Squeak~
The palace doors were pushed open.
Gu Wuchen entered and closed the palace door.
A priceless crystal chandelier hangs overhead, dazzling and eye-catching.
Gu Wuchen closed the door behind him, looked up, and was slightly taken aback.
Bo Saixi was sitting on the edge of the bed tidying up the pillows. She had changed out of her usual elaborate sacrificial robes and into a loose, moon-white pajamas. Her long hair was loosely tied into a bun, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks.
Without her elaborate makeup, her features softened considerably, and the fine lines around her eyes became gentler. She lost all the majesty of a high priestess and instead resembled an ordinary neighbor.
"What are you looking at?" Bo Saixi turned around and saw him standing there, stunned. She couldn't help but smile. "Come and lie down. Your auntie keeps her word."
Gu Wuchen came to his senses, walked to the bedside, and lay down with his back to her.
The mattress was very soft and had a faint scent of sea salt.
"Auntie, how about...?"
"Shut up, stop babbling."
"Just lie still."
Bo Saixi knelt beside him, placing her hands gently on his shoulders.
Just as she said, her technique was very clumsy, the force was inconsistent, and sometimes she would accidentally pull his hair.
"Auntie, be gentle," Gu Wuchen said in a muffled voice.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." Bo Saixi quickly softened her pressure, saying somewhat embarrassedly, "I've never massaged anyone before, please bear with me."
As she awkwardly pressed down, she asked curiously, " Chen'er, what's the Far North like? I've only read about it in books; they say it's snowing all year round and there are icebergs everywhere."
"Hmm, it's cold." Gu Wuchen said lazily, his eyes closed. "But the snow is beautiful. At night, there will be aurora borealis in the sky, like colorful ribbons."
"Really?" Bo Saixi's eyes lit up, and she stopped what she was doing. "I've never seen the aurora borealis before. I've never left Sea God Island in my entire life."
There was a hint of melancholy in her voice.
From birth, she was destined to become the spokesperson for the Sea God, guarding the island and the Sea God Hall for her entire life.
She could only learn about the outside world from other people.
Gu Wuchen sensed her change in emotion and said softly:
"Whether you complete the God Trial God Trial or not, your aunt can leave. If you want to come with me, I can take you traveling across the continent. If you don't like that, your aunt can also wander around the continent on her own."
Bo Saixi shuddered, his eyes slightly burning.
She lowered her head and looked at the boy's thin back, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.
For so many years, she had borne the responsibilities of the high priestess alone, and no one had ever said such a thing to her.
"Okay." She responded softly, her voice a little hoarse, and raised her hand again to continue massaging him.
This time the force was much gentler, and I was more skilled.
"What about the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress? Have they always stayed in the Far North?"
Bo Saixi asked curiously again.
As she massaged him, she listened to Gu Wuchen recount interesting stories from the Far North, the prosperity of Heaven Dou City, and various strange tales from across the continent.
She listened intently, as if she were traveling with him to those places.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, falling upon the two of them.
The sound of the waves lapping gently against the shore outside the window, one after another.
Gu Wuchen's fatigue from the past few days gradually overwhelmed him, and his eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
Bo Saixi noticed that his breathing had become even and deep, and knew that he had fallen asleep, so she softened her movements and gently covered him with the blanket.
She sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching Gu Wuchen's sleeping face.
The boy had delicate features, and when he was asleep, he lost his usual aloofness and gained a touch of childishness.
"Thank you, Chen'er," she said softly. "Auntie will always be with you and help you complete the God Trial."
The room was quiet, with only the gentle sway of the crystal chandelier.
Bo Saixi helped Gu Wuchen cover himself with the blanket, then turned and left.
Upon reaching the long corridor in front of the palace, Bo Saixi stopped, gazed into the distance, and fell into deep thought.
Perhaps I really should leave and take a look.
Now, his nephew has helped him secure the opportunity to not perform sacrifices, and he has the chance to visit the mainland.
" Saixi, how is my Wuchen? Are you satisfied?"
The sudden sound startled Bo Saixi, who then noticed Shen Suwei looking at her from her left.
"When did you arrive?" Bo Saixi asked, puzzled.
"Just now, I saw you were engrossed in your work, so I didn't want to disturb you."
Shen Suwei brushed a stray hair behind her ear and smiled gently.
What was my best friend thinking just now?
"Sigh, I never expected to embarrass myself in front of you."
Bo Saixi smiled and said, " Suwei, I might as well tell you, it was actually Chen'er who saved my life."
"How will you save me?" Shen Suwei asked curiously.
His own son actually saved his best friend?
Bo Saixi sighed, leaned against a pillar, gazed at the churning sea in the distance, and slowly spoke:
" The Sea God Nine Trials are the final tests left by the Sea God for his successor. The first eight trials hone willpower and strength, while the Ninth Trial requires the High Priest of Sea God Island to sacrifice his entire life and Soul Power to open the gate of inheritance."
"From the day I became the high priest, I knew my fate: to guard this island, wait for the successor to appear, and then use my life to exchange for his ascension to godhood."
Her voice was calm, yet carried a hint of relief at surviving a calamity, "I thought this was my destiny, until Chen'er appeared."
"As soon as he saw me, he exposed the truth. He had already reached an agreement with the Sea God to change the sacrificial requirement for the Ninth Trial to something else."
Bo Saixi turned to look at Shen Suwei, her eyes filled with gratitude, "It was Chen'er who gave me the chance to live, so that I no longer have to be a living sacrifice who can only guard the temple."
After listening, Shen Suwei smiled knowingly and patted Bo Saixi on the shoulder:
"I told you my Wuchen is amazing. This kid has always had his own ideas since he was little."
" Saixi, don't keep trapping yourself on this island."
Shen Suwei and said:
"You can put the high priest's duties aside for now. When Chen'er starts the later assessments, he'll inevitably encounter some trouble. Why don't you just go with him and travel around the mainland, and be his bodyguard while you're at it? What do you say?"
Bo Saixi paused for a moment, then laughed, "You certainly know how to make arrangements, but you're right, I should go out and take a look too."
"Anyway, I have nothing to do right now, so it depends on whether Chen'er wants to come. If not, I'll just have to go and wander around by myself."
Mentioning this matter, Shen Suwei recalled that Gu Wuchen seemed to always have the Two Empresses of Ice and Snow by his side.
He had seen the figures of the Two Empresses of Ice and Snow at the beach earlier. Although he didn't know how they got there, they must have their own methods.
"Perhaps Wuchen really doesn't need you, Saixi anymore; he already has protectors."