Chapter 1: Millennium-old Daoist temple, before the Ancestor

Jiangbei Province, Zhenwu Mountain.

On the winding mountain road, a tourist bus sped along. Through the glass windows, one could see the sheer cliffs and precipices nearby, with lush ancient trees brushing past.

"I don't believe that even this sacred land of immortals can't cleanse that filthy soul of yours."

A firm voice came from beside his ear. Zhang Fan, who had been leaning against the window, tilted his head slightly to look at his confident best friend, then immediately looked out the window, listless.

Their four-year relationship from university had ultimately succumbed to the curse that graduation season is breakup season. They had gone their separate ways; the two people who were once closest would never have their life paths overlap again.

The figure running in the sunset had thoroughly become a part of lost youth...

Such a disparity made it difficult for Zhang Fan to recover for quite a while.

As his best friend, Li Yi had no choice but to drag him out to climb the mountain, go on a pilgrimage, enter the temple to burn incense, change his mood, and pray to the gods and Buddhas.

"Tell me... do immortals have to pass through the trial of love?"

Just at this moment, Zhang Fan asked without turning his head.

"This is Zhenwu Mountain, it's very efficacious. Don't talk nonsense," Li Yi said in a low voice, his eyes wide.

"But the old saying goes, mortals seeking immortality fall into the red dust; they must pass two trials to hear the Dao..."

Li Yi had studied folklore and culture in university.

"Which two trials?" Zhang Fan asked casually.

"The trial of love and the trial of life and death... Only after passing these two trials will a high-level master come to deliver you," Li Yi said in a low voice.

"Since ancient times, Zhenwu Mountain has been known as a blessed land of immortals, and it is also..."

"A 5A-level national scenic spot, with an entrance ticket of two hundred yuan..."

Before the other could finish, Zhang Fan interrupted.

"This is the dojo of the Great Emperor Zhenwu. Back then, the Great Emperor Zhenwu attained the Dao here, sat in command of the north, swept away demons and monsters, and is also known as the Patriarch of the Nine Heavens Who Sweeps Away Demons," Li Yi said solemnly.

Zhenwu Mountain is a famous mountain under heaven.

During the Zhenguan reign of the Tang Dynasty, the imperial court ordered the construction of the "Five Dragon Temple" here to pray to heaven for rain, thus opening the mountain gate of the Profound Heaven Sect. It became one of the seventy-two blessed lands under heaven. Throughout history, countless seekers of immortality have climbed the mountain to live in seclusion, hoping to catch a glimpse of the immortal Way.

Nowadays, it has indeed become a 5A-level national scenic spot... This is an indisputable fact.

"I heard a bottle of mineral water on the mountain costs ten yuan..." Zhang Fan said to himself.

"..."

"The incense at Zhenwu Mountain is the most efficacious. I heard..."

"A full set for the family costs three hundred and eighty..."

Before coming, Zhang Fan had already read the guide on the "Little Yellow Book."

"..."

"If praying to gods and Buddhas were useful, there would be no pitiful people in the world."

Zhang Fan leaned against the window, looking out at the bus. The mountains were undulating, with peaks standing straight, piercing the clouds; the winding streams were deep and connected to the earth's portals; flowers and trees on both cliffs vied for beauty, and several patches of pine and bamboo competed in greenness.

A moment later, the tourist bus drove off the winding mountain road and stopped in front of an open space. Looking down from the bus, an ancient Daoist temple appeared before their eyes. The eaves were high and pointed, possessing a distinct ancient charm. Wisps of incense smoke rose, and the faint sound of bells lingered in their ears.

"Zixiao Palace... one of the Nine Palaces of Zhenwu Mountain, a famous scenic spot..."

"Don't talk nonsense when you get here."

Li Yi followed Zhang Fan off the bus and whispered a reminder from the side.

"Young man, want to buy incense? The ones inside are expensive... a full family set is four hundred and eighty..."

Just as everyone got off the bus, several elderly men and women carrying bags of incense and candles surrounded them. Relying on the mountain to eat from the mountain, relying on the water to eat from the water, relying on the gods to eat from the gods... clearly, this was their livelihood.

"No need... thank you." Zhang Fan waved his hand.

"Young man, if you see the gods and don't burn incense, you will suffer retribution..." the old woman said with a smile, appearing kind and amiable.

"..."

Zhang Fan didn't stop his pace, but Li Yi bought two sets of incense and candles, caught up carrying the bag, and handed one over.

"One hundred and twenty, remember to transfer it to me."

"You still want money?" Zhang Fan rolled his eyes and said.

"Nonsense, incense money must be paid by oneself," Li Yi said, mentioning the taboo.

"Can you look at things more openly?"

Li Yi looked at Zhang Fan's listless appearance and couldn't help but advise: "What if you don't break up? Want to get married, want to bow to heaven and earth, aren't you afraid of becoming Wu Dalang?"

"Shut up." Zhang Fan said, speechless.

"The ancestors all said, want a car, want a house, think about it, being single is better."

"Your ancestors said that?"

Zhang Fan carried the incense and candles and stepped into the mountain gate. He saw that the architecture was antique, not in the style of the Ming or Qing dynasties. The walls, crisscrossed with gullies, were imprinted with the traces of time.

Taking a deep breath, the cool air of the mountain went straight into his lungs, and his head felt much clearer.

"Truly a good place." Zhang Fan muttered softly, his mood seeming to improve a little.

"This Daoist temple has a history of over a thousand years... just treat it as coming for mountain climbing and tourism..."

Li Yi leaned over, squinting his eyes and smiling: "As long as you change partners quickly, there is no sadness, only love..."

"I heard that mountain-climbing socialites often visit here, who knows, you might even have a romantic encounter..."

"Heavens, how dare you say such things in a place like this..."

Zhang Fan distanced himself from Li Yi as if avoiding a plague: "The gods are above, he was the one who said that..."

"Aren't you supposed to be against feudal superstition?" Li Yi glared at him fiercely.

"I am now free of desires and have no interest in women."

Zhang Fan looked full of purity and lack of desire, carried the incense and candles, and walked into the worship hall.

Inside the hall, three statues were enshrined. In the center was naturally the 【Great Emperor Zhenwu】, on the left was 【Patriarch Sanfeng】, and on the right was 【Patriarch Pure Yang】.

Both were immortals who attained the Dao through cultivation on Zhenwu Mountain and were extremely famous in history.

At this moment, there were not many pilgrims in the hall. Under the guidance of the temple keeper, Zhang Fan lit the incense and bowed down to the Great God Zhenwu.

Immediately after, he came before the statue of 【Patriarch Sanfeng】 on the left.

"Line up..."

Li Yi pulled Zhang Fan and lined up behind two elderly women. They were kneeling on the prayer mats, muttering something, seemingly praying for something. One of them even made a sound while kowtowing.

"Hmm!?"

Just at this moment, Zhang Fan caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye of a young girl lining up behind them. She was about 1.7 meters tall, with fair skin, shoulder-length short hair, bright and pretty features, an ethereal and delicate temperament, and was wearing a black brocade outfit with water-ripple patterns, which was extremely unique.

"Hurry and bow!"

Li Yi's voice pulled Zhang Fan's thoughts back. The two of them knelt down with a thud before the statue of 【Patriarch Sanfeng】 and bowed three times.

After rising, Zhang Fan saw the black-clad girl also step forward to kneel and bow, her hands pressed together in a gesture of worship, extremely devout.

"Is she alone!?" Zhang Fan subconsciously looked around, but did not see any companions beside the black-clad girl.

Traveling alone is already rare, let alone coming to climb a mountain.

Zhang Fan had seen a 【Level 10 Loneliness Scale】 on the internet; having surgery alone is level ten, and traveling alone is level eight.

"How come she didn't even bring luggage?"

Zhang Fan muttered to himself. Who among those coming here for tourism doesn't carry bags of all sizes along the way? Especially girls; even if they don't bring food and water, things like sunscreen are indispensable.

Such an anomaly made Zhang Fan unable to resist looking a few more times.

"Come and bow to Patriarch Pure Yang."

As he spoke, Li Yi pulled Zhang Fan to the right side of the main hall. Coincidentally, the black-clad girl also came over after bowing to 【Patriarch Sanfeng】 and stood behind the two of them, lining up.

Li Yi was extremely devout, muttering words in his mouth, seemingly praying, but most of Zhang Fan's mind was no longer on it.

At this very moment, only the three of them remained on the right side of the main hall.

After the ritual was finished, the two of them rose. Seeing the black-clad girl step forward, they moved aside slightly and turned to walk out of the main hall.

After leaving the door and not walking far, Zhang Fan turned his head to look at the worship hall that was gradually moving away.

"What are you thinking about? You are too infatuated... you already broke up..."

"Did you see that beauty just now? She..."

Far away from the temple, not under the Ancestor's seat, Zhang Fan dared to speak, recalling the black-clad girl from just a moment ago.

"What beauty!!?"

Li Yi was full of confusion, which made Zhang Fan stop in his tracks.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 2 =====