Chapter 63: Rainstorm Wild Temple 25 Part 2
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[I can’t believe something like this actually happened! Serves them right! It looks like those people dug their own graves. Wait, does this mean that the villagers who cut down the trees ten years ago are the ghosts we’ve been seeing all night? Whoa???]
[Sigh… When I was a child, my grandmother used to tell me not to do bad deeds because there would be karmic retribution. I didn’t believe her for so many years, thinking she was superstitious. But now, I don’t think that way anymore. My goodness, if this is really those villagers, then it’s real-life karma! Maybe I’ve grown wiser with age; perhaps there is wisdom in the words of our elders that shouldn’t be dismissed entirely.]
[This beauty is truly breathtaking! Lately, I’ve been feeling oppressed due to minor issues at work. When I saw this scene just now, tears welled up uncontrollably. Suddenly, I felt that the world was so vast, and why should I be confined to one place? I could just quit my job if I wanted to! The world is expansive, full of life’s wonders, and this is the world I should be living in—not one filled with scheming and battling with petty people, wasting my life.]
[I never knew there was a beauty called the beauty of nature and life. Don’t laugh at me, but I was sitting at home alone, crying my eyes out while watching this scenery. I felt all the previous constraints and powerlessness completely vanish, replaced by a sense of vitality.]
[Why would we laugh at you? Look at how many people in the live chat are crying. Those who didn’t admit to crying are probably just feeling shy. Maybe everyone cried! Haha, for example, I didn’t want to admit it either. I quickly took two screenshots and shared them in the comments section for anyone who wants to use them as wallpapers.]
[Wait a minute, while you all are discussing the beauty of Wild Wolf Peak, did no one see those semi-transparent figures? Am I seeing things, or is there a ghost blocking my view between me and my phone screen? Damn, don’t scare me! Those figures look like they flew out of the Mountain God’s Temple. Didn’t anyone else see them?]
[!! Damn, I followed your hint and took a closer look, and there really are those figures!]
“…Let me tell you a ghost story. Not only are they real, but some of those semi-transparent figures look exactly like the ghosts that followed us with Rourou all night.”
As the viewers in front of the main screen engaged in a frantic discussion about the ghosts they saw, pointed out by the actress Rourou, Wild Wolf Peak gradually returned to tranquility.
With the deceased bodies of the villagers already reduced to ashes due to the points of light, the souls of the villagers finally regained their freedom, after waiting for over a decade for the long-delayed judgment.
Snap——！
The Yin official’s whip cracked against the ground, producing a crisp sound.
In the hands of the Yin Officials, the soul-locking iron chains dragged on the ground, and the metallic friction added a heavy pressure and unease to the departed spirits.
A group of Yin officials, with chilling and eerie faces, brandished the soul-locking chains, flickering with ghostly flames. They entered Wild Wolf Peak just before the sun rose, at the last moment when the darkness was dispersing. This place had been a land of death, abandoned by both heaven and earth.
The Yin officials are at work, living people, make way—!
In the face of the reactions of the villagers, ranging from fear to regret to tears of joy, their souls gradually departed, moving towards a distant destination.
As they passed by where Yan Shixun was located, many villagers bowed in gratitude, and a few villagers who seemed displeased just gave a brief “thank you,” in a slightly awkward tone.
The two villagers who had taken the guest car to the Mountain God Temple earlier stopped briefly in front of Yan Shixun for a few seconds, their expressions complex.
“I never expected that what should have been an offering to the Mountain God, uh, I mean, the evil god, would instead grant us our freedom. So, th-thank you.”
“After our souls were made whole, and we regained all our memories from before and after death, I realized how truly wicked that damn evil god is. When we were burned to death, I actually felt the pain, but I could only watch as my arms and body turned into charred remains, just like the firewood sticks I used to burn.”
One of the two villagers turned to Yan Shixun and said, “You’re really lucky. You managed to weaken that thing’s power just before the birth of the evil god tomorrow. If we had waited one more day, all of us might have become its slaves forever, never able to leave… Anyway, thank you.”
Yan Shixun furrowed his brows slightly, quickly understanding what the villagers meant.
Counting from the Xinsi year to this year, the day of the evil god’s birth was exactly twenty years away.
Ten is the number of gods.
In the first ten years, the mountain god seized her opportunity and managed to overpower the evil god slightly, allowing her to turn the uncontrollable Wild Wolf Peak into a death trap ensnared in heavy rain, protecting innocent lives.
However, it was clear that the second decade belonged to the evil god.
If the evil god smoothly passed its birth and entered the second decade, it would fully absorb the divine position forcibly taken from the Mountain God. It would successfully steal the divine position, making it unshakable in its control over the mountains, rivers, and forests around Wild Wolf Peak.
As Taoist Ma had mentioned, when the evil god first formed more than a dozen years ago, many Taoists and shamans were unable to deal with it. If the evil god became a true god, no one would ever be able to solve the problems at Wild Wolf Peak again. It would become an absolute death trap, controlled by the evil god, bringing immeasurable harm to the entire region.
But nine is the number of reincarnations.
It’s not ten, so everything can still be changed.
Being stuck on the last day of the nineteenth year, Yan Shixun successfully expelled all the spirits controlled by the evil god, causing a substantial drop in its power. By utilizing the Mountain God’s divine power, he left nothing on the table, using all the power she had given him to thoroughly cleanse the evil entities around Wild Wolf Peak. This allowed nature to reclaim this land, rejecting the evil god’s divine position and returning it to being a mere malevolent entity. The evil god’s power was now significantly weaker and no longer invincible.
As Yan Shixun pondered, the two villagers thought that this gentleman, who had saved all the souls in the village, might be upset with them for leading the guest car to the mountain temple. Their faces reddened, and they apologized hastily before rushing to catch up with the rest of the villagers.
A young woman stopped in front of Yan Shixun.
She looked at him with a cheerful smile, causing Yan Shixun to regain his composure and look back at her.
“Thank you for saving me, sir,” the young woman bowed deeply to Yan Shixun and said with a cheerful smile. “When I saw you in the main hall, not affected by that evil entity. When you had the courage and strength to shatter the god statue, I had a feeling you might be able to save us. Now I see that I was right.”
“When they first started mining and cutting down trees, I knew they were asking for trouble and scolded them several times, but they didn’t listen. As a woman, they always refused to listen to what I said.”
As she spoke about events from over a dozen years ago, a look of disdain appeared on her face. “Later, as expected, something went wrong, and I planned to leave here with my children quickly. They had gone mad, beyond salvation. But unexpectedly, I was forcibly detained in the Mountain God Temple after just one visit. This detainment lasted for over a decade until you came……”
As she spoke, the young woman sighed and looked mournful.
Yan Shixun remembered that it was this young woman who persistently directed him to the location of the old god statue in the main hall, helping him realize the statue’s significance and deduce that the evil god had occupied the Mountain God Temple, pushing the Mountain God away.
The young woman had done nothing wrong; she had been caught up in the web of fate because of her family, innocent but still affected. From the beginning to the end, she maintained her reliance and faith in the Mountain God.
It was villagers like her that allowed the Mountain God to accumulate a weak but vital power, enabling her to stay in the main hall to watch over her people and prevent Wild Wolf Peak from falling completely under the sway of the evil god.
Yan Shixun softened his gaze and nodded in acknowledgment of the young woman. “I remember you. Thank you for your guidance in the Mountain God Temple.”
Hearing Yan Shixun’s thanks, the young woman blushed and said bashfully, “I didn’t do much. If it weren’t for you, even if I had given hints, it wouldn’t have made a difference…”
With tears welling up in her eyes and a red nose, the young woman raised her eyebrows and let out a laugh. “Anyway, in this lifetime, because of the sins of my family, I’ve become as tainted as mud, with nothing worth clinging to. I heard that people like me, who are related to evildoers, will be punished together in the underworld. Even in the afterlife, we’ll be punished together. I’ll try my best to finish the time assigned to me by the Yama and be reborn quickly.”
Yan Shixun chuckled softly. “You don’t have to worry.”
The young woman looked puzzled.
Yan Shixun continued, “Rest assured, you haven’t committed any wrongdoings or sins. You won’t be affected by the evil deeds of your family. You will have the opportunity to be reborn soon… The Mountain God has always remembered you. She remembers that when you were young, you used to make bracelets for her and tell her your worries under the Sacred Tree. She remembers you from your childhood to becoming a graceful young lady and later a mother. She has always cherished the red string bracelet you made for her. The Mountain God says you’re a good child, she hopes you can have a new life.”
As the young woman stared in astonishment, Yan Shixun softened his gaze and blessed her. “Thank you for your kindness. In the cycle of karma, since you’ve sown good seeds, you will reap good fruits.”
“You will carry the Mountain God’s blessings to your next life. Go on, don’t have any worries. Your path ahead is clear of darkness.”
The young woman stared at Yan Shixun in a daze, as the villagers who passed by continuously thanked him and bowed to him. After a while, she raised an eyebrow, her nose turned red, and tears welled up in her eyes. It seemed like a mix of crying and laughing.
“The Mountain Goddess brought the handcrafted bracelet I made in my childhood. It’s just… too much. If it were today, I would surely make a much prettier one for the Mountain Goddess. The one I made back then was so ugly. I can’t believe the Mountain Goddess didn’t mind and even said I was a good child.”
The young woman kept wiping away her tears with her hand as they rolled down her red eyes. There was no sorrow, there was only warmth and gratitude.
She solemnly bowed deeply to Yan Shixun and, after a while, straightened up. Tears still glistened on her face as she spoke with a nasal voice, “Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mountain Goddess. I will remember.”
“Goodbye, sir. Goodbye, Mountain Goddess.”
Yan Shixun watched as the young woman joyfully walked towards a distant figure, another child, who happily called out ‘Mommy’ to her as they reunited.
Until the young woman’s figure had disappeared into the distance, and the villagers had gradually left, Yan Shixun finally spoke calmly——
“Farewell.”
Evildoers descend to hell, while the virtuous return to the mortal realm.
The Mountain God’s final request would be fulfilled very well.
Perhaps decades or even centuries later, when Wild Wolf Peak regathered the power of faith and offerings, a new Mountain God born from the surrounding mountains might still have a faint memory of the children who had loved and trusted the Mountain God with all their hearts.
And by that time, these people would have been reborn into new lives, living their fresh journeys. It’s just that when they occasionally glimpsed the name of Wild Wolf Peak, they would pause, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity…
As for the viewers who had been watching Yan Shixun’s split-screen feed and experienced everything with him, they were utterly dumbfounded.
They couldn’t see the souls taken away by the Yin officials of the afterlife, but they could hear Yan Shixun’s words, from which they vaguely grasped what was happening.
The talismans recited by Yan Shixun were also transmitted to the viewers through the split-screen livestream.
The formidable exorcism talismans could vanquish all evil spirits. Even though they were separated from the real world by screens, Yan Shixun’s voice and the talismans he drew out of thin air were still effective. The spirits wandering around the viewers panicked and fled in terror the moment they saw the exorcism talismans drawn on the screen.
However, there were still many malevolent spirits among them who had committed evil deeds in life and death, and they were firmly locked onto by the exorcism talismans, shrieking as they were reduced to ashes.
Some viewers couldn’t help but shiver due to the change in temperature around them. They looked around in confusion, wondering if they had imagined it all. They had a vague sense that someone had been shouting just now?
But there were also some viewers who felt considerably more relaxed because the malevolent spirits that had been leeching their life force were now gone.
[So… did the little girl just now go get reincarnated? Huh? So, does that mean the legends about the underworld are all true? It wasn’t just my grandma scaring me when I wouldn’t go to sleep when I was little, right? QQ. So, my grandma saying that children who stay up late and don’t sleep will be taken away by ox-headed and horse-faced demons is also true, isn’t it?]
“Well, it’s not that extreme… But now, I do have a newfound respect for spirits and deities. I used to be very dismissive, thinking it was all about explaining scientific phenomena that couldn’t be understood during less technologically advanced times. So when my parents visited temples or similar places, I used to get really annoyed and even insult those temples. After watching this show, even if I don’t fully believe it, I’ll walk around with respect. After all, there are good deities in this world…]
[When I heard Brother Yan talking to the air just now and saying goodbye, I inexplicably teared up. I felt so sad, as if I were saying goodbye to something. My table is full of tissues now, and my mom thought I had a breakup. But I didn’t have a breakup; I just fell in love with a new idol. I’m sobbing. I have a high emotional quotient, but when Brother Yan said those words just now, his expression was so tender, like he was saying goodbye to me. It made me both addicted to Brother Yan’s looks and sad at the same time. I just can’t stop crying.]
[I think you might not have cried because of Brother Yan’s looks. My friend is a Taoist priest at Haiyun Temple, after I introduced him to this show, he watched Brother Yan’s split-screen live broadcast with me. He told me that just now, Brother Yan interacted with many spirits. Your sadness might be because Brother Yan genuinely said goodbye and blessed a spirit sister. My friend said you might have an innate spiritual sensitivity and strong empathy, which allowed you to feel the emotions of that spirit sister and made you cry.]
[But Brother Yan’s handsomeness is unquestionable. When Brother Yan was reciting something just now, even though I couldn’t remember what he was saying, that serious expression and that voice… Ahhhh, Brother Yan, you’re killing me! So cool! They say that serious men are the most charming, right? Sobs, I finally experienced it. Brother Yan’s expression just now was really focused and serious. It made my heart race. Being a Yan Mai is truly a blessing. What a divine face!]
[Indeed, how is this man so good-looking? It feels like he has no bad angles, and a god-tier appearance. After all, Brother Yan has never paid much attention to the camera angles in his split-screen shots. He’s even shot head-on or from unflattering angles like from below, but even so, there isn’t a single frame where Brother Yan looks bad. He’s too handsome. Even if this man were just a pretty face, relying solely on his looks, I’d still love him! Winning just based on his looks, and on top of that, he’s so skilled. Brother Yan probably knows how to exorcise and capture demons too, right? He looks very professional. He must be a master, right? Sigh, a handsome face, martial arts skills, and talent, this damn guy has captured my heart.]
[Who can understand Yan Mai’s happiness? I just took a crazy number of screenshots, and my hands are sore now. Also, I think Brother Yan is genuinely talented, not like those charlatans on the street wearing sunglasses and pretending to read fortunes. I don’t know if you guys noticed, but when Brother Yan was reciting that long passage just now, there was a golden light around him. I looked at the screenshots, and those golden lights seem to be words and patterns, and they resemble Taoist talismans. So, I guess Brother Yan was really exorcising something.]
[The ones in the front paid such close attention. My eyes were glued to Brother Yan the whole time, and I didn’t notice anything… I’m an unqualified Yan Mai.]
[Don’t blame yourself! It’s just that Brother Yan is too handsome!]
[Sigh, I hope that ghost girl can have a better life in her next incarnation. After watching this show, I suddenly realized how fortunate I was before. Thanks to my parents, family, and the people around me.]
The barrage was filled with discussions about Yan Shixun’s appearance, the ghost girl who bid farewell to him. Many people shared their emotional reactions, saying they couldn’t help but cry.
Some watched for the spectacle, while others saw the deeper meaning.
Taoist Ma and others, who had been attentively following the split-screen live broadcast, breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Yan Shixun clearing all the evil entities near Wild Wolf Peak and guiding the villagers to the afterlife.
The official in charge, too, leaned back in his chair and couldn’t snap out of it for a moment. After a while, he looked to the old Taoist beside him, as if trying to confirm that this was not his imagination.
The old Taoist proudly puffed out his chest and said, “What did I say? Gou Dan’s disciple is truly outstanding.”
The old Taoist was followed by Taoist Ma, who nodded and smiled, saying, “Junior Brother Yan is indeed exceptional. If I were in his position now, I might not be able to achieve what he has done, delivering all the villagers’ souls intact to the underworld and lifting the restrictions that have plagued Wild Wolf Peak for so many years. Starting today, the thorn that has been stuck in my heart because of Wild Wolf Peak can finally be removed.”
The official in charge nodded in agreement with a sigh of emotion.
Only the old Taoist, after his moment of pride, became solemn again and continued to look at the split screens.
But where….. was the malevolent entity that had taken away the god’s position?
……
When Yan Shixun turned around, he saw the man who had been standing behind him all along, quietly observing everything.
He raised an eyebrow and said, “Did I startle you?”
The man shook his head slowly, a hint of a smile appearing on his stern face. “No.”
“I just thought, that scene just now…”
You were so dazzling.
That I couldn’t look away.
The author has something to say: The talisman part is based on Taoist exorcism talismans.
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Thanks for the update