Legends of the Primordial World

The next day, early morning.

As Second Uncle went up the mountain, his steps were brisk, clearly a little nervous. But upon seeing Lin Xiaosu standing perfectly fine on the platform, his expression immediately relaxed. "Did anything happen last night?"

"Second Uncle, what kind of place is this? Last night... ghosts really appeared last night... Something crawled out from below, a land spirit about seven or eight feet long. Fortunately, Hu Ya was very fierce, and in a few moves, she beat the snake so badly its own mother wouldn't recognize it."

Second Uncle listened to the thrilling story, his face impassive. "That's it?"

"A seven or eight-foot-long land spirit, Second Uncle, how can you be so calm?" Lin Xiaosu didn't mention another more explosive event, because he didn't know how much Second Uncle knew about the "Sky Window."

"During an Astrological Shift Day, heaven and earth split and change, and the vital energy is abnormal. It's not surprising that any strange things would be created. Last time, a butterfly as big as your hen appeared. Fortunately, it was a butterfly. If it had been a mosquito this big, I might not be here. Alright, as long as nothing happened, that's good," Second Uncle said.

"But this... what exactly is going on? This is completely unscientific..." Lin Xiaosu gently scratched his head.

"Willow Forest Temple has its mysteries. The former abbot, Daoist Master Lu Yun, said that this is a 'mysterious pass' connecting to the Primordial World. If the opportunity is sufficient, it's possible to see the 'Sky Window' open and witness wondrous things you couldn't even imagine."

Sky Window?

Lin Xiaosu's eyes flickered. "Second Uncle, have you ever seen it?"

"I've taken over Willow Forest Temple for twenty-three years, and during that time, I've experienced seventeen Astrological Shift Days. Each time, I sat at the formation's core, gazing at the sky, not daring to blink. However, I haven't seen the Sky Window."

You looked up but didn't see the Sky Window.

You just didn't look down!

Lin Xiaosu said, "What about Daoist Master Lu Yun? Did he see it?"

"Him? He was blind. But don't underestimate him just because he was blind; he was even more miraculous than normal people..."

The former abbot of Willow Forest Temple was named Lu Yun. He arrived at Willow Forest Temple before liberation.

Second Uncle's connection with Willow Forest Temple stemmed from his second aunt's illness. His second aunt suffered from congenital anemia and was originally unable to have children. But she loved Second Uncle so much that she wanted to have a child for him, so she became pregnant despite the risks.

Before giving birth, she had a massive hemorrhage and was rushed to the county hospital. The doctors there were so terrified by the scene that they refused to admit her, telling them to send her to the provincial hospital overnight. However, with hundreds of miles to go, no one could guarantee whether she would live or die on the journey. Just as Second Uncle was losing his wits with worry, Daoist Master Lu Yun appeared with a gentle smile. "A minor issue. Come, to Willow Forest Temple!"

In this Taoist temple, Second Uncle and his second aunt slept for one night.

No medicine, no injections, they just slept for a night, and the bleeding stopped. On the third day, Li Diandian (whom Lin Xiaosu called Hu Ya) was born here. Her clear cry upon birth shook the entire mountain forest.

And his second aunt's chronic illness also improved from then on.

Second Uncle's wife and daughter were both saved by Daoist Master Lu Yun, and from then on, they believed the Daoist Master Lu Yun to be like a deity.

More than twenty years ago, Daoist Master Lu Yun traveled the world. Before he left, he instructed Second Uncle to guard Willow Forest Temple. Over twenty years have passed since then. During these years, there has been no news from Daoist Master Lu Yun, and his whereabouts, alive or dead, are unknown.

"Second Uncle, have you told... the higher-ups about Willow Forest Temple?"

The "higher-ups" naturally referred to relevant government departments.

Second Uncle looked dejected. "I have. The last time that mutated giant butterfly appeared, I worried that next time a mosquito as big as a hen might appear and cause some great disaster, so I spoke to people from the higher-ups twice... The first time, they just laughed and told me not to spread feudalistic ideas. The second time, good heavens, four or five people in white coats came and almost had me committed to a mental hospital."

"I can understand!" Lin Xiaosu nodded gently. "If I were in your shoes, if I joined a public institution in the future and some eccentric old Taoist came to tell me such nonsense, I might do the same."

Second Uncle slowly clenched his teeth. "Therefore, you definitely won't pass the civil service exam this time!"

"Second Uncle, the exam is in a month, and instead of giving me blessings, you're cursing me?"

"I'm not cursing you; it's just that in my heart, I hope you don't pass... really!"

Lin Xiaosu rolled his eyes. "I finally understand why Auntie nags so much. With how you interact with people, who wouldn't nag? It's a testament to her virtue that she hasn't beaten you to death..."

"No, Xiaosu..." Second Uncle leaned closer, showing a somewhat fawning smile. "How about you stop trying to take the civil service exam and come help me guard this temple? We don't have to guard it alone; we can take shifts, you guard the even days, and I'll guard the odd days."

"Don't even think about it!" Lin Xiaosu interrupted directly.

"How about this, you come stay here one night every weekend, so I can go back and accompany your second aunt... I'm not afraid you'll laugh, but your second aunt's condition is actually excessive energy. She can't handle long-term separation." Second Uncle's old face blushed slightly.

Lin Xiaosu's eyes widened. Holy crap!

He seemed to have truly touched upon his second aunt's root problem.

This root problem, if described in modern terms, could probably be called "young couple's hormonal syndrome," which rarely occurs in fifty-year-olds.

But Second Uncle and his second aunt were different. They were older, but their physical functions were still young due to the stimulation of that damned vital energy back then. Thus, his second aunt had needs. Second Uncle lived in Willow Forest Temple year-round, leading to separation, and his second aunt was often "thirsty." This thirst, which others couldn't cure, was instantly quenched when Second Uncle visited. My heavens, what is this? So this is the method you've been giving Auntie...

Second Uncle continued his persuasion. "Staying at Willow Forest Temple actually has benefits. Your body will also be free from all illnesses. When you reach my age, you'll understand how great the benefits are."

"Second Uncle, why don't you bring Second Aunt here?"

"The root of your second aunt's illness originated here. She cannot enter Willow Forest Temple."

This closed the loop.

His second aunt's "thirst" wasn't actually an illness. Her real illness was that her Blood Essence was over-replenished during her confinement in Willow Forest Temple. The vital energy went astray, causing her to overthink and always suspect Second Uncle of having someone else outside...

If she entered Willow Forest Temple, the spiritual energy from below would penetrate, and her condition would worsen. If things went wrong, she might truly become a mentally ill person with an extremely healthy body.

Lin Xiaosu's eyes flickered. "Second Uncle, I have a good idea."

"Tell me..."

"How about we develop this place into a sanatorium? Open it to the public... Think about it, there are so many wealthy people in the world. When they have everything, they fear death. If they knew that staying here for a night could cure illnesses, it would be a source of endless wealth, so much that even door panels couldn't block it. You wouldn't need to persuade me against my will anymore! You could charge admission during the day and take a helicopter down the mountain at night to have fun with Second Aunt..."

"You... what can I say about you? If I call you stupid, you actually have a bit of a business acumen. If I call you smart, you completely fail to grasp the seriousness of the situation!" Second Uncle shook his head slightly. "What do you think this place is? This is a connection point to another world, or a sealing point. The reason I don't even mention Diandian or your second aunt is because I'm worried about too many people being involved. If some restriction is triggered and another world arrives, it would be a cataclysmic disaster!"

Lin Xiaosu was startled. "Triggering a restriction and another world arriving? Is that really possible?"

"Daoist Master Lu Yun said so. He said it will come someday, just not sure when."

"Were there any omens?"

"Yes, Astrological Shift Day, Astrological Rift Day, Equatorial Calamity Day, Equatorial Radiance Day... But I can only calculate the lowest, Astrological Shift Day. He mentioned a Lawless Tribulation Day. If that tribulation arrives, all seals will break simultaneously, folded spaces will all open, Earth will expand a hundred or a thousand times, our current cities will be divided into countless isolated islands, strange beasts will run rampant, abysses will spread everywhere, demons will gaze, and the righteous path will cease to exist..."

Lin Xiaosu felt a chill run down his spine.

Second Uncle's expression was also grave.

"Second Uncle, when is the next Astrological Shift Day?"

"A month from now, April thirteenth."