Chapter 125: Song of the Twin Gods pt. 6

Little Luo Xu was accustomed to acting pitifully. Normally, if he felt even a single jolt of pain, he would show it tenfold on his face. But now, strangely enough, the more his heart ached, the more indifferent his expression became. He pulled up his robe and continued wiping Ming Zhuo’s blood, saying, “Really? Since when does a cannibalism curse look like this? These bloody chains—it’s hard to tell if you're eating people, or people are eating you.”

The chains of the Blood Shackle Curse were formed by magic, extending from within Ming Zhuo’s body, binding him to Hui Mang's half-form. So whenever he cast a spell, the chains would ring out with the sound of clanging metal.

The curse itself looked bizarre. Once triggered, Ming Zhuo's face and body would be covered in spell marks, it looked more like an evil sorcery than a spirit invocation. It was no wonder Little Luo Xu spoke about it the way he did.

“You spoke right,” Ming Zhuo's head was pulled down by him, and after a moment of silence, he suddenly laughed, his tone unchanged. “With these chains, when I eat people, they’re just livestock waiting to be slaughtered.”

“You’re not livestock; you’re the Lord of the Six Prefectures,” Little Luo Xu freed a hand to point at Hui Mang. “Nor is He. He’s the moon god worshipped by the people.”

Ming Zhuo laughed heartily. Little Luo Xu wiped his face so thoroughly that it was buried in his robe, his shoulders shaking with laughter. “It’s really strange. Though this world has no shortage of fools, it also never lacks smart people. So why is it that whatever the Ming Clan says, everyone just believes it?”

Little Luo Xu replied, “As a Lord, doesn’t it make you happy that people listen to the Ming Clan? If one day people stop listening, that would be the real disaster.”

He spoke honestly, feeling protected by Ming Zhuo. Any ruler should be pleased that people listen, because obedience prevents trouble.

“Those so-called smart people you mentioned are actually fools,” Little Luo Xu opened the robe and looked at Ming Zhuo. “Only fools don’t know how to go with the flow. You’ve been a ruler, so you know better than I do what happens to such people.”

Ming Zhuo’s expression turned cold. “I don’t know.”

Little Luo Xu guessed he was throwing a tantrum. He closed the robe again and rubbed him a few more times under the pretence of wiping blood. “The Hugui Clan never listens to the Ming Clan. Now they’re hiding, too scared to even show their heads.”

Ming Zhuo, for some reason, suddenly fell silent. After a while, he said, “If those who try the impossible are fools, then it’s better to have more fools in this world.”

“Ah?” Little Luo Xu feigned ignorance. “Stubborn fools are a headache. If they all become like the Hugui Clan, ignoring the ruler’s orders and refusing to worship the Jiao Mother, wouldn’t the world be in chaos? No one would obey anyone, and it would be another round of civil strife.”

Ming Zhuo had thought Little Luo Xu wouldn’t ask about Baiwei’s political affairs because the Imperial Heavenly Sea Guards were sworn to the Queen and loyal to the Ming Clan. But now he sensed a different meaning in his words.

“The Ming Clan is so domineering,” Ming Zhuo said, “You have the Silver Order of Heavenly Punishment and the Heavenly Sea Guards. Don’t you want to take over? The big one is tall and powerful. Even if he takes my place, no one would dare say anything.”

“If you can’t handle the position, what makes you think I can?” Little Luo Xu thought for a moment, then couldn’t resist lifting the robe to look at him. The young Imperial Lord's gaze was suspicious. “Am I really your dog? You’re so…”

He couldn’t find the right words and could only say, “You admire me so much. Clearly, the big one is not only upright but also capable and decisive—a very worthwhile friend to have.”

“Even a dog has standards. It has to be the very best,” Ming Zhuo didn’t think he was wrong to say so and raised his chin a little. “Who says I can’t handle the position? I just don’t want to sit.”

Little Luo Xu said, “If you don’t want to sit, neither do I.”

The two stared at each other, silent for a while, genuinely starting to dislike the idea. Ming Zhuo said, “I heard the old Imperial Lord loved to talk. Did he often tell you stories at home?”

Little Luo Xu folded the robe a few times. “Yes.”

The old Imperial Lord had taught him well. He was knowledgeable and skilful. Now, he bantered and jested with all his emotions on his face. Who knew how he later became a master of silent manipulation?

After this exchange, the two seemed more familiar with each other. Little Luo Xu glanced at Hui Mang, who hadn’t moved for a while, and asked, “Why isn’t He moving?”

Ming Zhuo raised his hand and tugged on the chain, as if unaware of any pain. “He just ate something and needs to digest it, or he’ll go mad.”

Hui Mang gripped the chains around his neck, hovering in the air, his back arching in a way that suggested he was trying to return to his original form.

Little Luo Xu said, “This Blood Shakle Curse is too strange. Who cast it on you?”

Ming Zhuo replied, “A dead man.”

“Then I’m really curious,” Little Luo Xu said honestly. “Why can Hui Mang command thunder?”

Ming Zhuo laughed again. “You’re curious, ng? Luo Xu is curious…”

After using the Blood Shackle Curse, he was even more arrogant than before. If Luo Xu were here, he would surely cross his arms, lean close to the Lord, and press him on what he was curious about.

“You’re also a Tongshen. You should understand that all spiritual power in this world is borrowed. And since it’s borrowed, there will always be a day it must be repaid.” Ming Zhuo’s smile was cold. “Mortals who borrow money still have to pay interest, so why wouldn’t the same apply to gods?”

The wind blew fiercely. Little Luo Xu’s silver beast tail hung on his arm, swaying with the breeze. He said, “The price for borrowing spiritual power is incense and land…”

The stronger the god, the more abundant their spiritual power. Thus, the lands they protected were fertile, and they had many followers. This had always been the rule among Tongshen. Mortal faith and incense were the price for borrowing spiritual power, which is why each region had its own god, and regardless of the size of a supernatural event, mortals always respected their local deity.

But Ming Zhuo said, “A few candles can repay the divine power to summon wind and rain? If the business is that good, why be a god? Wouldn’t it be better to be a human? As long as you believe sincerely and offer a lot, you can make unlimited demands on the gods.”

He tugged on the chain, and Hui Mang silently turned his head, “looking” at him. Ming Zhuo's raised jawline was exquisite, the only feature resembling Hui Mang.

“There are only two ways to avoid paying the price for borrowed spiritual power. One is to make someone else pay, and the other is to replace the god,” Ming Zhuo said. “Hui Mang is actually the weakest among the gods. The only reason he survived is by replacing others. Survival of the fittest is the law of all beings. Before being called ‘gods’ by mortals, they were all just beasts.

“Hui Mang can command thunder because he ate another beast that could command thunder. Your father liked to tell you stories. Did he ever tell you that the most treacherous curses are those of command? The Blood Shakle Curse is a command curse. Soul-binding is a command curse. The Ming Clan excels at command curses, which is why ‘Hui Mang’ is also a command curse.

“Sun, moon, wind, rain, thunder, lightning, water. I told you, once these chains are set, we’re all livestock waiting to be slaughtered.”

Ming Zhuo raised his hand and pressed Little Luo Xu’s crown, his gaze drifting beyond him, as if speaking to the big one on the other side. “We’re all just a bunch of monsters devouring each other. So-called offerings, worship, it's all just people eating gods.”

The Author Has Something to Say

Please Eat!

Tang Shifu’s updates and red envelopes—at least one of these must occur. As long as the daily updates aren’t interrupted, if I post a leave note, I’ll send our red envelopes to everyone. One is to encourage myself, and the second is to show everyone appreciation for patiently waiting. Though the red envelopes are a small way to show my gratitude and apologies, they can’t truly match the emotions of everyone waiting for more. So please give Tang Jiucai a hard whipping! Stable updates are what really matters.

In the past, updates came with many little red flowers; now it’s been two months without seeing a flower. T97, quickly stand up!