leonardwarren Chapter 156 We are human beings, not evil spirits.
Chapter 156 We are human beings, not evil spirits.
Chapter 156 We are human, not evil spirits. (4000)
Lu Yuan's words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the newly ignited flame of hope.
Those swirling wisps of ecstatic mist instantly froze.
The pale green, dark yellow, and grayish-white specks of light flickered and eventually faded away, like candles dying in the wind.
Dead silence.
A deeper, more profound stillness enveloped the mountain gate.
Woniu Shijun's pale green eyes were fixed on Lu Yuan, the light spots trembling violently.
In that trembling, there was no longer a trace of gratitude.
All that remains is the embarrassment and pain of having one's flesh and blood peeled away, revealing the most rotten scars.
"Taoist Master—we—"
It opened its mouth, its hoarse voice like a broken bellows, dryly pulling, but it couldn't utter a single word.
Seeing the pathetic state of these "gods," Lu Yuan knew that it was definitely not going to work.
I guessed it just now.
Can they still work their magic?
can.
also can not.
Yes, because its divinity is not extinguished, and it can still perceive the most sincere prayers of believers.
No, because their divine bodies have long since burned out.
They are too weak.
So weak that it's difficult to even form a human form, so weak that a gust of wind can scatter its divine light, so weak that it can't even protect itself, how can it protect others?
The sound of the dried-up spring echoed faintly, carrying the bitterness and resentment of three hundred years.
"We are too weak."
"If believers come sincerely to ask—"
"Perhaps all we can do is respond to him, to let him know that we heard you."
"But if you wish to receive blessings, lend a helping hand—"
Her grayish-white mist surged violently, as if she were using her last bit of strength to prove that she was not useless.
But the mist churned for a long time, and finally dissipated, unable to condense anything.
This is an unsolvable deadlock.
They are going to "die".
How can one avoid dying?
They need to receive offerings to survive!
So how can one obtain incense offerings?
Then it has to work its magic, it has to be effective!
They are too weak now and must receive offerings to survive; otherwise, they will "die."
They are going to "die".
So how can one avoid death?
You must accept incense offerings!
How can we obtain incense offerings?
Then it has to work its magic, it has to be effective!
And they are now—
Goodness, it's looping indefinitely!
Seeing the reactions of the group in front of him, Lu Yuan said directly, "I already guessed that!"
"Don't worry, there's still a way!"
After Lu Yuan finished speaking, the entire world fell silent.
These "gods" seemed somewhat bewildered, having no idea what other solutions they could come up with.
Lu Yuan acted as if nothing was wrong, not thinking it was a big deal, and said directly, "Then just open your mouth and shake your head."
The "gods" were even more bewildered.
What does it mean to open your mouth and shake your head?
Lu Yuan glared and said:
-
"Borrow it!"
Before they could even ponder the deeper meaning, Lu Yuan decisively waved his hand, leaving no room for argument.
"Since I permitted you to erect a shrine beside the mountain path of Zhenlong Temple, you must naturally abide by my rules!"
Upon hearing this, the gods disregarded all rules and instinctively bowed in agreement.
After all, this was their hope of survival, so naturally they would agree to any rules.
Just as these "deities" were about to hear what rules Lu Yuan had in mind, Lu Yuan changed the subject and waved his hand, saying, "Whether or not a shrine can be erected is still uncertain!"
"I need to go back and ask my ancestor first. If it works out, I'll tell you. You can wait here at the foot of the mountain."
After saying that, Lu Yuan stopped looking at them and turned to walk up the mountain.
Only a group of gods, bewildered and filled with turmoil, were left looking at each other in the mountain wind.
The mountain path was quiet, with only Lu Yuan's footsteps echoing in the night.
He walked slowly, his mind preoccupied with figuring out how to "communicate" with the patriarch.
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.
Not far ahead, under the shadow of the trees, a figure emerged silently from the woods, as if it had always been there.
She is not the goddess of beauty.
He was Master Zhou, the guest master of Zhenlong Temple.
Lu Yuan's pupils contracted slightly.
Master Zhou was among the first group of Taoists to come to Zhenlong Temple with the old man, even earlier than himself.
While the old man was taking him all over the country, he was in charge of managing the huge Zhenlong Temple.
Master Zhou is very serious and responsible.
However, as the saying goes, even a skilled cook cannot make a meal without rice.
Like the Zhenlong Temple before, no matter how diligent and responsible you are, it's not of much use.
Of course, it was also because the old man hadn't had any ideas about revitalizing Zhenlong Temple before.
Only after Lu Yuan decided to come did the old man have some ideas.
Master Zhou is not from outside the pass. He came from inside the pass with the old man, so he naturally doesn't have the seniority of someone from outside the pass.
Therefore, Master Zhou's lineage did not initially originate from Zhenlong Temple.
The relationship between the Taoist priest and the old man this week —
Lu Yuan pondered for a moment, and if the old man was like Guan Yu, then this Taoist priest Zhou was like Zhou Cang.
Back then, Master Zhou was saved by the old man in Guanzhong, and he has been following the old man ever since.
Lu Yuan's relationship with Master Zhou was not very deep.
Firstly, Lu Yuan had only been here for a little over a year, and when he first arrived, he traveled all over the country with the old man.
After returning to Zhenlong Temple, Lu Yuan went out to do odd jobs again.
When the two meet, they simply greet each other and then go about their own business.
Lu Yuan only knew that Master Zhou was from inside the pass and that his real name was Zhou Shouzhuo; he didn't know much else.
"Master Zhou, you?"
Lu Yuan looked at Zhou Shouzhuo, who had suddenly appeared, with some confusion.
Zhou Shouzhou's gaze first calmly passed over Lu Yuan, looking at the few dim divine lights below the mountain, before slowly withdrawing and landing on Lu Yuan.
He bowed slightly, his posture respectful.
"I was about to enter a meditative state when I noticed my senior brother leaving the house. Feeling uneasy, I followed him to check on him."
Hearing him call him "senior brother," Lu Yuan felt slightly embarrassed.
"Master Zhou, there are no outsiders here, don't call me that, it's awkward."
Lu Yuan had no intention of telling Zhou Shouzhuo about the wild gods outside the mountains.
At the very least, it's not too late to ask the patriarch first.
However, Zhou Shouzhou seemed to see through Lu Yuan's thoughts and smiled slightly.
"The Zhenlong Temple is already at its peak of popularity, and now it boasts the title of 'Contemporary Celestial Venerable,' so it's only a matter of time before it rises to the top of the Taoist hierarchy."
"Some rules should be established when they should be established, and should be followed when they should be followed."
Having said that, he stopped worrying about the form of address, his gaze becoming profound, and he asked directly, "Senior Brother, are you truly planning to take in these wild gods?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan was taken aback.
Alas!!
Judging from this, Zhou Shouzhou knew everything!
Not only did they know about the Wild Gods, but they also overheard Lu Yuan's conversation with them.
Lu Yuan was somewhat taken aback for a moment.
I hadn't even noticed Zhou Shouzhou was next to me!
Lu Yuan then belatedly realized that, in his current state, he was no longer a living person.
Even if a dog were squatting next to you, it probably wouldn't notice a thing.
He didn't feel embarrassed at all. Since Zhou Shouzhou had already found out, there was no point in hiding it.
Lu Yuan nodded slightly.
"right."
"Since we've run into each other, we should lend a hand if we can."
As he spoke, he continued walking up the mountain, turning his head to ask, "From what I've heard, Master Zhou, you have other ideas?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Shouzhou did not answer immediately, but instead shook his head.
"Now, everyone in Zhenlong Temple is in charge of what Senior Brother says. Whatever Senior Brother says goes."
His tone was respectful, yet carried a hint of aloofness.
"However, I am somewhat curious as to why you, senior brother, would want to get involved in such karma."
"This task is thankless and exhausting."
Zhou Shouzhou paused, his tone becoming more serious.
"Moreover, there are countless 'outdated gods' in this world."
"The very fact that they couldn't maintain their incense offerings proves one thing."
"Their capabilities are insufficient."
Lu Yuan paused in his steps.
He turned his head and looked at the Taoist priest beside him.
The moonlight, like water, shone on Zhou Shouzhou's calm face. His expression remained completely still, as if he were stating a very simple truth.
"Insufficient ability?"
Lu Yuan repeated those four words softly, as if savoring the chill within them.
Zhou Shouzhou nodded slightly, his hands behind his back, his posture as straight as a pine tree.
"Mountains have mountain gods, rivers have water gods, and every blade of grass and every tree can become a spirit."
"But how many throughout history have truly enjoyed a thousand years of incense offerings and been revered by all?"
His voice was not loud, but exceptionally clear, each word striking a chord in the hearts of those on the quiet mountain path.
An ancient text says: "The divine is something to rely on."
"Rely on things, depend on thoughts."
"When things are destroyed, the spirit is wounded; when thoughts cease, the spirit perishes."
Zhou Shouzhou's gaze passed over Lu Yuan and landed on the few dark wisps of light and mist below the mountain.
There was not a trace of pity in his eyes, as if they were not a god about to vanish, but just a few stubborn rocks.
"They have fallen to this state not without reason."
Why did the incense offerings cease? Why did the believers forget?
"To put it bluntly, they've stopped working."
"When there is a severe drought, it will not respond to rain; when there is a flood, it will not help to clear the sky. It cannot give what the people ask for."
"Once, twice, and people's hearts grow cold."
"When people's hearts grow cold, their faith is extinguished."
"The moment the thought ceases, the god shall naturally perish."
Zhou Shouzhou withdrew his gaze and looked directly at Lu Yuan.
"Senior brother, this is not cruel."
"That's the rule."
"The universe has its own profound principles of operation, and the gods are also within them."
"Only those who can respond to the prayers of the people will have their incense burning continuously; those who cannot will return to dust and ashes, and vanish into nothingness."
"Just like crops in the field, those that can produce full ears of grain are treasured by farmers, while those that cannot produce ears of grain can only turn into spring mud."
"This is the essence of 'using the divine way to teach'."
His tone softened slightly, but the weight of his words increased.
"Senior brother, you are kind-hearted; I understand."
"But there are far too many 'gods' in this world who need saving."
"If we save these seven today, what if seventy or seven hundred come looking for us tomorrow?"
"At that point, will you save him or not, senior brother?"
"Save us, no matter how prosperous the incense offerings at Zhenlong Temple are, they can never fill this bottomless pit."
"If we don't help, then what is the point of this act of kindness today?"
After saying that, Zhou Shouzhou fell silent, simply looking at Lu Yuan and waiting for his reply.
A mountain breeze blew by, lifting his faded Taoist robe, which appeared even more aloof under the moonlight.
Lu Yuan fell silent.
A long silence.
He had to admit that every word Zhou Shouzhou said was based on sound reasoning.
He had thought about these principles himself.
Offering incense is essentially a fair exchange.
You ask, I answer.
The incense offerings were accepted, and the tradition continued.
No, people leave and things cool down.
It is justified.
But Lu Yuan raised his eyes and looked again at the few wisps of light swaying in the wind below the mountain, which could be extinguished at any moment.
He turned back, his gaze open and clear, meeting Zhou Shouzhuo's eyes.
"Master Zhou, you're wrong about this."
A crack finally appeared on Zhou Shouzhou's usually placid face.
He was somewhat taken aback: "Something's not right?"
Lu Yuan looked at him and spoke clearly, word by word.
"I understand all those grand principles you're talking about."
"When the incense is extinguished, the god should perish; that's the rule, it's true."
Lu Yuan changed the subject.
"But all we need to do is build them a shrine, right?"
"Without occupying the main hall of Zhenlong Temple, and without sharing the incense of the main incense burner, we will find a sheltered corner by the mountain path to give them a place to live."
"How much trouble could this possibly take?"
"Nowadays, Zhenlong Temple is very popular, with a constant stream of worshippers coming and going every day."
"Who does it bother if a few inconspicuous little shrines are added along the mountain path?"
"If a kind-hearted pilgrim is willing to light an incense stick for them, that is the pilgrim's own merit."
"Even if not a single incense stick burns, what loss would it cause us to keep waiting there?"
"Why can't we do such a simple thing?"
Zhou Shouzhou frowned slightly, as if he wanted to retort.
Lu Yuan didn't give him a chance, continuing, "It's just a small matter, why keep bringing up grand principles like 'Heaven's justice is ruthless' to intimidate people?"
"As for your concern that seven will come today and seven hundred will come tomorrow, that's just needless worry."
He pointed to the few faint lights below the mountain.
"How many wild gods like them in this world, do you think, could hold on until their last breath and reach the gates of our True Dragon Temple?"
"The vast majority won't live to see that day."
"They either disappeared silently in some unknown corner."
"Either he was eaten as a snack by some passing evil spirit, or he couldn't resist and degenerated into an evil god who brought disaster to the area."
"There are very few people who can stay clean and honest until they get a job."
Zhou Shouzhou remained silent.
Lu Yuan looked at him, his voice deepening, carrying an unprecedented seriousness.
"There's one more thing."
"I do not agree with your theory that Heaven is ruthless."
Zhou Shouzhou was startled and turned to look at Lu Yuan.
"You said that their incense offerings have ceased because they are no longer effective."
"So, according to your so-called 'laws of nature,' they should be eliminated, they should die?"
Lu Yuan stared into his eyes and asked, word by word, "So, according to your logic, one day, when the old man is so old that he has difficulty eating and dressing, and can't do anything at all..."
"Should I also throw him into the back mountain and let him 'naturally return to oblivion'?"
Lu Yuan stared at him and said, slowly and deliberately, "I am a human being."
"You are a human being too."
"We are all human beings, not evil spirits."
"Only evil spirits preach the law of the jungle and believe that those who are useless deserve to die."
"Why be so heartless? It wouldn't hurt to lend a hand!"
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