Chapter 422 | Demonic Beings? Obviously Auspicious Omens!

Tuoba Feng nodded. "Yes."

"I am Jin Mantang, I run a small business in Lantao City." Jin Mantang cupped his hands with a cheerful smile. "Is this also your first time making a pilgrimage to the Holy City under the Lord God's rule?"

Tuoba Feng was stunned for a moment. Could he really tell?

Unaccustomed to such enthusiasm, he replied awkwardly, "It is indeed my first time."

Jin Mantang burst into laughter.

"I knew it. One look and I could tell you were from out of town."

"On such an important day, how can you be dressed so indecently?"

Tuoba Feng looked down at himself.

He had specifically changed into clean clothes today.

They were simple hemp clothes, washed until they were pale, but the patches were neatly sewn.

He wore a leather belt around his waist and a pair of freshly woven straw sandals on his feet.

He had even retied his hair, securing it with a wooden hairpin.

In his eyes, this was already quite formal.

He looked up at Jin Mantang's brand-new black burial shroud.

Then he looked at the crowd ahead, all wearing similar burial shrouds and deathly makeup.

Finally, he looked back at himself.

Tuoba Feng opened his mouth and asked humbly, "Brother... what is wrong with my attire?"

Jin Mantang slapped his thigh.

"Oh, little brother, you don't even know that?"

"This is a rule established by the Lord God himself!"

"The Lord God is the True God of the Underworld, in charge of longevity and death."

"As believers, how can we not cater to his preferences on such a grand day?"

"Dressing in bright and colorful clothes is a sign of disrespect to the Lord!"

"Only by dressing like this do we show our piety. It is meant to make the Lord feel comfortable, like he has come home!"

He pointed at his own burial shroud.

"Look at this one. It was made by the best burial shroud shop in Lantao City. Top-quality silk, hand-embroidered. It cost me a full hundred spirit stones!"

"Wearing this to see the Lord God is what I call decent!"

Tuoba Feng listened, completely dazed.

So that was it.

So wearing a burial shroud was a sign of solemnity and reverence.

He looked down at his washed-out hemp clothes and suddenly felt ashamed.

It was too rude.

Truly too rude.

The Lord had shown immense kindness to the Western Region, yet he didn't even understand the Lord's preferences. He had come here so recklessly.

Seeing his expression, Jin Mantang laughed.

"Don't worry, little brother!"

He beckoned, and a young servant nearby quickly stepped forward.

Jin Mantang gave a few instructions, and the servant took a brand-new burial shroud from a bundle.

"Here!"

Jin Mantang stuffed the burial shroud into Tuoba Feng's hands.

"Wear mine for now!"

"We are all believers of the Lord God, so we are like family."

"On such an important day, you absolutely cannot be disrespectful in front of the Lord God!"

Tuoba Feng was stunned.

"This... how could I possibly..."

Jin Mantang waved his hand.

"Aiya, don't be so polite with me!"

"What is a single piece of clothing?"

"You have no idea how the Lord God saved us during that great disaster in Lantao City!"

His voice suddenly became sentimental.

"Back then, almost everyone in the city was about to die."

"Eerie dreams invaded, plagues ran rampant, and corpses were everywhere."

"I hid in a cupboard, so scared I wet my pants, thinking it was the end for sure."

"But guess what happened?"

Tuoba Feng shook his head.

Jin Mantang slapped his thigh again.

"The Lord God descended!"

"With just a wave of his hand, all the nightmares in the city vanished!"

"With another wave, the plague was gone!"

"And that is how I survived!"

His eyes turned slightly red.

"I am just a lowly businessman. Aside from some gold and silver, I have nothing good to offer the Lord."

"I once made a golden statue for him, but Lord Rat found it too tacky."

"On such an important day for the Lord, making sure everyone is dressed properly to make him feel comfortable is just my small way of showing my heart."

"So don't be polite with me, little brother!"

"Put it on quickly and go in decently!"

Tuoba Feng held the burial shroud, unsure of what to say for a moment.

He looked down at the black fabric.

Suddenly, he felt that this garment was very heavy.

Not heavy in weight.

But heavy with sentiment.

"Thank you, brother."

He gave a solemn bow.

Jin Mantang laughed and waved him off.

"No need for that, put it on!"

As Tuoba Feng was about to change, a thin voice came from the coffin on his back.

"Father, it is so lively outside..."

It was Xiaoyun.

Tuoba Feng started and quickly whispered, "Xiaoyun, don't speak. We are waiting in line..."

Before he could finish, he saw Jin Mantang's eyes lighting up as he stared at the stone coffin on his back.

"Oh, little brother, you are carrying someone back there?"

Tuoba Feng felt a bit embarrassed.

"It is my daughter. Her health is poor, so she can only stay inside the coffin."

In his view, carrying a coffin around was indeed unlucky and could easily scare people.

To his surprise, Jin Mantang was not only not scared but became even more excited.

"Aiya, lying in a coffin? Isn't that even more stuffy?"

"Quick, quick, let her out to get some air."

"Since you have reached the Holy City, you are in a blessed land. With the Lord presiding here, what is there to fear?"

Tuoba Feng hesitated for a moment.

He looked around.

They had already reached the City of the Wrongfully Dead; there was indeed no need to keep carrying the coffin.

He set the stone coffin down and lifted the lid.

Xiaoyun climbed out first.

With two pigtails, she was a cute little girl despite her pale face.

Immediately after, Lian also climbed out.

With her shriveled skin, grayish-white eyes, sewn lips, and tattered ancient clothes, she stood in the sunlight, looking somewhat restless.

"Ah—!!!"

Jin Mantang let out a short scream.

Xiaoyun was startled and quickly dove into Tuoba Feng's arms.

Lian trembled all over and instinctively tried to shrink back into the coffin.

"I... I am sorry..."

Her voice shook, and tears welled up in her eyes.

As expected.

She had scared someone after all.

She lowered her head, not daring to look at those around her.

Her fingers tightly gripped the hem of her tattered clothes.

She knew this would happen.

How could a monster like her not scare people?

Tuoba Feng was about to protect Lian and explain when he saw Jin Mantang, who had been screaming just a moment ago, now staring at Lian with burning eyes, as if he had seen some rare treasure.

"Young lady!!!"

Another loud shout.

Lian was stunned.

Was he calling her?

She looked up.

She saw the portly Jin Mantang staring at her with glowing eyes.

His face was filled with excitement.

"Young lady, your makeup!!!"

Makeup?

Lian looked down at herself.

She was not wearing any makeup today; she always looked like this.

"It is too auspicious!!!"