Chapter 404 Emei Sec (1/2)

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Day had not yet broken. Mingled with a group of tourists, Ning Tao climbed up a flight of stairs slowly, heading for Mount Emei’s golden summit.

Emei had lovely scenery. It had always been a famous mountain since ancient times.

But Ning Tao could not enjoy its beautiful scenery. The dense crowds though were quite a spectacular sight.

It was early winter and the temperature on the mountains was very low. There was constant rain and a thin layer of ice had frozen on the stone steps. One could easily slip while climbing them. Along the road, peddlers were selling disposable anti-slip shoe covers, as well as preserved meat and hot sausages. The place was bustling with noise and excitement.

The people of Hua Country enjoy company. It was not important to them whether the scenery was lovely or not, but the place they visited must be crowded. To queue for an hour to use the public toilet thrilled them. Only then would they feel like tourists.

By the time he reached the summit, dawn had just broken. A glimmer of golden sunlight shone through the sky, illuminating Huazang Temple at the summit. For a brief moment, the golden light dazzled, overlaying the entire sky with a coat of gold dust. The statue of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra riding on an elephant was dignified, with kindly eyes and compassionate brows. His poise and composure would calm anyone.

Many people were worshipping Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, but Ning Tao only gave the statue a glance before walking past it.

By right, after becoming the owner of Sky Clinic, he ought to cultivate the ways of Heaven and believe in gods and demons. But he did not believe in these gods carved by idol makers or ghosts in folklore.

Striding past Bodhisattva Samantabhadra on the elephant, Ning Tao headed for Sunrise Deck behind Huazang Temple. His eyes were searching the crowds for Cixin’s presence. He asked himself, “This place is Mount Emei, isn’t it? But is it the headquarters of the Emei Sect? If it is, there are so many tourists here. How can the nuns in Emei Sect cultivate? If not here, then where?”

“Doctor Ning.” A kindly voice rang out from his side.

Ning Tao shifted his eyes to look. He saw the young nun Cixin, standing in front of a stall. She was clad in a gray nun’s habit, with a gray hood covering her head. Although the habit was loose and plain, it showed off her lovely figure to good effect.

The stall owner gave Cixin an ear of corn. Cixin paid him, and then ran with the corn over to Ning Tao’s side.

Ning Tao said, “Be careful. There’s ice on the ground and it’s slippery.”

It was only at that moment when he remembered she was a practitioner too. How would she slip so easily on a sheet of ice?

Cixin came to Ning Tao’s front and handed him the ear of corn. There was a kindly smile on her lips. “Doctor Ning, this is for you.”

Ning Tao smiled. “I’m not hungry. You eat it yourself.”

Cixin grinned. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony.” After that, she started gnawing the corn on the cob. She seemed to be relishing its taste.

Women are natural gluttons and love good food. But since Buddhists are vegetarians, she could only satisfy her hunger by chewing on an ear of corn.

Ning Tao glanced around him and then lowered his voice. “Young Reverend Cixin, where is your Master?”

“Follow me.” Cixin walked towards Sunrise Deck, nibbling on her ear of corn along the way. She significantly increased her speed of nibbling.

Sunrise Deck was filled with tourists, all snapping photos with their cell phones.

It was bustling with people. It must be.

Cixin led Ning Tao to go around Sunrise Deck. They set foot on a narrow stone pathway up the mountain.

Ning Tao followed behind Cixin, observing in secret. But other than lush green mountains and lingering mists around the peaks, he saw nothing else. He could not see any buildings erected by the Emei Sect. In the end, he gave up and turned to watch Cixin instead. Cixin’s back was elegant and dainty. Her buttocks were well rounded, fleshy and full. He gave them only one glance and turned his eyes away, mumbling to himself it was a sin to observe her so.

“Doctor Ning, I heard from a sister of mine that Liu Shiba is dead. His flea market is now closed. Is it true?” Cixin asked as she turned back and glanced at Ning Tao.

Ning Tao answered, “It’s true.”

“Who killed him?”

Ning Tao was about to tell her it was Hai Dongfang, but decided against it. Since the man was dead, it was not appropriate to harp on his crime. So he said instead, “I don’t know. But I have a WeChat group that you can join if you are interested in it. There are many practitioner friends there. You can sell or buy spiritual materials, as well as exchange knowledge on cultivation and alchemy. Sometimes, I will send out messages asking for certain spiritual materials. Anyone who wants me to repair his or her magic tool can message me.”

Cixin seemed persuaded, but she hesitated for a moment before saying, “I need to go back and ask my Master. She doesn’t allow us to use WeChat or Tiktok. She says these apps will disturb our meditative heart in Tao and hinder our cultivation.”

Ning Tao smiled. “Then I won’t add you in. There are indeed a lot of trash messages from practitioner friends. They even released some photos which aren’t suitable for kids. They will defile your eyes. Just call me if you need anything. Or send me a text message.”

Cixin nodded. Ning Tao’s phrase “aren’t suitable for kids” made her cheeks blush somewhat.

The two of them walked in the sunlight, the mountain path gradually becoming more rugged. After turning a corner, Emei’s golden summit could no longer be seen.

Beside the path, there was a standing sign which read: “Prohibited to tourists.”

Cixin did not even give it a glance and strode past that stone sign. They continued ahead, Ning Tao following her. The mountain path under their feet began to descend. After another half a kilometer, the mountain path came to an end. In front of them was a precipice.