Village Temple 2
For the next few days, she stayed at night and avoided official roads, taking wild paths instead. When thirsty, she drank from mountain streams, and when hungry, she ate dry biscuits hidden in her sleeves. At night, curled up in dilapidated temples or caves, she couldn't help but touch the blue mark between her eyebrows. The warmth there came and went, but never dissipated.
Sometimes she would drift into a daze, wondering if the mountain god was truly following her in the shadows, but each time she turned back, there was only the deep darkness behind her, not a single person in sight. That evening, she finally caught sight of Peach Village—several women sat sewing shoe soles under the old peach tree at the village entrance, wisps of smoke rising from the low rooftops, creating an atmosphere of tranquility. She straightened her dusty clothes, tucked the silver hairpin into her collar, took a deep breath, and slowed her pace towards the village entrance, her voice carrying a deliberately feigned timidity: "Greetings, old women. My hometown suffered a disaster, and I fled here. Could I find a place to stay in the village for the time being?" But out of the corner of her eye, she secretly glanced around, afraid that a familiar figure of an official might suddenly appear. The woman under the old peach tree looked up at her voice, her needlework pausing. The oldest old woman put down her shoe and looked her up and down—seeing that although her clothes were dusty, her posture was upright and her speech was somewhat refined, unlike that of an ordinary refugee, she softened her tone: "Young lady, you seem to be a proper person, but our Peach Village is small and we rarely receive outsiders, so we are afraid of neglecting you."
Her heart tightened, and she quickly curtsied, softening her voice even more: "Grandma, don't worry, I only ask for a place to shelter from the wind and rain. I can do laundry, cook, feed the pigs, and spin thread. I will never take advantage of the village. My hometown was flooded, and my parents are gone. If I have nowhere else to go..." At this point, her eyes reddened, hiding her dignity as a government official's daughter and revealing only the pitifulness of a refugee.
The woman in the blue cloth shirt beside her sighed and tugged at the old woman's sleeve: "Grandma Zhang, look how pitiful this girl is, all alone. There's an abandoned woodshed at the end of the village that's empty; if we tidy it up, she can live there. Why don't we let her stay here for now?" The old woman pondered for a moment, then finally nodded: "Alright, we're all unfortunate souls. But our village has rules: don't wander around at night, and don't inquire about village affairs. Can the girl agree to that?" She quickly agreed: "Thank you for taking me in, grandmas. I'll heed your advice."
As she followed the woman in the blue cloth shirt toward the end of the village, she still dared not relax her vigilance—Tao Village looked peaceful, but the gates of every household were tightly closed, and when children occasionally peeked out, they were quickly pulled back by the adults, which reminded her of the mysterious village temple, adding a touch of wariness to her heart.
The woodshed, though small, was fairly clean. The woman swept out a spot for her to lay straw and handed her half a bag of coarse rice: "Make do with this for now. If you feel better tomorrow, go help Aunt Li at the east end of the village dry beans. She'll pay you." She took the rice, thanked her repeatedly, and only dared to bolt the door after the woman left. She took out a silver hairpin from her clothes and, using the twilight filtering through the window, gently traced the character "Jing" with her fingertips. The blue lines between her brows warmed faintly again. Gazing into the shadows, she softly asked, "If the immortal is truly here, he will know that I do not disbelieve. It's just that the pursuers are not far away, and although Peach Village is suspicious, it is the only place I can stay right now..." Before she could finish speaking, the warmth in her blue lines suddenly faded, as if the mountain god had truly heard her and tacitly approved of her decision.
She carefully hid the silver hairpin close to her body, spread out some straw, sat down, and ate a dry biscuit. A few barks came from outside the window, making Peach Village seem even quieter, but she dared not fall asleep—since she was only temporarily seeking refuge, she needed to be constantly vigilant; it wouldn't be too late to make plans once the situation calmed down. As the night deepened, the chirping of insects outside the woodshed suddenly ceased, with only the wind rustling peach leaves against the window paper. Clutching the silver hairpin, she leaned against the corner of the wall, just as drowsiness was about to wash over her, when suddenly the blue line between her brows felt burning hot, as if someone had gently touched it with their fingertip.
"Something strange is happening in the village." The mountain god's voice suddenly rang in her ears, clear as a spring, yet tinged with a hint of solemnity. "Before you go to sleep, check the back wall of the woodshed. There's a loose brick joint." Her heart skipped a beat, her weariness instantly vanishing. She pulled out a tinderbox from her sleeve, lit it, and tiptoed around to the back wall. Sure enough, she saw a slightly protruding blue brick; it loosened at the slightest touch. She carefully pulled the brick out and discovered a cloth bag hidden behind the wall. Opening it, she found half a bloodstained jade pendant, engraved with the character "Silver," the emblem of her Yin family.
She recognized the jade pendant; it was a birthday gift her father had given to her eldest brother. He was clearly wearing it when he was arrested, so how could it be in the woodshed of Peach Village? "This village looks peaceful, but underneath, there are people colluding with the government." The mountain god's voice rose again, the warmth of the blue patterns tinged with a hint of coldness. "Those women during the day had barely perceptible charcoal ash on their cuffs, and in the threshing ground at the east end of the village, there were iron chain buckles commonly used by officials buried in the corner of the wall." Her hand holding the jade pendant trembled, the hatred and fear from the confiscation of her family's property surging up—she had thought Peach Village was a refuge, but it turned out to be a den of wolves.
Just as she was about to stuff the brick back into place, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard, accompanied by hushed voices: "That woman looks like Miss Yin. Should we report her to the authorities now?" Another voice replied, "Wait a minute. Granny Zhang said to observe her for a few more days. Don't make a mistake and ruin our village." The footsteps faded into the distance, but she broke out in a cold sweat. She quickly hid the cloth bundle in her clothes and resealed the brick. Back by the haystack, she clutched the jade pendant tightly, her fingertips icy cold: "Immortal Master, they... they're after me?" The warmth of the blue veins spread through her heart, as if comforting her: "Don't be afraid. They won't dare touch you for now. Tomorrow, when you go to dry the beans, keep an eye on the old well in the northwest corner of the threshing ground. There's a secret passage leading out of the mountains next to the well, dug by villagers fleeing famine years ago."
She took a deep breath and carefully hid the silver hairpin and jade pendant side by side close to her body—it turned out the mountain god hadn't left after all; if it weren't for this reminder, she feared she would have fallen into the trap set by the officials and villagers. The barking of dogs outside the window began again, this time with a hint of urgency. She gazed into the shadows and whispered, "Immortal Master, I will listen to you tomorrow and find that secret passage to leave. But… if we could find out where my elder brother is, that would be even better." The blue lines between her brows warmed slightly, like the mountain god's response, or perhaps a confirmation of her wish.
Just as dawn was breaking, a light knock came from outside the courtyard at the woodshed door. It was the voice of a woman in a blue cloth shirt: "Is the young lady awake? Aunt Li is waiting in the drying yard. Hurry up and go over there." Her heart tightened, and she quickly replied, "Coming!" She swiftly hid the silver hairpin and jade pendant deep inside her clothes, then straightened her dusty clothes to make sure nothing was amiss before unlatching the door.
As she followed the woman toward the east end of the village, she deliberately slowed her pace, her eyes secretly scanning the houses on both sides—every household's doors were still closed, and not a wisp of smoke was rising from the chimneys. Only in the direction of the threshing ground could one vaguely see figures moving about. Passing by Granny Zhang's house, she caught a glimpse of the old woman standing behind the door, staring at her through the crack. The old woman's eyes lacked the gentleness of yesterday, instead harboring a hint of scrutiny, which sent a chill down her spine.
In the drying yard, Aunt Li had already spread out several bamboo mats, with beans piled up to the side. Seeing her arrive, she simply said, "Spread the beans out evenly and dry them thoroughly, don't be lazy," before turning to sit under the shade of a tree and sewing shoe soles, her gaze occasionally glancing in her direction. Aunt Li held a wooden rake, pretending to be focused on turning the beans, but her fingertips secretly touched her brow—the blue lines on her forehead still felt warm; the mountain god must still be there.
Following the mountain god's advice, she slowly moved towards the old well in the northwest corner. As she got closer, she noticed that the well curb was covered in moss, and the well opening was covered by a heavy stone slab with obvious pry marks on the edges. Just as she was about to examine it more closely, Aunt Li suddenly spoke up: "Girl, don't go near the well. That well is long dry; be careful not to slip." Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly replied, "I know," averting her gaze. However, she didn't stop turning the beans in her hands, secretly noting the location of the well curb...
Three loose flagstones—that must be the entrance to the secret passage. As the sun grew stronger at midday, Aunt Li got up, saying she needed to go home to fetch water, and asked her to watch the drying ground. Once Aunt Li was out of sight, she quickly went around to the well, squatted down, and pretended to tie her shoelaces. She then used her fingertips to pry open the gap in the flagstone, and with a gentle pull, the flagstone actually moved, revealing a dark hole underneath. She could vaguely hear the sound of the wind blowing through it.
"There are steps in the secret passage. Go down twenty steps and turn left; it leads to the back mountain," the mountain god's voice echoed in her ears. "But be quick; Aunt Li won't stay long to fetch water." Just as she was about to bend down and enter the cave, she heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance, accompanied by the shouts of officials: "By order of the magistrate, search Peach Village and arrest the Yin family's escaped criminals!" Her face changed drastically. She quickly put the stone slab back in its original position. As soon as she straightened up, she saw Aunt Li leading two officials toward her, pointing at her: "Sir, it's this girl; she looks like Miss Yin!" The officials immediately drew their swords and rushed toward her. In that critical moment, the blue lines between her brows suddenly burned, and a refreshing power surged through her body. She ran toward the well, and before the officials could catch up, she lifted the stone slab and jumped in.
As she stepped onto the stone steps of the secret passage, the sound of the loose stones rolling was particularly clear in the darkness. However, she paid no attention to the movements of the officials behind her. When she jumped down, the mountain god's words, "Go down, don't look back," still echoed in her ears. But a thought suddenly popped into her mind: Why could the immortal be by her side at all times? Was it because they were already connected after she possessed him, or was there another reason?
Unconsciously, her fingertips traced the blue lines between her brows, a warmth spreading up her fingertips. Yet, she couldn't help but wonder: if the immortal master truly possessed such abilities, able to detect the Peach Village's conspiracy and secretly intercept the officials, why did he insist that she go to Qinglang Mountain to become his disciple? Could it be that even the immortal master's power had its limits? After taking a few more steps, the outline of the capital city suddenly flashed before her eyes—when she lived in the Silver Mansion, the crabapple blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom, her father was teaching her calligraphy in the study, and her elder brother would toss a candied fruit through the window, the wind itself carrying a sweet scent.
But now her entire family has been raided, and she's a wanted fugitive. If she can truly evade the pursuit, will she still have a chance to return? Even just to secretly peek at the old house, or find the evidence that framed her father years ago? "Immortal Master," she couldn't help but stop, her voice extremely low, "If...if I don't want to go to Qinglang Mountain, can you still protect me? Is there still a chance to get back to the capital?" As soon as she finished speaking, the warmth of the blue mark between her brows suddenly paused, as if the mountain god was considering his options. After a moment, the mountain god's voice slowly rang out, clear and solemn: "I possessed you only to temporarily borrow your aura. If this connection is severed, it will be difficult to protect you at all times. As for returning to the capital...right now the government is searching for you everywhere, and the old house has already been sealed off. If you go back like this, you'll only be walking into a trap."
She lowered her gaze to the luminous pearl on the stone steps; the light reflected in her eyes, but it held no warmth whatsoever. Yes, the capital was no longer the capital of the past, and the Yin family was no longer the Yin family of the past. Without the power to resist the government, returning would only be suicide. But how many unknowns lay hidden on the road to Qinglang Mountain?
"Immortal Master isn't forcing you," the mountain god's voice softened, "but the cultivators of Qinglang Mountain can teach you to identify evil spirits and investigate the truth. This will give you more confidence in the future, whether you're searching for your brother or clearing the Yin family's name. If you truly don't want to, I will protect you and help you find a safe place, but... the thought of returning to the capital must not cross your mind right now." She gripped the silver hairpin hidden in her clothes tightly, the tip digging painfully into her palm. The light ahead of the secret passage grew closer. She took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing her thoughts of the capital—perhaps the immortal master was right; the most important thing now was to survive. As for whether or not to go to Qinglang Mountain, perhaps once she reached the back mountain and saw that sea of pines, she would have a clearer answer. She lifted her foot again, the luminous pearl on the stone steps reflecting her figure. The warmth in the blue lines between her brows gradually subsided, as if the mountain god was silently comforting her.
She knew that escaping was the most important thing right now, but her doubts about the immortal and her longing for the capital lingered in her heart like the wind in the secret passage. The sound of the loose stones rolling on the stone steps of the secret passage was particularly clear in the darkness, but she paid no attention to the movements of the officials behind her—the mountain god's words, "Go down, don't look back," still echoed in her ears when she jumped down. But a thought suddenly popped into her mind: Why was the immortal always by her side? Was it because they were already connected after she possessed him, or was there another reason? Her fingertips unconsciously traced the blue lines between her brows, warmth spreading up her fingertips, but she couldn't help but stop, her voice extremely low: "Immortal, I have something I want to ask you."
"You are able to perceive the surrounding movements at all times and protect them secretly, so why do you always only communicate by voice and never reveal your true form?"
The warmth emanating from the blue mark between her brows paused abruptly. After a moment, the mountain god's voice slowly rang out, clear yet tinged with melancholy: "It's not that I'm unwilling to reveal my true form, but rather that I've already exhausted much of my spiritual power, leaving only a wisp of my remnant soul attached to you, unable to solidify into a physical form." Her heart skipped a beat, and her grip on her clothes tightened: "A remnant soul? Then… who exactly is this immortal? Has he always looked like this?"
"I was originally a cultivator on Qinglang Mountain," the mountain god's voice added a touch of remoteness. "A hundred years ago, the villagers at the foot of the mountain started a wicked custom of sacrifice, and countless women died unjustly and became resentful. I was ordered by my master to go down the mountain to seal the resentful souls and guard this mountain."
"The sealing depleted most of my spiritual power, and later, the vengeful spirits attacked, destroying my physical body. Only a remnant soul remains trapped in the mountain, unable to return to Qinglang Mountain." The wind in the secret passage suddenly grew cooler. Gazing at the faint light of the luminous pearl ahead, she softly asked, "Then... if I wish to see the immortal's true form, will I never have another chance?" "Yes." The mountain god's voice held more certainty. "Qinglang Mountain possesses a magical artifact for gathering souls and solidifying forms. If you can take me back, with the help of my sect, I can reunite my soul and reveal my true form. However, to reach Qinglang Mountain, you must become a disciple and cultivate. This will protect you and help me break free from the shackles of my remnant soul—I will protect you and help you escape, and you will help me return to my sect. This is our destiny." She lowered her eyes to her palm, the coolness of the silver hairpin mingling with the warmth between her brows.
It turns out that the mountain god wasn't born to guard the mountain, but ended up in this state because he had to seal away vengeful spirits; it turns out that going to Qinglang Mountain was not only for her own sake, but also to help the mountain god fulfill his wish to return to the mountain. "If I am unwilling to go, then will the immortal master... will he be trapped here forever?" Her voice was hesitant, both thinking of the old grudges in the capital and feeling a pang of pity for the mountain god.
"I won't force you," the mountain god's voice softened, "but my remaining soul power is waning day by day. If I waste another three to five years, I fear I won't even be able to protect you. If you wish to go to Qinglang Mountain, for you, it will be to learn skills and seek the truth; for me, it will be to regain life and return to my sect. But if you are unwilling, I will still do my utmost to send you to a safe place." She gripped the silver hairpin tightly, remembering her elder brother's blood-stained jade pendant, her father's unjust accusation, and the mountain god's repeated protection. The light ahead of the secret passage grew closer. She took a deep breath and whispered, "Immortal Master, I... am willing to go to Qinglang Mountain. But after seeing your true form, I hope you will not forget to help me investigate the Yin family's injustice and find my elder brother's whereabouts."
The blue lines between his brows suddenly burned, the warmth carrying a hint of lightness, and the mountain god's voice also added a smile: "In that case, let us go to Qinglang Mountain together. When I regain my true form, I will certainly not fail your trust."
She lifted her foot again and stepped forward, the luminous pearls on the stone steps reflecting her figure. Her earlier hesitation gradually dissipated. Although the road to Qinglang Mountain was unknown, with the mountain god by her side and a clear goal, it was better than living in constant fear while on the run. As for her thoughts of the capital, she would suppress them for now, and return to seek justice after she had learned her skills.
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