A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 79: Sworn Kinship and Worshiping the Liu Deity

Worshiping the Mountain God, it's quite a spectacle.

First, there's the ritual, setting up a long incense table as the altar, offering fruits and mountain goods, and bowing reverently.

Then, shouting to all directions, three loud cries to notify the ancestors, three more with great vigor to salute heaven and earth, and the last three extended calls to awaken the Mountain Spirit, wishing for a good harvest and safety.

This is called "Mountain Shouting."

After the lively ceremony, everyone eats and drinks their fill, and the ginseng picker leads the group with torches back into the mountains.

As they walk, they use their spears to knock on tree trunks, making a thunderous noise to drive away poisonous insects and fierce beasts, smoothly delivering fruits and incense to the mountain temple.

This is called "Mountain Opening."

It's said that every grand festival at the manor requires the ginseng picker to stay overnight at the temple, waiting for the Mountain God's dream visitation for blessings and guidance.

"All the manors along the five hundred miles of mountain paths worship the Mountain God, but each Mountain Spirit is different."

These days of medicinal harvests are all handled by Xiaotou, who is slick-tongued and already familiar with several hunters, having some understanding of local customs.

"The Ginseng Collection Manor offers tribute to 'Master Zhuang,' the big tree stump at the entrance to the mountain, and every mountain villager must pay respect and say a few words of blessing."

If any ignorant child sits on it or steps on it, it's like causing a great calamity, being beaten half to death is considered lenient."

Bai Qi mingled in the crowd, finding it quite interesting.

The page on the Mountain-Rushing Secret Technique also recorded related events, the Mountain God is spiritual, benefiting all sides, granting plants, trees, birds, and beasts a touch of spirit.

This led mountain villagers to pass down the custom of "Recognizing Spiritual Kin."

For example, if a child is weak and often ill, they find a witch and sorcerer to calculate the auspicious date, then seek a powerful spiritual kin to avoid early death.

Like when the ginseng picker was young, his parents invited a Feng Shui Master to choose an auspicious day, prepared incense and wine, and worshiped the two-zhang-high stone on Longkang Mountain as foster mother, after which he rarely fell ill and became strong and healthy.

The village's small river, big locust tree, and stone mill are often good objects for recognizing spiritual kin.

For mountain villagers, they are not just inanimate objects but spiritual beings.

"At the Hunting Tiger Manor to the north, they worship the Mountain Monarch, and every year they spend lavishly on sacrifices, hauling three animals' blood offerings into the temple."

Xiaotou, worthy of being the top informant among Black Water River fishermen, was well-informed.

"Along the five hundred miles of mountain paths, there are as many spiritual 'Immortal Families' as there are cattle.

The renowned ones include Master Zhuang, Uncle Huai, the Mountain Monarch, the Fox King... but the greatest is called Lady Willow God."

Bai Qi nodded, aware of these names, among them, the older generation of Mountain Herders regarded Lady Willow God as the true Mountain Deity.

Claiming her magical power is boundless, different from other "Immortal Families" who rely on the spiritual aura of the mountains.

If one can gain her favor, mountain expedition and treasure hunting become as easy as taking things from a sack.

"That Wang Ding who couldn't escape cold arrows, Ah Qi, do you know? It's said he saw Lady Willow God as a child, which is why he gained ape arms and eagle eyes, becoming a top-notch marksman!"

Xiaotou spoke non-stop, making it sound mysterious, which piqued Bai Ming's interest:

"What does Lady Willow God look like? Where is her temple? Let brother also go for a bow, maybe he can recognize a spiritual kin!"

Xiaotou scratched his head:

"How would I know, there are quite a few manors with temples for Lady Willow God, but none have statues, and Lady Willow God rarely shows her spirit, hasn't received incense offerings for a long time. Nowadays, spirits like Master Zhuang and Uncle Huai are more popular."

Seeing Bai Ming's face show disappointment, Bai Qi chuckled:

"It's not so easy to recognize a spiritual kin. When you're broke and call everyone dad at a wealthy family's door, you'll definitely get beaten and chased away. These mountain spirits receive tribute and incense, how can they fancy ordinary roles?"

They waited until late hour of Hai, when the mountain shouting feast finally concluded, and the ginseng picker, holding his spear, led the medicine gatherers into the mountains.

Torches soared high, resembling winding long snakes, illuminating half the night sky.

He Tai, Song Qiying, and others showed no interest, feeling it too noisy, and didn't take mountain spirit worship seriously.

Not because they didn't believe in spirits, but the "Immortal Families" worshipped by villages weren't as powerful as rumored among ignorant folks.

Those martial arts experts who train in skin and qi, with their qi and blood as vigorous as a furnace, need only to let loose to dispel most solitary spirits and beasts relying on plants and stones.

"Lady Willow God? Heh, heh, Yihai Prefecture once had a Piggy Dragon that became formidable, calling itself King of Flipping River, and many counties along the way set up temples and statues for it, even offering child sacrifices."

He Tai crossed his arms, beginning to show off:

"But once the old Daoist Official retired and the new one took over, it was immediately slain, its blood flowing for hundreds of meters, turning the river water red!

In our Dragon Court jurisdiction, only the Five Emperors and Four Saints are respected, all other spirits are considered outside ways!"

Song Qiying, accustomed to it, replied neutrally:

"Young Master truly intends to take up Government Office duties, those words are quite imposing, very reasonable!

If I were the Daoist Official sir, I'd definitely grant you a Child Talisman."

He Tai's face turned ashen, not one to swallow anger, immediately sneered:

"Let's wait and see, Second Young Master Song, I heard the Yuanyang Temple's Daoist Official is quite elderly and plans to retire, maybe soon he'll return home, your patron at Chai Market might not be stable."

Song Qiying's face turned slightly unsightly. Such a secretive piece of information, even He Tai could know about it, which showed that his father, He Wenbing, had extensive connections.

"To presumptuously discuss the Daoist Official is a grave crime. Young Master, how dare you speak so boldly! Aren't you afraid of punishment!"

Seeing Second Young Master Song still being stubborn, a flash of smugness quickly appeared in He Tai's eyes:

"Chai Market leans on the Yuanyang Temple, this is well known. It's no secret.

But your father is working for the Daoist Official of Zhi Xin Temple, searching for agarwood and Dragon Locust Wood. Is he in a hurry to change the stove and light a fire?"

Aware of his slip of the tongue, Song Qiying realized He Tai had caught him off guard, and he immediately left with a flick of his sleeve.

Before leaving, he threw a remark:

"The Fishery leans on the Pai Bang, but in private, they take the back door of Zhi Xin Temple, plotting tax collector duties, playing both sides—one wonders if this spreads outside, would you suffer a backlash and be handled by Pai rules?"

This time, it was He Tai's turn to remain silent.

Witnessing the two Young Masters harm each other and pull the rug from under each other, Bai Qi quietly sighed:

"Yuanyang Temple, Zhi Xin Temple, tsk tsk, it seems entering the city to take an exam also involves a lot of insider knowledge. You'd better take the right temple door with a pig's head offering, or you'll easily hit a wall."

He Tai and Song Qiying parted on bad terms, but Bai Qi didn't follow them. Relying on the favor of the Second Young Master of Chai Market, he greeted the ginseng picker, and took Ah Di, Bai Ming, and Xiaotou to open the mountain.

"With so many people, even if there are spirits or ghosts, they wouldn't dare intrude. If you ventured alone in the dark, you'd likely face more misfortune."

Bai Qi walked at the back, holding a torch in one hand and a spear in the other, following the well-trodden path.

Before long, they saw a low dirt shrine, not even half a human tall, built up with compacted yellow clay.

"Master Zhuang really is simple, that's right, the mountain folk in the village themselves struggle to fill their stomachs, how can they squeeze out incense money to build a big temple."

Bai Qi stifled his surprise, following the ginseng picker's instructions, went forward to bow.

Those who were capable and worked hard, the medicine gatherers, could receive a handful of incense ash, which they carefully tucked into their pockets like some kind of protective talisman.

Those medicine gatherers who didn't receive any had faces full of envy but didn't dare to voice any dissent.

To join the ginseng picker's Mountain Expedition Team, apart from having ability, you also have to be obedient.

If you make a mistake or commit a taboo and get expelled, you won't have a foothold in the village thereafter.

Perhaps due to Song Qiying's reputation or being a fisherman, Bai Qi could gather wild ginseng and Golden Thread Orchid, gaining recognition.

The ginseng picker specially allocated an extra portion of incense ash and helped Bai Qi wrap it in red paper:

"On this 500-mile mountain path, this is more efficacious than a Peace Talisman obtained at a temple."

Bai Qi sincerely thanked and turned to place it in Ah Di, Bai Ming's hand.

The Ginseng Collection Manor venerating Master Zhuang so devoutly must have some mystical qualities.

After all, it costs nothing—might as well believe a bit!

A Mountain God worship ritual lasted until nearly midnight.

Upon returning to the house, Bai Qi routinely boiled water, intending to soak his feet.

Ah Di Bai Ming was possibly tired, falling asleep at once, quite sweetly.

Xiaotou was even more so, his snoring loud and clear.

"I'll work a bit more on the progress of the Arhat Hand."

Bai Qi, having great stamina, didn't feel fatigue and exited the room to begin his stance training.

...

...

"Ah Brother?"

With warm heat surrounding him, various thoughts intertwined, Bai Ming seemed to be in a sleepwalk. Suddenly, he sat up from the warm kang bed, his steps as light as floating, elevated one or two feet off the ground. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

He drowsily passed through the wooden door, seeing Bai Qi practicing stance glowing like a furnace, making one dare not to approach.

"Why don't I feel cold at all… Can't Ah Brother see me?"

The cold wind howled outside, yet Bai Ming felt like holding a still warm boiler, his body cozy and warm.

His consciousness was unclear, in a state between sleep and wakefulness, he heard calls coming from all directions, sometimes distant, sometimes close.

Different voices, young and old, large and small.

"A big tree stump? Old locust tree? And an old tiger, a fox in the mountains…"

Bai Ming's eyes widened. Longkang Mountain appeared vastly different than during the day.

The dark peaks seemed shrouded in a hazy clear light, with many of the revered "Immortal Families" squatting.

"Is that… Lady Willow God?"