People worship their ancestors: I'm just burning some paper money, how did I become a Taoist ma

Upon hearing the words "City God," Wang Zhengyuan's heart skipped a beat.

City God?

That's no ordinary underworld official; he's the highest-ranking official of the Tianhai City God Bureau, in charge of all underworld affairs in the entire Tianhai region.

Why would the City God want to see a mere ghost like him?

"My lord, may I ask why the City God has summoned me?" Wang Zhengyuan asked cautiously.

"How would I know anything about the City God? You'll find out when we get there," the little ghost messenger said expressionlessly. "Let's hurry up and go, don't keep the City God waiting."

"Yes, yes, yes." Wang Zhengyuan nodded quickly, then turned to Li Fengnian and said, "Old Li, keep an eye on my things for me, I'll be right back."

"Go ahead without worry," Li Fengnian waved his hand.

Wang Zhengyuan then followed the little devil and left, arriving in front of a magnificent government office.

Tianhai City God Temple.

A black plaque with gold lettering hangs above the door, and two stone lions squat majestically at the entrance.

Wang Zhengyuan had seen many grand occasions in his life, but when he arrived at this place, his legs still trembled.

After all, the area below the sun is not the same as the area above the sun!

"Go in." The little ghost pushed open the door, gesturing for him to enter.

Wang Zhengyuan took a deep breath and stepped inside.

In the main hall, the City God sat behind his desk, holding a writing brush in his hand, reviewing documents.

"This humble subject, Wang Zhengyuan, pays his respects to the City God." Wang Zhengyuan quickly knelt down and respectfully kowtowed.

The City God put down his brush and looked up at him.

"Stand up and speak."

"Thank you, City God." Wang Zhengyuan stood up, bowing his head and not daring to look directly at him.

The City God leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Wang Zhengyuan, your descendants burned quite a few things for you."

Wang Zhengyuan's heart tightened, and he quickly said, "It's all because the children are filial, the children are filial."

"Filial piety?" The City God chuckled. "There are plenty of people burning paper money in the mortal world, but how many actually survive? Your descendants are burning mountains of gold and silver for you, I don't even have that kind of ability!"

He had just received the news that a large batch of things had been burned down from Yangshang and passed through the checkpoint to be given to Wang Zhengyuan. The amount was astonishing, which was why he summoned him directly.

There aren't many places in the mortal world where money is needed. When they were lucky enough to receive some gold and silver from the descendants of the living for worship, they were mostly used to pray for the descendants, and then for food and clothing for the dead.

What was Wang Zhengyuan's purpose in appearing in a dream and instructing his descendants to burn so many things?

Wang Zhengyuan sensed the sarcastic tone in the City God's words and quickly said, "Your Majesty, the person who helped my family with the sacrifice was a young man named Li Mu. This person seems to know some special sacrificial methods, which allow him to ensure that the burned offerings are delivered to the spirits of the dead without any error."

"Tell me the truth, what do you want so much money for?" the City God roared, his voice carrying an imposing authority.

Upon being reprimanded like that, Wang Zhengyuan felt his legs go weak and dared not hide anything at all!

"Reporting to the City God, I simply thought that money makes things easier. I wanted to have more offerings made by the living descendants so that I could pray for their well-being, or perhaps do something for them in the afterlife. Money makes things convenient, doesn't it!"

"Hehe!" The City God laughed upon hearing this. "You were quite the businessman in life, thinking so much. Do you know that the prayers you deceased offer for your descendants all have to be reviewed and approved by me, the City God of this not-so-small prefecture, before being reported and reviewed layer by layer, and finally sent to the various departments of Heaven, where each department decides whether to implement them! If any stage of the review finds your prayers unreasonable or inappropriate, it will be rejected outright!"

Upon hearing the City God's words, Wang Zhengyuan was stunned. He had thought that praying for the blessings of future generations was a simple matter, requiring only a lot of money. He never imagined that it would be so complicated!

"You may leave now!" the City God instructed.

"Yes...yes!" Wang Zhengyuan replied tremulously, then slowly stood up and withdrew.

Watching Wang Zheng leave, the City God couldn't help but sigh!

"This can't go on. If Li Mu can deliver everything to the dead, everyone in the living will be rolling in gold and silver. That'll cause problems!"

Then, even the City God couldn't help but start thinking about how to handle this problem!

……

Yang Shang!

Li Mu returned home, took a shower, lay in bed, and tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt something was off when he was burning paper money for the Wang family tonight; he just couldn't quite put his finger on it!

As he pondered, drowsiness crept in, and Li Mu gradually closed his eyes.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Mu suddenly realized that he was in an unfamiliar environment.

He stood in a hazy, gray space, before which stood a magnificent government office.

A plaque hangs above the yamen (government office) with five large characters written on it: Tianhai City God Bureau.

……

"The City God of Tianhai!"

Looking at those large characters, Li Mu felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and he froze on the spot.

"The City God's Office?" he murmured, his voice trembling slightly. "What's going on... am I dreaming, or..."

He pinched the back of his hand.

pain.

But that kind of pain is different from real pain; it carries an indescribable sense of unreality.

It was a dream, but not an ordinary dream.

Li Mu took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He'd already experienced time travel and reincarnation, so what was there to be afraid of? The City God's Office was fine; he could just go in and take a look.

"You're dreaming, but dreams are always real. Come in..."

A voice came from inside the yamen, deep and resonant, carrying an unquestionable authority.

Li Mu's heart skipped a beat. The City God's Office, the City God...

In this world, the City God may actually exist.

Li Mu swallowed hard, stepped onto the stairs, walked through a short passageway, and arrived at the main hall.

Several underworld officials dressed in black robes stood on either side of the main hall, each expressionless and motionless like clay puppets.

Behind the main table in the very center sat a man.

He looked to be in his fifties, with a square face, a short beard, an official hat, and a blue official robe.

He exuded an aura of authority that commanded respect without anger, making people afraid to look him in the eye.

City God.

Li Mu only needed one glance to confirm the other party's identity.

That kind of aura wasn't faked; it was the presence of a true leader.

"This humble subject, Li Mu, pays his respects to the City God." Li Mu clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

Although I don't know what the rules are in the underworld, it's never wrong to be polite and respectful.

The City God glanced at him, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"You do have some discernment." The City God leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the table, and spoke slowly, "Li Mu, do you know why I summoned you?"

Li Mu's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't show any expression on his face.

"This humble subject is unaware; please enlighten me, City God."

"Don't know?" The City God chuckled, his laughter carrying a hint of something ambiguous. "I know perfectly well what you've been doing in the mortal realm lately."