Infinite Professions

Although the war opened in two areas, with fierce attacks and defenses in the south and north, the people within the mansion were not affected. Whether in the capital city or in towns and villages of the county, everyone was festooned with lanterns, immersed in the annual City God festival.

As the capital city, Jinyang set an example, inside and outside the city, every industry and every household were holding celebrations, each worshiping the divine spirit in their own way. The City God Temple at the center had started its temple fair early.

The temple fair was bustling, needless to say, crowds everywhere, many programs unfolded, and there were ceremonies to worship the divine spirit, incense smoke rising and filling the city mansion inside and out, creating a scene of earthly prosperity.

"So many people!"

"So lively!"

"Dad, I want to eat candied haw."

"Baked cakes, freshly baked cakes."

"Crisp pears, freshly picked today."

Among the crowds, an old farmer, carrying his wife and son, and holding his grandchildren, the whole family young and old came to catch the temple fair.

Though it was crowded, the traffic was not congested, nor did any trampling occur, seemingly influenced by some mysterious force, everything was orderly, even the temple at the center could be traversed calmly.

The old farmer holding his grandson, with his wife, came to the temple and saw the clearly defined halls, each with different programs and varied worship.

They came to one hall, and on the plaque, the word "Land" was written. Those entering the hall mostly had weathered faces, results of laboring under the sun and farming, just like him.

In the center of the hall stood a statue of a middle-aged man wearing a square scarf and a yellow robe, flanked by walls painted with various scenes, all depicting pastoral landscapes and land life.

"This is the City God and Land God Hall."

"And that’s the City God and Land God Statue."

"The City God is both the city deity and the land deity, blessing us farmers, ensuring favorable weather and abundant crops year after year."

"It’s thanks to the protection of the City God and Land God that we farmers can lead good lives, unlike before..."

The old man rambled on, eyes filled with reminiscences, finally leading his wife, children, and grandchildren to the land statue at the center to offer incense from the entire family.

After offering incense, they exited the hall and moved to another place, entering another hall.

This hall had the word "Merit and Virtue" written on it, inside were many elderly people, like him, with white hair yet still vigorous, even appearing robust and strong, leading their wives, children, and grandchildren in devoted worship.

In the center of the hall was another statue, similar to the land statue, without much change in face, only the attire was different, riding a white deer, wearing a yellow robe, holding a staff in one hand and a peach in the other, embodying an image of fortune and longevity.

"This is the City God’s Statue of Blessings!"

"The City God is the city deity, the land deity, and also the Merit and Virtue deity."

"Under his blessing, we people of Jinyang enjoy enduring prosperity and longevity. The Little Yellow Mountain and Qinghe County, which first worshipped the City God, have produced many centenarians, like Elder Song from Little Huang Village, 180 years old, still vigorous and strong, passed away peacefully without illness, much like Ancestor Peng."

"I am ninety-eight this year, in two more years I will reach a hundred."

"City God, Lord Merit and Virtue..."

Inside the hall, many elderly people conversed happily, showing no sign of aging.

The old farmer followed the crowd, reverently offered incense, then exited the hall and moved to another place.

Exiting one hall and entering another, unlike the peacefulness of the land and merit halls, this place had an air of stern dignity.

In the center of the hall stood a statue, still the same face, but with different attire, exuding a completely different aura, wearing a black cap, a red robe, with a sword on his back, holding a pen and book, with a fierce and authoritative expression, sword-shaped eyebrows and bright eyes conveying severity, accompanied by the hell painting on the walls and the Hundred Ghosts Painting, intimidating the heart.

"Ah!!!"

"Dad, I’m scared!"

"Don’t be afraid, this is the City God who drives away demons!"

"Back when ghost disasters plagued various places in Jinyang, our Donghe Village was also raided, many were harmed by evil ghosts, thanks to your great grandfather who hung a picture of the City God at home, revealing spirit to expel evil ghosts, our family is here today."

"The City God’s appearance is specifically to intimidate those evil ghosts and demons, making them dare not harm people."

"Those on the wall are those who did no good while alive, and committed evil after death, punished by the City God to the Eighteen Layers of Hell, never to reincarnate, you must not be like them."

"This Hundred Ghosts Painting of Hell, worthy of the Painting Saint’s handiwork, truly vivid and lifelike, embodying both form and spirit!"

"Is Zhu the Painting Saint still alive?"

"Of course, he recently gave out paintings on the street, his most proud and skillful exorcism City God painting, I got one, though it’s printed, not the original."

"That’s not bad, although Jinyang has been peaceful for many years, without ghost disturbances, having the City God’s exorcism picture at home is never a bad thing."

"It’s said there’s a Lanruo Ghost Realm north of Jinyang, the ghosts inside are very fierce, wonder when the City God will eliminate them?"

"It will happen, it will..."

Though it’s a temple, the noise is not restricted, people inside discussing fervently, lively like tides yet without being noisy.

The old farmer within, did not speak much, just reverently offered incense with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Being an old man, he also experienced Jinyang’s ghost disasters decades ago, during which divine spirits fell and evil ghosts ran rampant, had it not been for the Divine Judgment Temple at that time offering a divine judge ghost-expelling painting, his family might not have survived.

With such experience, the faith in his heart goes without saying.

After worshiping in three halls, the children and grandchildren were a bit tired, only the old farmer and his wife remained vigorous, heading to yet another hall.