In the Qinling Mountains.
Broken branches bore snow, and cold frost clung to the trees.
At the end of a mountain path, three people slowly approached from the distance, chatting as they walked.
Far from looking nervous or timid about entering the mountains, Yan Lingyun was positively lively. With a basket on her back, she stopped to look around along the way, constantly rummaging through dead grass and rotting leaves to dig up medicinal herbs, delighted beyond measure.
Carrying their things, Lian Youming followed beside Junk King along that same little-known path.
When they passed the ruined walls, the girl merely glanced around before her eyes lit up. She kept muttering things like "We're rich" under her breath, most likely having spotted that patch of Yellow Essence.
This time, however, they did not linger. Junk King led them on a winding route around two treacherous mountains, eventually leaving the bounds of Zhongnan Mountain altogether. Only when they reached a particularly steep peak did he finally stop.
Halfway up its northern slope stood a small Taoist temple, more than half collapsed.
Lian Youming climbed the slope, took one look, and could not help sucking his teeth.
There was no other reason: seals from some time ago still clung to the temple entrance, torn and damaged, their writing faded. Large slogans such as "Down with monsters and demons" covered the walls. Whether someone had splashed urine and feces over them or something else, they were blotched yellow and black. Traces of demolition and burning remained around the grounds, with gray-blue bricks and stones scattered everywhere and more than half the structure collapsed.
"You're not really going to have her live here, are you?"
"Enough nonsense. Just follow me."
Unperturbed, Junk King stepped over the broken tiles and splintered wood and walked straight