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In Yizhou's Qingcheng Mountain, within Fuqing Temple, a group of Daoists was performing the evening liturgy.
The evening service consisted of burning incense to honor their ancestors, offering reverence to the deities, and reciting scripture. In smaller temples, such a service might simply involve reading aloud, but for a major temple like Fuqing, the recitation was set to music.
To achieve the proper solemnity, the recitations followed a melody, each note requiring focus and clarity, accompanied by a dedicated ensemble with instruments like drums, bells, cymbals, and hand chimes, creating a resonant, ritualistic harmony.
The Fuqing Temple had grown more renowned in Qingcheng Mountain over the years, recently expanding and recruiting several young Daoist attendants from the nearby town. By now, elder Daoists led younger initiates in the evening ceremonies. The two Daoist priests, Yingfeng and Chuyun, had matured a lot over the years and gained considerable experience; they had even begun taking on disciples.
The temple filled with the soothing resonance of the liturgical chant, and the music drifted up the mountainside. Yet amidst the melody, a faint cracking sound went almost unnoticed.
Many of the younger apprentices didn’t detect anything unusual, continuing to chant along with the music. Only those with...
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