Two Brothers of the Mountain Temple

Rain had fallen for nearly half a month.

The mountains stretched vast and boundless; the mountain temple was even more so.

"Alas..."

Old Yellow Ox walked through the mountains while Verdant Green Maiden swayed atop him beneath an oil-paper umbrella. "Brother Ox, find somewhere to rest. I feel like my bones are about to be shaken apart by you!"

Hearing her words, Old Yellow Ox shook his head and continued down the road. Not far ahead stood a ruined temple.

The mountain temple was all broken walls and crumbling ruins.

Verdant Green Maiden adjusted her paper umbrella before a half-collapsed Buddha statue.

That rain of blood half a month ago—whether it had merely been her illusion or something else—it had fallen for only an instant before turning into an ordinary drizzling rain.

It was rather strange.

But...

"Forget it!"

"I won't think about it."

Damn Heaven had not come to warn her, and she had sensed no problem either.

Verdant Green Maiden found some firewood in the ruined mountain temple, lit it, and sat to one side warming herself. The firelight was pleasantly warm, steaming away the water vapor. She held out her hands, then after some thought, took several small fruit from her bag and began roasting them too.

"I wonder what they'll taste like."

Time to cook!

The firewood crackled, and before long, the fruit roasted until their skins split open, juice bursting forth.

Verdant Green Maiden sniffed them.

Amid the faintly burnt scent was a trace of sweet fragrance.

She took a bite, and the juice burst across her mouth!

"Mmm!"

"Not bad, not bad. This flavor works!"

"Brother Ox, have a bite."

As she spoke, Verdant Green Maiden took another piece of fruit that she had not yet bitten into and tossed it to Old Yellow