Chapter 8 – Me and My God

The voice faded away, and the room returned to tranquility, but the person sitting at the desk remained motionless.

It was springtime on the planet Stan, and the priests in charge of the greenery had already filled the palace with lush plants. A breeze blew in through the window, causing the seashell wind chime by the window to tinkle, creating a crisp and pleasant sound. However, in Lu Xingwang’s ears, the soft-spoken words continued to echo, and the ambiguous voice seemed more pleasant than the gentle breeze. It dispersed many worries that had lingered in his heart, and he unconsciously relaxed his expression.

“Your Highness,” a servant’s voice came from the door.

Lu Xingwang snapped back to reality, closed the information panel, and looked at the maid, A Ruo, saying, “Come in.”

The maid had been waiting at the entrance of the hall and bowed before speaking, “Today is the monthly day of worship. The main temple has just sent someone to invite you, Your Highness. Are you going?”

Stan was a nation blessed by divine beings, and everyone was a believer in the gods. The day of worship was a special occasion that occurred once a month. Ordinary people could only worship the idols at home, while the noble families with divine powers could go to the church to pray and make offerings. The royal lineage of Stan could enter the temple and devoutly pray and offer sacrifices, seeking the gods’ blessings for the people.

Lu Xingwang replied, “Yes.”

A Ruo’s face revealed concern, “Your Highness, your body hasn’t fully recovered yet, and the temple is far away. It wouldn’t be good if something unexpected happened. If His Majesty were to find out… ”

She couldn’t bring herself to finish her sentence.

Of course, even if she didn’t say it, Lu Xingwang could guess. Wasn’t she worried that if his father saw how much of a failure his once proud son had become, he would give up on him even more?

Lu Xingwang spoke lightly, “If I don’t go, will my father not find out?”

A Ruo hesitated, “Well…”

“Wait until my body is fully recovered?” Lu Xingwang sat at the desk, his handsome face like jade on one side, while the other side displayed a terrifying red scar. He smirked, “Use the remaining three years of my life to recover?”

A Ruo’s heart sank, feeling some pain. “Your Highness, please don’t say such things.”

There was no emotion on Lu Xingwang’s face, his voice calm, “It’s just a fact.”

A Ruo didn’t understand, nor could she imagine how much pain a child who had just turned 14 had to endure to face death so calmly. How could he endure the torment of daily poison that was worse than death and still remain so serene? Anyway, she had never seen Lu Xingwang lose control or collapse. From a young age, Your Highness had always been strong-willed, never willing to show weakness to others. But the more he suppressed himself, the more she worried. If a person keeps suppressing themselves, they will eventually crumble.

But she couldn’t do anything. Her position didn’t even allow her to say a comforting word. She could only approach and say, “Your Highness, I prepared your clothes yesterday. They are in the dressing room behind.”

“Okay.” Lu Xingwang still respected the nurse who had always taken care of him. “Thank you.”

A Ruo smiled, “I’ll tidy up the desk for you. You can go ahead.”

Lu Xingwang nodded, got up, and A Ruo’s gaze fell on some draft papers on the table. They were handwritten notes that Lu Xingwang had made while watching online math courses during his free time. They were now placed there casually, as if they were unwanted scrap paper. In fact, Lu Xingwang had indeed planned to throw them away since he wouldn’t need them anymore.

A Ruo casually asked, “Should I throw these away for you, Your Highness?”

Lu Xingwang’s steps halted, and he turned to look at the papers on the table. The words he wanted to say somehow couldn’t come out of his mouth. In his mind, the series of ambiguous messages and the somewhat clumsy but sincere voice surfaced. It was hard to say whether it was soft-heartedness or being moved, but the young man stood still for a moment and finally turned his head away. “Leave them.”

A Ruo felt something was strange, but she still responded, “Alright.”

…

Stan Star – Mount Gara

Mount Gara was known as the Mountain of the Gods. It was bathed in divine light all year round, surrounded by lush greenery for miles, and filled with countless rare and exotic treasures. It was the location of the Temples of the Gods, where the deities of Stan were worshipped and revered. On this day of worship, the royal family made a grand procession, and in the sky, a golden bird symbolizing the emperor, with white wings, pulled a magnificent carriage, leaving behind traces of clouds representing power.

As they approached the temple, the golden horses needed to land, and the group proceeded on foot as a sign of respect.

The leading retinue stopped, and a man dressed in golden and white robes descended. His robe was predominantly white, with golden tassels hanging from his shoulders, embroidered with auspicious clouds. He had a dignified and solemn demeanor. Several milky-white heavenly horses also landed, and figures dressed in white equestrian attire stepped down. The princes walked forward and respectfully knelt on one knee, saying, “Greetings, Father.”

The Emperor’s gaze fell upon his children. “Rise.”

The three children stood up. In reality, their ages were not significantly different. Even the eldest, the Crown Prince, was just over 17, while the youngest son had just turned 14. Among this group, the Emperor’s gaze unintentionally lingered on Lu Xingwang for a bit longer. Although he was the youngest, whenever Lu Xingwang kneeled straight with his spine erect, displaying a resolute and majestic bearing like a snow-capped mountain, people’s eyes would naturally be drawn to him.

“Xingwang,” the Emperor spoke. “Is your body holding up?”

Lu Xingwang raised his head slightly, then quickly lowered it. “Thank you, Father, for your concern. It’s nothing serious.”

The emperor nodded. “That’s good.”

The Crown Prince, as if eager to find a sense of presence, turned his face away and said, “The wind on the mountain was strong today. Your health is not as good as before, Third Brother. The court priest advised you to take good care of yourself, as there could be consequences if you neglect it. Be careful not to catch a cold. Shall I have someone bring you a cloak?”

It seemed as if the Crown Prince didn’t want the emperor to be unaware of Lu Xingwang’s current poor physical condition. It also seemed like he wanted everyone to know how much he cared for his younger brother. Only the parties involved knew each other’s true intentions.

Lu Xingwang looked up at Lu Wei and met his proud expression. He spoke softly, “In the past, King Yang climbed Mount Gaja barefoot, taking three steps and kneeling once, not allowing a single drop of water to touch him. His sincere heart moved the gods, and blessings were bestowed upon the Stan Star. Just like King Yang, who could maintain such dedication even when his oil lamp was about to extinguish. Thank you for your kind offer, elder brother, but I absolutely dare not enjoy any privileges before the divine.”

These words left Lu Wei’s face turning pale.

He had intended to make Lu Xingwang look bad, but Lu Xingwang effortlessly countered him with just a few words. Not only did he express his own stance, but he also drew a comparison to King Yang. Wasn’t this implying that Lu Wei was being artificial and disrespectful to the gods?

Indeed, the emperor looked at him with some disagreement. “Xingwang is right. We must not forget the spirit and teachings of our ancestors that have brought us to where we are today. Awe and reverence for the gods are necessary.”

The Crown Prince began to sweat nervously. “Yes, Father, I have made a mistake.”

The empress, standing by the side, felt both heartache and helplessness as she witnessed her son being reprimanded. She glanced at Lu Xingwang with a tinge of resentment and quickly stepped forward to defuse the situation with a smile. “Your Majesty, it’s time to climb the mountain. It’s getting late, and it wouldn’t be good to miss the time for worship.”

The emperor nodded. “Let’s go.”

The group silently ascended the mountain. The court priests, who possessed the ability to manipulate the vegetation, cleared the path ahead, allowing branches and vines to make way. The priests who could fend off wild beasts ensured that large predators avoided their path. Finally, the group, dressed in divine attire, arrived at the mountaintop where a majestic temple stood. This was the very place where the gods had once bestowed their miracles.

A priest wearing a black robe emerged from inside. “Respected Emperor, welcome.”

The emperor clasped his hands together in a gesture of courtesy.

Someone came out from within, holding a translucent white pearl. This pearl was used to purify one’s energy field before paying homage to the gods. It was used to cleanse oneself of any negative energy, allowing for a worship filled with tranquility and harmony.

The emperor stepped forward first, placing his palm on the pearl. The pearl lit up with a bright yellow glow, swirling around before dimming. The priest bowed to him and said, “Please enter.”

Next came the others.

The empress’s color was pale purple, the Crown Prince’s was bright red, and the second prince’s was water blue. After everyone had passed, the court priest brought the purification pearl to Lu Xingwang, lifting it up and saying, “Your Highness, please use this.”

Lu Xingwang raised his hand and placed it on the crystal pearl. The pearl felt slightly cold, but there was no movement or glowing beneath his hand. It remained silent, as if lifeless.

Others also noticed this and turned their heads in confusion.

The priest hesitated for a moment before explaining, “Your Highness has lost his divine power, so the purification pearl cannot detect any energy and cannot function properly.”

Lu Xingwang’s eyes flickered, and he slowly withdrew his hand.

The empress, who was relatively close, listened attentively. She harbored deep resentment towards Lu Xingwang and was delighted to seize such an opportunity. However, she didn’t show it on her face and only appeared worried. She said, “Master Priest, our Xingwang recently encountered an accident and lost his divine power after taking the marrow-cleansing pill. If he can’t use the purification pearl, is there any other way?”

The priest took back the pearl and replied, “In response to the Empress, the purification pearl is the purest treasure in the world and the best at absorbing negative energy.”

The second prince, Lu Xinci, with his simple nature, asked, “Then how can Third Brother worship the gods?”

The priest was also troubled and said, “Well… if the energy field is not completely cleansed, it might be considered disrespectful to the gods.”

After hearing this, the expressions of the people varied, but they all unconsciously looked towards the emperor.

The emperor stood in front of the temple gate, everyone’s gaze on him, but he quietly looked at Lu Xingwang. He was an enigmatic ruler, difficult to fathom. With a deep and solemn gaze, he did not speak immediately, even in the presence of his son, who was almost considered useless.

It was the empress who softly said, “Your Majesty, the auspicious time for worship is approaching.”

The emperor did not look at her but continued to gaze at the child before him.

Lu Xingwang stood in front of the court priest, the chilly mountain wind blowing his clothes. It had been less than a month since the incident occurred. Lu Xingwang had visibly lost weight, and his mother had suddenly passed away. Overnight, he lost his divine power. The reports stated that the third prince’s sleeping quarters had always been quiet. The court priest mentioned that the poison’s effect was excruciatingly painful, and ordinary people could hardly endure it. They could administer some pain-relieving and numbing medicine as needed. However, the Healing Temple had never received a request for a medicine summons.

The Crown Prince said with some regret, “Third brother finally came, but I didn’t expect…”

The wind on the mountain was strong, and the young man stood in place wearing thin clothes. Since earlier, he hadn’t said a word, calmly accepting everyone’s scrutiny and the words of gloating. For a moment, his dark and tranquil gaze seemed to mirror that of the emperor.

Then, as if noticing the emperor’s gaze, he took a step forward and stood in front of the temple, kneeling straight down without any hesitation.

The emperor’s gaze flickered.

Lu Xingwang spoke in a deep voice, “Those who haven’t cleansed their energy cannot disturb the gods inside the hall. Son will pray sincerely outside to show my sincerity. Father and brothers, please go in quickly and don’t delay.”

His words were composed and impressive, earning admiration.

The Crown Prince’s expression changed, and a hint of appreciation crossed the emperor’s eyes. He nodded solemnly and said, “Very well.”

The empress understood the emperor the most. Seeing this, her anger surged once again. Lu Xingwang, raised by Lan Guifei, that little vixen, was truly an outstanding son even without his divine power. He could still outshine them in every aspect. Fortunately, he only had a few good years left. Otherwise, he would truly be the biggest stumbling block on Lu Wei’s path to the throne.

…

After the group entered, only the guards remained outside, along with the court priest who stood guard at the temple gate.

They had long lived on the mountain and seldom received news from the outside world. At this moment, they were puzzled and astonished by Lu Xingwang’s appearance. They knew that every time His Highness came to worship, the purification sphere would emit a rare golden light that had not been seen for thousands of years. Even the current emperor only had an orange light.

But now, this esteemed prodigy was kneeling alone outside the temple. His complexion was unusually pale, and the cold sweat dripped from his cool cheeks. Despite the worsening effects of the physical toxin, he knelt straight, without the slightest curvature in his spine.

The surrounding gazes fell with either pity or ridicule, like invisible blades.

Although there were so many people standing, as he knelt there, it seemed as if there was only one person in the entire world, lonely and desolate. Perhaps he was waiting for the redemption of the gods, but it never came.

Evening came.

The worship ended, and the group returned to the palace.

This was always the most talked-about topic among the palace maids, who received the gods’ blessings during the worship and which prince was praised by His Majesty.

“I heard that the Crown Prince received the blessing of the gods this time, and his divine power has increased.”

“It seems that His Highness the Crown Prince is indeed the chosen one, a person capable of bearing heavy responsibilities.”

“That’s right. It seems like even the Second Prince has gained a significant increase in divine power.”

“Let me tell you secretly, the Third Prince didn’t even enter the palace gate this time…”

As the group of people chattered, a stern voice came from behind, “What are you doing?”

A Ruo’s expression turned cold, “His Majesty strictly forbids discussing the temple within the palace. Do you want to court death?”

Although it was strictly prohibited, most people would discuss it privately. However, they inadvertently ran into trouble this time and the young palace maids panicked, quickly begging for mercy, “Miss, we were wrong. We won’t dare to do it again.”

A Ruo glared at them, “If you dare to do it again next time, especially in front of His Highness, I’ll skin you alive!”

The palace maids quickly nodded in agreement.

Only then did A Ruo let them go and glanced at the nearby main palace gate. Since his return, His Highness had locked himself in his chambers. He had been like this since he was young, staying sleepless and alone in the palace when he was in a bad mood or fixated on something. No one could enter. In the past, when the Imperial Consort was still alive, she could persuade him. But now, even the Empress had left. This child could only endure everything alone.

…

Inside the palace, it was dim.

The lights were turned off. A young man dressed in black silk sat at the desk. The floor was littered with broken medicine, and there were traces of blood on his lips that were quickly wiped away. It seemed like he didn’t care about the toxins. After a long day of traveling and kneeling in the afternoon, he half reclined in the chair, his eyes slightly squinted for a rest. His pale face had a hint of sickly red, a prelude to a fever.

“Ding.”

A sound of a message arrived at this moment.

It was a special communication, and after the death of Imperial Consort Lan, there was only one person who could send him messages.

The person with closed eyes slowly opened them. Lu Xingwang always liked to be alone and disliked being disturbed. However, he didn’t have much aversion to the sound of the message at this moment. He opened the message and saw a casual greeting: “Good evening.”

Lu Xingwang didn’t react much.

But Jian Mei was very excited. He mysteriously said, “I went out to play today. Can you guess where I went?”

Lu Xingwang showed no interest, but perhaps he wanted to shift his attention. He asked unusually, “Where?”

“I went to the temple,” Jian Mei said with excitement. “I went to pray and seek blessings.”

What a coincidence.

Lu Xingwang felt the excruciating pain caused by the toxins in his body, his fingertips turned pale, but his typing remained calm. He replied, “Is that so? Congratulations.”

So many people in this world can seek the blessings of gods, but he can’t.

Perhaps he was the one abandoned by the gods. It made sense, considering he had always been the one left behind, whether it was his mother or the once possessed divine power. He was nothing but a joke.

Jian Mei replied cheerfully, almost like presenting a treasure. “Guess what I prayed for?”

A sarcastic smile curled up on Lu Xingwang’s lips as he asked casually, “What?”

“I prayed for a protective amulet for you, wishing you good health and success in everything,” Jian Mei said with a hint of regret. “I actually wanted to pray for an amulet that fulfills your heart’s desires, but since we’re not together, I couldn’t give it to you.”

The smile in Lu Xingwang’s eyes gradually disappeared as he looked at the words on the screen. In that moment, a strange feeling arose in his mind, and his expression unknowingly turned serious. He asked, “You prayed for me?”

How could someone be so foolish?

They were complete strangers, not even acquaintances.

Jian Mei affirmed, “Yes, my mom said that temple is very spiritual.”

“[The god who listens to your prayers is not mine],” Lu Xingwang didn’t know if he was mocking him or mocking himself, “[And besides, my prayers will never be answered].”

There was a pause on the other end, as if Jian Mei didn’t understand why Lu Xingwang suddenly said that.

After a while, just when Lu Xingwang thought he wouldn’t receive a reply, Jian Mei popped up like a little snail. “It’s okay, then I’ll lend you my god for a while.”

“My mom always says I have a very effective mouth, good at praying and seeking blessings,” Jian Mei was always lively, but his words were as gentle as his voice. “If your prayers don’t work, I’ll pray for you next time I visit the temple.”

The message screen emitted a dim light in the dark room. Lu Xingwang lay by the desk, and the sound of message notifications kept ringing. Jian Mei’s words were somewhat naive and silly, but the pain from the toxins in his body seemed to have lessened at this moment. He squinted his eyes and looked at the words on the message panel. For a brief moment, he actually felt that in this chaotic world, his own god was not in the temple but right in front of him.

Translator’s Note –

Jian mei-“My god is yours and in future i am also yours” Hihi