Chapter 1534 - 823: Your Majesty (Double Chapter)_2

"Are you a little cat or a little dog?"

"Sometimes I am."

"Sometimes? Really?"

"In dreams, sometimes I'm a cat, sometimes a dog, and sometimes even a Year Beast."

"You really are quite varied," said Chen Yi, suddenly thinking of something. Year Beast... Could it be that the Year Beast encountered in Dream Sea that day was Miss Donggong?

Yet Yin Weiyin, who felt something was amiss, became aware of it even faster than him and interrupted, asking, "Do you meow or bark?"

Donggong Ruoshu pondered for a moment and replied, "Woof! Woof woof!"

"...That's enough from you, enjoy the scenery." Chen Yi fell silent for a moment, then turned to see Yin Weiyin covering her mouth with a chuckle, unaware that the female crown was laughing on purpose.

"Woof woof."

Donggong Ruoshu then leaned back against the car window to enjoy the scenery, her full bosom slightly pressing against the inward protruding window ledge. The contours of the mountains stretched out, rolling from west to east—resembling what, exactly?—she lowered her head to glance at the soft flesh of her bust, noting that not only did the mountains resemble her bosom, her bosom too resembled the beauty of a springtime ridge line.

This thought made her lips unconsciously curl with a kind of inexplicable, childlike self-satisfaction.

Donggong Ruoshu released her hand from resting on her chin, leaning forward even more, almost her entire upper body gently reclining against the window ledge. The wood frame of the window had been rounded and slightly protruded for comfort on the inside.

Her ample bosom naturally pressed gently against that smooth curve, lightly rising and falling with the carriage's slight jolts.

After viewing the scenery for a while, she remembered the purpose of this outing, turned her head towards Chen Yi inside the carriage, and asked, "So... what exactly is there at the Golden Immortal Temple? It sounds like a rundown Daoist Temple."

Chen Yi had already set aside the book on his face and replied casually upon hearing her question, "According to legend, during the period of Emperor Ruizong of Tang, a princess was enamored with Taoist skill and entered Zhongnan Mountain to cultivate immortality. The Emperor then built this Daoist Temple for her, named 'Golden Immortal.'

Later, as times changed, especially when the Buddhist Sect once flourished greatly, that temple supposedly was converted into a Buddhist Temple. Such conversions are not uncommon historically; many Buddhist Temples were originally converted from Daoist Temples. Through the rivalry of incense, the ebb and flow of dynasties, some eventually converted back or were abandoned. Golden Immortal Temple probably reconverted, thrived for a short while, and then was forsaken."

Donggong Ruoshu mused, "With that explanation, it reminds me... I've heard there's a large Buddha statue around there? A really big one?"

Just after she spoke, as if responding to her curiosity or by some mysterious coincidence.

The carriage was traversing along the mountain road and, rounding a bend, the panorama outside rolled into view. Across the valley, Chen Yi saw a gigantic stone statue emerging amidst the light blue mountain mist—partially obscured yet unmistakably a Buddha.

Due to the mist, the facial engravings weren't very discernible, but the posture of sitting cross-legged conveyed a dignified presence, the Buddha gazing compassionately upon all the living beings walking the earth.

Even in its blurred state, the compassionate sublimity seemed able to penetrate the mist, drawing numerous devoted men and women from afar to offer incense and worship... Chen Yi mused on how ancient history must have been; if Little Fox were here, they'd climb the mountain together to pray to Buddha for blessings for the upcoming year and countless years beyond, palms pressed together, accompanied by tranquil Zen sounds, enduring ancient solitude.

Donggong Ruoshu also saw it and exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, look, speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao appears; the Buddha statue popped out like a head being thrown!"

"..."

..............

Zhongnan Mountain isn't a solitary peak but a vast mountain range spanning east from Lantian to west at Zhou Zhi, stretching from east to west with countless scenic features. Liuyun Palace, visited earlier, lies in another direction, without sight of the stone Buddha hidden in the mist.

The carriage gradually stopped at the Zimu Valley Entrance on the west side of Zi Wu Town in Zhongnan Mountain, here already at the mountain's base; the road ahead narrowed, making passage for carriages difficult.

Donggong Ruoshu was the first to disembark, landing on solid ground, stretching long and lazily, loosening her somewhat stiff waist and arms while indulging in the fresh mountain air redolent with the scent of vegetation and earth.

Chen Yi followed, retrieving a light brimmed hat from the carriage.

This hat had a broad brim with a fine mesh hanging down from the edge, falling to the neck, able to shield from the sun, dust, and hide one's appearance. He walked over to Donggong Ruoshu, naturally lifting his hand to place the hat on her head, smoothing the mesh under the brim for a snug fit.

The gesture was smooth, as if he'd done it countless times.

Yin Weiyin also donned a similar hat herself. Standing off to the side, her gaze was calm as she watched Chen Yi's actions, seeing him meticulously adjust the hat mesh for Donggong Ruoshu... mirroring how, in the morning, he lightly wiped her face and neck in her room. The thought made her eyes flicker ever so slightly before she dropped her gaze and tied the ribbons under her hat.

"Let's go." Chen Yi glanced at the winding mountain path, walking at the front while Yin Weiyin and a curious, exploring Donggong Ruoshu followed.

The path, initially gentle, grew steeper the higher they climbed, the stone steps worn smooth by years and travelers, and moss grew lushly in the crevices.

With the forest canopy blocking the sun, and birds singing crisply, midway up the mountain path, a slightly broader curved area was blocked by a figure.

The figure was that of a middle-aged man in a silk brocade robe, the fabric high quality yet somewhat incongruous against the coarse mountain path. He was facing away from the approach, resting while panting slightly; evidently, this section of the mountain path wasn't easy for him. The path itself was narrow, and his stance blocked it thoroughly.