Chapter 2: Lone Mountain Temple

Lingkong, upon hearing this, turned back to Yanzhi Xia and said, “Yanzhi Xia, do not weep. I know you wish for me to remain here... But there are many ties of the mortal world I have yet to resolve; my fate is not my own, and I must depart.” With these words, he took the string of prayer beads hanging around his neck, removed the largest bead from the center, and held it out to Yanzhi Xia. “Yanzhi Xia, this bead is the ‘Sun Seed’. It has accompanied me for over three centuries. Let it stay with you for now. When, in some future day, we meet again on the Island of Immortals, you must return this ‘Sun Seed’ to me.”

Yan Changshun did not understand Lingkong’s words, nor did Yan Zhao, who felt as if lost in a thick fog. Yet Yanzhi Xia seemed to comprehend. He gazed at the radiant, crimson ‘Sun Seed’ before his eyes, and though tears streaked his face, he suddenly broke into laughter.

Lingkong also smiled in return, then turned to Yan Changshun. “Benefactor Yan, this ‘Sun Seed’ is no ordinary object. Tie it with a red cord and let your son wear it at all times—never let it leave his side, not for a moment... Remember this well.”

With that, he declared loudly, “Amitabha!” and strode away.

Time flew like an arrow, days and months passed in a blur. In the blink of an eye, Yanzhi Xia had turned eight.

By then, Kaoshan Village had already established a private school. The teacher’s surname was Kong, given name Ren, courtesy name Wenchang.

It was said Kong Ren, Kong Wenchang, was a descendant of the sage Confucius. He was learned and tireless in his instruction—a most capable teacher.

The private school was set up in the temple of literature at the eastern end of the village. Kong Ren was hired by Yan Changshun and a dozen other villagers with children, who pooled their funds for his services. The school had now existed for three years, and Yanzhi Xia, along with a dozen other children of similar age, were its first students. Yanzhi Xia loved to learn, and in the school, he gained much knowledge.

That morning, after breakfast, Yanzhi Xia bid farewell to his parents, picked up his book chest—a wooden box for books—and ran to the temple.

He was always the first to arrive. Today was no exception. He reached the schoolhouse, gently opened the wooden door, walked to his seat, placed the book chest on the desk, sat upright, opened the chest, took out a scroll of the Book of Songs, turned to the “Great Rat” poem, and began to recite with focused concentration...

Yanzhi Xia was gifted, diligent, and eager to learn.

In the three years since he entered school, under Kong Ren’s patient guidance, he not only became familiar with the Analects, Mencius, Great Learning, and Doctrine of the Mean, fully grasping the perspectives and principles of the Four Books, but also learned proper etiquette, understood many moral lessons, and wrote with a fine hand.

Even as a young boy, Yanzhi Xia’s intelligence and appearance stood out: his long black hair fell naturally, his face was fair and clean, his brows sharp as swords, his eyes bright, his nose straight, his lips rosy; dressed in a blue robe, wearing the ‘Sun Seed’ pendant at his neck, he sat with poise—truly remarkable and distinguished.

“Great rat, great rat, do not eat my millet! Three years I’ve fed you, yet you heed me not. I shall leave you, go to that happy land. Happy land, happy land, where I find what I love. Great rat, great rat, do not eat my wheat! Three years I’ve fed you, yet you show no virtue. I shall leave you, go to that happy state. Happy state, happy state, where I find what is right...”

Yanzhi Xia was reciting fluently when, suddenly, a round-faced, sturdy boy came running in with his book chest and called out, “Yanzhi Xia, you’re here so early!”

Yanzhi Xia looked up—it was Li Xiaohu. He replied, “Li Xiaohu, you’re early as well.”

“Heh heh...” Li Xiaohu smiled sheepishly. “Teacher is going to ask questions about yesterday’s lesson. I’m not very smart, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to answer, so after breakfast I hurried over to review.”

“Oh.” Yanzhi Xia nodded. “Li Xiaohu, then you’d better study quickly.”

“Mm.” Li Xiaohu agreed, went to his seat, sat down, took out his scroll, and began reading with intense focus.

Not wanting to disturb Li Xiaohu’s revision, Yanzhi Xia switched from reading aloud to silent study.

After about half an hour, Zhao Jinshuo, Zhang Shitou, Chen Xiaobao, and the rest of the students arrived one after another, carrying their book chests.

Each took their seat, reviewing lessons while waiting for Teacher Kong Ren to arrive. But they waited and waited—he did not come. Time passed well beyond the usual start, yet there was still no sign of him. The children began to speculate aloud.

Li Xiaohu, growing anxious, said, “Why isn’t teacher here yet? I’ve just reviewed the lesson and am ready for his questions. If he doesn’t come soon, I might forget everything again! Why isn’t teacher here?”

“Yes,” Zhao Jinshuo chimed in, “the sun’s already up—why isn’t teacher here? Could something have happened?”

Hearing this, Zhang Shitou’s expression suddenly changed. “Oh no! That’s bad news... I heard there’s a ‘Lady Snake’ on Great Lone Mountain. Teacher hasn’t come—could he have been caught by the ‘Lady Snake’?”

“Zhang Shitou, don’t talk nonsense,” Yanzhi Xia couldn’t help but speak up. “Everyone, calm down. Keep studying—I’ll go to Lone Mountain Temple and check.” With that, he rose and left his seat.

Li Xiaohu immediately stood and called out, “Yanzhi Xia, I’m going with you!”

“All right, let’s go,” Yanzhi Xia replied, and together they left the temple, heading straight for Lone Mountain Temple...

Lone Mountain Temple was located halfway up Great Lone Mountain, on a flat stretch of land.

Once, an old monk had lived there, but after his passing, the temple was left empty, with no successor. When Kong Ren first came to Kaoshan Village to teach, he discovered the temple was vacant, its surroundings tranquil and pleasant, so he chose to lodge there.

The temple was not far from the school—about the distance an arrow might fly.

Yanzhi Xia and Li Xiaohu ran along the rugged mountain path toward Lone Mountain Temple.

Though Zhang Shitou had mentioned the ‘Lady Snake’ and wondered if teacher had been ensnared by her, Yanzhi Xia had dismissed it as nonsense. Yet now, a sense of foreboding crept into his heart. Since Kong Ren became their teacher, not rain nor snow had ever kept him from his duties, but today, so late, he had not appeared.

Yanzhi Xia ran ahead of Li Xiaohu, climbing the mountain path quickly, hoping to glimpse Kong Ren’s familiar figure.

But to Yanzhi Xia’s disappointment, even when he and Li Xiaohu arrived breathless at the temple gate, there was still no sign of Kong Ren. Anxious, Yanzhi Xia couldn’t help but call out loudly, “Teacher, teacher...”

“Teacher, teacher...” Li Xiaohu echoed.

Calling out together, they hurried through the temple gate, heading straight for Kong Ren’s quarters at the rear. With pounding hearts, they rushed into the bedroom—and were struck dumb with fear, staring in wide-eyed shock.