Chapter 52 Blasphemy 1. We have arrived at Shenxiang Temple.

In the late years of the Dafeng era, Mars was in conjunction with Antares, rites and music declined, war broke out in the Lingxi region, and the whole world vied for supremacy.

Two hundred years of turmoil have brought chaos to the world.

Dissecting bones to exchange for children, cooking people for food—these are commonplace occurrences. The Nine Netherworlds open, demons roam freely—nothing is different here. Severed without a trace, corpses piled upon each other, until one autumn wind rises, and the white bones are blown into ghostly flames.

People are suffering in despair, so they desperately seek divine intervention, gouging out their eyes to offer as sacrifices to Buddha, digging out their own flesh to consult divination, and entrusting their life, death, fortune, and misfortune to clay figurines for illicit worship, with incense burning everywhere.

In the 133rd year of Dongfeng, the Five Kingdoms were initially established, namely Dongfeng, Western Wu, Southern Qi, Northern Zhu, and Shenzhao.

The chaos has subsided somewhat, but the world is still far from at peace.

Beizhu Kingdom, Xiling Commandery, Yu County.

In early autumn, the Shen family in the east of the city was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and their house was bustling with activity until dusk before the crowds dispersed.

This lively occasion is none other than the coming-of-age ceremony of Shen Mingxin, the only son of the Shen family.

Shen Mingxin, courtesy name Xingzhi, is twenty years old. His parents died early, and his only blood relative is his grandfather, Shen Zhuan. Because the Shen family is small, Shen Mingxin was pampered and spoiled since childhood, and now he has become arrogant and spoiled.

Sure enough, the ceremony was over, and before all the guests had been seen off, Young Master Shen tore off his formal attire, refusing to listen to another word, and turned to go back to his own Mingyuan Garden to catch up on sleep.

Unfortunately, before he could take two feet, an old, large hand reached out from the side and grabbed Young Master Shen's ear.

"Ouch, Grandpa, that hurts!"

Shen Mingxin cried out, frowning as she looked over: "I listened to everything you said, and followed all the rules and etiquette for today without missing a single detail. Why do you still want to hit me?"

"Are you even being reasonable anymore?!"

“Followed the rules exactly, not a single detail off? Hmph, don’t play dumb with this old man,” Shen Zhuan glared at him. “Hurry up and get dressed, take the offerings, and come with me up the mountain to pay respects to your sworn brother. Only after you’ve paid your respects will the ceremony be complete!”

Seeing that he hadn't been fooled, Shen Mingxin stopped pretending, turned his fan around, and looked away: "You go if you want, I'm not going."

"What do you mean, 'If you want to go, then you go'?"

Shen Zhuan's beard almost stood on end: "If I went there myself and it really worked out, why would I bother talking nonsense with you? I've told you the rules many times, and you should have done it properly back then, but now you want to go back on your word?"

"Come with me now, don't be stubborn!"

Shen Mingxin remained silent, opened the folding fan, and looked at the calligraphy and paintings on it.

Shen Zhuan really wanted to tear this brat's ears off to see if he could continue to pretend to be deaf and dumb, but as soon as he exerted force with his fingers, he softened his heart. He cursed inwardly, wondering if he was the master or if Shen Mingxin was the master, and then shook off his hand and sighed, "Mingxin, Grandpa knows that you were frightened when you went up the mountain when you were young. You are afraid and do not want to go. If there is nothing wrong, Grandpa does not want you to go."

"But today is truly different."

Shen Zhuan said, "Today is both your coming-of-age ceremony and your birthday, which is a significant event in our Xiling."

"I've told you before that you were destined to die young. You've grown up to this age entirely thanks to your godbrother's protection. Now that you're an adult, you must go to the temple to thank your godbrother. Otherwise, you'll be ungrateful, and even the best godparents will become enemies."

"There are quite a few godparents in Xiling, and you are used to listening to those ghost stories and strange tales. You don't know what godparents who have become enemies are like. They are more troublesome than evil spirits, causing you to suffer misfortune and your family to be in turmoil. They will never give up and may even take back your past lifespan."

"Let alone the consequences, which you and the Shen family cannot bear, even if we consider the debt of gratitude, we absolutely cannot do such an ungrateful thing."

He spoke earnestly and patiently.

Shen Mingxin tilted the fan towards the candlelight, seemingly engrossed in admiring the flame and not listening to anything.

Upon seeing this, Shen Zhuan sighed deeply, his shoulders and back slumped, revealing his advanced age.

"Fine," he said, getting up with the help of a chair. "I just can't do anything with you. If you really don't want to go tonight, then this old man will go alone. I'll accept whatever your sworn brother does, whether he blames me or not. At worst, he'll take my old life. I'm old enough to have lived enough."

With a snap, Shen Mingxin closed the fan.

He turned his head, his phoenix eyes bulging, full of indignation: "What gods, ghosts, and evil spirits? It's all just a money-making scheme to scare people. This world..."

"Enlightenment!"

Shen Zhuan interrupted him, his aged face filled with a strong warning.

In this world where religion is flourishing, it is difficult for those without faith or belief to survive. If Shen Mingxin's words were spoken outside, while he might not be burned at the stake, they would certainly be considered extremely treasonous.

"Isn't closing the ancestral hall last time enough? How dare you say such things again?" Shen Zhuan glanced at the servants who had already retreated outside the door and scolded them in a low voice.

Shen Mingxin was unwilling, but she knew she couldn't say such things carelessly, lest it harm her family business, so she lowered her head.

Shen Zhuan sighed again, without looking at Shen Mingxin, picked up the main offering prepared on the table, and walked out.

Just as he stepped across the threshold of the main hall, he caught a glimpse of a bright red hem fluttering from behind. This little brat, born to bring him misfortune, yet he also knows how to care for him.

"Alright, with Grandpa protecting you, what are you afraid of?"

Shen Zhuan's warm hand patted Shen Mingxin's shoulder: "When I was a merchant, the world was in utter chaos, unlike the peace we have now. But so what? With an old horse and a big cleaver, even if I'm not a martial artist, how many demons could stop me?"

Shen Mingxin took the food box from Shen Zhuan's hand: "Grandpa, I'm not afraid, but... never mind, I can't explain it, I just feel that the temple is strange."

"The statue is strange, and Shenxiangjun is strange too. I feel uneasy just looking at her..."

"Do not speak recklessly!"

Shen Zhuan's long beard trembled slightly: "Your temperament and your mouth really need to be tempered, otherwise you'll get into trouble sooner or later! I used to think you were still young and weak, so I always let you off the hook. But now you're an adult, someone who has to stand on your own, and I can't spoil you anymore. Your Uncle Zhang is right, it's time for you to get some experience. In a couple of days, you'll be going to the shop..."

"Grandpa, I have something to do in a couple of days..."

"You spend your days fighting cocks and racing horses, what serious business can you possibly have!"

An old man and a young man, one in front and one behind, were arguing as they stepped out of the Shen family's house through a side gate, got into a carriage, and headed out of the county town under the cover of night.

Yu County, nestled in a remote corner, boasts fertile soil. During the two centuries of chaos, it experienced only a brief period of warfare, remaining largely peaceful with even demonic attacks being rare. Despite this, few dared to leave the city after nightfall, let alone venture into the mountains.

On the entire dirt road leading to Wangqiu Mountain, there was only one carriage belonging to the Shen family.

Within the territory of Yu County, there is a mountain and a river. The mountain is called Wangqiu Mountain and the river is called Yu River, both located a dozen miles south of the city.

It was already dark, and the carriage dared not travel fast. By the time they reached the foot of Wangqiu Mountain, it was well past dusk.

Shen Zhuan ordered most of his servants to wait at the foot of the mountain, and only selected two strong and skilled men to accompany him, carrying jade, silk, sacrificial animals, fine wine, and a box of incense and candles, and they went up the mountain together.

Shen Zhuan was old, but his legs were nimble. He walked at the front, holding a banner with yellow background and red characters. The banner was made of sticky paper and written in cinnabar, with the two seal characters "Shen Xiang".

This banner is called the Worship Banner. In the Xiling area, every household that has formed a sworn brotherhood with the spirits has acquired such a banner. Whenever someone needs to go into the mountains to worship the spirits, they raise the banner, wave it to clear the way, and inform the passing spirits that they are traveling tonight to visit their own relatives and have no intention of disturbing them.

Shen Mingxin had seen this banner only twice in the past twenty years.

The first time was when he was eight years old, also on Wangqiu Mountain, and the second time is tonight. These are the only two times he has ever gone into the mountain to pay respects to his sworn brother; in other years, he rarely even went near Wangqiu Mountain.

The nights in the mountains are always exceptionally dark, and even the brightest torches cannot illuminate the darkness clearly.

As you take a step, the damp, cool blades of grass slide over your ankles, like slender fingernails.

As Shen Mingxin walked through it, she was fine at first, but gradually, she began to feel uneasy and a little creeped out.

He looked ahead and saw a dark, dense forest, like a gaping, deep maw. A chilling wind, seemingly from nowhere, swept through, causing the trees all around to rustle and sway like the foul-smelling breaths of beasts.

The banner that Grandpa was holding waved even more fiercely in the wind.

The writing on it was even redder, so vivid in the pitch-black darkness that it looked almost like it was dripping blood, which was obviously strange.

Shen Mingxin's pupils trembled, and she quickly looked away.

After settling down, he caught a glimpse of the firelight behind him, then turned his head and looked back.

Behind them were the two burly servants chosen by Shen Zhuanxuan.

They were as tall as small mountains, yet moved with agility. One hand carried a load, the other held a torch, their faces silent and wooden, like clay figures, showing no expression in the flickering firelight.

Noticing Shen Mingxin's gaze, one of them suddenly raised his dark eyes and stared stiffly at Shen Mingxin: "Young Master, watch your step."

The hoarse voice, when it rang out in this deep forest, was even more terrifying than a newly deceased ghost wailing by a grave.

Shen Mingxin immediately broke out in a sweat.

His hand, which held the fan, was already marked with deep lines, but he didn't notice. He only regretted that he had read too many strange and bizarre stories yesterday. Now, shrouded in this gloomy mountain forest, they all surged up at an inopportune time. He hadn't even seen Shen Xiangjun yet, and he was already scaring himself half to death.

"It's alright," Shen Mingxin said, forcing herself to remain calm as she replied to the servant, "Just be careful of yourself."

Hearing the commotion, Shen Zhuan turned his head and whispered, "Bear with it, we're almost there. When we were building the Shenxiang Temple, we asked Shenxiang Jun by dice. He had no objection to the location of the temple, so we deliberately didn't build it too deep to avoid trouble entering the mountains and getting into trouble. After all, most of the time for worshiping the gods in Xiling is at night, and it's not easy to go through these deep mountains and forests."

“I understand,” Shen Mingxin said. “Grandpa, watch the road carefully.”

Shen Zhuan appreciated his thoughtfulness and filial piety, stroked his beard, and cleared the way ahead.

Shen Mingxin tried her best to banish the terrifying images from her mind and focused on getting on her way.

After traveling for a while, his mind started to wander again. He suddenly realized that the mountains were strange. They hadn't heard a single wild animal move along the way; it was so quiet it was almost deathly still.

Even in mass graves there are at least two crows, but here...

The thought had barely formed in his mind when a low shout came from ahead, sang by the still vigorous old man: "What are you thinking about now? Hurry up, we're here."

Shen Mingxin was startled. He looked up and saw that the trees in front of him were gradually thinning out, revealing the outline of a small temple.

We've arrived at Shenxiang Temple.

Shen Mingxin's heart skipped a beat, and he felt as if his feet had taken root, unable to move.

"The vegetation in these mountains is growing so fast, even though we sent people to clear it just last month..."

Shen Zhuan swept over the surrounding weeds, muttered a few words, found a way out, and headed towards the temple: "Come quickly, Mingxin."

Shenzhuan calls people.

Shen Mingxin stared at the narrow temple door, which was as narrow as an intestine, and paused for a while before reluctantly following behind.

The small temple, though covered with roof tiles, was three times cooler than the forest.

As soon as Shen Mingxin entered, she shivered. A chill, like a snake, seeped from the floor tiles and crept up her feet.

Fortunately, Shen Zhuan was quick and lit the lamps with practiced ease, illuminating the temple like a bright lamp that dispelled the damp chill and darkness, and also emboldened Shen Mingxin.

He slowly moved his stiff hands and feet, walked to his grandfather who seemed oblivious to everything that was amiss, and together they cleaned the offering table and arranged the sacrificial offerings.

Shen Zhuan glanced at him, his face showing approval.

To show their sincerity, these things must be done by the people performing the sacrifices themselves, and cannot be delegated to others. This little brat may be spoiled, but he's not an unyielding person who won't listen to reason.

As Shen Mingxin moved around the offering table, she deliberately kept her eyes down, avoiding looking at the shrine high above.

Whether it was due to the ingenuity of the temple's construction or something else, even though the shrine was mostly submerged in the darkness, it still possessed an extremely strong presence that he could not ignore.

In the end, she couldn't hold back. After the last offering was placed, Shen Mingxin's heart skipped a beat, her eyelashes trembling as she secretly glanced at the shrine.

The shrine is tall, about two meters high, and inside is a stone statue, life-size, dressed as a man in a wide robe and sleeves, with a hazy face, nine black arms wrapped around his body as a seat, and holding a white lotus as a lamp.

Amidst the interplay of light and shadow, the stone statue seemed to be oozing an invisible layer of murky, sticky liquid, possessing both divine purity and filth and malevolence.

This is Shenxiangjun of Yu County.

His godbrother.

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Author's Note: 1. Chu Shenxiang (top) x Shen Mingxin (bottom).

2. It would be better to start this unit from the perspective of an ordinary person, so the first chapter is from the perspective of the receiver, and the perspective will switch back to the perspective of the attacker from the second chapter onwards, that is, the main perspective. There is no need to worry about the perspective issue.

3. In the early stages, the attacker is literally inhumane and may be somewhat ruthless, but this changes later.

4. The background is one of relative peace amidst chaos, but the overall style of the text is not too oppressive.

5. This unit is a pseudo-Chinese weird story, a real show-off little story (not really), and not really scary.

6. All customs such as worshipping gods and acquaintances with godparents within it are completely fabricated! There are mountains of unauthorized additions.