Chapter 2 Deserted Temple and Haunted House
If anyone followed Phytolacca into the small courtyard, they would definitely be very surprised.
Because this place doesn't look like a haunted house that has been abandoned for many years.
Not only were the weeds cleaned up, but the house was also well repaired. Spider webs, thick dust, snakes, rats, mosquitoes, etc. that are standard features of a haunted house are all missing here.
There is even a faint fragrance in the air. It's a bit like the scent of real incense coming from a temple. After smelling it, people's minds will calm down.
All of these things can be seen at first glance as the result of the owner's efforts to tidy up and clean the house every day.
The only thing related to the haunted house may be that the trees in the yard are growing so well that they were not affected by the cold winter that just passed. The lush branches and leaves cover the sky like a dome, making the yard very dark even during the day.
However, after Shangwei pushed the door open, little spots of light spilled into the courtyard through the dense leaves, illuminating the world.
After crossing the threshold and closing the courtyard door, Shang Lu walked towards the center of the courtyard while talking about his experience in the Yamen today:
"Ma Baotou asked me to recuperate at home, and I didn't have to go to the Yamen to order my meal before the performance test." Thinking that if I do this, I will be grateful to him, haha, who doesn’t know his little plan..."
The tone of his speech was like that of a husband who had returned home and was chatting with his wife about work matters.
The light spots on the ground changed with the swaying of the leaves, and gently fell on Phytolacca's body, as if in response to his words.
Walking to the center of the yard, Phytolacca stopped.
This place used to be a mess of weeds, but now it has been leveled off, and several stone locks, stone poles and other objects for practicing strength and power skills have been placed, creating a private practice ground.
Shanglue moved his body, took off his waist knife and put it next to him, then took off his agent uniform and threw it away.
The strange thing is that the clothes did not fall to the ground, but were carried by a breeze and carried to the bed in the main room. Not only were they folded neatly, but all the plaster stains on them were also patted clean.
Shang Lu smiled in the direction where the breeze was blowing, then gathered his mind and practiced the Five Beasts Health Kung Fu he had learned from his original body's memory.
This is a set of Qi and Blood Guidance exercises that combines breathing and movement. It is somewhat similar to the Wu Qin Xi, which imitates five animals: tiger, deer, bear, ape, and bird.
By learning the different force-generating characteristics of these animals, we can mobilize the qi and blood in the body to achieve the effect of strengthening the muscles and bones and refining the marrow.
It is said that the training methods of these five animals also coincide with the five elements and the five internal organs, which will not only be of great help to subsequent practice, but also have the effect of prolonging life after long-term practice.
While breathing, Phytolacca spread its legs, held its chest and straightened its back, flexed its fingers into claws, and undulated its body slightly, imitating the posture of a tiger running for prey.
He has been practicing this set of exercises for several days. At first, his movements were stiff, but now he is much more proficient, and he can also find the techniques for exerting force and moving Qi.
After practicing a set of Tiger Walking Techniques, Phytolacca did not rest, and then practiced Deer Walking Techniques, Bear Walking Techniques...and started practicing over and over again.
After practicing the Five Beasts Health Kung Fu more than twenty times, Phytolacca stopped and focused on his Dantian, feeling the changes in the muscles and bones in his body.
Unfortunately, like many previous trainings, the changes in muscles and bones were not obvious, and the increase in strength was also very limited.
"Alas." Phytolacca sighed in disappointment.
These days, the effect of cultivation has been like this. No matter how hard he works, the progress is not satisfactory.
Phytolacca asked people for advice, and they all said that it was due to his previous injuries that damaged his internal organs.
Although he miraculously survived and recovered from his external injuries, the damage to his internal organs will take time to recover.
It can range from a few years to a lifetime.
However, all exercises that exercise the muscles and bones use Qi and blood as fuel, relying on Qi and blood to cut bones, open meridians, and cleanse marrow. Qi and blood are stored biochemically in the five internal organs. If the five internal organs are damaged, the effect of cultivation will naturally not be good.
Phytolacca asked about ways to recuperate the five internal organs, but unfortunately there was no good way in Luoshui County.
There may be a shaman academy in the county government, but it is not a place that a small detective can go.
Shang Lu was disappointed when a chill climbed up his cheeks and gently rubbed his temples on both sides.
"I'm fine, don't worry."
Phytolacca smiled and raised his hand, patting the coolness on his face gently, suppressing all his disappointment so as not to worry those who cared about him.
After taking a short rest, Phytolacca practiced the stone locks, stone poles and other objects in the yard, using them to exercise his strength and force-generating skills.
I continued practicing until I felt a little hungry, and then I stopped.
Even in the cool yard, after practicing so hard, I was sweating profusely.
Turning his head, Phytolacca saw an extra large wooden barrel in the yard.
He clearly remembered that when he came back, there was no such barrel in the yard. But he was not surprised, and walked over calmly. When he looked around, he saw that the barrel was indeed filled with water.
There is still a layer of mist floating on the water, but there is no heat at all. Instead, it is cold and cold.
"Thank you for your hard work. You are always so considerate. What more can a husband ask for when you have such a wife?"
Phytolacca smiled and said to the yard, but he did not rush into the barrel. Instead, he picked up the clean handkerchief placed beside the barrel and carefully wiped the sweat on his body.
Vaguely, Phytolacca felt a slightly cold hand wiping the out-of-reach sweat on his back.
His movements were a bit unfamiliar and a little shy.
After the sweat was completely gone and dried, and after waiting for a while, Phytolacca took a breath and got into the barrel.
A bone-chilling cold immediately enveloped his whole body, making Phytolacca feel like he was about to be frozen into ice.
But this coldness dissipated the fatigue and soreness caused by long-term exercise, allowing Phytolacca's spirit and body to recover well.
Phytolacca even felt that there was no problem in practicing Qigong for a few more hours after taking a cold bath.
Of course, you have to have a full stomach first.
Although he was shivering from the cold, Phytolacca persevered and adjusted his breathing according to the breathing rhythm of the five beasts health-preserving skills.
He had previously discovered that the breath-taking method of the Five Beasts Health Kung Fu combined with cold bathing could quickly restore the body's condition.
"Gu Gu Gu Gu..."
After soaking for a while, Phytolacca's stomach growled unsatisfactorily. The sound was very soft, but it was still heard.
Then a toilet bowl swayed and flew to the edge of the barrel.
There was a pair of chopsticks placed on the bowl, and inside was a sticky, red mass of bloody meat.
Although he didn’t know exactly what kind of meat it was, Phytolacca knew that it was a good thing.
The original body was able to recover from such a serious injury to the point where he could walk, jump and practice in just over a month, relying on cold baths and these bloody flesh and mud.
Otherwise, Phytophaga would still be lying on the hospital bed, unable to take care of himself by eating, drinking, and defecating.
It was already very cold just taking a cold bath, and then eating a bowl of cold bloody meat paste, Phytolacca was really afraid that the intestines and stomach would not be able to bear it and would become loose.
So after thanking him, he couldn't help but muttered: "At this time, it would be great if I could have a bowl of hot food..."
Before he finished speaking, a few more things appeared out of thin air on top of the cold meat paste in the bowl.
Not only was it radiating heat, but there was also a flickering firelight.
Phytolacca took a closer look and saw that there were actually a pair of candles and three incense sticks inserted into the bloody flesh.
He stayed for a moment and then laughed dumbly: "Okay, for you, this is indeed hot food. But I am already alive and can't eat these things, so you should keep it for yourself... Hey, wait a minute."
Halfway through Shang Lu's words, his expression suddenly changed, but he found that the desolate temple in his body had changed.
The fog that shrouded the statue was actually surging and showing signs of dissipating.
Is it because of the incense candle?
No, he had tried burning incense and lighting wax before, but there was no response from the strange temple.
What makes these scented candles different?
An idea flashed in Shangluca's mind, and he thought it was really possible.
He was resurrected from the dead, and Sanniang took out these fragrant waxes. It can also be said that he experienced death and life.
Is it because of this that the desolate temple in his body reacted?
Just as he was thinking about it, inside the ruined temple, part of the fog dissipated. Although the five statues still did not reveal their true appearance, they revealed an altar table that had been covered by the fog before.
On the table lay an old, empty incense burner and an empty candlestick.
"You want me to insert scented wax into it to worship God?"
Shang Lufu reached his heart and understood instantly.
However, this ruined temple exists in his body, how can he get the fragrant wax into it?
(End of chapter)