YaoLingLu

Chapter 2:Taoism

As the shadow draws closer, the boy's heartbeat quickens, each step feeling like a hammer on his heart.

Finally, under the moonlight, he sees a pair of delicate cloth shoes, a beautiful young lady and an old Taoist slowly entering the temple.

Following behind them are a group of guards, their expressions serious as they vigilantly scan the surroundings.

Seeing their figures, the boy finally breathes a sigh of relief, the tension in his heart gradually dissipating.

He exclaims, "So it's just people, you scared me." He feels a sense of relief and peace, realizing that his earlier fear was just a misunderstanding.

The arrival of the young lady and the old Taoist breaks the silence of the temple, bringing a hint of vitality and warmth to this mysterious place.

The boy relaxes his guard, smiles slightly, as if the events just now were nothing but a dream.

The young lady was choked by the dust in the temple and couldn't help but cough.

Frowning, she looked around and softly said, "This place is really run-down."

The old Taoist sighed inwardly, feeling fortunate to find a temple of the City of God in these remote mountains.

So, he said to the young lady, "Miss, please bear with it for now. There's nowhere else nearby to stay."

Although the young lady was somewhat displeased, she also knew that it was late at night, and the temple, despite its dilapidated state, was the only shelter available. She sighed, then nodded in understanding.

The captain of the guards issued a command, "Everyone, conduct a simple patrol, be careful not to wander too far, and bring back some firewood when you return."

Upon hearing the order, the guards split into teams and cautiously patrolled the surrounding area.

Some guards stayed behind to protect the temple, remaining vigilant.

One guard was drawn to a wooden cart and curiously approached to investigate.

He discovered a group of sleeping children detained on the cart. Quickly, he called out to summon the others over.

The crowd began to observe the cage filled with children, and the atmosphere grew tense and somber. One guard exclaimed in surprise, "Wait, could this be...?" The young lady quickly turned to the guard and urged him to continue. The guard went on, "In my hometown, there is a saying that if there are spirits in the mountains that even the local Earth God cannot suppress, the local villages would voluntarily sacrifice young boys and girls as offerings to avoid trouble caused by the spirits."

Upon hearing this, the young lady responded angrily, "The first emperor strictly prohibited human sacrifices, and now it has been a hundred years since the founding of the country. How could such a thing still happen!"

The old Taoist signaled to the captain of the guards with his eyes, and the captain then asked the young lady, "So, what should we do with the children in the cage? Should we release them, or just leave them as they are?"

The young lady fell silent, pondering for a while, before finally saying, "Let's leave them as they are. We are just passing through, there is no need for us to interfere in local affairs."

The people nodded in agreement, respecting the young lady's decision. Although they were puzzled and outraged by the local customs, they also understood that they could not intervene in the beliefs and traditions of others.