https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-698-The-Mountain-Deity-s-Identity-Third-Watch-/12919882/
Chapter 699: The Grievances of the Common Folk
Chapter 699: The Grievances of the Common Folk
Within the village, tables and chairs were moved aside, and a long trench, ten zhang in length and about one zhang wide, was dug out. It was lined with firewood, stones, and thorny branches. On both sides of the trench, bundles of incense were stuck, and everyone stood silently by its sides.
Second Uncle, barefoot with his pants rolled up, focused on the trench as it began to catch fire. His aged face was etched with deep furrows like knife cuts.
Among the onlookers, many wore worried expressions, still feeling that the matter wasn't of great importance.
Everyone present, regardless of their abilities or status, was far superior to Iron Fist Peng in ways they couldn't even count. If they wanted to deal with this old man, it would be a simple task.
It was unclear why Little Hu's master would take such a huge risk because of the words of a small, insignificant person. Although they had come to witness the ceremony out of respect for the village's younger generation, they still didn't fully understand the mountain customs.
The villagers from the village and the neighboring clans, who had initially tried to persuade Second Uncle, now saw that the fire pit was ready. Their expressions turned solemn, and they stood silently on both sides, their gazes fixed on Second Uncle with a hint of reverence.
The fire pit trial was originally a method for the common folk to seek justice.
This was their last resort after they had learned not to rely on others for help. It was their way of speaking out and venting their grievances.
"To put it bluntly, this is how the common people gamble their lives with Heaven."
Beside General Guardian of Supplies, Xu Wensheng, Xu Administrator, whispered, "Because they have nowhere to seek justice and can't swallow this injustice, they believe they are wronged, and even Heaven won't let them die."
"If Heaven won't open its eyes, then they'll leave their lives here. If Heaven doesn't care about them, they won't live in this broken world anymore."
"In the village, those who voluntarily undergo the fire pit trial, whether they survive or not, will be believed by the villagers."
"Even if they die in this fire pit, it will make the villagers understand their intentions. Then, Iron Fist Peng won't be able to control his disciples."
"When something happens to the commoners, they always calculate life and death."
"..."
Listening to this, Yang Gong also felt a mix of emotions. He spoke softly, "Why does such a trivial matter require gambling with one's life? This is something the officials should handle."
Xu Administrator sighed, "General, you also come from a humble background. Don't you know when to expect help from the officials?"
Yang Gong clenched his teeth and said, "In the future, when we are in charge, we must handle these matters."
"For those who don't handle things, cut off their heads!"
"..."
Xu Administrator couldn't help but shrink his neck as he heard a strong and genuine hatred in Yang Gong's words.
As the fire in the trench started to rise, Second Uncle slowly lifted his head, his gaze fixed on the other end of the trench. After Second Uncle proposed the fire pit trial, Iron Fist Peng's face seemed to have changed.
Initially, he was aggressive and arrogant, but now he appeared dazed, his expression shifting between light and dark as the firelight illuminated his face.
"Heaven..."
Second Uncle spoke in a hoarse voice, "Is watching!"
With these words, the entire village seemed to tremble. The elders' eyes welled up with tears of sympathy.
Looking at his brother, his voice shaking, he shouted, "Heaven is watching!"
The next moment, all the villagers, regardless of age or gender, joined in, shouting, "Heaven is watching!"
As the shout echoed through the sky, even the skilled and high-ranking guests felt a shiver run down their spines, as if they sensed a gust of wind blowing within the village.
Something seemed to be struggling to rise from the direction of the ancient fire pit, an ancient and simple presence that filled the village's depths, causing them to feel a sense of reverence.
Second Uncle, accompanied by this ancient and mysterious aura, clenched his teeth and took a step forward, entering the fire pit.
Everyone's eyes widened, clearly seeing that Second Uncle didn't use any techniques.
The flames leaping from the burning charcoal scorched his skin and clothing, enveloping him entirely. At that moment, countless people couldn't bear to watch directly and instead lifted their robes to cover their faces.
"That..."
But in the next moment, someone suddenly cried out, and everyone nearby looked up.
Then, everyone's eyes widened in shock.
...
...
As the shout of "Heaven is watching!" echoed from the village, Hu Ma had already left the village, holding the Punishment Official's Saber and leading Little Hong Tang. He didn't look back, but his eyes were filled with a chilling gaze, scanning the depths of the mountains.
As he raised the saber and blew lightly, a surge of malevolent energy instantly flowed into the forest.
In the dark shadows, countless lurking spirits were startled and fled, not daring to approach.
He didn't know who was hiding in the forest, having been infused with malevolent energy by Iron Fist Peng, nor did he know how powerful this person was, that even the Mountain Deity couldn't capture them, and where they were hiding now.
Second Uncle had already suffered this humiliation for no reason, and now he was about to vent his frustration through the Fire Pit Trial. Hu Ma couldn't let this demon ruin everything.
After dispelling the surrounding yin impurities, Hu Ma slowly exhaled a breath of yang energy. As he exhaled, his body gradually grew colder, blending seamlessly with the eerie atmosphere of the forest. His footsteps heavy, he ventured deeper into the woods.
The surroundings were silent, and countless sounds, hidden in the wind, flooded into his ears.
This was the Tomb Listening Technique, and with great skill, one could even listen to the wind directly.
At this moment, his heart didn't even beat, but the countless sounds carried by the wind poured into his ears, revealing everything.
He could hear the anxious voices within the Great Sheep Village, the determination of Second Uncle to undergo the Fire Pit Trial to preserve his innocence, and even the doubts of the noble lords that they couldn't comprehend. He also heard the roaming of malevolent spirits.
Until suddenly, he heard a startling sound from within the village. Instantly, he felt indescribable joy and happiness.
He could even see the steaming aura above the village, rapidly expanding, and as it was enveloped in divine light, something eerie mixed in with the wind and, in the blink of an eye, headed towards the village.
"Found it!"
At that very moment, Hu Ma abruptly raised his head, his eyes sharp as a sword. In an instant, his figure darted forward.
The Measure Heaven Boots were on his feet, and since borrowing them from the Netherworld, he hadn't returned them.
With this movement, it was as if he had employed the divine ability to shrink the earth into inches. In a flash, only a faint shadow remained, and in the blink of an eye, he had passed through the forest and arrived at the western side of the village, about three or four li away. His gaze suddenly fixed on a fire shadow.
Now, having borrowed the killing intent from the Punishment Official's Saber, Hu Ma had dispelled the evil spirits and malevolent ghosts around the village. The mountains were silent, devoid of human voices.
But here, there was a person wearing a tattered sheepskin coat, his face painted in a bizarre manner, and his body adorned with various peculiar trinkets. He was jumping around the fire, muttering to himself as if performing a ritual: "Born without fortune, fortune comes; Heaven does not send calamity, calamity comes of its own accord."
"Three disasters and eight tribulations, nowhere to hide; I knew this heart was the source of disaster!"
"..."
As Hu Ma's figure rushed to the edge of the forest, this person finished reciting the strange lines and held up a black, sticky object.
It was a heart, still beating.
Hu Ma didn't know what technique this person was using, but he couldn't let him act. As soon as he arrived, he swiftly drew his saber and slashed.
With each step, the saber followed, and in a few strides, he had covered over ten zhang, a cold glint flashing through the forest.
"Ouch, the Wandering Ghost Hall Official, you're so fast..."
Hearing the sound of the saber, the person by the fire turned around. His face, smeared with greasepaint, revealed a peculiar smile. Before he could continue his ritual, he laughed and suddenly retreated.
But Hu Ma, having already drawn his saber, wouldn't let him escape. As this person seemed to retreat half a step, the saber reached him, and in an instant, he was split in two.
Normally, one should capture and interrogate such an unknown demon.
But Hu Ma, worried about Second Uncle, couldn't let him ruin everything. This strike was with all his might; if necessary, he would kill and then question his soul! However, unexpectedly, this slash was indeed ferocious, but as it passed through the person's body, he immediately realized something was amiss.
Focusing his gaze, he saw that the person he had split in two was blown by the wind and instantly dispersed.
Had he slashed at a shadow?
"Miasma?"
Just as the person's shadow dissipated, Hu Ma realized the reason.
The Old Yin Mountain was filled with miasma, capable of creating illusions, sometimes even forming mirages. And here, there was indeed such an occurrence, though he didn't know if it was the person's technique, using the miasma to create an illusion that made him slash at nothing.
But after Hu Ma's slash, without hesitation, he stomped heavily on the ground.
As the Great Year Guardian, his full-force stomp was incredibly powerful, causing the ground to tremble. The next moment, Hu Ma heard an "Ouch!" and saw someone stumble and fall from the nearby shadows.
This time, it was real, not an illusion. With the Punishment Official's Saber in hand, he took a step forward, aiming the saber at the person's neck.
But unexpectedly, after taking just two steps, he suddenly found his foot in mid-air. It turned out that where he had stepped was a rabbit hole, concealed by wild grass. This incredibly coincidental mishap caused his foot to sink into the rabbit hole.
In his haste, his foot landed in empty air, and even his ankle could be sprained by the force.
The Punishment Official's Saber in his hand also swayed towards his own neck due to the movement of his body.
The black shadow, however, leaped up from the ground, not forgetting to smile, "You're too hasty. When one is hasty, mishaps are prone to happen."
(End of Chapter)
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