Mythology Returns! Starting with Folklore and Strange Tales

Chapter 122 On the Road

Zhang Wei smiled as he watched Ya Zi occasionally rubbing his teeth against the old beast and then pulling it back into his arms to use as a headrest.

These evil spirits and monsters that fell into their own hands were truly unlucky.

In life, they must be slain by demons and monsters; in death, they must become Yazi's toys, to be teased and played with by this petty and vengeful divine beast... Even if they commit heinous crimes and go to the eighteenth level of hell, at least they have a sentence and can see some hope. But if they fall into the former's hands, there is no certainty!

"Tap~ Tap"

Startled by the sudden resurrection of their relatives, the starving people, who were cowering in fear under the protection of the talisman array, instinctively shivered when they heard footsteps suddenly coming from the forest. When they looked up and saw that it was Zhang Wei who had returned, their expressions suddenly lit up with joy, but they dared not stand up to greet him.

No one has forgotten their roots; it's just that the lurking presence of the "old woman beast" has caused them immense psychological trauma.

In the well-known Journey to the West, Tang Sanzang was repeatedly harmed by demons because he escaped the demon-subduing circle drawn by Sun Wukong. Given the example of the old woman beast transforming into the appearance of their family members, who can guarantee that the little fairy in front of them is a real little fairy?

Only after Zhang Wei voluntarily entered the talisman array and watched the remaining talismans in the air drift away and return to his long sleeves did the starving people dare to enthusiastically gather around him.

"That was a monstrous beast that devoured human brains and could change its form. Your relatives... sigh!"

Although Zhang Wei had a bad feeling when he confirmed the identity of the old woman beast.

But now, observing in person and looking at the empty skulls under his eyes, he still felt a little saddened.

Feeling sorry for those of the same kind, Zhang Wei, after all, was also an ordinary person who had personally experienced the uncertainty of life and the sudden misfortune that befell ordinary people: "I can help them bury themselves a little deeper and recite a sutra for saving people."

"Thank you very much, little deity!"

Some of the older people, carrying their sorrows, came forward to express their gratitude.

Many more starving people took the opportunity, before everything began, to go forward and see their wives, children, and mothers one last time.

"In the beginning of the Azure Heaven, a song sang in the azure sky, and the great floating earth received immeasurable supreme salvation from the Primordial Heaven. The Primordial Heavenly Venerable then recited this scripture, turning it ten times to summon people from the ten directions..."

'

The chanting of scriptures, with its rhythmic cadence, accompanied the slow flow of magical power, and invisible ripples fell upon the piled-up corpses.

The corpse, which had lost the control of the old beast and had been resurrected, and which had quickly revealed a grotesque, bluish-purple face, miraculously became peaceful, with faint, rosy marks resembling those of a living person appearing on its bluish-purple face.

Although it still looks withered, its appearance gives one a sense of peaceful departure.

Unfortunately, this place is now a place where myths have faded and demons wreak havoc.

Let's not talk about the Tang and Song dynasties.

Even in the Ming Dynasty, where records show that local deities were scarce, his semi-direct descendant's recitation of the sutra for saving people would attract the attention of the nearby city gods. Special underworld officials would come to take away these souls seeking to avert disaster and resolve their karma, sending them to the barely functioning underworld to arrange a less painful reincarnation.

The person is gone, but the living must continue their journey.

Having experienced being unknowingly mixed into the crowd by an old woman while traveling at night, the starving people no longer waited for the cooler nights when it was easier to travel.

Taking advantage of the afternoon sun, the group walked through the sparse, withered trees, stopping and starting as they made their way towards Heshun City, which was still dozens of miles away.

As night fell, the streets were surprisingly quiet, except for the many bones scattered along the roadside.

This relieved Zhang Wei, who was silently absorbing the energy of heaven and earth to restore his magical power, but also left him somewhat disappointed.

He didn't look like this back when he was making the silhouettes of the newcomers.

The first night he encountered a wolf spirit, the next day it was an old cat and a monkey, then a wandering beggar, a cunning man, a wild boar king... one after another, as if afraid that this newcomer would be too lonely. Fortunately, Zhang Wei had the blessing of the ancestor, which allowed him to stumble and struggle all the way through.

Oh, now that he has achieved some success in his cultivation, possessing complete magical and talisman-making skills, he no longer takes the initiative to come to them; he has to go to them one by one.

This is completely contrary to the records in the bureau.

Isn't it said that the bigger the silhouette, the more chaotic and difficult it is to walk, with demons and evil spirits everywhere trying to overwhelm the traveler by sheer numbers?

And then, what about the demons?

When night fell completely, the starving people were too tired to walk any further and needed to rest for a while before continuing their journey the next morning. Although Zhang Wei was somewhat frustrated because he couldn't encounter any demons, he didn't irresponsibly abandon the starving people and continue on his own.

There's only half the journey left, no need to rush.

Moreover, these hungry people were not only well-behaved and not annoying, but the talkative old men among them would also tell Zhang Wei about local customs and traditions, adding a lot of fun to the monotonous trip....

When everyone was tired, Zhang Wei began to harmonize the essence of the sun and moon to complete this daily essential meal.

After being refined by the prospective master, the golden cup and silver plate have now transformed into the Sun and Moon Mirror, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon several times more efficiently than before. What could originally only produce a few drops of essence can now barely make up a small sip.

The sensation of cold and heat overlapping slowly descended into the esophagus, but only caused a few peristalsis in the stomach before it was completely emptied by the passive sensation throughout the body.

That's fine, but those spells that had just tasted the flavor and whetted their appetites but never saw any more were looking up, squinting, and showing a disdainful look, as if to say: Is that all?

Are you trying to fool the Japanese devils?

Seeing that there was no follow-up, he became furious and punched him twice, making Zhang Wei's stomach ache.

Of course, this was just because the technique of hunger was too harsh, and the intense movements caused his stomach to spasm a few times. The so-called contempt and old fists were nothing but a vain fantasy.

Seeing that there was no more harvest here, they gradually calmed down and instead surged toward the acupoints opened by Zhang Wei, assisting him in circulating and purifying his Qi while slowly improving themselves. Meanwhile, the newly acquired Soul Refining Technique quietly slipped to the Baihui point on the top of his head, urging his seven souls to welcome the falling moonlight.

Time passes unnoticed in the mountains; the passing of winter leaves one unaware of the years.

Zhang Wei felt that he had only cultivated for a short while, not even enough time for a Taihang man to take a nap, when the moonlight that was irrigating his head like a waterline began to gradually thin out until it disappeared.

When he opened his eyes, the fiery red sunrise was already faintly visible on the distant horizon.

Meanwhile, the starving people who were fast asleep had already gotten up and started distributing the little dry food they had left.

The moment he opened his eyes, an old man was silently waiting, holding a grayish-yellow cornbread that had been placed on oiled paper.

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