Chapter 78: Rotten Grass Becomes Fireflies, Wheat Becomes Butterflies (Ask for monthly tickets)

"Sometimes in a dream, the body becomes a crane;"

"There are countless grasses in the world that become fireflies."

That was a young man wearing a loose Daoist robe. It was freezing cold, but he was dressed simply. The Daoist priest looked quite handsome. When chanting poetry, he had a sense of detachment.

The scholar couldn't help but stand on tiptoe and look up. As a man, he was also moved by such a graceful demeanor for a while.

Only saw the Daoist priest with a smile, walking gracefully in the crowd, as if he were a banished immortal, and at the same time said:

"If you ask everyone, where do fireflies come from?"

"I think everyone knows the truth of rotten grass becoming fireflies:"

"After a long time, rotten grass will become fireflies."

"But there are many knowledgeable people in the city tonight, don't you understand? The so-called rotten grass becoming fireflies is just a romantic and dreamy imagination of predecessors!"

"Fireflies are born from fireflies, and they have parents, just like cat cubs come from cats and dog cubs come from dogs. This is the right way in the world. How can rotten grass become flying insects?"

The young Daoist priest chatted casually, as if chatting, but his tone had its own style and charm. Even if he was just talking, many people were willing to listen.

But between talking, he had already taken something out of the basket on the donkey's back. In the dark, there were dots of lantern light, and it could be seen that it was a handful of rotten grass.

"How can grass become fireflies?"

"Moreover, fireflies are only in summer nights. Now that early spring has just arrived and it is freezing cold, where do fireflies come from!?"

"Hahahaha..."

A carefree laugh, like a red dust immortal.

Only saw him rub the rotten grass in his hand and sprinkle it toward the sky.

For a while, the stars were broken, flying and flowing light.

Don't know how many thousands...

If it weren't for not hearing the sound, I would have thought that a handful of fluorescent yellow sparks had been hit.

Only saw fireflies flying, not seeing rotten grass falling.

The scholar surnamed Tang immediately opened his eyes wide.

There were countless fireflies in the night, and some flew in front of him. He could clearly see the body of this firefly, the flapping wings, and the little light dragging behind its tail.

There was already an exclamation in the crowd ahead.

I don't know how many children who had not yet entered the world, how many young girls who had been in the boudoir for a long time, and how many teenagers who admired Daoist arts, all opened their eyes wide at this time, staring at the fireflies all over the sky, and couldn't help but be lost.

It felt like it was a dream.

The Daoist priest in the dream laughed heartily, as if this was his most comfortable place and his favorite thing to do, and then asked the crowd again:

"Do you know—"

"Where do butterflies come from?"

The scholar surnamed Tang was stunned, thinking of the ancient books.

"Wheat becomes butterflies..."

Couldn't help but whisper in response.

"Wheat becomes butterflies!" The Daoist priest said almost at the same time as him. "But how can there be such a thing in the world?"

Although he said so, he had already sprinkled the wheat ears toward the sky.

Just as it reached under the night sky, it became a butterfly.

Lantern Festival, I don't know how many colorful lanterns there are, reflecting countless flapping beautiful wings, flying with fireflies, building a dreamy scene in this festive season.

This is also not a flying insect that should be in this season.

The scholar surnamed Tang was already lost in it.

Undoubtedly, even if he had been to the capital and seen many strange and bizarre performances, this could still be called the most wonderful and marvelous magic performance he had ever seen in his life. And what fascinated him most was the immortal demeanor of the young Daoist priest.

A friend beside him explained to him that this was a high-level person who eliminated monsters in the city a few months ago.

But the explanation at this time had already come late.

The scholar surnamed Tang had already determined—

This is a true Dao.

In strange book collections, in legendary stories, even in the capital, there are often high-level people who understand Daoist methods performing on the street for various purposes, but how many can compare to this one?

There was an exclamation all around, countless wide-eyed eyes, both teenagers and children, middle-aged and old, both poor commoners and dignitaries, and even some unusual figures.

These people surrounded them.

Lin Jue had a different experience.

At this time, what was reflected in his eyes was the ocean of lanterns, but most of the lanterns were not held high, illuminating many legs and feet, illuminating the road surface, and most people's faces were not illuminated clearly.

Therefore, monsters and gods may be hidden among them.

Therefore, even poor and embarrassed people can enjoy this moment with rich and generous people, be surprised at the wonder of the technique, and laugh heartily together. Even shy and inferior people can let go of any expression at this time, not bound by laughter, and not afraid of silence. Anyway, no one can see it, just be free.

Speaking of which, it is not just these people, even Lin Jue was amazed by the Seventh Third Shixiong's technique.

The technique is small, but the demeanor is heavier.

At this time, the atmosphere was also extremely warm, and it seemed that there was no worry at all.

Lin Jue seemed to realize what the Seventh Third Shixiong said for a moment—

Spells don't necessarily have to be used for fighting, and they don't necessarily have to be set up for eliminating monsters and demons. It's also good to be able to bring a moment of joy to the world.

Just like this moment.

Coming back to his senses, it was the Seventh Third Shixiong's smiling face.

"Oh..."

Only then did Lin Jue react and hurriedly said:

"Viewers, we are Daoist priests from Mount Yishan, not performers, and this time we are not here to exchange magic for money.

"It is because the fellow Daoists of Scissors Peak on Mount Yishan have achieved success in cultivation, merits are complete, and they have just been allowed by heaven to be a god in the world, and they need to raise funds to build a temple. We came to the city, not only to win a joy for everyone, but also to attract everyone to come over. If you are interested, you can leave your name and donate some silver and money.

"In the future, if there is another mouse monster stealing incident like before, just go to the Fourth Aunt Temple under Scissors Peak and offer a stick of incense, and you will naturally get a solution.

"Don't give too much.

"Heart is the main thing."

Most people discussed it when they heard it.

However, most of these discussions were similar. They could only keep hearing people tell those around them that the mouse monster had made trouble in the city before, and there was a Daoist priest fighting with a sorcerer on the street. After winning, he dragged the sorcerer all the way to the county office. The Daoist priest was the Daoist priest who was entertaining them with magic at the lantern festival now.

First, one person walked out.

This person was wearing ordinary clothes, but still had an extraordinary demeanor. Many merchants in the city didn't know who he was, but knew that the person serving beside him was the county magistrate in the county.

This person left a piece of silver and money and left arching his hands.

Suddenly many people walked forward, scrambling, some left some silver and money and retreated, and some crowded around, leaving their names.

Several scholars also crowded in it.

It didn't calm down until a long time later.

Lin Jue was telling the Little Xiao Shimei to learn and practice writing early, so that she wouldn't have to shout and record by herself, when he suddenly heard the commoners outside shouting, asking them what other Daoist methods they had.

In this situation, what is there to refuse?

Lin Jue learned from those performers before, first saluted the viewers with a Daoist salute, and then flicked his sleeves:

"Boom!"

A large bundle of fireworks was thrown out!

The night was suddenly illuminated!

Countless people's eyes reflected this bundle of fire, brighter than all the colorful lanterns tonight.

The left sleeve flicked again, and it was another bundle. 【7

By this time, Lin Jue no longer needed to spit fire from his mouth; he could manifest spiritual fire anytime and anywhere.

Moreover, spiritual fire was different from ordinary fire. Ordinary fire would last only an instant after being exhaled and would extinguish if there was no fuel, whereas spiritual fire could maintain its flame continuously.

Added to this was the technique of fire control—

And so, a pillar of fire danced and swirled in the sky as the Daoist waved his sleeves, resembling a fire dragon wandering through the night. Since it was the New Year and the Lantern Festival, most people were in high spirits; when such a miraculous spectacle of fire appeared, it drew cheers and a fervent, bustling atmosphere.

It added a touch more celebration for the common folk during this festive season.

As the flames extinguished and he looked around, he saw the same diverse crowd, yet now their eyes were filled with smiles and wonder.

In a daze, he even saw a tall, powerful young man in colorful clothing standing at the very back of the crowd, watching him with a smile.

Lin Jue suddenly remembered the performers from the temple fair last year.

At that time, countless people on the street had watched their performance with countless pairs of amazed eyes, and he had been among them, marveling at the incredible feats. Yet he never expected that, just a year later, he would accidentally switch roles and become the extraordinary master in the eyes of the people in the city.

Thinking this, he stepped back.

In the end, even the junior sister took the stage, asking the spectators to bring some stones; she didn't perform the feat of breaking stones on her chest, but instead used her slender, delicate hands to easily crush those stones into powder.

Gradually, the night deepened.

The performance ended, and the spectators dispersed.

As Lin Jue and the junior sister cleared away the money, they couldn't help but widen their eyes as they loaded it into the basket on the donkey's back.

The harvest from this session exceeded all expectations.

In less than a night, they could build a temple.

There was even more than enough.

"See? It still takes your senior brother to step up," the seventh senior brother said casually. "If it were left to them, going around asking one by one to raise funds, who knows how many months it would take."

"Third Shixiong brother is amazing."

Lin Jue offered a compliment.

"It's a pity that the largest piece of silver was given by the city's magistrate. I fear it was given because of the junior brother and our Daoist temple, and since it came from an official, I don't know if it's clean or not, so it's not suitable to use for building the temple for the Fourth Aunt. But since it was nominally given for building the Fourth Aunt's temple and not to us, it's not right to just spend it freely. I hope to run into him later and return it to his sleeve."

"Mm."

There were still people on the street so mesmerized they were reluctant to leave, and some bowed from afar to the seventh senior brother to show their respect and admiration; the seventh senior brother returned the gestures toward them.

The constable named Pan Yi had also left.

"Let's go."

The seventh senior brother led the donkey and said, "Don't even think about the inns in the city tonight; they must be full, and it's not right to disturb others. Let's go to the Temple of the Earth Yili Shenjun to borrow a place to stay. By the way, it should be called the Temple of the Yili Shenjun now. Since I've heard you mention it several times, let's go see what this Yili Shenjun Yi Li looks like."

Lin Jue followed him forward, still seeing many young men and women standing by the roadside, lingering and reluctant to take their eyes off them.

It was also the first time Lin Jue felt the charm of theatrical arts was so great.

Unfortunately, troubled times were coming.

Hearing only the clip-clop of donkey hooves ahead, echoing in the night air heavy with chill, Lin Jue gathered his thoughts and walked through the long street of colorful lanterns.

There were still many pedestrians on the street.

Commoners, high officials and noblemen, scholars and refined guests, talented men and beautiful women, as well as some people whose figures always seemed to flicker in a daze, and some dressed with exceptional magnificence and majesty—many had just been standing in the crowd watching their magic performance, and now they all cast their gazes toward them.

They soon arrived at the Temple of the Yili Shenjun.

It was still that small temple, only the door plaque had been changed and it had been repainted and decorated, making it look newer, but it was no longer managed by government officials, though there was no temple keeper for the time being.

Lin Jue pushed the door open and looked—

Standing at the front was a tall, powerful Yili Shenjun, wearing mountain-pattern armor inside and a colorful divine robe outside. He stood on the altar, much taller than an ordinary person, and his expression gave one a sense of inviolability, likely enough to scare away demons and monsters.

Beside it were some incense sticks, free for the taking.

Lin Jue, however, found it familiar and couldn't help but be startled.

He seemed to have seen this person in the crowd just now.

Could it be that the Yili Shenjun also enjoys the lantern festival?

Regardless, when borrowing a place to stay in someone's temple, one should offer a stick of incense.

Lin Jue followed the seventh senior brother, picked up three sticks of incense, wiped the tips with his hand, and the incense ignited. He bowed respectfully three times before inserting them.

The junior sister followed suit, her movements exactly the same as his.

The incense smoke curled, blurring the face of the deity, and in a daze, he seemed to see him reveal a hint of a smile again.