Volume 1: Spirit Marriage Chapter 48: Roaming the Mountains

  That night, Zhong Ling'er stayed in the apartment we rented.

  A night without words.

  The next day, after breakfast, we went to the supermarket and bought a lot of delicious food. We set off for Panlong Mountain in high spirits. After driving for about half an hour, we arrived at the foot of the mountain. Looking up, Panlong Mountain was majestic and towering into the clouds. The weather was fine today, and there were more people coming to play here. As we climbed higher, there were fewer and fewer people.

  Having waited until halfway up the mountain, a relatively flat and broad area appeared in front of me. On this broad area stood a temple as well as a shop.

  Zhang Yunhao suggested that we spend the night on Panlong Mountain tonight, and Wu Lele clapped her hands in agreement. I thought Zhong Ling'er would definitely disagree, so I said the mountain is high, there's a lot of dew, it's bad for our health. Zhang Yunhao said it's okay, we can buy a few tents. I was just about to hear Zhong Ling'er's opinion, but she was nowhere to be found, and Zhang Yunhao and Wu Lele pulled me along to buy the tents. I looked around and followed them, feeling very puzzled in my heart - just now I clearly saw Zhong Ling'er still here, how could she suddenly disappear?

  The store wasn't big, and they bought some small Buddhist-related trinkets and some water and snacks. The owner was a woman in her late 20s. Zhang Yunhao asked if she had any account books, and she said yes, but only three were left. As soon as the words were spoken, someone suddenly shouted loudly: "I'll take them all!"

  We looked over and saw a man about our size, dressed quite flashily, with his hair slicked back shiny. Zhang Junhao hummed, "Armani, hang in there!" I heard Armani and thought Zhang Junhao was scolding someone, speaking Japanese, so I wanted to advise him not to use foul language or learn to speak Japanese. Later, I thought better of it. Of course, later on, I found out that the so-called Armani was actually a clothing brand.

  That man was accompanied by a young boy with yellow hair, who had a somewhat annoying presence. Behind him stood a beautiful girl, about 18 or 19 years old, tall and slender, with a good figure, but her face was expressionless, even more so than Zhong Ling'er.

  Huang Mao quickly walked up and reached out to grab the three umbrellas on the shelf, but Zhang Yunhao grabbed them first. Huang Mao looked up and said, "We want these umbrellas." Zhang Yunhao ignored him and asked the shop owner how much they cost. Huang Mao shouted in exasperation, "Can't you understand what people are saying? We want these umbrellas!"

  "Sorry, let's take it one step at a time." Then he took out his wallet and prepared to pay.

  The shopkeeper stood there in a daze, looking at Zhang Yunhao and then glancing at Huang Mao, appearing to be extremely embarrassed.

  Huang Mao reached out to grab it, Zhang Junhao dodged and the two were about to fight. I and that "Armani" stepped forward at the same time. I said, how about this? We'll take two, you take one. But "Armani" said he would buy three tents at double the price.

  "Think you're rich or something?" Wu Lele said to "Amani", "Not a single one will be given to you." Then she said to the shop owner, "We'll buy these three parasols at four times the price." After that, she ordered Zhang Yunhao, "Pay the bill!"

  "Armani" and Huang's face suddenly changed, a war seemed to be on the verge of breaking out. I, who advocate for peace, said to "Armani": "Do you also want to spend the night on this mountain tonight?" I glanced at the beauty who was admiring some small ornaments and whispered to "Armani": "If you want to spend the night with that beauty on this mountain, don't you think it's better for you two to share a tent?"

  Huang Mao immediately smiled and said: "Yes, Peak brother, you and Niu Niu can share a tent."

  That beauty named Niuniu suddenly turned around and stared at me coldly, her eyes were so sharp. I ignored her and continued to say to "Amani": "You two, we four, these three tents, you one, us two, just right." Huang Mao immediately shouted: "What do you mean by two people? Am I not a person?" I said, why did you come with your boss and the beauty to play, what's the point of being a light bulb? Huang Mao was so angry that he wanted to hit me, but "Amani" stopped him and said let's do it this way.

  After buying the account book, we came out of the store and heard that beautiful girl calling out to "Amani": "Fan Feng, come over!"

  Crazy? I was taken aback, what a weird name.

  The little boy who called Fan Feng walked up to Niu Niu with a smile and asked, "What's up, Niu Niu?" Niu Niu looked at the tent in his hand and asked, "Why did you buy a tent?" Fan Feng forced a laugh and said there were only three... Before he could finish speaking, Niu Niu turned around and started walking down the mountain, saying she wasn't going up. Fan Feng quickly blocked her way and said, "We are going up the mountain, why not? Otherwise, I'll ask Huang Mao to buy two more tents and bring them up." He called Huang Mao over while speaking and told him to go down the mountain immediately to buy two more tents and bring them up. Huang Mao looked embarrassed and muttered that it was already halfway up the mountain... Seeing Niu Niu about to leave, Fan Feng sternly ordered, "You're going, so go!" Huang Mao had no choice but to reluctantly head down the mountain.

  I couldn't help but laugh, and after searching around without finding Zhong Ling'er, I asked Zhang Yunhao and Wu Lele. Wu Lele said she saw Zhong Ling'er go into the temple, so I said I'd go take a look.

  This is an old temple, which has been renovated. Inside, there is a Buddha statue, in front of which incense is burning, so that as soon as you enter, the strong scent of sandalwood hits your nose. Jing Ling'er knelt on the cushion in front of the Buddha statue, bowed respectfully several times, extremely devoutly. I looked at her and felt she was a disciple under the Buddha's flag, my eyes couldn't leave hers for a moment.

  Zhong Ling'er stood up, looked at me and said "You should also leave, may your heart be cleansed and peaceful."

  My heart also became respectful, learning from Zhong Ling'er's example, I bowed three times in front of the Buddha statue, silently praying: "Buddha, please grant my wish and let me take Zhong Ling'er home..."

  Soon after, Zhang Yunhao also came in. I asked him where Wu Lele was and he said she didn't want to come in from outside. We visited the temple for a while before leaving and then went up the mountain.

  We didn't reach the top of the mountain, and saw Fan Feng and Niu Niu sitting together on a large bluestone eating snacks. Fan Feng said we can't climb up anymore, let's go to the other side of the mountain, there is a cave there, it's said that there are immortals inside. Wu Lele said she was tired and sat down on another bluestone next to them, taking out a chicken leg from her bag and eating it by herself. We had no choice but to stop too, each finding a clean spot to sit down. Niu Niu glanced at me, when I looked back at her, she immediately turned her eyes away, with a face full of disdain. I felt extremely awkward, not knowing what I did wrong that made this girl look at me like that.

  Fang Feng continued to brainwash Yaya, telling the legendary story of that mountain cave, saying that there were not only gods but also spirits in it. I thought this kid was going to cheat Yaya and do something bad in the cave. I was curious too, so I asked him if there really were gods in the cave? Is there any basis for this? Fang Feng took a sip of water and said coldly: "Whether or not there are gods, you can go take a look and see."

  The tone was unpleasant and made me feel very awkward.

  Niang Niang looked down the mountain and said, "How come Huang Mao hasn't come up yet?" Fan Feng said he would make a phone call to urge him. While speaking, he took out his mobile phone, stood up, and walked to the other end. He asked Huang Mao where he was and if he had bought the account book. Then, in a low voice, he said: "If you dare to come up, I'll break your dog leg!" After scolding him, he hung up the phone.

  After hanging up the phone, Fan Feng told Niu Niu that Huang Mao would come up immediately and take a ride to the other side of the mountain. They would meet at the cave when they arrived. Niu Niu believed it was true and got up with Fan Feng to head towards the other side of the mountain. At this time, my meddling heart was acting up again, worrying that the cool and calm Niu Niu would fall into Fan Feng's trap. So I suggested we also go to the cave to find the immortal, Wu Lele said isn't it supposed to be the mountaintop? Where would there be immortals in a cave? There might be venomous snakes instead. Zhang Junhao looked up at the sky and said that the dark clouds were rolling in, and it was very likely to rain heavily tonight, so why don't we just go to the cave to spend the night.

  I looked up at the sky this morning, and it was a clear day with not a cloud in sight. I thought to myself that men understand each other, knowing what's on another man's mind and worrying about the same things. It seems Zhang Yunhao has a chivalrous heart just like me.

  Zhong Ling'er gazed at the mountain opposite, her delicate eyebrows furrowed. I asked her what was wrong, and she looked up at the sky again, saying there were strange signs in the sky and something eerie on the other side of the mountain. Zhang Yunhao and I exchanged a bewildered glance, unsure whether Zhong Ling'er was telling the truth or not. Wu Lele let out a long sigh and said, "Since you think it's fun over there, let's go to the other side of the mountain then."

  Not yet at the mountain's end, the sunlight suddenly dimmed, and a black cloud drifted slowly from the west. I said it was going to rain, let's go down the mountain before it falls on our heads. Zhang Yunhao said it's already late to go down the mountain, why not take a look in the cave instead.

  Wu Lele crossed her arms, looking at Zhong Ling'er and asked: "What did you mean by 'the sky has an omen' and 'there's something strange on the mountain'?". Zhong Ling'er replied indifferently that it was nothing, then took a step forward and continued walking.

  "How ridiculous!" Wu Lele snorted softly.

  I think Zhong Ling'er isn't like that, she must have discovered something, otherwise she wouldn't be as crazy as us to spend the night on the mountain.