Twilight's Threshold Chapter 596: Snake Deity Temple (Second Update) - Novel Cool

Chapter 596: Snake Deity Temple (Second Update)

Chapter 596: Snake Deity Temple (Second Update)

"There's actually such a custom?"

Hu Ma listened with curiosity, feeling that this method of traveling the Wulin was both beneficial to others and oneself, and it was truly admirable.

But he also found it strange, "If that's the case, why do witches have such a bad reputation?"

Upon hearing this, Lao Suandan lowered his voice slightly and smiled bitterly, "It's because witches are so genuine. They have this habit, so wherever they go, they often choose to stay with families who have recently been unlucky or have sick family members. Over time, people gradually come to believe that wherever witches appear, there will be disasters, and some even say that they cast venom before finding a place to stay!"

"Moreover, witches are skilled in various arts, and among them are those who, for the sake of silver, accept money and harm others, tarnishing the reputation of their kind."

"In the past, Mingzhou had three scourges: Tan'er Teaching and Chonger Gate. Among them, Chonger Gate was a group of witches who accepted money and harmed others by casting venom."

"..."

"In this world, it's rare to find a straightforward explanation for anything."

Hu Ma agreed with Lao Suandan's words and turned to look at Wu Ya. She knocked on the door and spoke with a housekeeper-like figure inside. The housekeeper went to report, and soon returned to respectfully lead them in. In the main hall, a gentleman in a brocade robe and silk shirt greeted them and offered them seats, served tea, and inquired about their origins.

Although Wu Ya was the one who knocked on the door, due to her young age, Hu Ma politely explained, "We are in the mountain goods business. We heard that Gua Prefecture is lively, so we transported a batch of goods here. Now, the goods are stored at a friend's place, but his space is limited, so we can't rest there. We came out to find an inn, but everywhere is fully booked. As we were walking, my little sister stopped in front of your mansion."

"She said that your mansion seemed to have some unclean aura, and she was worried that something might be wrong. To be honest, I told her that she might not be skilled enough, and I was afraid that she might say something wrong and offend your lordship for no reason, causing unnecessary trouble."

"..."

"No, no..."

Seeing Hu Ma's dignified and unyielding demeanor, the lord of the mansion hurriedly said, "Your sister has excellent insight."

"To be honest, our young master is ill and needs someone to save him!"

"..."

As he spoke, he quickly ordered someone to bring the young master over. Inside the mansion, upon hearing that a capable person had arrived, everyone was in a panic. Several maids and women rushed over, carrying a child wrapped in bedding. Judging by his size, he was about eight or nine years old, completely wrapped in silk bedding, revealing only a vague human shape, but his face was completely hidden.

Wu Ya's round eyes glanced at the child and said, "Let me take a look. Lift the bedding."

Hearing her words, the lord hesitated and turned his head away, weakly waving his hand.

The maid beside her trembled and gathered her courage to lift the bedding covering the child's face. Wu Ya, along with Hu Ma, Lao Suandan, Zhou Datong, and others, took a look and were all startled. They saw a young master with originally intelligent features, but his face was now covered in dense warts, resembling a toad.

After seeing this, Wu Ya became concerned. She pulled out his hand from under the bedding, which was also covered in warts.

Some of the warts had ruptured, oozing pus and mucus, forming a disgusting sight.

Even the lord of the mansion couldn't bear to look at this pitiful scene and covered his face with his sleeve, sighing, "The child has contracted Toad Disease. According to the days, he probably only has three to five days left to live. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let you see this..."

Hu Ma was slightly startled and asked, "Toad Disease?"

The housekeeper who had led them in, seeing the lord's sadness, explained, "Guests, you may not know that in our Gua Prefecture, children between seven and ten years old often suffer from this wart disease. Their bodies become covered in warts, they stop speaking and eating, and from the onset of the illness to their final breath, it's often just a matter of a month. But this disease doesn't affect adults."

Hu Ma's eyebrows furrowed as he listened, "This disease is strange. Why not seek a doctor at the medicine hall?"

"We did."

The lord sighed, "What method haven't we tried to find a cure?"

"But the medicine hall couldn't diagnose it. They said it's not a disease but the result of past life grievances. They suggested going to the Mansion God Temple to burn incense and seek blessings."

"Just a few days ago, our entire family went to the Mansion God Temple to offer incense, but the Mansion God didn't accept our offerings. The incense I lit went out in the blink of an eye."

"..."

Hu Ma found this story bizarre, "If seeking medical help and praying to the gods are futile, is there no choice but to wait for death?"

The lord sighed bitterly, "If there's a way, there is one. In our Gua Prefecture City, by the Green Water Lake, there's a Snake Deity Temple built by the Yan family's elder. It's extremely efficacious. In the past, there have been children who contracted Toad Disease, and after trying all medical methods without success, they were sent to the Snake Deity Temple. They offered sacrifices and left the child in the temple for a day and night. Adults were not allowed to enter. After a day and night, the child would often recover, but many also passed away..."

"Our family is also at a loss. We were prepared to go to the Snake Deity Temple, but who would've thought that recently, there have been many incidents in the city. People say that an evil spirit from another place has a grudge against our city's Snake Deity and is coming to seek revenge. This has forced the Snake Deity Temple to close its doors, and ordinary people can't enter. Our child has a slim three-in-ten chance of survival, but now even that hope is gone..."

"..."

"Snake Deity Temple?"

"A Great Malevolent Spirit?"

As Hu Ma listened, a guess formed in his mind. Suddenly, he spoke up, addressing the old master, "Sir, you mentioned the Snake Deity Temple, and within it, there's a spirit known as the Earth Guardian, named Chunsheng, right?"

The old master was startled and replied, "We dare not inquire about the Snake Deity's name, but indeed, the temple houses the Earth Guardian."

'What a surprise! They even built a temple and deified it?'

Hu Ma's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't say anything in front of others. Instead, he turned to Wu Ya and asked, "Can you cure this illness?"

Wu Ya nodded and was about to speak when the old master and the steward, standing nearby, both lit up with anticipation.

But Lao Suandan suddenly spoke to the old master, "Sir, please forgive us. In our line of work, there are some things we prefer to discuss privately. Could you perhaps provide us with a more suitable location for our conversation?"

The old master quickly stood up, saying, "No need to look, no need! We can talk right here."

As he spoke, he called for the steward to prepare wine and food. He then walked to the front of the hall, turned, and bowed deeply to them, saying, "Honored guests, the night is approaching, and the city is in chaos. Please, stay here for the night."

"My son's life is at stake. He only has a few more days to live. If he can be saved, I'm willing to offer half of my family's wealth. If not, then..."

"..."

He kept bowing as he spoke and then left.

After they left, Hu Ma turned to Wu Ya and saw that the witchgirl was frowning. She whispered, "Shopkeeper brother, their young master's condition isn't an illness!"

"It's a venom, a toad venom."

"But from what they said, it doesn't seem like it. How can a venom act like an illness, spreading from one person to another within the city?"

"..."

Hu Ma had also noticed something peculiar and nodded, "Can you cure it?"

Wu Ya nodded, "I know how to treat it."

"To cure the toad venom, you need snake venom. Find a snake, the more venomous the better. Peel its skin and wrap the child in it. Then use artemisia to fumigate his body a few times, and he'll be cured."

"This is because toads fear snakes. After being eaten by a snake once, the toad venom will be neutralized."

"..."

Hu Ma nodded thoughtfully, "You have a snake, don't you?"

Wu Ya was startled and lowered her head, gently touching her sleeve as she whispered, "I can't bear to part with Xiao Qing!"

"We'll have to catch another one..."

"..."

"As long as there's a way."

Hu Ma paused before saying to Wu Ya, "You go out later and take a look. Zhou Datong will accompany you to avoid any trouble."

"Also, before the treatment, tell the people in this mansion not to spread the news and unnecessarily invite trouble."

"..."

"..."

After Wu Ya and Zhou Datong agreed and left, Hu Ma's expression turned cold. "They're quite bold."

Lao Suandan lowered his voice, "This Earth Guardian, is he the one you paid the price for your life?"

Hu Ma slowly nodded, "The Earth Snake Ghost of Gua Prefecture's Deep Lake is listed in the Hundred Demons Register. The Pacifying Evil Office has assigned tasks to them. Twenty years ago, they were already marked and indebted. They were forbidden from receiving deification or building temples. The Pacifying Evil Office hasn't even opened yet, and they're already secretly building temples and accepting incense offerings?"

"Furthermore..."

He paused before continuing, "Have Meng's people reached this place yet?"

Lao Suandan quickly replied, "No, although the Meng family has been actively issuing incense offering permits, they've been avoiding Old Yin Mountain and haven't come this way before..."

"Our Red Lantern Lady was the first!"

"..."

Hu Ma nodded, "After the Emperor's skin was peeled, only the Hu and Meng families could bestow incense offering permits."

"And among those listed in the Hundred Demons Register of the Pacifying Evil Office, even the Meng family doesn't have the ability to grant deification. In other words, this Snake Ghost doesn't have the possibility of building a temple. But Gua Prefecture has a Mansion God, so it wouldn't dare to build a temple on its own. This is interesting. Who was so bold as to let it build this temple?"

"..."

Lao Suandan listened and couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh, "Isn't this quite normal?"

"The Yan family of Iron Gate has great influence here. This Snake Deity seems to be helping people, and since people are asking it to cure illnesses, the commoners took the initiative to build the temple and offer incense. What can you do about it?"

"..."

"It's simple."

Hu Ma slowly explained, "The mere act of building a temple is a crime, a dead end. But if the Yan family allowed it to build this temple..."

"Then even the Yan family would have to face the consequences."

(End of Chapter)

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