Chapter 35: Almost, Yet Missed an Entire Starry Sea
"Alright!"
The vendor took out an umbrella case made from bamboo from beneath the table, placed the oil-paper umbrella inside, then handed it to Lin Beichen. "Here you go, young man."
"Thank you, sir."
Lin Beichen displayed his payment interface, then took the oil-paper umbrella and headed towards the mountains.
He hadn't walked far.
A crisp voice whispered, "Grandpa, that big brother is so strange!"
A young girl and an elderly man appeared in front of the oil-paper umbrella stall.
The young girl was about twelve or thirteen years old, not very tall, wearing a white sports tracksuit. She looked cute and playful, with a bit of baby fat on her face, looking very much like a middle school student.
The elderly man beside her was around seventy years old, slim and energetic, with a kind and amiable face. He wore a casual hat, a black sports tracksuit, and held a trekking pole in his hand.
The elderly man, full of love, asked, "What's the matter? Why is that big brother strange?"
"He said this weather is good weather."
The young girl tilted her head, her face full of confusion. "How can rainy days be good weather?"
Earlier, she and the elderly man were at the stall opposite the oil-paper umbrella stall, buying a trekking pole. She had heard the entire conversation between Lin Beichen and the oil-paper umbrella vendor.
"You!"
The elderly man chuckled and patted the young girl's head. "Everyone has a different definition of good and bad, each has their own standards. You like sunny days, so sunny days are good weather, and rainy days are bad weather. But for those who like rainy days, rainy days are good weather, and sunny days become bad weather. It's not good to judge others' rights and wrongs casually. Don't do that next time."
"Oh."
The young girl bit her lip in grievance and nodded, "I understand, Grandpa."
"Good girl."
The elderly man nodded in satisfaction. He looked at the overcast sky, which seemed to be brewing a heavy rain, and said to the vendor, "Sir, I'll take two oil-paper umbrellas."
"Alright!"
The vendor was overjoyed, having sold three oil-paper umbrellas within a short time.
He wrapped the oil-paper umbrellas.
The elderly man took the umbrellas, held the young girl's hand, and they walked towards the mountains.
Soon, the one large and one small figure disappeared into the misty rain.
Only their conversation occasionally drifted from afar.
"Grandpa, why did we buy umbrellas?"
"Because it might rain heavily soon."
"If it rains, can't we just go back? Why do we have to go up the mountain?"
"Today is the day when Daoists of the Celestial Master's Mansion recite the Dao. Grandpa is taking you to experience it and temper your temperament."
"Can't we come another day?"
"Hehe, you'll be back in school by then."
"Boohoo... Grandpa, you're so mean, why bring up school all of a sudden!"
"..."
The main peak of Dragon Tiger Mountain soared into the clouds. The Celestial Master's Mansion was situated near the summit. If one were to rely solely on their legs, even professional mountaineers would need two days and nights to climb up.
Fortunately, there was a cable car!
The elderly man and the young girl sat in the cable car, enjoying the expansive view as the peaks on either side retreated. The lush green leaves covered the mountains and forests, soothing the heart. The young girl's mood, previously dampened by the mention of school, began to relax at this moment.
Soon, the cable car reached its destination.
The endpoint was fifty meters below the Celestial Master's Mansion, but the surroundings were already shrouded in clouds and mist, making it seem as though one could reach out and touch the clouds above.
At this moment, although the rain wasn't heavy, the sky above was a solid grey mass of overlapping clouds, thick and oppressive, with occasional flashes of light illuminating the dark sky, accompanied by thunderous sounds.
"Boom—"
"Boom—"
"..."
The elderly man glanced up at the sky, then opened the oil-paper umbrella for the young girl first, and then for himself. "Let's go. The rain is about to start. Let's try to reach the Celestial Master's Mansion before it pours."
The remaining journey wasn't particularly difficult. Holding the young girl's hand, the elderly man steadily ascended the steps, and after more than half an hour, they finally arrived at the square in front of the Celestial Master's Mansion.
Just then.
A bolt of lightning, having brewed for a long time, broke through the clouds, jaggedly flashing across the sky.
"Crack—!!"
The crisp sound of tearing fabric echoed as if the sky itself was splitting apart.
The rain, seemingly unable to hold back any longer, poured down instantly!
"Grandpa, the rain is getting heavy!"
The rainwater pelted the umbrella. The young girl felt like she could barely hold onto the umbrella.
The elderly man chuckled, reached out to steady her umbrella, and said, "Yes, we made it just in time. Let's go inside the Celestial Master's Mansion to take shelter from the rain and wait for the Daoists to recite the Dao."
"Okay."
The young girl followed him towards the Celestial Master's Mansion, her curiosity piqued by everything around her. Her wide eyes darted around, taking in the sights.
Suddenly!
She saw something, her eyes widened even more, a flash of puzzlement crossed her gaze, quickly replaced by surprise.
"Grandpa, Grandpa, look, it's that strange big brother!"
"Strange big brother?"
The elderly man stopped and turned to look in the direction the young girl was pointing.
Beside the square in front of the Celestial Master's Mansion, about five or six meters high, there was an open observation platform.
Tourists on the platform moved briskly, hurrying down the mountain.
Only one man stood at the edge of the platform, holding an oil-paper umbrella, completely still, as if rooted to the spot.
He stood out prominently!
If it wasn't Lin Beichen, who else could it be?
It's him?
The elderly man remembered that the "strange big brother" his granddaughter mentioned was the young man who bought an oil-paper umbrella at the foot of the mountain.
At this moment.
"Attain utmost emptiness, maintain steadfast quietude. All things arise together; I observe their return. All things flourish and then return to their roots. Returning to the root is tranquility. Tranquility is returning to the way. Returning to the way is eternal. Knowing constancy is enlightenment, not knowing constancy brings misfortune. Knowing constancy allows acceptance, acceptance leads to impartiality, impartiality leads to kingliness, kingliness leads to the way, the way to eternity. And to the end of life, one is free from danger."
The powerful chanting voice of Daoists resonated from the Celestial Master's Mansion.
It echoed across the mountaintop.
The elderly man quickly withdrew his gaze and looked at the young girl. "Grandpa saw him. Let's go. That big brother is enjoying the mountain scenery in the rain. We should go inside to listen to the Daoists chant."
The elderly man held the young girl's hand and walked into the Celestial Master's Mansion. Meanwhile, all the people around Lin Beichen had left, and only he remained on the observation platform.
He didn't want to go inside to listen to the Daoists' chanting because he couldn't control his body at that moment. His mind was entirely immersed in the scene before him.
Lin Beichen's eyes fixed forward.
The mountains stretched endlessly.
The torrential rain cascaded down like mist.
Lightning occasionally broke through the thick grey clouds, illuminating the sky briefly.
...
Everything came into view!
As he watched...
He was entranced.
Enthralled!
In an instant!
His empty mind filled with countless thoughts!
Flashes of insight sparked all around in his mind!
Utter chaos!
He couldn't grasp any specific thought, yet he felt that the epiphany he sought was within reach, just barely, yet as distant as the entire star sea!
"Where is it?"
"What exactly is it?"