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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 4: The Sudden Appearance of the Buddhist Temple
The three returned to Fangwen Mansion. The Chen Family's home was relatively spacious, divided in two by a hanging curtain. Behind the curtain was the bedroom, while the living room featured a round table where Ji Zichen and Lin Chuyu were having their meal. A long knife and a hunting bow hung on the wall, and the decorations in the house were neither exquisite nor crude, suggesting that life as a blacksmith in Fangwen Mansion was fairly decent.
"I'm full!" Ji Zichen said, rubbing her slightly protruding belly with a sigh of relief.
Chen San's Wife, in her thirties and slightly plump, had a friendly demeanor as she sat at the table with Ji Zichen.
Lin Chuyu expressed his gratitude for the hospitality, saying, "Sister, your cooking is amazing!"
Chen San's Wife smiled and replied, "You are my family's saviors; I feel bad for serving such simple food."
Ji Zichen took a sip of tea and said, "If you feel bad, you could give us some money."
Chen San's Wife was taken aback.
Lin Chuyu nudged Ji Zichen with his shoulder. "Why do you always bring up money? Are you a miser in your past life?"
Lin Chuyu then apologized to Chen San's Wife. "Don't mind him. We really have to leave soon."
Chen San's Wife urged them to stay longer. "Please stay a few more days; we haven't properly entertained you yet."
Lin Chuyu replied, "No need, no need. We have other matters to attend to. I've never been to Fangwen Mansion before, but how can there be such a large town in these mountains? It's even bigger than Underworld Town."
Chen San's Wife responded lightly, "This place used to be plagued by wild beasts and Evil Spirits long ago. To resist them, the nearby mountain dwellers gradually gathered together to live here. Over ten years ago, when bronze was discovered in the back mountains, more and more people came here. Now, there are no wild beasts or Evil Spirits around anymore."
She looked at the two with a smile and asked, "Are you lovers?"
Ji Zichen nearly spat out her tea and quickly explained, "We're just traveling together."
Lin Chuyu's face turned red as he added, "Yes, we're just traveling together; who would be in love with him?"
Chen San's Wife sighed regretfully. "Oh, what a pity! You two look so good together. Nowadays, many couples like to travel together; I thought you were one. But how did you end up in Underworld Town?"
The two of them were momentarily at a loss for words.
Chen San entered from outside, and Chen San's Wife stood up, saying, "I've finished bathing."
After washing away the dirt, Chen San appeared quite refreshed. He said, "You all go ahead. If you're looking for Zhuque, I advise against going to the back mountain. I have a companion who was drained to a husk back there. Don't you remember?"
Upon hearing this, Chen San's Wife turned pale and lightly scolded him, "Why do you have to bring that up again? It's quite frightening."
Chen San waved his hand dismissively at his wife. "Go on, clear the dishes. What nonsense are you listening to?"
With an annoyed glance at Chen San, Chen San's Wife gathered the dishes and left the room.
Ji Zichen said, "Uncle, we haven't forgotten; it's just that we have our reasons for needing to find it."
Chen San replied, "Don't think this is just a deep mountain; many merchants have come through here. And don't hide it from me; you're looking for Divine Dawn."
Lin Chuyu exclaimed in surprise, "You know about Divine Dawn?"
Chen San chuckled, "Even a three-year-old knows about Divine Dawn."
He turned to Ji Zichen and said, " Mr. Ji, I know you're an extraordinary person, but that's Zhuque we're talking about."
Ji Zichen's gaze was unwavering. "I must find Zhuque."
Chen San sighed. "I understand. In that case, you can rest at my home for the night, and tomorrow I'll take you there."
Ji Zichen shook her head. "Uncle, you don't need to take any risks; just tell us where it is."
"No," Chen San insisted. "I will take you there. I'm not going for Divine Dawn; I just want to figure out why I've been sleepwalking and what exactly drained my companion's blood."
Knowing that persuading him was futile and realizing he needed someone to guide him, Ji Zichen said, "Alright then, we'll go together tomorrow."
Under the gentle embrace of the moonlight, Fangwen Mansion lay in serene tranquility. Lin Chuyu soaked in the bathtub, droplets of water glistening on her skin. She brushed her hair back and mused, "I can't believe we've found the trace of the Vermilion Bird so quickly. It feels like a dream; I'm so happy, yet a bit incredulous. Could Divine Dawn really be behind the mountains of Fangwen Mansion?"
Ji Zichen stood by the window, lost in thought as the moonlight bathed him. He spoke to his master, who was far away in The Divine Alliance Under the Covenant, "Master, I don't know what will happen after Ming leaves, but don't worry. I will definitely heal you."
Chen San approached Kiko from behind, holding a set of clothes. " Mr. Ji, I've brought you some clean clothes," he said.
Kiko turned to accept them. "These are my clothes; they might be a bit old-fashioned, but make do with them," Chen San added.
"Thank you," Kiko replied with a smile.
After her bath, Lin Chuyu returned to the hall with a hint of charm on her face. Draped in a robe, she exuded a fragrant allure that filled the room as the night breeze swept through. A droplet of water trickled down her brow and cheek, creating an enticing sensation that captivated those around her.
Kiko swallowed hard, his eyes lighting up. "She transformed... into a girl."
Chen San also stared in awe and remarked, " Mr. Ji, if you're not interested in her, I’d like to introduce her to my nephew."
Lin Chuyu raised her delicate brows and shot them both a glance. "What are you two whispering about?"
Both men quickly waved their hands in denial. "Nothing, nothing at all."
Lin Chuyu rolled her eyes and retreated into her room. "You should hurry up and wash; get some rest early. We have to travel tomorrow."
Under the moonlight, Yuxuan rode forth on horseback, having arrived at the entrance of Fangwen Mansion. She halted her horse and declared, "They must be inside. This time, I won't let him win!"
On another hilltop, Fire Lion and Lifeng were also mounted on their horses, looking down at the palm-sized Fangwen Mansion below. Fire Lion remarked, "I didn't expect there was an Underworld Town within that Underworld Forest."
Lifeng smirked while grooming a broken nail on his hand. " Ji Zichen is quite bold; even while fleeing, he killed Yin Chai in Underworld Town. If it weren't for the townsfolk talking about it, we wouldn't have known he had been there."
Fire Lion's brows furrowed slightly. "Fangwen Mansion is the closest town to Underworld Town; they must be there."
Lifeng's face twisted into a sinister grin. "Big Brother, we can't let him escape this time. He killed our third brother; he must not die easily."
Fire Lion let out a roar, turning his horse back onto the mountain path. "There's no escape. I swear I won't be human if I don't kill him."
The two rode swiftly under the moonlight towards Fangwen Mansion.
The next day, with the chirping of birds and crowing of roosters, the morning light illuminated Fangwen Mansion.
"Mm~~~"
Lin Chuyu got out of bed, stretching lazily. "It's bright."
She pushed open the window, inhaling the cool morning air. "I hope to find the Vermilion Bird today and also discover a way to cure Uncle Chen's sleepwalking. However, the Vermilion Bird is a divine beast; I wonder if Brother Ji has any way to deal with it."
Suddenly, a crashing sound came from outside.
Lin Chuyu hurried out of the room and saw Ji Zichen crouched on the ground, cautiously feeling around. Noticing the shattered teacup on the floor, she realized that Kiko's hands were just inches away from being cut by the sharp shards. Lin Chuyu quickly called out, "Don't move! There are broken pieces!"
Chen San and his wife also emerged from their room. Lin Chuyu helped Ji Zichen sit down in a chair while Chen San approached and asked, "What happened?"
Ji Zichen's eyes remained still as he turned to face Chen San at the sound of his voice. He apologized, "I'm sorry, Uncle Chen. I broke a cup."
Chen San sighed in relief and chuckled, "I thought something serious had happened. It's fine; a broken cup is just a sign of peace—it's an auspicious omen for going out."
Lin Chuyu said worriedly, "Brother Ji, can you not see again?"
Chen San was taken aback. "What do you mean by not being able to see?"
Ji Zichen didn't blame Lin Chuyu for speaking out; since he had shared this with her, it meant he didn't mind others knowing about his eye condition. He smiled and said, "I have a problem where I go blind intermittently."
Chen San's wife exclaimed in surprise, "Intermittent blindness? What kind of strange illness is that?"
Lin Chuyu explained, "Uncle Chen, this is why we need to find Divine Dawn. The Divine Tears within Divine Dawn can cure his condition."
Chen San was taken aback, then realized, "So that's how it is. I thought you were after wealth."
He looked at his wife and said, "What are you still standing there for? Get the dustpan and broom to clean up the cups, and hurry up with the cooking. We need to hit the road."
An hour later, the three of them stepped outside. Chen San's wife saw them off at the door, saying, "Take care, dear."
Chen San waved his hand dismissively, feeling his wife's fussiness was unnecessary. "Don't worry, we'll come back safe."
The three of them gradually walked away towards the back mountain. As they entered the area, darkness fell suddenly. Raindrops pelted down like steel balls, heavy and relentless, stinging their skin. Chen San wiped the rain from his face and said, "We can't go on like this; the rain is getting heavier. We need to find a place to take shelter."
The sky was overcast, and the daylight seemed as dark as night. Lin Chuyu appeared anxious; she wanted to rid herself of Divine Dawn's curse as soon as possible. "Uncle Chen," she urged, "let's keep moving. We can take it slow."
Ji Zichen shared Lin Chuyu's sentiment. "I think so too. I hope we can reach the place where you can summon the Vermilion Bird soon."
Seeing their determination, Chen San sighed and said, "Alright then, let's keep going. I don't know why you're in such a hurry; that place isn't going anywhere."
The three pressed on through the rain, unaware that a figure was stealthily following them from a distance of about seven or eight yards. This person was Yuxuan, who had been tailing them all along. Yuxuan wondered to himself, "Where could they be rushing off to?"
Chen San had reached a stream that day; due to the rain, the water level had risen significantly. He remarked, "We're almost there; we're close now. Just past this stream is the high cliff."
Ji Zichen perked up at this news. "Then let's hurry!"
They made their way up towards the high cliff. Noticing Lin Chuyu's anxious demeanor, Ji Zichen tried to reassure her. "Don't be afraid; you have the pearl. The Vermilion Bird won't harm you. Has there been any reaction from it?"
Lin Chuyu steadied her nerves and replied, "No reaction."
Ji Zichen silently urged in his heart, "Please turn red soon; I'm counting on you! I know you're nearby."
At that moment, they reached the high cliff. Aside from the curtain of rain, all they could see were the drenched trees surrounding them. Chen San pointed to a puddle and said, "This is where I found the Vermilion Bird's feather."
Ji Zichen scanned their surroundings but felt no sense of danger at all.
"Where is the Vermilion Bird?" Lin Chuyu asked as she scanned the surroundings.
"I don't know," Chen San replied. "I've only seen it once, that night." He pointed to a grove of trees on the left. "There was also a Buddhist Temple over there."
Ji Zichen gasped, "A Buddhist Temple?"
"Yes," Chen San continued. "There was no Buddhist Temple on the back mountain, but that night, it appeared out of nowhere like a mirage. When we regained consciousness, it was gone. Perhaps we were hallucinating."
At that moment, two figures emerged behind the three of them. One of them laughed coldly, " Ji Zichen, long time no see."
Ji Zichen's expression changed as she turned to look. "It's you!"
Lifeng grinned menacingly. "You've made me chase you for quite a while."
Chen San, unaware of Lifeng's identity, asked Ji Zichen, "Who are they...?"
Before Ji Zichen could respond, Fire Lion's eyes widened in shock as he stared behind her. "What is that!"
Chen San turned around and exclaimed, "The Buddhist Temple has appeared!"
Ji Zichen and Lin Chuyu looked back to see that a magnificent Buddhist Temple had indeed materialized in the grove of trees on the left.
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