I Request the Heavenly Emperor Abdicate

There were few lofty mountains in the Central Plains. Even Cloud Summit Immortal Mountain in Pingzhou was nowhere near as high as those snow mountains in the west, where snow could pile up for a thousand autumns at a time. Tripod Mountain counted as relatively tall; if it were not compared to the snow mountains Song You had climbed in the west, it too would be a difficult mountain to scale.

By difficult to climb, this meant that people in weaker health would find the ascent extremely strenuous. After all, it still took half a day. For those in better condition, however, it was not much of a challenge.

Of course, porters could be hired.

For little money, two hardy men could carry you up the mountain.

It was deep winter, and snow covered the summit. Rumor had it that the deepest drifts could reach past one's knees, and the cold was biting. On top of that, the ice and snow made the mountain paths slick and difficult, and the steps especially dangerous. Nor was it any festival day for paying homage to the mountain or worshipping gods, so few people were climbing it now.

Whether there were other branching paths on the mountain, or whether many climbers gave up halfway, there were fewer and fewer people the higher one went.

Yet there were several people at the summit.

They were a group of scholars, dressed heavily and seemingly in good physical condition. Some wore swords at their waists.

Having reached the summit, they did not dare spend the night there. They could only circle the mountaintop, admire the landscape clad in silver, recount the strange tale of immortals arriving on cranes and mist locking down the mountain peak, and, when the mood took them, recite a few poems with