It's a valley with steep peaks. In this deep valley, an uneven stone road twists and turns into the valley shrouded in white mist, and in this quiet valley can only faintly hear the sound of tinkling water.

In this uninhabited deep valley, a mother and son are walking slowly along this stone path towards the valley.

"Mother! Will Daddy be waiting for us over there? The boy shook his mother's hand and looked at the expressionless face with tears in his eyes.

"Don't cry, isn't your father waiting for us over there? You should be happy, how can you cry? Others say that my family Aotian is a dignified son, and if someone sees it, they will laugh at you. Di Lian bowed slightly, wiped away the tears on Lu Aotian's face with both hands, and said with a smile: "Aotian is so big, he should be like a man, how can he cry easily?" If you are a role model for your parents, you should be strong. What's more, now we are going to see your father, but we must not play such a child's temper in front of your father. If you want to be a little hero in your father's heart, you have to learn not to cry, this is your father's good arrogance, good son, you know? ”

"Mother! I know, I will never let my father down, let alone my mother, I want to be a little hero in my father's heart! Lu Aotian raised his little fist with tears and smiled and put it on his chest to express his determination.

"Hmmm! This is a good son of my father. Di Lian gently touched Lu Aotian's little head and said with a smile: "Go!" Let's go see your father! ”

The mother and son continued to walk forward, but Di Lian's face reflected indescribable sadness.

The Ghost Bridge, a long stone arch bridge spans the Yama River, connecting the arteries on both sides of the river. The Yama River under the bridge is boiling all the time, and the jet-black river flows slowly, like a black python interspersed in the valley. The ghost bridge was already smoky and hazy.

Seeing the ghost bridge hidden by the fog, Dilian stopped moving forward and stood quietly at the head of the bridge, quietly watching everything in front of her. Di Lian's face reflected indescribable entanglement and helplessness.

The rolling river howled like a hungry wolf, and the sound that made people stop coming to Lu Aotian's ears through the mist from time to time. Lu Aotian grabbed Di Lian's hand tightly and shook it: "Mother! What's here? I'm afraid! I'm so scared! ”

Di Lian, who was hesitating, was shocked by Lu Aotian, and gently pulled him to his side, with an incomprehensible sad smile, and said: "Don't be afraid, Aotian, this is just an ordinary stone bridge, and this sound is just the river flowing under the bridge." With your mother here, you don't have to be afraid. ”

"Mother! Is Daddy on the other side of the bridge? Lu Aotian raised his head and looked expectantly at Di Lian's gloomy face.

Lu Aotian's innocence and kindness made Di Lian unable to hold back tears. She knew that this was the wrong choice, but she had no choice but to accept it silently. Di Lian squatted down, gently touched the soft, smooth and cute little face with her hand, forced out a smile, and said, "You're right, your father is on the other side of the bridge." ”

"Mother! Why are you crying? Lu Aotian saw his eyes soaked with tears, and gently wiped his mother's tears with his little hands.

"Why is my mother crying? My mother is happy, happy that our family of three is finally going to be reunited. "Dilian is very happy because she has a good son, but now she has deceived her own child. She grabbed Lu Aotian's hands and asked softly, "Aotian!" If your mother did something sorry for you, would you forgive your mother? ”

The innocent Lu Aotian didn't know what his mother meant, but he said happily: "No matter what my mother does wrong, Aotian will never blame my mother, because in Aotian's heart, my mother will always be the best mother in the world." If there was no mother, Aotian would never know where my father was, and it was my mother who took me to find my father. ”

Lu Aotian's kindness and well-behaved made Di Lian fall into pain again. hugged Lu Aotian tightly in his arms and cried bitterly for a long time.

"Mother! Let's go find Daddy, shall we? ”

Di Lian wanted to avoid Lu Aotian, but Lu Aotian's insistence made her dare not have other ideas. In desperation, Di Lian responded: "Okay! Let's go find your father. ”

A white-bearded old man wearing a Taoist robe and holding a peachwood sword was swaying on the circular platform at the head of the bridge. Occasionally walking and jumping, occasionally shaking the sword around, and his mouth trembled all the time, not knowing what he was saying. At the foot of the stairs stood three middle-aged people, looking at their clothes, they seemed to be the hands of the old man, and around the steps not far from the group of people.

Seeing the arrival of the mother and son, everyone shifted their attention to this mother and son. The white-bearded old man who was doing the right thing also stopped and stayed on Lu Aotian.

Di Lian took Lu Aotian up the steps, facing Lu Aotian in front of him, the white-bearded old man gently put his hand on the top of Lu Aotian's head, closed his eyes tightly, and seemed to feel something. After a long time, the old man opened his eyes and said mysteriously: "The catastrophe in the clan, it is really him who is doing the trouble." ”

Lu Aotian, who was puzzled, looked at his mother Dilian next to him, and asked inexplicably: "Mother!" Who are they? What did he just say? Where's Daddy? Where's Daddy? ”

"Aotian is obedient, they are friends with their father, they said they will see your father in a while." In order to reassure Lu Aotian, in the eyes of everyone in the audience, Di Lian was forced to lie to Lu Aotian again.

At this time, the crowd watching from the audience were all like jackals, tigers and leopards, and their murderous eyes seemed to tear Lu Aotian in front of them to pieces. Some of the women also pointed at Lu Aotian and scolded: "What a broom star!" What's wrong with this Emperor Lian, you have to give birth to such a monster! What a bad luck! ”

"That's it! My child went out to play with this little thing, and he didn't come back for three days, but he was safe and sound, and said that he met some monster and ate my son? You said that this monster is also good at picking people, and instead of eating this little thing, he ate my precious son, and you said that this monster is not who he is! He also kept saying that he was also injured, and the whole body was checked and checked, and there was no wound! You say it's just a lie, and you have to kill my precious son, what kind of mistake did my son make! ”

"What kind of monster to say, he's just a broom star, a slash on him, and after a few hours, it can be restored to its original state. Soon after, there was another person in the village, and you said he was not a broom star! ”

"That's it! You see, even his own father disappeared for no reason this time, and he must have been killed by this little broom star! I don't think it's long before even his mother is killed by this little broom star! ”

……

Looking at the people in the audience, the white-bearded old Taoist said loudly to everyone: "Everyone, please rest assured, there is a Dharma protector of this Dao today, forgive him for his great ability, and he will not dare to do anything wrong in front of this Dao!" This demon is incarnated by the river god of the Yama River, as long as you beat him into his original form and throw him back into this river. From now on, there will be a turn of danger in your people, and no one will disappear without a reason. ”

After hearing this, everyone knelt down and bowed to the Yama River, even Dilian was no exception. At this time, Lu Aotian stood out like a flock, and he looked very dazzling. He looked at his mother quietly, wondering why she had to worship the river in front of her like everyone else.

After all the rituals were done, the white-bearded old man raised his head and shouted to the sky, saying: "The sky is above, and my people have been killed and injured countless times because of the bewitchment of demons. Today, this Dao protector catches this demon and takes advantage of the merits of heaven! May the heavens bless our people from this world to be safe and healthy, free from the infestation of evil spirits, and our people will worship the heavens as the public, and the world will remain unchanged! ”

Someone casually pressed Lu Aotian to the ground. saw Lu Aotian being forcibly oppressed, like a prisoner. Di Lian went to stop her, but was stopped by the other two. In desperation, Di Lian could only watch her son being forced to the ground.

"Let go of me! Let me go! I'm going to find my dad! You are all friends of my father, why do you do this to me! Give me back Daddy! Lu Ao tried his best, but he was still forced to the ground. He could only ask his mother for help, shouting to his mother in the distance: "Mother! Save me! Help me! I'm going to find my dad! I want my daddy! Mother...! ”

Ren Dilian could only wait and see from afar, and said bitterly: "Aotian! Mother, I'm sorry for you! It's my mother who hurt you..."

"Evil beasts! Today, this way is here, you still dare to be arrogant and uninhibited, and you are demagogic here! See how the Tao has beaten you back to its original form today! The white-bearded old man pointed at Lu Aotian, who was pressed in front of his feet, and said loudly, and then raised his head and said to the sky: "Sacrifice!" ”

Lu Aotian, who was pressed to the ground, was forcibly grabbed again and tied to the railing of a stone bridge in the center of the bridge.

"Let go of my son! Let go of my son! My son is innocent! Di Lian broke free from the two of them, ran towards Lu Aotian, who was tied up on the bridge, and said, "Aotian! Aotian! Don't be afraid! Mother is here to save you! ”

When the white-bearded old man heard that Di Lian wanted to save his son, he paid it back, and immediately said to everyone: "Quick! Fast! Stop her! Don't let her cast this demon! Once the demons are rampant, the world will be in chaos! ”

After everyone heard this, they all pulled Dilian on the bridge. Di Lian, who was pressed by others, could only watch Lu Aotian being tied up on the bridge railing.

"Mother! Save me! My mother promised my dad to wait here for our family reunion! Where's Daddy? Where's Daddy? Mother! Where's my dad? Why didn't he come to save Aotian? Did Aotian do something wrong? Why did Daddy's friend tie Aotian here..."Lu Aotian shouted to his mother in the distance, while carefully examining every face, hoping to find his father.

The white-bearded old man put away the peachwood sword, walked to the railing of the bridge, and looked at the black Yama River boiling under the bridge. Then he retracted his gaze and took three steps back, and said to everyone: "At this time, when you have entered the Dharma sacrifice, no one must disturb you!" Once the anger of the Heavenly Father is provoked, all of us here will be buried with us! Don't make a noise! Are you waiting for the audible to understand? ”

After hearing this, everyone held their breath, and only faint crying could be heard around, and this sound was coming from Di Lian.

The white-bearded old man held a peachwood sword in his hand, slashed left and right in the air twice, and then walked up to Lu Aotian with a bowl of filled wine in his hand and splashed it on Lu Aotian's face.

"Heaven is dead, the horse is light, get up!" The white-bearded old man raised one hand, and saw the two of them untie Lu Aotian and put it tightly on top of their heads. Looking at the standing posture, it seems that if you want to give an order, you will throw it into the river.

The dark and boiling river was in front of Lu Aotian's eyes at this time, which made him even more afraid. Lu Aotian tried his best, but he was still tightly grasped by the two of them on the top of his head, and the slowly rising heat seemed to swallow him, all wrapped around him, lingering. He was afraid, he was afraid, so he desperately shouted to his mother: "Mother! Save me! Help me! I'm afraid! I'm so scared! I want my mother to hug me! Mother...! ”

"Aotian! Aotian! My good son, my mother can't stand you! In order to be able to see Lu Aotian again, Di Lian knelt down heavily to everyone in front of her, and said, "I beg you, just let me see Aotian again, even if it's the last time." He was still young, but I deceived him as a mother, so I let my mother bear all this instead of my son......"

The white-bearded old man heard Di Lian's cry, and his speed was even faster.

"Hell is dripping, the world is healthy, fall!" With one hand, the two of them immediately threw it under the bridge, only to hear a plop, and everything was immersed in silence with the last drop of water.

Who can understand the reason for this? The shabby tears were about to soak her entire heart, and no one had cried so many times like her, and woke up in a terrible nightmare. Looking at the dark Yama River that was boiling and flowing throughout the valley, Di Lian had the heart to seek death, but was stopped by the villagers risking death.

"Alas! Why do you think you do this? We are both mothers who have lost their children, and none of us feel uncomfortable. After so many years, what can I not endure anymore? A woman hugged Di Lian, looking at Di Lian whose face was full of tears, and her heart twitched.

Despite the help of others, Dilian still knelt on the ground and could not stand from time to time. A bright red blood mark was knocked on the bridge on his forehead. The tears never stopped, and the circles under my eyes were already red and swollen. Looking at the face in front of him, Di Lian said: "I can't stand everyone, everyone who harmed me suffers together." If it weren't for my unassailable child, you wouldn't..."

"What are you talking about? It's been so long, and what is he doing? Which of us mothers is not for the sake of our children? But who knew it would turn out like this? ”

"That's right! Now that it's been so long, don't talk about it again. ”

Seeing that everyone was so persuading Di Lian, the white-bearded old man touched his beard with one hand, thought for a while with the light in his eyes, pursed his lips and smiled, and said to the three people behind him: "Go!" Lift the child's mother up. ”

Two of them walked into the crowd and helped Dilian up. The white-bearded old man also strolled towards her, and when everyone saw this, they all flashed a way for him.

The white-bearded old man didn't rush to say anything, just wiped his beard with one hand, looked the emperor up and down, and then took a deep breath of cold air and said: "Poor Dao is also for the people, and it is forced to do it!" Please don't hold a grudge against the poor! ”

Di Lian turned around and glanced under the bridge, then nodded to the white-bearded old man, and said, "The Venerable Driver is also like this for us, so what do I have to complain about?" ”

"As the saying goes, people can't be resurrected after death, so you should mourn by the way!"

Di Lian didn't say anything, just turned to look at the Yan Luo River under the bridge, silently thinking about the pain.

Looking at the rest of the people, the white-bearded old man coughed heavily, and said in a solemn tone, "It's not too early, you should go back too." ”

With such a tone, everyone didn't understand in their hearts, and they just glanced at Di Lian, shook their heads, and dispersed with a sigh of mourning.

The white-bearded old man didn't say anything more, just glanced back at Di Lian, and went with the three of them.

The cold wind buzzed in her ears, and her messy hair was already covered by the wind, and it was impossible to see who she was. It's just that the gaze that stayed under the bridge never stopped for a moment. Suddenly, a sour laugh suddenly resounded throughout the valley, and the slumped body left the ghost bridge with a sour laugh, and walked in the direction of a stone road back and forth.

Looking at the disappearing figure at the bottom of the valley, the white-bearded old man just glanced up at the blue sky without a little white cloud, and walked towards a forest.

"You have done a good job, and the Lord will not treat you badly. But you have neglected one thing and kept what you shouldn't have kept. A young girl dressed in red carried her back to the person behind her.

"Is it the mother of the child that Our Lady said?" The white-bearded old man thought for a while, and said to the back in front of him: "What threat can a mother who has lost a child pose to us?" Moreover, the child's mother had become so sad that she had become insane. Why kill a madman? ”

"Cutting the grass does not remove the roots, the spring breeze blows and grows, don't you even understand this truth?"

"Rest assured! I've already counted the child's mother, and she won't live for a few months. We don't need to do anything more. "The white-bearded old way is very firm.

"Too much?" The girl in red continued to ask, "In my opinion, you are shielding them, right?" ”

"Our Lady of Sight! As the saying goes, the bird will die, its song will mourn, the man will die, and its words are good, what I say is true, Our Lady should not speculate! The white-bearded old man knelt on the ground, hoping that the girl in front of him would open up to them.

"If you're so accurate, when will you end up with yourself?"

"Bang!" A skull, covered in blood and with a hint of foul odor, suddenly smashed into the blades of grass in front of them. The skull, which was too hard to look at, also had some fleshy residue on it. Obviously, this has been eaten by something. But who would be so cruel and perverted, it is really the anger of people and gods! This caused the four of them to vomit incessantly. At the same time, they couldn't help but shift their gaze to the girl in front of them.

The crowd felt the shadow of death begin to approach them.

Soon, there were several screams in the woods, and a flock of startled chaffins suddenly flew out and streaked across the woods, and they didn't know where they landed.