Chapter 63 Draft - Do Not Subscribe, Please Proceed with Revisions
Reconstruction of the Salvation Hall began on the ruins of the old temple.
Without saying a word, the villagers rolled up their sleeves and trousers and rushed over, all hoping to lend a hand.
Once they arrived, everyone got busy. Some were weeding with hoes, others were clearing ridges, and they were chatting as they worked, tidying up the ruins and making them look quite presentable.
Among the villagers who came to lend a hand were many highly skilled bricklayers.
Ah Ping had been working as a bricklayer for many years and was full of experience. He was young and strong, and his trowel skills were superb. He was quite well-known in the industry.
After discussing it with them, A-Ping rolled up his sleeves and quickly got everyone busy.
①They were measuring lime and river sand on one side, and pouring glutinous rice juice and loess on the other, muttering, "A little more and it's too sticky, a little less and it's not firm enough." They had a very precise grasp of the proportions, and the resulting mixture of the three types of soil looked very solid.
Shovel after shovelful of soil, they transformed it into a tall and sturdy wall in everyone's hands.
Referring to the layout of Longhu Village, You Mingjiang added a lookout here and a hidden sentry post there...
Although it wasn't as elaborate as the real Dragon Tiger Stronghold, it added a lot of security to the Salvation Hall.
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But what surprised You Mingjiang the most was Ayu.
Ayu had suffered greatly before, and her body was in terrible shape. Although she could barely walk around these days, her face was still pale, and she could only stay in bed most of the time to rest.
That day, she heard that her benefactor, You Mingjiang, wanted to rebuild the Hall of Salvation from Suffering.
His previously listless eyes suddenly lit up, and he seemed to have been injected with adrenaline.
Ayu may look gentle and weak, but deep down she has a stubborn streak that no one can sway.
She sat up abruptly in bed, ignoring whether she was still feeling weak or not, and started rummaging through drawers and cabinets looking for tools to do the work.
Aping advised her, "You're not fully recovered yet, don't do anything reckless."
Ayu stiffened her neck: "I know what I'm doing... If I don't lend a hand, I won't be able to sleep soundly from now on!"
Even her own brother couldn't stop her, so who could?
Even the cold-blooded little wolf cub didn't stop him.
We can only let her be.
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Ayu has loved wood carving since she was a child.
When it comes to her wood carving skills, everyone gives her a thumbs up.
Ayu noticed the job of sculpting a statue of the Ten Directions Salvation Heavenly Venerable.
Several times she almost said something, but then swallowed it back.
Recalling those less-than-honorable experiences, she lowered her head and quietly covered the scars on her wrist.
Although I applied ointment, the scars haven't completely faded.
Yu Mingjiang couldn't find a whole small-leaf sandalwood tree. Hearing that Ayu was skilled in wood carving, she held Ayu's hand and said with great joy, "Little sister, this time we're counting on your skillful hands! Carve it well and bring out the spirit of the Heavenly Venerable!"
Ayu felt a warmth in her heart, her nose tingled, and her eyes reddened.
She quickly turned her back and secretly wiped away her tears.
He didn't say a word, but devoted himself entirely to sculpting the idol.
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The walls of the Hall of Salvation from Suffering are as white as snow, and are painted with murals depicting the Ten Directions Salvation from Suffering and the Ten Directions Pure Land.
Above the pillars on both sides hangs a couplet: "Seeking out sounds and responding to feelings, enduring hardships and difficulties."
The murals and couplets were all the work of Yin Dong'er, a woman of considerable talent in the capital, which undoubtedly added to the beauty of the work.
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The men checked each house for potential leaks.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that the entire roof had become severely rotten and dilapidated due to years of wind and rain.
They simply removed the old tiles, replaced the rotten purlins in one go, applied wood wax oil, replaced all the rafters with wider ones, and then laid old fire tiles on top.
Once the roof was repaired, the Hall of Salvation was taking shape.
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The women and children were not to be outdone.
They lit a fire and cooked pot after pot of steaming tofu soup. Sometimes, when Leng Xue caught fresh fish, the women and children would stew the fish and tofu together.
The soup in the pot was bubbling, and a rich aroma filled the air, making everyone's mouths water.
Everyone sat together and ate with great enthusiasm.
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Inside the Hall of Salvation.
Laughter and cheerful voices permeated every crack and crevice in the brickwork.
It's unpredictable.
What kind of story will unfold next?
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The weather is getting hotter every day.
Leng Xue picked up a bowl of plum juice and drank it all in one gulp.
Bowl after bowl, they drank with great relish.
He wasn't really interested in eating or drinking, but when he remembered that You Mingjiang had insisted he drink "cockroach juice," he suddenly felt that this plum juice was simply a divine elixir.
He's still shaken by the experience.
Every time I think about it, my scalp tingles.
That smell was truly unbearable.
His mouth ulcers had almost healed and no longer affected his eating, so he refused to rinse his mouth with the Kangfuxin solution anymore.
No amount of persuasion from anyone could change my mind.
Even if You Mingjiang twisted his ear off...
He was cold and indifferent, even when it came to moving bricks, catching fish, or digging deep pits!
I won't drink another drop of cockroach juice :)
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The sour plum drink was specially prepared by Rong Sao at You Mingjiang's request because he was worried that the villagers would suffer from heatstroke.
Dried plums, dried hawthorn berries, mulberries, licorice root, dried tangerine peel...
Rong Sao would boil a big pot of sour plum soup every day.
In the city, common medicinal herbs such as dried plums, hawthorns, dried tangerine peel, and mulberries are readily available and very affordable.
Only licorice is so expensive that it's said to be "more valuable than gold" since the previous dynasty.
The villagers learned by chance that You Mingjiang had added licorice to the sour plum drink every day, and remembering the many cares the "divine messenger" had given them, they were deeply moved.
Those who call her "divine messenger" may not truly believe she is a divine messenger in their hearts; they may just be using that title to get by.
However, from that day on, the way they looked at her was genuinely more loving and respectful.
He's no longer the carefree, smiling person he used to be.
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You Mingjiang didn't take it seriously.
Her medicine gourd can replicate medicinal herbs; she can just use some licorice to make a plum drink, there's no need to talk about it so much.
Moreover, since You Mingjiang himself doesn't take the identity of "divine messenger" seriously, why force others to believe in it?
Little did she know, she had unintentionally won over another group of people.
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That afternoon, during a break...
Suddenly, a child's scream rang out.
Without a second thought, everyone rushed toward the direction from which the sound came.
It turned out to be a few little children who were picking foxtail grass, hoping You Mingjiang would weave some little squirrels for them. Unexpectedly, they found a pile of scattered broken bones in the grass.
There is a large wasteland near the old temple. Few people come here on weekdays. As far as the eye can see, it is overgrown with weeds and looks particularly desolate.
You Mingjiang parted the dense grass and examined it carefully, and sure enough, he saw the pile of bones the children had mentioned.
With just one glance, You Mingjiang recognized that these were human bones, and that the death was quite gruesome.
But she knew in her heart that if she rashly revealed the truth, it would definitely cause panic among the people.
After a moment's thought, she reached out and gently embraced the children, a tender smile on her face, and whispered:
"This was left behind by a goat that was eaten by wolves. Don't go playing in the wasteland anymore, or you'll get carried away by wolves."
These are definitely not the marks left by a wolf.
Leng Xue crouched down and carefully examined the broken bones.
The bones clearly showed signs of being smashed and gnawed by wild dogs. The pile of bones contained only the torso, but the hands and spine were missing.
A terrifying answer was already forming in his mind: "Meng Nu'an—"
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After sending the villagers away, Leng Xue silently dug a deep pit nearby.
You Mingjiang put on medical nitrile gloves, collected the bones one by one, wrapped them in gauze and reed mats, and carefully placed them in the pit to bury them.
Cold-blooded man selected a suitable piece of wood, chopped it into a suitable shape, and erected a simple tombstone.
With her hands forming the Mudra of Salvation from Suffering, You Mingjiang closed her eyes and softly chanted: "At that time, the Heavenly Venerable of Salvation from Suffering pervaded the ten directions... and all beings were unaware of it, as if the blind could not see the sun and moon..."
Leng Xue stood silently to the side and watched quietly for a while.
Then, he followed You Mingjiang's example, forming the Suffering Relief Mudra with his hands and softly chanting: "Being freed from the path of delusion, one will remain unaware for life, like a blind person seeing the sun and moon."
At that moment, the two of them had the same thought:
They rescued people from suffering and distress, and destroyed disasters, evil, and terror.
Kill Ling Luoshi!
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Yelü Yinchong, Danbawang, Ali, Nongzhiyi, and Erzhuanzi are known as the "Old Temple Five".
He's quite well-known in the area.
They had always lived in the old temple, and they were the first to occupy the stone cave under the hidden door.
A while ago, they went to the old canal to gather intelligence. When they returned to the old temple, weary from their journey, they were stunned by what they found.
The old temple is gone!
There was no trace of that familiar hidden door.
Instead, there was a cold wall.
All of this was entrusted to Leng Xue by You Mingjiang alone, as the entrance had been moved to another location.
On the site of the old temple, a brand-new Salvation Hall has sprung up, with incense smoke rising, clearly indicating that there are believers there.
Compared to the old temple's once-damaged and neglected dragon god statue, the Salvation Hall is now much better thanks to the offerings of believers.
But Bawa's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief: "How strange, how strange, how strange! In just one night, a Salvation Temple has appeared here."
Erzhuan pursed his lips and corrected, "This didn't happen overnight. We traveled for eight whole days and nights to build this palace."
Nong pointed at Yi, whose face was full of worry, and asked anxiously, "Then where are we going from here? This is our territory!"
Upon hearing this, Ali flew into a rage and roared, "Why should we leave? We were here first! How can they take our territory like this? No way, we have to get an explanation from them!"
Yelü Yinchong frowned and said calmly, "Don't be impulsive. Let's see who did this first."
After saying that, the five men stormed angrily toward the Hall of Salvation.
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The bluestone floor tiles were polished to a shine, and on the offering table were glistening grasses covered with dew. Red wild strawberries were piled up into small hills in the ceramic plate, showing no trace of the dilapidated state that was once infested with rats and ants.
You Mingjiang was sitting cross-legged on a futon, comprehending a weakened version of the Evil-Repelling Sword Intent.
However, Leng Xue sat on another futon, enjoying a freshly baked, soft white steamed bun.
The sounds of him munching on his steamed bun constantly disturbed You Mingjiang.
She tried to concentrate, but her thoughts kept getting drawn to the big white steamed bun in Leng Xue's hand.
She meditated for half an hour, but gained no insight, and couldn't help but feel a little frustrated.
Just as she was about to open her eyes and order Leng Xue to give her half of the steamed bun, she suddenly heard a commotion.
"What 'Hall of Salvation from Suffering'? What kind of suffering are you trying to save? If it really had the ability to save from suffering, would our besieged city still have so many miserable people being bullied and suffering under the Great General of Terror?!"
A short while later, the five men entered the hall and were first surprised by the cleanliness of the Hall of Salvation.
Suddenly seeing a man and a woman sitting on the prayer mat, Ali, without thinking twice, blurted out, "You adulterous couple! Adulterers..."
Upon hearing this, Leng Xue's eyes narrowed, and with a flash of cold light, the blade of his sword was already firmly pressed against Ali's throat.
With a cold and expressionless face, Leng Xue said in a chilling tone, "Shut up."
The other four people were tense, as if facing a formidable enemy.
They knew in their hearts that Leng Xue's sword strikes were too fast, and if they acted rashly, none of them were confident that they could save Ali's life from his sword.
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You Mingjiang immediately jumped up from the prayer mat, deciding to play the good cop and the bad cop with Leng Xue.
She stepped forward, pressed down on Leng Xue's arm, and with a gentle smile on her face, advised:
"Anyone who dares to publicly criticize the Terrifying General must be a righteous hero, just like us, who wants to rid this besieged city of evil and bring peace... Don't be impulsive, let's talk things out!"
After these words were spoken, the expressions on both sides softened considerably.
The sword was moved away from Ali's throat, but Leng Xue did not sheathe it; he simply held it horizontally in front of his chest.
Yelü Yinchong quickly pulled Ali behind him and asked in surprise, "You mean, you want to get rid of the Fearful General?"
“That’s right.” You Mingjiang nodded emphatically.
Yelü Yinchong subconsciously turned to the four people behind him. The five people looked at each other, but the initial hostility had diminished.
Ali's throat bobbed, and he was about to speak when Yelü Yinchong raised his hand to stop him.
Yelü Yinchong said, "Are you telling the truth? Do you really intend to fight against the Fearful General? He has immense power and numerous henchmen. If you are not careful, you will be crushed to pieces."
The sword had already been silently lowered, and Leng Xue said in a deep voice, "Indeed! These days, we have witnessed too much suffering of the people of this besieged city. If we do not take action now, it would be against all reason!"
There was a long silence.
Suddenly, Danbawang scratched his head and broke the brief silence with a silly grin: "Hey, I knew it! Anyone who can build the Salvation Temple here can't be a bad person. Since it's all for the sake of the people of our besieged city, let's work together!"
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All eyes turned to Danbawang, and then they all laughed in unison.
You Mingjiang decided to strike while the iron was hot.
She had Leng Xue catch a plump bighead carp and invited the five friends to drink a big pot of fish head tofu soup.
People are most easily moved by two things: tangible benefits and the respect and importance they receive from others. Inviting someone to a meal not only saves them face but also fills their stomach.
Sure enough, the five-person gang was moved by You Mingjiang's sincerity.
They brought important news:
Zhang, the scholar who filed a complaint with the emperor, was arrested on trumped-up charges of treason and tortured until he was on the verge of death.
The Terrified General decided that tomorrow he would send Meng Nu'an and the Executioner Mo Fuda to escort Zhang Shusheng to Caishikou for execution, in an attempt to deter those "rioters" who dared to resist.
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Pale sunlight.
It was sprinkled on the road leading to the vegetable market entrance of the besieged city.
A prison van bumped and swayed as it slowly moved forward.
On the carriage, the man about to be taken away for execution was none other than Zhang Shusheng, who was unjustly accused.
The streets were deserted, and few people dared to stop and watch.
Everyone felt sorry for the innocent people and did not want to see such a tragic scene of wrongful killing.
Everyone knows that Zhang Shusheng is innocent.
Everyone knew that this Meng Nu'an was an imposter, and the real Meng Nu'an had long since died.
But there was nothing anyone could do about it.
On this deserted street stands a calm and ruthless man.
He held his breath, one hand caressing the hilt of his sword, the other tightly gripping a piece of black cloth.
This is the only way.
Zhang Shusheng, this witness, absolutely cannot be allowed to get into trouble.
Inside the prison cart lay a blood-stained scholar, shackled and bound with heavy wooden cangues, leg irons, and handcuffs.
He was thin and weak, with no strength to even kill a chicken.
Who would have thought that he was originally the leader of the Imperial Academy students who came to the capital to file a complaint, wholeheartedly wanting to uphold justice for the people and expose the crimes of the terrifying General, but was instead accused of the most heinous crimes and was about to be sent to the guillotine today.
His face was covered in wounds and bloodstains, and his eyes were filled with despair and resentment.
Meng Nu'an, who was in charge of escorting the goods, was pale. He had been feeling unwell since he woke up early in the morning. His right eye kept twitching. As the saying goes, "a twitching right eye means bad luck." He felt uneasy and had a bad feeling.
But he knew that since he had taken on the identity of the real Meng Nu'an, he had no choice but to escort him.
If the escort mission went wrong, thinking of the tragic fate of those who disobeyed the orders of the Frightened General, he couldn't help but shudder, his back already soaked with cold sweat.
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Dressed in black, You Mingjiang leaped onto the rooftop.
She covered her face with a black cloth, revealing only her eyes.
With a stone bow slung across her back and an arrow basket tucked into her waistband, she followed Zhang Shusheng's prison cart, not intending to alert the escorting team for the time being.
"General Mo Fuda," riding a tall horse, cracked his long whip twice in the air.
He spurred his horse forward, came to the prison cart, and lashed Zhang the scholar inside twice with the whip, a ferocious smile spreading across his face.
"What kind of backbone do you have? When your head rolls to the ground, I hope you won't be scared with snot running down your face, hahaha!"
After he finished speaking, a shrill laugh echoed through the street.
Zhang Shusheng had been tortured to the point of near death; he could neither hear nor shout, and he was unable to stand up.
The Frightened General used every means at his disposal to make him unable to defend himself and forced to grovel.
The only thing they didn't do was destroy his eyes.
The Fearful General wanted him to watch helplessly as he was branded a rebel and became a fish on the chopping block.
Zhang Shusheng looked up at the sky, his gaze piercing through the layers of clouds, his heart filled with despair and doubt.
Are there really countless gods and Buddhas above the clouds?
Why do good people suffer so much, yet the gods and Buddhas cannot hear, see, or help them?
His heart was filled with desolation, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
Slowly, he closed his eyes, gently bit his tongue, preparing to commit suicide before going to the guillotine.
Since he couldn't escape being wrongfully killed, he decided to let Ling Luoshi chop up his own corpse; he was unwilling to suffer this humiliation any longer.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing sound rang out.
"call out--"
An arrow pierces the sky!
It hit Meng Nu'an's sun acupoint perfectly, without bias!
The powerful force pierced through the helmet, directly knocking Meng Nu'an off his horse.
The startled horses trampled him a few more times, and by the time Mo Fuda remembered to save him, he was already dead beyond any hope of survival.
In an instant, the escort team was thrown into chaos, and the soldiers panicked and fled in all directions.
Upon seeing this, Mo Fuda flew into a rage and roared:
"Oh no! An assassin!"
"Keep a close eye on the prisoners. If anything goes wrong, you'll all lose your heads!"
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Author's Note: [Good Luck Lianlian] Quoting ①: Song Yingxing recorded the three-in-one soil in "Tiangong Kaiwu". The book mentions that "one part ash is mixed with river sand and two parts yellow soil, and then mixed with glutinous rice and the juice of star fruit vine. After being built firmly, it will never be destroyed and is called three-in-one soil".
[Pigeon] Lu Xiaojia is coming soon.
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