A New Divine Statue

Inside the ruined temple, Shen Hui tore down several rafters and built a fire in a sheltered corner of the hall.

The orange-red firelight flickered, driving away some of the hall's chill.

The night wind poured in through the hole thunder had blasted through the roof, sending the flames swaying east and west and wrenching the shadows of the shattered idol on the wall into a wobbling dance.

Wrapped in an oversized wedding gown, the girl sat curled up beside the fire, holding a persimmon Lu Huan had given her.

"You said that tomorrow at noon, they'll come to the temple to burn incense and pray for blessings?" Shen Hui poked at the fire, and sparks flew up before falling again.

The girl nodded hurriedly. "They will. Every year after the divine wedding, everyone in the village comes to escort the 'bride' back to her family home..."

At that, her voice dropped, and her expression turned deeply embarrassed.

"Back to her family home?"

Lu Huan raised her head curiously. "Didn't she just get married? Why would she be going back already?"

"It means... carrying an empty sedan chair back."

The girl struggled somewhat to explain. "It means that once the bride has married the Earth Deity, she can no longer remain in the mortal world. The sedan chair is carried back to the village and burned at the entrance. That counts as the bride returning to her family home once. Then the whole village has a feast, and the matter is considered finished."

After a pause, she added softly, "It has always been done this way."

After hearing her out, Shen Hui merely nodded slightly, his expression calm.

"That works too. Saves this poor Daoist the trouble of seeking them out one by one."

The girl stared blankly at him,