After arranging the company affairs, with the vice president keeping watch and important matters able to be handled by phone, Jiang Hao and Zhou Xinyan left Binhai and drove to Maoshan.
By the time they arrived at Maoshan, it was already afternoon. Maoshan closed the mountain to visitors at four in the afternoon, and many tourists were making their way down. Jiang Hao held Zhou Xinyan's hand as they headed up, but a staff member stopped them at the entrance.
"Don't go any farther. Visiting hours are over, and the mountain is about to close. If you want to visit, come back tomorrow."
Jiang Hao smiled and took out his ordination certificate. The man accepted it and looked it over, surprise appearing on his face. "Ah, so you're a cultivator from our mountain. Please come in."
The farther they went, the fewer tourists there were. The sun slanted westward, and lush trees shaded both sides of the mountain path, making Maoshan seem tranquil and secluded. The mountain was cool to begin with, and the atmosphere made them feel refreshed in both body and mind.
"Are we going to see Master now?" Zhou Xinyan had also begun calling Hong Lu the Old Daoist Master, following Jiang Hao's lead.
"At this hour, Master is probably doing evening prayers at the Palace of Nine Heavens and Ten Thousand Blessings. Let's go there," Jiang Hao said.
As they walked up, Jiang Hao softly explained, "Maoshan is an altar of the Shangqing Sect. There are morning and evening prayers every day. Morning prayers are usually held during the Rabbit hour, from five to seven in the morning. At that time, yang energy has just begun to rise, yin energy has yet to stir, no food has been eaten, and the blood and qi are undisturbed.