Mang Mountain

I usually write the next day's chapter the night before, and I sneak in some time during work breaks to write the evening chapter.

Shi Xuan came to Mang Mountain to seek immortality and the Dao. Mang Mountain is famous throughout the world as a burial ground, in short, a place where Yin Energy converges. Therefore, considering the nature of ghosts, Shi Xuan set out in the evening, just as the sun was about to set. He and Chu Wan'er arrived at the foot of Mang Mountain.

During the day, Shi Xuan had already brewed two portions of Primordial Yuan Marrow-Changing Soup and prepared the corresponding Medicinal Bath. Chu Wan'er frowned, her little face scrunched up, and she bravely took a small sip. Instantly, her eyes lit up with joy. Just as her master had said, the medicine wasn't bitter and even had a faint sweetness, much better than anything she had drunk before.

However, the two body-tempering sessions in the morning and evening made Chu Wan'er cry out in pain repeatedly. Fortunately, Master Shi Xuan still held some authority, and the little girl obediently completed her cultivation.

"Master, why are there so many tombs on this mountain?" Chu Wan'er stood at the foot of Mang Mountain, looking at the tombs hidden among the trees and cliffs, yet still clearly visible, and asked Shi Xuan curiously.

"Heh heh, this is a famous mountain for burials, Wan'er. What you see is only a small part. Wealthy and powerful families are buried in places where the mountain's energy converges and the terrain is beautiful. You can't see them from the foot of the mountain," Shi Xuan said, opening his heavenly eye and pointing to several places where Yin Energy converged.

Mang Mountain had beautiful terrain, with green trees shading the yellow earth. Although not high, it gathered the earth's energy from all directions, possessing a unique sense of ancient charm.

Chu Wan'er mumbled softly, "What do you mean by a famous mountain for burials?"

"It means it's a place people want to be buried when they die, thinking that being buried here will bring good fortune to their families in the future. Of course, I haven't learned the art of dragon-seeking and acupoint-finding, so I don't fully understand it. But for us cultivators, relying on ourselves and our true selves is far more important than relying on these things," Shi Xuan explained, simultaneously instilling in Chu Wan'er's mind that cultivators primarily rely on themselves, and external factors like feng shui are merely temporary aids, not a shield.

Chu Wan'er nodded as if she understood, then chattered on with other questions until it was completely dark. Only then did she stop, a little scared, and cling tightly to Shi Xuan.

"It's time to go up the mountain!" Shi Xuan said, casting a spell to open Chu Wan'er's heavenly eye.

"Master, master, what immortal magic did you cast on Wan'er? Wan'er seems to see energy rising over there," Chu Wan'er asked curiously after her heavenly eye was opened, naturally seeing the convergence of Yin Energy on Mang Mountain.

Shi Xuan took Chu Wan'er's hand and walked up the mountain, heading towards those places where Yin Energy converged. He told Chu Wan'er, "I've opened your heavenly eye so you can see ghosts. Heh heh, don't be scared."

"Wan'er isn't scared," Chu Wan'er said, while quietly moving closer to Shi Xuan. "Then can Wan'er see headless ghosts, bodiless ghosts, ghosts sticking out their tongues...?" Thinking of this, her curiosity overcame her fear, and with her master protecting her, Chu Wan'er felt completely at ease. She wasn't scared at all!

They walked along the mountain path, passing a few turns, and scattered graves began to appear ahead. Because the terrain here wasn't very good, those buried here weren't particularly wealthy or noble, so the graves were ordinary and couldn't be called mausoleums.

"Hey, Master, Master, what's that? Is it a ghost?" Chu Wan'er pointed to the faint shadows behind some graves and said nervously.

"Yes," Shi Xuan said, pulling Chu Wan'er along. He planned to let her witness it first, so that if she encountered a century-old evil ghost later, she wouldn't be so terrified that she'd need to be carried.

This faint, somewhat transparent ghost was a woman in her early twenties. The burial site was very new; it wasn't even a proper grave, just a hastily dug pit. Naturally, no one offered sacrifices. This was also not a place where Yin Energy converged. This ghost, who had died nearly half a month ago, had basically lost her memories and was waiting to completely dissipate into the heavens and earth.

Chu Wan'er looked at the ghost, both scared and curious. The ghost paid no attention, merely circling the spot where her body was buried, constantly muttering, "Child, child..." Her expression was indeed bewildered and vacant.

"Master, she doesn't have feet! She's floating!" Wan'er was too short to notice many things and proudly reported her discovery to Shi Xuan.

"Mm, mm, mm," Shi Xuan replied perfunctorily, nodding. "So, Wan'er, see? Ghosts aren't scary, are they? There's nothing to be afraid of about ghosts, right?"

"Mm, mm, mm," Chu Wan'er mimicked him, nodding perfunctorily. At the same time, she crouched lower and lower until she was squatting to look. Unfortunately, there were no more significant discoveries.

Satisfying Chu Wan'er's curiosity and overcoming her fear, Shi Xuan then led her towards their first destination. They passed through a few small groves and crossed a few streams, arriving safely at the first place where Yin Energy converged. They didn't encounter a single evil ghost on the way, much to Chu Wan'er's disappointment!

This place where Yin Energy converged was a large mountain hollow with about four or five mausoleum grounds, all grand and imposing in style. From a distance, behind each mausoleum, enduring long-term sacrifices, underworld dwellings had formed. Some were like large courtyards, some like gardens, and some even like mountain villas, with white lanterns lit at the entrance and paper figures standing as servants. After all, it was an ancestral burial ground, and real servants couldn't be buried here.

Shi Xuan led Chu Wan'er towards one of the courtyard-like underworld dwellings. The little girl didn't realize it was an underworld dwelling at first and thought it was a normal house. Only when Shi Xuan explained it to her did she suddenly understand. Why would a normal house have paper figures standing at the entrance? She felt annoyed, thinking her intelligence had been insulted.

Reaching the entrance, Wan'er angrily kicked a paper figure. Who knew that this thing, which looked like it was made of paper, would transform into a spirit body after being burned during sacrifices? Wan'er's kick went right through it, leaving an empty space. She almost twisted her waist and would have fallen to the ground if Shi Xuan hadn't quickly grabbed her.

The paper servant asked stiffly, "Why have the guests come?"

Shi Xuan held back the indignant Chu Wan'er and politely replied, "This humble Daoist wishes to visit your master."

The paper servant didn't reply but slowly and mechanically pushed open the courtyard gate of the underworld dwelling and walked inside. After a long while, just as Chu Wan'er was getting impatient and kicking the ground with her foot, an old man holding a white lantern floated out. Behind him followed two elegantly dressed middle-aged men and women, then a young man and two beautiful young women, and finally, a delicate young woman holding a little boy of about three or four years old.

"Old man's household has not had visitors for decades. May I ask why the esteemed guest has come?" the old man with the long white beard asked politely. After all, a Daoist priest who could see an underworld dwelling and find his way here was no ordinary person.

Seeing the master's politeness, Shi Xuan also replied without losing courtesy, "This humble Daoist wishes to seek the Orthodox Dao Sect. We are passing by with my young disciple. Considering that Mang Mountain is a place where Yin Energy converges, there should be a Daoist Sect here. Thus, I came up the mountain to seek them. Unfortunately, I am unfamiliar with the area and have presumptuously come to ask for your guidance." Chu Wan'er stood obediently by Shi Xuan's side at this moment, looking like a well-behaved child.

The old man stroked his white beard and sighed, "Then Daoist priest, why not come in for a cup of tea? There are no Daoist Sects here on Mang Mountain, only three or four minor Daoist sects. We ghosts, who have seen little of the world, look down on them, let alone a distinguished person like Daoist priest."

"It is better to be prompt than courteous. My surname is Shi, and my given name is Xuan. This is my little disciple, Chu Wan'er." Shi Xuan also wanted to gather more information, and it was impolite to talk at the door, so he readily accepted the old man's invitation.

"Daoist Priest Shi, please come in. My surname is Han, given name Shijin, courtesy name Chongwen. This is my youngest son Wenyu, his wife Madam Li, Wenyu's eldest son Shou Zheng, Shou Zheng's wife Madam Wei, Wenyu's eldest daughter Yazhu, youngest daughter Jingzhu, and Shou Zheng's youngest son, named Jing. Alas, my second son encountered an epidemic while serving in Nanzhou, and alas, he..." Old man Han Shijin rambled on, introducing his family members as he led Shi Xuan inside.

The exquisite and adorable Chu Wan'er was universally adored by Madam Wei, Han Yazhu, and Han Jingzhu, who surrounded her and doted on her, much to Chu Wan'er's annoyance. She wasn't a little child! By this time, Wan'er had completely forgotten her fear of ghosts.

"Old man Han, your household is actually a family of high officials and dignitaries! No wonder you have such magnificent mausoleums." Shi Xuan complimented him when he saw that Han Wenyu was the Governor of Nanzhou. At the same time, he let Chu Wan'er sit beside him. Madam Wei, Han Yazhu, and Han Jingzhu floated out of the hall.

Han Shijin stroked his white beard and chuckled without speaking, but his expression was quite proud. His second son, Han Wenyu, took over the conversation, "Daoist Priest Shi may not know, but my father served as Minister of the Left." So, this old man Han was actually a Prime Minister.

Seeing Shi Xuan's surprise, Han Wenyu continued, "This mountain hollow is the ancestral burial ground of my Han family. The other underworld dwellings that Daoist Priest Shi sees are from other branches of my Han family."

At this moment, Madam Wei, Han Yazhu, and Han Jingzhu floated out with tea trays, respectfully placing the tea on Shi Xuan's table, along with several plates of rare fruits.

Han Shijin explained to Shi Xuan, "Daoist Priest Shi may not know, but this residence only has paper servants and maids. They are slow and dull, so it would be impolite to neglect you. I had these younger generations handle these matters." Perhaps it was indeed because it had been a long time since they had any guests, the Han family seemed very hospitable.

"Not at all, not at all. This is Old Man Han's thoughtful hospitality. This humble Daoist is deeply honored." Shi Xuan was quite pleased with this reception. Of course, he didn't forget to secretly use his magic to inspect the tea and fruits. After the inspection, he signaled to Chu Wan'er that the alert was lifted. Chu Wan'er immediately picked up the long-coveted lychee fruit and began to eat.

"In this underworld dwelling, apart from the Blood Food such as cattle, sheep, and pigs offered during the monthly family sacrifice, there are only these offerings. Daoist Priest Shi, please do not mind. That Blood Food has been left for a long time. It is fine for us ghosts to eat it, but it may cause illness for you living people." Han Shijin explained. Seeing Shi Xuan sincerely express his satisfaction, he introduced the tea, "This is Snow Bud Tea brought from Northern Liao. Paired with the cold spring behind the underworld dwelling, it is just right. Daoist Priest Shi, please taste it."