PEERLESS GENIUS SYSTEM II

Chapter 223: Seekong Altar

“Mr. Xiao Luo is good at selling ducks!”

Ji Siying made another entry in her diary. Since she arrived at Xiao Luo’s village, her diary was now filled with entries, jotting down every minute details of Xiao Luo’s daily activities. She overlooked nothing and even noted down mundane activities such as what Xiao Luo liked to eat, or what kind of TV programs he preferred.

After noting everything she observed, she made a habit of summarizing them afterward when time allowed. Her purpose was to understand Xiao Luo’s daily habits and see if she could discover any leads or clues to unravel the secrets of his unique powers.

It would certainly have been awkward if Xiao Luo had found out that she was taking detailed records of his daily activities.

…

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The morning was a lively affair with the crackling din of firecrackers welcoming the New Year’s Eve.

On this very morning, it was the tradition of the people from Luo Village to present their offerings at the main altar of the Seekong Shrine. Sacrificial offerings of chicken, burning of incense, setting off firecrackers, and the blare of trumpeting suona[1] horns rendered the atmosphere ever so festive.

Seekong had been a notable elder of Luo Village, having served as the village’s shaman during his time, and the Seekong Shrine was a memorial erected in his honor. And as far as village traditions went, it was equal, if not even more significant than the Xiao Clan ancestral temple.

According to local folklore, Seekong possessed mystical powers and was adept at preparing fulu talismans and divine water. It was also said that he was invulnerable to swords and spears, and would not succumb to fire or drowning. War had once broken out in the past, and after men of the Xiao clan consumed the divine water, their fighting mettle was unrivaled. Their bravery and skills in combat were enhanced while thrusting spears and slashing blades could not penetrate their bodies. The enemy became terrified and was driven into panic and disarray, fleeing in all directions. And in this way, they defended the land of Luo Village.

Seekong’s ability to prepare Fulu and divine water was passed down over the generations, and his successor was an old man by the name of Xiao Quanren. He was now Luo Village’s shaman, and it was still customary for him to be invited to every funeral and wedding in the village. To this day, even when villagers had fish bones stuck in their throat, they would request a fulu from Xiao Quanren and drink it down. Without exception, the fish bones would be dislodged upon swallowing the fulu and flushed harmlessly into the stomach.

This was not an isolated case, there had been multiple cases, and yet, none could be explained scientifically. The locals believed that the miracle was a manifestation of Seekong’s spirit.

It was because of Seekong Shrine’s long history in healing and solving the villagers’ problems that it had secured its place in their hearts.

Then there was the divine water, prepared with mountain spring water mixed with the ashes of Fulu and chicken’s blood before it was sealed for seven weeks. This sacred water was stored in a massive wooden barrel and was placed in the innermost part of the shrine. The barrel was secured with a lock, and its key was held by the old man, Xiao Quanren himself.

The divine water was as clear as the spring water it was derived from, and even gave off a refreshing fragrance. On the fifteenth day of every other month, the altar would be open to receive offerings. The shrine would be packed with people from the Village coming to consume the divine water, pray for immunity against sickness, and be blessed with longevity.