The sky quickly filled with heavy falling snow.

The snow grew heavier and heavier. The road ahead was completely invisible. Looking out, there was only a vast expanse of white.

The guide was a young man, nicknamed Donkey Egg. Dark and stocky, he wore a sheepskin hat on his head, revealing a pair of crossed eyes.

He supported himself on the carriage while talking to the noble person inside.

“Almost no one enters the mountains in this season. It’s too cold in the mountains—ordinary people can’t take it. We have to wait until next year when spring warms and flowers bloom before people come in greater numbers.

Noble sir, what are you coming to the mountains for? To offer incense? Better to go back. In such cold weather, even the Bodhisattva has returned to heaven.”

Yan Sanhe: “What is the abbot of Mount Wutai called?”

Donkey Egg was stunned, then laughed heartily.

“Noble person, I can tell at a glance this is your first time here. We have over a hundred temples, large and small!”

Over a hundred?

Yan Sanhe looked up at the person before her.

When they set out again, Yan Sanhe had Second Master Zhu and Zhu Weixi ride together in one carriage, making it convenient for her to discuss matters with Pei Xiao.

Pei Xiao shrugged like Li Buyan. “You didn’t ask!”

With that, he pulled several sheets of paper from his bundle. “The registry of temples and monks is all here.”

Yan Sanhe took them and looked. Several sheets were densely written. She searched through them one by one but didn’t find Geng Songsheng’s name.

She looked at Pei Xiao again.

“If he’s not in the registry, then he’s a wild monk who took vows halfway through life.”

Pei Xiao looked helpless. “Heaven is high and the Emperor is far away—there are always places beyond our reach.”

You still have the nerve to look helpless?

Yan Sanhe took a breath. “Donkey Egg, are the hundred-plus temples all connected?”

“How could they be!”

Donkey Egg laughed heartily. “There are some at the mountain base, some at the peak, some halfway up. The farthest temple takes two days and two nights to walk from our home.”

Only now did Yan Sanhe understand why Zhu Yuanzhao had divined inauspiciousness—the place was too vast, there were too many temples, it wouldn’t be easy to find.

“Which one is most famous?”

“There are many. Wenshu Temple, Fifth Master Temple, Bodhisattva Summit, Nanshan Temple, Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion, Bishan Temple…”

The more Yan Sanhe listened, the tighter her brow furrowed.

Which temple had Geng Songsheng taken vows at?

Li Buyan nudged Pei Xiao with her elbow. “Lord Pei, come up with a plan!”

“Simple.”

Pei Xiao looked confident.

“Find any temple, place my badge before the abbot, and I guarantee he’ll work hard to help us search. We just need to eat, wash up, and sleep comfortably and warmly.”

…

One shichen later.

The abbot of Wenshu Temple, Shiran, looked at Young Master Pei with regret.

“Lord Pei, this old monk has lived at the temple for most of his life and has never heard the name Geng Songsheng. Does my lord have his dharma name?”

Young Master Pei shook his head.

Shiran: “Do you have his portrait?”

Young Master Pei was about to continue shaking his head when Yan Sanhe raised her voice: “Yes. Bring paper and brush.”

That’s right!

Young Master Pei clapped his hands. The Sorceress could draw, and draw vividly too.

Paper and brush were quickly prepared. Yan Sanhe glanced at the Zhu family siblings. “You two have seen him. Come describe him in detail.”

In no time, a portrait of Geng Songsheng appeared on the paper.

Yan Sanhe put down the brush and asked Zhu Yuanzhao: “How many points of resemblance?”

Zhu Yuanzhao looked at Yan Sanhe in shock and quickly said: “Seven or eight points.”

Seeing her former lover’s features appear before her eyes, Zhu Weixi worked hard to steady her emotions. “Eight points.”

Pei Xiao picked up the rice paper and handed it to Shiran.

Shiran took the portrait and examined it repeatedly. After a long while, he looked troubled. “How about this—I’ll call all the monks in the temple to come recognize him.”

Pei Xiao: “Go quickly.”

Wenshu Temple had only eighteen monks in total. After they all looked, each said they’d never seen this person.

Yan Sanhe looked toward Pei Xiao. Pei Xiao immediately understood. “Have someone draw a few more copies. Send people immediately to ask at nearby temples at the mountain base.”

Shiran stepped forward. “Lord Pei, may I presume to ask—this Geng Songsheng…”

“Important people in the capital are looking for him. Otherwise we wouldn’t have rushed here in such cold weather.”

Lord Pei stood proudly, putting on great official airs. “You need not know the rest.”

Shiran smiled apologetically. “Yes, yes!”

Yan Sanhe drew seventeen copies in total. Except for the abbot, all the other monks were sent out.

The six people gathered around the brazier to warm themselves while eating hot food and waiting for news.

Ding Yi and Huang Qi, having traveled the entire way, were truly exhausted. They placed several meditation cushions by the brazier and immediately fell asleep.

Once they slept, everyone felt drowsy.

Li Buyan and Zhu Yuanzhao brought over the remaining cushions and had Shiran bring more bedding. Everyone lay down to rest.

Young Master Pei couldn’t sleep.

By unfortunate coincidence, Li Buyan was lying beside him. Every time he opened his eyes, he could see her face.

Her eyes—not big enough;

Her nose—not prominent enough;

Her mouth—not full enough;

But strangely, when these features combined together, they were quite attractive.

As he was looking, he realized something was wrong. Looking up, he found Donkey Egg huddled in a corner, his large crossed eyes staring fixedly at him.

What are you looking at?

Young Master Pei’s heart jumped guiltily, and he quickly closed his eyes.

Why had he fallen asleep too?

Donkey Egg wanted to speak but hesitated, thinking: Have these noble people forgotten, or what? What about the promised silver?

Hand over the silver quickly!

Awakening from a light sleep, the sky was dark and gloomy. The wind and snow outside were even fiercer.

At this time, the last monk returned soaking wet and shook his head at the abbot.

Yan Sanhe’s heart sank. Looking up, she found Pei Xiao’s eyebrows knotted together, looking at her miserably.

If he wasn’t at the mountain base, they’d have to go up the mountain.

Pei Xiao walked before Shiran and slung his arm around his shoulder. “This matter of going up the mountain…”

Shiran’s body trembled violently. “Lord Pei, absolutely not! Not to mention the heavy snow falling now—even without snow, the mountain roads are closed in winter.”

Pei Xiao asked: “Why?”

Shiran sighed. “Lord Pei, please come with me.”

With this statement, Li Buyan and the others by the brazier all rose and followed the abbot out of the temple.

As soon as the temple door opened, wind and snow struck their faces.

Shiran walked to an open area and pointed at the faintly visible distant mountain range.

“The so-called Five Platforms are five mountains, five peaks. East Platform Wanghai Peak, South Platform Jinxiu Peak, Central Platform Cuiyan Peak, West Platform Guayue Peak, North Platform Yedou Peak.

The mountains have perpetual snow. Even in the hottest summer, snow remains unmelted. The temperature is much lower than at the mountain base—ordinary people simply can’t bear going up.”

Yan Sanhe: “With such low temperatures, are there monks on the mountain?”

Shiran: “Yes!”

Yan Sanhe: “How do they go up the mountain?”

“Before winter arrives and before the heavy snow seals the mountain, they don’t travel. They stay in their temples. Food and supplies are all prepared in summer.”

Shiran: “Miss, I won’t hide it from you—the monks here are also divided into ranks. People like me…”

He glanced at his protruding belly, a trace of shame on his face.

“To be blunt, I’m also a pleasure-seeking monk. Those halfway up the mountain are truly pure and detached from worldly desires.”

Yan Sanhe: “What about those at the peak?”

Shiran: “Anyone who can peacefully meditate and practice at the peak is an enlightened master who can achieve nirvana and ascend to heaven.”

Which type was Geng Songsheng?

Was he a pleasure-seeking monk scattered among distant temples?

Was he pure and detached halfway up the mountain?

Or was he an enlightened master at the peak?

Why could Embroidered Uniform Guard people who occasionally passed through encounter him, while monks who lived here year-round knew nothing?