The mist in the mountains is like a veil of mist that envelops the rolling hills. There are large and small stilted buildings scattered among the mountains, and Li Jiangwei and their group of guests from the capital live in them.

In the early morning, the sky is beginning to light, and the time is still early. Li Jiangwei was on the second floor of the stilted building, looking out, her thoughts drifting away.

Everything in Fuyang is very new, the myths and legends heard on the road and the distinctive clothes and decorations seen on the street opened her eyes.

After a while, a little maid from Fuyang came over to spread the word, and today's breakfast was ready downstairs.

Because of their status, Yu Yongyi and Lu Jiangfeng were arranged to live in the palace. Li Jiangwei and Situ Ran, along with other people from the capital, arranged to live in a stilted building in the middle of the city.

The two girls lived in the same room, and when Situ Ran finished washing, he asked Li Jiangwei, "What's wrong?" What's there to see out there? ”

Li Jiangwei heard the question, smiled at her, and replied, "I'm wondering if that vacant land is a place to pray for blessings." ”

Situ Ran came over, and Li Jiangwei stretched out his hand to show her.

It was a flat clearing, and braziers stood at all four corners. The stilted building was so close to the clearing that they could even see the blackened marks of the brazier.

"Probably. Will you go down and ask later? ”

"I remember that Tian Zheng didn't enter the palace, why don't you go to him and ask?"

"I'm not in good health and want to rest a little more. If you want to know more about the scenery of Fuyang, just go and take a look. Come back in the evening so that you can explain it to me in detail. ”

"Your Highness and the Prince, they're not coming back?"

Li Jiangwei can more or less guess the blessing, and Lu Jiangfeng's help is indispensable. As for Yu Yongyi, according to his identity, leaving the palace to live in the city is obviously an act of etiquette.

"I can't go back if I want to."

Situ Ran nodded thoughtfully, and asked casually, "Do you want to go down for breakfast now?" ”

"Eat."

The leisurely Fuyang relieved Li Jiangwei, who had been nervous for a long time. This slow-paced life gives the overdrawn tired body a chance to relax.

After lunch, Situ Ran mentioned the idea of shopping around to Tian Zheng. Li Jiangwei returned to the room, took out her outline settings, and prepared to write the main text. Fuyang is quiet, and there is no one around, so it is a good time to write.

At the same time that Li Jiangwei put down the pen, Tian Zheng led Situ Ran to the open space near his residence. When I looked closer, I realized that a place was not an empty space, but more like an open-air stage. In the direction they came, there were two low staircases.

"This is the altar where the sacrifice on the day of the winter solstice is held. At that time, the braziers at the four corners will rise into flames, and a carpet of delicate embroidery will be laid on the ground. The king of Fuyang prayed for the high priest with a dance, and the witch gave a prayer. Each of the four parties has a backup dancer, and while dancing, he recites the greeting with the witch and the lawsuit. ”

When mentioning Wu Zhu, Tian Zheng looked at Situ Ran intentionally or unintentionally, and said with emotion: "If Bai Lingwu does not enter Beijing, the person who serves as Wu Zhu is likely to be you." Whether it is a priest or a witch wish, they are all served by the bloodline of the Bai family. However, the Bai family's bloodline withered, and it was passed on to this generation, and only King Fuyang was left. ”

"What about this year's witch wishes?"

"It is my master, Granny Qi." At this time, Tian Zheng's eyebrows showed a little worry, "Since there are records, this is the first time that someone other than the Bai clan has served as a witch. I'm a little worried that Master, she won't be able to bear it. ”

"It's just a lawsuit, there's nothing to eat."

Situ Ran's words, Tian Zheng responded with a long sigh.

"Do you want to walk around the city, or do you want to go with me to the terraces?" Tian Zheng pointed to the magnificent terraced rice fields in the distance and asked, "The scenery over there is good." ”

"I'm not familiar with the neighborhood, it's up to you."

"That's good!" Tian Zheng smiled: "I'll take you to see the little shrine!" ”

The road was not easy to walk, and it took a lot of time for the two to reach the foot of the mountain. Situ Ran found that there were traces of cats everywhere along the way. On the roofs of many stilted buildings, cats sleep. From time to time, you can also see a few cats walking leisurely on the road.

I have seen all kinds of cats, but I have never seen a white cat.

"Aren't there white cats here?"

"Yes." Tian Zheng pointed to a magnificent building on another hill and said, "It's all in the palace." ”

"That's ......"

"Don't be surprised, white cats are holy beasts in Fuyang, and it's impossible to let them live on the streets."

Situ Ran nodded thoughtfully.

"Look!" Tian Zheng shouted excitedly, pointing to a small shrine half a person high, "There is a cat shrine there." ”

This figurine of the cat shrine, which is simply carved out of stone, is the image of a white cat in a small room. Hundreds of years ago, it may be called a beautiful sentence. In the present view, the lines are very rough, and the depiction of the cat is not fine enough.

There are many melons and fruits under the cat shrine, and the cat in the shrine also has a small bone necklace around its neck. The crooked hook looks like some kind of beast's teeth or claws.

"We believe that animal bones have spirituality, and animal bones serve as a medium to communicate spiritual power." Tian Zheng said: "Those who can decorate a large number of animal bones on their bodies are not ordinary people. Ordinary people prefer delicate colored embroidery as decoration. Only for happy events or funerals at home, animal bones will be brought. ”

"What you saw on the stall before?"

Tian Zheng smiled: "You mean the animal bones sold in that small town along the coast." It was made of fish bones, not animal bones in the orthodox sense. People by the sea prefer to decorate with shells, which are hung in bunches by the windows. When the sea breeze blows, you can hear the sound of shells colliding. ”

After saying this, Tian Zheng bowed to the cat shrine and read something in a language that Situ Ran couldn't understand.

"Once upon a time we had enemies stronger than men." Tian Zheng suddenly said officially, "Whether it is the sky or the jungle, there are traces of them. It was not until the birth of the Witch Ancestor that our human race survived without suffering to this day. Since then, Wu Zu has appeared frequently, and even has descendants with the human race. Fuya was blessed and lived in peace until the disaster a hundred years ago. ”

"Everything in Fuya was given by Wu Zu. However, the tyrant king hurt Wu Zu because of his own selfishness. Wu Zu took pity on the world and was unwilling to punish him, but he was also heartbroken and returned to the heavenly realm and never came to the world again. These cat shrines, the newest of which are also 100 years old. After Wu Zu no longer came into the world, people's respect for Wu Zu also weakened a little. ”

The old shrines would also habitually offer a few melons and fruits, but no one was willing to build a new shrine temple for Wu Zu anymore.

"After a morning of walking in the mountains, you should be tired."

Situ Ran has lived in the capital for a long time, and rarely has a moment to go up the mountain, and he has been tired along the way.

"Rest for a while, let's go down! Take you around town! ”