Well of Mystery

The rising cliffs along the coast became increasingly clear, a band of mountains stretching from the highlands in the middle of the island all the way to the sea.It protects the southern part of the island from the strong winds blowing from the west sea all year round.The south side of the cliff plunges directly into the sea like a chisel, while the east side is a waterless reef and beach, which is connected to the place where they are standing now.

The Sea God Temple was built at the junction of the reef and the beach, and it is difficult to understand why it stands today.The grains of sand were getting bigger and bigger. Everyone stepped forward step by step, and finally managed to see the building about ten meters away.

The Sea God Temple does not occupy a large area, and it seems that it is not even comparable to the Bai family's ancestral hall.The traditional Chinese-style one-story building is surrounded by yellow walls on the outside, and a few roof ridges protrude vaguely inside.

And the most unexpected thing is that there is light inside the wall.

"Oh, that's an ever-burning lamp." The uncle explained.

Huang Xiangyuan is a very superstitious person, and the footprints of sea monsters made him believe in the stories on the scrolls in the Sea God Temple.So he rebuilt the Sea God Temple, lit the ever-burning lanterns inside, and offered a lot of flowers and fruits all year round, hoping to get the blessing of the Sea God.

While talking, they arrived at the gate of the temple.The open door of paulownia lacquer is only ajar, revealing the light inside.

"Be careful!" The uncle suddenly reminded everyone loudly: "Old Huang often puts food in it, so there may be wild beasts stealing food in the temple. Don't be caught by them!"

"If you catch it, roast it and eat it." Jiang Chenglu replied with a smile, and pushed the door open with his foot.

Inside the main entrance is a small yard, with nothing but an incense burner and two stone lamps.Opposite the small courtyard is the main hall of the Sea God Temple. The roof is pasted with Chaoshan-style colorful inlaid porcelain. The bright hall with four pillars and three rooms can clearly see the layout inside——

In the center of the clay sculpture shrine that towers above the sky, there stands a clay sculpture statue that is almost as tall as a person.It really is seaweed-like hair, eyes as big as copper bells, and people who are neither human nor ghost, all the more eerie and weird under the flickering light of the electronic constant light.

Obviously, this should be a sea monster.

The uncle said, during the time of mining.The Tanah Lot is used as a canteen on the island.The original sculpture was smashed and thrown into the sea long ago.The current sea monster statue was reshaped by Lao Huang last year, and it is said that there is a plan to add gold in a few years.

While listening to his explanation, Bai Xiuqi shifted his gaze from the sea monster statue to the altar in front of him.

Of course, there are tributes in front of the shrine.A peeled grapefruit, a plate of apples, and two empty plates with little leftovers in them, as if eaten by a sea monster.

"Oh, these two dishes are meat dishes." The uncle explained unhurriedly: "Didn't I mention it just now? There are some small animals that eat meat in the vicinity, and they all rely on this temple to support them."

With that said, he walked to the east wall again.He waved to everyone: "Come and see here."

Only then did Bai Xiuqi find out.It turns out that there are murals on the east and west walls of the Tanah Lot Temple.Surrounding the Mingtang from right to left, the painting is obviously a legend of a sea monster.

Hua Yin asked: "Uncle, is this a copy of the scroll that was found on the beam?"

The uncle nodded, and began to introduce the details of the mural mutteringly.behind him.Huayin has already shook his head with Huayang.

Bai Xiuqi didn't say anything, just took out his mobile phone to take a picture, and then threw it to Jiang Chenglu.Jiang Chenglu saw the panoramic view of the seaside, and for a while he didn't know what kind of hall was hidden inside.

The Sea God Temple is just that small, and behind the main hall are two shacks that have long been abandoned.A group of people walked around in the yard again before stepping on the beach again.

The cool breeze is blowing, the moon is in the sky, and the sea in the distance is shimmering softly, which makes people a little fascinated.But Bai Xiuqi looked at the dark and silent cliff not far away and asked: "Uncle, do you have a boat that can take us to see Sea God Cave?"

These words startled the uncle: "You want to go into the cave? That's impossible!"

"Not tonight, but also during the day tomorrow."

The uncle still shook his head like a rattle: "It's not a matter of time, the cave has collapsed very badly in the past few years, and the sea and land at the entrance are almost blocked. The boats outside can't go in, and the water inside can't flow out. A lot of sulfur and poisonous gas have accumulated. The last time Lao Huang invited experts to look at it, he said that tourists must not be allowed to enter the cave, otherwise their lives would be in danger."

His tone was serious, and it seemed that the situation was indeed not optimistic.That being the case, Bai Xiuqi had no intention of forcing it, nodded and decided to give up this idea.

The Sea God Temple has already been seen, and there is nothing to see on the bare beach.The uncle said that he wanted to go back to the night market to eat a few skewers of squid heads on iron plates, but Huayin yelled that he was sleepy and wanted to go back to the hotel to rest, so they waved goodbye and went their separate ways.

Watching the uncle go away, Jiang Chenglu couldn't wait to take out Bai Xiuqi's cell phone.

"What's wrong with this photo? Is there something strange about it?"

Bai Xiuqi gave a hint: "Look carefully, what are those people on the beach doing?"

Only then did Jiang Chenglu zoom in on the nearby picture, and saw that many fishing nets were drawn line by line in the offshore waters, and some floating objects were placed in the water between the fishing nets.On the shore, two or three people were throwing shells from the sea one by one on the ground, and another old man was opening beads with a knife.

"Stupid! This is the scene of artificial cultivation of seawater pearls." Huayin interrupted: "Although there are some records of freshwater pearl cultivation in ancient my country, the cultivation of seawater pearls is unheard of, so when I make costumes for dolls Perfectly round cultured pearls are almost not used, because in ancient times those kind of moving pearls were so rare."

Hua Yang doesn't seem to agree with her sister's judgment.

"But in ancient times, there were pearl ponds. Due to the relationship between water temperature and terrain, there were a lot of pearl oysters. Could this be the pearl pond in the picture?"

"no."

Bai Xiuqi shook his head: "I've been to that kind of ancient pearl pool. When the tide is high, the water can be more than ten meters deep. The pearl shells are hidden in the underwater reefs. The sea dwellers have to dive deep into the seabed to collect pearls. Those who drown or are bitten to death by sharks , jellyfish and sea snakes bite a lot, where is the calm sea in the painting and a few buoys inserted, do you think there will be bead cages underneath?"

After listening, Jiang Chenglu finally understood what they meant: "So the method of cultivating pearls in the picture should not have existed in ancient times. Then the ancient scroll on Liangshang, which is the original picture of this mural, was actually created by people today?"

Bai Xiuqi nodded: "Compared to pirates, I am more inclined that the so-called scrolls and sea monsters were arranged by Huang Xiangyuan himself, in order to use legends to increase the exposure of Rose Fire Island. It must be considered well-intentioned."

"Want to get popular? Actually, it's a very simple answer." Jiang Chenglu shrugged his shoulders: "Just say that this is an overseas fairy mountain, and the promotional slogan has been thought out, 'If Qin Shihuang didn't find it, we will find it for you.'"

His words of course drew the snorts of the other three.It was getting late, and it was meaningless to stay on the beach, so the group decided to go home.

The walk back to the hotel was quite spooky, but since there was a light on the top of the hotel, it was not difficult to find.After more than ten minutes, they stood on the small platform in front of the inn. Uncle Zong's dried eyefish was swaying in the sea breeze, and there were a few cats squatting below, with bright green eyes.

This was only the first day of arriving at the island, and Fang Chang had nothing to figure out tonight. After the four went upstairs, they said goodbye to each other, and Bai Xiuqi followed Jiang Chenglu back to the room.

Turning on the overhead light and closing the door, Bai Xiuqi took out a money clip and mobile phone from his pocket and threw them on the bed. Just as he was about to catch his breath, he was suddenly attacked by Jiang Chenglu from behind, and he hugged him and pressed him on the bed.

"..." Bai Xiuqi felt something was wrong, but still pretended to be calm and slapped Jiang Chenglu's hand: "Let go, it's so hot! I'm going to wipe myself."

"Don't let it go."

Jiang Chenglu's heavy breathing came from the back of his neck: "How many oysters did you eat just now?"

"...four."

Bai Xiuqi thought about it.His gastrointestinal function has not fully recovered, and even food must be restrained for now.

Jiang Chenglu laughed, "I ate forty."

As soon as Bai Xiuqi heard him say this, he understood it in his heart—as early as when he was an undergraduate, the teacher of the Chinese and foreign art history courses used to explain how to let?Francois?Troyes' "Oyster Feast" specifically mentioned the metaphorical meaning of oysters. This is a kind of seafood with aphrodisiac effects. It made him have enough energy to develop unusual relationships with more than a hundred women.

... Thinking of this, Bai Xiuqi felt that he was doomed tonight.

"Don't be like this." He decided to try the soft policy: "I'm really tired today."

Jiang Chenglu didn't speak, he just lowered his head slowly, then raised his eyelids to look at Bai Xiuqi silently, this pitiful look really reminded Bai Xiuqi of some kind of gentle large working dog.

Huairou vs. Huairou, they didn't expect Bai Xiuqi to lose this round.

"...Then I will help you with my hands." He retreated a step: "Just once."

Jiang Chenglu still didn't answer, but his movements were quite nimble. He kicked off his shoes and climbed onto Bai Xiuqi's bed.First, he held down Bai Xiuqi and gnawed a few bites on the bed, and then pressed it from his mouth to his ear.

"Why don't you try it with your mouth?"

"Do your spring and autumn daydream!"

Bai Xiuqi, who hadn't even thought about it, went straight up, making a gesture to kick Jiang Chenglu out of bed, but at this moment, there was a sudden knock on the door in a hurry.