The Xiyue Mountains tower into the clouds, and the highest point of the mountains is even higher than Zhongyue Qian Mountain.
The climbing path consists of stone steps one foot wide. When you reach the mountainside, the stone steps are replaced by wood embedded in the soil.
Yi Ning stepped on the wooden steps, then looked back and saw an endless series of stone steps beneath him, and finally disappeared into the sea of clouds.
"Master, do you want me to pull you?" Tong Qian stood at a higher place, waving and shouting.
Yi Ning shook his head: "Mountain climbing does not stop at difficulties and dangers, it must reach the peak."
After saying that, he looked up at the thousand ladders above his head and continued to climb.
Yi Ning, who has not used the power of merit, is only a little better than ordinary people in terms of physical strength.
On the other hand, Tong Qian, who had already started as a martial artist, had an easier time walking.
During the next journey, Yi Ning was in a relaxed mood. He looked at the virgin forest on both sides of the stairs for a while, and whistled to tease the squirrels in the forest. Although he walked slowly, he also moved forward steadily.
Tong Qian led the way, walking and stopping, thinking that he must study martial arts and medicine more diligently to protect his master in the future.
Two figures, one large and one small, walked like this from morning to night, taking breaks along the way. Mainly because they were still mortals and needed to eat, drink and relieve themselves.
Along the way, he would also meet some mountaineers, and Yi Ning would chat with them about the history of Mount Fushan and local culture.
Especially when meeting pilgrims coming down the mountain, even if Yi Ning doesn't take the initiative to speak, these people will sigh with a senior tone: "Young man, please work harder, it's still early to get to the top of the mountain."
All the way up.
When the full sun was hidden in the mountain, the master and the disciple finally reached the top of the mountain under the moonlight.
A temple is different from a Buddhist temple.
The Buddhist temple is located in the north and faces south, and adopts the architectural form of a three-entry courtyard. The mountain gate, main hall, and back hall enter one by one, with strict rules and regulations.
But the Xiyue Temple is much simpler. Apart from the square paved with bluestones on the top platform, there is only a majestic Xiyue Temple. Even late at night, there are still many people climbing the mountain to offer incense.
It is strange to say that no matter what kind of character a person is, he becomes particularly qualified when he comes to the solemn place of the temple.
On the square, people who had just arrived held fragrant wax and lined up in an orderly manner to enter the temple.
As for those who had offered incense, they gathered together in twos and threes and talked in low voices, as if being slightly louder would alarm the heavenly beings.
"Master, is this Xiyue Mountain Temple effective?"
"With so many people, it should be pretty good."
"good!"
Tong Qian lowered his head and carefully opened his pocket. There was a linen money bag in the pocket. The money bag contained Tong Qian's latest "salary". She was very precious.
He took out more than ten copper coins from his pocket and handed it to Yi Ning: "Master, can you buy me a few sticks of incense? I want to pray for the folks!"
"It doesn't cost so much to buy incense." Yi Ning returned most of the copper coins. After the little girl took it, she couldn't help laughing.
It was as if these returned copper coins were earned in vain.
After a while, Yi Ning bought three bamboo incense sticks and handed the money to the boy, then led him to join the queue.
The queue moved slowly, and Yi Ning softly told Tong Qian what he saw and heard on the top of the mountain.
Tong Qian was a little confused after hearing this: "Everyone is so pious."
Yi Ning shook his head: "Most people worship their own desires, worship their own hearts, and atone for the sins they have committed. It is natural for them to be pious."
"Atonement?"
"When you burn the incense that you should burn and worship the Buddha that you should worship, you will be forgiven by God for the bad things you have done, and you will feel at peace from then on."
Yi Ning thought about it and added, "Of course, there must be people who pray devoutly. They don't understand the truth of the matter, so don't make preconceptions."
Tong Qian said "Oh" and began to mutter what Yi Ning said, keeping it in his heart.
Anyway, whatever the master said is right, even if it is wrong, it must be right when you remember it!
After half a stick of incense.
The pilgrims in front walked out of the temple with a satisfied smile. Yi Ning patted the money and said, "It's our turn, be careful of the threshold ahead."
Most temples have high thresholds, which means "threshold" and "ridge" have the same pronunciation. People believe that after crossing this high threshold, they can overcome no matter how difficult the world is.
So Yi Ning continued to add: "You are a girl. When you enter the door, take your right foot first and don't step on the threshold. And this step needs to be as big as possible."
When Tong Qian heard this, his short legs moved extra hard, wanting to overcome all the ups and downs in life in one step.
Enter the temple,
Tong Qian held the bamboo incense and imitated the way he worshiped his ancestors in Qingming Village. He raised the incense and worshiped the gods: "Bless the villagers to have enough food and clothing, and protect the new teacher in the book school to be half as good as the master..."
After a brief thought, Tong Qian bowed three times to the statue, and then Yi Ning took her to the incense burner.
Tong Qian holds the bamboo incense and inserts it very slowly. The three incense sticks stand upright, which means that the person who burns the incense has an upright heart.
"Okay~" After everything was done, she returned to her cheerful look.
Yi Ning nodded, took Tong Qian with him and was about to leave, but suddenly he said in surprise: "Is this?"
I saw incense ashes billowing in the incense burner, as if something was moving underneath.
Then, a golden little head emerged from the white ashes.
"Yeah~" The owner of the little head moved a little clumsily, and it took a lot of effort to pull the whole body out of the ashes.
Only then did Yi Ning see the villain clearly.
The villain is no more than one finger tall, and is covered in gold. There is a faint light surrounding him. Other than that, he is no different from a human being.
At this time, the little golden man put his hands on his hips and raised his head: "Hey, hey, that guy in white clothes, what does your body smell like? Why does it smell better than incense ashes?"
"Who are you?" Yi Ning was confused.
The villain raised his chin: "I am the famous Great Sage of Incense!"
"Great Sage of Incense?" This question was asked by Tong Qian. The strange thing was that she could actually hear what the little golden man said.
"Bumpkin." The villain snorted disdainfully, then cleared his throat and called out his name.
"I am the spirit of incense that has been condensed into one soul in ten years, one soul in one hundred years, and then condensed into one thousand years of incense!"
"In addition, I also have many other names, such as the Great Sage of Incense, the Golden God King, the Super Invincible Peak Lonely Dugu Immortal..."
What followed was the villain's endless talk, and Yi Ning didn't even ask any questions. He almost dragged out all the details about himself.
"So you are the incense spirit of Xiyue Temple?" Yi Ning concluded.
The incense man was dissatisfied: "What does it mean to become a spirit? Do you have some culture? You haven't answered my question yet. Why does it smell so good?"
At this time, an urging voice came from outside the temple: "People inside, can you hurry up and come out after praying!"
"Right away!" Yi Ning responded, then took Tong Qian and walked out of the temple.
Do you smell so good? He didn't know why.
Moreover, this little incense man is obviously the object of the Huashan Mountain God, and Yi Ning does not want to add to the controversy.
"Hey, hey, don't go, this great sage is talking to you." The incense man stood in the incense burner and shouted.
Seeing that Yi Ning was about to leave, he jumped up, drew a golden light, and lay directly on Yi Ning's shoulder.
The moment he came into contact with Yi Ning, the incense man felt refreshed, as if he had eaten a lot of incense.
In comparison, the days spent soaking in the incense burner are nothing!
Thinking of this, the incense man shouted: "I think your bones are amazing, so I will follow you and give you some guidance."
"No, go back."
"I'll give you one more chance to think about it!"
"Let's go back."
"Book..."
The little incense man suddenly changed his tone and his expression changed quickly.
One second he was still looking at people with his nose, but the next second he became extremely attentive: "Brother, please take me with you, I'm so pitiful."
