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Chapter 4: Village Temple and Divine Spirit
The economy of Dayan was flourishing, reaching its peak throughout the dynasties. Emerald Cloud Corridor, as a major transportation route, inevitably had tea houses and inns along the way, with tea houses being the most prominent.
Tea houses were a necessity along the thoroughfare.
As one headed towards Yidu, they became more abundant.
These tea houses not only provided a place to rest and drink water, but some also offered simple food, much better than the dry rations people carried. The quality of the tea offered also varied, from the simplest salted water with a hint of tea flavor to the brewed tea sold in the city. As for the taste, it depended on the skill and conscience of the vendor, and, of course, the amount of money one was willing to spend.
Having walked for a short distance, Song You saw a tea house ahead with quite a few people. The steam rising from the steamer trays was tempting for travelers in the wilderness. He sat down, ordered a bowl of tea, and two steamed buns before opening the money pouch given to him by the traveling merchants.
Inside were bits of silver, difficult to estimate in weight.
Roughly estimating, it seemed to be around ten or so taels(TN: 1 Tael = 40 grams).
Silver as a common currency had only recently started in this world. Before that, people rarely used silver for transactions. However, for travelers like Song You, it was convenient. Currently, the common currency used by the people was Dayan Tongbao(大晏通宝), a form of copper coins. When using silver, it would be converted into coins.
Last time he came down the mountain, one tael of silver was equivalent to nearly 1,200 coins.
Yesterday, before leaving the temple, he nearly emptied the savings of the temple, bringing a total of nineteen taels of silver, and over one string of copper coins. Because of this, that old Daoist would be unable to go down the mountain to buy meat for a while.
Altogether, it seemed to be a considerable sum of money.
However, the prosperity of commerce in Dayan meant there were plenty of things to buy and places to spend money. There were many wealthy individuals, numerous job opportunities, and even the average salary was higher. Once he left the mountain and the small villages and towns below, this money wouldn't last long.
Song You didn't carry much with him when he set out. Everything had to be prepared on the road. Once he accumulated more, he would likely need to buy a horse or a mule.
He planned to do that when he reached Yidu.
The tea-horse market in Yizhou was controlled by the government, private trades were not allowed according to regulations. However, buying horses and mules in Yidu was still cheaper and of better quality than in other places. It was rumored that a good Southwest horse cost around twenty taels, and mules were even more affordable.
Buying a horse or a mule would not be a bad idea...
While contemplating, the tea arrived.
A bowl of the best tea in the teahouse, filled with a variety of ingredients, and two steamed buns, each the size of a fist, with primitive light yellow dough emitting steam.
Song You took a bite of the steamed bun, a sip of tea, and glanced at other customers.
Most of the people sitting here were merchants and travelers, with a few martial artists. While they might be silent on the road, they tended to chat when seated.
Some talked about the recent tea-horse market, others mentioned the upcoming Autumn Imperial Examination(秋闱), some discussed which temple had divine manifestations, and there were also discussions about temple fairs. Even the Martial artists talked about the grand gatherings in the martial world, creating a chaotic but vivid picture of the world.
Song You leisurely ate and drank, quietly listening.
The tea table was covered with a layer of varnish, reflecting specks of sunlight.
The tea at this time was not the usual clear tea; the tea broth was thick. Along with two steamed buns, after finishing the meal, Song You was almost full, so he called the vendor to settle the bill.
The total was a bit over ten copper coins, with the tea being more expensive than the buns.
While counting the money, Song You casually asked, "Tea Vendor, how far is it from here to Yidu?"
"Close to four hundred li, you'll need to pass through four counties."
"Four hundred li..."
According to Song You's estimation, one li in Dayan was over one third of a mile in his previous life—probably around four hundred meters. With good walking endurance, covering a hundred and eighty li in a day was not a problem.
"Are there inns ahead?"
"If you're heading to Yidu, the nearest inn is sixty li away. If you walk fast, you can make it." The tea vendor took the money from Song You and, as he counted, replied, "But there are two temples along the way, both empty. In my opinion, those inns might not be better than sleeping in the temples."
"I see."
Many temples in this era provided lodging, especially Buddhist temples, which served various functions beyond simple worship and incense offering.
But empty temples along the roadside...
Song You glanced at the two tables of martial artists nearby.
They should be their first choice, right?
Thanking the tea vendor, Song You continued on his journey.
As the day progressed, and the weather remained as good as yesterday, the Emerald Cloud Corridor looked exceptionally beautiful in the sunlight.
If one had the leisure, walking through it was a form of enjoyment.
Song You followed a group of porters for a while, matching their pace. With someone leading the way, walking was less mentally exhausting. Sometimes, he would follow them to find a stream or spring by the ancient road. Seeing them cupping water with their hands to drink, he did the same. Occasionally, when they took a break, relying on his Daoist robe, he would engage in a brief conversation, asking about the road conditions and learning about the customs and dialects of different regions. It was a fruitful experience.
In the afternoon, the sunlight continued to be scorching, cicadas buzzing loudly, showing no traces of the heavy rain and dense fog yesterday, and the Fog Fiend that appeared with it.
When Song You stopped to rest, he couldn't help it and took a short nap again for a while.
When he woke up, the group of dark, skinny porters was nowhere to be seen. Only the empty ancient stone road remained, with dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. In the middle of the path made of stone slabs, there were a series of indentations extending all the way into the depths of the shaded ancient road, marking the direction the porters had taken. It seemed endless, with no visible end in sight.
Song You had no choice but to put on his baggage and continue walking along these indentations.
In fact, he had noticed it earlier.
Those porters steadied themselves with bamboo or wooden staffs, as if they were upholding a time-honored tradition, meticulously anchoring these staffs into the indentations with each step. Not only did they tread the same path as their porter ancestors from millennia ago, but their strides mirrored those of their predecessors, perfectly in sync.
Like drips of water wearing away at the stones for millennia, they left an indelible mark on this path. Wasn't this also a form of inheritance?
As he walked, he couldn't help but feel that every stone slab and ancient cypress underfoot were witnesses to the passage of time. Song You's gaze flickered, recalling his master's words from the previous day.
"Do you think sitting in meditation, practicing breathing, and studying manuals in these mountains is considered cultivation?"
As soon as he heard that, he knew she wanted him to leave the mountain.
In her youth, this old Daoist had traveled extensively, crossing rivers and seas, contributing to her impressive levels of Daoist cultivation attainment. She never believed that sitting idly equated to cultivation. Additionally, Song You learned long ago that the disciples of Crouching Dragon Temple were expected to leave the mountain for travels sooner or later. It varied in length, but there were no exceptions.
As expected, she soon said: "You should leave the temple, traverse hills, rivers, lakes, and seas, experience the ways of the world, seek renowned mountains and immortals, encounter supernatural beings if fate allows, and witness the real world beyond what you see here. In that journey of thousands of miles, you will find not only your cultivation path but also perhaps discover things that truly interest you."
It turned out she knew all along...
If it was time to leave, then so be it. Song You also wanted to see what interesting things existed in this world beyond monsters and spirits.
Unknowingly, it was already approaching dusk.
Song You stood in front of a temple by the side of the road, lifted his drooping baggage, and gazed up at the couplets on either side of the temple gate, softly reciting them.
"Inevitable, the road each soul shall tread;
Regret not, choose wisely where you're led.”
This was a temple built by a nearby village, a single building that housed various deities from both Buddhism and Daoism, as well as local spirits. These spirits were usually people of good conduct and reputation who had passed away. Each deity had their name and sometimes even their life stories inscribed behind the statues.
The village temple was not far from Emerald Cloud Corridor and often served as an overnight stay for travelers.
Song You had decided to spend the night here.
Stepping through the entrance, with incense still lingering in the air, Song You first paid respects to the various deities, offering a bow, and uttered an apology for the disturbance before finding a secluded corner away from the entrance. Bending down, he blew away the dust on the floor, and finally, he sat down against the wall, crossing his legs.
The ground was cold, gradually warming under his body heat.
Later in the evening, seven or eight more people arrived, almost as Song You guessed, all martial artists with swords with them.
They had no choice but to stay here.
Throughout the dynasties, to restrict the flow of the population, commoners were not allowed to travel freely. However, these rules mainly affected honest commoners. Businessmen, martial artists, and cultivators like Song You each had their own ways to bypass these regulations. Traveling merchants had legitimate reasons, and they followed approved routes with travel permits.
Some martial artists had travel permits, while others did not; they all had their own ways. However, it was challenging to find accommodations halfway through the journey, so they had to figure something out themselves.
Fortunately, there were many temples in Dayan, and most, whether occupied or not, offered lodgings. Just avoid those temples tainted with immoral or sinister rites. Of course, there were also daring martial artists in the martial world with formidable skills and bold spirits who wouldn't hesitate to spend a night even in such a haunted and dilapidated temple.
This temple by the thoroughfare was naturally legitimate.
Perhaps because they were all disliked by the authorities or perhaps because they placed great importance on interpersonal relationships, these martial artists, upon meeting, whether they knew each other or not, would greet each other. Soon, they would start chatting and could even engage in deep conversations. Even those with more reserved personalities, when greeted by others, would immediately respond politely, fearing that a bad reputation would spread.
They made a lot of noise, chatting until very late.
Some even came to disturb Song You, but after realizing he wasn't the same kind, they stopped bothering him.
Song You wasn't worried.
Although these martial artists appeared fierce, they were disciplined and, in this world, even bandits encountering monks and Daoists would usually not cause trouble.
Moreover, during the day, if Song You passed by a teahouse and had no money, by relying on his Daoist robe, he could easily get a cup of tea, and the success rate would be very high. These martial artists, especially valuing their reputations, were more likely to offer him a steamed bun if he said a few kind words.
After these activities, they finally went to sleep in the middle of the night.
The night in the mountains was extremely quiet, with only the sound of the wind blowing against the temple doors and the snoring of martial artists from other places.
Unconsciously, Song You had a dream.
In the dream, it was still the same temple. The statues and layout were almost the same, but there were no martial artists lying around. Looking closely, one of the local deities on the shrine was missing—a relatively peripheral local deity.
On the other hand, there was an extra person in front.
The person was dressed like a merchant, with colorful clothes and an honest face that was red as a jujube. His figure seemed visible, yet blurry, and his appearance was similar to the missing statue.
Before going to sleep, Song You had carefully examined these statues, especially the local deities. He knew that this one, called Wang Shangong(王善公), was considered a local Yin Deity(阴神)
Wang Shangong was originally from the previous dynasty, born into a wealthy family. During a nationwide disaster, with famine rampant, he opened his granaries to provide relief to refugees. Perhaps misjudging the severity of the famine, he eventually ran out of food and died of starvation. Grateful for his benevolence, local people sculpted his image and built a temple for him. Even the imperial court, upon learning of his deeds, officially recognized and enshrined him as a deity.
Without giving Song You much time to think, Wang Shangong bowed to him: "Sorry for the disturbance, please accept my sincere apologies.”
"Why does Shangong seek me in the depth of the night?"
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