Gods rely on humans for their divinity, and humans depend on gods for peace.
In China, the divine spirits were also chosen by humans. They were the sanctified embodiment of human nature. In other words, gods too have humanity, at least partially.
The relationship between gods and humans is symbiotic. In this relationship, gods gain faith from humans by demonstrating their abilities, thereby increasing their powers and spreading their renown.
Such abilities, if used to entice a fox spirit, would hardly pose a challenge.
Hu Si’s words made Lan He’s hair stand on end and prompted him to reinterpret events from the past two years from a broader perspective.
Previously, Wang Lili had questioned whether there were any suspects. The reasoning was straightforward: whoever stood to benefit most from these acts or had a matching personality was more likely the perpetrator.
Although the rules of the underworld differ, stepping outside the events to observe reveals that the ultimate outcome benefited the incense offerings of various temples.
However, being entrenched in the system, no one initially considered this seemingly normal result as part of their deductions. After all, reasoning this way would implicate even the masters of law as potential culprits.
Song Futan had his suspicions before. Upon seeing Yu Hangjia and his son worship the golden deity, his doubts deepened. Hu Si’s appearance confirmed his belief that the mastermind was not only one of their own but resided in this very temple.
What gave Hu Si, a mere spirit fragment, the power to drag First Lady Hu, and even a mighty serpent like Liu 13, into illusions? It was because a divine being overseeing the entire city was present.
Since the anomaly in the town’s protective artifact, the capital had experienced two years of disordered feng shui and chaotic yin-yang energy. People like Chen Xingyang, who encountered supernatural events such as ghost marriages, were innumerable. Their worldview was shattered. During the New Year, Lan He had even seen Chen Xingyang offering incense at Juehui Temple.
Thinking about Chen Xingyang’s ghost marriage reminded Lan He of its instigator: an evil ghost who had escaped from the City God Temple and found a partner in the mortal realm. Their plan was to profit from ghost marriages and develop a customer base. Later, they even sought to profit from harassed celebrities.
In retrospect, the jailbreak might have been intentional. The evil ghost’s plan mirrored the events in the capital over the past two years. In that moment, ghosts and gods became indistinguishable.
Amid the incense smoke, Hu Si’s eerie smile became hazy.
She, skilled in deceiving minds, had also been ensnared. She was manipulated into stealing the golden mouse and was taught how to escape from Miaogan Mountain, how to steal the yin official’s hat, and how to damage the golden mouse, hiding out in the City God Temple of Jiangnan.
She had focused solely on her goals, only realizing later that her collaborator was the superior of the yin official. Her plan had never truly been viable in her collaborator’s mind. She didn’t even know if this “lord” kept her spirit out of kindness or as a useful tool.
“Lan He,” a faint voice called from the divine seat.
Midnight had long passed. The City God had quietly returned.
…
The City God’s true form stepped out of the statue and off the divine platform, standing before the temple.
He wore a red python robe identical to the statue’s, exuding an air of dignity and authority typical of divine beings seen in every temple.
He seemed utterly unfazed by Hu Si’s words. The fact that she could speak in his temple meant he had allowed it.
Lan He recalled the dream they just had and looked at the City God. “…It’s really you. You want to regain faith, to make gods and humans exalted as in the illusion?”
This guy had even thought about license plates for religions, such as “Buddha-A” and “Tao-A.”
The City God replied calmly, “Is that bad? The capital is a pilot project. If it succeeds, it can be implemented nationwide. What I’ve shown you is only a fraction. The Four Great Sects’ altars spreading everywhere, the revival of Mount Tai’s Underworld, the expansion of the Bridge of Helplessness…”
His rhetoric of unity sounded like a call for all religions and races to work together, hinting that he had been learning new concepts over the years.
First Lady Hu and several other celestial beings were stunned by his audacious declaration. First Lady Hu muttered that it was impossible.
“Are you insane?” Lan He said with a laugh, glancing outside the temple. “What did you do before becoming a god? You’re not fit to be the City God!”
The role of the City God is to protect the city, safeguard its people, and uphold justice. What was this? Enforcing laws because he was no longer needed?
“Stop looking,” the City God said nonchalantly. “In my temple, in my city, you only deliver a message if I allow it.”
Lan He: “…”
Before entering the illusion, Song Futan had gestured to him to burn a letter, thinking it was related to Hu Si. Out of habit, Lan He had stealthily burned a letter for help. Now, he hoped reinforcements would arrive quickly. The City God, as the capital’s guardian, was daunting.
It seemed this guy had returned long ago.
Not good. Lan He gripped the soul-binding rope and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Song Futan, casually pushing the strongest fighter, Liu 13, to the front.
Liu 13: “…”
“There’s no need for that,” the City God said calmly to Lan He. “Since I’ve revealed myself and spoken with you, I hope we can work together…”
Lan He replied, “Our paths are different; we cannot work together.”
City God: “That’s because some paths of humanity have strayed.”
Lan He: “At least you know.”
The City God laughed heartily. “I know, but you don’t.”
He gestured vaguely at Lan He a few times. “When the underworld and its spirits see their business declining, do you think they wouldn’t feel urgency? They’ve tried many things, like sending ghost and divine entities to reincarnate into the mortal realm, hoping they would become influential masters of law to revive faith. Yet, they are still shaped by this era. Some have no choice but to lie low, some even end up in mental institutions. A few do become masters, but their influence is limited.”
This aligned with what Lan He had once heard from Granny Wang. When he had asked why gods couldn’t act directly, Granny Wang had explained that it was their dormant era; even attempts to act would be altered.
So those attempts involved descending to the mortal world. After all, the rise and fall of gods are determined by humans.
City God: “Do you think it’s a coincidence that you became a Living Impermanence?”
Lan He froze.
He was the Living Impermanence because Old Bai had conscripted him.
The City God smiled. “The underworld’s latest attempt involved borrowing a general from the Eastern Peak Lady Bixia Yuanjun and having them reincarnate as a human to promote Taoist law. Unexpectedly, despite being born into a family with a legacy in the yin-related arts, this person dreamed of becoming an actor due to environmental influences. Enraged, the underworld directly conscripted him into service, yet he continued acting even in that role. And the underworld’s efforts? Even worse. Their chosen ones were so unlucky that they refused to become monks and ended up allying with the Eastern Peak’s faction. This society truly is restless!”
Lan He: “…”
Song Futan: “…”
Lan He hadn’t processed it yet—how did he and Song Futan end up with this mission?
And then, they ended up partnering?
First Lady Hu, however, had an epiphany. No wonder Granny Wang had favored Lan He, and the Black and White Impermanences were always ambiguous in their attitudes. They likely knew of Lan He’s background. She herself, being from Miaogan Mountain, would understand even more had she followed Lan He to headquarters at Mount Tai. That would explain why the Mount Tai spirits were fond of Lan He.
Hu 79 covered her mouth in shock. “Your previous life was really from the Eastern Peak’s kitchen corps?”
The City God sighed leisurely. “He was by Lady Bixia’s side, used to the incense offerings presented to her. Over time, of course, he’d know the best flavors. What I do isn’t much different; it’s just more practical.”
Humans lack need, so they have no reason to believe in gods. The era of praying to gods solely to ward off calamities has passed. Sending more emissaries to promote Taoism at most maintains a small amount of faith.
The root problem lies in creating new needs. While this strays from the path of divinity, the City God thought it better than sitting in ruins.
And look, now he had a golden temple once again. Perhaps in the future, humanity would revive temple fairs, City God parades, incense festivals, and recreate the once-prosperous spectacle of ten-mile-long celebrations, with “blue-eyed merchants, seafarers, and wealthy foreign traders” dominating the bustling market.
The City God looked at Lan He with admiration. “Why am I being so open with you? Naturally, it’s because even though your path has strayed, you’ve gained some real influence. If we use this influence, I could better expand the pilot project nationwide. You’re destined to die, eventually. Why not enjoy glory in life and harvest faith in death? Isn’t that better than acting in some drama? This side hustle was meant to be your main job. And you, too.”
He turned to Song Futan. “Write good stories, stories that move people.” The implication was to craft tales capable of shaking people’s beliefs, though whether he knew about publication regulations was unclear.
Lan He asked, “You deliberately revealed yourself to the mayor of the capital, didn’t you?”
“Of course,” the City God said indifferently. “In the past, the City God was responsible for overseeing officials. I ruled the yin, and he the yang. Now, I have to rely on him. Alas, the balance shifts. Without this strategy, how could these ‘folk activities’ be revived?”
Beyond random events, the City God was also deliberately targeting influential figures in the capital, from celebrities to officials.
“Six hundred years of City God Temple history, Juehui Temple once the head of Zen Buddhism in North China, Miaogan Mountain the faith center of the capital, and the Four Gates spread across the north, known to all… What have they become now?”
He looked at everyone, his gaze leaving even Hu 79 dumbstruck.
Unlike Lan He, who grew up as a human and was educated differently, these non-human beings felt the impact more profoundly.
Lan He coldly observed the City God’s attempts to confuse and said, “No matter the truth of what you’re saying, even if my path has strayed, we’re still not walking the same road.”
To use an analogy, a good doctor might promote health with free consultations, but an unscrupulous one might break someone’s leg only to showcase miraculous healing later. Are they the same?
City God: “No worries, a few rounds of brainwashing will fix that.”
Lan He: “…”
With a snap of his fingers, the four-clawed dragon embroidered on his python robe came to life, coiling around the temple pillars and glaring at them. This was the embodiment of his authority over water, part of his domain as the City God.
“Li 13?” Lan He called out.
Among the household deities present, the Liu family spirits were the most disciplined, their training focused on resilience.
Upon hearing Lan He’s call, both Li 13 and Chang Yueyuan unhesitatingly transformed into massive serpents, menacingly staring at the four-clawed dragon.
The City God smiled faintly. “I’ve heard you’re fond of group fights.”
With another snap of his fingers, all the doors of the City God Temple swung open, allowing a large group of yin officials in official robes and holding red lanterns to flood in. They all stood on the City God’s side. Among them, Old Bai stumbled in, caught himself, and looked up at the City God. “Damn it, it was you behind all this?”
He had come to find Lan He after receiving the letter, but couldn’t locate him. While lingering outside, he overheard the City God’s speech.
Lan He called out, “Old Bai!!”
“You heard it all?” The City God nodded in satisfaction. “Come over here. Incense offerings, paper money—whatever you earned hundreds of years ago, you’ll earn even more now.”
Old Bai: “…”
For yin officials, this offer was indeed enticing, which explained why the yin officials from other City God Temples had sided with the City God.
After all, the City God’s methods seemed much more effective.
Old Bai hesitated and glanced back at Lan He.
Lan He felt a pang in his chest, staring at Old Bai but unable to utter a word. Truthfully, Old Bai’s abilities as a greedy ghost wouldn’t turn the tide of the battle. In the past, he had accepted bribes and cut corners, showing he valued money over life itself. But still…
First Lady Hu stomped her foot. “Bai Ruyi, are you really blinded by greed?!”
The City God chuckled softly. “Why look at him? No matter how much he can give you, could it ever compare to the wealth of an entire city’s populace?”
“Sorry.” Old Bai scratched his head and then walked over to the City God’s side. “Guess I’ll side with the devil after all.”
The City God: “…”
Magnanimously, the City God replied, “…Fine.”
Lan He glared at the unfilial ghost, his face a mix of disappointment and anger. He pulled out a handful of joss paper and fox claws, glaring fiercely at the City God.
Song Futan drew his sword, holding several talismans in his other hand.
Though Hu 79 and Bai Wu were tempted, they, as household spirits, remained loyal to their master. They cracked their knuckles and stood beside Lan He. Liu 13 and Chang Yueyuan flicked their forked tongues, eyeing their opponents menacingly from the shadows.
The City God glanced at them and spoke to the four-clawed dragon circling the pillar. “Capture them alive, if possible.”
—
At the cinema.
A fight sequence unfolded on screen. Xiao Lai ambushed his opponent with talisman water, then kicked over a chair, pinning a ghost-faced adversary to the floor. Calling over his companions, he followed with another kick, pinning an opponent to the wall and grinding his foot into their neck until their eyes rolled back.
The rapid, impactful fight scenes had the audience sitting up straight, their eyes glued to the screen.
One companion asked Xiao Lai if what he was doing was right.
The camera followed the actor closely, making the audience feel as if they were in the scene themselves. He struck his opponent with precision, exuding an exhilarating confidence as he proclaimed, “Sealing the unrighteous ghosts of the world, governing the unworthy spirits of the mountains!”
—
Normally, Lan He fought alongside the yin officials in group brawls. Today, however, he stood on the opposing side. This was the only emotional hurdle; in reality, stripping away their official robes, these were no different from the ghosts he usually fought.
Lan He’s expression was cold as he grabbed a ghost without looking and tossed it backward. It landed squarely on Song Futan’s sword, the two of them working in seamless tandem.
With another swift motion, Lan He seized a ghost by the neck and slammed it hard onto the ground… his movements fluid and without hesitation, showing no consideration for their past camaraderie.
Even Old Bai, watching, shrank back in fear, hiding behind the City God’s sleeve.
The City God: “…”
The City God, exasperated, remarked, “I have over a thousand ghost officials. If you get tired, we can always talk again.”
For potential valuable employees, he was willing to give opportunities—hence his directive to capture them alive, if possible.
Song Futan spoke calmly. “In the past, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang officially recognized the City Gods across the land, elevating them from informal folk deities to legitimate divine beings. The City Gods gained the endorsement of mortal emperors and the devotion of the masses, becoming true gods, instilling awe to curb wrongdoing. Yet, times have changed. Gods still exist, but they are no longer indispensable. This is humanity’s choice, the choice of the era. Your method of coercion defies both natural law and public will and is doomed to fail.”
“Talkative, aren’t you? I’m supposed to brainwash you, not the other way around,” the City God said, leaning on his jade belt. He understood Song Futan’s words were meant for the ghost officials present.
“Lan He, take my advice. If that day comes, your professional status will surpass anything an actor could achieve, just like in your dream. And as for the Buddhist sects, they too would flourish as ‘five petals blooming with fragrance.'”
The last four words were directed at Song Futan. Lan He had also heard them in the dream. “Five petals blooming with fragrance” referred to the zenith of Zen Buddhism’s influence.
Song Futan remained silent, but Lan He, recalling the vivid dream, became agitated. “Pah! You’re despicable! If things really turn out like in the dream where I become a Grand Preceptor and an abbot, how am I supposed to have a love life?!”
What happened to chapter 99?
Chapter 99 appears to be missing?