Led by two women from Yunzhou, Sang Que traversed the deep forest and entered the Five Spirits Altar.
Moss-covered stone steps built from giant rocks led up to the altar, where five enormous statues came into view, representing a scorpion, centipede, venomous snake, gecko, and toad, surrounding the central altar in menacing stances. Atop each statue sat a boy of about seven or eight years old.
Xingzhu, as the Dragon and Snake Child, sat on the snake statue, gazing coldly down at everyone below.
Beneath each statue stood the leaders and the High Priest from the five major villages, Cheng Ge among them. They wore similar traditional outfits in different colors, adorned with images of Evil Ghosts encircling the Five Poison.
The priests held magic artifacts, muttering chants, their voices low and lingering. The leaders, with solemn expressions and eyes full of awe, watched Sang Que being led to the steps before the central altar.
