Chapter 93: Azure Rock Temple

Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Azure Rock Temple

Ye Xing needed to investigate the Mingsheng Group as quickly as possible to decide whether a trip to Fu City was necessary. If they posed a serious threat, he would have to go and eliminate it.

"Oh, I know Mingsheng Group," Chen Feng said, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "It’s a pretty large conglomerate in Fu City. Their president is Sun Mingsheng, and he owns several hotel and restaurant chains. Ye Xing, why the sudden interest?"

"Mm, just doing a little research," Ye Xing said, a glint in his eye. ’So they’re in the hospitality industry,’ he thought. ’No wonder. To think they’d set their sights on me... Heh.’

The narrow, winding concrete road snaked its way to the foot of Yunli Mountain. On the slope above one side of the road were terraced fields, lush and green with rice and other crops. Below the other side, past a few more terraces, a long, clear creek babbled. In the distance stretched a range of continuous mountains, with Yunli Mountain being the innermost peak.

According to the village elders, Yunli Mountain was once a primeval forest, home to tigers, leopards, jackals, and other wildlife. Some villagers herding cattle had even reported seeing wild wolves and venomous snakes. However, due to subsequent deforestation, the animals mostly vanished, leaving only a few wild boars and squirrels. In recent years, the local government has closed off the mountain to allow it to reforest, and the environment has improved significantly as the trees have recovered.

Ye Xing and Sister Chen chatted as they walked, and after a trek of ten to twenty minutes, they finally arrived at the foot of Yunli Mountain.

A flight of stone steps snaked up from the base of the mountain, leading all the way to Azure Rock Temple at the summit.

It was Sunday, so Yunli Mountain was bustling with people. Some were tourists there for sightseeing, some were pilgrims heading to Azure Rock Temple to burn incense and pray, and others were simply hiking for exercise. Men and women, young and old, filled the lively mountain path.

The mountain path was winding and rugged, but after a thirty-minute climb, they finally reached Azure Rock Temple at the summit.

According to historical records, Azure Rock Temple was first built during the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty (860–874). Its founding master was Chan Master Xiumu, and it belongs to the Linji school of Chan Buddhism. The temple has undergone four major renovations throughout its history: during the Song Dynasty’s Jingde era (1004–1007), the Ming Dynasty’s Chongzhen era, the thirteenth year of the Qing Emperor Qianlong’s reign (1778), and the second year of the Qing Emperor Tongzhi’s reign (1863). The most recent major renovation was in 1984.

Azure Rock Temple is located on Yunli Mountain in Bilin Village, Luoxian County, Fu City. At a gap in the rocky crags on the mountainside, an imposing cliff, over a hundred meters wide, suddenly comes into view. Azure Rock Temple is built within a natural cave at the base of this cliff.

Because Azure Rock Temple is situated beneath a massive, semi-enclosed rock formation, its halls don’t require traditional roof structures, giving the temple its unique style. Even more fascinating for pilgrims and tourists is the thousand-year-old vine growing from the cave’s ceiling, known locally as the "Thousand-leaf Lotus." It remains evergreen year-round and sprouts small white flowers in autumn. A clear spring cascades from the clifftop like scattered pearls, a sight named "Azure Rock Flying Snow," which is considered the finest of the "Eight Sights of Luoxian County." On the cave’s ceiling are the four words "Rock of Returning Immortals" carved in large script. Poems by travelers are inscribed on the walls, and in the center are the five words "Touching the Clouds, Spraying Snow" in a powerful, bold hand. The cave also holds mythological sites like "Rice-Leaving Rock" and "Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg."

Looking out from inside the cave, the mountain landscape is treacherous; one peak resembles a crouching tiger, while another looks like a great elephant drinking water. When viewing Azure Rock from the peak above, the formation resembles a roaring lion with its mouth agape, and the temple sits right inside its jaws. For this reason, Azure Rock is also known as "Lion Rock." The temple currently houses three stone steles: a poetry stele with an inscription by Emperor Qianlong, a stele recording the temple’s history, and the "Stone Wall Flying Spring" cliffside carving.

Inside, the temple was filled with statues of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas. Incense burners sat before the figures as pilgrims lit joss sticks and prayed. The faint scent of sandalwood hung in the air. In the Main Hall, many more visitors were praying and drawing fortune sticks—some for marriage, others for their careers.

After arriving at Azure Rock Temple, Ye Xing and Chen Feng bought incense, candles, and joss paper. They then began lighting them and praying before the statues. More than an hour went by as they made their way past every Bodhisattva, large and small. Since Sister Chen wanted to draw a fortune stick, Ye Xing went to wait for her at a mahogany tea table near the Main Hall.

"Mommy, Mommy, I want a tanghulu!" a little girl of about five or six whined, tugging on a woman’s hand near the tea table.

"They don’t have tanghulu here, Little Xin. Be a good girl," the woman said. "You can’t buy it on the mountain."

"Yes, there is! I just saw it! Look, over there!" The little girl’s face was flushed as she pointed excitedly. "There’s someone selling it right over there!" And sure enough, there was.

"Be good, Little Xin. You can’t eat that. It will give you a tummy ache."

The woman quickly scooped up the little girl, but the child wouldn’t relent and started crying and making a fuss.

Watching from nearby, Ye Xing couldn’t help but smile. He sat at the table and poured himself a cup of tea. It was fragrant and pleasant with a faint, bitter aftertaste. He finished a few cups while he waited.

A moment later, Chen Feng returned with her fortune.

"So, Sister Chen, what did you ask for? A marriage fortune?" Ye Xing teased.

"A marriage fortune? Please!" Chen Feng rolled her eyes at him. "I asked for a career fortune."

"Oh? And what did it say? Was it the best possible fortune?" Ye Xing asked.

"I’m not telling!" Sister Chen winked playfully. "We’ve prayed to all the Buddhas and lit all our incense. Come on, Ye Xing, let’s go back."

"Okay, let’s go," Ye Xing said with a lighthearted huff. "Fine, keep your secrets!"

The pair left Azure Rock Temple and headed back down the stone steps. Halfway down the mountain was the Half-Mountain Pavilion. Chen Feng was feeling tired, so they stopped there to rest. The pavilion was a stone structure painted red, with slab benches inside for seating. Many other tired hikers were also taking a break there—about twenty or thirty people, by a quick count.

"Well, if it isn’t President Chen Feng," a middle-aged man’s voice suddenly said from near the pavilion.

Ye Xing and Chen Feng turned to see a man of about forty. His hairline was receding, leaving the front of his scalp bare.

"Director Xie, hello," Chen Feng said, forcing a smile.

"Haha, please, not ’Director Xie.’ Just call me Brother Xie," he said, walking over with a wide smile. "I’m so happy to run into you here, President Chen. It must be fate!" His eyes darted warily toward Ye Xing as he asked, "And who is this?"

"This is my friend, Ye Xing," Chen Feng said, her expression shifting slightly. "Are you here alone today, Director Xie?"

"No, I’m with my sister and her daughter, Little Xin," Director Xie said, gesturing back toward the pavilion.

"Oh. I imagine a child needs to be looked after," Chen Feng remarked.

"It’s fine. My sister can handle her."

Just as Director Xie said that, a woman’s voice drifted over. "Brother! Little Xin is being a real handful. Come over here and help me watch her!"

"I’m busy! You watch her!" Director Xie snapped, frowning at the woman before turning back to speak with Chen Feng again.

"Director Xie, that’s not very responsible of you," Chen Feng said, her tone half-joking. "That’s your sister and niece. Are you really going to bring them all the way out here just to ignore them?"

Director Xie’s face stiffened, and he gave an awkward laugh. "She should be able to handle it... but fine. I’ll go check on them. I’ll be right back." He then jogged over to them.

"Phew, he’s finally gone," Chen Feng sighed in relief.

A curious glint in his eye, Ye Xing couldn’t help but ask, "Sister Chen, who is that guy?"