21 The abondoned temple (1/2)

”Wait.” The Taoist priest said.

He said those words softly, but there was a commanding tone to it. As if there was no one in the world capable of defying his orders.

The farmer wanted to get away from this place as quickly as possible. His mind was telling him that he could not stay there a moment longer, but his legs were doing otherwise. His feet suddenly turned around as he faced the Taoist priest.

”Yes.”He managed to say.

”I have been studying your face, I would like to warn you that it is best if you do not enter the imperial city. If you do not heed my warning, then only death awaits you in the imperial city.” The Taoist priest says solemnly.

It seemed that he was extremely confident in his fortune telling skill, if he could he would probably swear on his life to those that distrusted him, but that would never happen.

”What are you saying you charlatan, how dare you curse me to death!” The farmer was quite angry at what he was saying and stomped off, back to his wagon.

”Those who leave me cannot be left behind, those who make me angry today will bring me nothing but worries.” The Taoist priest said as he flicked his horsetail whip and went off into the night. It would be some time before he would be seen again.

”Just you wait, I can report you to the authorities for speaking nonsense.” The farmer muttered under his breath, as he glared at that hateful Taoist who cursed him.

He would continue to wait for the city gates to open the next morning, it seemed that the fortune teller was unable to deter him from entering the capital city.

After all, everyone wanted to make a few extra coppers before the winter came.

It was said that this year, the winter would be one of the worst, and no one wanted to be caught unprepared when it came. One can always learn from past, when winters came harshest, causing millions to freeze or starve to death.

~

After walking for a distance. The little girl came across a small structure. It was hidden beneath a jungle of vines and trees. The original place was no longer recognizable.

It could have been a small wooden cabin that people had once lived in, or a stable where horses lived in, maybe a small shack where hunters kept their seasonal hunting equipment.

It didn't matter what that structure used to be, because now, it was abandoned. Even if it was once a royal palace, now it was nothing more than a pile of rotten wood.