Chapter 39: Hu Jiao's Chaotic Orthodox Method

  "This is the result of the three people's cultivation, and the strange phenomenon that has been produced." Liu Yi was somewhat shocked, this world indeed had a high level of Taoist masters. Compared to the two fierce ones he killed before, they were much more powerful.

  Although he didn't recognize the three people's cultivation method or magic, seeing such a strange phenomenon still shocked Liu Yi. Especially the old man at the front, this kind of clear light was emitted for a whole foot, but the other two were even more formidable.

  These three people also came to the foot of Fenglai Mountain with high hats and crowns, dressed similarly to the original witch.

  The oldest of the three looked over fifty years old, with a face full of wrinkles, like an old farmer, and was called Bo Shi. He was the most formidable one.

  The other two were Yang Cai and Fang Qiu.

  When they see them, the villagers all show a look of reverence, and those who are walking on the road hastily avoid to the side.

  Three people see strange things, but three people in this place are not strong in the power of Qingyang Dao. However, witches and fangshi have always been revered and feared by ordinary people.

  "This place looks great, with a rich human touch and beautiful scenery. Rare, rare!" Yang said.

  "Yes!" Bo Shi's words were few, but Fang Qiu responded: "Yes. The commander has already ordered us to come to Hui Ling and transmit the Tao. From now on, we will be stationed here. I don't know what Yuan Dao brother came to this mountain for, how he suddenly disappeared without a sound. Even the life lantern went out!"

  Bao Shi originally didn't speak, but now said: "Yes, looking at the scenery from afar, the wind and mountains are clear and serene, it's not a bad place. It doesn't seem like a place where ferocious beasts or evil spirits would appear, so why did Yuan Dao suddenly die?"

  Although he said that, Liu Yi secretly listened on one side. However, it seemed that the so-called Yuandao brother's death was not taken to heart.

  Liu Yi secretly found it strange, but turned his head and thought about it. If this so-called Yuan Dao brother was indeed the kind of person who wanted to sneak into the mountain to steal treasures without revealing a single hint, he must be a gloomy and sinister person, and such people are naturally not very likable.

  Several people were talking, and Feng Li walked over from the side. Only Bo Shi seemed to have sensed something, glanced at the big locust tree in the courtyard, but didn't seem to notice anything unusual. Yet it had already startled Liu Yi.

  The old man felt extremely sharp and if Liu Yi hadn't hidden quickly enough, he would have been discovered.

  It was broad daylight and they were in the middle of the village. Bo Shi took a glance around but didn't notice anything unusual, nor did he think much of it, and led Yang Cai and the others up the mountain.

  The wind comes from the mountain, and the scenery is not bad, but it's not very high. Even if there are wolves and foxes, they won't be too many. It's not a poor mountain with evil water, where fierce beasts gather in groups, nor have I seen any ancient tombs or graves where yin energy gathers.

  Three people couldn't help but find it even stranger that Yuan Dao brother had run to this place for no reason, and how he would lose his life again.

  "Huh? ...There's actually a shrine here? The Mountain God Temple... What a grand name!"

  Yang merely glanced at it, and couldn't help but sneer. He had read books before, and now seeing this, he sneered: "A rustic village husband, ignorant of taboos. A temple is a grand hall! How could it be used for licentious sacrifices to wild gods? If I were an official, I would definitely destroy this place."

  Fang Qiu smiled and said, "I know that Brother Yang is a talented man of great ability, but he has not entered officialdom, which is somewhat unfair. However, now that we are all disciples under the great and virtuous Master, traveling through the counties, which official does not treat us with respect? It's not bad at all!"

  Yang said with a hint of annoyance, "Is it really as you say? Using the term 'temple' is an overstatement! A temple is where the imperial court resides, the front hall of the royal palace. It's also where the emperor and nobles offer sacrifices to their ancestors. How can one casually claim such a title?"

  Saying that, he indignantly said: "Local officials are neglecting their duties, and they don't even know to investigate such licentious sacrifices. I know it must be something those barbarian monks have learned. Only these rude barbarian monks would dare to disrupt the laws of China and call a temple a divine shrine! Unacceptable, I will destroy it..."

  He's about to take action.

  Liu Yi also learned for the first time that the name of the temple was originally derived from this origin. Combining his own world history, he suddenly realized: "I understand now, I was wrong!"

  The temple was originally a term for government institutions. What is meant by "temple" is the court, referring to the attendants of the imperial court. Later, the official residence of the temple people was also called "temple". It later developed into a term for government offices.

  In his own world, during the Eastern Han Ming Emperor's reign, Indian monks brought scriptures on white horses to the East and initially lived in the "Hongluo Temple" in Luoyang.

  Later, Honglu Temple was rebuilt and renamed "Baima Temple". Thus the temple became a general term for monks' residences.

  The temple is where the hall of worship is located! Yang has already said so.

  In this world, it has a very serious connotation. Liu Yi called his own shrine a temple, which not only offends taboos but also has a sense of mismatch between name and reality.

  No wonder the mountain temple has been standing for so long, but the Taoist altar has never been formed. With just a little bit of divine power obtained from the spiritual energy and incense of the mountain range, how can it support the grandeur of the "temple hall"?

  To put it bluntly, it's like a mountain bandit who has just risen to power with eighty men and horses, taking down a small village, and then claims to be a great general or king - generally overestimating oneself and ridiculous!

  That's where it differs!

  Liu Yi secretly felt lucky that he had come to this world, after all, he was an outsider, and it was inevitable that he would bring his original worldview to such details.

  This brings back memories of when Buddhism was first introduced to China and those temples were built, claiming to enshrine Buddha and Bodhisattva. The intentions behind this can be imagined!

  "Never mind, Ah Cai!" Bo Shi said: "The divine light in this temple is pure and unadulterated, without a single impurity. Moreover, there is no evil spirit or bloodthirstiness. Obviously, this deity does not feed on blood, nor does it harm human lives. It's probably just the ignorant villagers who are worshiping it..."

  Yang had just listened and opened his eyes to take a closer look, and indeed saw the pure and clean spiritual light around the temple. But it was not those false teachings or gods.

  He was most disgusted with those heretics, thinking they were chaotic and lawless. Now that he saw the divine light of the temple, it wasn't one of those barbarian gods he detested the most. He then said to himself with a hint of disappointment: "Well, it's not a barbarian god after all, I suppose I'll let him off!"

  Bo Shi smiled slightly and said: "I'll go into this temple and ask if they know anything about Yuan Dao's affairs."

  It wasn't until then that Yang and Cai remembered their purpose and involuntarily walked into the temple.

  Inside the temple, there was a wooden board on the ground, which looked quite clean. Also, the curtain was deep and inside, there was a statue of a god, with gold and colored decorations, surprisingly it was a young god holding a sword and wearing golden armor, everyone was shocked.

  In this world, there is also a practice of worshiping and sacrificing to the temples of famous ministers and righteous scholars. For example, Shen Tuxi under Liu Yi was once worshipped by many villagers.

  The three of them met and speculated: "Who is this hero, knight? Why would he be worshipped here?"

  After thinking for a while, he couldn't come up with a beginning or an end, so he put it down. At that time, Bo stepped forward and struck the ground with his rattan stick, shouting: "We are disciples under the great Sage Master, summoning you little spirit!"