Firefly Journey

Chapter 269 Chu Ting’s Grand Stage (6)

So that's how it is. Blancti's answer was pretty much the same as Lin Yuanran's deduction.

The mythology of the Chu state was their explanation of supernatural events, rather than actual occurrences.

The overlap between the names of those gods and the mythological system of his original world may just be a coincidence.

To further confirm this, Lin Yuanran asked, "Do you have any books about the Chu mythology system? After all, I'm currently working in Chu, and it'll be helpful to understand the local culture to get things done."

"Of course I have it," said Brontë. "I'll get it for you."

As he spoke, Blancti stood up and searched the bookshelf behind him, eventually finding two thick volumes.

Pushing them in front of Lin Yuanran, Bai Langdi said, "Here are what you wanted. One is a collection of myths and legends from the Chu Kingdom, and the other is a complete guide to the gods they created."

Sometimes, I have to admire the imagination of Easterners. The gods they create are dozens of times more numerous than those recorded in our Vatican archives. I really don't know how their brains work.

Blanty's remark made Lin Yuanran smile slightly.

Lin Yuanran picked up one of the books and flipped through it. "Thank you."

Brandy waved his hand: "His Holiness the Pope sent you to Chu for a reason. I don't know and I won't speculate, but his decision is never wrong."

The procession of the gods is just around the corner. Usually at this time, all the major churches go all out with their propaganda to gain the people of Chu's faith. This year looks like it'll be another bloody battle. I'm having a headache!

Lin Yuanran looked at Bai Langdi, who was rubbing his head, and while feeling sympathy, a plan suddenly came to mind.

"If we're talking about sales, I do have an idea."

"Oh? What do you think?"

Lin Yuanran smiled mysteriously: "Instead of trying to impress them with some profound and unfathomable rhetoric, it's better to give them something of practical value."

After saying goodbye, Lin Yuanran planned to go back to his residence to take a good look at the two books.

Blancti sat where he was, pondering the feasibility of Lin Yuanran's words.

……

……

After staying up all night, Lin Yuanran finished reading the two books and gained a deeper understanding of the local mythology of the Chu Kingdom.

The people of Chu believed that in ancient times, there were no gods between heaven and earth; there were only their ancestors who sacrificed their lives for the cause.

Later, it was confirmed that extraordinary beings existed in this world, and under the leadership of the seven ancestral gods, all races defeated the demons, and the continent ushered in peace.

Easterners who originally did not believe in God began to use God to explain things that common sense could not comprehend under the influence of this environment.

As it gradually evolved, the State of Chu developed its own mythological system.

Unlike the major churches, although they have a mythological system, they do not believe that mythology is true. If you walk down the street, no one will believe it.

Lin Yuanran silently complained to himself, "They're so sensible, they don't follow that feudal superstition stuff."

Unfortunately, the Pan-Ancient Continent wasn't his original world. In this world, gods truly existed. His previous conversation with Blair proved this point; Blair was the Pope, after all, and couldn't just be lying to people for no reason.

Moreover, aside from the gods, he really couldn't understand who else had the ability to bring him into this world.

After all, the highest level openly recognized on the mainland is demigod, and those extraordinary beings are not yet capable of crossing planes.

The register of local gods in the Chu Kingdom contained some names that overlapped with the names of gods from his original world.

For example, there are the sun god Xihe, the moon god Wangshu, and even the Twenty-Eight Mansions, as well as the Six Ding and Six Jia...

There are also some differences; for example, there are no records of Erlang Shen Yang Jian or the Li family father and son, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, on this list.

In general, they are similar in some ways but different in others.

The only name that Lin Yuanran pondered for a long time was Taishang Daode Tianzun, one of the Three Pure Ones.

In his original world, the Taoist mythology system had the concept of the Three Pure Ones, and the Supreme Lord Laozi, also known as the Supreme Lord Lao, was one of the Three Pure Ones.

However, in the mythological records of the Chu Kingdom, there is no mention of the Three Pure Ones; they are simply listed separately.

This is very confusing.

The gods like the Twenty-Eight Mansions, who were organized into groups, all appeared together. So why did the Three Pure Ones, who were even more powerful, disintegrate and leave only Laozi?

After reading the two books, Lin Yuanran became more and more confused, and felt more and more that things were not as simple as they seemed on the surface. There must be some unknown connection among those records of the same gods.

Unfortunately, although Lin Yuanran is a third-level transcendent being, he is still a "human" and has not ascended to immortality to become a god. Therefore, he still does not know the answer and has nowhere to look for it.

The feeling of having a problem that can't be solved is incredibly frustrating, but there's nothing that can be done. The only person who might know the inside story, His Holiness the Pope, is clearly unwilling to speak. He doesn't even need to ask, because the other party certainly won't answer.

Lin Yuanran gave up for the time being.

Since we're already here, let's make the best of it and stay in Chu for a while to see what the Pope tells us.

……

……

A few days later, the procession of deities officially began.

The procession will last for three days, and in addition to the main event of the procession, there will be a variety of celebratory activities.

The constant flow of people spurred economic development, and all sorts of vendors sprang up like mushrooms after rain, hawking their wares and trying to fill their pockets before the grand event.

There were more patrolling soldiers in Danyang than usual, their steps firm and steady as they maintained the basic order of the grand event.

At dusk, the streets were teeming with people, almost face to face and shoulder to shoulder, creating a lively and bustling scene.

As the official in charge appointed by the Ministry of Rites, Lin Yuanran would naturally not be absent. He would patrol various places for three days to prevent any accidents from happening.

"Your Highness, I had no choice but to come to this crowded street. Why did you come to join in the fun?" Lin Yuanran said irritably.

"The procession of the gods is a grand annual event in our Great Chu. As the crown prince, I should share the joy with the people."

Lin Yuanran chuckled and said, "Yes, yes, I heard that the bear-man tribe from the north entered the city yesterday, intending to form a marriage alliance with the Chu Kingdom. You certainly didn't run away because of this."

"roll!"

Lü Jianming shouted loudly.

Sigh, being the crown prince isn't easy.

Marriage is marriage, although the bear-man tribe is a powerful tribe around Chu, although the crown princess has not yet been chosen, and although the bear-man tribe is half human, you can't cross species boundaries, can you?

From a normal human aesthetic point of view, it's just too filthy...

Lu Jianming also knew that when Emperor Zhuang told the Bear Clan envoy that he would consider it, it was simply to save face for the other party and give them a way out.

However, when Lü Jianming thought of the burly female members of the Bear Clan, he still felt a little resentful. Out of sight, out of mind, he simply went out to visit his old classmate.

Lin Yuanran couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

He looked up and saw two familiar figures in the crowd.

"Hey? Aren't those your sister and Lord Duan? Are they out here for the temple procession too?"