A Daoist in Wind and Rain, Mountain God Temple

A Daoist in Wind and Rain, Mountain God Temple

At the hour of the Rooster, the sun set.

The sky gradually darkened. The dying sun sank in the west, leaving only a strip of dim yellow at the horizon.

The Qingping Mountain range, stretching twelve hundred li across, slowly entered the twilight. The forests grew ever darker, birdcalls became sparse, insect chirps faded away, and the entire mountain seemed to fall silent with the setting sun.

By the hour of the Dog, Qingping Mountain was completely shrouded in night. From afar, it was nothing but a black expanse, like some enormous beast crouching upon the earth.

As dark clouds gathered, the night wind suddenly rose. Cold gusts howled through the mountains, thunder rumbled and lightning flashed amid the woods, and before long, rain poured down in sheets.

Within Qingping Mountain, enveloped by night rain, wind, and clouds, only the Mountain God Temple halfway up the mountain seemed to hold a flickering glimmer of light, faintly visible and faintly hidden.

At that moment, a young Daoist stood beneath an oiled-paper umbrella, gazing toward the Mountain God Temple from afar. He murmured softly, "That creature must be here."

The Daoist's surname was Jiang, his given name Sheng, and his courtesy name Yuanchen. He was a newly promoted inner disciple of the Penglai Dao Sect. After achieving Foundation Establishment Realm, he had descended the mountain to train in accordance with sect rules.

All Foundation Establishment Realm disciples of the Dao Sect had to travel and cultivate beyond the sect. Only after opening their Purple Mansion Realm could they return.

As Jiang Sheng traveled here, he discovered that Qingping Mountain concealed profound mysteries. It could be counted as a blessed land, and some creature in the mountain had even obtained a sliver of fortune.

This was undoubtedly a boon fallen from heaven, and Jiang Sheng naturally had no wish to miss it.

Inside the Mountain God Temple, flames licked at the firewood with crackling pops. Wisps of green smoke rose and coiled beneath the temple roof.

Within the Mountain God Temple amid the night rain, two groups sat around separate bonfires, silent and wordless.

In the left corner sat a grandfather and grandson. They were cross-legged atop a pile of withered yellow grass, utterly unconcerned by the violent wind and rain outside or the temple's dilapidated state. The old man held two flatbreads over the fire, while his little grandson stared at them eagerly.

In the right corner were five sturdy young men. They squatted on the ground, stretching out their hands to warm themselves by the fire. From time to time, one would yawn, take a flask from his waist, sip some wine, smack his lips, and continue staring into the flames.

The two groups each went about their own business without disturbing the other. Though silent, they shared a measure of tacit understanding.

Just then, the Mountain God Temple's door creaked open. Both groups looked over and saw a young Daoist holding an oiled-paper umbrella.

The group of young men visibly relaxed and continued forcing themselves to stay awake as they warmed themselves and drank. The old man also returned to roasting his bread, but the little grandson was exceedingly curious about Jiang Sheng's sudden appearance.

"Mountain rain rose suddenly, and there was nowhere to go at night. This poor Daoist can only trouble you for a while." Jiang Sheng cupped his hands with an apologetic expression.

"Daoist, you jest. This Mountain God Temple has no owner, and we too are merely sheltering here from the rain. How could it be called trouble? Please make yourself at home." The old man smiled.

Jiang Sheng noticed that when the old man said the Mountain God Temple had no owner, strange expressions crossed the faces of the young men.

Ignoring them, Jiang Sheng walked over beside the grandfather and grandson. "Old sir, might I borrow a piece of firewood?"

Knowing that Jiang Sheng wished to kindle a fire for warmth, the old man smiled. "Daoist, if you do not mind, simply warm yourself with us."

"Then this poor Daoist shall impose."

After Jiang Sheng sat cross-legged, the old man casually asked, "Why has Daoist entered the mountain so late at night? Qingping Mountain is not very peaceful after dark."

Jiang Sheng explained, "This poor Daoist traveled here intending to climb the mountain in search of a creature, but I never expected the night rain to bar my way."

The old man was quite curious. "Oh? Searching for a creature? Daoist, you may not know this, but Qingping Mountain is vast, and venomous snakes and fierce beasts are especially numerous. If the creature Daoist seeks leaves rare traces, then should you carelessly encounter some mountain wolf or venomous snake, it would be very dangerous."

"If that creature is important to Daoist, it would be best to ask a local hunter to guide you. It would add another measure of safety."

Jiang Sheng did not answer. He glanced at the wind and rain outside the Mountain God Temple, then suddenly said, "Old sir, you should take your little grandson and leave first. This Mountain God Temple is no peaceful place."

The old man repeatedly shook his head. "The rain outside is fierce, the wind violent, and it is damp and cold. Besides, the mountain paths are wet and slippery at night, which is hardly safe. Whatever else, this Mountain God Temple is a place to shelter from wind and rain. How could we leave?"

Jiang Sheng shook his head. "Old sir, heed this poor Daoist's advice. Leaving now would be best."

The little grandson looked at Jiang Sheng with a face full of confusion, while the old man was even more baffled. "Daoist, I kindly invited you to warm yourself by the fire, yet you instead urge my grandson and me to go out and get drenched in the rain. What sense does that make?"

Jiang Sheng sighed. Before he could continue explaining, one of the five young men suddenly spoke. "Hey, Daoist, why do you say this Mountain God Temple is not a peaceful place?"

Jiang Sheng sighed softly and gazed gloomily at the young men. "Qingping Town lies below Qingping Mountain, yet Qingping Town itself has known no peace. These past days, several households in Qingping Town have hung white funeral banners one after another. There is no peace below the mountain, so there is even less peace within it."

"Daoist, have you discovered something?" Even if the old man were slower to react, he knew something was wrong now.

This young Daoist seemed to have squared off against those five young men!

Jiang Sheng gave a slight nod. "This poor Daoist discovered that wronged souls wail within this Mountain God Temple. This poor Daoist also discovered that demons and evil spirits are causing mischief here."

"Daoist! You make it sound so sinister. Where are these demons and evil spirits? And where are these wronged souls?!" One of the young men roared. From the look of him, if Jiang Sheng could not give a proper answer, he would step forward and strike him.

Jiang Sheng swept his gaze from left to right across the five young men and the grandfather and grandson, then looked toward the broken Mountain God statue before him. "The wronged souls have been blinded by delusion and do not yet know they are dead. As for the demon causing mischief, it stands right before you and me."

As Jiang Sheng's words fell, the Mountain God Temple abruptly became deathly silent.

Looking at the five young men whose faces had suddenly gone blank, Jiang Sheng shouted, "Wake up already!"

That sharp cry carried the power of a spell. The five young men immediately collapsed in all directions, clutching their heads and howling in agony.

"Ahhh! Who am I? I am Wang Da! I am Wang Da! I was eaten by a fierce tiger!"

"There's a fierce tiger! A fierce tiger!"

"Help! Don't eat me, don't eat me! Help!"

Miserable wails rang through the Mountain God Temple. At some point, the five young men had turned into ghostly shadows, repeating the scene of being devoured by a fierce tiger in life.

The grandfather and grandson were so frightened by the sight that they retreated again and again, stopping only when their backs pressed against the wall.

They had never imagined that merely taking shelter from the rain would bring them face-to-face with such a horrifying scene!

Remembering how Jiang Sheng had urged them to leave, the old man clutched his little grandson tightly, filled with regret. Had he known the Mountain God Temple was so terrifying, he would have taken his grandson away even through the heavy night rain and over the slippery mountain paths!

Suddenly, another burst of resentful ghostly wailing rose up!

The five ghosts, who had been sprawled about in pain, abruptly stood. Their faces were now wooden and their expressions sinister. Their forms gradually turned illusory, and in the blink of an eye, ghostly qi spilled in all directions.

Chang Ghosts!

Those devoured by tigers would, even after death, be controlled by the vicious beasts and reduced to ghost servants of tigers. They were called chang.

"Daoist, do you know that you have ruined Mountain God's banquet?"

Esteemed readers, this book has already been submitted internally. As a newcomer with a new book, I hope for your support. Please add it to your favorites. My endless gratitude, endless gratitude.

(End of this chapter)