My Lady Always Lacks Ambition-Chapter 975 - 948: Just Crawled Up from Below

After communicating with God, Qin Liuxi looked again at the statue before her. The frustration that had been weighing down her heart dissipated, replaced by a kind of joy emanating from within, making her face glow as if illuminated by light, so bright it was hard to look away.

Even the women who were already worshipping were watching her with astonishment; in that brief moment, this person seemed to have transformed drastically.

Perhaps noticing their gaze, Qin Liuxi turned her head and asked, "Auntie, what are you asking the City God for?"

The woman hesitated for a moment, then said, "Praying for favorable weather and safety in coming and going. Times nowadays aren’t as good as they used to be."

Qin Liuxi’s eyes narrowed slightly and said, "That’s all? The City God here is very effective."

If not, she would help him appear effective.

The woman was stupefied once more, thought for a moment, then shook her head, "There’s nothing else, household safety is more important than anything."

"You will get your wish, the City God said someone in your family will bring joy, perhaps a new addition." Qin Liuxi said with a smile.

The woman was shocked.

"If it really happens, Auntie, remember to come back and repay the God," Qin Liuxi laughed and said, "The City God likes chicken, and some strong wine and incense candles would be even better."

Woman: "..."

Why does it feel like you are endorsing the City God?

She left the City God Temple with doubts; an hour later, she returned home, picked up the ladle ready to scoop water, and her son came back with his wife, all smiles.

"Mom, Xiao Hua has good news, you’re going to be a grandma!"

Clang, the ladle fell to the ground, the woman stared in astonishment at her daughter-in-law who was smiling and touching her belly, and after a long pause slapped her thigh, "Oh my, the City God has revealed his power!"

Qin Liuxi walked around the City God Temple at this time, noticing that there was not even a temple priest anymore. What happened to Priest Song?

"Who are you? How did you get back here?"

Qin Liuxi turned to see a petty official wearing a government guard uniform, looking at her with suspicion. Upon seeing her face, he paused and said, "Are you the master from Qingping Temple?"

"You recognize me?"

The petty official rubbed his hands, saying, "I was there when the City God Temple invited the God again, and naturally saw the master’s divine skills. But why have you come?"

Qin Liuxi asked, "Why is the incense at the City God Temple so bleak? And where is the temple priest?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The petty official sighed and said, "Master, don’t you know there have been a lot of miscellaneous taxes over the years? The people can’t live like they used to, barely have enough to eat, so where would they find the spirit and silver to worship the Gods? Haven’t you noticed there’s no offerings on the altar? One, there are fewer people coming to worship. Two, when offerings are made, after the worship some people would take them back home to eat, and even if they don’t, the beggars waiting outside would come in and take them."

Qin Liuxi frowned; no wonder the City God was in such a state in the void.

"Just three years and the City God Temple has declined so much?"

The petty official smiled bitterly, "South County is poor to begin with. Things got better for two years after inviting the God, but in the past year, it’s been dire again. It’s as if Heaven can’t bear to see South County thrive."

Qin Liuxi felt indifferent; if that was the case, it was a sign of governmental corruption.

"Actually, our South County is not the worst off; it’s just worse than two years ago. Some truly poor villages can’t survive, even selling sons and daughters has become common," the petty official said. "As for the temple priest you asked about, he died from a serious illness in April. The County Magistrate is busy with affairs and hasn’t found a suitable replacement, and with fewer worshippers, they can only send us petty officials to patrol occasionally to prevent beggars and refugees from causing trouble at the City God Temple."

Hearing this, Qin Liuxi felt a few degrees gloomier, her mood dimming.

Looks like being away from the mortal world for three years, Da Feng has changed, not for the better, for the worse.

Si Luo, is this another one of your deeds?

A sharp glint flashed in Qin Liuxi’s eyes.

The petty official suddenly felt cold, took two steps back, and glanced at Qin Liuxi with some wariness, feeling she was somewhat dangerous.

"Is Nian Youwei still the County Magistrate in South County?"

"He is."

"Take me to see him." Qin Liuxi touched her waist, hesitated again, just recently climbing up from below, she didn’t even have a few copper coins.

Forget it, first see Nian Youwei to understand what has happened over these years.

County government.

Nian Youwei rubbed his aching, swollen forehead with a fatigued face. Earlier he had just discussed affairs with the County Governor and others; this year’s harvest wasn’t bad, but after paying taxes, the remaining grain might not last until the new grain next year, which is one problem. Additionally, there have been instances of people escaping their duties, which was quite a headache.

When told that Qin Liuxi had arrived at the county government, he paused and asked the passing government guard, "Who did you say came?"

"It’s the Qingping Temple’s Junior Temple Master... ah, guess now it’s the temple master, Daoist name Buqiu."

Oh dear, isn’t that Qin Liuxi?

Nian Youwei was so excited he nearly jumped up, no longer drinking tea, hurried to see her. Entering the guest flower hall, he indeed saw Qin Liuxi with her back to him, looking at a piece of calligraphy hanging in the central hall; his eyes turned red.

He naturally knew of Master Chi Yuan’s passing, knew that after Qin Liuxi buried her master, she was designated Junior Temple Master of Qingping Temple, then vanished.

This disappearance turned into a complete lack of news; many had been searching for her, but none could find her. Now she reappeared.

"Temple Master." Nian Youwei’s voice was choked.

Qin Liuxi turned around, seeing him, her eyebrows furrowed slightly and said, "Not seen for three years, Lord Nian has aged much?"

Nian Youwei was not yet thirty, a scholar who eventually became County Magistrate, once full of youthful vigor, just like his name, young and promising.

But now, he had grown a beard, wrinkles appeared on his forehead, and there were traces of white hair at his temples under his official hat, aging ten years in just three years, seems impossible!

Nian Youwei’s excited mood was suddenly dampened by this heart-piercing remark, somewhat depressed.

However, over the past year, he indeed worried greatly, exerting all efforts for his achievements, how could he not age prematurely?

He touched his cheeks, smiled wryly, and said, "It’s from worrying." Then asked her, "Where have you been? I heard that after Master Chi Yuan passed, you vanished."

When saying this, he was somewhat cautious, afraid of touching on Qin Liuxi’s sadness.

Qin Liuxi: "Hmm, I went to live in the Underworld for a few years, just climbed up from below!"

Nian Youwei: "???"

He completely didn’t understand what she meant, Underworld, is that the one he’s thinking of, also, climbed up?

So is she human or ghost?

"Don’t think wildly, I’m human." Qin Liuxi saw through his doubts and said, "Tell me, what has happened these years, has South County returned to its difficult times?"