Qing Tong stepped out of the River of Time, took a closer look, and asked in confusion, "Why didn't we return directly to the Demon Suppressing Tower? Is there another Mountain God here in Treasure Bottle Continent you need to meet?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "I've never been here either. Someone had a sudden whim and asked me to help receive guests, to see someone off here."
Qing Tong grew even more puzzled. Who could order Chen Ping'an around like that?
In the distance, he saw shimmering ripples of light. A cluster of buildings lay half-hidden beneath the shade of green trees, and several clear, lingering chimes drifted down from above.
Chen Ping'an said, "Let's go wait up ahead for a hare to crash into a tree stump."
As they drew nearer, they found a fairly large shrine-temple, its plaque bearing the words Fen River Shrine. Two ancient locust trees stood before its gates, while outside lay a large pond ringed with drooping willows. Several blue-gray horses were tethered in the willow shade, and a carriage with embroidered curtains stood by the foot of the shrine wall. It was likely carrying the female relatives of some wealthy household. The elderly driver wore a thick cotton robe, his hands tucked into his sleeves as he nodded off in a daze.
Qing Tong followed Chen Ping'an into the shrine. Since it was Lunar New Year's Eve, the incense offerings were naturally sparse. No devout men or women had come to burn incense yet. Only several children dressed as Daoist boys squatted in the corridor outside the main hall, tossing copper coins for fun. When they saw Chen Ping'an and Qing Tong, they merely glanced up without greeting them.
Moon gates stood on either side, the only way to reach the rear