Chapter 150: The Mother Goddess
"Lingering thoughts…?"
"You still have lingering thoughts, don't you?" the auntie asked with a smile. "How can you obtain the 'Resonance' like this?"
"Why… should I eliminate my 'lingering thoughts'?" Qi Xia's eyes instantly turned cold. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Young man, come attend my lecture," the auntie said with a smile. "I will answer everyone's questions one by one."
With that, the auntie pressed one palm together and made the sign of the cross over her chest with the other, then bid everyone farewell and left.
Yun Yao shook her head helplessly and said to Qi Xia, "I suggest you don't go."
"Why?"
"Aunt Tong's theories are wild and unconstrained. Her lecture will drive you crazy."
Qi Xia was an atheist to begin with, so naturally he didn't want to go.
But the words "eliminate lingering thoughts" struck his heart like a clap of thunder.
"Do we need to participate in any games this afternoon?" Qi Xia asked.
"No, not really," Yun Yao said. "I've fully recognized both of your abilities. From now on, it's free time. You can explore the games, formulate strategies, and if you have time, earn some 'Tao.' After all, food and water in 'Heavenly Mouth' will later need to be exchanged with 'Tao.'"
"I understand." Qi Xia nodded. "Since there are no other arrangements, I'll go see this auntie this afternoon."
After parting with Yun Yao, Qiao Jiajin and Qi Xia returned to the classroom and ate some canned food.
Xiao Ran and Doctor Zhao were no longer there; only Lin Qin and Han Yimo remained, chatting with each other.
The four of them exchanged brief greetings.
"Qi Xia, how did it go for you today?" Lin Qin asked.
"Very badly." Qi Xia shook his head. "Tian Tian, Officer Li, and Lawyer Zhang all died in the game."
"Ah?" Han Yimo was startled. "Officer Li and Lawyer Zhang died too…? No… it can't be…"
Qi Xia felt a bad premonition. "Han Yimo, don't worry too much. They'll come back…"
Han Yimo nodded solemnly. "That's true… but I'm still a bit sad…"
Qi Xia thought for a moment and then said, "Come with me to a place this afternoon."
……
Around one o'clock in the afternoon, Qi Xia, Qiao Jiajin, Lin Qin, and Han Yimo arrived at the classroom on the north side.
To Qi Xia's surprise, more than ten people were already sitting there.
He spotted Old Lü and Zhang Shan among the crowd.
They exchanged slight nods of greeting but didn't talk much.
The four of them found a corner and sat down, waiting quietly.
Qi Xia noticed that everyone had paper and pens on their desks. Did they need to take notes for a lecture here?
Before long, Aunt Tong opened the door and entered.
"There are quite a few people today…" She smiled kindly, placed a teacup on the podium, and turned to wipe the blackboard.
Her gestures really made her look like a teacher.
Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin exchanged glances, feeling that this seemed like a very formal lesson.
"First, let me introduce myself. My name is Tong Chan, and you can call me 'Aunt Tong' or 'Teacher Tong.'" Aunt Tong looked around the room with a kind expression. "Many of you here have actually gone through life-and-death trials with me, but you've all forgotten. Today's lesson will make you understand everything about this world."
"Good!" Old Lü stood up and applauded. "How about everyone give Teacher Tong some encouragement?"
The crowd looked at Old Lü with confusion, then clapped half-heartedly.
"Old Lü, don't cause trouble. Sit down." Aunt Tong waved her hand.
She looked around again and said, "We lost five companions this morning. First, please join me in mourning."
She clasped her hands together in front of her chin and recited slowly: "Loving Mother Goddess, we gather here today not to grieve for the five departed souls, but to rejoice for the five souls who are about to enter Your kingdom."
After finishing, she looked up and said to the crowd, "Please recite with me."
Only one or two people weakly followed along.
"Though our hearts are filled with immense sorrow, it is only out of longing and reluctance to let go. Loving Mother Goddess, may they be with You."
"They are all Your spiritual children, who have lived their entire lives under Your watch. We thank You for this, and we also ask that You forgive the sins they committed."
"May You grant their souls rest in Your kingdom."
"Loving Mother Goddess, may You bless them for their faith. May You bless their descendants for their piety. May the faith they sought be passed down by their descendants until Your kingdom comes."
Qi Xia's expression gradually turned grim. "I can't take this anymore."
"What's wrong?" Qiao Jiajin turned to ask. "That old lady speaks pretty well, like she's putting on a show."
"Is she saying that something is protecting us, and that's why we're having these bizarre experiences?" Qi Xia sneered. "If whatever is protecting us really is this 'Mother Goddess' she talks about, I'm glad I never believed in gods."
Lin Qin, listening nearby, frowned as well. "There's something else strange…"
Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin both looked at her.
"If I remember correctly, this passage should be a Christian funeral prayer," Lin Qin said after a moment of thought. "But if it were truly Christian… they would pray to 'Heavenly Father,' not 'Loving Mother.'"
"So she can't even tell Mary from Jehovah?" Qi Xia said. "This is my fault for wasting your time. Let's go."
Before they could stand up, Aunt Tong suddenly grew impassioned.
"Great 'Creator Mother Goddess'! Please accept my most sincere prayer!"
The crowd was silent.
"Creator… Mother Goddess?" Qi Xia was slightly taken aback. He had never heard of this deity.
Pangu split heaven and earth; Nuwa created humans.
Did the Creator Mother Goddess refer to Nuwa?
Qi Xia thought for a moment and then asked Han Yimo, "You're a writer. Have you heard of Nuwa being called 'Creator Mother Goddess'?"
"No," Han Yimo shook his head. "That doesn't sound like our traditional title. Even 'Mother of Gods' would be more standard than 'Mother Goddess.'"
Many of the people present looked restless on their chairs. It seemed Qi Xia wasn't the only one who wanted to leave.
A middle-aged man in a suit spoke up, "Big sister, can you stop praying first and tell us what this place really is?"
Aunt Tong smiled meaningfully, then turned and wrote a large character for "God" on the blackboard.
"God?"
Everyone read it aloud.
"Correct." Aunt Tong nodded. "The one who built the Land of the End must be a god. She is the 'Mother Goddess.'"
The audience was silent for a long time at this explanation.
"Big sister," the middle-aged man said, shaking his head. "Is this your 'lesson'? You want to tell us this place is all mythology?"
"I am merely a guide," Aunt Tong said, maintaining her refined smile. "The revelations of the Mother Goddess are not something mortals can comprehend, so it's natural for you to have questions."
"Why do you think it's that so-called god who brought us here?" a young man with a clean-cut face asked. "Have you ever seen Her?"
"Of course not." Aunt Tong shook her head. "The Mother Goddess cannot be seen or touched, but She is everywhere. I can feel Her."