"So!" Tong Yiwen clapped her hands again, making a loud thud on the mottled pine table in front of her. A few drops of water from the teacup on the table splashed out and spread on the rough wood grain.
"Everyone, go to class and study!"
A group of believers from Liangzhou looked at each other, their tattered coats worn smooth at the cuffs, their necks red from the cold shivering, and they followed closely behind the girl.
Before long, all these people arrived at the school in the desolate mountains.
The building, constructed of bluestone, has a roof covered with gray tiles, and strings of dried chilies and corn hang from the eaves.
In the spacious hall, dozens of rough wooden stools were neatly arranged, and calligraphy templates written in charcoal pencils were pasted on the walls.
When studying with the local people, the believers from Liangzhou curiously touched the smooth stool beneath them, as they usually sit on the ground.
"The things in the barren mountains are so amazing!" a child murmured to himself.
"Shh, don't talk, listen carefully!" Fang Niangzi instructed them.
There are dedicated teachers who are responsible for instructing them, and most of these teachers come from modern times.
One of the men, wearing round-framed glasses and a cotton-padded jacket with a strange metal pocket watch hanging from his waist, was writing on a blackboard with charcoal.
As darkness fell, the group left in a daze.
The lanterns in front of the school were already lit, their dim yellow light reflecting off the snow.
Some people were even rewarded with local specialties from the remote mountains, wrapped in oil paper, for their good learning and attentive listening. These included several golden cornbreads, fragrant roasted sweet potatoes, and potato pancakes.
"You'll have to come back to study in half a month! If you pass the exam, you'll be rewarded with cotton-padded clothes, cotton-padded shoes, or cotton-padded quilts!" Tong Yiwen stood on the stone steps and gave her instructions, her breath condensing rapidly in the cold air.
"Anything else is fine, just remember to review it when you get back!" The bespectacled time traveler pulled out a stack of yellowed papers from his pocket. "I'll send you the materials!"
That night, the golden gate unfolded once more on the snow, its dazzling light illuminating the astonished faces of the believers.
They wrapped themselves tightly in their thin clothes, stepped into the portal one by one, and disappeared into the vast night.
The next day, believers from Qingzhou were again guided over.
They wore heavy felt boots, which made a dull sound as they stepped on the bluestone slabs in front of the school.
After repeating the learning journey of the Liangzhou believers, these Qingzhou people were taken to tour the barren mountains.
They were also sent away at sunset.
Days passed by, and the icicles under the eaves of the school began to drip water; winter was about to end.
The heavy snow, which seemed to be burying heaven and earth, gradually stopped and became lighter and lighter.
Spring is just around the corner.
Many people are praying that the snow will stop immediately.
Because the snow disaster affected such a wide area, countless people lost their lives as a result.
Even the mighty army of Liangzhou cowered in their stone-built camps, not daring to venture out at will.
The animal hides nailed to the camp gate fluttered in the wind, and the soldiers on the watchtowers, wrapped in dirty leather armor, had their breath frost on their beards.
Of course, what terrified these outlaws was not the heavy snow, but the new recruits who would mysteriously disappear every now and then.
However, Kan Dadao did not believe in ghosts or gods.
He wore leather armor studded with copper, and kicked over a charcoal brazier in the tent, sparks flying everywhere. "I think someone's playing a trick on us!"
So they forcibly brought in a lot of new recruits.
As a result, they could only stay in the military camp for three days each time, and after three days these people would disappear into thin air.
Whether they remained inside the tent with its animal-skin curtains or trudged across the snow-covered training ground, they vanished without a trace.
Now, General Wei Wu was completely speechless.
He slumped onto the tiger-skin chair, his inner shirt beneath the iron armor soaked with cold sweat. Fear gripped him as he quietly led his remaining men into hiding, not daring to make a move.
Without the chaos caused by the Mighty Army, the people of Liangzhou were gradually able to catch their breath.
With the establishment of the mountain god temple, they regained their hope, and these weathered villages regained some vitality.
Everyone is waiting for spring, waiting for this heavy snow to completely melt away.
However, only Yu Luo and a few people in the desolate mountains knew that this winter was just the beginning.
Yu Luo stood by the lake, gazing into the distance, her plain white robe and pale blue jade belt with cloud patterns fluttering in the wind.
To be precise, the disasters of winter are the least severe, since there is only cold and hunger.
If the snow on the mountain melts, there is a high possibility of flooding.
As temperatures rise, the dead bodies can also bring plague.
Moreover, some who have been lying low will also become restless and launch new uprisings.
"The tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease; spring is approaching, but that may not necessarily be a good thing!"
Yu Luo casually flicked a transparent bubble out, which refracted rainbow colors in the sunlight.
Inside the bubble was a small shad, about the size of a palm, with a pair of pure white wings, flying around in the air, its scales shimmering with a pearly luster.
The system, which had transformed into a silver sprite, also floated out: "After all this time, the Grand Preceptor of Yan has not made a move. You were right. He dares not act rashly."
"This guy can't figure out your background, he's definitely been observing you in secret all this time."
"He'll probably make his move once winter is over."
"And there are other evil spirits within the Liang Kingdom; these guys will probably have to come out too."
The system stopped on a blue stone, its light flickering slightly.
This world incorporates many disaster survival novels, so how exactly do these disasters occur? Naturally, they are inextricably linked to evil spirits and demons.
So once this winter is over, many evil spirits will surely emerge and show their faces.
Yu Luo remained silent, gazing at the distant forest. The mist in the woods began to churn and writhe like living creatures, and a strange beast resembling a white deer emerged from the forest, its antlers entwined with emerald vines.
During this time, she also enlightened several animals, turning them into mythical beasts from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. These mythical beasts were all quite powerful.
In addition, she performed another blessing from the mountain god, bestowing blessings upon the believers in the barren mountains who had higher levels of faith.
More and more mountain god temples were built, and temples sprang up in various villages like mushrooms after rain, bringing her more faith...
With so many preparations made, we can suppress any evil spirits that come our way!
As everyone waited with anticipation day after day, winter finally came to an end, and the peach trees at the village entrance sprouted tender green buds.
This heavy snow.
It stopped too.
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