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墨書 Inktalez
The next day, when the city gates swung open, several people stepped onto the territory of Ginger. As the innkeeper had said, the deeper they went, the stronger the aroma became, a mix of various scents clashing together to create an indescribable stench.
Directly opposite Sizhou City was Valley City, part of Ginger. Due to the climate, Valley City could harvest rice three times a year, which is how it got its name. It should have been a season of bountiful harvests, yet vast fields lay abandoned. People preferred to starve and kneel in groups rather than spend a little time planting a few acres to feed their families.
Was the royal family indifferent? Old Vine had just returned from visiting friends; the royal family was also devout, so how could they find time to care? Even if the common folk didn’t farm, it wouldn’t affect them.
How long had this situation persisted? The Cult of the Southern Ginger Dynasty had existed for some time, but madness like this could be traced back four years to the rise of Common Faith. Even among my demon kin, there were those who believed in their teachings.
Mishaqi—what were their doctrines? Old Vine was prepared and handed over the collected doctrines to Misha. He flipped through a few pages before tossing it aside; it was just more patchwork content filled with twisted logic—old stuff that lacked interest.
Li Cu teased, "One Western Shu Esoteric Buddhism falls, and countless others rise."
Old Vine replied, "That’s quite accurate. You can see traces of Western Shu Esoteric Buddhism in almost every Cult—selfishness, obsession, and evil."
"Let’s talk about Common Faith." This person, originally named Niu Dali, was known as Niu Xianshi after becoming the leader of the cult. He had once been an inconspicuous eunuch in Great Ginger Palace. Old Vine thought about what he had learned and felt a complex mix of emotions; he was ordinary in appearance and ability and still just a servant at over thirty.
One day four years ago, he inexplicably burst into the grand assembly of Great Ginger Court with a strange brute force. Everyone thought he was an assassin but couldn’t harm him; arrows missed their mark, leaving the Great Ginger Emperor terrified and embarrassed.
Yet he laughed maniacally as if no one were around. After a while, exhausted from laughing, he actually took off his pants.
Can you guess what happened next? Qi Xiaomian shot him a glance. "Your words are revealing enough—eunuch and pantsless—combined with what the innkeeper said about Common Faith having successors."
It seemed that this eunuch had somehow become someone important and was so delighted that he went mad.
Old Vine slapped his knee. "Exactly! After revealing his identity while still bare-bottomed, he ran around the hall for a few laps. This absurd scene ultimately caught the attention of those who mattered."
A wound that had festered for years could regenerate flesh and blood; thus, being an assassin became less significant.
After much verification, everyone finally believed that Niu Dali had transformed from a despised eunuch into the center of attention for all. His experience intrigued many; he claimed to have dreamt of an immortal and fulfilled his wishes through sincere prayer.
The Great Ginger Emperor, wary of his supposed protection from this dream immortal, freed him from slavery and rewarded him with considerable wealth.
With this wealth, Niu Dali established a temple in the capital. Initially meant to be modest, as his story spread widely and more people donated money and labor, it grew so lavish that it rivaled even the grand halls of the palace.
In the Taoist temple, there was only one Immortal Statue, said to be the one from Niu Dali's dreams. Niu Dali founded Common Faith and was arrogant in front of outsiders, yet remained humble before the Immortal Statue. Every day, he knelt for two hours in fear and reverence, unwavering in his devotion, while diligently expanding the influence of Common Faith.
The innkeeper claimed that Ginger had over a hundred Cults, but that was not entirely accurate. Since the establishment of Common Faith, through means of annexation and suppression, many small Cults had been absorbed. Perhaps they still appeared as their former shells on the outside, but internally, they were already under the control of Common Faith.
There were still about ten large Cults that stood firm, but their actual situation was not as glorious as it seemed. It was believed that given another year or two, Common Faith would surely unify everything.
Misha was puzzled as to why Common Faith garnered so much support. Surely it couldn't be due to those nonsensical doctrines? Old Vine explained, "Think about the Wishing Stone. The Immortal Statue and the Wishing Stone share a similar essence; they both involve exchange."
What did exchange mean? The Immortal Statue was not selfless like a benevolent deity; when it granted wishes, it always took something in return. However, it did not do so through coercion; it would first send dreams to the wish-maker and reach an agreement within those dreams. If the Immortal Statue demanded too much and an agreement could not be reached, both parties would treat it as if nothing had happened.
As for what was exchanged, it could be anything—wealth, lifespan, fate, or even elusive descendants.
Upon learning that Common Faith and the Immortal Statue were located in Great Ginger Capital, everyone quickened their pace with a clear goal in mind. In just two days, they would see the city walls of Ancient Ruins City.
Compared to the splendor of Dajing Jingjing City or the imposing practicality of Great Yu Shengjing City, Ancient Ruins City appeared much simpler. The walls had lost much of their plaster, revealing a loose brick structure underneath. If Great Jing wanted to destroy it while eliminating unfavorable factors like Cults, it shouldn't be too difficult.
Ancient Ruins City had much fresher air compared to other counties, likely because it was under the domain of Common Faith, which did not promote incense burning.
They entered the city in the evening when a hint of twilight lingered in the sky. Red lanterns hung throughout the city; not just at every household but densely packed—perhaps there was some grand celebration happening?
They found an inn close to the Taoist temple; it happened to be the largest in town. The service was impeccable, with dedicated attendants for each group of guests.
When asked about the red lanterns, the innkeeper proudly replied that anyone who sincerely believed and received protection from immortals would be granted a red lantern by them. When lit at night, these lanterns could ward off evil spirits and ensure safety—truly beneficial.
Seeing the innkeeper carrying a red lantern outside, Sang Qingxiao followed curiously. The innkeeper was a woman named Sun Rongniang; she looked to be under thirty but bore signs of worry. As she gazed at the lantern, her smile seemed somewhat wooden.
Sang Qingxiao helped her hang up the lantern and remarked how difficult it must be to run such a large establishment alone.
"This inn belongs to my husband," Sun Rongniang replied. "He fell ill unexpectedly, so I took over. At first, I was truly flustered—managing the inn while guarding against competitors and taking care of him—it felt overwhelming."
As she reflected on her past struggles, her eyes turned red with emotion.
A breeze blew through in the evening, causing the lanterns to sway gently. Sang Qingxiao comforted her while adjusting the lantern's position. Sun Rongniang lit the candle inside; at that moment when sparks ignited into flames, they flickered like hooks and lightly grazed her fingertip. She merely frowned slightly as if accustomed to it.
Sang Qingxiao noticed that instead of branching out upon hitting an obstacle, the flame actually penetrated her fingertip for just an instant before retreating—there was no wound left behind. This fire seemed suspicious.
Moreover, the oil used for lighting smelled different from what she had encountered before. Sang Qingxiao voiced her concerns aloud.
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