Niao Ni

Chapter 739 A Temple in the Mountains

In the mountain cave shrouded in mist on West Mountain of Shangjing, Fan Xian had once told the dying Xiao En that he was merely a tourist walking in this world, eager to see more scenery and therefore intensely interested in the Temple.

Unlike the Little Emperor of Northern Qi, who intended to unify the world by leveraging the power of the Temple, unlike the former Emperor of Wei, who妄想 (wàngxiǎng – futilely hoped) to obtain the secret of immortality from the Temple, and unlike the abnormally powerful Emperor of Qing, who used the Temple as a thug, Fan Xian's past interest in the Temple primarily lay in the unknown.

Now, Fan Xian's strong desire for the Temple's secrets inevitably carried more practical considerations. He needed to enter that temple, find Uncle Wu Zhu's trail, confirm his safety, and try to find a way to return to the human world and defeat Emperor Qing. These were actually two sides of the same coin; as long as Uncle Wu Zhu was alive, everything would be easy.

In Fan Xian's understanding, no one in this world could harm Wu Zhu. This perpetually youthful grandmaster with a black cloth covering his eyes possessed overly powerful and miraculous skills. Even if the few grandmasters who had once existed in the world joined forces, Wu Zhu would have enough ways to escape unscathed. But the problem was… now this snowy mountain held the Temple, that ethereal fairyland that always stood in the clouds of human legends. Against such a non-secular place, even Wu Zhu might not be a match.

The reality seemed to prove this point. Several years had passed since Uncle Wu Zhu returned to the Temple to seek his origins, yet no news had come out. If he wasn't imprisoned inside, he might have already… left this world.





The morning sunlight held no warmth, coldly shining on the three people at the foot of the snowy mountain. Fan Xian squinted, tilting his head to look at the majestic snow mountain that seemed to block half the sky, watching the ice and snow reflect jade-like light in the morning sun. He remained silent for a long time, without saying a word.

The three most outstanding young people in the world had set off from their camp before dawn, traveling for several hours to reach the vicinity of the great snow mountain with difficulty. To the shock of Haitang and Wang Shisanlang, Fan Xian seemed very familiar with the path under the snow mountain, leading them through a narrow passage with ease and directly to the other side of the snow mountain.

This side of the snow mountain was also a plain of ice and snow, with nothing but snow and ice. The three of them had essentially crossed the snow mountain, reaching the other side, while their camp was on the other side of the mountain.

"Where is the Temple?" Wang Shisanlang, carrying Si Gu Jian's ashes in an urn wrapped in cloth, asked, his cheeks red with cold as he gasped for breath.

Supported by Haitang, Fan Xian squinted at the mountain and said, "Back then, Xiao En and Grandmaster Ku He went up from this side of the mountain. In theory, the Temple should be right in front of us."

However, there was nothing in front of them, only jade-like ice and snow covering the mountain range, whose original color was unknown. The wind was not strong at this time, and the heavens had not sent down a blizzard. The view was very wide and clear, but within this exceptionally clear view, they could not find any traces of artificial construction.

After a moment of silence, Haitang, who was supporting him, suddenly said, "According to ancient legends, the Temple only appears to people for one or two days a year. If the Temple doesn't want to be seen by mortals, then no matter how mortals search, they won't be able to find it."

"Legends are just legends after all," Fan Xian said, covering his lips and coughing twice. He was wearing extremely thick clothes, barely resisting the cold outside. It was somewhat strange; now that the Temple was so close, although its location was unknown, the rich *yuanqi* between heaven and earth began to flow into his body, easing his injuries and illness.

With great difficulty, the coughing stopped. Fan Xian blinked and looked at the scattered snow and rocks on the snow mountain with tired eyes, saying, "The legends may not be true. Back then, your master and Lord Xiao En waited under this snow mountain for the Temple to appear for one or two days, enduring for several months and eating countless amounts of human flesh… I don't want to wait."

Fan Xian had experienced two lives that no one else could have, so he absolutely believed that fate was predetermined. However, the education he received in his previous life made it impossible for him to completely shed his atheist roots. This contradiction made him vaguely awe-inspired by the Temple on the one hand, but not very believing of so-called legends on the other.

"If the legends aren't true, then the Temple must be hidden in this snow mountain by some sort of deception," Haitang Duoduo said, her entire face covered under a fur collar, her voice muffled. "If we want to search the entire mountain, given our current condition, it will probably take a lot of time."

"I understand that too. Since it will take a lot of time, let's start sooner," Fan Xian said in a hoarse voice, glancing at Wang Shisanlang. "You must have noticed that the nights in this area are especially short. In a few days, there probably won't be any night at all, which will make it easier for us to search."

During the months of difficult travel across the snowfield, Fan Xian no longer deliberately concealed the knowledge he knew from his previous life in front of Haitang and Wang Shisanlang. Every one of his judgments eventually became reality. However, Haitang and Wang Shisanlang did not know the basis for his judgments, so in their hearts, Fan Xian seemed more and more mysterious, more and more unfathomable.

In these few months, Haitang and Wang Shisanlang had not questioned or hesitated about any of Fan Xian's judgments and instructions. However, at this moment, as the three of them stood before the snow mountain, about to begin the search for the Temple, Wang Shisanlang did not move towards the mountain, but instead looked at Haitang.

Haitang also happened to look at Wang Shisanlang at this time. Their eyes met, and they both saw the worry and shock in each other's eyes.

Fan Xian noticed the strangeness of his two friends and frowned slightly as he coughed and said, "What's wrong?"

Wang Shisanlang remained silent for a moment before looking at him and saying, "We're just curious. The Temple is right in front of us. According to your judgment, no matter how long it takes, we'll always be able to find the Temple before night falls."

Fan Xian nodded, not understanding the meaning of his words, and frowned even more deeply. Haitang sighed beside him and said, "What we mean is that we're about to find the Temple. Whether it's to unearth the Temple's secrets or rescue the blind master from the Temple… you should have a plan in advance, make some preparations, or you should tell us what you know in advance. Given your current physical condition, we'll need to do a lot of things."

The Temple was equivalent to a fairyland, at least in the minds of the people on this continent. Today, Fan Xian and his two companions were exploring the Temple, which was a major event. Yet Fan Xian appeared so relaxed and casual, even somewhat careless, as if he were really just sightseeing. Who knew what dangers were hidden in this snow mountain, what divine power that was difficult for mortals to resist?

Haitang and Wang Shisanlang were both the most resolute and determined individuals in the world, but when facing this snow mountain, they still couldn't help but feel bewildered and fearful. They really didn't understand why Fan Xian could be so relaxed and casual.

"Ku He and Xiao En went back alive from the Temple. This place isn't as terrifying as people imagine," Fan Xian forced a smile. "They were both super experts of the ninth rank back then, but they were tortured for half a year and were almost dead. Their strength was certainly not as good as ours now. Since they could go back alive, what are we afraid of?"

"Moreover, Uncle Wu Zhu and His Majesty have both said that the Temple is dilapidated and has no power," Fan Xian lowered his eyes and said, "I believe His Majesty's judgment, because he has basically made no mistakes in this life."

But even if the Temple was dilapidated, it was still the Temple. Could mortals not worship it?

"The more crucial issue is that I only know the way to the Temple and its exterior. As for what's inside the Temple, I don't know," Fan Xian said with a helpless smile. "In that case, it's useless to make any preparations. Let's search and talk about it when we find it."

This was a very irresponsible approach. Fan Xian had been immersed in the darkness of the Supervisory Council all his life and never fought unprepared battles. Even when facing the unfathomable Emperor, he still came up with clever schemes, bravely pondering small tricks to win. Yet today, looking at this snow mountain, this snow mountain about which he knew nothing, where could he make any preparations?





The great snow mountain remained silent, solemn, and cold, seemingly unaware that three mortals were searching for its secrets with tension and quietness. The omnipotent, omniscient Temple in the legends also remained hidden in the wind and snow like a maiden in her boudoir, unwilling to reveal its true face.

After struggling to climb the snow mountain for a long time, the wind on the mountain gradually increased, whipping up the snow particles on the rocks, trying to blind people's eyes. But Fan Xian's eyes remained clear and steady, not missing any details that might be overlooked. In his calculations, the Temple only appeared for one or two days a year, and Xiao En and Ku He last saw the Temple on the first day after the end of the polar night. This must hide some kind of law.

After the polar night, sunlight would shine on this snow mountain. Did the people in the Temple want to sunbathe, so they appeared? Leaning on Haitang's warm back, Fan Xian turned his head comfortably, sniffing at the girl's neck, feeling extremely happy. He was clear in his heart that his deduction must be correct. There must be some artificial traces in the direction of the sky where the ice and snow had been broken.

Haitang frowned slightly, not understanding where Fan Xian's confidence came from, let alone why he was so happy.

As Fan Xian expected, it didn't take long. Wang Shisanlang, who was searching about two hundred feet to the right, suddenly turned around and made a gesture towards them. It was difficult to hear what Wang Shisanlang had found in the wind and snow, but Fan Xian and Haitang easily noticed the Sword Cottage disciple's excitement.





In a snow depression, Fan Xian squatted down, carefully observing the traces discovered by Wang Shisanlang. He pulled out a hole from the covered ice and snow and found what they had been trying to find all along—some artificial traces. It was a track-like object, made of an unknown material, still smooth and without any deformation in such a frigid environment.

Supported by Haitang, Fan Xian stood up and looked along the track into the depths of the ice and snow, all the way to the top. The wind and snow were extremely strong there, and the magnificent ice and snow mountain range seemed to be suddenly broken in the middle, sinking in at that place. Was that probably the end of this track?

Wang Shisanlang also found several other tracks next to this track, all made of that extremely ingenious material, of unknown purpose. The three of them immediately became nervous. In this extremely cold place that was difficult for mortals to reach, the sudden appearance of these magical tracks could only have one explanation.

"Climb up along it," Fan Xian said in a hoarse voice, his voice slightly trembling, but his eyes were filled with a calmness maintained by a strong will.

There were no roads on the snow mountain, and everywhere was ice, snow, and strong winds. A slight carelessness would lead to a fall down the mountain, resulting in a shattered end. It was fortunate that Fan Xian had brought Haitang and Wang Shisanlang, two powerful individuals, to this place. Otherwise, how could a patient like him withstand the power of heaven and earth?

Suppressing their tension and vague fear, the three of them climbed along the smooth track, ascending against the wind and snow towards the top of the mountain. They didn't know how long they had been climbing, but when Wang Shisanlang and Haitang felt that the *zhenqi* in their bodies was almost exhausted by these icy tracks, they suddenly felt that it was getting darker in front of them.





The mountains and rivers exhausted, and snow made it seem there was no road, then the sky darkened and the land opened, and a wondrous realm was born.

Fan Xian and his two companions stared blankly at the stone steps at the end of the track, speechless for a long time. This place was truly a masterpiece of nature. Such long stone steps were actually hidden on a platform deep within the mountain range. If someone could really come to the great snow mountain, they would certainly not be able to see these stone steps from below!

Did the Temple appear for one or two days a year, meaning that these stone steps would slide out along those tracks, bathed in sunlight, welcoming the travelers who had come from the mortal world with hardship to worship?





These stone steps were made of bluestone. After undergoing thousands upon thousands of years of frost and baptism, there were many damaged places. The old and ancient gave rise to a sense of vicissitudes and a chilling beauty. Unlike those tracks, seeing these seemingly endless stone steps truly gave the three of them the feeling of entering the Temple.

Walking slowly up these stone steps, an indescribable atmosphere enveloped the three of them, enveloping these stone steps. The three of them maintained silence in unison. Anyone, at this moment before unveiling the mysterious veil of the Temple, would probably find it difficult to conceal their excitement and fear. This was an excitement and fear of the unknown, a human biological instinct.

A light gray long eaves appeared above the stone steps, entering the eyes of the three. At this moment, Haitang and Wang Shisanlang's bodies stiffened slightly, pausing, while Fan Xian broke free from Haitang's support, staring at the gray eaves with a calmness that was almost insane, heading towards the top of the bluestone steps.

Beneath the light gray long eaves was a black stone wall. In this way, with the steps of the three, it slowly revealed its true face. A solemn feeling, born out of this temple from the icy and snowy land, enveloped the entire heaven and earth.

The Temple finally appeared in front of the three, appearing so calm, so natural, that it even made the three of them feel a trace of disbelief. They searched for it thousands of times, dreaming of it before them. The Temple, which the people of the world had sought for thousands of years, actually appeared just like that, inevitably giving rise to some strange emotions.

Standing on the top of the last stone step, Fan Xian's hands outside his leather coat trembled slightly. He looked somewhat woodenly at the temple in front of him, unable to speak for a long time. The emotions in the hearts of Haitang and Wang Shisanlang beside him were even more difficult to suppress, with bewildered expressions on their faces, looking at this magnificent building.

The Temple was very large. At least the architectural craftsmanship of the human world could not build such a grand temple. Those high black stone walls were like eternal玄冰 (Xuánbīng – profound ice), lying in front of the three. Those light gray long eaves extended all the way to the end of the platform above the stone steps, not knowing how many secrets of history, secrets of heaven and earth, they surrounded.

Being able to build such a grand temple, the platform at the end of the stone steps was even more surprisingly large, even several times larger than the square in front of the Southern Qing Imperial Palace that could accommodate tens of thousands of people.

What most directly gave Fan Xian and his two companions a sense of pressure and grandeur was the main gate of the Temple in front of them. This door was as high as seven *zhang* (approximately 23 meters), its depth unknown, and its color was an ancient and simple dark color.

The three of them stood on the stone steps, a dozen *zhang* away from the main gate of the Temple. But because this main gate was too high and too large, it made them feel as if the door was right in front of their eyes. The oppressive force was extremely powerful, as if wanting people to prostrate themselves on the ground, worshiping continuously.

Standing on the platform, Fan Xian, Haitang, and Wang Shisanlang, in front of the Temple, were all the most outstanding young people in the world. However, in front of this magnificent square and temple, they were like three ants lost in the grass, suddenly raising their heads to find a large tree blocking the sun, shocked to the point of being unable to speak.





The only one who could maintain calmness was probably Fan Xian. After all, he had seen Jin Mao and the Three Gorges Dam in his previous life. He knew that this temple in front of him must be a miracle in the eyes of the people of this world, but in his eyes, it was just a relatively beautiful building.

Once you have seen the great ocean, other waters are nothing; once you have seen the Wushan Mountain, other clouds are nothing. Fan Xian could not explain this sentence to the grand scholar Zhuang Mo Han back then, but at this moment, in front of the Temple, Fan Xian found a new explanation: vision and experience determine the height at which a person stands. Because he had experienced it before, it was difficult to be shocked.

Fan Xian was not more excellent than Haitang and Wang Shisanlang, but precisely because he had experienced a more developed civilization in his previous life, his performance at this time was much calmer. Even so, with the Temple in front of him, his mood was still difficult to suppress tension and excitement. He stared fixedly at the door of the Temple in front of him, silent for a long time.

In an instant, he lowered his head, looking at the cyan stone steps under his feet, and thought that decades ago, Grandmaster Ku He, whose body had been ruined to the extreme, was patting the stone steps under his feet with his palms, crying bitterly. Today, the three of them were considered too calm.

After calming his mind, Fan Xian suddenly raised his head, his pupils contracting slightly, staring at the large plaque above the Temple's gate!





Just as Xiao En had said in the mountain cave back then, because of the overly long years, it was impossible to see what was written on this large plaque. Only some incomplete symbols were left. In Xiao En's retelling, these symbols might be the mysterious will of heaven, but in Fan Xian's eyes, these symbols, which finally appeared in front of him, represented even more shocking discoveries.

Fan Xian stared blankly at the only remaining character "勿" (wù - do not) on the plaque, and the three symbols below the character "勿". Two arcs, one above and one below, and then one above and one below, made up the entire content of this symbol.

He stretched his fingers into the cold air, subconsciously tracing the symbol. Since the fifth year of Qingli, he didn't know how much effort he had put into this character "勿" and these three identical symbols, and had also asked Uncle Wu Zhu and Si Gu Jian for advice. But after all, there was too little information, and he had gained nothing.

And today, this character "勿" and these symbols finally appeared in front of him, how could he not be excited?

Fan Xian noticed the position of the incomplete character "勿" on the plaque and the position of those three symbols. A ray of light flashed through his mind like lightning, making his whole person stunned. But his legs, as if out of control, walked blankly towards the Temple gate.

Haitang and Wang Shisanlang finally woke up from the shock of seeing the true face of the Temple and immediately noticed Fan Xian's strangeness, anxiously following him and walking towards the Temple gate.

Fan Xian's gaze remained fixed on the plaque, muttering to himself, his speech becoming faster and faster. It was impossible to tell that he was a patient. Two excited blushes appeared on his face.

"What heavenly talisman! Isn't this the letter 'm'? What else could it be?" Fan Xian's tired eyes had been completely replaced by complex bright emotions. He gritted his teeth, coughing and laughing foolishly, looking at the plaque, and finally understood what the Temple was.

At this moment, he finally knew that his deduction, which he had never told anyone, was correct. Those tracks in the snow mountain were not used to transport these stone steps ascending to heaven outside the mountain, but to transport the entire massive Temple to the sky!

The Temple also needed energy. It needed sunlight, so it appeared to people after the polar night. And it was precisely this point that made Fan Xian confirm that the Temple was not a miracle, but just a building whose exact purpose was still unknown.

More importantly, he finally determined that the land he was standing on was still that blue planet! The one he had sadly mentioned to Da Bao under the endless starry sky… Earth!

Fan Xian's lips were pale, trembling as he muttered to himself, "This is Earth, then what is this temple? Three m's, a thing… I didn't have such a big museum back then…"

Endless emotions rushed into his mind, making it difficult for him to bear. His cheeks were flushed, his lips were pale, and his eyes were somewhat confused. Yes, the Temple was just a very old museum. The character "勿" that Xiao En remembered was not a sickle and hammer. Those three m's were not heavenly talismans, nor the markings of Russian spaceships, but just the most common letter in an English word!

Yes, the Temple plaque clearly had the character "物" (wù – thing) arranged, and the three m's below in English were the incomplete parts of that word. The Temple… was a museum!





Fan Xian stood woodenly in front of the Temple gate, looking up at the plaque, somewhat unable to believe his eyes.

If the world he was in was Earth, when was this museum, which clearly had a history of thousands or tens of thousands of years, built? Where were the people who built these museums? Why was there such an existence in the world? Why had this museum become what people called the Temple?

Thinking of those vague legends in human history, those 天脉者 (tiānmàizhě - people with connections to heaven), those Temple messengers, those martial arts manuals and the box that his mother, Ye Qingmei, had stolen from the Temple, Fan Xian's body trembled uncontrollably. He felt that he had found the biggest secret and truth of this world, but found that there were still too many problems that he could not explain or understand.

Fan Xian coughed violently, crouching down in front of the Temple's dark door, in front of this door that resembled a historical heavenly book. An angry and helpless voice rang out from his chest: "What the hell is this museum!"

"This is a military museum."

An emotionless voice rang out from inside the Temple gate, seemingly just wanting to answer Fan Xian's question that was filled with frustration and panic.





(Yes, the Temple is a museum, and a military museum. When Little Ye crossed over, she couldn't have brought that box. That box was always in the Temple, but she stole it out. I've always said that the cute Little Ye was a thief.

Comrade Fan Han once posted a book review during the "Eternal Night Temple" chapters, guessing that the Temple might be something, and that the symbols were the Soviet Russian sickle and hammer. Many book friends have also made inferences, all of which are very powerful. However, from the beginning, I set the Temple like this, because I personally prefer it.

I like interesting things, and I'm even more committed to the reason for the story. In this world, in this story, everything needs a reason except for crossing over without a reason. Writing out the cause and effect is my love. Has the secret of the Temple been revealed like this? No, how to explain those secret manuals that created the grandmasters?

You have to know that there used to be a mountain, and in that mountain, there was a temple, and there must be someone in that temple… The next chapter will slowly tell everyone the origin and story of the Temple, and there is much, much more, and I have to write it slowly.

I have never tried to work during the Chinese New Year. This year is the first time, and I found that it is indeed not something that humans do, so I asked for leave. And now is the most critical ending of Qing Yu Nian, so I will definitely write slowly. I don't want to squeeze time to write in order to ensure updates, that is the worst thing.

There will still be no updates in the next few days. I think everyone is used to my laziness. I won't say much about apologies. I will seriously finish the tail and not disappoint everyone. I will deeply bow and step down.

Writing about the Temple is like writing about Da Dong Mountain. I have a very strong sense of satisfaction. I hope everyone can have the same feeling. I wish everyone a happy Spring Festival. Well, drink less alcohol. I haven't drunk much this year, but my stomach is still broken, alas.)