The sound of firecrackers at the bottom of the mountain was endless, and there was even the sound of drums and trumpets, which faintly reached the mountain.
Ye Qin stood at a high place. From this position, he could just see the village below the foot of the mountain. It was brightly lit and looked extremely lively.
There was silence inside the mountain, accompanied only by the cold moonlight overhead.
The mountain and the foot of the mountain are like two worlds, as if there is an invisible barrier that separates the two areas.
"It seems that the villagers are holding some kind of celebration."
Ye Qin didn't pay too much attention, turned around and returned to the deep forest, without any desire to go and find out.
The heart is like a calm lake, without any waves.
The smell of fireworks in the world of mortals is interesting, but it also brings out the boring days of hard training in the mountains, but Ye Qin no longer belongs to this rolling world of mortals.
The vast mountains are his true destination, where heaven and earth are together, and the sun and moon are his companions.
The moonlight flows over the mountains, and a silver glow falls on the earth, trying to heal the ravines and pain caused by the wildfires.
Nothing seems to have changed here, as if the fire that is about to burn is just an illusion.
The densely growing plants exude vitality, and the emerald green leaves sparkle under the moonlight. Occasionally, a pair of eyes as big as mung beans peek out from them.
I don't know if it is a squirrel or a field mouse, but it is running freely in the forest. The mountain wind blows through its fur, making every hair shine.
But the hilltop next door was covered in scorched yellow. Even if it was washed away by heavy rain, the black lines and traces could not be covered up.
Not a single blade of grass grew under the mountain fire, and all life was swallowed up. Only the charred bodies of the original tall trees were left, and the lush green grass was all covered with short black stubbles.
Occasionally, you can see a few burned, shapeless animal carcasses. Everything looks so shocking.
The animals that originally lived here were either buried in the sea of fire or escaped long ago. This place is like a dead place without any life.
It was in sharp contrast to the hilltop where Ye Qin was.
The mountain where Ye Qin is located and the creatures in it are all lucky to have Ye Qin's protection. Otherwise, their fate would be similar to that of the mountain next door.
Places that have been ravaged by wildfires may not be able to recover until the next year or so.
Ye Qin returned to his usual training place. The view here is wide and flat, and the location is relatively high, so he can better absorb the moonlight.
Now that his third state has stabilized, thunder and lightning don't appear often, so after finishing Qi training, he usually chooses to still visualize Taiyin.
But this is not a big problem.
The power of thunder and lightning contained in the Thunder Tribulation is extraordinary, and it takes a certain amount of time to slowly absorb it. After all, one bite cannot make you fat.
The energy of Moonlight is gentle and nourishing, and it can complement each other and have a neutralizing effect. Therefore, a two-pronged approach, visualizing and absorbing at the same time, is particularly effective.
As Ye Qin's visualization entered a better state, the sound of thin ropes soon came from the surrounding bushes.
A little squirrel popped up, which was like the beginning. Soon there were more and more small animals around, and the number was even worse than before.
They were still some distance away from Ye Qin. They seemed to be worried about offending and blaspheming, so they only dared to watch from a distance. Their upper bodies stood up like humans, and their forelimbs were closed in front of their chests.
The human movements are like humans worshiping something.
The moon in the mountains seemed to become brighter and brighter, and the silver light was as clear as water, shining on them, making them look so quiet and peaceful.
As time went by, the moon reached the middle of the sky, and soon a thin layer of fog gradually formed around it.
The mist centered on Ye Qin and continued to spread towards the surroundings. The hazy white mist looked ethereal, but it contained indescribable vitality.
The leaves of plants exposed to the mist seemed to become greener. They continued to grow at a speed visible to the naked eye, and became a lot greener in a short period of time.
As the days passed, Ye Qin continued to practice, absorbing the energy of heaven and earth, and benefited a lot from the surrounding mountains and forests.
When a month later.
The sound of rustling is endless, which is the movement of the growth of all things.
In addition, all the little animals had extremely comfortable expressions on their faces, as if they were immersed in some sweet dream.
The scene before me looked like a dream.
When the mountain wind blows, the white mist floats into the distance, spreading towards the next mountain.
There seemed to be some slight movement on the charred land.
After a lot of hard work, a green bud finally broke out of the ground, pushing through the scorched black earth around it, waving its figure under the moonlight.
Although it looks weak and insignificant now, it exudes vitality.
Like a small seed of hope, it seems to indicate that this land will revive again.
The same is true in other places. Small green stubble has replaced the original burnt yellow and darkness. The green of life once again envelopes the mountains.
You must know that the wildfire has only been over for a month. It is rare for vegetation to sprout so quickly. However, although the growth of vegetation is small, it recovers too quickly.
If the relevant botanists were here, they would definitely be shocked when they saw the scene in front of them.
It's a pity that no one can see this scene of life, only the bright moon in the sky witnesses what can be called a miracle.
Soon the sky turned white, and the clouds on the horizon were brilliant, like rainbow bridges of various colors, crossing the sky, ready to welcome the arrival of a new day.
Even the trees in the mountains have other colors in the hazy glow.
In the bright moonlight, only a shallow crescent moon is left, hanging looming high in the sky, about to retreat into the background.
Ye Qin slowly opened his eyes, and then recovered from his trance. The white mist around him had long since dissipated.
Looking at the densely packed small animals around him, even he couldn't help but be a little surprised.
"How come the number has become so large?"
Seeing that some of the animals still had burnt marks on their fur, Ye Qin quickly understood.
It seems that the small animals that narrowly escaped from the wildfires lost their homes, so they came here.
In addition, Ye Qin also discovered that the surrounding vegetation was growing more luxuriantly than before, becoming more exaggerated as it got closer to him.
After Ye Qin inspected the area, fortunately, although there were some changes in other places, it was not to an alarming level. It was just that the growth was more pleasing and taller.
Fortunately, it is located in the center and there are very few people around it. Ordinary people generally cannot find it, and there is no need to worry about causing any abnormalities.
Ye Qin guessed that because he absorbed the energy of heaven and earth, he changed the surrounding environment, and this change would continue. As for what it would be like in the future, he had no idea.
"It's too early to think about this now. This mountain is so big that it won't be noticeable no matter how much it changes. But maybe it will become a spiritual mountain in the future? The top priority should be to practice as soon as possible and improve our strength."
If Ye Qin had the ability to call for wind and rain, he would not have to be roundabout and think of ways to induce thunder and rain. Only by having the actual power in his own hands can he rest assured.
Ye Qin returned to the cave, and the little animals watched Ye Qin leave until they were completely invisible, then they dispersed.
…
At the foot of the mountain, after the celebrations were over, the day for the construction of the mountain temple soon came. This time was an auspicious day chosen by the village chief.
The village chief also chose an auspicious time and spared no detail, so that the villagers were ready to start work.
Even the village next door came to help.
"Today is a good day to break ground here. We, the villagers, are fortunate to be blessed by the mountain god, enjoy the rain and dew gifts of the mountain god, extinguish the mountain fires, and alleviate the drought. We specially build a temple here. I pray that the mountain god will be surrounded by all directions, without any taboos, and the construction will start smoothly."
The village chief burned incense and bowed devoutly, and then the others began to dig the foundation.
Everyone was doing it passionately and sweating profusely, but they were willing to do it.
Building a mountain temple is a matter for all villagers. Those who don’t have much farm work at home will come spontaneously and either deliver bricks, tiles, or cement. They can always find something to do.
Even the children didn't go all over the place to have fun and wanted to help, which shows how much everyone cares about this matter.
Everyone gathered firewood and the flames were high. With everyone's concerted cooperation, the new temple was built in less than half a month, just at the foot of the mountain outside the village.
The previous temple was just a small one, similar to the Tuigong Temple. The statue of the god was inside, and everyone could only worship outside.
This time it was different, it was a serious one, with blue bricks and red tiles, as big as a hall, covering an area of forty or fifty square meters.
Villagers can go inside to worship and offer incense, but due to limited space, the temple can only accommodate a few people at the same time.
But compared with before, it looked too grand. After all, although the previous one was said to be a temple, its scale looked more like a shrine.
Walking into the current mountain temple, it is bright and airy. Everywhere is decorated by the villagers, so it does not look out of place.
There are murals on it, and the villagers didn't know what to carve on, so they went to the town's carving master to carve pictures of the village and the green mountains, as well as the patterns of their previous sacrifices, prayers for rain, and celebrations.
In this way, it is not an offense, and secondly, it is a commemoration.
The biggest change is naturally the statue of the god. Now that the temple is so big, the previous statue was too small and inappropriate, so everyone rebuilt a statue of the god that is about half a man tall and stands in the center.
The coiled snake body, the snake head raised high, the snake letter was revealed in mid-air, and a pair of snake eyes stared at the villagers coming and going, vividly.
The people in the village even painted it with gold paint, making it look more majestic and more in line with the temperament of a mountain god, and much better than what Hu Xiaocao kneaded with mud.
But the former small statue of the god is still placed on it for worship. After all, the people in the village have worshiped it for so long and have become accustomed to it.
There is a huge incense burner in front of the statue, which is also the latest addition. It is painted in bronze and black. Many cigarettes and candles are inserted in it without feeling crowded. Only curls of green smoke can be seen rising and lingering in the temple.
After the new mountain temple was built, there was an endless stream of people coming and going, because in addition to people from this village, there were also people from other villages, and the incense was never interrupted.
Even when it rains, some people who visit or go to the field can go into the mountain temple to take shelter temporarily to protect themselves from the wind and rain.
Even children like to come and play in the crowd after school. However, they have been warned by adults, so they respect the mountain temples and do not dare to mess around.
Under this situation, not only the incense gradually flourished near the mountain temple, but the popularity also increased.
Now that the mountain temple has become bigger, it no longer needs someone to take care of it every day, such as cleaning the upper and lower parts, disposing of incense ash, etc.
After unanimous discussion, the villagers decided to leave this matter to Hu Xiaocao and his daughter, and the villagers paid some wages or fruits and vegetables together as a thank you.
First of all, the two of them have been taking care of the previous small temple, which can be said to be rain or shine, and their piety and awe are obvious to everyone.
Secondly, it was also to help the mother and daughter and relieve the pressure in their lives. Hu Xiaocao's mother could not do heavy work and it was impossible to work in the fields. In addition, Hu Xiaocao was young and did not have much ability.
The temple is not particularly big, so if two people work together, it should not be a problem, and their source of income is guaranteed.
The temple is a good job, it is not subject to wind, sun or rain, but no one is jealous, and no one objects to the village chief's arrangements and decisions.
The village chief found Hu Xiaocao and his daughter. When they talked about this incident, the woman almost cried with excitement and was a little at a loss.
"This, how can this be done? Everyone has helped me so much. I don't even know how to repay you."
"This is not just what I mean, but also what everyone else means. They all think that you two are the most suitable to do it. Don't let everyone down."
The woman nodded repeatedly, wiped the tears from her eyes, and was about to kneel down, but was stopped by the village chief.
"Hey, hey, sister of the Hu family, what are you doing? As a fellow from my hometown, please don't do this. Just relax and do your best."
When Hu Xiaocao knew that she was going to be with the Mountain God Grandpa, she was so happy that she almost went crazy. She was running happily all over the mountains and fields, and reached the original old temple in one breath.
Although new temples were built, the old temples remained there.
Hu Xiaocao looked at the rolling green mountains not far away. She put her hand next to her mouth like a trumpet and shouted loudly:
"Grandpa Mountain God, thank you~"
The bright smile is particularly obvious under the blue sky and white clouds.
The childish voice floated above. Although he didn't know if Grandpa Mountain God could hear it, Hu Xiaocao still wanted to express his gratitude.
If it were not for the mountain god, she would not have the peaceful and peaceful life now, and her mother would not be able to live another year.
As the wildfires and high temperatures have passed, the villagers in Longyuan Village have returned to their peaceful lives, working at sunrise and resting at sunset.
The heat of midsummer has passed, and as autumn sets in, time is passing quietly.
Ye Qin's practice has also changed. In addition to continuing to contemplate the moon every night, he will also absorb the energy of heaven and earth in the early morning and evening.
Although Qi is thin in the world today, it does not mean that it has completely disappeared. It still exists in many places.
For example, this mountain top has beautiful scenery, beautiful environment, and green trees. In addition, it is sparsely populated, and the environment has basically not been damaged. It can be said to be the most primitive ecology.
It is easy for such a place to produce the energy of heaven and earth. Nature nurtures all things, and the creatures living on this land will also feed back.
In addition, early morning and evening are when the sun and moon alternate, so it is easier for Ye Qin to capture the aura between heaven and earth.
At this moment, the sky has just lit up, and a ray of rays of rays of light falls on the earth through the clouds. The clouds and mist are steaming, and the rays of rays are bright.
In the blue sky, a shallow crescent moon can be faintly seen. The sun has not yet fully revealed its face, and it seems a little sleepy.
The trees on the top of the mountain were covered with a halo of light, and they gradually woke up from their deep sleep. When the mountain wind blew, the grass on the ground shook their bodies, and many dewdrops rolled down.
One of the drops even fell on Ye Qin. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the sea of clouds rolling not far away, and a red sun finally rising.
The cold silver glow also receded.
The morning light falls on the mountains, indicating that a new day is coming.
Ye Qin seemed to feel that something had changed in the world. He couldn't explain the feeling.
It was as if heaven and earth were conveying some kind of message to him.
"It seems like something is going to change in the world. It's like a big opportunity."
"But the perception is very vague, is it just a feedback between heaven and earth?"
Although he didn't know what it was specifically, Ye Qin felt that he still had to prepare in advance. Once something great was born, he would definitely benefit a lot.
…
A few days passed, and everything seemed to be calm again.
Until this day, a group of unfamiliar people appeared at the entrance of Longyuan Village, breaking the tranquility here.
"Is it around here?"
"It should be. According to the data, the best observation location is nearby, but it is too remote."
"It's just that it's remote. How can we observe it if it's all high-rise buildings?"
"What you said seems to make sense."
"There is a village here. Let's go and have a rest first. I suspect there is no place to live nearby. If you don't want to live in the wilderness, you can only stay overnight in the village."
Their arrival quickly attracted the attention of the villagers.
The visitors were three men and two women. They were well-dressed and well-dressed. They looked like they were coming from the city. They didn't look like they were visiting relatives, and they didn't know why they were here.
Several men looked polite, and the other two women, one of whom was older, the other looked to be in her early 20s.
"Hello, auntie, we are looking for the village chief. Could you please help us lead the way?"
Aunt Li, who was sitting under a big tree at the entrance of the village to enjoy the shade, looked at the young woman walking towards her. Her skin was as white as snow, in sharp contrast to the dark skin of the villagers, and her facial features were also very delicate.
But he didn't have the pretentiousness of city people. He smiled slightly, with two dimples looming, and pointed little tiger teeth faintly visible. He looked cute, playful, and very smart.
Aunt Li is a warm-hearted person, "Okay, come with me."
She looked at the group of people and said with some gossip: "By the way, why are you looking for the village chief?"
"We came to the village chief to do something."
After meeting the village chief, everyone quickly informed them of their purpose.
It turned out that they were from the city's astronomy bureau, and they came here to better observe the lunar eclipse at close range.
This lunar eclipse is the largest and most complete. It is different from ordinary lunar eclipses. If we want this grand event to happen again next time, I am afraid we have to wait twenty or thirty years.
Therefore, the Astronomical Bureau is paying close attention and hopes to be able to capture the comprehensive lunar eclipse process so as to make a special and detailed documentary.
However, because the location is relatively remote, I am afraid of danger if I sleep in the mountains and forests, so I wanted to stay in the village.
Muramasa listened to a lot of what they said, and he was a little confused.
"Wait a minute, what are these lunar eclipses, the earth and the moon that you are talking about? Why can't I understand them?"
The young girl smiled without any disdain or contempt in her eyes, "Sister Liu, what you are talking about are all professional terms. Don't talk about outsiders, even I have a headache after listening to it."
"To put it bluntly, it's a Tengu eclipse, but this astronomical phenomenon is quite special, so the Astronomical Bureau sent us over to observe it."
This sentence greatly relieved the village chief's embarrassment and explained his doubts. It was obvious that the young woman was very attentive.
The village chief patted his head in sudden realization, "Tengu eats the moon. You didn't tell me earlier. I'll understand now."
"It's a good thing that the city wants to make a documentary. We absolutely support it, and we will make arrangements for you."
The village chief was a warm-hearted person and immediately helped them solve their accommodation problem. There were many spare rooms in the village, so the three men were fine. After all, the elders slept wherever they could.
If it's just two women, you need to think about it.
The village chief seemed to have thought of something, "Yes, the Hu family's house has just been renovated and there are no men at home. It is convenient for you to live there. I will take you there right now."
This was exactly what they wanted. After all, it was a bit taboo to live with a man under the same roof. The two of them quickly thanked them, "Thank you very much, the village chief."
The village chief waved his hand, "It's just a matter of helping out, but the mother and daughter are probably not at home right now. You guys come with me."
The village chief led the two of them, and through conversation along the way, he also learned their names. The older woman was called Liu Mei, and the younger one was called Song Yufei.
After leaving the village entrance, we walked east for dozens of miles and finally reached our destination.
Looking at the house not far away, it looks particularly grand and different from other houses in the village.
The most important thing is that there is an endless stream of people coming in and out, and it seems to be very lively.
When they passed by before, they noticed this special house at the foot of the mountain, but they didn't know what it was used for. Now that they took a closer look, it was even more extraordinary.
Compared with this small mountain village, it is a bit out of place.
Song Yufei asked curiously: "Village chief, what is this for?"
The village chief said to Yourong, "This is the mountain temple of our village!"
Liu Mei and Song Yufei looked at each other and saw disbelief in each other's eyes.
The area of Longyuan Village is very small. Compared with the number of people in the town, the population is not large. It can be walked from the entrance to the end of the village in less than ten minutes.
However, in such a small village, there is a small temple, which is really incredible to them.
Although this temple is a bit small compared to the large temples in the city.
But it is indeed rare to see it in such a remote place in the wilderness.
"Mountain Temple?"
The village chief nodded and led the two of them inside.
There are quite a lot of people in the temple, because in addition to people from this village, people from other villages will also come to worship. Amidst the fireworks, it seems to be like that.
Song Yufei looked at the scene inside the temple, and then saw the statue in the center, and fell into silence again, a little in disbelief.
"The mountain god is a snake?"
She thought she was deceived, but it was indeed a real snake.
No matter how grand it was, it was even painted with gold paint.
Although Song Yufei and Liu Mei didn't believe this, they had never eaten pork and had seen pigs running away.
The statues of gods in many temples all look like humans. Except for the five immortals in the northeast, there are very few that have complete animal bodies.
Not to mention still a mountain god.
The village chief and the others took it as a matter of course, "Yes, there is no rule that the mountain god cannot be a snake."
What the village chief said was reasonable and well-founded, and Song Yufei was speechless for a moment.
When the woman who was cleaning saw the village chief's arrival, she quickly put down her tools and went to greet him, "Village Chief, why are you here? What's the matter?"
The mountain temple is clean and tidy, and women are indispensable. There is also a bouquet of unknown wild flowers placed in front of the statue, which Hu Xiaocao goes out to pick every morning.
The village chief nodded with satisfaction. Sure enough, it was the right decision to hand over the work of the temple to the mother and daughter.
(End of chapter)
