Yinshan Record

Chapter 542 Asking for Directions While Climbing the Mountain Leads to Disaster (Part 1)
On Jade Sun Mountain, Master Cangyuan recounted a story from the past. If this matter were to spread throughout the martial world, who knows how many storms it would stir up.

Xue Baizhi listened quietly, her eyes gradually returning to clarity after the initial confusion and suspicion.

The past cannot be changed, yet Yuyang Mountain still stands tall in the Central Plains, revered as the leader of the righteous path. Countless disciples of Yuyang Mountain travel the world, slaying demons, eliminating evil, and promoting good.

Indeed, there may be flaws in the inheritance and the path may be rugged, but the deeds that Yuyang Mountain has done in the Central Plains over the years are by no means false.

"Please rest assured, teacher, your disciple will certainly not fail in his mission."

Xue Baizhi paused for a moment and then continued, "I will set off for Jiankang now."

"Go back quickly."

Master Cangyuan gazed at the ancestral tablets of past masters before him.

"These are turbulent times, and we should strive to be thorough in everything we do."

The master and disciple discussed the future of the sect, but Cang Yuan Zhenren's eyes were filled with endless worry.

In this world, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Who can truly know whether the appearance of the ancient underworld is a good thing or a bad thing for Yuyang Mountain?

Jiankang.

Sheshan Mountain, located northeast of Jiankang and near Zhongshan Mountain, is not a high peak, but its lush vegetation and hidden forests are breathtaking, a sight to behold. Even in the depths of winter, when all things are withered, life still lurks on Sheshan Mountain. Delicate wildflowers emerge from the damp earth, waiting expectantly for spring to break the silence.

As for the evergreen foliage along the mountain roads, which has never faded, it has also taken on a light, fresh hue from its somber, dark color.

Su Che, with his sleeves wrapped around his shoulders and wearing hemp shoes, walked slowly down the cobblestone path.

This bluestone path, laid out in some unknown dynasty or for some unknown reason, has long been worn down by the passage of time, broken into pieces here and there. Children herding cattle and sheep must have picked up these stones and played with them countless times. Generation after generation, this once pristine bluestone path has become nothing more than a road sign.

Now, the sky is just beginning to brighten, and the mountains and forests are filled with the melodious chirping of birds. This noisy vitality is making people feel a little irritable.

"Old Lu, can you still keep up?"

Young Master Su turned his head to look at the person behind him.

Lu Bai's eyes were covered with a white cloth, and he was holding a small bamboo stick in his hand to lead the way. He gently tapped the ground and followed behind step by step.

Those who practice martial arts naturally have a different physical foundation than ordinary people. Although he suffered a great ordeal, he recovered after being slowly nurtured by the Fu Gui method. The only pity was that his eyesight was only able to vaguely perceive light, and he could no longer see the world clearly.

In comparison, Zhu Yi was somewhat worse off. He had only recovered to a general extent. Although his body appeared healthy, his face was always pale, and the lost vitality could not be recovered.

At the very back was Xuan Gui, a scholar without any cultivation. His face was flushed, and he was panting heavily, clearly unable to keep up. Compared to Lu Bai and Zhu Yi, who were recovering from serious injuries, Xuan Gui, although not injured, had a weak foundation. He looked like he was being tortured, trying his best to support them from behind.

"Alright, young master."

Lu Bai spoke calmly, tilting his head back to smell the scent in the air.

"It's delicious."

"Does it smell good?"

Su Che looked at Lu Bai's eyes, which were covered by a white cloth, without saying a word.

This is just a minor injury.

If Young Master Su were willing, he could heal Lu Bai's eyes in a month or two, but Su Che wasn't in a hurry. After all, this was a rare opportunity, and it would be a good time for Old Lu to take a break, adjust his mindset, and consider his future path.

"Although the air was cold, I could smell a faint scent of pine branches. The dew that moistened the ground also had a sweet fragrance, which I had never noticed before."

Lu Bai's palm rubbed against the bamboo staff.

"The five tones deafen the ear, the five colors blind the eye. Now that all the superficiality has been stripped away, I, Old Lu, see things more clearly than ever before. Young master, is this Sheshan?"

"Indeed, this is Sheshan."

Su Che looked at the mountain scenery before him, where green grass sprouted haphazardly from between the rocks, and a flat path stretched slowly into the distance.

"Because this mountain is rich in medicinal herbs that can nourish health, it is named Sheshan and is known as the most beautiful mountain in Jiankang. Even though it is winter now, you can still see the extraordinary nature of this mountain."

The reason I'm taking these people hiking today isn't purely for team building, but because there's a very special place in this mountain.

Huang Tiandao's lower temple, Zhixin Temple, is located in Sheshan. Su Che's main purpose in climbing the mountain today is to visit Zhixin Temple.

After all, he is now the abbot of Zhixin Temple. It would be a bit unreasonable for him not to come and visit when he arrives in Jiankang.

Although the mountain path was narrow and it was the dead of winter, pilgrims could still be seen climbing the mountain. These devout men and women had set off at some unknown time, and they were all bowing every five steps and kowtowing every three steps, showing their piety to the gods and Buddhas in the unseen world.

Although there were many devout men and women, Su Che keenly noticed that they had little to do with his family, because these devout men and women were silently chanting Buddhist mantras such as "Namo Buddha," "Namo Medicine Buddha," and "Namo Pure and Immaculate Buddha."

Su Che then remembered that there were many Buddhist temples on Mount She, especially during the previous dynasty when the Lion-Blue Lotus Tathagata ascended to the Central Plains to serve as the national teacher of the previous dynasty. The old lion built his own temple on Mount She.

Even today, ancient relics still remain, but the old lion of yesteryear has already gone deep into the demonic path and has now vanished into nothingness.

As Su Che was thinking this, he saw the mountain road turn and a magnificent temple came into view. The vermilion gates were open on both sides, and bald monks dressed in monks' robes stood at the gate, respectfully chanting Buddhist prayers.

Looking at that solemn and dignified appearance, Su Che thought it was some kind of male model standing there as a clothes rack.

"Namo Buddha, benefactor, our temple is holding a different religious ceremony today and cannot receive you all at the moment. Please leave."

A young novice monk came over, put his palms together, and respectfully apologized to Su Che.

Su Che was momentarily surprised, as he had no intention of entering the Buddhist temple. However, upon turning his head and seeing Lu Bai on the other side, he understood the general idea.

Most likely, the young monk mistook them for patients who had come to the mountain to pray for blessings.

“It’s not easy for us to come up the mountain.” Su Che pointed to Lu Bai on the other side and said, “Little Master, you can see for yourself that my brother is suffering from illness and is only asking for a stick of incense.”

The little monk simply shook his head.

"No, no, there really is something going on at the temple today. You should go somewhere else. There are other temples on the mountain. It's really urgent today..."

"Yuanzhen, why haven't you explained it clearly yet?"

A rough, loud voice called out from the other side.

Su Che looked in the direction of the voice and saw a fat monk with a beard that reached his chest and a red birthmark between his eyebrows. Whether it was a dignified appearance or an inherently fierce look, he shook his robe and strode over.

"You guys better hurry up and get out of here, or you'll get a beating."

(End of this chapter)