Huaihua Town, Deer Immortal Shrine.
Mo Chuan took off his straw hat, used the last bit of money he had to buy a cup of clear tea, and sat opposite the Deer Immortal Shrine, observing the situation inside.
The temple was not large, a two-courtyard affair with only a front and back courtyard, a main hall, side rooms, and a gatehouse. However, the continuous stream of incense burners and the fragrant smoke billowing from the front courtyard indicated the prosperity of this place of worship.
Mo Chuan held his teacup in one hand, his eyes scanning the passing pedestrians, while with his other hand, he slowly began to circulate the spiritual energy within his body.
Fortunately, his skills were still usable, although his spiritual energy was only at thirty percent of his true form.
Mo Chuan's eyes swept around, continuously trying to identify anyone among the crowd who might be the true soul of the Black Dragon. However, after a full half hour, he had not found anyone watching the temple.
Mo Chuan glanced at the teahouse, and his gaze immediately fell upon the statue of the Deer Immortal woman standing at the counter. Though only a few dozen centimeters tall, it was carved with lifelike detail.
Mo Chuan beckoned the teahouse proprietor, who approached him with a slight smile, asking in a rather thick Jianzhou accent, "Sir, what is it? Do you need something?"
Mo Chuan raised his hand and vaguely pointed towards the temple gate, asking, "Hello, proprietor. I've come to pay my respects to the Deer Immortal after hearing so much about her. What day is it today? Why are there so many people here?"
"Oh—" the proprietor chuckled and said to Mo Chuan, "Sir, you've picked the right day to come! Today is the Deer Immortal's birthday, and the temple is distributing offerings of fruit and tea."
The proprietor rubbed his belly and continued, "The tea here at the Deer Immortal Shrine is unlike our own. After drinking it, you feel refreshed and your body is clear. Sir, you should hurry, there might not be any left if you're late!"
Mo Chuan smiled and nodded, harboring some suspicion internally but saying nothing outwardly. He continued, "With so many people and such a small temple, won't there be problems? Is it alright without anyone supervising the scene?"
The proprietor chuckled again and pointed to the Deer Immortal Shrine, saying, "This is the Deer Immortal's sacred ground. Who would dare cause trouble? Besides, the Saintess and the Grand Master are inside, so no one would be so reckless."
"The Saintess? The Grand Master?"
"Sir," the proprietor placed his hand on Mo Chuan's shoulder and whispered, "This place is protected by the Deer Immortal. Whatever you wish to worship or ask for, no one will interfere. But there are a few pieces of advice you must remember."
"Please, proprietor."
"Firstly, the Deer Immortal itself is a seven-white-maned deer from Changbai Mountain, a vegetarian. Upon entering the temple, do not bring any raw meat or anything that has been slaughtered into the main hall. You can store them in the side rooms."
"Secondly, the Saintess resides in the mountains and visits at unspecified times each day. She has not arrived yet. The Grand Master cultivates in the temple, and the back courtyard is his place of cultivation. Do not trespass there."
"Thirdly, when you see the Deer Immortal's true statue, do not show surprise. Just offer incense and prostrate as usual."
Mo Chuan conversed with the proprietor for a few more sentences. Seeing that there were no more clues to be gleaned, Mo Chuan flipped over his teacup, stood up, and entered the temple.
The temple courtyard of the Deer Immortal Shrine was filled with a cacophony of voices, and the lingering scent of incense made Mo Chuan's eyes water. After finding his shoe, which had been stepped on by some unknown person, Mo Chuan leaned to the side, observing the scene in the main hall from a distance.
He saw many people placing offerings on the altars on both sides, then inserting several lit incense sticks into the censer in the center of the hall. They then knelt on the prayer mats on the floor, bowing and praying to the statue above, muttering incantations.
This statue…
Mo Chuan's gaze sharpened. Indeed, although the Black Dragon soul had, through some means, sculpted the bones of the White Dragon soul into the clay statue, the general facial structure, the dragon horns on its head (which resembled deer antlers), and the faint dragon aura he sensed from afar all indicated the main occupant of the clay figure.
"Strange… where is the Grand Master the proprietor mentioned…"
"The Saintess has arrived!!—"
Hearing a shout from behind him, Mo Chuan turned to see a large red sedan chair carried by eight bearers entering the shrine. The incense burners and devotees on either side parted, with some even kneeling and kowtowing several times, murmuring, "Merciful Saintess." Mo Chuan watched from within the crowd as the sedan chair was slowly carried from the main hall into the back courtyard, a strange feeling stirring within him.
"The aura from this sedan chair… it's so peculiar…"
After repeatedly questioning the jade pendant, Mo Chuan was certain that the situation had unfolded exactly as he perceived. Feeling that he absolutely had to go to the back courtyard, he activated [Phantom Shade] in a corner and stealthily entered the back courtyard.
Using his grappling hook, Mo Chuan quickly and quietly entered the back courtyard.
The sedan chair that had carried the Saintess from outside was now parked in the back courtyard. Mo Chuan cautiously peered in and gently entered a side room.
He heard the gentle sound of water flowing from the side room, accompanied by rising steam. Mo Chuan frowned and saw a plain screen. Water vapor drifted from above the screen, and through the play of light and shadow, Mo Chuan realized it was likely a wooden tub.
Before long, a black-haired woman in a red dress walked gracefully behind the screen. A few pieces of clothing were casually draped over the screen. As the sound of flowing water began, Mo Chuan guessed that the woman had entered the bath.
"Damn… starting off this intense…"
Mo Chuan had no lewd thoughts at the moment, so he decisively moved closer to the side room, looking for a way to enter.
It wasn't for anything else, mainly because he thought he might find some useful clues or items, definitely not for… Oh god, this woman is wearing a red phoenix-and-mandarin-duck bellyband, that's quite revealing.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded from outside. Mo Chuan immediately held his breath, climbed onto the beam, and began to act as a gentleman on the beam.
Wait a moment… it seems I can see from here… No, I need to hurry and see what's happening, no lewd thoughts!
Guo Dahai, dressed in a red monk's robe and having shaved his previous three-seven hairstyle, walked briskly into the side room. Seeing that no one was around, he closed the door and cast a spiritual charm. Then, with a blank expression, he asked, "Why the sudden visit? Why didn't you notify me?"
A sound like tinkling bells came from behind the screen, almost making Mo Chuan lose his composure. Then, a teasing voice asked, "When do I come, and why should I tell you? You were brought here by me, after all."
Guo Dahai's face darkened, and he said sternly, "I'm not joking with you. How are the preparations in the mountains coming along?"
The Saintess ignored Guo Dahai. She slowly rose from the bathtub behind the screen, put on her clothes piece by piece, then turned from behind the screen, holding her wet hair as she said to Guo Dahai, "The preparations are complete. Where is your blood sacrifice? Don't tell me you'll look for it at the last minute."
Listening to their conversation, Mo Chuan roughly understood what was happening: the two were preparing a sacrifice, and the sacrificial offerings were likely the residents of Huaihua Town. However, they never mentioned the purpose of the sacrifice or the object of the sacrifice.
After their conversation, the two exited the side room one after the other. Just as the Saintess walked out, Mo Chuan suddenly saw something, and his pupils contracted sharply.
On the woman's neck, there was a blood-red character "Qin."