In contrast, the Double Ninth Festival is an important day for the villagers to offer sacrifices and praise the gods, and it is a festival for the gods. The villagers can miss the Spring Festival, but they never dare to miss the Double Ninth Festival.
... But that's what I said, but it's actually just the villagers at the foot of the mountain that are lively today.
Lu Heng just took some sacrifices and some incense. The liveliness of the villagers belonged to the villagers themselves, and he had nothing to do with him.
He stood on the main peak of Hanyu Mountain and looked at the busy group of villagers at the foot of the mountain, but he did not show up.
Early this morning, before the sun came out, the villagers of Shuisheng Village had already entered the mountain collectively and came to the beach at the foot of the main peak of Hanyu Mountain.
Every year on the Double Ninth Festival, these villagers will bring all kinds of food, cooking tools, and sacrificial supplies to the river beach under the main peak of Hanyu Mountain.
This river flows through Shuisheng Village and Hanyu Mountain, and disappears at the other end of Hanyu Mountain. Going around in the mountains, a river bend is formed here at the foot of the main peak. The river bend is not only lush with water and grass, but also has many schools of fish.
After the villagers set up a stove and light a fire at the river bend, they have to start processing all kinds of food, slaughtering chickens and slaughtering sheep, and washing vegetables and fruits. It can be said that they are very busy.
Because in addition to the three animal sacrifices prepared for Lu Heng, the villagers also had to prepare meals for themselves. On the Double Ninth Festival, they have to stay in this river bend for a whole day, until the sun sets and the stars and moon hang high, and they will not leave after nightfall.
In the tradition of the villagers, this is to pay tribute to the gods, download songs and dances at the foot of the mountain, and pray to the gods for good weather in the coming year.
The original wolf demon thought the villagers' shows were interesting and would hide in the mountains to watch it.
But Lu Heng still said that, the joys and sorrows of humans and demons are not the same. Lu Heng only felt that these villagers were noisy, but he didn't think their performances were so good.
However, during such onlookers, Lu Heng found that the number of villagers in Shuisheng Village was more than he thought.
In the world where Lu Heng lives, there are usually only a dozen or twenty families in ordinary villages. However, there are roughly four or five hundred villagers in the aquatic village at the foot of the mountain.
In the wolf demon's memory, Lu Heng knew that demons and beasts were rampant in this world. Therefore, most of the human settlements are huge, because only a large number of people can fight against the beasts.
When the young men of Shuisheng Village entered the mountain before, there were dozens of them. So Lu Heng knew that there were a lot of villagers in Shuisheng Village.
But now that the whole village was dispatched, he knew that the number of people in this aquatic village had reached this level.
In Lu Heng's original world, a small remote village would definitely not be able to feed such a large population. But this world is different. With the blessing of gods, the crops in the fields will hardly fail.
Coupled with the abundance of fruits and vegetables in the mountains, and the abundance of wild animals, Lu Heng opened his throat to eat, and the wild animals in Hanyu Mountain were enough for him to eat for several years. As long as the hunters in the village can hunt one or two beasts, they can add meals to the whole village—of course, sometimes it is the beasts.
In this environment where there is no shortage of food, a small aquatic village can support so many people. If it were the big cities and towns outside the mountains, I don't know how many residents there would be.
Thinking of this, Lu Heng's idea of going down the mountain to join the WTO became even more eager.
He really wanted to see what kind of customs this completely unfamiliar world had, and how different it was from his original world.
However, based on his current practice progress, I am afraid that there are still several years... Thinking of this, Lu Heng couldn't help but sigh.
At noon, the villagers finally prepared the offerings. Under the leadership of the old village chief and a group of elders, the villagers sent the offerings to the mountain temple.
However, the person who came to the front and took the lead was somewhat beyond Lu Heng's expectations. Because the leader is not the old old village chief, but the girl named Xiao Ai.
Under Lu Heng's gaze, the little girl walked in front of the team with an expressionless face. Although he didn't wear the red wedding dress he was wearing, the fabric of the clothes was very different from that of the villagers behind him. Obviously, the material was very good, and it was a sacrificial dress specially prepared by the villagers.
Taking the villagers to the front of the mountain temple, the girl took the place of the village chief and presided over the sacrifice. Logically speaking, this should be regarded as a showy thing, but Lu Heng couldn't see the slightest joy on the girl's face.
So Lu Heng became curious about this little girl.
However, he didn't show up in front of people either. After the villagers offered sacrifices and worship according to the established procedure, they silently withdrew, and would not come back to take away the sacrifices until after dark.
After everyone left, Lu Heng came out of the mountain temple.
He came to the altar table, looked at the rich offerings on the altar table, and couldn't help sighing.
Compared with previous years, the offerings this year are much richer. However, in terms of the role of the mountain god, the original wolf demon was many times more interested than Lu Heng, but the treatment of the two sides was very different.
Lu Heng felt some sympathy for the wolf demon.
From a certain point of view, it is no wonder that the wolf demon had an explosion of mentality after guarding this place for 80 years, and finally set foot on the evil road. This kind of simple-minded mountain spirit monster is still too stupid. Apart from coercion, he has never thought of using other means to induce the villagers to believe in it.
In the end, the sky thundered and the body died and the soul was destroyed, which can be said to be very miserable.
... But what does this have to do with my ruthless Lu Heng
Walking to the offering table, Lu Heng took a deep breath, only to see a little white mist floating from the offerings on the offering table, which was sucked into his stomach by Lu Heng.
At this moment, Lu Heng finally felt the deliciousness of the long-lost food and was in a happy mood.
This kind of sacrifice, which is poured into the villagers' beliefs and sacrifices, does not need Lu Heng to taste it himself. He only needs to inhale the sacrificial beliefs in the sacrifices into his belly, and the taste is better than actually eating these things.
It's just that after Lu Heng took a breath, although the tribute on the table was intact, the essence inside was completely lost. The villagers took it back and ate it again, but they couldn't taste much.
After enjoying the sacrifice, Lu Heng returned to the ground. Although these offerings only take one breath, their delicious taste can last for a long time, which is equivalent to eating a delicious meal for hours.
This is a delicacy that only happens once a year. It tastes better than all the delicacies Lu Heng has eaten in his previous life. Lu Heng had to enjoy it.
It was not until after dark that Lu Heng came out of the ground after enjoying the big meal.
At this time, the table in front of the mountain temple has been removed, and the desertedness of the past has been restored again.
However, the river bend at the foot of the mountain was very lively. The villagers who had harvested the rice and got a bumper harvest gathered together, laughed and sang and danced.
The men rowed their fists, collided with porcelain bowls, and drank brewed rice wine. The women gathered to one side, laughing and discussing the shortness of parents. The light of the bonfire illuminated the river bay transparently, and even the children's play was so harmonious and lovely.
Looking at this scene, Lu Heng knew that these villagers were about to leave.
When the busy day of sacrifices is over and the tableware, table and chairs that they brought have been cleaned up, the current laughter of the villagers is the last aftertaste of this Double Ninth Festival.
This kind of play will continue for about half an hour. Following the orders of the village elders, everyone in the village will gather together, kneel and bow in the direction of the temple in the mountain, and pray for the blessing of the coming year.
Then comes the end and the departure.
Lu Heng, who was hidden in the forest, looked at the smiles on the faces of the villagers beside the bonfire from a distance, and a different feeling rose in his heart.
Although the villagers in this mountain are ignorant and short-sighted, they are also simple, honest and optimistic. Their happiness is so simple, so simple that Lu Heng is even envious.
Thinking of this, the white wolf in the forest didn't know what to think. He was dazed for a long time, and then he recovered from the cry of a child.
"Woooooo... my nose! My nose!"
Lu Heng looked at the sound and saw that it was a five- or six-year-old boy who was lying on the ground, clutching his bleeding nose and crying. He probably fell while running in the dark.
The boy's mother quickly came over, and while helping the boy stop the bleeding, he beat the little boy's buttocks with a twig picked up by the river.
"Let you run around! Let you run around!" The boy's mother scolded and beat her while helping her son to plug his bleeding nose in distress.
The little boy raised his head to stop the bleeding and cried.
"Woo woo woo... I don't dare! Mother! I don't dare! Woo woo woo..."
The humiliated and frightened cry made all the adults around the bonfire laugh.
In the night wind, the white wolf who saw this scene couldn't help but smile and shake his head.
This happy and warm scene made him laugh, but he couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
Before he knew it, it had been half a year since he came to this world, and he gradually got used to the boring life of cultivating in the mountains. I just don't know what happened to my relatives and friends in the original world.
In this strange world, he can no longer keep in touch with his former relatives and friends. The only thing that can be done is to wish them in their hearts to find their own happiness.
From a certain point of view, whether it is the villagers in this mountain, relatives and friends in previous lives, or Lu Heng himself, they are just a drop of dust in this world, simple and ordinary.
What everyone can do well is only you.
Thinking of this, the white wolf let out a low laugh, turned and walked into the forest.
After coming to this world, he has been practicing and has never experienced the feeling of sleep.
Maybe tonight, he can put down his practice, take a good sleep, and reminisce about what it was like to be a mortal.
Maybe, have a good dream.
Chapter 24 Under the Moon
Under the night, the figure of the white wolf merged into the forest.
Leaving the hustle and bustle of the river bay, returning to the quiet mountain, finding a quiet place to sleep, and enjoying the fun of being a mortal, this was Lu Heng's original plan.
Yep, the original...
Not long after walking in the forest, Lu Heng suddenly noticed a familiar aura, which made him stop.
Lu Heng was a little surprised.
At this time, this little girl is not reunited with her relatives below, why is she hiding in such a place alone
Curious in his heart, Lu Heng gave up his plan to enter the mountain and walked in that direction.
Not long after, Lu Heng came out of the forest.
What appeared in his field of vision was a huge rock that bulged outwards. Here, you can just overlook the lights at the river bend, but because of the dense trees below, you can't see it from the river bend. It can be said to be a good place with a wide field of vision.
Now, the girl named Xiao Ai is sitting quietly on the edge of the boulder with her hands on her knees, staring blankly at the hustle and bustle of the river bay below.
The dark and silent mountain forest here is in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the river in the distance. The little girl who was sitting silently in the dark seemed a little more lonely.
Lu Heng came out of the darkness and asked, "Why are you hiding here alone? Why don't you go down and reunite with your family?"
The sudden sound startled the little girl.
But when she turned around and stood up and saw the huge white wolf behind her, her fear disappeared.
The girl stood there awkwardly, pinching the corners of her skirt.
"Lord Mountain God, you... why are you here?" There seemed to be some surprise in the girl's voice.
Today's girl, facing Lu Heng, is no longer the fear of the first meeting. Seeing Lu Heng, not only was she not afraid, but she was happy.
Lu Heng noticed this change of mood, so he was curious, "Aren't you afraid of being carried away by wild beasts when you hide in the mountains alone during this lively festival? There are many wild beasts in this mountain."
The little girl pinched the corners of her skirt embarrassedly and said, "With the token given by you, Lord Mountain God, the wild beasts in the mountains will not attack me."
Lu Heng laughed dumbly, "There is such a thing, but I forgot..."
Looking at the little girl in front of him, Lu Heng thought of the sacrifice at noon again.
At that time, the girl was pushed out by the villagers, wearing a sacrificial dress that did not match her age, with a small face, and arranged for everyone to do this and that like a little adult according to the steps of the ceremony. There was something mature and old-fashioned about the girl at that time that didn't match her youth, but it wasn't cute.
On the contrary, this little girl who is a little cramped but in a happy mood is more in line with the "virgin" Lu Heng remembered.
Lu Heng walked out of the forest and walked to the huge rock. Standing beside the girl, he watched the liveliness of the river bay under the mountain with her, and said, "At noon today, I saw that you presided over the sacrifice. Because My reason, everyone in the village is afraid of you now, right?"
Lu Heng's words made the little girl hesitate.
Lu Heng said lightly, "If you have something to say, it's fine. I don't like listening to false excuses."
The girl quickly nodded her head obediently and said, "Xiao Ai knows that Xiao Ai dare not hide it. Since Lord Shan Shen let Xiao Ai go back, he said something to take care of in front of the village chief, and everyone in the village has rejected me."
"It's just that they are afraid in their hearts, so they don't even dare to be too obvious."
"But that was before. Ever since Master Wu Zhu made everyone understand the greatness and dignity of the Mountain God, everyone in the village is no longer afraid of the Mountain God, nor of me. They are very kind to me and respect you, the Mountain God. That's why I was asked to preside over the sacrifice."
The little girl's answer made Lu Heng turn his head and look at her quietly.
Lu Heng asked, "Then why don't you hide here by yourself?"
The girl hesitated for a few seconds and said, "Because...because everyone is no longer afraid of me, but they are in awe of me. If I were below, everyone would be unable to let go, and they would not be able to be really happy and lively."
"And... and..."
The more the girl spoke, the lower her voice became.
Lu Heng looked at her and asked, "And what?"
"And I... I don't like the fun anymore," the girl said softly with her head lowered, "I like to be alone, so I don't have to look at everyone's faces or take care of everyone's mood. It's just me, I don't need to think about anything, and I don't need to think about anything, it's actually good... I'd rather be alone than stay below and be feared by everyone."
The girl spoke softly, leaving Lu Heng silent.
He looked at the girl in front of him and sighed in his heart.
He had already listened to Uncle Jie about this little girl, and knew that this little girl had long since lost her parents, and she was a rootless duckweed in the village. Now he is being "looked differently" by Lu Heng, and even when everyone thinks that Lu Heng is a monster, he dares to stand up against the adults of the whole village.
After all this happened, the little girl could no longer integrate into the villagers.
Thinking of this, Lu Heng lowered his head, looked at the girl in front of him, and said, "Raise your head, look me in the eyes, and answer me a question."
The girl obediently raised her head, looked at the terrifyingly huge white wolf in front of her, saw the deep eyes of the white wolf, and heard the cold question from the white wolf.
"If you can do it all over again, the chosen virgin won't be you, but someone else. Are you willing to let everything be done all over again?"
The white wolf's eyes were deep and sharp, and those sharp eyes seemed to penetrate the hearts of the people and were full of oppression.
Being watched by such eyes, the girl had a feeling in a trance. It seems that he is just a transparent piece of white paper, which has been completely seen through, and there is no secret in front of Lord Mountain God.
But she didn't really want to keep any secrets.
Facing the sharp gaze of the white wolf, the girl shook her head and said, "Xiao Ai doesn't want to come back."
Without waiting for Lu Heng to ask the reason, the girl smiled bitterly and explained, "If it wasn't for Lord Mountain God, I would never know everyone's nature, and I would never know that it was my last relative who pushed me into the fire pit."