(35)
Time flies, day and night change. It can be said that in the past few days that everyone stayed in Xiahe Town, they were helping each other and enjoying themselves in hardships. It has never been as frightening as today - lest they make a wrong move and end up losing everything.
No matter how tiring natural disasters are, they are far less than man-made disasters. Nowadays, Taipingdao is showing off its majesty even more, and once again crowds gather at the external altar. As for everyone represented by Zhang Yi, they no longer have any excuse to stop them. Even due to the shortage of food, they are beginning to find it difficult to protect themselves.
Could it be that we really want to surrender to the power of Taiping Dao? Such public opinion has begun to arise around the Zhang family. Therefore, it is urgent to expose the lies of Taipingdao.
After bidding farewell to everyone in the pharmacy, Zhang Yi, Zhao Kuo, Bai Feng, Murong Yan, and E Feiying boarded the motorcade to greet them. They were invited to attend the ceremony of worshiping the heaven, and took advantage of this opportunity to find ways to penetrate into Taiping Road. good opportunity.
The sky was dark that day, and a golden sun appeared and disappeared in the mid-air with the wind. The sultry heat is stirring everyone's hearts. Is it possible to awaken the "god" of Sishui who has been sleeping for a long time?
The altar is set near the water, backed by a mountain, and only separated from the ferry by a small slope. It is said that this is the best position deduced by Sima Tu, a Taoist priest, based on the "Water Mountain Jian" in "Yi Li". Later, he put it on the altar to pray for rain based on "Shu Shu". The mystery within it cannot be understood unless one has studied "Yi" for many years.
As a result, everyone gathered around the ferry and watched the Taoists arrayed around the scarlet altar, dancing with their swords to drive away evil spirits. Hundreds of believers knelt down to pray and chant sutras and hymns under it. Sima Tu, who was at the center of the formation, was wearing green clothes and was sitting there. I saw him facing the water and the sky, as calm as a mountain in the wind and rain, and I don't know what he was thinking.
The spectators on the periphery were all officers, soldiers and civilians. They formed a nearly semicircle. They were all afraid of the gods and ghosts and could only talk in low voices. The officers and soldiers presided over by E Binghuan used their bodies to build a wall and surrounded the Taiping Dao crowd, so that the ritual could be carried out safely and not violate the laws of heaven. Bai Feng and others also followed E Binghuan to watch the ceremony together.
The spectators were all old acquaintances or new acquaintances of E Binghuan. They were waiting side by side not far from the altar, keeping a considerable distance from the wonderful sword formation. Only people with the same status as E Binghuan can get one. Therefore, among the group of people, only Zhao Kuo did not have to stand to watch the ceremony. However, the rule of not eating or drinking applies equally to everyone.
Zhang Yi and E Feiying's two cousins stood behind E Binghuan, while Bai Feng and Murong Yan waited beside Zhao Kuo.
At this time, it was already halfway through the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven. The guards watching the ceremony were all thirsty and talking a lot. Seeing the sweet fruit on the altar, I can't help but salivate.
At this time, Miss E Wu finally couldn't help complaining and said: "Dad! My daughter really can't stand it anymore. She is suffering and tired, and she can't move at will..."
"If there is a way, 'sincerity leads to spirit'. How can you convey your wishes to God with your appearance?" E Bing also replied.
Zhang Daodao: "Uncle E, after all, Xiao Yingzi is just a female prostitute. It's really embarrassing for her to be so hard on herself."
After E Bing heard this, he still shook his head resolutely. When Miss E Wu saw this, she had no choice but to give up. But then he secretly poked Zhao Kuo, who was sitting next to him, as if he wanted him to intercede for him, and then pushed his cousin hard.
After Zhao Kuo understood this, he also said to E Bing: "Master E, how long will the ritual ceremony of Taiping Dao take place here? After all, we are not practitioners, and we cannot avoid being angry and delusional. If in the end we still haven't asked for a drop of rain, If you succeed, wouldn’t this torture be in vain?”
"For the spectators, we only need to participate for half a day and then rest. For them, it is a day of hard practice. In comparison, our physical suffering is nothing. "E Bing also said: "Ying'er is spoiled and spoiled, and she always speaks rudely. This is all her father's fault! It's okay to let her suffer a little now..."
After Zhao Kuo heard this, he stopped talking.
E Bing also saw that the two people behind Zhao Kuo had been silent for a long time, and greeted him curiously: "Are the two people behind Mr. Zhao suffering from hardships? They don't look older than Ying'er. E Bing really admires him. ah!"
"Your Majesty E, you are serious." Bai Feng raised his hand and replied, "The two of us have been wandering around and have long been accustomed to this kind of life."
"Oh?" E Bing said doubtfully: "This must be Miss Murong, right? Ying'er always mentioned you to me. It's better to meet than to be famous. Miss Murong really seems to have everyone's style. Unlike my daughter, the whole person I think about fighting and killing every day, but I don’t think about female celebrities, and I don’t care about marriage.”
"I have met Mr. E..." Murong Yan bent slightly, bowed, and replied: "We, brother and sister, are living in the world. Fortunately, Brother Feng knows some martial arts, so we can find a job with Mr. Zhao."
"Are you brothers and sisters? However, one's surname is 'Bai' and the other's 'Murong'..." E Bing was still hesitating, but E Feiying immediately patted her father on the shoulder and hinted to E Bing not to ask further questions. the story behind.
"Dad, Sister Murong only told me that I opened the city gate to let them go after seeing that the two siblings were born in such pitiable circumstances. As for why, it's best not to ask any more questions..."
E Bing also resolutely let the other party tell everything. In the end, a story about the grievances and hatreds of a down-and-out family blurted out from Zhao Kuo's final words.
"As a prominent member of the former imperial city, Brother Bai's relatives were all slaughtered to death by his enemies. In the end, he risked his life to rescue his only sister and then fled to the east..." After Zhao Kuo said this, he looked at him with goodwill. Looking at the two "servants" behind him, he seemed to have really accepted them. "In order to avoid their enemies and hide themselves from others, they usually do not show themselves as brothers and sisters. They have always been regarded as my personal bodyguards. Always by your side.”
"I see. No wonder Bai Shaoxia and Miss Murong are always very close. It turns out they are relatives whose blood is thicker than water!" E Bing was still stunned. He looked at his daughter again and said with a smile, "I don't know about Bai Shaoxia, but I still remember that." What happened when Ri was defeated by Ying'er at the banquet?"
"Of course I remember."
"Although it was just a spur-of-the-moment joke at the time, it was also dictated by the emperor's order. If Bai Shaoxia doesn't mind condescending, E is willing to provide a place for you two brothers and sisters so that you don't have to wander around anymore..."
As soon as he finished speaking, several dry thunder thunders suddenly sounded in the sky. Then, light raindrops slowly hit the crowd in the festival.
"Is it raining?" E Bing said in surprise: "Is God answering for you, Young Master Bai? Hahahaha..."
In an instant, everyone present burst into cheers. Such a blessing from heaven is truly ecstatic. The villagers stripped off their clothes with the same enthusiasm as during the autumn harvest, and happily ran home to get water jars.
Taoist Wu Gu in the middle of the altar and the sword array also stood up. His erect and firm posture was particularly eye-catching among them, and he was worshiped by all the Taoists. However, there was not much smile on his face.
Sure enough, after a short while, the shower passed in a hurry, and the haze in the sky was once again dispelled by the blazing sun.
The rain stopped, and the humid heat wave hit again. After that, until noon, there was still no rain. Maybe this is just God's mercy, or the beginning of a turning point.
