Publish Time: 2026-06-19 12:32:00

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«Chapter 515: Thank You, Old Man

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Green mountains surrounded them as mist hung in the air.

After a light rain, the mountain stream felt much fresher. The only downside was the extra mud now on the path.

Once they passed through that mountain trail,

the Tabby Cat nestled in the Green-Robed Gentleman’s arms gazed at the endless mountains and couldn’t help saying: “So many mountains!”

The Tabby Cat looked around at the green mountains, layer upon layer, like it had never seen such sights before. It seemed like a secret paradise lay just beyond the peaks.

“Dong!!”

The ancient sound of a bell came from far, far away.

The Tabby Cat blinked, looking at Chen Changsheng. “What was that sound?”

Chen Changsheng said, “That’s the big bell from the Taoist Temple.”

“How do you know?”

“I recognized the sound.”

“So amazing.”

“Mmm.”

Chen Changsheng’s gaze shifted, spotting what seemed like a wisp of Dao Rhyme emerging between the distant mountain peaks.

It might be due to the boost in the Mundane Fortune, or perhaps a Cultivator from an Immortal Sect had left a mark here while seeking disciples.

That made sense. Qingshan City had a Daoist tradition alive and well. It was a place where reverence for the Dao flourished most strongly. If an Immortal Sect needed a place in the Mortal World to recruit disciples, Qingshan City was indeed the perfect choice.

After walking for several more hours, they drew closer to those mountains.

The Tabby Cat looked ahead. “There’s no path.”

In front of them, weeds grew densely; the way forward had vanished.

“There used to be one,” Chen Changsheng said.

The Tabby Cat’s gaze then fell to the side, where an old-looking temple stood.

“Why is there a temple here?” the Tabby Cat wondered.

Chen Changsheng walked towards the temple with the cat in his arms.

“Swish, swish…”

The sound of grass being cut rang out in front of the temple.

Someone?

The Tabby Cat glanced at Chen Changsheng and then fell silent.

An old man stood before the temple, chopping the weeds on both sides with a firewood knife. Perhaps tired from the work, he wiped sweat off his brow with his sleeve, then moved to another spot and continued cutting.

Spotting a figure approaching on the little path,

the old man paused his work. “Huh, young man, whose family are you from? How did you end up here?”

Chen Changsheng said, “Greetings, old sir. I, Chen, have come to pay respects to Mountain God Yuan.”

Hearing this, the old man said, “Everyone takes the Great Dao road now. It’s rare to see young folks like you coming here to pay respects.”

Nowadays, only a few of the older generation knew about the Mountain God Temple.

Chen Changsheng stepped closer. “Are there really so few people paying their respects?”

The old man sighed. “Heh, it’s just us few old-timers still offering incense and prayers. The youngsters in the families are all too stubborn in their ways, unwilling to come. That’s why I said there are few young people coming to visit.”

“Is that so…”

Chen Changsheng murmured. His gaze drifted past the temple towards the chains hanging down the sheer cliff face and the tunnel piercing through the mountain.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Does anyone still add wooden poles into the mountain tunnel these days?”

The old man looked surprised. “Young man, you even know about that?”

Chen Changsheng smiled. “I walked this path in the past.”

“Remarkable,”

the old man remarked, “Nobody comes this way now. Us old fellows can’t climb up anymore, and the youngsters don’t dare. No one’s put poles in there for many years.”

He sighed heavily. “If no one keeps an eye on it, it might truly collapse in a few more years.”

Chen Changsheng nodded faintly. The old man spoke true. The wooden poles inside the tunnel had rotted. They were barely holding things up now. Given more time, it likely would collapse, and the path through Heaven’s Gate Mountain would be lost forever.

The Tabby Cat noticed the old man seemed very worried.

It blinked, not understanding why the man was concerned.

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment. “It just won’t do to let it collapse.”

He pondered further. “I, Chen, happen to need to take this route. Unfortunately, I don’t have suitable wood with me. Old sir, could you lend me your firewood knife? I can gather materials right here.”

The old man was astonished. “Young man, you’re truly going this way?”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “There’s a Peach Grove beyond the mountains. An old friend of mine awaits me there. Going around Everview Mountain would be too far.”

The old man grabbed Chen Changsheng’s hand. “Stay right here. Wait for me. You mustn’t leave.”

Chen Changsheng paused. “I won’t go.”

The old man said his piece and then hurried off towards the temple.

He walked with a limp, perhaps due to old age making his legs unsteady.

But clearly, he was rushing, as if afraid the young man would change his mind and leave while he was away.

The old man returned carrying several wooden stakes, tightly bound together with rope into a bundle.

They looked like they had been prepared a long time ago.

The old man handed the bundle to Chen Changsheng, catching his breath. “I thank you, young man, on behalf of the old folks in the villages around here.”

Chen Changsheng took the bundle. For some reason, after the old man spoke, the bundle felt heavier in his hands.

He nodded. “Just a small thing.”

The old man pressed, “Don’t be in a hurry, young man. Let me know your name.”

Chen Changsheng thought it over. “Chen Jiucha. ‘Jiu’ for wine, ‘Cha’ for tea.”

The old man committed it to memory. He grasped Chen Changsheng’s hand. “The path is hard. Be careful.”

“Rest assured, old sir.”

Just as Chen Changsheng was about to leave, he asked one more thing. “Old sir, if you don’t mind me asking… if no one ever takes this path again from now on, what then?”

The old man grinned. “Why wouldn’t anyone ever take it again? Aren’t you still here walking it?”

Chen Changsheng was stunned for a second, then he too smiled.

There would always be someone.

Chen Changsheng, holding the bundle of stakes with one hand and carrying the Tabby Cat with the other, walked to the foot of the iron chain.

He looked at the cat. “Climb onto my shoulder in a moment.”

The Tabby Cat nodded, then leaped nimbly onto Chen Changsheng’s shoulder.

Chen Changsheng freed up his other hand and gripped the chain.

The old man stood behind him. “Don’t be careless!”

The words were barely out when the young man, holding the chain with one hand pushed off with surprising strength from his feet…

“Ding-dong…”

The iron chain jingled as it swayed.

He planted one foot on the cliff face as if launching himself into the air, climbing hand-over-hand up the chain with incredible speed.

The old man watched, mouth agape. Only after the fact did he realize his worry had been unnecessary.

“Fine skills!!”

In mere moments, Chen Changsheng had one hand gripping the tunnel entrance. He hauled himself inside.

He looked back down the mountain and waved to the old man.

The old man waved back with a smile.

A gentle smile touched Chen Changsheng’s face. Then, carrying the bundle of wooden poles, he entered the tunnel.

The Tabby Cat asked, “Good Human Chen.”

“What is it?”

Only now did the Tabby Cat voice its question. “What’s so great about this path anyway?”

“Why does Lihua ask?”

“I saw that old grandpa was so worried. But it’s just a path. And it’s very hard to walk, too.”

What the Tabby Cat really meant was, ‘Can this even count as a path?’

Chen Changsheng gave a faint smile. “Probably because this path accompanied them through many years. Someday Lihua too will follow a familiar path back. Then, looking upon the path beneath your feet, you will be unwilling to part with it, just like that old man.”

The Tabby Cat nodded, maybe understanding, maybe not quite.

It lifted its head again. “Would you also be unwilling to part with it?”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “Yes.”

Returning to this place now felt completely different.

«Chapter 515: Thank You, Old Man

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