The stone mountain was towering and majestic, yet not at all crude. It dominated most of the view.

This area was perfectly flat; as far as the eye could see, there wasn’t the slightest rise or fall in the land. This was not only the sole elevation but also the only mountain in sight.

This was no ordinary mound of earth, nor a mere hill. It resembled a massive, gray-white boulder. While it couldn’t compare in height to towering mountain ranges or the vast highland peaks, it rose abruptly from the flat plains.

It stood alone, without being part of any plateau or mountain range—an independent peak emerging from the ground. By this measure, it was quite tall. On a foggy day, its summit might even pierce through the clouds.

The mountain's surface was rough and steep. Apart from a few ancient pine trees rooted in the crevices, there were almost no other plants. In this vast plain, the mountain appeared abrupt, yet it also seemed like a masterstroke, as if it were the focal point of the entire landscape, giving an overwhelming sense of visual impact.

Even if one encountered such a mountain elsewhere, they would be awestruck, let alone seeing it here.

Especially when it had grown overnight.

“...”

The swordsman’s eyes were filled with astonishment. Even the Daoist couldn’t help but express his amazement.

The Mountain God of Pingzhou had truly put his heart into this.

“Let’s go take a look.”

“Alright!”

The group immediately stood up, packed their belongings, and headed toward the towering stone mountain ahead.

Although they had walked quite a distance yesterday, this morning it seemed as if the great mountain had already loomed right before them, filling most of their view with an almost overwhelming sense of pressure.

From afar, it exuded an awe-inspiring grandeur. Up close, its steep cliffs made it appear nearly impossible to climb.

Circling around the base, they realized just how much land it occupied.

A mountain like this would be a renowned scenic landmark no matter where it stood. Yet with just a single letter, the Daoist had borrowed it from the deep, remote mountains of Pingzhou hundreds of li away, bringing it here to Gui Commandery in Hezhou, where there had never been a mountain before.

The swordsman was filled with awe, and so was the Daoist.

However, having journeyed together across a thousand li, it was now time for them to part ways. With the matter of the Snowy Plains resolved, this marked the moment of their farewell.

“Sir Shu.” Song You turned to the swordsman and said, “We’re now at the edge of Hezhou. You’ll need to turn south to head back toward Guangzhou, while Lady Calico and I will continue north. Let’s part ways here at the foot of this mountain.”

“Very well!” The swordsman responded decisively, cupping his hands in a respectful salute. “I wish you a smooth journey north, sir.”

Parting here was a good decision for both of them.

“And I wish you success in your quest to reunite with your family. May you soon discover your true path in Sword Dao. Lady Calico and I will keep an ear out for tales of your exploits in the

jianghu

,” Song You said with a smile. “Thank you for accompanying us this far.”

“May fate bring us together again.”

“May fate bring us together again!”

They had traversed all of Hezhou, covering a journey of over a thousand li. Whether it was the swordsman’s companionship and protection or the Daoist’s guidance, none of it had been ordinary. Together, they had fought demons and subdued monsters, their experiences anything but mundane.

Yet neither of them, nor Lady Calico, lingered on words of thanks or sentiment. They simply exchanged respectful bows, and that was enough to mark their farewell.

“Hyah!” The swordsman mounted his horse and rode off along the path they had come.

Left behind at the edge of the mountain were only a man, a horse, and a cat. The horse, seemingly indifferent, lowered its head to graze. The cat watched the departing figure of the swordsman and his steed, while the Daoist turned his gaze back to the great mountain. 𐍂АɴȰ𝐁ĚṢ

Whoosh

...

The Daoist blew a gentle breath toward the mountain.

Clatter

...

Loose stones tumbled down, and a protruding rock transformed into a stone stele, now embedded within the mountain.

On the stele, a line of text appeared. It read, “In the sixth year of Mingde, February. Shu Yifan and the black horse borrowed this mountain from the Mountain God of Pingzhou to subdue the demon.”

“Let’s go,” Song You said quietly, retracting his gaze as he, too, turned and walked away from the place.

It was as if he had already foreseen how, when the people of Gui Commandery finally gathered the courage to step back into He Plains, or when the elderly merchants once again passed through this place, they would be awestruck by the sudden appearance of this towering, steep mountain.

It was as if he had already anticipated the poems and writings that scholars and literati would compose over the centuries after witnessing this peak.

He could even imagine the future incense offerings made here. It was tradition to revere mountains as deities, and this particular divine mountain was unlike any other.

By then, the Daoist had already walked far away.

The jujube-red horse followed silently behind him, while Lady Calico lingered for a moment, casting a few more glances at the stone stele. After carefully reading the inscription, she turned and sprinted to catch up with them.

The group continued northward.

***

The junior official surnamed Jin had been waiting at the northern city gate for nearly two months.

During these two months, he would often climb up to the city wall, both day and night, gazing toward the north for long periods of time.

Even though the plains stretched far into the distance, and despite the flat terrain and the height of the city walls, he couldn’t see what was happening in the Snowy Plains. However, he could still observe the sky over that region.

The plague in Hansu County had only been fully contained a few days ago. Even if he had the courage to venture out for a look, he couldn’t leave the city freely.

Recently, a team from another region had arrived, bringing medicine, along with a few doctors. They had heard of Doctor Cai’s deeds and had come on their own initiative. They were staying in the city but would occasionally travel out to nearby villages to provide medical aid and distribute medicine.

Some of these villages were quite close to the Snowy Plains, allowing him to gather information about the happenings there through their accounts.

In the previous ten-odd days, the northern skies were turbulent with swirling winds and clouds. Occasionally at night, flashes of light could be seen, resembling lightning, though the distance was too great for any thunder to be heard.

Then, reports came back from those who had traveled out of the city to distribute medicine: the snow on the plains had suddenly melted away, followed by another heavy snowfall. There were frequent thunderstorms, an almost supernatural phenomenon.

Hearing this news, even the city’s esteemed figures couldn’t resist climbing up to the city wall to look northward, believing that a deity had once again descended to the mortal world to purge the demon from the Snowy Plains.

The people of Hansu, having suffered greatly, naturally hoped that this time the demon of the Snowy Plains would be eradicated for good.

But this had happened several times before, so no one could be certain.

As January passed and February arrived, the ominous clouds in that direction visibly began to dissipate. Reports from those returning from their aid missions mentioned that the perpetual blizzards over the Snowy Plains had ceased, and even the accumulated snow had started to melt.

Later, Sir Shu, who had accompanied the Daoist to the Snowy Plains, arrived at the city gate and requested some provisions from him before hastily riding off again, his destination unknown.

It seemed that shortly after that, news spread that the blizzards over the Snowy Plains had completely calmed, the dark clouds had fully dispersed, and the snow cover was thinning day by day. Meltwater from the plains began to flow southward.

The entire city, from officials to common folk, was filled with joy.

Junior Official Jin was naturally overjoyed as well, though his happiness was tinged with a sense of disbelief.

By late February, the epidemic in Hansu had been eradicated, and the city gates were reopened. Though there were still few people coming and going, the remaining survivors of the city had finally stepped out of their homes.

For the first time in a long while, there were signs of life on the streets.

People greeted one another, sharing words of comfort and exchanging heartfelt conversations. It was as if having endured this disaster together, a strange sense of shared bond had formed among them.

No one had forgotten the spiritual rain from last winter, nor the Land God who appeared in dreams, and certainly not the Daoists and monks who entered the quarantine district to aid the afflicted and dispel the disaster.

The place that drew the most people was the temple in the city.

Surprisingly, the most incense wasn’t burned at the main hall for the usual deities, but at a small shrine barely half a person’s height on the left side of the entrance. The ground before it was covered with patches of mud, each with bundles of incense stuck into it, creating a cloud of smoke like a mist.

By a stroke of coincidence, on the very night the city gates were reopened, the people of Hansu County all had the same dream again. In the dream, they saw once again the Land God who had warned them to go out and bathe in the blessed rain—a kind, elderly woman named Luo Yinghua. This time, however, she appeared slightly taller than before.

The Land God told them that on the first day of the Lunar New Year, an immortal had stepped into the Snowy Plains. With the assistance of the Thunder God, after forty-nine days, the Demon King of He Plains had been subdued. From now on, He Plains would be restored to peace and tranquility.

When the people awoke, they were naturally taken aback.

Despite it being early in the morning, the entire city was abuzz with excitement. Though there weren’t many people left, every street and alley was filled with voices, as they exchanged stories, verifying their shared dream and discussing its meaning.

They wanted to believe it, yet still harbored some doubts. They wished to investigate but didn’t dare to venture out.

The county office was the same—full of heated discussions.

Some suggested sending a team to check the Snowy Plains, others preferred to wait a bit longer. There were those who trusted the Land Lady’s message implicitly, while others remained cautious.

After much deliberation, they finally decided to send a delegation to investigate. However, over the years, the Demon King of the Snowy Plains had become a terrifying figure in the minds of Hansu’s officials and citizens. Who would be brave enough to lead the team?

Junior Official Jin was originally a low-ranking and insignificant clerk in the city with a low status. However, due to the plague, many clerks in the city died, and his older brother contracted the disease while voluntarily taking charge of the sick relocation area. It was then that he gradually gained some influence in the county office.

Upon hearing the nobles' hesitation and indecision, he thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and stepped forward on his own initiative.

“My lord, I am willing to go!”

“You’re willing to go?”

“I am willing!”

“Good! Excellent! Then you will lead the team. Investigate thoroughly, and upon your return, I will credit you with a major achievement!”

“Thank you, my lord!”

The junior official accepted the task without hesitation.

Now that the leader was chosen, the next step was to select the team. For another clerk, this might have been a difficult task, but he found it rather straightforward.

Although his older brother had recovered from the illness, his health remained frail, and he had been resting at home. It was not suitable for him to make the journey. However, back in the quarantine district, there were other clerks and officers who had only suffered mild symptoms. Some had been brought under control on the very first day of the outbreak’s “red-eye” phase and had since returned to their duties.

These people knew what kind of individuals that man and the master were. If he explained the situation to them, he was sure that some would be willing to join him.

Just as expected, the very next day, the junior official set out with a small group of men and a donkey, heading north out of the city.

By midday, they arrived at the Snowy Plains.

Just as the rumors had said, the ominous clouds that had once loomed overhead were long gone, and the blizzard had ceased. The snow covering the ground had melted, revealing fresh green grass bathed in sunlight, creating a dreamlike scene.

The temples still stood, like a line drawn across the land, marking the place where a formidable Demon King had once been sealed.

The group exchanged nervous glances. Only after the junior official urged them did they muster the courage to cross the line of temples and step into the Snowy Plains.

Everything seemed normal, yet it filled them with an unsettling fear.

The group continued their journey forward.

As expected, there was no trace of ice or snow left. The melted snow had turned into water, filling the roadside ditches and streams. Not only had green grass sprouted from the soil, but even some seemingly dead trees had begun to bud. If not for the empty, desolate houses emerging from the snow, often filled with bones, and the complete absence of people along the road, it would have felt like a typical area of Gui Commandery rather than the former Snowy Plains.

That was, until they ventured a bit deeper...

There, by the roadside, lay the massive carcasses of birds and beasts—some were already rotting, some were mere skeletons, while others had only just begun to decay. Some were still intact, while others were smashed to pieces. All of this was evidence of many fierce battles that had once taken place here, battles that would have terrified any ordinary mortal.

The sight filled the group with fear.

Those with less courage soon wanted to turn back. However, Junior Official Jin, summoning his bravery, pressed onward, and the others reluctantly followed him deeper into the plains.

Not long after, they were struck with a new shock.

On the distant horizon, a mountain appeared. In the flat lands of Gui Commandery, where there had never been any hills, a mountain had suddenly emerged.

At first, it was just a vague shape. As the group drew closer, its true form gradually became clear, and with each step forward, their sense of awe and disbelief grew stronger.

Until finally, they stood before it.

It was a great mountain the likes of which many people of Hezhou had never seen in their entire lives. Standing before it, they felt incredibly small and insignificant.

In that moment, they were overwhelmed with a sense of indescribable awe. It was as if an ancient myth had come to life before their very eyes.