Transformed into a heartthrob's simp, every day is a battleground.

Chapter 57 The Golden Body of the Compassionate Mother

Yan Xun didn't expect Gu Jia to strike up a conversation with him.

However, he had already decided where he was going today: "To find my cousin." He said as he walked out the door.

Gu Jia stood still, thought for a few seconds, and then followed behind Yan Xun.

Yan Xun stopped in his tracks.

Gu Jia also stopped walking.

Yan Xun turned and glanced at him. "Are we that close?"

Gu Jia seemed to understand the meaning of his words, and after thinking for a moment, he shook his head.

“Then don’t follow me,” Yan Xun said. He was planning to explore the Cimu Hall… so it wouldn’t be convenient to bring such a large human-shaped obstacle.

However, Gu Jia seemed not to understand him. As soon as Yan Xun left, he followed him again.

Yan Xun: "..."

What's wrong with this person? Is he an NPC or a player?

Yan Xun was puzzled, and after realizing that he couldn't reason with Gu Jia, he simply ran out the door.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he ran, Gu Jia followed suit... just like a fledgling bird that has recognized its mother, it stayed close and wouldn't let go.

After being followed by Gu Jia for two blocks, Yan Xun had no choice but to stop.

As soon as he stopped, Gu Jia also stopped moving.

"Never mind," Yan Xun said.

"Go ahead and follow if you want."

As he spoke, he began muttering to the system in his head again—

"Is this person an NPC or a player? Are there really players who act like bots? Did he use the system's auto-follow feature??"

[Hard to say!] The system also analyzed along with Yan Xun, [I'm inclined to think he's an NPC.]

Wusheng Village wasn't very big, and the Cimu Hall on the golden roof was too conspicuous. After giving up their chase, Yan Xun and Gu Jia leisurely arrived at the gate of the Cimu Hall.

When they finally arrived, Yan Xun discovered that the door to the Cimu Hall was ajar.

He remembered that Yan Yu had said last night that he could come to Cimu Hall to see him during the day... He thought for a while and decided to knock on the door a few times.

Perhaps because it was too quiet, Yan Xun heard footsteps.

It sounded somewhat familiar. A moment later, the doors of the Cimu Hall opened, and Yan Yu, dressed in a white robe, appeared at the door.

Upon seeing Yan Xun, a faint smile appeared on his lips. "You've arrived."

"Did you just get up?"

Just as Yan Xun was about to ask if he could predict the future, he saw Yan Yu raise his hand and gently smooth the hair at the back of his head, saying, "Your hair at the back is a little messy."

After Yan Yu finished speaking, he immediately withdrew his hand before Yan Xun could react.

Then he looked at Gu Jia, who was waiting quietly to the side.

Good morning! Didn't you take a stroll around the village with your friends?

He naturally knew Gu Jia, Yan Xun thought, after all, Yan Yu had said last night that several college students had gotten lost and were staying at Yan's house.

Gu Jia didn't say anything upon hearing this, but instead hid behind Yan Xun, seemingly very afraid of strangers.

Yan Yu wasn't angry at all. He just stared at Gu Jia for a long time before looking away and saying to Yan Xun, "It's only been one night, and you two are already so close?"

“I heard from his sister that he doesn’t seem to like talking to strangers.”

Yan Xun wanted to say that he and Gu Jia had only met for less than 30 minutes, but then felt there was no need to explain, so he simply didn't say anything.

He didn't speak, but Yan Yu wouldn't give up. He smiled and said to the two of them, "It seems that Yan Xun is more like your older brother."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jia said, "Younger brother."

"?" Yan Xun turned around. "You treat me like a younger brother??"

"Ah."

Gu Jia said, "You're a little shorter than me."

“Sun Yue is shorter than you!” Yan Xun immediately said—although Sun Yue should indeed be Gu Jia’s cousin.

Gu Jia fell silent, reverting to her previous taciturn self.

Yan Yu still had a smile on his lips. He watched the two interact before saying to Yan Xun, "Come in, there's no one here right now."

"But once you're inside, don't wander around or move around."

"The time for the sacrificial ceremony is approaching, so it's best to be careful."

Yan Xun thought to himself, "This clearly shows there's something wrong with Cimu Hall." Seeing Yan Yu say this, he obediently nodded, "I understand."

Then, under Yan Yu's gaze, they entered the Cimu Hall.

……

The design of Cimu Hall is somewhat similar to that of ancestral halls in some places.

However, the object enshrined was not an ancestor, but a golden statue.

The compassionate mother had a look of pity and mercy, with a slight smile on her lips. She was surrounded by many children, and she had three heads and six arms, each holding a magical implement.

Beneath the golden statue was a cluster of small, square wooden boxes, each bound with yellow rope and covered with incomprehensible talismans.

Three prayer cushions were placed beneath the statue of the compassionate mother.

Yan Yu walked over and began to kneel and worship. Yan Xun was unsure, so he did not enter the ancestral hall, but just watched from afar outside the threshold.

Only after Yan Yu stood up did he turn back to look at Yan Xun, saying, "You haven't been home for many years, you can talk to your loving mother."

He stood in front of the offering table, looking at Yan Xun, "He must miss you very much."

These words inexplicably made Yan Xun feel somewhat uncomfortable... Perhaps it was because the light inside the ancestral hall was too dim. He even felt that the lowered eyes of the statue of the loving mother glanced in his direction the instant Yan Yu finished speaking.

But Yan Xun clearly remembered that her character was born after her parents moved to the city.

He has never been to Wusheng Village since birth, so how can he say that he has not returned home for many years?

Gu Jia, who was behind him, couldn't help but grab his wrist, seemingly not wanting him to go in.

Yan Yu perhaps sensed Yan Xun's hesitation, so he didn't speak again. Instead, he bowed again before coming out of the ancestral hall.

"I'll be staying here for a while." Yan Yu led them to the wing room on the left side of the ancestral hall.

The space here is small and the furnishings are simple. Apart from a single wooden bed, there is only a five-drawer chest, which is probably quite old, with its copper handles oxidized and darkened. The thin quilt on the bed is neatly folded and placed under the pillow.

"How long are you going to stay here?" Yan Xun asked after looking around the small room.

"Wait until the temple fair and sacrificial rites are over."

As Yan Yu spoke, he took off his outer robe and draped it over the dresser. "For the time being, I'll have to trouble others to bring me my daily necessities here."

Yan Xun hesitated for a few seconds, but still followed Yan Yu into his room.

Gu Jia stood in front of the door, looking at the two of them, but hesitated to go in, as if there were some man-eating ghosts inside.

Yan Yu looked at Gu Jia, who was standing at the door unwilling to come in, and then turned to Yan Xun and said, "Let him go back first."

“If the villagers see that an outsider has entered the Cimu Hall, it might not be good.”