Spreading the Faith

April 20th. Rain fell. An urgent report came from Linjiang Prefecture: an Evil Ghost was causing trouble within its borders. Not only had it gathered Ferocious Ghosts, it had also taken in mountain bandits. There were both humans and ghosts, held under strict discipline. They had gathered in the mountains, set up a stronghold, and defended it. They had once breached a county seat; the ghosts took the county's people, while the bandits took their wealth. The entire county seat was destroyed, and the county magistrate and every office had perished in the line of duty. For a time, the people were greatly alarmed, and the prefecture was seized by panic.

Once a ghost became a Vengeful Ghost and possessed Yin Power, it could manifest at night. It would only appear translucent, however, and could not move a single thing in the world of the living. During the day, it could only be seen as black mist. One step further, upon advancing to an Evil Ghost, it could manifest even in broad daylight, interfere with the mortal world, and wield fearsome might beyond compare.

Since Ferocious Ghosts possessed intelligence, they could naturally communicate with humans and even take people as subordinates. That Ferocious Ghost had been the chief leader of those mountain bandits while alive and had long commanded great prestige. Now that it had become an Evil Ghost, it was able to subdue the entire stronghold.

That leader was quite skilled in battle. He first showed the enemy weakness, luring the county troops out to encircle and suppress them, then ambushed them at the right moment. The county commandant died in battle, and the county troops were wiped out to the last man. Having broken the military spirit within the county, he contacted the wandering bandits in the region and agreed to attack the city together. Humans and ghosts attacked side by side. After three days of assault, they breached the county seat, massacred the city, and drained the vitality from its inhabitants. Their ferocious might soared to the heavens. If they were not checked, they would soon become a Ghost King.

The province was greatly alarmed and dispatched the general Wu Qi to lead troops into Linjiang Prefecture City and oversee the suppression campaign. Seeing that the ghosts had grown powerful, Wu Qi reported to the provincial authorities, requesting support from the Ghost-Banishing Offices of various prefectures and also asking the Daoist Sect for aid. The Evil Ghost knew the gravity of the situation as well. It gathered the wandering bandits, collected Ferocious Ghosts, and retreated deep into the mountains, where it built a great stronghold and prepared to rely on the terrain for defense. Thus, a great battle began. Linjiang Prefecture neighbored Wenchang Prefecture, and Anchang County's Ghost-Banishing Office had been selected for this matter. Daoist Lingzhu had already rushed to Linjiang Prefecture to provide support. Fang Ming was overjoyed. This was a heaven-sent opportunity.

At this moment, He Dong was speaking below the hall.

"Reporting to you, sir, this subordinate has already compiled Qingyu Village's household registers, entered them into the records, and recorded the incense offerings as you instructed."

Fang Ming picked up the register and examined it line by line, then nodded. He did not wish to write about Divine Power directly. Not only would that be too naked, it would also make it easy for others to learn his true circumstances. So he changed the name and called it incense offerings.

He Dong was indeed a capable man. His accounts were crystal clear, and he was familiar with all the county's affairs. He would be of great use in spreading incense offerings in the future. Fang Ming said, "You should be familiar with Anchang County's situation. Give me a rough account, especially concerning the sacrifices in Qingxi Township!"

He Dong thought for a moment, then said, "In reply to you, sir, Anchang County has two thousand households, roughly ten thousand people. Under it are three townships: Qingxi Township, Anmin Township, and Changyuan Township. Qingxi Township has two hundred households and nearly a thousand people, with four villages beneath it: Qingyu Village, Dachang Village, Qingshan Village, and Yuanhe Village. An ordinary village has fifty or sixty households, around three hundred people. That is only those on the household registers. The great households often conceal registered households and hide population, with many servants among them, so there is no way to count them all."

"According to what Daoist Lingzhu of the county Ghost-Banishing Office said, these four villages all have small altars, with no Ancestral Spirit guarding them. Qingxi Township's altar does have an Ancestral Spirit presiding over it. It is the ancestor of the Zhang family, a great household in Qingxi Township, named Zhang Qingyun. He once served as a county clerk, and the township's sacrifices to him have never ceased." Fang Ming nodded. The white Fortune within the Golden Seal above his head had already filled half of it. He knew this was already the limit of a single village, and Divine Power was much the same. If he wished to rise further, he could only expand his believers. Unfortunately, he had previously feared the county's reaction and had not dared to act too boldly.

Now that the entire prefecture's attention had been drawn to Linjiang Prefecture, and even the Ghost-Banishing Office had been dispatched, this was truly an excellent opportunity. He knew that if Heaven bestowed a gift and one did not accept it, one would instead suffer for it. He resolved to act at once.

That night, the villagers dreamed.

Fang Ming wore an official robe, his bearing stern and majestic. He said, "I am a deity, and I should spread blessings over all living beings. You may invite my image into your homes for worship. Until the great sacrifice, there is no need to burn incense or offer sacrifices. You need only pray to me sincerely in silence for a short while each day. Villagers nearby may worship me as well. I will naturally protect you!"

Over the next few days, the incense offerings grew ever more prosperous.

Sun Xing was a villager of Qingshan Village and had always been close to Wang Er. Recently, he had caught a yellow dog and was overjoyed. He stewed it until the meat was tender, then bought some wine. He thought, I haven't seen Wang Er in a while. I heard his village recently gained a Sacrificial Spirit, and it's incredibly formidable. Even hunters dare enter the deep mountains to hunt now. They're rich enough to drip with oil. I can go find him for drinks and some fun, and worship at the altar while I'm there, perhaps gaining a little protection too....

So he cut off a dog leg and went to Wang Er's home.

The moment Wang Er saw the dog meat, he was delighted. Knowing how fragrant dog meat was, he fetched some garlic, mashed it into paste, and used it as a dip. The two drank wine and ate meat, as carefree as could be.

Sun Xing raised a cup to Wang Er and said, "Brother Wang, I heard your village has a Sacrificial Spirit now, and that it's very efficacious. Tell me about it."

Wang Er's face was flushed red from drink. Hearing this, he smiled proudly and said, "Then let me tell you. What our village worships is called the Land God. I was the one who built the temple for him back then. He protects us greatly, and he has tremendous power. Whenever the village chickens or ducks fall ill, we go pray to him, and they can all be cured. The crops in the fields have been growing wonderfully too. And there's another benefit. You know Li Dazhuang from the east end of the village, right?"

"I know him."

"His wife had been married into his family for five or six years, but her belly had shown no sign of movement. The old Li family was worried sick. If they had not truly been short of money, they would have taken a concubine long ago. But ever since they began worshipping the Land God, guess what happened? Two days ago, she became pregnant. Old Li was so happy that he held a great sacrifice for the Land God that very day and knocked his head bloody from kowtowing!"

Sun Xing's eyes lit up. To traditional villagers, carrying on the family line was a matter of the highest importance. He could not help feeling deeply envious. "It would be wonderful if I could worship him too!"

Wang Er smiled mysteriously. "If you truly wish to worship him sincerely, it isn't as though there's no way."

Sun Xing's heart tightened. "What way?"

"Come with me." He led Sun Xing aside, where there was a small offering table. Upon it sat a clay figure the size of a palm, shaped like an official and looking quite imposing. Wang Er straightened his clothes, pressed his palms together, and bowed. In his heart, he silently prayed, Land God, please bless me!

Sun Xing could not help asking, "This is the Land God? Then I want to worship him too." He immediately knelt and performed a grand salute.

Wang Er said proudly, "Two days ago, the Land God appeared in a dream and said that he could be invited into people's homes for worship. Whether it's a clay figure, a wooden carving, or even a painting, as long as you bring it before the Land God Temple and offer it there for a while, you can take it home and worship it. It will be efficacious too."

Sun Xing's eyes shone brightly. He saluted Wang Er and asked, "Brother Wang, do you think it would work if I invited the Land God into my home for worship as well?"

Wang Er laughed heartily. "If it were anyone else, I couldn't be bothered to spare him a glance. But who told you to be my brother? I carried the temple into the village that day, so I have a bit of standing in the village. If I speak for you, it'll definitely work!"

Sun Xing was overjoyed. "I will never dare forget your great kindness, Brother!"

Similar scenes often took place in Qingyu Village.

That very day, Sun Xing invited an image of the Land God back to Qingshan Village for worship, and it truly proved efficacious. When the villagers of Qingshan Village learned the news, they too racked their brains to obtain divine images and bring them home for worship.

Fang Ming held the office of Land God, along with all manner of divine abilities, making him more competitive than an Ancestral Spirit. Moreover, these villages did not even have Ancestral Spirits. Thus, incense offerings flourished day by day, and believers increased in number. The name of Qingyu Village's Land God had thoroughly spread throughout Qingxi Township.

This also caused Fang Ming's income to rise daily. His net daily income had reached fifty wisps of Divine Power. Looking again at the Fortune above his head, he saw that the white qi within the small Golden Seal had already filled it completely. More threads of white qi continued pouring in from around it, but there was no longer room to contain them, and some were leaking away. He could not help smiling bitterly. He had never expected that his Fortune, too, would reach the point where Fortune exceeded fate. This Principal Ninth Rank vessel could no longer contain his Fortune. Still, he already had a plan in mind, so he left it alone for the time being.

During this period, Fang Ming had been busy spreading the faith, but he had not allowed his subordinates to remain idle. He had Wang Liulang expand his patrol range and gather Yin Soldiers until he had assembled a squad of ten, making him squad leader. The believers had expanded by more than double, and more registers had to be compiled. He Dong gradually found himself unable to keep up, so Fang Ming ordered He Dong to find a ghost named Zheng Kuan. He had been He Dong's former subordinate, and Fang Ming granted him the position of runner to help with the work.

April 30th, at night.

The home of Qingshan Village's village head.

Lamps had been lit in the room. A circle of people sat inside, discussing matters amid a clamor of voices.

The village head coughed, suppressing the noise. When he saw everyone looking at him, he said, "The village is now clamoring to build a Land God Temple and establish an altar. What do you all think?"

A burly elder rose and said, "We can do it. Our altar has no Ancestral Spirit anyway, so we won't offend our ancestors. The Land God is extremely efficacious and offers even greater protection. We can enter the mountains to hunt too and have some meat to eat. The young men in the village have looked much healthier lately."

In this world, the deep mountains and ancient forests were filled with Ferocious Ghosts. Ordinary hunters only dared hunt around the foothills, and once night fell, they had to hide back in the village. Their harvests were scant, so meat was expensive.

Townships protected by Ancestral Spirits were stronger and could enter the mountains, though they still did not dare stay overnight.

Fang Ming conducted matters with fairness to old and young alike. The longer one worshipped him, the greater his protection became. Last time, a hunter from Qingyu Village had gotten lost while chasing prey. Everyone thought he was finished, yet the next day, he returned alive. It caused quite a sensation. Of course, that also had to do with his good fortune in not encountering a Vengeful Ghost.

Another old man in gray stood up. "This cannot be done. Since the Land God can be invited into our homes and grant us protection, there is no need to make an unnecessary move. It would also leave our village a way out."

At that moment, an elder with a tumor on his head rose and said, "The Land God has spiritual awareness. Your two-faced, three-bladed way of doing things will surely offend him. It is greatly improper."

The village head stared blankly at the roof and said, "This old man is incompetent, yet I have been entrusted with the role of village head. In the past, I watched our village tremble in fear. Once night came, everyone hid in their homes and dared not go out. Even so, ghosts would still attack from time to time. Every month, some family would hold a funeral. I worried day and night, but there was nothing I could do. It truly pained my heart!" Old tears streamed down his face, tracing through its furrows.

Everyone fell silent. It had indeed been so before.

"But look at things now. Our village has protection, people's hearts have settled, and there is even a little joy in the village. It brings me immense comfort."

"This was brought by the Land God. We cannot forget the root while drinking the water. I have decided that we will build a Land God Temple upon the altar. Worship and sacrifice are village affairs in every village. As village head, I have the authority to decide this matter. If anything happens in the future, I will bear it!" The village head's words were as decisive as nails hammered into wood, each one striking the ground with a sound.

Fang Ming stood nearby. He had originally intended to display a miracle to bring this matter about, but seeing this, he knew there was no need. The feelings in his heart were too complex to put into words.

Thus, Qingshan Village's worship of the Land God was decided.