IMC Chapter 6

Fortunately, Shu is a mouse that pays great attention to his image. Even though his leg was cramping, his facial expression remained perfect. Apart from the occasional twitch and his little ears curling up against his head from time to time, there was almost no sign of anything unusual.

Finally, a fruit that looked like an orange rolled down from the mountain of food and accurately hit Shu Bao’s leg. The mouse immediately convulsed and fell to the ground, his expression twisted in pain.

The people of the Xia Wang tribe were terrified. They quickly removed the fruit and checked the state of their deity, finding that he had been hit quite hard and was almost flattened. The crowd was instantly filled with fear. However, despite this, the deity trembled and reassured them that he was fine, which moved the Xia Wang people even more, making them feel that their deity was so magnanimous.

By the time this lively sacrificial ceremony ended, it was already evening. The golden sunset tinged with a hint of orange-red, spread across the sky. The people of the Xia Wang tribe, feeling immensely satisfied, escorted their deity to the best residence in the entire tribe. They stood outside for a moment longer before reluctantly leaving.

Shu Bao sent away the enthusiastic Xia Wang people. Only when the animal skin curtain of the tent fell did the mouse, standing with its paws crossed, finally breathe a sigh of relief. In an instant, his little belly became much rounder, and the whole mouse looked even fluffier.

The fluffy ball’s leg had long since stopped cramping, and he began to leisurely wander around the room. This so-called best residence was barely windproof, with the room made of tree trunks and animal skins. The bed inside was just a pile of soft hay. Next to the haystack were many fruits, obviously prepared by the Xia Wang people.

The mouse sighed lightly. Although the environment was a bit harsh, the people were very cute. Shu Bao decided to stay for the time being, as this could be considered a population resource delivered to his door.

The Xia Wang people were also very happy today after receiving a deity delivered to their door. However, as night fell, the tribespeople gradually returned to their residences to rest, as the pressure of survival did not allow them to enjoy themselves like during the sacrificial ceremony every day.

When the tribe returned to tranquility, under the faint starlight, two sneaky figures avoided the patrol of the night watchmen and quietly headed out of the tribe. However, their movements woke the child in their arms, and the baby’s loud voice instantly alerted the night watchmen. The vigilant Xia Wang people were also awakened, and their combat instincts made them react quickly, soon surrounding the intruders.

“Ru Su?! What are you doing?” The two sneaky figures were controlled by the night watchmen. It was clear that this was a family of three, with the man being the Ru Su mentioned by the high priest.

Other tribespeople, like the high priest, were very puzzled by Ru Su’s actions. After all, leaving the tribe at night was not a wise decision. Unless there was an emergency, they would not easily leave at night.

After being caught, Ru Su simply laid his cards on the table. He looked at Shu Bao, who was standing with his paws crossed in front of the crowd, and said excitedly, “What am I doing? I’m saving myself! What are you all thinking? How could this mouse be our deity? It can only talk, what else is special about it!”

Although the way this mouse arrived at the tribe was a bit strange, it did not change the fact that it was just a mouse. Ru Su thought the high priest might be senile, and the people in the tribe were foolish to actually regard a mouse as a deity. Such a Xia Wang tribe would eventually perish. It could no longer protect him and his family!

Hearing Ru Su’s doubts, everyone looked at the fluffy ball on the ground. Shu Bao felt a bit nervous for a moment, thinking about how to prove his worth. Just then, a proud voice came from the crowd, “A deity will descend from the sky like a feather!”

Shu Bao’s little chest swelled with pride. That’s right! The mouse has a lifeboat, and the lifeboat has many resources and functions that can be used!

Inspired by that voice, another voice soon followed, “The deities will lead us to a new world!” This was the answer they received after their ritual.

Shu Bao’s little head lifted slightly. That’s right! The mouse will lead these lovely people to a new world, where they will have enough to eat and wear and live in sturdy big houses!

Soon, someone else added defiantly, “The deities can also do splits!”

Shu Bao: “…” Well… there’s no need to mention that.

However, the answer given by the Xia Wang tribe obviously did not satisfy Ru Su. His expression did not waver in the slightest, and he sneered contemptuously, “There are no deities in this world! This mouse cannot be a diety! The Xia Wang tribe is no longer safe!”

Hearing this, the Xia Wang tribesmen all looked at the high priest, as it was clear that important decisions in the tribe were usually made by the high priest. The high priest originally intended to strip Ru Su of his assets and exile him, but given Ru Su’s disrespect towards the deities, he felt that Ru Su and his family needed to be executed.

However, now that there was a deity in the tribe, he could not make the decision on his own, so he humbly crouched down and conveyed his thoughts to the deity.

After hearing this, Shu Bao scratched his chin with his paw, “Forget it, let him go.” Faith cannot be forced, and the mouse did not want to compel anyone.

Hearing this, not only Ru Su, but all the Xia Wang tribesmen were extremely shocked. In any tribe, blasphemy was no small matter, and the deity was not even angry?

The high priest was the first to react and said to Ru Su, “The deity has forgiven your sins. Leave your belongings and go.”

Ru Su looked at his wife and child. He finally put down the bone knife he was holding and took off the crude bundle on his back. Shu Bao saw that it contained a bone necklace, a piece of leather, and a small piece of slightly burnt meat. The woman, holding her heartbroken child, also took out two small wild fruits from her body and placed them on the ground.

Just as Ru Su was about to untie the animal skin covering his private parts, Shu Bao finally couldn’t help but speak, “Take all your things with you. I wish you well.”

Once again, the scene fell silent. Every decision made by the deity surprised them. Perhaps this was what made the deity different from them.

Shu Bao didn’t know what the Xia Wang people were thinking. The mouse just didn’t want flea-infested animal skins, a chipped bone knife, two unripe fruits, and a piece of charred meat. Yes, that’s it.

Ru Su’s previously angry expression softened. But having come this far, he could no longer turn back. For the first time, he seriously looked at the mouse, but couldn’t discern any deeper meaning from its furry face. Finally, he gathered everything, and with his wife and child, stepped into the dark night. Before leaving, he whispered a barely audible “thank you” and quickly departed.

The Xia Wang people watched Ru Su leave with very complicated feelings. At this moment, they heard the deity say, “If anyone else wants to leave, do it tomorrow during the day. It’s not safe at night; there are cats!”

The Xia Wang people: “…”

Soon, everyone dispersed again. Tonight, many people would definitely have trouble sleeping. Ru Su left just like that, without any punishment. But was the deity really just an ordinary talking mouse, as Ru Su said?

Of course, some people firmly believed in the results of the ritual, convinced that Shu Bao was their deity. Because of this, they couldn’t understand why the deity allowed the blasphemer Ru Su to leave.

In fact, Shu Bao could guess some of their thoughts. Integrating into a new group inevitably comes with conflicts and contradictions. Given the deity aura, the situation Shu Bao faced was actually quite simple.

Back in the most luxurious tent in the tribe, the mouse scurried to the grass nest and curled up. However, the fluffy ball wasn’t sleeping but was spreading its consciousness, letting the treasure-seeking instinct roam outside, searching for the most precious resources at the moment.

It was precisely because of the ability to improve life in the short term that Shu Bao could casually let people leave. After all, no deity would kill an entire family and take their belongings just because they didn’t believe in them. Besides, what Ru Su said was true; he was just an ordinary mouse.

“Ah! Found it!” Just before falling asleep, Shu Bao sensed the location of the treasure. But as he said, it wasn’t safe at night, so it would be better to go during the day.

Thinking this, the fluffy ball quickly fell asleep. Its round little belly rose and fell, looking particularly soft, making people want to reach out and poke it.

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