Chapter 766: Worship, Faith, Believers, and the Choice of Mortals

There was a wisp of mist floating in the sky, a few bright lights were quietly burning under the eaves, and wisps of medicinal fragrance were emanating from the pottery pots in the stove...

The darkness receded like a tide, the sunlight shone straight in from the east, the red sun turned white and rose slowly.

The morning sun shone on Jiang Yi's body, staining his white feathers with bits of gold.

"What... are you doing?" Jiang Yi could tell at a glance that most of the residents who remained in Feimu Village had arrived. Hundreds of people were kneeling in the open spaces and alleys in front of the houses.

Everyone looked up, gazing at the figure that seemed even more vast, bright, compassionate and all-encompassing in the sunlight.

This is the only pure land in the war, and in front of us is the "God" who saved Bayun Island.

Washizu was kneeling at the front. Today he was not wearing armor, but a linen shirt. His slightly aged face was full of piety, and he spoke slowly in a clear and expectant voice.

"Your Excellency, we wish to worship you and ask you to become the god of Bayun Island and the village of Himuk."

In the back, the residents bowed their heads one by one: "Please become the god of Yayun Island and Hime Village."

The sound spread out, like fire, like waves merging into one, resounding throughout the entire Himuko Village and attracting the attention of the surrounding pirates.

The tender voices of children, the clear voices of boys and girls, the gentle voices of women, the solemn voices of young people, the hoarse voices of old people,... the sounds are like waves, hitting the sky and water, hitting the earth and trees.

This is not a sudden decision, it's not something that was made on impulse.

In the Himuki Village, the Council of Elders was reorganized.

Everyone who is willing to settle in Himuk Village is eligible to attend the meeting and is eligible to vote.

Those who didn't come will also receive the announcement and meeting results...

As the village chief, Washizu temporarily has the highest veto power and decision-making power. When he does not express his opinion, the principle of minority obeys majority will be implemented, and anonymous voting will be conducted to decide the future development of Himiki Village.

How to better survive between the shogunate army and the resistance army, how to have a better future, how to make everyone get relatively fair benefits and become prosperous together...

The elders' meeting lasted for several days, and everyone gradually reached a consensus on one topic.

The Himuki Village is in need of protection now, and "he" is qualified to be worshipped as a "God" by them devoutly.

Ying and Paimeng opened the window sleepily.

Look outside and hear those wave-like words again.

boom!

Close the windows.

"Am I dreaming and haven't woken up yet?" Paimon pinched his face.

"They want... Jiang Yi to become the god of Bayun Island and Feimu Village." Ying finally came back to her senses.

"It doesn't seem to be a dream." Paimon felt pain on his cheek.

"Of course it's not a dream." Ying rolled her eyes.

"So... will Jiang Yi agree?" Paimeng took a long time to recover and digest this earth-shattering news. She had long felt that the people of Feimu Village looked at Jiang Yi in a strange way. It turned out that they were waiting here.

After figuring it out, I was filled with curiosity, anticipation, and excitement.

"As a god, I can be worshipped and eat delicious food for free every day. That's so blissful."

"And we are also friends of the gods, so we have contributed as well! In the future, can we take tribute?" Her eyes sparkled and she wiped her saliva, "Ahem! Believers, bring me all the delicious food."

She put one hand on her waist and pointed at the ground with the other, as if there was someone kneeling in front of her.

“Pfft!” Ying covered her mouth and looked at Paimon who was lost in fantasy speechlessly, “You are such a loser. With these words, the gods become… become… very strange guys.”

"Jiang Yi wouldn't do that." She felt that Paimeng was indeed not awake and had started daydreaming.

"Oh! That's right! Gods are different from each other. If you don't get along well, after a few years, you will become a god like Wendy. Not only will you not have free tributes to eat, but you will also have to perform for believers." Paimon shook his head in distress, "It's hard to be a god! If Jiang Yi wants people to worship him, he has to keep working hard."

"Uh--!" Ying was speechless at Paimon's bizarre logic.

outside the door,

Jiang Yi looked at the pairs of expectant eyes and reached out to suppress the sound of the tide.

"You know I won't stay in one place, nor will I avenge you or fight for you..."

Washizu looked up: "We don't need you to avenge us or fight for us."

"Hatred and sin cannot be forgotten, but we ultimately want a place to stay."

"We have thought about it for a long time, and our wish, our common wish, is nothing more than... a future of peace and tranquility, a future where we, our relatives and friends, and our children and grandchildren can survive. Rather than a village that falls apart again because of hatred."

"We pursue your ideals, the tenderness you showed in Nashikinada, your compassion, and your love for life..."

“This was a joint decision.”

Jiang Yi's expression was complicated: "But I'm not a god."

"No! Your power and consciousness are so great, and what you do makes you like a god to us." Washizu lowered his head.

Everyone in the back had felt Jiang Yi's strength and consciousness, so they had no objection.

“Human beings are like ants, so they must also be strong. If you rely on a mountain, the mountain will collapse; if you rely on the sea, the sea will dry up… You think I am a god, but I am not omnipotent, and I am not omniscient.”

Jiang Yi stood with his hands behind his back, looking into the distance at the passing years.

"I can save people for a moment, even for a lifetime, but I cannot save millions of generations of mortals."

"This is Inazuma..."

"General Raiden did not listen to your voices. You can feel resentment, but please do not forget... who protected Inazuma long ago."

He looked down at everyone, not scolding, just stating a fact.

There was silence in the Himuki Village, but everyone seemed to have expected it.

The leader, Washizu, bowed and said, "We will keep your teachings in mind."

"But what you have done, I think as the recipients of your grace, we must respond."

"We do not desire your omnipotence, we only respect you as God."

"We pay tribute to your achievements, to your mercy, and we remember your salvation, so... we offer incense to you."

"We also preserve the shrine in the Great Palace and remember His achievements..."

The last words, in my heart,

But he also remembered the darkness brought by His Highness the Great Emperor, so he stopped kneeling.

Among the crowd, Changci stood up.

"I think we mortals are also qualified to choose our own gods and our own beliefs."

"Please Mr. Jiang Yi... accept our offering."

One by one, the beneficiaries pleaded.

Jiang Yi looked at Jiujin. He must have been behind this. After being possessed by the "evil spirit", the fanatical consciousness was obviously not completely cured.

But the people before me, the emotions they are brewing, the gratitude, the respect, and what can be called "faith" are all real.

We pray for peace because we are uneasy, we respect God because we envy the strong, and we kneel down willingly because we want to be saved.

"Your great deeds, your mercy, what else can be compared to yours... It is rumored that Liyue worships gods, and also worships every immortal who saved the mortals in the past." Washizu bowed his head, "You don't want to become the god of our Himuk Village and Bayun Island, but we will not stop worshipping you."

Incense cannot kidnap the gods, but is a unilateral contribution from mortals.

The gods act first, so mortals are grateful and place their hopes on it.

Sometimes the response from the gods is not important, as long as the gods exist, they will have peace in their hearts.

Human beings are both wise and foolish creatures, and are also a contradiction between self-reliance and dependence.

Be grateful for miracles and fear God's punishment.

One day you will be disappointed with the darkness brought by the true God.

So, faith collapsed.

Jiang Yi was silent for a long time.

Looking at the incense and faith that have been wrapped around me.

Yes, mortals do not need to ask for permission before offering sacrifices to anyone.

Mortals have the freedom to choose whether to worship or not. Mortals can identify their own gods and pursue their ways and principles.

The beliefs in a world without gods and a world with gods are different.

But there is one thing: God cannot make mistakes.

This disaster was caused by the war brought about by the isolation order and hunting order issued by the gods. The war displaced people and caused disasters caused by evil spirits. All of this came from the gods' indifference and lack of response to prayers.

There are struggles and life and death between people, and between people and monsters. They pray to the gods, and even if there is no response, they will not blame the gods. However, in the despair brought by the gods, disappointment naturally arises.

Minor disasters are the fault of God.

In the event of a catastrophe, if gods exist but do not respond, and the forces under their command are also indifferent, they can still hold on to their faith, but in despair, that faith has become ethereal and has shifted to the existence that can save them, no matter who it is, whether it is the "evil god" that brought them disaster, or a powerful external existence.

Those who were contaminated by the evil spirit and then cured by Jiang Yi are now the most devout believers, followed by the blessed refugees.

They knew that Jiang Yi was not a god, but they also hoped that Jiang Yi was a god and recognized that Jiang Yi was the god who protected them.

Knowing everything, Jiang Yi was troubled by their prayers.

Although according to Washizu, what they were offering was their achievements, as the one being offered sacrifices, how could he not respond to them? If he ignored them, it would be tantamount to going against his moral code.

This is a responsibility.

So he hesitated.

The god in his mind, the so-called God's love for the world, can be best reflected in the God of Fortune and Justice in the world before the time travel, who protects the house, eliminates disasters, blesses the village with good weather and good harvests, kills demons and evil spirits, and saves the souls of the dead... He is the land.

His immortal way, divine way, divine immortal way, or human way…all told him, all questioned him: “Are you ready?”

Like a god, he receives worship from all living beings and enjoys the incense.

Even Pangu, whether he likes it or not, has people who believe in and worship him. The same is true for immortals and gods.

You may not respond, but you are not a dead benefactor.

You are still alive, so you can hear the prayers. Your ability to "follow the sound" will not deceive your ears.

When you practice in the future and continue to follow the concept of "saving people infinitely", the people who seek you for offerings will naturally gather into a sea.

They want a compassionate and gentle god, or an immortal who protects the world and helps people, or a great person who can provide them with temporary support.

They don't mean what they say.

"I cannot bear to see the suffering of all living beings, so when I see disasters, I save them." Jiang Yi stepped out, "Of all things in nature, life is the most important. I follow ten thousand paths, and one of them is benevolence."

"A benevolent person loves others, so what I do has nothing to do with whether you offer me sacrifices or not."

"You can treat me as a god, as an immortal, as a human, as...anything you want me to be."

"When I respond, I only follow one principle."

"God will punish you, and good and evil will be rewarded."