Chapter 419 - 181: The Natives’ New Priest (Part 3)
Don’t be fooled by the fact that he arrived on the island just over seven months before the natives; in terms of spirit and demeanor, he far surpasses the indigenous people.
...
Even the most stringent supervisors remained silent, so the natives naturally fell silent as well. Not only did they close their mouths, but they also subconsciously straightened their postures. Although they didn’t stand as perfectly as Sunday, they were no longer as slack as earlier.
They stood like wooden stakes in front of the cabin, and soon Saturday, equally dressed up, joined the lineup.
Though the two stood still, their eyes collectively gazed toward the distant entrance of the cave, causing the natives to focus their gaze there as well, curious about what the supervisors were anticipating.
...
The clothes everyone wore varied in style; though clean, they were not cumbersome to wear.
Even the fastidious Sunday took little time to get dressed.
In comparison, Chen Zhou suffered considerably.
The heavy Iron Massacre weighed on him piece by piece, and as it enveloped his body, the emerging pressure made his movements sluggish.
At times, Chen Zhou wondered if he was missing a screw in his head.
Why did he initially only think about looking stylish and handsome, treating the Iron Massacre as a ceremonial outfit?
Even back in the mighty days of the Great Jin, they probably didn’t don full Armor for every ceremony...
Moreover, the Jin people, situated between the Arctic Zone and Northern Temperate Zone, wouldn’t face such high temperatures even in the hottest summers as they do on the island.
Without even putting on the helmet, Chen Zhou was already feeling a strong sense of suffocation and oppression.
He sighed, trying to comfort himself—
Comfort is temporary, but looking dashing is a lifelong pursuit.
...
The sun was already bright, and even though the cave was in a shaded area, the bright sunlight clearly illuminated everything on the slope.
Under the curious gaze of the natives, the large doors of the cave were finally pulled open.
Lai Fu, who yesterday had his fur combed and collar cleaned, appeared first in everyone’s sight.
With age, his naturally steady temperament had become increasingly lazy.
In recent months, Chen Zhou was so preoccupied with various matters that he had little time to play with Lai Fu. Most of the time, Lai Fu lounged in the yard, lying there all day.
Only when he felt utterly stifled would he occasionally follow Saturday or Sunday out for a bit of play.
Even when he was outside, Lai Fu’s heart was always concerned about Chen Zhou in the cave. Every time he played until the sun was about to set, he would hurriedly head back to the cave.
However, most of his affection generally went unnoticed by Chen Zhou.
Chen Zhou was so fixated on forging new guns, he seemed almost possessed, sometimes even neglecting meals, let alone paying attention to Lai Fu.
Only last night, when Chen Zhou suddenly took off Lai Fu’s collar to clean it and groomed his fur, did Lai Fu finally enjoy a rare moment of affection with his owner.
...
Despite typically appearing lazy, when it came to a critical moment, the well-fed and strong Lai Fu stood at the entrance with an imposing demeanor.
Particularly, when the mountain wind blew in, swaying his flowing mane, he appeared even more like a majestic lion, awe-inspiring.
Stretching his legs, Lai Fu stood firmly at the entrance to the cave and habitually glanced back—
Usually, when heading out to play, he wished Chen Zhou would come along. Yet every time, as he ran out and looked back, Chen Zhou would be nowhere in sight, and only the sound of hammering iron would come from the Forging Room.
This time, Chen Zhou didn’t let Lai Fu down.
The dark Iron Massacre encased him entirely in a closed-off space. With each step, the Armor plates emitted the sound of metal clashing and scraping.
His vision was constricted, making it increasingly difficult to see what was near him. He could only rely on his familiarity with the terrain near the cave to move slowly forward.
...
Only Chen Zhou himself knew how uncomfortable he felt.
When this monster clad in an airtight black Armor, holding a long spear and carrying a Chen Family rifle on his back, stepped out of the cave’s courtyard gate, all the natives witnessing his attire for the first time couldn’t help but catch their breath.
The Iron Butcher Armor, recreated by modern people and based on the original Jin model, had an additional fierce and warrior-like aura.
Especially with its entirely black matte Armor plates appearing in daylight, it was as conspicuous as a lone red spot amid a sea of green.
Chen Zhou’s already robust physique further enhanced the sense of intimidation the Armor exerted on others.
When he turned to face the natives and the well-prepared Saturday and Sunday, the sense of intimidation instantly peaked.
The natives seemed to feel a pair of razor-sharp eyes slicing over them from behind the faceguard.
Compared to the two giant beasts that appeared on the beach in the morning, the armored Leader seemed more like a bloodthirsty monster.
...
"Let’s move!"
With these two brief words, Chen Zhou announced the official start of the ceremony, taking the lead toward the Temple.
He wasn’t trying to be cool; the stifling Armor was just too hot, making him impatient to finish the ceremony and return to the cave to take off this "Iron Armor."
...
Yesterday’s preparations and today’s attire naturally imbued the entire ceremony with a solemn atmosphere.
Though it was their first time experiencing such a ceremony, the natives dared not make any unnecessary noise; they all followed in silent compliance behind Chen Zhou.
...
Approaching the Temple, at the bend in the mountain path, Chen Zhou forcefully plunged the long spear he held into the soil and then took the loaded rifle off his back.
Seeing this, Saturday and Sunday, who followed closely behind, hurriedly took out their modified flintlock guns and, following the drills they had practiced, loaded them with Lead Bullets.