Chapter 243 The Heavenly Lord's First Manifestation
As dusk settled, Gao Yiye walked through the county town's streets.
These past few days, she had been staying in the guest rooms behind the Chengcheng Bookstore.
Life in the county town wasn't pleasant. There were no open fields, no childhood playmates, none of the kind, smiling villagers she knew.
Everywhere she looked, she saw only narrow streets, dilapidated houses, disheartened refugees, and grim-faced officials.
Fortunately, a part of the militia had been left behind to protect her, so she wasn't entirely without companionship. Padi Tu, in particular, was an excellent conversational partner, always ready with a witty remark.
As Gao Yiye walked, she asked, “Rabbit Lord, is Mrs. San ready?”
Padi Tu chuckled. “All ready,” he replied. “Mrs. San said that as soon as the Heavenly Lord gives the signal, she and her group will set off immediately.”
Gao Yiye immediately looked up at the sky. The low-lying cloud, representing the Heavenly Lord, floated hundreds of feet above. She could clearly see the Heavenly Lord, who subtly smiled at her from within the clouds: “It is time. Go.”
Gao Yiye's spirits soared. “The Heavenly Lord has given the order! We can proceed now, let’s go!”
He turned around and called out to the militia members behind him, “Let’s move out!”
Zheng Gouzi protested from the crowd, “Rabbit Lord, why are *you* giving orders?”
Padi Tu guffawed. “When Instructor He Jiu isn't around, *this* Rabbit Lord is in charge of the militia! Isn't that obvious?”
The others chorused, “There’s no such thing!”
Padi Tu declared, “This Rabbit Lord is shrewd and clever, and I’ve earned Gao Family Village great merit on several occasions! I am the undisputed choice for vice-commander!”
If you don’t believe me, just ask the Heavenly Lord!”
Everyone looked up in unison.
Li Daoxuan chuckled, “Lift him up and toss him into the ditch by the road.”
Gao Yiye let out a peal of laughter, and relayed the Heavenly Lord’s divine decree.
Immediately, the young men of the militia hoisted Padi Tu and tossed him into the ditch. With a splash, Padi Tu emerged from the ditch, soaked in sewage. He threw up his hands, exclaiming, “Oh, dear! It seems this Rabbit still needs to work harder for the Heavenly Lord’s approval.”
He could still laugh even after being beaten, and his ability to make a fool of himself for others' amusement was quite remarkable. Li Daoxuan rather admired that about him.
The group, escorting Gao Yiye, passed through streets teeming with refugees, and arrived before the City God Temple.
Mrs. San had been waiting there for a long time. Behind her stood over a hundred devotees, all the poorest folk from the county town, each clad in rags and looking famished.
They were the first batch of devotees Mrs. San had gathered last year, and the most devout believers in the Heavenly Lord, this new deity, within Chengcheng County.
Early that morning, they had received Mrs. San’s notification to gather at the City God Temple by evening. They weren’t quite sure what it was all about, but they had obediently come to assemble.
Seeing Gao Yiye arrive, Mrs. San’s spirits lifted. “Is it time?” she asked.
“Yes!” Gao Yiye nodded. “The Heavenly Lord says we may proceed.”
Mrs. San turned and addressed the hundred-plus devotees behind her, “Listen closely, everyone. Today, I have gathered you here because I intend to lead you to an audience with the Heavenly Lord. His venerable self has promised to make a divine appearance before all of you once.”
Upon hearing this, expressions of ecstatic joy appeared on the faces of all the devotees.
Mrs. San continued, “However, the county town is bustling with many curious eyes, and there are countless common folk who do not yet know the venerable Heavenly Lord. The Heavenly Lord is benevolent and does not wish to frighten them. Therefore, he asks that we all leave the city and gather in the small grove outside the city walls for him to manifest his divine power for all of you to witness. So, everyone, let’s move.”
The devotees, harboring no doubts whatsoever, immediately and obediently followed.
Gao Yiye led the way, with the militia members guarding her. Behind them, Mrs. San followed with over a hundred believers. Such a large group, approaching the city gate, certainly drew attention.
Two old soldiers guarding the city gate quickly stepped forward to block them. “What are you people doing?” one asked. “It’s already evening; don’t go wandering outside the city walls. Bandits are rampant out there; it’s very unsafe.”
Mrs. San stepped forward, her expression solemn and dignified. “We have been blessed by the Heavenly Lord with the opportunity to meet with his venerable self. The Heavenly Lord will manifest his divinity in the woods outside the city to give us instructions.”
Normally, upon hearing such talk, the old soldiers would likely have shouted, “Seize the White Lotus cultists!” However, these two veterans had recently, along with their families and neighbors, purchased *The Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan’s Demon-Slaying Saga*, received a good amount of free grain, and read the illustrated storybook.
So, they didn’t take Mrs. San for a White Lotus cultist and opened the city gate. “Go on, go on,” one grumbled, clearing his throat. “But *The Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan’s Demon-Slaying Saga*... ahem... it’s just a storytelling performance to amuse yourselves, isn’t it? Are you really going to believe it and venture out of the city to look? You must have too much time on your hands...”
The attitude of the two old soldiers, in fact, mirrored that of most citizens in Chengcheng County.
This new god, who had appeared out of nowhere, had not yet gained the trust of the majority of the common people. Even those who had received benefits, such as some grain to eat, remained skeptical.
That’s why Li Daoxuan hadn’t acted hastily; instead, he was intervening slowly. He began by manifesting his divine presence to the most devout believers, gently seeking to win the acceptance of the county town’s populace.
One should take things slowly, especially men; being too quick isn’t good.
Mrs. San and her group left the city, with Gao Yiye leading the way. They soon reached a grove of trees east of the city. Looking back from here, the county town was already indistinct. The setting sun cast a dim, yellow light.
The grove was dry. None of the trees bore green leaves. Their desiccated branches clawed grotesquely toward the sky.
In such an eerie place, the devotees, surprisingly, showed no fear! Instead, they gazed up at the sky with devout expressions, asking, “Will the Heavenly Lord manifest here?”
Mrs. San glanced at Gao Yiye. Gao Yiye nodded.
Understanding, Mrs. San lifted *The Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan’s Demon-Slaying Saga*. She opened it to a page depicting the Heavenly Lord striking down a lobster monster with a giant hand, and announced loudly, “Attention, everyone! The Heavenly Lord is about to perform the immortal spell shown on this very page. You will have the great fortune to witness the Heavenly Lord’s giant hand, vanquishing demons and devils!”
The devotees were overjoyed. They quickly chanted, “Immeasurable blessings and longevity.”
Then, they witnessed a sight that would remain etched in their memories for the rest of their lives.
A gigantic, golden hand emerged from the clouds...
At the knuckles, a row of colorful gems was embedded.
“Wow, the storybook is in black and white, so we couldn’t tell from the pictures that the Heavenly Lord’s hand was this color!”
“I always thought it would be a flesh-colored hand, just like ours. I never imagined it would be a giant golden hand!”
“Heavenly Lord is mighty!”
The devotees roared with frenzied excitement. Then, the golden giant hand descended from the clouds, opening its palm before the devotees. Resting in its palm was a small mound made of flour balls.
Gao Yiye smiled faintly, “Take as much as you can, as much as you like. This is the Heavenly Lord’s gift to you.”
Comments