Xianjun has a disaster

"Although there are few records, there have been precedents before. Mountain spirits fell into evil after being defiled..."

On the blue stone steps, Lu Ren's face was solemn, and he was desperately searching for records in his memory while climbing the steps.

"However, the mountain spirits that will degenerate into evil spirits are more demonic. Hongxing is a third-class auspicious beast with powerful aura. Thousands of years ago, it was even capable of spreading clouds and raining on behalf of the two masters of wind and rain. It's just a step back Wanbu said that since the aura of heaven and earth was unstable, the Hongxing family has been hidden. Such superior spirit beasts may be caught and trapped by mere mountain people. Besides, I don’t even know about Hongxing. With such a weakness, how could an ordinary wandering Taoist know..."

"Lu Xianyou don't need to be too nervous." Ji Xueting suddenly interrupted Lu Ren's chatter, "It's just a crooked trick, and maybe someone really wanted to reveal clues to us through the previous puppet show. But I just thought about it, and I still feel that there are many doubts in that story, presumably it should be deliberately released by someone hidden behind the scenes to shake our minds."

Especially seeing Lu Ren so flustered, Ji Xueting secretly sighed in his heart, only feeling that the possibility of the latter statement was obviously greater.

At this moment, Lu Ren seemed to be aware of his gaffe, his face suddenly changed, and then he closed his lips tightly, and said nothing more.

The three of them walked up the mountainside silently along the flow of people, and finally saw the mountain temple at the end of the steps.

It looks like an ordinary mountain temple, neither particularly luxurious nor shabby.If you don't consider the strangeness of Qingzhou and Yingcheng, and the little puppet show that suddenly appeared in front of them, as the master of the mountain god, Ji Xueting should be quite satisfied with his office space at the moment.

The usual blue tiles and white walls of mountain temples. There is an incense burner in front of the temple, which has been filled with unburned incense. There is an altar in the temple. The statue's eyebrows were also blurred in the continuous smoke.

"Great! Entering the temple is your territory, Ji Xianyou, you go in quickly, and then tell the people above that someone will send a warrior who exorcises evil spirits and suppresses demons to clean up this messy place." .”

Lu Ren looked at the scene in the mountain temple with a relaxed expression, and after saying this, he wanted to go to the mountain temple.

However, before he took two steps, an unsheathed Lingcang sword suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his way.

"Lu Xianyou, be quiet and don't worry."

Ji Xueting said softly.

While speaking, he was holding a sword in one hand and reaching into his bosom with the other, and grabbed a handful of paper talismans extravagantly.

"What did Ji Xianguan find?"

Seeing Ji Xueting's actions, Lu Ren asked tremblingly.

"Well...it's hard to say."

Ji Xueting said with a smile.

Even though he didn't say it, the feeling was very clear.

At that moment just now, Ji Xueting was even a little surprised why Lu Ren didn't notice that distinct strangeness—it was like being separated from the coffin boards, an invisible but faintly overflowing rotten smell was surrounding the place in front of him. A mountain temple that seems to be full of people and incense.

In contrast, Yan Ke was more sensitive. As early as the moment he saw the mountain temple, Ji Xueting could feel the young man's body tense unconsciously. Every time he took a step forward, the resistance and enthusiasm emanating from his body Disgust is more pronounced.

"Don't be afraid."

Ji Xueting said softly, obviously Yan Ke had enough spells and paper beasts for protection, but Ji Xueting subconsciously took out a few more from his palm and put them in Yan Ke's palm.

"...I'm just worried that something will go wrong and I won't take good care of you. Don't think too much about it."

As if suddenly remembering something, Ji Xueting hastily added another sentence.

"Thank you."

The young man seemed to be ignorant of Ji Xueting's indifference, holding the talisman, changed his previously tense face, raised his head and responded sweetly.

Ji Xueting didn't even dare to look at Yan Ke's eyes at this time, turned around quickly, and walked into the mountain temple guardedly with his sword in hand.

And after stepping into the mountain temple...

Nothing happened.

Those who worship are still worshiping, and those who kowtow are still kowtowing.

In the same way, even after entering the temple, Ji Xueting and his party still couldn't connect to the Heavenly Court's communication, let alone communicate with the outside world.

Lu Renna's plan to find a god of war from the heavens to wipe out all the monsters fell through, and he immediately broke down and cried out.After chattering and complaining for a long time, Lu Ren realized that he had not received any response.He turned around and saw the young man in white in front of the futon with his arms folded, looking up at the statue of the "Mountain God Lord" enshrined by the people, with a subtle smile on the corner of his mouth, half a smile.

Lu Ren involuntarily followed Ji Xueting's gaze to look at the sculpture, it was okay not to look at it, but when he looked closely, he couldn't help but start to get blue veins again.

No matter how big or small the official positions are enshrined in temples in this world, they are more or less decent gods who have registered in the Tongming Temple of Shangtianting. It is precisely because of this that folks worship gods, no matter what, they must be careful and sincere in their statues.

Even if it is a land lord in a corner, at least the facial features and clothing are painted with serious ink when the statue is completed. No matter how bad it is, a few steamed buns and wild fruits must be offered before the sculpture to show sincerity.

However, this Yingcheng Mountain Temple is an orthodox temple with walls and tiles. What the people kneel down and worship is just a rough puppet carved. Hasty, dislocated facial features, rough limbs, four fingers on the left hand, seven on the right hand.

"It's outrageous, it's really outrageous, this kind of thing can be placed in the mountain temple, it's just a fucking wooden stake from the side of the road, right?"

Lu Ren fell down in anger, but Ji Xueting laughed out loud, "Ah, that's right, it's actually a wooden stake." After a pause, he laughed again, "This was cut by Han Ying himself."

Ji Xueting vaguely remembered this sculpture.That was also 20 years ago. At that time, Zhichun was already familiar with him and Han Ying. The child who was trained like a kitten in the past has grown into a green and lovely, pure and childish boy, full of love. There is only his wise and martial brother in Zhongdu.However, Han Zhichun is different from ordinary people after all, even if he grabs Han Ying and rolls around again, he wants to go out on horseback with his most beloved brother and fight swordsmanship, but in the end it fails.

No matter how recklessly Han Ying acts, it is impossible for him to really take this stupid brother on a tour of the rivers and lakes.Returning home after a farewell, only to find that the seemingly stupid Zhichun still holds a grudge.Han Ying has been home for many days and is still sulking.At that time... By the way, at that time Han Ying wanted to please Zhichun, and thought that the child was obsessed with puppets, so he rolled up his sleeves and planned to carve a puppet for Zhichun himself. Carving wood is not enough.He worked so hard to make a wooden doll, and put it in front of Zhichun, it scared Zhichun to tears.

later……

Later, Ji Xueting really couldn't remember how the noisy brothers Han Ying and Han Zhichun reconciled in the end.

He originally thought that with the arrogant character of that young boy, he would have burned his rare failed work to ashes long ago, but he never thought that after many years, he would be here again and see the one that was so ugly that it was so ugly. A puppet that made him memorable.

"If my guess is correct, it should be that Han Ying randomly placed a puppet here for people to worship. Anyway, before me, the position of the mountain god has always been vacant? He is loved here, and the people want to come There will be no objection, and this ugly sculpture, after a long time, I am afraid I will get used to it."

"This... shouldn't it be? It's not like City Lord Han would do such a deviant thing."

Lu Ren said in a daze.

But Ji Xueting was not surprised: "You don't know—to be so disrespectful and disrespectful of gods and Buddhas is the temperament he should have."

While speaking, Ji Xueting's mind once again recalled the appearance of the young swordsman many years ago, who was full of fear, fearless, and wished to poke a hole in the sky.

... Well, what I have to say is that it really doesn't fit Han Ying's current middle-aged appearance with graying temples, tired and steady.

But Ji Xueting was still reminiscing about the past, and didn't notice that Yan Ke beside him was staring straight at the statue occupying the position of the mountain god.

That should have a sculpture of Ashe.

Tianqu Xianjun thought in his heart.

But now, there is only one ugly thing that was put on it casually.

Tianqu didn't feel how angry he was, nor did he feel that he was out of control, he just felt that this scene was really an eyesore.

A few extremely thin black shadows suddenly separated from the shadow of "Yan Ke", and rushed onto the hard wooden statue amidst the flickering candlelight.

"Crack-"

The next moment, the puppet placed in the shrine suddenly made a crisp sound.

Then, without anyone touching it, it suddenly turned into a large handful of scattered sawdust.

"Ahhhh-"

"Idol—Master Mountain God, he blew up—"

……

Such a sudden change made the people in the mountain temple who were sincerely worshiping the mountain god suddenly become a mess, screaming, pushing, and fleeing. The people inside were afraid and wanted to escape. The people outside wanted to know what happened in the Temple of the Mountain, and the two groups of people crowded together at the gate of the temple, arguing endlessly and being extremely chaotic.

Ji Xueting was naturally taken aback by the sudden accident, and instinctively protected Yan Ke and hid in the corner of the mountain temple.

However, at this moment, he was hit hard by a girl who was dodging the crowd in a panic.It's just that that person is an ordinary girl after all, but Ji Xueting is a practitioner. After such a collision, Ji Xueting didn't move, but the girl almost flew out.

"careful!"

Ji Xueting let out a low drink, and supported the girl.

However, in this way, he also met the girl's panicked face at the same time.

It was a familiar face.It was also a face that Ji Xueting never expected to appear here.

That girl was clearly the poor girl Liu Ahua who was supposed to be swallowed up by the rampant god!

However, at this moment, the woman who was supposed to have no bones left appeared in front of him again.

Ji Xueting's pupils shrank suddenly, and just as he was about to grab Liu Ahua, there was another crowd behind him, holding the girl directly and flashing away from Ji Xueting's eyes.

When Ji Xueting looked up again, Liu Ahua had long since disappeared from the crowd.

Damn.

Ji Xueting cursed secretly in his heart, before he had time to think about it, he put a protective paper talisman on each of the two people behind him, and said: "I'm going to chase someone!", and then directly chased after him with his sword in hand.

The temple was crowded and chaotic at this time, even Ji Xueting could barely catch the corner of A Hua's clothes, and then pushed the crowd away to forcefully move forward.

With such twists and turns, pushing and shoving, by the time he managed to get out of the crowd, A'hua's trace had long since disappeared, but he himself had unknowingly arrived at the back hall of the mountain temple.

Compared with the extremely noisy and chaotic front hall, the back hall is extraordinarily quiet and dark.

And around the back hall, there are countless puppets standing densely.

Those puppets are big or small, delicate or crude, and some of them have been placed here for an unknown number of years. Even the oil paint on their faces has faded, and the spring mechanisms used to lock the movable jaws and joints have long since slackened. , the dusty doll had to lean loosely against the wall, with its jaw open, revealing its black mouth, as if screaming.

Of course, there are some puppets that are all brand new, with extremely exquisite eyebrows and clothing. If you don't look carefully at the thin cracks on his face when you stand there, you will be no different from a real person.

But no matter what, when there are so many puppets all over the sky, occupying the four walls and even hanging densely on the ceiling... it looks somewhat weird.

Ji Xueting sighed, the Ling Cang sword was unsheathed and jumped into his hand.

He backed away slowly, just about to exit this weird and unpredictable place.

Suddenly, someone behind said: "These are stand-in puppets."

Ji Xueting turned around abruptly, pointing the tip of his sword at the man.

It was only at this time that I saw that the person was wearing an indistinct green robe and a mask covering his face, making his appearance invisible.

"Qingzhou is barren, and it is difficult for the people to live, so most of them have to go out to ask for a living, and when these people leave... nine out of ten, they will die in a foreign land and never come back. It's just that when people die outside, their souls are lonely and helpless. It's really difficult. So Qingzhou people have an extra custom. If a person is about to leave his hometown for a long journey, he must prepare a substitute puppet in advance and enshrine it in the temple hall. With this puppet, even if the person really dies But the body is the same as the soul has returned to the hometown, so it will not be unable to rest in peace."

Judging from the voice, the masked man sounds like a young man.

"Don't be nervous, I just opened my mouth to explain because I saw you strayed into this place, and I was afraid that you would be frightened by these puppets."

Facing Ji Xueting's sword, the masked youth remained calm, and there was even a strange tenderness in his voice.

"I'm not frightened by these puppets. Instead, it's you who hide your head and show your tail, which makes me panic."

Ji Xueting also said calmly, with the sword in his hand impartial, still pointing at the masked youth.

"If you really intend to make me feel at ease, why not take off the mask?"

Ji Xueting added.

"Your vigilance is still as serious as ever..." The man chuckled behind the mask, and then, as Ji Xueting asked, he stretched out his hand and slowly took off the mask.

"Axue, it's been so long, when will you let my soul rest in peace?"

Faint candles flickered and made small sounds from time to time.

The young man had an extremely deep and handsome face, but his complexion was the pale green that only dead people have.

There was still a smile on his lips, and when he spoke, he could still see the black blood stained between his lips and teeth.

"At the beginning, your good Cilang used you as a bait to lure me to run three hundred miles at night, and stormed back to the palace. He only wanted to save you. Because of this, I was arrested with all my strength, and was finally sent to the Tiantai, where thousands of knives were spent. To sacrifice to the new dynasty."

The young man said softly, taking a step forward every time he said a word.

At the end of the story, people have arrived in front of Ji Xueting.

He raised his hand and gently stroked Ji Xueting's cheek.

"Did you avenge this revenge for me? My dear Axue?"

Ji Xueting allowed the man to lift his chin with icy fingers, and he met the man's dark eyes. After a while, he murmured and called out, "Emperor...brother."