Across from the dilapidated temple doors are two weathered statues. One depicts a kindly old man dressed in ancient attire, wielding a scepter, and of small stature. Beside him is a statue of a very old woman, though her posture retains an air of elegance, her expression remains blank.
The Earth Spirit's temple has fallen into disrepair, with all kinds of rubbish scattered within its walls. There's even a few piles of cow dung not far from Lin Chuan's feet, provoking a sigh of resignation from him.
"Old Xiao, you picked a good spot for this rundown temple. Even if no one worships you anymore, at least it's a place to shelter from the rain. Unlike my sanctuary, which not only lacks offerings but has been demolished to nothing, forcing to retreat back to mountain form."
Suddenly, a deep male voice ca from beside Lin Chuan, startling him. He turned his head to look but saw no one.
"Enough, young man; at least you don't have a temple to bother you. No sight, no worry. Look at this decrepit temple; it's nothing but filth, absolutely vexing. I'd rather soone tear it down!" The old man sighed helplessly.
But what troubled Lin Chuan was hearing voices without seeing anyone. He tried to pinpoint their location by the sound, scrutinizing the area carefully, but saw nothing but dry grass on the ground.
An anxious Lin Chuan paced around the temple. In a normal person's view, hearing ghostly chatter in a mountainside temple is shocking enough; an ordinary person would likely faint on the spot.
"What's up with this lad, acting so strangely?" asked the burly man, glancing at Lin Chuan before turning to the Earth Spirit beside him.
In the past, many had co to drink here with the Earth Spirit, or simply shelter from the rain. Most would huddle in a corner waiting for the storm to pass. But this young man looks around as if he can see them, making the burly man refrain from speaking loudly.
With a kindly face full of wrinkles, the Earth Spirit, in his robe, set his cane aside, sipped his drink, and said with a chuckle, "Why bother with him? Ordinary mortals can't see us. Only divine beings or demons do. The priority now is drinking." He poured himself another drink from his jug, tilted his short neck, and downed it.
The burly man agreed, chuckled wryly, poured himself a drink, and was about to swallow when Lin Chuan grabbed his arm. The sudden jolt trapped the liquor in his throat, taking great effort to gulp down.
"My goodness, this young man, he can actually see us!" exclaid the Earth Spirit, sitting beside, wide-eyed and stunned before comprehending.
The one Lin Chuan grasped, his broad dark face now filled with rage, shook off Lin Chuan's hands and stood tall, shouting, "You audacious scoundrel, where do you co from, daring to toy with your Mountain God granddad?"
Lin Chuan smiled slightly, replying, "You must be the fad Earth Spirit and Mountain God. I wouldn't dare disrespect you two."
Both the Mountain God and Earth Spirit hadn't expected to et an ordinary mortal who could see them at a dilapidated temple. Although surprised, Lin Chuan didn't seem to be a monster or spirit, likely a cultivator. Having reached a certain level, seeing them wouldn't be unusual.
Upon closer inspection, the Earth Spirit realized Lin Chuan was no ordinary person, chuckled, and said, "Young brother, since fate brought us together, join us for a drink?"
Lin Chuan, without hesitation, sat down, drinking with the two spirits.
After two cups, Lin Chuan felt a strong dizziness clouding his mind, and then he was overco with drunkenness.
Normally, given Lin Chuan's cultivation, two cups wouldn't make him drunk. Was there another reason behind it?
"Ah, what a waste of fine liquor on this fellow!" lanted the Earth Spirit, sipping the last drops of Jade Wine from the jug, smacking his lips, shaking his head.
"What's up with him? I didn't touch him, and yet he collapsed there. Could he be dead?" the Mountain God worriedly asked, nudging the Earth Spirit.
The Earth Spirit observed Lin Chuan and said, "You call yourself a deity, yet can't tell this lad is a Tian Mang? He fainted because the liquor's potency caught him off guard."
Gazing at Lin Chuan's increasingly crimson face, the Mountain God scoffed, "You brought this upon yourself. I did nothing to you; the Earth Spirit witnessed it. I'm off."
With a flash of white light, the Mountain God vanished on the spot.
The Earth Spirit chuckled with resignation, approached Lin Chuan, and whispered, "Since fate has linked us, let help you a bit."
After searching Lin Chuan's body, he hid the leftover food, cups, and jug, flicked his sleeve, and with another flash of white light, all signs vanished.
The temple returned to tranquil silence, disrupted only by occasional deafening thunder outside, flashes of lightning illuminating the scene within.
Last night, Lin Chuan hadn't returned ho. Huang ngqi tried calling multiple tis, but each attempt went unanswered. Worried but inhibited by the heavy rain, she endured the night, arriving at dawn to search.
When a villager ntioned Lin Chuan was at the mountain temple, Huang ngqi's heart sank. Years earlier, a murder had occurred near that battered temple.
Thinking of this, Huang ngqi rushed to the temple door, finally breathing a sigh seeing Lin Chuan still breathing.
Yet seeing Lin Chuan's swollen skin caused her anxiety anew.
With help from two villagers, Lin Chuan was carried to Huang ngqi's ho. Seeing Lin Chuan's feverish condition, Huang ngqi initially tried to administer dicine but couldn't get any into him. Ultimately, she resorted to gently wiping his torso with a wet towel.
Then, Huang ngqi invited the village's sole doctor. The middle-aged man pondered over Lin Chuan's state without offering much insight, scribbled so prescriptions, and hurriedly left.
"Brother Lin, what's wrong?"
During these three days, Huang ngqi barely rested, remaining at Lin Chuan's bedside, and her mother also worried alongside.
They'd promised villagers to repay debts within five days, with most ti elapsed, how would they manage when the deadline hits?
But Huang ngqi cared only for Lin Chuan's awakening, disregarding household worries, driven by feeling indebted to him.
"ng Qi, go sleep in your room tonight; such weariness will take a toll." suggested Huang's mother quietly, peering at still-unconscious Lin Chuan.
"I'm fine, mom, you go rest; don't bother with !" Huang ngqi replied without raising her head, eyes fixed intently on Lin Chuan.
Seeing Lin Chuan's returned normal complexion, Huang's mother insisted, "You've rested little for three days; anymore will exhaust you. If you don't rest soon, I won't either, I'll stay here with you."
"Mom!" Huang ngqi choked emotionally.
"Alright, I'll sleep tonight," she relented after a long pause, glanced at Lin Chuan, and then left the room.
Her mother sighed, following suit slowly.
Lin Chuan awoke unsure of how long he slept but recalled drinking with the Earth Spirit and Mountain God, then blacking out. Now awake, he sensed an energy flow throughout his body, distinct from the faint ripple felt when chanting runes before.
Now it felt clearer, energy traversing his body continuously, as if urging ergence. Despite days without food or water, apart from slight hunger, he felt no fatigue but rather an abundance of vigor.
Despite this, Lin Chuan headed to the kitchen for food, then strolled around the courtyard, observing Huang ngqi and her mother sleeping, returning inside to eat.
Upon waking, Lin Chuan pondered how to confront the Stone Village villagers and the chief, devising a lasting resolution involving others' help.
He retrieved his phone, dialed Zhao Zhonghai's number, and waited. Just as he was about to hang up, the call connected.
"Who is it? Calling this late! If you don't give a good reason, you'll be sorry." Zhao Zhonghai shouted angrily over the phone.
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