"A pack of incorrigible fools!" the voice coldly rebuked them. "This venerable one rescued you from fire and water back then. How many years has it been? And you no longer even know this venerable one's name?"
"Sea God Lord... Sea God Lord..." Everyone trembled in terror, shouting as they smashed their heads against the ground.
"Worse still, you dared to stir up trouble within this venerable one's sacred ground. You have truly disturbed this venerable one! You all... forget it..." With those final words, the ethereal voice abruptly ceased! At the same time, everyone's heads stopped hurting.
"Sea God Lord, Sea God Lord!" All the fishermen burst into loud sobs. "Please, do not abandon us..."
"True Person Xiao, True Person Xiao..." More than a dozen villagers from General's Ridge also cried out loudly, looking utterly remorseful.
"Alas, people's natures are simply this base!" Daoist Master Xiao's voice drifted up leisurely. "Once they live in comfort, they forget their faith. Only after being taught a lesson and tasting bitterness do they realize how stubborn and unworthy they truly are!"
Having said that, Daoist Master Xiao turned and knelt before the statue. "Bang, bang, bang!" He knocked his head against the ground several times in succession. His forehead was visibly bruised, yet Daoist Master Xiao still refused to stop. He bowed exactly nine times, and a thin stream of blood flowed from his forehead before he cried out in grief, "True Person! Do not blame them for their disbelief, do not mind their stubborn ignorance. This is all this humble one's fault! It is because this humble one failed to properly guide them on True Person's behalf! If True Person has any blame, any punishment, let it all fall upon this humble one! This humble one is a disciple of the