At this moment, Jiang Che had no idea that Lin Yin was still in the village.
He was leisurely eating the meal the villagers had prepared for him.
He was already well aware of their true intention—it was nothing more than to offer him as a sacrifice.
Those in the know understood.
But he had no objections. After all, he sought a peaceful life and cared deeply for Hu Jingzhong and Hu Qiao’er, who treated him like family.
If he could have, he would have asked Feng Yaqin for help, but he simply couldn’t.
Over these past few days, Jiang Che realized he had started to feel reluctant to see Feng Yaqin leave, especially after that night when Feng Yaqin stood in front of him upon meeting Lin Yin.
So afterward, he deliberately kept his distance from Feng Yaqin…
The creak of the door opening caught Jiang Che’s attention. He sensed someone approaching. Judging by the footsteps, it was an elder.
“Xiao Che, is the food to your liking?”
The old Village Chief’s hoarse voice came through. Jiang Che hadn’t expected the Village Chief to personally come by at this hour, which surprised him a little.
“Village Chief, I didn’t expect you to still come in person at your age. But don’t bother explaining—I know what you want. With all this fuss, it’s clear you want me to be a sacrifice for the River God.”
Jiang Che was straightforward. He had a decent impression of the Village Chief, who had bought herbs from him before and didn’t judge him like others did.
Besides, Jiang Che had a good impression of the Village Chief’s granddaughter.
Earlier, the village children had ostracized Jiang Che like a beggar, even throwing stones at him. That little girl once stood up to shield him.
Although the children later teased her, causing a rift between them, Jiang Che still felt guilty deep down. After all, his presence had cast a shadow on her childhood.
Occasionally visiting the Village Chief’s home, Jiang Che would bring the girl a small flower.
Seeing Jiang Che guess his intention so directly, the Village Chief’s expression darkened.
“Ah, since you’re so open about it, then…”
“I agree. Let me prepare myself first.”
Just as the Village Chief was about to set conditions, Jiang Che surprised him by agreeing outright.
The Village Chief had initially planned to detain Hu Jingzhong to coerce Jiang Che, but now he saved himself the trouble.
“Village Chief, please step outside. I’ll come out once I’m ready.”
The Village Chief wanted to say more but was quickly shown the door.
Raising his hand halfway, he sighed quietly.
He thought Jiang Che would need some time to mentally prepare. After all, everyone was afraid when facing death.
So, he said no more and left.
Jiang Che tapped his index finger lightly on the table. Finding a small knife used to cut pig’s feet, he concealed it in his sleeve.
After a deep breath to calm his racing thoughts, he pushed open the door and stepped out.
The Village Chief was slightly surprised at how quickly Jiang Che was ready.
Time was tight, so he didn’t hesitate. He had a sedan chair prepared and had Jiang Che carried away.
Jiang Che originally thought he would be sent directly to be sacrificed to the River God, but he didn’t feel himself getting closer to the Li Shui Spring.
Instead, he felt himself taken into another room.
Inside, the chattering voices of several older women confused him.
One of the women said, “Xiao Che, we’re going to dress you up pretty. Hopefully, when you get there, you won’t blame us.”
Jiang Che was still puzzled. Actually, he didn’t even know the River God wanted a girl. He always thought it was just some simple monster wanting to eat people.
Since when did monsters get involved with vampires? Male vampires preferred female blood, and female vampires preferred male blood.
While he was still wondering if this monster had some strange fetish, the women had already started their work.
“Look at you, your clothes are so worn. Here, take this one over there. You need to change everything…”
“And this cloth over your eyes, change it too…”
As they spoke, the women stripped Jiang Che of his clothes. Helpless to reveal the knife hidden in his sleeve, Jiang Che discreetly flicked it out when they weren’t paying attention, planting it firmly into a beam above.
When the women removed the grey cloth over Jiang Che’s eyes, they were shocked.
Beneath the fair, delicate face was a thin scar running straight across where his eyes should be.
It looked like a sword had severed his eyes completely.
After a moment, Jiang Che was fully dressed in women’s clothing.
A bright red, embroidered short jacket wrapped around him, its neckline adorned with small red beads that gently swayed with his movements.
Below was a matching pleated skirt, giving him an elegant and dignified appearance.
A red sash embroidered with Chanzhi Lotus flowers tied around his waist, shaping a slender but soft silhouette.
One of the women pinched his chin, dipping her fingertip in cinnabar to dab his lips.
The originally pale lips instantly blossomed into a vivid cherry red, glistening with a moist sheen, like freshly bitten ripe cherries.
Even his hair was pinned up with silver rods threaded with pearls.
The eye covering was replaced by a red cloth band edged with fine lace.
He looked delicate and alluring.
Except for the missing Red Veil, he resembled a little bride perfectly.
Even the women quietly marveled at his natural beauty.
Jiang Che’s features were so perfect that no extra makeup was needed. The cherry red lips alone could outshine thousands.
They couldn’t help but lament how such a child could be a boy—and even more tragic, that he was to be offered to the River God.
Before they could say more, those who came to escort Jiang Che helped him onto the sedan chair and carried him toward the spring.
The sky darkened as villagers lit torches, illuminating the area.
Bathed in the fiery glow, Jiang Che, looking like a priestess, slowly walked toward the spring.
“Welcome the River God!”
“Dong, dong, dong!”
Three heavy strikes on the copper drum rang out by the spring.
The once calm water suddenly collapsed inward!
A massive whirlpool formed, its raging current roaring with deep anger.
The villagers stepped back in fear.
Without waiting for Jiang Che’s reaction, a dragon formed entirely from the swirling water burst through the center of the whirlpool with a splash!
It eagerly wrapped around Jiang Che, pulling him into the water.
Then, the water surface returned to calm.
……
“Cough, cough… cough cough cough…”
Jiang Che curled up on the ground, coughing violently, greedily gasping for air.
He could clearly feel the temperature here was much colder.
His soaked long hair clung messily to his pale cheeks and neck, carrying a broken kind of beauty.
He struggled to sit up, his fingers touching the cold, slimy rock beneath him.
Unexpectedly, there was such a place underwater.
The dark cave gradually became clearer.
Countless small river mussels lay around, their shells open, revealing softly glowing pearls inside.
But the largest large river mussel bed in the deepest part of the cave was still shrouded in shadow.
A bare leg, up to the calf, was exposed.
A powerful and majestic voice boomed:
“You are the sacrifice they intend to offer me, the River God? What is that thing over your eyes?”