Gao Ming walked along the rugged mountain road with the Taoist.

The sky was dark and there was still a faint glow of light on the day. Before he had gone a few steps, the light was already dark.

Fortunately, the night sky is clear, and a bright moon in the sky can vaguely illuminate the way forward.

The two walked in silence.

Gao Ming suddenly asked, "Dao Chief, do you know the road?"

The man replied, "The poor way comes from the east, and you can go out by going all the way east." ”

When Gao Ming heard this, he didn't say anything more, and continued to bury his head in the road.

Both are people who don't talk much. Gao Ming and the man didn't have anything to say, and they hurried quietly along the way.

The wilderness is lonely, and when I look up into the distance, I don't know whether it is a mountain rock or a big tree. Clusters of shadows crept around in all directions.

Don't think too much about walking on this night mountain trail, if you are a suspicious person, I am afraid that you will be too scared to walk.

It's okay to walk a short distance, but if you walk a long distance, no matter how brave you are, you will inevitably be afraid in your heart.

Gao Ming also suppressed all the distractions in his heart and concentrated on the road. Don't think about it, you can be bolder. Once you think about it, the more you think about it, the more scared you become, for fear that something unknown will emerge from the darkness.

The Taoist just silently followed Gao Ming's left and right. Gao Ming quietly glanced at him from the corner of his eye from time to time. When I find him, I can settle down, at least I know that there is someone with me.

The two walked silently for a while, and suddenly saw a tall black figure squatting on the side of the road in front of them.

The two took a closer look, and it turned out to be a ruined temple.

Gao Ming turned back to the man and said, "The patriarch told me before that there is a temple of eight dragons on the way out of the mountain, and you can rest in the temple for one night, and the cow ghosts, snakes, and gods dare not invade it. ”

Originally, the patriarch said that with the strength of his roaring feet, he would be able to reach before sunset. Now I've delayed those efforts, and now it's only here.

But I only heard the Taoist say plainly: "How can there be such a miracle, the folk superstition." ”

“......”

Gao Ming was speechless for a while, and secretly scolded the old patriarch in his heart.

Gao Ming said, "What should we do? We can't make a night trip, right?"

The Taoist chief replied: "With the current strength of the feet, even if we drive all night and walk until the early hours of the morning, we will only reach Donghe Village. ”

"Well, why don't we go inside and rest for the night? ”

The Taoist pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Yes." ”

Well, yes.

is worthy of being a Taoist, and the efficiency of speaking is high. Gao Ming turned around and walked towards the ruined temple first.

The inside of the ruined temple is as dilapidated as it can be seen from the outside. The doors and windows of the wood were tattered, and the lacquer was peeling.

When I walked to the threshold, I saw a woman depicted above the threshold, and I thought it was the eight swords. I saw that the so-called Eight Dragons Niangniang had long hair and curls, no strands on her body, and her two jade arms were stretched. And the strange thing is that this lady has six legs on her back, like an inverted version of Guanyin with a thousand hands, upside down.

Gao Ming shook his head and strode in.

The room was also dusty, and through the moonlight behind him, you could faintly see animal droppings. There is a stone statue in the center, with arms stretched out, and six legs on its back, which is obviously the so-called Eight Dragons Niangniang.

It's just that the tent in front of the stone statue is broken, and the stone statue itself is also broken and tattered. I don't know where the head rolled, and two of the six legs were broken. There is a thick layer of spider webs on the stone statue, and I don't know how many snakes, insects, rats and ants make nests here.

This dilapidated temple has obviously been abandoned for many years, and no one worships it, let alone repairs it.

Just rely on this, to protect yourself from harm?

Gao Ming sighed and said to the Taoist behind him, "Can you still rest in this place?"

The Taoist said: "The barren mountains and wilderness, the dome carpet, can not rest. ”

With that, he walked in first.

Gao Ming pursed his lips, crooked his mouth and made a grimace and quietly learned from the man: "Dome carpet, don't rest!"

But he also followed the Taoist in.

The Taoist said, "Go behind the stone statue and have a look." ”

The two of them turned behind the statue.

It was pitch black inside, and the light couldn't shine.

The Taoist took out the fire fold from his baggage and set it on fire. I saw that although the ground was also full of dust, there was no dung of wild beasts, and it was quite clean. However, there was already a nest of spiders behind the stone statue, building webs to make nests. At this moment, it was illuminated by the firelight, and it slowly stirred, and it seemed quite uneasy.

The Taoist raised two fingers, bowed to the spiders, and said, "Little layman, pass through here on a poor road and spend the night." I won't bother you, and you won't bother me. ”

Strange to say, the spider seemed to understand human speech, and actually settled down.

The Taoist went to the other side to find a corner, put the bronze beast compass aside, and cleaned the corner.

Then, the Taoist sat down cross-legged in the corner and placed the bronze beast compass on the ground in front of him.

"Little Taoist friend, just stay here for a while. ”

This person behaves indifferently and casually, it can really be said that he is safe in his actions and safe in his sitting, and he is stunned for a while.

Is this the way of nature?

Gao Ming sighed a little, and he also had some feelings in his heart.

Gao Ming walked over and sat down next to the Taoist, leaning his back against the wall, silently in a daze.

Unexpectedly, the Taoist who was silent opened his mouth: "Little Daoist, do you know where these eight dragons are sacred?"

Gao Ming sneered: "How do I know this." ”

But the man said, "Before I came, Poor Dao had done his homework and deliberately checked the classics. There is a little record in the classics that there is indeed a mountain near here, commonly known as the Eight Crab Mountain. In the past, the nearby villagers did worship an eight-crab Niangniang. ”

"Oh, then, these eight frog girls are still the local mountain god land or something?"

The Taoist shook his head: "No, no." This so-called Eight Dragons is neither a god nor a saint. ”

Gao Ming said: "It's not a god or a saint, is it still a monster?" Anyway, we're in her temple now, and it's not good to say bad things about her in front of her?"

The Taoist shook his head and said, "Do you know what the villagers use to worship her?"

Gao Ming looked at the Taoist in bewilderment: "Flowers, fruits, vegetables, chickens, ducks, fish, meat, is it possible to cook cattle and slaughter sheep? Are they willing?"

The Taoist always shook his head: "If you are reluctant, you can't help them." These sacrifices were just ordinary offerings, and they had one of their main offerings. ”

Gao Ming had a bad premonition in his heart: "What?"

"Old people and small children. ”

Gao Ming's heart was cold.

When I watched Journey to the West when I was a child, there were many monsters who used children as sacrifices. How could Gao Ming not know?

It's just that, after all, those are separated by books and TV, and now, they are happening all around us. And he happens to be in this monster's temple without dying!

Gao Ming asked in a trembling voice, "This, then what are we still doing here?"

Gao Ming was frightened in his heart, and secretly blamed this person, you obviously know that this is a monster's lair, but you brought me in, what can you do now? Don't you run away quickly!

Suddenly, Gao Ming suddenly woke up, what is this person here for? Isn't he here to catch demons?

Gao Ming was shocked and angrily asked, "You have already figured it out? You brought me in on purpose? You just want to catch monsters here?"

The Taoist shook his head slowly, and said unhurriedly: "Little Daoyou, look around here, it still looks like there are monsters." ”

Gao Ming looked around and suddenly woke up, yes, this ruined temple has long been abandoned, it is in tatters and dusty everywhere, where are there any monsters.

Gao Ming muttered dissatisfiedly, "Then why are you scaring me for no reason." ”

The Taoist said: "Poor Dao just told you about these eight dragons, so that you don't have illusions." Pray that she will bless you, and you might as well be more mindful at night and be smart. ”

Gao Ming hugged his fists angrily: "Okay Dao Chief, I thank you!"

Gao Ming leaned his head against the wall. Looking at the night, it's not too early, so let's take a break.

Thinking about it, he closed his eyes. But somehow, I always think about this eight crab mothers in my heart, but I can't calm down and can't sleep.

Gao Ming was suddenly curious, and asked the chief out loud: "Eh, I heard that this monster likes to eat children, and the flesh of children is tender, but what does this monster want the old man to do besides children? The old man doesn't have a few taels of meat." ”

The Taoist had already closed his eyes and meditated, resting and recuperating. Hearing Gao Ming's question, he didn't open his eyes, but he also replied.

I only heard him say lightly: "All the children, which one is willing to give up?" The monster promised everyone, except for the lowest number of children, the rest can be filled by the old man. ”

The Taoist priest said indifferently, but Gao Ming trembled when he heard it. When I think about it, I just feel a chill down my spine.

Gao Ming couldn't help but be frightened: "This ...... This monster ......"

The Taoist was silent. Oh, with a sigh: "Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable!"

This monster knows that no one is willing to eat children. What village is willing to give all its children to the monsters to eat? Therefore, it came up with a good "plan", that is, to give up part of its own blessings in exchange for the stable obedience of the villagers. Parents are reluctant to give away their immature children, but they are willing to send away old parents.

Gao Ming smiled bitterly in his heart, is this human nature?

This monster is so psychic, and it can pinch human nature so accurately. On the one hand, it is coercion, and on the other hand, it is the grasp of the inferior roots of human nature.

"This is, Great Demon!" Gao Ming said gritting his teeth and hatingly.

I only heard the Taoist chief say calmly: "It's a big demon." But why are you so angry?"

Gao Ming was stunned: "I, am I angry?"

"Didn't you?"

Gao Ming raised his head and scanned the darkness around him blankly: "I, am I angry?"

He lowered his head again, a little puzzled, and muttered, "Why am I, angry?"

"Because, that monster is the root of all human nature, including you! That monster has revealed the ugly side of human beings to the world. ”

The voice of the Taoist chief was always calm and indifferent, but it was like a Hong Zhong Da Lu, ringing in Gao Ming's ears.

"When people discover their weaknesses, the first thing that comes to mind is not how to reflect and correct, but anger and concealment. ”

Gao Ming's eyes widened in the darkness in a daze, and after a long time, he came back to his senses and saluted the Taoist respectfully: "Thank you, Daoist, I have been taught." ”

This time, it's a sincere thank you.

The Taoist opened his eyes in the dark, looked at Gao Ming, and suddenly sighed: "If you weren't a person who believes in the palace, how good it would be." ”