Chapter 339: Dark clouds covering the sky, disasters coming one after another
Hagi Niang didn't go directly to Gong Mengbi, but instead found Niang and said, "Sister Niang, there are a lot of grasshoppers flying down from the mountain. Why don't you ask Master Gong if we need someone to catch them to prevent the orchids from being damaged?"
There were many orchids in Lanyin Temple, many of which were planted by Zhenniang in the past. They remained there until she finally escaped from Vimalakirti's chamber and settled on Lanyin Mountain. These orchids grew everywhere, blooming with great vigor and wildness.
Although he was trapped again by Gong Mengbi, he did not touch the orchids in the mountains, allowing them to grow freely, with a natural wildness and uniqueness.
Niang was more knowledgeable than them. She was surprised when she saw the locusts and said, "This is a migratory locust, not a local grasshopper."
The grasshoppers commonly known locally are also locusts, but they are not the same species as the migratory locusts in front of us.
Local grasshoppers are good at jumping, while these locusts are good at flying.
Niang's face was a little serious: "The mountain is full of locusts like this?"
Xu Hong held up the headless locust and said, "There are others, but this kind is the most common. You don't see them very often on weekdays."
"Come with me to see the dean," said the maiden. "If it's a locust plague, it will be troublesome."
Locust plague!
Hagi and Xu Hong exchanged a glance, a hint of fear in each other's eyes. Although they weren't farmers, they were still inseparable from farming.
When disaster strikes, foxes are also afraid.
Niang brought them to see Gong Mengbi and released the bag of locusts, which jumped around in the pavilion.
Gong Mengbi narrowed his eyes and said, "I'll be back soon."
He rose up from the clouds and looked down at the mountains and rivers. He saw the vast land, and the dark aura of disaster continued to grow.
Looking far to the north, one can see a strange aura condensing, like that of a god or demon.
There were countless locusts, like dark clouds covering the sky, moving all the way south.
Countless locusts gathered together, swirling around in a strange aura, and one could vaguely see that there seemed to be some monster lurking among them.
Gong Mengbi's face darkened and he turned back to Lanyin Mountain.
The two women, including Niang, were waiting in front of the pavilion. They asked, "Dean, is this a locust plague?"
Gong Mengbi nodded.
The expressions of the three women suddenly turned bitter. They said, "First there was a severe drought, and now there are locusts. This... what should we do?"
"A great chaos is coming." Gong Mengbi said solemnly, "Call the foxes back to the mountains!"
It was the fox's day off, but I'm afraid he couldn't rest now.
When Yuliu and Jiaona received the summons, they immediately asked the fox friends they knew to inform each other that they would meet at the Taishan Niangniang Temple tonight.
There are many foxes staying in the mountains, and the few foxes that come down the mountain also have familiar friends who go to inform them.
Soon, the foxes gathered at the Taishan Goddess Temple.
In the temple, the foxes followed Gong Mengbi to pay homage to the Taishan Goddess. Then Gong Mengbi said, "It's urgent. Call everyone back to the mountain."
"You must have seen locusts in the mountains."
The foxes were whispering to each other, not knowing what Gong Mengbi meant.
Gong Mengbi said, "A locust plague is coming."
At this moment, all the foxes became serious.
Gong Mengbi said solemnly, "This locust plague is of grave importance. Besides the prolonged drought causing the locusts to breed, there's also the locust god at work. I'm afraid it's going to cause a major disturbance. You who follow me in cultivation must understand the compassion of the Goddess of Mount Tai, who responds to all calls and helps all people. We can't alleviate the drought, but with the locust plague, I hope you can descend the mountain to help the people and show your mercy."
The foxes bowed and said, "We will follow your orders!"
Gong Mengbi pondered for a moment and said, "Originally, I had to wait until you passed the entrance exam to the Sky Fox Academy to teach you bird language, but now that we're in a hurry, I'll give you a magic talisman that will allow you to understand bird language. Quickly gather the birds and fight this locust plague!"
The foxes obeyed the order.
Gong Mengbi quickly made a flag and drew runes with jade dust mixed with spiritual spring water. This rune was figured out from the Tongtian method and was specifically used as bird language to drive birds.
He was now a fifth-grade Taoist, and with Yuliu and Jiaona helping him, he worked very quickly, drawing small flags one after another and handing them to the foxes.
Gong Mengbi said, "Go, bring your lanterns and summon the birds. Before the locust plague arrives, destroy the locusts that have arrived first, to spread the goodness of the Empress."
The foxes then hurried down the mountain, lanterns in one hand and flags in the other. This kind of scene wasn't the first time. A few years ago, when Wuning was hit by a flood, Gong Mengbi had ordered the foxes to descend the mountain to escort the wandering souls. Now, he had summoned the birds instead.
The small flag fluttered, and the round lantern floated up and down in the mountain. One by one, the foxes quickly went down the mountain to prepare to kill the locusts.
Yuliu and Jiaona were worried and asked, "Can they help to cure the locust plague?"
Gong Mengbi shook his head and said, "If it's just a few scattered locusts, we can still deal with them. But if the Locust God comes with a swarm of insects, no matter how many birds we have, they won't be able to help. Let the tall ones handle the Locust God. They just need to do their bit."
Yuliu said, "The locust god is bringing disaster; I'm afraid it's fate."
Gong Mengbi laughed and said, "It is indeed destiny, but you got it wrong. It is not the locust god who brings disaster, but the disaster that gives rise to the locust god."
Yuliu was puzzled: "Isn't this the same?"
Jiaona shook her head and said, "Whether the locust god or the locusts came first is a different question."
"Indeed." Gong Mengbi nodded and said, "I'll go back to Wu Ning. I wonder what's going on over there."
Gong Mengbi flew to Wuning, but Wuning was much better than Jinhua. The mountains and rivers here were beautiful and it had not been affected by the locust plague.
Gong Mengbi warned Kangwen in advance and asked him to be cautious. If there was an invasion of locusts, he would send Fox to exterminate them.
Foxes weren't experts at removing locusts, but birds were quite capable. While the birds couldn't handle large swarms of locusts, they were no problem against isolated locusts.
When Gong Mengbi returned, Wenxiu was already waiting in the temple. Seeing Gong Mengbi, he complained, "Why didn't you call me? I was playing with Xiao Yi'er when I saw the fox running around. I heard you were going to get rid of the locusts, so why didn't you call me?"
Gong Mengbi laughed and said, "You are the embodiment of wood energy. Do you really want to deal with locusts?"
Wen Xiu shook his feathers and said, "But I am now a bird, and I can lead birds to fight."
Gong Mengbi said, "Okay! Then please be the locust-chasing general, gather all the troops, and prepare to control the locusts."
Wen Xiu became happy and said, "Just watch me!"
Wen Xiu flapped his wings and disappeared in Lanyin Temple like the wind.
Gong Mengbi watched him leave with a smile, but his expression soon turned serious. "Yuliu, I'm going to the Great Immortal Temple. You stay in the mountains."
Huangfu Yuliu agreed.
Gong Mengbi went to Jinhua Mountain and arrived at the Great Immortal Temple.
In Jinhua, he had a few friends at the Great Immortal Temple. Regarding locust control, the person most responsible should be the City God, but unfortunately, he wasn't someone willing to take action.
Firstly, he would offend the locust god, and secondly, controlling locusts was not his "job", and there would be no punishment even if he didn't do it.
Gong Mengbi was a small figure with little influence and did not think he could persuade the Jinhua City God, so he went to the Great Immortal Temple to ask for advice first.
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