The night was strangely cold when they left the hut. There was not a single gust of wind, but it felt like they had walked into a giant freezer. The cold light of the stars and the moon seemed to be the main culprit. The trees, eaves, and rocks were all covered in frost.
"Let's go take a look at the sacrificial mountain," said Ling Ling.
"I've been to the sacrificial mountain before. The Red Devil has indeed placed the enormous evil force that could help him achieve the Emperor Level in the sacrificial mountain. However, the entire mountain is like a fortress. It's impossible to destroy it with brute force. Besides, it's too close to the West Guard Pavilion and the East Guard Pavilion. If the evil force leaked out, it would instantly turn thousands of people into savage devils, "said Mofan.
The evil force was too enormous. After all, the Red Devil had collected it from all kinds of filthy and evil places in the world to prepare for Moonless Night's Ascension.
The sacrificial mountain was like a Pandora's Box. Even Mofan did not dare to open it recklessly. He could only wait until the Red Devil felt the time was right and turned the evil force into the Ascension Force. Only then would Mofan be able to make his way out.
Touching the evil force before that was the same as killing every single citizen of the Shuangshou Pavilion.
…
They arrived at the sacrificial mountain. There was a white path between the bamboo forest leading straight to the entrance of the sacrificial mountain.
When Mofan and Ling Ling visited the place in the middle of the night, they saw white silk hanging from the branches on the path leading up the mountain. The path from the foot of the mountain to the temple, including the stone pillars that were used to welcome guests, were tied with white knots.
The two exchanged glances with one another. Since when was the sacrificial mountain decorated like this? Why did it look like some kind of festival?
They continued up the path. Mofan soon saw the monk and a few workers guarding the entrance. They were busy in the night, but they were extremely careful, trying not to make any noise.
Mofan and Ling Ling went up to them. The monk was smiling as he watched them approach.
"What are you doing?" asked Ling Ling.
"It's time for the sacrificial ceremony," replied the monk.
"Tomorrow?" asked Ling Ling.
"Yes, tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is the lunar eclipse," Ling Ling continued.
"Yes, it's a lunar eclipse. Most of the heroic spirits on the sacrificial mountain are not known to the people. They are like ancient night patrols, quietly guarding every family. So every year, on the day of the lunar eclipse, the people of Shuangshou Pavilion will come here to mourn them, especially the young ones, "the monk continued.
"Why haven't I heard anyone mention it before?" Mofan was a little surprised.
"Why should I mention it? Everyone has a heroic spirit that they revere in their heart. Every year, the young people have to talk about one thing that they have done in the past year on the night of the festival, one thing that they have done after being inspired and taught by the great heroic spirit. Perhaps it is a small secret before it is publicized, so it is not mentioned before. However, I believe that every one of your children remembers. "The monk smiled warmly.
"Only the young ones?" asked Ling Ling.
"Yeah, after the age of twenty-five, there's no need for them to participate in the sacrificial ceremony. After all, a person has already taken shape at the age of twenty-five. It's almost certain what kind of person they will become at the age of twenty-five. The festival is prepared for the young people who are easily lost, corrupted, and led astray, "said the monk.
"So you're saying that the young people below the age of twenty-five in Shuangshou Pavilion will gather here tomorrow night?" asked Ling Ling.
"Yes, everyone will be here. No one will be absent," said the monk confidently.
"Can you tell me more about it?" asked Ling Ling impatiently.
"You've seen the spirit tablets displayed in the temple, right? Each spirit tablet represents a heroic spirit, and each heroic spirit represents a kind of spirit. In short, we treat each heroic spirit as a role model for the young people and children to learn from. When they are young, they will set up a heroic spirit as a role model in their hearts. They will familiarize themselves with the heroic spirit's past and learn from the heroic spirit's spirit. They will even try their best to imitate the heroic spirit's praiseworthy deeds …" said the monk.
When Lingling heard this, her brows knitted tightly together.
Familiarize themselves with the heroic spirit's deeds …
Learn from the heroic spirit's spirit …
Imitate the heroic spirit's praiseworthy deeds.
"I understand why the people on the visiting list died one after another," said Ling Ling suddenly.
"Aren't they affected by the evil force?" asked Mofan in confusion.
"They are affected by the evil force, but they are also affected by the heroic spirit's spirit. The spirit tablets are supposed to be role models for the young people, but due to the evil force brought by the Red Demon, the spirit of the heroic spirit has taken root in the minds of the young people. They are willing to sacrifice their lives to achieve their goals, "said Ling Ling.
Ling Ling and Ozawa had compared the visiting list. Many of the people on the list had died, but their deaths were 'reasonable'.
Back then, Ling Ling could not tell if they were affected by the Red Demon's magnetic field, or if it was their own problem. She did not know the truth until now. Ling Ling finally understood!
Their deaths were in line with the spirit of the heroic spirit!
They were imitating it …
"Great Master, did the temple lose a heroic spirit tablet not too long ago?" asked Ling Ling.
"How did you know?" Asked the monk in surprise. He looked at Ling Ling and explained after a few seconds, "There was some controversy about the heroic spirit tablet, so I didn't pay too much attention to its sudden disappearance."
"I understand. Thank you, Great Master. We would like to participate in the ceremony for the young people tomorrow night. Is that alright?" asked Ling Ling with a smile.
"Of course. I wish you all the best," replied the monk.
…
…
As dusk approached, the plain-colored silk gently fluttered in the evening breeze. It seemed that after an entire night of decorations, the entire Sacrificial Mountain had changed. Although it wasn't decorated with lanterns and colored banners, there was a bit more color to it.
Some black ink stains were written on the white silk, like riddles for people to enjoy.
The young people and teenagers went up to the sacrificial mountain one after another. They were all wearing solemn kimonos. There were no colorful patterns on the kimonos. They were all in light colors without any patterns, including the women's kimonos.
They were all young people. There were not many important people in the Shuangshou Pavilion, as if it was already an unspoken rule.
Everyone went up to the sacrificial mountain in groups of twos and threes. There were many prayer mats placed in front of the temple. Everyone sat down in the order they came, facing the heroic spirit tablets.
They were not overly serious. They could be heard chatting and laughing.
However, as the Hero Spirit Tablet was slowly pushed out of the room and in front of everyone, everyone's smiles disappeared.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
