paranoianovel Chapter 55 Expansion and Preparation for Sacrifice
Chapter 55 Expansion and Preparation for Sacrifice
Shixi Village and Shanghe Village are very busy. Everyone, whenever they have free time, or even specifically arranges their time, participates in the expansion of the Jiaoshen Temple Square and prepares for the grand ceremony on the second day of the second lunar month, praying for the Jiaoshen's blessing for a year or even longer of peace.
The old woodshed was originally an annex to the ancestral hall. After decades of wind and rain, the wood has long since rotted, and the thatched roof is as sparse as an old man's head.
More than thirty strong young men gathered in the morning mist. Zhang Cheng, who was leading the group, gave a shout, and the men pushed and shoved each other together.
The first main beam groaned under the strain and collapsed with a crash, raising clouds of dust.
In just three days, the messy and dilapidated place was cleaned up completely.
Leveling the land is a physically demanding task.
The villagers shouted rough chants as they pushed the heavy stone rollers to compact the loose soil again and again, then spread fine sand on top and compacted it, and finally laid pebbles picked up from the riverbank.
Meanwhile, preparations for the sacrificial ceremony were in full swing.
The sacrificial offerings must include three kinds of animals and five kinds of grains.
Shixi Village produces pigs, Shanghe Village produces sheep, and each village produces one chicken, choosing the strongest and fattest ones.
The five grains are rice, millet, sorghum, wheat, and beans; each one should be selected from the plumpest grains.
Ordinary incense sticks are too thin to support the grand occasion, so a batch was specially ordered from a shop in town, each one foot and two inches long and as thick as a thumb.
After drying, it turns a faint bluish-gray color, and when lit, the smoke rises straight up.
Lin Shi devised a four-step process: welcoming the gods, offering sacrifices, making prayers, and sending off the gods.
The emcees were Sun Ming, the clan head of Shixi Village, and Xu Zhong, a scholar from Shanghe Village. One was highly respected and composed, while the other was literate and had a clear voice. Both of them practiced at the ancestral hall every day.
The biggest challenge was the ceremonial procession and the master of ceremonies. The country folk were unfamiliar with all the elaborate rituals. Lin Shi drastically simplified it, establishing only four steps: "welcoming the gods, offering sacrifices, praying, and sending the gods off." Two masters of ceremonies were chosen: Xu Zhong, literate and with a clear voice; and Sun Ming, respected for his virtue and composed demeanor. Every afternoon, the two practiced in front of the ancestral hall. Xu Zhong held the scroll of the sacrificial text written by Lin Shi, reading it word by word, adjusting his pauses and tone; Sun Ming practiced his movements, bowing, and raising his hands, repeating each action more than ten times. Sometimes, when they made a mistake, they would exchange wry smiles, wipe their sweat, and start again.
Five hundred people is no small number. How they enter, where they stand, when they kneel, and when they stand up all need to be arranged in advance.
Lin Shi organized the able-bodied men from the two villages into ten teams, each with fifty people. Each team had a captain and a deputy captain, and each person had a fixed position. Every three days, they conducted a brief rehearsal, which consisted only of standing in formation and moving around, without burning incense or playing music.
Lin Shi was so busy he barely had time to breathe.
I get up early to supervise the site construction, review the offerings in the morning, train the master of ceremonies and band in the afternoon, convene a meeting in the evening, and revise the sacrificial text and communicate details with the dragon at night.
But the real pressure comes from unseen places.
It was late at night.
Lin Shi sat alone in the side hall, the oil lamp flickering dimly. He closed his eyes and let his mind sink into the deep pool, connecting with his clone, the dragon.
The dew that covered the two villages for a quarter of an hour caused five-colored fungi to grow in the fields overnight.
This is the established grand sacrificial ceremony, "Manifestation of the Holy."
Although the dragon can do it, it consumes a huge amount of spiritual energy and will most likely fall into a state of weakness for about seven days afterward. If something really happens during this period, the power that can be mobilized will be less than 30% of the usual amount, which is quite dangerous.
Lin Shi needs to discuss and finalize this matter with Jiaolong tonight.
"Is it worth it?" Lin Shi asked directly.
Without the slightest hesitation, the dragon nodded immediately.
If this grand ceremony succeeds, the accumulated spiritual power will surge like a mighty river, far exceeding its depletion. It will not only replenish the weakened state but also loosen the chains further, granting greater freedom.
Lin Shi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
This grand ceremony is not only about consolidating the faith foundation of Shixi Village and Shanghe Village, but also about whether it can be extended to other surrounding villages.
Even if it's dangerous, we have to do it!
However, we must be careful, lest that injured, hiding Taoist priest or other villains take advantage of our vulnerability.
The days passed by.
The plaza gradually took shape, the offerings were prepared, and the personnel were well-trained.
February 1st arrived in the blink of an eye.
The last day before the ceremony.
afternoon.
Lin Shi was making a final check on the construction of the altar in front of the ancestral hall. It was nine feet high, taking the extreme number nine. At the same time, he was laying the altar with smooth, polished bluestone. Suddenly, he heard a dispute coming from not far away. He looked over and found that it was Zhou Dahua and his son Zhou Wang.
A month ago, Zhou Wang hesitated because of a promotion opportunity at the town's grain shop. After Lin Shi comforted him with the words "walk the right path and have a kind heart," Zhou Wang decided to compete for it honestly.
Now that the results are in, he has been appointed as the second-in-command. He has made a special trip back today to offer incense to the Dragon God before the grand ceremony, to thank the deity for protecting his determination to walk the righteous path.
Zhou Dahua felt that his son should go back home and tell the family the good news before coming back here, which led to an argument between the father and son on the side of the square.
This was originally a small matter, but at this moment, dozens of villagers who were making final preparations gathered in the square stopped what they were doing and looked over.
"Father! What's wrong with me offering incense to the Dragon God first?"
"Without the guidance of the Flood Dragon God, I wouldn't be where I am today!"
Zhou Wang's face turned bright red.
"Without your parents raising you, where would you be today? Go home and tell your mother, make her happy!"
Zhou Dahua's stubbornness kicked in.
"I'll go back after I offer incense!"
"Go back now!"
Zhou Dahua and his son Zhou Wang stood there, frozen in place.
The onlookers whispered among themselves, some thinking Zhou Wang was right, others thinking Zhou Dahua was not wrong.
Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but today is the last day before the ceremony, and any slight discord could affect the solemnity of tomorrow, making the atmosphere very delicate.
Lin Shi smiled and walked over.
"Uncle Zhou. Brother Zhou Wang."
"It's all out of gratitude, and the intentions are good."
Lin Shi's voice was gentle.
"After you became the second manager, your first thought was to tell the Dragon God. The gods will know the sincerity of your intention."
Lin Shi glanced at Zhou Wang.
"Uncle Zhou longs for his son to return home, wanting to make his wife happy as soon as possible. This kind of family affection is the greatest good in the world."
Lin Shi turned to Zhou Dahua.
Zhou Dahua and Zhou Wang looked at Lin Shi, and their anger gradually subsided.
"Whether it's filial piety and respect for elders, diligence in farming and cherishing blessings, or sincerity, these are not contradictory. Brother Zhou Wang is diligent in his work outside, and after becoming the second manager, he hasn't forgotten his roots, which is sincerity."
"Old Zhou teaches his children to be filial to their parents, and hopes that his whole family can be happy."
"Both of you are actually practicing the doctrine."
Lin Shi paused, glanced at the villagers watching, and raised his voice slightly.
"The teachings of the Jiao Shen sect are never rigid rules. It is like the Qinghe River, flowing gently on flat land, but turbulent when it encounters rocks, always heading towards the sea, yet its form changes with the circumstances. The important thing is the heart. As long as the heart is good and sincere, one will naturally act with propriety."
As soon as Lin Shi finished speaking, the villagers watching nodded in agreement. What he said made sense, and the tense atmosphere immediately relaxed.
Zhou Dahua paused for a moment, and the anger on his face slowly dissipated.
"Father, I was in a hurry. I'll go home with you first to tell Mother, then I'll come back to offer incense."
Zhou Wang's eyes were slightly red.
"No."
"You should offer incense first. Tell the Dragon God that my Zhou family's son has walked the right path and acted uprightly. Let your mother wait a little while; it won't make a difference."
Zhou Dahua waved his hand, and his furrowed brows relaxed.
The father and son walked together toward the ancestral hall.
Lin Shi smiled.
This is a small matter, but the villagers who witnessed it saw firsthand how the doctrine could be flexibly applied in specific difficulties and how disputes could be transformed into understanding. Its impact will not be small, and it will serve as a vivid demonstration for tomorrow's grand ceremony and even for future faith practices.
night!
End of midnight!
Lin Shi climbed the low slope behind the ancestral hall alone, looking towards Shixi Village and Shanghe Village, which were either near or far.
In the darkness, the village slept, with only a few scattered lights. Further away, the Qinghe River flowed silently like a dark ribbon. In the direction of Bibo Pool, the demigod was gathering its power, its immense energy like a deep-sea current, quiet yet surging.
Lin Shi stood there for a long time, until the first wisp of pale blue appeared on the eastern horizon.