Chapter 422: Chapter 59: Qin Chenghuang (Part 3) Chapter 422: Chapter 59: Qin Chenghuang (Part 3) “That’s right, that’s right, Qin Chenghuang, you can’t chase us away,”
the remaining voices chid in.
It was quiet for a mont before the magnificent voice snorted, “At least you have so conscience.”
Right after that, Jia Liu felt the table above his head tremble, and then two oily black riding boots landed in his field of vision.
The owner of the boots stamped his foot, “Co on.”
The others chuckled, “Let move this offering table.”
“Don’t touch it, soy-braised pig trotters must be eaten seated to truly savor them.”
“Alright, we’ll listen to you, listen to you. Qin Chenghuang, I toast to you.”
Outside, glasses clinked and the aroma of at filled the air; four beings, neither human nor demon, were feasting together, enjoying themselves imnsely.
From ti to ti, leftover clamshells and pig bones were tossed onto the offering table, leaving Jia Liu salivating.
He had scoured several mountains, withstanding disdain, just to earn enough money, then excitedly exchanged it for pig’s head at to commorate his brother, only to be beaten up. Injured, tired, thirsty, and hungry, the shock had nearly caused him to faint.
Suddenly, his fingers found a round clam, still intact.
Unable to resist the temptation any longer, Jia Liu pried open the clamshell and gulped down the fresh, smooth clam at; even the salty fragrant juice on his hands wasn’t wasted.
As he felt around, he realized that among the scattered clamshells on the ground, many were intact. Delighted, he picked them up one by one, peeling them open and devouring the tender flesh within.
Not only did the clams taste delicious, but after eating them, Jia Liu felt a warm glow throughout his body, his wounds seed to shrink, his fatigue vanished, and his stomach felt pleasantly full.
The feasting went on until the latter part of the night before those fellows, who claid to be cultivators from Erlang Temple, River God Temple, and Taigong Temple, staggered off drunkenly.
Qin Chenghuang declined their offer to clean up, instructing them to leave. Just a few gusts of wind later, only Qin Chenghuang remained, sitting on a pile of hay, taking swigs of wine.
“Hic~”
Under the offering table, Jia Liu wiped his mouth, feeling content, and couldn’t help but belch. Regretting it instantly, he thought, Hasn’t that exposed my hiding spot?
“They’re all gone now, co out,”
the man in the riding boots, with that grandiose voice, leaned against the haystack and seed unsurprised, instead speaking towards the table.
“…”
A corner of the pale yellow table curtain erged, and Jia Liu, sticking out his buttocks, slowly crawled out from behind the table, looking up at Qin Chenghuang.
The man wore a black cap, his face was bronze-colored, and he had a short goatee. He was dressed in a blackish-green silk robe, with colorful trimmings and appliquéd golden lions surrounding a round neckline. Beneath was a turquoise undergarnt, secured with a fragrant gold belt, an embodint of official dignity.
Jia Liu recognized the style and patterns on his garnt with a sense of familiarity.
“Do you know who I am?”
Jia Liu heard this but did not respond. Instead, he instinctively looked back and wished he hadn’t. The clay idol of the City God on the altar, which must have weighed several hundred pounds, had vanished without a trace.
“You, you are…”
Collapsing to the ground, Jia Liu pointed at the man, too horrified to speak.
The man’s face bore a smile, “Who do you say I am?”
“You, you are, the master of this house? The, the City God?”
The man did not answer but simply said, “I am not the City God. There is no Heaven or Hell in this world, and naturally, there is no City God. I am a person of odd temperant. People kneel before and worship , asking for wealth and blessings. I disdain their faces and do not respond to any. The reigning dynasties wished to bestow upon titles, and I loathed their control of the National Instrunt, and their role in keeping the people and the country ignorant, so I refused them all. I am sustained by the incense offered to in the temples of those who have achieved great deeds, yet I most detest those who piously worship gods and Buddha. Nevertheless, I am proud and cannot bear the debt of another’s kindness. When you moved here over a year ago, you would burn incense and worship day and night, showing kindness. I therefore took it upon myself to recognize you as my godson. Due to my influence, Mountain Spirits hereabouts would let you collect precious herbs when you went up the mountains, to support your livelihood.”
Jia Liu only half understood what he was hearing, but he knew this person before him ant him well. Since the death of his parents, no one had been as kind to him. He knelt to the ground and couldn’t help but start crying again.
The man was unmoved and continued, “You only need to rember that between you and , there is no relationship of a worshipper and a deity, only that of a father and his son. However, I am not a completely unreasonable person; if you are reluctant to acknowledge this, I will not force you.”
Usually slow-witted, Jia Liu seed to have an epiphany at that mont and nodded desperately.
“Good!”
A flush of rose suddenly surged across the man’s bronze face, then just as quickly returned to normal.
“Listen, my son, your godfather’s ti is short. I won’t be able to protect you when you go up the mountain to gather herbs in the future. That’s why I’ve revealed myself to you, thanks to a few drinking buddies, so I can make arrangents for you.”
“No, you, how can it be? I…”
Jia Liu, usually slow of speech, understood very well. The person before him, who felt both familiar and dear, had claid him as family, and now he was saying he would die. How could Jia Liu not be panicking?
Qin Chenghuang seed unconcerned, “Humans live on grains and die without them, Wild Gods live on incense and without it, perish. The world has long since forgotten Qin Chenghuang; I should have died long ago.”
Jia Liu wept in sorrow, but it only irritated Qin Chenghuang, “Stop crying! Illness, old age, and death are but trifles. I have a daunting task for you, so listen to what I have to say!”
He glared at Jia Liu, “Early in the morning, when the roosters crow, you must go into the city and wait in front of Huixian Building in Jiaozhou City. You’re to find a military officer with a vermilion Sword Box on his back and ask him for exactly nineteen taels of Gold—not more, not less.”
Jia Liu, excited, was sowhat more fluent, “Officials are Fierce, fiercer than the tigers and bears on the mountains. Why would he give gold? And as much as nineteen taels, I dare not ask for it.”
Qin Chenghuang laughed heartily, “An official fiercer than tigers and bears! Don’t be afraid. Officials may have beasts embroidered on their chests, but these are false beasts sewn on with thread! They’re only ant to deceive the ignorant masses and won, and will not harm you! Just go, take these three broken incense sticks from the altar, and ask boldly, saying it is Qin Chenghuang of Stone Bridge River who is asking for it!”
Darkening his expression, he continued, “The nineteen taels of gold you are to ask for are a token, to repay the goodwill between us, father and son, for the past nineteen months.”
After a pause, Qin Chenghuang spoke again, “Take the money and decide for yourself whether to study or start a trade. If he gives it to you, co back here to the City God Temple to find . If he doesn’t, don’t bother arguing. Just co back to the City God Temple to find , do you understand clearly?”
Wiping his tears, Jia Liu replied, “I understand clearly!”
“Good.”
Qin Chenghuang nodded and gestured, “Go now, I will sit here and wait for you.”
At that mont, a loud rooster’s crow pierced the night sky.
Jia Liu took three half-burned incense sticks, which had gone out due to poor quality, from the censer, pushed open the door of the City God Temple, and headed into the city, looking back every few steps.
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