City God

The head of county security can mobilize terrifying forces.

Not to mention that he acts on behalf of the imperial court and is protected by destiny. If he obtains official documents and seals them with the County Magistrate's official seal, ordinary mountain spirits and wild ghosts, and even minor gods, wouldn't even be able to get close.

"It seems I've picked up a troublesome hot potato..."

Wu Ming was a little depressed, but this was a Main God Hall mission, so he had no choice but to accept it.

He then looked at the sun, seeing that it was nearing noon. He stopped wandering and found a restaurant, entering leisurely.

"This way, young master!"

The restaurant had two floors and a gilded signboard, clearly an old establishment.

As soon as he entered, a waiter with a white towel draped over his shoulder approached him and said solicitously, "Are you dining alone, sir? Would you prefer a table by the window?"

"Mm!"

Wu Ming went upstairs and took his seat. His nose twitched slightly, and he smelled the aroma of wine and meat. He chuckled, "Your braised meat seems good!"

"Naturally, our braised mutton and braised beef are specialties of Black Terrace! It's been a renowned brand for decades. However, beef isn't always available. You've come at a good time, sir. A few days ago, a cow died at Li Family Village outside the city, and our owner bought two legs back. They're fresh and hot... Would you like some?"

The waiter was very eloquent, and Wu Ming smiled, "Then I'll have a pound... and two stir-fried vegetable dishes, plus a pot of wine!"

"Certainly!"

The waiter went down and soon returned with a pot of wine. Grains were precious at this time, and the wine was somewhat cloudy. Fortunately, it was low in alcohol content and could almost be drunk like a beverage.

Before long, two stir-fried vegetable dishes were served, green and vibrant, exuding fragrance. Wu Ming, who had been hungry for a long time, ate and drank slowly and meticulously, his movements precise, indicating he was from a well-bred family.

"Here is your braised beef, sir!"

When Wu Ming was halfway through his meal, another plate of sliced beef was served. It was dark red in color, with firm texture, and its taste was endlessly satisfying, a perfect combination of color, aroma, and flavor.

"Wait a moment!"

After taking a few bites, Wu Ming praised it inwardly and then called out to the waiter again.

"Yes! What can I do for you, honored guest?"

The waiter clasped his hands and asked respectfully.

"I'm from out of town and new here. It seems Black Terrace County... hasn't been very peaceful lately?"

Wu Ming said as if casually.

"Alas... it's rare for it to be peaceful when it's next to that ghost mountain... " the waiter said with a wry smile. "But you're right, sir. In the past few months, I've heard that many people have died in Black Water Town... Even the wild monks and Taoist priests invited by the county have died one after another, and no one dares to go anymore..."

"Oh? So there are ghosts causing trouble?" Wu Ming's spirits lifted.

"Who knows? Everything near Black Mountain carries an evil aura, especially... ever since the Land God Temple in Black Water Town was destroyed three months ago..."

The waiter spoke casually, then seemed to realize he had said too much. "Please enjoy your meal, sir... If you need anything, just call for me..."

He hurried away.

"The Land God Temple was destroyed? Could it be because the Land God was absent, unable to guide the souls of the deceased, which caused trouble? That doesn't seem right... What's a mere town's Land God worth? Can't the City God just send another one?"

He didn't ask further at this time. After all, it was already beyond Wu Ming's expectations that a mere waiter knew so much.

After eating and drinking his fill, he paid a few hundred coins and walked out leisurely.

"City God Temple?!"

When Wu Ming left, he had asked for directions and had now arrived in front of the City God Temple.

There were gods in this world!

Not just here, but even in the Great Zhou world, there were gods.

In ancient times, the Son of Heaven held the power of the world and had the ability to create destiny. He could also promote or demote lower-ranking gods through sacrifices!

The origins of these gods were varied.

Some were famous officials who had benefited their region during their lifetime, and after death, their spirits were enshrined and worshipped.

Some were born spirits who naturally combined with the power of mountains and rivers to gain authority.

Others were simply mountain spirits, monsters, or malevolent spirits who tricked the foolish villagers into offering them incense and sacrifices.

In general, their origins were bizarre, but they had to be recognized by the imperial court or have received a divine mandate to achieve true divinity. Otherwise, they were considered "heretical shrines and evil sacrifices" and suppressed by the orthodox government.

The Black Terrace County City God was naturally one of those who had achieved true divinity. The temple occupied several mu of land and had a rather solemn atmosphere.

Legend had it that the Black Terrace City God's real name was Wang Xuanfan. He was a Jinshi scholar from the previous dynasty. During his tenure as the County Magistrate here, he encouraged sericulture, purified politics, and brought order to the region. People didn't steal, doors were left unlocked at night, and the population grew, marking a period of great governance.

Later, when the imperial court imposed additional taxes, he pleaded for the people and was exiled. He died of illness on the road. The county residents were grateful and built a shrine to worship him, though it was destroyed several times.

It wasn't until the current dynasty that the Prefect heard of this matter and reported it to the Emperor, requesting an imperial decree to build a temple for worship. After much deliberation, the temple finally received its official mandate and achieved true divinity.

When Wu Ming arrived at the temple, he saw the divine statue on the altar, solemn and majestic.

Divine curtains hung around, and incense smoke curled upwards. A fine nanmu wood table was set with offerings for the four seasons. In the center was a clay statue of a middle-aged scholar, dressed in a seventh-rank official uniform, dignified and solemn, his eyes seeming to hold a hint of authority.

Following local customs, Wu Ming lit an incense stick and bowed a few times.

"Hmm?"

In an instant, his brow twitched.

With his martial arts at the peak of the True Qi Realm, half a step into the Innate, his body's senses were ten times beyond those of ordinary mortals. At this moment, he keenly felt a power's attention.

"Divine Power?"

The sensation flashed by. If Wu Ming's spiritual power wasn't exceptionally sharp, he truly wouldn't have noticed it.

Of course, even if he had noticed, it wasn't a big deal.

After all, Yin and Yang were separate paths. For deities to interfere in the mortal world, especially with someone like Wu Ming, whose martial arts were almost at their peak and whose vitality was at its extreme, it wasn't an easy task.

"Please stay, pilgrim!"

After donating a coin of silver for incense and oil, Wu Ming intended to leave, but a voice reached his ears.

He looked back and saw someone dressed as a temple keeper, standing there with a smile. "What is the pilgrim seeking? Why not come and have your fortune told?"

"Alright!"

Wu Ming, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, followed the temple keeper to a small table.

"May I ask if the esteemed guest is inquiring about romance or your future?" The temple keeper was solemn, possessing a certain aura that was quite charlatan-like.

In his previous life, Wu Ming wouldn't have believed such things.

But now, having arrived in the World of Gods and Ghosts, he would rather believe it exists than not. So he said, "To resolve difficulties!"

"In that case, please feel free to write a single character!"

Wu Ming picked up a brush, spread out a piece of white paper, and casually wrote the character 'nothingness'.

"Eh?"

The temple keeper exclaimed in surprise. "Originally there was nothing, where could dust arise? According to your countenance, young master, you should have no calamities or tribulations. But how can such a person exist in this world? Truly strange and wondrous!"

"The young master seeks to resolve difficulties..."

The temple keeper took out a tortoise shell and some copper coins, muttering incantations. Suddenly, he overturned the tortoise shell, and the coins arranged themselves in a regular pattern on the white paper, complementing the character '无'.

"Young master is a divinely favored person, and I cannot see your destiny or future. However, if you only seek to resolve difficulties, you can head south to find it!"

The temple keeper's eyes widened, and sweat trickled down his forehead, as if he had expended a great deal of mental energy. He spoke with difficulty.

"South?"

Wu Ming frowned, thinking of the current layout of the county town. Generally, the east was for the wealthy, the west for the rich, the north for the poor, and the south for the lowly. That is, the eastern and western districts were where officials and gentry resided, while the north and south were areas for commoners, or even the impoverished.

"The words of gods and ghosts cannot be fully trusted, but it wouldn't hurt to take a look! However..."

Wu Ming sneered inwardly.

This county's City God seemed to be treating him as a pawn, intending to be the one playing the game.

Of course, being treated as a pawn at least meant he had some use.

Even if it was exploitation, it was still better than being excluded.

"Thank you, sir. I shall take my leave!"

Wu Ming gave the temple keeper one last deep look.

He saw the man tremble all over, his eyes showing confusion and a hint of lewdness. Wu Ming didn't expose him, merely smiled slightly, tossed down a dozen coins, and strode out.

"It seems... this must be the City God, or even the County Magistrate, in a struggle with another faction. Perhaps they are even at a disadvantage, or have reservations, forcing them to seek outside help?"

If it were an ordinary cultivator encountering such a matter entangled with karma, they would likely have avoided it at all costs and fled thousands of miles away.

But Wu Ming was different.

As the temple keeper had said earlier, he had no karma in this world; he was merely a passerby. What was there to fear?

So what if they were the County Magistrate or the City God?

If they stood in the way of his path, he could still slay them!

Of course, he needed to borrow strength for now. He wasn't some chuunibyou from a later era, shouting about defying heaven at every turn.

However, an inexplicable sense of heroism surged within him, and he couldn't help but recite: "A time will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves, I'll set my cloud-like sail to cross the vast sea!"

"Excellent!"

Suddenly, a scholar in a blue robe nearby clapped his hands. "Truly a magnificent poem!"

Seeing Wu Ming's gaze turn towards him, the scholar's face flushed slightly. "Young master, please forgive me. I am Ye Xiaoyou, accompanying my mother to offer incense and fulfill a vow. Seeing your extraordinary demeanor and your ability to compose poetry extemporaneously, I am filled with admiration. Please excuse my rudeness..."

Looking again, Wu Ming appeared to be a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth, dressed in fine brocade robes, with a face as beautiful as jade. This further impressed Ye Xiaoyou.

"So it's Brother Ye. I am Wu Ming, a traveler from another region, passing through here..."

Wu Ming cupped his hands in greeting. He then noticed the luxurious carriages behind Ye Xiaoyou and the attire of the maids and servants, realizing that this person came from a good background.

"Young master..."

At this moment, a corner of the carriage curtain was slightly lifted, revealing a pair of bright, discerning eyes. A moment later, a beautiful maid adorned with golden hairpins and jade ornaments hurried over, lifting the hem of her skirt. "The madam is already urging you..."

"My mother is calling. I am truly sorry..."

Ye Xiaoyou bowed apologetically. "My home is at the East Water Lane Entrance. The first house with two stone lions is ours... If you have leisure, Brother Wu, please be sure to visit me!"

"Is this person a rabbit?"

After this person's reluctant farewell, Wu Ming felt a chill.

Of course, in ancient times, plagiarizing ancient poems could indeed serve as a stepping stone. But to think of having an overwhelming aura that commanded the respect of all was merely a dream.