We're Screwed, the River God Doesn't Like Women Anymore

Today seems a little different from previous years.

The flower boat carrying the bride had already sailed into the middle of the river, but it hadn't capsized or fallen into the water.

Not even the slightest sound occurred.

The Shaman Priest was stunned.

The town official was stunned.

The thousands of residents of Baijia Town were all stunned.

What happened?

The governor asked with a sullen face and an unhappy tone.

The Shaman Priest, wearing a bronze mask and with disheveled hair, explained:

"The River God might not have arrived yet. Let's wait a little longer."

Then,

Under the watchful eyes of thousands of people on the shore, the flower boat slowly drifted downstream towards the end of the river.

Town Supervisor: "..."

Shaman Priest: "..."

People of Baijia Town:..."

The pleasure boat didn't capsize.

The bride didn't fall into the water.

"The River God doesn't want the Lady Baijia this year."

"Oh my god, how could this happen?"

"Wanla, something big is going to happen in our Baijia Town this year."

"River God, please forgive me! River God, please forgive me!"

"..."

As the flower boat carrying Lady Baijia sailed further and further away, it gradually disappeared from everyone's sight.

The entire shoreline looked as if ice water had been poured into hot oil.

It exploded.

The thousands of residents of Baijia Town were in an uproar, their voices clamoring.

Their faces were filled with terror, panic, unease, fear, and anger.

For example, the town supervisor of Baijia Town.

"Explain this to me clearly."

Although the town magistrate was only a minor official of the Subordinate Ninth Rank, he was a very important figure in Baijia Town.

Seeing the governor's anger, the Shaman Priest turned pale.

But she didn't know what was going on either.

Such a situation has never occurred in the past hundred years since the practice of sacrificing young girls was adopted.

Has the River God's taste changed?

Does he no longer like girls but prefer boys?

Faced with the town magistrate's angry questioning, the Shaman Priest dared not reveal his outrageous speculations.

The River God does not accept Lady Baijia.

This was nothing short of a catastrophe for the entire Baijia Town.

This not only means that Baijia Town may suffer from natural disasters and man-made calamities this year, resulting in no harvest and famine.

It also means that her time as Shaman Priest has come to an end.

They might even be burned alive by these angry people.

She wasn't joking.

Throughout Shaman Priest, there have been instances of shamans being burned to death by the people to appease the anger of the River God.

She didn't want to die.

She needs to save herself.

"Lord Supervisor, it must be that Lady Baijia's conduct is impure that has caused the River God to reject her and refuse to marry her."

The Shaman Priest began to explain.

"Of questionable character? This is outrageous! Bring her parents to me."

With a furious order from the supervising officer,

The bride's parents were pulled out from the crowd.

The bride's parents were initially relieved that their daughter had escaped this ordeal, but they never expected that the misfortune would befall them instead.

"Your Honor, you've wronged me! My daughter has always been virtuous and upright; everyone in the neighborhood knows that. How could she possibly be of questionable character?"

The bride's parents knelt on the ground and loudly proclaimed their innocence.

"That's true. Xianglian has been sensible and well-mannered since she was little; she even keeps her distance when talking to men."

"Yes, that's right, Xianglian is a good child."

"I can prove it too."

"..."

A dozen or so voices came from the crowd, all of them from neighbors and villagers who knew the bride.

The warden turned and gave the Shaman Priest a deep look.

He didn't care who was right or wrong; he only cared whether the sacrificial ceremony could be completed successfully, whether the people's resentment could be quelled, and whether he could secure his position.

The Shaman Priest understood what the supervisor meant.

"Nonsense! If the bride were truly virtuous and pure, why wouldn't the River God marry her?"

"I believe the bride must have secretly slept with a man and lost her virginity, which is why the River God dislikes her and refuses to marry her."

"As the bride's parents, not only did you fail to tell the truth, but you also concealed the truth for your daughter, deceiving the River God, the town magistrate, and all the townspeople. You deserve to die a thousand deaths."

As soon as the Shaman Priest finished speaking, the thousands of Baijia Town residents, whose hearts were filled with fear, panic, unease, apprehension, and anger, seemed to have finally found an outlet for their emotions.

"Well, how dare they deceive us!"

"Your daughter is clearly an unchaste harlot, yet she dares to impersonate the pure and virtuous Lady Baijia."

"No wonder the River God was unwilling to marry you; it's all your family's fault."

"You have offended the gods, do you intend to kill us?"

Burn them.

Burn them.

"..."

Public resentment boiled over, and the crowd was filled with indignation.

The bride's parents were so angry their faces turned pale, but they were speechless with grievances.

Even the voices that had just spoken up for them gradually disappeared into the crowd and were never heard again.

The objective has been achieved.

The Shaman Priest bowed respectfully before the town's supervisor.

"We implore you, Governor, to uphold justice for the people, act on behalf of Heaven, and burn these two sinners who dared to deceive the gods to appease the River God's wrath."

During the bowing ceremony,

A heavy ingot of silver was silently delivered into the hands of the prison warden.

"Cough cough..."

The governor, with his head held high and chest out, coughed lightly, his powerful official authority emanating from him, immediately silencing the agitated crowd.

"Guards! Seize these two sinners who have defied heaven and earth and blasphemed the gods, and burn them on the spot to appease the wrath of heaven and the gods."

"Then immediately select another bride and send her back into the river to serve the River God."

As the magistrate finished speaking in a booming, resounding voice,

A thunderous cheer immediately erupted from the crowd.

"Very well, Governor, you did the right thing."

"That's how it should be handled."

"Anyone who dares to deceive Heaven and blaspheme the gods should be burned alive as a warning to others."

"Looking at their honest and aggrieved expressions, even someone as clever as me almost fell for their tricks."

"..."

The people of Baijia Town didn't really care whether the bride had been wronged or not.

They didn't care at all whether the bride's parents were pitiful for being burned to death.

They only care about

Will the River God be angry?

They only care about

Will this year bring unpredictable droughts and floods? Will there be no harvest at all?

They only care about

Will they starve to death?

The bride's parents were quickly tied up, their mouths stuffed with rags, like two cattle or sheep waiting to be slaughtered, unable to even put up a fight.

Now they were completely unable to defend themselves; even jumping into the Canglan River wouldn't clear their names.

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

The Shaman Priest whispered gratefully to the town official.

"I'll leave the rest to you. Don't mess it up again, or even I won't be able to save you."

The governor said in a deep voice without turning his head.

"I understand, I understand."

The Shaman Priest breathed a heavy sigh of relief; he had finally managed to keep his position.

Although a minor accident occurred,

But it's okay.

Can accidents just keep happening forever?