Chapter 1586 - 762:

Chapter 1586: Chapter 762:

West Mountain, where peaks rise and fall, is lush and green.

Last night, a violent storm hit East Capital, only ceasing and clearing up by dawn.

The weather hadn’t cooled for long when the scorching sun of midsummer began baking the damp mountain forests.

The accumulated moisture from the vegetation was evaporating, turning into large clusters of clouds and fog, swirling and dispersing among the peaks.

The paving stones of the mountain path were still wet.

Between the branches and leaves of towering ancient trees, water droplets occasionally dripped down.

Fang Cheng and Cheng Jiashu walked side by side, leisurely ascending the steps.

Visitors passed by in twos and threes, most of them leaning on hiking sticks, stopping and starting, panting heavily.

By comparison, the two seemed to walk casually, yet their pace was exceptionally brisk.

Even traversing steep hillside sections felt like walking on flat ground, with not a trace of change in their breathing rhythm.

It was as if strolling in their backyard garden, unknowingly leaving those breathless tourists behind.

"I say, in this heat, aren’t you afraid of getting heat rash, wrapped like that?"

Fang Cheng turned his head to look at his companion, casually teasing him.

Today, Cheng Jiashu wore a loose-fitting black long-sleeve jacket and a baseball cap.

His face was concealed with wide sunglasses, completely covering his highly recognizable features.

"If I dared to dress like you, this mountain path would definitely witness a chain of stampedes, believe it or not?"

Cheng Jiashu glanced at Fang Cheng’s airy shorts and t-shirt, his tone tinged with helplessness yet full of self-assurance.

Fang Cheng was speechless at his companion’s narcissism and chose not to continue teasing him.

His gaze swept over the moss-covered, engraved Buddhist statues along the cliffside, feeling somewhat touched.

The morning before yesterday in the Spirit Secret Realm, they had planned to visit West Mountain to find Master Huiming at Gufeng Temple, hoping to solve the mystery of the spirits appearing in their Inner World.

Today, being free, they agreed to hike directly and try their luck.

West Mountain has been a sacred site of Buddhism since ancient times.

The terrain here is perilous, with a considerable altitude, making it a rare large mountain range in Xia Country’s eastern coastal region.

Legend has it that this place was the original domain of Manjushri Bodhisattva, sharing roots with both exoteric and esoteric sects, with an unbroken spiritual lineage for a thousand lifetimes.

Early in the establishment of the Yu Dynasty, a Western Regions Honorable came east to propagate Buddhist Law.

He publicly showcased astonishing miracles in the court, astounding all the officials and generals, and was conferred by the founding Emperor as Imperial Master, Mahayana Dharma King, to oversee all Zen Forest Buddhism nationwide.

The place where the Honorable eventually passed away was the original site of Gufeng Temple deep in West Mountain.

Thus, for over two thousand years, Gufeng Temple has been revered by both exoteric and esoteric sects.

Buddhist visitors, whether Zen monks from Han Land or esoteric practitioners from Mongolia and Tibet, consider pilgrimage here a crucial part of their spiritual journey.

Countless small to large temples have been established around the surrounding peaks and foothills.

Whoosh—

A mountain breeze carrying the fresh scent of pine resin blew across their faces, bringing a refreshing sensation.

Fang Cheng withdrew his thoughts, looking toward the depths of the mist-covered mountainside.

Several eaves and angles adorned the space amid green pines and fog.

Faintly, the ethereal chime of a bell could be heard echoing in the air.

"Speaking of which, wasn’t the original site of Gufeng Temple burned to ruins long ago?"

Fang Cheng took a deep breath and asked casually.

"Yes."

Cheng Jiashu raised a hand to adjust his slipping glasses, his lips curving with a hint of mockery:

"History books say Gufeng Temple plotted rebellion with ulterior motives, so the court sent a large military force to seal the mountain and burn the ancient monastery until it was wiped clean."

"So the current temples were slowly reconstructed by later generations. If not for several mages still wandering for spiritual sojourns at that time, even the Magic Lineage would have been severed."

This gruesome history, buried in the passage of time, for most people is merely cold lines of text.

But Fang Cheng and Cheng Jiashu understood better than anyone.

The general who led the army to flatten Gufeng Temple and massacre the monks wasn’t a loyal minister suppressing the rebellion.

That person was Jiang Chen, Fang Family’s ancestor who borrowed a body for resurrection.

Under the guise of quelling judgment, the court had a clear ulterior motive.

Yet now, West Mountain remains sprawling and vast, with numerous temples.

The large areas of original forest in its depths have been declared a military control zone by the army and Special Search Team, strictly off-limits to outsiders.

However, the reconstructed Gufeng Temple is situated on the outer peaks, not beyond the security line.

Even on a regular weekday, the mountain path is still dotted with groups of pilgrims, showcasing its thriving incense offerings.

Fang Cheng stepped onto a moss-covered stone stair, rounding a steep slope.

The terrain ahead suddenly opened up.

A grand wooden archway stood on a spacious clearing.

Above it, a gilded plaque prominently displayed the words "Ancient Monastery of Gufeng."

Behind the archway, the yellow-walled, black-tiled temple buildings spread out layer by layer, following the mountain contour.

The towering eaves and angles glistened like scales under the sunlight, fully embodying the solemn, ancient elegance of a Buddhist sacred site.

Fang Cheng paused, looked up for a moment, and couldn’t help but chuckle:

"Jiashu, can you believe it, despite living in East Capital all these years, this is my first time visiting here."

Cheng Jiashu, hearing this, curved his eyes behind the sunglasses, and a smile appeared:

"That’s because you lived too methodically before, practically a textbook shut-in."

"I suggest you go out more often to enjoy life, maybe buy a sports car or yacht, too. Otherwise, saying you don’t, it would really affect your image as a top strongman."