Outside Linlong Temple, the entrance was deserted.
Aunt Wang had been telling Nan Shiying all the way about how prosperous Linlong Temple was, and how many people came to pray for blessings. But now, there was none of the former grandeur. Aunt Wang stood at the foot of the steps for the first time and could see the temple gate at the top.
Aunt Wang forced a smile. "Perhaps the hour is a little late today."
It wasn't a matter of time that fewer people came to Linlong Temple to pray for blessings. As soon as she and Aunt Wang stepped onto the temple grounds, Nan Shiying felt stares and probes from all directions.
People were hidden in the shadows.
Nan Shiying blinked, a sudden realization dawning on her. "That's right, Auntie. Although I've never been to Linlong Temple, I imagine the rules of our temples in Linyuan are generally the same. To pray for blessings and offer incense, one must do so before noon to show sincerity."
Aunt Wang opened her mouth. She had slaughtered pigs in her younger days, and her hands were stained with blood, carrying a lingering scent of gore. She feared that visiting temples would anger the Buddha. Moreover, because her life had been relatively smooth and she was content with what she had, she hadn't burned incense or worshipped Buddha for many years. She had only seen Linlong Temple from afar, bustling with people and prosperous with incense.
She had no idea when was the right time to offer incense or pray. Hearing Nan Shiying say this now, she couldn't very well admit she didn't know. So, she readily agreed, "Ah, yes, yes, yes!"
"Never mind that, let's go in and see...呸, go in and pray?" Aunt Wang, afraid of revealing her ignorance if she spoke more, urged Nan Shiying to enter the temple and worship Buddha.
As they ascended the steps, the gazes upon them intensified, sharp and piercing, like thorns on their backs.
Aunt Wang noticed nothing, merely thinking that the steps leading to Linlong Temple were too many and too tiring to climb.
After climbing dozens of steps, Aunt Wang stood at the entrance, panting. Two monks came out of the gate. Upon seeing the supplicants outside, they were slightly surprised.
"Two benefactors, it is getting late. If you wish to offer incense and pray for blessings, please come again tomorrow morning." The two clasped their hands in front of Nan Shiying and Aunt Wang and bowed. Their voices were sincere, but the exhausted Aunt Wang cared little for that. Although Jiling Street seemed close to Linlong Temple, it had taken them over half an hour to reach here. Furthermore, Linlong Temple was situated on higher ground, and they had been walking uphill for this half an hour. Now, after just climbing dozens of steps, to be told they couldn't enter, her temper flared instantly.
However, Aunt Wang did not resort to the same aggressive demeanor she used when arguing with vegetable vendors. She knew who she could throw a tantrum at and who she couldn't.
"Masters, can't you make an exception? Look at us, we've walked so far. Even if we can't offer incense, just let us come in and have a look!"
The monks looked somewhat troubled. Times were different now, and currently...
Thinking of Linlong Temple's current predicament, the monks hardened their hearts and refused, shaking their heads. "Benefactors, please do not say more. It is not that we are unreasonable, but there are indeed important matters within the temple today. We ask for your understanding..." After speaking, the monk turned to another monk and said, "Shouyi, go and fetch two cups of calming tea for the two benefactors."
The monk named Shouyi turned to fetch the tea. Calming tea was only available from their Martial Uncle Yuanrong.
With the eminent monks of Linlong Temple being so polite, Aunt Wang could not say much more. After drinking the calming tea from Linlong Temple, Aunt Wang's spirits, which had been somewhat low due to fatigue, improved.
Nan Shiying looked back at Linlong Temple, her gaze lingering. Aunt Wang patted her hand, comforting her, "It's alright. Auntie will accompany you again tomorrow morning."
Upon hearing this, Nan Shiying finally withdrew her gaze and shook her head. "Auntie, I'll come by myself."
Fearing Aunt Wang's disagreement, Nan Shiying continued, "I... I want to bring my sister. I want to pray to the Bodhisattva for mercy, so that my poor sister can be safe and prosperous in the future. You have already gone to great trouble to bring me here today, and I am already very grateful. I wouldn't dare to trouble you further. I know the way, so please don't worry. Since my sister and I could come all the way from Jinmen to seek refuge, we won't get lost in the city."
Hearing her say this, Aunt Wang didn't insist further. She felt that the young lady of the Luan family hadn't revealed everything. However, she thought that perhaps Nan Shiying wanted to arrange memorial tablets for her parents at Linlong Temple. Placing memorial tablets at Linlong Temple would require a considerable offering of incense. The reason she didn't mention it might be to avoid the disapproval of Madam Bian.
Aunt Wang didn't probe further. She wholeheartedly supported her niece's wish to set up memorial tablets for her deceased parents.
Aunt Wang hadn't stopped talking all the way, wishing she could inquire about everything that had happened to Nan Shiying since birth. Fortunately, Nan Shiying had a well-rehearsed story, otherwise, she would have surely been exposed!
The two walked back to Jijia Alley, and the moon had already appeared in the branches.
Upon returning to Madam Bian's house, Nan Shiying told the cook, "Prepare yourself. We will go to Linlong Temple to burn incense early tomorrow morning!"
...
Liao Jiang.
Ten million spiders were refined into a single pill.
The shaman lifted the lid of the censer and looked at the black pill at the bottom. The smile on his face instantly froze. He suddenly flipped the censer to the ground and shouted maniacally, "How could this happen? Why is it black? Where did it go wrong? Where exactly did it go wrong!!!"
Agudai strode out of the tent. He looked at the great shaman dressed in shamanistic attire, a flicker of impatience and disgust flashing in his eyes. He looked at the soldier beside him and asked why the shaman had suddenly gone mad.
The soldier didn't know and could only repeat what he had just seen, "After the shaman opened the censer, he became like this!"
Agudai's heart skipped a beat. Could there have been a mistake in the ritual?