"Come here kids, let me predict your future."
Facing the "standard" shaman in front of him, Lin Ao didn't know whether he should listen to her or not. Let’s not talk about whether you believe it or not. It’s like walking on the street and a person claiming to be an immortal stops you and insists on giving you a fortune. I just came to find Elizabeth, and I should leave when I find her. I don’t want to cause any more trouble. What if she finished the calculation and asked for money? Speaking of which, how long have the people in this gathering place been here? If they need something they can't produce, like medicine, do they have the money to go out and buy it from someone nearby? Could it be that they are a group that asks for money under the guise of fortune-telling, and kidnaps and blackmails them if they don't pay...
"I do not have money."
"I didn't ask for money."
Lin Ao was a little embarrassed. He couldn't see the face of the old shaman in the dark tent with only a few candles lit. He didn't know if he had angered her by just suspecting that she was cheating money. At this time, Elizabeth pushed behind him, and Lin Ao obediently knelt down with her in front of the old shaman.
The old witch didn't talk nonsense, and she didn't even ask her name. She started to read all kinds of unintelligible words and danced her hands in the sky. This made Lin Ao doubt her even more. The old witch seemed to be more energetic. She dug a hole in the sand, placed a strange little person in the center, and then murmured something and slapped the ground. After a few moments, the little person suddenly bounced up. The shaman also stopped performing strange rituals.
Lin Ao was shocked when he saw the little man bouncing up. Then he began to wonder if this was some kind of inferior magic, and he couldn't understand the meaning of this ritual. He secretly looked at Elizabeth and saw that she had no reaction and seemed not to be interested in this.
The old shaman spoke, first pointing to Elizabeth:
"Girl, you're going to have a soul with this Asian boy!"
Elizabeth and Lin Ao's faces immediately turned red.
Then she pointed to Lin Ao:
"You... will split into three, and they will kill each other. And you will be trapped between heaven and the underworld."
"What?"
Lin Ao and Elizabeth expressed their confusion over the old shaman's words. Lin Ao was confused about what it meant that he would split into three, while Elizabeth was worried about the phrase "trapped between heaven and underworld." She asked nervously: "What do you mean by the last sentence? Is his life in danger?"
The old shaman did not answer her, but continued to point at Lin Ao and said: "One last word, be careful of the dead!"
After saying that, the old shaman actually fell asleep minding his own business. Lin Ao and Elizabeth were confused. At this time, a man in overalls lifted up the tent and said, "Is she asleep? She will fall down from exhaustion every time after channeling and cannot be woken up."
"We didn't understand what she meant..."
"Her words have always been very confusing. Don't be in a hurry. You haven't eaten, haven't you? No matter what happens, just eat and sleep here before leaving. We can also help you analyze her prophecies. Guests that the shaman is happy to invite , must not be a bad person."
Lin Ao looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth seemed to trust the people here and nodded, and Lin Ao agreed.
…
"You bastard! Come back and see how I deal with you! In other words, in my case, before, your behavior would be considered a deserter!"
To be on the safe side, Lin Ao reported his location and finding Elizabeth to Lieutenant Anton, and naturally received a scolding.
"Thank you for taking the risk to come to me. I honestly don't know where to go."
Elizabeth sincerely expressed her gratitude to Lin Ao. At this moment, the two of them were sitting around a large pot with everyone in the gathering place. An old couple was responsible for preparing the ingredients in the pot, and several young people helped to serve the rice and distribute it to everyone. Regardless of whether they are old people or children, they are all waiting for dinner in a polite manner. But the overall atmosphere was not depressing, and everyone was talking and laughing.
The two politely took the wooden bowl and saw that it was a kind of mushy porridge. There was no meat and it was all made of plants. Lin Ao took a bite and found it tasted okay. Elizabeth seemed a little hesitant. After watching Lin Ao take a bite safely, she tasted it and showed a subtle expression, but she still ate slowly and politely.
Lin Ao smiled and asked, "Have you never had such a humble meal?"
Elizabeth replied sheepishly: "Well..."
"Before I boarded the Osiris, I was similar to the people here. At that time, I was a cook at the refugee gathering place. Although the ingredients were different, I also ate similar things. Although there were different people here, I cooked them all in one go. People’s rations will save food and take better care of everyone than if each family makes their own food.”
"I see...you were a refugee before."
"Actually, both my parents were killed by HER."
When Elizabeth heard what Lin Ao said, she looked at him in surprise, and Lin Ao showed a rare bitter expression.
"I'm sorry...you must hate my country."
Lin Ao sighed: "Hate, but I know that this hatred cannot be directed at all people in HER. When I first boarded the Osiris, I was still resentful about being forced to become a soldier by Lieutenant Anton, but I soon discovered that as a Soldiers fight against evil, especially when they kill enemies on the battlefield. I feel that I have avenged my parents, but I will not stop. I will fight until the end of the war."
"Although it's inappropriate for me to say this, but...have you ever thought about the HER soldiers you killed, are they really that evil? They also have family and friends..."
Lin Ao smiled bitterly: "I have thought about it, but since they went to the battlefield to fight for HER's ambition, then I have to defeat them. I once saw a mother and child, and the child was even a baby. I just came out of the fire After rescuing them, they were killed by the collapsed building of HER's humanoid weapons, and the humanoid weapons appeared there to attack me, so I had to stop them."
Elizabeth asked: "If that's the case, why are you helping me?"
"As you said, HER soldiers may not all be bad people, but I can't control them. And your plan is to let the people of HER spontaneously choose to end the war, so that there will be HER soldiers who don't really want to join the war. A chance to redeem themselves, and if they answer your call, I won’t have to meet them on the battlefield.”
"I see... It's exactly what you said. I think there are still good people in the imperial army, but they just need a chance."
Lin Ao nodded: "I will help your plan come true. Come back with me early tomorrow morning. Natasha should not be hostile to you anymore. In fact, she also has difficulties. Her ex-boyfriend was killed by a HER traitor. .”
"I can probably understand her mood. In fact, when I came out this time, I was prepared to use extreme words and deeds to face people who were hostile to the empire. But I didn't expect that she would throw me into the desert..."
Lin Ao comforted him: "Don't worry, I swear I will protect you."
Elizabeth suddenly curled her lips: "I don't believe you anymore. You said you would protect me before, but I was thrown into the desert. What if you can't find me?"
"I...I was busy fighting at the time, and I never thought that Natasha would kidnap you secretly. I swear! There will definitely be no accidents when you go back this time!"
"I don't believe your words anymore, I want to see your actions."
The two of them unknowingly changed from a serious conversation to a relaxed conversation. To others, it looked like a couple flirting. This was the first time Elizabeth had spoken to others like this since she was a child. She seemed to enjoy it very much and deliberately made Lin Ao swear non-stop.
"Sorry young man, I have to interrupt you."
A strong middle-aged gentleman sat in front of the two people. He claimed to be the "mayor" of this gathering place. The two people immediately expressed their gratitude to him, and the mayor waved his hand and said, "You're welcome, tell me about the prophecy the old shaman gave you. I'm interested in analyzing it for you."
Elizabeth told all the shaman's prophecies to the mayor and the people nearby who liked to join in the fun. The mayor touched his chin and said: "Split into three people...Although the shaman always says some mysterious things, this is the first time I have heard of something so obscure."
Elizabeth asked: "What about being trapped between heaven and Hades?"
The mayor slapped his thigh: "It's simple! You just can't die if you want to, and you can't live if you want to!"
Immediately, someone next to me expressed different opinions, and then everyone started talking about it. Lin Ao felt that this kind of secluded life must be too boring, and the residents regarded interpreting prophecies as a pastime after dinner.
Elizabeth listened to everyone's analysis. Although they had different opinions, they all felt that "being trapped between heaven and Hades" was not a good prophecy, and something might happen to Lin Ao. Elizabeth looked at Lin Ao uneasily, and Lin Ao shook his head and said: "It doesn't matter, I am a soldier after all, so it's not surprising that something will happen. Besides, prophecies may not be accurate!"
The mayor smiled and said: "Indeed, although we all respect the shaman because she taught us how to survive here, in fact we don't take her predictions seriously. Her predictions about the weather are usually inaccurate. We just assume that she is enjoying such an identity. And the strange thing is that she said that she is not communicating with gods, but with the souls of the dead who have been wandering in the universe for countless years.
Elizabeth asked: "Speaking of which, why did you leave the city to live here? It must be difficult."
The mayor sighed and pointed to the dark red sky: "The war is mainly because of the war. The city where I grew up is in ruins, and there is no place to go back to. Even if you survive, you still have to endure bullying."
Lin Ao asked: "But why don't you join the army to resist HER?"
An old man stood up: "That's another reason. Young man, do you know how many mountains have been hollowed out in the past hundred years? They destroyed the earth and polluted the river just to produce space battleships with huge consumables. , so as not to lose to other forces. But what is the result? It is not enough to have battleships, they also need humanoid weapons. Human beings have developed for thousands of years. The weapons were first small stones on the roadside, then sharp swords, and then tanks made of iron armor. How many tanks could the materials needed to make a humanoid weapon be used to produce in the past? Every force has this problem. We hate the direction of the world now. We can't change it, so we can only escape from it."
The mayor added: "If the young people who grew up here do not accept our ideas, we will send them to the city. During this year's war, many young people have chosen to leave here to join the army. We will not Will stop them."
The atmosphere became heavy as the topic became serious. The mayor noticed this and clapped his hands and said, "Okay! Let's get back to the prophecy, skip the part about 'Beware of the Dead'. Didn't the shaman say that your souls will be together?"
"Well..." Lin Ao and Elizabeth were both a little embarrassed.
The mayor said happily: "How about you hold the wedding here?"
"What!?"
Lin Ao and Elizabeth were shocked by the mayor's out-of-the-box thinking, but everyone seemed to express support for the mayor's proposal. Someone said: "Many young people have left, and we haven't held a wedding for a long time. It's great!"
"No, no, no!!" Lin Ao waved his hands and said, "We are not in that kind of relationship! Not even a couple!"
"That's it after tonight!" The mayor seemed to have been prepared and took out a shining golden ring and handed it to Lin Ao, pointing to the water pool not far away and said: "Our wedding ceremony is very simple. When the moonlight shines In the middle of the water, a man puts a ring on a woman’s hand and she is considered married!”
"What a mess!"
Lin Ao still wanted to protest, but he and Elizabeth were pushed into the pool, and they had no choice but to walk there.
It is a pool full of life in the desert. It is the core of this oasis and supplies the life in the oasis. The two of them walked to the pool in silence, and saw that the water that should have been as clear as a mirror under the moonlight seemed to have turned into a pool of blood because of the dim and blood-red sky. The faint moonlight obscured by the thick haze scattered sporadically on the water, and the picture was far less beautiful than the two imagined.
"This...moonlight is considered to be in the center of the water, right?"
Lin Ao held the ring and didn't know how to end it. At this time, Elizabeth suddenly faced herself and stretched out her hand.
"Eh?"
Lin Ao looked at Elizabeth, and Elizabeth looked at him. The two communicated with their eyes, and time seemed to stand still.
Needless to say, how beautiful she was in Lin Ao's eyes at this moment. She may not be able to see the bright moon tonight, but her face is far more beautiful than the moon.
Lin Ao raised his hand and slowly put the golden ring on Elizabeth's finger. Elizabeth raised her hand, looked at the ring and smiled.
"Fate is wonderful." Elizabeth said, "I believe that everything is guided by fate."
"Me too."
Lin Ao stepped forward and hugged Elizabeth tightly.
"I will always protect you."
"No matter where you go from now on, I will follow you."
"I love you."
"I love you."
No matter how the world changes, how time passes, and when and where people are, the moonlight will always shine on the earth. Afterwards, every time Lin Ao looked up at the moon, he would think of this wonderful night.
