Sword Art Online Crossover: They're all close friends, how did I become a player?

Drought has been a very serious problem, both in modern times and in ancient times.

However, modern technology allows for artificial rainmaking, which can be used to address urgent situations when necessary.

But what about in ancient times when there was no technological development?

In China, the imperial court often provides disaster relief, including distributing food, silver, and other supplies to alleviate the hardships faced by disaster victims.

At the same time, the rulers would also order tax reductions or exemptions in disaster-stricken areas to alleviate the burden on the victims.

In addition, the government will organize manpower and resources for water conservancy construction, such as digging wells and building canals, to improve drought resistance.

In addition to the imperial court's relief measures, there was also the ancient tradition of emperors praying for rain.

They would bathe and meditate, prepare the finest offerings, and then, with the assistance of officials from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, observe celestial phenomena, calculate the solar terms and calendar, and choose the appropriate time to conduct a rain-praying ceremony.

Although it is unknown whether emperors' prayers for rain were effective, this practice had a wide influence in ancient society and was regarded as an important way to communicate with the gods and pray for rain.

What about cherry blossoms?

Regardless of whether the ancient rulers here chose to solve the problem or choose to turn a blind eye.

Let's talk about the current situation where humans and demons coexist. In this context, ignorant humans might develop the idea of ​​praying to the gods for salvation.

But they don't know whether the object of their prayers is a legitimate god or a monster.

Since ancient times, people have always prepared offerings when praying to gods.

Before praying for rain, Chinese emperors would bathe and meditate repeatedly, and their subordinates would prepare the finest offerings before they would begin the rain-praying ceremony.

This is true for emperors, and even more so for ordinary people.

But now there is a severe drought, and there is no food or animals left, so where will the tribute come from?

At this point, some quick-thinking people thought, "Aren't humans animals too?"

Not to mention that cherry blossoms have been associated with legends such as being the bride of a river god or disappearing into the underworld since ancient times.

Thus, the practice of human sacrifice to the gods began to take place in some places without anyone noticing.

……

Night fell, and all was quiet except for the occasional chirping of insects that broke the oppressive stillness.

Inside a dilapidated house in the village, a dim, yellowish fire flickered, as if it might go out at any moment.

The dim, flickering firelight barely illuminated the surroundings. Several figures sat around the makeshift fire, their faces appearing mottled, distorted, and eerie in the flames, like the masks of a prajna (Buddhist sage).

“It hasn’t rained for months,” a white-haired old man said slowly, his voice low and hoarse.

"Yes, let's send a sacrificial offering over there."

Silence, like an invisible net, instantly enveloped the entire room.

Everyone was preoccupied with their own agendas, and no one wanted to step forward and take responsibility. After a long while, people began to speak, their voices filled with obvious resistance and a desire to shirk responsibility.

"I don't deliver to my home."

"My family doesn't want to either."

"..."

The silence, like a cold tide, enveloped everyone's hearts.

Just then, the old man's voice rang out again, like a sharp blade, shattering the suffocating silence.

"Then... what about Ding?"

The old man's gaze grew increasingly cold. He slowly raised his head, and a chilling light shone from beneath his half-drooping eyelids.

His proposal was like a bomb, exploding in everyone's hearts.

Another man standing nearby, with a smug look on his face, immediately chimed in, "That's right, and there's that kid Ding too. Come to think of it, he wasn't even from our village to begin with, so making him a sacrificial offering is the most suitable thing for us."

“Then it’s settled, we’ll choose him,” another villager chimed in, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of relief.

"Choose him."

"agree!"

"..."

And so, Ding's name was repeatedly mentioned by the crowd, as if he had become a symbol that could be sacrificed at will.

In this village, ravaged by drought to the point of near despair, the coldness and selfishness of humanity are magnified to an extreme, and Ding's fate is quietly sealed in this ruthless choice.

Yu Bai ran frantically towards the house where Hozuki was, his heart filled with anxiety, as if every passing moment was intensifying his unease. At this moment, he wished he could use his divine power to fly there.

He had only one thought in his mind: he had to find Hozuki as soon as possible and take him away from this village shrouded in madness and ignorance.

Just now, as he was out looking for something to eat at night, as he was making it easier to walk through the houses to the mountain, he overheard the group's conversation.

They actually wanted to sacrifice a living child to the so-called mountain god in order to pray for rain; this is utterly inhumane.

Moreover, Yu Bai had already checked when he explored the mountain at night, and there was no mountain god on the mountain, only monsters.

This suggests that these villagers have been sacrificing their children to something all along.

Monsters that have eaten living people will only become more and more evil, and some monsters can even affect the surrounding environment because of their aura.

It's not impossible for the village to stop raining, all in order to force the villagers to sacrifice more human children for him.

The villagers' blindness and ignorance undoubtedly provided fertile ground for the monster's rampage, creating an appalling vicious cycle.

"Hozuki! Wake up, let's go!" Yu Bai called out anxiously as he approached Hozuki's bedside.

"Bai, what's wrong?"

Awakened, Hozuki rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked at Yu Bai with a blank expression, clearly not understanding what had happened.

"Never mind that, get up, let's go!"

"it is good."

But when he saw Yu Bai's extremely anxious expression, all his drowsiness vanished instantly.

Without saying a word, he quickly got out of bed, not even having time to put on his shoes, and rushed out with Yu Bai.

Without needing to ask further, he had complete trust in Yu Bai. Since he said he wanted to leave, no matter the reason or whether he was sober or not, he would follow him.

However, fate seemed determined not to let them off so easily. Just as they were about to rush out of the village, the villagers, carrying torches and with menacing expressions, spotted the ghost lantern running towards the back of the village.

"Where is Ding! Catch him!"

A villager's roar shattered the silence of the night, and the other villagers, hearing the sound, all turned their gazes toward the ghost lantern.

The torchlight flickered in the night sky, illuminating their faces like demons from hell, their eyes gleaming with greed, as if they already considered Ding theirs for the taking.

……

Yu Bai: Using living people as sacrifices? I'll go to hell with you!

Hozuki: (Hearing Yu Bai tell him to run, he gets up and runs without thinking) I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling.