The peaks rose and fell, covered in white snow. In Wudang Mountain, the green tiles and red walls of one building after another, intricately stacked, led from the foot of the mountain to the highest Golden Summit Treasure Hall. It was magnificent and grand, and one couldn't help but marvel at how ancient people, in such an environment, managed to build such a grand hall atop a high peak, creating Wudang Mountain's most spectacular scenery.
It was precisely because of this that the charm of Taoist culture was profoundly felt. Even in winter, it still attracted countless tourists to visit Wudang Mountain's snowy landscapes.
The grand hall built halfway up Tianzhu Peak was open to the public. However, the small Lotus Peak behind it, which was the Golden Summit of Wudang, was rarely opened. Even when it was, visitors were only allowed to ascend to the summit and not enter to view the interior. Only disciples of the Wudang Sect could enter.
Wudang Mountain had too many scenic spots: Zixiao Palace, Xiaoyao Valley, Taizi Slope, and so on. These were places open to tourists.
Nanyan was not open to tourists because it was known in Taoism as the "sacred realm" where Zhenwu attained enlightenment and ascended!
It was the most beautiful part of Wudang Mountain's thirty-six rocky cliffs. Below Duyan Rock, the mountain soared as if a wing hanging from the sky, famous for its beautiful peaks. Now, it was enveloped in a white landscape, making it even more magnificent and awe-inspiring.
At the back of Wudang Mountain, Golden Boy Peak and Jade Maiden Peak stood tall and graceful, their postures elegant. Incense Burner Peak and Candle Peak were shrouded in mist, with fragrant smoke curling upwards. Five Elders Peak looked ancient and stooped. Banner Peak seemed to be on the move. These perilous peaks formed a natural painting of seventy-two peaks facing the great summit and twenty-four streams flowing eternally.
Originally, Ziqing resided on Jade Maiden Peak. At this moment, the ground was covered in snow. Her small garden was simple and offered no protection from the cold, so Ziqing could only return to the sect during winter and live with her senior brothers and sisters.
Now that conditions had improved, the disciples' living quarters were equipped with air conditioning and heating, making their stays more comfortable.
However, there were still some special disciples. For instance, the enlightened masters of the Wudang Sect would go into seclusion in a cave somewhere in the back mountains, or perhaps excavate a cave themselves. They lived in these caves through all seasons because the Taoist sect had a practice called "Bigu," or abstention from grains, which allowed them to survive for days, or even up to half a month without eating.
Anyone who practiced martial arts and meditation knew that once they entered a state of selflessness, they would no longer feel hunger. The energy of heaven and earth could enter the body, continuously filling the internal organs, making them appear as if they had achieved Nirvana, but in reality, they were merely in a state of deep meditation.
Wan Yunting, supporting Ouyang Shenhe, followed Elder Daoist Zhang and his disciple Tan Zhiyuan to the front of the Zixiao Palace Grand Hall of the Wudang Sect. They could see tourists in thick clothes, holding their phones and taking pictures from various angles to capture the scenery they liked.
Several young Taoist priests, dressed in thick blue cloth cotton robes and with their hair tied in Taoist buns, were sweeping the snow on the ground. Upon seeing Zhang Yansong and Tan Zhiyuan, they bowed from a distance and greeted them.
Zhang Yansong, with a kind old face, smiled and nodded at these young disciples. Then, he led Wan Yunting and Ouyang Shenhe towards the left side of the grand hall. Behind them was the path to the inner sect of the Wudang Sect. Soon, they saw a large gate guarded by two disciples, preventing tourists from entering.
"Greetings, Martial Uncle Zhang, Senior Brother Tan..."
The two gatekeeping disciples bowed respectfully upon seeing Zhang Yansong and Tan Zhiyuan.
"Good."
Zhang Yansong smiled and nodded. He pointed at Wan Yunting and Ouyang Shenhe and said to the two disciples with a smile, "Inform your Martial Uncle Zuoqi and tell him that I have invited Patriarch Ouyang Shenhe and the Abbot of Wuliang Daoist Temple, Wan Yunting, as guests. Ask him to make preparations."
Upon seeing that Wan Yunting was the new Abbot of Wuliang Daoist Temple, the two gatekeeping disciples looked at him with surprise and secretly sized him up. One disciple reacted, "Yes, Martial Uncle Zhang. I will go in and inform Elder Zuoqi immediately..."
Seeing the disciple run off, Zhang Yansong turned back to Wan Yunting and Ouyang Shenhe and said with a smile, "Abbot Wan, Patriarch Shenhe, please come in with us."
"Daoist Zhang, please..."
Zhang Yansong and his disciple continued to lead Wan Yunting and Ouyang Shenhe over the high stone threshold, officially entering the inner sect of the Wudang Sect. They walked down a long stone staircase, and the erosion on the stone slabs indicated that they had experienced countless years.
The Wudang Sect was founded during the Ming Dynasty, meaning it was six to seven hundred years old.
Therefore, many of the Wudang Sect's buildings were now dilapidated and had become cultural relics.
Some places were so dilapidated that, after obtaining approval from the local cultural heritage bureau, the publicly accessible halls were renovated, resulting in the magnificent palaces we see today.
"Ahead lies the immortal mountain of our Wudang Sect's back mountain."
As Zhang Yansong led Wan Yunting and his group, he also introduced the scenery of their back mountain, which indeed looked even more beautiful.
They soon arrived at a complex of buildings on the back mountain of the Wudang Sect. Several young Taoist priests were sweeping snow. Upon seeing Zhang Yansong and Tan Zhiyuan, they bowed. After entering the inner courtyard of the Wudang Sect, the scene was different. They saw several disciples practicing sword fighting and boxing in the wind and snow. Upon seeing Zhang Yansong, they all bowed and shouted, "Martial Uncle Zhang, Senior Brother Tan..."
"Ah, Abbot Wan, you're here..."
At this moment, Lan Xin came out with two senior brothers and sisters. Upon seeing Wan Yunting, she ran forward to greet him. But as soon as she saw Zhang Yansong, she quickly bowed, "Greetings, Martial Grandfather Zhang!"
Lan Xin was the youngest generation in the Wudang Sect. Because her master, Ziqing, had to call Zhang Yansong Martial Uncle, she naturally had to call him Martial Grandfather.
"It's you, little girl. Has your master returned?" Zhang Yansong recognized Lan Xin and asked with a smile.
"Yes, yes, Master has returned. We just arrived too." Lan Xin's small face was red from the cold, and she said with a charming smile.
"Martial Uncle Zhang..."
At this moment, the few Taoists behind them came forward and bowed to Zhang Yansong. One of them, who appeared to be in his forties, was Ziqing's eldest senior brother, Xian Yun. He also politely bowed to Ouyang Shenhe, "Patriarch Ouyang has also arrived."
"Mm." Ouyang Shenhe smiled and nodded.
The male and female Taoists accompanying Xian Yun were his fourth junior brother, Zhi Guang, and third junior sister, Xu Yuxin. She looked around thirty years old, dressed in a thick gray cotton Taoist robe with her hair tied in a Taoist bun, revealing her beautiful features. Although she couldn't compare to a beauty like Ziqing, Xu Yuxin appeared more heroic, as evident from her resolute gaze.
"This must be the new Abbot of Wuliang Daoist Temple, Wan Yunting."
Eldest Senior Brother Xian Yun looked at Wan Yunting, bowed, and said with a smile, "We just learned of Abbot Wan's visit to our Wudang Sect. We apologize for not extending a warmer welcome. We hope Abbot Wan will forgive us."
Wan Yunting smiled kindly and said, "I came uninvited and have disturbed you. I hope you will forgive me."
"Alright, alright, there's no need for you to be so polite here."
Zhang Yansong, seeing that his sect leader's eldest disciple was about to say more polite words, waved to stop them.
"Senior Brother, you've returned."
At this moment, an old man dressed in a thick black cotton Taoist robe, accompanied by a young disciple, emerged. He was Elder Zuoqi, whom Zhang Yansong had asked the gatekeeping disciple to inform earlier. Upon seeing Ouyang Shenhe, he also greeted him, "Patriarch Ouyang has also arrived."
Zhang Yansong smiled and said, "Junior Brother, please arrange accommodations for Patriarch Ouyang and Abbot Wan."
When Zuoqi heard that Wan Yunting was the new Abbot of Wuliang Daoist Temple, he was surprised. "I've long heard that the new Abbot of Wuliang Daoist Temple is a young man, but I didn't expect him to be so young. Xian Yun, then you arrange for Abbot Wan and Patriarch Ouyang to stay in the guest rooms. Take good care of them."
"Yes, Martial Uncle."
Xian Yun bowed and nodded.
Zhang Yansong said to Wan Yunting and Ouyang Shenhe, "Abbot Wan, Patriarch Ouyang, everyone is tired today. Tomorrow you can come to my residence, and we will discuss the matter of refining medicine."
"Alright, Daoist Zhang. Thank you for your trouble." Wan Yunting nodded.
Zhang Yansong said nothing more and left with his disciple Tan Zhiyuan and his junior brother Zuoqi.
"Abbot Wan, Patriarch Ouyang, please follow me. I will arrange your accommodation," Xian Yun said to the two with a polite smile.
"Okay, thank you."
Wan Yunting politely expressed his gratitude, supported Ouyang Shenhe, with the steward Zhang Yuan following behind. They walked towards the left, accompanied by Xian Yun, Lan Xin, Xu Yuxin, and Zhi Guang.
They soon arrived at the disciples' living quarters. The buildings were built along the mountainside and had been constructed in recent years. Although the exterior followed the ancient architectural style, the interior was decorated in a modern style, equipped with modern furniture and appliances such as air conditioning, heating, and water heaters. These were for the accommodation of visiting guests.
It was acceptable for the sect disciples to live a bit more arduously, but when hosting external guests, they naturally had to take good care of them.
"Abbot Wan, Patriarch Ouyang, here are two rooms. Please choose one," Xian Yun said, pointing to the two rooms.
"I'll take this one," Wan Yunting pointed to the room on the left. Ouyang Shenhe would stay in the other room, and the steward Zhang Heng would stay in another.
"See if you are missing anything, and I will arrange it for you," Xian Yun asked.
Wan Yunting and Ouyang Shenhe looked around and shook their heads, smiling, "We're not missing anything. This is great, thank you."
Seeing that everything was in order, Xian Yun nodded and smiled, "Then I won't disturb your rest. I will have someone inform you at dinner. You can also stroll around our mountain area, but please avoid Taiji Peak. My master is in seclusion on Taiji Peak, and it is inconvenient for outsiders to disturb him."
Wan Yunting nodded and smiled, "I understand. Thank you, Senior Brother Xian."
Xian Yun nodded and said no more, leaving with Zhi Guang and Xu Yuxin. Lan Xin pulled Wan Yunting and pointed to a house next door, "Abbot Wan, Master and I live over there."
Wan Yunting glanced and smiled, "After I've settled in, I'll come to see your master."
"Okay, I'll go back and tell Master then," Lan Xin nodded and left.
Wan Yunting also went back to help the steward Zhang Heng pack his grandfather's belongings, letting him rest first.
On the other side, Tan Zhiyuan, after escorting his master and Elder Zuoqi into their rooms, came out and returned to his own residence. He took out his phone and made a call, which was quickly answered. "Qun Shao, Wan Yunting and Ouyang Shenhe have arrived at our Wudang Mountain!"
On the other end, Ouyang Liqun was sitting in his office chair, his eyes half-closed. He said, "I'm waiting for your good news!"
"Yes, that's all for now."
Tan Zhiyuan responded, hung up the phone, and found another number to dial. It was quickly connected, and a deep male voice asked, "Who is it?"
Tan Zhiyuan asked, "Are you Huo Zhengwu?"
"Yes!"
Tan Zhiyuan narrowed his eyes and said, "Did Duan Feilong explain things clearly to you?"
The other party replied, "He did. I am already at the foot of Wudang Mountain."
Tan Zhiyuan nodded and said, "Tomorrow, await my instructions!"
The other party did not reply and hung up.