Mysterious mirror hanging high

[Year 927 of the Changsheng calendar]

Suburbs of Gancheng, Yue State

A carriage was moving slowly forward on the official road. The driver was a burly man with a long breath, thick joints, and a short knife hanging on his waist. He was obviously a martial artist. Although the carriage was on the official road, the man was still vigilant and looked around while driving.

Inside the carriage, the sounds of women and children chatting and laughing could be heard faintly.

The carriage slowly drove along the official road, which gradually narrowed. Soon, it arrived at a mountain forest. The strong man driving the carriage saw the dome of a temple faintly emerging from the woods in the distance and shouted to the inside of the carriage:

"Master, Madam, we are almost at the temple... The carriage can't go any further, so we have to walk a little further."

A middle-aged man in a brown and yellow robe with gold and silver patterns lifted the curtain and stepped out first.

Following behind was a beautiful woman in her thirties, holding a child of about six or seven years old.

Unlike the beautiful woman and child who were smiling faintly, the middle-aged man looked a little sad, with an unrelieved worry between his brows.

This man's name was Qian Wu, and he was a famous silk merchant in Gancheng. His family was quite wealthy, and his neighbors all respectfully called him Master Wu.

A big part of the reason why Qian Wu was able to make his fortune was that he had some dealings with a high-ranking official in the capital of Yue State. He always gave the other party a sum of money during festivals. With this backer, the local silk business in Gancheng was unimpeded for the Qian family, which created the current wealthy Mr. Qian Wu.

But a few days ago, the high-ranking official who was Qian Wu's backer was dismissed and was reportedly imprisoned. Qian Wu learned the news in advance and was extremely anxious, but there was nothing he could do. Fortunately, the news had not yet reached Gancheng, so he still had time to make plans to remedy the situation.

Therefore, even though Qian Wu brought his wife and children for an outing, he was still worried.

"Husband, you finally come out, why are you so sad?" Mrs. Qian saw that her husband looked unhappy and asked hurriedly with concern.

"Nothing." Qian Wu didn't want to spoil his wife's fun, so he forced a smile and changed the subject:

"Is the temple you mentioned here?"

"Exactly!"

Madam Qian smiled and said, "It is said that there is a [Xuanjun Temple] here, which enshrines a deity that is quite effective."

"Those who are suffering from bad luck can pray in the temple and their fortunes will flourish and everything will go smoothly."

"A scholar sought to pass the imperial examination, and indeed, he was a man of quick wit and became a Jinshi."

"There was a swordsman who wanted to improve his martial arts. He didn't expect that after visiting the Xuanjun Temple, his swordsmanship would be greatly improved."

"There were even filial sons who brought their dying parents to beg for an extension of their lives. The dying people, already on their last legs, actually had their lives extended. Even if it was only for a few more days, it was still an extension of their lives!"

"Although the Xuanjun in the temple may not answer every prayer, he often appears in the human world. This is a legend."

As they walked and talked, Qian Wu and his group soon crossed the woods and came to a dilapidated temple with mottled walls and many years of history.

Qian Wu looked at the tattered temple gate in front of him with disdain in his heart: "If the gods in this temple are really effective, why is it so deserted and unpopular? It must be just a rumor spread by ignorant people..."

He winked at the strong man and said, "Zhu Zi, go and take a look."

The guard named Zhuzi agreed: "Yes, sir."

Then one of them drew a short blade from his waist and rushed into the temple. After a while, he came out of the temple and said:

"Master, this temple is deserted. There are no beggars or bandits resting here."

Qian Wu then entered the temple with his wife and children, and at first sight he saw a clay statue enshrined in the innermost part of the temple.

The middle-aged man looked up and saw that the statue was holding a mirror in its left hand and a tortoise shell in its right hand. Its eyes were lowered and its expression was indifferent. A line between its eyebrows outlined a vertical eye, making it look extraordinary and heroic.

On the beam above the statue's head, there is a line of seal characters engraved, which reads [Zhangjing Canxuan Siming Zhenjun], which is probably the name of this deity.

Mrs. Qian took a closer look and saw that there was only a medium-sized incense burner on the altar in front of the statue. There was no incense in the burner, and even the ash in it was only a thin layer.

She took out the incense sticks she had prepared long ago, lit them with a fire stick, and worshiped the statue reverently, chanting:

"Lord Xuan, please bless my husband's silk business to be prosperous and bring wealth from all directions..."

"Lord Xuan, please bless me with eternal youth and a youthful appearance..."

"Lord Xuan, please bless Yun'er with a safe and smooth life, and a long and blessed life..."

Qian Wu laughed as he listened. "My dear, since we're here, why don't you make a bigger wish? What's the point of wishing for a safe and prosperous life? You should wish for our child to become a general or a prime minister in the future, or even reach the highest position in the government!"

Madam Qian rolled her eyes at Qian Wu and said unhappily, "Even the gods don't always promise everything. How can anyone make such an effort to help you when you're so greedy?"

Qian Wu secretly complained in his heart: "Isn't eternal youth and ageless beauty more greedy? I think it would be more realistic to become a general or a prime minister and reach the highest position in the country!"

Qian Wuben did not believe in the divine deeds of the gods, but he could not resist his wife's urging, so he had to bow a few times reluctantly. They stayed in the temple for a long time before preparing to leave.

But when they were leaving, Qian Wu suddenly felt a chill on his back, as if someone was watching him. He turned around abruptly and saw that there was no one behind him. Only the statue stood motionless, with its eyes lowered and an indifferent expression.

"I've been worrying too much lately, and I really should have a good rest..." Qian Wu shook his head and walked out of the temple with his wife and children.

It was still early, so the few of them were not in a hurry to return to Gancheng, but instead took a walk in the woods.

Zhuzi is a loyal servant raised by the Qian Wu family since he was a child. He has extraordinary martial arts skills. Although he is still a long way from the legendary "Innate Grandmaster", he is one of the best in the small city of Gancheng, so he is not afraid of ordinary bandits.

Protected by the pillars, several people gradually went deeper into the woods. However, Qian Yun, the son of Qian Wu, was sharp-eyed and discovered something unusual in a bush.

"Dad, Mom... there seems to be someone lying there."

Qian Wu and others looked in the direction of the sound and saw half of a body exposed from under the dense leaves of the bushes, motionless.

"Master, be careful!"

Zhuzi drew out his short blade, held a breath of true energy, and slowly moved closer as if facing a formidable enemy. He scratched at it with the short blade, and suddenly cried out in surprise:

"Master, this man is still alive!"

The man lying in the bushes seemed to sense someone approaching, and slowly woke up, saying in a hoarse voice:

"Who is this hero? I'm being hunted by my enemies and am seriously injured and dying... I hope a hero can rescue me. I will reward you handsomely!"