The Great Ming in the Box-Chapter 243: The First Apparition of the Deity

The Great Ming in the Box-Chapter 243: The First Apparition of the Deity

In the evening, Gao Yiye walked on the streets of the county town.
For several days recently, she had been staying in the guest room behind the Chengcheng Bookstore.
Life in the county town was not happy. Here, there were no open fields, no childhood playmates, and no group of smiling, kind villagers.
What caught the eye were all narrow streets, dilapidated houses, listless refugees, and officials with somber expressions…
Fortunately, the militia had left some members there to protect her, saving her from being left without companions to talk to. Especially Ground Rabbit—this guy was a good partner for speaking weird or rebellious things.
Gao Yiye walked and asked: “Mr. Rabbit, are things ready with Third Lady?”
Ground Rabbit chuckled: “Ready. Third Lady said once the Deity signals, she’ll lead her team out immediately.”
Gao Yiye immediately looked up at the sky. The low cloud representing the Deity floated about sixty or seventy ren in height. She could clearly see the Deity giving her a gentle smile in the cloud: “It’s fine. Go ahead.”
Gao Yiye was rushing with pride: “The Deity has ordered it. Action can begin. Let’s go!”
Ground Rabbit grinned: “Alright.”
He turned around and gestured to the militia members behind him: “Move out.”
Zheng Gouzi protested from the crowd: “Mr. Rabbit, why are you in charge?”
Ground Rabbit laughed heartily: “When Instructor He is away, the militia is commanded by me, Mr. Rabbit. Didn’t you all know?”
Everyone: “There’s no such thing.”
Ground Rabbit: “I, Mr. Rabbit, am clever and witty, and have achieved several great deeds for Gaojia Village. I’m the unchallenged deputy leader. If you don’t believe, ask the Deity.”
Everyone looked up together.
Li Daoxuan laughed: “Lift him up and throw him into the roadside ditch.”
Gao Yiye chuckled and relayed the Decree of the Deity.
Then the militia men immediately lifted Ground Rabbit and tossed him into the ditch. With a splashing sound, Ground Rabbit got drenched in filthy water. He crawled out of the ditch and spread his hands: “Ah! It seems I, Mr. Rabbit, need to try harder to win the Deity’s approval.”
His skill at laughing after being humiliated and amusing others by making a fool of himself was rather impressive. Li Daoxuan did appreciate that about him.
The group escorted Gao Yiye through refugee-filled streets to the front of the City God Temple.
Third Lady had been waiting respectfully there for a long time. Behind her stood over one hundred devout men and women, the poorest commoners in the county town, all in ragged clothes and looking pale-faced from hunger.
They were the first group of believers recruited by Third Lady last year, also the most pious followers of the new deity Dao Xuan Deity in Chengcheng County.
Early in the morning, they were notified by Third Lady to assemble at the City God Temple by evening. They didn’t really grasp what Third Lady was saying, but they came obediently all the same.
Seeing Gao Yiye arrive, Third Lady was rushing with pride: “Is it time?”
“En!” Gao Yiye nodded: “The Deity says it’s fine.”
Third Lady turned to the over one hundred devout men and women behind her and said: “Everyone, listen well. I gathered you here today to take you to pay respects to Dao Xuan Deity. His Eminence has agreed to appear before you once.”
At those words, all the devout men and women showed faces of ecstatic joy.
Third Lady: “But the county town is crowded with many eyes, full of folk who don’t know about His Eminence. Out of kindness, the Deity doesn’t want to frighten them. So everyone must go outside the city for Him to appear in the small grove. Now, let’s go! Everyone, move.”
The devout men and women didn’t doubt it at all and followed submissively.
Gao Yiye led at the front, guarded by militia members, and Third Lady brought up the rear with hundreds of believers. Such a huge crowd heading to the city gates made them very conspicuous.
Two old soldiers guarding the city gates hurriedly blocked them: “What are you doing? It’s evening time—don’t go out and scatter aimlessly. Rebels swarm outside; it’s very unsafe.”
Third Lady stepped forward with a grave, dignified look: “We have received Dao Xuan Deity’s grace, winning a chance to meet His Eminence. The Deity will manifest in the grove outside to give us instruction…”
If this were heard in the past, the old soldiers would shout “Arrest the White Lotus demons!” But not long ago, these soldiers and their families had bought copies of “Dao Xuan Deity’s Demon Elimination Tale” with gifts of grain and saw the comic book.
They no longer saw Third Lady as a White Lotus demon and opened the city gates: “Go on, go on. But! This “Dao Xuan Deity’s Demon Elimination Tale” thing… cough… Treat it as a storybook—fun to look at for laughs is all. Do you really believe it and go out searching? How idle you are…”
The old soldiers’ attitude reflected that of most people in Chengcheng County.
This sudden new deity hadn’t gained widespread trust yet. Even beneficiaries getting grains remained skeptical.
So Li Daoxuan hadn’t rashly “acted,” but eased in slowly, starting with “appearing” to the most devout to gently win over the townsfolk.
One must take things slowly, especially a man—rushing isn’t good.
Third Lady’s group left the city. Gao Yiye led the way, soon reaching a grove east of town. Looking back, the county town blurred in sight. The sun had set, casting a dim, yellow glow.
The grove was dry, all trees without green leaves, their bare branches stretching grotesquely at the sky…
Strangely, the devout men and women weren’t scared! Instead, they gazed up with devout faces: “Will the Deity appear here?”
Third Lady glanced sideways at Gao Yiye; Gao Yiye nodded.
Third Lady understood. She raised the “Dao Xuan Deity’s Demon Elimination Tale,” flipped to a page, pointed to an image showing the Deity crushing a monster with a giant hand, and announced loudly: “Everyone, pay attention. The Deity will soon perform this divine act. You’re privileged to witness the giant hand of the Deity smiting demons.”
The devout men and women rejoiced and promptly chanted: “Long life and great blessings!”
Then they saw a sight they’d never forget.
A giant golden hand emerged from the clouds…
Finger joints adorned with a row of colorful gemstones.
“Wow, the comic book is black-and-white—we couldn’t see that the Deity’s hand was golden like this.”
“I always thought it’d be flesh-colored like ours, but it’s a huge golden hand!”
“Long live the Deity!”
The devout men and women shouted with frenzied excitement. The golden hand descended slowly. Before them, it unfolded its palm, revealing a small mound of flour balls piled atop it.
Gao Yiye smiled softly: “Take as much as you can carry. This is the Deity’s reward to you.”

Chapter 243: The First Apparition of the Deity