Qingqiu lay a thousand li from Haining. It was Quzhou territory, yet located along Quzhou's southern border.
Here, mountains rose and fell in endless succession, while ravines ran deep and secluded.
Many wondrous legends had been left behind here...
Some said they had seen white sheep carrying foxes, strolling leisurely across the grasslands.
Others said, "What's so remarkable about that? I've even seen immortals marrying! A grand procession of fairy maidens carried a bright red sedan chair as it flew close to the ground. The music was so enchanting that anyone who heard it would be drunk on it."
Still others said that there was an ancient temple ahead. Scholars studied there by night, and sometimes they could see Fox Immortals, for Fox Immortals loved men of letters.
Thus, the ancient temple had been named the Temple of Literary Fate. Many scholars came here, pursuing rare and elusive fated encounters in the Mortal World.
At this moment, the Temple of Literary Fate lay beneath a sky full of stars.
Deep within the shadowy temple halls, a green lamp cast slanting light.
In the silent guest rooms, scholars truly were reading through the night.
Within the night wind, it seemed that mysteries were truly stirring.
Lin Su's Scholar's Robe fluttered in the night wind as he strolled up the stone steps before the Temple of Literary Fate. From the highest Buddhist hall, an Old Monk slowly raised his gaze. Looking through mottled tree shadows at the temple forecourt, he murmured, "Seek no fate, and fate is fate; seek fate with intent, and fate becomes an obstacle. Amitabha!"
The Old Monk had spoken this verse many times, always to the young scholars who came to the Temple of Literary Fate seeking romance. Few had understood it.
What did it mean?
An encounter