inspire-indiana Chapter 157 Continuing the Lantern at the Tiger Family, Tiger and Rabbit
Chapter 157 Continuing the Lantern at the Tiger Family, Tiger and Rabbit
Chapter 157 Continuing the Lantern at the Tiger Family, Tiger and Rabbit (First Update 5400 words)
The next day at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM).
Before dawn, when the night was deep.
The entire Zhenlong Temple was immersed in the deepest tranquility before dawn.
Lu Yuan had already bathed and changed into a clean blue Taoist robe, his hair neatly tied up with a wooden hairpin.
He pushed open the door.
Outside the door, Zhou Shouzhou was already waiting, dressed in a neat Taoist robe with a solemn expression.
He held a red lacquered tray in both hands.
On the plate, three sticks of incense, a stack of yellow talismans, and a vermilion inkstone are neatly arranged.
"Senior brother."
Zhou Shouzhou bowed slightly, his voice very low.
Lu Yuan nodded and reached out to take the tray.
Slightly heavy to start with.
Last night's argument is now just a distant memory.
Zhou Shouzhou explained his reasoning, and Lu Yuan finished explaining his own path.
The matter was thus concluded.
Zhou Shouzhou didn't try to stop him at all; he just felt that this was a thankless and arduous task, and there was no need for it.
But since Lu Yuan insists, he will support him.
Everyone can see that Lu Yuan is now the one who truly has the final say in Zhenlong Temple.
The Zhenlong Temple's current prosperity, from its flourishing incense offerings to its prestigious title of "Contemporary Celestial Venerable," is all thanks to Lu Yuan.
Zhou Shouzhou naturally didn't say anything more.
The two walked lightly, one after the other, through the quiet courtyard.
Soon, the side hall where the patriarchs of past generations were enshrined came into view.
The palace gates were tightly closed.
Lu Yuan stopped in front of the door but did not push it open immediately.
He carefully placed the tray on the stone steps in front of the door, then straightened his clothes and bowed deeply to the palace gate.
Zhou Shouzhou was half a step behind him, and bowed in the same manner, his movements perfectly synchronized.
After the ceremony, Lu Yuan straightened up and reached out to push open the heavy wooden door.
"Squeak"
As the wooden door opened, a mellow and solemn aroma of incense mixed with the scent of old wood wafted out, instantly cleansing the mind and spirit.
According to the rules, while the master is alive, it is not the disciple's turn to ask the ancestral master.
Everything is decided by the Master.
But since the old man is not in the temple now, we have to make special arrangements.
Stepping into the side hall, it was not dark at all.
Countless eternal lamps burned silently, illuminating the entire hall with a magnificent glow.
The flame dancing on the wick was not the usual orange-yellow, but rather had a faint golden hue.
It was as if the oil burning was not ordinary lamp oil, but some kind of divine substance.
Amidst the shifting light and shadow, the ancestral tablets enshrined on the shrines stand silently in rows.
The characters on the topmost sandalwood plaque shimmered under the golden light.
[The True Man Who Responds to the Origin of the Nine Heavens and Enforces the Laws, the Heavenly Venerable Who Controls Thunder, the Golden Thunder Who Breaks Through Illusions, and the Master of the Nine Thunders]
Below, the memorial tablets are stacked layer upon layer.
Some ink marks are still fresh, while others are already faded and worn, soaked with the passage of time.
Lu Yuan glanced at the blank memorial tablet at the bottom, then looked away and slowly walked towards the incense table.
Zhou Shouzhou stopped outside the palace gate and did not follow them in.
He simply closed the palace door slightly, leaving a crack, then lowered his eyes and waited quietly like a stone statue.
The bronze incense burner on the altar was covered with a thick layer of incense ash.
Lu Yuan placed the tray on the table, took out three sticks of incense, and brought them to a lamp that burns eternally.
The flame licked the tip of the incense stick, and wisps of smoke rose up.
He stepped back, held the incense sticks in both hands, and raised them high above his forehead.
I bowed three times respectfully to the ancestral tablets covering the wall.
One bow.
Second bow.
Three bows.
After the ceremony, he stepped forward and carefully inserted three incense sticks into the incense burner.
Three wisps of green smoke rose straight up, swirled in mid-air, and seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, slowly drifting towards the direction of the memorial tablet.
Lu Yuan did not speak immediately.
He returned to the incense table, spread out a sheet of yellow talisman paper, picked up a brush, and dipped it in the blood-red cinnabar.
The brushstrokes flowed like dragons and snakes.
The talisman paper contained no complicated talismans, only a single line of clear text:
[Lu Yuan, a disciple of Zhenlong Temple, has something to report to the ancestral masters.]
After writing, he put down his pen, picked up the talisman, and lit it over the flame of the ever-burning lamp.
The talisman burst into flames with a "whoosh," the firelight glowing a pale red, yet without a trace of smoke.
A flash of red light disappeared in an instant, and the talisman turned into a wisp of green smoke, merging with the green smoke from the incense and drifting together toward the shrine.
This is a rule of the Taoist school.
Lu Yuan was a disciple from a later generation, with a master above him. If he wanted to report to the patriarch, he had to first send a "letter" to show respect.
We can't just ask like the old man.
The green mist dissipated.
Lu Yuan stood before the incense table, calmed his mind, and finally spoke.
His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear, echoing in every corner of the hall.
"Lu Yuan, a disciple of Zhenlong Temple, respectfully informs the ancestral masters of all generations."
"At midnight last night, seven rural deities gathered outside the mountain gate."
"It is the Sleeping Ox Stone Lord, who protected the crops in this area for three hundred years."
"She is the mother of the spring, who guarded a mountain spring for three hundred years."
"She was the Flower Goddess, who once oversaw the blooming of flowers on a mountain for three hundred years."
"Now that the incense has been extinguished and the divine light is about to dissipate, you have come to my True Dragon Temple seeking only a way to survive."
Lu Yuan paused.
The hall was deathly silent, with only the flickering flame of the eternal lamp burning softly, as if listening.
He continued, "This disciple dares to suggest that seven small shrines be erected for them along the mountain path of Qixia Mountain."
"We will not enter the main hall, nor will we pay our respects to the incense offerings; we will simply find a sheltered spot by the mountain path."
"If a kind-hearted pilgrim offers incense, it is the pilgrim's merit."
"If no one pays attention to them, they will wait quietly, which does not bother me."
"This disciple knows that this place is the True Dragon Temple, and every blade of grass, every tree, and every wisp of incense belongs to the Three Pure Ones and to the patriarchs of all ages."
"Therefore, I dare not act on my own authority, and have come here to report and earnestly request the permission of the ancestral masters of all generations."
After speaking, Lu Yuan took a step back and bowed deeply once again to the wall full of memorial tablets.
Inside the hall, all was silent.
The flame of the ever-burning lamp flickered as usual.
Lu Yuan remained bowed, completely still.
Take a breath.
Two breaths.
Three breaths.
suddenly!
The flames of all the ever-burning lamps in the hall suddenly stopped!
They stopped jumping and shaking, instantly solidifying into straight golden beams of light.
Then, something unexpected happened!
The memorial tablet at the very top, belonging to the patriarch Zhang Jiuting, suddenly lit up!
That wasn't the reflection of the lamplight, but the ancestral tablet itself emitting light!
On the sandalwood plaque, the large gold-lacquered characters seem to come alive, radiating a warm yet majestic light.
The second memorial tablet lit up.
The third piece.
The fourth piece.
One after another, like ink spreading across a painting, the ancestral tablets covering the entire wall lit up from top to bottom!
The light was not dazzling, as faint as a thin mist, but within the hall, it was so clear that it could not be ignored.
Lu Yuan slowly straightened up.
He understood immediately.
This is the "thought" of the patriarchs of all generations, transcending life and death, descending upon this place.
They are listening.
Just as he was about to speak again, the three incense sticks on the altar changed.
The three straight wisps of blue smoke were drawn together by a force without warning, slowly converging into one.
Then, the condensed blue smoke shot straight up.
As it rose into the air, the blue smoke suddenly dissipated.
In mid-air, it scattered and transformed into a lifelike lotus flower!
The lotus flower bloomed quietly and remained there for a full three breaths.
Then, it slowly dissipated and returned to nothingness.
As Lu Yuan watched the lotus flower dissipate, a great weight was lifted from his heart.
The lotus flower condensed in smoke is considered "acceptable".
The patriarchs have granted permission.
He immediately bowed deeply to the wall full of memorial tablets.
"Disciple Lu Yuan thanks all the ancestral masters!"
As he finished speaking, the glowing memorial tablets began to slowly fade.
Piece by piece, it restored the original rustic appearance.
However, just as the light on the topmost memorial tablet of Zhang Jiuting was about to completely fade away, it seemed to—brighten up again.
The light was so faint and fleeting that it almost seemed like an illusion.
But Lu Yuan saw it.
In that fleeting glimpse of light, he clearly felt a gaze upon him.
The gaze passed over him.
It landed behind him.
The direction of the palace gate.
Lu Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and he turned around abruptly.
Behind him, only Zhou Shouzhou stood silently outside the crack in the door.
error?
What does that mean?
The patriarch is watching—Master Zhou?
That shouldn't be the case—
Master Zhou's lineage did not originate from Zhenlong Temple.
That's not about seeing Master Zhou—
Who are we looking at?
Or rather, are you looking in that direction?
Before Lu Yuan could figure it out, when he turned around again, the light on the memorial tablet had completely dissipated.
Inside the hall, the usual tranquility had returned.
Only those countless eternal lamps silently witnessed everything.
Lu Yuan stood there for a moment, suppressing his doubts.
Then, facing the wall full of memorial tablets, he solemnly bowed three more times.
After bowing three times, he turned around, pushed open the door, and went out.
Outside the door, the sky was already tinged with a pale, fish-belly white.
The mountain breeze in the early morning blows in my face, carrying a unique crispness.
Lu Yuan didn't delay any longer and strode towards the warehouse.
The next day at Chenshi (7-9 AM).
As dawn broke and the sun peeked halfway over the mountains, the morning mist still lingered, like a thin veil shrouding the stone mountain path.
Lu Yuan changed into a brand-new blue Taoist robe, carrying a heavy bundle in his hand, and walked down the mountain path of Qixia Mountain.
Behind him, Zhou Shouzhou followed closely.
The Taoist priest in charge of receiving guests carried a carrying pole on his shoulder, with seven newly built small shrines steadily swaying at both ends.
The shrine was only about a foot tall, made of cedar wood, and had a simple design, no different from the shrines that ordinary families used to worship the Earth God.
But this wood was old material that Lu Yuan had dug out of the Taoist temple's storeroom overnight.
It has been naturally air-dried for several years, and its texture is hard, emitting a faint woody fragrance.
"This is fine."
Lu Yuan stopped at a bend halfway up the mountain.
This place is a geomantically auspicious location.
It is sheltered from the wind and faces the sun. Behind it is a huge, naturally protruding rock, and a few old, crooked pine trees stubbornly grow in the crevices of the rock.
The mountain road makes a gentle bend here, forming a small, concave platform that neither obstructs the road nor appears abrupt.
But any pilgrim passing by can see it with just a glance.
Zhou Shouzhou put down the carrying pole, looked around, and nodded in agreement.
"This is indeed a good location."
Lu Yuan did not make a move immediately.
He took out three incense sticks from his bundle, flicked them with his fingertips, lit them, and respectfully bowed three times to the rocky mountain in front of him.
"Gods and spirits, I, Lu Yuan, a disciple of Zhenlong Temple, wish to erect a shrine here for seven fellow practitioners who have fallen on hard times."
"I am borrowing this space. I hope you will forgive me if I cause any trouble in the future."
Three wisps of smoke rose gently, merging into the morning mist and slowly dissipating.
That's the rule.
Mountains have their owners, and land has its own spirit; when borrowing someone else's land, you must first give them permission.
After the ceremony, Lu Yuan picked up the first shrine and walked to the recessed area.
He squatted down and took out a stack of yellow paper from his bundle.
The paper contained words he had written in the night with cinnabar. They were not some profound talisman, but rather the names, origins, and spiritual attainments of the seven wild gods.
The Sleeping Ox Stone, formed from a giant rock by the field over 362 years, once protected the area with favorable weather and abundant harvests.
The Spring Mother, born from the source of a mountain spring, lived for 377 years and guarded the abundance or scarcity of a single water source.
The Flower Goddess, born in 277, was transformed from wildflowers in the mountains and once controlled the seasonal blooming of flowers on a mountain.
It was written clearly, line by line and column by column.
Zhou Shouzhuo, standing beside him, subtly shifted his gaze.
He followed them the whole night, but never heard the seven gods introduce themselves or explain their origins.
this----
Zhou Shouzhou glanced at Lu Yuan with some surprise.
It was a bit strange how Lu Yuan knew all this so clearly.
A thought flashed through Zhou Shouzhou's mind, but he did not ask.
Of course, even if Zhou Shouzhou asked, Lu Yuan wouldn't tell him.
These are all things seen from the system; how can I explain them to others?
Lu Yuan folded the yellow paper and stuffed it into the small slot reserved on the base of the shrine.
This is called "naturalization".
When deities enter the shrine, they are given names, surnames, roots, and origins.
You can't just stuff it in haphazardly; that's the treatment for a wild ghost.
After stuffing the yellow paper in, Lu Yuan took out a small handful of grains from the bundle.
Take a few grains of each of the five grains—rice, millet, sorghum, wheat, and beans—and stuff them into the base.
The five grains are grounded in the earth, which helps these wild gods with faint divine light to establish a firm foundation, so that they will not be blown away by the mountain wind.
After doing all this, he carefully placed the shrine squarely in the center of the recess.
The first one is the Reclining Ox Stone.
Lu Yuan stood up, took three sticks of incense from Zhou Shouzhuo, lit them, and respectfully placed them in the soil in front of the shrine.
Then he spoke.
The voice was not loud, but on the quiet mountain path, every word was clear.
"Now, Lu Yuan, a disciple of Zhenlong Temple, has been ordered by the patriarchs of all generations to erect a shrine here for the Sleeping Ox Stone Lord."
"Shi Jun has protected the fields for three hundred years; his merits are felt in the countryside, and his virtue is remembered by the people."
"Although the incense offerings have temporarily ceased, their contributions are indelible and their virtues unforgettable."
"From this day forward, this shrine shall be your residence."
"Pilgrimages come and go daily; those who receive incense offerings are to accept them themselves."
"Those who cannot receive offerings, please wait patiently."
"Do not contend, do not snatch, do not harbor resentment because there is no incense, do not fall into evil because there is no one around."
"This is the rule of Zhenlong Temple, and also your promise."
As soon as he finished speaking, he took a step back and formed an ancient Taoist mudra with his hands in front of his chest.
It is the "An Shen Yin" (a type of seal used to calm the mind).
The thumb hooks around the base of the ring finger, while the middle and index fingers are joined together, pointing straight to the sky.
"A single seal brings peace of mind, and the spirit returns to its rightful place!"
With a soft shout, the wisps of smoke rising from the three incense sticks in front of the shrine suddenly trembled.
The next moment, the smoke stopped rising.
Instead, as if drawn by an invisible force, they transformed into three thin lines, straight and without touching the ground, and were sucked into the shrine.
It was as if the shrine had come to life, breathing greedily.
Lu Yuan stared at this scene and nodded slightly.
This is called "Nayan".
The shrine already has an owner.
Lu Yuan turned around and walked towards the second location.
Zhou Shouzhou had already scouted out a good spot, just a few steps away, which was also a treasure trove of sheltered and sunny land.
Lu Yuan squatted down and meticulously repeated the steps he had just taken.
Naturalization.
Angen.
Erect a niche.
Offering incense.
"Now, Lu Yuan, a disciple of Zhenlong Temple, has been ordered by the patriarchs of all generations to erect a shrine here for the Spring Mother."
"The Mother Spring has guarded the spring for three hundred years; her merit lies in the mountains and fields, and her virtue benefits the people—"
The third one.
The fourth one.
The fifth one.
For each shrine erected, he solemnly read out the decree.
Each time the inscription was read aloud, a wisp of smoke was absorbed into the shrine.
Seven shrines, seven wisps of green smoke.
By the time the last shrine for the Flower Goddess was erected, most of the morning mist in the mountains had dissipated.
The sounds of people at the foot of the mountain gradually grew louder, and early-rising pilgrims had already begun to gather.
Zhenlong Temple will soon open to the public.
Lu Yuan straightened up, looked at the seven neatly arranged small shrines in front of him, and let out a long sigh of relief.
He stepped back a few paces and stood in the middle of the mountain path.
Facing the seven newly established shrines, he straightened his clothes and bowed respectfully.
-
Zhou Shouzhou bowed in greeting as well, standing behind him.
After bowing, Lu Yuan straightened his back and spoke loudly, his voice echoing throughout the mountain valley.
"Seven, the shrine has been erected, the rules have been established."
"How much incense offerings you receive in the future depends on your individual fate and destiny."
"But there's one thing I must say upfront: 7"
He changed the subject, his voice becoming more serious.
"You are gods."
Even if your divine light is dim now and you can no longer protect the living beings in this area, your essence is still God.
"A god should look like a god!"
"The incense offered in front of the shrine is a token of the believers' goodwill. Once you accept it, you should remember their kindness."
"If no one offers incense, then wait quietly."
"No resentment, no hatred, and above all, no going astray!"
"If one day I find out that any of you, because you can't wait for offerings, have harbored evil intentions to harm others—"
Lu Yuan's gaze swept across the seven shrines with lightning speed, sharp and piercing.
"The Zhenlong Temple can erect a shrine for you, but it can also tear it down itself!"
"Do you understand?"
A mountain breeze swept by, stirring the pines like the wind.
Before the seven shrines, the seven wisps of smoke rising from the burning incense sticks swayed in unison in the wind.
He looked as if he was nodding solemnly.
It's like making a silent promise.
Lu Yuan looked at the swaying wisps of smoke, his expression softening slightly.
"Tonight, at the third quarter of the hour of Xu (7:45 PM), all seven of you shall gather at the guest hall of my True Dragon Temple."
Lu Yuan only knew their basic information, but he didn't know the details, such as how they got to where they are today.
We need to ask in detail.
You can only offer help if you ask.
Otherwise, if we just erect a shrine for them by the mountain road, the final outcome for these seven would basically be death and the disappearance of their spirits.
It's the same as not helping at all.
Lu Yuan is too tired right now and hasn't slept all night. He'll go back and get some sleep today.
I'll ask again when I get up tonight.
After saying that, Lu Yuan turned around and walked up the mountain.
After walking a few steps, he suddenly remembered something and looked back.
The seven small shrines stood quietly in the recesses, the morning light casting faint shadows upon them.
Seven wisps of smoke still drifted before the shrine.
Strand by strand, it seeped into the niche.
It's like seven gods who were about to disappear have finally found their own home.
Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze and continued walking up the mountain.
After walking a few steps, he suddenly muttered, "Master Zhou, have someone put up a sign by the mountain path later."
Zhou Shouzhou, following behind him, paused slightly, then asked, "What brand?"
Lu Yuan didn't even turn his head: "Just write, 'There are seven shrines here. If any pilgrims are interested, they may offer incense.'"
"Offer incense as you see fit; sincerity is key."
Zhou Shouzhou was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, I'll take care of it as soon as I get back."
The two walked one after the other along the bluestone steps, their figures gradually disappearing around the bend in the mountain path.
Behind them, a gentle mountain breeze blew.
Seven brand-new shrines, bathed quietly in the morning light, add a new touch to this ancient mountain path.
However, just as Lu Yuan and Zhou Shouzhuo were about to turn onto another section of the mountain road, Lu Yuan caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of his eye.
The man was squatting in front of the seven shrines he had just set up, sticking out a finger and curiously poking at one of the shrines!
Lu Yuan: "????"
Damn it!
I worked hard all night to finish this!
"Whose little brat is this?!"
"What are you doing?!"
Once he came to his senses, Lu Yuan immediately stopped and shouted at the top of his lungs towards the mountain path below.
The shout was like a thunderclap from a clear sky. The figure below was clearly startled and trembled, quickly withdrawing his hand.
Then, the man quickly stood up, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards Lu Yuan above, and spoke in a clear, crisp voice.
"Xu Denghu family, Tiger Rabbit greets Daoist Master."
Lu Yuan: "?"
He squinted at the little girl below who seemed to be less than 1.6 meters tall, his face full of strangeness.
Ten companies?