It is often said that it is easy to go up a mountain but hard to come down, though no one knows who started that rumor. Qi Beichen stood with his hands on his hips, leaning against the railing for the second time. He looked upward and let out a long, weary sigh. “Damn it! Whose temple is built this high?”
At the very top of the zigzagging mountain path stood the Nanshan Temple. The wooden plaque featured the words “Nanshan Temple” in gold lettering against a black background, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.
Qi Beichen walked in front, using his hands to shield his eyes. “We’re finally almost there; my old back is about to snap.”
“I told you repeatedly that taking the cable car would be more convenient. You, on the other hand, insisted on running faster than anyone else. Now that you’re tired and whining, don’t ask me for pain relief patches, I didn’t bring any.”
Qi Beichen blinked, leaned toward Bai Muxuan, and playfully nudged his waist with his hip, causing Bai Muxuan to stumble forward several steps.
“With my ‘electric butt,’ why would I be afraid of back pain? I have plenty of strength!” Qi Beichen stretched his lower back and hissed, “Sss…”
He felt a vague sense of impending doom. Supporting his lower back with one hand, he shot a glance at Bai Muxuan. “I’m fine. Yes, I’m definitely fine…” He grabbed the nearby railing, hunched over, and dragged himself along the wooden structure. That earlier jolt felt as if a nail had been driven into his spine, leaving behind a distribution of throbbing pain.
Bai Muxuan moved closer, extended his arm, and glanced at Qi Beichen out of the corner of his eye.
Understanding the silent hint, Qi Beichen quickly hooked onto his arm, excitedly tugging at Bai Muxuan’s sleeve.
Rip…
Qi Beichen’s complexion dimmed instantly by eight degrees. He looked at the sleeve and saw that the seam at the very top of the shoulder had come undone, with white thread hanging in the wind. The tear wasn’t large, but the garment looked far too expensive to be easily compensated.
“Um, can I say that the shirt started it? I was just…” Qi Beichen bit his lip, his fingers instantly recoiling. He took a few small, cautious steps backward.
“Perhaps this shirt…” Bai Muxuan glanced at Qi Beichen, “is only thirty thousand. It’s not worth much. Let’s keep climbing.”
Thirty thousand?! Qi Beichen was immediately revitalized. “Brother Muxuan, are all your clothes priced like this?”
Bai Muxuan climbed a few steps, leaning against the railing, and looked down at Qi Beichen. “This is the cheapest one I own.”
Qi Beichen’s eyes lit up. A big shot and a tycoon—had he really latched onto someone like this? It was simply incredible, and his excitement for the climb surged even more.
“Brother Muxuan, one of my outfits is about the remainder of your price, calculated from start to finish.”
“What kind of calculation is that?”
Qi Beichen was a bit breathless, a rattling sound coming from his throat along with the faint taste of iron. He put his hands on his hips and looked up; they were only about a hundred steps from the summit. “It means thirty.”
“Weren’t you quite doted on when you returned to the Qi family? You certainly stole the spotlight at the banquet.”
“Sigh, it’s a long story. I’d better pray for a few more charms so that my days ahead go smoothly.”
“I’ve walked up here step by step without stopping. I hope the deities hear my prayers.”
By the time they reached the entrance of Nanshan Temple, Qi Beichen looked as if he had been drained of all energy. He leaned his head against Bai Muxuan’s arm, his shoulders drooping, his nose sniffling. The tuft of hair on his head hung limp, silently protesting how exhausted he was.
Bai Muxuan wasn’t in a hurry. Seeing this state, he realized Qi Beichen had pushed his body to the limit to reach the top. He wondered what kind of grand wish could possibly drive him to torture himself like this. He reached out to press down the stray tuft of hair, but to his surprise, the two strands just stood back up, full of spirit.
“I say, Beichen, is your wish really worth huffing and puffing your way up here?”
Qi Beichen panted, swallowing hard. His lips were dry and peeling; the once soft and tender edges were turning white and cracking. “Of course. My wishes are numerous; I had to come in person.”
Bai Muxuan hauled Qi Beichen’s arm, guiding him step by step toward the temple entrance. Inside, the incense was burning bright, and white smoke drifted everywhere. There were some unburned sticks in the front censer, but more of it was covered in a thick layer of ash.
Qi Beichen broke away from Bai Muxuan’s embrace and walked toward a small table where offerings were laid out. There was a donation box, and he had specifically saved some coins and small paper bills just for this moment. When he pulled a stack of money from his pocket, Bai Muxuan looked at him helplessly and pointed to a QR code nearby. “It’s the information age; the temple can also save effort.”
“That won’t do. The traditional way is the most effective. This is a merit box; I want to donate five yuan! I’m making a big wish!” Qi Beichen tossed the five-yuan coin directly in.
“Qi Beichen, that was a commemorative coin.”
“Commemorative coins show more sincerity.”
“That coin has a market value of thirty thousand.”
Qi Beichen immediately scrambled at the donation box, his legs nearly climbing up it. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? It’s so valuable!”
Bai Muxuan grabbed him by the back of his waist. “Stop climbing, you can’t get it out now. You’re better off burning some incense.”
Qi Beichen got down immediately, dusted off his clothes, and picked up the incense. “Um, Brother Muxuan, do you have a lighter?”
Bai Muxuan sighed and pulled a lighter from his pocket. Click…
The joss sticks ignited, emitting a thin stream of white smoke. The wind had died down, and the smoke drifted straight upward. Standing before the censer, Qi Beichen closed his eyes and bowed toward the direction of the main hall, silently chanting: I hope everything goes smoothly and has a happy ending. He then glanced at Bai Muxuan, who was busy observing the temple layout.
He added another wish to his heart: It would be best if I could stay with Bai Muxuan and experience the joy of being a life winner.
When he opened his eyes, he met Bai Muxuan’s dark, inscrutable gaze.
“Brother Muxuan, did you make a wish, too?”
Bai Muxuan’s tightly pursed lips relaxed slightly. “No. Is there anything else you want to see? The main halls, praying to Buddha, asking for safety?”
Qi Beichen pulled on Bai Muxuan’s sleeve and skipped toward the opposite direction, where small red wooden plaques were displayed, wrapped in red string. A large monk sitting in a chair looked at the two of them with a smile. “Are the donors looking to pray for a good match?”
“Master, isn’t it said that the nearby Fox Immortal Temple is the most efficacious? I was thinking of going there to check it out.”
The monk rubbed the red plaque in front of him. “The Fox Immortal Temple is under maintenance today. You two have come at an unfortunate time, but the marriage plaques here are also quite effective. Why not give it a try?”
Qi Beichen couldn’t help but feel a bit deflated. His main goal had been the Fox Immortal Temple; surely a celestial being could make his wishes come true. He picked up a small plaque, the price marked on a piece of red paper on the back. The smaller ones in the front were one hundred yuan each, while the larger ones in the back were five hundred.
“Donors, they are very effective.”
“We were not destined, so it all depends on me throwing money at it!”
Qi Beichen took the largest marriage plaque. “Master! Is it true that the larger the area, the more effective it is, and the higher it’s hung, the longer it lasts?”
“Amitabha. Sincerity leads to efficacy; a monk does not speak falsely.”
Bai Muxuan placed a thousand yuan on the table. “Master, one for each of us.”
Qi Beichen glanced to the side, unable to believe his ears. Bai Muxuan wants one too? Could it be…
“Don’t stare at me with those mousey eyes; I’m uncomfortable.”
Qi Beichen leaned toward Bai Muxuan, tugged at his sleeve, and tilted his head to look at him sideways. “Now we can be considered destined, right? Hmm? Isn’t that right?”
Bai Muxuan rolled his eyes at Qi Beichen.
“Donors, there are also red strings. There is a pole under the tree over there; it depends on your destiny. This tree is called the Phoenix Tree, and it is nearly five hundred years old.”
Qi Beichen looked at the massive tree; the trunk was so thick that three people might not be able to link arms around it. The season was just right, and the fiery red phoenix flowers were in full bloom. The small plaques above swayed constantly with the wind, occasionally colliding to produce a crisp, tinkling sound.
“Master, are there any bells? I see some plaques have bells.”
The monk pointed to the QR code in front of him. “A bell is fifty yuan.”
Damn, when did this place become so commercialized? Qi Beichen wanted one, but his pockets were empty. Bai Muxuan saw through his thoughts, took out his phone, and scanned the QR code, but the signal was poor, and it kept circling.
Bai Muxuan casually tossed a hundred-yuan bill onto the table. “This should be received.”
The monk smiled at them. “Buddha will surely realize your wishes.”
“Brother Muxuan, you had cash on you, too?”
“I’m not like you, with pockets full of change. I keep this for emergencies. The signal here is bad, understand?”
“Oh, so that’s how it is.”
“Two donors, please feel free to choose: pray for love, pray for career, pray for family harmony, pray for children…”
Qi Beichen took a plaque without hesitation. “I really need to turn my luck around.”
Bai Muxuan glanced at the options, then picked up the “Love” plaque and wrapped the red string around it.
“Brother Muxuan, you’re praying for love, too? Do you have someone in mind?”
Bai Muxuan glanced at Qi Beichen, his hand tightening around the small wooden plaque. “No. Don’t pry.”
“Sneaky, there must be something fishy.”
“A little less gossiping. Are we hanging these or not?”
“Of course, we have to hang them up, hang them up!”
When they reached the Phoenix Tree, Qi Beichen hit a snag. The lower spots had long since been claimed, and as for the higher ones, he wasn’t quite tall enough. He held the small pole with the red string tied into a small loop, stood on his tiptoes, and reached up. His footing was unstable, swaying back and forth.
Bai Muxuan followed behind him, protecting his waist. He reached up, took the pole from Qi Beichen’s hand, and hung the plaque for him. A mountain breeze picked up, causing the bell to jingle.
“What do you think of this position? Is it high enough?”
Qi Beichen looked up. Where Bai Muxuan had hung the plaque, there was nothing else around, as it was the highest point he could reach given his height.
“I think it’s perfect.”
Bai Muxuan then hung his own plaque right next to Qi Beichen’s.
Qi Beichen was suspicious. “Why so close?”
“There’s no room anywhere else.”
Bai Muxuan set down the pole. The sun was setting, and the mountain wind was becoming noticeably stronger. He took a jacket from his backpack and stuffed it directly into Qi Beichen’s arms. “Put it on. Your cold isn’t fully healed yet. If it gets worse, the medical conditions here are not as good as the ones at the bottom of the mountain.”
Qi Beichen took the jacket. He had to admit it was a bit big, practically enough to swallow him whole. Not bothering to take off his backpack, he slipped it on. The result was that he looked like a little water barrel, the kind that would spin in place.
Bai Muxuan grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back. “Why didn’t you take off your backpack before putting it on? Is there gold or silver in there?”
“Oh, I just forgot.”
Qi Beichen slipped his arms out of the sleeves and turned around; the sleeves swept right across Bai Muxuan.
“I say, can you behave yourself?”
“I am behaving! The clothes are just big; I’m wearing it like a smock.”
Qi Beichen finally decided to take off the backpack he had been carrying the whole way. It hit the ground with a thud, leaving a dent in the dirt. Bai Muxuan was curious and weighed the backpack in his hand, his wrist veins bulging just to lift it.
“Is your backpack filled with stones or iron? No wonder your back couldn’t take it on the way up.”
Qi Beichen put on the jacket properly, opened the zipper, and took out a 500ml water bottle. “Water! The source of life!”
Bai Muxuan tapped Qi Beichen’s forehead and laughed helplessly. “Don’t you know the temple here provides free water? Your lips were so dry earlier; why didn’t you drink?”
Damn! I was being a fool again!
“Ding-dong, you have a new message. Please check it!”
Qi Beichen was fiddling with his jacket strings and hadn’t fully freed his hands when he reached for his phone. Bai Muxuan snatched his pocket, took the phone out, and looked at the name on the screen.
“Su Haoxuan, you really are a little social butterfly.”
Qi Beichen stood on his tiptoes, reaching to grab the phone, but Bai Muxuan held it higher. “Let me… see…”
The jacket pulled at his body, and because he was already physically drained from the climb, he stumbled and collapsed into Bai Muxuan’s arms, falling to the ground together.
“Get up!”
“I won’t! You have to give me my phone back!” Qi Beichen clutched Bai Muxuan’s clothes and wouldn’t let go.
Bai Muxuan lowered his head and blew into his ear. “There are quite a few people around us right now, watching us pulling and tugging at each other. This is a sacred place of Buddha.”
Qi Beichen immediately scrambled up and brushed the dirt off his body. He prepared to reach out and pat Bai Muxuan’s clothes, but was intercepted.
“Don’t touch me.”
“The Eight Treasures bracelet hasn’t been picked up yet; we’ll have to wait a while.”
Qi Beichen leaned in close to Bai Muxuan, looked at the message on the phone, and then at Bai Muxuan, who was clearly showing signs of hostility.