DAO Of Translations

 Xu Ying stood dumbfounded on the street of Jiangjiatian Village, while villagers scattered in panic all around him. Not far away, at the corner of the street, a snake demon with black and white stripes pointed at him with the tip of its tail, hissing and screeching while watching the villagers flee in terror, its tongue darting out long. The villagers were utterly terrified. Some scrambled and rolled their way outside to report to the authorities, while others, with their wives and children, hid inside their homes, locking the doors and trembling with fear. The bravest ones peered out cautiously from behind windows or doors. Xu Ying stood alone in the street, the body of the green-robed deity at his feet. After a moment, the young man came to his senses and looked around. These were once familiar villagers, who used to joke with him and affectionately call him "Little Ying" or "Ah Ying," and some even teasingly referred to him as "Soft Xu." But ...

Xu Ying had long since given up. He half-heartedly bowed to the green-robed deity, considering it as worship. As for offerings of incense or fruit, that was out of the question. He barely had enough to eat himself, let alone make offerings to a deity. The other two villagers called by the green-robed deity, however, looked miserable. Jiang Lu, one of the villagers, was a man in his forties but appeared as if he were over eighty, his face deeply wrinkled, his body hunched. He trembled as he said, “Great deity, I... I barely have enough to eat. Last night, I only gnawed on some tree bark. The tax collectors came again, extorting more levies. How could I possibly have anything left to offer you…” The green-robed deity glanced at him and sneered, “You have enough to offer the tax collectors but not me? Do you think I'm less important than them?” Jiang Lu dared not respond. The green-robed deity's eyes gleamed as he said, “Don't you have a daughter? Give her to me. I...

In the wilds of Yongzhou, there exists a strange snake with a black body and white markings. Any plants or trees it touches wither and die, and it bites people without anyone able to stop it. At this point, Liu Zongyuan put down his brush and sighed. He walked to the window and murmured, “The hardships of life, the cruelty of oppressive governance—it is fiercer than even this venomous snake! From the fourteenth year of the Tianbao era until now, the nation has decayed, and even strange snakes roam unchecked in the villages!” In the fourteenth year of Tianbao, the Da Sheng Da Ming Xiao Emperor of the Zhi Dao era finally became incompetent. The King of Dongping raised a rebellion, and the once-glorious empire fell overnight. Although the rebellion was eventually suppressed, years of war followed. Warlords carved up the land, and the flourishing times of the past were never restored. Since then, the land of China has been plagued by demons and spirits. Evil forces spread, and the co...