Chapter 155: We Are Humans, Not Malevolent Spirits

Lu Yuan’s words were like a bucket of ice water, dousing the newly kindled flame of hope.

Those swirls of ecstatic mist instantly froze.

Sickly green, dingy yellow, ashen white motes flickered uncertainly, then all dimmed together, like a candle guttering in the wind,

dead silence.

A deeper, heavier stillness than before blanketed the mountain gate.

The Recumbent Ox Stone Lord’s pair of sickly green pupils stared unflinchingly at Lu Yuan, the motes trembling violently.

In that trembling there was no trace of gratitude.

Only an embarrassment and pain as if flesh had been peeled back to reveal the most rotten scar beneath.

“Daoist... we....”

Seeing these “deities” act so pitifully, Lu Yuan already knew it was hopeless.

He had guessed as much a moment ago.

Could they still manifest?

Yes.

And no.

Yes, because some divinity remained, enough to sense the most devout prayers of believers.

No, because their divine bodies had long since had their life force utterly exhausted.

They were too weak.

So weak that even forming humanoid shapes cost them, so weak that a breeze could scatter their divine light, so weak they could not even protect themselves, how could they possibly protect others?

The Spring Mother’s dry voice sounded faintly, carrying three hundred years of bitterness and unwillingness.

“We... are... too weak.”

“If a believer comes sincerely to pray...”

“We... perhaps can only respond once, let them know we heard.”

“But if they want blessings bestowed, if they want hands extended to help....”

Her grayish-white mist surged violently, as if trying with its last breath to prove it was not useless.

But the mist billowed for a long time and ultimately collapsed, unable to coalesce into anything.

This was a deadlock with no solution.

They were going to “die.”

How could they avoid death?

If they wanted to live, they had to receive offerings!

How could they get offerings?

They had to manifest, they had to be useful!

But they were so weak now that they had to receive offerings just to survive; otherwise they would “die.”

They were going to “die.”

So how to avoid it?

Receive offerings!

How to get offerings?

Show a manifestation, be useful!

And they now...

...

Good grief, this was an infinite loop!

Watching the reactions of the group in front of him, Lu Yuan said directly:

“I figured as much already!”

“There’s an urgent problem, but there’s a way!”

When Lu Yuan finished speaking, the whole world fell silent.

These “deities” looked a little dumbfounded, not knowing what method could possibly exist.

Lu Yuan, indifferent as if nothing had happened, didn’t make a fuss and said plainly:

“Then just open your mouths and bob your heads.”

The group of “deities” grew even more resentful.

What did he mean by opening mouths and bobbing heads?

Lu Yuan widened his eyes and said:

“Borrow, of course!”

Before they had time to grasp the deeper meaning, Lu Yuan swept a decisive hand, his tone brooking no argument.

“Since I allowed you to set up deity benches beside Zhenlong Temple’s mountain path, then you must follow my rules!”

At those words, the deities barely cared about rules, nearly instinctively bowing their heads in agreement.

After all, this was hope for survival; they would agree to anything.

Just as the “deities” prepared to hear what Lu Yuan’s rule would be, he shifted his tone, waved his hand again, and added:

“Whether you’ll actually be allowed to set deity benches is not certain yet!”

“I have to go back and consult my temple’s Patriarch. If it’s possible, I’ll tell you. For now, wait down here at the mountain.”

With that, Lu Yuan didn’t look back at them and turned, heading up the mountain.

Left behind were the many deities, full of unsettled doubts and turbulent feelings, standing and staring at each other in the mountain wind.

The mountain path was silent, only Lu Yuan’s footsteps echoed in the night.

He walked at a moderate pace, his mind calculating how to “communicate” this to the Patriarch.

Suddenly, his footsteps paused.

Not far ahead, beneath the shadow of a tree, a figure had silently emerged from the woods, as if it had always been there.

Not the Deity of Beauty.

It was Zhenlong Temple’s receptionist, Elder Zhou.

Lu Yuan’s pupils contracted slightly.

Elder Zhou had been among the earliest priests to come to Zhenlong Temple with the old man, even earlier than Lu Yuan.

When the old man took Lu Yuan traveling around the world, Zhenlong Temple was mainly managed by him.

Elder Zhou was conscientious and responsible.

But as they say, even the most skillful cook can’t do much without ingredients.

Given how Zhenlong Temple had been before, no amount of responsibility could accomplish much,

and also because the old man previously had little intention of reviving Zhenlong Temple.

Only after Lu Yuan decided to stay did the old man warm to the idea a bit.

Elder Zhou was not from beyond the Great Wall; he had followed the old man from inside the Wall years ago, so he lacked seniority in the borderland ranks.

Thus Elder Zhou’s early lineage and methods were not originally Zhenlong Temple’s.

The relationship between Elder Zhou and the old man...

Lu Yuan thought about it: if the old man were like Guan Yu, Elder Zhou would be Zhou Cang.

Back then Elder Zhou was saved by the old man in the interior and had followed him ever since.

Lu Yuan and Elder Zhou did not have a deep relationship.

Firstly, Lu Yuan had only transmigrated a little over a year ago; when he first arrived he traveled with the old man.

After returning to Zhenlong Temple, Lu Yuan ran errands and jobs outside often.

On ordinary days they would greet one another, then each go about their business.

Lu Yuan only knew Elder Zhou came from the interior, his given name was Zhou Shouzhuo; he didn’t know much else.

“Elder Zhou, you?”

Lu Yuan looked at the suddenly appearing Zhou Shouzhuo with some surprise.

Zhou Shouzhuo’s gaze first passed calmly over Lu Yuan to the dim godlight below, then slowly returned and settled on Lu Yuan.

He bowed slightly, his manner respectful.

“I was preparing to enter meditation and sensed my senior brother had gone out; I felt uneasy and came to look.”

Hearing the word “senior brother,” Lu Yuan felt a little awkward.

“Elder Zhou, there’s no outsider, don’t call me that. It feels odd.”

Lu Yuan had no intention of telling Zhou Shouzhuo about the wild deities outside the mountain.

At least he would ask the Patriarch first before revealing anything.

But Zhou Shouzhuo seemed to see through Lu Yuan’s thoughts and smiled faintly.

“Zhenlong Temple’s incense has already grown prosperous; with you bearing the title of Celestial Master, being recognized among the top of the sects is only a matter of time.”

“Some rules should be established; some should be upheld.”

After saying that, he stopped fussing over the form of address and his gaze grew deep as he asked bluntly:

“Senior Brother, do you truly intend to receive these wild deities?”

Lu Yuan’s eyes widened.

!!

From the sound of it, Zhou Shouzhuo knew everything!

Not only did he know about the wild deities, he had also overheard Lu Yuan’s conversation with them a moment ago.

For a time Lu Yuan was stunned.

He hadn’t noticed Zhou Shouzhuo standing nearby at all!

Only now did Lu Yuan belatedly realize: in his current state, he wouldn’t have perceived a living person, let alone something else.

He didn’t feel embarrassed; if Zhou Shouzhuo already knew, there was nothing to hide.

Lu Yuan nodded slightly.

“Yes.”

“Since we’ve encountered them, if we can help, we should help.”

He said this while continuing up the mountain, glancing sideways to ask:

“From Elder Zhou’s tone, do you have other thoughts?”

Zhou Shouzhuo did not answer immediately; instead he shook his head.

“Now, the whole of Zhenlong Temple relies on you to decide; whatever you say is final.”

His tone was respectful yet carried a hint of distance.

“However, I am curious why you would involve yourself in such karmic ties.”

“This matter brings no gain and invites trouble.”

Zhou Shouzhuo paused and his tone grew a few degrees more serious.

“Besides, the number of these faded deities in the world is countless.”

“The reason their incense can’t be maintained already proves one thing—

“they are insufficient in ability.”

Lu Yuan stopped in his tracks.

He turned and looked at the receptionist at his side.

Moonlight like water spilled over Zhou Shouzhuo’s composed face; his expression showed no ripple, as if he were stating the most straightforward truth.

“Insufficient ability?”

Lu Yuan repeated the four words softly, as if savoring the chill within them.

Zhou Shouzhuo inclined his head slightly, hands clasped behind him, posture straight as a pine.

“Mountains have mountain gods, waters have water gods; every plant and tree may become a spirit.”

“But among those who can enjoy a thousand years of incense and be revered by the masses, how many have there been since ancient times?”

His voice was low but exceptionally clear; in the quiet mountain path each word struck the heart.

“Ancient books say: A god is one who is relied upon.”

“Relying on things, depending on thought.”

“If the thing is destroyed, the god is harmed; if the thought is cut off, the god perishes.”

Zhou Shouzhuo’s gaze passed over Lu Yuan and returned to the dim motes below.

There was not a trace of pity in his eyes; it was as if those were merely stubborn, dead stones, not deities about to fade away.

“Their present state did not come without reason.”

“Why did offerings stop? Why did believers forget?”

“Plainly put, it’s that they no longer respond.”

“When drought strikes and people pray for rain, it should respond; when floods come and people ask for clear skies, it should respond; it cannot supply what people ask.”

“One time, two times, people’s hearts cool.”

“When people’s hearts cool, the thought of faith breaks too.”

“When the thought breaks, the god naturally should perish.”

Zhou Shouzhuo withdrew his gaze, looking directly at Lu Yuan.

“Senior Brother, this is not cruelty.”

“This is rule.”

“The heaven-and-earth operate by immutable principles; deities are within that cycle.”

“One who can answer the prayers of the masses will keep incense burning; one who cannot should return to dust, return to silence.”

“Like crops in the field: those that bear plump ears are treasured by farmers; those that bear nothing can only become spring soil.”

“This, is the root of the god-teaching.”

His tone eased, but his words carried greater weight.

“You are kind-hearted, Senior Brother, I understand.”

“But there are too many gods in the world who need saving.”

“Save these seven today, and tomorrow seventy or seven hundred may come knocking?”

“Then what will you do, save them or not?”

“If you save them, even Zhenlong Temple’s prosperous incense cannot fill such a bottomless pit.”

“If you do not save them, what is the worth of today’s good deed?”

Having spoken, Zhou Shouzhuo fell silent, watching Lu Yuan quietly for an answer.

The mountain wind passed, lifting his washed and faded robe; the moonlight made him seem even more aloof and cold.

Lu Yuan was silent.

A long silence.

He had to admit every word Zhou Shouzhuo said stood firmly on reason.

He had thought along the same lines himself.

Incense, at its core, is a fair transaction.

You pray, I respond.

If answered, the incense continues.

If not, people move on.

It is natural and right.

But when Lu Yuan lifted his eyes and glanced again at the dim motes swaying in the wind below, on the verge of being extinguished,

he turned back, his gaze calm and clear, meeting Zhou Shouzhuo’s eyes.

“Elder Zhou, you are wrong about this.”

A crack finally appeared on Zhou Shouzhuo’s otherwise unruffled face.

He was taken aback:

“How am I wrong?”

Lu Yuan looked at him, speaking each word distinctly.

“I understand all those grand truths you mentioned.”

“It’s true that if incense stops, a god should perish, that is rule.”

Lu Yuan shifted his tone.

“But what we plan to do is simply give them a few deity benches, isn’t it?”

“Not taking over Zhenlong Temple’s main hall, not sharing the main incense burner—just on the mountain path, find a sheltered corner and give them a place to stay.”

“How much trouble is that?”

“Zhenlong Temple’s incense is now prosperous. Pilgrims stream through daily.”

“A few unremarkable deity benches along the mountain path—how would that bother anyone?”

“There will be kind pilgrims who are willing to offer a humble stick of incense; that would be their own merit.”

“Even if none give even one incense stick, letting them stay there and wait, what loss is that to us?”

“Why can’t we do such a small, easy thing?”

Zhou Shouzhuo’s brow rose slightly, as if he wanted to retort.

But Lu Yuan didn’t give him the chance and continued:

“For such a small matter, why pull out the heavy moral cudgel of ‘the heaven-and-earth are pitiless’ to press people?”

“As for your worry that seven today will lead to seven hundred tomorrow—that’s needless anxiety.”

He pointed to the faint lights below.

“How many of these wild deities, mustering their last breath to make it to Zhenlong Temple’s mountain gate, do you think there are in the world?”

“The vast majority won’t live to see this day.”

“They either fade away quietly in unknown corners,”

“or get devoured by some passing malevolent spirit, or they fail and degenerate into evil gods that harm others.”

“Those that cleanly manage to reach our door are very few.”

Zhou Shouzhuo said nothing.

Lu Yuan looked at him, his voice deepening with an uncommon seriousness.

“There’s one more point.”

“I do not agree with your doctrine that heaven-and-earth are pitiless.”

Zhou Shouzhuo trembled slightly and turned to look at Lu Yuan.

“You say their incense ceased because they lack ability, because they are no longer responsive.”

“So by your logic of ‘heavenly rules,’ they should be eliminated, left to die?”

Lu Yuan fixed his gaze on him, asking each word with emphasis:

“Then if one day the old man grows so old that he struggles even to eat or dress, can’t do anything—”

“Should I then abandon him in the back mountain and let him return to silence by himself?”

Lu Yuan stared at him, syllable by syllable:

“I am human.”

“You are human.”

“We are both human, not malevolent worships.”

“Only malevolent worships talk about survival of the fittest, only they say the useless should die.”

“Why be so heartless? Reaching out to pull someone up won’t harm us!”