Translator: CinderTL
The Temple Fair atmosphere was thick with festive energy. The distant crackle of firecrackers and the occasional burst of fireworks in the sky heightened the immersive experience.
The faces of passersby glowed with joy.
Turning to his left, Feng Qi noticed Mu Qing's gaze lingering on the snack stalls lining the street.
"Senior Sister, if you want something, just get it. Today's all about having fun," he said.
With that, Feng Qi stepped up to a stall and addressed the vendor:
"Boss, three skewers of candied hawthorns, please."
"Right away!" The vendor smiled and nodded, deftly retrieving three skewers from a wooden post and handing them to Feng Qi.
After scanning the QR code to pay, Feng Qi turned and offered the candied hawthorns to Mu Qing and Lin Ran.
Seeing the candied hawthorns, a nostalgic glint appeared in Mu Qing's eyes.
"Haven't had these in a while?" Feng Qi asked curiously.
"Yeah, the last time I ate one was when I was really little. I've almost forgotten the taste, but my memories tell me they were incredibly delicious. I used to wish I could eat them every day."
Mu Qing took a small bite.
The sweet, sticky flavor spread across her palate, and she instinctively closed her eyes, a blissful smile blooming on her face.
Hearing this, Lin Ran immediately took a large bite, then frowned.
"This stuff isn't even that good?"
"It's about the memories, the taste doesn't really matter," Feng Qi explained with a smile, taking a bite of the candied hawthorn himself.
They continued strolling forward.
The snacks in their hands gradually increased until they could barely hold them all.
Reaching a less crowded stretch of road, they stopped and sat on a stone bench by the roadside, beginning to eat the snacks they had bought along the way.
As Feng Qi's gaze swept over the smiling passersby, Mu Qing, sitting beside him, murmured, "It's hard to bear the thought of disrupting Star City's current peaceful days."
Hearing this, Feng Qi fell silent.
Once they officially launched the war against Future City, the stability of Star City's residents would inevitably be shattered.
Mu Qing continued, "When I was very young, I envied the lives of city dwellers, knowing they had everything. But I was born a scavenger. The cities had already been devastated by the Domain Force, and I wandered with my parents from a young age, relying on aid from various cities to survive."
"Actually, compared to the previous generation, I've had a relatively fortunate life. My grandfather was among the first scavengers after the Domain Force destroyed the cities. I remember him telling me about the horrors of that time."
"Domain creatures brutally slaughtered city residents, and only a handful managed to escape. My grandfather's family was among those who fled. Back then, all the cities were in dire straits and couldn't spare resources to help us."
"My grandfather once told me that during their days wandering in search of resources, my great-grandfather fell gravely ill, his consciousness clouded by pain. Lying in their tent, he wept and begged my grandfather, 'If you can't afford to feed your father anymore, just slip some medicine into his food. He'll eat it.'"
"That's why we scavengers learn from childhood that stability is hard-won. We also understand that sometimes, we must sacrifice certain things to achieve true peace."
Feng Qi and Lin Ran listened in silence.
The scavengers' hatred for the Domain Force was innate, but Mu Qing's words revealed a unique sorrow specific to their people, deepening their understanding of the scavengers' hatred for domain creatures.
This hatred was endless, etched into the very bones of the scavengers' spirit.
Sharing in their pain, Feng Qi and Lin Ran gazed at the smiles on the faces of passersby, feeling the beauty of tranquility amidst the chaos.
"Let's keep exploring," Feng Qi said.
"Okay," Mu Qing nodded immediately, devouring the remaining snacks before tossing the skewers and wrappers into the trash can beside the stone bench.
The trio continued their stroll eastward.
As they wandered, they arrived at the Martial God Temple.
"Brother Qi, let's go inside and pray. May the Martial God protect us on our journey ahead."
"Alright," Feng Qi agreed with a nod, not refusing.
The Martial God Temple, dedicated to the Martial Saint Emperor, was one of the most bustling areas of the Temple Fair.
As they entered, the crowd surged, filled with residents carrying incense sticks and coming to pay their respects.
The temple's popularity was deeply rooted in the era's grim reality.
The brutal conditions on the front lines were common knowledge, with annual casualty rates remaining stubbornly high.
Many of the soldiers fighting at the front were the sons, fathers, mothers, elders, and other relatives of the city's residents.
The worshippers who flocked to the Martial God Temple hoped the Martial Saint Emperor would safeguard their loved ones on the front lines, bring news of victories, and hasten the day when total victory would reunite them with their families.
In this context, the Martial God Temple served as a spiritual anchor for the city's residents, a place where they could entrust their hopes for their loved ones on the front lines. Naturally, it became one of the most popular areas of the Temple Fair.
Following the crowd deeper into the temple, they passed rows of vendors hawking incense sticks, their voices rising and falling in a cacophony.
Finally, they navigated through the densest part of the crowd and arrived before the divine statue of the Martial Saint Emperor.
The act of worship was simple.
Feng Qi and his companions faced the divine statue of the Martial Saint Emperor, bowed deeply, and offered their sincere prayers.
Just as they were about to leave, Lin Ran noticed a fortune-telling stick cylinder nearby, and his playful spirit ignited.
"Brother Qi, let's draw a fortune stick before we go!"
Feng Qi turned to look at the cylinder and nodded with a smile. "Alright, let's draw one and see what our momentum looks like for this battle line."
Approaching the cylinder, Lin Ran took the lead, grabbing the arm-thick cylinder and shaking it vigorously while muttering dramatically under his breath.
Finally, a bamboo stick fell from the cylinder.
Lin Ran immediately set down the cylinder and picked up the fallen stick.
Carved in clerical script was a line of text:
Ji Jia Superior Fortune: Diligent effort in all endeavors, cultivate with diligence, and reap the rewards.
Seeing these words, Lin Ran's face lit up with a broad smile as he tossed the stick back into the cylinder.
Mu Qing's beautiful eyes shimmered as she stepped forward and picked up the cylinder.
"My turn to try."
Mimicking Lin Ran's actions, Mu Qing began shaking the cylinder.
Moments later, a bamboo stick dropped from the cylinder.
Like Lin Ran, Mu Qing drew the exact same fortune: Superior Fortune.
Seeing this, Feng Qi chuckled inwardly.
He now strongly suspected that the fortune sticks in the cylinder were all nearly identical, designed to ensure that tourists seeking their fortunes would leave happy.
"Brother Qi, it's your turn."
Feng Qi had never believed in such things, but he didn't refuse.
He stepped forward, picked up the cylinder, and shook it a few times, mimicking the others. A fortune stick fell out.
He picked it up and saw a line of characters carved into the bamboo: "Great Misfortune."
After a brief silence, Feng Qi tossed the "Great Misfortune" stick back into the cylinder. He stirred the sticks a few times, found the "Great Fortune" stick, and pulled it out, clutching it in his hand.
Mu Qing: ...
Lin Ran: ...
"My fate is in my own hands! This battle line's fortune is excellent—Great Fortune!"
Seeing Feng Qi's beaming smile, Lin Ran immediately gave him a thumbs-up.
"That's my Brother Qi! 'My fate is mine to decide, not heaven's to decree!' Awesome!
(End of the Chapter)
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