Chapter 40: Invoking the Deity

Inside the temple, the two or three dozen people present stared at Du Yuan and the deity statue beside him with a mixture of awe and bewilderment.

After a long while, the woman finally broke the silence. She was the first to bow, saying:

"My name is Han Tang, a daughter of the Han clan of Yidu. Our lineage began in Qilu. My grandfather served as a Gentleman of the Secretariat, and my father was the Governor of Qingzhou. Many of our kin hold official positions. You could say our clan is prosperous and deeply respected."

"Today, I have been fortunate enough to witness your divine power, Daoist. Therefore, I boldly and respectfully invite you to join the Han clan and accept our offerings. Should you do so, you would be treated with the same status as my grandfather, acting as the one who steers the wind and guides the rudder for the Han clan!"

The Han clan of Yidu was certainly not on par with the "Five Surnames and Seven Clans." But then again, where in this world could one find a great clan that truly rivaled the Five Surnames and Seven Clans? Even the Imperial family could not claim that. After all, dynasties rise and fall, and emperors sit on the throne in turn, yet the Five Surnames and Seven Clans remain firmly seated, looking down upon the mountains and rivers like masters of the game.

For this reason, she was determined to secure this living immortal for the Han clan. The ability to drive away evil spirits and slay demons from afar was unheard of! If she succeeded, she believed she could even add a new name to the list of the great clans.

However, she was destined for disappointment, as Du Yuan simply shook his head with a smile:

"While your kindness toward me earlier may have been mingled with calculation, it was rooted in a fundamentally good nature, and thus I was willing to repay that kindness. But now, your offer is driven by your own benefit. My heart is set on relieving the suffering of the world! How could I abandon the greater family of all mankind for the sake of a minor one?"

The Han clan was large, but how could it compare to the entire world? How could wealth and glory be mentioned in the same breath as the well-being of all people? Do not be greedy; our connection ends here.

This was everything the woman heard. Her heart sank, as if she had encountered a windfall only to see it slip through her fingers immediately. She had clearly seen the path to ascending the heavens, yet it remained forever out of reach.

The many guards dared not speak, and could only follow their mistress in bowing to Du Yuan. As for the two men who had started it all, they remained unconscious—Du Yuan could even hear their snoring.

A moment later, however, her eyes lit up as she looked toward the dilapidated altar. If she could not invite the living immortal into the Han clan, could she perhaps invite this Mountain God?

In all honesty, among everything she saw tonight, Du Yuan was indeed more unfathomable, given that he had slain the monster the Mountain God could not. Furthermore, Du Yuan was a living person—someone with whom one could communicate and interact in the world. The Mountain God, however, remained seated upon his altar, far removed from her Han clan of Yidu.

But since the Daoist could not be swayed, the Mountain God must be secured. And at least the Mountain God was not as devoid of desire as the Daoist. The incense that the Han clan could provide would surely please him!

Yet, she had to be careful with her words.

"The Daoist’s heart is set on the world; I was foolish. But since I have been saved by both you and the Mountain God tonight, how could I not show my gratitude?"

"Therefore, I wish to invite you, Daoist, to stay with the Han clan for a while so that we may entertain you. Secondly, I wish to ask how I might go about casting a new golden body for the Mountain God and renovating this temple."

Du Yuan stood with his hands behind his back and looked at her. "You wish to invite this one to protect your Han clan?"

Han Tang did not maintain her bowing posture but knelt deeply on the ground, bowing to both Du Yuan and the deity statue. Seeing this, the guards were terrified and quickly scrambled to their knees. Their mistress was a noblewoman bestowed with the title of Lady of Wutong County by the Imperial court—a legitimate official of the sixth rank. Apart from Heaven, Earth, the Emperor, their parents, and their teachers, there was no one who could make her kneel. Even when facing the Emperor, she only needed to kneel during important ceremonies like state sacrifices. Yet now, she was kneeling before Du Yuan.

"The Daoist is the highest master I have ever met in my life, and the Mountain God is the only deity who has protected me."

"In private, I must repay the debt of saving my life. In public..." The woman lowered her head further. "I was born into the Han clan and, blessed by the protection of my kin, was granted the title of County Lady. My life has been one of wealth and ease. I have had no worries in youth, and have none now. How could I ever forget the grace of my clan?"

"Therefore, I naturally hope to invite both of you to accept the offerings of the Han clan!"

After much deliberation, she decided to tell the truth. One should never play foolish tricks with such high-level beings. That would be a path to certain death.

Du Yuan stared at her intently for a long time, then finally said with a smile: "At least you are honest."

Hearing Du Yuan’s light laugh, the woman nearly collapsed from relief. She had guessed correctly; she had to be honest! She had experienced two situations before where she dared not speculate or maneuver.

The first was when she, blessed by her grandfather, was granted the title of County Lady and met the Emperor. The Emperor, hailed as a hero-king, sat upon the dragon throne with boundless majesty. But that majesty came largely from the laws of the court, the armies of the world, and the complex, indistinguishable web of grievances and debts between the noble families and the Imperial house.

As for the second situation—it was today! This was no longer the majesty of a human, but something else entirely: a true, transcendent power looking down upon the world!

"However, whether this one agrees or not is not for me to decide."

"You are a true master, Daoist. You must know the way. Please, show me how I can cast a golden body, repair the temple, and offer incense to the Mountain God."

Du Yuan looked back at the dilapidated statue and then at the pitiful temple. He thought of the situation where this deity had remembered even his single stick of incense...

Very well, everyone takes what they need. I will build the bridge; whether it succeeds or not depends on their own thoughts and fate. However, there was one condition.

Du Yuan did not look at the woman, but turned to bow toward the statue and asked: "I will attempt to arrange this. Are you willing?"

"Hmm."

The voice surfaced in his ears once more. With the deity’s consent, Du Yuan had no more concerns. He turned back to the woman and asked: "Are you truly certain?"

Han Tang was overjoyed. "Certainly!"

Du Yuan asked again: "Will your clan truly agree?"

"How could they not agree to such a magnificent blessing!"

Du Yuan nodded. "Very well. You seek the protection of this one, so you must measure this mountain with your own feet."

"Only then, having seen the true nature of this place, will you understand your own desires and show the sincerity of your heart. When that is done, you may return to your Han clan and discuss the casting of the statue and the repair of the temple."

"Remember, since you are asking for the protection of a Mountain God, you must walk the path yourself."

The woman hurriedly kowtowed. "I understand!"

"Good."

"May I begin now?"

Du Yuan glanced at the statue, and seeing no objection, he said: "If you feel you can, then go."

The woman let out a long breath. Such matters were best secured as soon as possible. After bowing to Du Yuan once more, she said: "It is not that I wish to neglect you, Daoist, but the matter of inviting a god is too significant for a woman like me. I beg your forbearance. Once this is concluded, I will surely come to your door to apologize and pay my respects for your grace."

Du Yuan waved his hand and smiled. "Think nothing of it."