Evening fell, and Gao Yiye walked along the county town's streets.
These past few days, she had been staying in a guest room behind the Chengcheng Bookshop.
Life in the county town was not happy. There were no open fields, no childhood playmates, no group of villagers with smiling, kind faces.
Everywhere she looked were narrow streets, gray, dilapidated houses, dispirited refugees, and grim-faced officials...
Fortunately, a portion of the militia had stayed behind to protect her, so she wasn't left without people to talk to. Especially Flat Rabbit—that guy was a good partner for banter.
As she walked, Gao Yiye asked, "Rabbit Lord, is Third Madame ready over there?"
Flat Rabbit chuckled. "Ready. Third Madame said as soon as the Tianzun gives the word, she'll lead the group out immediately."
Gao Yiye immediately looked up at the sky. The patch of low-hanging clouds representing the Tianzun floated about sixty or seventy zhang high. She could clearly see the Tianzun smiling slightly at her from within the clouds. "It's time. Go ahead."
Gao Yiye's spirits lifted. "The Tianzun has given the order. Action is a go. Let's go!"
Flat Rabbit grinned. "Alrighty."
He turned and signaled to a squad of militiamen behind him. "Move out."
Zheng Gouzi protested from the crowd. "Rabbit Lord, why are you giving orders?"
Flat Rabbit laughed heartily. "When Drillmaster He isn't here, the militia is commanded by this Rabbit Lord! Didn't you all know that?"
Everyone: "No such thing!"
Flat Rabbit: "This Rabbit Lord is clever and resourceful, having accomplished several great deeds for Gao Village. I am the undeniable deputy commander. Don't believe me? Ask the Tianzun."
Everyone looked up together.
Li Daoxuan smiled. "Pick him up and toss him into the roadside ditch."
Gao Yiye laughed and relayed the Tianzun's decree.
The militiamen immediately lifted Flat Rabbit and threw him into the ditch. With a splash, Flat Rabbit was covered in filthy water. Climbing out, he shrugged. "Aiya! Seems this rabbit still needs to work harder to earn the Tianzun's recognition."
His ability to laugh at himself and entertain others even after being tossed was quite something. Li Daoxuan rather admired that about him.
The group, escorting Gao Yiye, moved through streets filled with refugees, arriving at the front of the City God Temple.
Third Madame had been waiting here for some time. Behind her stood over a hundred devout men and women—the poorest common folk in the county town, all in ragged clothes and sickly complexions.
They were the first group of devotees Third Madame had developed last year, and also the most fervent believers in the newly arrived deity, the Daoist Mystic Tianzun, in Chengcheng County.
Early this morning, they had received Third Madame's notification to gather at the City God Temple by evening. They didn't know exactly what she meant, but they came obediently nonetheless.
Seeing Gao Yiye arrive, Third Madame's spirits rose. "Is it time?"
"Mhm!" Gao Yiye nodded. "The Tianzun says it's time."
Third Madame turned to the over a hundred devotees behind her. "Everyone, listen well. This humble devotee has gathered you here today to lead you to have an audience with the Daoist Mystic Tianzun. The Tianzun has promised to manifest for everyone once."
Hearing this, all the devotees' faces lit up with wild joy.
Third Madame: "But the county town is crowded with many eyes, full of common folk unaware of the Tianzun. The benevolent Tianzun does not wish to frighten them. Therefore, we must go outside the city, to a small grove beyond the walls, where he will manifest for you to see. So, let's go! Everyone, start moving."
The devotees didn't doubt this at all and immediately followed obediently.
With Gao Yiye leading the way upfront, escorted by the militia, and Third Madame bringing up the rear with over a hundred believers, such a large group was quite conspicuous as they reached the city gate.
Two old soldiers guarding the gate quickly stepped forward to block them. "What are you all doing? It's evening. Don't go wandering outside the city. There are bandits everywhere out there; it's very unsafe."
Third Madame stepped forward with dignified solemnity. "We have received the grace of the Daoist Mystic Tianzun, granted an opportunity to meet him. The Tianzun will manifest outside the city in a grove to give us his instructions..."
Had they heard such words before, the old soldiers might have yelled "Arrest the White Lotus cultists!" But not long ago, these two old soldiers had also brought their families and neighbors to buy The Tale of the Daoist Mystic Tianzun Vanquishing Demons, receiving considerable grain and reading the picture-book.
They no longer viewed Third Madame as a White Lotus cultist. They moved aside from the gate. "Go on, go on. But... this 'Daoist Mystic Tianzun' business... ahem... Treat it like a storytelling tale, look at it for fun and that's it. You actually believe it enough to go outside the city to look for him? Really have too much time on your hands..."
The attitude of these two old soldiers was, in fact, the attitude of most common folk in Chengcheng County.
This newly emerged, unfamiliar deity had not yet gained the trust of the majority. Even after receiving benefits and getting some grain, they remained skeptical.
That was precisely why Li Daoxuan hadn't acted recklessly. Slowly intervening, starting by "manifesting" for the most devout believers, he aimed to gently win the acceptance and trust of the county town's common folk.
(Ming Context: The old soldiers' reaction reflects the fine line local officials and guards walked regarding new religious movements. While deeply suspicious of potential 'White Lotus' rebellion, they often tolerated local 'harmless' cults, especially those providing material aid. Distinguishing a benevolent household deity from a seditious millenarian cult was a constant, practical challenge.)
One must take things slowly, especially a man. Being too fast isn't good.
Third Madame's group exited the city. Led by Gao Yiye, they soon reached a grove east of the city. Looking back from here, the county town was no longer visible. The setting sun cast a dusky yellow light.
The grove was withered. All the trees lacked green leaves, their dry branches reaching starkly toward the sky...
Such an eerie place, yet the devotees weren't afraid! Instead, they looked at the sky with devout expressions. "Will the Tianzun manifest here?"
Third Madame glanced at Gao Yiye, who nodded.
Third Madame understood. Holding up The Tale of the Daoist Mystic Tianzun Vanquishing Demons, she opened to a page and pointed at the scene where the Tianzun used a giant hand to crush a lobster demon. She announced loudly, "Everyone, pay attention! The Tianzun is about to perform the immortal magic from this page. You will have the honor of witnessing the Tianzun's giant hand that vanquishes demons and monsters."
The devotees were overjoyed, hurriedly offering, "Boundless longevity and blessings."
Then, they witnessed a sight they would never forget for the rest of their lives.
A golden giant hand extended from the clouds...
The knuckles were even adorned with a row of colorful gemstones.
"Wow! The picture-book is black and white. You can't tell from the book that the Tianzun's hand is this color!"
"I always thought it would be flesh-colored like ours.I never imagined it would be a big golden hand!"
"All hail the mighty Tianzun!"
The devotees roared in frenzy. Then, the golden giant hand descended from the clouds. It opened before the devotees, its palm holding a small mound of flour balls.
Gao Yiye smiled. "Take as much as you can. This is the Tianzun's reward for you."
(Ming Context: The multi-colored 'gemstone' knuckles on the giant hand are, of course, the plastic 'Infinity Stones' on Li Daoxuan's 'Thanos Gauntlet' toy. For the Ming devotees, these unfamiliar, brilliantly colored stones would only reinforce the otherworldly, celestial nature of the manifestation, seen as divine jewels or symbols of cosmic power.)