Peninsula: I'm being supported by a top idol.

Chapter 89 The Respectful General Who Slaughters [21st update today]

Upon hearing that no one had ever reached the summit, Cui Shi'an seemed to understand something.

What kind of white-haired great god is that? It's mostly just empty promises made by those spirit officials to ghosts or monsters.

It's like when you join the civil service and your boss tells you, "Study hard, and you might become a Kaka someday!"

No wonder Hara said not to be so ambitious, because no one has ever succeeded in doing so.

However, the concept of the Eight Provinces is based on descriptions by Jeong Do-jeon, a strategist of the Joseon Dynasty. Regarding Hamgyeong Province, Jeong Do-jeon originally described it as "dog fighting in muddy fields," but because Yi Seong-gye was from Hamgyeong, his expression changed drastically upon hearing this, so Jeong Do-jeon changed it to "oxen plowing in stone fields."

Thinking of this, he looked at the girl in front of him with some surprise: "You are so young, yet you know quite a lot."

Jie Duoling blushed slightly: "I've been with my grandmother since I was little, and I've learned a lot about this kind of knowledge."

"What about your parents? Don't they care about you?"

The girl's eyes dimmed for a moment, then she forced herself to cheer up: "They—died when I was very young. My grandmother said that I had a special destiny, with heavy yin energy and weak yang energy, which made me prone to attracting ghosts and spirits. Rather than running away, it was better to face it directly, so—she simply let me inherit her mantle and learn shamanism."

Upon hearing this, Cui Shi'an's heart stirred slightly.

He focused his mind, a dark golden light subtly shifting in his eyes, his vertical pupils appearing and disappearing as he looked at Jie Duoling.

Ordinary people are said to carry "three fires": one on their head and one on each shoulder. When these are strong, their yang energy is abundant, making it difficult for evil spirits to invade.

However, on Jie Duoling, the three flames were only the size of a normal person's fist, and the light was weak and flickering. In particular, the flame above his head had an ominous pale blue color deep in its heart, like a candle flickering in the wind, which could be extinguished at any time by the yin energy.

No wonder, this kind of constitution is indeed naturally prone to connecting with the underworld, but it is also extremely easy to be attacked by the backlash.

"I see." Cui Shi'an withdrew his gaze, his vertical pupils disappearing. "Then, do you know how to use this Eight Paths to Heaven Diagram?"

"Yes!" Jie Duoling nodded immediately, his expression somewhat excited: "Simply inscribe the name and title of the main deity on the side of the painting with cinnabar, then set up an altar for worship. After that, the shaman can sincerely recite the specific incantation to invite the deity to descend and possess him, and perform exorcism and disaster relief."

She paused, then looked cautiously at Cui Shi'an: "General—do you permit my daughter—to serve this painting?"

Cui Shi'an nodded: "You can write the question."

Jie Duoling's eyes suddenly widened, and her breathing became more rapid.

To have a "general" with such an imposing presence and obviously high rank serve as a shaman is an immense honor for any shaman.

Afraid she had misheard, she asked again in a trembling voice, "R-really, is it okay?"

"Um."

"Thank you, General!" Jie Duoling bowed deeply, then immediately turned around and carefully carried out an old red lacquered wooden box from the inner room.

She took out a finely ground cinnabar block, a small wolf-hair brush, an antique inkstone, and a small bottle of clear dew. Judging from the solemnity of the items, they were clearly tools used for religious ceremonies.

She skillfully ground the ink and mixed the vermilion, laid out the scroll, and then respectfully turned to Cui Shi'an: "Please, General, tell me your name and honorific title."

"A title?" Cui Shi'an raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, according to our shamanic tradition, general deities are generally divided into two categories," Jie Duoling explained earnestly. "One is the 'Killing General,' who is in charge of slaying evil spirits, driving away malevolent ghosts, and suppressing fierce demons. Rituals often involve wielding knives and stepping on blades, and in ancient times, there was even a ritual of sacrificing livestock. A representative example is the 'Ghost-Expelling General' Cui Ying, who is a convergence of five valiant general deities. When the shaman invokes these deities, he will wave five-colored flags, commanding the five elemental ghosts to slay miscellaneous ghosts."

She paused briefly, then continued, "The other is the Guardian General, who is in charge of protecting the nation, praying for peace and well-being, and safeguarding the people's livelihood. The ceremony mainly involves offering sacrifices and chanting blessed songs, emphasizing protection rather than violence. Representatives include General Yi Sun-sin and General Ko Ya-ui."

Cui Shi'an pondered for a moment: "Then I should be considered a killer."

After saying that, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "But—with Cui Ying's meager skills, can she really be considered a general who kills?"

Although his voice was soft, Jie Duoling heard it clearly and his heart skipped a beat.

Choi Young? That famous general from the late Goryeo period? This general mentioned him with such a calm, even slightly mocking tone—

Did he have a higher status and greater military achievements during his lifetime?

"I don't know what honorific title to give you yet, so just write Cui Yuan."

"Yes." She dared not ask any more questions, but her attitude became even more solemn. She picked up her brush, dipped it in cinnabar, and wrote neatly on the blank space on the right side of the scroll.

[General Cui Yuan, the Killer]

"Please verify the name, General." She turned the scroll slightly towards Cui Shi'an.

He glanced at it, confirmed it was correct, then cut his fingertip and pressed his fingerprint on it.

Jie Duoling bowed again, then carefully picked up the scroll with the inscription, walked to the long-vacant main altar in the center of the shrine, and respectfully hung the scroll upright.

Then, offerings such as incense burner, water, rice wine, and fresh fruit were quickly placed on the table.

Cui Shi'an thought the ceremony was over and was about to see how she would "invite the gods" when she suddenly turned around, clasped her hands in front of her, and said respectfully, "Please sit down, sir. I still need to prepare a few things."

After saying that, she walked to an old-fashioned five-drawer chest in the corner, opened the drawer, took out a small cloth wallet, carefully counted the banknotes inside, and then hurriedly ran out, lifting the hem of her hanbok skirt.

Cui Shi'an was somewhat puzzled, but he didn't ask any further questions and simply sat and waited.

About ten minutes later, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Jie Duoling pushed open the door and entered, carrying two heavy plastic bags in his hands, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, sir."

As she spoke, she carefully took the contents of the bag out and placed them on the floor in front of Cui Shi'an.

A live rooster, its feet bound, clucking and struggling.

And a raw pig's head with its eyes wide open and its bristles still slicked back.

Bloody and extremely raw.

Cui Shi'an blinked, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the live chicken and the pig's head before finally settling on the girl's serious face. He hesitated and asked, "—What's this?"

"This is a blood offering prepared by my daughter for you, sir," Jie Duoling said with a slight bow and a devout tone. "Please enjoy it, sir."

Cui Shi'an looked at the still-flailing rooster, then at the pig's head that seemed to be "staring" at him, his expression quite interesting, finally turning into a sigh that was both funny and exasperating: "You want me to—eat this like this?"

Jie Duoling was stunned for a moment, thinking to herself, "Isn't that right?"

Grandma said that when worshipping generals, especially generals who kill, one must offer fresh blood as food to show their bravery and ferocity.

She carefully observed the "General's" expression, and it seemed that he really had no appetite, and even a little bit of—disgust?

Could it be that this general has unique tastes? She tentatively asked, "Does Your Excellency perhaps prefer other blood dishes? Live fish and fresh beef are available at the market."

Cui Shi'an's lips twitched slightly.

I am a living person! A living person with body temperature, breathing, and who needs cooked food!

It's not like a ghost immortal that actually lives off blood offerings and incense!

Seeing his even stranger expression, Jie Duoling racked her brains and suddenly remembered some rumors about "new-style offerings." Her eyes lit up: "Then—what does Lord Yangshi think? I heard from my colleagues that some priestesses who worship General Mai put hamburgers and cola on the offering table. I originally thought they were just being silly, but I didn't expect that each general's taste is indeed very different."

"General Mai?" Cui Shi'an was taken aback, quickly searching his mind for historical generals with the surname Mai.

Could it be Mai Tiezhang?

Is the list of offerings by peninsula shamans really that comprehensive?

"It's General MacArthur," the girl added softly. "It's said that in some places, he's worshipped as a guardian deity, protecting people and ensuring their safety."

"Uh...it really is all-encompassing!"

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