Sunset Peak, Dragon and Tiger Temple.

The bright spring sunshine enveloped Longhu Temple. In the backyard of the temple, Lin Jia'er asked in a clear voice, "Uncle Qin, can I go to the mountains with the Great Protector to cut bamboo?"

Qin Luo had just finished his morning exercise. Standing under the tree where peach blossoms were falling, he asked with a smile, "What are you doing cutting bamboo?"

Lin Jia'er smiled and said, "Uncle Qin, the Great Protector said he'd help me make a wishing lantern, the kind that can fly into the sky."

Releasing wishing lanterns is a tradition in the capital of the Great Xia Kingdom. Little Tuanzi followed Qin Luo to the capital of the Great Xia Kingdom and saw the dreamlike scene of the city full of lights. She thought it was very fun, so every year when the lanterns are lit during the Lantern Festival, she makes wishing lanterns and releases them.

Xiaodie was cleaning the yard when Qin Luo looked at her and said, "Xiaodie, why don't you go with Jia'er and the others?"

"Yes, Master Dao."

Xiaodie nodded, holding the broom.

Qin Luo let Xiao Die go with Lin Jia'er because he thought Xiao Tuanzi could take good care of her.

"Jia'er, let's go to Five Thunder Peak to cut bamboo. There are thunder bamboos growing in the land of thunder tribulation in Ma Hu's place. The bamboos are green and as green as jade. I'll make you a dog-beating stick while I'm at it."

"Yay!"

Lin Jia'er nodded happily.

Qin Luo watched them skip and hop away from Longhu Temple, a smile in his eyes. He turned to look at Ziyue, who was sitting cross-legged on the platform, and said softly, "Junior Sister, would you like to go for a walk in the mountains?"

Zi Yue opened her eyes. She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head firmly. "Senior brother, I haven't been cultivating much lately. I'd better stay at the Taoist temple and cultivate for now."

Qin Luo recalled how Zi Yue always dozed off while cultivating when she was little. He smiled and nodded, "Junior Sister, you cultivate diligently, I'm going out for a walk."

"Senior brother, if it's convenient for you, could you pick some wild vegetables to bring back? Master said he wants to eat wild vegetable dumplings."

"no problem."

Qin Luo left Longhu Temple alone.

The mountains were a riot of color, a vibrant scene of life. A gentle breeze stirred Qin Luo's sleeves. He was dressed in white, his white hair cascading over his shoulders.

Qin Luo walked deeper into the mountains, looking at the scenery along the way, where people were busy farming in the fields.

The air was filled with the fragrance of earth. Qin Luo walked at a leisurely pace. He would smile when he encountered people on the road, but few people paid attention to him. Even so, he would smile and nod to passersby.

There were large fields near Jinghu Academy, and Qin Luo saw many familiar figures. Lao Gao, Chen Xingzhou, and Wu Shashen were all plowing the fields, and Niu Mang was also helping out.

Qin Luo watched from a distance without disturbing them, and continued walking into the mountains.

In the stream outside Ziyun Peak, Qin Luo saw an old otter playing with its cubs in the water. There were many fruits in the mountains, so he picked some wild apples and gave them to them.

"Waaaaah!"

The old otter smiled with its eyes narrowed.

The little otters were holding apples and spinning around.

Qin Luo was amused by them. After a brief stop, he continued walking towards the valley. Xiong Shan was squatting under the treasure tree, holding a scripture in his hands.

Xiong Shan was watching intently and didn't notice Qin Luo's arrival, nor did Qin Luo disturb him.

Qin Luo arrived at the summit of Ziyun Peak, the highest point in the Ziyun Mountain Range, from which he could overlook the entire mountain range.

Purple clouds floated in the sky. Qin Luo sat on the mountaintop, leisurely basking in the sun, feeling quite content. He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of heaven and earth, but felt increasingly distant from this world, as if he did not belong to it.

A moment later, Qin Luo opened his eyes. Although he could not sense the Great Dao, he still smiled as he looked at the beautiful scenery before him, feeling happy.

In the evening, Qin Luo admired the scenery for a long time. He left the mountaintop to return to Longhu Temple, where he encountered Xiong Shan drinking wine from a wine jar in the valley.

Upon seeing Qin Luo, Xiong Shan quickly greeted him with a smile, "Master Dao, when did you arrive?"

Qin Luo chuckled and said, "When I arrived, you were reading scriptures, so I didn't disturb you."

"Hehe, that's the Surangama Sutra that Brother Monkey gave me. I don't really understand it either." Xiong Shan scratched his head.

"Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will become clear."

"What you say is true, Daoist Master."

"Master Dao, this jar of monkey wine is for you."

"Keep it."

Qin Luo knew that Xiong Shan's treasured monkey wine was running low, so he smiled and said, "I'll be going now."

"Taoist Master, please take care."

Xiong Shan personally escorted Qin Luo away from the valley.

On his way back, Qin Luo picked some wild fruits and vegetables, and the evening glow followed him all the way back to Longhu Temple.

"Thanks, boss!"

Qin Luo tossed a wild apple to Jin Jiao.

Golden Horn wagged its tail. "What a crisp, sweet apple!"

Qin Luo walked into the Taoist temple and smiled, "Junior Brother, these are your favorite bananas."

Jin Yan and Cai Xia arrived outside the hall. He smiled sheepishly and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

"Junior Sister, do you like any of these fruits?" Qin Luo asked, holding a lot of fresh fruit in his sleeve.

Caixia smiled sweetly and said, "I like them all."

"Junior Sister, could you please wash these fruits? Put any that you can't finish on the offering table."

"Uh-huh."

Caixia left carrying the fruit.

Qin Luo brought wild vegetables to the backyard.

Zi Yue was still sitting cross-legged on the platform, cultivating. She was bathed in rosy light, appearing holy and flawless.

"Senior brother, you're back!"

Zi Yue opened her eyes.

Qin Luo handed her a wild apple.

Ziyue took the apple and muttered softly, "It's so late, why haven't Xiaotuanzi and the others come back yet?"

Qin Luo said calmly, "They're at Lao Gao's house, so don't worry. I'll go make some wild vegetable dumplings first."

"I'm even a little envious of them."

"Me too."

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