Medicine King Valley, Yaoshi Mountain City.
As the ancestral homeland of the Yao Shi Family, Yaoshi Mountain City was no less prosperous than Chang'an County, and was even more devout in its worship of Buddha. Buddhist pagodas and small temples stood everywhere. The bodhisattva tablet seen most often was undoubtedly that of "Namo Great Compassionate and Merciful, Savior from Suffering, Vastly Miraculous Dragon-Locking Bodhisattva." Every stretch of road had statues of the bodhisattva standing beside it, and not a single one was ever without incense and offerings.
A group of leisurely White-tailed Deer appeared on the street. They strode along with their heads held high, charging straight ahead without the slightest concern. Not only did pedestrians have to dodge them, but even passing caravans had to stop whenever the deer blocked the road. Every one of them had a glossy coat and a sturdy build.
Suddenly, one fawn broke away from the herd and approached a table at a roadside restaurant. Two diners wearing bamboo hats sat there, one tall and one short. Judging by their figures, they seemed to be sisters.
The younger sister took out a piece of flatbread and offered it to the White-tailed Deer. After gobbling it down, the deer even licked the little girl's palm. The nearby diners all laughed and told the girl that she had received the White-tailed Deer's blessing, and that everything she did would go smoothly.
"Why would the White-tailed Deer give blessings?" the little girl asked curiously.
"Because the White-tailed Deer are messengers of the Dragon-Locking Bodhisattva," an old woman said reverently, pressing her palms together. "For a hundred years, Yaoshi Mountain City has enjoyed favorable weather and abundant harvests, all thanks to the Dragon-Locking Bodhisattva's protection. The White-tailed Deer represent the Dragon-Locking Bodhisattva touring the mortal world. They possess