Folklore: Pre-emptive shelter begins with the stomach.

Hearing this, Min Chunqiu was overjoyed: "Thank you for your hard work! How was it? Tell me loudly, I need to know the situation there!"

"Yes... Madam."

The maid glanced at Feng Shanhe, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him nod slightly in acknowledgment.

So he opened the letter, which had been delivered by fast horse from Huanjiang Town, concerning the situation of temples in the Chang'an County area.

"A first-order calamity is approaching the Huanjiang River basin."

According to intelligence gathered by the Imperial Temple Envoy, this first-tier calamity is extremely unusual, with many second-tier monsters leading the way.

The maid's face turned pale as she read this.

"Go on," Feng Shanhe said.

The maid cleared her throat and nodded:

The head of the temple in Huanjiang Town suggested that the heads of the villages under their jurisdiction should return to Huanjiang Town.

Let's unite our efforts and overcome this crisis together.

"This is clearly a good suggestion." Upon hearing this, Min Chunqiu couldn't help but praise the guardians of Huanjiang Town, saying that this plan could be described as very decisive.

"But..." the maid began, then trailed off.

His eyes fell on the document in his hand, but he trembled uncontrollably and couldn't speak again...

Just then, a hand took the notice from them.

"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle. Let me read it." Feng Ling, the fifth son of the Feng family, took the report from the servant. He glanced at it, his eyes filled with suspicion. "Hmm... that's strange."

"What's wrong?" Feng Shanhe asked.

"Father, the proposal of the temple master of Huanjiang Town was rejected by the temple master of Dingding Temple of the City God of Chang'an County. He ordered the temple masters of each village to guard their respective villages to the death... and asked all places in the Huanjiang River Basin to wait for reinforcements."

Feng Shanhe fell into deep thought.

Feng Ling, the fifth son, continued reading: "Those who disobey the order will be beheaded."

The patriarch, Feng Shanhe, narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Min Chunqiu, standing to the side, was already flushed with anxiety. "San'er, what about your brother?"

"Mother, please wait a moment..." Feng Ling said.

His eyes swept over one message after another, his hands trembling, his suppressed emotions no less than those of Min Chunqiu sitting in the armchair.

Feng Ling was also worried about her third brother's situation.

He caught a glimpse of Jiangqing Village, where the two temples had ceased to be used for worship.

Upon seeing this, Feng Ling's face turned pale.

The incense has gone out, which means that the temple lords behind it have all died.

Feng Ling is meticulous and has studied the distribution of the Huanjiang River basin.

Jiangqing Village is next to Jiangbai Village, and the two villages are separated only by a ring road formed after the recent rainfall.

Seeing Feng Ling's expression, Min Chunqiu felt as if his heart was being stabbed with needles, and he almost couldn't breathe.

A bad outcome came to her mind.

Some felt pity, while others rejoiced, and the other four standing to the side had a slight smile on their lips.

The eldest son, Feng Zhihai, felt relieved. Why was he so nervous?

He and his four sons had made proper arrangements, but his third brother, who only had one dog and no retainers, could not possibly survive in that place.

He went to extremes, leaving not even a drop of water or a bite of food.

Moreover, he also had a backup plan.

In his heart, his third brother Feng Mo was certain to die.

As for Feng Shanhe, the head of the Feng family, he watched all this silently, his face still expressionless.

But when Feng Ling looked down, his face lit up with joy, and his pale face regained its rosy hue.

"He's alive! Third Brother is still alive!" he suddenly raised his voice.

Min Chunqiu immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Feng Ling continued, "Feng Moshen, the temple master of the Five Organs Temple of the Feng Family of Shiping, is alive! He has received great fortune, and the temple's defenses are sound. The three temple masters of the Five Organs Temple, the Temple of Joy and Mourning, and the Temple of Misfortune are joining forces, hoping to overcome this strange calamity—the Imperial Temple Envoy, Gu Zhenren, remains."

Inside the courtyard, the tense atmosphere continued.

The smile doesn't disappear, it just moves on.

Aside from Feng Ling, the other four eldest sons or daughters' expressions changed, with the eldest son, Feng Zhihai, saying in disbelief:

"Fifth brother, are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"

Feng Ling remained silent.

He simply tossed the report to his eldest son, Feng Zhihai, who had spoken.

Upon seeing the contents of the report, Feng Zhihai and the others were all trembling with fear.

Feng Ling witnessed the entire process.

He also knew the reason for his mother's scolding: his third brother's misfortune in this remote place was due to a frame-up.

He had initially held onto a sliver of hope for a strong bond between his siblings, but seeing his older brother and sister's attitude now confirmed his suspicions.

Third Brother was framed!

His eyes began to harden. They were clearly blood relatives, so why were people treating them like this?

The Feng family is so wealthy and powerful; whoever is the head of the family will never have to worry about food and drink, and will enjoy all the riches and honors!

Finally, he looked towards the front of the stage.

The father, Feng Shanhe, sat in a grand chair.

He was more wary of the expressionless man before him than of his brothers.

"Does the struggle for the crown prince position really have to end in such a fratricidal conflict?"

Poor mother.

Poor Third Brother's two children.

"This calamity is terrible and I'm afraid Third Brother won't be able to withstand it. But don't worry, Third Brother, I will take care of your two children." Feng Ling said with sorrow.

At the same time, the eldest son, Feng Zhihai, and others who had come to their senses felt the same way.

You can run away from the monk, but you can't run away from the temple.

With a calamity looming, the temple master of Chang'an County issued another death order.

The Feng family branch in Jiangbai Village was also his people, which was a backup plan he had left behind.

I have the advantage of favorable timing, location, and popular support!

In any case, the third brother will not survive this calamity.

Feng Zhihai has no idea how his third brother survived!

If he can survive, he'll eat!

……

the other side.

Feng Mo, who was meditating, suddenly sneezed.

"How can someone catch a cold in this sweltering heat?" Feng Mo was baffled.

At the same time, he had already copied two of the four doors of the visualization diagram.

The four gates correspond to the four orifices, and the orifices symbolize the heavenly spirit.

Now that his two orifices have been opened, Feng Mo's cultivation speed has also increased significantly, and he can absorb "spirit stones" even faster, making him feel physically and mentally refreshed.

They continued their practice until evening.

Feng Mo began preparing the food.

A few steamed buns, baked and served with dried meat, make a decent dinner.

Now that Feng Mo has entered into cultivation, he has lost his appetite, but he still needs to eat three meals a day.

Every meal represents respect for the five internal organs, and can be considered a form of sacrificial offering.

Of course, Feng Mo didn't forget Xiao Bai's share either.

It can be considered the only believer in the Five Stomachs Temple besides Feng Mo.

However, Xiao Bai, who usually has a good appetite, was a bit "picky" today. Every time she picked at the steamed cornbread in her bowl, she would look unnaturally out the door at Huanjiang Road, which seemed to lead straight into an abyss.

Animals are often able to give early warnings and discover things that humans cannot.

It seems that dogs are better at this now.

Feng Mo gently rubbed Xiao Bai's head to soothe it, while he himself ate slowly and carefully.

But this dog was also quite stubborn. Even though its legs were shaking like it was dancing, it stood up and still stood protectively in front of itself.

"He's a brave cowardly good dog," Feng Mo commented.

And just like that, it got completely dark.

This is like a signal.

The forest, which should have been quiet, was suddenly swept by a strong, eerie wind.

The wind rustled through the leaves in the forest, making them sway as if fleeing the land that gave birth to and nurtured them.

A chilling whistling wind accompanied the sound, like the weeping of a baby or the mournful wail of a woman on her deathbed...

Feng Mo looked through the door.

Without moonlight, the world was pitch black, yet it seemed as if the whole world had come alive, with demons dancing wildly.

Feng Mo raised an eyebrow and muttered to himself, "So this is the Ghostly Calamity?"