As the fairies in the painting completed their performance, they all returned to the artwork. Daoist Beishan then called his disciples to perform.

These disciples were of various ages, some even appearing older than Daoist Beishan himself. Each had their own skills and could be considered masters in their own right. Some people, who knew a few purely ornamental or aesthetically pleasing spells, were called upon by Daoist Beishan to entertain the guests.

The disciples did not dare refuse. One blew a breath, creating a field of flowers in the mist. Another performed a gesture, causing a dragon to emerge from a wine cup. One more cast a spell to extinguish the oil lamp, projecting a starry sky onto the ceiling.

These were minor spells, some of which were recorded in the texts of Hidden Dragon Temple, while others were not. Song You didn’t concern himself with whether the Daoists were willing to perform or not; he enjoyed watching the performance while eating.

After the meal, the disciples dispersed and the food was cleared, leaving only the lotus seed pods and wine. The oil lamp continued to burn, leaving Song You, Daoist Beishan, and Lady Calico as the only occupants in the dining hall.

The dim, yellowish oil lamp swayed, casting a flickering light in the room.

Daoist Beishan moved from the main seat to sit beside Song You, engaging him in casual conversation. Lady Calico sat attentively beside them, her eyes reflecting the candlelight, sparkling brightly.

“I offer a toast to you, fellow Daoist Song.”

“Thank you…” Song You also raised his cup, taking a small sip since he did not particularly enjoy drinking.

“Daoist Song, when did you descend the mountain to travel?”

“About two years ago.”

“Since your descent, have you encountered many interesting events and seen many scenic spots? Do share; perhaps I have traveled the same paths and can compare the old scenery with the present.”

“…” Song You smiled.

Speaking of the interesting things he had encountered since coming down the mountain, there were too many to count. He was destined to remember the countless landscapes and people for a lifetime, and it was difficult to recount them all at once.

However, there was one thing he had been wanting to discuss, but had found no one to talk to.

Daoist Beishan was not an ordinary person; he was well-traveled, knowledgeable, and powerful, having lived in seclusion here for many years. With the meal and wine, it was the perfect opportunity to engage in conversation.

So, Song You considered for a moment, then turned to look at Daoist Beishan under the dim light of the oil lamp. He peeled a lotus seed as he spoke, “On my journey, I often hear people speak of the underworld and reincarnation. These ideas and beliefs seem deeply ingrained in the humans’ hearts, but I wonder when they began.”

Daoist Beishan's expression shifted immediately; his gaze became serious, and his brows furrowed slightly. With his level of cultivation skills, Daoist Beishan naturally understood the implications. ℞

The reason why there were gods in the world, and why gods were considered divine, was because people believed in them. For instance, Duke of Thunder Zhou was originally just the chief constable of Changjing and a mere mortal with a fleshly body in his previous life, otherwise how could he have possibly been surrounded and killed by schemers?

Yet now, he resided in the heavens as the Thunder God, wielding the power of divine retribution. Demons and evil beings everywhere feared him; but where did this divine position and power come from?

How did the Heavenly Palace come to be? How did the Great Emperor Chijin arise? And now, everyone was beginning to believe in the underworld and reincarnation...

Daoist Beishan did not answer immediately but instead asked casually, “Fellow Daoist, since you have only been down the mountain for two years, you haven’t traveled through many prefectures, have you?”

“This is only the fourth prefecture.”

“Oh…” Daoist Beishan thought for a moment and then understood his route. “You haven’t been to Changjing yet, nor the northern or eastern regions.”

“I am planning to go to Changjing.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Daoist Beishan, clearly having been to Changjing himself, smiled and said, “I wonder what expression the State Preceptor would have if he knew that the current heir of Hidden Dragon Temple had come to Changjing.”

“Have you been to Changjing?”

“Yes.”

“Have you met the State Preceptor?”

“I have…” Daoist Beishan took another sip from his cup, smiling as he said, “The State Preceptor hails from Mount Luming, as you may know.”

“I see.” Song You had already heard about the State Preceptor’s achievements and abilities and had suspected that he was the heir of Mount Luming. Now, it was confirmed.

Mount Luming, like Qingcheng Mountain and Mount Zhen, was one of the great Daoist mountains. It was said that Mount Luming hosted the renowned Fengtian Temple. Although the Daoist masters there did not have the abilities to exorcize demons, make clouds, or summon rain, they were well-versed in scriptures, history, and divination.

They were highly knowledgeable and skilled in predicting fate and the future, possessing a range of esoteric skills. Their expertise was comparable to that of the legendary Grandmaster Tiansuan back then. They were naturally suited to be advisors and strategists.

Over the past three dynasties, high-ranking officials, princes, and even emperors have favored consulting the Daoist masters from Mount Luming, often appointing them as advisors. However, there was only one who held the title of State Preceptor, as the position was rarely established in the court. This reflected his exceptional abilities.

Daoist Beishan continued, “The State Preceptor, skilled in manipulating power and human nature, as well as in devising strategies, has been a great help to the country with his sound policies that benefited both the people and the country.

“His contributions were notable during the northern region’s victories and the nation's impressive achievements, though these victories came at a high cost, causing great suffering and hardship for the common people. The current state of the northern regions remains chaotic, and the merits and demerits are beyond my assessment, and even future generations may not fully explain them either.”

Song You asked, “Could the spreading of the idea of the underworld and reincarnation be the State Preceptor’s doing?”

“To Daoist Song.” Daoist Beishan smiled and raised his cup, nodding. “The idea of the underworld and reincarnation has long been in the making, and its development is related to many factors. At that time, the State Preceptor likely had not yet been born. It’s a naturally evolving concept, but its current widespread acceptance does indeed bear the State Preceptor’s influence.”

“How do you know this, fellow Daoist?”

“Hehe…” Daoist Beishan did not elaborate further.

Since it was merely a casual conversation, Song You did not press for more details. Instead, he inquired, “Does the State Preceptor intend to create the underworld and reincarnation?”

“He’s merely fostering and facilitating its development.”

“Impressive.”

Indeed, the world was full of remarkable individuals, and history was truly fascinating. Song You couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.

Though there was the Heavenly Palace above, it is essentially a construction of deities bound by heavenly laws and duties. The Heavenly Palace itself had little other power.

However, if the underworld were merely a simple construct of netherworld deities akin to the Heavenly Palace, it would be easy enough. But involving reincarnation—that was a matter of the heavens. Was it something that could be achieved merely through the will of living beings?

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

When discussing this with Daoist Beishan, Daoist Beishan himself was unsure.

“I do not concern myself with how the State Preceptor or the court manipulate matters or seek divine positions and benefits,” Daoist Beishan said. “My worry is that if the underworld and reincarnation really take shape, and if the heavens grow closer to your Hidden Dragon Temple, I wonder how your temple would fare. After we cultivators die, do we still have to depend on others' favors?”

“What does the Heavenly Palace think of such worldly matters?”

“I do not concern myself with such trifles.”

“Indeed…”

Most Daoists were indeed in pursuit of a carefree existence.

Song You smiled and brought a lotus seed to Lady Calico’s mouth, but Lady Calico only sniffed at it and turned its head away. He had to eat it himself.

They continued discussing the chaos in the North, the city of Changjing, the legendary land of phoenixes and dragons, and the Heavenly Palace.

Occasionally, Daoists would pass by outside. They would catch snippets of the conversation and, alarmed, would not dare to listen further.

As the night grew late, the two stood up and exchanged farewells.

Daoist Beishan said to him, “Why not stay a few more days with this poor Daoist?”

“Thank you for your kindness. It has been a pleasure conversing with you,” Song You replied. “However, there are still worldly affairs and scenic spots waiting for me. I shouldn’t stay too long. I will leave tomorrow.”

“Then I won’t keep you here any longer.”

“Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll go to rest now.”

“I won’t disturb you any longer. May you have a good night’s sleep. If you need anything, just tell my disciples.”

“Alright…” Song You then took Lady Calico back to their room.

After washing up and lying on the bed, Song You was still lost in thought.

It was common for Daoists traveling the world to stay in Daoist temples, and it was not unusual to chat with kindred spirits for an evening. It was a kind of refined pleasure.

However, for a fake Daoist who had visited few temples in his journey like Song You, this kind of interaction was rare. He was also wary of discussing Daoist doctrines he didn’t understand, so it was rare for him to initiate conversations with other Daoists at Daoist temples.

Daoist Beishan was well-informed, and conversing with him was indeed interesting. Such discussions were naturally just casual talk, sharing opinions and serving as reference. The specifics still required personal exploration, but it was nonetheless informative.

However, he had indeed startled Lady Calico, so Song You decided not to linger. He then slept soundly through the night.

The next morning, after having breakfast, Song You packed his belongings. Leading his horse into the courtyard, he couldn’t help but stop and gaze at the withered tree before him with a look of regret.

He said to Daoist Beishan, who was seeing him off, “Since the spring water behind the mountain has such spiritual qi that allows summer lotuses to bloom continuously in winter, it is evident that it has boundless vitality. Why not use it to save this withered tree?”

“You may not know,” Daoist Beishan replied, “this tree is already beyond recovery. The spiritual qi of the spring water dissipates quickly once it leaves the pool. It cannot save the tree.”

“I see…” Song You pondered for a moment, then raised his hand, releasing a few strands of spiritual qi. “I am deeply grateful for your hospitality. As a token of my appreciation, I will revive the old tree in your courtyard. It will add a touch of elegance to your Fuyun Temple.”

With a wave of his hand, the spiritual qi flew toward the ancient tree. Ordinary people could not see the changes in the tree, but Daoists could sense that the vitality within it had been revived.

“Fellow Daoist, your gesture is much appreciated. Thank you.”

“I should be the one thanking you, fellow Daoist.”

Daoist Beishan escorted him to the temple gate.

“Oh, by the way, I got so caught up in our conversation last night that I completely forgot about the nearby Yunding Mountain in Pingzhou.” Daoist Beishan suddenly remembered and asked Song You at the gate, “Since you came from Pingzhou, have you been to Yunding Mountain?”

“Of course, I have.” Song You could not avoid answering.

Daoist Beishan then asked, “Were you also there seeking immortals?”

“Exactly.”

“Ha ha, I thought that the Daoists of Hidden Dragon Temple on Yin-Yang Mountain were like immortals, but I didn’t expect that even the immortals of Hidden Dragon Temple would be seeking immortals.” Daoist Beishan laughed. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

“I saw ancient inscriptions on the mountain and glimpsed the figure of an ancient person in the spiritual resonance of the great mountain. I know he lives hidden in the mountains and possesses a noble character, so I feel that the journey was worthwhile,” Song You answered truthfully.

“Then it’s not the ‘immortal’ encountered by County Magistrate Cui in recent rumors.”

“Naturally not.”

“You must have heard about the rumors of County Magistrate Cui meeting an immortal. Haven’t you thought of going back to Yunding Mountain to search again? To get to the bottom of it?”

“No.”

“Oh? Why is that?” Daoist Beishan was puzzled and didn’t understand.

“It’s hard to explain.”

“It’s hard to explain?” Daoist Beishan frowned and fell into thought.

Daoist Beishan said, glancing at Song You, “I originally planned to visit Yunding Mountain to search for the ‘immortal’ encountered by County Magistrate Cui. Whether it was a true immortal or some demonic force deceiving and killing mortals, I wanted to check it out. However, by the time the news reached me, it had been quite a while. I wondered if I could still find it.

“Just as I was about to leave, I met you. Since you’ve come down from Yunding Mountain, do you think I could still find that ‘immortal’?”

“Probably not,” Song You said honestly. “But Yunding Mountain is indeed beautiful with its ancient inscriptions. It would be worthwhile to visit.”

“I see…” Daoist Beishan nodded and smiled.

“I…”

“Oh! Safe travels, fellow Daoist!”

“Farewell.” Song You took a step and exited the temple.

Looking back, Song You noticed that a sign had appeared above the gate with the words “Fuyun Temple“ inscribed on it unbeknownst to him.

The door couplets on either side had also been changed to:

Heart like drifting clouds, always free;

Intent like flowing water, moving east and west.

“…”

It seemed this was the usual appearance of the temple's gate, while what he saw yesterday was its former look. Fuyun Temple must be an ancient legacy.

In ancient times, the Mortal Dao was prosperous, and attaining eternal life was relatively easy, leading to many powerful cultivators. However, as time progressed and the Heavenly Dao evolved, immortality of the Mortal Dao became rare, and Divine Dao rose in prominence. This resulted in fewer powerful cultivators and legacies in the world. Hidden Dragon Temple was an exception, containing many mysterious secrets.

“Let’s go.” With that, Song You, accompanied by the cat and the horse, descended the mountain gate without looking back. The cat now had a small red cord around its neck with a wooden pendant, which made it appear a bit more charming.

The large gate of the temple slowly closed behind them as a Daoist behind the gate clicked his tongue in amazement.

***

They passed through Jingzhou and Angzhou. They would set off at dawn and rested only at dusk.

With streams and mountains as companions, and clouds and moon as company, they journeyed from late autumn into winter.

The winters of Jingzhou and Angzhou were colder than Yizhou and Xuzhou. Eventually, it became impossible to camp out in the wilderness. They had to stay in shabby inns or stables to seek shelter from the wind, where the conditions were often quite rough.

From winter, they journeyed until early spring. They took breaks along the way, continuing their journey toward Changjing.