Zhai Zhu

My grandfather is very eccentric, performing daily rituals of offering incense to himself, standing in front of his own spirit tablet and eating candles.
Villagers are fearful of my grandfather.
I am fearful of him too.
Later, I discovered that what they were afraid of was not my grandfather, but me.
Even grandfather is afraid of me.
...
My name is Chen Shi.
The Chen of honesty, the Shi of sincerity.

Above the Great Dao

Li Tianqing followed his gaze and saw an ancient fir tree, straight as a lance, with scars and knotty growths all over its trunk.


The mountain wind rustled through the old tree's branches and leaves, as a blue and white aura of incense fire qi swirled around it, occasionally coalescing into the form of an old lady before dissipating again.


This tree, protecting Chen Shi, was under the influence of extraordinary forces, beginning to form a new divine likeness.


"This mountain is imbued with spirituality—these trees, rocks, and relics. Through the incense offered by the mountain villagers, they can form new surrogate mothers to protect generation after generation,"


Li Jindou, deeply moved, said, "As one surrogate mother ages, as one village declines, a new surrogate mother will take its place, and new villages will spring up around her, continuing relentlessly to survive."


The grandfather and grandson followed Chen Shi, gradually venturing deeper into the mysterious mountain.


Chapter 45 The Battle of the Gentlemen