Chapter 56 Spring Mountain Tastes, Recognizing Past Lives (Part 3, Beginning)

"Boom!"

The Purification Tower began to collapse.

Amidst the earth-shaking tremors, a strong sandstorm swept by, blinding the two men, who stumbled backward a few steps.

When I opened my eyes again, the Purification Tower had disappeared.

Yan Chao had just taken a step forward when she heard a "rip" sound under her feet. She looked down and saw that the once clean and tidy ground was now covered with fallen leaves and broken branches, and even the weeds were above her knees.

Was that just an illusion?

Feng Xi looked around, and everything was exactly the same as he had seen before. But this was the first time he had seen the Purification Tower, and the first time he had experienced something like what had just happened. "Perhaps so. I thought there was nothing left to investigate here, but it seems that we haven't come away empty-handed." He chuckled, "Chao Chao, as expected, good things always happen when I'm with you."

Yan Chao laughed and said, "Then I'd better cling to my own big brother, that way I'll become luckier and luckier!"

Momo also agreed wholeheartedly and bounced twice on Yan Chao's shoulder.

Feng Xi laughed even louder, and couldn't help but applaud her, saying, "Chaochao, as expected of you! You are undoubtedly the smartest person in the world!"

Yan Chao suddenly asked, "Feng Xi, did those immortals really live here?"

Feng Xi said, "Yes. Before the establishment of the current Heavenly Court, this place was the location of the officials of all dynasties."

Their parents were here too.

"Everyone says: 'The King of Yunhuai Kingdom absorbed the power of all living beings to harm the common people, while Emperor Hanyue killed his friend to save the common people, which is a righteous act'; but some people say: 'Hanyue is a villain who covets the throne'; even the great fire of Tianjia Mountain and the fall of the gods are said to be his doing. Is this all believable?"

Yan Chao paused for a moment. She had naturally heard Ming Qi recount their past, except for the chaos of the myriad spirits. She chuckled before saying, "One cannot judge a person without experiencing their suffering. But I know rumors are like knives, and I have tasted them. I will find the truth myself."

Feng Xi frowned, gazing intently at Yan Chao with a complex expression, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

Looking at the desolate and bleak scene around him, Yan Chao bent down and picked up a handful of scorched earth from the ground. He couldn't help but sigh, "For thousands of years, countless people have sought teachers and medicines, enduring countless hardships, just to secure a place among the gods and Buddhas. They thought that becoming a god would mean a carefree life and a superior status. In the end, they're nothing but a handful of dust. Not to mention whether they can live to the end of their thousand-year lifespan, humans and ghosts can be reincarnated, but gods have no chance at all. Looking at it this way, becoming a god is really not worth it."

Feng Xi said, "So, you think it's better to be a human being?"

"Of course!"

Having come all this way, Yan Chao was a little tired, so he simply sat down on a pile of weeds and said, "As the saying goes, 'Above men are gods, below men are ghosts.' Whether you become a god or a ghost, you start as a human, and this identity cannot be discarded. Humans may seem insignificant, but their strength should not be underestimated."

Feng Xi lay down next to Yan Chao, folded his hands under his head, propped up his right leg, and smiled with half-closed eyes: "Chao Chao, you really have a wake-up call. That's right, becoming a god or a ghost is just changing clothes. What is truly immortal in this world is the obsession of mortals. Divine souls are easily destroyed, and wandering spirits are easily scattered, but those who are trampled into the mud are the most tenacious. Whether god or ghost, as long as you live, you will always have some obsession."

"ah--!!!"

Yan Chao suddenly shouted at the sky. Feng Xi sat up and asked anxiously, "What's wrong with you?"

Yan Chao turned around and grasped Feng Xi's hand, his eyes shining, and said, "Feng Xi, although we don't know how long we can live, and although the road ahead is fraught with danger, we must live well and enjoy ourselves in the limited time we have!"

Feng Xi's fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly. He stood there stunned for a long while before slowly saying, "Okay."

"Then you should smile more. You look so beautiful when you smile."

Feng Xi lowered his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. Slowly, his laughter grew clearer and clearer, echoing across Tianjia Mountain. The Ji Chunchao tattoo on his palm shimmered with a small, warm light through the gap between his clasped hands.

The two circled the mountain again, but unfortunately found nothing. As the sun began to set, Yan Chao said, "Let's go down the mountain."

Feng Xi raised an eyebrow and said, "I know a shortcut that goes down the mountain quickly. I'll take you there."

Feng Xi led Yan Chao down a very remote and secluded spot on the west side of Tianjia Mountain. Yan Chao noticed that although this place was remote, it was cleaner and more open than other places, clearly indicating that people had been walking here for many years. However, this path was easier to go down the mountain than to go up. It was unclear who had created it.

When the two arrived at the foot of the mountain, they were greeted by a dilapidated cluster of houses. This was the former Sancaotang.

Yan Chao asked, "How did you know about this road?"

Feng Xi said, "It was discovered by chance. Few people know about this place, which shows that the road builders put a lot of thought into it."

Yan Chao had a vague feeling that this road must hold some secret, but now was not the right time to investigate. He could come back again later and find out then. The most important thing now was to prepare for the opening of Huichun Mountain Tower.

Yan Chao said, "On the first day of the lunar new year, Chunshan Tower will open for business. Yao Xu will be setting up a food stall in front of Chunshan Tower. Would Lord Ghost King like to come and support us?"

Feng Xi nodded and said, "Of course I'll go. That kid's already set up a stall, can I go and do some odd jobs too?"

Yan Chao said, "You were once suspected of being the master of Chunshan Pavilion, and you were even written into a book by the legendary storyteller. There are many discussions and speculations about you in Chunshan Pavilion. If you really go there and they find out your identity, then things will get interesting!"

Feng Xi pretended to be deep in thought and said, "That would be a bit troublesome. How about..." He changed the subject, raised his eyebrows, and smiled, "Let the storyteller write another one."

Upon hearing this, Yan Chao's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed excitedly, "Really?! Ever since 'The Chronicles of the Three Realms,' the storyteller has never written a story about you again. If Young Master Lian were to reappear after all these years, he would definitely fetch a good price at Spring Mountain Pavilion!"

Feng Xi tilted his head and looked Yan Chao up and down, saying, "Are all the people from Chunshan Tower like this?"

Yan Chao asked, puzzled, "What?"

Feng Xi chuckled and said, "I've discovered a business opportunity."

"Of course! We're very united!"

"Then I'll have to think about it carefully and see if I should charge you a fee."

"No problem! Everything is negotiable!"

......

After leaving Tianjia Mountain, the two chatted and laughed all the way. As night fell, they passed a temple dedicated to marriage. Inside the temple was a statue of a goddess in blue robes and a cicada-shaped crown, who was none other than Ren Yuanshan, the current god of marriage. Under the marriage tree in front of the temple, several couples were tying knots to pray for their love, but the knots were not the traditional love knots. The two approached and saw that the knots were woven from red and white threads, seemingly simple on the outside but containing a hidden mystery inside.

Yan Chao asked curiously, "The knot is quite unique."

A person nearby said, "You have a good eye! This is a unique silk knot created by our Lady of the Distant Mountains."

The intertwined knot signifies "entwined love, overcoming tribulations on one's own." The red thread symbolizes a fervent initial love, while the silver thread symbolizes the trials of time. The outer layer is the "love thread layer": red and white hemp rope woven into a wave-shaped tassel, which automatically loosens one thread each day, symbolizing the wear and tear of time, and will reveal traces of internal repairs when exposed to rain; the core is the "joined knot": an improvement on the swastika knot, but retaining a slipknot, with two strands of rope intertwined into a double helix structure, and key nodes secured with acacia wood beads.

Initially, the bright red tassels undulate like a beating heart. Three years later, they fade to a light cherry blossom color, and the spiral structure reveals silver thread patterns. Ten years later, if properly cared for, they will grow into natural amber encasing the wooden beads.

With hearts united, it is easy to bind; but guarding the year brings calamity.

Yan Chao sighed, "Mortals seek marriage, and immortals tie the red thread. They only know the immediate fulfillment, but forget the difficulty of staying together for the long years to come. There are lovers all over the world, but how many can stay together for a lifetime? This lady from the distant mountains is truly thoughtful."

Feng Xi replied, "But her subordinates are completely different from her."

Yan Chao asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Feng Xi said, "Thirty years ago, she promoted a person in the mortal world. This person was named Xu Weiqing, a fool who grew up in the Temple of Marriage."

Xu Weiqing was an orphan. The temple keeper of the Marriage Temple was an old bachelor who took pity on him and raised him as a companion. He was kind-hearted and meticulous in his work. For many years, he devoted himself to the temple keeper's offerings. Finally, when he came of age, he was noticed by Ren Yuanshan, who was traveling in the mortal world, and was appointed as the official in charge of sending children.

Everyone thought Xu Weiqing had risen to great heights, his future limitless. But after achieving this, he became foolish, making mistakes in everything he did. The most amusing incident involved a couple from the West. The woman had been unable to conceive for a long time, and the couple, traveling through the area, heard that the local temple was very effective in granting children, so they prayed as the locals would. However, Xu Weiqing didn't understand their language and somehow misinterpreted "woman's pregnancy" as "man's pregnancy." Soon after, the man indeed became pregnant, which terrified them, and they immediately sailed home that very night. What happened afterward remains unknown.

This incident was a major blunder for Xu Weiqing, but Ren Yuanshan didn't severely reprimand him; instead, he guided and encouraged him. This only made Xu Weiqing feel guilty, and he made things worse. People said that Ren Yuanshan was a good person, while Xu Weiqing was a fool.

One person said, "These two are really strange people; it's quite a tale that they could even get together."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Yan Chao received a letter from Yu Jia, urging her to return to Chunshan Tower immediately to help.

Yan Chao said, "Feng Xi, I have to go. Don't forget, we'll meet at Chunshan Tower on the first day of next month!"

Feng Xi said, "We'll meet there."

The first day of the third lunar month. Chunshanlou Restaurant opens for business.

Manager Yujia led the people of Chunshanlou to the gate, lit firecrackers, and drank Susu wine.

Su Li is a unique recipe from Chunshanlou, meaning "remembering the source of the water we drink and celebrating the new year." Unlike ordinary wines, it has a hidden flavor, which comes from the infusion of seven unopened bitter apricots. The initial taste is like a clear mountain spring, the middle notes are filled with the aroma of aged sandalwood, and the aftertaste is like chewing fresh bamboo shoots.

Chunshanlou will prepare wine cups for the guests who come to watch the ceremony. When everyone drinks it all in one gulp, the cups of the Chunshan people will display "Never Don't forget a drop of water", while the cups of the guests will display "Can carry whale waves".

The wine cup was poured, and firecrackers exploded. Yu Jia stood before the crowd and proclaimed loudly, "Today, Chunshan Tower opens for business. We offer this new wine to guests from all directions, and wish that the fragrance of the old well will last for a hundred years!"

As soon as he finished speaking, enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted from the crowd, and the guests crowded together as they entered Chunshan Tower. Upon entering, they saw Yan Chao sitting at his desk, holding a brush to greet the guests.

Yan Chao said, “Esteemed guests, Chunshan Tower has learned a skill from the ancient kingdom of Yezi – the Noba. All you need to do is provide your birth date and time, and you can have a Noba that is uniquely yours. This is free of charge. As long as Chunshan Tower exists, the Noba will exist. All you need to know is that the Noba originated from Yezi.”

Upon hearing this, one person immediately raised their hand and said, "That sounds interesting, I want to try it!"

"I want one too! I want one too!"

......

Jin Qi blocked the crowd in front of him and shouted, "Everyone, don't rush! One by one! Line up properly!!"

Upon hearing this, everyone lined up, and Yan Chao focused intently on drawing Noba for the guests. About three hours later, a voice rang out from above Yan Chao's head: "Excuse me, are you short of helpers here?"

"Not lacking..."

Yan Chao looked up and saw Feng Xi tilting her head and smiling at her. Yan Chao chuckled and said, "Why are you so late? If you had come any later, Yao Xu's stall would have sold out!"

Feng Xi said dismissively, "Really? There were too many people outside. I didn't see him and thought he had failed the test."

Yan Chao called out to Jin Qi and handed the stall over to him. She then took Feng Xi out to find Yao Xu; she was starving after working for so long.

The two arrived at Yao Xu's stall, where a considerable number of people were still queuing. Yao Xu, with his robe tied around his waist and sleeves rolled up, was busy working without stopping. Yi Cuo Mao, on the other hand, was leisurely sunbathing behind him, occasionally barking as if to cheer him on.

Yao Xu was making two new snacks this time: one was a rolled pancake, the pancake about the size of a palm, thin and soft, filled with stir-fried taro shreds, topped with tangy and crisp pickled radish, coriander, and chili oil, one bite at a time, leaving a lingering fragrance in your mouth; the other was pan-fried pork intestines, made by mixing pork and chicken with cornstarch, and then adding salt, sugar, and other seasonings. The skewered intestines were scored, pan-fried until golden brown, and then brushed with a layer of prepared sauce, resulting in a crispy outside and tender inside, delicious and inexpensive.

Yan Chao said, "Wow, your business is booming."

Yao Xu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said smugly, "I never miss a shot! I've prepared food for both of you, go and eat!"

Feng Xi replied, "Then you should make good money and don't forget to repay my kindness later."

"......"

As soon as the two left, Yao Xu noticed a beggar staring at his stall from the street corner. The beggar looked like he hadn't eaten in a long time. Seeing this, Yao Xu took two wraps and a few sausages and walked up to the beggar, saying, "You must be starving. Here, have some."

Unexpectedly, the beggar turned his head away with a look of disgust and said, "I don't want to eat this."

Yao Xu asked, puzzled, "Then what do you want to eat?"

The beggar immediately turned around and said, "Noodles! I want to eat noodles!"

Yao Xu looked at the wrap and sausage in his hand and fell into deep thought. For someone who was starving, these were indeed not enough to fill him up: "Okay, but a bowl of noodles would be enough?"

The beggar chuckled and said, "Could I add another chicken leg?"

What a coincidence! He just made some braised chicken legs today. He originally intended to eat them himself, but now he has a better place to use them. Yao Xu said, "Then you've really come to the right person! Wait here, I'll go cook you some noodles right away."

The beggar clapped his hands happily and said, "Thank you, young man."

Before long, Yaoxu brought over a steaming bowl of chicken leg noodles. The beggar held it in his hand, smelled it, and whispered, "This is the taste." Then he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat it in large mouthfuls.

Yao Xu said, "Eat slowly, be careful not to burn yourself."

The beggar slurped down his noodles, took a bite of a chicken leg, and mumbled, "Young man, your noodles are really delicious. I've had them before, but none of them are as good as this bowl of noodles."

Yao Xu put his hands on his hips with some pride and said, "That's right! I'm a very good cook." Seeing that he was eating so happily, Yao Xu was also happy. Thinking that he should give him some money to find a place to stay so that he would no longer have to wander and beg, he said, "Wait here for me for a while. I have something to give you."

The beggar readily agreed, but by the time Yaoxu returned, the beggar was already gone.