Chapter 3 - 3 3 Legends of the Ancient World

Words : 1626 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

The next morning, at daybreak. Second Uncle went up the mountain with hurried steps, obviously a bit nervous, but as soon as he saw Lin Xiaosu standing there safe and sound on the platform, his face relaxed immediately: “Nothing happened last night, right?” “Second Uncle, what kind of haunted place is this? Last night... really, there were ghosts... Something really came out from below, a seven or eight-foot-long Earth Mother. Fortunately, Hu Ya was fierce, and threw the snake around until it couldn’t recognize its own mother.” Second Uncle listened to this harrowing tale with an expression that showed no surprise: “Is that all?” “A seven or eight-foot-long Earth Mother, and you’re taking it so lightly, Second Uncle?” Lin Xiaosu did not mention another more explosive incident because he did not know how much Second Uncle knew about the “Heavenly Window.” Second Uncle said, “On Ecliptic change day, when heaven and earth crack open and the flow of Spiritual Energy is unusual, it is not surprising for any strange phenomenon to occur. Once, a butterfly as big as your house’s Reed Chicken emerged, fortunately it was a butterfly. If it had been a mosquito that size, I might not have made it. Alright, as long as nothing serious happened.” “But this... what is going on here? This is completely unscientific...” Lin Xiaosu scratched his head lightly. “Liu Lin Temple holds its mysteries. The former temple master, Taoist Lu Yun, said that this place is the ‘Profound Gate’ that connects to the Ancient World. If the fate is right, one may see the ‘Heavenly Window’ open and witness magical things beyond imagination.” Heavenly Window? Lin Xiaosu’s gaze flickered: “Second Uncle, have you seen it?” “I’ve been in charge of Liu Lin Temple for twenty-three years, through seventeen Ecliptic change days. Each time, I’d sit on the central spot of the array, staring up at the sky, not daring to blink, but I’ve never seen the Heavenly Window.” He looked up but had not seen the Heavenly Window. You haven’t looked down! Lin Xiaosu said, “What about Taoist Lu Yun then? Has he seen it?” “He, well, is blind. But don’t be fooled by his blindness; he’s more extraordinary than ordinary people...” The temple master of Liu Lin Temple was named Lu Yun, and he arrived at Liu Lin Temple before the liberation. Second Uncle’s bond with Liu Lin Temple originated from Second Aunt’s illness. Second Aunt had congenital anemia and was not supposed to have children, but she loved Second Uncle so much that she wanted to give him a child and disregarded the risks to conceive. Before going into labor, she bled profusely and was rushed to the county hospital. The doctors were terrified by the sight and refused to admit her, telling them to send her to the provincial city overnight. But with hundreds of miles of uncertain road, no one dared to guarantee whether it would be life or death. In despair, Second Uncle didn’t know what to do when Taoist Lu Yun arrived gracefully, with a light smile: “Just a minor ailment, come, let’s go to Liu Lin Temple!” In the Taoist Temple, Second Uncle and Second Aunt slept for one night. Without medication, without injections, just sleeping the entire night, the bleeding stopped. On the third day, Li Diandian (whom Lin Xiaosu called Hu Ya) was born here, her loud cries resounding through the entire forest. And Second Aunt’s chronic disease of many years had also improved since then. Second Uncle’s wife and daughter were both saved by Taoist Lu Yun, and since then he revered Lu Yun as an immortal. More than twenty years ago, Taoist Lu Yun traveled the world. Upon leaving, he instructed Second Uncle to guard Liu Lin Temple well, and just like that over twenty years had passed. During these years, there had been no word from Taoist Lu Yun, and it was unknown whether he was dead or alive. “Second Uncle, about the affairs of Liu Lin Temple, have you ever discussed them with... the authorities?” The authorities, of course, referred to the relevant governmental departments. Second Uncle looked dejected: “I’ve mentioned it. When that mutated giant butterfly appeared, I was worried that next time it might be a mosquito as big as a Reed Chicken, which could cause some disaster, so I spoke to the officials twice... The first time, they just laughed it off, telling me not to promote feudal superstitions. The second time, my goodness, four or five people in white coats came, and I was nearly taken to the mental hospital.” “I can understand!” Lin Xiaosu nodded lightly: “If I put myself in their shoes, if I were to work a government job in the future and some old Taoist monk came to tell me these ghost stories, I might react the same way.” Second Uncle clenched his teeth slowly: “That’s why you definitely still won’t pass your civil service exams this time!” “Uncle, my exams are in a month, and you can’t even bless me, instead you’re cursing me?” “I’m not cursing, I just really hope you fail...” Lin Xiaosu rolled her eyes: “Now I get why Second Aunt is so naggy, who wouldn’t be with the way you treat people? The fact she hasn’t smacked you hard means she’s kind and virtuous...” “No, little Su...” Uncle leaned in closer, showing a bit of a flattering smile: “How about you forget the exam and come help your uncle guard the temple? I’m not asking you to do it alone, we uncle and niece could take turns, you take the even days, I take the odd days.” “Don’t even think about it!” Lin Xiaosu interrupted directly. “Or how about you come stay overnight on weekends, let me go back and spend time with your Second Aunt... I’m not afraid of being laughed at, but the thing with your Second Aunt is, she has too much energy, and she can’t handle being separated for long.” Uncle’s face turned a bit red. Lin Xiaosu’s eyes widened, damn! He seemed to have truly touched upon Second Aunt’s root issue. If you were to use modern terms, it might be called “young couple’s hormone syndrome,” which is rare for people in their fifties. But Uncle and Second Aunt were different. They were older, but their bodily functions remained young due to the strange qi stimulation from the past, and Second Aunt had needs. Uncle lived in Liu Lin Temple year-round, causing separation between husband and wife, and Second Aunt constantly “thirsty.” This thirst, no one else could cure – only Uncle could, almost instantly, my God, is that what you’re giving to Second Aunt... this kind of remedy... Uncle continued his persuasion: “Living in Liu Lin Temple has its benefits; your body would be free of illnesses. When you reach my age, you’ll understand how significant this is.” “Uncle, why not bring Second Aunt over here?” “Second Aunt’s issue started here, she can’t come into Liu Lin Temple.” Now that’s a vicious cycle. Second Aunt’s “thirst” wasn’t actually an illness. Her real sickness was having replenished qi and blood too much during her confinement in Liu Lin Temple which went awry, leading to her overthinking and constantly suspecting Uncle was seeing someone else... Entering Liu Lin Temple, where spiritual energy seeps from underneath, would worsen her condition. One misstep, and she could really end up a mentally ill patient in a perfectly healthy body. Lin Xiaosu’s gaze flickered: “Uncle, I have a good idea.” “Let’s hear it...” “What about turning this place into a sanatorium? Open it to the public... Think about it, there are so many wealthy people in the world, they have everything but fear death, if they knew that staying here for one night could cure diseases, it would be like a rolling cash flow, not even the doors could keep them out. You wouldn’t need to force me into anything. You collect admission during the day, and at night fly down the mountain in a helicopter to enjoy life with Second Aunt...” “What do I even say about you? To call you dumb, but you do have some business acumen. To call you smart, but you haven’t understood the seriousness of the situation!” Uncle shook his head gently: “What do you think this place is? It’s a connection point to the Otherworld, or a seal point. I didn’t dare to mention it even to Dian Dian and your Second Aunt. Why? Because I’m worried if there are too many people, and they mess things up, certain prohibitions might be triggered, bringing about the arrival of the Otherworld, and that would be a catastrophic disaster!” Lin Xiaosu was startled: “Triggering prohibitions, the arrival of Otherworld? Could that really happen?” “Taoist Lu Yun said it will come one day, just don’t know when.” “Are there any signs?” “Yes, the ecliptic changes, the ecliptic splits, the Equatorial Death Day, the Equatorial Radiant Day... but I can only predict the lowest,ecliptic change day. He mentioned a Calamity day; in that disaster, all seals would break simultaneously, folding spaces would open completely, Earth would expand hundreds or thousands of times, our current cities would be fragmented into numerous isolated islands, Exotic Beasts would roam, Abysses would be everywhere, Demons would gaze upon us, and the righteous path would vanish...” Lin Xiaosu felt a chill on her back. Uncle’s expression turned grave. “Uncle, when is the next ecliptic change day?” “In one month, April the thirteenth.”

Chapter 3 - 3 3 Legends of the Ancient World

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