Heaven Official's Blessing Chapter 4

As events escalated, things began to spiral out of control. In the century that followed, a staggering seventeen brides vanished within the Mount Yu Jun region. Periods of peace, sometimes spanning a decade, would be abruptly broken by the disappearance of two brides within a single month. Soon, a terrifying legend took root and spread like wildfire: a ghost bridegroom was said to reside in Mount Yu Jun. This entity supposedly abducted women on their wedding day, consuming the entire wedding procession.

Initially, such occurrences would not have warranted heavenly attention. Despite the seventeen missing brides, countless others across the realm celebrated their unions without incident. There was little that could be done to find or protect the lost brides, forcing people to accept the grim reality. Families marrying off daughters in this region became fewer, and local newlyweds subdued their celebrations. However, the seventeenth bride possessed a powerful official as her father, a man who deeply cherished his daughter. Upon hearing the legend, he meticulously handpicked forty exceptionally brave and skilled military officers to escort her. Yet, even with such thorough preparations, his daughter vanished.

This time, the ghost bridegroom had truly stirred a hornet's nest. The official found no one in the mortal realm capable of assistance. In his fury, he rallied his government official friends and, in a desperate act, performed a ritual. Taking advice from an expert, this official even opened the granary to aid the impoverished. This widespread commotion finally managed to capture the attention of a Heavenly Official; otherwise, the faint pleas of mortals would have been virtually impossible to hear.

Xie Lian stated, "That is essentially the situation."

Observing the uncooperative expressions of the two martial gods, he was uncertain if they were truly listening. If they weren't, Xie Lian felt he would have no choice but to reiterate the explanation. However, contrary to his expectation, Nan Feng looked up, his brow furrowed. He inquired, "Did the missing brides share any commonalities?"

Xie Lian responded, "Some were from affluent families, others from humble backgrounds. There were beauties and those less so. Some were main wives, while others were concubines. In essence, the disappearances exhibit no discernible pattern. One simply cannot ascertain this ghost bridegroom's preferences."

"Mm," Nan Feng grunted, raising his teacup for a sip. He appeared to be deep in thought, contemplating their predicament. Fu Yao, meanwhile, did not even glance at the teacup Xie Lian offered. He meticulously wiped his fingers with a white handkerchief before indifferently asking, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, on what basis did you conclude that the spirit is a bridegroom? That assumption cannot be definitive. No one has ever witnessed it. How can you ascertain its gender, or whether it is old or young? Are you perhaps oversimplifying the matter?"

Xie Lian offered a smile before replying, "The conclusion presented in this scroll was compiled by the Heavenly Officials from Ling Wen's Palace Hall. 'The ghost bridegroom' is merely the popular designation among the populace. However, your point is indeed quite pertinent."

Following this exchange, Xie Lian recognized the sharp intellect of these two martial gods. Despite their displeased demeanors, they were not negligent in their duties, which brought Xie Lian considerable satisfaction. As the sky outside darkened, the trio departed the small teahouse for the time being. Xie Lian donned his bamboo hat and began walking. After a short distance, he suddenly noticed that the two individuals behind him were not following. Puzzled, Xie Lian turned to look, only to find them staring at him with bewilderment. Nan Feng inquired, "Where are you headed?"

Xie Lian replied, "I am seeking lodging. Fu Yao, why are you rolling your eyes again?"

Nan Feng asked again, perplexed, "Then why are you walking towards the mountains and wilderness?"

Xie Lian, quite used to sleeping rough, figured he could find shelter and perhaps start a fire, as was his usual habit. It was only after his companions pointed it out that he recalled that Nan Feng and Fu Yao, being martial gods associated with their own Palaces, could simply enter any vicinity Nan Yang or Xuan Zhen temples, negating the need to camp outdoors.

Soon, the trio discovered a dilapidated shrine tucked away in an obscure, small corner. The incense burner was shattered, and the entire place exuded an aura of neglect. An Earth God's name was inscribed upon a small, round stone tablet. Xie Lian called out to him several times. This local Earth God, unvisited and unoffered to for years, was startled by the sudden voices. Upon seeing the three figures, radiating an almost blinding divine light that obscured their faces, he leaped up in shock. Trembling, the Earth God stammered, "Does the humble me have any commands from the three Heavenly Officials?"

Xie Lian inclined his head, a gesture of greeting, and replied, "No commands. We merely wished to inquire if there are any temples dedicated to General Nan Yang or General Xuan Zhen nearby?"

The Earth God dared not delay, replying with a calculation, "About five li from here, there is a temple for offerings to... to General Nan Yang."

Xie Lian clasped his hands together in thanks. The Earth God, finding the divine radiance from Xie Lian's companions almost unbearable, quickly retreated into hiding. Xie Lian, meanwhile, rummaged for some coins to offer at the shrine, then gathered the scattered incense sticks, straightened them, and lit them. Throughout this, Fu Yao rolled his eyes so frequently Xie Lian almost asked if they were sore.

Indeed, five li further on, a temple was spotted by the roadside, appearing well-visited and prosperous. Though modest in size, it was fully equipped. The temple buzzed with activity, people coming and going. The three concealed themselves before entering. There, on the offering altar, stood a statue of the armored Nan Yang Martial God, bow in hand.

The moment Xie Lian saw the statue, a silent acknowledgement formed in his heart.

For a humble countryside temple, the statue and its paintwork were rather crude, a stark contrast to Xie Lian's impression of Feng Xin himself.

However, most Heavenly Officials were accustomed to inaccurate depictions of themselves. Many wouldn't even be recognized by their own mothers, let alone themselves. Few sculptors had ever met the Heavenly Officials in person, leading to statues that were either ethereally beautiful or grotesquely ugly. Identification relied solely on the statue's stance, weapon, and attire.

Typically, the more affluent a region, the more faithful the statue's resemblance to the Heavenly Official. Poorer areas, with artists of lesser taste, often resulted in tragic-looking statues. Curiously, General Xuan Zhen's statues were generally quite well-made. This was because while most Heavenly Officials didn't mind unsightly likenesses, Xuan Zhen would secretly destroy any poorly made statue, compelling the artist to remake it. He would even send subtle dreams to express his displeasure. Consequently, believers learned that creating a pleasing statue of their celestial patron was essential!

The personnel of the Xuan Zhen Palace Hall possessed a disposition akin to their General, exhibiting a penchant for meticulous attention to detail. Within a single shichen of their arrival at the Nan Yang temple, Fu Yao relentlessly scrutinized the intricacies of the Godly statue, finding fault with its form, deeming the paint colors gaudy, and criticizing the artist's inferior technique, even questioning the artist's peculiar taste. Witnessing the subtle bulging of Nan Feng's forehead veins, Xie Lian recognized the need to swiftly introduce a new subject for diversion. Fatefully, his gaze landed upon another young lady entering the Nan Yang temple to offer her respects. As she devoutly knelt, Xie Lian initiated a conversation, remarking warmly, "Considering everything, Nan Yang ZhenJun's dominion is in the Southeast. I hadn't anticipated the reverence for Nan Yang to be so profound even in the North."

Mortals, in their construction of temples, endeavored to mirror the grandeur of the Heavenly Palaces. The Godly statues, in turn, were intended as representations of the Heavenly Officials themselves. The congregation of believers within a temple and the fervor of their incense offerings constituted a vital source of spiritual power for a Heavenly Official. Furthermore, owing to diverse factors such as individual geographical location, historical context, societal customs, and social strata, populations in varying regions typically venerated distinct Heavenly Officials. Each Heavenly Official commanded their greatest spiritual potency within their own territory, a phenomenon known as the home field advantage. Only a celestial figure like the Martial God Heavenly Emperor, possessing adherents in every corner of the mortal realm, could transcend such limitations. His dominion was vast, with temples erected universally, rendering the concept of a 'home ground' irrelevant for Jun Wu. Nan Feng ought to have taken pride in the vigorous incense offerings at a temple situated outside his General's jurisdiction. However, the pallor of his complexion suggested this was far from a welcome development. Fu Yao, standing nearby, offered a faint smile and commented, "Not at all, not at all. General Nan Yang certainly enjoys significant affection and esteem."

Xie Lian responded, "Yet, I find myself with a query. I am uncertain..."

Nan Feng interjected, "If your intention is to articulate 'I do not know if this is something appropriate to ask,' then it would be best left unsaid."

Xie Lian's internal thought was, "No, what I wished to convey was, 'I do not know if there is anyone who can provide the answer.'"

However, Xie Lian harbored a premonition that the response to his inquiry would be far from favorable. Consequently, he resolved that altering the conversational trajectory once more would be a wiser course of action. Regrettably, just as he contemplated this, Fu Yao chose that precise moment to leisurely interject, "I am aware of your unspoken question. You must have been pondering why, among the numerous devotees present today, a significant proportion were women, is that not so?"

This was precisely the question that had been occupying Xie Lian's mind.

It was a well-established reality that a martial god typically garnered fewer female devotees compared to their male counterparts. The sole exception to this rule, occurring eight centuries prior, could be attributed to a single, straightforward reason: his physical attractiveness.

Xie Lian possessed an unclouded and comprehensive understanding of this fact. His exceptional popularity had stemmed not from his virtuous conduct or profound prestige, nor from unparalleled talent. It was solely due to the aesthetic appeal of his Godly statues and the beauty of his temples. Nearly all of his temples had been commissioned by the imperial court, and his Godly statues were crafted by the most accomplished artisans nationwide, meticulously sculpted to resemble his actual visage. Moreover, inspired by his profound declaration, 'though my body resides in the abyss, my heart remains in paradise,' artists frequently adorned his divine representations with floral motifs. They also favored transforming his temples into breathtaking seas of flowering trees. Consequently, during that era, he acquired an alternative appellation: the 'Flower Crown Martial God.' Thus, women were drawn to the exquisite beauty of his statues and the enchanting floral ambiance of his temples, which proved sufficient incentive for their pilgrimage. Fortunately, they were also inclined to grace his shrines with their presence and offerings.

Normally, martial gods would emanate a potent killing intent, making their divine statues appear solemn, fierce, or even callous. Female believers often found solace in worshipping the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin, rather than gazing upon such stern visages. While this divine statue of Nan Yang lacked overt killing intent, its appearance was far from pleasing. Yet, surprisingly, more female believers frequented Nan Yang’s shrine than male ones. To make matters stranger, Nan Feng seemed unwilling to elaborate on this observation, leaving Xie Lian quite perplexed.

Just then, a young girl concluded her prayers and turned around after lighting some incense. Her movement caught Xie Lian’s attention, and he subtly nudged the other two individuals. They, who were already curious, followed his gaze. The instant they looked, both their expressions shifted dramatically.

Fu Yao exclaimed, “So disfigured!”

Xie Lian paused, then managed to say, “Fu Yao, you shouldn’t speak that way about a girl.”

Honestly, Fu Yao’s assessment, though blunt, was accurate. The young lady’s face was remarkably flat, as if struck by a powerful blow. Describing her features as merely mediocre would be an insult to the word itself. Xie Lian suspected the only apt description involved a crooked nose and slanted eyes.

However, Xie Lian’s concern wasn’t about her looks. The primary issue was the enormous tear at the back of her skirt, a gaping hole that was impossible to overlook.

Fu Yao, initially startled, quickly regained his composure. Meanwhile, the visible veins on Nan Feng’s forehead vanished as if they had never been there.

Noticing their changed demeanors, Xie Lian quickly reassured them, “Don’t worry, don’t worry.”

The young girl then retrieved her incense and resumed her kneeling posture. She began to pray, “General Nan Yang, protect us. This believer, Little Ying, prays for the swift capture of the ghost bridegroom. Please prevent innocent people from suffering his wicked deeds…”

Her devotion was absolute, completely oblivious to the tear in her skirt or the three people observing her from the base of the divine statue. A headache began to form as Xie Lian asked, “What should we do? We can’t just let her leave like this, can we? She’ll be seen by everyone on her way home.”

Furthermore, the rip on her skirt appeared to have been deliberately made with a sharp object. Xie Lian feared that onlookers would not only stare but also mock her, turning her predicament into a public spectacle, the humiliation of which would be immense.

Fu Yao responded dismissively, “Don’t ask me. She’s not worshipping my General Xuan Zhen. If there’s no harassment, I didn’t see anything.”

On the other hand, Nan Yang’s handsome face flickered between green and white. He could only gesture helplessly, unable to utter a word. A dignified and proud deity was reduced to silence, clearly unable to assist. Xie Lian realized he had no choice but to act. After a moment’s thought, he removed his outer robe and let it drop. Carried by a gentle breeze, the robe drifted towards the young girl, covering the embarrassing hole in her skirt. With this done, the three of them let out a collective sigh of relief.

However, the gust of wind was remarkably noticeable. It startled the young girl, causing her to look around in every direction. She then removed the robe, hesitated briefly, and placed it on the statue’s altar. She remained entirely unaware of her situation. As her incense finished burning, she prepared to depart. If she were to walk out unprotected, Xie Lian feared the young lady would be too ashamed to face anyone ever again. Seeing the two people beside him stiffen further, becoming completely useless, Xie Lian sighed. Nan Feng and Fu Yao merely felt the space beside them become empty before they realized Xie Lian had already assumed a visible form and leaped down.

Within the temple, the illumination wasn't dim, yet it obscured the finer details. Xie Lian’s sudden leap stirred another breeze, causing the candle flames to dance erratically. The young maiden, referred to as Little Ying, experienced a shimmering distortion of her vision just before a man materialized from the shadows. His upper torso was uncovered. Consequently, as he reached out a hand towards her, Little Ying was utterly terrified, her spirit nearly departing her body.

As predicted, the girl let out a piercing scream. Xie Lian