CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55 WALKING ON YELLOW FLOWER MOUNTAIN, OVERNIGHT STAY AT NUWA TEMPLE

Lady Yin half-leaned on the soft couch in the bedroom, one hand rubbing her temple while glancing at the letter on the small redwood table beside her, her brows furrowing even tighter.

"That child, how could he just leave a letter and go."

Her voice was full of worry, speaking in a low tone: "He’s never left Chentang Pass since he was little, and now he’s suddenly going to Sanshan Pass so far away. I really fear something might happen to him. It’s already late, I don’t know if he has a place to stay or something to eat, sigh."

Cui Yu, who was serving on the side, was also discontent.

She favored Nezha over her own younger brother. Although with him not at home, she would have less work, the thought of him traveling to Sanshan Pass, crossing thousand mountains and rivers, with dangers like wolves, tigers, and leopards along the way made her worried, unable to eat or sleep.

She thought to herself that the little maid in Nezha’s room was quite carefree. Although she was just a little girl, she boasted about the young master being very capable and claiming he would not only be safe but would soon return; she had no idea where her confidence came from.

Lady Yin then asked, "Is the Master still angry?"

Just then, Huang Jin came in from outside. She had just returned from visiting relatives in the countryside two days ago and wore a newly made light-yellow cotton dress, a dark blue belt tied around her waist. In Nezha’s words, it accentuated her slim waist and long legs, unmatched within the Li Mansion.

Among the main maids, she was the youngest, just turned fourteen this year, and she loved gossiping. Upon hearing the Madame’s question, she dramatically said, "I just passed by the study and didn’t dare get close. There was clattering, things being smashed constantly. I heard from Fan Ge, who serves there, that the Master is nearly out of his mind with rage."

Hong Fei added, "I don’t know why the Master is so angry. It’s not like he’s unaware that Nezha isn’t an ordinary child. Not only does he have innate divine strength, but he’s also a disciple of an Immortal. I even heard he killed a Yaksha in the sea; going on a journey to see the world is a good thing."

After hearing this, Lady Yin felt slightly relieved, but again Huang Jin, this girl, clueless about the situation, said, "That might not be true. He’s still a seven-year-old child. If he really encounters a tiger, he’d be scared stiff. What’s the use of strength then?"

As soon as the words were out, Cui Yu slapped Huang Jin on the forehead: "You talk too much."

Huang Jin stood aside, full of grievances, eyes teary and reddened.

"Enough, don’t hit her anymore."

Lady Yin sighed, frowning as she said, "I heard from the people in the residence, that yesterday Master sent someone to the pharmacy to get the golden sore medicine and even called a doctor, what happened, did he get hurt?"

...

Nezha had no official papers, so he couldn’t take the official road.

Fortunately, there were many paths in this world that a lone rider could travel, and he had been on the road for three days, covering twelve hundred miles.

Ahead was a tall mountain that couldn’t be climbed on horseback, so he had to lead it slowly by hand.

During the day entering the mountain, the path was secluded, the scenery beautiful, and the journey didn’t feel dull or vexing.

He silently led the horse in front, while the guide he had paid handsomely a day ago followed until here, unwilling to go any further, claiming the money was just enough to get him and the horse this far.

Nezha noticed the unease on his face, suspecting he was led astray to scam him.

The man said this mountain was Da Hei Mountain; beyond the ridge was a mountain with four great kings commanding thousands who would eat people and rob them. No amount of money could get him further than this.

Nezha laughed, "So you brought me here, and if the kings on that mountain eat me, isn’t it your fault."

Hearing this, the man was full of defiance, "You only asked for the shortest route, not for a bandit-free path. Besides, with chaos across the land, what road doesn’t have bandits?"

Nezha felt his point was valid and didn’t trouble him further.

However, the road ahead was truly hard to traverse, one mountain after another, no flat grounds for miles. Passing by the extremely dangerous place the guide had mentioned, fortunately, he didn’t encounter any blockaders.

Continuing forward, leading the horse along the mountain path to the foot, he suddenly lifted his head to see a stone stele inscribed with the words "Yellow Flower Mountain".

This was Yellow Flower Mountain, making the ridge behind him naturally Jue Long Ridge.

Knowing the name of the ridge he just passed, Nezha realized the guide hadn’t deceived him and even knew who the four ’lords’ on that mountain were.

They were none other than the ones to be famed on the Investiture of the Gods list, four of the Twenty-four Heavenly Lords of the Thunder Department: Deng, Xin, Zhang, and Tao.

As it grew late, Nezha originally intended to find a flat stone to sleep on and let the horse rest, but the heavens were uncooperative as rain started to drizzle, and it seemed to be growing stronger.

Nezha had no choice but to lead the horse further while there was still some daylight, quickly searching for a place to shelter from the rain; otherwise, once dark, with no stars or moon, the mountains would become an impenetrable darkness.

Thanks to the plethora of shrines in the Fengshen World, and Nezha’s good luck today, he unexpectedly found an old but evidently well-maintained Nuwa Temple at the mountain’s foot.

Leading the horse inside, Nezha shook off the rain from his head, kindled a fire, and took a clean blanket from the Qiankun Bag to wipe the horse’s coat.

While wiping, he said, "Oh horse, bear with it a little longer. Seeing the incense always burning at this Nuwa Temple, there must be a settlement not far from here. Once we reach the city, we won’t eat grass or flowers anymore. I’ll get you porridge with honey."

Nezha sighed, "Though eating flowers sounds like something a refined person would do."

He walked to the temple door, saw a small white flower on the ground, picked it up and chewed it, tasting the bitterness before spitting it out.

Lighting the scattered incense candles, he could barely make out the temple’s interior by candlelight.

A modest mountain shrine, yet neatly arranged.

In front of the deity figure hung a light gauze, with a pair of golden boys and a pair of jade girls standing beside, on the right side wall, lamps burning high and low. The flickering light revealed a beautiful mural of Nuwa mending the sky, with a small inscription detailing Nuwa’s deeds.

"Nuwa, the Ancient Goddess, possessed holy virtue. In the ancient times, after Gong Gong struck Mount Buzhou, causing the sky to tilt northwest and the earth to sink southeast, she refined Five-colored Stones to mend the blue sky, thus benefiting the people. The commoners established altars to repay her. Now in the Shang Dynasty, worshiping this god of fortune ensures year-round prosperity, long reigns, favorable weather, and calamities hidden."

Nezha recited the inscription, admired the mural, then took out a few buns from the Qiankun Bag to roast and eat.

Looking up at the shrine above, something suddenly came to mind.

The Sealing God Battle was supposedly triggered by Immortals incurring killing calamity, a decision by the Three Teachings, but the initial cause of the war in the human world was King Zhou’s disrespect during a sacrificial ceremony at Nuwa Palace, which angered the Nuwa Goddess.

Later, the Nuwa Goddess instructed the Thousand-year-old Fox Spirit, the Nine-headed Pheasant Spirit, and the Jade Pipa Spirit, issuing a decree:

"The aura of Chengtang fades, destined to lose the world; the Phoenix calling from Qishan, the Holy Master of Western Zhou is born. The will of the heavens is set, the destiny designed. You three demons shall hide your forms in the palace, bewilder his heart. Aid in King Wu’s conquest, spare lives in the process. Success will grant you a rightful result."

Nezha had no intention of being disrespectful, merely doubted the story’s truth. How could the long-cultivated Nuwa Goddess be so petty?

And what kind of master craftsman could carve a statue capable of enchanting the well-traveled King Zhou of Zhaoge City?

While in his thoughts, a gust of evil wind blew into the temple, removing the gauze covering the deity statue.

Turning his head to look outside the temple, he saw a group leading horses, cloaked and hat-wearing figures squeezing through the wind and rain.