Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang finally arrived in the northwest desert after a day and a night of travel.
The Boundless Mountain was located in this desolate northwest desert.
The two of them rode their swift horses like two white clouds, traversing through the yellow sand where no path could be discerned.
At times, strong winds would blow, stirring up vast amounts of yellow sand that obscured the sky and blocked out the sun, making the path ahead invisible. They were forced to dismount and walk.
Although they did not know the way, the horses did. Both of these horses were swift steeds from Xizig Kingdom.
They had accompanied a great general of Xizig Kingdom into the northwest desert to quell unrest and had naturally come to this Boundless Mountain before.
Therefore, rather than aimlessly searching for the path themselves, they decided to let the horses lead the way.
After the sandstorm passed, Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang mounted their horses again. They rode swiftly and finally reached the solitary mountain standing in the vast desert, Boundless Mountain, before dusk.
They immediately dismounted and were about to ascend a small path when they suddenly heard a clear voice call out.
"Boundless Heavenly Venerable, this humble place is remote and rarely receives visitors. I wonder what brings the benefactor here from afar?"
Xue Gucheng could tell this was a master and explained their request in full.
"Master, we have a favor to ask. We wish to borrow your Boundless Bag."
"Borrow the Boundless Bag? Guests are welcome, please come up."
"Thank you, Master."
With that, Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang led their horses up the mountain. Upon reaching the summit, they saw a Taoist temple standing by the edge of a cliff.
On the plaque above the courtyard gate of the temple, three large characters were written in cinnabar ink: "Boundless Temple."
After tying their horses to the wooden posts in front of the temple gate, Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang walked inside.
Upon entering the temple, they saw no one. As they were wondering, a man holding a white horsetail whisk, dressed in clean Taoist robes and hat, suddenly appeared in the courtyard.
Seeing him, the two immediately stepped forward. Yan Wushuang respectfully said,
"You must be Master Wuchenzi."
The master raised his head and observed them closely.
He noticed their extraordinary attire, the inner feather robes, and the snow knives and flying daggers they carried. It was clear they were descendants of the divine race.
Since Taoism and the divine race were originally of the same origin, he welcomed them.
"Esteemed guests, you must be weary from your long journey. Please, sit and rest for a moment under this locust tree and try some of the dew tea from my mountain."
However, Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang looked around the empty courtyard and thought Wuchenzi was joking.
At this moment, Wuchenzi formed a hand seal in front of him and uttered, "Amitabha, Amitabha."
With a gentle wave of his horsetail whisk, the locust tree and the stone table and stools beneath it materialized in the courtyard.
Wuchenzi then invited the two to sit under the tree. With another wave of his whisk, a teapot and teacups appeared on the stone table.
He picked up the teapot, poured two cups of tea, and handed them to Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang, saying,
"Please, taste my tea."
Xue Gucheng picked up the cup, savored it, and then praised it with a look of delight.
"This tea is sweet and refreshing, with a lingering aroma. It is truly a superior tea."
Yan Wushuang took a sip and also exclaimed,
"This tea doesn't seem like ordinary tea. It tastes like the sweetness that bursts forth after enduring eighty-one trials. It is truly an exquisite tea."
Wuchenzi was pleased by their compliments, recognizing them as connoisseurs of tea.
Xue Gucheng did not immediately state his request to borrow the Boundless Bag but instead chatted with Wuchenzi about everyday matters.
"I've heard from people that you were once a general of the divine race and came to secluded retreat in Boundless Mountain after the great war."
Wuchenzi laughed heartily and shook his head.
"These people speak nonsense. I am the chief disciple of the orthodox Taoist lineage, not a member of the divine race."
"Taoism?" Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang had never heard of this sect and were confused.
Wuchenzi then told them about the origin of Taoism.
"Taoism originally originated from the Yellow Emperor and Laozi's theories during the Warring States period. By the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Huang-Lao thought had formed into a tangible entity. Later, religious groups such as the Way of Great Peace and the Way of the Celestial Master emerged among the populace.
Finally, after hundreds of years of transformation and development during the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, Taoism became increasingly refined in both scientific innovation and cultivation techniques. It also gained recognition from the rulers of the time, becoming an orthodox sect."
Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang listened with confusion, exchanging bewildered glances.
Wuchenzi then explained to them.
"These are matters of the human realm, which you naturally wouldn't understand. I followed my master on his travels and chanced upon this place.
My master instructed me to guard the Boundless Bag and went ahead to travel. Who knew that he would be gone for thousands of years? I don't know if he is alive or dead."
As he spoke of this, he became inexplicably melancholic, thinking of how he had waited so long without any news from his master, and how long he would have to wait here.
He never expected that this seemingly powerful master was merely someone waiting for another.
Seeing his distress, Yan Wushuang comforted him.
"Master, do not worry. I see that your cultivation is profound, so your master must also be a person of great power.
Therefore, your master must be safe and sound. Perhaps he was merely delayed by something and could not return."
Wuchenzi sighed and sat down helplessly. Only then did he inquire about their purpose for coming.
"When we were at the foot of the mountain, you both said you came to borrow the Boundless Bag. May I ask for what purpose?"
Xue Gucheng, seeing that Wuchenzi was a recluse who detached himself from worldly affairs, told him the true reason for borrowing the bag.
"To be frank, Master, we wish to borrow the Boundless Bag to fight against the Four Cities."
Wuchenzi let out an "Oh." He then recalled the ancestral teachings of Taoism, which were to save sentient beings and redeem souls, not to kill.
He said, "Our Taoist sect has always been compassionate and unwilling to take lives. If you intend to use our Taoist artifact to kill, then please return."
Yan Wushuang immediately explained to him.
"Master, you misunderstand. We are not borrowing the bag to kill, but for a fair fight between both sides.
Master, with your compassion, I believe you would not wish to see heavy casualties on either side.
As things stand, the battle is unavoidable. If this battle is won, it will not only resolve the existence of several dark forces but also allow everyone to live good lives without displacement. It is for this ideal that we have thrown ourselves into the battle without hesitation.
Master, your benevolence and virtue are truly admirable, but saving one person is also saving, why can't we save everyone?"
Xue Gucheng added.
"Master, please rest assured, we will not use your artifact to kill, nor will we let it be stained with a single drop of blood."
Wuchenzi was moved by their words and recalled what his master had told him before leaving.
"If you encounter a fated person who wishes to borrow the Boundless Bag, then lend it to them."
Perhaps they were the fated individuals his master spoke of. However, obtaining the Boundless Bag was not an easy task.
Wuchenzi sighed slightly and said.
"Very well. Since you are earnest in seeking this treasure, if you can take it, it shall be yours. If you cannot, then please return."
Hearing that Wuchenzi had relented and agreed to their request, Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang were overjoyed and thanked him profusely.
"Thank you, Master."
Wuchenzi stood up and said, "Please follow me."
He then led them towards a side door within the temple.
Upon opening the door, they saw an endless corridor, its destination unknown.
Wuchenzi said, "Please come in."
He then led them into the corridor. As they walked, the surroundings of the corridor began to resemble a cave, and the wooden planks underfoot turned into stone slabs.
Continuing forward, they saw a suspension bridge hanging between two stone walls, with an underground river making flowing sounds in the abyss below.
The three of them walked onto the suspension bridge, crossed to the other side, passed through a stone gate, and followed a stone path to a cave filled with water pits.
In the very center of the cave, a blue orb of light was suspended in mid-air. Within that orb was the Boundless Bag.
Wuchenzi said.
"That orb of light contains the Boundless Bag. As for whether you can take it, that depends on fate. Amitabha, Amitabha."
With that, he turned and left.
Xue Gucheng stepped forward and reached out to take the bag. Suddenly, a black mist erupted.
The moment Xue Gucheng opened his eyes, he saw a bustling scene all around, with people coming and going. He himself was standing in the middle of the street.
At that moment, a young lady from a wealthy family, accompanied by her servants, walked past him. A handkerchief from the lady was blown by the wind and landed on Xue Gucheng's face.
Xue Gucheng removed the handkerchief and stared blankly at his surroundings.
He wondered how he had gone from being in the cave to suddenly appearing in the marketplace.
Meanwhile, Yan Wushuang, who was still watching Xue Gucheng in the cave, saw that he hadn't moved for a long time.
Feeling very puzzled, she walked up to him and asked,
"Brother Xue, what's wrong?"
He did not reply. So, she reached out to touch him, and at that instant, a black mist rushed out from the orb of light.
When Yan Wushuang opened her eyes again, she found herself on the street, looking around in confusion.
Suddenly, she noticed a familiar figure ahead that resembled Xue Gucheng, and she pushed through the crowd to get closer.
At that moment, the young lady who had lost her handkerchief also stepped forward and took back her handkerchief from him.
She saw him staring blankly at his surroundings, looking bewildered, and asked him,
"Young sir, what is wrong?"
Xue Gucheng, startled by her call, snapped back to reality but suddenly couldn't recall what he had been thinking about. He only asked the young lady,
"Miss, where is this?"
The young lady, also confused, replied, "This is Chang'an."
"Chang'an?"
"Young sir, are you lost?"
Xue Gucheng shook his head and asked her, "Do you know who I am?"
The young lady shook her head, indicating she did not.
Xue Gucheng murmured to himself, "What did I come here for?"
Seeing his dazed and confused appearance, the young lady suggested,
"Young sir, you seem to be lost. Why not come to my residence and stay for a while? It's not too late to leave when you remember."
The elderly governess tugged at the young lady's sleeve and said, "Master has forbidden us from bringing strangers home."
The young lady replied, "Don't worry, I'll take responsibility."
Then she said to Xue Gucheng,
"Young sir, come with me."
Xue Gucheng did not suspect anything and followed the young lady home.
Yan Wushuang stepped forward and pulled the person she thought was Xue Gucheng, only to realize she had mistaken him. She quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I mistook you for someone else."
Then, she wandered aimlessly through the crowd. At that moment, a man dressed somewhat shabbily, carrying books, approached from a distance.
Seeing Yan Wushuang wandering around, he curiously asked, "Miss, are you waiting for someone?"
Yan Wushuang shook her head and said, "No, I'm just wondering where this is?"
The man replied, "This is Chang'an."
"Chang'an?" She looked confused, having never heard of a place called Chang'an.
Seeing her bewildered and confused look, the man thought she had been abducted by human traffickers and said to her,
"Miss, if you don't mind, you can stay at my place for now. It's not too late to leave when you find your way."
With no other options, she agreed to his suggestion, "That would be fine, I will trouble you then."
"It's nothing, let's go."
Saying that, he took her back to his home.
Thus, the two of them were separately picked up and taken home. What would happen to them next was unknown.
...
Meanwhile, in Xizig Kingdom, after receiving Lin'er's letter, Wu Dao rushed here without delay and finally arrived in Xizig Kingdom that afternoon.
Upon entering the royal palace, he saw a group of people waiting for him in front of the grand hall, including the Ten Thousand Demon King, Lin'er, the Four Elders, and Liu Shinian.
Looking at his former friends and masters, Bi Shou Yuan was filled with emotion and exclaimed excitedly,
"Demon King! Elders! Esteemed Elders! Everyone!"
"You've finally arrived." I responded to him.
He was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. He rushed into the crowd and hugged everyone tightly.
Lin'er patted his shoulder and said, "It's good that you're here, it's good that you're here."
Liu Shinian also stepped forward and hugged him, inquiring about the situation in Black Mountain.
"How is Black Mountain now?"
"Everything is fine. The houses that were destroyed have been rebuilt, and it's just like it was when everyone was here.
The people who stayed in Black Mountain miss the Demon King and everyone very much. They entrusted me with bringing some things over."
As he spoke, several guards carried boxes from a carriage and placed three large boxes in front of everyone.
Wu Dao opened them one by one and introduced them.
"This box contains various pastries, which were preserved by repeatedly changing the ice water.
This box contains fruits, vegetables, and herbs, also preserved with moist water. This last box contains souvenirs from everyone.
Most of them are gold and silver jewelry. Everyone was worried that the Demon King might lack funds for the war, so they pooled together some items that could be sold for money."
As he listened to his introduction, the joy on everyone's faces turned into感动.
I walked down the steps, picked up the gold and silver jewelry, and held it in my hands, feeling the longing from Black Mountain. I then picked up a fruit and took a large bite.
They were originally poor laborers, and they must have put in a lot of effort to gather these items. Thinking of their expectant eyes,
and their active donation of their treasures, I couldn't help but shed tears.
Lin'er stepped forward and gently patted my back. I knew he was reminding me, so I held back my tears and took out a box of pastries to distribute to everyone present.
"You all try some. This is the longing of our loved ones, and also their hope. Please savor it."
Everyone took the pastries, and with each bite, they could feel the yearning from their loved ones.
It was as if they had returned to Black Mountain, to those carefree days.