Chapter 659: Sacrifice
The ability to subdue Wutong was due to the combined efforts of everyone, not just his own efforts. He was the central strategist, using these fellow Taoists as bargaining chips, and they were willing to do so. Gong Mengbi would not let their loyalty and sense of righteousness go to waste.
Shangfang Mountain was destroyed in one day. Even though Gong Mengbi himself was one of the driving forces behind the destruction, he couldn't help but feel sad.
He came down from Shangfang Mountain and headed towards Shihu Lake. The lake was empty, without a single ghost or god. His old acquaintance Tang Jie was also gone. He didn't know whether he had died in the chaos of the battle or had escaped.
All the rampant gods were either dead or fled. Although the nights on Shangfang Mountain were deep, they were not lonely.
Today the bright moon shines alone, yet it is extremely quiet and peaceful.
Gong Mengbi stepped onto the Xingchun Bridge. Even though it was not the 18th of August and he could not see the amazing sight of a moon reflected in the water in each bridge hole under the bridge, the bright moon reflected in the water was still alluring.
Just then, at the bridgehead, Gong Mengbi stumbled upon a flicker of fire. Looking up, he saw a young woman burning paper money. She pulled piles of paper money from a nearby bamboo basket and tossed them into the flames. The shadows of the fireworks swayed in the water, illuminating her face, which flickered brightly yet sadly.
Gong Mengbi was about to pass by her, so he asked, "It's so late at night and everyone is asleep. Why are you here alone paying your respects?"
The woman, wearing a white paper flower in her hair, said, "My family has suffered misfortune. My parents died young, and now my brother is dead too. I am all alone, so I only come out to offer sacrifices at night to avoid bringing bad luck to others."
Gong Mengbi stood not far from her. The woman turned around and looked at him with sadness in her eyes.
Gong Mengbi said, "My condolences. The world is not peaceful these days. As a girl, you should take care of yourself."
The woman's tone was bitter, her face full of pain, and she said quietly, "I'll pay my respects to them and then leave to join my old friends."
Gong Mengbi did not move closer. He passed by her not far away and walked across the Xingchun Bridge. When he reached the other side and looked back, he found that only the remaining flames were still jumping, and the woman was gone.
Gong Mengbi sighed, lamenting the hardships and difficulties of the world, and then turned into a stream of light and followed the moon in the rippling water.
When Gong Mengbi returned to Zhenshan, he personally presided over the formation of Xuanyuan Cave, using all his strength to borrow the essence of Taiyin, wrapping the Xuanyuan Cave in it like honey and wine. He also burned incense in a small golden furnace, using the finest spices to communicate with the god of the bright moon, and transformed the essence of Taiyin into precious medicine to heal their sick bodies.
The moonlight in Gusu City was bleak, carrying the chill of the night, floating in through the window and penetrating into the hair and clothes of King Wu.
The King of Wu silently watched the Crown Prince lying on the bed. When he saw the moon instrument suddenly dim and fall to the ground, his mind suddenly became confused and he rushed to the Crown Prince, calling out, "Shun'er! Shun'er!"
The prince was silent and still, his pale body had lost its soul, like a pool of rotten meat.
The King of Wu was filled with grief and wailed weakly twice.
The servant who heard the noise rushed in and saw this scene, and hurried to summon the medical officer.
Hearing the chanting, the King of Wu rushed into the garden and said to the great monk Jishan, "Master, please save my son's life. I would pay him a fortune to save his life."
Zen Master Jishan glanced at King Wu and sighed, "Your Majesty, your fortune is such that it cannot be saved by wealth."
The King of Wu was about to lose his spirit, and he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant. He slowly dragged his feet to the door of the prince's room, but he didn't dare to go in or look again.
Zen Master Jishan stretched out his body and continued to chant scriptures, but his eyes were half open and half closed, as if he was about to fall asleep.
The young monk Yujin looked at Zen Master Jishan in surprise, not understanding why he had been on high alert before and suddenly relaxed at this moment. However, the abbot was always like this, extremely unfathomable.
The King of Wu finally sat down beside the Crown Prince's bed, quietly watching him, pondering many things he had no time to think about. Like an ordinary old man who had lost his orphan, when he saw his son die, he also saw his own future die.
He sat like this from late in the day when the dew got heavier until the sky gradually brightened. The eastern rosy clouds came in through the window. The prince's face seemed to have improved a little, with a hint of blood color, but it was like a kite with a broken string, and his gossamer-like breathing suddenly stopped.
The King of Wu opened his tiger eyes, covered his heart, and tremblingly reached out to grab the prince's hand. His voice was hoarse and sad, and he whispered: "My son!"
But at this moment, a gust of warm wind blew in from the window, bringing with it an unusual scent.
King Wu turned his head and saw a tall goddess in green clothes standing in front of the window holding a white fox in the rosy glow.
The King of Wu's heart skipped a beat and he asked, "Who are you?"
The goddess patted the white fox in her arms, and the white fox climbed along her arms to her shoulders, like a snow-white scarf.
She only said, "Your Majesty, do you know that the prince is in this trouble? It is because of your conspiracy with the thieves and your lack of virtue and luck."
The King of Wu felt fear, but even greater anger and disgust, and was about to rebuke her, but the goddess did not give him a chance.
"I am the messenger of the Queen Mother of Mount Tai. I have come here on the Queen Mother's holy order to rescue the prince's soul." She took out a sachet, opened it, and the shadow of the prince in a daze floated out of it and landed on the dead body.
The King of Wu's anger was replaced by surprise. The goddess ignored him and pointed at the fallen moon instrument on the windowsill. She said, "You asked these demons and evil spirits to rescue the Crown Prince, but you didn't realize that the Crown Prince's loss of his soul was caused by them. Now that those demons and evil spirits have been killed, I hope that the Prince will diligently cultivate virtue in the future, and only then will heaven help him."
After saying this, he put the moon instrument into his brocade bag, glanced at King Wu, and disappeared in the sunset glow.
She came and went quickly, and in just a few words, she brought him great information and shock, making his head buzzing for a while and unable to sort out his thoughts.
But he had no time to sort out his thoughts, because the prince on the bed suddenly regained his breath. He took a deep breath, his whole body tensed, and then he exhaled heavily, relaxing again.
The King of Wu hurried to look at the Crown Prince. In his surprised eyes, the Crown Prince's breathing continued slowly and with difficulty. His eyes slowly opened and looked at the King of Wu, as if he wanted to call out "Father", but when he opened his mouth, he had no strength to make a sound.
The King of Wu wept with joy and shouted, "Doctor! Doctor!"
"Shun'er, Shun'er, it's okay, it's okay, father is here." He held the prince's hand tightly and said, "You have slept for too long. There is no rush to talk. Rest well."
The prince's gaze was directed towards the King of Wu, but also clearly towards the window. The goddess hadn't truly left, merely disappeared. A white fox leaped from her back and, upon landing, transformed into the appearance of Lady Late Autumn.
Lady Wanqiu glanced at the prince reluctantly, then followed the goddess and disappeared into the rosy glow.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
