Qin Jian comforted her for a while, feeling helpless.
The girl not only didn't stop crying, her sobs grew louder.
Young Master Qin worried she might choke from crying.
His large hand continuously stroked the girl's back. Qin Jian let out a bitter laugh.
I'm the victim here, yet she's the one crying nonstop. Women really are made of water.
To be honest, if this world weren't filled with various dangers, Qin Jian would be happy to stay. After all, it was a novel and unknown world.
And if he wanted to return, it wasn't necessarily impossible. If a summoning ritual could bring him here, there must be another way to send him back; he just hadn't found it yet.
After a long while, the girl finally stopped sobbing. When she looked up, Qin Jian's heart nearly broke.
Her eyes, swollen like peaches, were filled with guilt. She didn't even dare look him in the eye. Her small body, curled tightly into a ball, trembled occasionally, looking utterly pitiful.
"What are you thinking?" Seeing Qin Jian lost in thought, the girl couldn't help but ask.
"I'm thinking how to make you stop crying!" Qin Jian replied, not feeling awkward despite their first meeting. Perhaps because of the ritual, he felt a strange sense of familiarity. He reached out to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
A deep blush immediately spread down the girl's slender neck.
"Ah, so beautiful! Back home, I'd have figured out a way to have my way with you already," Qin Jian muttered to himself in his own language, certain she couldn't understand.
"What?" The girl tilted her head, looking at Qin Jian curiously, her expression puzzled.
"Nothing, you're very beautiful," Qin Jian replied smoothly, his old face showing not a trace of blush.
"Thank you!" The girl was demure and shy. Qin Jian couldn't understand how such a bewitchingly beautiful girl could have a personality so completely different. If she were the licentious type, Qin Jian could muster the nerve, but the girl's demeanor made it impossible for him to act.
Maybe all Elves are like this?
"It's like a dream..." Qin Jian sighed deeply, glancing back at the gorilla, still sitting motionless.
"Yes..." The girl nodded slightly. "A thrilling dream!"
"What's your name?" Qin Jian asked.
"Mo Ni Ka!" The girl gradually relaxed, a smile appearing on her face. Two charming dimples formed on her fair cheeks. Her red-rimmed eyes added an enchanting charm.
"My name is Qin Jian!" Young Master Qin was momentarily dazed before regaining his composure.
A siren! This was no Elf; she was an absolute enchantress!
"Qin Jian..." The girl murmured, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. "A bit strange name."
He had to admit, this beauty possessed unparalleled charm in every smile and frown. For a moment, Qin Jian was transfixed. Her voice was incredibly pleasant, soft and gentle, making one feel a warmth flowing in their heart.
"So... Qin Jian, where are you from? The distant human kingdoms?" The girl still seemed a bit uncomfortable with the name.
"Probably... yes," Qin Jian was also unsure, not knowing where to begin.
"Then you must be a great Mage!" The girl's eyes lit up, filled with sincere admiration.
Qin Jian gave a dry laugh. Mage... Heaven knows how magic is produced.
The trace of admiration in the girl's eyes made Qin Jian slightly smug.
"Magic can create countless miracles... Unfortunately, only Priestesses or Priestess candidates among the Elves can use profound Wood Magic..." Mo Ni Ka's eyes dimmed as she spoke.
"Right, you keep mentioning Priestess. What exactly is that?" Qin Jian scratched his head. He felt the events he'd encountered today surpassed all he'd seen during his wanderings.
"A Priestess is the pride of the Elven race, the guide leading our people's development!" Mo Ni Ka's face radiated brilliance again.
"A leader?" Qin Jian was slightly amused. He hadn't expected to meet a head-of-state figure the moment he opened his eyes.
"Not exactly." Mo Ni Ka slowly shook her head. "The Elven race has its own revered Queen and a Council of Elders. The Priestess is responsible for conveying the Moon God's will and showcasing the Moon God's glory to her people."
So it's a religious charlatan! Qin Jian thought privately. Regarding deities, he'd never been a believer. But back on Earth, any institution, any nation, needed a spiritual pillar to stabilize its people.
Those illusory things were just derivatives of politics.
"Moreover, only one person in each generation of Elves is qualified to become the Priestess!" The girl was immensely proud.
"That's pretty awesome!" Qin Jian was surprised. In his original thinking, there might not be many Priestesses, but surely several dozen? But according to Mo Ni Ka's description, only one Elf per generation could become the Priestess.
"... You, how can you be so..." Her paper-thin skin made the girl too embarrassed to continue, but her face instantly flushed crimson. She shot Qin Jian a fierce glare with her soul-stealing eyes, nearly snatching away Young Master Qin's little heart.
"Haha, that's just how I am!" Qin Jian rubbed his nose.
"Though it's remarkable, the Priestess also bears corresponding responsibilities!" Mo Ni Ka didn't pursue the argument with Qin Jian.
"The Elven race is divided into many tribes. When an old Priestess nears death, she returns her abilities to the Moon God. No one knows when or in which tribe the next Priestess will appear. It's entirely the Moon God's will."
"It's clear now, you are the Priestess!" Qin Jian looked at the girl shivering from the cold, feeling a pang of heartache.
Mo Ni Ka slowly shook her head, looking at Qin Jian with a bitter smile. "Whether the coronation succeeds still depends on returning to the tribe."