Xuanxia

Chapter 507: Cold Prayer Festival

In the nineteenth year of Qianhao in Dayan, the year was Dingmao, and on the thirteenth day of October, according to the Chinese zodiac, it was Xinmao. It was auspicious for sacrifice, travel, and trade, but not for earth-moving, burial, and logging.

Of course, this day is also the Cold Prayer Festival.

As a festival passed down from ancient times, people often pray on this day for good weather and good harvests in the coming year - but even people who don't have to work in the fields have long been accustomed to praying for peace, prosperity and success on this day.

As an important festival between Cold Dew and Frost Descent, the Cold Prayer Festival also reminds people that winter is coming.

Therefore, on this day, most of the people who came to Jinchan Temple to pray had already put on winter clothes.

Yes, Jinchan Temple finally opened its gates to the public.

Even though they had experienced such an earth-shattering battle two days ago, even though many temples and buildings in the temple collapsed, and even though most of the monks were killed, Huikong finally decided to open the mountain gate on the day of the Cold Prayer Festival.

The destroyed roads and temples were temporarily surrounded by rows of high fences, preventing people from seeing the devastation inside.

The blood mist that had once covered the entire Jinchan Temple had naturally been wiped clean long ago.

Even the valleys and mountain walls that were created by deep pits in the war were temporarily planted with a large number of trees, flowers and plants, making it impossible to tell that there had been any changes there.

Therefore, people who entered Jinchan Temple early in the morning did not notice anything unusual except that some areas of the temple that seemed to need repairs were cordoned off.

Instead, their attention was mostly focused on the decorations made by the temple specifically for the Cold Prayer Festival.

The temple is filled with fluttering red silk and colorful lanterns, creating a festive atmosphere.

For this festival, every corner of the temple is carefully decorated, from the mountain gate to the major halls, it is solemn and festive everywhere.

The stone lions in front of the mountain gate have bright red ribbons tied around their necks. Lanterns are hung on the trees on both sides of the tree-lined path, and under the lanterns are wind chimes with auspicious words written on them, such as "happiness, longevity and health", "good harvest" and so on.

Of course, more importantly, prayer platforms have been added in front of the doors of major temples, on which incense burners and offerings are placed for pilgrims to burn incense and pray.

In some corners of the temple, there are some small altars with special sacrificial items placed on them, such as five-colored rice, which symbolizes auspiciousness.

On the Panyun Tower, Huikong looked at all this from afar with a calm expression.

He listened to the footsteps coming from behind him and said with a smile: "Donor Fu, you are here."

Fu Qingzhou took the last step and exhaled lightly: "Master, seriously, why don't you consider building an elevator like the one in Mingjian Pavilion? It's really tiring to climb up."

Huikong smiled lightly, without responding, and just said softly: "Come."

Fu Qingzhou curled his lips and stood beside him.

The top floor of the Cloud Panning Tower was still in a mess, with all the traces left by the chaotic battle between Fu Qingzhou and Yuan Zhen two days ago. Even the broken wooden pillars were not even propped up.

"Master, it's such a mess here, don't you want to clean it up?" he asked.

Huikong smiled and said, "No need."

"Isn't it possible?" Fu Qingzhou looked at the bustling crowd in the temple below: "Let's not talk about anything else. The money you collected from the incense offerings during this Cold Prayer Festival alone is enough to renovate the entire temple. There's no need to be so frugal, right?"

"Haha, you are joking, benefactor."

Huikong blinked and said, "To maintain such a large temple, money is of course necessary... During this Cold Prayer Festival, our temple has decided to open its doors to the public, and we do want to collect more money, but..."

He paused before continuing, "It is to prepare to move the temple to the old site of Jinchan Temple."

"Eh?!"

Fu Qingzhou was surprised: "Old site? Do you mean Jiangnan?"

"Yes, Dangdang Mountain in the south of the Yangtze River." Huikong smiled and said, "There are still a few brothers and sisters staying at the old site of our temple. After the Cold Prayer Festival today, our temple will start this work. In one year at the fastest, or three to five years at the slowest, all of them will return to Dangdang Mountain."

Fu Qingzhou opened his mouth: "Why?"

"Ha ha……"

Huikong chuckled and said, "Didn't you say that, Master Fu? With your limited ability, don't even think about getting in touch with the imperial court and becoming powerful. Go back to the mountains and learn how to behave and do things first."

Fu Qingzhou was slightly surprised: "Master, did you really listen to me?"

"Since what you said makes sense, why can't I listen to it?"

Huikong's tone gradually became heavy: "I did a terrible job before, causing too many innocent people to die... In the past, I only knew how to follow the temple rules and regulations, rewards and punishments, but I forgot that rules are dead, but people are alive."

Fu Qingzhou laughed: "Master, you finally realized this. It's not easy."

"Xuan Xing, in fact, there is nothing great about him." Hui Kong looked up at the sky and said leisurely, "I am just a monk with excellent talent for cultivation, so I sit in this position. In fact, in terms of being a person and doing things, I am far inferior to Master Fu."

"Master, you are too kind." Fu Qingzhou was embarrassed by the compliment. He smiled and scratched his head: "How dare I accept this?" "Don't be so modest."

Huikong smiled and turned the topic to business: "During the day, there are still not too many people coming to the temple to pray and offer sacrifices. At night, there will be more people... Huijue and the donor's friend..."

"Li Qing." Fu Qingzhou reminded.

"...Donor Li Qing." Huikong said: "If they want to take action, I'm afraid they will choose to come at night."

Fu Qingzhou smiled: "I don't think they will come."

Huikong nodded slightly.

Judging from his expression, he obviously thought so.

After all, such a big thing has happened this time. If Jinchan Temple still allows Li Qing to come in and cause trouble, it would be like a big stupid elephant plowing the fields - it has the strength but doesn't know how to use it.

But having said that, they can't really let their guard down completely.

They didn't know exactly how many cards Huijue had and how many tricks he had hidden.

This is also why Fu Qingzhou is here today.

No matter what, he had to wait here to prevent any eventuality... Even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance, he had to wait.

Time passed quickly, and pilgrims came and went in the Jinchan Temple, but the number of people did not decrease at all, but increased instead.

As dusk approached and night fell, many dignitaries began to arrive, as well as some concubines from the palace with great pomp and circumstance, and with a large crowd of people following them - but of course they did not come to squeeze in with the crowd. Most of these dignitaries had appointments with the more senior monks in the temple, and they had their own altars in special side halls.

"There are more and more people."

Fu Qingzhou asked softly, "Master, have you noticed anything unusual?"

"Nothing unusual." Huikong shook his head and said, "It seems that they will not come."

"……Ugh."

Fu Qingzhou sighed.

Huikong glanced at him and said with a smile, "Donor, I am a little disappointed."

"I can't say I'm disappointed." Fu Qingzhou said slowly, "If they came, we would still have a chance to capture Huijue and rescue my long-lost friend; but if they didn't come, I don't know where they went, and I'm afraid they've already left the capital..."

At some point, the night wind became colder and colder, and even a light rain began to fall.

But in just a moment, the drizzle turned into light snowflakes and fell suddenly.

When the pilgrims in Jinchan Temple saw the light snow, they all raised their heads and smiled.

Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest. Although it is not winter yet and it is still late autumn, it suddenly snowed on the day of the Cold Prayer Festival, which is undoubtedly an excellent omen.

For a moment, not only the Jinchan Temple, but even the streets of the capital city in the distance became more lively without people noticing.

In the sky, prayer lanterns began to fly up one after another.

The prayer lantern is actually the Kongming lantern that Fu Qingzhou is familiar with, but there is no Kongming in this world.

More and more paper lanterns floated up into the sky in the flying snow and turned into stars in the night sky.

"Donor Fu, don't worry."

Huikong looked up at the sky full of lanterns and stars: "You have great luck, and you can turn misfortune into good fortune and disaster into blessing. The unfinished business at this time may not be a better arrangement."

Fu Qingzhou also raised his head and looked towards the sky.

"I hope it will be as the master said."

He said softly, "It's a pity that just as the matter of the demon monk Huijue came to an end, the danger of Wuli Village is approaching again..."

"Donor." Huikong smiled and said, "Those who have attained the Way have many helpers. You are no longer walking alone, so what do you have to fear?"

Fu Qingzhou smiled slightly when he heard this: "That makes sense."

The snow was not heavy, just a few drops.

In the cold wind, he looked at the brightly lit capital city, and his heart felt slightly warm.

(End of this chapter)