Chapter 58: Wind and Rain At The Mountain Deity Temple

CHAPTER 58

The Stormy Mountain Temple

Zhao Changhe fled with Cui Yuanyang at breakneck speed, covering dozens of li before finally stopping, gasping for breath. He slumped against a tree in a boneless sprawl, too exhausted to speak for a long while.

Cui Yuanyang, equally weary, crouched beside him, panting. But her eyes sparkled as she looked at him.

This was fun. This was what it meant to be out in the world.

“I’m not just a bandit—next time, I might even set my sights on Tang Wanzhuang! Tell her to wash up and wait for me!”

Hehe, fun. That was the spirit.

Zhao Changhe glanced at her sideways. “Why are you squatting there like a toad?”

“The ground is dirty.”

“There’s no rain here, and the ground is dry. When you’re out in the wild, you can’t be so fussy.”

“Hey, this is really fun. Why is it raining over there, but not here, just a few dozen li away? Look at this ground—it hasn’t rained for at least two days. It didn’t just stop.”

Zhao Changhe chuckled. “You’ll see—the rain will chase us here soon. That’s what it means to be a child of fate. Even the heavens weep as they pursue me.”

Cui Yuanyang blinked her big eyes, confused.

Zhao Changhe said lazily, “You can ask your parents about all this when you get home… but I suggest you talk to some old farmers instead. You’ve never spoken to them in your life, have you?”

That sense of distance returned, but this time Cui Yuanyang didn’t mind. She still blinked and asked, “If I had just revealed my identity, we could have solved the trouble easily. Maybe the prefect would have treated you to a meal, and you could have gotten rid of me, a little nuisance. Why did you ruin your own reputation instead, making people think you kidnapped a girl?”

Zhao Changhe replied lazily, “If the young lady of the Cui family stays at an inn with a man before she’s married, your reputation would be ruined. My reputation is already that of a low-class bandit with a rebellious nature. What does it matter if I add ‘lecherous’ to the list?”

“So you deliberately mentioned coveting Tang Wanzhuang to make the image more convincing?”

“I didn’t think that far. I’m just a little angry at her, isn’t that allowed? I’m an independent person with my own thoughts, not something to be measured and manipulated… I can understand her, but what’s the use? Mutual understanding is what matters. Otherwise, it’s just being a simp.”

With that, Zhao Changhe stretched and stood up. “I’ve rested enough. Let’s go. I was careless this time—I shouldn’t have walked around the city so openly with you. If my reputation takes a hit, it’s my own fault. From now on, we might avoid the cities and stay in the outskirts. Can you handle that?”

Cui Yuanyang clenched her fists enthusiastically. “Of course I can!”

Zhao Changhe glanced at her energetic little face and smiled. “Let’s go.”

He felt that this little tagalong wasn’t as much of a burden as he’d imagined. She understood and cooperated with his actions completely—she wasn’t foolish at all. She just asked endless questions afterward, like a walking encyclopedia of “whys,” but she was cute and didn’t annoy him.

Having a companion like this along the way wasn’t so bad.

Cui Yuanyang followed closely behind, still chattering. “Hey, why didn’t you blame me for causing trouble? Instead, you said it was your own fault.”

“Do you want me to scold you?”

“No… just asking.”

“You disrupted my plans, but in the end, I’m the one who decides where we go, not you. Forgetting my own situation out of carelessness is my problem. How would blaming others help me grow? Enough talk—here comes the rain. Run.”

Cui Yuanyang turned her head and saw the heavy rain chasing after them, a truly wondrous sight.

She covered her head and ran, glancing back at the rain pursuing them, laughing as she ran.

So much fun.

…

Dusk. The wilderness.

A dilapidated mountain temple.

Zhao Changhe stopped outside, looking up at the dust-covered plaque above the door. He was silent for a long time.

“Hey, what are you staring at?”

“I’m not ‘hey’ or ‘hey you’… Actually, you seem even less well-mannered than me.”

Cui Yuanyang pouted. What else was she supposed to call him? Brother Zhao? Too formal. Changhe? She wouldn’t dare—he’d probably grab her by the rabbit ears and toss her out. Brother Changhe? The thought alone gave her goosebumps.

She skipped the topic and continued, “What are you looking at? The calligraphy isn’t even that good. I could write better than that.”

“I’m wondering, in a world with gods, does this mountain god really exist? If it does, why does it let its temple fall into ruin?”

Cui Yuanyang was stunned for a moment, then muttered, “I don’t know. I’ve never seen one.”

“Secondly, I’m thinking—an abandoned temple in the wilderness, a classic scene. I have a feeling something will happen tonight.”

The little rabbit’s eyes were full of circles. What was this? If he thought something would happen, why insist on staying here? Couldn’t they find another place? It wasn’t too late; they could still reach a farmstead ahead and ask for lodging. She had money…

Before she could ask, Zhao Changhe pushed open the door.

He clearly wanted to stay in this broken temple out of sheer curiosity.

Cui Yuanyang muttered to herself and followed him inside. As soon as she crossed the threshold, she saw Zhao Changhe standing still, his eyes sharp as lightning, fixed on a corner of the temple. His hand was already on the hilt of his blade.

A thin young man in black, holding a sword, leaned against the wall in the corner, his eyes closed, as if unaware of their arrival.

Cui Yuanyang’s heart pounded. They had stood outside for so long without sensing anyone inside. Even now, focusing intently, she could barely detect the man’s breathing—so faint and slow, a sign of advanced internal cultivation.

Something was definitely going to happen.

Just as she was about to speak, Zhao Changhe’s hand left the sword hilt. He waved slightly and said in a low voice, “This is unclaimed wilderness. First come, first served… He was here first. Let’s not disturb him. We’ll rest by the side.”

Obediently, Cui Yuanyang followed Zhao Changhe to the corner opposite the black-clad youth. She quietly pulled out some pastries from her pack. “Want some?”

Zhao Changhe was surprised. “When did you buy pastries? I didn’t notice…”

“This morning, while you were settling the bill at the counter, I went to the next-door pastry shop. They’re much better than those dry biscuits you brought from the inn. And by the way, I’ve been meaning to say—that roadside place at noon didn’t even have meat…”

“…” Zhao Changhe didn’t bother lecturing her about not being picky when traveling. Without a word, he grabbed a piece of osmanthus cake.

Who didn’t like good food? Having a rich little girl around wasn’t so bad.

He uncorked his gourd, took small sips of wine, and nibbled on the cake, never taking his eyes off the black-clad youth.

But until they finished eating, the young man didn’t move a muscle, as if he were dead.

Just as Zhao Changhe began to think they might pass the night peacefully, a faint footstep sounded on the roof.

His hand crept back to the sword hilt.

The atmosphere was still, murder lurking in the shadows.

At that moment, voices came from outside the door: “Damn it, there was no rain just now. How did it suddenly pour down like this?”

“Let’s take shelter first, then decide what to do.”

With that, a large group of people pushed open the door, letting the wind and rain sweep inside, pattering against the broken temple.

A middle-aged man, apparently the leader, glanced around casually. Seeing three people sitting in opposite corners, he waved his hand impatiently. “The Cui family has taken over this place. All of you, leave.”

Cui Yuanyang nearly choked on the cake in her mouth. She stared wide-eyed at the group, trying to spot a familiar face, but found none.

Still, the Cui family’s influence spanned multiple prefectures. She didn’t know everyone, so she couldn’t tell if these were genuine Cui family members. Deep down, she thought… if they were, it wouldn’t be surprising.

She glanced cautiously at Zhao Changhe. He was slowly finishing his last piece of cake, then put away his gourd, still silent.

The black-clad youth across from them didn’t react either.

The leader waited a few breaths. Seeing that none of them moved, a cold smile curled on his lips. “There are plenty of people who won’t take a hint when offered a toast. Throw them out!”

But none of his subordinates approached the black-clad youth. Instead, they all swarmed toward Cui Yuanyang. “Little girl, the night is deep and cold, the rain is damp. Why not come warm up with us? Staying with a brute like him is such a waste…”

Before they could finish, Cui Yuanyang’s sword was already out of its sheath. Her face flushed with anger. “Do you know who I am…”

“Oh! Quite the temper!” Someone couldn’t resist reaching out to touch her face. “Such a cute, rosy little face.”

"Shwish!" A blade flashed.

No one could see when Zhao Changhe had drawn his blade; by the time the sound of the blade leaving its sheath rang out, a severed hand was already flying through the air, blood gushing forth. Only then did the man whose hand had been cut realize the pain, clutching his stump and screaming, "Kill him! Kill him!"

And at the very instant the blade left its sheath, the black-clad youth who had been standing motionless with his arms crossed and eyes closed suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze was like a sword, fixed unblinkingly on Zhao Changhe's hand.

Over there, Cui Yuanyang was so angry she was nearly in tears, wildly swinging her sword and shouting, "I'll beat you to death, beat you to death, wuwuwu!"

As silly as the little fool of the Cui family was, she was still a standard Xuan Guan Triple realm practitioner, having learned the most exquisite sword techniques. Her wild slashes had already cut down several men, and the leader's face turned pale: "Distant mountains like dark eyebrows—Cui family sword technique! You, you are..."

"Who cares who I am! I'll cut you down! You'll pay for the Cui family's reputation, you'll pay for the martial world I wanted! Wuwuwu..."

Amidst the chaos, Zhao Changhe made no further moves. He gripped his sword hilt tightly, so tightly that sweat formed on his hand.

The pressure from the black-clad youth's gaze was almost as overwhelming as the momentum of Fang Buping's strike that scattered gods and Buddhas.

"Crash!" The roof suddenly split open, wind and rain pouring in. A sword light, mingled with the storm, descended in an instant, already at Zhao Changhe's throat.

The visitor from the roof struck while chaos reigned!

"Clang!" A blood-red blade light cut through the wind and rain. Zhao Changhe had been prepared; the strike he had been saving for the black-clad youth was decisively redirected to this gentleman of the beams, giving him the full brunt of it.

The sound of blade and sword clashing rang out. The newcomer let out a muffled grunt, clearly not expecting Zhao Changhe to be so well-prepared, already waiting with full force. He suffered no small loss. But he did not pause; using the force of Zhao Changhe's strike, he abruptly turned in midair and thrust his sword at Cui Yuanyang's back!

Zhao Changhe's heart skipped a beat.

He had always thought all the killing intent was directed at him, but it turned out someone's real target was Cui Yuanyang!