He would forever remember that cold night, as Gu Qingcheng described their future life in the south, the moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating her pure white, boundless little face. She looked like a holy lotus, making him feel that this fairy sister was truly noble, someone one would want to worship.
Of course, if Gu Qingcheng knew his thoughts, she would surely retort, "Bah, I'm not a white lotus."
As night fell, the temperature dropped. Seeing Mi Guo shivering in thin clothes, he burrowed deeper into the straw pile, seeking a bit of warmth.
Gu Qingcheng’s heart ached. She took out a cotton jacket she hadn't worn from the store and put it on him.
This jacket was bought from the Jinsha City tailor shop. It was a durable, low-key gray, and would look fine on a young boy, though it was a bit large.
Mi Guo was no longer surprised. Gu Qingcheng always had good things on her.
The cotton jacket brought him warmth, and he was sleepy. Listening to Gu Qingcheng’s stories, he unknowingly leaned against the pile of firewood and fell asleep.
Gu Qingcheng also grew tired of talking, but after such an emotional release, she felt comfortable and, with a carefree mind, also fell asleep.
After all, she had experienced transmigration. Being kidnapped today felt like just a minor episode in her journey.
Gu Qingcheng held a strange conviction that her parents’ trump cards hadn’t been played yet, and they surely had hidden moves to save her.
No matter how much a person grows, as long as their parents are there, they will always have a sense of reliance and retreat. She believed her parents were wise and mighty, and they would surely come to her rescue.
In a child’s heart, no matter how useless their parents might seem, as long as they protect them, they are their gods! They grant all wishes and expect nothing in return!
She slept until dawn, and Gu Qingcheng was awakened by a rude door slam.
So was Mi Guo.
They blinked open their eyes in confusion and exchanged glances.
Gu Qingcheng then got a clear look at Mi Guo’s face.
Wow, Mi Guo was truly handsome. Though small and thin, he had long eyelashes and his hair was yellowish from malnutrition. His features were perfectly proportioned, like a young man from an ancient legend. No wonder he was chosen as a boy sacrifice.
However, she, the girl sacrifice, was a year older and a head taller. The thought of them together was rather incongruous.
At that moment, the burly slave who had violently opened the door entered. He stepped forward, grabbed them by their collars, and lifted them up.
Gu Qingcheng struggled and asked indignantly, "What are you doing?"
"Today is a good day for you to ascend to heaven. You should be dressed up properly! Also, be happy? Old Master Gu is going to treat you to a magnificent meal!"
The burly slave laughed heartily, showing no unease or guilt about the impending violent end of two young lives.
Mi Guo’s heart chilled upon hearing this, his little face turning ashen. But seeing Gu Qingcheng’s calm expression, a warmth suddenly welled up in his heart.
Everything from last night felt like a dream. He had tasted many good things for the first time, and he knew that Old Master Gu was a scoundrel, not some divine being to be looked up to.
Even though he was about to die, at least Fairy Sister was with him.
He stopped struggling.
The two were dragged by the burly slave towards an unknown destination.
Along the way, they passed through several moon gates, passing by pavilions and terraces. It was clear that Old Master Gu’s estate was vast and his extravagance knew no bounds.
The common people outside were enduring hardship, selling their children, yet this Old Master Gu was bored enough to devise such a cruel trick of sacrificing boy and girl virgins.
Although there was no proof, Gu Qingcheng felt that Old Master Gu was certainly not doing this for the sake of the common people.
But it didn't make sense. Shouldn't her parents have come to rescue her by now?
Gu Qingcheng mused, it would be a pity if she suddenly died. She hadn't yet shared her storage cabinet with her parents.
If she died, she wouldn't be able to quickly transfer survival supplies to them.
Her parents were still young and strong. They would have opportunities to have more children. Perhaps without her, they would prioritize this matter.
Gu Qingcheng thought with a carefree heart.
It was just a shame that the supplies couldn't be transferred to them. But they had already received the premonition of the disaster and knew to head south even without her.
Thinking of this, Gu Qingcheng felt somewhat comforted.
The burly slave dragged them to a side hall where a table was set with steaming rice, braised pork, fried fish, and a fragrant bowl of pork rib soup.
Ah, so this was their last meal.
Gu Qingcheng calmly walked to the table, sat down, took a sip of soup, and began to eat.
Seeing Mi Guo still standing there blankly, Gu Qingcheng, with her mouth full of rice and meat, said indistinctly to Mi Guo:
"Brother, why aren't you eating? It'll get cold if you don't eat soon."
The weather was very cold, and Mi Guo was shivering.
It had arrived. This day had truly come.
He was going to eat his last meal!
Although he longed for this sumptuous meal, seeing it now, he had little appetite.
However, Gu Qingcheng’s puffed-up cheeks as she ate amused him. Fairy Sister looked like a little squirrel!
At this moment, hearing Gu Qingcheng call him, he suddenly hardened his heart. Fine, if Fairy Sister could face it so casually, why should he whine and cry, not like a man?
So, Mi Guo walked to the dining table, picked up the bowl of rice in front of him, and put a piece of braised pork into his mouth. It was soft, tender, sweet, and melted in his mouth. This was braised pork, and it was delicious!
"How is it? Pretty good, right? I told you it was delicious?"
Gu Qingcheng’s carefree demeanor made the maids around them exchange glances. They also secretly wondered if this girl’s brain was faulty. She was about to die, yet she was so calm and composed.
If it were an ordinary child, knowing this was their last meal, they wouldn't be able to swallow it. No way? Could it be that this girl was really a fairy descended to earth?
At this thought, the maids' expressions became solemn.
Old Master Gu liked to dabble in superstitious things, and his incense burning and rituals had made the maids and servants in the house somewhat superstitious.
At night, sometimes they would go out with lanterns, and if they saw shadows moving, they would think it was something unclean.
But upon closer inspection, wasn't it just the shadow of a banana leaf cast by the lantern?
In any case, because Old Master Gu firmly believed in these things, the servants here were somewhat neurotic.
Seeing Gu Qingcheng’s calm demeanor, they were actually stunned and felt an urge to kneel before her.
But it seemed there was no reason to kneel now?
It was just… strange!
They stood still, but desperately suppressed the urge to kneel!
After finishing a bowl of rice, Gu Qingcheng contentedly drank another large bowl of soup. Then, she wiped her mouth and said, "It smells so good!"
Mi Guo hadn't finished eating yet. Though young, he had a good appetite. Seeing that half a basin of braised pork was left in the bowl, he pushed it towards Gu Qingcheng and said:
"Fairy Sister, you should eat it?"