Leaving his bicycle at Uncle Wang's house for the time being, Chen Shi'an headed up the mountain with his luggage and some meat and vegetables Uncle Wang had given him.
The Profound Peak Mountain Range covered a vast area and had long been known as the "gathering place of immortals." Throughout history, accomplished Daoists had flocked there, and temples had stood in great numbers, far beyond anything seen today.
Majestic green mountains stretched for eight hundred li. The most famous, Zixiao Main Peak, rose from the earth into the heavens, while Sunset Glow Ridge on the range's western side seemed like a corner forgotten by heaven and earth. Pure Dust Temple nestled in a fold on the ridge's northern side.
The route up from the village at the foot of the mountain followed an undeveloped mountain trail.
With his bag on his back, Chen Shi'an followed the mountain stream upstream, Black Cat bounding along beside him.
Navigation was practically useless here. His phone still had reception, though, so he could check his approximate location on the map.
But this was where Chen Shi'an had grown up. He really could find his way home with his eyes closed.
At an ordinary walking pace, this stretch of mountain trail would take most people about two hours.
Most of the time, Chen Shi'an also took his time going up and down the mountain at a normal pace.
Now that he was about to return to the Taoist Temple, however, he sped up like an impatient child. As agile as a wildcat, he raced Fat Ink, man and cat darting through the mountain forest.
They passed through Mist-Locking Gorge, where the mist never dispersed all year round. White fog churned through the gorge like a living thing, swallowing trail markers and the sound of