"Indeed, a fine Feng Shui site," said Mao San, his eyes twinkling with approval. He didn't directly look at us but kept his gaze fixed on the carp within the bamboo sieve.
"Shrimp whiskers, crab eyes, goldfish water? We haven't taken a close look at this spring of water, but I never thought it was a mouth of vitality seeping out from the Qu Shan." Wu Jinlan responded immediately.
"Yes, that's right. This is indeed an opening of a geomantic feng shui site, and the goldfish, who knows how much life force it has absorbed."
After speaking, Mao You San crouched down again, placing the bamboo sieve back into the water. The golden koi remained in the middle, lingering without wanting to leave.
From my perspective, is it really Mao You San simply talking about Feng Shui?
A splash was heard as Mao You San lifted the bamboo sieve, and the fish leaped and splashed on the water surface before finally sinking beneath.
"Qu Shan, it's very resilient," Mao You San stood up again, and then he added abruptly.
The numerous gentlemen looked at each other in confusion, but no one opened their mouths.
"I drew a breath deeply and said, "The transmission of the mountain gate has not been cut off, and it will not be cut off."
"Um, indeed. However, the mountain gate has been destroyed; this truly is a calamity of extermination," Mao You San said solemnly.
"I looked at Mao You San for a long time, not knowing if he understood my meaning. I always felt that there were deep meanings in his eyes, and a faint praise."
His emotions are because of me.
Is it because of the resilient resistance of Qu Shan?
"The things that happened before were due to Mr. Jin Luan's eccentricity, speaking too much, and interfering with Mr. Luo. It was because Mr. Luo had a gate within his chest, and he still felt that we are of the same breath, but unfortunately, Qu Shan still doesn't trust it. Mao San's fortune is still answered accordingly. If this is the case, let us take Mr. Mao up the mountain. We are familiar with this mountain path." Wu Jinlu's words carried a touch of smoothness, and they actively erased the previous events.
"Please," Mao You San smiled and made a gesture.
The gentlemen all breathed a sigh of relief, without exception.
On the way up the mountain, Wu Jinlu walked side by side with Mao You San, while I was carried slightly behind.
Walking a long way, they had a conversation along the way. Mao You San was not too talkative, mostly initiated by Wu Jinlu. Wu Jinlu was also very careful not to talk about any sensitive topics.
My mood remained low, so I spent the journey with my eyes closed and focusing my attention.
Only when we arrived at the front of Qu Shan Mountain did I fully realize the direct meaning of Mao You San's words about the destruction of the mountain gate.
The two plaques of "Chū Xuānhé" and "Rù Piàn" fell to the ground. The plaque of Ju Qu Shandao Yuan was shattered into pieces, and the entrance of the mountain gate collapsed halfway, leaving rubble all over the ground.
Mao You San, however, stopped here and did not continue forward.
He placed one hand on his palm and recited some words silently, as if he was calculating something.
I know he was looking for the Corpse of Zhenren.
He was looking for... the grave of the first Daoist of Ju Qu Shan!
The cunning rabbit is dead, the dog sentinel is cooked?
A phrase suddenly popped into my head.
The melancholy of Qu Shan made me feel that Mao Si and Mao Su, both were comical and pitiful.
Taking a step back, really can't it be done?
Face, just really regard them so sacrifice?
But, they are also respectable. It is precisely because of the face of Qu Shan that these two immortals died in battle, shedding all their burdens. They could have lived a good life.
Who is right, who is wrong, it is difficult to judge.
At least as an outsider, I have no right to judge.
"Go this way, there should be a gentle slope leading down the mountain. Go straight and you'll find something. I'll wait for you at the Grand Hall of Qu Shan before I go to collect the bodies of the two immortals," Mao You San said.
My face slightly changed.
He wants to act separately?
Find something? What could we possibly find?
"Wu Jinlu, you and the others follow me. You will soon know what to do," Mao You San said again.
Wu Jinlu and the other gentlemen were more than a little puzzled and bewildered.
"Let's go," I said hoarsely.
Wu Jinlu only moved forward then, and the gentlemen followed me, carrying me.
After walking out from the sloping path for several tens of meters, a gentleman turned back to take a glance. Similarly, I glanced sideways and found that Mao You San had already entered the inner area of Ju Qu Shan.
"Is he trying to get us out of the way to do something else, to take something?" one of the gentlemen said tentatively.
"The most valuable thing in Ju Qu Shan is on the Master Luo's body. You think that group of monks wearing straw hats, and the eight houses, will leave anything behind for Ju Qu Shan?" Wu Jinlu shook his head.
"Mao You San, I don't know if he's genuinely calm and composed or just in control of his emotions. As for our previous rudeness, he really doesn't seem to mind, even coming to wait for Master Luo. If the former is true, I don't know how high his level of cultivation is. If the latter... this person may be preparing a resting place for our bones." Wu Jinlu's words left the gentlemen feeling restless.
I cannot judge the accuracy of Wu Jinlu's words, and he himself cannot be sure.
"Given my understanding of the old Mao, he wouldn't do anything useless. Having you come here should not be an attempt to get rid of you, but rather to offer you some benefits. After all, he didn't let you trust him directly earlier. He needs to give you a sweet treat first to make you feel that, wow, he's powerful and kind." As soon as the sky turned dark, Lao Gong appeared on my shoulder and spoke vividly.
The gentlemen looked at each other, without exception, they all swallowed nervously, with a hint of confusion and curiosity.
"Wow, it might be some kind of ji," Lao Gong said with a smile: "Mao Si is just a stone in the toilet, Mao Su is just a wheat growing beside it. Both have the same character, stinky and hard, and they are very greedy. Dying in the battle to defend the gate of Ju Qu Shan has finally left them with some reputation. If both were killed by Shou Si Qing, it would be too much to record them in the Ju Qu Shan records and would be disgraceful."
"Alright, Lao Gong, the dead are to be respected. The person is gone," I reminded him.
"Alright, alright, it's none of my business. Who made you have the surname Mao? There must be some kind of compassion in fate," Lao Gong chuckled, then hummed a tune with musical tones, long and melodious.
Wu Jinlu's eyes shone with a hint of shock, while the gentlemen were all baffled and horrified.
They were obviously very puzzled, and no one asked any questions without me saying anything.
After walking for a long time, we indeed came to a gentle slope. After that, there was a cliff platform, with a drop of about 100 meters from the top of the mountain to the cliff edge. It ended in the middle of the mountain body.
"Presumably it's down there. The topography and Feng Shui here are both unusual," Wu Jinlu took a deep breath and said.
We followed a detour around the side and reached the bottom of this small cliff.
The grass was overgrown, and the steep mountain cliffs were covered with vines. Various roots were intertwined and entangled. Moreover, there was a hole, concealed and deep.
Lao Gong was originally cheerful, thinking that he would soon find a treasure.
Lao Gong's face suddenly changed slightly, and he stared at the hole with great doubt.
"Come out!" He spoke in a low and piercing voice, which was very earsplitting!
I also sensed that there was no peace inside the cave. What may not be noticed by ordinary people might be more sensitive to us, the Taoists.
About a minute of quiet passed, and Lao Gong called out again: "If you don't come out, I will go in!"
The footsteps only began to sound.
A person, looking despondent and disheveled, walked out of the cave mouth.
He stared at us fiercely, his eyes red from crying, and there were still blotches of tears on his face.
This person was a Taoist in a red robe!
A senior-level Taoist from Qu Shan!
