Wanshe Mountain has once again fallen into the tranquility of the past. In the spring, the mountain flowers are brilliant and everything revives. In the summer, hundreds of animals appear for a long time. In the autumn, the dry wind turns the mountains yellow, and in winter, the frost and snow freeze the branches and all the animals are gone.
Spring, summer, autumn and winter, cold comes and summer comes, twenty years in the human world is not as peaceful as one day in the mountains.
Since the Yue Kingdom launched a brazen war of revenge twenty years ago, they have been recuperating for twenty years and finally want to take back their homeland.
And the Jin Dynasty, with a prosperous country and a strong people, would naturally not tolerate the land in its hands being taken away again.
In Yinzhou, which is the border between the two countries, bloody battles broke out one after another. In the neighboring state of Qinanzhou, it was inevitable to recruit soldiers to replenish the supply of soldiers. There were old men who went into battle on behalf of their sons to keep the bloodline alive, and some younger brothers who went into battle on behalf of their brothers. To ensure the stability of the family, a woman who does not give in to men joins the army to save the life of her bedridden father.
Because of the war, families were broken up and many people died. Also because of the war, the civilians became miserable and even poorer. The white-haired people gave away the black-haired people, the family bloodline was cut off, and the people were in dire straits.
None of this will be recorded in the achievements of the Holy Emperor. Later history books will only record him as a virtuous monarch and a heroic leader who opened up new territories and expanded his territory.
Behind all these great achievements are mountains of bones.
This battle lasted for twenty years, and finally the Jin Dynasty prospered, defeated the Yue State and defended the captured territory.
The vitality of the Jin Dynasty was severely damaged, and the Yue Kingdom was directly destroyed. Confucianism evacuated the Yue Kingdom. There were countless refugees in the Yue Kingdom, thieves were everywhere, and evil spirits cannibalized people. In comparison, although the people of the Jin Dynasty were miserable, they were better off than the Yue Kingdom. A lot, at least they can survive, and the emperor who can let the people survive is a good emperor.
The Jin Dynasty not only stopped the war with the Yue Kingdom, but also stopped the war with the Northern Barbarians in the north, because news of a great defeat came from the north. The 300,000-strong army was defeated, and only 50,000 wounded soldiers returned.
Fortunately, the Holy Emperor of the Jin Dynasty defended the northern territory at all costs, and the Jin Kingdom, which had eight states, still had a chance to rise again.
Bai Jun got all this news from the dreams of the villagers at the foot of the mountain.
Although the villagers are illiterate, they can always get some news from government announcements, as well as various sources of information from private tabloids, so that they do not know anything about national events.
If it were in other countries, it would naturally follow the policy of fooling the people, but the Holy Emperor of the Jin Dynasty opened up commerce and expanded people's wisdom, and threatened that if the people in the world were patriotic, the country would be strong.
No matter what the process was, he achieved it. Nowadays, there are almost no people in the Jin Dynasty who do not praise the Holy Emperor, and there is no one who is not proud of being a citizen of the Jin Dynasty.
There have been many mourning sounds in the villages at the foot of the mountain in recent years. Every time a white cloth is hung in the village, it represents the death of a laborer in the family.
Their heartbreaking cries echoed in the world, and they begged the gods and Buddhas in the sky to bring their loved ones back to life. They knelt in front of the Liuxian statue and cried and prayed.
But no god can respond to them, and Bai Jun does not have the magical power to bring the dead back to life. The only thing he can do is to tell them in dreams: Your children and relatives have been reincarnated, and they will enjoy glory and wealth in the next life.
It was the only way they could feel relief.
It was also because of Bai Jun's dream that Liu Xian's belief spread hundreds of miles across the world. Even on the other side of the mountain, people in the Yue Kingdom worshiped Liuxian to pray for peace.
Countless incense lingered in the void of Wan Snake Mountain, turning into a huge python that entrenched the mountain, suppressing evil spirits from all directions.
That white fox, Hu Qiniang came to see Bai Jun once. She was surprised by the immortal aura on Bai Jun's body. As soon as he entered the Ten Thousand Snake Mountain, most of his cultivation was suppressed out of thin air.
Only then did Hu Qiniang realize that a mere snake demon who had been cultivating for more than fifty years had already achieved quite a lot.
She regarded Bai Jun as an ally and no longer dared to look down upon him.
Hu Qiniang told him that he would transform in another hundred years, and hoped that he would be able to survive the tribulation at Wanshe Mountain and transform.
Bai Jun promised her that the monster in these mountains must have allies to gain a foothold. But if a great demon in disguise can have the kindness to protect him, his feelings will naturally be different.
As for the fox demon who wants to kill him afterwards, I'm afraid that this karma will entangle the fox demon with more gain than loss.
The fox demon also knew that Bai Jun, a little demon, needed his protection if he wanted to gain a foothold in the mountains. Only when the interests of both parties are consistent for a long time can we be the most solid allies.
In the past twenty years of hard training, Bai Jun finally understood the second magic, Xiaoruyi.
This is a simple magic learned from the shedding of snakes. It is very different from the legendary magical power of law, heaven, elephant and earth. It can only shrink the body and turn into a small snake, or enlarge the body and become two or three feet longer. .
But Bai Jun was also very satisfied. After all, he had no bloodline inheritance and no guidance from famous teachers and immortals. It was extraordinary to be able to master two magic arts after fifty years of practice.
Look at my silly younger brother Xiaoqing, who just recently realized a half-baked magic trick, spitting demonic fire!
A mouthful of demonic light was spit out, like a ball of fire shooting out, igniting immediately upon contact. Even ordinary fire can be extinguished by an ordinary source of water, but if you practice for a long time, you will naturally not be afraid of ordinary water.
The reason why I say half-baked is because Xiaoqing almost burned the thousand-year-old willow tree during practice.
Bai Junke was shocked. After all, he was planted by a big shot who could ascend to immortality and Buddha. This was really undestructible.
Other than that, things were business as usual in the mountains. The number of snakes in Wanshe Mountain has also grown to tens of thousands, and it finally lives up to its name. Even snakes from other places have migrated and gathered near Wanshe Mountain to survive.
Among them, there is naturally the king snake, which mainly eats snakes. Of course, humans in this era call it the mountain snake, the mountain wind wave, the mountain wind, the rice shovel head, etc.
Bai Yan did not target them but allowed them to survive. After all, natural circulation is the most important, otherwise the aura ecology of the mountain will be destroyed. Where can he find a cave with such good Feng Shui?
On this day, Bai Jun accidentally found an ancient artifact, which was a small clay pot buried under a willow tree.
Seeing it, Bai Jun thought about it for a long time before he remembered that a young man had saved his life a long time ago, and he had to repay this kindness.
As his cultivation gradually deepened, Bai Jun understood through the power of incense and wishes that the world really depends on cause and effect. Mortals believe in gods and give gods incense and power of wishes, and gods need to fulfill certain wishes of mortals in order to repay their faith.
Since Bai Jun owed the young man the grace of saving his life, he wanted to repay it. Whether it's cause and effect or Bai Jun's Taoist heart, he will choose to repay.
He put the pottery pot into the snake's jaw and followed the river to the human world.
Although things have changed for fifty years, Bai Jun can still remember the smell of that young man. Snakes are insidious and will take revenge. This is not just a saying. If you offend a snake demon, it will still come to you for revenge even if decades have passed, because your scent is engraved in the snake's small brain.
…
Yue Kingdom, Lingzhou, Xiahe Village, Lu Family.
Lu Baosheng had a bizarre dream last night. In the dream, there was a giant snake like a white dragon surrounding the roof of his house. He felt that this white snake was somewhat familiar, but he couldn't remember it. However, Lu Baosheng was also very happy to see Uncle Lu. Dreaming of a white snake meant that he would make a fortune. All in all a good sign.
He slowly put on his clothes, and his daughter-in-law outside the house was already calling him to eat.
"Dad! It's time for breakfast!"
Lu Baosheng responded, slowly opened the door and walked into the kitchen room. The whole family was already sitting on the kang waiting for him.
The eldest son smiled and said, "Dad, I'm waiting for you. Cuihua made a bowl of egg custard for you today, and added two drops of sesame oil. Please try it quickly."
Hearing this, Lu Baosheng smiled on his wrinkled face and got on the kang: "You kids, I'm so old, and you still give me such good food? I'll be going to the ground in a few days, you guys?" You should eat more."
The second son set out the dishes and chopsticks for him and said, "Father, you are just saying this. You are the old man of our family. No one can treat you badly."
Lu Baosheng felt warm in his heart. Although his wife had left early, his two sons still treated him with filial piety, and they both married good wives who could work hard. The eldest son gave birth to two children and a girl, and the second son also gave birth to a child. A baby and a girl can be regarded as a family. "Let's eat."
Following his order, the whole family began to eat on the kang around the table.
Since it was the farm's idle time, the meal consisted of some thin porridge and water, along with a basin of steamed buns and two plates of pickles made by the farm. It was considered a very rich breakfast in Xiahe Village.
There are not so many rules in the farmhouse, and you can talk while eating. The second son whispered: "Dad, our new emperor of Yue Kingdom ascended the throne last month!"
Lu Baosheng was stunned, "Where did you hear the news?"
The eldest son laughed and said, "I heard it from Uncle Wang's house. Doesn't his son have a cousin who works in the Yamen?"
Lu Baosheng nodded when he heard this, sighed and said: "In this world, it is better to have an emperor. Our Xiahe Village is the safest place within a hundred miles. Without an emperor, sooner or later we will be robbed by bandits."
The second son smiled and said, "I heard that this emperor is opening up a civil service examination. As long as you are not a slave, a merchant, or a worker, you can take the imperial examination!"
"What! Is this true?" Lu Baosheng asked in surprise.
"Really! Really! The imperial list has been posted!" Cuihua, the eldest daughter-in-law, interjected.
When Lu Baosheng heard this, he burst into tears with joy and said, "Oh my God! I have spent half my life struggling to get rid of the slave status of having children at home, and now I have the opportunity to honor my ancestors!"
The second daughter-in-law also interjected: "I heard that the Li family next door sent their two children to a private school in the town!"
Hearing this, Lu Baosheng nodded and said: "Our family can't fall behind! It's just that our family doesn't have much money, and studying is expensive. We can only send one child to study in the town.
I think let’s go with the eldest son’s second child. "
"Ah? Why don't Erba quickly thank you!" Cuihua hurriedly pulled Erwa and said happily.
The second son was surprised and said: "Dad, my son is also very smart, and Xiaodan also wants to study."
The second daughter-in-law also complained: "Yes, Dad! Our second daughter is also busy working for the family and works hard without complaint. How can we only send the eldest son?"
Lu Baosheng looked at his grandson with regret, handed the uneaten bowl of egg custard to his third grandson, and asked: "Little Dan, do you think it is better to study, or this bowl of egg custard?"
Xiaodan was so seduced by the fragrant egg custard in front of him that he couldn't move his eyes away: "Master, this bowl of eggs smells good!"
Lu Baosheng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then take it and eat it."
Xiaodan immediately took the bowl and ate it hungrily. Some people may not be able to eat such a bowl of egg custard in their lifetime.
"This matter has been decided. As you can see, Xiaodan is really not suitable for studying. Our family really cannot afford two scholars. Xiaozhou is more suitable, so let him go. He will really succeed in the future. Even if he has achieved fame, he will never forget the kindness of your second brother and his family."
"Dad! You can't be so partial!" The second daughter-in-law immediately started crying, crying miserably at the top of her voice.
The second son also complained.
The eldest son and his family became taciturn and honest, and the children were too frightened to speak.
At this moment, the guard dog in the yard started barking wildly, and the barking was as unsettling as fear.
"Boss, go out and see what's going on." Lu Baosheng said.
The eldest son hurriedly ran out and came in after a while holding a small broken jar.
"Dad, someone put a clay pot in the middle of our yard. Look."
The second son said dissatisfied: "Just throw away a broken jar. Dad, please think more about it, Xiaodan..."
"Wait a minute." Lu Baosheng interrupted several people, and the second daughter-in-law also paused.
"Bring me the little jar and take a look." Lu Baosheng stretched out his hand to take the jar and said to himself, "Why does it feel familiar?"
"Could it be that there was a thief in our house?" The eldest son was more naive and hurriedly picked up the stick to find out if there was a thief hiding in the house.
"No, no." Lu Baosheng looked at the increasingly familiar jars, but always felt that he couldn't remember something and had forgotten something.
"Boom~"
There was a roar of spring thunder, and the eldest granddaughter came under the eaves of the running yard and said with a smile: "It's raining! It's raining!"
"Crack~"
Lu Baosheng stood up suddenly, stunned, and the pottery pot fell to the ground and broke.
"Dad, what's wrong with you?" The eldest son was frightened.
The second son was also frightened when he saw his father's face turned pale. "Dad, are you feeling unwell? Why don't you go see Langzhong?"
There was silence in the room for a long time. Lu Baosheng's old body trembled, his eyes widened and he looked forward, his lips trembled and he made a sound.
"snake…"
"Big snake..."
"Big White Snake..."
"Dad, what snake are you talking about?" the eldest son asked doubtfully, "Where are the snakes? I'll catch them and throw them out."
"Boom~"
There was another thunder, and a dazzling lightning flashed in the sky, illuminating Lu Baosheng's old face in the room.
He ran out of the house and came to the courtyard despite the heavy rain. He looked around for something and shouted: "Orochi, is that you? Are you here?"
The eldest son was shocked: "Dad, what's going on?"
"It...could it be that...that one is possessed by evil spirits?" the second daughter-in-law said timidly.
"What are you talking about?" The second son covered his mother-in-law's mouth with his backhand.
Everyone was a little trembling in their hearts. After all, it was in the countryside. There were many rumors about foxes, ghosts and monsters. They had even seen many strange things with their own eyes. Everyone knew something.
"Boom~"
Another thunder came, suddenly passing through the roof, and everyone heard the sound of the tiles on their houses knocking against each other, as if something was pressing on the tiles and crushing dozens of tiles at the same time.
The eldest son hurriedly ran out of the house, looked up and saw that he was sitting on the ground with a plop, trembling and pointing to the roof, his face twisted in horror as if he had seen a ghost.
Everyone hurriedly ran out of the house and looked up. They were all frightened. They saw a giant white dragon-like snake coiled on the roof of their house in the rain and fog. The huge snake head and the indifferent vertical pupils. , enough to frighten people.
"Monster! Help!" The second son shouted in fear, climbed up from the mud nest, and was about to run away with his mother-in-law and father.
Lu Baosheng turned around suddenly when he heard his son's voice.
Just like that afternoon that year, the White Snake is still as mysterious and powerful as ever. In such wind and rain, a young man walked out of the rain with a clay pot in his arms, applying medicine to a wild beast python.
