They are well-versed in the classics and the great Dao, but these people have become slaves to the written word, or study only for the sake of officialdom. No matter how much they read, if no light of wisdom shines forth, what use is it?

Just then, an old scholar surnamed Zhao said, “At our elegant gathering, we must not be without an excursion. Now that the clouds and rain have dispersed, why don’t we go out together for a stroll?”

He was trying to appear cultured, and this County Deputy secretly laughed. At that moment, a maidservant behind them grew anxious and was about to intervene, but County Deputy had already noticed and waved his hand.

This was a maid sent by his clan to attend to him. She was fine in all respects, except that, under the strict orders of the old matron, she was overly concerned about his daily routine. Now, however, it was time for a short midday rest.

Once you enter officialdom, it is as deep as the sea. Without something real to rely on, how can you hope to rise in the world? And don’t be fooled by these local gentry’s pretensions to elegance—they are all men of real power in the countryside, and there’s no need to estrange oneself from them over trivial matters.

He immediately instructed, “Mr. Zhao is right. To travel in autumn is a refined thing. Emily, come with us.”

The maid Emily was taken aback, but could only nod and select two people to accompany them. For great clans, these household-born servants are far more reliable in critical moments than official guards.

After the rain, the sky cleared, sunlight shone on the mountains, and the crisp autumn air was truly extraordinary!

“Sir, there are no scenic spots for leisure in these mountains, but there is an ancient site. If we go down this slope, not far ahead is an abandoned temple. According to the elders, it is the ancestral shrine of a great general from three dynasties ago, and it was once known for its miracles…” Mr. Cooper led the way, and before they knew it, the group had drawn near to the valley!

“An ancient site?” Just then, a gust of wind swept by. Though there was an ancient site here, he had never heard of it. County Deputy leaned forward, his interest piqued: “Let’s go have a look!”

“Yes, sir!” The two men cut away dead branches with their blades—this was the last stretch of mountain path, and they were almost there.

“Wait!” County Deputy looked at the valley, sensed the air, and his brows furrowed in gravity: “This valley is not a good place. The yin energy here is harmful to the people. Why hasn’t the village sealed off the entrance? There isn’t even a warning sign.”

Hearing County Deputy’s question, his tone unfriendly, Mr. Cooper immediately broke out in a sweat, hurriedly bowed, and explained with a broad smile, “This is the only path for villagers to gather herbs, so it’s hard to forbid. But as long as they enter at noon and leave before sunset, nothing happens.”

“The village also repeatedly advises against entering the valley at night, but this is the livelihood of the mountain folk, so we cannot forcibly stop them. Besides, for years, nothing has ever happened!”

County Deputy was taken aback, suspicion rising in his heart. In this world, Daoist arts are manifest, and the imperial exams use Daoist classics as the main canon—half for the court, half for the pursuit of immortality.

Of course, immortality is difficult and mostly a dream, but all who pass the exams and become scholars have some degree of Daoist cultivation. County Deputy looked around and saw only cold winds and desolation.

County Deputy frowned deeply, thinking to himself: “This place is heavy with baleful yin, plagued by the five harms—a place of utter ruin. The evil energy seeps from the earth; this is a site of absolute calamity. It’s likely to breed many demons and ghosts. Even if the villagers leave before sunset, I doubt they can withstand it. Why, then, has nothing happened?”

He did not show his thoughts, only nodded and sighed, “Life is hard for the people.”

They continued on, and after a while, the ancient temple came into view, with a stone stele borne on the back of a tortoise, the inscriptions sharp as swords.

County Deputy looked and thought, “A temple? Could the secret lie here?”

He did not rush in, but carefully examined the stele. Though weathered, the writing was still faintly discernible. To reach the position of County Deputy was no small feat; after pondering for a moment, he committed it to memory.

“Ancient Wei battlefield… let me think, so this is where General Baker fell in battle!” County Deputy was secretly startled: “Grand General Baker was loyal and heroic, undefeated in nearly fourteen years of war, and died here. Later, the Great Lü Dynasty honored his loyalty and enshrined him, making him a local righteous deity.”

“To become a righteous deity, the spirit of the army does not perish, and can still suppress this place, preventing the evil energy from taking form!” Realizing this, County Deputy understood, his worried brow relaxing: “This is a blessing for the people of this land!”

Thinking this, he looked toward the temple. The sunlight was bright, and he could see clearly that the temple gate, long neglected, had mostly collapsed. On the three inner walls, the two-man-tall clay statues were mottled and broken, and up close, everything was covered in moss.

“This temple has lacked worship for a long time!” County Deputy saw the dilapidated state of the temple and sighed inwardly.

After the Daoist sects took control of the world, the divine path still existed and even flourished, but just like the status of deities within Buddhism, the gods of the divine path rarely endured. Only immortals (arhats, bodhisattvas, buddhas) could last.

For millions of years, Daoist lords and the immortals of the heavenly court have ruled the world from on high, while the gods below and humanity have changed countless times.

Knowing this is the necessary operation of the Dao, and that these enshrined gods must also undergo renewal, County Deputy still felt a trace of sorrow at this decline.

After all, immortality is the privilege of a few, and what most officials seek and obtain is only a posthumous title from the court, allowing them to become a local righteous deity. Seeing this now, he naturally felt a sense of shared fate.

But precisely because this is a fundamental issue, in the rise and fall of these deities, everything must be handled with care—not something a mere County Deputy like himself could change.

With a sigh, County Deputy collected his thoughts and stepped forward. Though he could do nothing else, at least he could offer a stick of incense.

Chapter 0010: Reunion