The Second Volume Ren Ping Sheng Chapter 34 Cheng Huang

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  On that day, Chen Jianchen posted the Zheng Qi Song in the Land Temple, and inadvertently exploded the head of the Land God. However, at the time he didn't take it to heart, and nothing seemed to happen afterwards. Unexpectedly, after passing the new year, when entering Jiangzhou, a small ghost claiming to be the Land God of Jingyang Village came to haunt him, demanding justice.

  Chen Jian sat upright on the bed, his face calm. After this incident, he understood this world a little more, the underworld was indeed a hellish existence, he had blown up a piece of land with his head, and also broken the other's yin spirit, this grudge, was considered settled.

  However, he was calm and fearless in his heart, with the "Three-Character True Scripture" and the evil-repelling brush to protect himself, what he feared least were these so-called ghosts and gods.

  ……

  The night is dark and vast, a grayish misty expanse, in that boundless darkness, how many secrets exist unknown.

  Jiangzhou City, Chenghuang Temple.

  The temple building is magnificent and grand, tall and solemn, with carved beams and painted buildings everywhere. In the middle of the hall stands a huge incense burner, with swirling incense smoke inside, very prosperous.

  Unlike the simple land temples in the countryside, the city god temple's incense is extremely prosperous all year round and has never been extinguished. Not to mention holidays, even on ordinary days, the city god temple is always crowded with people coming and going constantly.

  Incense, paper money, red candles, burning without a penny, worshiping the city god statue on the altar.

  This city god statue is six feet tall, wearing a black official hat, dressed in a crimson official robe with flying sleeves, and wearing pink boots. The expression is solemn, carved vividly, as if it were about to come alive.

  On both sides of the Chenghuang Temple statue, there is a small statue of a god.

  At the temple gate, a couplet is inscribed on both sides: Good and evil will be rewarded when the time comes; Right and wrong should not be discussed late or early. Horizontal scroll: My place has no selfishness.

  This couplet, was personally written by Wu Yongbiao, the governor of Jiangzhou ten years ago. Now, Governor Wu has been transferred to the capital and became the Minister of Rites, with a high position and great power.

  The night had grown late, and the temple's caretaker, the old nun, had long since retired to rest. The City God Temple was empty of people, a scene of complete stillness.

  Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, causing the red candle flames on both sides to flutter violently.

  "Jingyang land, why are you so flustered?"

  In the midst of emptiness, a majestic voice rose. However, this voice was not something that ordinary human ears could hear.

  "I reported to the City God, I was ordered by your lordship to interrogate that scholar Chen Jianchen, why he wantonly destroyed my divine image. Unexpectedly, his words were unseemly, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he scolded me, a lowly one. I only spoke a few more sentences, when suddenly he transformed into a brush pen, and with one stroke, scattered my yin spirit. Fortunately, I ran quickly, otherwise I would have been poked to death."

  "Hum, scholar is bold... You say he can change into a pen?"

  "It's that pen. Its aura is unmatched and intimidating. Even before it reaches me, I'm already exhausted and unable to move..."

  "Is it that fierce?"

  The voice was full of surprise.

  The little demon fawned and said: "That's because I'm not good enough, if we met the City God, no matter how capable that scholar is, he can only surrender."

  "Hmph... We, the Yīn Sī, have never interfered with the affairs of the mortal world, but we will not be bullied either. Otherwise, who would worship us and offer incense? This scholar has desecrated my statue, how dare he! Even the great scholars from the imperial court come to pay their respects to us from time to time, yet this minor scholar dares to show such disrespect to the spirits? He must be punished, or else it will seem that we are powerless."

  The little ghost said: "What the adults say is extremely correct, so how should we do it?"

  "I have made arrangements, you can go back now. Without an amnesty order, you are not allowed to leave your designated area."

  "Roger."

  The sound faded away, like ripples returning to calmness, the large City God Temple regained its tranquility.

  ……

  Chen Jianchen got up early, earlier than usual - because today the college officially started, and he couldn't be late; otherwise, he would be scolded by the teacher. If he was late many times, exceeding the limit, his academic points would also be deducted, affecting his grades in the annual exams.

  In the upper house of Minghua Academy, there are a total of 186 students, which is not a large number. They are basically all local people from Jiangzhou, and as for their age, they range from old to middle-aged to young. The younger ones, like Chen Jianchen, are only seventeen years old; the older ones have even reached the age of seventy or eighty, with sparse white hair and dim eyesight, yet they can still persist in sitting in class reciting "zhi hu zhe ye", which is really admirable.

  This is not learning until old age, but a typical examination until old age. There is a sense of resentment in my heart, I will not be a man; Not being selected, there is no face to see ancestors; Not being selected, what is the meaning of life?

  In their hearts, being a tyrant and acting like a lord has become an obsession, a fixation, the only place to put their hopes.

  On the first day of school, no lectures were given, only the monitors and heads of several departments took turns to give speeches. Unlike others who listened with reverence, Chen Jian felt dizzy and finally came up with an idea - he began to recite "The Three Character Classic" in his mind. This scene was reminiscent of when he used to sneak a peek at novels during class, hiding them in his textbook wrapper, feeling thrilled.

  For several days afterwards, Chen Jianchen was like this, and he had no heart to listen to those rigid and dead Buddhist scriptures.

  As the top scorer of the third trial in the Children's Exam, his identity among the students was quite eye-catching. During class, many people would steal glances at him, and seeing Chen Jianchen sitting upright, as serious as an old monk in meditation, they would all nod their heads in approval, thinking that Chen Jianchen was mature beyond his years, diligent in his studies, and truly deserving of the title "prodigy".

  Compared to Chen Jianchen's calmness, Wang Fu was very active and in just a few days, he had become familiar with the college, knowing many things that happened after meals.

  That day, Wang Fu found Chen Jianchen and said: "Liu Xian, on the fifteenth of March, the annual spring outing will begin. As usual, we'll be going with the students from Qingxue Academy. I heard this year's destination is Jianjiang Beach."

  Chen Jianchen didn't even lift an eyebrow and said, "What's it to you?"

  "You don't know, do you? The women in the Qingxue Academy are all beautiful and elegant, and to go on an outing with them is a joy that many people can only dream of!"

  Chen Jianchen's mouth twitched, and he thought to himself that it was indeed the case.

  Wang Fu continued, "Don't think otherwise, that Nie Zhi's daughter is also studying at the Clear Snow Academy. Her name is Xiao Qian, she's only fifteen years old, clever and beautiful, with a fragrance that can charm the heavens... Haha, I've had a crush on her for a long time, and now I finally have the chance to meet her."

  He was speaking with great enthusiasm when he suddenly saw Chen Jianchen staring at him with a strange expression, and couldn't help but pause, asking: "Liu Xian, what's wrong?"

  Chen Jianchen said word for word: "You say that Nie Zhizhou's daughter is called Nie Xiaoqian?"

  "Really? What's wrong?"

  Chen Jianchen suddenly smiled: "No problem, actually I've admired her for a long time..."

  This sentence made Wang Fuyi stunned, but soon he was relieved: The young man admired Ai, and Nie Xiaoqian, who came from a famous family and was beautiful and unparalleled, which young man did not have thoughts about her?