After the brief interruption, Eight-Treasure Arhat took Zhou You and Lin Yunshao to their lodgings.
Their so-called "lodgings."
Looking at what stood before him, Zhou You wore an expression of astonishment for the first time.
"Monk, this is the accommodation you arranged?"
Eight-Treasure Arhat nodded with a smile.
"Indeed."
"Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"
"How could this humble monk have made a mistake?"
"But the problem is..."
Zhou You struggled to find the words for quite some time. In the end, Lin Yunshao spoke for him.
"The problem is, this clearly isn't an inn or a guesthouse. It's a mountain."
Just as she said, a graceful little mountain stood before them, right beside Pass Mountain City. Verdant vegetation covered its slopes in interwoven shades of green, and a stream babbled between the rocks, its waters ringing clear. Though far from imposing, it possessed a quiet, delicate charm of its own. Something seemed to occur to Zhou You, and he spoke.
"You want us to camp outdoors? Fair enough. The city's packed, and every inch of space costs a fortune. Even a spot in a stable goes for an outrageous price. Besides, with Shengyuan tagging along, staying there really would be inconvenient... But are you sure nobody else will have the same idea?"
Eight-Treasure Arhat couldn't help laughing at that.
"Brother Zhou, do I look like someone who'd do that to you? ...Come with me."
With that, he took the lead and headed into the mountain.
Though baffled, Zhou You followed.
Before long, however, he noticed something.
From outside, the mountain seemed entirely deserted. As they climbed, though, a flagstone path gradually appeared before them, growing wider and wider. Then they rounded a bend, and the view suddenly opened up.
An old temple stood before them, plain and