Knife splashing

Chapter 767 Going South
Woohoo~
The sounds of crying and sifting through rubble were incessant.

After the earth-shattering night at Mount Tai, the city of Tai'an below was not unscathed.

The violent tremors of the earth's veins were not limited to the Jade Emperor Temple on the mountaintop.

Many old houses in the city, especially in the urban area near Mount Tai, collapsed or were damaged due to the earthquake. Collapsed beams and broken tiles were scattered in the streets and alleys, raising dust that had not yet settled, mixed with the morning dew, making the scene look particularly desolate and sad.

The city was shrouded in gloom, and the sound of weeping could not be heard.

People who lost their homes gathered around the ruins, some numbly searching for their remaining belongings, others leaning on each other and weeping, pain and anger filling the air.

Officials dispatched by the Jinan Prefectural Administration Commission and the Provincial Surveillance Commission have been urgently stationed in Tai'an.

Setting up soup kitchens, distributing clothing, organizing soldiers to clear the rubble, and assisting the people in rebuilding kept them incredibly busy. With the oversight of the Prince of De's chief administrator, no one dared to embezzle funds. However, the inefficiency of disaster relief and the uneven distribution of supplies frequently triggered new small-scale conflicts and complaints.

People curse not only natural disasters, but also man-made disasters.

Zhao Bingzhong, Zhou Xian, dozens of officials in Tai'an City, and those officials in the Tai'an Military Command who colluded with them, turned a blind eye to the plan to sacrifice young boys and girls, neglected their duties due to abnormalities in the city, or even aided and abetted the evildoers, all became the targets of the people's curses.

Xiao Chengyou, the chief secretary of the Prince of De's mansion, and others acted swiftly and decisively. After interrogating and confirming the evidence against them, they put shackles on the group of serious criminals and escorted them to Jinan Prefecture by heavy guards.

What awaits them is nothing more than "death with reprieve" or even "immediate execution".

Yesterday, as the procession was being escorted away, the people's curses rose and fell. Rotten vegetable leaves and clods of earth mixed in with the rubble directly killed several elderly officials.

Meanwhile, a rumor quietly began to spread among the common people:
"The Lord of Mount Tai... has been replaced... Erlang Shen... has ascended the throne..."

Ordinary people were skeptical of the news.

The Lord of Mount Tai is a deeply rooted and revered deity in their hearts, the master of Mount Tai who governs life, death and the underworld. The change of this position is nothing short of an upheaval.

The government did not mention this matter, and the Taoist priests also kept it a secret.

However, perhaps it was the terrifying sight of Mount Tai pressing down on them that night and the disaster that followed that made some people uneasy.

Some people began to secretly set up simple plaques in the corners of the ruins or in hidden places in their new homes, crookedly carving the words "Xiansheng Erlang Zhenjun" (the Manifestation of the Holy Erlang True Lord), placing some water or coarse grains on them, and silently praying that this rumored newly enthroned deity could dispel the gloom of Mount Tai, protect their homes and prevent evil people and spirits from running rampant...

…………

Unlike the sorrow in the city, a somber atmosphere still pervaded Mount Tai.

Although the Netherworld passage has been closed, the potential consequences are considerable.

The remains of wild beasts that night, corrupted by intense Yin energy and transformed into evil spirits, along with some garrison soldiers and nearby mountain dwellers who had become walking corpses after coming into contact with Yin energy, hid away after dawn.

The Xuanmen disciples who came to help formed small teams, carrying talismans and magical artifacts, and guided by local Xuanmen cultivators of Mount Tai, they went deep into the mountain paths, forests, ravines and caves to clear out the remaining walking corpses.

As for the animal corpses, they are mostly purified by burning with fire magic.

What's even more troublesome is the broken seal.

The Taishan Xuanmen sect suffered heavy losses and could only repair talismans, rebuild steles, restore the earth's energy channels, and activate spiritual caves polluted by yin energy with the help of elders from various sects who came to provide support.

The Blood Maple Forest and the Wordless Stele, in particular, are key areas for protection.

Of course, a large-scale ritual to appease the spirits was also underway.

The disaster struck too suddenly. The core forces of the various sects on Mount Tai were "discussing grand plans" at the Jade Emperor Temple. Outer disciples were sent out to patrol the mountain, while inner disciples guarded the gate outside the Jade Emperor Temple. Most of them perished and their cultivation vanished.

Inside the still unrenovated Jade Emperor Temple, the sound of bells rings continuously.

Under the guidance of Daoist Shoumingzi, elders of the Bixia Yuanjun Mansion, and surviving elders from various sects, a solemn and sorrowful ritual for the deceased is underway.

Incense and candles swirl around, prayer flags flutter, and the scent of incense wafts everywhere.

"Fellow Daoists, please accept my condolences."

After the religious ceremony, Xu Cangsong from the Jinan City God Temple stepped forward to offer his condolences.

But after everyone from Mount Tai expressed their gratitude, he changed the subject and asked, "The Mount Tai lineage has suffered heavy losses, but Mount Tai is a vital place in China, and this matter is of great importance. I wonder what your plans are?"

These words, though seemingly well-intentioned, caused the air in the hall to freeze instantly.

For many years, although the various religions on Mount Tai have been a disorganized group, they have been able to unite as one when facing outsiders.

Mount Tai is not just an ordinary blessed land; it not only has many spiritual sites, but it is also the place where emperors performed the Fengshan ceremony, and inevitably has many connections with the capital city.

It would be a lie to say that other religious sects in Shandong were not envious.

Just like Xu Cangsong, although he had a good relationship with the various sects of Mount Tai because he was in charge of the Law Enforcement Hall, he was, after all, from Penglai Pavilion, so he naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity.

"Humph!"

Elder Lei of Mount Tai, known for his fiery temper, immediately retorted sarcastically, "We appreciate your help, but matters within Mount Tai are none of your concern."

"You can't say that..."

Xu Cangsong was not angry at all. He stroked his beard and said calmly, "The safety of Mount Tai is a matter of national importance. Moreover, there are so many troublesome things suppressed on the mountain. If something goes wrong again, it will be my Qilu Xuanmen who will suffer."

Upon hearing this, many sect elders who came to offer their assistance nodded in agreement.

The members of the various sects on Mount Tai, however, looked grim.

This is what they fear most.

This incident has caused such a big commotion. If the imperial court blames them and someone instigates them to be stripped of their right to manage Mount Tai, then they will have no strength left to revive it.

They were also powerless to deal with the places of suppression on the mountain.

This time, we have to give up a lot of rights.

"Master Xu, there is no need to worry."

Just then, Shoumingzi suddenly spoke up: "My senior brother has personally gone to the capital to apologize. In addition, we have discussed that the Jade Emperor Temple and other religions will jointly establish the Mount Tai Sect."

"To avert disaster, the Taishan Society will hold a cellar opening ceremony to open all the remaining cellars, raise funds, repair the mountain gate, and appease the disaster-stricken people at the foot of the mountain."

"After the opening ceremony, new spiritual materials will be placed and sealed. Now that the Shenzhou Qiankun Academy has created a divine artifact of humanity, the Suilun Shuihuo Zhenjun, will protect the country, so metal spiritual materials will definitely be in high demand."

"We are unable to raise the funds and need your help."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the people in the hall varied.

On the Taishan Sect's side, several people wanted to speak, but they sighed and remained silent.

They had already discussed this matter.

Given the current situation of Mount Tai, forming a joint Taishan Sect is the best solution, allowing them to concentrate their resources to deal with various troubles. However, just like Mount Qingcheng today, some traditions will inevitably disappear over time.

When Shoumingzi brought up the matter again while others were making trouble, they had no choice but to go along with it.

Some of the religious groups that came to help stopped arguing.

They are quite far away, and Taishan has already gained a lot by giving up the benefits of the spirit cellar.

To press them further would be to kick them when they're down, something that would be despicable.

In the blink of an eye, the situation was easily resolved by Shoumingzi.

Xu Cangsong was unwilling to give up. He glanced at the gold-painted statue in the main hall and said, "I have heard that the Lord of Mount Tai is rotated. Is this true?"

This is what he truly cares about.

Hearing this, everyone else also perked up their ears.

The position of the Lord of Mount Tai is enough to determine the rise and fall of a religious sect.

But this matter was kept secret, and they only learned about it on their way here.

"Hahaha~"

Shoumingzi smiled and stroked his beard, saying, "How can we mortals interfere with the position of the Prefect? ​​Yesterday we received the imperial decree that Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun will take the throne. After the cellar is opened and funds are raised, a divine palace will be built in the Jade Emperor Temple."

The elders from the other sects looked at each other in bewilderment upon hearing this.

Xu Cangsong's eyelids twitched slightly. "Brother Dao, you're not joking, are you?"

Shoumingzi said calmly, "Such a major matter, how could I dare to speak recklessly? If Fellow Daoist Xu does not believe me, you may consult the oracle and have it mounted to verify its authenticity." Upon hearing this, Xu Cangsong said nothing more.

What he wanted to do was to elevate his ancestor to a higher position, but no matter how renowned his ancestor was, he was ultimately just a mortal god, and could not compare to the famous Erlang Shen.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and he asked, "I've heard of the Twelve Earthly Branches..."

Li Yan's activities in Shu were no secret.

The reincarnation of Erlang Zhenjun has appeared, which is related to the Twelve Earthly Branches. This is why many sects are wary of him. Could it be that he came here for the position of Lord of the Prefecture?

"Young Master Li and the others have already left due to other matters."

Before he could finish speaking, Shoumingzi interrupted him, looking into the distance with a complex expression in her eyes…

…………

"The ship in front, get out of the way!"

"Isn't this Manager Liu? He's back from Shanzhou?"

"Gentlemen, would you like porters?"

On the canal, the water surface gradually narrowed, and the voices of people on both banks suddenly rose.

Looking up, at the confluence of the Wei River and the Huitong River, boats lined up end to end, stretching for miles. The four characters "Grand Canal Transport Flag" were engraved on the sides of the large red-lacquered boats. The boatmen, with their arms bare, rowed the boats, their shouts echoing across the water, and the waves crashed against the planks with a loud clatter.

"Gentlemen, we've arrived at the customs office!"

The boat captain hired by the Lin family entered the cabin and reminded everyone.

As the group stepped out of the cabin, they saw the customs house standing majestically on the shore in the distance, with the words "National Economy and People's Livelihood" inscribed above the main gate. Even before they got close, they could hear a great commotion.

"Hey~"

Shalifei rubbed his bald head. "Wasn't there a riot at Linqing Pass a while ago? This doesn't look like it at all."

Wang Daoxuan chuckled, “Linqing Customs is a major tax-paying area for the imperial court. How can it remain in chaos? It may have already returned to normal a month ago.”

After the incident at Mount Tai, they did not linger. After a brief handover, they rode away directly, passing through Tai'an Post Station, Dongping Post Station, Dong'e Post Station, and Liaocheng Post Station, before boarding the large ship sent by the Lin family to pick them up.

“The Taoist priest is right.”

The bowman quickly replied with a smile, "Linqing Pass isn't afraid of chaos. In fact, the people are happy when things are in chaos. Those burned-down pavilions need to be repaired, and a lot of money will have to be spent."

As he spoke, he turned to Lin Yu and asked, "Young Master, would you all like to go ashore?"

Lin Yu's face was gloomy. He turned his head to look at Lin Yaozu, who was tied up in the corner, and said coldly, "The ship has enough supplies. We don't have time. Head to Jinling as soon as possible."

"Yes, Master."

He ducked his neck at the bow and hurriedly went to direct the crew.

Lin Yu then turned to look at everyone, "I apologize, everyone..."

"We're brothers, no need for formalities!"

Shalifei patted him on the shoulder, "Business comes first. Now that you've joined the Twelve Yuan Chen, the Lin family's affairs are our affairs."

Li Yan nodded reassuringly, "Don't worry, we should make it in time."

After the incident at Mount Tai, a lot of information was obtained through interrogation.

Especially Lin Yaozu, who revealed a piece of information:
He had previously leaked information about the Lin family's fleet, and taking advantage of the chaos within the clan, and under duress, he planted a large number of unidentified individuals in the Lin family's Jinling properties.

The Lin family was a powerful clan in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and they also wielded considerable influence in Nanjing.

Judging from the situation, they are clearly planning something big.

If the Lin family suffers misfortune on its own, it will only lose some money. But if it gets involved in some rebellion or riot in Jinling, it could be a disaster that leads to the confiscation of the family property and the extermination of the clan.

Therefore, at Lin Yu's request, everyone set off immediately.

The fastest way to travel south to Nanjing is by the Grand Canal. Starting from Linqing, the route passes through Jining Prefecture, Xuzhou, Huai'an, and Yangzhou before reaching Nanjing, a journey of only four or five days.

"Thank you, brothers..."

Lin Yu's eyes reddened, and he solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Born into wealth, he never worried about money from a young age, and never even thought about taking over the Lin family business; he only wanted to live a carefree life.

Originally, he joined the Twelve Yuan Chen simply because he didn't want to stray too far from the others, since he still needed Kong Shangzhao's help to find the spirit wood for the family.

It wasn't until this period that I truly felt the warmth of having friends help me.

Once the plan was set, the large ship would turn directly south after passing through the checkpoint.

As he was about to leave, Li Yan turned his head and looked towards Mount Tai.

The matter on Mount Tai can be considered a successful move.

Although he managed to bring the statue of Erlang Zhenjun into the Taishan Fujun Temple, to succeed, he still needed the incense offerings of the people and the assistance of the local Taoist sects.

The head of the Jade Emperor Temple has gone to the capital, and he has already written a letter asking the Mo Sect to intercede on his behalf.

That was the deal between the two parties that night.

Erlang Zhenjun will become the patron of the Taishan Sect in the future, and they will naturally be pleased with him.

Even so, it is estimated that it will take several years to succeed.

But the news he received later made him uneasy.

After the success of the Mount Tai incident, he communicated with Erlang Zhenjun again that very night and finally learned why he wanted to seize the position of the Lord of Mount Tai.

Humanitarian change is imminent, and the Great Luo Dharma Realm will also undergo transformations.

The Netherworld Passage of Mount Tai serves as a connection, and people will inevitably risk their lives to travel from here to the human world. Erlang Shen was assigned to guard this entrance.

If anything major happens in the future, this will also be their base of operations.

Although it was difficult to see the whole picture, all the information made Li Yan feel uneasy.

This humanitarian reform may well lead to chaos...

…………

Boating on the canal can be both interesting and boring.

Having seen so many mountains and rivers along the way, they are no longer a novelty.

Especially after leaving Linqing Pass, the sky remained overcast, with frequent torrential rains and thick fog that made people feel sticky.

Therefore, most of the time everyone was busy with their own things on the ship.

Before we knew it, four days had passed.

"Young master, we have arrived at the Yangzhou dock."

Just past noon, someone walked into the cabin from the bow of the ship to inform them.

As everyone stepped off the deck and looked up, they saw the river, dozens of meters wide, filled with thousands of sails.

Unlike the northern shipping lanes, this area is mostly filled with covered canals, piled high with bulging sacks, and tall-masted seagoing vessels with exotic sails hanging down. The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments can be faintly heard between the painted and gilded boats, and the air is filled with the salty river breeze, the heat of spices, and the sweat of dockworkers.

To everyone's surprise, the river in the distance had been blocked off, and rows of imperial warships stood in a menacing array, their red banners fluttering fiercely in the rain and mist.

The entire waterway was thus blocked.

Lin Yu was anxious and ordered the bow of the boat, "Quickly, ask what happened?"

Soon, the bowman rushed over, swallowing hard.
"Young master, something has indeed happened. I heard that a group of Japanese pirates landed and burned, killed, and looted along the way, and almost stormed into Yangzhou City!"

(End of this chapter)