After finishing their meal at the mutton restaurant, Wan Yunting and his companions stepped out onto the street. As it was inconvenient to get a taxi there, the owner of the mutton restaurant kindly called a friend who drove a minivan to take them directly towards the Kunlun Mountains in the north.
The distance from Buxida County town to Wuliang Taoist Temple was several tens of kilometers. Coupled with the fact that it was snowing, making the roads difficult to navigate, the car did not drive fast. It wasn't until after six in the evening that they arrived at a small square at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains.
"Here, thank you," Wan Yunting took out his wallet and paid the driver. Then, he and Chang Wude and the others alighted from the vehicle, collected their luggage, and gazed up at the mountain gate.
Wuliang Taoist Temple was built on a mountain called Wuliang Mountain at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains. The mountain gate of Wuliang Taoist Temple was situated halfway up the mountain, and a long staircase led to it. Wan Yunting, Chang Wude, and the others arrived at the long staircase at the foot of the mountain, where a gate arch stood, simple and ancient. The words "Wuliang Mountain" were carved onto a stone tablet above it.
"Alas, after forty years, I, Chang Wude, have finally returned!" Standing before the gate arch, Chang Wude looked at the clearly visible inscription of "Wuliang Mountain" on the four characters, which had been repaired. A wave of emotion washed over him. The memories of the past flashed through his mind like film reels. Chang Wude had never expected to return to this place, to this unforgettable mountain gate.
"Let's go, ascend the mountain."
A moment later, Chang Wude stepped onto the bluestone steps to climb the mountain. Wan Yunting, Kang Nuolan, Xu Lingwei, and Li Zihang, fellow disciples, followed him up. Along the way, Chang Wude introduced Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan to the surrounding mountain scenery of Wuliang Mountain.
The snow was heavy now, and the mountain was covered in snow. The trees and the mountainside were adorned with a white cloak, vast and beautiful. The sky was gradually darkening. There were no tourists around, so the staircase leading up the mountain was deserted. Wuliang Mountain stood at an altitude of over a thousand meters, with the boundless and undulating Kunlun Mountain range stretching behind them.
Wuliang Taoist Temple was built halfway up Wuliang Mountain. After walking up the staircase for about forty minutes, they saw a gate arch appear ahead, on which "Wuliang Taoist Temple" was carved.
"We're here." Li Zihang excitedly ran ahead. Passing through the gate arch, he saw an ancient architectural mountain gate. The walls were time-worn, as if recounting centuries of wind and rain that the building had endured. A young Taoist priest in a simple blue robe, with long black hair tied back and a wooden hairpin threaded through it, embodying the typical Taoist hairstyle seen in dramas, held a long, large broom with both hands, sweeping the accumulated snow in front of the mountain gate.
"Xuan Cheng Shi..." Li Zihang called out excitedly upon seeing him. The young man, whose Taoist name was Xuan Cheng, turned and saw him, then happily jogged down with the large broom, "Senior Brother Zihang, Senior Sister Zhishan, you're back."
"Yes." Li Zihang went up and put his arm around Xuan Cheng's shoulder, laughing happily, "Did you miss your senior brother?"
"Yes, yes," the honest and adorable Xuan Cheng nodded and smiled happily. Then he looked at Wan Yunting, Chang Wude, and Kang Nuolan and asked, "Senior Brother Zihang, who are they?"
"Oh, this is our Uncle-Master Chang, and this is Junior Brother Wan and Junior Sister Kang. They are all disciples of Uncle-Master Chang," Li Zihang pointed to Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan, introducing them to Junior Brother Xuan Cheng.
"So this is Uncle-Master Chang." Xuan Cheng's eyes widened, and he immediately bowed respectfully to Chang Wude, "Greetings, Uncle-Master."
"Yes, indeed." Chang Wude nodded, pleased with the deference shown by the younger generation.
"Junior Brother Xuan Cheng, are my master and the others here?" Li Zihang asked Xuan Cheng.
"Yes, the Abbot Master is here. They should be in the dining hall having their meal right now," Xuan Cheng nodded.
Li Zihang nodded and happily said to Wan Yunting and Chang Wude, "Uncle-Master Chang, Junior Brother Wan, let's go in."
"Alright, let's go..." Chang Wude nodded, his heart filled with excitement, eager to enter the mountain gate and see.
"I'll lead you," Junior Brother Xuan Cheng said excitedly. He tossed the large broom aside and led Chang Wude, Wan Yunting, Kang Nuolan, Li Zihang, and Xu Lingwei into the mountain gate, officially entering Wuliang Taoist Temple.
They entered a vast square paved with bluestone slabs. The surface was smooth, seemingly bearing the traces of centuries of footsteps, exhibiting a weathered texture. Small grasses grew in the crevices of the bluestone slabs. Leading to the main hall of Wuliang Taoist Temple, two rows of ginkgo trees were planted on both sides. Their yellow leaves had fallen to the ground, mixing with the accumulated snow. Several young disciples of the Taoist temple were sweeping the main path with large brooms. Upon seeing Li Zihang and Xu Lingwei, they greeted them with smiles.
"It hasn't changed, it's still the same..." Upon entering the main hall of Wuliang Taoist Temple, they saw a colossal statue of the Three Pure Ones. In front of it was an altar, where wisps of incense smoke curled from an ancient, darkened censer. The incense burner was surrounded by many items. Three futons were placed on the bluestone floor, and a merit box stood nearby, intended for visiting pilgrims offering incense. Some worshippers would also place money into the merit box.
Chang Wude looked around the hall, at the ancient statues of the Three Pure Ones, and it seemed as if they were the same as they had been in his memory, unchanged. The only difference was that the people here no longer recognized him, and he no longer recognized them. Many middle-aged and young Taoist disciples in the hall were curiously observing him. Although Li Zihang introduced him as Uncle-Master Chang, no one could recognize him.
"The Abbot is here..." A voice called from outside the hall. Immediately after, an elder in a simple blue robe appeared. His white hair was tied up on his head and secured with a jade hairpin. His aged face was covered in wrinkles, and his kind eyes were clearly filled with emotion. He had a long white beard, a benevolent and approachable demeanor, and an aura of otherworldly grace. He strode across the high threshold of the hall and entered.
Chang Wude, who was inside, immediately turned around. His gaze met that of the elder entering. Gradually, both their eyes became red. Duan Wuyu was the first to exclaim with emotion, "Junior Brother Chang, it really is you..."
"Senior Brother..." Chang Wude also called out emotionally. The two of them quickly strode towards each other and embraced. The two elders' eyes welled up with tears. Abbot Duan Wuyu patted Chang Wude's back, "Junior Brother Chang, you've finally returned. For decades, Senior Brother has been longing for your return..."
Wan Yunting, Kang Nuolan, Xu Lingwei, Li Zihang, and the other disciples gathered around watched the two elders embrace, their tears flowing freely, and were deeply moved.
"Forty-two years. A full forty-two years. Senior Brother, I'm so sorry..." Chang Wude, overcome with emotion, clung to his Senior Brother Duan Wuyu and wept like a child who had made a mistake.
"Junior Brother, Senior Brother is very happy to see you return to the mountain gate in his lifetime," Duan Wuyu released him, wiping away his tears. He carefully looked at Chang Wude, holding his hands, his old face filled with excitement and joy. "I've aged, but you're still the same. Senior Brother recognized you at a glance."
"Haha..." Chang Wude, still crying, let out two loud laughs. He said, "Senior Brother, we're both people with one foot in the grave. I've returned this time because I wanted to see you, to avoid carrying regrets to my death."
Duan Wuyu smiled and nodded, saying, "Senior Brother is very happy that you could return. My wish is finally fulfilled."
"Yes," Chang Wude nodded excitedly. The disciples of Wuliang Taoist Temple, who had never met Chang Wude before, were surprised to learn that he was the Abbot's junior brother.
At this point, Chang Wude noticed an elder standing behind Duan Wuyu, also dressed in a blue Taoist robe. Her half-white hair was also tied up and secured with a white jade hairpin. Although she was elderly, her face was flushed, and she was very well-maintained, showing no sign of being over sixty years old.
"Junior Brother Chang, let me introduce you. This is my wife, Yang Jingyi," Duan Wuyu immediately introduced Chang Wude. Yang Jingyi also smiled and nodded at him, saying, "I often hear Old Duan talk about your past stories."
"Haha, has Senior Brother not revealed my past embarrassing stories?" Chang Wude bowed to Yang Jingyi and laughed.
Duan Wuyu pointed at him and chuckled, "You, you really did a lot of mischief back then, often making Master upset."
Mentioning Master, Chang Wude smiled and sighed, "Senior Brother, I will visit Master again tomorrow."
"Yes, Senior Brother will personally take you tomorrow," Duan Wuyu nodded and smiled.
"Senior Brother Chang, Senior Brother Chang, where are you?" Suddenly, an excited shout came from outside. The young disciples gathered outside parted ways. An old man in a Taoist robe strode in. As soon as he saw Chang Wude, his eyes widened. After a careful look, he confirmed it was Senior Brother Chang and excitedly exclaimed, "Senior Brother Chang, you're back."
Chang Wude also looked at him, his old eyes widening. He exclaimed excitedly, "Are you Xiao Wei Zi?"
"Yes, Senior Brother, it's me..." The old man, whose Taoist name was Wu Weizi, was emotional and hugged Chang Wude, crying excitedly, "Senior Brother Chang, you've finally returned! Junior Brother misses you..."
"Haha, Senior Brother misses you too..." Chang Wude patted his back, excited and happy. Duan Wuyu and Yang Jingyi watched them smile, then turned their gaze towards Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan standing beside them.