Chapter 586

I scrolled down the entry, examining each item carefully, and quickly discovered some problems.

Translation: I scrolled down the entries, examining each one carefully, and soon discovered some problems.

Online descriptions of Jūnzhú Shān sum up to a few points: strong incense, accurate prayers for romance, effective prayers for children, and protection… yet nobody mentions the "Nineteen Grotto-Heavens".

Translation: Online descriptions of Junzhu Mountain sum up to these points: strong incense, accurate love‑match prayers, effective child‑bearing prayers, and safety blessings… yet no one mentions the Nineteen Grotto‑Heavens.

I spent nearly half an hour searching before finding, on an old forum, someone saying that on the midnight of July 15th of some year, while sneaking onto Jūnzhú Shān, he saw a mirage-like phenomenon appear on the mountaintop.

Translation: After browsing for nearly half an hour, I finally saw in an old forum someone claim that on a certain year's July 15 midnight, while sneaking onto Junzhu Mountain, he witnessed a mirage‑like wonder appearing on the summit.

He said that night the full moon hung high, mist swirled around the summit, and within that mist a golden light suddenly shone through.

Translation: He said that night the full moon hung high, mist swirled over the summit, and within that mist a golden light suddenly shone through.

From that golden light emerged an iron-chain bridge stretching down the mountain, on which stood a nine‑foot‑tall Daoist whose aura clearly marked him as an immortal.

Translation: From that golden light an iron chain bridge stretched out, extending down the mountain; on the bridge stood a nine‑chi tall Daoist whose bearing clearly marked him as an immortal cultivator.

That golden light lasted for over three minutes before vanishing.

Translation: That golden light lasted over three minutes before vanishing.

Afterwards he repeatedly ventured onto Jūnzhú Shān at night, but never saw such a sight again.

Translation: Later he repeatedly sneaked onto Junzhu Mountain at night, but never saw such a spectacle again.

Many people below replied to him.

Translation: Many people below replied to him.

Someone said he might have been too tired in the middle of the night, dozed off, and dreamed it.

Translation: Someone said he might have been too tired in the dead of night, dozed off and dreamed.

Someone else said he was bold and lucky—after all, it was the fifteenth of July—and that the scene was surely a ghostly illusion meant to lure him up the mountain to his doom.

Translation: Someone said he was bold and lucky—after all, it was July 15; that scene must be a ghostly illusion meant to lure him up the mountain to his death.

Soon after, someone downstairs mocked, saying the upstairs poster was talking nonsense—how could ghosts dare cause trouble atop a mountain when there's a huge City God temple at its base? It must have been the City God himself practicing at night who was seen.

Translation: Soon someone below mocked, saying the upstairs poster was talking nonsense—how could ghosts dare cause trouble atop a mountain with such a large Chénghuáng Miào at its foot? It must have been the City God himself practicing at night, spotted by him.

The latest comment said, "It's all you idle folks upstairs who have nothing better to do than run up the mountain, disturbing the City God; now private climbs of Jūnzhú Shān are explicitly forbidden."

Translation: The latest comment said, "It's all you idle folks upstairs, always running up the mountain for nothing, disturbing the City God; now private climbs of Junzhu Mountain are expressly forbidden."

……

Translation: …… (ellipsis stays as is)

In short, opinions are divided and there is no consensus.

Translation: In short, opinions diverge with no conclusion.

It seems getting detailed information about Jūnzhú Shān and its City God temple online is impossible, so I can only contact Fang Chuanzong to see if he has studied it in depth.

Translation: It seems impossible to get detailed info about Junzhu Mountain and its foot‑town Chénghuáng Miào online; I can only contact Fang Chuanzong to see if he has studied it thoroughly.

"The Jūnzhú Shān City God temple has a long history, thriving incense, and many worshippers," Fang Chuanzong said, "but supposedly only about one‑tenth of the mountain is accessible to ordinary people; the remaining nine‑tenths can be entered only by those with affinity, making it very mysterious."

Translation: "Junzhu Mountain Chénghuáng Miào has a long history, flourishing incense, and many worshippers," Fang Chuanzong said, "but supposedly only about one‑tenth of the mountain is accessible to ordinary people; the remaining nine‑tenths can be entered only by those with affinity, making it very mysterious."

Hearing Fang Chuanzong say that, I became even more curious: "Master Fang, even you can't explore it?"

Translation: Hearing Fang Chuanzong say that, I grew even more curious: "Master Fang, even you cannot explore it?"

"Maybe I'm not one of the fated ones," Fang Chuanzong sighed, then asked, "Xiao Jiu, why are you suddenly asking about this?"

Translation: "Perhaps I lack the affinity," Fang Chuanzong sighed, then asked, "Xiao Jiu, why did you suddenly ask about this?"

I said I had taken on a job related to Jūnzhú Shān and wanted to learn more about it beforehand.

Translation: I said I had taken on a job related to Junzhu Mountain, and wanted to learn more about it beforehand.

Fang Chuanzong drew a breath, lowered his voice, and asked, "Xiao Jiu, may I boldly ask what kind of business it is?"

Translation: Fang Chuanzong hissed, lowered his voice, and asked, "Xiao Jiu, may I boldly ask what kind of business it is?"

"We're on the same side, so I won't hide it: it's a job to redeem a pawned item—I need to go up the mountain to find a lock, which could be dangerous."

Translation: "We're all on the same side, so I won't hide it: it's a pawn‑redemption job—we need to go up the mountain to find a lock, which could be dangerous."

Fang Chuanzong warned me to be careful and said he would soon send me some archival information about the Jūnzhú Shān City God temple so I could review it and be well informed.

Translation: Fang Chuanzong urged me to be careful and said he would later send me some file information about Junzhu Mountain Chénghuáng Miào so I could review it and be well prepared.

I was deeply grateful.

Translation: I was deeply grateful.

After hanging up, Fang Chuanzong quickly sent the archival information, though the records were not extensive.

Translation: After hanging up, Fang Chuanzong quickly sent the file information, though the records were not extensive.

The bulk of the material concerns the temple's origins and who the enshrined City God is; the rest is a jumble of miscellaneous myths.

Translation: The files mostly recorded the temple's origin and who the enshrined City God is; the rest are a jumble of miscellaneous myths.

I skimmed through it once.

Translation: I skimmed through them once.

In the netherworld there is only one City God hall, but in the mortal world there are countless City God temples.

Translation: In the netherworld there is a single Chenghuang Temple, but in the mortal realm there are countless City God Temples.

Each region's City God temple also varies in size.

Translation: Each region's Chénghuáng Miào also varies in size.

Like the City God temple on Jūnzhú Shān, located within Jiangcheng territory, it is the oldest, largest, and has the most vigorous incense of any in the area.

Translation: Like the Chénghuáng Miào of Junzhu Mountain, located within Jiangcheng territory, it is the oldest, largest, and most flourishing in incense.

Yet for some reason its fame is not widespread; in short, it quietly awaits those with affinity.

Translation: Yet for some reason its fame is not great; in short, it simply waits silently for those with affinity.

The City God enshrined in the Jūnzhú Shān temple is said to bear the surname Wang; originally a scholar heading to the capital for exams, he passed through Jūnzhú Shān, encountered a heavy snowstorm, froze almost to death.

Translation: The City God enshrined in Junzhu Mountain's temple is said to bear the surname Wang; originally a scholar heading to the capital for exams, he passed through Junzhu Mountain, encountered a heavy snowstorm, bitter cold, and nearly froze to death.

By fortunate coincidence, he was rescued by an old Daoist cultivating on Jūnzhú Shān, thereafter followed the Daoist in practice, eventually attained immortality, founded the Jūnzhú Shān City God temple, and after several expansions it reached its present scale.

Translation: By a fortunate coincidence, he was rescued by an old Daoist cultivating on Junzhu Mountain; he then followed the Daoist in cultivation, eventually ascended to immortality, established the Junzhu Mountain Chénghuáng Miào, and after several expansions it reached its present scale.

Every year large numbers of worshippers come to offer incense at the Jūnzhú Shān City God temple, and it is said to be very efficacious.

Translation: Every year large numbers of worshippers come to Junzhu Mountain Chénghuáng Miào to offer incense, and it is said to be very efficacious.

The remainder consists of various miscellaneous 'stories'.

Translation: The remainder are just assorted miscellaneous stories.

No wonder Fang Chuanzong couldn't give me a definite answer—apparently even the Special Affairs Office has gathered only scant information about the Jūnzhú Shān City God temple over the years.

Translation: No wonder Fang Chuanzong couldn't give me a definite answer; it turns out even the Special Affairs Handling Office has gathered only scarce information about Junzhu Mountain Chénghuáng Miào over the years.

My curiosity was instantly sparked; it seems I need to make a personal trip to the Jūnzhú Shān City God temple to check things out.

Translation: My curiosity was instantly sparked; it seems I must personally visit Junzhu Mountain Chénghuáng Miào to check things out.

Liu Junye accompanied me.

Translation: Liu Junyan accompanied me.

We bought the highest‑grade incense tower; after offering it, as we were about to wander around, a young Daoist stepped forward, bowed, and politely asked, "May I ask if you two are honored guests from the Yin‑dang line of Wufu Town?"

Translation: We bought the highest‑grade incense tower; after offering it, just as we were about to look around, a young Daoist approached, bowed, and politely asked, "May I ask if you two are honored guests from the Yin Dang Hang of Wufu Town?"

I returned the bow and said yes.

Translation: I returned the bow and said yes.

The young Daoist then said his temple's City God had calculated our arrival and specially instructed him to receive us well, so he had been keeping watch.

Translation: The young Daoist then said his temple's City God had calculated our arrival and specially instructed him to receive us well, so he had been keeping watch.

I felt surprised and asked, "Our trip has a purpose; may we pay a personal visit to the City God?"

Translation: I felt surprised and asked, "We have a mission on this trip; may we personally visit the City God?"

The Daoist apologized, saying, "Our City God has a special status and does not usually reside in the temple; if you want to know anything, just ask me—I will tell you everything I know."

Translation: The young Daoist apologized, saying, "Our City God's status is special; he does not often reside in the temple. If you wish to know anything, just ask me—I will tell you everything I know."

Having said that, we decided to leave it at that.

Translation: Having said that, we decided to leave it at that.

The young Daoist led us onward along the back path.

Translation: The young Daoist led us onward toward the rear.

Along the way I genuinely felt that the temple's incense was indeed thronged, with weekday visitors streaming in without cease.

Translation: Along the way I truly felt the temple's incense was indeed thriving; on weekdays the stream of people coming to offer incense never ceased.

Crowds offered incense and knelt in the main hall, then after passing through it they were diverted.

Translation: Crowds offered incense and knelt in the main hall; after passing through it they were diverted.

Because behind the main hall there are many smaller chambers, each overseeing a different domain.

Translation: Because behind the main hall lie many smaller halls, each overseeing a different domain.

This matches what was said online, so I focused my attention on the chamber concerned with marriage and romance.

Translation: This matches what was said online, so I focused my attention on the hall concerning marriage affinities.

After all, I am looking for the "Mandarin Duck Heart‑Lock," which clearly pertains to love and marriage.

Translation: After all, I am looking for the "Mandarin Duck Heart‑Lock," which clearly pertains to marriage bonds.

Upon seeing this, I became even more puzzled: "Are the halls for praying for romance and for marriage actually different?"

Translation: Upon seeing this, I grew more puzzled: "Are the halls for praying for peach‑blossom love and for marriage actually separate?"

"Of course not," the Daoist explained, "as the saying goes, 'Ten years of cultivation yields sharing a boat; a hundred years yields sharing a pillow.' 'Sharing a boat' refers to romance, while 'sharing a pillow' refers to marriage."

Translation: "Certainly not," the young Daoist explained. "As the saying goes, ten years of cultivation yields sharing a boat; a hundred years yields sharing a pillow. 'Sharing a boat' is peach‑blossom affinity; 'sharing a pillow' is true marriage."

With that explanation I understood.

Translation: With that explanation I understood.

Praying for romance seeks a fateful connection.

Translation: Praying for peach‑blossom seeks an affinity.

Whereas praying for marriage seeks an actual outcome.

Translation: Whereas praying for marriage seeks a result.

The City God temple is quite strict as well.

Translation: The Chénghuáng Miào is quite rigorous.

The further back we went, the fewer people there were; I ventured to ask, "In our City God temple, are the marriages obtained through prayer all proper ones that can last a lifetime?"

Translation: The further back we went, the fewer people there were; I ventured to ask, "In our Chénghuáng Miào, are the marriage affinities obtained all proper ones, allowing a lifetime together?"

The Daoist smiled and shook his head: "Marriage is also a form of cultivation."

Translation: The young Daoist laughed and shook his head: "Marriage affinity is also a cultivation."

I pressed on: "Does our City God temple have a kind of marriage prayer that, once made, locks the bond for all lifetimes, never to part?"

Translation: I pressed further: "Does our Chénghuáng Miào have a marriage prayer that, once made, locks the bond forever, never to part across lifetimes?"

I was almost about to directly ask whether our City God temple possesses the Mandarin Duck Heart‑Lock.

Translation: I was almost about to directly ask whether our Chénghuáng Miào possesses the Mandarin Duck Heart‑Lock.

But I was also afraid that asking too bluntly would offend Xiǎo Dàoshì.

The little Daoist, however, spoke with great certainty: "Of course there is. On the mountainside of Jūnzhú Shān, there is a blessed land called Shíjiǔ Dòngtiān. Within Shíjiǔ Dòngtiān stands a Sānshēng Diàn. In that hall you can seek the lifelong, inseparable bond you spoke of. If you can obtain it, the bond between the two will be locked by the Yuānyāng Tóngxīn Suǒ within the Sānshēng Diàn, whether it is a true affinity or a karmic one, binding them for lifetime after lifetime without end."