Passing through a winding passage, the faltering blue flame finally stopped in front of an incense stand.

It is said that it is an incense platform, but in fact it is just a small earthen bag, on which a mottled bronze tripod is placed, and the tripod is full of thick incense ash.

Behind the incense platform is a boxy earthen pit, around which many incomprehensible characters are drawn with red brushes, and a brilliant gem is inlaid in the pit.

This kind of ritual has been experienced many times recently, and without waiting for the village chief to remind him, he has already unloaded the coffin he was carrying and slowly put it into the big pit.

The pit fits seamlessly into the coffin, and the gems at the bottom of the pit are firmly embedded in the dragon's head carved at the bottom of the coffin.

The village chief took out three sticks of white incense from his arms, respectfully inserted them into the ding, and then led everyone to kneel down facing the coffin.

"Worship the land of Chengguang Village, protect the safety of this place, and the living people are safe.

Second, I worship the compassion of Lingxiao Taoist people, and promise me to wait for 14 years to make Chengguang Village continue.

The three respects are worthy of the Venerable Master's life, and I wish the descendants of Chengguang Village no disasters and no difficulties, peace and security. ”

The village chief led everyone to kneel and bow nine times, their faces were full of solemnity, this seemed to be the most sacred thing in their lives.

As they moved, the inscriptions around the pit lit up one by one, and the coffins in the pit buzzed, until they slowly regained their calm after they approached and helped the old village chief up.

The old village chief seemed to be older than just now, and he was even a little shaky when he stood up, and he stubbornly pushed away the hand that was stretched out to help him, insisting on standing up by himself.

The old village chief who stood up seemed to be dizzy, and he was about to fall into the pit, but fortunately he was not able to support him in time.

"It doesn't matter." The old village chief pushed away again: "It's just that there were stones on the ground just now, and they don't get in the way." ”

Without a look of worry, when he helped the village chief, he felt that the village chief's hand was unusually cold, and the tentacles were like touching a large lump of ice: "You ......"

"I'm fine!"

The old village chief raised his voice and roared, startling the people next to him.

"Everyone will grow old, and everyone has such a day." As if sensing that his tone just now was a little heavy, the old village chief smiled apologetically: "Just like here, generations of people in our village have been lying here, through this magic circle laid by our ancestors, turning our doomed flesh into the purest energy to protect our home. We've never disappeared, and even those who have passed away are still there for us, aren't they? ”

Speaking of this, the old village chief suddenly paused: "But put an end to it...... You're different. ”

He stretched out his hand to the coffin and asked, "Do you know why I didn't let you kneel?" ”

Dem shook his head, he was also curious about this, obviously he was also a member of the village, but the village chief did not allow him to participate in any rituals in the village every time. Even if you are allowed to come with the coffin on your back during the funeral, you are not allowed to participate in the bowing.

"You're not like us old guys." Looking at the coffin, the village chief's eyes were full of complexity: "We guys are old, and we have to lie in that coffin after all, but you are still young, you must leave Chengguang Village in the future and go to a farther place to have a look." ”

"Further afield?" He didn't want to leave the village, and his wish since he was a child was to stay in the village and live a carefree life.

But he usually doesn't dare to say this, every time he says this to his mother, his mother will angrily scold him for being unproductive.

glanced at the old village chief, and didn't dare to directly tell the old village chief that he wanted to live in the village for the rest of his life, and he would definitely be scolded. So I had to prevaricate casually: "This... I'll talk about that later. ”

"No need for later!" What he didn't expect was that the old village chief made a categorical decision: "I can see it, it is because we have protected you too well that you will develop this kind of procrastination character!" I'll help you check the day, a week later, it is the time when winter and summer yin and yang meet, with the blessing of the god of light, good luck! I've already told your mother, so you'll go out at that time! ”

"Huh? A week later? Sub-hour? Don't, grandpa the village chief, let's discuss it again! ”

Before he could stop it, the village chief had already turned his head and left, and the old man, who couldn't even stand on his feet just now, suddenly walked like a fly, and disappeared into the darkness in a puff of smoke.

"Fourth grandfather, look at that old man, it's just unreasonable!" Prevent turning his head and complaining to the suona maker who didn't know when he stood next to him and eavesdropped, which made the suona maker laugh.

"I see, what your village chief grandfather said is right. Your kid's martial arts have improved a lot recently, and now even I can find out, so it's good to go out and practice. ”

"Wherever you are, it's all good for you and your third uncle."

"Give me less hippie smiles." The suona craftsman scolded with a smile, stretched out his hand and snuffed out the blue fire in the lantern: "Hurry up, I don't care if you lose it in the cave later." ”

The ancestral training has clouds, and when entering the cave, you must light a blue fire and walk in line, otherwise it is easy to lead lonely souls and wild ghosts into the village to harm children.

But after worshipping the ancestors, you can leave at will, and after worshipping, the spirits of the ancestors will be awakened, and those lonely souls and wild ghosts will not dare to be presumptuous at all with the protection of the ancestors.

Seeing the funeral procession leave one by one, he could only sigh deeply, grabbed the rope of the coffin in the pit again, and put the coffin on his back again.

This coffin is a ritual vessel enshrined in Chengguang Village, and all the deceased must be buried through it, and it must not be thrown here at will.

The two old urchins ran away, and this coffin was obviously left for him to carry, and he couldn't let the other uncles and aunts in the funeral procession carry it, those of them who didn't know martial arts, even if the four of them were together, they couldn't lift this coffin.

"The outside world." put an end to muttering, in fact, he didn't refuse to go out so much, but the time was so urgent, and he left like this, and his mother might not be worried.

"Let's go back and talk about it." The boy shook his head, shook off the thoughts that had upset him, and strode after the large army in front of him.

After everyone left, a short old man appeared in front of the incense platform, looked at the obvious rune around the earthen pit, and sighed softly.

"There are only thirty-one left, I don't know how long these days can last......"