the slightest.

Seeing this, Dog Xiaotian couldn’t stand it any longer and scolded, "Rabbit, stop eating! Can’t you be a little more concerned?"